Fooling Huayu for Thirty Years

Chapter 620, "Red Cliff"! The opening scene features Guan Yu slaying Yan Liang!
"Director Chen Hong, I heard that the investment in this film, 'Red Cliff,' is enormous?"

"That's right, it's just as rumored. The total investment was $8000 million, and we were under a lot of pressure."

"$8000 million! My God!"

"We can only do our best to keep the film within budget."

"Director Chen Hong, there are rumors that Director Wu Yusen has been sidelined. What is your opinion on this?"

"No comment."

The Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival has finally opened, and "Red Cliff," as the opening film, has naturally become the focus of everyone's attention.

As a renowned director and one of the directors of this film, it was only natural for Chen Hong to give an interview.

But the reporter asked...which company are you from?
Chen Hong may not be petty, but she should remember this guy and never accept his interviews again.

However, today is a great day for our "Red Cliff" to make its first public appearance.

I need to improve my facial expression management.

Fortunately, our Sister Hong is a seasoned actress who has weathered many storms. She later became a great director, which further improved her manners.

These strange questions couldn't make her smile disappear.

But there is indeed a problem now.

That means almost all the main creative team members of our "Red Cliff" came. Even Tony Leung, Jin Cheng, and Zhi Ling all came.

There is no such thing as someone acting like a big shot.

However, we still can't find the renowned director Wu Yusen!

After all, judging from the poster, Chen Hong's name is listed after Wu Yusen's.

Don't underestimate the importance of the order of names.

Let alone the current situation in our industry, even many years ago, when there wasn't really an entertainment industry in mainland China, and movies were all produced within the system, the order of names was a very important matter.

It's obvious that whoever's name comes first is the important person.

Many plays are directed and written by the same person, so that's not a big deal.

However, if there are many people, this order must be clearly defined.

Therefore, Wu Yusen is now ranked first in the director category.

That's definitely giving him face.

Moreover, the screenwriters also ranked him first.

That's really very kind of you.

However, there have been changes.

Chen Hong was aware that Wu Yusen had devised a very special ranking order for the screenwriters of "Red Cliff".

A big-budget production might have a dozen or so screenwriters, or even fewer. But out of all those screenwriters, only a few will actually make it onto the final cast list.

The order is even more important.

This is a major production by China Film Group, so of course the screenwriter has to be one of the most famous from mainland China.

Lu Wei and Sheng Heyu both came. Although their works have received both praise and criticism, they are famous enough and have strong enough experience.

but!

Wu Yusen's original plan for the screenwriters was that he would be first, and the second would be a young screenwriter from Hong Kong.

This Hong Kong screenwriter, surnamed Chen, didn't have many well-known works before. He seems to have only won a screenwriting award in Hong Kong, although the award is quite famous there.

But anyone with a discerning eye can see that this arrangement is a huge problem!
One more thing, never underestimate the importance of this ranking arrangement.

Because this represents the power order within the film crew!

Those who are at the top have enough power to overturn the opinions of those behind them.

To put it bluntly, the original arrangement for the screenwriters of "Red Cliff" was essentially that Wu Yusen supported this young Hong Kong screenwriter, while treating the two well-known mainland screenwriters like beasts of burden.

When Chen Hong first saw this arrangement, she wondered if Wu Yusen was either brainless or doing it on purpose.
This is a pure insult to mainland screenwriters.

Thankfully, Ma Xun is awesome!
They changed it directly. Now the poster says... Ma Xun is ranked first!
Moreover, Ma Xun did not use the same alias as Ma Bangde this time.

Although Ma Xun hadn't used that pseudonym for quite some time, this situation was truly unique.

This is tantamount to a warning to Wu Yusen!
These small details alone would immediately reveal to someone knowledgeable about the entertainment industry that the "Red Cliff" production team was rife with undercurrents and internal strife.

Regardless of the circumstances, Ma Xun is indeed a capable guy.

Although he rarely came to the film set, he still managed to control Wu Yusen's side.

They didn't let that old guy do whatever he wanted.

That's right. This old guy is supporting such a young screenwriter. Regardless of the screenwriter's ability, isn't this just putting Hong Kong screenwriters ahead of mainland screenwriters?
The key point is... Chen Hong had read the script written by that screenwriter, and the lines were simply inexplicable.

Would Cao Mengde really say such a thing?
Not to mention the other characters... (The script actually consists mostly of dialogue, that is, the characters' lines.)
And all of these... isn't that old geezer Wu Yusen coming?
Is this a way of expressing protest?

Chen Hong remained calm, after all, he trusted Ma Xun, but what about Wu Yusen...?

Just then, Wu Yusen, the first Chinese director, finally appeared!
clack clack...

In no time, almost all the reporters from the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival rushed to Wu Yusen's side.

Fortunately, we have our own rules here. While others are walking the red carpet, you all have to wait.

However, it was clear to many that Wu Yusen was probably up to something.

Why didn't he walk the red carpet with the "Red Cliff" team?
This one incident alone is enough to spark all sorts of speculation, without him even having to say anything.

really!

The interview segment following the red carpet event has begun.

Wu Yusen fired directly.

"I have made many films in my life, but some of them are really hard for me to accept."

That's it.

what?
Does this count as firing a cannon?

Of course!
Although he didn't mention "Red Cliff," his actions were definitely implying that he found the film "Red Cliff" unacceptable.

In reality, this was the only way Wu Yusen could express himself.

Because "Red Cliff" is, after all, a major production by China Film Group, and the overseas investment was also huge.

$8000!

Therefore, Wu Yusen couldn't possibly name names directly. This was already the limit of what he could say.

but!

Many reporters tried their best to interview and asked all sorts of questions, but received no response.

Wu Yusen easily resolved all of them.

But everyone knows that this guy will definitely not let this go so easily.

He must have some other tricks up his sleeve.

Just then, someone mentioned it.

There seems to be some news online!

what?
Is someone stirring up trouble online?

What exactly happened?
These days, getting online isn't difficult, and we have internet here too. Soon, reporters noticed something amiss.

"A lucky find! Revealing the original script and storyboards for 'Red Cliff'!"

What's the situation?
The post describes how someone discovered a large amount of information about the movie "Red Cliff" while repairing their laptop.

There is a script, and there may be a storyboard script.

Wait a minute!
This plot seems familiar.

Did that young Hong Kong screenwriter take his laptop to be repaired?

Then the person whose laptop was being repaired saw the data?
What the hell!

It's really...why do they all have the surname Chen?

This is unbelievable; there's no way this gossip won't go viral online.

However, there's no time to look at the original script and storyboards of "Red Cliff" circulating online right now.

After all, that takes a lot of time.

Now that we're at the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, let's first take a look at what this film, "Red Cliff," actually looks like.

However, after Chen Hong confronted Wu Yusen...

The two even shook hands and both kept smiling.

That's really amazing!

They were clearly engaged in open and covert struggles, yet they could still pretend to be nonchalant.

No wonder they're big directors!
Regardless, the anticipation for "Red Cliff" has already reached its peak for everyone present.

After going through many procedures of the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.

The movie "Red Cliff" is finally here!
In the largest screening room, everyone eagerly awaited the screening.

And the beginning of this movie...

Black and red!

Yes, those are the two main colors as the background, and then a line of text appeared.

The mighty Yangtze River flows eastward, its waves sweeping away countless heroes of the past!

what?
This...this...the old Three Kingdoms vibe just comes through!

Needless to say, the opening will definitely tell the historical background of the Three Kingdoms period.

Although we are very familiar with it, wait a minute, the narration used is also from the old Three Kingdoms.

The smell is stronger now!
So next...

After recounting the historical background, the story immediately moves on to Dong Zhuo's entry into the capital.

Next came Lü Bu's flirtation with Diao Chan.

Wow, that's some serious rhythm.

What happens after that?

The Battle of Guandu?!
Of course, the middle part is still narrated, and then shadow puppetry is used to provide some visual accompaniment.

However, once the Battle of Guandu came out, everyone understood.

Because Cao Cao's strength had greatly increased after the Battle of Guandu, he decided to fight this battle.

It can be said that this is a cause-and-effect relationship.

However, if we were to film this Battle of Guandu... wouldn't it overshadow the main event?

Anyway, up until now, the opening of this movie has been driven by a relatively simple approach.

You could even say it's introducing the historical background.

So this time...

coming!

Wow!

Lord Guan makes his appearance!
"How valiant are the soldiers of Hebei!"

"In my opinion, they're nothing more than clay chickens and earthen dogs!"

As soon as that line came out, it was all set!
I felt it, I really felt it.

Of course, the Cao Mengde and Guan Yu of today are not from the old Three Kingdoms period.

Cao Mengde was Zhang Fengyi, and Guan Yu was Yu Rongguang.

To be fair, their acting skills are not a problem.

Yu Rongguang spent a considerable amount of time in Hong Kong.

Now, this man appears in a green robe, his face as red as a jujube, with a green dragon and crescent moon, riding a fine steed.

what! !

With a loud shout, he charged straight into Yuan Shao's army!
Good guy, really good guy!

A fierce wind was blowing across the battlefield.

Yan Liang, who had been so powerful and invincible just moments before, was laughing wildly when suddenly a tall, fine horse emerged from the whirlwind, followed by a red-faced warrior on horseback.

what! ! !
Like a thunderbolt, the crescent blade flashed with cold light, and a head fell to the ground!
it is good! ! !
(End of this chapter)