Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 246 Setting a Trap for Huayi Brothers and the Bond Between Two Soldiers

"Yan'er, are you going to submit your work to 'The Sun Also Rises'?"

After seeing off Master Han and Jiang Wen, Yan Li chatted with the teahouse manager about the follow-up arrangements before heading home. However, he received a call from Fatty Yu halfway home.
Recently, Yan Li and Fatty Yu have been getting closer, and once their relationship developed, they even started addressing each other differently.

Fatty Yu calls Yan Li "Old Yan" or "Yan'er," the latter being a single character with the suffix "-er." Yan Li calls him "Brother Yu" or "Old Yu."

The two are less than ten years apart, so they can be considered peers and have similar statuses. Changing their form of address makes them seem closer.

This is quite popular in the capital, with people calling each other "brother" and "sister." Yan Li even encountered someone who called him "Master Yan."

However, Yan Li wasn't too keen on this title; if he wasn't familiar with it or didn't think it was appropriate, he preferred the official title.

"You're very well-informed."

Yan Li raised an eyebrow: "Have you been eyeing this for a while? What, you want to get involved too?"

Fatty Yu didn't admit it; instead, he inquired about Yan Li's opinion on "The Sun Also Rises."

Yan Li knew a bit about Fatty. Given the relationship between China Film Group and Bona Film Group, if Master Han wanted to find someone to help Jiang Wen secure investment, Fatty Yu would definitely be ahead of Yan Li in the list.

However, since the matchmaking failed, it's likely that Fatty Yu had some doubts.

However, Jiang Wen's reputation still carries weight, and Yan Li, who previously directed the dark horse of the year, "Crazy Stone," also has considerable influence.

Upon hearing the news, Fatty Yu became restless and called Yan Li to inquire about the situation.

“Brother Yu, given our relationship, I won’t lie to you. This movie is quite risky, but I have faith in Jiang Wen and am willing to take the gamble with him.”

"If I make a profit, everyone's happy; if I lose, consider it a favor to me."

Yan Li was telling the truth, but he omitted some crucial details that couldn't be said, which was enough for the fat man.

Investing in movies these days is like gambling again and again. If you're not brave enough to gamble, you might as well switch careers.

Jiang Wen's project has a gimmick, but due to various reasons, everyone is hesitant and uncertain. When someone takes the lead, others will follow.

"Don't rush to find someone else, let me hold a meeting and discuss it."

Fatty Yu hung up the phone in a hurry. Yan Li looked thoughtful and then called Li Xue.

"Could you spread the word to Huayi Brothers that I have high hopes for Jiang Wen's 'The Sun Also Rises' and that I've secured a large investment from Bona Film Group?"

This wasn't the first time Li Xue had done something like this. She discussed the details with Yan Li and ensured that the Wang brothers would hear the rumor by today.

Li Xue spoke with confidence, as she is currently one of the heads of artist management at Huayi Brothers, and spreading news is a piece of cake for her.

Yan Li hung up the phone and then called an acquaintance. Li Xiaolu's somewhat surprised voice rang out.

"Why did Boss Yan suddenly decide to call me?"

"Is it convenient for you to talk?"

Li Xiaolu glanced at her boyfriend Li Chen, who was watching TV, hesitated for a moment, then turned and went into the bedroom.

"it's OK now."

"I remember you're an artist under Orange Sky Entertainment. Do you know anyone in the company who can spread the word for me without exposing your identity? Ideally, they could even let your boss know."

Yan Li stated his requirements, and Li Xiaolu asked in confusion, "Why did you come to me about this?"

Yan Li is not the only acquaintance of Orange Sky. Not to mention Sister Hua, Tong Dawei and Yang Xue are both in Orange Sky now, and their relationship is much closer than hers with Yan Li.

"They don't have your guts, nor your ability."

Yan Li didn't approach Li Xiaolu out of the blue. Although Wang Jinghua and the others were familiar with each other, they might not have the guts to help him scheme against Chengtian. Li Xiaolu had a tendency to enjoy watching the drama unfold, so she was more likely to be persuaded.

Moreover, Li Xiaolu is skilled in social interaction and has a certain status and network of connections, making her much more useful than Yang Xue and Tong Da.

More importantly, Yang Xue and Tong Dawei had a good relationship with Yan Li, and Yan Li didn't want to make things difficult for them. Besides, if the truth came out, it could easily implicate them.

Li Xiaolu didn't care; at worst, Yan Li would arrange some benefits for her.

Li Xiaolu was unaware of these thoughts, and she still had some doubts: "How can you be sure I will agree, or that I won't betray you?"

"I trust my judgment."

Yan Li's words were pure nonsense. Li Xiaolu wouldn't stand for it. Even if he found someone else, it would be like betraying him. It was just a waste of time to throw bait, and it didn't matter if he didn't catch any fish.

However, Li Xiaolu was still quite pleased, feeling that Yan Li valued her and treated her as someone important, so she was sure she wouldn't lose face.

"No problem, I'll definitely get this done for you."

Yan Li flattered him again, then explained the matter and promised benefits.

"If you get this done, I'll arrange a high-paying, feature-rich role for you."

Li Xiaolu doesn't care much about acting offers. She's not career-driven, comes from a wealthy family, has plenty of money, and loves to have fun, so she doesn't have a strong desire to join film crews.

"You should thank me and help arrange something for my Li Chen."

Li Xiaolu herself doesn't act, but she's willing to promote her boyfriend Li Chen's acting career. This way, he can earn money to support the family, and his fame will make him look good when he's out in public.

"You mean that guy from the barbecue place last time? No problem."

Arranging for Li Xiaolu might be a bit of a challenge for Yan Li, since she's a popular young actress and doesn't have access to many resources.

Li Chen is far less famous than Li Xiaolu. With Yan Li's current resources and connections, it wouldn't be difficult for him to get a leading role.

After hanging up the phone, Li Xiaolu was in a good mood.

She didn't know Yan Li's purpose in asking her to deliver this message, but it probably wasn't something he was planning.

Could this mean I've been dragged into a legendary business war?!
This was incredibly new and exciting for Li Xiaolu, who loved to have fun.

Furthermore, the fact that she was able to get closer to Yan Li, a powerful figure, and secure benefits for her boyfriend made Li Xiaolu even happier. She was humming a little tune as she came out of the bedroom.

Li Chen asked curiously, "Who made the call?"

"Nobody, friend."

Li Xiaolu promised Yan Li to keep it a secret, so she casually brushed off her boyfriend. Then, while eating an apple and fiddling with her phone, she pondered how to spread the news, completely unaware of the slight flicker in her boyfriend Li Chen's eyes as he looked at her.

My girlfriend sneaks off to the bedroom after answering a phone call, then comes out looking all smug. Now she's texting on her phone and won't let me see it.

Anyone would have their own doubts!
Because Li Chen is not as famous as Li Xiaolu, and because of the imbalance in their romantic relationship, he is somewhat insecure.

Even without wind, ripples can form; imagine what would happen if a clod of dirt were thrown into the water.

While Li Xiaolu was in the restroom, Li Chen couldn't resist glancing at her phone. Since her phone didn't have a password lock, Li Chen easily saw her previous call logs.

Yan Li

A person's name is like a tree's shadow; those who know Boss Yan's style and reputation understand it all. When Li Chen saw those two words in the contact's notes, his blood almost turned cold.

Considering Li Xiaolu's behavior just now, and considering that Li Xiaolu has been frequently using the excuse of Teddy Sisters gatherings to go out recently, her outings have increased significantly compared to before, and she has also expressed her appreciation and admiration for Yan Li on several occasions.

"..."

Li Chen thought about it more and more and felt that the color of his head was changing, but he still held onto a glimmer of hope, since there was not enough evidence and it was all just his guess.

Maybe he misunderstood!

Li Chen wanted to ask Li Xiaolu, but he was a little hesitant. If things went wrong, the latter wasn't known for her good temper and could easily scratch his face if she got angry.

It must be a misunderstanding!

After much difficulty, Li Chen finally convinced himself, but then Li Xiaolu came back from the bathroom, and after a while, she ran into the bedroom to make a phone call, not letting him listen.

Li Chen: "..."

...

Li Xue was extremely efficient, and Wang Zhongjun quickly received the news, then became conflicted.

Wang Zhongjun knew about Jiang Wen's movie much earlier than Yu Pangzi and Yan Li, since he was one of the investors in "Devils on the Doorstep". When Jiang Wen made a new movie, he would definitely look for old acquaintances first.

However, Wang Zhongjun had a very bad experience with "Devils on the Doorstep" back then, so he did not participate in the investment.

However, like the fat man, he was more or less influenced by Jiang Wen's abilities and reputation, and was conflicted inside.

The film had encountered various setbacks, and Wang Zhongjun was somewhat pleased with himself for being smart enough to avoid the pitfalls.

But this time, upon hearing that Yan Li and Fatty Yu were planning to invest, he couldn't be smug anymore.

Yan Li has a great reputation, and Yu Pangzi is also quite famous, especially in today's film industry. Bona can be said to be the number one distribution company, with even greater prestige than Yan Li.

With the two joining forces to support Jiang Wen, and with Han Sanye acting as a go-between, this lineup truly made Wang Zhongjun a little uneasy.

Did I avoid the trap, or did I miss out on the opportunity?
Wang Zhongjun was hesitant and made several phone calls, using his connections to inquire about relevant information.

When Bona learned for certain that Yan Li would directly invest 1000 million yuan and help attract investment, Bona was indeed inclined to invest, or even acquire the issuance rights.

After hesitating for a while, Wang Zhongjun called Jiang Wen and asked him to come out and talk.

Jiang Wen is a man of principle; once an agreement is made, it cannot be broken. Besides, he knows perfectly well what kind of treatment he received when he approached Huayi Brothers and what kind of treatment he received when he approached Yan Li.

Since Yan Li had already put in a good word for him, Jiang Wen told Wang Zhongjun to seek investment from Yan Li, who is now the producer of "The Sun Also Rises".

Wang Zhongjun made a conscious move and called Fatty Yu to ask for his opinion on the film.

Unlike Yan Li, Fatty Yu was genuinely optimistic and willing to take the gamble, hence his confident tone.

Because of what happened to Fatty, Wang Zhongjun contacted Yan Li directly, but the latter was somewhat hesitant.

"Mr. Wang, we currently have a funding gap. If you'd like to invest, I'd welcome it."

"But let's be upfront about this: this movie is risky. You should think it over carefully, or you'll regret it later."

Given Yan Li's relationship with Huayi Brothers, even if he readily welcomed him, Wang Zhongjun might still harbor some doubts.

But Yan Li's words, seemingly trying to dissuade him, made Wang Zhongjun even more determined to participate.

After all, Yan Li actually invested 1000 million yuan; this isn't the kind of trap you set.

Even if they do lose money, the risk will be shared among Yanli, Bona, and Huayi, so the losses won't be too great.

But if they made a profit, and a lot of it, and Huayi Brothers had the opportunity but didn't invest, Wang Zhongjun would be furious.

So, despite Yan Li's repeated reminders, Huayi Brothers still invested in "The Sun Also Rises" despite the "pressure".

Huayi Brothers' involvement further strengthened Bona's confidence; Yu Jianlin not only wanted to invest but also to acquire the distribution rights.

After the news broke, other companies were also eager to make a move.

For example, Boss Wu was genuinely considering participating in Orange Sky, which Yan Li was eyeing, but Orange Sky's current funds were going to be invested in "Red Cliff" and they also planned to acquire Golden Harvest, so they really didn't have much money left and could only regretfully miss out.

The one who acted the fastest was Yinghuang in Hong Kong; Boss Yang greatly admired Jiang Wen.

Upon hearing of the opportunity to collaborate, and with several other mainland bigwigs acting as guarantors, they proactively contacted Yan Li, hoping to become shareholders of Yinghuang.

Yan Li used the same old rhetoric: the risks are considerable, so invest with caution.

These words couldn't scare Fatty Yu, let alone the seasoned Boss Yang.

Which of Hong Kong's film giants hasn't lost money? Often, they lose more than they earn, but they still keep investing.

Mr. Yang not only invests, but he invests a lot, sometimes as much as 1000 million yuan at a time, because he thinks small-scale investments are not profitable.

This creates a problem: there aren't enough shares to go around.

The expected fundraising amount is 25 million yuan, with Yinghuang contributing 10 million yuan and Yanli contributing 10 million yuan. Even if Huayi Brothers and Bona Film Group don't contribute 2.5 million yuan each, it's unlikely that each of them would contribute 2.5 million yuan.

So Yan Li did some research and said that he had been emphasizing that this movie was high-risk and that he was just helping a friend.

It's rare to receive such kindness and support for the film, so he couldn't very well keep it a secret.

Yinghuang's 1000 million was a gesture of consideration for his friends in Hong Kong. He set aside 500 million from his own share, and Huayi Brothers, Bona Film Group, and Yi'an Film Group each contributed 500 million.

If we make money, we all make money together; if we lose money, we all lose money together.

Huayi Brothers and Bona Film Group thought Yan Li did a good job.

They'd panic if they invested too much, and it wouldn't be worth it if they invested too little. 500 million was just the right amount, so all three parties agreed that no one would make too much or lose too much, thus maintaining a balance.

With four companies investing – Yinghuang, Yi'an, Huayi, and Bona – this is quite a big deal.

Even Master Han was hesitant, wondering if China Film Group could get involved. With these four companies involved, they could quell a lot of dissent.

But Yanli isn't accepting any more; there aren't enough shares to go around, so it's too late to invest now. Let's cooperate next time.

Yan Li promoted not only Han Sanye, but also several other companies, including Star Media, Xiaoma Benteng, and Enlight Media.

Later, when Yan Li met with Wang Zhongjun, Fatty Yu, and Yinghuang, a high-level executive, he couldn't help but laugh at himself, saying that he had offended quite a few people this time.

The bosses were all very satisfied; things that are fought over are always the most delicious.

Companies outside were vying to invest in Yan Li, but he refused, which only proved that their choice was correct. Luckily, they had a good relationship and acted early, otherwise they wouldn't have gotten a chance.

However, having learned his lesson from Jiang Wen, Wang Zhongjun specifically reminded Yan Li not to spoil Jiang Wen too much.

That old rascal is impulsive and squanders money like water. We have to keep an eye on him, otherwise we'll overspend the 2500 million.

There may not be a shortage of investors by then, but it will definitely affect their share and interests.

Yan Li took this to heart and specifically assigned someone to oversee the funds.

In addition, Jiang Wen himself also contributed a lot of money. He waived his own salary and director's fee, which was equivalent to working for free. He, his wife, and his younger brother Jiang Wu also invested money.

He doesn't feel bad about spending investors' money, but when he adds his own, his wife's, and his brother's savings to his plate, he should be more aware of his own situation.

After securing the investment, Jiang Wen made a special trip back to the capital to thank Yan Li.

Yan Li was the first investor he encountered setbacks with, and he was also the one who arranged the subsequent funding. No matter how much money others offered, he had to remember the favor he owed to Yan Li. The same went for Third Master Han; Yan Li gave him face and was also exceptionally capable, so he took on the project and handled it beautifully.

As for rejecting China Film Investment, it's harmless. It was just a tentative inquiry anyway. If they hadn't invested then, they would have been too late to get on board. There are no such things as easy money.

When Han Sanye was in a good mood, he reported another private enterprise to the bureau for support.

Of course, Master Han himself didn't have that much power; Yi An was qualified to be selected.

But being qualified and having someone to give you a crucial push are two completely different things.

Sometimes, it can be just a name that directly determines the future of a company.

Yan Li reviewed the situation: he made a small investment, gained Jiang Wen's favor, laid the groundwork for entering the "Let the Bullets Fly" project, and also made a good impression on Master Han.

He didn't intend to trick Fatty Yu and Yinghuang; they came to him on their own initiative, and he'd already said everything he needed to say.

He set a trap for Huayi Brothers and used some tricks, but he felt no guilt whatsoever for cheating them.

And it might not be a trap. "The Sun Also Rises" is high-risk and not guaranteed to lose money. If it wins an award or even an Oscar, it might actually make a profit.

Fatty Yu, Wang Zhongjun, and Boss Yang weren't stupid; they had thought of this as well.

Jiang Wen has always performed well in Europe. If he wins a major award, and everyone works hard on marketing and promotion, he could potentially gross tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of yuan at the box office in mainland China, and then sell some copyrights overseas. It is possible that he could achieve both fame and fortune.

Yinghuang also cast an actor, Jackie Chan's son.

Yan Li had originally considered having Fan Xiaopang get some experience, but the latter simply didn't have the time, so the idea was abandoned.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Yan Li didn't take the "The Sun Also Rises" project too seriously.

However, many observant people saw Yan Li's connections and influence in this incident.

They didn't know the specifics of the situation, only that Yan Li said he would help Jiang Wen, and in just a few days he managed to raise 2500 million yuan from Bona, Huayi, and Yinghuang. Many people wanted to invest, but Yan Li refused them all.

Perhaps Yan Li himself was used to it. With his reputation and halo, as well as his intelligence network, he could figure out people's hearts and attract investment. It was not difficult for him at all.

But for filmmakers and production crews who have been begging and pleading and have been met with setbacks everywhere, Yan Li's move can be described as a divine skill.

As a result, Yan Li found that his popularity in the film industry had suddenly improved, and many people wanted to invest in him or attract investment.

For example, the film "Jinling, Jinling," which took several years to develop in order to attract investment.

This film has been in the works for a long time, and director Lu Chuan has been trying to attract investment, but without much success.

There are many reasons, but in short, it is not viewed favorably.

After hearing about Jiang Wen's plight, Lu Chuan used her connections to find Yan Li, hoping that President Yan could help her.

Yan Li had a very low opinion of Lu because he had previously triggered Qin Lan's resume information.

However, considering the middleman's feelings, he took the script back and looked at it, then replied with four words—"Find someone better."

Later, someone asked Yan Li for his opinion on the film.

Normally, Yan Li wouldn't kick someone when they're down, but considering Lu Chuan and the movie's plot, he still gave his own evaluation.

"The screenwriter is probably Japanese."

Once this got out, Lu Chuan, the director and screenwriter, couldn't understand it at all.

But as Yan Li had just secured investment for "The Sun Also Rises," his words carried weight, and "Jinling, Jinling," which was already struggling to attract investment, became even more ignored.

Aside from this film, Yan Li declined many other film offers, but regardless of whether they were well-received or not, he didn't say anything more about them publicly.

Most of the films were politely rejected, but some caught Yan Li's eye.

For example, a low-budget film called "Love Transfer".

The plot is quite interesting. The male protagonist strings together twelve beautiful women like candied hawthorns, incorporating major and minor events from 2006, which can be considered a way to celebrate the New Year.

The film was produced by China Film Group. They originally wanted to partner with Orange Sky Entertainment, but Han Sanye thought Yan Li was reliable, and the film needed many female stars, which was Yan Li's strength.

Yan Li thought this movie had potential.

The budget is very low, and since it's an urban film, many things can be used to add advertisements, which can save a lot of costs.

At the same time, using themes of Lunar New Year and love can also leverage Yi An's on-the-ground promotion strategy, which is beneficial for the release.

Yan Li talked with people from China Film Group and the film crew. Without spending a penny, he secured 50% of the film's share and distribution rights in exchange for product placement (no less than 300 million yuan) and low-priced or friendly cameo appearances by female stars.

Originally, China Film Group was considering whether Yan Li should play the male lead, which would make him a star player for twelve other actors and generate more buzz.

But Yan Li refused.

The film has a comedic tone, and the protagonist is a middle-aged man who can only pick up girls by using cheat codes.

Neither Yan Li himself nor the public's impression fits this kind of "incompetent" middle-aged man, and forcing him to play the role feels very incongruous.

The original casting choice, Xu Zheng, was more suitable; he can play the "angel" who helps him find a woman.

Actually, Yan Li doesn't need to put in much effort; China Film Group can easily find a few actresses.

Yan Li could ask the Teddy Sisters, the Seven Fairies, and Wang Ou if anyone was available, and he could get everyone together, and they would all be well-known figures.

Another movie that left an impression on Yan Li was "Apple".

The director is a woman named Li Yu. Yan Li had previously obtained information about this movie.

Li Yu approached Yan Li for two reasons: first, to secure investment, and second, to cast Fan Xiaopang as the female lead.

Yan Li was initially quite interested in the movie because of the intelligence she received, but after reading the script, she was told to go somewhere cool and stay away.

Li Yu was still not giving up, so she took the script to Fan Xiaopang, only to be turned away again.

Fan Xiaopang lived a comfortable life, with no shortage of money or resources. She was so bored that she filmed explicit scenes that she almost suspected Li Yu was bribed by Dong Qin to frame her.

However, although he did not take on the role in "Apple", Fan Xiaopang admired the director after talking with Li Yu and invested 100 million yuan of his own money to become an investor in the film.

As Fan Xiaopang spent more time with Yan Li, his thinking changed, and he began to consciously consider working behind the scenes, in addition to being an actor.

However, given that Yi An has many projects that need her, and Yan Li is already behind the scenes, Fan Xiaopang is not inclined to move behind the scenes. Investing in "Apple" is just a small test.

As for acting in movies, Fan Xiaopang wasn't in a hurry, because Yan Li had already told her about it before Li Yu approached her.

He has found a good script and is currently refining and revising it, as well as doing preliminary planning.

The movie is called "Painted Skin".

...

Since entering the film market, Yan Li has always placed more emphasis on theatrical releases and distribution, while focusing on small to medium budgets in production.

But to be honest, in the current film market, especially if you want to break into the top tier, it's very difficult to succeed with a small investment.

Low budgets mean no stars, poor promotional resources, and weak appeal to audiences, making it inherently difficult to achieve high box office returns.

There are a few dark horses, and Yan Li doesn't just invest in them on a whim, because many dark horses have owners behind them.

Other film companies aren't all just sitting around doing nothing either. If the script is decent and the budget isn't high, many film companies are willing to invest.

Even if Yan Li casts his net, he might not catch any fish. It's a low-budget film, so there's not much profit to be made.

So, things have come full circle, and we've come back to where we started.

If Yi An wants to establish herself in the film industry and make a name for herself, she needs to make "blockbusters" that she leads and that are of a certain scale.

Yan Li had considered this matter before and had always been thinking about finding a good notebook.

Perhaps it was because he had been thinking about it for a long time, or perhaps it was because he had been approached by many film crews recently. In any case, the monthly news report not long ago triggered information about the future of "Painted Skin" for Yan Li.

Actually, Yan Li had seen some information about this movie before.

However, with only a name and a few fragments of information, Yan Li was at a loss.

This intelligence was much more detailed, which opened up Yan Li's mind and allowed him to understand the core creative team, the film's strengths and weaknesses, and some behind-the-scenes information.

Then Yan Li felt that this movie was quite suitable for Yi An.

First, there's the investment. Although it's not small, probably tens of millions, it's still within my budget.

Moreover, the box office prospects in the intelligence gave Yan Li confidence, so even if the film flopped, he wouldn't lose too much money.

Secondly, this movie is very popular, and the male lead and the two female leads all benefited greatly.

Yan Li places particular importance on the "added value" of movies.

This is also the biggest advantage of movies; the added value they generate far exceeds the revenue from the movies themselves.

Simply having high box office numbers doesn't make a movie a true blockbuster.

Third, Yan Li is confident that he can replicate or even enhance the film's selling points.

It's not that just because intelligence reports say a certain movie will have high box office returns, it will also have high returns if Yan Li uses the same name.

The success of many films depends on a combination of favorable timing, location, and people; actors, behind-the-scenes staff, publicity and distribution, and release schedule are all very important factors.

Take "Crazy Stone" as an example.

Yan Li didn't make any changes to the film itself, but instead increased the budget and optimized it, and then focused on publicity and distribution to make up for the shortcomings, which is why it was a box office hit.

If he were to act presumptuously and arbitrarily change the plot, or replace the director or the main actors, "Crazy Stone" might flop.

He doesn't plan to change the screenwriter or director of "Painted Skin," but he will provide reminders based on the advantages and disadvantages revealed by intelligence.

The actors will definitely need to be replaced, but not randomly. We need to ensure the acting quality and generate buzz.

The movie "Painted Skin" is touted as a fantasy blockbuster, but it actually leans more towards emotions. It combines human love, Eastern aesthetics, and visual effects to precisely target its audience and rake in box office revenue.

Another key factor that must be mentioned is the use of several popular celebrities to attract casual viewers.

With Zhou Xun guaranteeing acting skills, Xiao Yanzi providing national recognition, Chen Kun being a popular young actor, and Donnie Yen attracting action movie audiences, this cast was definitely carefully selected.

Yan Li couldn't use this lineup due to various considerations, but he had his own trump card—

The bond between two soldiers!
In terms of national popularity and acting skills, Shuangbing may not be as good as Zhou and Yan, but they are both above average.

At the same time, the grudges and love-hate relationship between the two soldiers led to their joint appearance in "Painted Skin," where they were also rivals in love, which was particularly eye-catching and could produce a chemical effect greater than 1+1>2.

Since "Happy Seven Fairies", the two soldiers have become increasingly popular and their bond has deepened.

It's not that no one has wanted to team them up to make money, but Yan Li has always held them back. Now, Yan Li feels it's time for the Shuangbing Alliance to turn the tables.

As for the male lead, there are currently three candidates.

One is Chen Kun; since he succeeded with the original version, he must have some merit.
One is Deng Chao, our company's future number one star. If we make him famous, he can make money for the company.

The last one is Yan Li himself.

To be honest, it's a bit of a waste for Yan Li to play this role, because he's already famous and can't make money like Deng Chao by acting. But Yan Li has one advantage, which is that he can maximize the synergy effect of the two soldiers.

The two soldiers were already captivating enough, but with the addition of Yan Li, both the soldiers and Yan Li became rivals for Yan Li's favor, both on and off screen.

The plot is a bit cliché, but that doesn't stop it from being popular!

The three of them joining forces could save a lot on advertising costs and attract a huge audience. It would also deepen their bond and generate various topics and benefits for the future.

Moreover, the male lead seems to be a military general, both tough and tender.

It's hard to say what Yan Li can do in other roles, but military generals are definitely his comfort zone, so there's no need to worry about his acting skills or image.

Another point is that the bond between the two soldiers is deep, and so are their conflicts. It wouldn't be surprising if these two started fighting on set one day.

Other male actors might not be able to keep the two in check. If Yan Li were there, it might exacerbate the conflict, but he could at least keep things in check and prevent a physical fight from breaking out on set.

Yan Li felt more and more that he was the most suitable candidate, but the project was still in the preparation stage and it was uncertain at the moment.

Putting everything else aside, there are very few domestic blockbusters at present that don't feature big-name actors from Hong Kong and Taiwan in leading roles.

"Painted Skin" needs to attract investment, and Yan Li needs to test the market and investors' acceptance of this.

In addition, Fan Xiaopang is easy to deal with. He has a good relationship with Li Bingbing, but she is not someone who can be summoned at will.

Many details need to be discussed clearly to let Li Bingbing know that doing this is beneficial to everyone and to give her sufficient respect.

Otherwise, if we force them to come by personal connections, and the relationship is ruined after filming, it will be difficult to get Shuangbing (a nickname for a male actor) together again in the future.

Playing the "Double Pawn" card well can lead to more than just winning a movie like "Painted Skin".

While giving Li Bingbing benefits and respect, we must not mistreat Fan Xiaopang.

Putting aside her relationship with Yan Li, as the eldest sister of her own family, she couldn't afford to be outnumbered in a two-pronged attack.

As I said before, it's only interesting when two soldiers are evenly matched; if one is bigger than the other, it loses its appeal.

Therefore, inviting two soldiers to assist Yan Li may not be too difficult. The real challenge for Yan Li is to make the two soldiers cooperate satisfactorily, each shining brightly, and to ensure that they can continue to cooperate in the future.

Yan Li is still confident, and he also believes that "Painted Skin" is likely to be a milestone moment for Shuangbing.

If their collaboration on "Painted Skin" is a huge success, it will further enhance the Shuangbing brand.

And because of the success of the commercial film, Shuangbing's popularity soared, truly placing her alongside the "Four Dan Actresses" and joining forces to become one of the top actresses...

　The details involving Bona Film Group, Huayi Brothers, and Emperor Entertainment Group are not fabrications by the author.

　　Emperor Entertainment Group has always been optimistic about Jiang Wen; they invested in the original timeline and can be considered a regular financial backer of Jiang Wen.
　　Yu, the actor who plays Fatty Yu, is also optimistic about this film. He signed a minimum guarantee distribution agreement with the original timeline, believing it could gross over 100 million yuan. He immediately got 600 copies made, more than "The Promise".

　　When Wang Zhongjun heard about Bona's big move, he got really excited and started gathering information. He predicted the box office would exceed 6000 million, but it was too late.
　　In this situation, the protagonist, acting as a go-between and addressing the root cause, could easily bring them into the picture.

　　Of course, the most crucial factor was the feedback from many friends. I also thought about it and, while trying to make the earlier plot points as reasonable as possible, managed to reconcile them.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)