I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 402, Wang Shuo: Let's use a clever strategy of using one tiger to devour another. I've heard there's a very talented screenwriter in Hong Kong.

Zhang Yishan had barely returned to Beijing and hadn't even settled in when a phone call summoned him out.

The call was made by someone close to Wang Su.

The location is a private courtyard in Houhai, and it is not open to the public.

Pushing open the vermilion wooden door, one finds a rockery and flowing water, with winding paths leading to a bright and airy space. Several well-dressed middle-aged people are drinking tea around a stone table.

Sitting in the main seat was Wang Suo.

Zheng Long was also there; both were influential figures in Beijing's social circles.

"Yishan is here, please sit down." Wang Su raised his chin, gesturing to the empty seat next to him.

Zhang Yishan felt a little apprehensive; sitting upright, he was quite nervous.

These two are truly big shots! I have no right to be invited by them like this.

Even the most reckless person knows that the person in front of him is a big shot, a real, damn big shot!
"Uncle Wang, Uncle Zheng."

"Hey, don't be so polite." Zheng Long poured him a cup of steaming tea. "I heard you went to visit Li Xuan on set?"

The conversation started quickly and directly.

Everyone in Beijing's film circle knows that Lu Chuan's "The Last Supper" is gearing up to compete with Li Xuan's film.

Lu Chuan is highly regarded in their circle, considered the leading figure among the seventh generation of directors. He is also highly regarded and expected to maintain his leading position.
"Yes, I went to take a look." Zhang Yishan picked up his teacup, his mind racing.

He recalled Chen Kun's reckless behavior on set, Fan Wei's acting skills, and Li Xuan's directing abilities.

I recalled Li Xuan's calm and collected demeanor behind the monitor, as if he were in complete control.

It reminds me of that scene, that orange, and that despair that could suffocate a person.

A surge of passion welled up in his heart.

"So? What's he up to this time?" Wang Su took a sip of tea, his tone casual, as if he were just asking offhand.

"That movie..." Zhang Yishan couldn't contain his excitement as soon as he started to speak, "It's amazing! Uncle Wang, let me tell you, that movie is absolutely different!"

"Oh? How is it different?" Zheng Long became interested.

“It’s…realistic!” Zhang Yishan racked his brains for words. “Extremely realistic! It’s about a group of patients who can’t afford medicine and can only wait to die…”

He tried hard to describe the shock he felt, but when the words came out, he felt they were pale and powerless.

He can't talk about the plot because he signed a confidentiality agreement—and even if he didn't, he can't just say anything.

Moreover, he didn't see the whole picture; he missed many parts.

"...Then the protagonist went to India to find medicine for them, and he was incredibly...incredibly powerful!"

Wang Su and Zheng Long exchanged a glance.

There was a hint of playfulness in that glance.

“Patient? Indian medicine?” Wang Shuo put down his teacup and tapped his fingers lightly on the stone table. “Listen, this sounds a bit…confused.”

"It's not chaos!" Zhang Yishan exclaimed anxiously. "It's about focusing on reality! Focusing on those... those impoverished groups who can't survive! My brother... Li Xuan made this film to speak up for those people!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, and his face turned red.

"Ah."

Wang Su chuckled softly.

The laughter was short, but it was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the flame in Zhang Yishan's heart with a "sizzle".

"Speaking up for someone else?" Zheng Long laughed and shook his head. "Yishan, you're still young."

He patted Zhang Yishan on the shoulder earnestly.

"Making movies is not charity. What you're talking about, these impoverished groups, these social realities, sounds quite noble."

"But frankly, isn't it just the same old thing as art films?"

Art film?
Zhang Yishan was stunned.

It seems to make sense.

But it's strange.
"Winning awards is possible," Zheng Long mused, "but what about box office performance?"

After thinking for a moment, Wang Shuo said.

"But Li Xuan is betting against Huayi Brothers on box office revenue this time, and he's using this kind of subject matter. Is there something we don't know about?"

Zhang Yishan opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

He wanted to argue that the movie wasn't what they thought; that it had a huge emotional impact and could resonate with everyone.

But looking at Wang Su and Zheng Long's "you're still too green" expressions, all the words stuck in his throat.

"Have you heard of Lu Chuan's 'The King's Feast'?" Zheng Long changed the subject, but the meaning was self-evident.

"A historical epic, an all-star cast, Liu Ye, Wu Yanzu, Zhang Zhen... aren't they all top-tier actors?"

"The subject matter, the Feast at Hongmen, who in China doesn't know it? It has natural national recognition."

"The investment and the scale are both top-notch."

Wang Su took over the conversation.

"What about Li Xuan? What does he have? A group of patients? A guy selling Indian medicine? This story sounds so low-class."

"He thinks he can sweep the box office just because he made 'Source Code'? Times have changed, lad."

"Using this kind of subject matter to compete with 'The Last Supper'..."

Wang Su shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"He's dead."

"No place to bury the dead."

Zheng Long added a sentence, then took a sip of tea, as if he could already see the final outcome.

I feel relieved. If it's a movie like this, then it's acceptable.

Zheng Long and Wang Su exchanged a glance.

That's Lu Chuan's job.

This will allow us to avenge our previous defeat.
Unlike Source Code, this time there's no high-class emotional drive; it's purely a niche commercial film, similar in style to Into the Dust.
It's clear that Li Xuan is very interested in winning the award. But this time, many people are targeting him for winning.

It seems the source code was successful.

Perhaps the success of this godfather of science fiction was truly just a coincidence?
He had no idea what the audience wanted. At least in Wang Shuo's view, this was probably just another example of the "scar literature" genre.

That must be it.

Similarly, Li Xuan should also be suppressed in the television drama field.

"By the way, are you sure the person you found can suppress Li Xuan's notebook?" Zheng Long asked Wang Su, who was standing next to him.

“Don’t worry, although my friend’s manuscript hasn’t been published yet, it’s a work that has been polished for twenty years. Once it’s released, it will absolutely be breathtaking,” Wang Su paused and said, “You know Liang Xiaosheng, right?”

"He successively created a series of novels on the theme of educated youth sent to the Great Northern Wilderness, such as 'This Is a Magical Land,' 'Tonight There Is a Snowstorm,' 'Snow City,' 'Unforgettable Teacher's Kindness,' and 'Rings of Time.' He was a professor in the Department of Literature at People's University in Beiping. He has a manuscript called 'The Human World,' which, although unpublished, is still very impactful. I want to find a screenwriter to adapt it to put Li Xuan in his place."

"Do you have someone chosen?"

Zheng Long was puzzled.

Although screenwriters don't hold a high position in the film and television industry, Wang Shuo and his group, centered around the old Beijing circle, know how important screenwriters are.
A top-notch screenwriter and director can create a chemical reaction. Or rather, a top-notch director is, in essence, a screenwriter.

“Yes,” Wang Shuo said, squinting. “Remember that hotshot screenwriter from Hong Kong before, the guy named Sheng Chang? I’d like him to revise the script.”

"His recently released film, 'Parasite,' has been adapted for the Korean Peninsula."

"In this world, on this vast land, there are many more talented people than just Li Xuan!"

At this time, Wang Jinsong and the others also returned to Beijing Film Academy.

Before Tian Zhuang returned, Wang Fengsheng arrived at the professor's office.

"So, Professor Wang, how did your trip with these young men go to check out the movie?"

"Asking me is useless. I've never been objective about Li Xuan's affairs," Wang Jinsong said with a slight smile.

Wang Fengsheng, who was standing next to him, paused for a moment.

Think about it too.

How could Wang Jingsong be objective about Li Xuan's situation? Li Xuan was his student, his proudest student, without exception.

Even for Wang Fengsheng...

Li Xuan is also the most outstanding student he has brought in since he became the principal of Beijing Film Academy—not as an actor, but as the student with the highest 'overall quality', without exception.

The Class of '96 produced a star class, producing three big stars.

Level 02 produced a giant—

A completely different kind of giant.

“Okay, I know the general plot outline and have some understanding of the story,” Wang Fengsheng paused before continuing, “At least, I see your confidence.”

Although Wang Jingsong didn't say anything, his face showed 'confidence'.
It can be said that there is genuine confidence in Li Xuan's film works.

At this moment, Wang Fengsheng was also thinking about Li Xuan's movie; it couldn't possibly be a 'bad' movie.

After all, that was Li Xuan's work.

However, there is one thing.
A good movie doesn't guarantee a winning movie—Wang Jinsong. He probably doesn't know the specific details of the bet between Li Xuan and Huayi, which is why he's so confident.

If he knew the details of the bet with Huayi, would things still be the same?
Wang Fengsheng didn't know either.

"By the way, have you checked on the progress of your film 'The Age of Awakening'?" Wang Fengsheng asked Wang Jinsong. "This is your comeback film after so many years away from the screen."

To put it bluntly, who among those who become teachers wasn't once an actor/director? It's just that the elimination process is indeed cruel.

Most of the teachers at the Beijing Film Academy were former "actors" who had been eliminated from acting.

"The Age of Awakening" can be considered a "favor" and "repayment" from students to their teachers.

Wang Jinsong's last dance after being eliminated.
"It won't happen that quickly; it's a rather unique subject matter. It will still need to undergo a period of review before it can be broadcast."

"makes sense."

"The Age of Awakening" is the kind of show whose subject matter alone suggests it will require a considerable amount of time to pass censorship.
But one thing is certain.

It will definitely air before the award nominations begin.

This is China Film Group's promise.
After filming wrapped on "Dying to Survive".

Wang Lei was quietly looking at the news in the company, with the report brought by Wang Haiyang next to him. In fact, his expression was quite complicated.

"Mr. Wang, the board of directors' impeachment motion..."

"Okay, I understand." Wang Lei took the impeachment document from the board of directors, then threw it into the trash can without even looking at it.

Wang Haiyang was also aware of this outcome.
The board's impeachment was simply an angry denunciation of this "high-stakes gamble" for not being approved by the board.

Wang Lei neither confirmed nor denied this – the company hasn't gone public yet, so he's still the legal representative and the major shareholder, and he has the power to make decisions.
"If anyone wants to withdraw their investment, they are welcome to do so anytime. It's not like I don't have the money to buy it back. If I can get the shares at a low price, that would be even better." Wang Lei looked at Wang Haiyang and teased with a smile, "Old Wang, do you think I did the right thing or the wrong thing this time?"

"Um"

Wang Haiyang looked at Wang Lei and said softly, "I think Mr. Wang acted impulsively this time, but based on the information I have, our chances of winning are still very high. His movie does focus on a group of 'ordinary people,' and perhaps it incorporates some of the logic of Hollywood's rise to fame in action films, but the effect might clash."

The rise of ordinary people and the spotlight on marginalized individuals.

Li Xuan excels at this kind of 'small narrative within a large context'.

Currently, Wang Haiyang's analysis is as follows:
This narrative logic makes it easy to achieve awards.

It incorporates the logic of action-packed movies to achieve box office success.
But his opponents are the Beijing film industry, which is going all out for its schedules.
Achieving results is acceptable.

Winning is difficult.

In this bet, Huayi has a very high chance of winning—it's just that the board of directors feels the price to pay is too high.

The consequences of losing would be too great.

Even the slightest possibility.

Even Wang Haiyang, who had followed Wang Lei for so many years, was a little confused about what Wang Lei was thinking and why he would make such a bet.

"Um"

Wang Lei didn't really listen to Wang Haiyang's analysis, and simply said, "We will win."

"I will win."

Wang Haiyang heard the word "I," and because he was very observant, he discerned something from it.

This is rare.

Wang Lei no longer uses "company" as a prefix; he used to say "the company will win."

This time, I will win.

Is there a difference?

Wang Haiyang didn't know
After finishing filming "Dying to Survive", Li Xuan returned home.

At this moment, Li Xuan was also taking stock of what was to come.

The editing reviews for "The Age of Awakening" and "Dying to Survive," as well as the fact that "Parasite" has already been filmed, have received some explosive feedback in Hong Kong.

Just like "New World," shortly after its broadcast, news came from Hong Kong that the Korean Peninsula wanted to buy the rights, and the price offered was very favorable.
Of course, the movie "Parasite" was never approved for censorship in China, but Li Xuan didn't care. The movie did have some exaggerated aspects.

However, without exaggeration, it wouldn't make people on the other side of the peninsula feel so immersed in the story.
At this moment, Wei Ming spoke up from the side.

"Xuan'er, recently quite a few people have come to you asking for manuscripts while you're at home."

"Am I still [Shengchang]?"

"Shengchang, well, you can't get a date with the real person just by asking for doujinshi." Wei Ming teased, saying that with Li Xuan's current status, he couldn't get a date with the real person just by asking for doujinshi.

A pseudonym would be fine.

Li Xuan was interested in listening.

Upon hearing this, I realized it was a project by the Beijing entertainment circle and CCTV, titled "Human World".
Uh, people from the Beijing circle are trying to contact me—they're obviously after my pseudonym.

After thinking for a moment, Li Xuan squinted and said.

"It's possible to write it, but I have one condition."

"What conditions?"

"Let Andy Lau negotiate with them. I will invest and must have a 15% share. I also require them to have a say in the scriptwriting center. If possible, give them the script samples."

(End of this chapter)