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

Chapter 428, Liu Dehua's Dazed State: Li Xuan Really Looks Like a Sect Leader

At this moment, Li Xuan was focusing on choosing a role.

The protagonist's daughter, a member of the main group, and that doctor who is a blend of intellect and emotion.
Dr. Wei and Li Xuan planned to cast Andy Lau in the film. One phone call later, without even discussing the fee, Andy Lau flew over immediately.
"Mr. Li, it's been a long time."

"Heavenly King Liu, there's no need for us to be so formal." Li Xuan looked at this senior who had given him a lot of help on his path to growth.

"However, your investment of less than 200 million is indeed a bit less compared to 'The Great Wall' and even compared to your previous films."

"Actually, this cost is about right."

Xiang Huaqiang, who had been called over, smiled slightly and said...

"Many of these are internal company resources, like the special effects team that Boss Wang poached... The price is different from simply using a foreign special effects team..."

Liu Dehua nodded, "That makes sense."

Zhang Yimou's team has an advantage in special effects, but the cost is indeed extremely high.

Even Xiang Huaqiang himself was astonished by this investment.

He hasn't made such a huge investment since "Hero".

It can be said that this time, he has taken the attack seriously.

Seriously consolidate what is called 'status'.

Everyone knew the unspoken agreement.

"The Great Wall" is aiming to become a top-tier domestic production.

At the same time, the 'support' from Hollywood special effects companies is also a means of consolidating their own power of discourse.

They saw it.

He noticed Li Xuan.

This is the kind of powerful figure who carved out a path for himself on the Chinese internet with "The Age of Awakening".

Andy Lau is here as an actor—this time, he plays the true 'villain' in the drama, the doctor who proposes the suicide plan.

Xiang Huaqiang's purpose was even simpler.

Let's see what this 'third brother' needs.

The former partner of Huayi, Hong Kong's top capital company, was the first to express its opinion after Huayi changed hands.

Okay, I support this.

I can provide any kind of help.

"I would also appreciate it if you could help me with some artists and promotional channels, Second Brother."

"Your Huayi also has this... or...?"

Xiang Huaqiang was stunned for a moment.

I've come up with an idea.

If we want to leverage Hong Kong's promotional channels...
That's quite ambitious...
"Yes, that's what I mean," Li Xuan said after a pause.

"I want to export this work directly...without the villains, by partnering with foreign theaters. You have more channels for that."

....
Time waits for no one…
Li Xuan knew this too.

Although I am now in the position of one of the "Big Four" in the Chinese-speaking world.

If you want to move upwards.

It's the 'only one'.

The only one of its kind in the country.

However, as long as one has this goal, it will conflict with Zhang Yimou—that talented and ambitious super director in China.

A new era dawned, the Cannes red carpet heralded an era for international cinema…

He is the undisputed king of this era, even though "Let the Bullets Fly" has attracted so many viewers.

But in the public's perception, the strongest king is still Zhang Mouzi.

The King is a champion that combines domestic and international influence.

The people he promotes are still "Zhang Yimou girls".

They still have the ability to promote people….
The strongest ability to promote others….
Domestic influence, and international influence.

"Actually, if you expose Shengchang's identity, your influence will also increase..." At this moment, Andy Lau paused and said.

As one of the few people who knew that Li Xuan's talent had an even higher ceiling.

They also knew that Li Xuan had other aliases….
very scary.

"There's no rush..."

at this time.

Li Xuan shook his head.

There's really no rush...
Ultimately, I carry the burden of the desire to reach the 'one and only'.

"Interstellar"

"Three Body"

The Wandering Earth series.

Just look at these works…..
Can I take myself to the top?

Whether it's carrying the burden of one's own dreams, the dreams of friends, family, or enemies, or the alluring rewards offered by the system...
Or rather—the most primal ambition and desire to stand at the 'pinnacle'.

"Go forward..."

"Even if Zhang Mouzi is the one standing in my way..."

at this time.

In Liu Dehua's view.

Li Xuan is a person who exudes an absolute domineering aura.

Some trance.

He really is.

He has the aura of a 'master'.

Inside the studio, a huge blue screen almost filled the entire field of vision, and cold metal scaffolding and complex cables crisscrossed like the skeleton and veins of a giant beast.

The crew of Interstellar is preparing to create a brand new universe in this "nothingness".

In a corner of the film set, a young man wearing a well-tailored casual suit and gold-rimmed glasses stood with his arms crossed.
Ye Feng, a top student who graduated from an Ivy League school, is also one of the most valuable "legacy" Wang Lei left to Li Xuan—the Chinese-American head of the "Third Floor" special effects studio.

"Ye, it's been a long time." A steady voice came from behind.

Ye Feng turned around and, upon seeing the person who had arrived, a perfectly timed smile of surprise appeared on his slightly arrogant face: "Mr. Xiang, I didn't expect you to come in person."

The visitor was Xiang Huaqiang, who had made an additional investment.

He patted Ye Feng on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Come and see the work of my third brother. By the way, how has your father been lately?"

"Thank you for your concern. Everything is fine. I'm doing quite well back in my hometown of Guangfu." Ye Feng nodded in acknowledgment.

"Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye."

Xiang Huaqiang was somewhat moved.

After exchanging pleasantries, Xiang Huaqiang turned his gaze to Li Xuan, who was communicating with the director of photography, and lowered his voice to ask, "So, what do you think of this new boss?"

Ye Feng pushed up his glasses.

"I have seen all of his works. He is a genius director, especially in terms of narrative rhythm and emotional manipulation. He is in a class of his own in the Chinese-speaking world."

He changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of professional superiority.

"However, Mr. Xiang, science fiction... especially hard science fiction, is a completely different field. It requires not only talent and inspiration, but also a vast and rigorous knowledge base as a foundation. To put it bluntly, China... currently does not have the soil to nurture true hard science fiction."

His implication was clear: no matter how talented Li Xuan was, he still needed professionals like them to fill the most critical gaps in his abilities.

In this movie, the special effects team is the most important fighting force.

and.

He wasn't very optimistic either.

Even Li Xuan, the 'godfather of Chinese science fiction,' uses cleverly disguised soft science fiction to create science fiction works.

Ye Feng wouldn't have had that many words to say. But Li Xuan deliberately chose hard science fiction.

The most difficult and challenging subject matter in the world.
In fact, there aren't many hard science fiction works from abroad.

But whenever it appeared, it was a work that shocked the world back then.

Movies like Blade Runner, Robot Boy, The Matrix, Star Wars, and even Waterworld.

Once it's created, it becomes a classic.

Domestic.
Um.
However, if it is this...

It's okay.

If this incident can increase the influence of the special effects team.

That would actually be a good thing.
Even if all else fails, the team can still get a good valuation by leveraging the hype of being the "first domestically produced hard science fiction film".

Ye Feng is ambitious, and Wang Lei knows he is ambitious too.

Giving up great opportunities abroad to return to China for development is not only about the price offered, but also about 'status'.

The right to speak.

When special effects technology is most needed in China, the team has the strongest voice and can use it as a springboard.

Ye Feng didn't say anything about Li Xuan and Zhang Mouzi's fight for Huayi's inheritance this time.

They can only be described as opportunists.

But at present, it seems that after taking a step out by leveraging hard science fiction.

We'll see where we go next.

The first thing is to fight for the right to speak.

They are vying for their team's say in the show.

Ye Feng knew that the key to controlling Li Xuan in this sci-fi movie was its special effects technology and the special effects team, which consisted of his own group.

All you need to do is use 'rebuttal' to subtly suggest this talented Mr. Li during filming.

My own demands.
Hmm. Maybe at the beginning, we can cooperate, and then 'withdraw' to fight for the right to speak after the filming has progressed to a certain point.

In response to this...
Xiang Huaqiang smiled noncommittally. How could an old fox like him not be able to sense the young man's thoughts?

They just didn't say it.

Xiang Huaqiang just watched.

This time.

This is also a test and evaluation of Li Xuan.

Can he serve this dish intact?
His expectations were few; his only hope for Li Xuan was that he could survive under Zhang Mouzi's intimidation.

To ensure the smooth production of this work.

Li Xuan is still young and has unlimited potential.

Survival is the first priority.

But if even Ye Feng, this 'wild fox,' can't be tamed...

How could they possibly survive under Zhang Mouzi's all-out attack, where he "lacked nothing"?

Just then, Li Xuan finished the discussion and walked over with a booklet as thick as an encyclopedia.

"Ye Feng, this is a script setting collection we've compiled. It contains all the basic settings of astrophysics, relativity, and engineering involved in the film. You and your team can take a look at it to facilitate the subsequent special effects production."

Ye Feng took it; it was extremely heavy.

He assumed these were just some standard art designs and concept art, and casually flipped to the first page.

Then, his expression froze.

There are no fancy pictures; what comes into view are dense texts and complex formulas.

Calculations of the gravitational slingshot effect of the Gargantua black hole...

"Derivation of a wormhole visual model based on Kip Thorne's theory"...

"The relationship between Miller's planet's time dilation rate and tidal locking"...

Each setting is accompanied by detailed theoretical basis and data sources, with a frighteningly clear logical chain. It is so rigorous that it does not resemble a movie setting collection, but rather a top-level physics paper.

Ye Feng, a top student from an Ivy League school, was completely dumbfounded.

He flipped through the pages rapidly, his heart pounding faster with each reading, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead. This knowledge… these theories… it seemed, it seemed, that it really was true!

He was immediately proven wrong.

We were just saying that the recognition of Chinese-language domestic works is not enough to support science fiction works.

He immediately launched into a tirade of professional physics knowledge.

Moreover, these are all true stories, and there are places where documents can be found.

Xiang Huaqiang leaned over for a look and nodded repeatedly, thinking to himself, "I recognize all the characters, but I really can't understand them when they're put together... But they look really impressive."

Ye Feng was looking at the young director in front of him, who was much younger than him.

He is exceptionally talented in the arts.

It's actually possible in this aspect as well.

At this point, he put aside some of his contempt.

The first scene is an ensemble piece set inside the space station.

Almost all the main actors were present, including Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Huang Xiaoming, and Andy Lau, who played the key doctor role.

The moment Li Xuan shouted "Action!", the atmosphere on the entire set instantly changed.

In front of the monitor, Ye Feng witnessed a true "battle of heroes".

Li Xuan's portrayal of Yun Tianming, during his debate with the doctor played by Liu Dehua regarding Plans A and B, reveals a complex mix of emotions—the struggle between reason and emotion, the longing for family, and the sense of responsibility for the future of humanity—making him seem less like a director and more like an astronaut struggling in dire straits.

Veteran actors like Andy Lau and Zhou Xun, under Li Xuan's guidance, unleashed amazing energy.

Every micro-expression, every pause in a line of dialogue, is full of tension.

Xiang Huaqiang understood this and watched with great interest.

Ye Feng understood it too. For the first time, he realized that the brilliance of humanity could be portrayed so brilliantly against a cold science fiction backdrop.

That's the core of science fiction.

Enveloped in the cold cosmic light.

human nature.
At this moment, they rehearsed their lines.

— Manually dock the spacecraft with the space station.

There were no special effects, no CG previews, and the only thing on set was a rudimentary cockpit model built with steel frames and hydraulic rods.

"What we need to do now is to shoot without any action!" Li Xuan said to the actors. "Imagine you are spinning at high speed in a weightless state. Every impact, every engine ignition, must be reflected by your body and facial expressions!"

He personally sat in the cockpit to demonstrate for the actors.

As the clapperboard fell, the entire cockpit began to shake and rotate violently under the control of the hydraulic system.

Li Xuan's body swayed with the movement of the "spaceship," his facial muscles contorted from the immense "overload," but his eyes were fixed on the empty "docking ring" in front of him. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he roared out commands.

The whole process was tense, exciting, and filled with a suffocating sense of oppression.

Even though all he saw was a bunch of cold, mechanical machines, on the monitor, Ye Feng felt as if he were actually watching a spaceship struggling to survive in space.

An immersive experience created purely through acting, staging, and cinematic language.
Ye Feng was stunned.

After filming wrapped, the entire set fell silent, everyone still immersed in the thrilling atmosphere of the moment.

Xiang Huaqiang looked at Ye Feng, who was standing beside him in a daze, and spoke calmly.

"Acting skills, that's what they are."

in fact.

Xiang Huaqiang was also shocked. Unbeknownst to him, the cigarette in his hand had burned his fingers, and he quickly put it out.
The acting on set was even more damn good than I imagined.

Awesome
After a long while, Xiang Huaqiang lit another cigarette, and his gaze became deep.

Are you still thinking about controlling the production team?

(End of this chapter)