Unboxing, Director!

Chapter 167

Fan Binbin's "flower fairy" look on the Cannes red carpet in 2015 was arguably the pinnacle of his red carpet career and a classic case of international red carpet marketing by Chinese celebrities.

This outfit, themed around "romantic flowers," perfectly matches Fan Binbin's "glamorous" persona.

So if you were to pull off this look now, whether it would lead the trend is another matter, but you would definitely avoid the risk of wearing the same outfit as a high-end designer and be guaranteed to stand out on the red carpet.

Fan Binbin's gains at that time may far exceed expectations.

But then again, a custom-made dress, especially one with such an intricate design, is not something that can be made casually.

With only 25 days left until the closing ceremony red carpet, theoretically it's definitely too late.

However, Lu Jiang's idea was not without basis.

Firstly, Lu Jiang did not necessarily want to perfectly recreate the "Flower Fairy" dress.

As long as the clothing and styling are roughly the same, enough to make Fan Binbin look like a "flower fairy" and achieve a breakthrough on the Cannes red carpet.

Secondly, Fan Binbin actually prepared more than four outfits for this Cannes red carpet event.

In addition to the four sets designed by foreigners, there are also three sets designed by domestic designers.

The price was relatively cheap and it looked quite nice, but it was a work by a domestic designer who wasn't famous, and the overall look of the outfit wasn't as good as the foreign designs, so Fan Binbin didn't choose it as her Cannes red carpet outfit.

However, these clothes are quite suitable for formal occasions in China, so Fan Binbin placed the order early on, since it wouldn't cost much anyway.

It is precisely because of this technique that the production cycle of the "Flower Fairy" set has been greatly shortened.

Because one of the designers, Xu Jianshu, had a design in his work that was very similar to the pattern of the "Flower Fairy," especially the style of the tulle skirt. In Lu Jiang's opinion, it could be used directly, with only the addition of an outer layer of flowers for further adjustments.

Once they had a clear understanding of the situation, the team quickly got to work.

After receiving the call, designer Xu Jianshu immediately brought his best-kept finished products to Dawn Company.

Xu Jianshu was pleasantly surprised to see Lu Jiang there as well.

Lu Jiang thought he looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't quite place him.

If you can't remember, don't think about it; focus on the important things first.

After the two sat down, they explained the situation. Before even seeing the design proposal for the Flower Fairy, Xu Jianshu excitedly raised his hand: "Actually, I have a bold idea that will absolutely eliminate the risk of wearing the same outfit as someone else, and it can even make Sister Bingbing a legend!"

His boastful tone, coupled with his somewhat effeminate accent, made him rather comical.

However, his next words made Lu Jiang frown.

"What if I wore a dragon robe on the Cannes red carpet?"

Stab it!

Hearing the words "dragon robe" and then looking at his face...

A bolt of lightning flashed across his head.

Lu Jiang suddenly remembered who he was, so much so that he couldn't hear anything else he said.

Isn't this the designer of Fan Binbin's dragon robe dress on the red carpet?

That set can be considered the pinnacle of haute couture in China.

What a fate!
However, now is not the time to discuss dragon robes.

After Lu Jiang expressed some approval of his wild ideas, Lu Jiang took the initiative to steer the conversation back on track.

Next, everyone had a detailed discussion about the flower fairy's design.

Xu Jianshu, worthy of being a top designer in China, quickly completed the creative ideas and provided a detailed solution:

"These flowers can be made of silk organza. I think less than 200 flowers are not enough to create a good visual impact. Let's make 300 flowers. They will be hand-sewn and individually dyed. It can be done in two weeks."

"So fast?"

"Well, the prerequisite is that we need at least 6 embroiderers. I'll call around to find some people in a bit, it shouldn't be a problem."

"money is not a problem."

"Then that's even less of a problem."

The discussion continued into the afternoon, and the clothing issue was temporarily resolved.

After dinner, I continued to discuss the initial plan with the styling team.

What color lipstick to use, whether to put your hair up, what style of jewelry to match, and which jewelry brands to communicate with, etc.

Lu Jiang provided the ideas, and the rest was up to Fan Binbin and his team to work against the clock to develop the best version over the next three weeks.

With the matter settled, Lu Jiang didn't linger and went straight back to Hengdian.

And Dawn Corporation continued to operate at high speed.

The entire company operates in a completely new form, revolving around Fan Binbin and Cannes.

The filming crew split into two groups. The first group went to Cannes in advance to scout locations and take pictures, hoping to capture Fan Binbin's fairy-like look in the best possible way while creating a visually striking image for Cannes.

The other group was responsible for producing a follow-up photography plan and preparing a photo album. In coordination with the publicity team, they aimed to make Fan Binbin a sensation across Asia through various magazines, newspapers, and portals after Cannes.

In short, if you spend a lot of money, you must get an excessive return.

Lu Jiang was eager to know how much Fan Binbin's market value would rise after achieving this red carpet milestone, and what kind of impact it would have on the Chinese entertainment industry.
While Fan Binbin was racing against time, Lu Jiang was also continuing to handle the nomination process.

The first is copyright trading.

As soon as the news of "The Lobster" being nominated was announced, various copyright holders began to submit their bids.

Lu Jiang's attitude toward this goes without saying.

We'll keep negotiating, but we definitely won't sell now. We'll talk about it again after the results are in.

In addition to overseas distribution, the possibility of a mainland China release has also been put on the agenda.

Han Sanpin immediately called to inquire about the film's release.

The box office performance of this movie is not expected to be very high.

Lu Jiang had actually hesitated at first about whether to release the film.

But he quickly decided that if he could go, he would naturally go.

Firstly, box office performance wasn't given much importance before "Hero," but awards were.

Secondly, having a movie released allows the team to familiarize themselves with the movie promotion and distribution process.

So when Han Sanpin called today, the two sides quickly set a preliminary release date.

The film is tentatively scheduled for summer vacation, and Han Sanpin said he would make the most of Lu Jiang's fans to achieve good box office results.

Well, I hope so.

After completing the basic arrangements for Cannes, Lu Jiang returned to Hengdian to continue filming.

In the following days, taking advantage of the good weather, the crew focused on filming the scene where Zhang Wuji rescues the enemy at Bright Peak.

This is the most brilliant scene in the entire series, involving a large cast, a mix of dramatic and action scenes, and a complex filming process.

Therefore, the production team expects to spend a week and a half to overcome the challenge.

At the same time, the end of this scene also means that many actors will be wrapping up their filming.

For example, Abbess Miejue, Yang Buhui, and Xiao Zhao.

As a result, Chen Xiuli has been noticeably more hesitant to speak when she looks at Lu Jiang these past few days.

Lu Jiang did not show any curiosity.

As I said before, if this kind of thing happens too often, it's not necessarily a good thing, so it's best not to speak up to avoid trouble.

Four days after filming began for "Bright Summit Show," the audition time with Liu Qianqian arrived.

That afternoon, Lu Jiang got into the car sent by Chen Jinfei and arrived at the Dongyang International Hotel in Dongyang City.

Then I met Liu Qianqian, the "blood cow".

However, Lu Jiang's first glance was still drawn to the purple treasure chest on her head:

Liu Yifei wants to gain the host's approval in this audition.

That's it?

That's too easy.

After all, you, as the godfather, have basically done everything you were supposed to do!
Chen Jinfei then began to introduce: "This is my daughter, Liu Yifei, nicknamed Qianqian. Qianqian, please say hello to Director Lu."

"Hello Director Lu, I'm your fan."

Liu Qianqian is very polite and full of energy.

She is beautiful, and indeed she is.

He's a bit too tall; he doesn't look like he's only 15 years old.

Hello, Sisi.

Lu Jiang smiled in response, then looked at Liu Xiaoli beside her.

Chen Jinfei then took the opportunity to give a brief introduction.

After exchanging greetings, they headed straight to the small conference room, which Chen Jinfei had booked specifically for auditions.

The camera was already set up.

The purpose is to have pictures to prove it, so that we can use them for marketing in the future.

Lu Jiang, Liu Guoquan, and her son Li Dawei sat down behind the table.

To ensure fairness, Liu Guoquan suggested that Lu Jiang set the questions.

Lu Jiang did not refuse. Although it was essentially a resource exchange, he still had to put on a good show, otherwise how could he ask for a price?

"Let's start with a scene before the character's transformation into a villain."

Lu Jiang opened the script, selected a section, and immediately gave the question.

After thinking for a while, Liu Qianqian began her performance. Liu Qianqian herself was also very relaxed.

Because Lu Jiang's questions were all within Liu Guoquan's expectations, nothing special, and he had practiced them all.

Therefore, she was able to act very smoothly.

In Lu Jiang's eyes, although Liu Qianqian's performance clearly showed signs of training, it was indeed quite good. Liu Guoquan's extra help these past few days had not been in vain.

But that alone is definitely not what Lu Jiang was thinking.

So after the first segment was finished, Lu Jiang asked directly, "What kind of person do you think Bai Xiuzhu is?"

This is a perfectly normal question, and if Liu Qianqian had prepared, she would have answered it without hesitation.

Indeed, that was the case. Upon hearing this question, Liu Qianqian breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't help but give Liu Guoquan a reassuring look and mentally gave him a big thumbs up: Grandma Liu, you are simply the queen of predicting exam questions!

However, before she could speak, Lu Jiang added, "Please answer me in Bai Xiuzhu's tone."

What was Bai Xiuzhu's tone?

Liu Guoquan, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but look at Lu Jiang with deep admiration in his eyes.

This question is brilliant; it tests both the actor's understanding of the subject matter and their ability to improvise.

However, I haven't taught this question before.
Liu Guoquan looked at Liu Qianqian, not believing that Liu Qianqian could give a perfect answer.

Sure enough, Liu Qianqian was dumbfounded.

This question is way beyond the scope of the curriculum!
Fortunately, Liu Qianqian aspires to be like Audrey Hepburn, so she has basic mental adjustment skills.

So even though the question was a bit unexpected, she quickly calmed herself down and began to think about how to answer it.

But just as Liu Guoquan had predicted.

How could a 15-year-old girl who has not received much professional training, has little acting experience, and does not have a particularly deep understanding of Baek Soo-joo give a perfect answer?
Therefore, in the following performance, Liu Qianqian seemed somewhat powerless, merely answering the questions in a haughty tone and in a formal manner.

Liu Guoquan sighed inwardly.

I'm asking you to answer in Baek Soo-joo's tone, not just in terms of tone!

You have to perform!
Now you see the result.

This confession makes one think of a haughty little princess.

Baek Soo-joo's yandere nature, her fierce attitude of tearing apart scumbags and refusing to compete with other women, are completely absent, and she does not show the struggle between family and self that women in the old era faced.

So if this were truly an art exam or a fair audition, Liu Qianqian would probably be unqualified.

However, Lu Jiang was quite satisfied.

After all, acting skills are one part, and image is another.

Whether Liu Qianqian is suitable for Bai Xiuzhu or not, the original timeline has already explained everything.

She may not have acted that well, but as a second female lead with a relatively small role, she did more than enough.

Moreover, whether an actor can play a role is not solely determined by their acting skills and appearance.

If she really wants to give a perfect performance, how can she get more money?

"Okay, you can go out now."

After Liu Qianqian finished answering, Lu Jiang ended the audition with a blank expression.

Liu Qianqian bowed and left the house with a heavy heart.

After everyone left, Lu Jiang complained to Liu Guoquan: "Didn't you say she was perfect for the role? Her image and temperament are right, but I gave her time to prepare her acting skills these past few days. I thought she had already mastered them."

Liu Guoquan, unsurprisingly, immediately offered his conciliatory words: "It's only been a week. Even a seasoned actor wouldn't easily master it. Why don't we let her give it another try?"

"Alright, Uncle-Master, I still have to give you face."

After resting for a while, Lu Jiang and Chen Jinfei had a private chat before the dinner.

Chen Jinfei had already learned about Liu Qianqian's audition from Liu Guoquan.

That means he has a good image and temperament, but his acting skills need improvement. In Lu Jiang's eyes, he is the kind of person who is optional.

This is enough!

A smart person will immediately understand the true meaning.

So after sitting down, Chen Jinfei directly told Lu Jiang to make the offer.

Lu Jiang also brought up the matter of purchasing property.

Ultimately, after tacit discussions between the two, the cooperation was reached.

Chen Jinfei sponsored "The Story of a Noble Family" with 300 million yuan in the form of advertising sponsorship.

He also facilitated the acquisition of three properties, one of which could be approved immediately because it already belonged to Chen Jinfei.

Three properties in good locations, totaling about 1400 square meters, were acquired at market price, which is a great deal! After all, if the owners really don't want to sell these properties, you might not be able to get them even if you pay double the premium.

Lu Jiang's role, in addition to Bai Xiuzhu, also included a segment in the drama where he promoted Chen Jinfei's company.

They will also use the phrase "I saw the advertisement and took the initiative to invite Liu Qianqian to audition" in subsequent interviews.

With this, the resource exchange was completed, which, in Chen Jinfei's view, laid the foundation for future cooperation.

In Lu Jiang's view, since Bai Xiuzhu didn't have anyone else more suitable, it would be a waste not to sell.

So both sides felt it was worth it.

After the negotiations, back in the private room, Lu Jiang's first focus upon seeing Liu Qianqian was still the purple treasure chest on her head.

The resource exchange is complete, and he feels he absolutely must get this purple treasure chest!

Upon seeing the two enter, Liu Qianqian was somewhat hesitant to look at Lu Jiang.

She felt that her audition was definitely not going to work out, but judging from the Godfather's expression when he walked in, she knew that the Godfather must have made a move, and the role was now definitely hers. However, she was not willing to see this way of getting the role.

Therefore, she felt that Lu Jiang must look down on her now.

However, Lu Jiang's next words gave her renewed confidence.

During dinner, Lu Jiang said to Liu Qianqian, "Qianqian, you actually have a lot of potential, you know that?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Qianqian looked up and asked, "Me?"

"Of course, you just don't have a deep understanding of the character yet. Let me go through the character with you, and then you can perform it. The effect will definitely be different."

As Lu Jiang spoke, he pulled Liu Qianqian into the living room of the private room and began to explain the play.

Seeing his professionalism, the others were curious but didn't dare to disturb him, and instead began to look forward to it.

Lu Jiang ignored what others thought and continued to talk about the play.

The golden finger wasn't given to the work "The Story of a Noble Family", but he had already thoroughly read the script of "The Story of a Noble Family" and had also discussed the relevant roles with Dong Xuan in detail during his free time these days.

Therefore, this does not prevent Lu Jiang from following the example of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," making simple analyses of the characters and providing simple instruction.

Directors, after all, have a knack for making money; these are basic skills.

Of course, the most important thing is not how deep Lu Jiang's understanding is or how well he teaches.

This is all a smokescreen.

The important thing is to lay the groundwork for the next stage of eye-tracking technology.

About ten minutes later, the two finished discussing the play.

Lu Jiang smiled and said, "Alright, come on, let's do it again, Qianqian."

"Ok!"

Liu Qianqian was full of confidence because she felt that after Lu Jiang explained the play to her, her mind was incredibly sharp and her confidence was off the charts.

Then, she began her performance:
"What kind of person am I? (Suddenly sneers) Do you think I don't know what those ladies say behind my back? Spoiled? Willful? They just can't stand seeing the Bai family's daughters living a more comfortable life than them!"

After speaking, he got up and walked to the window, his profile taut in the backlight, and continued:
Jin Yanxi always says that autumn is like moonlight. (Suddenly turns around, her skirt tracing a sharp arc) But the moon cannot illuminate the night! I will be the torch that burns through them (her voice suddenly softens), even if only ashes remain after burning.

After saying that, he moved closer to Liu Guoquan and then laughed again:
"You ask who I am? Go ask that Qianlong underglaze red porcelain I smashed! Those shards are covered with my true heart!"

hiss!
Everyone in the private room, except for Lu Jiang, gasped in shock.

Good guy.

Is this Liu Qianqian? My daughter?
Liu Xiaoli's eyes widened in surprise.

Chen Jinfei suddenly realized that he had signed the contract too early!

Liu Guoquan immediately looked at Lu Jiang.

She knew Liu Qianqian's true colors all too well.

The result is now
Lu Jiang's training ability is simply unparalleled in his life, no wonder Lao Zhao cherishes him so much!

Li Dawei swallowed hard.

Jiang Wen and Lu Chuan are currently discussing "Looking for a Gun" in the film industry; he even joked about it a few days ago.

Is this karma coming?

Am I going to become the next Lu Chuan?
After the initial shock, the crowd erupted in applause.

Liu Qianqian has regained her energetic self.

Lu Jiang was completely satisfied with this.

I gained resources and a purple treasure chest, it was worth it!

As for doing this, will Liu Qianqian get too immersed in the role?

Just this once, it shouldn't be a big problem.

Besides, once the role of Jin Yanxi starts, Lu Jiang will definitely need the cheat code.

She will still be taken along then, it won't make a difference this time.

As for whether Liu Qianqian will encounter this love tribulation after filming officially begins, good luck to you!
(End of this chapter)