Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 266 Co-production? A Crime Not of War
At the exit of Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport, a wave of early summer heat hits you.

The temperature had not yet reached its extreme, but the media's enthusiasm had already made the scene as noisy as a steamer.

On both sides of the passageway, dozens of reporters held up their cameras and microphones, and even the security guards who set up two layers of cordon were unable to control the crowd.

"The crew of 'Black Peony' has arrived!"

"Wu Chen and Liu Yifei are also here; they walked out side by side!"

The moment the two stepped out of the passageway, a barrage of flashbulbs exploded like a sudden thunderstorm, and reporters swarmed in, their voices rising in waves.
"Director Wu, what genre will your next film be? Will you choose to film it domestically again?"

"Evie, has your next role been confirmed? Will it also be a psychological thriller?"

"Would you two consider continuing your cooperation?"

Have your parents approved of your relationship? When will you get married? Will the wedding be held in China or abroad?

Do you have any plans to have children in the near future?

When Liu Yifei was asked "When are you getting married?", she couldn't help but laugh out loud. When she heard the word "children", she couldn't help but blush and had to lower her head to avoid the spotlight.

Wu Chen appeared much more composed. Faced with various high-pressure questions, he smiled and nodded, deflecting the questions with a tactful reply:

"Thank you for your concern. We will respond publicly when we have the opportunity. I'm a bit tired today. As for the new film, there are no definite plans yet, but it will most likely be a co-production. That's all for now. Thank you all for your hard work today."

With that, Wu Chen and Liu Yifei quickly boarded the pre-arranged shuttle car and headed towards the Beijing Film Academy.

Some media outlets, however, were quite intrigued, because Wu Chen's idea of ​​a co-production was incredibly imaginative.

Given the current situation in China, will it be a Sino-French co-production? Or a Sino-US co-production?
Either of these possibilities exists.

Given that Wu Chengang has just won the Special Palme d'Or and received an award, it's only natural that he would make a Sino-French co-production.

With the current excellent relations between China and the United States, and Wu Chen having deep roots in Hollywood, the probability of a Sino-US co-production is very high.

Regardless of the interpretation, everyone agrees that this is undoubtedly a huge piece of news with extremely high traffic, and it has a significant impact and appeal on the industry.

Many people immediately took out their phones and made the calls.

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of China Film Group, in the chairman's office.

Natural light streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a dignified atmosphere in the office.

Han Sanping was hunched over his desk, reviewing the eleventh budget report for the "Red Cliff" project, his face darkening.

This project has become a red-hot iron plate, constantly scorching people and causing them headaches.
"Dong dong."

The newly appointed secretary knocked on the door and entered. Stepping forward, she whispered, "Chairman Han, Xingmei just sent word that they've suggested we add a producer to the 'Nanjing! Nanjing!' project."

"Hmm?" Han Sanping looked up, took the fax from his secretary, and frowned as soon as his eyes fell.

Good guy.

A ten million yuan set-top project actually ended up in the name of producer Lu Xun's relative?!

Left hand to right hand?
Han Sanping guessed, then shook his head. But then he remembered how pathetic Lu Xun was back in the days of "Looking for a Gun," and couldn't help but laugh in anger.

"Send another person over there, see who's available." Han Sanping rubbed his temples, then paused, "By the way, has Wu Chen returned?"

"We've heard that Director Wu just landed," the secretary quickly replied, pausing before continuing, "At the airport, some media asked Director Wu about his new film plans, and he seemed to reply that the new film might be a co-production."

"A co-production?" Han Sanping sat up straighter upon hearing this. "A Sino-US co-production?"

"Director Wu didn't say it explicitly."

"Okay, I understand!" Han Sanping nodded.

At this moment, the atmosphere at the Beijing Film Academy was as fervent as the June wind.

Two red banners with white lettering fluttered in the morning breeze at the school gate: "Warmly welcome Wu Chen, a director from the Photography Department of our school's Class of 2003, to win the Special Palme d'Or at the 60th Cannes International Film Festival and the French Order of Arts and Letters!"

"Warmest congratulations to Liu Yifei, a 2002 graduate of our school's Performing Arts Department, for winning the Best Actress Award at the 60th Cannes International Film Festival!"

Two banners, one on the left and one on the right, stand opposite each other across the main teaching building, seemingly echoing each other.

Many students watched with envy.

However, news that Wu Chen and Liu Yifei had already returned to school had already spread rapidly:

"Did you hear? Senior Brother Wu Chen and Senior Sister Liu Yifei have returned to school. They're just downstairs at the Photography Department building!"

"Really?"

"Really, they were carrying something too, it must be a trophy!"

"I'm so envious. When will I have a boyfriend like that?"

"."

However, by this time, Wu Chen and Liu Yifei had already switched to the performing arts department.

“There’s no need to push me. It’s not like I didn’t want to come to the performing arts department.” Wu Chen smiled and turned his head as he saw Liu Yifei pushing him forward after they went upstairs.

"Oh, that's not what I meant! You better stand in front of me right now!"

Liu Yifei seemed to have prior experience, and sent Wu Chen to take the lead.

Inside the acting department faculty office, a room full of teachers had been waiting for some time.

"Wu Chen is here." Wang Jinsong had just stood up when he saw Wu Chen at the door, and his eyes immediately narrowed into slits with a smile.

After walking a few more steps, they saw Liu Yifei closely following behind Wu Chen. Cui Xinqin came up and teased, "Oh my, Yifei is different now. She's accompanying Wu Chen to the photography department first. This place is like her own home now."

"Hahaha!" Xu Xiaodan and the others burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"Teacher Cui!" Liu Yifei stamped her foot, her shyness masking her usual tendency to blush.

"Wow, this trophy is amazing! Even the Central Academy of Drama next door doesn't have one."

Cui Xinqin took the packaging box from Wu Chen's hand and immediately smiled from ear to ear. Then she looked up and said, "By the way, Wu Chen, did Director Mu tell you that you need to prepare for this year's outstanding graduate speech?"

"The teacher already said that when we went over."

Inside the faculty office of the Performance Department at Beijing Film Academy, everyone chatted and laughed, creating a lively atmosphere.

However, in contrast, the atmosphere inside the Central Academy of Drama's acting department office is completely different from that of the Beijing Film Academy.

Chang Li sat behind her desk with a frown; the tea had long since gone cold.

"You know what, I really don't believe that, theoretically, actors from our Central Academy of Drama could also play theatrical roles like 'Black Peony'!" Her tone was filled with barely concealed frustration.

“It’s no use talking about this now,” another teacher sighed.

"I'm just furious. Do you know how those old fogies from the Beijing Film Academy gossip about us? They even called over specifically to mock us."

Chang Li was furious.

In fact, many people from both sides' older generations know each other, and many are friends.

They usually joke around with each other when they have nothing to do, but generally the Central Academy of Drama side is guaranteed to win. Now, a stunning reversal has occurred, and they feel extremely frustrated.

"It's not a fault of war. It's not a fault of war!"

(End of this chapter)