Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 287 Smearing and Fictitious
Paramount has apparently started contacting auditionees.

Before Wu Chen even boarded the plane, a covert battle had already begun silently.

The first trigger was an anonymous tip sent to a senior film critic at The Hollywood Reporter:
"Natalie Portman's basic dance skills are not as solid as rumored. Even her movements appeared stiff in 'V for Vendetta' a few years ago."

Is Wu and Paramount really looking for a blockhead to take on "Black Swan" this time?

Just as Wu Chen was about to board the plane, another piece of news broke.

A reporter from Variety magazine received a note from an "insider":

"Scarlett Johansson has always acted like an Oscar-winning actress on set, is emotional, and has a habit of adding scenes on the spot during filming, causing chaos for the entire crew. Is Paramount really prepared to take it?"

“Fantastic, absolutely fantastic!” Jason Blum laughed heartily on the phone, clearly enjoying the gossip.

"Alright, I'll see when I get back to China. I have to board now." Wu Chen glanced at the screen and saw that the passage had been opened, then hung up the phone.

While the plane was flying over the Pacific Ocean, Entertainment Weekly was also busy.

Anne Hathaway has recently been receiving psychological counseling due to the immense pressure caused by a series of commercial film failures, leaving her mentally unstable. Would she really dare to take on a high-intensity psychological thriller now? Wu Chen and Paramount are practically playing with the Oscars.

The most vicious email was probably the one targeting Keira Knightley:

"Keira Knightley has a history of acting like a diva on set in recent years. She was almost blacklisted by the crew during a performance at a London theater after a conflict with the director. Black Swan is a female-centric film. Can she really settle down and act properly?"

For a time, Hollywood gossip was filled with these turbulent revelations.

Every team is leaking information and tearing each other apart, not only engaging in covert battles through media channels, but also directly targeting their competitors' psychology, background, and past "dirt."

Dance skills, stage presence, professionalism, and reputation for collaboration—each of these factors precisely targets the other party's weaknesses.

Even more insidious is that some teams first leak information to their own tabloids, then pretend to be "insiders" and leak it to other media outlets, creating a chain of leaks as if each news item has been "confirmed".

These related reports delighted everyone in China, who eagerly discussed and debated the gossip.

"Why do these techniques seem a bit similar to those used in China?"

"No matter how things change, the principle remains the same: just throw mud at them first, who cares? What if the opponent fails in the end? That would be a success for us!"

"It makes sense!"

"."

"Hollywood is just like that."

On the set of "Painted Skin," Zhou Xun made a "tsk tsk" sound of admiration. "Isn't this just like the competition in China? It's just that the Chinese are more subtle about it, but when it's time to act, they're just as ruthless."

She's been through a lot over the years.

"When can Director Wu take me to Hollywood? I want to have a go at it with them." Zhou Xun spoke very directly, which made everyone laugh.

"Sister Xun, your intentions are too obvious. You only went there to get the role because you wanted to tear it up. You're clearly after Director Wu's part," Huang Xiaoming said jokingly as he sat down.

As Pang Hong listened to the discussion, he remembered that Xingchen Pictures was also involved in "Painted Skin" and that filming was already more than halfway done. He was immediately filled with excitement.

Even Hollywood is vying for Wu Chen's movie roles. The Ningbo Film Studio really got incredibly lucky with the "Painted Skin" project.

Meanwhile, in the capital, in her studio, Xing Aina was pondering the script for "Bad Genius" while also inquiring about gossip:

"Yifei, have you read the report? Did Director Wu tell you any inside information?"

The screenwriters inside couldn't help but look over. This was Ning Hao's entire screenwriting team, all old acquaintances from Stone.

"Yifei?" Xing Aina was taken aback because Liu Yifei's eyes were unfocused, but a faint smile appeared on her face, clearly thinking about something sweet.

"Huh? Sister, what's wrong?" Liu Yifei came back to her senses, looking dazed.

"What's wrong? You seem distracted. Is it because Director Wu is coming back tonight?" Xing Aina nudged him lightly, her expression suggestive.

"No, sister," Liu Yifei quickly denied, a faint blush creeping across her face.

"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore. Take a look at this part, do you think it needs to be changed?" Xing Aina said, pointing to a short section of the script she had just finished writing. Liu Yifei glanced at it, unable to confirm, and shook her head: "Sister Na, let's stick to your ideas, you're the professionals."

"Okay!" Xing Aina nodded, and then communicated with Yue Xiaojun and the others.

"Sister, I'm leaving now." Liu Yifei glanced at the time, quickly grabbed her bag, and prepared to go out to meet Wu Chen.

"Go on, go on, hurry up and bring your Director Wu home."

Xing Aina waved with a smile.

As Liu Yifei passed through the lobby, she saw Ning Hao on the phone with a serious expression. He nodded at Liu Yifei with a smile, then frowned.

"Teacher, my voice probably won't be of much use in Director Zhang's matter."

"More people mean more voices. It should mainly depend on Wu Chen and Chen Kai. Lao Mu will probably talk to them. You guys can decide what to do when you attend the meeting!"

"Ok!"

"."

Mu Deyuan, who was at home, was also talking with Zhang Yimou. The news that came out in the afternoon and evening, which vaguely mentioned that "the plan for the general director of the Olympic Games opening ceremony is being adjusted" and "the selection of creative team members may be changed", has aroused a lot of speculation in the industry and among the public.

Coupled with various internal rumors, the news that "the director's power has been undermined" and "Zhang's artistic vision has been marginalized" spread quickly, and some even suggested that the chief director should be replaced.

"Old Zhang, can you hold on?" Mu Deyuan asked worriedly. Compared to the rumors outside, he certainly knew more. Changing the chief director at this time was unlikely.

However, he also knew the kind of pressure Zhang Yimou was under at the time. It could be said that the pressure he had felt while filming so many movies was not as great as it was now.

"Even if we can't bear it, we have to persevere." Zhang Yi's voice was weary, clearly indicating that the complexity of the arts and culture planning had exhausted him.

"Hold on, this is a huge opportunity. I'll talk to Wu Chen, it should be of some help."

“Hmm!” Zhang Yimou rarely did not refuse, because he was indeed in an awkward situation and needed external help, otherwise many of his creative ideas would be wasted.

That evening, Wu Chen lowered his hat brim slightly, quickly found his car, put his suitcase in the trunk, and then easily climbed into the passenger seat.

The air on the summer night was a bit hot, but Liu Yifei seemed to bring a cool breeze with her.

She wore a light yellow T-shirt that fit her perfectly, and the soft color accentuated her fair skin, making her look exceptionally fresh and alluring.

She paired it with dark blue jeans, which accentuated her smooth and long legs.

Her lips were a pale rose pink, reflecting the slight dampness of her breath, and shimmering alluringly in the car's interior lights, clearly indicating she had just touched up her makeup.
"Beautiful!" Before Liu Yifei could even speak, Wu Chen exclaimed, his voice filled with undisguised admiration.

That's the effect we want at this point, after all, women dress up for those they want to please.

Liu Yifei looked up, her eyes filled with laughter, her dimples rippled, and her eyebrows curved into crescents: "You pass."

"Let's go get something to eat, I'm hungry."

"Ok!"

Just then, Mu Deyuan called. Wu Chen answered the phone and listened silently as Mu Deyuan explained the current situation.

“Some people are now advocating for adding positive elements and a greater sense of public participation, arguing that the current plan is ‘formalistic’ and ‘not grounded enough in reality.’ They believe that your plan, Senior Brother Zhang, is more focused on grand scale, visualization, and artistry.”

"Teacher, don't worry. This is normal during the adjustment period. If the Organizing Committee really holds seminars to discuss solutions and brainstorm ideas, I'll side with my senior."

Wu Chen agreed, chatted with Mu Deyuan for a few more minutes, and then hung up the phone.

"What's wrong? I heard Director Zhang isn't doing too well," Liu Yifei asked curiously, since these were just rumors and she didn't know if they were true or false.

"Well, it's normal for there to be friction between creativity and administration in national-level projects!" Wu Chen said with a smile, recalling how Zhang Yi had also endured immense pressure in his previous life.

It's not that no one in China could handle this opening ceremony except Zhang Yimou, but Zhang Yimou certainly did a good job. The organizing committee isn't stupid; they wouldn't hand it over to someone as unreliable as Chen Kaige at the last minute.

However, disputes over the plans are always inevitable.
(End of this chapter)