Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 298 Short Ballet? Sexy Ballet?

Li An won the "Golden Lion" award again, pushing the film "Lust, Caution" to the forefront of public attention.

Lu Zheng has a wild and unconventional approach, and he capitalized on this wave of popularity to make a killing:
[Lust, Caution wins awards at Venice; stage adaptation by Jing Tian aims to wow the stage!]

Upon seeing the report, Ning Hao was both amused and exasperated: "This dazzling CEO Lu is really something."

"The stage version is much better for the actors than the film version; there are no sacrifices, and it's more suitable," Wu Chen commented.

"Tang Wei made a great sacrifice, but it is said that 'Lust, Caution' has already been reserved for Taiwan's Oscar nomination."

Tommy Hilary's chances of winning Golden Globe and Oscar nominations are no less than those of Ivy Lee. In China, some are even saying she'll be the next Zhang Ziyi, considering she was virtually unknown in mainland China before; this is a meteoric rise to fame.

Upon hearing this, Wu Chen smiled but did not respond.

There are gains and losses in everything; this is a common sense principle.

In mid-September, Wu Chen went to Hollywood.

Meanwhile, the battle for the lead roles in "Black Swan" has reached a fever pitch:

Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway, and Keira Knightley each displayed their unique talents, but each of them was also stripped bare.

“Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman are really having a tough time.” Jason Blum made no attempt to hide his schadenfreude.

Wu Chen casually picked up a newspaper from the car and chuckled to himself.

Because Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman were found to have weaknesses by their competitors, major media outlets jumped in and launched a full-scale attack.

The Hollywood Reporter took the lead, using the headline "The Battle of the Little Swans: Can Shortys Jump Out of the Elegance of the Black Swan?" to directly address the height issue.

"Ballet productions have very strict requirements for body proportions." One analysis article bluntly stated: "Natalie and Scarlett are both 1.60 meters tall, which is not even close to the minimum height requirement. If they were to carry a psychological thriller like 'Black Swan' on the big screen, it would inevitably create a sense of disharmony for the audience."

Vanity Fair, on the other hand, focused on her body image, dissecting Scarlett Johansson's "sexy curves" under a magnifying glass:
"Sexy? Yes, she is sexy, but ballet dancers need slenderness and explosive power, not for the audience to stare at their curves in a daze. Sexiness seems particularly out of place here."

In contrast, while Anne Hathaway and Keira Knightley also received criticism, the media used terms like "temperament" and "image" to describe them, and were particularly forgiving of Keira Knightley's slender figure.

And naturally, fans were arguing it out on various forums:
"Shorty ballet? Ha, that's hilarious."

"I think Annie is pretty good; at least she's played a princess before!"

"Oh my god, are you watching Disney princesses on the Black Swan stage?"

"Natalie is such a good actress, why is she being criticized like this just because of her height!"

"Keira looks a bit too thin, but that sickly beauty actually suits the vibe of this film quite well."

"I bet a bag of potato chips that Wu still prefers sexy women. Just imagine seeing Scarlett Johansson's voluptuous ballet poses—it's a kind of voluptuous, impactful beauty, perfect material for him."

"."

“But I think what the media and the audience are saying makes sense. Don’t you consider the issue of height and physique?” Jason Blum asked as he drove.

“Height is easy to handle. Camera angles, makeup, and stage design can make shorter actors appear taller. Besides, I will find professional ballet stunt doubles!” Wu Chen replied.

He doesn't place much importance on height, but the ideal height for a female dancer is around 1.63 to 1.70 meters. This proportion makes the legs appear long and slender, and makes them look light and graceful when jumping and turning.

Moreover, in actual filming, height is not so "rigid," especially since the shots and positioning can be arranged according to the actor's strengths.

However, his physique is something he needs to consider and compromise on.

Choosing actresses with different body types can alter the overall feel of "Black Swan".

If Scarlett Johansson were to play the role, because she isn't the particularly slender, "skinny" type of ballerina, her fuller figure would be more prominent on screen. However, this isn't without its advantages. Her charisma could make Nina more provocative and dangerous in the "Black Swan" segment. In other words, if he wanted Nina to emphasize her duality of black and white, then Scarlett's sex appeal wouldn't be a disadvantage but rather a powerful weapon.

Of course, this may weaken the sense of "ballet dancer's bony, sickly, and neurotic" image, making it easier for the audience to focus on her sex appeal and ignore the sense of emotional turmoil.

The other candidates each had their own strengths and weaknesses, which is why he chose several people to audition; he needed to find the right actress for his "Black Swan" role.

Moreover, Natalie Portman, who played the original character, wasn't a perfect fit either; her casting was partly due to her close personal relationship with director Darren Aronofsky.

Wu Chen's arrival sparked a new frenzy among Hollywood media outlets, who reported on it extensively.

Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, and others each have their own anxieties, and they have been preparing for this audition these days, especially putting in some effort in ballet.

"Don't contact Wu Chen before the audition. Although you have a good relationship, don't give your rivals an opportunity to attack you at this time."

Scarlett Johansson's agent specifically called to remind her.

Hollywood media reports come from all directions, and they might actually find out, which could give their rivals an opportunity.

"Ok!"

Scarlett Johansson, who was on the set of "The Other Boleyn Girl," nodded, put down her phone, and looked up to see Natalie Portman across from her also putting down her phone.

The two exchanged glances and nodded politely, seemingly much more amicable than before, probably because they had both been criticized for their height and felt a sense of shared fate.

While Wu Chen was in Hollywood, back in China, Jiang Wen's "The Sun Also Rises" was hastily released after a grand premiere in Beijing.

After all, it will be coinciding with the release of Li An's "Lust, Caution" in a few days, and in terms of topics and popularity, "The Sun Also Rises" is far inferior to "Lust, Caution".

The mere two million in sales on the first day completely crushed Jiang Wen's hopes for box office success.

This result is respectable for an art film, but for a film with a budget of 60 million, it's nothing short of a blow.

"I don't understand."

Jiang Wen had been sitting on the sofa in his living room all afternoon, gently stroking his chin with his fingers, looking utterly puzzled.

"There's nothing I don't understand." Zhou Yun walked behind him and gently massaged his shoulders, her voice gentle but helpless. "Just take better pictures next time. President Yang didn't say anything, did he?"

Jiang Wen couldn't help but gently pat his old face: "This time we've suffered a huge loss, it's so embarrassing."

"Who can guarantee that a movie will make money? Even director Zhang Yimou has lost money before."

"Yes, Wu Chen!"

When Wu Chen was mentioned, Zhou Yun didn't know how to continue the conversation for a moment, so she could only purse her lips helplessly.

In the early morning in Los Angeles, sunlight streamed into the hotel room through gaps in the velvet curtains.

Wu Chen was organizing his schedule when the phone rang.

"Director Wu, filming for 'Painted Skin' wrapped up this evening, and we're having a celebration party." The phone rang from Pang Hong's end, with background noise, someone shouting "Congratulations on wrapping up filming!" and the clinking of glasses creating a lively atmosphere.

"Thank you for your hard work, and congratulations on wrapping up filming." Wu Chen smiled.

At that moment, Zhou Xun's voice suddenly broke through the receiver, speaking bluntly:

"Director Wu, have you chosen the female lead for 'Black Swan' yet? Watching them fight like this these days is getting me excited. When will I have the chance to do something like that?"

"You're a classic case of wanting more than you have. You just finished filming 'Painted Skin,' and I've heard that you're slated to be the lead in director Cao Baoping's new movie."

(End of this chapter)