Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Don't worry about the rankings at the press conference in Chapter 357.
On the morning of March 28th, the sky over Beijing was tinged with a faint gray-blue, and the chill of early spring had not yet completely faded.

Sunlight pierced through the thin mist, illuminating the dense crowd at the entrance of the China Film Group Art Center.

The auditorium was already packed with broadcast vans from various media outlets, and reporters carrying cameras and video cameras crowded the area, waiting for the press conference for the movie "The Martian" to begin.

The auditorium was decorated with exquisite restraint. The dome was slightly dark, and the projection of stars fell on the walls, reflecting off the replica Martian red clay models on both sides, making one feel as if they were on an endless island in the vast starry sky, with a strong sense of science fiction.

On the huge posters on both sides, the words "The Martian" stand out prominently. The red wasteland background and the isolated astronaut create a magnificent yet desolate atmosphere.

The reporters were stunned when they went in and sat down in their assigned seats.

"I can tell, it's definitely a sci-fi film; even the press conference had a sci-fi feel to it."

Guess who did it?

"Who else could it be but Han Sanping who likes to do this? To be honest, if the CPPCC Auditorium hadn't just finished the Two Sessions and he had other things to do, Han Sanping might have even wanted to rent it directly. Believe it or not?"

"Haha, I believe that!"

The reporters in the back row chatted and laughed quietly.

Han Sanping's fondness for grand scenes is well-known in Beijing's media circles. He can create the atmosphere of a commercial blockbuster even for an art film, let alone a co-produced sci-fi blockbuster.

Shh, it looks like someone's coming.

A reporter nearby whispered a reminder, noting that the sound of shoes hitting the floorboards could already be heard from the passageway not far away.

"Big projects can't start strong and end weak. From project initiation to casting, the industry is watching closely. If the launch press conference falls short, that won't do."

Han Sanping and Wu Chen walked slowly forward from backstage, chatting amiably.

Ren Zhonglun smiled. He already knew Han Sanping's personality. In any case, morale could not be lost, even if it meant losing people, it meant losing the battle.

"I'll do the same thing in my next movie."

Jiang Wen muttered to himself.

They certainly didn't arrive just now; they had been there for a while. He also looked at the setup and, to be honest, he was envious.

That's real treatment!

Scarlett Johansson, Liu Yifei, Gong Li, Bale, and others chatted together, following the instructions of the guide.

A few minutes after nine o'clock in the morning, the scene was quiet for a moment. As the host announced the start, everyone took the stage together, and the whole place instantly became abuzz with excitement as countless cameras focused on the stage.

"Well, we're all acquaintances, so I probably don't need to introduce you all. I recognize quite a few of you, and you should all look familiar to those of you on stage too."

As soon as Wu Chen opened his mouth, a burst of light laughter came from the audience.

"No, Director Wu, that won't do!"

"Yes, Director Wu, we're not familiar with each other. We've never met before, we're not acquainted at all."

The media below were also very cooperative.

"Bale, Scarlett, Chadwick, Gong Li, why don't you say something first? Look how different you are when you come on stage. Before, their cameras were pointed directly at me, but now they've all betrayed me."

Wu Chen's slightly humorous remarks eased the atmosphere, and Bell and the others laughed.

The press conference didn't have many formal segments. Of course, the main purpose was to give the guest stars a strong boost in publicity and coverage. It wouldn't be fair to have them come and go in a hurry after making a guest appearance; that would be too perfunctory.

Looking at the numerous media outlets below the stage and the impressive lineup on stage, Han Sanping felt a great sense of satisfaction. This was a combination that was unprecedented in the history of Chinese-language films, and he had actually encountered it.

"Bell, you should go first. I remember you were the first to work with Wu."

"Bingo!"

The eyes of the cameo actors all turned to Christian Bale.

At this point, applause erupted, and spotlights flashed frequently.

Bell smiled slightly and spoke politely:
"OK, I think this is the second time I've collaborated with Wu. Luckily, it's not on a sand pile again, otherwise I think I might have to think back to when I was buried alive."
However, Jiang, I think you might need to be careful; your treatment on Mars might be very similar to my situation in the sand dunes!

"Bell, based on your experience, is it too late for me to run now?" Jiang Wen added at the opportune moment.

"We might have been a step too late!"

"Hahaha!" Everyone was amused by the interaction between the two. Wu Chen leaned back in his chair with a smile, listening to Scarlett Johansson and Chadwick Boseman's remarks.

“Some people ask me why I would fly from Hollywood to China to play a short role. I can only say that when you know that the director is Wu, it is really hard to say 'no'.”

"He's our brother, and the script is just too tempting to refuse."

Both of them had worked with Wu Chen before, so their guest appearances naturally indicated a good relationship, and Wu Chen didn't hesitate to praise them.

Gong Li is the most special person here because she has never acted in Wu Chen's films before, and she rarely participates in cameo or special appearances.
The media in the audience paid special attention to Gong Li's speech.

Gong Li clearly realized this and smiled slightly, "It's not as complicated as everyone thinks. Director Wu's film is very attractive, including me. Secondly, I find it particularly interesting to act alongside Bale, Scarlett, Boseman, and Effie."

Of course, there's also my longtime partner, Jiang Wen. To be honest, Old Jiang, how many years has it been since we acted together?

Gong Li glanced at Jiang Wen as she spoke.

"Twenty years have passed," Jiang Wen sighed, then continued, "Gong Li, I have to criticize you a bit. You're in your prime, while I'm just a flower. You need to change your nickname 'Old Jiang.' Just now, Bale said I might be on my deathbed on Mars soon, and you've added that time to my life."

The audience burst into laughter.

Upon seeing this, Scarlett Johansson quickly asked Liu Yifei, who covered her mouth and chuckled while translating for the group.

Liu Yifei's answers remained succinct and casual, and the atmosphere in the room seemed to reach a climax as the five guest stars spoke one by one.

"Alright, everyone, now that you've all met, let's get to know each other." Wu Chen officially took the microphone. "Hello everyone, I'm Wu Chen, and it's an honor to be here to introduce 'The Martian' to you."

Flashes of light erupted like a tidal wave.

"Regarding the film itself, what I want to say is that science fiction is not just about dazzling special effects; more importantly, it's about exploring humanity. My current project, *The Martian*, will give you a general idea of ​​what kind of story it is."

The audience listened quietly.

Jiang Wen, Han Sanping, and others also gave brief speeches.

The final Q&A session arrived quickly, and reporters immediately seized on the most pressing questions:
"Director Wu, in the list of the 100 greatest directors of all time released by TotalFilm yesterday, you ranked 40th, surpassing Director Li An. What are your thoughts on this?"

The question caused a pause in the room, and all eyes turned to him, including Han Sanping and Jiang Wen, who were all extremely curious.

"This isn't a question from the press conference, so I'll just answer this one." Wu Chen smiled slightly helplessly. "Frankly, I think everyone might be paying a bit too much attention to this matter."

The audience below the stage was slightly taken aback.

"Directors are different from film box office; there is no unified and objective standard for ranking them."

This list actually leans more towards the aesthetics and cultural traditions of the British and American film system. Directors like Zhang Yimou, who have a unique national style in visual language, will seem out of place and will be difficult to truly evaluate.

Therefore, there's really no need to pay too much attention to these kinds of lists. People enjoy watching movies without caring whether the director is on the list or not. Why would you check if the director is on the list before watching a movie?

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in applause.

Many reporters at the scene showed admiration. Wu Chen's response not only addressed the skepticism of the Taiwanese media, but also demonstrated his unconventional and broad-minded perspective.

They never cared about rankings at all.

Soon after, another reporter pressed for details about the film itself: "Director Wu, 'The Martian' was filmed in Chaidan, Qinghai. What are your expectations for this shoot?"

Wu Chen's expression turned serious:

"What I want the audience to see is the most authentic loneliness and courage, not a fake in a set. We will actually build a 'Mars' base, and the actors will immerse themselves in it to experience the inner struggles of their characters."

The reporters then asked questions to both the lead actors and the guest stars.

As the press conference drew to a close, everyone took a group photo on stage.

Inside the auditorium, flashbulbs went off one after another. After the press conference ended, major portal websites published a deluge of reports:
[Wu Chen responds to the top 100 directors ranking: "Directors are not ranked, and lists are not worth paying attention to!"]

[The press conference for the start of filming of "The Martian" was a star-studded affair, with Hollywood A-listers and three Best Actor and Actress winners gathering in Beijing, generating plenty of laughs!]

[Wu Chen's Sci-Fi Ambition: More Than Just a Film, It's an Exploration of Humanity; He'll Abandon the Studio and Head to Chaidan, Qinghai for On-Site Filming!]

[Jiang Wen reunites with Gong Li after 20 years, reminiscing about "Red Sorghum." Jiang Wen praises Gong Li for being in her prime, jokingly saying that he himself is still as beautiful as ever.]

【.】

(End of this chapter)