Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 466: Scouting Locations, and a sequel?
The controversy surrounding Huang Xiaoshan's proposed angle is still unfolding.

At the dinner table, Han Sanping looked at the trending topics on Weibo and couldn't help but ask, "Do you think 'The Founding of a Republic' could also be promoted on Weibo?"

Ning Hao put down his chopsticks.

Wu Chen pondered for a moment.

The media coverage of "The Founding of a Republic" was unparalleled by other films. From the start of filming to its completion, it was constantly reported by official media, television stations, and newspapers, and was even broadcast on CCTV's evening news program.

This level of coverage is virtually unmatched across the entire internet.

"As Mr. Cao said last time, it's a sure thing that Weibo will reach one million users this month, but it's hard to say exactly when."

The majority of Weibo users are young, making them the main consumers of movies. However, considering the reach of the promotional campaign for "The Founding of a Republic," it's more of an added bonus.

"Adding flowers to brocade is still flowers. Besides, these users are all consumers."

Han Sanping made the decision immediately, and Wu Chen contacted Cao Guowei on the spot.

Upon hearing that there was such a good opportunity, the latter immediately agreed.

When Weibo was just starting out, having "The Founding of a Republic" was definitely a high-quality resource, so I accepted it without hesitation.

"Chairman Han, don't worry, we've got your back."

Wu Chen smiled.

In other words, when Weibo first started, the order of promotion for the movie was reversed;
However, for a movie like "The Founding of a Republic," the location can never be changed, no matter when.

The Weibo hashtag #FindingHuangXiaoshan# had just calmed down after the nationwide audition ended, but instead of keeping things in suspense as is customary in the industry, Starry Night Pictures directly released a bombshell announcement, revealing the confirmed cast.

Many netizens have discovered that Weibo's speed is even faster than the news flashes on portal websites.

Before major media outlets could even produce headlines, the topic had already appeared on Weibo.

#Wu Chen's new film cast revealed#
Netizens left a lot of comments:

"Zhang Yi and Li Gan are the leads? Duan Yihong and Wang Baoqiang make special appearances. This cast looks pretty promising!"

"It's time to test Wu Chen. Among them, only Li Gan is a newcomer, and he'll also be paired with Zhang Yi and Wang Baoqiang."

"Great, this cast looks good. Looking forward to the finished product."

"."

The night in Beijing in August was still sweltering. The light from the streetlights outside the window shone on the desk. Wu Chen finished reviewing the preparation materials for "1939" when his phone vibrated as usual.

Sure enough, it was Liu Yifei on the phone. Her voice was as light as an evening breeze: "Hehe, I'll basically finish filming by the end of this month."

Wu Chen leaned back in his chair, listening to that familiar laughter, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

Nolan's "Inception" has been in production for almost three months, and he already has a clear idea of ​​the filming schedule and plans.

After the Los Angeles segment ended, only a few transitions and additional shots remained, and the project was considered complete.

"Thank you for your hard work. I'll pick you up when the time comes."

"Oh, by the way, Scarlett Johansson invited me to the premiere of Now You See Me 2."

I won't be attending the North American premiere, but you can come if you have time. I'll be attending the domestic one.

Lionsgate also invited him, but he was busy with "1939" these days and didn't have time to go.

Moreover, with the reputation and fan base established by the original, the sequel is sure to do well at the box office, so he can completely entrust it to the team and actors with peace of mind.

Han Sanping was also busy with "The Founding of a Republic" and couldn't spare the time either.

"Okay, I'll go take a look for you," Liu Yifei replied sweetly.

The release of Now You See Me 2 is highly anticipated in the country.

After all, the first one was directed by Wu Chen, and many people think that the only film that can compete with "Transformers 3" this summer is "Now You See Me 2".

Of course, it will be difficult to challenge the latter in terms of global box office. "Transformers 3" has already surpassed $6 million and even has the potential to threaten "The Martian" as the year's champion.

The next morning, Wu Chen, along with Zhang Yi and Li Gan, went to the August First Film Studio to meet with the studio director, Ming Zhenjiang.

A stack of materials related to the Anti-Japanese War was already laid out on the office desk, including maps, photos, and old documentaries.

"Director Ming, I'll leave the simple military training to you." Wu Chen got straight to the point. "The film crew also needs to arrange a special filming training program. I need to check out the overall environment first."

"No problem." Ming Zhenjiang readily agreed, then flipped through the filming location data that Wu Chen had previously had someone investigate, and couldn't help but ask, "What kind of training will the crew undergo?"

"Training for filming. This shoot is a series of long takes. The actors, cinematographers, and track crew all have to train as a whole. Not only the acting, but the cinematography must also be seamless. There is no chance to redo it."

Wu Chen responded and then opened the information to check the filming location.

Because it's a pseudo-one-shot film, the shooting environment must be able to support the arrangement of continuous long takes and the atmosphere of the Anti-Japanese War.

Ming Zhenjiang nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, then went out and called his assistant, instructing him to arrange for a training officer to take Zhang Yi and Li Gan down to experience a few days of basic military training.

As soon as he returned, he heard Wu Chen mutter, "Changbai Mountain forest area?"

“Yes.” Ming Zhenjiang responded quickly, “There are well-preserved Anti-Japanese Allied Forces sites in Baishan, Jilin, Fuyuan, Heilongjiang, and Hutou. We sent people to inspect them in person, and they are perfectly suitable.”

Wu Chen nodded upon hearing this. The Changbai Mountain forest area seemed suitable.

Because pseudo-one-lens cameras require long tracks and Steadicam travel, forests and snowfields can provide natural cover, which is beneficial for stitching together shots;
Moreover, mountainous terrain allows for multiple hidden entry points, such as turning around trees, skimming over rocks, and entering dark caves.

The following day, Wu Chen, along with the core members of the photography team, followed the location scouting team sent by the August First Film Studio to conduct on-site research in the Changbai Mountain forest area.

The off-road vehicle bumped along the way, passing through dense forests, mountain ridges, and streams.

As soon as I got out of the car, the scent of pine mixed with the smell of earth gave me the illusion of being in wartime.

"This is a good place to hide cameras." The photography team took notes as they walked through the woods.

Wu Chen also chimed in from time to time: "The track can be laid along this gentle slope, so when the actors sprint, the Steadicam can go straight through the trees and the cut point will be natural."

After walking for a while, Song Ri leaned close to Wu Chen and whispered, "Brother Chen, how long will the rehearsals take? Won't we miss the winter filming start date?"

"It depends on the actors and your condition. If the training is good, filming will be quick; if the training is not good, further delays may mean we'll have to use artificial snow."

Wu Chen plans to start filming in winter, which is the perfect time, and combined with the script's setting, it's an ideal situation.

The pseudo-one-shot technique means there is not much room for error; every shot can only be perfected in one take through training and teamwork.

Just as Wu Chen and his team were preparing for "1939", the list of jury members and the list of nominees for the main competition of this year's Venice Film Festival were announced.

At the press conference in Venice, the host announced loudly: "The president of the jury for this year's Venice Film Festival is Li An!"

The flashbulbs went off incessantly.

This year's Venice Film Festival has been dominated by Chinese participants, generating constant buzz and heightened anticipation within China.

[Li An appointed president of the Venice Film Festival jury, marking another highlight for Chinese-language films!]

[Six Chinese films were screened at the Venice Film Festival, setting a new record!]

【.】

At the same time, across the ocean in North America, the red carpet shone brightly under the lights.

The premiere of Now You See Me 2 has officially begun.

The news and pictures came back, and Liu Yifei, as a guest, stood out in them.

Faced with such a spectacle, those in the industry could only murmur and feel envious.

A few days later, the mainland premiere of "Now You See Me 2" arrived as scheduled.

The area outside the venue was packed with people, and the media area was packed with people early on.

Wu Chen and Han Sanping made a surprise appearance together, causing a flurry of camera flashes.

When the movie ended and the lights came on, applause and cheers instantly filled the entire theater.

The audience excitedly discussed, "The pacing of this sequel is pretty good too, and the chip-stealing part was really thrilling!"

"The plot was cleverly designed; I didn't expect the twist at the end!"

"."

On stage after the premiere, Lionsgate Vice President Michael Burns was the first to raise the microphone, smiling as he said:

"The movie was fantastic, wasn't it? We have to thank Wu for the script framework; it's a truly wonderful story."

Before he finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in applause.

Wu Chen, sitting in the audience, waved his hand, took the microphone, and didn't take credit: "The director made a good film, the actors performed well, and the script is only one factor."

With positive reviews and a successful premiere, reporters were quite eager: "Director Wu, 'Now You See Me 2' was a great success. Will there be 'Now You See Me 3' in the future?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Lionsgate executives, the lead actors, and even Han Sanping all turned to look at Wu Chen.

Honestly, as long as the story isn't ruined, no one wants this series to stop.

Wu Chen paused for a moment, then gave a teasing smile: "Aren't you guys tired of watching it yet?"

"no!"

"nice!"

The audience in the back row erupted in a unified response, and the reporters laughed as well.

"Hmm," Wu Chen paused, a smile appearing on his face, "After watching too many movies and learning too many formulas, I might get tired of them. Perhaps inspiration will strike again sometime in the future, but not anytime soon."

A sound of regret rang out from inside the arena.

That evening, Weibo and media headlines were once again dominated by "Now You See Me 2":
"The successful premiere of 'Now You See Me 2' in mainland China demonstrates that Wu Chen's script maintains the high quality of the sequel."

Wu Chen said tonight that "Now You See Me 3" might happen, but it could be in the distant future!

"."

(End of this chapter)