Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 468 The Return of the Huabiao
The Huabiao Awards are very generous.

The specially set-up film booths on both sides of the venue were brightly lit and had posters hanging high. All the recent well-known films had a prominent booth.

"The Founding of a Republic" is placed first on the left, while "1939" is placed first on the right.

I watched all of them: A Simple Noodle Story, Aftershock, Bodyguards and Assassins, Let the Bullets Fly, Confucius, and The Message.

"Tsk tsk, no wonder the bureau arranged these locations, that's very generous. As long as you give them face, they won't leave out any movie booths."

Ning Hao and Wu Chen strode over and immediately spotted the film on the booth. Ning Hao then turned to Wu Chen and said, "It seems the Bureau really values ​​your film, '1939,' by its prominent placement."

Wu Chen smiled slightly, but did not deny it.

"The Founding of a Republic" holds an absolutely central position, which is unshakeable; however, giving the top spot on the right to a film that has not yet started filming, "1939," is already a very high affirmation.

Anyone with eyes can see what's going on.

As they walked forward, Feng Xiaogang and Xu Fan were already at the end of the red carpet, surrounded by the flashing lights of the media.

Feng Xiaogang's profile was somewhat stern. He occasionally answered reporters' questions, but when he looked at the booth, a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

To be honest, he was a little annoyed by "A Simple Noodle Story".

The bureau still arranged for Zhang Yimou to be placed before him, even though his film was still considered a patriotic movie.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out in the media area behind, accompanied by the rapid clicking of camera flashes.

Feng Xiaogang turned around and saw Wu Chen and Ning Hao walking side by side, their figures upright and their faces smiling, waving to the media and audience on both sides as they walked.

When their eyes met Feng Xiaogang's, they nodded slightly to each other as a greeting.

Watching Feng Xiaogang and Xu Fan enter the inner hall, Ning Hao turned to the side and asked in a low voice, "Do you think the rumors circulating in the industry that Yinghuang offered 100 million to poach Feng Xiaogang are true or false?"

Wu Chen shrugged, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "It's hard to say, it could be true or false, but I'm more inclined to believe the news was deliberately leaked!"

"Intentionally? You mean waiting for a higher bid?"

To be precise, it's waiting for Huayi to sell at a high price.

The two chuckled as they talked.

People in the industry know what kind of personality Feng Xiaogang has, and Huayi probably knows it very well too.

The contract was set to expire in 2010. Huayi Brothers couldn't do without Feng Xiaogang for the time being, but Feng Xiaogang could do without Huayi Brothers. That was the essential difference.
"Director Wu, Director Ning, this way."

After interviewing the two, Li Mi, the host of China Film News, specifically instructed them to do so.

Upon closer inspection, the two noticed a "Gate of Honor" at the far end, set against a backdrop of a giant 18-meter LED screen, with another passageway in front consisting of six openable and foldable screens.

The masterpieces that have emerged in recent years are all shown here.

Both of them saw their own works reflected in this place.

"Interesting," Ning Hao muttered to himself.

The inner hall was already more than half full, and the stars were shining brightly.

Directors and actors from all walks of life gathered together, and the arrival of the two immediately attracted a lot of attention.

Wu Chen glanced around and saw that the cast was full of top-tier actors from Chinese-language films.

Cheng Long, Jiang Wen, Chow Yun-fat, Stephen Chow, Li Lianjie, Ge You, Donnie Yen
Zhang Ziyi, Zhao Yanzi, Zhou Xun, Li Binbin, Fan Binbin, Lin Chi-ling, Carina Lau
Of the three hundred or so seats, about 80% were already occupied.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television invited almost all the actors, directors, and producers from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, making it as impressive as any international event.

Ning Hao sighed softly, "The bureau really went all out this time; it's quite impressive."

Staff members quickly came over and led Wu Chen and Ning Hao to the front row.

One is the first director in China to have a box office of 600 million yuan, and the other is a dark horse with a box office of 300 million yuan. The two were unsurprisingly placed at the front, and the media's long guns and short cannons flashed all the way.

Chen Kaige, standing to the side, always seemed very high-class, with his legs crossed high. When talking to Feng Xiaogang, his posture was like a leader listening to a subordinate's report, and Feng Xiaogang had to lean slightly forward and turn to the side to respond.

In comparison, Zhang Yimou seemed much more polite.

"Senior brother, when will filming for 'A Simple Noodle Story' wrap up?"

"In a few days, just a few shots are left, we can do some reshoots," Zhang Yimou replied with a smile, then suddenly remembered something, "As for 'Under the Hawthorn Tree,' we'll probably finalize the deal next month."

The evening's schedule was the same: after the ceremony came the inevitable banquet, which was unavoidable.
At the dinner party, glasses clinked and toasts were exchanged incessantly. One group after another offered toasts, and even Ning Hao said he couldn't keep up.

Jiang Yiyan frequently moved between the tables, and finally, taking advantage of a moment when Wu Chen was temporarily free, she came over with a smile.

"Director Wu, when is Xixi coming back?" Jiang Yiyan asked with a casual tone of concern.

Wu Chen was slightly surprised. "Next week? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. Deng Zifei and Li Danni, who are from our class, are starring in the play 'Peerless Under Heaven,' which premieres at the Beijing Performing Arts Center next Saturday. They organized a reunion for old classmates, and almost everyone from the class went."

"Oh, then we should have enough time."

Late at night, Liu Yifei called, and Wu Chen mentioned this matter in passing.

"Oh, how did you know? I was just about to tell you tonight."

"Jiang Yiyan said that. She even asked when you'd be back?"

"That's not right. Didn't I already mention it in the group chat today? She already knew, so why did she go and ask you again?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Chen immediately understood.

Good guy.
She's got quite a few hidden thoughts.

"You're really popular." Liu Yifei wasn't stupid; she quickly realized what she meant and said with a hint of teasing, "You didn't go around flirting with other women while I was away, did you?"

"Just come back and check it out, then you'll know."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei immediately covered her phone, looked left and right, and thankfully Liu Xiaoli wasn't nearby. She couldn't help but scold her playfully:
"Don't talk nonsense, you'll regret it when we get back."

"Oh"

Wu Chen dragged out her words, which drew out another round of coquettish reproach.

In late August in Beijing, the summer heat lingered, and the film market remained hot. "Now You See Me 2" was poised to hit 400 million yuan, but "Metallic Attraction: Kung Fu Cyborg," invested in by LeEco, was a complete failure.

After more than a week in theaters, it has only grossed a little over ten million yuan at the box office.
"Metallic Attraction: Kung Fu Cyborg is not a science fiction film, but a romance film."

"If you treat 'Metallic Attraction: Kung Fu Cyborg' as a nonsensical comedy, its quality is even better."

"."

The box office started to decline after day one, and the word-of-mouth was also quite poor.
Especially against the backdrop of the emergence of "The Martian" and the new stage of science fiction, this film, despite its "science fiction" label, tells a weak love story, leaving many moviegoers feeling "tricked".

At the same time, "The Founding of a Republic" entered an unprecedented peak of publicity.

Major official media outlets have been making frequent pronouncements, and its promotional images can be seen in cinemas, squares, buses, subways, and on the national news broadcast.

The topic gained immense popularity on Weibo, with the hashtag #TheFoundingofChina# quickly rising to the top and becoming a hot topic of discussion.

Just as public opinion was in an uproar, an international flight slowly landed at Beijing Airport.

Liu Yifei is back.

There are no wrap-up photos because we have to go to Vancouver and Iceland next month to film a few more scenes.
Wearing sunglasses, a mask, and a baseball cap, Liu Yifei walked out of the immigration gate discreetly, dragging her suitcase. With a quick glance, she spotted a familiar figure under a pillar.

Liu Yifei's eyes lit up instantly. Without thinking twice, she started jogging, her suitcase wheels clattering on the ground.

She ran up to Wu Chen and jumped up suddenly.
Seeing this, Wu Chen reached out and caught him in his arms.

"Get down, you're still too young?"

Wu Chen glanced around.

Well, this time no one noticed.

"No." Liu Yifei happily buried her face in Wu Chen's neck, taking a deep sniff, her nostrils filled with the familiar and comforting scent.

"Auntie Dog Nose is here! Come down quickly!"

Wu Chen urged her on, and Liu Yifei reluctantly hummed, still clinging to him.

Liu Xiaoli, who was standing to the side, couldn't bear to watch any longer and couldn't help but cough deeply.

(End of this chapter)