Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 537 How rich are they? Reveal it.
In April, the spring breeze had already brought magnolias and crabapples to life in the capital.

The advertising billboards outside the cinemas have been changed again and again, but whether it's an imported film or a domestic film, all the hype seems to be focused on the same title—"1939".

The entertainment sections of major portals push out the topic almost every few days, and Weibo and forums have already started a countdown for "#1939 May Day Film Season#" long ago.

Throughout April, if you were to ask which movie audiences were most looking forward to, "1939" would undoubtedly be number one, with no rivals behind it.

The executives at Oriental Films were somewhat relieved.

"Fortunately, it didn't clash with Wu Chen's '1939' on the same day. Giving up a week might not be a bad thing."

Somehow, this statement got out and soon spread by word of mouth within the industry.

Surprisingly, there were no sarcastic or mocking comments.

On the contrary, many production companies nodded in agreement as if they were on the same wavelength. If you can't beat them, why fight them head-on?

In more elegant terms within the industry, it's all for the sake of Chinese cinema; there's no need for domestic films to fight to the death.
"These people are hypocritical. They're just afraid, yet they keep saying this and that."

Feng Xiaogang was very disdainful, but a complicated sour feeling welled up in his heart.

Damn, when he was dominating the Lunar New Year film season, these companies weren't this wary. Now they're scared because their films are competing with Wu Chen's during the May Day holiday?

Wang Zhonglei had long seen through Feng Xiaogang's little scheme. In the end, it was only because he didn't have a name as resounding as Wu Chen that he was muttering to himself.

Oriental Films' actions were definitely correct. If it were him, he wouldn't have allowed the release dates to clash so closely. The probability of Wu Chen's film flopping would be extremely small.

"Xiao Gang, we can announce the release date for 'Aftershock' now, let's do it this summer."

"Then let's do summer vacation."

Feng Xiaogang took a deep breath. He wanted to see if his decision as a big director would force others to change their release dates, just like Wu Chen's.

Meanwhile, a red carpet had been laid out outside the Beijing Broadway Cinema, where another premiere was in full swing.

Jiang Wenli's directorial debut, "We Meet in Heaven," premiered.

Everyone is very considerate.

Zhang Yimou, Jiang Wen, Wu Yusen, Yin Li, Cui Yongyuan, Cui Jian, Tang Jili and others all came. Even Chen Kaige, who couldn't come because of "Sacrifice", sent a video message to express his congratulations.

Wu Chen had received an invitation earlier and attended the event together with Liu Yifei.

Gu Changwei and Jiang Wenli showed great affection for their niece Ma Sichun, and took her to visit everyone, including Zhang Yimou, Wu Chen, Jiang Wen, and others.

"You're back from Thailand?" Wu Chen asked Jiang Wen casually upon seeing him.

"Of course, I have to participate in my sister Wenli's movie, right?" Jiang Wen's words made Jiang Wenli extremely happy.

"Oh, no, no, it's already a great honor for Old Gu to come. And don't call me 'older sister,' I'm younger than you, I'll call you 'older sister'!"

Jiang Wenli still gave Gu Changwei a lot of face in public.

"Alright, you've said all the nice things. All we can do is congratulate you on the box office success." Wu Chen gestured with his lip, and Jiang Wen chimed in from behind.

"Well, if you can't speak properly, you can't blame me."

Seeing this, Liu Yifei couldn't help but purse her lips and chuckle.

Zhang Yi sat calmly in his seat in the hall. When he saw Wu Chen walk in, he nodded in greeting.

After Wu Chen and Liu Yifei sat down, Zhang Yi turned to the side and asked in a low voice, "Have the rest of the personnel been selected?"

Wu Chen was slightly taken aback, and then he understood what was going on.

Gong Li has probably talked with Zhang Yimou recently, perhaps reminiscing about old times.

"That's about it, Universal is wrapping things up."

"A production costing two hundred million US dollars, that's a lot of pressure for you."

Zhang Yi's voice was filled with emotion.

This production is a heavy responsibility for him; it's a major production that ranks among the top in film history.

"We have to give it a try. It's not very meaningful to always make small-scale productions."

Zhang Yi couldn't help but laugh after hearing this: "Haha, only you could say something like that without getting beaten up. So many directors want to make a movie but can't."

The theater lights went off and on again over two hours.

Jiang Wenli's debut film, "We Meet in Heaven," is not bad; it's better than many directors' films. However, for commercial cinemas, it's destined to be a box office flop.

Jiang Wenli herself was probably aware of this, otherwise she wouldn't have scheduled the release for early April.
As expected, the box office on the first day was only 38.4.
Meanwhile, the long-awaited release date for "Aftershock" was finally announced, officially set for July during the summer vacation.
Perhaps to avoid clashing with "Inception," it was deliberately released at the end of July.

Lu Zheng was stunned when the news broke. Jing Tian's starring role in "My Beautiful Boss" was scheduled for release at the end of July.

"This Feng Xiaogang only dares to bully the weak. If Director Wu were here, I'd even give up my schedule. Who does he think he is? At worst, I'd lose some money and give up the slot. People would just think I'm afraid of Starlight Entertainment."

Lu Zheng gritted his teeth, making no intention of changing the schedule.

The production budget for "My Beautiful Boss" was only so-so; he might have considered it if it were "The Warring States Period".
Feng Xiaogang waited anxiously, thinking that once the news was released, some small and medium-sized film companies would back down and voluntarily give up their release dates.

But to his surprise, he was met with a deathly silence.

Even the star-studded promotional activities the following day made him turn pale.

[Kim Hee-sun plays a supporting role in "The Warring States," while the female lead, Kyung-jeon, has had her period costume photos revealed!]

[Jing Tian and Peter Ho team up for "My Beautiful Boss," which will be released nationwide on July 30th!]

"What the hell?! 'My Beautiful Boss' dares to challenge me?! I'd like to see just how rich they are with all this star power!"

Feng Xiaogang was immediately enraged.

Is it going to kill you to change the release date? Didn't you see that his big movies have already been scheduled for release?

While the competition for scheduling was quietly raging, another restaurant in Beijing had a much more relaxed atmosphere.

Hu Jing had just returned from Malaysia and specially invited Wu Chen and Liu Yifei to dinner.

"Director Wu, 'Scarlet Heart' is truly my lucky star! You don't know, after this TV series, you know about 'Women Don't Know What' starring Gong Li?' they wanted me to play a supporting role."

Hu Jing was very happy. She had just returned and already had a TV series and a movie coming out. It was a perfect start.

"Then wouldn't that be double happiness for you? This meal is yours."

Wu Chen joked, while Liu Yifei chuckled and patted Wu Chen's shoulder, "You've tricked us into giving you food again."

"Haha, it has to be mine." Hu Jing patted her chest and agreed.

"Sister Hu Jing, you seem to be getting younger and younger," Liu Yifei said with a smile, propping her head up after finishing her meal and looking at Hu Jing's slightly eccentric personality.

"Yifei, with Director Wu around, when you reach my age, you'll look younger than me."

Wu Chen jokingly added, "She's been waited on hand and foot in Malaysia, spending her days lounging in the sun with her legs crossed. Didn't you see the news?"

"Yifei, don't listen to Director Wu, it's not like that at all!"

"That's great, hehe, I wish I could too. It would be even more perfect if I could also cuddle a couple of cats and let them lie down next to me."

Liu Yifei wasn't opposed at all; her laid-back personality was particularly evident at this moment.
The filming of "Scarlet Heart" began in Hengdian on the third day after the group had dinner together.

Wu Chen didn't go, but Xiaoma Benteng and Shanda Literature brought two whole carloads of media reporters, with their cameras and microphones set up early.

On one side, the cast and crew lined up to appear, while on the other side, there were large posters and promotional displays for the original novel specially prepared by Shanda.

At this time, the person most concerned about whether "Scarlet Heart" had started filming was not Cai Yinong, who had missed the opportunity, but Yu Zheng, who was quietly copying the book.

"The TV series and the novel are being promoted simultaneously!"

Reporters were whispering among themselves backstage.

This is still rare in today's domestic drama market.

Because most period dramas are still at the stage of "single-actor promotion", nowadays a filming opening ceremony has been hyped up to the level of "IP adaptation".

The scene was exceptionally lively.

But in an apartment in Beijing, Yu Zheng stared at the news popping up on his computer screen, his heart tightening and feeling inexplicably anxious.

"How could it be so fast?"

He was also thinking of taking advantage of the Qing Dynasty drama craze to quickly finish writing the script and then start filming this year to capitalize on the hype.
"Oh well, if we missed the first wave, we can still catch the second. As long as we capitalize on this trend, we'll be able to ride it sooner or later."

Without saying a word, Yu Zheng continued working on the script.

Meanwhile, Wu Chen was checking the latest cast list for Interstellar sent by Universal Pictures. After carefully verifying that everything was correct, he glanced at the clock and then dialed David Lyndon's number.

"Wu, has the list been confirmed?"

"no problem!"

"Shall we contact the media and start announcing the lineup?"

Wu Chen nodded, his voice settling:
"Let's announce it."

(End of this chapter)