Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 627 Location Scouting: The sun was shining brightly, and the sea breeze was gentle.
Preparations for "The Warmest Thirty Days of My Life" have officially begun following the exposure of news about Wu Chen's new film.

Many people in the industry inquired about the role, but Wu Chen and Liu Yifei turned them all away.

This airtight operation only fueled the industry's curiosity about which lucky individual Wu Chen had chosen.

Inside a high-rise residential building in Beijing.

Dong Xuan was sitting on the carpet, playing with building blocks with Guan Yue's three-year-old daughter.

Tong Dawei was filming scenes for "The Flowers of War" in Nanjing. Guan Yue was home alone, so she invited her best friend over for a chat.

"You said you're going to be in Wu Chen's new movie? The female lead?"

Guan Yue's curiosity was completely piqued as she watched Dong Xuan teasing her daughter.

"No way, I'll just be acting. I don't even know what role I'll play," Dong Xuan said with a smile, finishing a building block.

"Who invited you? Did Wu Chen call you personally?" Guan Yue pressed, as if she had a gossip scanner on.

"It was Iphie who did it."

"Then there's no need to guess! The female lead is definitely Liu Yifei herself!" Guan Yue said with certainty and conviction.

While the script registration process is still underway, Wu Chen plans to scout locations in Shanghai and Xiamen.

These two places, one representing a cold, efficient modern city, and the other representing a warm, leisurely hometown harbor, are the two scenes in his mind that are most suitable to carry the story of this film.

However, Liu Yifei, who had already basically finalized the cast, also came along with great enthusiasm, treating this location scouting trip as a private trip for the two of them.

"When we go to Xiamen, shall we visit Gulangyu Island?"

On the plane to Shanghai, Liu Yifei flipped through a travel magazine, looking at Wu Chen with anticipation.

"Ah."

Upon hearing this, Wu Chen smiled and agreed to her small request.

Upon arriving in Shanghai, the two did not visit Ning Hao at the Chedun Film and Television Base. Instead, like two ordinary tourists, they went to the Bund, Lujiazui, and the historical alleyways and streets of the former French Concession.

In early spring, the air in Shanghai still carries a damp chill.

Liu Yifei was completely covered up, wearing a beige baseball cap, large sunglasses, and a mask that obscured her highly recognizable face.

But her bright yellow short jacket, paired with slim-fitting light blue jeans and white sneakers, made her stand out against the slightly gloomy city background, appearing exceptionally youthful, radiant, and full of vitality.

She took Wu Chen's hand, pointed to the towering skyscrapers of Lujiazui, and said with a smile:

"Look, this place is just right. If you put on a suit and tie and stand under this skyscraper, you'll look exactly like an elite lawyer who's overwhelmed with cases every day."

Wu Chen looked in the direction she pointed and nodded.

It must be said that Shanghai is indeed a very suitable city to be the main setting for the first half of the movie.

The dazzling night view of the Bund's international architecture, the bustling crowds on Nanjing Road, and the hurried people on the subway during rush hour.
These elements provide an excellent visual backdrop for the male protagonist Shen Shi'an's repeated time travel and attempts to correct his life's "experiments," highlighting a sense of order and alienation in modern life.

When Wu Chen and Liu Yifei arrived at Chedun Film and Television Base to visit the set, it was already past four in the afternoon.

The sun was already setting in the west, and the light had softened, casting a soft golden glow over the entire film set.

Dusk had not yet truly fallen, and the air was filled with a slightly weary tranquility, as if the day was drawing to a close.

"Director Wu! Yifei!"

Huang Bo was the first to spot them. He was quite familiar with the two of them and greeted them warmly from afar, speaking to them in a much more casual manner.
"Evie, I heard you're going to be a producer again? Congratulations! Are there any roles I could play this time?"

People like Lei Jiayin and Tao Hong from the film crew simply greeted them politely with a smile, then wisely stood aside without coming closer.

"Brother Bo, it seems there really isn't a suitable role for you this time. Next time, next time for sure," Liu Yifei replied with a smile.

Wu Chen then went behind the monitor and watched some clips of "The Golden Era" that had just been filmed.

Ning Hao's directing skills are still on point.
However, Wu Chen always felt that there was a hint of resentment in Ning Hao's gaze when he looked at him.

That evening, after a simple dinner on set, Wu Chen politely declined Ning Hao's invitation to go out for drinks, and the two drove away. In the car, Wu Chen whispered to Liu Yifei, "Why does Ning Hao seem a little off today?"

He imagined that Ning Hao, upon learning that "No Man's Land" might be unbanned, should be overjoyed. Why did he look so resentful?

"I think I know why." Liu Yifei whispered a few words in Wu Chen's ear, with a hint of embarrassment.

Upon hearing this, Wu Chen was first taken aback, then didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"You won't blame me for telling Sister Na, will you?" Liu Yifei stuck out her tongue.

"What's so strange about that?" Wu Chen shook his head, completely unconcerned. "They'll all find out about this eventually anyway."

……

Compared to the metallic, "cool-toned" urban feel of Shanghai, Xiamen, a coastal city, is more suitable as the hometown of the male protagonist, Shen Shi'an.

Especially Gulangyu Island.

As the two set foot on the island, a warm and humid sea breeze greeted them, and sunlight filtered through the lush banyan leaves, casting dappled shadows on the red brick walls and stone paths.

The colors here are warm, highly saturated "warm tones," full of sunshine, ocean waves, and a sense of peaceful tranquility.

In Wu Chen's mind, clear movie scenes were already playing.

He wanted to use this strong visual contrast to highlight the film's theme of "cherishing the ordinary everyday life".

However, Liu Yifei has clearly entered "tourism mode" completely.

She held Wu Chen's hand and wandered around the island's maze-like alleyways.

From the organ museum to Shuzhuang Garden, and then to those unique little shops hidden in the deep alleys.

Fortunately, the island isn't very big, so you're unlikely to get lost.

Passing by a shop selling all sorts of trinkets, she acted like a little girl, picking out two identical cat keychains for couples, and then insisted on dragging Wu Chen to queue up in front of a milk tea shop.
"I glanced at the guide beforehand," she said, taking a satisfied sip of her milk tea before proudly offering it to Wu Chen. "This milk tea is delicious, why don't you try some?"

Wu Chen took a sip through her straw; it was cloyingly sweet, but looking into her bright, expectant eyes, he nodded nonetheless.
"Mm, it tastes good."

At that moment, the sun shone brightly, the sea breeze was gentle, and the two were just an ordinary couple in love on Gulangyu Island.

The two didn't spend much time scouting locations, but the domestic film market continued to operate smoothly.

The box office of "Black Swan" has slowly reached the threshold of 200 million.

As an art film, even with the double support of Wu Chen and the Oscars, this achievement is enough to make everyone in the industry take notice.

However, its brilliance is about to be overshadowed by a new wave of Hollywood blockbusters.

The sci-fi war epic "Battle: Los Angeles," produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment, is about to clash head-on with "Black Swan."
Before we knew it, March was coming to an end.

Several films scheduled for release in April are fiercely competing for box office revenue.

The premiere of "The Warring States" was scheduled for April 6.

Lu Zheng called early on.

"Director Wu, this time shouldn't disturb your new film, right?"

"Mr. Lu, the date you chose for the premiere is just right."

I just received the approval number from the bureau this morning, and I'm planning to hold the launch event in the next two weeks.

If you had come two days later, I might really have been too busy.

After all, it's a film in which his own special effects company was deeply involved. Unless there's something particularly important, he'll naturally give them face.

"Alright! We'll be looking forward to Director Wu's arrival!"

After hanging up the phone, Lu Zheng was filled with anticipation for the upcoming premiere and public release of "The Warring States".

The impact of this blockbuster on the industry is truly unmatched by the small-scale productions that used to be known for their star power.
(End of this chapter)