Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 630 The Promise from Eight Years Ago, The Grand Ceremony

After the premiere of "The Warring States", as if in response to the sparse applause, Starlight Pictures significantly increased its publicity budget.

For a time, the film and television sections of major portal websites were almost entirely filled with information about this movie.

It must be said that this saturation-style propaganda bombardment has been remarkably effective.

For most ordinary viewers, the "investment of 1.5 million yuan" is the most direct guarantee of the film's quality.

In their view, such a large-scale historical epic is bound to be a visual feast that cannot be missed.

However, at this very moment, reporters from major media outlets in Beijing had no time to pay attention to the ripples caused by "The Warring States".

They all grabbed their tools of the trade—photography equipment with long lenses and short lenses—and drove their interview vehicles, heading in the same direction as if by unspoken agreement:
Huairou Film and Television Base.

"Hurry up, everyone! Wu Chen's new film has been kept under wraps for so long, and today it's finally going to be revealed. We absolutely can't miss the headlines!"

"According to reports from our colleagues at the scene, quite a few actors have already arrived ahead of time."

"I just saw a candid side profile photo in the group chat, it looks like Hu Jing and Dong Xuan! Could one of them be the female lead this time?"

Inside a speeding press van, reporters were engrossed in a heated discussion.

In the passenger seat, a young reporter stared intently at the media group on his phone, reading the latest news aloud.

Throughout the car, even the usually composed photographer couldn't help but lean over, his eyes filled with curiosity.

As the interview vehicles arrived one after another at the Huairou Film and Television Base, the scene before them made everyone gasp in astonishment.

The temporary parking lot at the entrance of the base was already packed with all kinds of media vehicles, stretching as far as the eye could see.

"Wow, this is quite a scene. There must be at least a hundred media outlets here today."

A reporter who had just gotten off the bus clicked his tongue in amazement at the spectacular sight before him.

“Hundreds? You underestimate Wu Chen!” A colleague next to him said while carrying equipment out of the trunk, “I estimate that if you include all the online media and self-media, it’s more than two hundred! Hurry up, buddy, if we’re any later, there won’t even be a place to stand!”

Not far away, several extras dressed in costumes, preparing to start their work, watched this scene with undisguised envy in their eyes.

"Director Wu Chen's movies are amazing! Just one press conference can attract so many people. When will I be able to act in a movie like that, even just a supporting role with lines would be great?"

A young extra muttered to himself.

"Dream on!" The old fox next to him slapped him on the back of the head. "Hurry up and get back to playing your corpse properly! If you lie down properly today, you'll get an extra twenty yuan."

Amidst the hustle and bustle, the backstage lounge at the press conference felt exceptionally warm and nostalgic.

Centered around Wu Chen and Liu Yifei, the cast includes Hu Jing, Dong Xuan, Zhou Yang, Shu Chang, Li Qin, and Zhou Yiwei.
Familiar faces gathered here.

Hu Jing and Dong Xuan exchanged a glance, then looked at Zu Feng, who was greeting someone not far away and had also just arrived. The vague guess in their hearts instantly became clear.

"Director Wu, you've gathered everyone from 'The Dark Side' together?"

Hu Jing was the first to react and couldn't help but speak up.

"What, is that not allowed?" Wu Chen looked at everyone with a smile on his face. "I didn't tell you right away because I was thinking that if any of your schedules were really unavailable, I could use this 'emotional appeal' tactic."

Surprisingly, everything went smoothly for everyone.

He looked around at his group of old friends and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

My thoughts immediately drifted back to that winter in early 2004.

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Zu Feng then realized what was happening.

He not only saw the actors from back then, but also many familiar figures among the behind-the-scenes team who were busy preparing not far away.

He recognized Park Song-il, who was debugging the equipment, at a glance.

"Director Wu, you should have said so earlier! I still remember what you said when filming started: 'It's better to rely on yourself than on heaven and earth.'"

Hu Jing's reminder reminded Zu Feng, Dong Xuan, and the others of the time when "The Dark Side" started filming, and they were all lost in memories and a little nostalgia.

At this moment, Shu Chang and Li Qin were somewhat confused.

Including Liu Yifei.

"What happened?"

"Xixi, you didn't know?" Hu Jing asked subconsciously, then suddenly realized, "Oh, you came to visit the set later, you weren't there that day."

Let me tell you, when Director Wu first started filming, not a single media reporter showed up that day.

Then Director Wu immediately promised us that if we had the chance to get together again in the future, we would definitely hold a grand opening ceremony to make up for today's regret." As she spoke, she couldn't help but turn her head and look at the area outside the lounge that had been specially set up for the media.

The place was packed with reporters and photographers, and flashes of light went off frequently.
"With this kind of commotion today, there must be more than a hundred media outlets here, right?"

"This is really going to be dazzling."

"."

The group muttered to themselves, then couldn't help but turn their gazes back to Wu Chen.

The young director who made those bold pronouncements in the cold wind back then has now truly made it happen.

Moreover, it was more successful than any of them had imagined.

It's fair to say that almost every media outlet in Beijing, big or small, was present today.

Liu Yifei, who was listening from the side, was stunned.

She didn't know about this, but seeing the trace of reminiscence flash in her eyes, an indescribable sense of pride welled up in her heart.

Meanwhile, the reporters in the media area in the distance were equally stunned.

"No, I feel like all the actors who came today seem to have worked with Wu Chen before."

"Hey, you know what, it seems to be true. There's not a single one we haven't worked with before, and why do I feel like I know some of them really well? It seems like I reported on a project with Wu Chen a long time ago."

"Who?"

"Zu Feng, I remember now, he's the male lead in 'The Dark Side'."

"."

The media were very excited, wishing time would pass immediately so that the press conference could start right away.

Almost every actor in the film has worked with Wu Chen in a movie, and what intrigues them is who the lead actor is.

For a time, people kept speculating.

Zhang Yi was filming and couldn't make it over.
Wang Zhiwen was also unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.

After all, Wu Chen was only filming two scenes in Huairou this time, and he was going to fly straight to Shanghai afterward. It didn't involve any of their scenes, so it didn't matter if he couldn't come.

But almost everyone present today was someone he had specifically asked Liu Yifei to invite—someone connected to "The Dark Side."

Han Sanping had originally said he would come to support them, but Wu Chen thought about it and ultimately declined at the last minute.

He hoped that today's occasion could be more pure and simple.
"Let's take a picture! Quick, let's all take a picture together!" Zhou Yang suggested excitedly.

She never expected that what Wu Chen said casually would actually come true.

"You guys go ahead and take your pictures," Liu Yifei said, but Hu Jing stopped her.

"Let's film together! Let's film together! The past is the past, now we're all in the same crew!"

Park Song-il specially put aside his work, took a professional SLR camera, and came over to act as a temporary photographer.

However, Hu Jing and Dong Xuan still handed over their phones, asking Park Song-il to take a few pictures with his own.

"We've hit the jackpot! This is an Oscar-caliber photographer taking pictures of us!" everyone joked with laughter.

Park Song-il simply smiled. Compared to the naive student he once was, he had grown up considerably and was now completely at ease in this situation.

"Hey, why do I feel like I don't look as good as I used to?" Zhou Yang looked at the group photo on his phone and suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

"Yangyang, no way, you look great right now."

Liu Yifei immediately leaned over, looked at Zhou Yang who was still radiant in the photo, and earnestly comforted him.

"Senior Sister Zhou Yang, is it possible that the camera resolution is just getting higher and higher, and it's not your problem?" Wu Chen joked from the side.

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

Liu Yifei couldn't help but raise her little fist and gently punch Wu Chen: "You're so annoying! Yangyang has always been so handsome!"

However, amidst the laughter and merriment, Wu Chen keenly noticed that Zhou Yang's smile after hearing his joke was fleeting.

She looked down at the photo on her phone, a hint of unspeakable worry hidden deep in her eyes.

Wu Chen seemed to realize something, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

However, at this moment, the event staff came over to remind everyone that all the media outside were in place and it was almost 9:00 AM.

The launch event is about to begin.
(End of this chapter)