Rebirth of Chinese Entertainment, starting with the strategy of 95 flowers to counterattack

Chapter 157 Film Release, Various Parties Move

A high-end cinema in Shanghai.

Liu Shishi, wearing a baseball cap and black-rimmed glasses, with a mask covering half his face, stood in the ticket queue, looking down at his phone.

Her agent stood beside her, glancing around warily, afraid of being recognized.

The cinema lobby was bustling with noise, and the electronic screens displayed the screening schedule for "Better Days".

Almost every show was sold out, even the midnight shows were sold out.

At the ticket counter, several young girls were excitedly discussing:

"I heard Zhou Ye's acting was incredibly realistic, and his crying scenes were amazing!"

"I came here specifically to see her buzz cut, it's so cool!"

"Zhang Jingyi's portrayal of the villain Wei Lai is said to be even more terrifying than Rong Momo!"

“I think my husband is the best. He’s not only handsome, but he’s also so good at training actresses.”

"Exactly! No matter how well the acting is done, it's still Gu Yang who directed it!"

As Liu Shishi listened to these discussions, the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

The agent lowered his voice: "Are you really going to see it? What if we get recognized..."

Liu Shishi snorted lightly: "What's there to be afraid of? I'm not here to cause trouble."

She certainly wasn't there to cause trouble; she was just too curious.

Her "plastic best friend" Yang Mi and Gu Yang were fighting fiercely online, and in the end, even their company's cash cow "Dilraba" was poached!

Yang Mi surprisingly went to Gu Yang's premiere to show her support and even posted a Weibo post with the caption "Stunning, deserves all the applause".

When Liu Shishi saw this Weibo post, he almost spat out his coffee.

Is this a case of being beaten silly?

Is it necessary to lick like that?
Furthermore, and more importantly, there's the online discussion.

Online film critics are praising it to the skies, saying things like "the acting skills of post-95 actresses are far superior to those of post-85 actresses."

"Liu Shishi had a perpetually expressionless face for ten years, while Zhou Ye became a legend with just one film."

Hilarious! These media outlets have absolutely no shame!

That's utter nonsense!

She wanted to see just how amazing this movie, which was being touted to the skies, really was.

"Two copies of 'Better Days,' in the last row." The agent handed over the payment code on his phone.

The ticket seller looked up and smiled, "You're really lucky, there are only two seats left for this show."

Liu Shishi raised an eyebrow, a veiled sarcasm in his eyes.

Wow, their marketing is really aggressive.

Inside the theater, the lights gradually dimmed.

The IMAX theater, which can accommodate 200 people, was almost full. Liu Shishi and his agent crouched down and slipped to the last row. As soon as they sat down, the dragon logo lit up on the screen.

However, as the plot progressed, her expression gradually changed.

When Chen Nian was bullied at school and huddled in a toilet stall crying silently, sobs echoed throughout the theater.

The agent couldn't help but exclaim, "Zhou Ye's crying scene... is amazing!"

Liu Shishi glanced at her: "It's alright, the emotions are there, but the details aren't handled delicately enough."

broker:"……"

Sister, other people's tears fall in time with the music, and you call that not being subtle enough?
When Xiao Bei said to Chen Nian, "You protect the world, I will protect you," several girls in the back row burst into tears.

The agent wiped a tear from the corner of his eye: "This part is so heartbreaking..."

Liu Shishi scoffed: "The lines are too contrived. If I were to act them, they would definitely be more natural."

broker:"……"

Sis, are you serious?

When Wei Lai said with a smile, "I was just joking," Liu Shishi's fingers unconsciously tightened around the armrest.

The agent gasped, "Zhang Jingyi's portrayal of the villain is so captivating!"

Liu Shishi frowned: "You're overdoing it, your facial expressions are too exaggerated."

broker:"……"

Sister, one look from that person made the audience grit their teeth in hatred, and you call that overdoing it?
The movie ended, and the lights came on.

The audience lingered in the theater for a long time, many with red eyes, still immersed in the story.

Liu Shishi put on a mask and quickly walked out of the theater. Her agent followed behind her, cautiously asking, "How did it go?"

She was silent for a few seconds before finally speaking:
"...It's alright, I guess."

"Yes, yes, I'm nowhere near as good as you," the agent replied with a forced smile, his nails digging deeply into his palms.

If it weren't for the fact that her ancestors had given her so much, she would have packed her bags and run away long ago.

This old lady has "blindness" practically etched into her DNA.

When acting, her eyes are vacant, like an out-of-focus shot; her taste in men is like trying to find pearls in a cesspool; and her critiques of her colleagues' acting are like having a level ten filter applied to them.

No wonder people in the industry call her "Blind Sister" in private. She's not just blind; she's in the late stages of selective blindness, the kind that even filters can't save her from.

Liu Shishi suddenly stopped and turned to stare at her agent: "Book plane tickets back to Yanjing."

"what?"

"Let's go see Yang Mi."

“By the way…” Liu Shishi gazed at the dark clouds outside the French windows, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the strap of her bag, a mixture of competitive spirit and admiration on her face. “If Gu Yang asks me to act in a movie next time…” she paused, “just say that my schedule is flexible.”

"Okay, okay." The agent nodded speechlessly.

Gu Yang isn't blind like you; there were so many young actresses at the premiere.

They're all so beautiful, and the price is cheap!

Why should they hire you? Just because the empty, vacant eyes of the characters you portray are particularly captivating? ...

Yanjing, the filming location of "Us and Them"

During lunch break, the film crew was packing up their equipment.

Tian Zhuangzhuang, wearing a dark gray coat, sat by the monitor, flipping through the script. He played the male lead's father in this film; his role was small, but every scene he played was a highlight.

Zhou Dongyu strolled over with her lunchbox in hand and squatted down next to him: "Teacher Tian, ​​do you think it would have been better if I had restrained my emotions a bit more for the scene this afternoon?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang pushed up his glasses, but before he could speak, Jing Boran brought over a cup of coffee and said, "Come on, if you keep taking more, you'll become expressionless."

"You're the one with a blank expression!" Zhou Dongyu raised her foot to kick him, but Jing Boran nimbly dodged it.

Tian Zhuangzhuang watched the two young men joking around, then shook his head with a smile. He closed his script and suddenly said, "I'll take the afternoon off and take you to see a movie."

"Huh?" Zhou Dongyu and Jing Boran were both stunned.

"Director Liu agreed?" Jing Boran asked in a low voice.

Tian Zhuangzhuang calmly took out his phone and waved it: "I just sent a WeChat message saying that I would take you to learn acting."

Zhou Dongyu blinked: "Is it that important what movie we watch?"

“You’ll know when you get there…” Tian Zhuangzhuang stood up and patted the wrinkles on his clothes.

Half an hour later, in the VIP room of a private cinema.

The lights dimmed, and the dragon logo lit up the screen.

Zhou Dongyu raised an eyebrow, while Jing Boran stroked his chin: "Isn't this that super popular movie lately? Directed by Gu Yang?"

“That’s right.” Tian Zhuangzhuang finally spoke, his tone filled with undisguised pride, “Gu Yang, my student.”

Zhou Dongyu and Jing Boran were both taken aback.

"Your student?" Jing Boran asked in surprise. "Director Gu Yang was trained by you?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang chuckled, "Otherwise what? Do you think his camera work and actor direction just appeared out of thin air?"

He raised his chin and said, "If I hadn't been filming 'Us and Them,' I definitely would have gone to the premiere yesterday and given those media a good talking to. This is the apprentice that Tian Zhuangzhuang taught!"

Zhou Dongyu couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Director Tian, ​​why do you sound like you're bragging about your own child getting into Tsinghua University?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang glared at her: "What, is that not allowed?"

Jing Boran smiled and smoothed things over: "Sure, of course! Director Gu Yang's film is receiving rave reviews right now, you certainly have every right to be proud."

Tian Zhuangzhuang nodded in satisfaction and turned his gaze to the screen: "Watch it carefully and learn how others act."

Zhou Dongyu pursed her lips and didn't reply.

At the beginning of the movie, Chen Nian, played by Zhou Ye, appears on screen, and she has a strange sense of destiny.

In particular, her buzz cut made Zhou Dongyu's eyes widen slightly, and she even forgot to eat her popcorn.

How dare Zhou Ye! He has a buzz cut!
So dedicated!
What if she got a buzz cut when she acted in it?

Don't even think about it, unless the entire crew shaves their heads along with her.

When Xiao Bei said, "You protect the world, I'll protect you," Jing Boran softly sighed, "That's a really well-written line."

Tian Zhuangzhuang snorted smugly: "Gu Yang is best at these kinds of details."

Zhou Dongyu didn't say anything.

She stared at Chen Nian's stubborn eyes on the screen, and a strange sense of familiarity welled up inside her.

This bullied yet stubborn girl, this character struggling alone in the darkness.
If she were to play the role...

If it was her...

"You acted well." Jing Boran sincerely praised after the movie ended.

Tian Zhuangzhuang nodded in satisfaction: "I knew this kid was going to amount to something."

Zhou Dongyu squeezed the empty popcorn bucket, making a cracking sound: "It's alright."

Seeing that both of them were looking at her, she added, "If I were to play Chen Nian, it might be more realistic."

Tian Zhuangzhuang chuckled: "What? You're not convinced?"

"No, that's not it." Zhou Dongyu pouted. "I just feel that this role suits me very well."

Tian Zhuang glanced at her thoughtfully, then suddenly said, "Next time I see Gu Yang, I'll introduce you two."

Zhou Dongyu's eyes lit up, but she shrugged nonchalantly and said, "Whatever."

As they left the cinema, Tian Zhuangzhuang received a phone call from the film crew urging them to return.

Zhou Dongyu was the last to arrive, and she turned around to look at the poster for "Better Days".

Gu Yang...

We will cooperate sooner or later.

Then I'll show you what the real "Chen Nian" is like.

……

Guangzhou, the exit passage of a movie theater.

Lin Xiaoyu mechanically followed her best friends outside. The tear stains on her cheeks had dried, but her eyes were still red.

Twenty minutes after the movie ended, she could still hear her own heart pounding.

"This is absolutely amazing!" My best friend, who was walking ahead, excitedly waved her phone. "I just posted it on my WeChat Moments, you guys have to give me a like!"

“Zhou Ye’s buzz cut is amazing,” another friend chimed in, “I want to get my hair cut like that!”

Lin Xiaoyu walked silently at the back.

As she passed the restroom, she suddenly turned inside, locked the stall door, and finally let the tears she had been holding back fall silently.

The reflection in the mirror showed her with red, swollen eyes, overlapping with the image of Chen Nian huddled in a toilet stall in the movie.

That memory is like a bruise; it aches faintly at the slightest touch.

(End of this chapter)