Huayu Entertainment: You have been directing for three generations, are you comparing your qualifica

Chapter 164 The Chaotic Battle of the Lunar New Year Film Season: Director Chen's Corpse Being Whipped!

seven in the morning.

Tian Xiaole opened her eyes, and a fair face without any makeup came into view.

Zeng Li is a restless sleeper; her slender, fair legs are draped over Tian Xiaole's body. No wonder she looks so tired; she must have been completely drained.

"Pear, get up quickly. The lead actor and director are both absent; people will start speculating."

Tian Xiaole pushed Zeng Li up, and the latter opened her eyes, said nothing, and hugged her.

"Brother Le, you're awesome."

"Stop fooling around, hurry up and go wash up, don't delay the computer's startup time."

Tian Xiaole slapped her on the butt; it felt nice, very bouncy.

The two joked around for a while before going to wash up.

When I went to the lobby for breakfast, I ran into Chen Hong and Arthur, who were also having breakfast there.

Once considered the most beautiful woman in mainland China, she is now a mother of two. Her skin is well-maintained, and she exudes a more elegant aura, though her dark circles are a bit heavy.

Tian Xiaole asked with concern, "Sister Hong, are you sensitive to sleeping in unfamiliar beds? Should we change your room?"

"Arthur was a bit restless, so he went to bed a little late."

Chen Hong casually explained that Zeng Li's fair and rosy face was like a cracked egg, the kind that would burst with juice if you pinched it.

That slut from last night must have been her.

He secretly despised himself: Shouting so loudly, how shameless.

"Mom, I went to bed very early last night."

Arthur stared with wide, bewildered eyes, not understanding why he was being called naughty.

Chen Hong felt ashamed of being caught red-handed when her son exposed her, but as an actress, she concealed it well with her expression.

"Mom must have misremembered. Come and drink the porridge."

Tian Xiaole didn't ask any further questions. Everyone has their own private matters, and as the director, he was just casually showing concern.

Looking at Chen Hong's gentle appearance, he invited her, "Sister Hong, since you're free anyway, why don't you play a cameo role for fun?"

"Great, it's good to have some fun."

Chen Hong agreed; she hadn't made an art film in a long time and was itching to try it again.

In the original film, the male protagonist's ex-wife did not appear on screen, but through descriptions, it is known that she had a strong personality, a bad temper, and that the family dog ​​would bark wildly whenever it heard her name.

Tian Xiaole made some changes; such an interesting character should definitely be kept, and Chen Hong was chosen to make a cameo appearance.

···
When I arrived at the film set, everything was ready.

The staff knew which scene to film based on the posted notice and had already prepared the set.

Wang Jinsong doesn't need much styling; he perfectly embodies the image of a divorced single man with a child.

His complexion was slightly yellowish, he wore glasses, had a bald head, and sported a scraggly beard—the typical look of a disillusioned middle-aged man.

Zeng Li's look is typical of a Chinese kindergarten teacher, wearing long sleeves and trousers, and she even has two braids to show her closeness to the children.

Guan Xiaotong's makeup and styling should lean towards maturity. She is the point of conflict in the whole drama. She is too mature inside, and the story only begins after she is rejected.

With everything prepared, Tian Xiaole sat in front of the monitor, holding a walkie-talkie and shouting:
"action!"

As a kindergarten security guard, Wang Jingsong can accurately call out the name of every child. Every day when children arrive at and leave school, he holds the hand of each child and hands them over to their parents.

The character is portrayed as reserved, kind, and meticulous.

It is this personality trait that allows him to get along well with a group of children.

In its second week of release, "Curse of the Golden Flower" seems to be gaining traction, especially on Rotten Eggs website, where there are many sarcastic and humorous comments.

According to Huang Jixin, they also received a warning from Newview, instructing the website to block negative reviews.

However, I simply ignored it.

Before the release of "Still Life," which won the Golden Lion Award, Jia Zhangke got into a fight with Zhang Weiping, angrily criticizing "Curse of the Golden Flower" for signing an exclusive agreement with theaters, which he said was unfair to other films.

Zhang Weiping sarcastically remarked that cinemas also need to make money, and added that the Golden Lion Award was illegitimate, with the films suspected of having investment from the jury chairman.

Jia Zhangke retorted, bringing up Zhang Yimou's Golden Lion as an example.

The two exchanged words back and forth, creating quite a lively scene.
People in the industry are just quietly observing; not many have access to this kind of inside information.

Tian Xiaole was engrossed in filming in Xiamen, and news about him never stopped.

The news of the start of filming for "The Hunt" was reported by the media, and many paparazzi were staking out the area near the rented kindergarten.

The most talked-about film is undoubtedly "Night at the Museum," which grossed $42 million in its opening weekend and took the top spot at the North American box office.

When the news reached China, some were overjoyed while others were saddened.

Several investors, all smiles, also added fuel to the fire of the film's promotion.

Those companies that missed out on investing back then are now filled with regret. Given such strong box office performance, as long as the word-of-mouth doesn't collapse, they're likely to make a profit.

The South Korean film "Extreme Job" attracted a million viewers in its opening weekend, surpassing the record previously held by "The Thieves".

Domestic media also followed up with reports, revealing that the script was also written by Tian Xiaole, and that he had a significant share of the credit. The news spread instantly throughout the industry.

Upon seeing the news, the investors gathered to discuss raising the promotional level of the domestic version of "Extreme Pro" by two notches.

During a break in filming, Tian Xiaole received a call from Ning Hao. The good results from the South Korean production put a lot of pressure on him.

"Xiao Le, with the same script, I won't be outshone, will I?"

"Your localized Guy Ritchie style is perfect for this kind of serious-yet-funny film, and our market is bigger, so the box office won't be low," Tian Xiaole reassured him.

"I'm relieved to hear that. By the way, are you really not coming to the premiere of 'The Museum'?"

"I just turned on my computer and I can't leave."

"You're really something, not even attending the projects you're in charge of domestically," Ning Hao joked with a laugh.

"I'm hanging up now, I'm busy here."

After seeing Ning Hao off, Tian Xiaole looked at Guan Xiaotong, who had two braided hairpins tied up, and waved to her.

"Xiaotong, in this scene, when you are rejected, you need to show anger, like the feeling of having your favorite doll taken away."

"Uncle Le, I don't like dolls, I like ice skating."

As soon as Guan Xiaotong said this, everyone on set laughed. She was young and good at expressing her feelings, ignoring that Tian Xiaole was giving her acting instructions.

"Okay, so if someone steals your roller skates, you should be really angry..."

Tian Xiaole patiently explained the scenes to be filmed next to her, down to the details of how to express herself and what her facial expressions should be.

···
Guan Xiaotong plays a little girl who lacked parental love since childhood. She is smart and cunning, but deep down she craves attention.

She was already used to the fact that the person who was supposed to pick her up hadn't arrived by the time kindergarten let out.

"Xiaoya, come in and wait."

Wang Jingsong waved and waited with Wang Xiaoya at the gate.

To keep her from getting bored, I even told her a joke.

Such a heartwarming scene, along with the long-term care shown to her, stirred up special feelings in Wang Xiaoya, and the precocious girl confessed her feelings to Wang Jingsong.

"Uncle Lu..."

Hearing these naive words, Wang Jinsong smiled and didn't take them seriously. He patted Guan Xiaotong's head and said earnestly.

"From now on, I can only say these kinds of things to my parents and my future boyfriend..."

Tian Xiaole stood in front of the monitor, watching the footage being filmed. She perfectly demonstrated that lying is a woman's nature; no wonder she's a natural actress.

"Click."

Xiaotong acted very well. Teacher Wang, you need to keep up the good work and not let yourself be overshadowed.

"Okay, director, I apologize."

Knowing that Tian Xiaole was encouraging Guan Xiaotong, Wang Jinsong was happy to cooperate.

You can't scold, criticize, or even hit young actors; you can only encourage them.

Encouraged, Guan Xiaotong raised her neck and puffed out her chest, imitating an adult, and patted Arthur on the shoulder.

"Brother Arthur, you need to work hard too."

This gesture amused everyone present, creating a joyful atmosphere.

“Sister Hong, finish filming your two scenes, and put Arthur later so he can get used to the filming process first.”

Chen Hong nodded. She was quite happy that Tian Xiaole called her "sister," as it made her feel younger.

"You designed this character to be too fierce. I'm not usually like that."

"So what are you usually like?"

Tian Xiaole asked out of curiosity, without thinking there was anything wrong with it.

"I'm actually much more outspoken than my characters are."

Chen Hong said with a smile, wanting to tease Tian Xiaole.

After spending these few days together, I saw a reflection of Chen Kaige in his younger days—talented, handsome, and with an added touch of approachability.

Tian Xiaole didn't know what she was thinking, otherwise he would have definitely broken down. He didn't like pretending that much.

"Ah, Uncle Kaige is getting on in years, he can't take this kind of treatment, can he?"

Tian Xiaole regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth; they sounded a bit like she was teasing him.

Seeing that Chen Hong wasn't angry, he finally felt relieved.

"I don't eat people, so why can't I stand it?"

Chen Hong's feigned anger surprised Tian Xiaole. The usually aloof producer Chen could actually crack a raunchy joke. Since she didn't mind, Tian Xiaole felt no restraint either.

"Lust is a double-edged sword. No matter how healthy Director Chen is, with a beautiful wife like Sister Hong, he'll eventually be unable to move."

"Aren't you a little pervert too? Don't think you can be so unrestrained just because you're young. Be careful you don't end up unable to have a son."

Tian Xiaole was stunned for a moment, guessing that Chen Hong must have overheard him, otherwise she wouldn't have said that.

"Having a son is a skill. In the future, I'll look for a wife with a figure like Sister Hong's. She'll definitely be able to have a son if she has a big butt."

Chen Hong rolled her eyes at Tian Xiaole. These directors in the Beijing circle are all the same, full of tricks and schemes.

···
During breaks from filming, Tian Xiaole kept up with the news.

The incident involving Sun Li's financial assistance has caused quite a stir, with some saying that Sun's mother has slandered her character, while others have called her an ingrate.

Writer Han Han posted on his blog in support of Sun Li: Even Shanghai doesn't allow raising wolves.

Jet Li, who has been very active in mainland China recently, launched a large-scale "One Foundation," which has attracted donations from many actors and celebrities in China, earning him a lot of fame.

The Lunar New Year film season is in complete chaos.

【Still Life】 was eliminated early, with a box office of 300,000 in mainland China, but its overseas rights were sold for 40 million.

【Confession of Pain】is making a strong comeback, boasting the production team behind 【Infernal Affairs】.

The reputation of "Curse of the Golden Flower" collapsed, and the box office also continued to decline. Finally, it could no longer be covered up.

"The whole city is full of big-breasted girls..."

"【The Promise】 was a bloodbath caused by a steamed bun, and 【Curse of the Golden Flower】 was a bloodbath caused by a group of steamed buns!"

"After watching the film, all I remember besides the city full of chrysanthemums is rows and rows of snow-white flowers, a gorgeous but empty plot..."

"..."

Immediately, the film was met with a flood of negative reviews, and the plausibility of its plot was questioned.

Some media outlets even went so far as to describe it as the "Three Brothers of Bad Movies": Chen Kaige's "The Promise," Feng Xiaogang's "The Banquet," and Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower."

There was originally a film called "Hero," but compared to the other three films, it was found that the crime was not serious enough, so it was removed.

Many netizens have called on Tian Xiaole to stay strong and not follow in the footsteps of several famous directors.

Tian Xiaole did not respond to this, but simply liked the post.

With the box office performance of "Curse of the Golden Flower," no one is saying it will surpass "The Thieves."

Moreover, with the upcoming release of "Night at the Museum," the audience will definitely be diverted.

Chen Zhixi called Tian Xiaole to report that filming for Yinghuang's "Ip Man 2" had wrapped up and also gave an update on the preparations for "The Eight Hundred".

The site selection and construction of the city have already begun, which will take a lot of time in the early stages, and filming will also take some time.

On the film crew's side.

Tian Xiaole noticed that Chen Hong wasn't in a good state; her dark circles were quite pronounced. She asked with concern:

“If Sister Hong didn’t sleep well, she can go back to the hotel to catch up on her sleep. I’ll keep an eye on Arthur here.”

"I ordered coffee, just something to perk me up."

Chen Hong didn't sleep well last night. Chen Kaige called her to complain because "The Promise" was being dragged out and criticized again.

She knew that Chen Kaige cared a lot about this film, having poured three years of effort into it, only to be met with a flood of negative reviews and damage to his reputation. He would not admit that it was a failure of the film, firmly believing that the audience simply did not understand it.

I listened to her endless complaints until very late before I finally went to sleep.

"Then you need to take care of your health. Don't overwork yourself on set, or Director Chen will come after me."

Tian Xiaole said with a smile, "I'm trying to bring the two of you closer, but I'm also trying to distance myself from Chen Kaige."

Seeing the actress come out after finishing her makeup, the two ended their conversation and began a new day of filming.

Guan Xiaotong complained to the kindergarten director that she disliked Wang Jinsong, the security guard.

Under questioning from the kindergarten principal, Guan Xiaotong fabricated a lie, saying that she had been assaulted.

From this point on, the film enters a somber atmosphere.

Under the psychologist's guided questioning, Guan Xiaotong reaffirmed her statement.

Wang Jinsong was taken away by the police in full view of everyone.

In the eyes of his parents, he was a kind-hearted and good-natured person.

Without knowing the truth, they concluded that he was a monster in human form who had assaulted the little girl.

Enraged, the crowd surrounded him and beat him mercilessly, and the police couldn't stop them.

The scene shifts to the interrogation room, where a beam of light shines on Wang Jinsong's face.

His glasses were smashed, his clothes were torn, and his face was scratched.

It's as if he's the bad guy, and he's being judged by the masses.

"What do you have to say about your accusations?"

When questioned by the police, Wang Jinsong gave a self-deprecating laugh and said:

Have you ever seen a school gatehouse with a basement?

The two policemen looked up, exchanged a glance, and turned to Guan Xiaotong's statement, which clearly stated that she was assaulted in the basement of the guardhouse.

Everyone believed that a ten-year-old girl wouldn't lie for no reason, or tell such a lie, and thus assumed that Wang Jinsong was the suspect.

After investigation, the police found that there was no basement, and the surveillance footage outside the school also proved Wang Jinsong's innocence.

All the evidence proves that he is innocent.

Wang Jinsong was acquitted, and he felt that it was all over.

Little did they know, the nightmare had only just begun.

···
The movie "The Museum" has been released, and although its box office performance was not as strong as in North America, it still achieved good results.

The film's opening day box office of 13 million is quite impressive compared to other domestic films, but the investors seem unsatisfied, given that its North American box office has already exceeded 60 million US dollars.

The release of the film at this time is a huge blow to "Curse of the Golden Flower". Its reputation had already collapsed, and it could only continue to reap box office benefits by relying on the number of screenings in theaters.

Now it's been cut in half, with daily box office revenue dropping to just over ten million.

Jia Zhangke, who withdrew from the Lunar New Year film season early, criticized "Curse of the Golden Flower" for its terrible reputation and its continued dominance on the big screen.

They also criticized the "museum" (referring to a specific film production company), saying that the Lunar New Year film season is a private domain for domestic films, and the release of imported films during this period squeezes the survival space of other domestic films.

The domestic production companies of "[Museum]" did not respond to him and simply let the film finish smoothly.

Zhang Weiping's foul mouth won't tolerate Jia Zhangke's behavior.

"Some directors blame others for poor box office performance. They should use that energy to improve their own professional skills."

A rumor quickly spread, diverting everyone's attention.

"Tian Zhuangzhuang is preparing to shoot a blockbuster film, and the script was provided by Tian Xiaole."

It was like stepping on a hornet's nest; people kept calling to inquire about the authenticity of the news.

Tian Xiaole told them to ask Lao Tian themselves, then turned off his phone and focused on filming.

···
Although he proved his innocence, Wang Jinsong still lost his job.

He didn't complain too much, and when he got home, he looked at his son and smiled lovingly.

"Dad, I'm hungry."

"Stay put and let Daddy cook for you."

Wang Jinsong smiled, patted Arthur's head, took out an apron from behind the door, tied it, and prepared dinner for the day.

A moment later, he heard crying and immediately put down the spatula to go out and check.

"Dad, they say you're a bad person."

Arthur went out to play and was bullied by other children his age, who even called his father a bad person.

Wang Jinsong's expression was complicated, as if he had realized something.

In the original film, the window glass was smashed; Tian Xiaole made localized modifications.

"Crack!"

“Arthur, if you’ve been bullied, you should cry. Don’t just howl without shedding a tear.”

Wang Jinsong's performance just now was as stable as ever. He perfectly portrayed the image of a loving single father and the helplessness in his inner world.

Arthur is dry and lifeless; his lines are delivered stiffly, and he doesn't seem to be fully immersed in the role.

"Ten-minute break."

Tian Xiaole, holding the walkie-talkie, shouted to Wang Jingsong who was walking over: "Teacher Wang, you and Arthur should cultivate your relationship more and get him to recognize you as his father as soon as possible."

"I might approve in the play, but I wouldn't dare do that off-screen."

Seeing Chen Hong approaching, Wang Jinsong's smile vanished; this Mrs. Chen was no pushover.

"Xiao Le, I see you're quite patient with Xiao Tong, so why are you so impatient with Arthur? Isn't that a bit biased towards girls and boys?"

Tian Xiaole smiled. He would never admit that Guan Xiaotong had acting experience and could roughly grasp the basics after being taught two or three times. As for Arthur, he was not only young, but also lacked talent, so he had much less patience.

"Sister Hong, please don't slander me. I still want to have a son. How is that favoring girls over boys?"

Chen Hong rolled her eyes at Tian Xiaole, thinking back to what she had said before about finding someone with a figure like her to have a son, and assumed she was just flirting with her.

"Then you'd better hurry up, or you'll regret it when you can't use it for a few years."

Chen Hong glanced at him subtly, and Tian Xiaole felt a chill run down her spine.

What kind of look is this?
How dare you question the Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon?
(End of this chapter)