This director lacks vision.

Chapter 54 Plagiarism Controversy
Upon hearing Xu Zheng's words, Jiang Yifeng suddenly remembered that "Lost in Thailand" had also been embroiled in a plagiarism controversy.

The characters in this movie are a wealthy boss and ordinary people. The story structure is that they first take a plane, then a train, and then a bus.

There are also some plot points.

For example, singing on a bus or sleeping in a bed in a small hotel.

They all share similarities with the movie "Plane, Train and Car".

Some say it's plagiarism, while others say it's not.

The main reason is that "Lost in Journey" incorporates the unique Chinese Spring Festival travel rush concept, and many of the plot points and jokes in the film are original.

Take the scene where the two sleep in the same bed, for example. The funniest part is that Xu Zheng went into the wrong room and lay down in Jiang Cheng Fan Bingbing's bed, just as her husband came to catch them cheating.

This scene, arguably the funniest in the entire movie, is an original creation.

If we have to say that "Lost in Thailand" plagiarized, then "Crazy Stone" was also plagiarized, as were many of Zhou Xingchi's early films.

The future film "Due Date" starring Robert Downey Jr. has a plot structure very similar to "Lost in Thailand", which is also plagiarism.

In road comedy films, choosing two people from different social classes to meet, and the resulting conflicts, can generate strong comedic effects.

This is itself a formula and a routine.

The movie "Lost in Thailand" definitely borrowed from the movie "Plane, Train and Car," but whether it constitutes plagiarism is a matter of opinion.

As a director, Jiang Yifeng still doesn't want his work to be embroiled in plagiarism controversies.

Moreover, his script itself did not reference "Airplanes, Trains and Cars".

Jiang Yifeng said, "I discussed the airplane scene with Xiaotian, but we ultimately decided not to include it because it didn't fit the character's logic."

Niu Geng, a low-level migrant worker, would never waste money on a more expensive plane ticket when he could afford a train ticket.

Jiang Yifeng wanted to add a scene involving flying, not because he had seen the movie "Airplanes, Trains and Cars," but because he remembered the famous scene of Wang Baoqiang drinking milk at the airport.

However, after careful consideration, Jiang Yifeng still deleted the scene of him taking a plane.

The main purpose is to make the characters' behavior reasonable.

The story of the script is set during the 2008 Spring Festival travel rush.

In 2008, high-speed trains were not the mainstream; green-skinned trains were.

Back then, the price difference between train tickets and plane tickets was enormous.

For Niu Geng, a member of the lower class, being able to buy a train ticket meant he would never go on a plane.

This is the survival logic of ordinary people at the bottom of society.

They hesitate for ages to buy a bottle of water on the train, so how could they possibly spend several times the price to fly?

In a good script, the characters' behavior must be logically consistent.

You can't deliberately do illogical things just to advance the plot.

Hearing Jiang Yifeng's explanation, Xu Zheng did not press the matter.

He said with a smile, "I recommend you watch the movie 'Airplanes, Trains and Cars,' it's really funny."

You can only improve by learning more!

Seeing Xu Zheng's smiling face, Jiang Yifeng thought about how the audience would evaluate him in the future.

"First-rate actor, second-rate director, third-rate person."

In terms of acting skills, Xu Zheng is beyond reproach. His many years of stage play career have laid a solid foundation for his acting skills. He can act in both comedies and serious dramas.

He has some talent as a director, but not much. He particularly likes to focus on the plight of middle-aged men.

As for his character, Xu Zheng is a Shanghainese who practices refined egoism.

There's really nothing to criticize about that.

True friendship in adversity is extremely rare in the entertainment industry; most relationships are based on competition for fame and fortune.

Jiang Yifeng didn't care. He wasn't trying to be friends with Xu Zheng; they were just cooperating normally.

Nowadays, the script, investment, and production of "Lost in Thailand" are all led by Fengxing Media, unlike the previous version which had a host of problems.

It's practically impossible for Xu Zheng to usurp the throne.

Jiang Yifeng took a sip of tea and said, "I'll be watching more road movies during this time."

However, our film still focuses on the theme of the Spring Festival travel rush. Therefore, there will be relatively more scenes at train stations and on trains.

For most Chinese people, the first memory of the Spring Festival travel rush is still train stations and trains.

Moreover, in 2008, heavy snow in southern my country caused many trains to be suspended, leaving many tourists stranded at train stations and unable to return home for the Spring Festival.

This background offers plenty of footage to shoot, with both humorous and touching moments.

Therefore, Jiang Yifeng's version of "Lost in Thailand" devotes the most screen time to train stations and train journeys.

If you delete the scenes on the airplane and focus on the train, the plagiarism allegations will naturally disappear.

Xu Zheng nodded and said, "Who are the other actors confirmed? Would you mind revealing them?"

Jiang Yifeng said, "It's tentatively confirmed that Gao Yuanyuan will star in the film."

Xu Zheng's expression was strange as he asked, "You're not going to have Gao Yuanyuan play the role of a mistress, are you?"

"Yes."

Xu Zheng thought of the news reports about Jiang Yifeng and Gao Yuanyuan's romantic relationship, and couldn't help but give a thumbs up, exclaiming, "Awesome! Director Jiang, you're awesome!"
Gao Yuanyuan playing a mistress has generated a huge amount of buzz and anticipation!

If I were a viewer, I would also like to go to the cinema to see it.

Tian Yusheng, who had been silent until now, seized the opportunity to flatter, saying, "Only Director Jiang could handle Gao Yuanyuan and get her to willingly play the role of a mistress."

Jiang Yifeng shook his head and said, "Actors need to be dedicated. Yuanyuan is a professional actress and takes her work very seriously. The role she played before, Zhou Zhiruo, was a similar one."

Besides Yuanyuan, I'm also planning to approach Qin Lan and ask her to play a role.

Upon hearing Qin Lan's name, Xu was captivated.

He said with a hint of schadenfreude, "I hope Director Lu Chuan won't be so petty."

Xu Zheng also goes online.

He had also been following the conflict between Jiang Yifeng and Lu Chuan some time ago, as well as Qin Lan's "righteous act" of "abandoning darkness for light".

Even now, many netizens still joke that Qin Lan was moved by Jiang Yifeng's poems and short film, and that she broke up with Lu Chuan because of Jiang Yifeng.

If news were to spread at this time that Qin Lan would be starring in Jiang Yifeng's new movie.

That's definitely a hot news story that gets a lot of attention.

The story between Jiang Yifeng, Qin Lan, and Lu Chuan will be discussed repeatedly.

The one who was hurt the most was definitely Mr. Lu Chuan, after all, he was the one who was cuckolded.

That's why Xu Zheng said that.

Jiang Yifeng didn't care how Lu Chuan felt; all he wanted was attention.

The female characters in Lost on Journey have relatively few scenes and are not particularly important.

Casting Qin Lan in a role that will generate buzz is the best choice.

Next, Xu Zheng offered some suggestions.

Jiang Yifeng accepted some of the suggestions, while rejecting others outright.

Xu Zheng also noticed Jiang Yifeng's style of doing things: communication was smooth, but he was very principled and had a bottom line, and his goals were very clear.

Minor details can be changed, but the overall direction is still up to Jiang Yifeng and will not be easily altered.

Xu Zheng had no objections; it's normal for a director to have his own personality and principles.

Overall, it was a pleasant first meeting.

After parting ways with Xu Zheng, Jiang Yifeng called Gao Yuanyuan.

"Where are you?"

“We’re shopping at the China World Mall, and Naza is there too. Are you done on your end?”

"It's over. Let's meet at Chen's Restaurant."

"Okay~"

In order to get Qin Lan to star in the movie, Jiang Yifeng asked Gao Yuanyuan to arrange the meeting.

Unexpectedly, Naza wasn't at the hospital with her father; she was with them instead.

(End of this chapter)