It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 156 Liu, the Curly-haired Lion Dog, Yifei (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"How was it? Did I capture this scene well?"

Outside the film set, Jiang Wen walked over laughing, put his arm around Lü Rui's shoulder, and was extremely happy about his visit.

Before Lü Rui could respond, he pulled him toward the monitor: "Come on, watch the playback. Let me tell you, the lighting, the energy, it's amazing! I've been waiting for this scene for days..."

The monitor is replaying the footage from just now.

Zhou Yun's running figure resembled a burning fire against the red and gold background. The white steam from the train collided with the verdant green of the grassland, creating a truly breathtaking beauty.

Lü Rui nodded in agreement: "Indeed, very good, full of tension!"

But at this moment, he was thinking to himself: This is fucking full of metaphors!

Strictly speaking, Jiang Wen's films are actually like a bunch of encrypted compressed files.

At first glance, it's full of chaotic symbols and fragments. You have to guess the password correctly within a certain time frame to decompress a portion of the content before you suddenly realize: Oh, so that's what it means!
Just like this scene right now.

Trains, running, red ropes, crying, sunrise... At first glance, the images seem absurd yet romantic, but upon closer examination, each image is like a hook, tempting one to unravel the deeper meaning behind it.

"By the way, what brings you here?" Jiang Wen pressed the pause button and turned to look at him. "Weren't you working on a new script? Is it finished?"

"That's about it. I just finished running around to a few places to deliver documents." Lu Rui casually mentioned, "I'll be busy when I get back, so I thought I'd stop by your place first."

Jiang Wen turned off the playback and laughed: "Your visit to the set is perfectly timed. Don't leave tonight, I'll get you a whole roasted lamb."

"Roasted whole lamb? That'll do!"

Lu Rui didn't stand on ceremony with him.

The barbecue grill was quickly set up. A local herder who specializes in roasting whole lambs drove over, with a lamb roasting in the trunk.

Many actors were filmed on the grassland.

To Lü Rui's relief, he did not see those two poisonous insects and traitors, Jaycee Chan and Huang Qiusheng.

"Director Lü, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've long admired your name."

Chen Chong, who plays 'Dr. Lin', came over and greeted him.

"Hello." Lü Rui smiled back and chatted with her for a few moments. "I saw your name on the audition list for 'Sunny Sisters' the other day?"

"Yes, I want to try Xia Chunhua." Chen Chong didn't hide his intentions.

It is very difficult for actresses over forty to find suitable roles.

Most of them are either housewives whose lives revolve around their husbands and children, or bitter, resentful women.

But the character "Xia Chunhua" is different. Although she is over forty, she is not the kind of middle-aged woman that everyone else is.

She has an indomitable spirit, and even in her old age, that energy and spirit remain!
After reading the script, Chen Chong fell deeply in love with the role.

Lu Rui looked her over and nodded slightly: "I wish you success in your audition."

The role of Xia Chunhua requires a certain amount of life experience; it needs to blend the composure of middle age with the sharpness of youth. Chen Chong's age is suitable, but I don't know how her acting skills will be.

The two chatted casually about their roles, with Zhou Yun occasionally chiming in.

A short while later, Jiang Wen closed the script for "Dying to Survive" and said with a hint of mockery, "You still have the nerve to say that my movies are full of metaphors? At most, I just hide them and let the audience guess."

Your script is something else! It puts a scalpel right to the throat of the social system—that's blatant torture! It's even bolder than the new script I'm currently working on.

Lu Rui turned around, unable to hide his surprise: "Is it that exaggerated? I think it's alright, it's just putting out the real-world conflicts."

"Is it alright?" Jiang Wen mumbled, chewing on some roasted meat. "Drug dealers, doctors, patients, police—it's all interconnected. Aren't they all dancing in shackles? This level of intensity is almost comparable to when I was filming 'Devils on the Doorstep' back then."

As he spoke, he swallowed the meat and changed the subject: "But it's really powerful. I have friends in various departments. I'll put in a good word for you later and see if I can help you with the approval process."

Lü Rui knew the weight of those words.

Jiang Wen has been outspoken and daring in his films over the years, seemingly unconventional, but in reality, he has a solid network of connections; otherwise, he would have become an underground director long ago.

"Then thank you in advance, Director Jiang."

"Don't mention it," Jiang Wen waved his hand and took another bite of meat.

Now it was Lü Rui's turn to be curious: "You haven't even finished filming the movie you're currently working on, and you're already thinking about a new one?"

Jiang Wen picked up the beer bottle and took a big gulp, his eyes shining: "I can't stay idle. I recently looked at a bunch of historical materials from the Beiyang period and found that era quite interesting. The clash between the old and the new, all kinds of people, heroes and villains all mixed together, it was much more lively than now."

After I finish filming this movie, I plan to travel around Tianjin and Shanghai to look for inspiration; maybe I can come up with a script that way.

Beiyang era?

Lu Rui was slightly taken aback, and the "Beiyang Trilogy" that Jiang Wenpai had filmed in his previous life immediately came to mind.

Putting aside box office and critical reception, those three movies had a truly strong "flavor" in my memory!
……

The following morning, Lü Rui did not disturb the filming of "The Sun Also Rises" any further. He bid farewell to Jiang Wen and returned to the capital.

At the same time, after a few days of anticipation, Jackie Chan's "The Myth" was officially released.

In the past, people's impression of him was that of an action star who would cause chaos in the furniture store every time he appeared on screen.

But now, he has become a general in an epic period drama, a contrast that has piqued the curiosity of many who want to see how he will portray the character.

Lu Rui also felt a bit nostalgic, so he took Zhao Peng and Lu Yang to the movie theater during his lunch break.

As soon as the car stopped in front of the cinema, I saw that the line of people queuing to buy tickets had circled halfway around.

Zhao Peng got out of the car and couldn't help but click his tongue at the sight: "Brother's box office appeal is truly undeniable."

Lu Yang nodded in agreement: "The main reason is that the contrast is too great. Who would have thought that the action star who tore a shopping mall to pieces in 'Police Story' would become a general in armor this time?"

The three chatted as they joined the queue.

The Myth had a high screening rate, with several theaters open, and they quickly bought tickets.

After entering, the lights quickly went out.

As the film begins, layers of clouds sweep across the dark blue screen, and the camera slowly descends to reveal the continuous Qinling Mountains.

The plank road winds between the cliffs, and thousands of Qin soldiers, dressed in black armor and carrying long halberds, move through the clouds and mist.

The clanging of armor plates mixed with the deep horn sound instantly pulled people into the magnificent atmosphere of more than two thousand years ago.

Immediately afterwards, the outline of the Lishan Imperial Mausoleum emerged in the night, the Mercury River flowing deep within the underground palace shimmered with an eerie light, and the Terracotta Army array resembled silent behemoths, exuding a sense of historical weight and mystery.

Seeing this, Lü Rui roughly understood what was going on.

Compared to "Seven Swords," the money for "The Myth" was probably spent wisely.

In this epic atmosphere, Jackie Chan, playing General Meng Yi, makes his appearance.

Dressed in black fish-scale armor, with a long sword at his waist, he rode a pure white warhorse. His face was not handsome in the traditional sense, but he had a ruggedness honed by the battlefield.

His eyebrows and eyes were sharp as knives, his jawline was taut, and he spoke with the short, sharp pauses characteristic of a soldier. When commanding troops, his eyes were resolute, and when facing assassins, his movements were as swift as a leopard...

That signature Jackie Chan-style fighting style, set against a period backdrop, inexplicably lost some of its humor and gained more of a ruthless and fierce edge.

The plot switches back and forth between modern and ancient times.

In modern times, Jack is an archaeologist who is constantly troubled by vague dreams.

Meng Yi in ancient times was a loyal and brave general who was ordered to escort Princess Yu Shu to Qin.

Kim Hee-sun's portrayal of Yu Shu, dressed in white, on the palace steps, is as beautiful as a traditional Chinese ink painting. Her gaze towards Meng Yi changes from initial wariness to an undisguised affection.

When Meng Yi charged into the enemy army alone to protect her, the image of her waving from the city wall, mixed with the shouts of the Qin army, vividly embodied the phrase "iron-blooded tenderness."

What's most heartbreaking is that wait that spans a thousand years.

Yu Shu kept her promise deep in the imperial tomb, waiting for two thousand years. Her black hair turned white, but she always remembered Meng Yi's words, "I will come back."

When modern-day Jack finally broke into the imperial tomb and pushed open the dusty palace gate, time seemed to freeze in Yu Shu's eyes the moment she turned around.

She gazed at the face before her that was exactly like Meng Yi's and asked softly, "You've finally come." The anticipation and vulnerability in her voice brought silence to the theater.

But in the end, it was a tragedy.

When the imperial tomb collapsed, Yu Shu chose to stay in her era, and Jack could only watch helplessly as she disappeared into the dust.

In the final shot, Jack stands on the Great Wall, clutching Meng Yi's tiger tally in his hand. In the wind, one can almost hear Yu Shu's singing voice, a scene both tragic and melancholic!

As the movie ended, Zhao Peng was still saying, "Big Brother really went all out this time. His emotional scenes were not awkward at all, especially the part where Yu Shu didn't leave at the end. I got goosebumps."

Lu Yang, standing next to him, nodded in agreement: "Indeed, I always thought his movies were just about 'fighting and that's it,' but this time he managed to blend historical weight and personal emotions so smoothly, which is truly rare."

Lu Rui remained silent, but a sense of melancholy lingered in his heart.

Jackie Chan truly surprised everyone this time, successfully stepping out of his comfort zone of "action comedy" and proving with the toughness and deep emotion of General Meng Yi that action stars can also carry the weight of epic films.

But that promise, which spanned two thousand years, ultimately remained unfulfilled.

Just like that line from the movie: "Myth is myth because it is so beautiful and so fragile!"

The movie's plot wasn't particularly outstanding, but it left a very deep impression, evoking a sense of emotional resonance.

"Click" is going up against The Myth, it might not be easy for it to win?" "I think it's alright. One's a period drama, the other a comedy, the target audience..."

As Zhao Peng and Lu Yang were chatting, a man wearing a baseball cap suddenly strode over.

Amid the three men's puzzled looks, he pulled a disc from his pocket and began to promote it: "The Myth, official disc, want to buy one?"

Lü Rui/Zhao Peng/Lu Yang: "???"

No?

The movie has only been released for half a day, and pirated DVDs are already out?

Just as Zhao Peng was about to question him, Lü Rui preemptively said, "Give me one."

"5 yuan!"

"it is good."

The three of them got into the car and went back to the company.

When Lü Rui put the pirated disc into the disc player, he saw that the screen clearly showed the content of the finished movie.

The footage is smooth and shaky, clearly not recorded live in a movie theater, but rather burned from a master tape.

He had always known that Jackie Chan's movies were a favorite of pirates.

But I never expected it to be this rampant!
He picked up his phone and called Han Sanping to explain the situation.

The latter remained silent for a long time, then sighed deeply, his tone filled with resentment and indignation: "I will handle it as soon as possible to ensure that similar situations do not occur with other films that are released later."

These words sound nice, but Lü Rui knew in his heart that they would be difficult to implement.

Pirated DVDs have long formed a complete industry chain, and those who know, know where the source is.

To completely eradicate this problem, we must take decisive action!

But given the current situation, who would dare to take such a gamble and throw that punch?

……

That evening, Lü Rui attended a drinking party.

This game was arranged by Gu Changwei.

"Director Lü, let me introduce you. This is Sun Yi'an, the deputy general manager of Xi'an Film Group, in charge of film and television production. This is the director of the production department, and this is the director of the distribution department..."

Those who came were all leaders and managers related to film and television, and they all knew what the other was up to.

"I'd like to raise a glass to Director Lü."

Sun Yi'an had none of the airs of a state-owned enterprise leader and seemed very approachable.

Lu Rui clinked glasses with him and replied with a smile, "I have long heard of Mr. Sun's reputation. It is an honor to meet you today."

Sun Yi'an has served as deputy director of Xi'an Film Studio and deputy general manager of Xi'an Film Co., Ltd. since 2001. This year, he was officially promoted to deputy general manager of Western Film Group and chairman of Xi'an Film Co., Ltd., which means he has finally made it in his position.

People from Northwest China don't speak as eloquently as those from Beijing or Shanghai, but they exude a genuine and simple charm.

After a few drinks, Sun Yi'an started talking and began recounting the past of Xi'an Film Studio.

From the glory days of films like "Red Sorghum" and "Old Well" to the subsequent decline, the tone couldn't hide the sense of loss:
"The treatment we receive at Xi'an Film Studio can't compare to that of China Film Group. We're not in the center of power, and in terms of funding, we can't compare to Shanghai Film Studio, which is located in the heart of the economy..."

As Lü Rui listened, he was also moved by the rise and fall of such a changing era, but he was particularly interested in the glorious years of Xi'an Film Studio. He nodded in agreement from time to time, his words filled with admiration.

Gu Changwei occasionally chimed in with a few words, livening up the atmosphere.

After eating, drinking, and chatting for more than an hour, the topic finally came down to the main point.

Sun Yi'an had clearly already inquired about the current predicament facing Lü Rui. Holding his wine glass, he said, "In the end, China Film Group only has the right to import foreign films, nothing more."

On an official level, what China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group can do, Xi'an Film Group can also do; what they are hesitant to do due to various concerns, Xi'an Film Group dares to do as well.

Even if we were to confront the bureau chief, the department chief, or the leaders, we'd have the confidence. Xi'an Film Studio has the credentials; everyone has to give us face... Those with nothing to lose aren't afraid of those wearing shoes..."

Upon hearing this, Lü Rui's brows twitched uncontrollably.

Why did he sense a hint of arrogance in those words?

However, he had been planning to bring in more allies anyway, and Xiying's arrival was just in time.

After pondering for a moment, he brought up the difficulty of getting "Dying to Survive" approved.

Sun Yi'an immediately slammed his hand on the table, his voice booming: "We at Xi'an Film Studio can definitely help with this! I'll go back and get some people to go to the General Administration for a few days and talk to them..."

Lu Rui was both amused and exasperated. Was this guy drunk? He actually wanted to lead Xi'an Film Studio to "besiege" the Film Bureau?

He quickly reassured her, "Mr. Sun, it hasn't gotten that bad yet. We just wanted to ask for your help and to make our voices heard."

"No problem!" Sun Yi'an patted his chest, his eyes flashing with arrogance. "Just you wait and see! The tough nuts that other state-owned enterprises can't crack, Xi'an Film Studio can chew; the words that other state-owned enterprises keep to themselves, Xi'an Film Studio dares to say in public!"

In short, in the domestic film and television industry, there's no job that Xi'an Film Studio wouldn't take, no murky water that Xi'an Film Studio wouldn't wade into!

"Good! That's satisfying!" Lü Rui raised his glass. "Let's have one more, I'll drink mine, you can drink as you like!"

He would never believe it if someone else had said that.

But since Xi'an Film Studio, this "big brother," said this, Lü Rui believed it completely!
Do you really think that the leader back then was someone to be trifled with? With his connections, everyone had to give him face.
They really did go so far as to "besiege" the Film Bureau!
Another half hour passed, and the dinner party ended, with both parties leaving satisfied.

……

The Myth's box office performance was outstanding.

Even with the diversion of box office revenue due to piracy, Jackie Chan's star power still brought in over ten million in box office revenue on its opening day, combined with sales in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Although Bona Film Group is the mainland distributor of this film, China Film Group, the production company, has a strong voice.

Han Sanping's career is on the rise, and he is frantically accumulating achievements and prestige, which is also driving the production of "The Promise" to work together.

After watching the film, Lü Rui didn't pay much attention to the aftermath of "The Myth," but instead helped promote "Remote Control" a few times.

The film's premiere is scheduled for the 29th of this month, and invitations have already been sent out.

However, before that, the final casting for "Sunny Sisters" needs to be finalized.

On the 27th, at Ruishijie, all the actors who had entered the third round of auditions arrived one after another.

The four actors who have already been confirmed to participate—Liu Yifei, Fan Bingbing, Huo Siyan, and Jing Tian—were also present at the event.

Today we also need to determine the "middle-aged version" of the characters they will be playing, and we need to select actors based on their appearance and temperament.

Li Xiaolu also came.

She eventually gave in.

In order to return to the film industry, he gritted his teeth and agreed to audition for a thoroughly villainous role.

Outside the audition room, the actresses who had not yet been selected were looking back and forth between the actresses who had been selected, wondering why they had been able to land the roles.
Li Xiaolu's gaze was focused on Jing Tian and Liu Yifei.

She originally auditioned for the role of Jing Tian and even had her eye on Liu Yifei for the lead role, but due to unforeseen circumstances, she ended up auditioning for the villain role instead.

"These two aren't even that good at acting, so why did they get such important roles?"

Li Xiaolu secretly wondered if there was some shady dealing involved.

Just then, footsteps came from the other side of the corridor.

Everyone turned around at once and saw Lü Rui walking at the front, followed by Zhao Peng, Lu Yang, and several supervisors from the production team.

"Director Lü, Director Zhao..." everyone greeted them quickly.

Lü Rui responded with a smile to each of them.

But just as he reached Liu Yifei's side, he suddenly stopped, looked her over, and asked in surprise, "What's with your hairstyle? Why did you get it permed into curls?"

"I went to a Baidu Tieba event yesterday, and the makeup artist specifically requested it," Liu Yifei explained softly.

Watching this scene from not far away, Li Xiaolu felt as if a voice inside her was roaring, "Curse her! Curse her to death!"

She had been scolded by Zhao Peng for doing her hair without permission before, and she felt extremely aggrieved.

At this moment, seeing that Liu Yifei's hairstyle had become curly, which was completely inconsistent with the female lead's look, I subconsciously felt that she would definitely be criticized as well.

But the next second, she heard Lü Rui laugh and tease, "It looks a bit like a poodle."

"Oh no! That's not it!" Liu Yifei exclaimed anxiously. How could she look like a curly-haired poodle?
Lu Rui stopped teasing her and gently reminded her, "Remember to get it back before you turn it on. What high school student has permed hair?"

"Oh." Liu Yifei didn't want to talk to him, and was mentally cursing him: You're the curly-haired poodle!
Zhao Peng chimed in, "Actually, curly hair isn't bad either. When filming progresses to the later stages and the character's image changes, the hairstyle can indeed be used to accentuate the rebellious feeling..."

Seeing this scene from not far away, Li Xiaolu felt even more devastated!

Isn't it said that unauthorized alterations to the design are not allowed?
Why was Liu Yifei not scolded for changing her hairstyle, but was scolded for getting her hair done?
She wants to protest!

This is so unfair!

(End of this chapter)