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

Chapter 240 Is Foot Massage Also a Way? Is Technique Also a Law? Does the Way and Law Achieve Natural Success? (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Even if everyone in the world abandons him, I won't, and neither will love.

"How did Uncle know the order in which I removed my makeup?"

"It's not just about removing makeup, I even know the order in which you bathe, sister-in-law... You are the Empress, the mother of the nation, how come you still kick off the covers when you sleep?"

It's supposed to be a great action/historical/fantasy blockbuster, but it's an adaptation of Hamlet, one of the four great tragedies.

But Feng Xiaogang did something different; he turned "The Banquet" into a comedic erotic film.

The actors delivered nonsensical lines with a straight face, maximizing the comedic effect but completely losing any sense of seriousness or tragedy.

One parent who took their child to see the film was furious online afterward, exclaiming, "This is totally pornography! The language is so obscene!"

However, in the eyes of film critics, "The Banquet" was surprisingly considered to be a work similar to "The Promise".

It's not even as good as "The Promise"!

At least "The Promise" truly created an epic atmosphere, but the core of "The Banquet" is still Feng Xiaogang's comedic formula.

Unreliable, witty, pretentious... all sorts of styles pieced together, creating a Frankenstein's monster.

Aside from a few laughs and some nude scenes, there's really nothing else worth discussing or praising.

After watching the movie in the cinema when he had some free time, Lü Rui curled his lip and bluntly complained, "Trying to imitate a tiger but ending up with a dog instead."

In his view, Feng Xiaogang was just playing house and fooling around.

How could a serious epic film be made into such a terrible mess, even worse than "The Promise"? How dare they boast that they can make blockbusters?
After three days, "The Banquet" grossed over 3000 million yuan at the box office.

Based on this box office trend, the final total box office is estimated to be just over 100 million.

"I think this film probably won't even break the box office record of 'A World Without Thieves'."

Jiang Wen wandered over to the Pacific Rim area again, bringing two pieces of news with him.

First of all, Ge You is preparing to take a break for a while and temporarily stop filming, since "The Banquet" had a significant impact on him.

Secondly, Feng Xiaogang hasn't shown his face for several days; he's either hiding or brewing something big.

Zhao Peng, standing to the side, asked in bewilderment, "What big thing can he possibly come up with? A $2000 million investment project has already lost money, and Huayi is still willing to invest in him?"

"Short-term success or failure doesn't matter, and the 2000 million wasn't all from Huayi... At least among domestic commercial film directors, he still holds a place."

Jiang Wen's words are quite right.

Being able to direct a film that grosses over 100 million yuan means that you have some real talent.

If this subject matter doesn't work, we can just move on to the next one. It's not like we're at the point where there are absolutely no films to make.

But it seems unlikely that they will be able to secure another large investment.

However, what arrived even faster than Feng Xiaogang's new work were the netizens' jokes.

On the fourth day after the movie's release, a parody short film titled "Dinner" (also known as "The Truth Revealed") appeared online.

The creators of this short film did not use any footage from the movie "The Banquet," but instead fabricated a story that Chen Kaige, in an effort to save face after the box office failure of "The Promise," blackmailed Feng Xiaogang into making a film even worse than "The Promise"...

Thus, the plot of "The Banquet" came about.

After the video was uploaded to Tudou.com, the number of views skyrocketed!

Feng Xiaogang was almost driven mad with anger!
If this were Chen Kaige, he would have already started cursing, because the other party has the "Palm of France" as a guarantee.

But he dared not offend the media and the audience, so he could only curse from behind the scenes.

The main problem is that he simply lacks confidence.

His initial plan was to wait for "The Banquet" to be released and achieve great box office success, then stage a triumphant return, like "no one can help me reach the clouds, but I will brave the snow to climb to the mountain peak."

But now, things have turned out differently. It's become a situation where "no one is there to support my lofty ambitions, and I can't even get up there myself."

So many people looked down on him and didn't think much of "The Banquet," but he himself failed to live up to expectations.

More importantly, the terrible box office performance in China directly ruined Sony Columbia Pictures.

After all, Columbia Pictures invested in this movie, and their share was quite substantial.

Now look what's happened! He's screwed over the investors. How could they possibly continue to invest in him in the future?

However, he managed to hide, turning into a coward and planning to come out after the wave of insults subsided.

But Wang Zhonglei couldn't keep it a secret, since he still had to follow up on the "King of Kung Fu" project.

Therefore, when pressed by the media for his feelings about the box office failure of "The Banquet," he could only suppress his heartache and say:
"A temporary setback is nothing. Xiaogang and I will not stop. We are currently preparing a war film..."

Using a new project to cover up a failed old project is indeed a good method.

Sure enough, the media quickly shifted their attention away from "The Banquet" and began reporting on the new project:

"After 'The Banquet,' Feng Xiaogang is working hard to prepare a new film, a war-themed one, in an attempt to redeem himself from his failure."

"It is understood that this is a story that took place during the Liberation War..."

"Let's wait and see when Feng Xiaogang's new work is released."

With the combined efforts of the media and online trolls, the controversy surrounding the flop of "The Banquet" has been temporarily suppressed.

On the Pacific Rim set, as Lü Rui watched the news, a name suddenly popped into his mind:
Assembly

If he remembers correctly, Feng Xiaogang made this war-themed film after "The Banquet".

However, he vaguely remembered that the movie seemed to have caused quite a bit of controversy after its release.

It's just that the interval was too long, so he couldn't remember very clearly...

"Senior."

"Director Lü."

Two voices suddenly rang in his ears, interrupting Lü Rui's thoughts.

He turned his head and his gaze fell on Liu Yifei and Fan Bingbing, and his eyes suddenly lit up:
"That's right, that's the effect! Tell the makeup and styling team to use this look on them from now on."

The filming of Pacific Rim did not go smoothly.

The first few shots were mostly of the actors appearing on screen.

Just as the actors were getting into character, the director was also working on finding his rhythm and the right mindset for filming.

However, during these few days of adjustment, Lü Rui felt that something was not quite right.

This strange feeling didn't come from anyone else, but rather from the lead actress Liu Yifei and the second lead actress Fan Bingbing.

After several test shoots, he kept watching the monitor and pondered repeatedly, trying to find the source of that strange feeling.

Finally, while filming the scene where the two were fully armed and wearing armor, he found the crux of the problem.

The problem lies in their hairstyles!

Although she wore a ponytail, she still exuded a certain heroic spirit, subtly revealing the efficiency of a female general.

But which female soldier actually going to the battlefield would keep a ponytail that's easy to get in the way?
Therefore, Lü Rui immediately proposed an adjustment, asking the two to cut their long hair into the short hairstyles commonly worn by female soldiers.

A change of style can instantly transform one's aura, and the feeling is instantly transformed!

Liu Yifei's original soft and cute temperament was completely swept away.

Her short, ear-length hair framed her face, revealing a defined jawline. The softness in her eyes was replaced by a sharp edge. Standing next to the mecha, she looked exactly like a fierce female warrior ready to take up arms and go into battle at any moment—cool and sassy.

Fan Bingbing is the same; when she has long hair, she exudes a cool and sophisticated aura.

But after changing to short hair, the wispy bangs on her forehead made her eyes look more determined, and the exposed neck made her look more capable. Every movement of raising her hand to adjust her armor revealed the discipline and decisiveness of a soldier, which perfectly fit the character of a female warrior.

In fact, the role of Fan Bingbing was originally intended to be played by a Russian actress in the original Pacific Rim.

She and her compatriots piloted the "Cherno Alpha" mech together, fighting alongside "Crimson Storm" against the monsters "Tail Rat" and "Rhombus Turtle" in the Battle of Hong Kong.

During the battle, the acid sprayed by the Tail Rat corroded the head armor and key parts of the Cherno Alpha, drastically reducing its defense.

Subsequently, the ridge-backed turtle launched a sneak attack from behind, twisting off the mech's head. Ultimately, the reactor was destroyed, and the mech exploded and was damaged in the water.

In the Chinese version, the ending of Chernobog remains unchanged, except that Fan Bingbing's character is now portrayed as a mixed-race individual of Chinese and Russian descent.

She already has a very distinctive and sophisticated face, so it wouldn't be surprising to say she's of mixed race.

However, "Crimson Storm" will not be lost in the defense this time.

Because Lü Rui changed the settings.

The city to be defended changed from Hong Kong to Shanghai. The first to be sacrificed in the battle were Cherno Alpha and Eureka Raider. Finally, Crimson Storm, together with the male and female protagonists, in the "Great Wall Watcher", destroyed the black hole from which the monster originated.

In the American version, the Chinese and Russian mechs were the first to "break down," the implication of which is self-evident.

Lü Rui decided to do the opposite and first disable the American and Russian mechs.

Of course, the plot of defending Shanghai is similar to the logic of defending Hong Kong in the original version, and there will never be any awkward and ridiculous operations like "fire at me" in "Shanghai Fortress".

After all, what he wanted was hardcore mecha battles, not disgusting, sentimental scenes of floating objects.

Over the next few days, all the characters appeared on screen one by one, completing their initial introductions.

The film stars Chen Baoguo as the highest-ranking officer, Yu Hewei as a professor of monster studies, Andy Serkis, Fan Bingbing as his co-star, Henry Cavill and Brad Pitt, Tian Yu as a monster black market dealer, Jiao Enjun, He Rundong, Zhao Wenzhuo, and more.

As the main actors got into character, filming smoothly entered a fast track.

It's worth mentioning that Andy Serkis played almost all the roles of the level 3, 4, and 5 monsters.

In the field of motion capture, he is undoubtedly a top talent in Hollywood.

Once you put on the equipment, it looks incredibly lifelike!
His partner was Zhao Wenzhuo, who, with his martial arts background, clearly outperformed the others when creating monsters and fighting against mechs.

After filming wrapped up for the day, Lü Rui specifically called Andy Serkis, who played two roles, to his side:
"Andy, after this movie is finished, I'll arrange a film project for you as the male lead. Are you ready?"

Peter had good news: he had successfully acquired the comic book adaptation rights to "Sherlock Holmes".

This is Ruixing Pictures' next film project.

However, Lü Rui doesn't have time to adapt the script right now; he plans to start preparing after filming for "Pacific Rim" wraps up.

"Lv, you...you're telling the truth?!"

Andy had recovered from his initial daze and was staring at Lü Rui with wide eyes in disbelief.

How come something like this just fell from the sky while we were filming?

"Of course, have I ever lied to you?" Lu Rui truly admired him.

He's honest, capable, and never drags his feet when filming...

For a director, an actress like that is simply a "dream girl"!
It doesn't matter who you cast, you're giving the same opportunity to anyone, so why not give it to someone you find agreeable?
“Lv, I swear to God I will never betray your trust…” “Stop, stop, stop! There’s no need to swear.”

Lü Rui, both amused and exasperated, stopped him.

Why is he swearing an oath to God? He doesn't even believe in that stuff!

In China, because of Hong Xiuquan, terms like God, Pope, and Jesus have long been objects of ridicule.

If you really want to make an oath, you can do so by swearing an oath to the God of Wealth and the God of Literature.

The key issue is that Andy Serkis doesn't know either of them, so it's best to stop here.

The two chatted very happily, a scene that left Tom, who was not far away, with a somewhat complicated expression.

These past few days, he has been intentionally or unintentionally mentioning Will Smith's name in front of Lü Rui, but the other party's attitude has left him feeling utterly hopeless.

This conflict seems to be completely unsolvable...

"Action!"

The following morning, as the clapperboard fell crisply, filming officially began for the scenes featuring Liu Ye as the male lead, Qiu Qing.

In the footage, after his defeat in the battle against the monster, he had long lost the edge he once had as a mecha pilot.

His loved ones sacrificed their lives in the battle, so he went into hiding and became an ordinary welder on the construction site of the safety wall, his hands covered in oil and his eyes filled with an unyielding melancholy.

In this world context, the Hunter Project's previous failure has led various countries to question the mecha project, and instead they are focusing their efforts on building a security wall around the coast, hoping to use this "steel barrier" to defend against monster attacks.

But when the camera panned across the scene that would be presented with special effects in post-production, it revealed a heartbreaking scene.

The giant monster's claws easily tore through the steel and concrete of the security wall, and concrete fragments fell like raindrops; the so-called "barrier" was utterly vulnerable...

The Hunter Project had to be restarted urgently.

Chen Baoguo plays Liu Hongtao, the highest-ranking officer of the Pacific Rim Defense Force, who travels to many places before finally finding Liu Ye.

In a corner of the construction site filled with steel frames, he stood before Liu Ye, his wrinkled hand slowly extending, his tone earnest yet heavy:
"The country, the people, and the world all need you to come back."

Liu Ye's hand, which was holding the welding torch, suddenly stopped.

He looked up at the old general, a flicker of struggle flashing in his eyes before being replaced by determination.

My brother died in the previous battle.

So this time, he not only wants to protect his home, but also to avenge his family!

Finally, he put down the welding torch, stood up, and tightly grasped Chen Baoguo's hand.

After filming this scene, Lü Rui looked at the footage on the monitor and nodded to himself.

The core differences between domestic films and Hollywood movies are vividly demonstrated in multiple shots on the monitor at this moment.

Foreigners often like to exaggerate individual heroism and create lone heroes like the American savior.

In contrast, Chinese-language films are better at portraying collective beliefs. Even the protagonist's awakening is always tied to the responsibility of "nation" and "people," and is never a solo celebration.

If we're going to adapt it into a Chinese language, we have to do it thoroughly.

What Lü Rui wanted was not simply to change the nationality of the characters, but to incorporate this core idea of ​​"the collective being greater than the individual" into every plot point of "Pacific Rim".

The victory of the mechs was never the achievement of any single pilot, but rather the result of teamwork, national support, and the collective struggle of all humankind.

This core is what should replace the original individual heroism.

And the final result is actually no less impressive than the original.

~

The filming of Pacific Rim did not follow a single-line process, but rather multiple storylines progressed simultaneously.

Lü Rui personally led Rao Xiaozhi, focusing their energy on the main characters' storyline.

The main focus of the film is the storyline from Liu Ye's return to the mecha unit to his collaboration with Liu Yifei in piloting the mecha.

On the other hand, Zhao Peng partnered with Shen Ao to oversee two side stories.

One of the research lines involves two PhD students studying a monster sample who accidentally triggered a brainwave resonance.

The other scene features Dr. Zhong Hongchang, played by Yu Hewei, and the monster black market merchant played by Tian Yu.

The scheduling and filming of these two routes were entirely controlled and managed by the two individuals.

It's worth mentioning that Lü Rui also added a "farming" scene for Tian Yu's character.

In the footage, he is seen in a corner of the black market filled with monster body parts, using the monster remains to cultivate a small, unusually fertile vegetable garden.

Lush green vegetables peek out from among the monster's limb fragments, creating an absurd yet vibrant atmosphere.

What Chinese person doesn't farm?
Crops can be grown on the moon, let alone in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by monsters.
"Anyone who fucking stops me from farming, who dares to destroy my vegetable patch, I'll plant them in the ground and use them as fertilizer!"

This line is spot-on, conveying both the domineering nature of a black market merchant and a touch of mad stubbornness, instantly making the character of Tian Yu more three-dimensional.

Actually, Tian Yu's condition has not been very good lately.

He and Tang Wei broke up completely. To get over his emotions, he would take Zhao Peng and Shen Ao to a foot massage parlor every day after filming.

In his words, "Love arises with the bell, and when the bell stops, the heart is still unsettled. Washing my feet can always wash away some of my worries."

The group had invited Lü Rui several times, but he wasn't interested.

Is foot massage also a way? Is technique also a method? Does the way and method naturally come together?

He was already tired of this way of relaxing.

Now, after a busy day of filming, all he wants to do is hold Liu Yifei and enjoy a moment of relaxation.

The main reason is that Xiao Liu is too well-behaved. She always leans softly against him and sweetly calls him "senior brother," a voice that makes your bones melt.

This kind of feeling is a joy that no single person can understand.
……

Hou Hongliang was successfully groomed by Lü Rui to become a "social butterfly" at Rui Vision.

Besides "The Banquet", he also attended the premieres of several other films, including "Tuya's Marriage" and "Rob-B-Hood".

Although he is not particularly talented in film appreciation.

However, he had an exceptionally good memory; he could remember almost everything he saw and recount it to Lü Rui in its entirety.

That's an incredibly amazing talent!

At the same time, he is also very talented in organizing personnel, managing and operating the company.

For example, the task that Lü Rui mentioned earlier, which required him to assemble a team of screenwriters specializing in romance dramas, was successfully completed in a short time.

"Chairman Lü, this is Gu Man, a screenwriter and writer. She is currently an excellent author and has published 'Why So Silent'..."

Gu Man, born in 81, is only 25 years old now, just one year older than Lü Rui.

However, the difference between the two is astounding!

"Hello, Director Lü."

Gu Man didn't dare to be negligent. After Hou Hongliang finished his introduction, she took the initiative to step forward and greet him.

"Hello." Lu Rui nodded to her, then asked with some curiosity, "You want to switch careers and become a screenwriter?"

"Yes, I want to try something different..."

Lu Rui waited quietly for her to finish speaking, and everyone understood what she was thinking.

After publishing his own book and gaining some fame in the industry, he wanted to expand into screenwriting so that he could write his own works.

This is indeed a good approach for the author.

Lu Rui didn't test her specifically because he trusted Hou Hongliang's judgment.

Since we've brought the person here, it means their abilities are absolutely guaranteed.

So, taking advantage of the free time, Lü Rui gave a brief overview of the plot and main story of "My Love from the Star".

Next, Gu Man will first write it into a novel, and then collaborate with other members of the screenwriting team to adapt it into a screenplay.

The current trend for domestic dramas is to generate buzz before the novel is published and then follow up with a TV series.

More than an hour later, Lü Rui got up and left.

Inside the room, Gu Man was left alone, staring at the text recorded on her computer, her expression revealing her astonishment.

She originally thought that Lü Rui was good at creating science fiction and suspense, but she never expected that such a talented director would also know how to create romantic sweet dramas.

It was quite unexpected...

"Could he be in a relationship? Otherwise, how would he know so much?"

The same confusion wasn't limited to Gu Man, who was meeting Lü Rui for the first time.

On the Pacific Rim side, a few of the more perceptive people have gradually noticed that something is amiss.

Especially Shu Chang, after finishing filming "The Deer and the Cauldron", she worked hard to complete the cameo role she had managed to secure, while also keeping an eye on her best friend's condition.

Then she realized that the director was spoiling her way too much!

During breaks in filming, everyone would return to their respective assistants' areas to either memorize lines or recover their energy and touch up their makeup.

But Liu Yifei is different.

She would often approach Lü Rui and ask him all sorts of questions.

She even sat in the director's chair, which was regarded as a symbol of prestige by the entire crew, without any hesitation.

More importantly, aside from occasionally being fierce towards her during filming, Lü Rui was incredibly kind to her off-screen.

Food, drinks, snacks... everything you could want!
Seeing this, Shu Chang vaguely sensed that something was wrong. She felt that her good friend might be more than just a "Rui Girl".

For Liu Ye, the male lead, this is more like a signal.

He had been in relationships before, so he understood the feeling of being "favored and therefore fearless".

"No wonder the male and female leads don't have a romantic relationship in the script. They both lost their loved ones and support each other... It's more like a brother-sister relationship. So that's where the root of the problem lies."

Liu Ye is not stupid. Because of a special experience he had, he has a special understanding of the psychology of men and women.

After realizing that Lü Rui and Liu Yifei might have some kind of special relationship, he became increasingly cautious during filming.

Since the setting leans more towards a "brother-sister" relationship, it's best not to overstep the boundaries.

If you can't even get by in this industry, how can you survive?
He successfully brought out his high emotional intelligence, but little did he know that a few days later, a big star known in the industry as the epitome of "high emotional intelligence" came to visit the set...

(End of this chapter)