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

Chapter 241 "Sissi! You've really screwed me over!" (A long chapter of 7400 words, please vote!)
"After being released for half a month, the fantasy/historical epic 'The Banquet,' directed by Feng Xiaogang, has successfully surpassed the 1 million yuan mark at the box office."

"The action blockbuster 'Dragon Tiger Gate,' produced/distributed by Bona Film Group and starring Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse, officially concluded its run today, grossing 4800 million yuan at the box office."

"Tuya's Marriage" has only grossed a little over one million yuan in its first week online...

"The comedy action film 'Rob-B-Hood,' co-produced by Yinghuang and Huayi Brothers and starring Jackie Chan and Louis Koo, has grossed 4000 million yuan in just 3 days since its release!"

"..."

As we enter October, the movies released during the summer vacation have basically come to an end.

Compared to the huge hype before its release, "Dragon Tiger Gate" completely blew up this time, almost ruining Yu Dong's career.

On the other hand, Huayi Brothers clearly spent a lot on public relations, which led to the media giving "The Banquet" another round of hype.

However, if this were in the past, breaking 1 million in box office revenue would have been a real achievement.

However, the current film market is a completely different concept from what it used to be.

To break 1 million, at the very least, one must be able to cover costs.

But how will they cover the 1.6 million yuan cost of "The Banquet"?

Even if Feng Xiaogang sold his pants and underwear, he still couldn't fill this hole!
Moreover, it has only been released for half a month, and the daily box office is already only over 200 million yuan. It may not even surpass its predecessor, "A World Without Thieves".

Lu Rui still clearly remembers that Feng Xiaogang boasted before the film's release that the 2 million yuan box office was just the beginning of "The Banquet".

But now, things are really messed up; the box office results don't even meet the starting point.

I've completely lost face!

Jackie Chan's new film "Rob-B-Hood" is quite popular, but with rampant piracy, its box office performance is unlikely to be very high.

Of course, copyright profits are undoubtedly huge.

~

During the filming of Pacific Rim, Lu Rui's cameo role was finally scheduled.

He made a cameo appearance as Qiu Qing's older brother, corresponding to Yang Xi in the original version.

In the Chinese version, he gave his character a simple name:

Qiu Rui.

There's no special meaning behind it; the name is just a code name, and the core is the battle between mechs and monsters.

Before filming began, with the assistance of staff from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lü Rui, like Liu Ye, changed into a custom-made combat uniform.

The dark gray fabric fits the body well, with the "Five-Star Red Flag" logo printed on the chest.

From certain angles, it does indeed resemble the style of an AFP (Agency for France Internationale) camera.

As the staff secured him to the mecha cockpit, which was more than ten meters high, he moved his shoulders, which were constricted by the seatbelt, and looked down.

At this moment, the stagehands and photographers on the ground became tiny black dots.

Upon closer inspection, it does indeed evoke the illusion of "standing atop the highest peak, one can survey all the mountains below."

"Great Wall Watcher, start the engines!"

When the cold, mechanical voice rang out in the cockpit, the relaxed expression on Lü Rui's face vanished instantly, and his eyes suddenly turned serious.

He suddenly remembered a joke that appeared on the internet in later generations.

It is said that if other countries want to join the five permanent members of the United Nations, they must first pass through the "hellish dungeon" of the five permanent members.

The instances correspond to the American "Raging Waves", the Russian "Winter Is Coming", the British "Oliver Twist", the French "The Eiffel Tower Still Stands", and the Chinese "The Great Wall Watches Over".

Among these five dungeons, the most difficult overall are "Raging Seas" and "Great Wall Watch".

The United States' military strength is undeniable; it can act as the world's policeman all over the globe, and it naturally has the solid foundation to back it up.

The reason why "Great Wall Watch" is ranked alongside it as a Hell-level dungeon is that this dungeon contains unique passive skills.

Once war breaks out, the army will trigger a "firepower shortage" buff, which will max out ammunition production capacity and missile manufacturing speed, and this buff can continue to stack.

If a certain army group suffers more than half of its casualties, the "people's war" mechanism will be immediately triggered, and soldiers from all over the country will be continuously sent in to replenish the troops, allowing the troops to quickly return to full strength and allocation.

If the challenger is a nobody, it will even activate an additional "memory of shame", causing the combat power of all troops to increase by 200% and the army, navy and air force to launch a general offensive in the shortest possible time!

Anyway, up until Lu Rui's rebirth, he had only heard of a fool who didn't know his own limitations and dared to try to challenge these five dungeons.

The result was quite unexpected; before the war even officially began, their own territory was completely destroyed.

"Boom!"

As the clapperboard fell, filming officially began.

The "Great Wall Guardian" mecha model, weighing about 20 tons and nearly four stories high, slowly began to move on a huge hydraulic universal joint.

The universal joint underfoot moves, shakes, and vibrates the entire device, even simulating tilting and falling trajectories. Every movement accurately recreates the real posture of the mecha when it is piloted.

Inside the cockpit, Lü Rui could clearly feel the slight jolt that followed.

Meanwhile, to recreate the scene of mechs fighting in the sea, a huge pool was dug in the center of the studio.

At this moment, the water in the pool is tumbling and swaying with the movement of the universal joint. When the water splashes up, it lands on the metal shell of the mecha, successfully creating the atmosphere of a fierce battle in the deep sea.

When a close-up shot is needed of the mecha propelling itself through the water, the staff will slowly immerse the lower half of the mecha model into the pool. With the help of post-production special effects, a stunning image of "the mecha cutting through the waves" can be presented.

It has to be said that filmmaking can be quite amazing at times.

Although the plot is about protecting the Pacific Rim in Shanghai, the core filming location was in the capital.

As for Shanghai, all that's needed is to send a team to collect footage of city landmarks and real-life scenes, and then build a scaled-down set according to the proportions to make the audience believe that the battle really took place on the banks of the Huangpu River.

This filming technique of "creating scenes in different locations and using small details to reveal larger themes" is undoubtedly one of the most captivating magics of cinema...

For several days in a row, Lü Rui was almost always fixed in the cockpit of "The Great Wall Watcher" as soon as he arrived on set, filming scenes of fighting monsters.

Aside from eating and taking short breaks, he could hardly get off the mech.

Because adjusting the camera position, checking the hydraulic universal joint, and setting up special effects props each time takes a lot of time, repeatedly disassembling and fixing the device is simply not worth the effort.

His cameo appearance didn't officially end until the scene where half of the mecha's body was torn apart by the monster's claws and he was thrown out of the cockpit.

As he was suspended by wires and "fell" from beside the mecha model more than ten meters high, landing on the inflatable cushioning mat, Rao Xiaozhi immediately shouted from the sidelines: "That's a wrap! Director Lü, that's a wrap!"

Because Zhao Peng and Shen Ao were both busy, Rao Xiaozhi was appointed as the assistant director in a time of crisis.

Managing such a large-scale situation was incredibly stressful for him, a new director who had only directed plays before!

Fortunately, Lü Rui provided guidance, which allowed him to quickly get the hang of it.

This further solidified his resolve to learn from Lü Rui.

This is such a rare opportunity; if you miss it, you'll probably never find another one in your life!

When Lü Rui, with the help of staff, removed the wire harness and returned to the ground from the center of the air cushion, Liu Yifei was already waiting beside him with a red envelope.

Seeing him approach, she smiled and handed him the red envelope: "Senior, this is a red envelope for you."

There's an unwritten rule on set: whenever a character is filming a death scene, a red envelope is given out, symbolizing "warding off evil and dispelling bad luck."

The amount in the red envelope is not fixed; it can range from hundreds of yuan to just one or two yuan for good luck.

Lu Rui casually took it, and it felt much thicker than a regular red envelope.

When he opened it, he was stunned to find nearly a thousand yuan in cash inside!
He didn't put it in his own pocket, but turned to call Niu Le and handed him the red envelope: "Go to the nearby fruit shop and buy some fruit, cut it up and distribute it to the crew, add some afternoon fruit."

Just as Niu Le was about to leave, someone outside came to report: "Director Lü, someone outside the film crew wants to come in and visit the set."

"Visiting class?"

Lu Rui frowned slightly.

Like many directors, he also dislikes being frequently disturbed by the media while filming.

Therefore, the Pacific Rim crew has always refused set visits, only saying that it was to maintain the mystery of the film and avoid leaks of the plot.

The fact that someone suddenly arrived at this moment suggests that they are most likely an acquaintance from within the industry.

It was lunchtime, and when he walked to the entrance of the film set, he saw that, sure enough, he had guessed correctly—it was someone from the industry.

The main cast and crew of the film "A Battle of Wits" arrived.

He suddenly remembered that Fan Bingbing had said a few days ago that she was going to take leave to promote "A Battle of Wits". It seemed that after the promotion ended, the "A Battle of Wits" crew sent her back and came to visit the set.

"Let them in. Have someone take them to the rest area," Lu Rui instructed his assistant.

Since they are colleagues visiting the set, we can't just leave them hanging.

……

"Director Lü, this is Jacob Cheung, the director of 'A Battle of Wits,' and the lead actors are Liu Dehua, Wang Zhiwen, and Nicky Wu..."

Fan Bingbing, sitting in the middle, smiled as she introduced everyone to Lü Rui in turn.

As the female lead in "A Battle of Wits," she played Yi Yue, the daughter of a general.

Now that he's in two film crews at the same time, he's become the most suitable middleman to act as a go-between.

"Director Zhang, I've heard so much about you."

Since he was a guest, Lü Rui smiled and shook hands with Zhang Zhiliang.

This person is considered a prominent figure in Hong Kong's directing circle, but his fame is not top-tier. His most famous representative work is "The Last Eunuch in China".

Compared to his peers who focus solely on directing, his experience is far more diverse.

He has done many jobs, such as company boss, producer, and screenwriter, and even participated in the planning of the critically acclaimed masterpiece "Back to Back, Face to Face," making him a versatile talent.

However, Lü Rui couldn't understand why he would be chosen to direct a commercial blockbuster like "A Battle of Wits".

It's not that his directing skills are bad, but rather that most of his previous representative works were art films with a delicate style and a penchant for exploring the philosophy of human nature, which seem to be quite different from the narrative pace and target audience of commercial blockbusters.

Even though "A Battle of Wits" carries an anti-war and anti-hero theme, the risks of hiring an art-house director to control the pacing and appeal of a commercial film are considerable.

Directors like Chen Da and Zhang Yimou are not included in this category. Although they also come from art films, they have long proven their appeal in the commercial film market.

Audiences are buying it, investors are trusting it... This is something that Zhang Zhiliang, who isn't even considered a top-tier director in Hong Kong, can't compare to.

Moreover, to be honest, the selling point of the movie "A Battle of Wits" is entirely due to Lau Tak-wah standing next to Jacob Cheung.

The clues could be seen from the previous hype.

On almost all the promotional posters, only Liu Dehua is shown, while all the other actors are hidden. This is obviously a deliberate move by the producers and production team, clearly telling the market that he is the core of the film.

To be honest, Lü Rui didn't think highly of him.

In the past two years, Lau Tak-wah has indeed been at the peak of his career. Films such as "A World Without Thieves" and "House of Flying Daggers" have been box office hits. Even earlier, "Infernal Affairs" has become a pinnacle of Hong Kong films, achieving both critical and commercial success.

But this does not mean that his box office appeal can be compared with that of Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow.

After all, the success of "Infernal Affairs" is due to the efforts of the entire creative team, and the performances of Tony Leung and others are equally indispensable.

"A World Without Thieves" relied on Feng Xiaogang's comedy IP and national popularity, while "House of Flying Daggers" was supported by Zhang Yimou's aesthetic style and international influence.

In these projects, Liu Dehua was more like "adding flowers to brocade" than "providing charcoal in snowy weather".

It's worth noting that, aside from these blockbuster projects, he has also made quite a few films that quietly flopped in the past two years.

For example, "Dragon and Phoenix," which was released between "A World Without Thieves" and "House of Flying Daggers," grossed less than 1500 million yuan at the mainland box office.

The two films he starred in last year didn't even break ten million at the box office.

This shows that the "superstar" label doesn't always work.

Even with the added commercial blockbuster elements of "A Battle of Wits," the chances of this film succeeding are still not high.

However, these thoughts only lingered in Lü Rui's mind, since the success or failure of "Mo Gong" had nothing to do with him.

"Director Lü, I've heard so much about you."

Cheung Chi-leung held Lui Rui's hand warmly, his posture noticeably more humble. Although the Hong Kong film industry was currently at odds with Lui Rui, he had privately joined others in cursing "mainlanders" a few times.

But when they actually met, he didn't dare show the slightest bit of his expression.

After all, Lü Rui is not just a director, but also a big shot with capital in his hands!
The annual revenue of Ruishijie alone is more than all the film companies in Hong Kong combined.

If we maintain this relationship now, we might be able to benefit from it in the future and make some money.

Of course, even if others criticize you when you get back, you still have to agree with them, after all, you can't be labeled as "unsociable".

While dealing with Zhang Zhiliang's enthusiasm, Lü Rui casually said, "I wish 'A Battle of Wits' a box office success," before turning to Liu Dehua who was standing to the side.

This person's attitude was even more polite than Zhang Zhiliang's!
他倒也不不外。

After all, it is well known that Liu Dehua has always been considerate in his dealings with others, and there is almost nothing wrong with his conduct.

No sooner had they shaken hands than Liu Dehua said with a smile, "It's been so hot lately, and the crew is working so hard filming. I had my assistant order some fruit and brought it over during my visit to the set, so everyone can cool off..."

These words stunned Niu Le, who was still clutching the red envelope Lü Rui had just given him and was about to buy fruit. He stood there dumbfounded, staring at the two of them with a blank expression: "???"

I haven't even started my own job yet, how come someone else has already done it first?

"Too polite."

What could Lü Rui say? He could only smile and agree, after all, they had already offered their good intentions, and he couldn't refuse them.

Wang Zhiwen, who is standing next to me, is an old acquaintance. He previously played the male lead in a movie directed by Lü Rui.

The two hugged, and without saying a word, their expressions and actions revealed their familiarity.

When he saw Wu Qilong, Lü Rui couldn't help but take a few more glances at him.

To be honest, he was quite curious as to why Liu Shishi later chose to be with this man.
Back then, many people both inside and outside the industry called her "Sister Blind," and now it seems there's some truth to that.

After lunch, during a break, Lü Rui led the cast and crew of "A Battle of Wits" on a brief tour of the film set.

Previously, when people saw images of mecha in the news, they assumed it was just post-production special effects and didn't take it too seriously.

But now, standing in front of several mecha models, including "Crimson Storm" and "Great Wall Watcher," which are over ten meters tall, no one spoke for a moment, and only the sound of gasping could be heard!

The cold metal shell gleamed, the hydraulic lines at the joints were clearly visible, and even the scratches from simulated combat were within reach...

Everyone was stunned by the sheer shock of the event.

It's worth noting that such a detailed, large-scale sci-fi mecha physical model has never appeared in Chinese-language films before.

Liu Dehua reached out and touched the mecha's outer shell. The cool touch on his fingertips made him unable to hide his excitement: "Actually, I've had a science fiction dream since I was a child, and I really want to play the male lead in a science fiction movie..."

If he hadn't known that his age didn't match the character's background in Pacific Rim, he might have actually auditioned.

Lu Rui listened and smiled: "If there's a suitable opportunity in the future, I'll call you and we can work together."

Lau Tak-wah is considered one of the more upright types among Hong Kong stars, so he's someone worth befriending.

Although his current box office appeal is not enough to support a leading role, he can often deliver a good performance when playing a key second male lead.

At this moment, Zhang Zhiliang finally recovered from his shock and couldn't help but ask, "How did you come up with the idea of ​​making this movie?"

Keep in mind, this is the first hard science fiction blockbuster in the history of Chinese cinema!
He simply couldn't believe that this film was directed by Lü Rui, a young director in his early twenties.

"What man didn't dream of fighting monsters when he was a kid? When I watched Ultraman, the plot was about people transforming into heroes to defeat monsters and save the world."

However, Xunzi's "On Heaven" says, "Control the mandate of Heaven and use it," which means that human will can overcome Heaven.

I was thinking, if we don't transform, could humanity, with its technology alone, defend our home against a monster invasion? That's how Pacific Rim came about..."

Lu Rui said, half-jokingly.

After all, he couldn't very well say that he was reborn and had a system assisting him, could he?

Often, when a lie is told repeatedly, even the person telling it can't distinguish which is true and which is false.

But actually, it doesn't matter. It's like having two gold bars in front of you; there's no need to distinguish which one is noble and which one is filthy.

Moreover, given his current achievements, even if he were bragging, people would only think that he has the ability to keep his word.

~

Before filming began in the afternoon, the crew of "A Battle of Wits" did not linger and left one after another after saying goodbye to Lü Rui.

"Snapped!"

As the clapperboard fell, filming for Pacific Rim resumed.

New monster activity was discovered at the black hole, namely the Level 4 monsters "Tail-Standing Rat" and "Rhombus-Backed Turtle".

The former weighs 2690 tons and stands 63 meters tall. It walks on all fours and is agile. Its tail has scissor-like horny tips that are incredibly powerful when swept across, and it can also spray highly corrosive acid. Its forelimbs have a pair of fleshy wings that allow it to launch aerial attacks.

The latter can release powerful electromagnetic pulses, and in the storyline, it was this ability that paralyzed the electronic systems of "Crimson Storm".

As for the Cherno Alpha and Eureka Raider, unfortunately, both of these mechs will be destroyed in this battle.

Meanwhile, the media waiting outside the film set had already released news of the "Battle of Wits" crew visiting the set of "Pacific Rim".

Director Jacob Cheung, along with key members of the production team including Lau Tak-wah and Wong Chi-man, visited the set of Pacific Rim.

"Lu Rui personally accompanied the visit, and the two sides had a very pleasant conversation in a harmonious atmosphere..."

"..."

These kinds of headlines didn't make much of a splash in mainland film and television media, since interactions between the two production teams are quite common.

At most, some people suspect that "A Battle of Wits" is trying to ride on the coattails of "Pacific Rim".

But when the news reached the Hong Kong entertainment circle, it was like cold water thrown into hot oil, instantly causing a huge uproar!

Many bosses and veteran producers of Hong Kong film companies called Cheung Chi-leung, eagerly inquiring about the situation.

Zhang Zhiliang didn't hold back and shared all his observations and firsthand impressions from the set of "Pacific Rim":

"The $2 million investment is no gimmick. The mecha models on set, dozens of meters tall, were truly awe-inspiring... The crew includes both mainland Chinese and Hollywood actors, but all the foreigners are playing supporting roles, while the main characters are all from mainland China..."

The subtext hidden in these words couldn't be clearer.

The mainland film industry has risen and even surpassed the Hong Kong film industry; we simply cannot catch up with this momentum now.

These words instantly enraged many old-timers in the Hong Kong entertainment circle who clung to past glories and couldn't accept reality, turning them red-faced and furious!
"Where's Wu Yu? Hasn't he even started preparations for 'Red Cliff' yet? Hurry up and push it forward! We have to curb their momentum!"

"What's going on with 'The Warlords'? Wasn't it agreed that mainland actors would play supporting roles? Get moving now! We can't let them steal the spotlight!"

"We absolutely cannot let them overtake us... Even if we can't catch up, we can't let the gap widen too much!"

"How about... we collaborate with Hollywood? Use them to put pressure on them?"

"Such a large-scale sci-fi project, is it something that the barren land of the mainland film industry could possibly produce? Just wait and see, it definitely won't sell at the box office after its release!"

In an instant, anxious rebukes, flustered suggestions, and unconvinced mockery were mixed together, turning the entire Hong Kong film and television industry into a complete mess.

Looking at the chaotic scene, Yang Shoucheng sneered with disdain:
"A bunch of useless bums who can't even get anything done, all they do is whine and complain."

They can't even control a young director in his twenties from the mainland, letting them repeatedly bully and humiliate them, yet they dream of turning the tables and suppressing the mainland film industry? It's utterly delusional..."

……

Lu Rui had neither the inclination nor the time to pay attention to the happenings in Hong Kong's entertainment circle.

With "New World" around, once the film is released, it will be enough to give them a hard time.

Filming is in full swing right now, and he still has to find time to arrange post-production matters...

Among these, the film score is of paramount importance!

It's no exaggeration to say that the original Pacific Rim's soundtrack is definitely one of the film's most iconic highlights.

Especially in the scenes where the mechs go on expeditions and fight fiercely against monsters, the rousing melody is enough to instantly ignite the audience's emotions.

If this part can be done well, it can definitely boost the box office.

Therefore, Lü Rui spared no expense on the music budget, leaving ample funds, but couldn't find a suitable team for the time being.

Liu Yifei is quite an interesting girl. She was eager to share his burden, so she invited all her good friends who make music to the film set.

"Senior, you know Jane Zhang sings incredibly well... And this is another good friend of mine, Yao Beina. She's especially good at composing and arranging music..."

Yao Beina was born into a musical family in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Her father was a member of the Musicians Association, the chairman of the Shenzhen Musicians Association, and an associate professor at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music.

She studied at the China Conservatory of Music in her early years and is currently rehearsing a musical in the capital.

The reason I met Liu Yifei is because we were childhood playmates.

But now, hearing her friend's praise, Yao Beina's face turned pale, and her voice trembled as she said, "Actually... I'm not that amazing."

She certainly has the skills to compose and arrange music.

She was introduced to music at the age of 4, performed on Hubei TV's National Day Gala at the age of 9, and last month represented the Political Department of the Navy in the CCTV Young Singers Grand Prix, winning the silver medal in the popular singing category.

But these achievements she was so proud of pale in comparison to the soundtrack of an international sci-fi blockbuster like Pacific Rim, which seemed as tender as an unopened flower bud.

"Sissi! You've really screwed me over!"

Yao Beina roared inwardly.
Before coming, she thought it was just a small favor for Liu Yifei.

But when she arrived at the film set, she realized that even her father probably couldn't handle the situation, let alone her.

Zhang Liangying, standing to the side, was even more direct, already shrinking back like a quail, her eyes darting away, not daring to look at Lü Rui.

She's only just started out in the music scene, how could she dare to take on such a big project?

After Liu Yifei finished her introduction, she didn't forget to ask Lü Rui, "Senior, what exactly are your requirements for the background music? Tell them so they can hear it and see if it can help you."

Looking at her earnest expression, Lü Rui felt a warmth rise in his heart.

He was quite touched that this girl cared so much about his affairs.

Since she's her friend, she's also his friend.

Therefore, Lü Rui would not look down on them just because they were not high-profile.

However, his requirements for the background music are indeed quite high.

After a moment's thought, he tentatively said, "I want a piece of music that is similar to the Jupiter Symphony, full of awe, grandeur and magnificence. It would be even better if it could incorporate some Chinese elements."

The Jupiter Symphony?
The final work of Mozart's three great symphonies?
Upon hearing this, Yao Beina's lips twitched even more violently.

She was instantly certain that even her father's teacher couldn't handle it, let alone her own father.

There are very few composers in China who can reach this level!
That's Mozart! A genius in music history, who can compose a piece more breathtaking than this master's work?

Seeing that Lü Rui was still waiting for her reply, Yao Beina composed herself and asked cautiously, "Director Lü, didn't you...didn't you try to contact Joe Hisaishi?"

Lu Rui sighed and shook his head helplessly: "I've already looked for one, but he said he couldn't make it."

Joe Hisaishi is a top-tier figure in the industry; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's among the top five in the global film scoring field.

Since his debut, he has won countless awards for film scores.

Especially the soundtrack he composed for Jiang Wen's "The Sun Also Rises" last year, it was absolutely amazing!

In fact, when Lü Rui was looking for a composer, he was the first person she thought of.

Therefore, he specifically sought out Jiang Wen and asked him to help make the connection.

Unexpectedly, after Jiang Wen dialed Joe Hisaishi's number, the first thing he mentioned was the requirement that "it should be written to be even more magnificent than Mozart's Jupiter Symphony."

Joe Hisaishi, on the other end of the phone, hung up abruptly halfway through the call.

When Lü Rui called back, the phone was immediately switched off...

It's... kind of disheartening.

In truth, this is all Jiang Wen's fault. Why didn't you just lure him over first? Instead, you started by mentioning "Mozart." Which composer could withstand such pressure?
(End of this chapter)