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

Chapter 277: Cultivate virtue before martial arts, guard your heart before being a person! It's both rustic and trendy, and it looks great! (Seeking monthly votes)

Yesterday, the martial arts film "The Warlords," directed by Chen Kexin, quietly wrapped up filming at the Tianmo Film and Television Base in Huailai County, Hebei Province.

"This morning, Stephen Chow, along with lead actress Zhang Yuqi and others, appeared in Ningbo, Zhejiang, to announce the official start of filming for the sci-fi film 'CJ7,' which has an investment cost of up to 20 million US dollars."

The fantasy romance script "Painted Skin," submitted by Xiangjiang Taiji Film Industry, has successfully obtained a filming license from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.

The film will be directed by Hong Kong film director Chan Ka-sheung, with an investment of approximately 1.1 million RMB. The casting list has been announced as scheduled…

"Reprinted from The Hollywood Reporter: Universal Pictures officially announces the cast list for The Mummy 3: Yang Ziqiong as Zi Yuan (the wise one), and Kung Fu Emperor Li Lianjie as the Dragon Emperor (the villain)."

It is reported that the film will be shot on location at the Terracotta Warriors Museum in SX Province. Stay tuned...

...

On a new Monday, as soon as Lü Rui arrived at the company and turned on his computer, he saw that the internet was already abuzz with angry comments!
Filming for "The Warlords" has wrapped; filming for "CJ7" has begun; "Painted Skin" has received its production license; and the cast for "The Mummy 3" has been announced...

The attention that should have been scattered is now all focused on the casting news for "The Mummy 3".

"What the hell is this Dragon Emperor? Don't think we won't know just because he changed his name. He's still the First Emperor, isn't he? And he even went to the Terracotta Army to film scenes, fuck your grandma..."

"What a piece of trash! Kung Fu Emperor? You son of a bitch, you're no good at all."

"Look at Collin Chou's interviews. He never plays villains abroad, but you smear Chinese people every day. Don't you have any shame?"

"First there was 'Danny the Dog,' and now we have 'The Mummy 3,' which smears the First Emperor of Qin. I'm really speechless. I'm even starting to wonder if 'The Forbidden Kingdom' is also garbage?"

"We call him a tyrant, not a brutal one. We're talking about problems with the Qin Empire's system. But to portray a tyrant in a movie, aren't you afraid of getting retribution?"

As angry comments flooded the screen, Li Lianjie's reputation, which he had barely salvaged with a few films, instantly suffered an epic collapse.

Even some official institutions were heavily criticized.

"Foreigners have started to smear us, and you still approved it to film 'The Mummy 3' at the Terracotta Army? Aren't you crazy?"

"Have some people really been kneeling for so long that they can no longer stand up?"

"For money, they've abandoned all principles, damn it!"

Lu Rui stared at the screen, his face darkening. He muttered under his breath, "Damn it, what kind of idiot is this?"

He admitted that he was being a bit radical at that moment.

Because he had already made up his mind that he had to suppress this film in the domestic market!

"Trying to make money by smearing our history? Ha! If you actually succeed, what will become of us?"

He quickly calculated in his mind that once "The Mummy 3" was scheduled for release, he would directly produce a blockbuster to compete with it and launch a preemptive strike.

As for Li Lianjie, Lü Rui snorted coldly: "Those who do many unrighteous deeds will surely perish!"

Actors who repeatedly erode the goodwill of the Chinese people will eventually be abandoned by the market.

Just as he was pondering his countermeasures, the office door was suddenly pushed open, and his secretary walked in: "Director Lü, Director Xue is here and is waiting for you in the meeting room."

"Director Xue?"

Lu Rui was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.

It's the one Jiang Wei recommended before.

He stood up, straightened his suit jacket, and temporarily suppressed his anger from "The Mummy 3": "Okay, I understand. I'll be right there."

Stepping out of the office, he took a deep breath and composed himself.

The Mummy 3 can be planned slowly later, but it's time to start the Witch project.

After running around for half a month, Liu Yifei has finally found some free time and is complaining about being bored every day.

Since that's the case, let's find something for this girl to do.

Meanwhile, outside the "The Forbidden Kingdom" film crew at Hengdian World Studios, the area was already packed with media reporters.

Long lenses and short lenses were pointed at the entrance of the film set, and reporters stood on tiptoe to peek inside, with the sound of camera shutters clicking incessantly.

Everyone wanted to corner Li Lianjie and ask him why he took on the role of "Dragon Emperor" in "The Mummy 3," and why he would play a villainous character who smears Chinese history in a Hollywood movie.

"Teacher Li! Could you talk about your understanding of the character 'Dragon Emperor'?"

Do you think playing such a role might hurt the audience's feelings?

"As a Chinese person, do you think the plot of 'The Mummy 3' is appropriate?"

A barrage of questions drifted through the fence into the film crew's room, putting the crew on edge as they tried to stop the reporters from rushing in.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the film crew's makeup area was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Many makeup artists, costume designers, and actors seemed to be glancing at Li Lianjie, their eyes filled with complex emotions, including confusion, doubt, and subtle dissatisfaction.

But Li Lianjie seemed oblivious to these stares, sitting in front of the makeup mirror and letting the makeup artist apply makeup to his face.

Although he heard the noise outside, he didn't pay any attention to it.

A bunch of idiots, do they even know what a Hollywood blockbuster is?
What happened to the Dragon Emperor?
Why would he refuse a chance to make money, gain fame, and elevate his status?

You should know that he did a lot of preparation work in advance for this role.

For example, the One Foundation was one of the groundworks he laid to get the role.

The criticism will only last for a few days. If the public opinion becomes too overwhelming, he can simply go out and do some charity work or take some photos, and then it will have no impact.

As for those who cursed him, saying that he would be punished for playing the First Emperor, he didn't believe a single word of it.

What era are we living in? People in China still believe in this? Are you crazy?

Meanwhile, not far away, in front of a makeup mirror, Jackie Chan was holding a bottle of mineral water, his eyes also fixed on Li Lianjie's back, making no attempt to hide his disdain.

He admitted that he is not a perfect person, especially in terms of personal morality, where he does have many flaws.

But men, whether they love money or women, it's only human nature.

Moreover, those actresses all came to him willingly; he never forced anyone, at most he just didn't refuse them...

In his view, this kind of consensual act was nothing more than a mistake that every man would make, and it wasn't a matter of principle.

However, he believes he has never crossed the line when it comes to matters of national importance.

Over the years, Hollywood has offered him countless opportunities to play villains, with some projects even offering him higher pay than he would have for a lead role!
Every time his agent showed him the contract, he couldn't help but urge him to reconsider.
But he always refused without hesitation!
"I am Chinese. Playing villains and tarnishing the image of my own country is too short-lived. I want to live a few more years. I can't earn this kind of money!"

This is something he always says.

But Li Lianjie was different.

As the "Kung Fu Emperor," he should have been a representative figure of Chinese Kung Fu, but he has repeatedly taken on controversial roles.

From the manipulated henchmen and tools of foreigners in "Danny the Dog" to the tyrannical Dragon Emperor who distorts history in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," each instance is a blatant smear on the country's image...

Jackie Chan grew angrier the more he thought about it, and couldn't help but sneer inwardly, "He doesn't even have a bottom line anymore, what kind of Chinese actor is he?"

He recalled his mentor's advice when he first entered the industry:

Before practicing martial arts, cultivate virtue; before being a person, guard your heart!
As public figures, their words and actions influence how the outside world views China. How can they abandon their integrity for the sake of Hollywood resources?

Jackie Chan took a big gulp of mineral water, suppressing his anger.

He has made up his mind that after filming "The Forbidden Kingdom", he will never work with Li Lianjie again, and they will never even appear in the same scene.

He'd be ashamed to share the stage with someone like that!

……

Wise Vision, the reception room.

Lu Rui pushed open the door and walked in, immediately seeing a woman sitting on the sofa.

The woman appeared to be in her early thirties, with neat short hair, wearing a well-tailored dark suit, and sitting upright with an air of competence and power.

Clearly, this was Xue Xiaolu, whom Jiang Wei had recommended.

The connection between the two dates back to the 2001 film "Don't Talk to Strangers" directed by Jiang Wei.

At the time, Xue Xiaolu was one of the core members of the screenwriting team for this drama.

Like Cao Baoping, her career path was remarkably smooth sailing.

She graduated with a master's degree in literature from the Beijing Film Academy and is now an associate professor and master's supervisor in the same department. Her resume is so impressive that it's astonishing.

Her desire to switch from screenwriting to directing was influenced by Cao Baoping.

It is common knowledge that TV dramas cannot create superstars. Once an artist becomes famous to a certain extent, they will all try to move into the film industry.

The same applies to the behind-the-scenes aspects of the film and television industry.

In China's current climate, neither screenwriting nor cinematographers are as prestigious as directing.

Therefore, Xue Xiaolu had the idea of ​​becoming a director.

It just so happens that Jiang Wei and she are on good terms. After chatting for a while, Jiang Wei immediately suggested that she try her luck at Ruishijie.

Then, Lü Rui was looking for a suitable director for "The Witch".

The two sides hit it off immediately, which led to this meeting.

Actually, Xue Xiaolu originally wanted to film the movie project she wrote, but she really didn't have much confidence.

Lü Rui happened to have a well-developed script, so she decided to test the waters first.

Upon hearing the door open, Xue Xiaolu immediately looked up from the script Liang Lulu had given her.

Upon seeing that it was Lü Rui, she quickly stood up and went to greet him, saying warmly, "Director Lü."

"Teacher Xue, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Lü Rui shook hands with her and gestured for her to sit down.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries to build rapport.

Xue Xiaolu specifically mentioned that she had recently visited the set of "Lurking".

"Previously, there were always rumors that your company, Ruishijie, had an excellent grasp of the shooting rhythm and details. After watching it, I am truly impressed. No wonder the quality of Ruishijie's productions has always been so high."

"Haha, slow and steady wins the race."

After a few casual words, the two got down to business.

Lu Rui pointed to the script of "The Witch" in her hand and asked, "Teacher Xue, what do you think of this script after reading it?"

"Fantastic!" Xue Xiaolu's eyes lit up, her tone full of genuine admiration. "The core of this story is so captivating."

The story of the female protagonist's transformation from a manipulated "tool" to one of awakening and rebelling is both exhilarating and emotionally nuanced, especially its profound exploration of humanity and power.

Director Lü, your screenwriting skills are truly amazing. After reading so many of your works, I always feel that if you had gone to study literature, you would definitely have become a renowned screenwriter in the industry!

"You flatter me, Teacher Xue."

Lu Rui smiled modestly, but in his heart he had gained more approval for her judgment.

The fact that she was able to grasp the core of the story so accurately after only reading the script once in such a short time shows that she has a very good understanding of the story.

This is a fundamental skill for any director.

It now seems that Xue Xiaolu's basic skills are quite good.

In the following time, the two engaged in a more in-depth discussion about the script for "The Witch".

Xue Xiaolu suggested that the vulnerability of the female lead after her awakening is very important; it's not enough to just film her strength, it's also necessary to show her confusion about her own identity.

Furthermore, drawing on his own experience, he added that the cinematic language could use cool colors to highlight the oppressive atmosphere in the early stages, and warm colors to showcase the heroine's rebirth in the later stages...

From character development to market positioning, the two found themselves increasingly compatible as they talked.

Lu Rui gradually discovered that although Xue Xiaolu had never directed a film independently, her control over the story's pacing and female characters far exceeded expectations, and she even understood that kind of subtlety better than many veteran directors.

This must be a characteristic unique to female directors.

After some discussion, he immediately made the decision: "Since Teacher Xue has such good ideas about this script, then you will be in charge of directing 'The Witch'."

"Really?" Xue Xiaolu's eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded excitedly. "Thank you, Director Lü! I will definitely do my best..." However, her excitement didn't last long before she suddenly frowned and asked doubtfully, "Is this project... going to be filmed in Hong Kong?"

The reason she asked this question was mainly because "The Witch" contains many plots involving "experimental subjects" and "violent resistance".

Filming this kind of plot in mainland China would be too risky for censorship; filming it in Hong Kong seems to be the only option.

But Lü Rui shook his head: "I'm not going to Hong Kong."

"That is……"

"A Sino-foreign co-production."

"what?"

Xue Xiaolu froze instantly, completely dumbfounded, thinking she had misheard.

Are you kidding me?
It's worth noting that this is her first time directing a film independently, and she only recently figured out the filming process for domestic films.

As for dealing with Hollywood teams, she has never had any contact with them.

She doesn't have the ability to start with Sino-foreign co-productions.

"Don't worry, Teacher Xue." Lu Rui saw her anxiety and comforted her with a smile, "It's just borrowing the Hollywood name, mainly to make it easier to pass the censorship."

We'll handle the actual filming ourselves. At most, we'll cast a few Hollywood actors as villains, but the core roles will all be played by mainland actors. You don't need to feel too much pressure.

He had initially considered co-producing with Hong Kong, but after weighing the options, he chose a Sino-foreign co-production.

Because the production cost of "The Witch" was not high, and the core purpose of co-production was to avoid the risk of failing censorship.

Given this, why not choose a Sino-foreign co-production, which carries lower risks? After all, foreign countries have more lenient foreign policies than they do for Hong Kong.

Just like The Mummy 3...

More importantly, he had an even bigger plan in mind.

He was wondering if he could combine the storylines of "The Witch" and "Lucy" to create a "superpower awakening" series?

The original "Witch 2" was, to put it bluntly, a piece of crap!

But if it were changed to "The Witch 2: Lucy", and the heroine's abilities were linked to brain development, wouldn't the story's scope expand instantly?
Hearing Lü Rui's explanation, Xue Xiaolu's anxiety gradually subsided.

She took a deep breath, her eyes regaining their resolve: "Director Lü, don't worry, I will definitely prepare well and won't let you down."

“I believe in you.” Lü Rui nodded, then took out a project timeline. “This is a preliminary preparation plan. Take a look, and feel free to communicate with me if you have any ideas. Let’s finalize the casting and art team first. I will be in charge of the production work…”

"no problem."

With the support of Beijing Film Academy, Xue Xiaolu is confident that she can build a team that is a good fit for her.

Even if all else fails, Ruishijie can easily assemble it.

After confirming their intention to cooperate, the two then discussed the character settings.

Lu Rui stated very frankly: "The role of the female lead was designed for Liu Yifei."

"I understand, no problem."

Xue Xiaolu not only had no objections, but also felt relieved.

Liu Yifei, a rising star in recent years, has gained countless fans with her roles in works such as "Chinese Paladin", "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", and "Sunny Sisters". Her strong fan base and box office appeal are undeniable.

For a new director like her, being able to work with such a top-tier actress is undoubtedly a privilege.

On the one hand, Liu Yifei's fans will naturally bring attention to the film.

On the other hand, having well-known actors on board can give investors, distributors, and cinemas more confidence, and it is also an important advantage for her to establish herself in the industry.

Actually, she also had her own long-term plans.

She doesn't want to rely on actors or investors forever, but hopes to create her own directorial brand in the future.

Top directors like Lü Rui, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, and Feng Xiaogang have long established their own director IP effects within the domestic film and television industry.

The films they make are often promoted with themselves at the center.

The mainstream model for current commercial blockbusters is to first attract moviegoers with the director's reputation, and then attract casual viewers with big-name stars.

However, she is far from reaching that level yet.

Therefore, the promotion of "The Witch" must focus on Liu Yifei, which is the safest choice at this stage.

Xue Xiaolu proactively analyzed, "Yi Fei's image and temperament are indeed very suitable for the role of 'witch'."

Because her image has both that aloofness and the resilience that comes with awakening, especially the expressiveness in her eyes, which is very powerful.

I watched her performance in "The Story of a Noble Family" before, and I could feel her ability to handle complex characters.

Lu Rui nodded in agreement: "You're right, that's also what I liked about her."

After saying that, he simply called Liu Yifei and asked her to come over and take a look at the new project, and also to meet the director she would be working with next.

The call was quickly connected.

Liu Yifei, who was bored at home, immediately replied upon hearing that there was a new role: "I'm going to the company right now, you guys wait for me."

"Okay, be careful on the road, no rush."

After hanging up the phone, Lü Rui smiled at Xue Xiaolu and said, "She'll be here soon. You two can talk about your understanding of the characters and get to know each other better. This will make communication smoother during the subsequent filming."

"Row."

...

Because she's been so bored lately, Liu Yifei has started messing around with herself again.

She complained that the outfits her mother and stylist put together for her were too tight and uncomfortable, so she put together her own outfit.

She wore a loose blue short-sleeved shirt, white casual pants, and gray sneakers, with a floral headscarf wrapped around her head...

It's...both tacky and trendy, and...good-looking.

There's no way around it, she's just too beautiful. No matter what kind of outfit she wears, even a big floral print jacket from Northeast China, she can still make it look uniquely beautiful.

It's tough on the paparazzi who've been following her lately; they're all a bit confused by her actions.

When other female celebrities wear their own clothes, don't they all lean towards being sexy and glamorous?

But she's the opposite; she keeps putting on tacky outfits, and she's getting more and more out of character.

She used to be a goddess, but now she's inexplicably acting a bit crazy. What's going on?

"Senior, hello Professor Xue."

Although her outfit was a bit unusual, her upbringing and manners were impeccable; she greeted everyone warmly as soon as she entered.

Women can always find topics to talk about from some inexplicable angles.

Sure enough, Liu Yifei and Xue Xiaolu became acquainted in no time.

The two held the script and began to talk about the plot, the setting, and the shooting angles... They chatted back and forth, getting more and more into it, completely ignoring Lü Rui who was standing next to them.

It wasn't until the topic of character immersion came up that Lü Rui interjected, saying, "The immersion doesn't need to be too deep. After all, this is a commercial film. As long as the core emotions of the character are expressed, that's enough."

There's no need to get completely immersed in acting like Lin Daiyu. Filming is work; don't let it affect your emotions.

The reason he suddenly brought this up was because Chen Xiaoxu, the actress who played Lin Daiyu, had recently passed away from breast cancer.

In her early years, she became so immersed in the role of "Lin Daiyu" that she not only shaved her head and became a nun, but also suffered from emotional distress, which delayed her treatment, and she passed away in her forties.

A film was shot over several years, with the actors completely immersed in their roles, ultimately wearing themselves out...

No one wants to see such a tragedy again.

Lu Rui didn't want Liu Yifei to become depressed and affected by the role just because of filming a movie.

Just like that, silly and innocent, occasionally hugging herself like a little dumpling and acting cute, isn't that wonderful?
Upon hearing him mention Chen Xiaoxu, Xue Xiaolu immediately became serious: "Director Lü, don't worry, I understand. I will keep things in check and won't let Qianqian have too much psychological burden."

After all, she didn't want to end up like that balding, buck-toothed man, being criticized and gossiped about by fans!

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei nodded obediently: "Senior, I know, I won't get too hung up on things."

Although she values ​​the role, she also understands that a play is a play and a person is a person, and she would not joke about her own body and emotions.

More than an hour later, Xue Xiaolu left Ruishijie with the script.

She needs to go back and do some preliminary work on "The Witch".

Lu Rui immediately instructed his secretary to submit the script to the Film Bureau to apply for a filming permit under the guise of a "Sino-foreign co-production".

As for the foreign partner, it is naturally Ruixing Film Industry.

This approach avoids the risk of failing the review process while simultaneously generating profits from both ends...

The main goal is to profit from both ends!

By the time we finished all that, it was already getting dark.

Lu Rui got up and walked to the sofa, patting Liu Yifei's head as she was intently reading the script: "Girl, stop reading, come on, let's go eat hot pot."

"Huh?" Liu Yifei suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling, and immediately put down her script. "Senior, are you done with your work?"

"Okay, I'm done with work, let's go."

"Good drop."

She picked up her bag and followed Lu Rui out like a little shadow.

After going downstairs, the two got into the car and drove towards a newly opened hot pot restaurant.

On the way, Liu Yifei chattered away, sharing her recent interesting stories.

For example, my dog ​​destroyed the sofa again, and the TV dramas I watch have so many melodramatic plots...

“My mom and I have been watching the TV series ‘Struggle’ lately. The plot is really weird. The father is a tycoon, the stepfather is a high-level executive, and the girlfriend is a rich heiress. Isn’t this just being a rich second-generation? Why does he need to struggle?”

Lu Rui responded jokingly: "Obviously, this is the story of a rich second generation's struggle. You have to watch this show backwards. Ideals are useless; you still have to rely on your father's connections."

"It seems so..." Liu Yifei murmured to herself, then suddenly remembered something and changed the subject, "Oh, right, I almost forgot something important."

"Business?"

“My mom said that Universal Pictures sent a collaboration offer to Starwood, wanting me to have a cameo role as a tomb guardian in ‘The Mummy 3,’ and that I could act alongside Li Lianjie…”

"Just refuse directly. This film is biased, there's no need to go."

Lü Rui made no attempt to hide his disdain for this kind of terrible movie.

Smearing the First Emperor is inherently flawed; getting involved in such projects will only bring trouble upon oneself.

Moreover, if he remembers correctly, during the filming of this role, there were reports that the actress was sexually harassed.

Clearly, the actors in a production crew with such warped values ​​are no better.

"Okay!" Liu Yifei nodded in agreement without hesitation.

She had always trusted Lü Rui's judgment.

Since her senior said it was bad, she would absolutely not touch it!
When they arrived at the hot pot restaurant, the two of them asked for a private room and ordered a table full of dishes.

Tripe, duck intestines, fatty beef, shrimp paste... these are mostly foods that Liu Yifei loves to eat.

But she has a small appetite, and she only takes a few bites of each dish before putting down her chopsticks.

"Senior, eat quickly, this tripe won't taste good if it's overcooked."

And this shrimp paste... I specially added extra chopped green onions to the dipping sauce bowl for you, since you like this flavor, right...?"

After she finished eating, she started cooking and serving food to Lü Rui, piling his bowl full. Then she rested her chin on her hand and watched quietly, her eyes full of smiles, looking both silly and adorable...

(End of this chapter)