Huayu09: Starting with Hijacking Xiao Shenyang

Large conference room.

Zhao Benshan took this matter very seriously, and all the company's top executives were present. His recently promoted apprentices were also allowed to attend as observers.

Everyone sat around the table, discussing the matter animatedly.

"Shen Yang, what's going on? Wasn't the 'Three Guns' project already finalized?"

Song Xiaobao asked in a low voice.

"have no idea."

Xiao Shenyang shook his head nervously.

At yesterday's dinner, he downed a pound of baijiu and twelve bottles of beer before he finally saw Zhang Weiping and Zhang Yimou smiling.

Suddenly another large meeting was held.

Could they have changed their minds?

Benshan Media's biggest projects right now are bringing "Three Guns" and Liu Laogen Grand Stage to Beijing.

Other projects wouldn't warrant such a large-scale undertaking.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

Xiao Shenyang took several deep breaths, wiping the fine sweat from his forehead.

Perhaps he was too nervous.

My stomach is acting up again.

"Master's wife, why did you come over here?"

Chen Mo affectionately linked arms with Ma Lijuan.

Enter the conference room.

"Da Niu and Xiao Qiu went out to play, and I was bored at home, so I came over to check on them. You little rascal, you're all grown up now, and you're still clinging to your teacher's wife."

Ma Lijuan rolled her eyes.

Just like when they were little, she pinched Chen Mo's fair little face.

"My master's wife must have heard the news and came to keep things under control for me."

Chen Mo pursed his lips.

He revealed exactly what his teacher's wife was thinking.

"Who would have thought that the little rascal who used to bully his younger siblings ten years ago would become incredibly popular now, even writing his own screenplay to make a movie? It's true what they say, boys change a lot as they grow up."

"Hey, when is your wife going back to Singapore?"

"Let's wait until the kids go back to school, but it's not certain. There's a nanny there looking after them, so I don't have to go."

Chen Mo felt a warm feeling in his heart.

It's not hard to guess what the master's wife is thinking.

If Chen Mo's film project is successfully approved, the production team will be assembled soon.

The team is already in place.

The junior apprentice who has just become popular is probably not able to keep the higher-ups and senior apprentices in check.

Zhao Benshan is too busy.

We immediately flew to the mountain city to discuss business; once the production team had set up the framework, there was simply no time to attend to anything else.

At this point, the master's wife is needed to keep things in order.

The conversation ended, and the meeting began.

Zhao Benshan sat in the main seat, flanked by Vice President Zhang Jiahao and Vice President Liu Liu.

The former is responsible for artist management, performance coordination, talent scouting, and security.

The latter is responsible for film and television production and distribution.

To put it simply, one manages the people and the other manages the plays; they are Zhao Benshan's true right-hand men.

"I have something important to tell you today. Your junior apprentice has written a script called 'Black Coal, Thin Ice,' which is an urban crime thriller. I've read the script, and it's excellent. You should all take a look."

Zhao Benshan's arrogance was palpable.

The staff distributed the scripts to everyone.

Vice President Liu Liu took the script but didn't take it too seriously.

An 18-year-old young man who started out singing Errenzhuan (a traditional Chinese folk art form) and performing sketches, has never acted in a movie or even a TV series.

What do you know about scripts?

Moreover, it's an urban crime thriller, which requires extensive life experience, a wealth of film analysis skills, and exceptionally high intelligence.

Chen Mo only qualifies for the last item.

and many more!

Ten minutes later.

Liu Liu's expression changed from disdain to utmost seriousness.

Why does it feel so high-end?

The cold has warmth, the still has power.

The plot is seamlessly connected, yet it doesn't unfold in a straightforward manner; instead, it features twist after twist, resulting in a high-quality story with strong logic.

Especially the portrayal of the male and female leads.

It's true.

The character's arc lighting is reasonable.

"Xiao Mo, there's nothing wrong with the story. I really like the portrayal of the female lead, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

Liu Liu spoke first, breaking the silence.

Everyone immediately stopped flipping through the script and listened attentively.

Of all the employees in the company, Vice President Liu is the one who understands content creation the most.

The fact that it received his approval proves that "Black Coal, Thin Ice" is truly excellent.

"That's right, Mr. Liu. Wu Zhizhen's initial repression and pretense were because she was living in fear. Later, the male lead took the initiative to approach her because of the case, and she began to try to step out of the darkness and get closer to warmth, and even tried to escape the control of fear. In the end, she discovered that warmth was not warmth. She calmly faced the truth, not out of resentment but out of liberation."

Chen Mo explained in detail.

After all, he had seen the original film in his previous life and still carried it with him.

His understanding of "Black Coal, Thin Ice" is no less than that of the original director, Diao Yinan.

"continue."

Liu Liu said in a deep voice.

"The character Wu Zhizhen that I portrayed mainly conveyed two messages to the audience: the brokenness of a beautiful woman and the calm lewdness."

"Snapped!"

Liu slammed his hand on the table.

The sharp glint in his eyes, the trembling fat on his face.

I'm so excited I can't be more excited than I am.

"Yes, yes, that's exactly how I felt when I read the script—a beautiful sense of brokenness, a cool sense of lewdness. How come I never thought of that?"

Liu Liu flipped to the end of the script and suddenly frowned.

"Who is the murderer?"

"What does Mr. Liu think?"

"Wu Zhizhen didn't kill the person."

"A thousand people will have a thousand Hamlets, and to be honest, I'm not sure who the murderer is either."

"Hahaha...you kid, this is interesting!" Liu Liu pointed at Chen Mo in the air, then looked at Zhao Benshan and said solemnly, "Brother, this script is excellent. I think we should work on it, preferably right away, and..."

"And what?"

Zhao Benshan pressed for further details.

"Furthermore, I believe that if we film strictly according to the script, we have a chance to win an award."

Liu Liu said earnestly.

"Hiss hiss hiss..."

Inside the meeting room, there was a collective gasp of surprise.

Winning an award?!

The junior apprentice, only 18 years old, casually wrote a script that turned out to be a high-quality award-winning work?!

This…

This... this...

*****!

A quiet meeting room.

Aside from envious glances, there were only sounds of defenses crumbling.

Zhao Benshan couldn't believe his young disciple had such talent, but he trusted Vice President Liu's professionalism.

"Phew..." Zhao Benshan calmed himself down and tentatively asked, "Golden Rooster? Hundred Flowers? Golden Horse?"

"Hoo..." Liu Liu also calmed down and tentatively replied, "Cannes, Berlin, Venice."

"Snap!"

A bolt from the blue struck everyone, leaving them completely stunned.

Three of the best in Europe!

Those are the three largest in Europe!

Let alone these country bumpkins who sing Errenzhuan, even the film bigwigs in Beijing and Northwest China regard the three major European theaters as the most sacred temples.

After all, modern cinema originated in Europe.

"Really?!"

Zhao Benshan asked excitedly.

His expression and tone were filled with a sense of urgency to gain recognition from the mainstream film industry.

Also.

He also wanted to prove to certain people that he, Old Zhao, could sit at the table without their help!

Everyone says I'm just an old peasant, a country bumpkin, unfit for high society.

I, Zhao Benshan, will today…

Halfway through his ambitious dream, Teacher Zhao became dejected again.

Don't be too happy yet.

Those are the three largest in Europe.

Just take it as you please?

"Old Liu, are you serious? What are the chances?"

Zhao Benshan pressed for answers.

"Hmm... I'm not sure either, brother. I've never been to the three major European film festivals, but I've seen quite a few award-winning films, so I know a bit about the rules and how it works."

"Cannes likes films that combine commercial appeal with artistic merit."

"Berlin is politics and an anatomy of reality."

"Venice emphasizes avant-garde and fantastical creativity."

"Personally, I think Xiao Mo's 'Black Coal, Thin Ice' is good enough to be shown in Cannes or Berlin."

Liu left his opinion.

Chen Mo couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

The control panel states that Diao Yinan began polishing the script in 2005, but he was not satisfied with several versions. The current script is still called "The Search for Souls".

Filming didn't begin until 2012 in Harbin. They originally wanted to submit it to the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, but the final cut wasn't completed, so they sent it to Berlin the following year.

Liu Liu's analysis is correct.

You can go to Cannes for "Black Coal, Thin Ice," and you can also go to Berlin.

"Old Liu, what's the date of this year's Cannes Film Festival?"

Zhao Benshan asked in a deep voice.

The 62nd Cannes Film Festival will open on May 13th, and the application deadline is mid-March.

Liu Liu replied.

"Mid-March, it's mid-February now... Sigh, it's too late."

Zhao Benshan shook his head.

"Master..."

Chen Mo raised his little hand.