Huayu: Everyone's been reborn, who's still going to be an actor?

"Since the relevant departments say there's no ban on directing, you can start assembling the crew and preparing for the film now." Cheng Yuan looked at Jiang Wen and asked, "Has the script been submitted for review?"

"I sent it, and I also said hello to Lao Han." Jiang Wen nodded and said, "Is your company investing in this movie?"

"Go ahead and invest," Cheng Yuan said. "What's the budget? I'll have the company set aside 20 million for you. Of course, it depends on how you allocate your investment share."

"The budget isn't finalized yet. But it's definitely going to be 30 million," Jiang Wen said. "Aren't you afraid I'll lose it all?"

Thirty million?

The original version must have had a production cost of over 100 million.

However, Chow Yun-fat alone took home more than 40 million in film fees.

The total cost is several tens of millions.

As for whether Jiang Wen still has feelings for Chow Yun-fat, Cheng Yuan is not sure.

Of course, even if Chow Yun-fat were invited, the production cost today would definitely be different from the original.

Even setting aside the actors' salaries, the production cost of the props is also lower.

"Money is worthless, we can always earn more," Cheng Yuan said. "Besides, I don't think this movie will lose money. I wrote the script, so what do I know about the movie? It incorporates a lot of commercial elements, so calling it a commercial film wouldn't be inappropriate."

"Would you like to come work as a producer or something on the set?"

Jiang Wen said with a smile that he could naturally tell that the script incorporated commercial elements.

It's quite entertaining.

It's packed with laughs, the comedy is fantastic, the climaxes are frequent, and the surprises are endless, making it a truly enjoyable experience.

It's not your average commercial film; you could also watch it as an art film.

Although the film is a commercial movie, it contains a rich cultural content and has the highlights that an excellent work should have. The plot often gives people a double illusion of simplicity and complexity.

Although it is a commercial film, he was able to express his desired spiritual core in the film.

This is also why Jiang Wen liked the script and found it hard to refuse it.

Of course, he couldn't refuse because the role of Zhang Muzhi was just right for him; it was practically tailor-made for him.

From a director's perspective, he couldn't refuse.

From an actor's perspective, he also found it hard to refuse.

"Forget it," Cheng Yuan shook his head and said, "I'm afraid you'll change the script while filming. If I were on set, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to resist killing you."

Cheng Yuan discussed the script with Jiang Wen quite a bit, and even drew out the storyboards for him.

That old man's stick figure is truly unbearable to look at.

There are actually some changes, and it is naturally an improvement over the original version.

Am I that kind of person?

Jiang Wen spoke up, clearly unwilling to admit it.

"Who are you!"

Cheng Yuan answered very decisively.

Will this guy suddenly have a burst of inspiration and come up with a new idea while he's taking pictures?

Definitely!

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wen laughed heartily and did not deny it.

He doesn't need to deny it.

If it can make the movie better, then why can't it be changed?

"This is your comeback film after a five-year ban on directing. Take it easy. Don't cram all the ideas you've accumulated over the past five years into this movie," Cheng Yuan said. "If it turns out to be a hodgepodge, how can you call it a 'triumphant return'?"

"The king has returned?" Jiang Wen smiled, raised his wine glass, and said, "That's exactly what I think."

Cheng Yuan rolled his eyes, then clinked glasses with him and drank it all in one gulp.

June 1st arrived in the blink of an eye, and "The Hunt" was released.

There was no premiere for this movie.

After all, it's a low-budget art film.

Premieres and such also cost money.

However, this movie's release was by no means a low-key one.

The movie is incredibly popular, and the topic was already generating a lot of buzz. Now, Cheng Yuan's pretentious remarks have sparked even more discussion.

Those words, if left unsaid, would only circulate online for a while before fading into obscurity.

But now its destructive power is much greater.

When have netizens ever heard such sophisticated words?

When "The Hunt" was released, many people went to see it as soon as possible.

They wanted to see what kind of film this was that missed out on the Palme d'Or because of John Woo's vote.

They wanted to see what made this film, which won the Best Actor award at Cannes, so unique.

They also wanted to see what kind of viewing experience this film, inspired by criticism, would give them.

What were Cheng Yuan's feelings when he was questioned?

Cheng Yuan said this movie can tell them something.

They wanted to know.

Then, moviegoers who had seen the film were completely devastated.

Suppression, so intense it chills you to the bone.

People are used to being self-righteous and always like to analyze so-called justice and compassion from the perspective of the weak, but there are many injustices behind this behavior. Such an emotionally driven social atmosphere makes people feel very uncomfortable.

The entire story is structured very meticulously, and the more it progresses, the more it is controlled by emotions and strikes the heart, with a suffocating sense of fear and powerlessness emerging one after another.

"Sisi, how did Cheng Yuan get through last year?" Zhou Yang asked Liu Yifei beside him. "I watched the movie and felt like I was going to get depressed, but he experienced it firsthand."

Zhou Yang felt some sympathy for Cheng Yuan and developed a sense of disgust towards those who questioned him.

"There must have been some artistic elements added," Liu Yifei said. "That was just the source of inspiration for the film."

It's just a source of inspiration, not an adaptation of facts.

There is clearly a difference.

"But didn't Cheng Yuan say on the show that this film conveyed his emotions at the time?" Zhou Yang said. "He actually created such a film under those circumstances. Amazing!"

"He's really amazing!"

Liu Yifei then left the theater with Zhou Yang.

After returning home, she couldn't help but send Cheng Yuan a text message.

"After watching your film 'The Hunt,' I felt very depressed. Was that really how you felt at the time?"

"Huh? Yeah, thinking about it now, I'm still depressed. I need a hug to soothe my wounded heart."

"Come on, come on!"

At this moment, Liu Yifei's worries and slight heartache dissipated.

That movie must have some artistic exaggeration.

Cheng Yuan's character is indeed strong.

"I'm really here."

"Come on, my mom's home."

"Never mind then, I'm afraid your mom will beat me to death."

Why did my mom hit you?

"She's afraid I'll steal her precious daughter away."

"You think I'd lie to you?"

......

When "The Hunt" was released, many people in the industry went to see it.

Lu Chuan was among them, and she was even cornered by reporters at the cinema.

"Director Lu Chuan, after watching 'The Hunt,' do you still think that the film's selection for the Cannes International Film Festival was just luck?"

A reporter asked the question.

If a film is of high quality, is its nomination at Cannes really just a matter of luck?

If a film is of poor quality, even with the best of luck, it's unlikely to be nominated, let alone win an award.

Lu Chuan's words are completely untenable.

I couldn't stand up before, and I can't stand up anymore.

The reporter asked that question simply to stir up trouble.