Huayu: I rely on hit-movie tactics to interweave...

Although "Speed ​​Scandal" grossed over 90 million at the box office, it was just one step away from breaking 100 million, like a marathon runner being grabbed by the collar just before the finish line.

Liu Yu later calculated that he received a little over 30 million yuan in box office revenue, and after deducting 20 million yuan in production costs and publicity expenses, the net profit was only a few million yuan.

After the money was divided among the investors, the amount that ended up in each person's pocket wasn't much, but no one complained. China Film Group and Bona Film Group are both large companies and don't need the money. As for Mr. Li from Xiaoxiang Film Industry, his support was just a friendly gesture, and making money was already a pleasant surprise.

Yu Dong sounded quite nonchalant on the phone, saying, "As long as we don't lose money, we'll come again next time."

What really made Liu Yu money wasn't box office revenue, but copyright.

Just a few days after the news of the film's removal from theaters spread, calls came in from overseas buyers.

After a round of distribution to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, the distribution rights were sold for twelve million.

The biggest surprise came from South Korea.

A South Korean film company bought the remake rights for two million RMB.

The investors did not have any disputes over the distribution of profits from the overseas issuance rights.

According to the contract, the revenue from overseas distribution rights is distributed according to the investment ratio, with Liu Yu receiving the majority because he holds the copyright.

He proactively suggested that the two million for the remake rights would not be distributed among the revenue, but would be considered as his wages as screenwriter and director.

Although the film was forced to be taken off the shelves, Liu Yu became a hot commodity in the industry.

With two consecutive commercial films nearly grossing over 100 million yuan, there are only a handful of directors in China who can reach this level.

Zhang Yimou is one, but Chen Shiren's "The Promise" has not been released yet, so it is not within the scope of discussion for the time being.

As a soon-to-be junior in college, Liu Yu's two films have grossed a combined 200 million yuan. This achievement would make any film company boss green with envy.

A company offered him an exorbitant price to sign him, and Wang Zhonglei from Huayi Brothers personally called him, saying, "Liu Yu, come to Huayi Brothers, name your terms."

...

May 14th, Weihai, Shandong.

Filming for "Hearing Girl" began here.

The opening ceremony was incredibly simple; there was no red carpet, no reporters, no flowers, and no champagne tower.

Liu Yu, dressed in a gray T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, stood on an open space by the sea, facing a crew of over sixty people.

"Everyone," he began, his voice soft but clear, "we're not having a press conference today, no reporters, no frills. We're just going to start filming quietly, and make the movie quietly. This film doesn't need any fanfare; fanfare will only make it worse."

He glanced around the room and said, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone. Let's get to work."

The producer is still Tian Zhuangzhuang.

Tian Zhuangzhuang was much more willing to join the crew this time than last time. He arrived in Weihai a week before filming started, and spent his days walking along the beach, enjoying the scenery, and chatting with Liu Yu when he came back.

"This film can't use too much artificial light; natural light is best. The light at the beach changes quickly, so you need to shoot several takes as backup."

The photographer is still Sun Yang.

Sun Yang and Liu Yu have already worked together on three films, from "A Moment to Speed ​​Scandal" to this one, and the three of them have developed a strong rapport.

The very first scene went wrong.

Liu Yifei plays Liu Lu. Her first scene is very simple: she is riding a bicycle on the sea embankment, singing a song, with the wind blowing her hair.

Liu Yu watched from behind the monitor as Liu Yifei rode her bicycle from one end of the embankment to the other, the wind blowing through her hair. The scene was beautiful, like a music video.

He always felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it; it just wasn't right.

"Click." Liu Yu stood up and walked to Liu Yifei.

She stopped the car, put one foot on the ground, and looked at Liu Yu. The sea breeze was blowing her hair, and she tried to tuck it in with her hand, but couldn't.

"One more take. Don't worry about looking good. Just imagine yourself as a high school student riding a bike on the beach. Be natural, don't worry about the camera."

Liu Yifei nodded.

The second point is more natural than the first, but it's still not enough.

Liu Yu called "Cut!" again, this time with a harsher tone: "Liu Yifei, let me ask you a question. When you ride your bike to school, do you ever think about whether you look good?"

She paused for a moment, then shook her head.

"Won't."

"Then why are you like this now?"

She didn't answer, and Liu Yu didn't say anything more. He turned around and walked back behind the monitor.

The third, fourth, and fifth takes were filmed again and again. Liu Yifei became more and more relaxed each time, but she was still just a step away from the "natural perfection" that Liu Yu wanted.

After filming the sixth take, Liu Yu stared at the monitor for a few seconds, then took off his headphones and slammed them on the table.

It wasn't a loud noise, but the entire crew heard it.

The scene was so quiet that only the sound of the waves could be heard. Everyone kept their heads down, not daring to look at him or Liu Yifei.

Wang Chaowen stood motionless to the side, holding the clapperboard. Sun Yang peeked out from behind the viewfinder, glanced at Liu Yu, and then quickly withdrew his head.

Liu Yu stood up and walked to Liu Yifei.

Her eyes reddened, but she didn't cry. She bit her lip, looked at Liu Yu, and her eyes showed grievance.

"Liu Yifei," Liu Yu's voice carried weight, "you're playing Liu Lu, a girl who grew up in a fishing village. She rides her bike, sings, the wind blows through her hair, and she feels comfortable, not because someone is filming her. Right now, you give me the impression that you're playing a 'girl making a movie.' You're out of touch with reality, you're pretentious, you can't let go."

Liu Yifei shed a tear, which she quickly wiped away with the back of her hand.

...

Wang Jinsong walked over from the side.

He had no chance to perform today, so he wore a white old man's shirt, looking like a retired cadre.

He pulled Liu Yu aside and said in a low voice, "Liu Yu, come with me for a moment."

Liu Yu followed him to a rock below the embankment. The sea breeze blew in, making their clothes flutter loudly.

Instead of advising him "not to get angry," Wang Jinsong said something that surprised him.

"You're right, scolding her won't change anything. She grew up in the United States and learned all her acting experience on set. She doesn't have the experience of rolling around in the mud. You're asking her to play a fishing village girl, but she doesn't know what a fishing village girl is like. It's not her fault, it's that you didn't give her time."

Liu Yu was silent for a moment, then asked, "Teacher Wang, what do you think we should do?"

"Let her go down and stay for a few days, stay with the fishermen. Eat with them, live with them, go out to sea with them, ride bikes with them. She has to smell the sea first before she can act out the sea."

Liu Yu thought for a moment and nodded.

"Okay. You'll take her there?"

"I'll take her and her mother down there for a few days, teach her the skills, and then we'll come back."

Wang Jinsong left, walked up to Liu Yifei, and whispered a few words to her.

Liu Yifei looked up and glanced at Liu Yu.

She followed Wang Jinsong away, and the staff packed up their equipment, leaving the scene in silence. Liu Yu sat in front of the monitor, staring blankly at the empty embankment for a long time.

Sun Yang walked over and handed him a bottle of water.

"Director Liu, you're a bit short of temper today."

Liu Yu unscrewed the bottle cap and took a sip. "I know."

"Is it because of the pressure of this film, or because you haven't gotten over what happened with the previous one?"

Liu Yu looked at the distant sea; the sun was setting, turning the seawater a deep gold.

"I think so."

Sun Yang patted him on the shoulder and didn't say anything more.