I became a movie star at the age of three; Dilraba and I are childhood sweethearts.

Wang Jinhua was somewhat puzzled.

"Um?"

Xiao Chen spoke calmly, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Poach people from Hollywood."

Wang Jinhua felt as if her heart had been squeezed tightly.

Poaching talent?

Industrial Light & Magic and Weta Digital?

The crown jewel of Hollywood's special effects industry!

Every special effects artist in the film is a highly sought-after talent by major film companies around the world, who want to poach them.

This...this is like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth!

She looked at Xiao Chen, trying to see a trace of a joke on his face.

but.

In those eyes, there was only a bottomless calm and a sense of entitlement.

Wang Jinhua suddenly understood.

What Xiao Chen is going to do this time is not just to make a movie.

He wants to use this film to create a world-class special effects system of his own for China's film industry!

This thought made her blood boil.

Burning money?

Then burn it!

In any case, Shiba Culture has accumulated an unknown amount of funds over the years.

She picked up the phone, her eyes becoming incredibly sharp.

"Feed? It's me."

"Help me contact some of the best headhunting firms, yes, the best ones internationally..."

……

Shishiba Culture is teaming up with Oscar-winning actor Xiao Chen to create an unprecedented sci-fi blockbuster with a huge budget.

This news was like a bombshell, spreading throughout the global entertainment industry in just a few days.

The first to react were the overseas media.

The Hollywood Reporter: The Sci-Fi Dream of the Eastern Dragon? A Highly Costly Gamble! While Shaw proved himself as an actor, directing, especially a sci-fi director, is a completely different story.

Variety: Sources reveal the project's budget could reach a staggering $500 million! That's enough to make two top-tier Hollywood blockbusters. We have to question whether a Chinese company with no prior experience in sci-fi production is engaging in a crazy "money-burning game."

On Twitter, countless international netizens and film critics also joined the discussion.

"Oh, please! Chinese movies? Besides those kung fu films with all that flying around, what else can they make? Sci-fi? Don't be ridiculous!"

"I admit Xiao is a great actor, he played Jack very well, and his songs are good too. But he should do what he's good at, instead of venturing into a field where even Spielberg might mess things up."

"I bet this will be the biggest box office disaster of the 21st century!"

"An Asian guy trying to teach us how to make science fiction? Good heavens, that's ridiculous!"

A barrage of doubts, ridicule, and pessimistic voices filled the air.

In their view, Xiao Chen's behavior was that of a young man blinded by victory, putting on an incredibly foolish and doomed personal show.

However, contrary to the pessimistic voices abroad, there was a fervent support within China.

Eight out of the top ten trending topics on Weibo are related to Xiao Chen's new movie.

#Xiao Chen's Sci-Fi Masterpiece#

#The Future of Chinese Cinema#

#We owe Chen Ge a movie ticket#

#Support Xiao Chen, take down Hollywood!#

Countless fans and moviegoers flooded Xiao Chen's Weibo comment section, with the number of messages instantly exceeding millions.

"Brother Chen is awesome! He's going to do science fiction! Let those foreigners see what real imagination is!"

"Waaaaah, ever since Hong Wending in 'The New Legend of Shaolin,' I knew you were no ordinary person! Brother Chen, go for it!"

"Ignore those foreigners' sour remarks! They're just jealous! We'll always support you!"

"Brother Chen, are you short of money? I'll go do some manual labor right now! Even if it's just the cost of a movie ticket, I'll contribute my share!"

This craze is not limited to the general public.

This caused a huge stir within the industry.

Countless celebrities and directors, whether they have worked with Xiao Chen or not, have publicly expressed their support.

Even more outrageous, Wang Jinhua's phone was practically bombarded with calls.

"Hey? Uncle Ge? Hello, hello!"

On the other end of the phone came Ge You's lazy yet powerful voice.

"Jin Hua, I heard Xiao Chen is planning something big?"

"A sci-fi movie? Hey, that's interesting! Tell him if there are any alien characters missing limbs, count me in!"

"It's free, meals are all I need!"

Wang Jinhua spoke.

"Oh dear, what are you saying..."

I had just hung up on Ge You when another call came in.

It's Gong Li.

The empress, who has long been hailed as a legend on the international stage, spoke with her usual calm and powerful tone.

"Jinhua, I read the outline of Xiao Chen's project. It's very bold and interesting."

"Tell him that if the female lead hasn't been cast yet, I can make my schedule available for him."

Wang Jinhua even started to stutter a little.

"Sister Li, this..."

This is just the beginning.

Jiang Wen, Chen Daomin, Li Xuejian...

One by one, influential and renowned figures in the Chinese film industry expressed their willingness to cooperate through various means.

He was even willing to lower his fee.

What they valued was not just Xiao Chen's influence.

It is also that ambition and courage to be a pioneer and to open up a new path for Chinese cinema!

This made Wang Jinhua both touched and proud.

She knew that Xiao Chen was no longer just an actor or a star.

He became a symbol.

A flag representing Chinese cinema, charging towards the world's highest peak!

Top floor office of Shishiba Culture headquarters.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows lies the bustling skyline of Beijing.

Inside the office, one wall was covered with all sorts of incredible and bizarre concept design drawings.

The Hallelujah Mountains floating in the air, the strange flowers and plants shimmering with fluorescent light, the Na'vi people nearly three meters tall and entirely blue...

A vast and unfamiliar planet, Pandora, is beginning to take shape on these canvases.

Xiao Chen stood in front of the wall, quietly looking at the sketches he had drawn himself.

Wang Jinhua walked in and handed him a document.

"This is the preliminary list of actors. Take a look."

Xiao Chen took it and flipped through a few pages.

The above contains information on almost all of China's top-tier actors.

Wang Jinhua said from the side.

"Gong Li and Ziyi are both very interested."

"Several Chinese actors in Hollywood have also contacted us through their agents, feeling they could help us open up the North American market..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Chen shook his head.

He pulled one out of a pile of photos.

The man in the photo has deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and a face that combines both heroic spirit and gentleness.

Andy Lau.

"Aunt Hua, I want him."

A hint of surprise flashed in Wang Jinhua's eyes, but it quickly turned into understanding.

She recalled "Infernal Affairs," directed by Xiao Chen, which created a box office legend in Hong Kong cinema.

In that movie, Andy Lau and Tony Leung's scenes together were nothing short of divine.

As for the director, Xiao Chen and Andy Lau also established a very high level of understanding and trust.