Chapter 279: First Glimpse of the Global Film Market

It is a consensus in the media circle that Chen Bige is not an actress with a "clean" past.

This actress, who has won over a dozen Best Actress trophies and is hailed as one of the top-tier actresses currently standing at the pinnacle, has never once disguised herself since the first day of her debut. Whether it was the "jade girl" persona or some "talented woman" persona, none of it had anything to do with her.

She is a very "wild" actress, like a diamond just unearthed from the mountains—unpolished, yet dazzlingly brilliant solely by virtue of her inherent radiance.

She drinks, smokes, swears, and throws herself into relationships with reckless abandon. In her early years, if not for Chen Ziyan behind the scenes doing everything possible to clean up her messes, coupled with her acting skills and talent being so exceptional that many were reluctant to see such talent go to waste and gave her opportunities time and again, she would never have survived those most difficult times, established a firm footing, and then soared to the status she holds today.

After achieving her current status, Chen Bige never thought about changing her ways. She remains the same, frequently caught by the media engaging in behavior not befitting a public figure, even swearing. However, perhaps because Chen Bige has been breaking such news since her debut and never pretended to be anyone else, plus her professional capability is truly formidable and she has basically never played the "pure white lily" type, the audience does not feel the sense of betrayal that comes from a huge contrast between screen image and real-life persona. Thus, it ultimately did not affect her career.

A Chen Bige, a Shang Yongzhou—these two are Chen Ziyan's greatest achievements as an agent, and the two who cemented her legend of having a "sharp eye."

It is not just about judging people, but also about judging projects.

The roles that propelled Chen Bige and Shang Yongzhou to the top were basically all decided by Chen Ziyan. This includes instances where they were unwilling to act but were persuaded by Chen Ziyan—these are the favorite anecdotes of the tabloids and stories often relished within the industry.

Therefore, projects picked by Chen Ziyan are often frantically fought over by everyone.

This is also one of the reasons why "Seventeen Layers," after being picked by Chen Ziyan, was able to stand firm amidst the internal strife at the Beijing Station, despite already being an S+ level blockbuster.

"Right." Chen Bige nodded. "I made a cameo in the second one before, and they brought me back for the third."

Chen Ziyan: "And filming abroad? Before he graduates from university, he doesn't need to consider that at all. He doesn't even have time to film domestically right now."

Lu Yanhe thought to himself that he probably wouldn't have to think about it for the next few years.

Among them, China and the United States are the only two independent national markets.

"They want our Chinese box office, yet they pull this kind of brainless stuff. Who spoils them!" Chen Bige said. "I lost my temper a few times, and didn't they stop acting up? They could have cooperated properly, but they had to pull this kind of stunt. Speechless."

In this space-time, there are four major markets where the annual global box office volume can reach over four billion US dollars.

"This time I'm playing a female villain, a female pirate." Chen Bige told Chen Ziyan. "As a result, all the scenes were shot in front of a green screen; it was almost entirely acting without any real objects."

But Chen Bige didn't seem to intend to swallow her pride, either.

The other two are the Asian market, excluding China, and the European market.

The box office volume of the four film markets can go toe-to-toe, unlike the other space-time where, except for the late-blooming China, they were basically in a state of being crushed by the American film market.

Chen Ziyan smiled and gave her a thumbs up, saying: "With your temper, indeed no one can bully you."

Therefore, Lu Yanhe had always assumed that the treatment of Chinese actors acting overseas shouldn't be like it was before he transmigrated, as if they were "third-class citizens."

Lu Yanhe was somewhat surprised to hear Chen Bige say this.

And under Chen Ziyan's matchmaking, Chen Bige will also star in this drama; this drama can basically already be called the most anticipated major drama of next year.

Chen Bige spoke about the situation of filming movies overseas this time with some helplessness.

"No, it was the staff." Chen Bige said. "Especially that makeup artist of mine—damn, you wouldn't know what they made me look like at first. It was so ugly and disgusting that I went straight to the producer and director, telling them that if they only needed an image so ugly that you couldn't even tell what I looked like, there was no need to hire me. Later, they found someone else to do the styling, but I still couldn't accept it. After discussing it with them, I invited Xiao Ke's team over to do it for me, and after modifying it a few times according to their opinions, we finally reached a consensus. Ziyan, those people just bully you, thinking you don't understand anything. I'm going to let them see who can bully me."

Chen Ziyan was somewhat surprised upon hearing this and asked: "Was it the actors acting with you?"

Chen Ziyan heard this and said: "This movie is the third installment of 'Xinqi Pirates,' right?"

She just went straight at them, not letting herself suffer any losses.

"Why? Are there so many classes at school? Can't you ask for leave?"

Chen Bige: "Don't even mention it. While I was acting over there, I met several shameless bitches who thought I didn't understand English and insulted me in their words. I almost threw hands and scolded them. When they heard that my English was actually quite fluent, they were shocked, and they didn't provoke me again afterward."

Lu Yanhe nodded and said okay.

"Alright, then that really is a headache." Chen Bige said. "Doesn't that just waste the heat you have right now?"

"He isn't studying acting, and besides, asking for leave frequently isn't good. On one hand, he really wants to learn something at school; on the other hand, if he asks for leave frequently, it will also cause a bad influence. There are too many eyes on him now; he has to be careful with every move he makes."

"How is the screen time?"

"It's not called wasting; there wasn't much invested in the first place." Chen Ziyan shook her head. "You don't know, he even wrote a script not long ago, a movie script. Jia Long took a fancy to it and is preparing to cooperate with Jia Long on it."

In short, this is not a film market landscape dominated by Hollywood; instead, it is a film world blooming everywhere. In terms of box office, Hollywood movies account for at most three to four of the top ten global annual box office films.

"Who knows? Little Lu is so popular now; maybe foreign crews will come looking for Little Lu soon." Chen Bige said.

The Chinese film market is huge.

Chen Ziyan: "That's not bad either. Brushing your face in a blockbuster series like 'Xinqi Pirates' can help you open up your popularity."

Similarly, Asian films are also very brilliant. The four countries of China, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea support a brilliant Asian film market, and the annual film box office is not much less than Hollywood's.

Would a top actress like Chen Bige actually encounter such things in Hollywood?

Why does it sound so much like the space-time before he transmigrated?

In this world, Hollywood still exists, and Hollywood is still the most influential commercial film center. However, there are some differences. For example, it is not without competitors; Europe also has a film production base, unlike the other space-time where European films basically only retained the preserve of art films.

Under this pattern, global films are basically in a chaotic battle every year.

He hasn't even figured out the acting in his own domestic dramas yet.

Chen Bige looked at Lu Yanhe in surprise.

Chen Ziyan saw that Chen Bige had a posture of wanting to pull Lu Yanhe to drink and talk about life, so she stopped her. "Why do you always tell Little Lu these things? It's still too early for Little Lu to go abroad to film."

"Not bad, not a background role." Chen Bige said. "But to talk about acting space, it's just so-so. There's no room for performance; it's purely acting, using this face of mine."

Abroad?

She exhorted Lu Yanhe: "Little Lu, when you go to film overseas in the future, you must not be timid. When those guys come looking for you, don't really listen to their sweet talk about how you are a god of acting or an artist. They are dying to cooperate with you—it's all full of nonsense. Nine out of ten are aiming at your popularity in China and the domestic box office market. So, no matter what, don't lose face. It doesn't matter if you play a supporting role or a villain; this is an actor's profession. But an actor must never be too timid. You have to stand firm, and when you encounter things, you have to fight back. You can't let people look down on you."

In order to capture the box office of other markets, general blockbusters will recruit actors and producers from various countries like "Xinqi Pirates," allowing the film to have more "inclusive" elements and attract more audiences.

After Chen Bige drank two glasses of wine, her mood was clearly rising.

"But you have a great advantage. We suffered from being uncultured, but you are someone who got into Zhenhua. They have actors who graduated from Harvard and Cambridge, and you are also a Zhenhua graduate—you lack nothing!" Chen Bige said. "Let me tell you, they are all elitist one by one; don't learn their bad habits."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

Chen Bige was extremely surprised. "Is he starring with Jia Long?"

"No, he isn't starring. He might make a cameo, but he is mainly participating in the film production as a screenwriter." Chen Ziyan said. "Didn't expect that, right?"

Chen Bige asked: "He can write a script when he's only a freshman?"

"The story was actually written in his third year of high school. He wrote a story at the time to persuade me to sign him." Chen Ziyan smiled as she talked about the past and looked at Lu Yanhe. Lu Yanhe was also a bit embarrassed. Chen Ziyan continued, "So, even if Little Lu is delayed for a while these few years and his popularity drops and he isn't very popular, I'm not too worried. He has the ability to become popular again."

Chen Bige heard this, nodded, and asked: "Ziyan, can I see the script Little Lu wrote?"

"Why, do you want to make a cameo?" Chen Ziyan asked.

Chen Bige said: "My junior brother wrote the script; it's not impossible for you to let me make a cameo."

Chen Ziyan: "Not joking?"

"What's there to joke about?"

"You haven't made a cameo in a long time."

"That's because I'm too lazy to make cameos for those people. We aren't related, and I don't owe them anything, so why bother."

Chen Ziyan nodded.

Chen Bige said to Lu Yanhe again: "Little Lu, since you have the talent to write scripts, how about you tailor a script for me? I really haven't received a script that moved me and made me want to act in a long time."

Lu Yanhe was very embarrassed and said: "I've only written one script, and I'm still quite inexperienced; I don't really know how to write."

"Even if good things aren't perfect at first, anyone can tell it's a good thing." Chen Bige said. "You have this talent. Even if only one sentence of the first draft you write is usable, I can tell it's a good thing."

Chen Bige clearly had full confidence in her own eye.

Hearing Chen Bige say this, Lu Yanhe thought about it and nodded in agreement.

Writing a movie script with a female lead for Chen Bige might be difficult, but writing a story is easy. If it really doesn't work, he can let Chen Bige find a professional screenwriter to adapt the story he wrote into a script.

To be honest, he feels that his ability to write scripts is still lacking.

Especially the ability to write dialogue.

Relying solely on memory to retell some movies he has seen, too many things need to be supplemented by himself.

After eating and drinking his fill with Chen Bige, Chen Ziyan sent her to her car, exhorted the assistant and driver who came to pick her up to make sure to send her home, and watched her enter the door. Chen Bige looked dissatisfied and said: "Are you still treating me like a child?"

Chen Ziyan said unceremoniously: "You are a child to begin with."

Chen Bige hummed and turned to look at Lu Yanhe: "Little Lu, don't forget, the script you promised to write for me."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

After Chen Bige left, Chen Ziyan said to Lu Yanhe: "Don't feel pressured. If you can't write it, forget it. She's just a bit crazy because she drank some wine. She'll be fine when she wakes up. A script isn't that easy to write. If it were that easy, she wouldn't have failed to receive a satisfactory script for the past two years."

Lu Yanhe nodded and said: "It's fine."

"Ah?" Chen Ziyan was stunned.

Lu Yanhe said: "The script Sister Bige wants—I had some ideas in my head the moment I saw her today."

"Really?" Chen Ziyan looked at Lu Yanhe in disbelief.

Lu Yanhe said: "Really, but I really don't know how to write scripts well. I'll write it in the form of a story first. I still have to figure out how to change it into a script."

Chen Ziyan looked at Lu Yanhe in surprise.

She really didn't expect that Lu Yanhe actually had an idea.

Lu Yanhe was, of course, not bragging.

In his viewing library, there are indeed several movies suitable for Chen Bige.

In Chen Bige, Lu Yanhe saw the shadows of many people—Shu Qi, Tang Wei... They all have a sense of atmosphere, and this sense of atmosphere also gives them a unique temperament.

Lu Yanhe asked Chen Ziyan: "Sister Ziyan, does Sister Bige want a commercial film script or an art film script?"

Chen Ziyan shook her head. "For her now, commercial film or art film doesn't matter. The key is a good script that can move her and ignite her desire to perform."

Lu Yanhe nodded. "Okay."

That night, he returned to Huiziyuanqiao.

Li Zhibai was also there.

He exclaimed, not expecting Lu Yanhe to return suddenly today.

"Don't you have class tomorrow? Why did you suddenly come back tonight?"

Lu Yanhe said: "I have something to do; I have to sleep late."

Li Zhibai said "oh."

"Why are you here today?" Lu Yanhe asked.

In the past six months, Li Zhibai has been busy. It's rare for him to come back to sleep even one day a month. He runs all over the country and is a truly popular star.

This is mainly because Li Zhibai became popular overnight after the drama and variety show "Accompany You to the End of the World" and "Young Days" last year. Feeding back to this year, his various work arrangements are too numerous to handle.

Li Zhibai said: "I'm not feeling well today. I just came back from the hospital after getting an injection."

Lu Yanhe looked at Li Zhibai in surprise. He was originally ready to go into his room, but upon hearing this, he walked toward Li Zhibai. "What's wrong with you?"

Li Zhibai: "Maybe it's because I'm too busy, plus staying up late and eating irregularly, I have a bit of hypoglycemia. Today, when I was shooting for a magazine, I squatted for a while, and when I got up, my eyes went dark and I fell straight down."

He still looked as lazy as usual, but if you observe carefully, you can see that Li Zhibai is indeed a bit tired. His eyes are a bit weary, not as energetic as before.

Lu Yanhe: "Then how do you feel now?"

"It's okay." Li Zhibai said. "It's not that serious. Don't worry. Go ahead and get busy with your work."

Lu Yanhe hesitated for a moment and asked: "How about we go get a midnight snack?"

Li Zhibai looked at Lu Yanhe in shock: "Midnight snack?"

"Don't you feel that you are so thin now that you are just skin and bones?"

"Didn't notice." Li Zhibai shook his head.

Lu Yanhe asked: "Is Zhou Ping'an using you like a mule?"

Li Zhibai: "I'm willing to do it myself."

Lu Yanhe: "Didn't see that coming; you're still a career dog."

Li Zhibai hummed twice, "Otherwise, why mix in this entertainment circle? Isn't it good to be my rich second generation?"

Lu Yanhe: "... Really a dog."

Li Zhibai laughed.

"Alright, stop dawdling. Go get busy. Don't you have something to do and need to sleep late?"

Lu Yanhe nodded, "Yes, okay, then I'll go get busy."

He walked two steps, then turned back to look at Li Zhibai.

Li Zhibai was lying on the sofa looking at his phone and realized that Lu Yanhe had stopped to look at him again.

"What now?"

"Nothing." Lu Yanhe temporarily put down an idea that had just popped into his head and said, "How about I write a script for you?"

"What?" Li Zhibai sat up abruptly and looked at him in disbelief.

Lu Yanhe said: "I'll write a script for you and Yan Liang. You two act in it, how about that?"

Li Zhibai looked at Lu Yanhe in shock, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Are you serious? Since when do you know how to write scripts?"

Lu Yanhe laughed and shook his head, "Forget it, let's not talk about this for now. Let's wait until I write it."

Li Zhibai: "You write it first, then we'll talk."

Li Zhibai didn't believe at all that Lu Yanhe could write it.

He didn't even know that the script for "Lost in Journey" had been taken a fancy to by Jia Long.

Lu Yanhe had just looked at Li Zhibai and suddenly remembered a movie.

A very famous foreign movie.

Chen Bige's request reminded Lu Yanhe. He had thought about writing a song for Li Zhibai and Yan Liang each before, so why couldn't he write a script for them directly? Anyway, both of them have started acting.

Lu Yanhe returned to his room, opened his laptop, and created two new documents.

At this time, Li Zhibai suddenly knocked on the door again.

"What's up?" Lu Yanhe asked.

Li Zhibai didn't open the door. He stood at the door and said through the door: "If you really write it, Yan Liang and I will still act in it. So, you'd better write it well; don't write it too badly."

There was some teasing in Li Zhibai's voice.

Lu Yanhe laughed and said: "Got it." ===== CHAPTER 280 =====