Chapter 536: Golden Globe Nomination (130,000-character update!)

Lu Yan He, Li Zhibai, and Yan Liang performed "Green Apple Paradise" at the Spring Festival Gala last time, and the response was great. Last year's Spring Festival Gala actually looked for them too, but their schedules didn't match.

This year, when this invitation came, it just so happened that all three of them had time and could participate.

After the three of them confirmed they were going to the Spring Festival Gala this year, Li Zhibai asked Lu Yan He if he wanted to write a chorus song for them to perform together this year.

Among Lu Yan He's many identities, the identity of writing songs is the one that usually receives the least attention.

However, roughly counting back, Lu Yan He has already created several songs with not-low popularity, such as "Commemoration," "Young Battlefield," "Infatuated," and "Green Apple Paradise."

Over the past few years, singers have also come to ask Lu Yan He for songs, but Lu Yan He has declined them all.

He still has a song "Childhood" in his hands, which has always been kept in his hands and not officially released.

Previously, it was because he felt this song was very good and didn't want to release it hastily, so he could save it for a very meaningful stage to release.

However, later his focus shifted entirely to the creation of film and television dramas, and this song was shelved and never released.

Chen Ziyan also asked Lu Yan He how to handle the song "Childhood." Lu Yan He felt the same as before: since he didn't take the path of a singer, he wasn't in a hurry to release this song.

For such a classic good song, Lu Yan He believes that no matter when it is released, it will become a performance repertoire for specific occasions for a long time to come. But what is the significance of this song to Lu Yan He?

Any work and creator are inseparable—Lu Yan He is not saying that he really wrote this song. He didn't have the idea of "cuckoo in the nest" because he had been in this world for a long time, and he didn't start to blur that those works were not copied by him.

Rather, after Lu Yan He truly became an actor, recognized many creators in this world, and watched many works, he had a realization: in any era, in any place, your work must have a story. It can even be said that the height your work can reach is related to the work itself on one hand, and also related to the story behind the work on the other.

In short, Lu Yan He hasn't released "Childhood" until now because he hasn't found a story suitable for "Childhood."

Hmm, recalling childhood.

Of course, this can certainly be a reason.

But who doesn't want to recall childhood?

"Young Battlefield" for Yan Liang is a mental journey of the unity of person and song under the expression of past life and song.

"Infatuated" for Li Zhibai is the unity of the song's style and the person's personality.

"Green Apple Paradise" for the three of them is that at their age, they look back at the youth era of their age decades ago, so a song has nostalgia, and in nostalgia and classic, it is still full of youth and vitality.

These songs, in another world, all have stories belonging to another musical personality.

But when they came to this world, they also needed to find a musical personality in this world.

There must be something different.

"We are going to the Spring Festival Gala this time. The director group asked us if we want to create a song ourselves. Of course, this also needs to be submitted to the director group for review," Li Zhibai said. "If the song we provide doesn't work, they have also prepared works, but the works they prepared are more positive energy."

Similar to positive energy songs that "praise our beautiful new era."

They can certainly sing them too.

It's just that it's not easy for the three of them to combine once, and performing together on stage, they still want to perform something different, something that belongs to them.

Lu Yan He first took out the Little Tigers' "Love," which is a song with a style similar to "Green Apple Paradise" and suitable for them.

It is also suitable for the Spring Festival Gala.

Li Zhibai: This song is good, the style is very similar to "Green Apple Paradise."

Yan Liang: Yes.

Lu Yan He said: There is another one, another style, let's give it to the director group together and see how the director group chooses.

Li Zhibai: You also prepared another one?

Lu Yan He: Hmm, "Chinese Language."

This song by SHE is also a song that Lu Yan He had long included in his song list.

It is also a song suitable for performance on the Spring Festival Gala stage.

Lu Yan He sent a short segment he recorded to the group. It mainly has many parts similar to rap. He felt that he still had to sing a segment himself so they could understand the style of this song.

Li Zhibai: Yo, the style of this song... is completely different from the style you wrote before. You actually wrote rap?

Lu Yan He: I heard you sing a rap in "Idol Era" before, and I liked it, so I learned it.

Yan Liang: This song is too suitable for the Spring Festival Gala. "Love" is also suitable. I think both songs are very suitable.

Li Zhibai: It's a loss for others that Yan He doesn't go to compose for others.

Lu Yan He: I only wrote these two songs this year. If I go to compose for others, it's our loss.

Li Zhibai: Hahahaha, that's true. Let others lose. We agreed that we must have at least one cooperative performance stage together every year, and this agreement must be persisted.

Yan Liang: That's right.

Lu Yan He: Okay, okay.

Li Zhibai: We didn't combine last year.

Lu Yan He: Last year was because we all had things to do and no time.

Li Zhibai: Let's leave time for it in the future, at least leave time for the Spring Festival Gala. If the Spring Festival Gala doesn't invite us, we will go to "Idol Era" to perform.

Lu Yan He: Okay.

Yan Liang: Li Zhibai's idea is good. Let's do this in the future.

The three of them made an appointment to go to the recording studio to record demos for these two songs, so they could send them to the Spring Festival Gala director group to let them choose which song they would use for this year's Spring Festival Gala.

Before recording the songs, the three of them had already learned both songs and were very familiar with them.

It only took one day for them to record both songs.

Of course, because they were just demos, no complex processing was done, only a few instruments were used to make basic accompaniment, allowing the director group to understand the melody of the song.

When they came out of the recording studio together, it was just dusk, the sunset was falling, and the sky was getting late.

Li Zhibai suggested: "Let's eat together before going back."

"Where to eat?"

"I don't know. Search and see if there are any newly opened shops recently?" Li Zhibai looked at Lu Yan He. "Don't those food critics of 'Jump Up' recommend any new shops?"

Lu Yan He took out his phone. "I'll ask, but generally, shops recommended by 'Jump Up' recently need to queue and are not easy to reserve seats."

Fortunately, there is a restaurant that they rated as four stars but has not been published yet.

Xu Zijun knew that Lu Yan He and the others wanted to go eat now, so he said: "I'll help you reserve a seat. When we went to eat last time, we met the boss. The boss gave us contact information, letting us call in advance next time we go, and we can get a 10% discount. That shop's location is relatively remote and hard to find. The boss also wants to attract more customers in this way. If you go today, I guess even before we publish this shop exploration note, this shop will become popular."

Li Zhibai drove and took them to this restaurant located near the Fifth Ring Road.

This restaurant is indeed hard to find, in a hutong, winding and turning, and it takes a while to find.

This restaurant was renovated based on a siheyuan.

The name is "Youchun Garden," a name with a quite ancient meaning.

They entered the restaurant. The boss already knew that the three stars Lu Yan He would come for dinner—Xu Zijun had already greeted them in advance at the reservation time. So, an independent private room was also prepared.

The boss received them very enthusiastically.

"The three of you coming here really makes our place shine."

"Can't say that, can't say that," Li Zhibai immediately waved his hand. "Boss, we also heard about this place from a friend's recommendation. What signature dishes do you have? Recommend a menu for us. There are only three of us, so we won't order ourselves."

The boss nodded with a smile and said okay.

He said again: "Our location is indeed relatively remote, and we can only rely on old customers' recommendations and word of mouth to attract new customers. It's rare for the three of you big stars to come. Can we take a group photo later?"

Li Zhibai: "No problem, boss. However, before we leave, please keep the news of us being here confidential."

"Okay, rest assured. I specifically explained this private room, and only one person I trust serves you," the boss smiled and pointed to the person standing behind him, a young girl who looked a bit reserved, with a few freckles on her face. "Then I'll go to the kitchen to order the dishes for you. Xiaolian, pour tea for the guests."

Xiaolian nodded in response.

She went to get the teapot.

Lu Yan He and the others sat down.

"Which song do you think the director group will choose?" Li Zhibai asked as soon as he sat down.

Yan Liang said: "I think the director group will choose 'Love'."

"Why?"

"This song is more suitable for audiences of all ages," Yan Liang said. "'Chinese Language' is also good, but it's a relatively relaxed and lively style, and it's relatively more suitable for stages with a stronger main melody color like the National Day Gala."

Lu Yan He nodded and said: "I think so too."

Li Zhibai felt a bit regretful when he heard this. "Actually, compared to 'Love,' I want to sing 'Chinese Language' even more."

Lu Yan He was a bit surprised. "Is that so?"

"Hmm," Li Zhibai nodded. "The style of 'Love' is too similar to 'Green Apple Paradise.' If the three of us combine to perform on stage, and the second time is still the same style, everyone might feel a bit disappointed."

"It's only the second time, the style is a bit similar, it won't be disappointing so soon, and this song is very good," Yan Liang retorted. "You just like the rap and fast rhythm of 'Chinese Language' more."

Li Zhibai nodded.

"I do like this style more."

The style of "Love" is indeed not very compatible with Li Zhibai's own style.

"Both songs have been written, so they must be performed on stage together," Lu Yan He said. "No matter which one the Spring Festival Gala director group chooses, we will find an opportunity to perform the other one together."

"Okay," Li Zhibai nodded. "Actually, usually after the Spring Festival Gala, there is also a Lantern Festival Gala. Maybe the Lantern Festival Gala will also invite us."

Lu Yan He nodded: "That is the best result."

Whether it's the Spring Festival Gala or the Lantern Festival Gala, their nature is different from other galas.

The stars they invite are all the most popular stars of the past year, or the stars who have been most representative in their respective fields in the past year.

Therefore, for the three of them, Lu Yan He, Li Zhibai, and Yan Liang, to combine to perform one program, it's something they wouldn't dare to think about for other galas, as it would waste their popularity and appeal.

However, for the Spring Festival Gala, the stars who want to get on this stage are really in a long line.

Almost never will a star be given the opportunity to perform two programs.

They are usually in a shared-table format.

Stars who have been on the Spring Festival Gala are also very likely to be invited to the Lantern Festival Gala. However, the biggest ones won't go; they only go to the Spring Festival Gala. But letting the three of them combine to perform a program on the Spring Festival Gala and then continue to combine to perform a program on the Lantern Festival Gala is quite difficult.

People won't keep arranging them in combinations.

They are not really a group.

Need to communicate and strive for it.

Moreover, galas like this have certain official task program indicators.

If they can sing their own songs on the Spring Festival Gala stage, it's not like they will be allowed to sing their own songs at the Lantern Festival Gala.

Lu Yan He thought seriously.

"I hope the director group can recognize 'Chinese Language' as a song that promotes traditional Chinese culture, so that we might be able to continue singing it at the Lantern Festival Gala."

Xiaolian poured tea for them and served them fruits and snacks.

Li Zhibai first ate a spicy chicken foot.

"Damn, so spicy!" Li Zhibai was directly spicy, breathing and gasping on the spot, picked up the barley tea and drank it.

Xiaolian immediately showed a look of apology.

"This chicken foot is a bit spicy. I forgot to remind you, sorry."

"It's okay," Yan Liang waved his hand, signaling Xiaolian not to feel guilty, and smiled, took out his phone, and took a picture of Li Zhibai, whose face was red and ears were red. "It's rare to see him like this, let's commemorate it."

Li Zhibai immediately gave Yan Liang a middle finger.

"I'm really convinced by you." He poured a large glass of barley tea for himself before he recovered a little.

Being interrupted by Li Zhibai, Lu Yan He and Yan Liang were curious about this spicy chicken foot and tried it, but they were all spicy and red-faced.

This time it was Li Zhibai's turn to laugh at them after he recovered.

Xiaolian looked at this scene and pursed her lips slightly.

Lu Yan He's phone suddenly rang.

Lu Yan He looked at the caller's name, and it was Hua Ruzhen, the wife of "Mist" director Mukan Zorge, which surprised Lu Yan He.

"I'll take a call," Lu Yan He said to them, took his phone, left the private room, came to the corridor outside, and answered the phone, "Hello, Sister."

During the filming of "Mist," Lu Yan He and Hua Ruzhen already called each other sister and brother.

"Yan He, I'm back in the country. I'm in Yuming now. Are you in Yuming?" Hua Ruzhen's hearty voice came from the other end of the phone.

Lu Yan He: "I am, Sister. Where are you now?"

Hua Ruzhen said: "I just left the airport and am preparing to go to the hotel to check in. Are you free tonight? If you are free, let's go out for a drink later? I haven't been to Yuming for a long time, and I need you to take me around."

Lu Yan He immediately said: "Sister, I am having dinner with Li Zhibai and Yan Liang. Why don't you come directly to us? After eating, I will send you to the hotel? You haven't had dinner yet, right?"

"No, but if I come over rashly now, will it disturb you?"

"There are only three of us, it's fine, just introduce you to them," Lu Yan He didn't need to ask for their opinions in advance for Li Zhibai and Yan Liang. It was this kind of relationship, so he wanted to introduce them to Hua Ruzhen if he had the chance. "You should know them, right?"

"Of course. I told you, I am a senior audience of Chinese film and television dramas," Hua Ruzhen laughed heartily. "Okay, then send me the address. I will change the address and come directly to find you."

Lu Yan He: "Okay, this place is relatively hard to find. Tell me when you are almost here, and I will come out to pick you up. The car can't get in, and it's hard to find if you turn around yourself, like a maze."

"Okay."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Yan He sent her the address, and then remembered to ask: Sister, are you alone? Is Mukan with you?

Hua Ruzhen replied: Just me, he went back to Germany to accompany his parents.

Lu Yan He: Okay.

After hanging up the phone, Lu Yan He returned to the private room and told Li Zhibai and Yan Liang that Hua Ruzhen was coming over later.

"Okay, then just add a pair of bowls and chopsticks," Li Zhibai said to Xiaolian. "Trouble you."

Xiaolian nodded in response.

Li Zhibai asked: "Is your relationship with this Sister Hua so good? She came to find you when she returned to the country?"

"When we were filming in Canada, we were the only two Chinese people. How could our relationship not be good?" Lu Yan He said. "She often cooked Chinese food and asked me to eat. It can be said that if it weren't for her, Director Mukan wouldn't have set that ghost as a Chinese in 'Mist,' and I might not have been able to build a private friendship with Director Mukan later."

Yan Liang: "I heard you talk about her before, and I felt she was a very powerful woman."

"Hmm," Lu Yan He nodded. "She is a very wise woman."

This was the most profound impression Hua Ruzhen gave Lu Yan He.

She has always been by Mukan's side, not the kind of career-oriented woman, but she doesn't give people the impression of a "housewife" at all.

Lu Yan He dealt with her and got an impression of calmness, composure, and grace.

Hua Ruzhen not only took good care of Mukan's life, but she was also very clear about Mukan's work, and even Mukan's work environment and interpersonal relationships, always helping Mukan push things forward better at critical moments, like lubricating oil.

She not only often asked Lu Yan He to eat, but also got along very well with many people in the crew.

It can be said that for many people in the crew, she was even more trustworthy than Mukan. But also because of her care for everyone outside of work, and the trust she brought to everyone, the operation of the crew, especially the support for Mukan, had invisible help.

Lu Yan He has seen many director's wives.

Although in a sense, director's wife is a relatively "sexist" term in the current context.

—Some people will ask, why is there no director's husband?

Setting aside discrimination, the status quo of director's wives is that the number is far greater than director's husbands.

So, what Lu Yan He really wants to say is that among this group of people, Hua Ruzhen is the one he knows who truly didn't become an appendage of the director, and has great wisdom, using such a role to help her husband's directing career, while also making herself impossible to be ignored.

This is not easy.

When Lu Yan He picked up Hua Ruzhen, Hua Ruzhen let out a surprised scream the first time she saw him, then enthusiastically held Lu Yan He's face with both hands, rubbed it in the posture of an elder, and then let go.

Unlike before when Mukan was there, Hua Ruzhen would give him a warm hug directly.

"You look a bit stronger than when you filmed 'Mist' before. Are you working out lately?"

Hua Ruzhen discovered the change in Lu Yan He's body shape as soon as she came up and asked.

Lu Yan He helped her take two suitcases and led her forward.

"Yes, I just finished filming the second part of 'Seventeen Layers.' This play requires me to be slightly stronger than when I filmed 'Mist'."

"'Seventeen Layers' also has a second part. Looking forward to it. My circle of friends and I all like this drama very much," Hua Ruzhen said. "Next time you go to the United States and Europe, if you have the chance, I will introduce you to the Chinese circle there. Many people are your fans. Knowing that I know you, they all hope I will introduce you to them."

"Okay," Lu Yan He nodded. "When 'Mist' is released, there will definitely be a chance."

"Yes," Hua Ruzhen nodded. "Some of them are also doing film and television drama investment. I heard you say before that you have ideas, write English scripts, and have development in Europe and America. If you know them, maybe it can give you some help if you want to do these things later."

"That would be great," Lu Yan He thanked her with a smile. "Sister, do you have anything to do this time you are back?"

"Come to see a few friends," Hua Ruzhen said. "Actually, I have a few friends in the United States who are quite interested in the investment of domestic film and television dramas. However, they are not very familiar with the domestic situation, so I came to be the vanguard first to see the situation."

Lu Yan He was a bit surprised and said: "Sister, it turns out you are doing such business."

Hua Ruzhen: "A small business, not comparable to your big business."

Lu Yan He thought for a moment, smiled, and said: "The domestic film and television drama market is quite large, but I didn't expect your circle of friends overseas to be interested."

"My circle of friends is still mainly Chinese, and I married a director, so everyone defaults to me knowing a little bit," Hua Ruzhen shrugged with a smile. "We have also been doing some investments in this area before, but it's not very big. Everyone takes some money out to test the water and play. This time I came here, someone also sent us two projects that looked good, so I came to investigate on the spot."

Lu Yan He suddenly realized and understood.

He nodded.

"I heard you also opened your own production company?" Hua Ruzhen asked.

Lu Yan He waved his hand with a smile. "I'm just playing around, participating in some projects I star in or write, not a formal, industrialized production company."

Hua Ruzhen nodded. "Many actors have such a production company, and there is no lack of them becoming a real production company after transformation."

"In this regard, I still need to work hard."

Hua Ruzhen nodded.

Both sides stopped at this topic.

Arriving at Youchun Garden and entering the private room, Li Zhibai and Yan Liang got to know Hua Ruzhen under Lu Yan He's introduction.

"The three of you are amazing now," Hua Ruzhen said with a smile. "You have become the three giants among the young generation of male actors in China."

Yan Liang was scared and hurriedly waved his hand when he heard Hua Ruzhen's words.

Li Zhibai said: "Sister Hua, your words are too scary. What three giants? The three of us, who dares to claim this title?"

"I'm not letting you claim this title," Hua Ruzhen waved her hand with a smile. "This is just a little expectation for you from someone who has been paying attention to the Chinese entertainment industry. Moreover, I am not wrong. Among male actors of your age, is there anyone who has achieved higher achievements than you?"

"Yes, yes, look at the actors of 'Three Mountains' and 'Friends,' they are not worse than us," Li Zhibai immediately said. "And Wang Dashan of 'Lost on Journey'."

Hua Ruzhen: "They still can't compare to you, right?"

Yan Liang shook his head and said: "About the same, about the same."

Hua Ruzhen laughed. "Fine, you are so humble, I won't say that. Anyway, the three of you are very good, keep working hard. We are all paying attention to the three of you, including 'Flowing Light' that Yan Liang acted in, my friends and I are all paying attention."

Yan Liang said thank you in surprise.

Yan Liang didn't know the meaning behind Hua Ruzhen's words, but after hearing what Hua Ruzhen came to do just now, he immediately realized the implication.

Lu Yan He suddenly remembered one thing.

"Sister, is there your investment behind 'Flowing Light'?" Lu Yan He asked directly.

Hua Ruzhen smiled slightly at Lu Yan He and admitted this, saying: "I invested a little in the early stage."

Lu Yan He: "No wonder, Yan Liang told me before that he had some disputes with the female lead Zhang Lan of this drama. It turns out that you were supporting Yan Liang."

Yan Liang only reacted at this time and looked at Hua Ruzhen in surprise.

He had never known what the composition of the investors behind "Flowing Light" was.

Like such an S-level big drama on the platform, an investment of over 100 million, it certainly couldn't be eaten by three or four companies.

In such an environment now, it is impossible for any company to put eggs in one basket.

In case some idiot has an accident and this drama can't be broadcast, it will be wasted—

This is the status quo, so it is destined that any drama must have multiple investors to share the risk.

It's just that Yan Liang didn't expect that this Hua Ruzhen was among them.

Hua Ruzhen said: "Our circle pays more attention to the projects you star in, and everyone has great confidence in you."

Lu Yan He asked with a smile: "Sister, it wouldn't be that you recommended me behind the scenes when Director Mukan asked me to act in 'Mist', right?"

"I didn't recommend you seriously, I just pulled him to watch several films you acted in, letting him know you," Hua Ruzhen smiled slightly. "I don't believe he would choose someone else after seeing your performance."

At this moment, many things suddenly became clear.

Why did a film director who already had successful representative works suddenly notice an actor like Lu Yan He?

This is not a film by those art film directors in the international film festival system. If they noticed Lu Yan He and sent him an invitation, Lu Yan He could still understand.

And why did the "Flowing Light" crew support Yan Liang so much, choosing Yan Liang without hesitation between Zhang Lan and Yan Liang?

Lu Yan He had known Hua Ruzhen for a while, but until now, he suddenly realized that Hua Ruzhen actually had energy far beyond his expectations.

After eating dinner together, Hua Ruzhen sighed very seriously.

"This shop is really good. I have to write it down. Next time I will bring friends to eat together."

Hearing this, the boss immediately smiled and handed over his business card, saying: "Very welcome, if you have any needs, contact us anytime."

Hua Ruzhen was a bit surprised. "Ah?"

This is a business scope he hadn't thought of.

Hua Ruzhen laughed. "I promise, I will definitely not poach the wall, I just borrow it, and the price will definitely satisfy you."

The boss didn't sort it out for a while, so he could only nod first.

Lu Yan He sent Hua Ruzhen to the hotel first, and Li Zhibai and Yan Liang went back first.

Zou Dong drove, and Lu Yan He accompanied Hua Ruzhen in the back.

"Sister, why have you never told me before that you are also investing in film and television dramas?"

Hua Ruzhen said: "This is just a hobby, not a serious job. Besides, the funds I manage can't compare with those real big crocodiles. It's just a group of my friends getting together to play. I'm not being modest with you, this is true."

Lu Yan He nodded. "But I didn't expect you to invest in 'Flowing Light'."

"Then there are many projects I invested in that you didn't expect," Hua Ruzhen said. "'Burning Fire' also has our investment."

Lu Yan He showed a look of surprise.

Hua Ruzhen: "However, I came back to the country this time because I have some new situations here. Now things haven't been decided yet, so I won't tell you first. After things are decided, I will contact you again."

Lu Yan He was stunned when he heard this.

Hua Ruzhen's words seem to have some direction.

What things are decided, need to contact him again?

Lu Yan He associated Hua Ruzhen's mention of her investment in film and television dramas today, emphasizing several times that it was a small business, hobby, and playing around...

Could it be that Hua Ruzhen is preparing to do something big later?

When this thought popped out of Lu Yan He's mind, Lu Yan He felt that this might not be impossible.

"The editing of 'Mist' is almost done," Hua Ruzhen suddenly said to Lu Yan He with a smile. "People from D19 should contact your team soon. This film will be released in January next year as planned. At that time, this film will have some promotional trips. After that incident with Simon Schmid, you are now one of the focuses of this film. I think you will be busy next."

Lu Yan He was stunned.

Lu Yan He knew before that "Mist" was prepared to be released in January.

However, at that time, this film didn't say that Lu Yan He would participate in the full trip of promotion.

On the one hand, "Mist" is a horror film, and its promotional trip is not the same as the mainstream promotional method. Lu Yan He at most attends two or three premieres or promotional activities. His contract only agreed to cooperate with three promotional activities.

On the other hand, Lu Yan He is going to film "Friends" in December, and they still adopt the mode of filming while broadcasting. At that time, December will definitely be a very busy month for Lu Yan He.

Asking him to take time out of this period to cooperate with the promotion of "Mist" might really be a bit difficult.

Lu Yan He thought to himself, this matter might have to be communicated with Chen Ziyan immediately to see how to coordinate and solve it.

And just as Hua Ruzhen said, within two days, D19 company came to connect with Chen Ziyan.

"Fortunately, it's slightly better than we expected," Chen Ziyan said. "'Mist' will be released in the United States on January 6th. The several promotional nodes currently tentatively decided are: the trailer will be released on December 6th, and the production special will be released on the 20th. We don't need to cooperate with anything offline for the whole of December, just do a good job of cooperative promotion online. However, on January 3rd, there will be a global premiere in Los Angeles. This requires your attendance, and there are also some media interviews, including filming for four film magazines. These are all arranged by D19 company. This means we can't stay in the country between January 2nd and 5th."

Lu Yan He asked: "How is the filming of 'Friends' arranged?"

Chen Ziyan said: "We still adopt the mode of two episodes a week, filming while broadcasting. Originally, I wanted to discuss whether it could be postponed, but the TV station's scheduling and investment attraction are all set, the set for the studio is also ready, and everyone's schedule has been cleared. It can't be postponed because of our trivial matters, which will cause a loss of at least seven figures."

"Then what should we do?" Lu Yan He asked.

"Start filming in advance," Chen Ziyan said. "Film the filming tasks for the week we go to cooperate with the promotion in January in advance."

Lu Yan He took a deep breath.

"Can it be done?"

"Try your best," Chen Ziyan said. "If we don't film in advance and prepare here, we definitely won't be able to film in that week in January. The two episodes of backup episodes filmed in advance will be consumed in that week. Then after we come back from the United States, the entire crew will have to operate to the limit. If any problems occur in filming, there will be no buffer time, and it might just open a skylight directly."

Lu Yan He felt a headache.

Whether it can be filmed in advance is really not an easy thing to coordinate.

A crew, so many people, no one is idle and waiting at any time.

Sure enough, after some communication, this play can be filmed at most three days in advance.

Hu Siwei, knowing Lu Yan He's situation, suggested: "If it really doesn't work, let's modify the filming plan. The filming plan we made before left the filming time relatively generous. If we squeeze the time, we can actually film one more episode every week."

According to their original plan, it should be like this every week:

Sit together on Monday to read the script, each actor goes through their own lines, then puts forward modification suggestions, and the screenwriter with the group combines the suggestions put forward by the script reading to make fine-tuning. Other staff members of the crew also need to adjust their work according to this modified version.

Tuesday is used for rehearsal.

Wednesday to Friday are used to film the two episodes needed for this week. If there is a need for location filming, it may take another Saturday, because location filming takes more time.

Sunday is used for rest.

This is the production rhythm of a sitcom that is filmed while broadcasting.

At that time, it could have been filmed all at once and then broadcast. It was Lu Yan He who proposed that filming while broadcasting can effectively absorb the audience's feedback and make adjustments in the subsequent plot, so everyone negotiated and decided to adopt the mode of filming while broadcasting in the first season of "Friends."

This also made everyone very excited.

As an actor, this means you can't relax at any time.

But it also means they can gain filming experience that most film and television actors can't gain.

While filming, you can get feedback from the audience, and then apply it to the subsequent performance.

Lu Yan He didn't expect that the filming method he proposed would eventually limit himself.

Lu Yan He also signed a contract with "Mist," so he couldn't be absent from the promotion there.

After weighing and hesitating again and again, Yuehu Station proposed that if it really doesn't work, adjust the broadcast plan from two episodes a week to one episode a week.

In this way, their production pressure will be much smaller.

Lu Yan He can completely go to the United States calmly to cooperate with the promotion of "Mist," and the filming of "Friends" doesn't need to be adjusted or modified, and can still be done according to the original plan.

"But one episode a week, can it keep the audience?" Hu Siwei worried about this.

Lu Yan He is actually a bit worried too.

Especially, this is the return season of "Friends." After the reputation of the third season of "Friends" collapsed, how many audiences are still willing to support this series is hard to say.

Lu Yan He denied this proposal first.

"No, the broadcast plan of this drama still has to be the same as before, and it cannot be changed to one episode a week. Otherwise, this change might make the audience even more unhappy with our drama," Lu Yan He said. "The primary task of this season of 'Friends' is to find all the original audiences back."

To this point, Lu Yan He is actually very moved and very guilty.

No one blamed him because his film promotion plan caused such big trouble for "Friends."

Everyone is actively trying to find a solution.

Li Zhibai saw Lu Yan He sighing for several days with melancholy, looking worried, and after knowing what he was worried about, said with some confusion: "Is this worth you worrying for so long?"

Lu Yan He asked: "Isn't this worth me worrying? Is there any way to solve this?"

"Why is there no way to solve it?" Li Zhibai said. "This is a sitcom, not a serious drama where every episode is pushing the main plot. Just insert two episodes of content in the week you are leaving. Find a reason so that you don't have to appear in those two episodes, or film the shots where you appear in advance, which won't affect others' filming."

Li Zhibai's words made Lu Yan He suddenly enlightened.

Huh?

That's right.

Can it still be done like this?

Lu Yan He stood up excitedly. "Li Zhibai, you can!"

Li Zhibai looked at the excited Lu Yan He with full confusion and disdain.

"You aren't going to pounce on me, are you? I tell you, don't," Li Zhibai said. "I'm not Yan Liang, my frame can't stand you pouncing."

Lu Yan He: "..."

He said: "Anyway, you've finished filming that movie 'Go Die,' so guest-star in the two episodes I'm absent from."

Li Zhibai: "What stuff?"

"It's decided so happily."

"Who decided it happily with you? I want to rest! I have two more plays to film next year!"

"Just two episodes, just need to film for a week," Lu Yan He said. "Didn't you keep shouting that the 'Friends' series didn't write a role for you? Now a role is written for you."

Li Zhibai: "Now you think of me?!"

"I'm absent, so the only one who can save the scene for me is you."

"Then if you want to say that—" Li Zhibai curled his lips. "Then fine."

Lu Yan He immediately went to tell Hu Siwei, Chen Ziyan, and the others about this idea.

Everyone said this idea is good!

"Friends" has two more episodes for no reason. The platform is happy, the sponsors are happy, and the actors are also happy.

When "Friends" started filming, it was also very coincidental that it collided with the online launch of the behind-the-scenes of "My Own Swordsman."

This also became a news that received much attention that day.

These two sitcoms, one modern and one ancient, both belong to big popular dramas. Lu Yan He's return brought "Friends" back from the dead, directly renaming it "Friends" return. After half a year of fermentation, "My Own Swordsman" is getting more and more popular, and the long-tail effect is no worse than "Friends," and the data is gratifying.

"My Own Swordsman" became the annual champion of membership acquisition and viewing numbers for Arctic Light Video in November.

In contrast, although "Squid Game" is popular globally, its results in the country are not as good as "My Own Swordsman."

Of course, there is joy and worry.

Before at the Golden Tripod Awards, "Squid Game" and "My Own Swordsman" were not nominated for any awards.

I don't know if there will be any harvest at the Red River Awards and Blue Ribbon Awards in February or March next year.

The themes of these two dramas are indeed not what mainstream awards would favor in the past.

Lu Yan He also doesn't hold much hope for the works to win awards. It's really hard to compare this kind of genre drama and comedy with serious dramas in terms of artistry and depth.

However, Lu Yan He feels that whether it is Jiang Jun in "Squid Game" or Liu Zi in "My Own Swordsman," they have both produced performances that are absolutely not inferior to any Best Actor or Best Actress. The difficulty and complexity of these two roles are also not weaker than those roles in serious dramas.

Lu Yan He feels that in acting awards, these two actors should not be ignored.

On the set of "Friends," Lu Yan He was thinking about this matter, when suddenly, Yan Liang came over with his phone excitedly and said to Lu Yan He: "Old Lu, look!"

Lu Yan He was stunned. "Ah?"

Yan Liang took his phone and showed him the screen.

"Look, 'Squid Game'! Nominated for the Golden Globe Awards! Best Drama Series, Best Actor in a Drama Series, Best Actress in a Drama Series, three nominations!"

As soon as Yan Liang finished speaking, Lu Yan He's own phone rang.

It was a call from Zhong Benshuo.

Lu Yan He immediately reacted to why Zhong Benshuo called.

This time, Lu Yan He answered the call from Zhong Benshuo very quickly.

"Hello, President Zhong."

"Yan He, congratulations! Our Maxine submitted this drama to the Golden Globe Awards, and 'Squid Game' was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards!" Zhong Benshuo said very excitedly.

Lu Yan He started to laugh.

"Yes, I just saw the news. It's great. It's indeed something worth celebrating."

Zhong Benshuo said: "It's incredible. A non-English drama series was actually nominated for the Golden Globe Awards! We didn't hold such hope."

Lu Yan He actually didn't expect it either.

He knew that "Squid Game" was a big hit for awards in the original space because it represented the unprecedented height and popularity of Korean dramas, but that was purely following the trend at the time, and under the great support of the streaming giant Netflix, it achieved such results.

"Squid Game" didn't achieve such explosive results here as in the original space. It's not that it's not popular in Europe and America, but it's not that popular.

Moreover, because of the copyright ownership, "Squid Game" essentially still belongs to a Chinese drama without American capital participation. At that time, "Squid Game" was used by American Netflix as a typical case of a non-English work becoming popular globally, and it was pushing it with the power of the whole company to shape its golden body.

Maxine wouldn't do such a thing for "Squid Game."

Under such circumstances, why could "Squid Game" still get three nominations at the Golden Globe Awards?

Lu Yan He was also very surprised.

Of course, no matter what, this is something very worth being happy about.

Jiang Jun nominated for Golden Globe Best Actor, Jiang Yuqian nominated for Golden Globe Best Actress—

It can be said that these are all nominations that create history.

Madam Zhang's international status largely relied on the Golden Globe Best Actress nomination brought to her by "Memoirs of a Geisha," firmly defending her status until now—of course, in reality, it certainly wasn't just this one award nomination.

But still, that sentence, many things cannot be quantified, so when everyone evaluates a person and wants to distinguish between high and low, they can only compare from quantifiable indicators.

Then besides her, it was also many years later that a Ms. Yang relied on "Everything Everywhere All at Once" to win the Golden Globe Best Actress, so that Madam Zhang was no longer the only Chinese actress who had won a nomination.

Winning or not winning this nomination cannot prove that the actor's acting skills are better or more awesome.

But winning this nomination at least explains one thing: the success of "Squid Game" and the performance of Jiang Jun and Jiang Yuqian were seen.

Lu Yan He was very happy for them, and then declined to attend the Golden Globe Awards ceremony to be held on January 11th.

He couldn't ask for leave from the "Friends" crew again.

And he didn't have a nomination for Best Screenplay or Best Drama Series. He had a 90% chance of not winning. If he went, he would just walk the red carpet and show his face; there was no other use.

If he had a personal award nomination, that would be another matter.

Zhong Benshuo was shocked when he learned that Lu Yan He didn't plan to attend the Golden Globe Awards ceremony.

What?

Not even attending the Golden Globe Awards?

Just because of filming "Friends"?

Can't you even spare a day?

This is the Golden Globe Awards!

"It's a pity that you can't attend the Golden Globe Awards," Chen Ziyan said. "The exposure and nature of this activity are different from other award ceremonies. In the United States, besides the Oscars, the Golden Globe Awards have the greatest influence."

Lu Yan He said: "I know it has great influence, but Sister Ziyan, I don't have a nomination for a personal award. Even if I attend, it doesn't make much sense."

"In that occasion, you can let many people in Hollywood know you," Chen Ziyan said.

Lu Yan He smiled and said: "Sister Ziyan, I believe there will be many opportunities for them to know me in the future, not missing this one. Besides, it's not that I don't want to attend, but because of 'Friends', I can't be away for two weeks in one go."

"Actually, it's not two weeks," Chen Ziyan said. "You leave on January 5th, the Golden Globe Awards on the 11th, and come back on the 12th. Counting it fully, it's only one week."

"But it spans two weeks, which will affect the filming of two weeks. You know, 'Friends' is not a filming plan made by days, it's made by weeks," Lu Yan He said.

"We can't lose one thing and lose another, and we can't lose the quality of 'Friends' because of this. Sister Ziyan, maybe 'Friends' will also be popular globally starting from this season. Have you seen the data provided by Zhong Benshuo? In the first few seasons of 'Friends', there are more and more audiences in Europe and America, and it has been accumulating. The news of our 'Friends' return has also been on the hot search of overseas social media. Although this drama didn't become popular overseas all of a sudden, it has been accumulating audiences and drama fans. It will be a drama that gets more popular as it is broadcast. We can't let its quality be affected by my frequent leave."

Chen Ziyan sighed.

"Fine, I'm just a bit regretful that you will miss the Golden Globe Awards ceremony."

Lu Yan He understood what Chen Ziyan meant.

This is indeed not a very ordinary exposure activity, and even in the eyes of many media around the world, attending the Golden Globe Awards activity itself is a symbol of identity, status, and honor.

But Lu Yan He also thought very clearly: he doesn't need it.

He will have better ones in the future.

"Mist" is a beginning, "Squid Game" is a surprise, but they are not flashes in the pan.

Maybe next year, he can take the "Friends" crew to walk on the Golden Globe Awards, or even the Emmy Awards ceremony. ===== CHAPTER 537 =====

Perhaps next year, he will be able to take the cast and crew of *Friends* to the Golden Globe Awards, or even to the Emmy Awards ceremony.