Chapter 700: Enjoy this beautiful moment, Best Actor!

On the filming set of the third season of "Seventeen Layers", filming had been paused, and even the crew were waiting for the results.

When the results were announced, the cheers that erupted might make people misunderstand that there was a group of the most loyal fans here, waiting for the moment their favorite star scored a goal.

Lu Yan He won the Best Actor award at the Xitu'er Film Festival.

"Raise the Red Lantern" won the Best Film award.

In one Xitu'er Film Festival, a total of only eight major awards are presented: Best Film, Jury Grand Prize, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Special Award. In many cases, the Special Award is not considered a relatively important award, but is seen as a "consolation prize".

Such a small number, yet it is the highest hall of global art films. The other three major film festivals are actually a bit inferior to it in terms of status in the film industry—although in terms of influence, films from the Hexi Film Festival are often more popular with audiences.

But the fact is just like this. Although many people don't think film is a professional field, it ultimately has its own profession. In professional fields, the authority of professional awards is always higher than temporary popularity or audience evaluation.

The box office champion of a certain year is only temporary, but awards can, to a greater extent, span the flow of time. It's not that audience word-of-mouth is not important, but the fact is that films that truly rely on audience word-of-mouth to become classics are ultimately few.

Why is Lu Yan He's starting point in film so high?

Because his starting point was a film by Director Wang Zhong. At that time, although Wang Zhong had not won international awards, he relied on his ten-year persistence and pursuit of his own film aesthetics, and his status was high. Later, "Sanshan" became famous in Xitu'er, and Lu Yan He's ten-minute performance won unanimous praise from the global media, directly putting him on the throne of a genius, and everyone followed suit and looked up to him.

Now, a twenty-four-year-old Xitu'er Film Festival Best Actor, an independently written film directly winning the top prize of the Xitu'er Film Festival, plus the blessing of several other major awards. Undoubtedly, among the Chinese filmmakers currently active, only Wang Zhong's status can surpass him—

No way, film is ultimately the art of the director.

This point must be acknowledged.

Lu Yan He's already high status in the film industry was raised again. This time, it was heading toward the status of film history.

However, what surprised many people even more was that Lu Yan He's award was even forwarded and congratulated by the artistic directors of the Venice International Film Festival and the Hexi Film Festival.

Schmidt Lowly of Green Valley told him that "Raise the Red Lantern" could be submitted for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film this year, and he himself could use "Tropical Rainy Season" to impact the Academy Award for acting.

Now, the Chinese-language films that Lu Yan He participates in are basically distributed by Green Valley in North America.

On one hand, Lu Yan He himself is going to act in Green Valley's "Godless" series, and his interests are consistent with Green Valley in many aspects. With this guarantee, he believes that Green Valley certainly hopes he does well.

On the other hand, Green Valley previously distributed films like "Road to Glory" and "Love Letter", and the distribution results were quite good. "Love Letter" even achieved over eight million in local box office in North America and helped Chen Bige lobby for a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.

Lu Yan He cooperated with them very happily, so he was naturally willing to continue cooperating with them.

Therefore, this time, under Lu Yan He's matchmaking, the North American distribution rights for both "Raise the Red Lantern" and "Tropical Rainy Season" were taken by Green Valley.

Lu Yan He said to Schmidt Lowly: "Besides the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, I also hope to lobby for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay for 'Raise the Red Lantern'."

Schmidt Lowly said: "This depends on how 'Raise the Red Lantern' reacts in the North American market. To be honest, it is relatively easy to lobby for Best Foreign Language Film relying on the top prize of Xitu'er. If you want to impact other awards, you need to invest at least ten million US dollars in lobbying funds to make it gain a certain volume in the awards season."

Lobbying funds are generally not paid by the distribution company alone. Especially for this kind of foreign language film—

Of course, if "Raise the Red Lantern" can really have a good harvest in the North American awards season, then Green Valley's long-term revenue will also increase. However, that is a later story.

Schmidt Lowly also specifically reminded Lu Yan He.

You want to lobby for more awards, okay, but if you really want to have substantial gains, then you have to invest more funds.

Lu Yan He understood and nodded: "'Raise the Red Lantern', you are responsible for North American distribution, and you are also very familiar with the lobbying of the awards season. At that time, tell me based on your judgment whether there is hope to impact these awards. If there is, then I will be ready with the things I need to prepare."

With Lu Yan He's words, Schmidt Lowly nodded decisively.

"'Tropical Rainy Season'?" he asked. "According to this year's media evaluation, your Best Actor is easier to lobby. We can formulate a lobbying strategy based on the specific situation at that time. But if you have other ideas, I'm afraid the difficulty is even greater than 'Raise the Red Lantern'. After all, the one that won the top prize of Xitu'er is 'Raise the Red Lantern'. There are many people in the Academy who have been paying attention to the award-winning works of the Xitu'er Film Festival for many years, which invisibly saves a lot of effort."

Lu Yan He said: "This depends on what Director Huang Tianlin and the others think. The copyright of the 'Tropical Rainy Season' film is not in my hands. I just participated in it, and what I say doesn't count."

After Lu Yan He finished saying these things to Schmidt Lowly, he hurriedly boarded the plane back to the country.

As soon as he got off the plane and came out of the VIP channel, long guns and short cannons were all waiting for him.

Chen Ziyan had already brought many people to wait for him.

Having anticipated such a scene, many bodyguards also came to try to control the situation at the scene as much as possible.

Lu Yan He expressed his gratitude to everyone, but did not accept many questions. He answered a few simple questions and was rescued by Chen Ziyan, got into the nanny car, and left the airport.

As soon as the car drove away, Chen Ziyan let out a surprised scream in front of him.

Lu Yan He was startled.

"Lu Yan He, you are truly amazing! You are really awesome this time!" Chen Ziyan said. "Top prize plus Best Actor, no one can arm-wrestle with you anymore."

"Sister Ziyan, you say this... no one could arm-wrestle with me before either." Lu Yan He said.

"Are you suffering from amnesia? Have you forgotten so quickly how Bai played you last year at the Golden Tripod Awards?"

"You mean this, I didn't feel he was arm-wrestling with me. To be honest, from the beginning, I felt he couldn't beat me." Lu Yan He said. "He himself was wrong from the beginning."

Chen Ziyan rolled her eyes.

"The problem is, if your strength wasn't hard enough, even if he was wrong, no one would stand up and say he was wrong. Over time, he would be right."

Lu Yan He: "Yes, but I wasn't a newcomer at that time either. He actually still thought I would silently swallow this loss. Isn't it that his own brain is sick and he thinks too much?"

Chen Ziyan: "... Okay, what you said is not wrong."

Chen Ziyan: "However, the situation has changed even more now. You have to know, including you, there are only three people in China who have won the Best Actor award at the Xitu'er Film Festival. One, Hu Zhikun, has retired for seven or eight years, and the other is Chen Pinhe. His winning the award was also several years ago."

Lu Yan He nodded.

"So, your winning the award this time is of extraordinary significance." Chen Ziyan said. "If you can still make gains in the North American awards season this time, especially the Academy Awards, if you can get a nomination, then the achievements you have made as an actor represent a new milestone for a Chinese actor internationally."

Lu Yan He smiled.

"Sister Ziyan, be careful, if you say this, you will be complained about by some people for being pro-foreign, not valuing our own Chinese awards, and only thinking about winning foreign awards."

"Let those people say whatever they want," Chen Ziyan said. "If they have the ability, they should make the country stop valuing international awards altogether. Whether it's the Nobel Prize, the Turing Award, the Laureus World Sports Awards, or the Chopin Competition in the piano world, they should all just stop participating. The fact is, no matter who wins domestic awards, there are winners every year. Even if international awards have biases or behind-the-scenes manipulation, their influence is undeniable. Unless you don't intend to gain recognition internationally, you still have to go for them."

Lu Yan He smiled.

"To put it bluntly, even the Olympics have such clear scores of high and low, aren't there still black whistles, biases, and shameless competition systems every year? So what? Does China not participate? Boycott?" Chen Ziyan said. "No way. If you want to talk about principles and bottom-line issues, then of course we can't break through. But before you become the person who makes the rules, unless you decide to play by yourself, otherwise, you have to follow their rules."

Lu Yan He nodded.

"When filming 'Sanshan', others questioned you for being willing to play a small role just to be a film actor, even as a popular star. The result was that you really stepped into the film circle relying on this film."

"When filming 'The Mist', others questioned you why you wanted to act in an American Hollywood horror film. The result was that you had your first globally big-selling commercial film relying on this film and had initial bargaining power in Hollywood."

"When filming 'Tropical Rainy Season', others also questioned you why you wanted to act in a small-budget Malaysian art film, and a supporting role at that, instead of supporting domestic art films. Now it's good, Xitu'er Film Festival Best Actor."

Chen Ziyan said seriously to Lu Yan He: "Everyone seems to always be easy to design a broad road for others. Once others don't walk this road, they will question, even belittle, as if everyone is a philosopher and prophet of destiny. But the truth is often that 99% of people can't even walk their own road well. They can only be the defenders of idealism forever. Only 1% of people dare to walk out of the old map and discover the new continent."

"Yan He, you are the person who can discover the new continent. So, I will stay by your side and walk with you. I don't care about those chirping people at all now, because those who really know what we are doing must know that our progress is not betrayal, but pioneering."

Lu Yan He took a deep breath and then let it out slowly.

"Sister Ziyan, you've made me feel hot-blooded." He said with a wry smile. "But, how can I have such... I don't know how to say it. Actually, I don't have such big ideals and ambitions."

"Although you don't have such big ideals and ambitions, you are actually doing such things. Not to mention anything else, look at how you have several projects about to start filming in Hollywood. In which film have you not used your own power to arrange a major Chinese role? And you even specified that it must be played by a Chinese actor." Chen Ziyan said. "To be honest, Yan He, if I hadn't met you, if I hadn't seen that you really achieved all this, even if I am usually so conceited, I wouldn't have thought that a Chinese filmmaker could reach this step in Hollywood."

Lu Yan He: "Right time, right place, right people."

"It is indeed, but you seized the opportunity of the right time, right place, and right people. This is also your ability." Chen Ziyan nodded. "This is where you are capable. You can open such a big situation relying on a 'The Mist'. No second person can do it."

"It's all people helping people. If Director Mukan's wife wasn't Sister Ruzhen, this Asian ghost might not have been set as an Asian, and might not have found me to act."

"Of course, there is nothing in this world that must be someone." Chen Ziyan said. "However, this is not the reason why we can't regard it as an achievement after someone does it."

She raised her hands and rubbed Lu Yan He's face.

"So, now, enjoy this beautiful moment! Best Actor!"

Returning to the "Seventeen Layers" crew, as soon as Lu Yan He entered, a dozen salute sounds rang out inside.

Cheers and applause came one after another.

Lian Bei specifically hugged a bouquet and offered it.

"Congratulations!" He hugged Lu Yan He with a warm smile. "Awesome!"

Lu Yan He said thank you.

He faced everyone, looked around, and bowed to thank them.

Chen Bige said: "I've booked a place tonight. Let's eat first, then go singing to celebrate for you. I said I would do it."

Lu Yan He immediately said: "Why is it celebrating for me alone? 'Raise the Red Lantern' you starred in won the top prize of Xitu'er. This is also celebrating for you!"

Chen Bige smiled.

"Then I want to win Best Actress at Xitu'er even more. You write a script for me next time." She said.

Lu Yan He: "Write, write, write."

Chen Bige turned her head very seriously to look for the camera: "Did you record it? He promised just now! If I don't win Best Actress at Xitu'er, he has to keep writing scripts for me! Who recorded it? Copy a video for me!"

The whole venue burst into laughter.

Lu Yan He shrugged speechlessly and shook his head.

Everyone was very happy.

Li Yuefeng looked at Lu Yan He with great envy.

Jiang Jun patted him on the shoulder.

Li Yuefeng said: "I've decided, Teacher Jiang."

"Hmm?" Jiang Jun was a bit confused, looking at Li Yuefeng.

"Although I don't have Yan He's screenwriting talent, I have money. From today on, I will spend money to buy scripts. As long as it's a good script suitable for me, I am willing to buy it." Li Yuefeng said solemnly. "I'll find a company to film it myself."

Jiang Jun was speechless for a moment, but felt that this might not be a way, and it also gave him some inspiration.

Although he is not as popular as Li Yuefeng, has such high commercial value, and makes so much money, he is at least a first-tier actor. Why should he always wait for others to send scripts to his door? He can also find stories himself.

At this moment when Lu Yan He was happily celebrated by the crew, everyone had their own thoughts in their hearts.

All of them were rolled up.

At the same time, Li Zhibai sat in front of Lin Suyang and said very seriously: "I am willing to continue cooperating with Liu Manbo."

Lin Suyang said: "Liu Manbo has already filmed 'Nineteen Years Crime Record' into that state."

"But, the version we launched after re-editing, the word-of-mouth and media evaluation are indeed much better, aren't they?" Li Zhibai said. "Liu Manbo is indeed inexperienced and doesn't know how to edit, but his on-site directing ability and his cinematography aesthetics are all first-class."

Lin Suyang said: "The problem is, you don't lack projects with top teams, Zhibai. Why do you have to form a team yourself to do this kind of project with an uncertain future?"

"Because the projects that come to me from outside, you know what they look like. It's not that I'm unwilling to film, but I don't want to keep filming such themes." Li Zhibai said. "Like the villain in 'Nineteen Years', only if I do it myself can I act in such a role. I don't want to be the only one who didn't win an award when I look back! Yan Liang has already won several Best Supporting Actor trophies! He has even been nominated for a Golden Globe!"

Lin Suyang: "..."

He knew it.

The only ones who can roll Li Zhibai, this lazy guy, are Lu Yan He and Yan Liang.

The three of them, none of them are willing to be thrown too far by the other two.

Lin Suyang actually also felt that it was a good thing that Li Zhibai was willing to be a producer himself. It's just that Liu Manbo had already proven that he wasn't very capable with a "Nineteen Years", and he didn't understand why Li Zhibai was still willing to give Liu Manbo a second chance.

Li Zhibai said: "I only have one film of Yan He's to film this year, and my schedule is very sufficient. So, it's just right for me to do the 'Grass Flying' project."

As soon as Lin Suyang heard this name, he had a headache.

Hmm, "Grass Flying", an ancient martial arts short drama, twelve episodes. The script was written by Liu Manbo himself, and it was still an original script. Lin Suyang read this script, how to say it, very stream-of-consciousness, even a bit literary, but it just wasn't "plot-driven" enough.

To be honest, Lin Suyang was not optimistic about this script.

However, Li Zhibai seemed to have made up his mind to film this.

Lin Suyang asked: "Filming this drama, do you think it can win an award?"

He felt that the only thing that could explain this was this point.

Li Zhibai shook his head: "What award can this drama win."

"Then why do you want to take it?"

"Because it's different from all the dramas on the market. The image of the young swordsman Grass Flying is also a very rare image in martial arts film and television dramas." Li Zhibai said. "It suits me. If I act in it, I will perform a martial arts image that belongs to me."

"A martial arts image with only three-legged cat kung fu and a literary youth disease?" Lin Suyang complained.

Li Zhibai nodded.

"Yes."

"Do you think the audience of martial arts dramas will accept such an image?"

"Although this is a martial arts drama, it is not just filmed for the audience of traditional martial arts dramas." Li Zhibai said very firmly. "What is Liu Manbo good at? Good at using cinematography to create atmosphere. What is he not good at? Not good at telling stories, not good at rhythm. What kind of story is 'Grass Flying'? A story about a young swordsman nicknamed Grass Flying, whose family was exterminated when he was young, who lived in the rivers and lakes under an assumed name, while avoiding being hunted down by enemies, while silently lurking and trying every means to take revenge."

Lin Suyang nodded.

"So?"

"Imagine, rivers and lakes, youth, alone, kung fu is very bad, without that kind of atmosphere and openness of a swordsman, hiding deep hatred in his heart—"

Li Zhibai said, "Plus my handsome face that has a sense of brokenness with a little modification."

Lin Suyang: "..."

"I won't say in history, you just say in the last ten years, is there a character image like me?"

"Don't talk about the last ten years, I haven't seen a protagonist setting with such a character setting."

"This is the reason why I want to act." Li Zhibai said. "Only such a role can make people truly see me. There is no reference, no comparison, only me, can only look at me."

Lin Suyang was stunned.

Li Zhibai: "And only Liu Manbo can film a Li Zhibai who is not Li Zhibai, just like in 'Nineteen Years', no one said I acted badly, just that when acting opposite Teacher Jiang Jun, I was overshadowed. But others, other directors, do they have roles other than romance comedies and idol dramas for me to act? Even if they have, can they film better than Liu Manbo?"

Lin Suyang's attitude softened.

"He filmed your sinister and arrogant side, it really tasted right."

Li Zhibai: "Because he is also very narcissistic."

Lin Suyang: "..."

Li Zhibai: "He is not really bad, he is just not comprehensive, but he is very confident, feeling that he can film everything well."

Lin Suyang: "... Then what if he makes the same old mistakes in the drama 'Grass Flying'?"

"The right to final cut will not be given to him." Li Zhibai said. "It will be agreed upon in the contract."

Lin Suyang: "Will he accept it?"

"He will." Li Zhibai said with a smile. "You go talk, there is nothing that can't be talked about."

Lin Suyang: "... You—"

Li Zhibai: "Brother Suyang, you don't want Zhou Ping'an to pick up a Best Actor like Yan Liang, while you don't have a Best Actor in your hands, right?"

Lin Suyang: "You have really improved, you can even hit the seven inches of a snake."

Li Zhibai: "Then are you convinced by me?"

"I hope he won't let down the second chance you gave him."

Lu Yan He didn't expect that Li Zhibai was ready to cooperate with Liu Manbo for the second time so quickly.

In the three-person group, Yan Liang asked Li Zhibai: Are there no other dramas looking for you?

Li Zhibai: Yes, but they are still those scripts that are much the same, I don't want to act, and it's not that I won't act at all, just act one or two a year. If they are all repeating, it's better not to act.

Yan Liang said: But, the "Nineteen Years" that Liu Manbo filmed before, the evaluation is really not very good.

Li Zhibai: I just feel that cooperating with him is quite happy, I feel that I am very compatible with him, and he just needs experience.

Lu Yan He: I read the first two episodes of the "Grass Flying" script. If purely from the script, maybe I am not very optimistic, but combined with Liu Manbo's directorial style, I feel that it is quite a match, feeling that it will be a work that will be very stylized.

Li Zhibai: That's what I think.

Lu Yan He: Then it is very likely that there will be great controversy after it is broadcast.

Li Zhibai: Expected.

Lu Yan He: Have you thought about it? If an ordinary drama is not broadcast well, it will pass silently. This drama, I feel that no matter whether it is broadcast well or not, it will be a work of topic.

Li Zhibai: Just like "Nineteen Years", right? Although many people scold, but because scolding also has heat, someone watches, so instead, many people know that I have a drama that was scolded very hard.

Lu Yan He: About the same.

Li Zhibai: That's fine, anyway, I don't want to be bound in the type of idol romance comedy.

Lu Yan He: Actually, after "Chinese Paladin" is broadcast, everyone can see your other side.

Li Zhibai: That is still a relatively youthful and hot-blooded style, essentially the same, I also want to act in dramas like "Gold Rush" or "Silent River".

Lu Yan He: Okay, I understand what you mean.

Li Zhibai: And, my next two films are both yours, one "Buried", one "Those Years", the scripts are all very good, plus a "Chinese Paladin", it is exactly when I have enough confidence to squander, even if "Grass Flying" fails, it doesn't matter.

It is indeed true, Li Zhibai also has a lot of "stock".

He willfully takes a drama he wants to act in, even if he fails again, it doesn't matter.

Lu Yan He asked Yan Liang: Yan Liang, then you have finished filming "Friends", what are you going to film next? Is it decided?

Yan Liang: Decided, I will enter the crew of "Intern" later. Didn't the short drama of the Jump Up Theater have a not-so-good feedback before? It was decided to do long drama development.

Lu Yan He remembered: It started filming so quickly.

Yan Liang: Well, because after filming "Intern", I have to enter the crew to film the second part of "Gold Rush" in the second half of the year, the time is relatively tight, so the crew was built urgently.

Lu Yan He: Then try to keep your schedule for next year. I have an action film here preparing to find you to star. I hope it can be a Sino-US joint venture, developed together, and distributed globally, but I don't know if it can work, so it hasn't been decided yet. You insist on action training in your spare time this year.

Yan Liang: Good! Finally here!

Lu Yan He: Yes.

Yan Liang: Can I ask, what action film is it?

Lu Yan He: Actually, strictly speaking, it's not called an action film. It is not known for fighting scenes, but the male lead must look like a tough guy, and must be a young, handsome, very tough tough guy. The script is called "Speed of Life and Death". I won't tell you the plot for the time being. In short, it is an adrenaline-pumping film. If it is successfully filmed, if it is a global release, you will become famous overnight all over the world.

Yan Liang:???

Li Zhibai:???

Li Zhibai: Why don't you find me to act?

Lu Yan He: Take off your clothes, go to the full-length mirror, you have the ability to practice eight-pack abs for me within a year.

Li Zhibai: Damn.

Yan Liang: I won't take any drama next year, I'll just wait for this film of yours!

Lu Yan He: Don't do that, anyway, this film is for you to act, I will wait for your schedule, but everything depends on whether it proceeds smoothly. If it doesn't proceed smoothly, it's not certain whether it can start filming next year, don't delay your time.

Yan Liang: Okay.

Yan Liang: Is there anything I need to prepare in advance?

Lu Yan He: You can watch more of those Hollywood action films, but don't imitate those tough guy male leads over forty. "Speed of Life and Death" is not that style. Its youthful hormone atmosphere is stronger, but it is also playing for real, not a youth action film disguised as an action film.

Yan Liang: Good.

Lu Yan He: Then, it's best to learn how to drive a bus, a large vehicle, including close-quarters combat, etc.

Yan Liang: No problem.

Lu Yan He: I will push the rest.

Yan Liang: I finally acted in a male lead written by Lu Yan He!

Li Zhibai: I suddenly remembered, didn't you write a film script for the two of us before? "Dumb and Dumber".

Lu Yan He: It's no longer suitable for you now, plans can't keep up with changes.

Li Zhibai: When will "Chinese Paladin" be broadcast?

Lu Yan He: Striving to be able to broadcast this summer, catching the summer vacation of students. If the post-production can't keep up, then wait for next summer.

Li Zhibai: Half a year of post-production, it might really be enough.

Lu Yan He: Yes, if it really can't keep up, forget it, there is no need to make it rough and shoddy for the sake of broadcasting early.

Li Zhibai: That is, you are rich and powerful, willing to delay broadcasting for a year for such a little quality.

Lu Yan He: Because I know very clearly that for this drama, getting the student party is getting the world. If you can't get the student party, maybe it can still be a hit, but it is definitely impossible to form a wave.

The biggest mass base of this drama is junior high school students and high school students.

Lu Yan He said so, Li Zhibai and Yan Liang believed it, without any doubt.

In their hearts, in terms of grasp and judgment of the market, no one can compare to Lu Yan He.

At the subsequent Red River Awards, Lu Yan He did not attend because of filming. "Friends" won the Best Screenplay award again, and Chen Siqi went on stage to receive the award on his behalf, expressing gratitude.

Later, in April, Lu Yan He's filming of the third season of "Seventeen Layers" came to an end.

Lian Bei finally came to find Lu Yan He.

For the sake of "Jiang Yan".

He finally made a decision not to direct the derivative drama of "Seventeen Layers" starring Chen Pinhe, but to choose "Jiang Yan".

Lian Bei asked Lu Yan He to be the producer of "Jiang Yan" and code the actor lineup mentioned by Lu Yan He before for this drama.

Lu Yan He suddenly felt a headache.

Because he said before that Yan Liang was suitable for the male lead of "Jiang Yan", but Yan Liang's schedule is so tight now, he really doesn't know if it can be coordinated.

However, what was said before, no matter what, must be fulfilled.

After Lu Yan He communicated with Lian Bei for a round, he signed a producer contract with Lian Bei's production company.

Lu Yan He began to contact various actors for "Jiang Yan".

Of course, the first one Lu Yan He contacted was Yan Liang.

"I know you already have several dramas to film, and your schedule is very tight, but I still come to ask, to see if you want to act." Lu Yan He said. "If you don't want to act, I will find someone else."

Yan Liang was very surprised.

Because this drama was not written by Lu Yan He.

He asked: "Did Director Lian Bei ask you to come and ask me?"

"Oh, no, it's that I said you are the first choice for the male lead of this drama." Lu Yan He said. "I have read the novel, so I told him the actor candidates I thought were most suitable, and he asked me to be the producer and let me code all the actors I thought were suitable."

Yan Liang smiled.

"Who did you tell him?"

"Liu Zi, Wan Xin, Li Yuefeng or Liu Zefan, Wang Jing or Yan Lingyu." Lu Yan He said these names.

Yan Liang showed a bit of surprise.

"Such a strong lineup?"

"Hmm." Lu Yan He said. "So he was moved."

"Can you invite them all over?" Yan Liang asked.

"Try my best, but your role is the most important, so I have to come and ask you." Lu Yan He said. "But when I told him at the time, I forgot that your schedule is very tight, and this drama, because of copyright reasons, requires it to start filming next year."

"My schedule is empty next year, except for the 'Speed of Life and Death' you mentioned." Yan Liang said. "If it can be filmed next year, I can take it."

"Really?"

"Really." Yan Liang said. "Since it is a project you said is good, and it is Director Lian Bei, and it is such a lineup, what reason do I have not to take it?"

Lu Yan He breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's great that you are willing to take it, but in this way, you not only have no rest this year, but you may also have no rest next year." Lu Yan He felt a little guilty.

Yan Liang: "Don't you know me? I would rather be busy than idle. Work can give me a sense of security."

Lu Yan He was crying and laughing.

"Okay." He said. "Thank you."

As a result, starting from Yan Liang, Lu Yan He contacted all the way down. Except for Li Yuefeng complaining "let me act as a supporting role again", everyone agreed and was willing to act.

They didn't care at all whether it was a lead or a supporting role.

So, he told this news to Lian Bei, letting Lian Bei's production company go to formally submit scripts and pass contracts to the teams of various actors.

At this time, Lu Yan He hadn't even finished filming.

Lian Bei was shocked.

In the entertainment industry, especially in the producer industry, if you ask which link is the most difficult, basically any producer will tell you that the link of setting actors is the most difficult.

Especially wanting to invite the actors you like, that is even more difficult. In the entertainment industry, the actors you like are often liked by others. Actors that everyone likes are scarce resources. They want to take a drama, and they also have to weigh many things, how the character setting is, how the team is, how the broadcast prospect is, etc.

Who would give an answer so quickly?

Even though Lian Bei had long known Lu Yan He's ability, he was still shocked by this speed.

Jiang Lan was very headache-prone and very depressed.

Lian Bei refused to continue directing the derivative drama of "Seventeen Layers", which made the prospect of this project lose a layer of guarantee.

If it was other projects, it would be fine, but it happened to be "Seventeen Layers".

This is the only pillar of the Beijing station, and it is also the biggest trump card in Jiang Lan's hands. They have huge ideas for the "Seventeen Layers" project. After this series ends, two films plus two derivative dramas will continue the value and heat of this IP.

However, if the director changes, even if the derivative drama has Chen Pinhe starring, it is not bad in market attention. If the quality of the drama itself is Waterloo, it is also a heavy blow.

The tragedy of "Friends" is right in front of us, and it hasn't been long.

However, no matter how Jiang Lan did Lian Bei's work, Lian Bei just didn't agree to do the derivative drama. He proposed his new project and very actively said to Jiang Lan: "I am willing to continue to let this drama be broadcast on Beijing station."

After Jiang Lan heard about the "Jiang Yan" project, she reacted immediately. This IP is still quite concerned in the market, and many people are staring at the copyright. She didn't pay attention to the fact that it was Lian Bei's company doing it.

However, even so, compared with "Seventeen Layers", what is "Jiang Yan".

Jiang Lan asked: "Can't both projects be done at the same time?"

Lian Bei shook his head and said: "Station Master Jiang, I have already given nearly four or five years to the 'Seventeen Layers' series. I don't want to continue to invest my time in this series. 'Jiang Yan' is a project I have been doing. If I don't do it again, its copyright will expire."

Jiang Lan hesitated and asked: "Then for the drama 'Jiang Yan', what are your plans?"

Lian Bei said: "I have already invited Lu Yan He to be my producer for this drama, and he has already helped me code all the starring actors."

"What?" Jiang Lan was stunned. "Lu Yan He also joined this project?"

"Yes, but he only helped me code actors, and didn't do anything else." Lian Bei said.

"He... helped you code which actors?"

"Yan Liang, Liu Zi, Wan Xin, Li Yuefeng, Wang Jing." When Lian Bei said these names, he kept looking at Jiang Lan's face.

Sure enough, every time a name was said, Jiang Lan's face changed by one point.

Just as Lian Bei expected.

"..." Jiang Lan swallowed her throat, realizing that she had underestimated this project before. Once the information of this project spread, it would definitely cause other platforms to scramble for it.

The original work has high word-of-mouth, the director's directing resume is all hits, top starring lineup...

Jiang Lan asked: "For this drama, you shouldn't have contacted other platforms yet, right?"

"No." Lian Bei shook his head. "Station Master Jiang, I know that when the 'Seventeen Layers' project was set for me to direct, you were still under no small pressure. After all, I had only filmed one fairy tale ancient idol drama before. Many first-tier directors were willing to direct Chen Bige's comeback project. You overcame all opinions and used me. I also remember it. So, for my new project, I am still willing to cooperate with you. I just don't want to be bound in the 'Seventeen Layers' series all the time."

Jiang Lan nodded.

Now she really had nothing to say.

Lian Bei could reach this step, it was really benevolent.

"It was originally set for you to appear in a shot in the third season of 'Seventeen Layers', but the result was that this matter was ruined. Now it is Lian Bei who wants to do 'Jiang Yan' produced by Lu Yan He, not directing the derivative drama. I don't think this is a coincidence. Behind this, Lu Yan He is definitely intentional."

Zhang Yuezhen said seriously to Chen Pinhe.

Chen Pinhe also had a gloomy face.

"Husband, what exactly happened between you and Lu Yan He?" Zhang Yuezhen looked at Chen Pinhe's face and asked.

Although Chen Pinhe sat in front of Zhang Yuezhen, his sight was drooping on the table, not looking at Zhang Yuezhen.

He said: "Except for the 'Doomsday' time, what else could there be."

A look of disappointment flashed in Zhang Yuezhen's eyes.

Still refusing to tell the truth.

Zhang Yuezhen: "We can't always retreat. He targets you again and again. Don't say he is a junior, husband, we can't let it go, right?"

Chen Pinhe: "Forget it, we don't have evidence that he is making trouble, and even if it is, he is now in full swing, just won the top prize and Best Actor in Xitu'er. You want to manage, how to manage? What can you do with him?"

Zhang Yuezhen decided to add another strong medicine, wanting to see if she could try to force Chen Pinhe to admit that thing in front of her.

"Clarify the matter, by finding some marketing accounts, let everyone know that he regards you as a thorn in his eye and wants to replace you." Zhang Yuezhen said. "What do you think?" ===== CHAPTER 701 =====