Chapter 820

Chen Keqiu: "I had the same reaction as you. She had no contact with us before, and suddenly found me to say such things. It's really inexplicable."

Wen Shengming: "Even if it's cooperation, she should contact Yan He. The lobbying for *Storm Calmer No. 1* is being done by Yan He's power."

"She can't cooperate with Yan He. Yan He's relationship with Chen Pinhe is very bad." Chen Keqiu said. "This matter is even more... inexplicable."

"Inexplicable?"

"Mm," Chen Keqiu said. "At first, I heard about the conflict between Yan He and Chen Pinhe, and I thought it was because Yan He was young and vigorous, which is why there was such a contradiction. But after dealing with him for so long, I don't believe at all that he broke up with Chen Pinhe to this extent just because of *Doomsday*."

"Actually, you are not the only one who has said such things to me."

"Everyone's eyes are sharp." Chen Keqiu smiled.

Wen Shengming: "We don't know what happened between Yan He and Chen Pinhe. Yan He doesn't say, and we shouldn't ask. It's just that after dealing with him for so long, we know what kind of person Yan He is."

"Mm," Chen Keqiu nodded.

Wen Shengming: "As for Zhang Yuezhen, decline it."

Chen Keqiu: "Okay."

The rumors about Chen Pinhe acting like a diva on set and being at odds with the director hung on the internet for two or three days.

The box office of *The Pianist* also saw its decline expanding. After the Mid-Autumn Festival period ended, it only obtained 45 million in box office, making it difficult to break 100 million.

Zhang Yuezhen was a little annoyed.

Zhang Yuezhen knew very well whose handiwork these voices on the internet were.

However, strike a snake at its seven inches.

Zhang Yuezhen contacted several actors of *The Pianist*, including director Zheng Ximo, hoping they could stand up and say a few words for Chen Pinhe to refute these voices on the internet, but no one was willing to stand up.

To tell the truth, during the filming of *The Pianist*, Chen Pinhe did offend many people.

"Chen Laoshi's acting is very good, I admit that. This film is also entirely his one-man show, so there's no need for me to speak for him." An actor who also participated in *The Pianist* said directly to Zhang Yuezhen on the phone. "When I came to act in this film, I just wanted to cooperate with Chen Laoshi. Now I have cooperated, and that's enough."

Enough—

No need to cooperate again in the future.

The meaning was very clear.

Zhang Yuezhen still wanted to say something, but she really couldn't open her mouth.

An actor who originally had 13 scenes only had 3 scenes cut into the final film, and the total exposure time did not exceed 7 minutes.

If such a thing happened to Chen Pinhe, Zhang Yuezhen would go directly to the director's house, slam the table, and ask for an explanation.

Zhang Yuezhen said: "Teacher Liu, we will definitely not let this happen next time. This time it was also because the director's own ideas about the film were immature, so many adjustments were made during the filming process—"

"If that's the case, go tell the director." The other party hung up the phone directly in anger.

Zhang Yuezhen clenched her hands.

Wang Xiao was very young.

However, no one underestimated him.

He had long since shed his silly, green student air.

During the years he was in charge of the Youth Association at Zhenhua, he needed to deal with school administration, teachers, and students, needed to deal with partners who came to give lectures, needed to handle advertising sponsors, venue partners, and broadcast platforms, and needed to deal with various government personnel and media reporters...

Wang Xiao was a high-spirited young man, but he had also long since developed the aura and ability to work.

He came to see Zheng Ximo without wearing a suit and leather shoes—this was too formal, and the meeting place was a private club, a relatively relaxed environment.

He was wearing a collared knit sweater and a pair of trousers with a slightly casual temperament, stood up calmly, and shook hands with Zheng Ximo.

"Director Zheng, do you still remember me?" The hand Wang Xiao extended wore a watch priced at about 120,000. In his overall relatively casual image, this watch pointed out his identity that "should not be underestimated at will." "Four years ago, you came to Zhenhua University to give a lecture, and I was Wang Xiao in charge of the reception here."

Zheng Ximo showed surprise, "Oh, so it's you!"

He found the image of the handsome and upright student in his memory.

Wang Xiao's smile did not fade, and he said: "I didn't expect that four years later, there would still be a fate to meet again."

"It's really a coincidence. Are you working at Arctic Light?"

"Yes." Wang Xiao nodded. "I am currently in charge of Arctic Light's film business."

Chen Ziyan smiled leisurely at this time and asked: "What does Director Zheng usually drink?"

"Just... Americano is fine."

"Okay." Chen Ziyan said, "I'll go to the front desk to add the order directly. You guys talk first."

She went out gracefully.

"You have already changed the script of *Seeking Pleasure* seven or eight times."

At the same time, Lu Yan He was also drinking tea with Director Wang Zhong.

They were talking about the script that Director Wang Zhong had been preparing.

At that time, this script was written for Lu Yan He and Chen Bige.

Wang Zhong said: "It's very difficult. It has never reached the feeling I want. Unless I arrange a few erotic scenes for you in the film, otherwise, that feeling of completely abandoning secular morality and being driven by emotion and passion won't come out. But I don't want to film it like that. Eroticism is of course a form of expression, but if I film it like that, you and Chen Bige will face a lot of controversy."

Lu Yan He understood Wang Zhong's meaning.

The script of *Seeking Pleasure* is about a sudden burst of passion, and the feeling of loss after passion, that sense of nothingness.

In fact, in Europe, there are many films with similar themes, and some pop up almost every year.

Especially at the four major international film festivals, films with this theme are even more common.

Director Wang Zhong wants to do this, of course, not to copy them, nor to film so-called erotic scenes.

Lu Yan He understood his meaning.

Such films, films that talk about people immersed in a certain state and presenting a completely different appearance from usual, have commercial films, such as *The Hangover*, and art films, such as *Another Round*. What it wants to film is actually "emotional moments in life."

And in *Seeking Pleasure*, it is the sudden thickening and fading of the emotions of a man and a woman, a sudden tsunami and ebb tide.

It is nothingness.

It is also the "loss of control" that life cannot control.

Regarding the dilemma Wang Zhong is facing, Lu Yan He cannot offer a good solution for the time being.

It can only be left to Wang Zhong to solve it himself.

He is the director, this is the dilemma he faces in creation, and only he can walk through it.

Fortunately, this film has no start date and no capital pressure, so you don't have to worry about time and can let it wait slowly for a while.

Lu Yan He said: "If you really can't find a solution, just film other movies first. Put it aside first. Maybe while putting it aside, a path will appear."

Wang Zhong sighed and said: "I don't have any other projects that make me want to film for the time being."

Lu Yan He: "Then why don't you go to Linghe's project library to see if there is anything you are interested in? If you want to do it, transfer the script to your company and you do it."

Wang Zhong: "I'll go take a look later."

"However, Director, have you considered filming some movies that are completely different from your usual ones?"

"Hm?"

"When I was filming a movie like *Burning Fire*, I suddenly thought, what kind of style would it be if such a story were handed over to you to film?" Lu Yan He said with a smile. "You have sufficient budget to play with visuals and special effects. I was just thinking, can your style of 'disrespecting ghosts and gods, blending yin and yang' bring an unprecedented viewing experience?"

Wang Zhong shook his head.

"I can't film a movie like *Burning Fire*. The pressure to break even is too great, and I can't film as I please."

Lu Yan He said: "That's not necessarily true. Maybe we can find a theme and style that can ignite your desire to film and attract the audience to walk into the cinema. It is very rare, but I don't think it's impossible."

He is someone who has seen Nolan's *Batman* trilogy and *Mad Max: Fury Road*.

Blockbusters can also achieve a balance between auteur expression and commerce.

What makes Director Wang Zhong most different from many art film directors is that he is actually a director who is very good at telling stories.

He just doesn't like "just telling a story."

Lu Yan He didn't know if Wang Zhong would eventually be willing to film a movie like this.

Maybe willing, maybe not.

Lu Yan He just threw out an option.

"I can't say that we will support any movie you film 100% and unconditionally."

Wang Xiao took out a contract.

"This is a contract I asked the company's legal department to draft. If you have any objections to any clause, we can discuss it. The main thing I want to explain is that we will not interfere with your creation, only one point: if we judge that the budget is too large, or other problems involving production costs, we need to discuss."

Zheng Ximo took the contract text and looked at it with some surprise.

"What kind of actors you want to use, what kind of movie you want to make, we respect your opinions 100%. Of course, we will definitely have our own suggestions. I believe Director Zheng can understand this point, but the decision-making power is in your hands." Wang Xiao smiled slightly. "Arctic Light is now your best partner, because this business sector has just started. Our cooperation with you is not aimed at the box office, nor is it aimed at making a profit right now."

Zheng Ximo frowned and said: "Such conditions... are they true?"

Wang Xiao nodded.

"It's true." Wang Xiao said. "I can't say that such conditions will be given to every cooperating director. In fact, your contract is specially customized. Sister Ziyan knew that we were looking for film directors who can cooperate for a long time, so she recommended you to us. In fact, *The Pianist* just won an award in Venice. I believe there will be film companies willing to give better conditions than us, but I can say directly that such conditions are not for one or two films. Within five years, as long as the budget does not exceed 20 million, if you want to film, we can almost say we will definitely support it, no matter how many films."

Zheng Ximo fell silent.

Chen Ziyan said: "Director Zheng, a budget of 20 million is not high, but it is more than enough to film the movie you wanted to film before. In addition, Linghe will also act as a partner of Arctic Light Films to act as an agent for overseas distribution and find overseas film merchants. The problem of *The Pianist* will not happen again. You have many friends in the film circle. You can ask many people what kind of partner Yan He is, and what the directors who have cooperated with him, whether they are big directors or newcomers, feel. Wang Xiao is Yan He's senior, and the two of them were close friends when they were studying. Precisely because of this, I am sitting here introducing you to Wang Xiao."

Zheng Ximo showed a sudden realization.

On September 23, the top luxury brand Mipoli announced that Chen Pinhe would serve as the global spokesperson.

Zhang Yuezhen's press release was issued accordingly.

The excellent reputation brought by *The Pianist* at the Venice International Film Festival made Mipoli, a brand that last used a Chinese person as a global spokesperson 15 years ago, throw an olive branch to Chen Pinhe.

Chen Pinhe's own elegant and noble temperament was considered by Mipoli to be very consistent with its own brand image.

Wait.

Between the lines, it was to explain that the film *The Pianist* had truly brought blessings to Chen Pinhe, further proving the success of the film *The Pianist* itself.

That afternoon, Shi Huo announced that it had reached a deep cooperative relationship with Chinese performing artist and Venice International Film Festival Best Actor winner Wen Shengming, and would fully act as an agent for his overseas brokerage business.

An hour later, Shi Huo also announced that Wen Shengming would serve as the promotional ambassador for the China-France Film Festival in October and accept the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters awarded by the French government.

"..."

Zhang Yuezhen watched as the heat of the news that Chen Pinhe served as Mipoli's global spokesperson was suppressed.

On September 26, Arctic Light Video announced the news that Arctic Light Films signed a contract with Director Zheng Ximo, reached a cooperation agreement, would carry out cooperation in film shooting, and directly announced an untitled project, planning to invite Yu Mengling and Wang Jing to cooperate, and Lu Yan He would serve as one of the producers of the project.

Zhang Yuezhen heard the sound of Chen Pinhe smashing things in the room.

Just once.

Zhang Yuezhen wanted to knock on the door and go in, hesitated for a moment, but still didn't go in.

She had a dark face and was silent for a long time.

She didn't know what to say.

Tell Chen Pinhe that when they cooperated, they should have respected Zheng Ximo more?

Or tell Chen Pinhe to go talk to Zheng Ximo properly now and ease the relationship?

She knew that no matter what she said, Chen Pinhe wouldn't listen.

In his eyes, Zheng Ximo was just a director with very ordinary talent. Otherwise, when filming *The Pianist*, he wouldn't have put forward so many modification suggestions on set.

Those modifications did make Chen Pinhe's role fuller and more charming.

However—

Zhang Yuezhen sighed.

The phone suddenly buzzed.

News from Jingtai.

The spin-off of *Seventeen Layers* is ready to be scheduled, and it will be launched during the National Day holiday. (End of chapter)