Chapter 264

Ding Lei was really angry; he originally wanted to get along with Jiang Heng in a friendly way, so he personally went to discuss the adaptation rights for the game 'Slay Immortal'.

As a result, Jiang Heng straightforwardly told him, "Not selling."

Not selling is fine; wanting to develop it himself is understandable.

But you actually arranged for headhunting companies to poach people everywhere, and even damn poached my people!

This is bearable; what isn't?!

It's a pity that the two currently have little overlap in their industries; Ding Lei wants to engage in business warfare, but feels there's no way to exert force, so for now he suppresses this anger and doesn't mention it.

As for Jiang Heng's side, he stayed busy until early October, when 'Great Havoc in Heaven' finally wrapped filming.

This is absolutely the film with the longest shooting time of his career, and post-production is likely the longest as well.

After outsourcing the special effects shots, Jiang Heng did not rest as everyone expected; instead, he hastily set up another crew and smoothly started filming again.

This left industry peers bewildered.

What's the situation, rushing the schedule?

But it's already October; Jiang Heng surely won't, like previous Xianggang films, crank out a movie in about a month to release for the New Year slot, right?

At Huayi Company, Wang Zhonglei wore a gloomy expression, gazing at Chen Guofu, Xu Ke, and Liu Weiqiang opposite him.

"What does he mean?"

"I think there's an eighty to ninety percent chance he's aiming to sabotage a film!" Xu Ke suddenly said.

"Who is he targeting?" Wang Zhonglei asked.

Xu Ke laughed, thinking to himself, "Of course he's targeting you; could it be me?!"

Of course, he couldn't say that outright; he definitely had to be tactful.

"He probably regards Journey to the West, Investiture of the Gods, and domestic mythological themes as his exclusive material; if others film them, he surely wouldn't be pleased! This guy, though he looks broad-minded, actually has a petty heart!"

Xu Ke analyzed, recalling that years ago he had asked Jiang Heng for investment and been refused, becoming a laughingstock in the industry, yet Old Xu still remembers it!

Wang Zhonglei grew increasingly frantic, "That is to say, he wants to target me, to sabotage Investiture of the Gods?"

Don't look at him pointing out the country day by day, with the aura of an industry tycoon; if he really had to face Jiang Heng, he'd also feel nervous inside.

Not just him; which domestic investor or director encountering this wouldn't feel bewildered inside?

Even without live-action special-effects blockbusters, an animated film like Kung Fu Panda can gross over two hundred million in mainland China, and its worldwide total can actually exceed seven hundred million.

If they really were released on the same day, how would they compete?

Jiang Heng may lose the domestic market but still have overseas box office, while the others can only rely on domestic receipts; Wang Zhonglei truly finds it hard to accept this 'bad news'.

Chen Guofu said, "Perhaps things aren't as bad as we think!"

"But given how hastily he's started filming, it's either to catch the New Year slot or next summer's. In my view, there's an eighty to ninety percent chance he's aiming for Investiture of the Gods!" Liu Weiqiang analyzed.

As the director of Investiture of the Gods, Liu Weiqiang felt both nervous and excited; if he could compete with Jiang Heng for the same release window, that would also be a good thing.

After all, it wouldn't be his money that's lost.

Wang Zhonglei couldn't accept that, quickly saying, "No, I need to find out clearly, otherwise I won't be able to sleep!"

Hearing him say that, the others also left the office.

Chen Guofu and Liu Weiqiang were fine, but Xu Ke was somewhat dumbfounded.

He appeared here because he wanted to make a wuxia blockbuster with special effects as its selling point; during his time in the capital, he had gotten along especially well with Wang Zhonglei, and they had already finalized the script and cast.

He didn't want to run into this; if Wang Zhonglei were only briefly affected, it would be fine, but if, because Investiture of the Gods might be 'targeted' by Jiang Heng, he abandoned a new project, he would be dumbfounded.

Chen Guofu noticed Xu Ke's worry and patted his shoulder.

"Don't think so much; what's yours will come around sooner or later!"

Xu Ke gave a wry smile: "I've been waiting several years already!"

Chen Guofu thought to himself, "Who let you be so willful when you filmed Legend of Shu Mountain? The agreed forty million investment, you overspent from the start, ending up spending eighty million to finish."

Overspending aside, the key was the dismal box office.

Investors have all been badly screwed by you; who would still dare invest in your films?

Yet he only said, "I'll wait for it!"

At the China Film Digital Base, the crew of Great Havoc in Heaven seemed to have returned, but with many new faces—namely, lots and lots of girls.

Jiang Heng, to seize the schedule and be able to release a special-effects blockbuster next summer, obviously chose the Journey to the West theme as the best option.

After all, some props from his previous films are still usable.

Also, some actors from his earlier films can quickly join the crew and regain form.

However, the styles of Lion Camel Ridge and Flat Top Mountain are somewhat dark; Jiang Heng this time decided to do a cheerful style, so he chose Daughter Country this time.

The king, played by Liu Yifei, and Jing Tian portrays the Scorpion Spirit.

This girl doesn't mind the size of her role either; she also thinks the Scorpion Spirit queen is gorgeous and formidable, often muttering, "I'm not a delicate princess; I have plenty of strength and tactics!"

On the other hand, Ding Haifeng, accustomed to playing the tough-guy Tang Seng, upon arriving in Daughter Country, couldn't find the feel for a while.

The other actors' parts are still relatively easy to handle.

After wrapping up at night, the actors each returned to their hotels to rest.

Liu Yifei couldn't sleep, so she went to Jing Tian's place.

"How do you feel about filming lately?"

"Not bad, though I always feel getting into character takes some effort!"

As Jing Tian said that, the image of Ding Haifeng's Tang Seng appearance popped into her mind, startling her so she quickly shook her head.

Liu Yifei said, "I'm pretty much the same; honestly, every time I see Teacher Ding Haifeng, I think of Director Jiang in my mind, which lets me get through the filming!"

Jing Tian clapped her hands, saying, "I can't not think of them together; I'm also hinting to myself that way, otherwise I wouldn't know how to act!"

Liu Yifei sighed, "If Director Jiang could play Tang Seng, that would be great!"

Da Tian Tian's eyes lit up at those words, "Indeed good, if he plays Tang Seng he'll surely be handsome; I'll talk to him tomorrow!"

Liu Yifei was startled upon hearing this; she never expected Jing Tian to so easily take on the "task".

In fact, according to her personality from her previous life, she would always speak her mind directly.

Like casting for "The Return of the Condor Heroes", they thought Huang Xiaoming was more suitable than Nie Yuan.

However, in Jiang Heng's film, there was simply no room for her to express her ideas.

Whatever she had on her mind, she dared not say it lightly.

Originally she had just come to Jing Tian's to try her luck, not expecting Da Tian Tian to agree without much thought.

Was it simply that she hadn't thought much, or had their relationship become so good that she could easily be persuaded?

Liu Yifei dared not think further; as she walked back, she felt as if she had lost her soul.

The next day, Da Tian Tian secretly followed when Jiang Heng returned to the temporary office.

Jiang Heng noticed and laughed, saying, "Why are you sneaking around?"

"Is there? I'm completely above board!" Da Tian Tian instantly straightened her back.

"What? Is there something you want to say?"

After entering the room and sitting down, Jiang Heng took off his coat and hung it on the rack, then turned and asked.

"Well, nothing much—just when I watched Teacher Ding, I couldn't get into the role unless I imagined you as Tang Seng, otherwise I couldn't perform!"

As Da Tian Tian said this, she twisted her fingers, her expression quite amusing.

Jiang Heng laughed and said, "You came over just to say this?"

"Of course, I've thought about it all night!"

(End of chapter)