Chapter 189

Li Shaomo and Li Xiaowan still gave face, only collecting five hundred thousand as the breach penalty, giving a 50% discount.

After all, Jiang Heng's film and TV resources are too good; they still wanted to recommend their own actors!

For Yang Mi and several hundred thousand in breach penalties, offending Jiang Heng isn't worth it.

Moreover, the two of them weren't particularly optimistic about Yang Mi.

Li Shaomo once commented on Yang Mi, saying she debuted as a child star, had been on sets very early, acting had become too habitual for her, always unconsciously mechanical performance, happiness was just hahaha, pain was just wawa, she didn't use her brain, and when she finally wanted to change, she didn't know how.

Jiang Heng also knew her acting needed improvement; after her contract transfers, he let her stay at Beijing Film Academy to study properly, not rush into acting.

Yang Mi didn't dare defy, peacefully studying without complaint.

However, as time progressed, the global premiere of the new film 《Journey to the West: Flat Top Mountain》 was approaching.

As for Lin Zhichong, who played Zhu Bajie, he hardly had any contact with those three in private.

However, Jiang Heng took some time to meet Wu Jing and the three others, chatting casually.

Ding Haifeng's portrayal of Tang Seng in 《The Lion's Roar Ridge》 had a huge role and was very impressive; after the film he gained many fans and got much more film work.

Jiang Heng wasn't surprised; so-called different circles need not be forced to merge.

Like when Tang Seng, on his westward journey, encountered a female ghost named Chu Meimei; a round of 'Lesser Vehicle Buddhist Dharma' sufficed to liberate her.

Wang Jing then, thanks to the big box office of 《The Lion's Roar Ridge》, produced a film 《Journey to the West: Five Elements Mountain》.

But Jiang Heng is now too successful; these people only mutter complaints in private, not daring to treat him as history treated Zhou Xingxing.

In Xianggang it garnered over thirty-one million in box office, ranking among the top five of that year's chart.

He could fight back and forth with several monsters, but lacking magic skills he was captured.

He fully presented an aura of 'invincible below immortals, one-for-one against immortals.'

Wang Jing, who always liked spoofs, also incorporated several well-known 'evil ghost' roles from the Xianggang film circle.

The very cunning Wang Jing asked Ding Haifeng to play Tang Seng and had Wu Jing cameo as Sun Wukong for just one minute.

After being introduced to the Neidi, thanks to publicity hyping it as a prequel to 《The Lion's Roar Ridge》, it actually grossed over eighty million, letting the producers make a killing.

Therefore, although the film's special effects are trash, because it rode the hype, the action scenes are exciting, it packs in many gags, and after release it turned out to be quite popular.

When the Five Elements Mountain appears, they meet Sun Wukong pressed beneath it; lifting the seal on top, Sun Wukong emerges, and the film ends there.

Though called the Five Elements Mountain, it's actually just a gimmick.

The film is entirely just riding the hype of 《The Lion's Roar Ridge》, taking the action film route.

But in the Xianggang entertainment circle, everyone still feels Jiang Heng is too biased toward Neidi artists.

He initially chose Lin Zhichong because he thought the image fit, and also considered circle issues.

Since he is from Xianggang, if he used only Neidi artists and gave no opportunities to Xianggang performers, he would be heavily criticized; he can only try to treat everyone equally.

He, after all, is from Xianggang; if he solely uses Neidi artists and gives no opportunities to Xianggang actors, he would be too criticized, so he can only try to treat everyone equally.

The story begins with Tang Seng setting out from Chang'an, first teaching a lesson to a band of bandits, and only upon reaching Double Fork Ridge does he encounter real monsters, being captured by the three monsters Yin General (Tiger Sprite), Bear Mountain Lord (Bear Sprite), and Special Officer (Ox Sprite); fortunately, the incarnation of Venus came to his rescue.

In this film, the "knowing a bit of martial arts" Tang Seng has off-the-charts combat power, teaching the bandits a lesson in minutes.

What's more surprising is that this film's Douban rating is not bad either, reaching as high as 7.3.

Netizens' comments are that although the film's special effects are trash, the plot is smooth, the action scenes are exciting, and the tough-guy version of Tang Seng is too wonderful.

Some replies say, Elder Tang should be like that; a high monk capable of going to the Western Heavens to obtain the scriptures must at least be of the caliber of the Great Wheel Bright King Jiūmózhì!

Also, netizens say, Tang Seng should be a master of the human world; it's just that he accidentally stumbled into the mythic world, making him seem useless.

As for Ding Haifeng, who played Tang Seng, he became even hotter, getting one tough-guy role after another without pause.

Speaking of remembering one's roots, Ding Haifeng, who was very respectful and grateful toward Jiang Heng for initially selecting him to play Tang Seng, had once asked Jiang Heng for his opinion before taking on Wang Jing's film.

Upon learning that Jiang Heng didn't care about these things, he felt relieved to take the role.

On the other hand, Wu Jing, who played Sun Wukong, had such good makeup that his face was completely unrecognizable; the film Lion Camel Ridge did not significantly boost his star power or influence.

After Lion Camel Ridge, Wu Jing starred in several action films, but as the genre weakened, neither his box office nor his influence could match Wang Jing's Journey to the West: Five Elements Mountain, which is truly speechless.

At this point, Wu Jing's situation in the industry is becoming increasingly awkward.

In terms of star power, he is the male lead who has starred in special-effects blockbusters grossing hundreds of millions of dollars, but he himself lacks much box office resistance.

Moreover, his subsequent films have been mediocre, and now no one comes to him for film work.

If it weren't for Jiang Heng again hiring him for Journey to the West: Flat Top Mountain, Wu Jing would be preparing to return to filming TV dramas.

This time he came over, first to ask how to coordinate the film's publicity, and second to ask about his own development.

At this moment, Wu Jing is truly feeling somewhat lost.

"Director Jiang, what do you say I should do for my future path?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Haifeng and Zang Jinsheng both fell silent, turning their heads to look at Jiang Heng.

They knew Jiang Heng took good care of and valued Wu Jing, but they didn't know whether he would offer some guidance.

Jiang Heng, upon hearing this, fell somewhat silent.

He actually knows the right path for Wu Jing; the problem is that the timing is wrong!

It's only the end of 2004 now, and the country's strength isn't that strong yet.

There's no need to mention Wolf Warrior 2; even Wolf Warrior 1 wouldn't have good reputation or box office, as films often reflect society and the times.

However, action movies are indeed too niche, and it's not advisable to urge him to persist.

Jiang Heng thought for a moment, then said: "Pure action films have no future anymore; perhaps military action still has some development. But the timing is not right now—at least the country needs to develop further before military action films can take off."

Wu Jing, hearing this, was dumbfounded; according to that, doesn't he have no future at all?

Fortunately, Jiang Heng continued: "Right, I have a superhero film to shoot within these two years, and there's a role for you in it."

Wu Jing, hearing this, was overjoyed: "What role do I play in the film?"

Suddenly he realized, "Could it still be Sun Wukong?"

Jiang Heng nodded: "It's Sun Wukong!"

Wu Jing, hearing this, had a mournful face, "Also not bad, how to say it's also the male lead of a big film!"

Jiang Heng, however, said: "Uh, this time the Sun Wukong inside is really not the male lead! Of course, he still counts as a main character, just his screen time comes later."

Wu Jing said: "No problem, as long as there's a role to play, I'm not picky, really not picky!"

Ding Haifeng asked: "Uh, is there Tang Seng?"

Jiang Heng wanted to say there was a blind monk, but then shook his head and also looked at Ding Haifeng and Zang Jinsheng.

In the film there are also important male roles like Liu Chuang, Zhao Xin, and Cheng Yaowen, but they don't seem very suitable for these two people before us.

Anyway, we still have to wait a long time for the shoot to start, so let's take our time choosing.

(End of chapter)