Chapter 221: Casting for Zhu Zion

Regarding Da Tian Tian's suggestion, Jiang Heng was still somewhat moved, but he hadn't come up with a suitable script yet.

There's "White Snake Origin" which is not bad, but the problem is it's only 2005 now; taking it out now would be a waste, and the remaining topics don't seem very suitable.

"A Chinese Ghost Story" is too classic; a remake would easily invite criticism, and given Da Tian Tian's acting skills, she probably couldn't portray Nie Xiaoqian well.

"Painted Skin" is also okay, but I heard that companies like Shanghai Film and Ningxia Film are already preparing this project.

The male lead has been cast as Chen Kun, the special effects team is preparing to cooperate with Beautiful Times Company, and they've already sent people to discuss it, so Jiang Heng definitely can't go in and steal the role.

As for "Big Fish & Begonia," better forget it—I can't appreciate its view of love.

Given Jiang Heng's age and experience, he no longer believes in love.

Him not having settled on a girlfriend for so long is also because he was deeply hurt in his past life.

An actor who drifted in Xianggang for over ten years without making a name for himself, then after 2010 went to Jingcheng to be a "Beijing drifter"—the bitterness is easy to imagine.

Yet he ended up with an extremely domineering girlfriend who constantly engaged in PUA, making life feel suffocating.

What baffles him most is that, when they first met, she was clearly a "well-behaved," "cute" moe girl, but once together she would often turn into a "tyrannosaurus" or "tiger," which is quite astonishing.

Of course, given his current mindset, status, and wealth, he definitely won't be suppressed by women anymore, but he truly no longer expects love.

After thinking it over, Jiang Heng felt that only "Zhu Zion" was still somewhat suitable.

Jing Tian, huh, seems like she could play Bi Yao!

"Hmm, I've thought about it, and it seems we could film Zhu Zion!"

Jing Tian was stunned upon hearing that, then her eyes lit up and she exclaimed loudly, "I want to play Bi Yao!"

This time, however, Jiang Heng was the one who was stunned—it turned out they were in agreement without prior discussion.

"Why?"

"Because Bi Yao loves Zhang Xiaofan deeply and would die for him!"

"Just that?"

"Exactly, isn't love about being willing to give everything for the other person, even at the cost of one's own life?"

Da Tian Tian stared wide-eyed and said matter-of-factly.

Upon hearing that, Jiang Heng felt his eyes sour and had the urge to tear up.

Because later "love" meant having a house and a car, a betrothal gift of 380,800, and seven-tenths of the children being someone else's!

Having heard so much about "taking" love, this "giving" type really takes some getting used to.

"Well, originally I was thinking of letting you study at the Beijing Film Academy for two years to hone your acting before making a movie. But seeing your determination now, it seems there's no problem."

Da Tian Tian said, "Of course, if you wanted me to play something else, I really couldn't. But if it's about love, there's definitely no problem, because it's basically playing myself!"

Jiang Heng, hearing that, could hardly bear it.

He quickly said, "Okay, okay, I understand. Go back first; I'll revise the script!"

Da Tian Tian was a bit disappointed, but upon thinking that Jiang Heng had agreed to let her play Bi Yao, she felt happy again.

"Then, roughly when can we start shooting? I need to keep my schedule free!"

Jiang Heng was speechless: "You wander around all day, what schedule are you even keeping?"

Da Tian Tian laughed heartily and left feeling pleased.

Along the way, whenever she ran into an employee who loved Outstanding Rising Film Company, she greeted them enthusiastically, startling those people.

They muttered behind their backs, "What's going on? Could it be that in a moment she'll become the boss's wife?"

After Jing Tian left, not long later several milk tea shops downstairs at the company kept delivering hundreds of cups of milk tea, said to be ordered by a girl calling herself Da Tian Tian, each cup extra sweetened so everyone could feel the "sweetness."

In the office, Jiang Heng looked at the large cup of milk tea brought by his assistant, his eyes puzzled.

"Is this, again, bought by Jing Tian?"

"Yes, Miss Jing bought milk tea for everyone in the company; this note is for you!"

"Alright, go on!"

Jiang Heng took the milk tea, glanced at it, shook his head slightly and laughed, saying, "This girl, wow, it's too sweet—how much sugar did you add?"

Jiang Heng doesn't shy away from sweets and drinks, but he finds the milk tea overly sweet.

He took a sip, set it down, and continued writing the script.

By the way, in his previous life there was also a version of Zhu Zion, directed by renowned martial arts choreographer Cheng Xiaodong, but unfortunately the film turned out terribly.

When it first premiered, its Douban rating was over six points, but later it dropped to over four.

Speaking of Cheng Xiaodong, as a martial arts choreographer he's excellent, but as a director his skills are indeed lacking.

I really don't know what the investors were thinking, actually hiring him to direct this film.

Perhaps from the project's outset they treated this film as a wuxia piece, certainly prioritizing finding a director in Xianggang.

However, the previous generation of wuxia directors were either too old or no longer active, so the opportunity went to Cheng Xiaodong, who came from a martial arts choreography background.

Thinking that he had participated in the production of so many classic wuxia films, he must be stronger than the mainland directors here—yet the result was a complete mess.

Therefore Jiang Heng couldn't use his script at all and had to rewrite a whole new version.

After being busy for over two hours, he got up, stretched, and began to ponder the casting issue again.

These days, when Jiang Heng makes films, he's no longer as reluctant to spend money as before; spending a bit more on actors is fine.

Unfortunately, among the active actresses in mainland China's film circle, Jiang Heng has never felt anything for them.

After thinking it over, he still decided to use Tang Yan.

After all, when they initially planned to film Pacific Rim 2, Jiang Heng was more inclined to use Tang Yan, but then the incident occurred where Liu Yifei was slandered by Song Zu De.

Having already let Liu Yifei star in Pacific Rim 2, if she were also cast in Zhu Zion, the company's contracted artists might not say it outright, but they would surely be very dissatisfied inside.

Not promoting such a good resource with our own artists really wouldn't fly.

And among the three 85-flower female stars signed to Outstanding Rising Film Company—Tang Yan, Yang Mi, and Zhao Liying—Tang Yan seems more suited to the role of Lu Xueqi.

Speaking of which, Tang Yan also has a certain connection to this role.

Historically, Ren Xianqi filmed the 2007 music video "Zhu Zion: I'm Back," in which Tang Yan played Lu Xueqi.

Because it was a music video, the production wasn't high‑end and the makeup was average, but the gaze was still sharp, quite fitting Lu Xueqi's cold style.

Jiang Heng thought about it and immediately dialed Tang Yan's phone.

She was leisurely strolling in a mall at the moment; after filming The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3, a crew had actually approached her.

However, Tang Yan has never been very ambitious, and after missing the lead role in Pacific Rim 2, she got a premonition that Jiang Heng would someday cast her as a film lead.

So she isn't particularly keen on shooting TV dramas.

In contrast, Yang Mi is extremely diligent; after The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3 wrapped, she immediately joined other crews, leaving no time even to meet up for shopping.

Suddenly hearing her phone ring, she hurriedly took it out to glance.

Seeing Jiang Heng's number, Tang Yan instantly lost the leisurely mood she had.

"Hello, Director Jiang, are you looking for me?"

"Hmm, where are you?"

"I'm at International Trade Center here!"

"You come to the office… never mind, I'll come find you instead!"

Jiang Heng glanced at his watch and realized it was already noon, perfect for heading out to have a meal together.

(End of chapter)