Chapter 288: Three Body Premiere Ceremony

Liu Cixin stayed at the Heroic Legion crew, going to the set to watch filming when idle, and more often remained in the hotel writing the third part of Three Body.

Because the narration of the first two parts was grand and leaping, the third part was very difficult to write.

Liu Cixin was unwilling to hastily end it to cheat for manuscript fees, so the progress was somewhat slow.

Fortunately, neither Jiang Heng nor the publisher urged him on, so this writer who kept writing and revising led a rather comfortable life.

But as domestic promotional activities for the Three Body film rolled out one after another, he also began to get busy, attending a series of novel signing events to build momentum for the movie.

As for the global release date of Three Body, it was scheduled for Friday, December 21.

The domestic premiere ceremony was arranged for December 8, about ten days earlier.

This time's promotion strategy was: after the premiere, the remaining main creators of the crew would go to various box-office cities domestically to start advance screenings, while Jiang Heng took Liu Cixin to North America to participate in related promotional activities.

When Zhang Jingchu received this news, she was somewhat disappointed, because she wanted to go to North America to join the promotional activities, which would make her seem more like an international star.

But this required Jiang Heng's definite approval; she usually hardly had any chance to see Jiang Heng, so she thought she would wait for the premiere day and find an opportunity to talk.

On the morning of December 8, Zhang Jingchu wore a very sexy evening gown underneath and a thick long down coat over it, got into the car, and headed straight to the ceremony venue.

In the car, the agent complained: 'You say you, you've finished filming a movie, yet you're not even familiar with the director—no one would believe that if you said it out loud!'

Zhang Jingchu muttered to herself: 'His eyes are fixed only on Jing Tian, Liu Yifei, Yang Mi and those young ones; eighty percent he looks down on me, this old woman!'

But actually, Zhang Jingchu, born in 1980, is only 28 years old in traditional age reckoning.

The agent said: 'Indeed, Li Meiqi is fine as is, and Gao Yuanyuan, so beautiful, seemingly isn't that close to Director Jiang either. Men forever remain boys, always liking eighteen-year-olds at any age!'

Zhang Jingchu nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

She secretly lamented her bitter fate, thinking how great it would be if she had met Jiang Heng when she first debuted!

The car soon arrived at the event site; considering it was deep winter, the Three Body promotion team had erected many warm shelters on site. Besides one side of the red carpet, there were large warm-air machines at intervals.

After Zhang Jingchu got out of the car, she took off the down coat and handed it to the agent, then immediately walked onto the red carpet.

Photographers on one side snapped pictures, some thinking, 'Being a star isn't easy either—wearing an evening gown on the red carpet in the dead of winter.'

But in order to capture a better promotional effect, there was nothing to be done.

After signing her name beneath the giant poster display, the shivering Zhang Jingchu, frozen from the cold, briefly answered a few questions from the host, then quickly stepped down the red carpet.

The agent had already gone to the other side, hurriedly putting the down coat back on her.

'Are you frozen badly?'

'It's okay; those few large warm-air machines are quite effective—without them I'd freeze to death!'

'Without those, we couldn't even wear evening gowns—should we go change clothes?'

'Never mind, let's just wait for Director Jiang like this; otherwise we'd be suffering the cold for nothing.'

The agent thought about it and agreed, so she stopped urging.

The two walked into the venue; not long after, they saw Jing Tian approaching, wearing a gown and wrapped in a shawl.

'Wow, Sister Jingchu, you're dressed like that—aren't you cold?'

Zhang Jingchu gave Jing Tian a glance, thinking to herself, 'This is nonsense—who are you like? Wearing a shawl on the red carpet is basically cheating.'

'How could I not be cold? But for the film's promotion, there's nothing to be done!'

Jing Tian said: 'You could wear long underwear and snow boots underneath; it would be warm—I did that!'

Upon hearing that, Zhang Jingchu became even more speechless.

Adding long underwear under the gown—well, hearing that, it really would be warmer.

But she pursued perfection and simply refused to add them.

'Or are you just smarter?'

'Of course, I even brought hand warmers—do you want some?'

Zhang Jingchu took a deep breath, thought it over, and said: 'Forget it, I'll change my clothes later.'

Seeing that, Jing Tian stopped talking and went to change clothes without further comment.

However, Zhang Jingchu waited a while before seeing Jiang Heng approach the door in a very well-fitted suit; she quickly took off her down coat and went to meet him.

'Congratulations, Director Jiang—Three Body is finally about to be released; I'm sure it will get a good box-office result!'

Jiang Heng jumped a little, glanced at Zhang Jingchu's evening gown, and said: 'How come you're wearing so little? Didn't you find a thick coat to throw on?'

'Well, I picked this just to look good on film; I wanted you to have a look—if I go abroad, will it embarrass the crew?'

Jiang Heng quickly said: 'It looks great—what embarrassment?'

Zhang Jingchu said in 'surprise': 'Really? Then can I go abroad with you at that time?'

Jiang Heng laughed, thinking to himself, 'This little matter—does it really require such a fuss?'

However, since things have come to this point, it's not easy to refuse.

Anyway, the cost isn't a problem, so he said yes.

Zhang Jingchu smiled and said: 'Thank you, Director Jiang!'

'Well, go change your clothes first—don't let yourself freeze!'

'Okay!'

Zhang Jingchu left without further mention; meanwhile, Jiang Heng came to the guest seats and greeted the guests present.

As they were chatting, they saw Jiang Wen walk over.

But he was wearing a white suit with a white hat—indeed, it was the look of Zhang Maz from Let the Bullets Fly.

'Your outfit is quite distinctive!' Jiang Heng sized him up and said with a smile.

'Not bad, right? I also think it's pretty good!'

After Jiang Wen said that, he slightly opened his arms and turned around.

'Let me tell you, filming Let the Bullets Fly was a blast—you not coming is really a pity!'

Speaking of which, before the film started shooting, Jiang Wen suggested that Jiang Heng make a cameo appearance, playing Huang Silang's close aide Hu Wan—the same role played by Chen Kun.

Jiang Heng naturally refused; first, he didn't want to play a subordinate of Chow Yun-fat; second, he didn't want to affect the completeness of the film Let the Bullets Fly, so he found an excuse and refused.

Jiang Wen was somewhat unhappy about this, but fortunately Jiang Heng promised to cameo in one of his films later, and the matter was settled.

But this time, coming to attend the premiere of Three Body, he actually showed up in the guise of Zhang Mazi—obviously he had something in mind!

I can tell—looking at your costume, it seems you don't have any scenes!

Jiang Wen wondered, "How do you know I'm dressed as Zhang Muzhi?"

Jiang Heng said, "Although I've never been to the set, I've heard you describe him, so I know what kind of person Zhang Muzhi should be—he's exactly like that!"

Ah, I should have insisted back then and dragged you into the crew!

Jiang Heng laughed, "Now, the film's completeness isn't bad either!"

That's true, I'm very satisfied. As for the schedule, we're also planning to set it for next summer!

Upon hearing that, Jiang Heng couldn't help but say, "Well, my 3D version of Havoc in Heaven is also scheduled for next summer!"

He said that not because he feared competition between the two, but mainly because he worried about inadvertently harming Let the Bullets Fly.

After all, it's the world's first top-tier-effects 3D blockbuster, and its box office is sure to be huge.

Jiang Wen somewhat understood how 3D works, and also knew Jiang Heng's special-effects level; hearing this, he was startled and quickly said, "Then our two films really should keep some distance!"

(End of chapter)