Chapter 31: Star-Studded Cameos

Jiang Heng thought, who wouldn't want a worldwide simultaneous release!

The problem is that before The Matrix was released, I was just an unknown nobody, not even knowing which major Haolaiwu studios were opening their doors.

He said, "Next time for sure, we'll have the global box‑office split market release on the same day, and the buyout releases will be placed later!"

Han Sanping heard that and felt a bit excited.

"How's that script coming along?"

"It's basically finished!"

"I'll be there right away!"

Jiang Heng forced a wry smile, "It doesn't have to be that urgent, does it?"

Han Sanping, slightly embarrassed, "Isn't this the country's first monster movie? Thinking about it does get me a bit excited!"

Jiang Heng thought, "Maybe we can boost reputation and box office with the 'first' label domestically!"

They say life is like first sight; when people encounter something for the first time they love, they often see it through a filter.

Like the 1990 version of Fengshen Bang, countless youths watched it obsessively, fascinated by the battles between characters, and it scored a lofty 8.2 on Douban.

But watching it twenty or thirty years later, it's inevitably a bit crude and rough.

Yet the film's theme song "Legend of God" truly stands as a classic that endures.

Thinking of the melody "Flowers bloom and wither, flowers bloom and wither, the long years, the long river," Jiang Heng recalled his childhood fascination with Fengshen Bang and felt annoyed at having missed the episodes "Eliminate the Thousand‑Mile Eye, Follow‑the‑Wind Ear" and the two episodes about the "Seven Monsters of Meishan".

He secretly resolved that before filming The Matrix 2, he'd find time to make a Fengshen Bang movie, regardless of box office, take it slow, and not worry about making money!

On the other end, Han Sanping hadn't heard Jiang Heng speak for a while and asked, "What, is there something else?"

"Oh, nothing, I was just daydreaming!"

Han Sanping laughed, "You won't have another crazy idea, will you? A great director's mind is always off the charts!"

Jiang Heng hurriedly said, "Can't talk about it, can't talk about it, I just suddenly think the Fengshen Yanyi subject is really great, we could make a film with it in the future!"

Han Sanping had intended to exchange a few more pleasantries and hang up, but hearing Jiang Heng's words instantly perked him up.

"Fengshen Yanyi is great, we could shoot one of these, you…!"

Thinking that a new film would start shooting immediately, he changed his tone: "When you're not busy, find time to write the script!"

But to be honest, he prefers the Fengshen script; this monster blockbuster needs a smooth plot, can't make the leads look too dumb, and must have a thrilling final "Dragon's Mouth Escape"—it's really not easy.

Now that it's about to start filming, someone at Beiying Studio still says the film has no prospects!

Jiang Heng said, "Of course, we have to wait until this one is finished before we do it!"

He thought and added, "By the way, let's prepare a kickoff press conference!"

"Press conference?"

Han Sanping was stunned for a moment, then understood.

At this moment, The Matrix is making inroads in the Beimei market, achieving impressive box office, and domestic media are reporting heavily, already drawing public attention and discussion.

Holding a new film press conference now would directly carry over that hype.

When the film releases later, promotion will be much easier.

"Alright, I'll arrange it!"

He paused then said, "International flights are tiring, rest first! Tomorrow I'll send a car to pick you up, we'll go over the script and finalize the cast."

Jiang Heng had no objection, hung up, and went back to bed to nap.

He woke up again in the middle of the night, couldn't fall back asleep, and mulled over the casting.

"Wu Jing must be filming a TV drama now; his kung fu is good and his relationship with Yan Zu is fine, we could invite him for a supporting role!"

But Wu Jing's first film, Kung Fu Kid, flopped at the box office, and for several years he couldn't get any movie offers, so he could only act in TV dramas.

He would probably be happy to have a cameo in a special‑effects blockbuster.

Jiang Heng considered which newcomers or rising stars he could pull into the crew.

Zhang Da Meinu's looks and fee are suitable, but she should probably be in King of Comedy right now.

Princess Pearl is about to air, the two princesses will soon be popular nationwide; let them act and then send them to Jurassic…

Later, Fan Ye is still just a nobody!

Li Bingbing debuted back in '94 but still has no fame; she only became known after the 2000 Young Judge Bao, so she could come too!

On the male actor side, Jiang Heng kept thinking of many newcomers or unknowns, pondering through the night without sleep, and when he woke it was already noon the next day.

He picked up his phone, naturally a stack of missed calls.

One was from Hong Jinbao, who knew he was being considered for the martial arts director role on the new film.

He called back directly, saying he had just returned from the United States, the crew here estimates they can start filming within a month, and asked him to come together with Yuan De.

Hong Jinbao was overjoyed and said he'd definitely arrive on time.

He immediately added, "Director Jiang, um, see if there's any role suitable for my son; I want him to get some screen time!"

Jiang Heng was a bit uneasy, "My film is pretty gory; several characters have already been fed to dinosaurs!"

Hong Jinbao replied, "No problem, actors can't be picky!"

Since Hong Jinbao said that, Jiang Heng couldn't refuse.

As the saying goes, the martial world is not about fighting, but about human relationships!

Even the aloof like Zhou Xingxing have filmed to repay favors.

Hong Jinbao had helped him a lot recently, so he owed him that favor.

He chatted a bit more, hung up, then called Han Sanping, whose tone was full of helplessness.

"Um, Director Jiang, have you rested?"

He originally wanted to say, "You were too busy last night?"

But the two of them aren't that close privately, otherwise he'd definitely have asked.

Jiang Heng was also a bit embarrassed, "The jet lag hasn't worn off; I couldn't sleep all night!"

Han Sanping called out, "Look at me, I've been busy and forgot this; if you don't rest another day, we'll do it tomorrow!"

Jiang Heng hurriedly said, "Forget it, better to do it sooner! Start shooting early, release early!"

After hanging up, he washed up and packed, then took the car sent by Han Sanping to the Beijing Film Factory for a meeting.

In the meeting room, over ten people were present, men and women, old and young; upon seeing each other, they all congratulated Jiang Heng on the big box-office success of *The Matrix* in North America.

These days, everyone thinks that gaining foreign awards recognition and box-office results is a sign of ability.

*The Matrix* achieving decent box-office results in the U. S., a global film hub, is truly a testament to skill!

However, when they looked at the script, several elderly gentlemen's faces changed.

Director Jiang, isn't this script a bit too oppressive?

At the end of the script, the male and female leads, using weapons, barely manage to kill the dinosaur near their temporary shelter, gaining a brief respite, yet they remain in the Jurassic period.

What Jiang Heng didn't write in the script is a long shot: as the camera rises higher and higher, more and more dinosaurs of various kinds appear on screen.

In his conception, the duration of the dinosaurs' appearance is to be strictly controlled, and in the final shot, he wants to show as much as possible the feeling of dinosaurs ruling the planet in the Jurassic world.

Although the male and female leads managed to survive by luck, their fate remains uncertain!

(End of chapter)