Chapter 311

Jiang Heng had not come to Hengdian for the first time, nor was it his first time seeing Xu Yong'an.

But if we talk about the grandest scale and the most elaborate ceremony, this time takes the prize.

After all, the halo of being the worldwide box-office champion is simply too dazzling, with ticket sales surpassing two billion US dollars and still rising.

Such a figure was once unthinkable, but now a Chinese-language film has achieved it, leaving many feeling as if they had fallen into a dream, filled with an unreal sensation.

Xu Yong'an felt that way; he knew Jiang Heng was formidable and had some understanding of 3D film.

Yet he never imagined Jiang Heng could film something so immersive and utterly shocking.

To be honest, Xu Yong'an, having just watched the IMAX 3D version of *The Monkey King*, was truly stunned.

That feeling was comparable to the shock of cinema moving from silent to sound, from black-and-white to color.

Now the global film market is shifting from "flat" to "three‑dimensional," and it is Chinese-language films leading the way—Xu Yong'an felt honored to be part of it.

He warmly invited Jiang Heng to the dinner he had prepared, indicating that local officials would also attend.

When the flower‑adorned sedan is carried into someone's territory, that face must certainly be given.

Jiang Heng smiled and accepted, exchanged a few pleasantries, and only then did Xu Yong'an's party depart.

That evening, Jiang Heng, accompanied by several key crew members of *A Chinese Ghost Story*, attended the banquet, eating, drinking, and chatting idly.

The local officials came to see Jiang Heng mainly out of curiosity.

They simply wanted to see what kind of formidable person could break *Titanic*'s global box‑office record.

They also felt Jiang Heng was bringing glory to the country, for after so many years of China's development, few areas have truly surpassed Europe and America; even the nation's total economic output only overtook Japan in 2010 to become the world's second‑largest economy.

The meal was enjoyable and harmonious, quite pleasant.

The next day, Jiang Heng officially reported to the set and began filming the scenes concerning Ning Caichen.

Incidentally, Nie Xiaoqian's identity in the original novel and in the Xianggang films is that of a female ghost.

In the mainland's 2000 broadcast of *Human Spirit Affection*, Nie Xiaoqian is also a female ghost.

By 2003, in the television series *A Chinese Ghost Story* starring Xu Xiyuan, Chen Xiaodong, Wu Jing, and others, Nie Xiaoqian's identity had been changed to a fox fairy.

Naturally, the reason is that the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television does not advocate "ghost‑god theory," so in later mainland productions, female‑ghost roles are often turned into fox spirits.

Speaking of which, in *The Monkey King* the opening already features ox‑headed and horse‑faced guardians, and even a cameo by the Jin‑era crowd as King Yama.

Fortunately, having a classic novel as a basis and expounding the film's major significance counts as giving the net a boost.

As for this version of *A Chinese Ghost Story* directed by Guo Fan, Nie Xiaoqian's identity is once again a fox fairy.

The plot is also much simpler: the scholar Ning Caichen spends the night at Lanruo Temple, is seduced by a fox spirit, and then draws forth Yan Chixia, the tree‑demon granny, and others for a great battle.

This film's main selling point is still a special effect.

As the saying goes, when a state is about to fall, monsters must appear.

Whether it is Ning Caichen, who lacks the strength to truss a chicken, or Yan Chixia, who possesses formidable Daoist arts, both are mortal bodies; yet living in a chaotic age teeming with monsters and evil influences, they inevitably feel a deep sense of helplessness.

The film will devote considerable screen time to these elements, and its overall style remains rather dark and horrifying.

As for the romance, well, Jiang Heng is indeed not skilled at love scenes, but fortunately it is not melodramatic—there is no plot of Yan Chixia falling for Nie Xiaoqian—and the focus is on depicting the hardship of a young couple trying to survive in turbulent times.

Overall, it feels a bit like ordinary people mistakenly wandering into the monster‑filled Western Ox‑Heaven Continent.

At the same time, drawing inspiration from *White Snake: Origins*, we add a touch of melodrama.

In the end, the two will surely have one of them die….

"Director Jiang, your look is so scholarly, you're practically Ning Caichen stepped out of the book!" In the makeup room, after Jiang Heng had done his makeup and changed clothes, the assistant director offered this compliment.

The others in the room also praised Jiang Heng's appearance and demeanor.

Jiang Heng resignedly said, "All right, save the praise for another day—let's just get shooting!"

"All right, let's start shooting!"

Everyone took their places, and Jiang Heng also sat down inside the ruined temple.

Because the film features many night scenes, daytime shooting mainly focuses on interior shots, with only a few exterior ones.

This scene is Nie Xiaoqian seducing Ning Caichen indoors.

Liu Yifei and Jiang Heng had a good rapport, so the shooting was not awkward; when things got a bit over the top, she still had to rein herself in a little.

Among the crew on set, some secretly laughed.

Others envied Liu Yifei for having found such a good "meal ticket."

The actor playing Yan Chixia in the film is Wang Hui, who also portrayed the Thirteenth Prince Yinxiang, the deputy emperor, in *Yongzheng Dynasty*.

The reason for casting him was that he looks possessed of righteousness and heroism, and his portrayal of Yan Chixia in *Human Spirit Affection* was also passable.

To be frank, Wang Hui was quite surprised when he received the invitation, given that after so many years in film, his most famous role, "the Thirteenth Lord," was merely a supporting part in a TV drama.

He had also appeared in a few films, such as Cao Hong in *Red Cliff*, but none gave him much screen time.

Yet now he can play the male lead's second role in Jiang Heng's film—truly a blessing from out of the blue.

Well, although the director of this film is Guo Fan, he really has no reputation to speak of.

Jiang Heng is also the producer and the male lead, so outsiders naturally regard the film as his work—even the crew, including Guo Fan, think so.

Although Jiang Heng keeps delegating authority, Guo Fan still frequently asks for instructions and reports, feeling rather like an executive director himself.

Seeing several indoor scenes go smoothly, Guo Fan was also pleased and stepped forward to say, "No wonder you're Director Jiang—your expression, tone, lines, and blocking; every detail could serve as teaching material for students to study repeatedly!"

Jiang Heng chuckled, "If you say that, I could go teach at the Beijing Film Academy!"

Guo Fan replied, "If you were to go teach at the Beijing Film Academy, enrollment would have to increase ten‑fold, and the numbers at the Central Academy of Drama and Shanghai Theatre Academy would drop by half!"

Jiang Heng laughed heartily, "You sure know how to talk!"

During the day we filmed a bit, rested a bit; the pace wasn't especially rushed.

But at night it got busier, because many of the film's martial‑magic showdown scenes take place after dark.

The actress playing the tree‑demon granny is Mao Weitao, who once portrayed Dongfang Bubai in the CCTV version of *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*; her acting and action‑scene work are fine, and the shooting has gone smoothly.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days have passed, and Jiang Heng's scenes in *A Chinese Ghost Story* are already about seven‑tenths done.

That day, the assistant suddenly came over, and only when Jiang Heng had free time did he say: "Director Jiang, Liu Cixin just called, saying his third work is finally finished, and he wants to come over to deliver the manuscript to you!"

"Oh, finally finished? I thought we would have to wait until next year!"

Many novels start with a bang but end poorly.

A typical example is the novel Accursed Immortal; perhaps the beginning was written too well, or perhaps too many characters and plot threads were introduced, making it chaotic, so even the author later couldn't keep track.

In short, after a long wait it finally concluded, but readers were still not very satisfied.

(End of chapter)