Chapter 39: Premiere

November 28, Jingcheng Political Consultative Hall, the domestic special-effects blockbuster *Prehistoric One Billion Years* is about to hold its premiere here.

Countless media filled the scene, numerous reporters surrounded the arriving guests for interviews.

Suddenly, a thin-built man with a stern face stepped into the reporters' view.

"Zhang, Zhang Yimou?"

Someone couldn't believe their own eyes and exclaimed.

The rest swarmed over, surrounding this art-film director and questioning him nonstop.

Zhang Yimou being able to appear here is naturally thanks to Han Sanping.

Although he is not yet the vice chairman and general manager of China Film, as the factory head of Beijing Film he still carries considerable influence.

Upon hearing that Zhang Yimou was in Jingcheng, he called and invited him to attend the ceremony.

Going by Zhang Yimou's usual temperament, he might well have refused.

But right now he happens to be in Jingcheng with no work schedule, so it's indeed hard to refuse.

More importantly, after ten years of making art films, he also wants to make a commercial movie!

If one asks who is currently the most successful commercial-film director in the country, it is naturally Jiang Heng.

Coming to attend his new film's premiere gives face to Jiang Heng and Han Sanping, and also lets one learn in advance.

It's just this red carpet and reporter interviews that he isn't very used to.

"Director Zhang Yimou, hello. It's been one and a half years since your film *Having a Good Talk*, do you currently have a new film in production?"

"Director Zhang, hello, do you currently have plans to make a big-budget film?"

"Director Zhang, Director Zhang!"

"We're in preparation, will consider it!" Zhang Yimou first lowered his head and walked forward, seeing that these reporters really wouldn't make way, he blurted out those two sentences, then continued forward.

Only after entering the hall's interior did he finally relax.

When looking for seats, Han Sanping and Jiang Heng had already arrived together.

"Director Zhang, hello, welcome, welcome!"

"Director Zhang, hello!"

Zhang Yimou, also not adept at small talk, could see that Jiang Heng appeared to be under twenty, and he was greatly surprised.

"Director Jiang, you, what year were you born?"

"I'm an '80s baby!"

"What?"

"Born in 1980!"

"80?" Zhang Yimou pondered a moment, then exclaimed in shock: "When you made *The Matrix*, you were still under eighteen?"

"Uh, in traditional age reckoning I've reached it!"

Hearing this, Zhang Yimou didn't know how to respond.

He had spent ten years making art films, also tried urban light comedy commercial films like *Having a Good Talk*, but as for how to proceed ahead, he truly felt a bit lost; otherwise he wouldn't have turned to make *Not One Less*.

Who would have thought that a teenager under eighteen could produce a film like *The Matrix*.

Leaving aside the special effects and action scenes in the film, that forward‑thinking script—could this boy before us really have written it?

Whether others believe it or not, he himself doesn't believe it!

"Director Zhang, please sit here!"

Inside the hall, heads bobbed and voices clamored; seeing Zhang Yimou dazed, Jiang Heng ended the topic and escorted him to his seat.

Zhang Yimou turned his head and saw that the person sitting beside him was Jiang Wen.

"Yo, Old Zhang, you came too?" Jiang Wen wore an expression of delighted surprise.

The two had just collaborated once in *Having a Good Talk*; the film's male lead Zhao Shuai is played by Jiang Wen.

"Hmm, come take a look!" Zhang Yimou replied offhand.

Jiang Wen, however, opened up: "I came to take a look—what does our country's first monster blockbuster look like?"

He then lowered his voice and said: "I've heard people say his film's plot isn't great, and the box office might turn out terrible!"

Zhang Yimou replied: "Who told you that!"

Jiang Wen thought to himself: "Can this damn thing be said out loud?"

He answered vaguely: "A friend!"

Then he added: "Hey, do you say *The Matrix* was written by him? I've watched that film, and watched the tape several times—it's really good! How could he make this just for money?"

After saying that, he also pointed with his hand at the distant backdrop.

Zhang Yimou said: "Then why did you come!"

Jiang Wen replied: "If I don't come see it, how can I criticize? I can't just not watch and then say it's bad—that would be like a village gossip monger!"

Zhang Yimou thought: "You're asking me to waste my effort!"

He nodded and said: "Hmm, that's also right!"

Jiang Wen wondered: "How come you're here too? You feel like you're not in the same circle as them, ah, an art‑film director!"

"Just happened to be in Jingcheng, hard to refuse!"

Jiang Wen said: "You won't, you also want to make this kind of commercial blockbuster, right!"

Zhang Yimou waved his hand: "No such thing, I just came over to casually take a look!"

Jiang Wen laughed: "Old Zhang, you're being a bit pretentious; there's no need to hide it—making money is nothing to be ashamed of!"

Zhang Yimou countered: "Then are you also preparing to make such films in the future?"

Jiang Wen laughed: "In the future, I want to make films that have both artistic substance and especially strong box office!"

Zhang Yimou thought: "What you want is pretty comprehensive!"

However, he said, "It will succeed!"

"Hey?"

The two chatted idly for a while, and the premiere ceremony finally began.

The lights in the auditorium dimmed, the big screen lit up, and from the speakers came a shocking yet imposing voice that made everyone in the hall jump.

Looking at the big screen, they saw a lush expanse of green, filled with trees and plants never seen before.

"Hiss!"

Zhang Yimou sucked in a breath of cold air and quietly asked Jiang Wen, "These plants don't exist in reality, do they?"

"Probably not!"

"All special effects?"

"Probably yes!"

"That's too realistic..."

A gigantic, incredibly ferocious Tyrannosaurus suddenly appeared on the screen, causing the guests and reporters in the auditorium to hold their breath.

They felt the Tyrannosaurus on screen was tall and imposing, as if it truly existed.

The camera turned, and Ge You, bearded and glasses-wearing, sat panting on a dead tree trunk, saying, "I can't run, I really can't run!"

As it turned out, the "dead tree trunk" beneath him moved—it was actually a living creature.

Ge You turned pale with fright, scrambling and crawling forward in a desperate run.

Although it was a thrilling and embarrassing scene, his performance always carried a touch of comedy.

Those nearby praised Ge You's acting as truly excellent; he responded with vague affirmations, inwardly utterly shocked.

He recalled that during filming, in the green-screen studio, he acted toward empty air as the director demanded—no, actually toward a pole.

On it was a red light representing the monster's eye!

The obviously empty green-screen studio, after post-production, presented a Jurassic world with all kinds of dinosaurs—how amazing!

All the cast and crew on site shared roughly the same thought.

As for the reporters, they felt utterly shocked, never expecting it could be filmed like this.

The only regret was that it was too short, less than three minutes.

After the first trial screening ended, Jiang Heng led the cast onto the stage to give a talk about the film.

(End of chapter)