Chapter 395: with translation of chapter title

After Jing Tian became vice president, her first task was to participate in the role audition for Battle Through the Heavens.

Currently, Outstanding Rising Film Company has set up audition registration offices in ten cities including Jingcheng, Shenyang, Zhengzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Xi'an.

It can be said that in front of each registration office there are long queues, crowds of people.

After all, the temptation of becoming a star is still great.

Of course, not just anyone can participate in the audition; there are still standards.

They screen for age and height, appearance must be passable, and they also have to try on period costumes.

Jiang Heng absolutely cannot tolerate ugly men in historical dramas.

Even if an actor is professionally trained, if their look is not good, they are still not considered.

The result was that after a while of auditions, the few candidates selected were all non-professionally trained.

Jiang Heng hesitated a bit, because none of these people were future stars, and he had no idea how they would develop.

Once selected, it's basically changing their fate! Jing Tian didn't know Jiang Heng's hesitation; each day she helped organize the materials sent from each registration office and watched the audition videos of the 'seed contestants'.

"Brother, this one looks okay, 1.81 meters tall, height is sufficient. Although his looks are a bit inferior to yours, he's still quite handsome; most importantly, he has a spirit of not admitting defeat!"

Jiang Heng took the photo Jing Tian handed over and glanced at it; indeed it was about as she said, and using the simulation function of the Super Microcomputer, he could immediately see this person's historical costume appearance, which actually matched the original description best.

He also glanced at this person's résumé: Zhang Wei.

Jiang Heng's mind inexplicably conjured up the image of Jia Hang in iPartment.

Holy crap, this is a bit scary; the two are completely different styles!

"The appearance still meets the requirements, it's just the name…"

Jing Tian laughed and said, "Just pick a stage name!"

Jiang Heng thought about it and agreed; using a stage name in the entertainment industry is completely normal.

Even the name of the great director Zhang Yimou was taken later; his original name was not this.

"Call over there and have this person brought to the company!"

"Okay!"

"Also call the others over!"

After Jiang Heng said that, he also checked a few names on the form and handed it to Jing Tian.

It was not easy to hold an audition, consuming considerable manpower and resources; we can't say it ends after selecting one, we must keep a few backups.

Jing Tian personally called the persons in charge of several registration offices and arranged the time.

After returning, she saw Jiang Heng also on the phone, chatting happily with the other party.

"Teacher Chen Daoming?"

After the call ended, Jing Tian was somewhat surprised.

"Um, please have him play the role of Yaolao in the film!"

"Wow, that will surely be wonderful; I love Teacher Chen Daoming's acting the most!"

Seeing her look like she wanted to say something but held back, Jiang Heng smiled and asked, "What, you want to act again?"

Jing Tian gave an embarrassed smile, "No, I just think Teacher Chen Daoming is so amazing; if only he could teach me!"

"Oh, then you can come to the film, play a role, and ask him for advice when you have free time!"

"Really, can I?"

Da Tian Tian's eyes widened; she had this idea, but felt a bit embarrassed to say it.

After all, they had agreed to retire from the circle; acting again feels a bit like going back on one's word.

Jiang Heng, however, didn't think so; given Jing Tian's popularity, a cameo in the film would be a boost.

Furthermore, even if they retire from the circle, it doesn't mean they would completely withdraw just by saying so.

As long as they reduce their workload and no longer take filming as their main focus, it's fine.

"Of course you can; I'd be delighted!"

"Then it's settled!" Da Tian Tian said happily.

The next day, eight candidates for the role of Xiao Yan came to the company; after Jiang Heng's interview, it was decided that Zhang Wei would play Xiao Yan. Additionally, two other candidates signed ordinary agency contracts and stayed with the crew as extras.

By this point, the film's cast is basically confirmed.

In mid-March, the crew held a new film press conference in Jingcheng, then immediately went to Hengdian to shoot.

Jiang Heng filming Battle Through the Heavens naturally cannot do something like "Qi-transformed horse".

Moreover, he must as far as possible restore the descriptions of various techniques and battles from the book.

These basically require special effects, so they need to be shot at the China Film Digital Base.

However, the indoor and urban daily scenes in the film are first shot at Hengdian Film and Television City.

Meanwhile, the film One Person Under has already been released domestically; its 1.73 billion yuan in the mainland market failed to break the mainland box office record.

Including overseas, the total box office is over eight hundred million US dollars, making breaking nine billion basically hopeless.

Compared to Little Soldier Legend, Havoc in Heaven, etc., it is indeed much lower, but still a normal box office performance.

After all, even in Hollywood, the number of films each year with global box office over ten billion is very limited.

Furthermore, One Person Under is obviously Chinese‑culture themed and not as flashy and shocking as Havoc in Heaven; a total box office of over eight hundred million US dollars is already quite good.

More importantly, there will be a sequel released in a few months.

Even if its performance is not as good as the previous installment, the total box office is still impressive!

Liu Yifei's side also finally can stop promotional work and have a good rest for a while.

But she did not return to Jingcheng right away; instead she rushed to Hengdian to visit the set.

"Thank you, thank you, Sister Yifei, I really like your portrayal of Feng Baobao!" After a crew staff member received the milk tea, they thanked Liu Yifei.

Liu Yifei also responded very politely and courteously.

After she arrived, she first generously treated the entire crew to milk tea.

Bear in mind that Jiang Heng was filming a big-budget special-effects blockbuster; the crew numbered at least two or three thousand, so buying everyone a cup of milk tea was no small expense.

After personally handing out a few cups, Liu Yifei then went inside the filming set and personally handed one to Jiang Heng.

"Thank you!"

"Don't be polite with me!" Liu Yifei looked at Jiang Heng resentfully.

"Just being polite!"

Jiang Heng sipped his milk tea and casually said, "You've really worked hard over the past month or so; the film's box office success is thanks to you!"

"So, how are you planning to reward me?"

"I'll give you a big red envelope!"

"How big?"

"Fifty million!"

"That, that much?"

To be honest, Liu Yifei was genuinely startled by the number Jiang Heng mentioned.

After all, it's still 2011; even though A-list stars earn a lot, fifty million is still a sizable sum.

Jiang Heng, however, considered it from another angle: first, the film could achieve such high box office, and Liu Yifei's ongoing promotion had indeed contributed significantly.

A fifty-million red envelope could be considered her share of the box office profits.

Not counting box office from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and overseas, this profit share is still under 10%.

Of course, in the current domestic film market, the vast majority of directors and actors have no ties to box office profits.

Jiang Heng's big red envelope was indeed rather generous.

But since they've been together for so long, treating her generously is only fitting.

Publicizing it would also boost her market value.

For other people's films, box‑profit sharing often runs into tens of millions.

You want to ask for a discount—do you have the nerve?

(End of chapter)