Chapter 428: Shaking Up the Entertainment Circle

The two only fell asleep after 3 a. m.; one had to shoot a movie, the other had to catch a flight, and when they woke up they were both bleary-eyed.

Jiang Heng drove to the set first, while Liu Yifei only called her mother after washing up.

"Got up!"

"Mm!"

"Then I'll come pick you up!"

Liu Yifei didn't buy a house in Huairou; Liu Xiaoli was staying at a hotel.

Naturally, given the mother and daughter's current wealth, they would of course stay at a five-star hotel.

Not long after, Liu Xiaoli drove over and went straight upstairs to knock on the door.

After waiting a while, Liu Yifei finally came to open the door, yawning.

"You fell asleep again?"

"Yeah, I'm exhausted!"

"What time did you go to sleep?"

"Around four!"

Seeing her mother's expression, Liu Yifei quickly added, "We were just chatting!"

Liu Xiaoli gave a "You're trying to fool me" look, but didn't say anything.

Liu Yifei then mentioned Jiang Heng's plan: he had too many assets, each valuable and profitable, and if they weren't properly organized and tidied up, they might one day be drained.

Liu Xiaoli said: "It's long overdue—just look at his game company, pulling in over ten billion a year in revenue, and you'd just hand it over to outsiders like that?"

Liu Yifei said: "His game company really does make a lot of money!"

Liu Xiaoli widened her eyes and said: "Making money? That's a gold mine! If he could give you ten percent of the shares, would you still have to kill yourself filming and doing commercials?"

Liu Yifei replied: "What makes him think he should give me shares?"

Liu Xiaoli said: "When you eventually get married, he'll have to give you some assets anyway!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei inexplicably grew irritated: "I'm still so young—what's there to talk about marriage?"

Liu Xiaoli sneered: "If we don't talk about it now, we might find it too late later!"

Seeing her daughter's unpleasant expression, Liu Xiaoli felt a bit guilty: "Forget it, forget it—let's not bring this up. Anyway, he made you famous; with your current fame, we're not doing badly ourselves either."

Liu Yifei said nothing, put on her coat, slung her bag over her shoulder, and headed out.

Liu Xiaoli continued: "What's that thing he's working on, Keep Running? He recorded a special episode with Jing Tian—did he say anything about recording one with you?"

"He said he's too busy—the first season is already finished and will soon be sold to the TV station; when the second season comes around, we'll record an episode together!"

Liu Xiaoli sighed upon hearing that: "How did it get scheduled for a second season already?"

The two chatted all the way to the airport without mentioning it, but speaking of Jiang Heng's side, after arriving at the set he was so exhausted that he had the assistant director and action coach Yuan De keep an eye on things for a while while he went to rest in the RV.

Yuan De wore an expression of understanding and laughed: "Spring nights are short, the sun rises high—from now on the king won't hold early court; I even thought I could get three days off!"

Jiang Heng said: "Time off? What time off? In another ten or eight days we'll wrap! Then you'll have plenty of time to rest!"

"Then I really ought to take a good rest and go home to keep my wife company!" Yuan De chuckled.

Jiang Heng saw him laughing happily and thought it might be better to wait a few more days before telling him of his plan to take a year off. Speaking of which, many entertainers in Xianggang marry and divorce repeatedly, have several children, and face great pressure to support their families.

Yuan De may not be like that, but after being at Jiang Heng's side for over ten years, suddenly stopping work for a year would certainly be hard to adjust to.

Of course, given his and Yuan Hua's seniority and fame, even if Jiang Heng stopped working, he wouldn't be left without roles or income—at worst his pay would be a bit lower, not as relaxed as it is now.

And just like that, ten-odd days passed in the blink of an eye; that day the wrap-up of Black Myth: Wukong was celebrated with the customary wrap party.

At the banquet, glasses clinked; when everyone was drinking heartily, someone suggested asking Director Jiang to say a few words.

Jiang Heng took the microphone and said that over the past ten-plus years he had filmed nonstop, busy as ever, and thanks to the support of colleagues and audiences he had repeatedly achieved outstanding results. But after all these years he was truly exhausted; he planned to rest properly and not film any movies next year!

As soon as he said that, the whole venue was shocked.

Some felt the alcohol in their bodies turn to cold sweat, instantly sobering up: "Director Jiang, will you still be making movies in the future?"

"Of course, I just have no filming plans for next year—I'm saying this now so I don't hold back anyone's prospects!"

"Phew!"

The venue was filled with the sound of people letting out a sigh; after all, this bunch had relied on Jiang Heng for their livelihood for too long, and suddenly hearing his decision to rest left them feeling a bit empty.

But actually, many renowned directors, when lacking inspiration or form, will take a proper break—not just one year, but even three to five years off filming is not unusual.

But Jiang Heng had filmed continuously for over ten years, so suddenly stopping was truly unexpected!

Afterward, many people asked, making sure he would film in 2013, and received an affirmative answer.

Thus, after the wrap party ended, many people's first reaction upon leaving the hotel was to call those they were close to, familiar with, and trusted.

"Let me tell you some big news: Director Jiang plans to take the whole year off in 2012 and not film anything at all!"

"No way—is that for real?"

"He just said it himself at the wrap party—of course it's true!"

"Holy crap, that means there won't be any Jiang-directed films during the 2013 spring festival or summer season, right?"

"Um, theoretically that's how it works!"

"Holy crap, it's springtime for Chinese-language cinema!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Um, I mean, with Jiang Heng not filming, it's a great opportunity for other directors to rise—you know, the film market's going to get lively!"

The messenger, upon hearing it, realized it really was the case.

With Director Jiang's films absent from the important spring and summer slots of 2013, other directors will surely target them, competition will be fiercely intense, and countless film companies will seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to produce big-budget pictures!

That night, similar conversations and scenarios played out repeatedly.

Jingcheng, inside a certain club.

Wang Zhonglei was attending a dinner gathering, casually took a call, and immediately his expression turned solemn.

"What did you say? There's such a thing? Oh, that's actually a good opportunity, sure, we'll talk specifics later!"

After hanging up, those nearby asked what call he had taken, his expression so solemn.

Wang Zhonglei chuckled: "It really is a big deal in the Chinese-language entertainment circle; Jiang Heng just announced at the wrap party that he'll suspend filming for a year in 2012!"

"Holy shit!"

"No way!"

"Is it true or false?"

At this table, too, it was a round of questioning, and everyone found it hard to believe their own ears.

After all, Jiang Heng now is like a demon king, monopolizing the prime New Year and summer slots, tightly suppressing other companies and directors so they can't get ahead.

When audiences think of big special-effects films, they think of Jiang Heng's, leaving hardly any "survival space" for other big directors.

But if Jiang Heng were absent, wouldn't the opportunity come for everyone?

Wang Zhonglei also lost his appetite for food now, chatted a few words, then left early, called his older brother and Feng Xiaogang to discuss next year's shooting plan.

If the news is true, Huayi will definitely come out with a big film.

Moreover, the "Detective Dee" series collaborated with Xu Ke can also have a sequel. (End of chapter)