Chapter 464: with translation of chapter title

In early March, after long preparation, the sequel to Heroic Soldiers finally announced the start of filming.

The ceremony was still held in Jingcheng, but due to weather they chose a five-star hotel instead of an outdoor square.

Because the hotel banquet hall is limited in size, the number of reporters and attendees present is also restricted.

But this group's enthusiasm is high, after all Director Jiang hasn't shot a big-effects film for over a year!

"His first work after his comeback," and it's a sequel to the popular Heroic Soldiers, so one can imagine how well-received it will be.

At the new film's press conference, hundreds of media reporters and photographers gathered, discussing animatedly.

"The market situation now really is improving!"

"Yeah, I didn't expect Star Night's *Mermaid* to also surpass three billion!"

"I think this film's success is just due to good marketing; its quality is rather average!"

"Exactly, its special-effects scenes can't even compare to Director Jiang's!"

"The film's main selling point isn't special effects; it's comedy, alright!"

"I don't find it that funny!"

"I think it's quite interesting!"

A group of reporters chattered, discussing the box-office battle of the recent New Year and Spring Festival slots.

After all that talk, the biggest winner turned out to be Faction: Outstanding Rising Film Company, which left many film-company bosses and directors feeling stabbed in the heart.

The reporters were also heatedly discussing; Director Jiang had already won without even stepping onto the field, and now they're about to keep shooting big-effects films—those people really can't catch up even on horseback! "Here we go, it's starting!" someone shouted, and everyone turned their gaze toward the stage.

But see, a beautiful female host came out first, talking about the impressive achievements and huge influence that the first installment of Heroic Soldiers had achieved.

Then she read some netizens' comments, which basically meant they hoped to see the sequel appear someday.

A reporter downstairs said: "Director Jiang's sequel is coming out too slowly; I'm still waiting to watch *Three Body 2*!"

"I want to watch *Pacific Rim 3*; if not, they could just make an 'Atlantic' and that would be fine!"

"I'd rather see a sequel to *Little Soldier Legend*; I'm really anxious waiting!"

"Just wait; Director Jiang has produced so many series, giving each a sequel would take several years!"

"Those who like Heroic Soldiers are in luck!"

"Yeah!"

While the reporters were whispering, Jiang Heng had already, at the reporters' invitation, walked onto the stage first.

First he said a few formalities, then he invited all the main creators onto the stage.

There was Hu Bie playing Ge Xiaolun, Ding Haifeng playing Liu Chuang, Huang Xiaoming playing Zhao Xin, and Zhou Jielun playing Cheng Yaowen.

Yes, Zhou Dong is coming to act in a film again.

Fortunately, Cheng Yaowen's role isn't big, so Zhou Dong's salary demand isn't high either, and the production can still afford it.

Besides, there was Wu Jing playing the Monkey King, Liu Yifei playing the Rose, Jing Tian playing Laina, Klara playing Qilin, Yang Mi playing Rui Mengmeng, and Zhang Yuxi playing Liang Bing.

One can say that everyone on stage is handsome and beautiful, basically all first‑line stars; the cast is unprecedentedly strong. Especially Zhang Yuxi and Yang Tianbao, one of whom just rose to fame thanks to an outstanding performance in *Mermaid*.

The other, meanwhile, gained praise for *Detective Dee: The Dragon King of the Divine Capital*.

The former's presence here is easy to understand, because in Heroic Soldiers 1 there is a scene where Liang Bing sneaks into the fleet, and Ge Xiaolun, Liu Chuang, Zhao Xin, etc. exclaim, 'What huge evil!'—so the audience has an impression of Zhang Yuxi.

And the sudden appearance of Yang Tianbao here—is he meant to play an important role?

"Thank you very much, Director Jiang, for giving me the chance to stand here; I'm also deeply honored to be in this film. However, my role in this movie is not big—others are the ones Director Jiang truly relies on！"

Yang Tianbao's remarks left everyone present stunned.

Because even half a month ago, rumors had been circulating in the industry that the Heroic Soldiers sequel would feature many new beautiful female characters.

Consequently, many people speculated which beautiful actresses would appear in this film.

Such as Gao Yuanyuan, Tang Yan, Zhao Liying, Dilireba, Gulnazar, Ni Ni, etc., all of whom were on the rumored list.

Yet at the new film's press conference, not a single one of those people showed up—instead, the so‑called 'variety show goddess' Yang Tianbao appeared, and then said she was just coming to make up the numbers!

Could the rumors be wrong?

After all, rumors in the entertainment industry rarely come out of nowhere!

When the reporters asked questions, they directly inquired about the new roles and new actors!

Jiang Heng then dropped a bombshell: "In order to give the audience better visual effects and viewing experience, in this film I plan to try a new technology—namely, virtual digital actors！"

The reporters and audience inside were somewhat bewildered by this; in fact, not only them, but the stage's main creators also looked dazed.

"Virtual digital actors? What does that mean—are they purely created with special-effects technology?"

"Why on earth would they do something like this?"

The actors were curious but hesitant to speak, while the reporters asked whatever controversial question came to mind: "Hello Director Jiang, I don't know what advantages you see in these virtual digital actors! Will they replace real actors in the future?"

Jiang Heng laughed and said: "Virtual digital actors, as the name suggests, are on‑screen images created through digital technology and special‑effects means; they look no different from real actors on screen. As for advantages, naturally one can craft their outward appearance according to need—special shapes, extreme beauty, and so on."

The reporters downstairs hearing this instantly started to clamor.

Many of them have years of industry experience; they know how much moisture is in the screen‑handsome men and beautiful women, which ones perform poorly under high‑definition close‑ups, and which rely on Photoshop to maintain their looks.

One can say that many of the gorgeous beauties glittering on screen are actually not that good‑looking in reality.

What's more, some people who are quite ordinary in looks, styling, and makeup still boast of being peerless beauties or ultra‑handsome hunks—watching them is genuinely embarrassing! From this angle, virtual digital actors are still a good thing.

One reporter asked, "Are all these virtual creations female characters?"

Jiang Heng nodded yes, and the venue erupted again.

Because Faction: Outstanding Rising Film Company is not lacking in beauties, yet it wants to create virtual digital actors; according to Jiang Heng's earlier remarks, it is likely that they need 'ultimate beauty'—that is, to produce a screen image even more beautiful than Liu Yifei, Jing Tian, Yang Mi, Klara, and so on—what would that be like! The reporters on site grew ever more curious, firing question after question, while Jiang Heng, well versed in the principle that controversy breeds talk, expounded at length on the merits of virtual digital actors, leaving this bunch dazed one after another.

Thus, after the press conference ended, Klara, speaking in non‑standard Mandarin, asked Yang Mi beside her, "Director Jiang, you wouldn't really be going to make that... replace us, would you?"

Yang Mi laughed, "To bluff those people, how much money would that take!" (End of chapter)