Chapter 147: The Spirit of Mengchang

Still not far from the aviation family compound, Wu Yuchen had already returned with Gao Yuanyuan after watching the movie.

Gao Yuanyuan, sitting in the car, was chatting excitedly with Wu Yuchen and had no intention of going back at all.

"Shi Tailong's autograph? Of course, no problem. But actually, he's just a grumpy old guy." Wu Yuchen raised his eyebrows and said.

Gao Yuanyuan patted him lightly, "How can you say that about him? Shi Tailong is a big-name star famous all over the world, and he acts quite well."

"Fine, fine, I'll respect the old and cherish the young from now on~" Wu Yuchen laughed.

Then he asked, "Yuanyuan, how is your preparation for the art exam?"

Gao Yuanyuan's eyes curved into crescents upon hearing this, "It's okay. I didn't have much confidence at first, but after studying with the teacher for a while, I suddenly became a star. Many people wrote to me saying I acted well, so I suddenly had confidence."

"Prepare well, there will be absolutely no problem."

Wu Yuchen had no doubt at all about whether Gao Yuanyuan could get in. The standard for selecting actors at the Tao Jingying Academy was mostly based on looks, and the 1998 performance class didn't have anyone who really stood out. With Gao Yuanyuan's qualifications participating in this year's art exam, just relying on her face and temperament would be a slaughter, unless the teachers were collectively blind.

Moreover, Gao Yuanyuan was already a famous star now, so the Tao Jingying Academy would be happy to have her apply; how could they possibly turn her away?

But then Gao Yuanyuan showed a troubled expression again:

"I was super happy at first and wanted to reply to every letter, but I couldn't finish replying at all. For every one I replied to, ten more came. My hands were numb from writing and I couldn't keep up. Now I've already accumulated three big boxes..."

Wu Yuchen heard this and saw Gao Yuanyuan pouting and rubbing her hands, so he took her hands and said, "Let me see~"

The young girl's small hands were white and tender, and they felt soft and delicate to the touch.

Wu Yuchen held them in his hands, then lowered his head and said, "I'll blow on them for you~"

Gao Yuanyuan's small hands were held by Wu Yuchen, and then puffs of hot air were blown onto her palms, making her feel itchy—not just her hands, but her heart as well. A bright, crimson blush appeared on her face.

The young girl looked at the sweetheart who cared for her so much, and a feeling of tenderness and courage welled up in her heart. She leaned forward and pecked Wu Yuchen on the side of his face.

Little Yuanyuan, this girl, is launching a sneak attack again?

Last time she launched a sneak attack and ran away, but this time her hands were held tightly, let's see how you run now!

Wu Yuchen pulled Gao Yuanyuan's hand and gently brought her into his arms, lowered his head, and pressed his lips onto the girl's soft, fragrant ones.

On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, at the Tao Jingying Academy, Wu Yuchen was accepting a joint interview from media outlets including "China Film News," "Film Weekly," and the Movie Channel.

Ever since the news of his "Frequency" breaking 100 million in North America reached the Mainland, the media had been longing for him. This time, having finally found out that Wu Yuchen was back, they naturally all came knocking.

As for the location being set at the Tao Jingying Academy, it was naturally because Wu Yuchen was still a student there, and it could also be considered a way of giving back to the school.

"Shi Tailong? He is a very good actor. We cooperated quite happily. His daughter is very cute, and in real life, he is also a very kind old father."

"Of course I am very happy to be able to achieve such good results in North America. As for the title of China's number one director, it's all just nonsense. This only represents a success at a stage for me. I will continue to work hard in the future!"

"Rooted in Hollywood? No, I definitely don't have this plan! Chinese-language film is my root. I cannot abandon Chinese-language film and throw myself entirely into Hollywood. But Hollywood represents the most advanced level of film in the world today, and I have a need to go there to learn and gain experience."

"Who is stronger, Hollywood or Chinese film? This point is beyond doubt. It can be seen from the domestic film box office rankings in recent years that the current Chinese film is still very weak in the face of Hollywood's imported blockbusters."

"Then didn't your 'My Brothers and Sisters,' Wu Dao, defeat 'Jurassic Park'?"

Wu Yuchen shook his head, "You cannot use an individual case to represent the whole."

"Wu Dao, but you can't just judge heroes by box office, right? Haven't we always advocated putting the artistry of film first?"

Wu Yuchen laughed, "It is true that film should pursue art, but it cannot only pursue art. I have always held a philosophy: my films are made for the people. As long as everyone likes them, whether it's vulgar or elegant, I don't care."

Currently, the trend in China is still that artistic pursuit is greater than commercialism. Just like Feng Xiaogang's "The Dream Factory" box office reaching 30 million this time, although his reputation rose, it also attracted quite a few people to spray him, scolding his film for having no artistic substance. He is different from Wu Yuchen; Wu Yuchen, after all, has won the Berlin Best Director award and has awards to support him, so no one dares to spray anything when he films "My Brothers and Sisters." But Feng Xiaogang has no background or foundation, so naturally, they scold him without any scruples.

Wu Yuchen paused, then continued:

"And commerce and art are not completely opposed. Recently, there is a film 'Titanic' about to be released. This film has a good balance in commerce and art, and it also represents the highest level of Hollywood. It is very worthy of everyone's appreciation and learning!"

Wu Yuchen already knew about the approval of "Titanic," and it was that Section Chief Zhang who called him personally. He always felt that the other party was very polite during the call, which was very different from when they met last time.

The dispute over film commerce and art has always accompanied the development of film, and currently, the art school naturally has the upper hand. However, with Wu Yuchen's current status, he already dares to say some things. Although it may also attract some people to spray, it cannot affect him much.

In fact, this is also his sincere words. It is certainly okay for film to pursue art. But if it only pursues art, it will kill the film market, and the final result will be that you hand over your film market to others.

The release of "Titanic" this time is actually a good thing for the development of Chinese film, letting a large group of people be impacted and realize how big the gap between Chinese film and others is, which to some extent promotes the reform of Chinese film.

After the interview ended and these reporters were sent away, Hou Keming walked over with a smile and patted Wu Yuchen on the shoulder:

"The title of China's number one director is not something everyone is willing to push away. I was afraid that you, kid, would get hot-headed and accept it."

"Haha, Dean Hou, I'm not that stupid yet. I'm already glorious enough now; whether I want this empty name or not doesn't mean much to me."

In fact, if he accepted this title, under the current domestic atmosphere, it would definitely cause dissatisfaction among a large group of old seniors. At the very least, he dared to bet that Chen Kaizi would definitely be very unhappy with him, and he might even find someone to take the lead in spraying him.

A title is something that is useless if you just blow it. When he brushes up on more awards and box office, even if you deny it, others will press it on you.

Hou Keming smiled and nodded:

"Hmm, it's good that you can see it clearly. After the New Year, our Tao Jingying Academy's enrollment work is about to begin. Do you want to go over and preside over it?"

"I go to preside over enrollment?"

Wu Yuchen shook his head immediately upon hearing this:

"Dean Hou, let's forget it. I'm very busy now. I can't stay for many days on this trip back. In another week, I have to go to America."

"Still have to go?"

"Yes, didn't I film another movie? It will be released at the end of this month, and I have to rush back to run the promotion. I will come back after the matter of this movie is over."

Hearing Wu Yuchen say this, Hou Keming didn't force it anymore; it was just something he mentioned casually anyway.

In fact, Wu Yuchen has indeed been quite busy these few days. After his fame grew, quite a few people came to him. Especially his Miracle Film and Television, which earned a sum from filming "My Brothers and Sisters" before, and then successively produced two hit dramas, "Years of Passionate Burning" and "Cherish Our Love," so everyone knows their company has money.

And before, Wu Yuchen was righteous and generous, and the matter of investing in "The Grand Mansion Gate" also spread, which made quite a few people have the idea of coming to him for investment.

To be honest, most of the projects are really not very good, and some of the scripts are written in a stumbling way, but there are not none that are good among them.

In the office, Director Huang Jianxin, who had met Wu Yuchen several times before, sat there quietly drinking tea with another director, Yang Yazhou, waiting for Wu Yuchen, who was reading the script.

A moment later, Wu Yuchen closed the script in his hand and smiled at the two, "Director Huang, Director Yang, this script is really good!"

Huang Jianxin and Yang Yazhou looked at each other and smiled upon hearing this, and then Yang Yazhou said:

"Wu Dao, last year after I saw 'The Happy Life of Talkative Zhang Damin' in 'Beijing Literature,' I particularly liked it, so I asked the factory to buy the adaptation rights quickly, and I changed it into a film script."

Wu Yuchen nodded and asked again, "Then who do you plan to let play Zhang Damin?"

Yang Yazhou said firmly, "Feng Gong! When I changed the script, I wrote it completely according to him!"

Wu Yuchen smiled and then said, "'The Happy Life of Talkative Zhang Damin' as a film name is a bit vulgar, let's change it to 'Nothing to Do but Be Happy'!"

Huang Jianxin clapped his hands and praised, "Good! 'Nothing to Do but Be Happy' means that no matter how bitter life is, there will be sweet times, just like Zhang Damin said at the end of the story, 'As long as you live well, you can encounter many, many happinesses, so you have nothing to do but be happy.'"

Huang Jianxin naturally understood that if Wu Yuchen said this, then it would likely be successful, and then said:

"Wu Dao, don't look at Yazhou not having independently hung his name before; in fact, he has been an assistant director for ten years, and 'Back to Back, Face to Face' was also co-directed by the two of us. He has very rich experience!"

Sure enough, Wu Yuchen asked Yang Yazhou, who was looking at him eagerly, "How much more funding do you lack?"

Yang Yazhou said excitedly, "2 million, our factory gave 1 million in funding, I expect to need 3 million!"

Wu Yuchen smiled and nodded, "Okay, 2 million is fine, but you have to ensure that the movie cannot exceed the budget."

Huang Jianxin immediately said, "Guaranteed, only less, not more!"

After sending the two away, Wu Yuchen smiled. "Nothing to Do but Be Happy" is still a good movie, helping Feng Gong win the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor. The box office is about 10 million or so, which may not earn much relative to the 3 million cost, but it will definitely not lose money.

2 million is nothing to him now. Spending some money to invest in a good movie, while also being able to make connections and befriend the Western Film Studio behind them, is cost-effective no matter how you look at it.

Who dares to say that he, Official Wu, eats alone?

He is constantly scattering money and making contributions to Chinese film!

After putting down the "Nothing to Do but Be Happy" script, Wu Yuchen picked up another one, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

Kang Jianmin walked while saying to Huo Jianqi beside him:

"Old Huo, I have already looked for no less than ten companies, and none of them are willing to invest in our movie. Will Wu Dao be willing?"

Kang Jianmin is the factory director of the Xiaoxiang Film Studio. A few years ago, he bought the adaptation rights to "Postmen in the Mountains" and had been wanting to prepare for filming. At first, he wanted to film it as a TV series, but after Huo Jianqi finished reading the script, he thought it was more suitable to film as a movie, so he started looking for investment everywhere.

Huo Jianqi's face was that of a good person, and he smiled gently:

"Wu Dao is still very righteous. He invested 20 million in Director Guo Baochang's 'The Grand Mansion Gate.' I just heard Huang Jianxin tell me that they have already pulled money from Wu Dao. They are all scripts that no one wants to invest in; we are not without hope!"

Kang Jianmin couldn't help but smile upon hearing this, and then the two entered Miracle Film and Television together.

Wu Yuchen smiled and poured tea for the two, inviting them to sit down, "Factory Director Kang, Director Huo, I like 'Postmen in the Mountains' very much."

Both of them showed joy, but the next moment they only heard Wu Yuchen say:

"However, this movie probably won't sell much at the box office."

This poured a bucket of cold water on the two again, extinguishing the excitement that had welled up.

Kang Jianmin squeezed out a smile, "Wu Dao, it doesn't matter, you are not the first person to refuse us, we will look for others..."

"Look for what? When did I say I wanted to refuse you?"

"Ah? Wu Dao, what do you mean..." Kang Jianmin and Huo Jianqi looked at Wu Yuchen with glowing eyes.

"I estimated it, this movie is about 2 million or so, I'll give a bit more, is 2.5 million enough?"

In fact, in the previous life, the filming funds for this movie were 2.1 million, so 2.5 million should be no problem.

Kang Jianmin was overjoyed upon hearing this, "Enough, enough, our factory can also put out 500,000!"

Wu Yuchen smiled and nodded, then said:

"I believe in Director Huo's ability, I don't worry about the quality of the movie. I can also see that you, Factory Director Kang, want to rush for awards by filming this movie. How about this, you run the domestic side, and I will operate the foreign side, how about that?"

Both of them were very excited to hear this, after all, Wu Yuchen had already won the Berlin Best Director award and had experience in this regard.

"Wu Dao, do you want to send it to the Big Three?" Kang Jianmin asked curiously.

Wu Yuchen shook his head, "I have a general understanding of Director Huo's style. From this script, the most suitable one is not the Big Three, but the Tokyo International Film Festival. So this summer, after Director Huo finishes filming, he must hurry up with the production, striving to make it early so we can go to participate in the Tokyo International Film Festival."

"Postmen in the Mountains" caused quite a stir in Japan in the previous life, and its box office of over 800 million yen was not blown out.

But it is a pity that the producer did not send it to Tokyo to participate in the awards at that time, otherwise there would definitely be gains. It was only later after the movie was released in Japan that it successively brushed off quite a few awards in Japan.

This time, Wu Yuchen naturally wanted to make up for this regret. He smiled and continued:

"I still have some fame at the Tokyo International Film Festival. When the time comes, hanging my name as a producer or executive producer should be able to attract quite a bit of attention. If it can win an award, I think recovering the cost will not be a problem."

After the two heard this, they naturally had no objections to Wu Yuchen's proposal, and then discussed the cast with Wu Yuchen, "Wu Dao, for the role of the father, both of us have taken a fancy to Teng Rujun, what do you think?"

"Very suitable, Teacher Teng is very suitable for the role of this introverted father. Who do you plan to find for the son?"

Both of them shook their heads, "The two of us thought about it once, there is no one suitable in the circle, we plan to go to the school to pick one."

Wu Yuchen laughed, "That's just right, you can go to the Central Academy of Drama to see, there is a sophomore named Liu Ye, who just cooperated with me, playing a farm boy, I think it should be suitable."

Kang Jianmin immediately replied, "Okay, then we will go see it as soon as they start school. There is also a Dong girl, does Wu Dao have any recommendations?"

This role was played by the heartthrob Chen Hao in the previous life, but in fact, it doesn't necessarily have to be her. The difficulty of the role is not high. At first, Liu Ye recommended Yuan Quan and Zhang Ziyi, but both had acting contracts, so it fell to Chen Hao.

Wu Yuchen thought for a while and said, "Have you two seen 'Cherish Our Love'?"

The two really didn't watch the TV series completely, but they had seen it intermittently. Huo Jianqi said, "Wu Dao, you mean..."

"The female lead in it, Gao Yuanyuan, is pretty enough, and having her perform will definitely be good for the movie's box office."

This is not Wu Yuchen talking nonsense; Gao Yuanyuan is very popular among young people now.

In the previous life, "Postmen in the Mountains" only sold one copy domestically and was described by the media as "a film with almost zero domestic distribution." All its income was the 480,000 given by the Movie Channel and the 80,000 US dollar overseas copyright buyout fee.

But if it were Liu Ye and Gao Yuanyuan as the male and female leads, Gao Yuanyuan is already a star, and Liu Ye is estimated to be not bad after "Il Mare" is released. This time, just aiming at the male and female leads, it is impossible to appear in the embarrassing situation of 1 copy.

Of course, the main reason is naturally why give a suitable role to an outsider? Little Yuanyuan has already become his shape, this is called an insider!

Let Little Yuanyuan follow these acting schools and powerful schools to learn and practice more, and her acting skills can also rise.

"Okay, Wu Dao, then let's settle it like this!" Kang Jianmin decided directly.

After getting the investment, the two were also very happy, chatting and laughing as they left Miracle Film and Television.

Kang Jianmin said with emotion, "I didn't expect this Wu Dao to be so generous!"

Huo Jianqi also nodded, "Yes, now everyone in the circle says he is righteous and generous. Before, Huang Jianxin joked on the phone and called him the Timely Rain!"

Kang Jianmin immediately shook his head:

"Timely Rain? Isn't this Song Jiang? Song Jiang is a black, short, and fat man, and his heart is also quite black. Saying this about Wu Dao is not suitable. Wu Dao is born so handsome, I think he should be called the Jade-Faced Mengchang!"

"Jade-Faced Mengchang? Hahaha, Wu Dao indeed has the style of Mengchang."