Chapter 172: The Opportunity is Given to You!

"*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*, isn't this a martial arts novel? Is it a martial arts play?" Zeng Li asked curiously when she heard this.

She naturally knew Li An. After all, a director who had won the Golden Bear twice and the Golden Horse had a very loud reputation in the industry.

Wu Yuchen nodded when he heard this: "Yes, there are quite a few martial arts plays. You have to follow the training for a period. During the training process, Li An will keep observing and select from it."

Zeng Li thought for a moment and said: "Then I'll try."

She knew that since Wu Yuchen brought it up, he should want her to participate in the audition, and she didn't want to brush off his kindness. And after all, it was Li An's film, it couldn't be bad.

Wu Yuchen smiled and stroked Zeng Li's face. Actually, it wasn't that he felt Zeng Li was very suitable for the role of Jade Fox, but that he was increasing the possibilities for Zeng Li.

Although Zeng Li's temperament was a bit indifferent and her career ambition was indeed not as strong as Zhang Ziyi's, she also had pursuits and ambition. People who entered the circle definitely wanted to achieve certain results.

In his past life, her resources were indeed not that good, and she couldn't let go of her face for many things. She also took sexy photos in *Men's Health* to try to stand out, but unfortunately, the publicity and resources couldn't keep up. This was also the biggest attempt she had made.

Later, it was rumored that she and Huo Siyan had a dispute once, and as a result, she was slapped by Huo Siyan on the spot. She was stunned there at that time. Why did Huo Siyan dare? Huo Siyan's rumors in the world were very wild, and she was quite intimate with the big and small Wangs. The men she had experienced were all her resources~

Moreover, she didn't go to university and came from a wild path. She had a hostile mood towards people like Zeng Li who came from a professional class. It happened that Zeng Li was a cold-door actor, and there was no one behind her, so naturally, she dared to bully her!

It was said that the slap completely slapped away Zeng Li's ambition. Unless she was willing to find a big shot to dedicate herself, she definitely couldn't retaliate. Later, she started filming while maintaining her health, pinning her feelings on tea, and became Buddhist.

But now with Wu Yuchen standing behind her, this kind of thing naturally couldn't happen again. Let alone being bullied, even being scolded could help her ban the other party. But this could only guarantee that she wouldn't be wronged, and it wasn't so easy to achieve results.

Wu Yuchen knew that Zeng Li wasn't very photogenic, which naturally led to her opportunities being much fewer invisibly. However, it didn't mean she couldn't stand out. Now Wu Yuchen wanted her to try whether she had the potential of a martial arts actress.

The requirements for appearance for martial arts actresses would be reduced a lot. For example, Michelle Yeoh, how many fans were concerned about her appearance?

Moreover, Michelle Yeoh didn't come from a martial arts background. She entered the Hong Kong Island entertainment industry and felt that vase roles had no way out, so she took the initiative to transform into a martial arts actress.

The casting of Jade Fox this time was actually an opportunity. There would be several months of training time. Wu Yuchen planned to throw Zeng Li into the training camp first. As for whether she could take this path, it depended on her own efforts.

To be honest, this path of a martial arts actress would definitely be more hard. Usually, she had to insist on exercising, and the possibility of injury had to be endured silently.

But in the next 10 years, martial arts would be very popular. The martial arts trend set off by *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* would provide a large number of opportunities for action stars. If Zeng Li could develop the attributes of a martial arts actress, coupled with Wu Yuchen helping her, opportunities definitely wouldn't be lacking.

Moreover, in the training camp that followed, there was her classmate and roommate Zhang Ziyi. With a good sister by her side to give pressure at any time, the training effect would definitely be much better. If in this situation, Zeng Li couldn't practice it, then Wu Yuchen would simply extinguish this thought. The opportunity was given, and not being able to grasp it couldn't blame him.

"Blood is exhausted, turning into dust and soil..."

Just at this time, singing came from the room TV. The lyrics cooperated with the traditional Chinese wind instrument, making people feel a burst of excitement.

Wu Yuchen looked over and saw a familiar yet green doll face on the TV, stirring back and forth towards a large water vat. Heh, isn't this Wolf Warrior Wu Jing!

What was playing was a big hit drama *Tai Chi Master* this year. Many children were full of blood after watching it and went to imitate Wu Jing stirring the water vat, making it a mess, and inevitably suffered a beating from their parents.

Looking at the green face of the Captain of China, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but sigh. In this era when the film and television industry had just started, there were really many high-quality dramas. Although the conditions were simple, the production was very attentive. The wonderful martial arts fighting Wu Jing had in this TV series really killed those martial arts dramas 20 years later countless times.

……

Miracle Film and Television, Wu Yuchen met Cai Yinong who returned to Beijing.

"Wu Dao, it just so happens that I have to report to you about the F4 group."

Wu Yuchen looked at Cai Yinong's happy look and couldn't help but ask with a smile: "Looking at Cai Zong laughing so happily, it should be good news."

Cai Yinong nodded: "Zhong Hanliang has agreed. Now the candidates are set. Huang Huang Xiao Ming, Zhong Hanliang, Wu Kequn, and Qiao Zhenyu. The training team in Hong Kong Island has also been invited. I will send Huang Huang Xiao Ming and Qiao Zhenyu over when I come back this time."

Wu Yuchen knew that Cai Yinong had always been optimistic about Zhong Hanliang. No wonder she was so happy to be able to handle him. He thought about these four candidates, and in every aspect, they were much stronger than those in his past life.

F4 was popular for a few years in his past life, but it also faded quickly. The reason was that their professional quality couldn't support this fame.

They were amateurs discovered on the street, hadn't received training in any aspect, and were then directly pulled to act in a drama and became popular. They couldn't sing or dance, but were driven to the ducks to record songs and hold concerts. At that time, the company didn't think they could be popular to this extent, nor did they know how long they could maintain it. They just wanted to earn a wave of quick money, wishing to squeeze them hard. Where did they do long-term planning?

Therefore, F4, which was a top Asian idol group at the time of debut, couldn't carry the banner of Chinese-language groups and couldn't withstand the impact of Korean male idol groups. After all, Korean boy bands were really practiced, and the gap in professional quality was too big!

But now, the members of the F4 he newly formed, Zhong Hanliang himself was already an artist who had debuted for several years. Although he wasn't very popular, his singing and dancing quality was impeccable.

Qiao Zhenyu came from the Beijing Dance Academy. He didn't ask him to sing sharply, but he could definitely take out his dancing. When the time came, he had to blow him into an Asian dance king, the successor of Guo Fucheng.

As for Wu Kequn, his music creation talent was outstanding. He might not be able to compare to Zhou Jielun, but he was already very good among singers.

Speaking of which, the short board of the team in singing and dancing might really be Huang Huang Xiao Ming!

However, Wu Yuchen wasn't particularly worried. Huang Xiao Ming, this kid, was not good at other things, but he was impeccable in diligence and hard work. His foundation was also quite good. Since he was set last time, he had been practicing hard. After training in Hong Kong Island, he would always be able to take it out.

Cai Yinong asked a key question: "Wu Dao, regarding the persona of these few people, how do you consider it?"

The persona should indeed be set at the beginning, and then specially cultivated in this direction during the subsequent training, so that the effect would be better.

Wu Yuchen thought for a moment, and then said: "*Meteor Garden* is F4's debut work, so position them according to the persona in the TV series. Daoming Si is Huang Huang Xiao Ming, Hanazawa Rui is Zhong Hanliang, Ximen is Qiao Zhenyu, and Meizuo is Wu Kequn."

Cai Yinong had no objections to the positioning of Zhong Hanliang and Qiao Zhenyu. Zhong Hanliang himself debuted with a good boy image, and his current looks were also very tender. There was no problem with the melancholic Hanazawa Rui. But Daoming Si was relatively domineering. She always felt that this persona and role were handed to Huang Huang Xiao Ming, who seemed a bit silly before, was it suitable?

If Cai Yinong were to set it, actually Wu Kequn's own personality was more suitable for Daoming Si. But thinking that Huang Huang Xiao Ming was set by Wu Yuchen himself, she didn't say much.

Wu Yuchen let Huang Huang Xiao Ming act as Daoming Si, which was naturally taking care of him. The male lead of *Meteor Garden* was Daoming Si, and the two most fan-attracting people in F4 were also Daoming Si and Hanazawa. Huang Huang Xiao Ming had called him teacher so many times, how could he not take care of his own child more?

Moreover, this kid loved to play the domineering president set so much, didn't he deserve to walk the path of Daoming Si? If he really couldn't even act well as Daoming Si in *Meteor Garden*, then simply retire from the circle directly.

Subsequently, Wu Yuchen asked again: "President Cai, do you have any candidates for the female lead Shancai in *Meteor Garden*?"

This role of Shancai was also quite important. In his past life, it was played by Big S. However, Wu Yuchen didn't plan to find this woman this time. F4 couldn't even touch her, otherwise, it might be stirred up into a mess.

Cai Yinong nodded: "Recently, there is a new female actor in Taiwan who is good, Jia Jingwen. She won the Taiwan TV Golden Bell Award last year. Her appearance and acting skills are both commendable, and her own personality is very strong, which is very similar to Shancai."

As soon as Wu Yuchen heard Jia Jingwen, he felt relieved. If she acted as Shancai, it wouldn't be bad.

Cai Yinong hesitated and asked again: "Wu Dao, you said to create two versions, is it necessary?"

Wu Yuchen smiled when he heard this: "If you want *Meteor Garden* to be broadcast smoothly in the mainland, you must modify some aspects. This kind of problematic teenager protagonist, parents here will complain after watching it!"

In his past life, *Meteor Garden* was actually banned from broadcast in the mainland less than a month after it was broadcast, and it wasn't unbanned until 2018.

The reason, naturally, was because after the TV series became popular, it triggered a large number of protests from parents, because F4 in the TV series was simply a bad boy!

Especially Daoming Si, who was a dandy who didn't learn anything, moved to engage in violence, beat and scolded classmates and teachers. Wasn't his behavior a hooligan? Perhaps in the eyes of children, it felt cool, but the teenage imitation behavior caused was quite bad. Wouldn't the massive broadcast of this kind of drama pollute the body and mind of teenagers?

Therefore, under the order of the SARFT, 4 TV stations that were broadcasting *Meteor Garden* were directly stopped. Although it still couldn't stop the spread of a large number of pirated discs, it was banned on the surface.

The Wanwan company in his past life might not care, but he, Wu Yuchen, knew that the biggest market for F4 in the future was actually the mainland. How could he let this kind of thing happen?

Therefore, if you want *Meteor Garden* to be broadcast, some places must be changed.

Cai Yinong nodded when she heard this, and then said: "Wu Dao, but if you change it like this, will it reduce the dramatic tension of the script, and the charm of the characters will also decline."

Wu Yuchen smiled: "Maybe it will drop a little, but it won't affect the TV series becoming popular."

In his past life, there was another drama that was basically a copy of *Meteor Garden*, the *Let's Go Watch Meteor Shower* of Pond Master Zhang Han and Shuang Zi Jie. It was completely fine when it was released. It was actually a good student version, didn't it still become popular among teenagers?

Wu Yuchen said to Cai Yinong: "The main thing is the persona problem. We shoot two versions. One is the violent version, which can shape F4's opening relatively violently, and express the class gap between rich and poor more clearly, specifically for overseas regions like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea to watch."

Actually, this was the original version in his past life. One thing had to be admitted: the stronger the oppression between classes, the greater the gap between Daoming Si and Shancai, which could make the audience more involved. When they walked together, the refreshing feeling would be more intense.

"The other version should make F4 appear gentler. Their background can be rich, can be superior, but they can't become school bullies just because they are rich, but must have their excellence!"

"For example, Daoming Si, not only is his family rich, but he himself has extreme business talent, is proficient in many languages, his grades in all subjects in business school are top-notch, and he is also the captain of the basketball team. His domineering appearance on the court is called the Terror Demon King."

"For another example, Hanazawa, his grades in all subjects are excellent, he is proficient in piano and painting, and is a world-famous young genius pianist. His appearance when playing the piano fascinates a group of girls, and he is called the Melancholy Prince."

Cai Yinong suddenly realized when she heard this. As long as F4 is changed into a good student persona, the parents' opinions will be much smaller.

Then Wu Yuchen said to Cai Yinong: "Cai Zong, this *Meteor Garden* project is relatively important. Don't be stingy when producing it. Rent luxury houses, luxury cars, and brand-name clothes as much as you want. You must create that luxurious effect!"

The entire production fund of *Meteor Garden* in his past life was only 2 million. The costumes and props were simply unbearable to look at. The clothes worn by several wealthy young masters were all street stall goods.

And the so-called luxury car driven by Daoming Si was the Mazda that was embarrassing to drive out in Liang Jiahui's mouth, and had no qualification to attend the meeting at all! He wasn't afraid of being killed by Zhou Chaoxian when he went out.

This time Wu Yuchen naturally couldn't be so stingy. He had to make his version of *Meteor Garden* a high-configuration version, letting the stingy Wanwan people know what is called luxury!

"Wu Dao, rest assured, I will definitely follow high standards in terms of costumes and props."

Cai Yinong didn't spend money when she didn't have it, but she naturally wouldn't be stingy when she had money. She guaranteed this to Wu Yuchen.

For this drama *Meteor Garden*, Wu Yuchen had also explained everything he should explain to Cai Yinong. Having made so many preparations, at least it shouldn't be worse than that version in his past life.

Subsequently, he thought of Huang Huang Xiao Ming. If you want to be popular, teacher will give you the opportunity to fulfill you. But since you chose to walk this path yourself, then what achievements you have in the future depends on yourself.

……

Cai Yinong returned this time, except for the F4 matter, it was actually mainly for the *The Grand Mansion Gate* matter.

The post-production of *The Grand Mansion Gate* was also considered completed this month. After Wu Yuchen returned, he happened to go to see this biographical TV series that took a year to produce with Cai Yinong.

It had to be said that *The Grand Mansion Gate* was worthy of being Guo Baocang's painstaking work. Not only was the production excellent, but he also invited various big shots to guest star. Even the performance of a bit player had requirements.

Wu Yuchen gave a thumbs up to Guo Baocang: "Absolutely a classic work! Grudges, life and death, blood and tears, ups and downs, the rise and fall of the country, all are contained in this drama! It can be called the modern version of *Dream of the Red Chamber*!"

Guo Baocang waved his hands repeatedly: "It hasn't reached this height! Being able to shoot this *The Grand Mansion Gate*, I can be considered to have no regrets in this life. Thank you, thank you!"

Guo Baocang held Wu Yuchen's hand and just said thank you, his tone was a bit choked. It could be seen that he was indeed excited.

"Teacher Guo, rest assured, we will definitely find the best platform to release this *The Grand Mansion Gate*!"

Which is the best platform? That goes without saying, it can only be CCTV!

This time it was also Wu Yuchen who came forward personally, bringing *The Grand Mansion Gate* directly to find CCTV to talk about *The Grand Mansion Gate*.

"Wu Dao, really, 20 million is already the highest price, it can't be higher!"

"Director Liu, you have also watched the TV series. You know how high the quality is! You look at this lineup again. Which TV series can pull Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Jiang Wen, and these people to guest star? No other branch, just this one!"

Actually, even Wu Yuchen himself was pulled by Guo Baocang to guest star in a role, with not much appearance time, a one-minute scene.

"Wu Dao, I know all these things you said. But our CCTV's current highest purchase price for external procurement has never broken 500,000 per episode. Your *The Grand Mansion Gate* is 40 episodes, 20 million is already the highest price I can give. And it's just buying your first broadcast right. Even for this, I have to bear the risk! If it doesn't work, you can only find other stations." Director Liu's words were also very sincere.

After Wu Yuchen heard this, he thought for a moment and still agreed. Actually, if he found two TV stations to broadcast together, this price could be sold higher. But even if two stations broadcast together, the effect of the broadcast was not as good as on CCTV.

This time shooting *The Grand Mansion Gate*, Guo Baocang exceeded the budget by 2 million, finally spending 22 million. It was equivalent to losing money when selling the first round to CCTV. However, after the first round was broadcast, this money could be earned back from the second and third rounds. For such a classic TV series as *The Grand Mansion Gate*, Wu Yuchen didn't want to care about losing a little in the first round. The broadcast effect was the most important.

"Director Liu, then you have to arrange a better time."

"That's for sure. If you are willing to wait for 1 year, I will arrange it as the opening big drama of next year!" Director Liu said with a smile.

CCTV has opening big dramas every year. The opening big drama of 1998 was *Water Margin*, and the opening big drama arranged for 1999, which had just entered, was *Yongzheng Dynasty*, basically the most influential blockbusters of the year.

Wu Yuchen was a bit moved when he heard this. The status and name of the opening big drama were indeed louder. However, after thinking about it, he still said: "Thank you, Director Liu, but our Director Guo Baocang is looking forward to the TV series being broadcast early."

Director Liu also roughly understood Wu Yuchen's meaning, still wanting to broadcast early, and then sell the subsequent second and third rounds to return funds.

"Then like this, Wu Dao, I will arrange *The Grand Mansion Gate* in May, broadcast on Channel 1."

"Good, thank you, Director Liu, for your care!"

Wu Yuchen was quite satisfied with this time. It was quite a few months away from *Yongzheng Dynasty*, and it wouldn't be affected much.

After Wu Yuchen finished talking about *The Grand Mansion Gate* and just returned to Miracle Film and Television, he saw Li An waiting for him in the company with his brows tightly locked. ===== CHAPTER 173 =====