Chapter 1052: The Cold Winter Has Arrived; Replacing Father to Join the Army

With the number of film and television companies applying for cancellation one after another in the industrial and commercial system officially exceeding 6,000, in the A-share market, the entire film and television entertainment sector finally couldn't hold on.

It went from falling directly to an avalanche.

Various objective factors of wind and crane were

"In just a few days, more than two hundred film and television projects have been canceled and have successively disappeared from the filing information; another three hundred-plus films that had already been approved have confirmed they will not start filming as scheduled.

In other words, the investors and capital behind these projects have, without exception, all given a definitive word—withdrawing capital. And they are withdrawing quietly, acting as if these projects never existed in the first place!"

"The cancellation of venue bookings at film and television bases and film cities is similarly 'boisterous.'

Film crews that couldn't get a spot before can now even receive calls from the film bases, saying they can arrange for them to enter a few months early. But unfortunately, the crews here are also struggling to save themselves..."

Taking advantage of the fact that the crew hadn't started filming yet and still had an hour of rest and preparation time, Lin Nan held a video meeting with Wang Changtian and the others. Then, he heard about the current situation within the industry.

Everything, absolutely everything, had erupted within these past few days; the various negative quantitative changes from the earlier period had superimposed, completing a 'qualitative' change at this moment, ushering in a harsh winter for the entire industry.

"I heard that the China Securities Regulatory Commission has tightened the gates, and the difficulty for film and entertainment companies to go public will skyrocket, especially for those companies wanting to go to the A-share main board.

Of course, if you, Lin Dao, have the intention, then there's certainly no problem." Liu Xiaobin said at the end, suddenly changing his tone, unexpectedly cracking a joke with Lin Nan.

"If I wanted to go public, I would have done it 10 years ago. Those who want to go public at this time are basically all people with ulterior motives and petty, sordid minds." Lin Nan shook his head, directly evaluating many companies in the circle.

After simply understanding the current status of the industry, the few of them talked about the films in the National Day slot, especially "A Cool Fish."

Sure enough, the word-of-mouth for this film was constantly fermenting, performing very well.

Its single-day box office had already surpassed "Hello, Mrs. Money," with a total box office reaching 418 million, while "Hello, Mrs. Money" only had 320 million.

Because of this, Han Jia can already be said to have won the first battle, and it was a great victory!

As for "Shadow" and "Project Gutenberg," the former was almost at the same level as "Hello, Mrs. Money," with slightly better word-of-mouth, currently with a total box office of 331 million.

And "Project Gutenberg" really makes one sigh; this film is indeed a dark horse of the National Day slot and the most outstanding film work from the Hong Kong circle in recent years.

Currently, its word-of-mouth is not much different from "A Cool Fish," both very good, but because of its luxurious starring lineup, its total box office is leading the way, having reached 466 million.

Liu Yifei was adjusting her state, preparing for the first scene of the day. Jackie Chan, Hui Yinghong, Liu Yan, and Shu Chang were also brewing their emotions, maintaining their emotions...

At 10:00 AM, the crew was all in place.

Following Lin Nan's "action," the camera's perspective cut into the family's courtyard.

Unlike at this time in the past when the crisp, rhythmic sound of the shuttle and loom would emanate from the house, today it was completely silent.

Only faint sighs could be heard, accompanied by the intermittent sobbing and weeping from the side...

Inside the house, the father played by Jackie Chan sat on a low stool, his arms hanging down, touching the ground. He lowered his head, looking listless and showing his full age, as if his spine had been pulled out...

Beside him, Mulan's eyes were slightly red. She looked at her father, then at her mother and elder sister who were sobbing incessantly. For the latter two, the sudden event from the outside world was no different from the sky collapsing.

Yesterday evening, when she and Lin Nan returned, they saw those densely packed conscription lists posted up... her father and Uncle Lin were prominently listed, and both were very near the top.

It was also from yesterday evening that the atmosphere in the house had completely changed.

The whole family knew what this meant; it meant that her father, with his slightly frosted temples, had to head to the battlefield again, and it meant that her father... was highly likely to never return.

He was truly no longer young; just one night had passed, and he seemed even more aged and increasingly hunched...

"Father, let me go in your place, disguised as the man of the house." Mulan, played by Liu Yifei, opened her mouth and said softly. But her tone was unusually firm and solemn, as if she had made up her mind.

"Nonsense!" The father suddenly raised his head and scolded, his whites of his eyes filled with blood.

Looking at the mother and elder sister on the side, both were looking at the daughter and younger sister in horror, "Mulan..."

"Father, I have told you since I was little that I am no worse than the boys. Look, don't I often beat them until they cry for their parents?" Liu Yifei's face was smiling at this moment. But tears were flowing from the corners of her eyes, and her lips were trembling slightly.

She endured it, sobbing as she spoke, forcing a smile: "Think about it, if you go, can you guarantee you'll come back? If I go, isn't the possibility of coming back much greater? Our whole family still has a chance to reunite..."

Behind the monitor, Lin Nan did not call cut; the effect of this shot was very good.

Han Jia nudged him and complained in a low voice: "The shot you designed is really cruel. Look at how much they've cried, and she still has to force a smile. This design for Mulan is really rational enough, rational to the point of being a bit scary."

"A woman who can take her father's place in the army. She was never an ordinary person to begin with, but a legendary figure. Such a legendary heroine is naturally different from ordinary people." Lin Nan nodded, his voice soft.

"Stop talking, I won't agree. You are a girl, and in two years you can get married. Don't have such thoughts anymore. You being well is enough." The father's tone went from harsh to loving, and finally, it seemed as if he were pleading with this second daughter.

"Mulan, listen to your father, don't be stubborn this time, listen to him..."

The mother, played by Hui Yinghong, shook her head with tears streaming down her face, and the elder sister, played by Liu Yan, was also wiping away tears.

Although the imperial court's conscription could not be avoided, Mulan was after all still so young, and she was a woman.

"You used to tease me, saying I was like a tomboy. Then this time, let this tomboy go. Only if I go can our family possibly reunite again after the war ends in the future, isn't that right?

My skills and my energy can guarantee that I have a better chance of coming back alive than Father..." At this moment, Mulan, played by Liu Yifei, was mature to the point of making one's heart ache. She was still persuading, tears streaming in her eyes, smiling, but the corners of her lips still couldn't stop trembling.

"But what about Mu Zhi? Have you thought about Mu Zhi? You haven't even told him, have you?" The mother wanted to use this to dispel her daughter's idea, although she was equally reluctant to part with her husband.

"I... will tell him." Mulan's voice lowered. After a moment of bowing her head, she raised it again, very firmly:

"Father, this is the best choice. Only if I go can our family possibly not lose a single person and be able to return..."

The father, played by Jackie Chan, was already crying uncontrollably. He knew his daughter was right, but he couldn't speak and couldn't make such a decision, only shaking his head constantly.

"Do you still not believe that I have grown up? Why don't we compare? Let's compare fists and swords. If you win, I will listen to you. If you lose to me, then listen to me this time!" Mulan's tone was soft, as if she were talking about a trivial family matter, and also as if she were playfully challenging her father just like in the past.

"I am your father, and you were taught by me. Have you forgotten? Half a month ago, you lost miserably."

At this time, the father finally revealed a smile. He was a father; how could he possibly lose to this little daughter? In his eyes, she was forever that little daughter who never grew up.

"Then you've agreed?"

"After you lose, don't mention this matter again. Just prepare the luggage for my expedition with your mother and sister. Stay home obediently and wait to get married; Father will come back..."

The father knew his second daughter's personality; she never changed things once she had made up her mind.

But he would tell her that he, as a father, would always be at the front, and it wasn't the turn of the young to "take their father's place in the army," not to mention... she was still a daughter!

"It's a deal."

When saying these four words, Liu Yifei's Mulan revealed a brilliant smile; she had taken the burden onto her own shoulders.

And the director, Lin Nan's, requirement for Liu Yifei was that in this close-up shot, there had to be emotion in her eyes, or rather, a trade-off.

She used one night to choose between her parents and her own girlish feelings... giving up the fiancé played by Lin Nan.

"Cut!

Alright, let's stop here for this morning. In the afternoon, we'll shoot the scenes with me, Andy On, and Director Tian. Makeup and styling start at two o'clock." After calling cut, Lin Nan ordered loudly again.

Taking a pack of wet wipes handed over by his assistant, Lin Nan walked up to Liu Yifei, pulled out a few sheets, handed them to her, and teased: "The crying scene was good, and the look in your eyes was very firm. I'll give you eighty points."

"Go to hell, why only eighty... ah, hurry, hurry, give me a tissue..." Liu Yifei glared at Lin Nan angrily, and then... then a snot bubble came out.

Lin Dao almost couldn't hold back his laughter, but for the sake of his life, he forced himself to endure it.

There were not many days left until this year's Bazaar Star Charity Night.

If it were in previous years, relevant information would definitely have already been buzzing all over the internet by now, and the A-list big stars and top traffic celebrities among the guests would inevitably have caused fierce discussions online...

But the reality is just that realistic; this year's Bazaar charity banquet is extremely shabby. Not only is there no heat, but the announced guests are only a few kittens and puppies...

Among them, the biggest names are just those from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Anyway, almost no A-list stars from the mainland are attending... making gossip-loving netizens and many people in the industry sigh.

The reason for this is, firstly, all kinds of messes happened last year, and it was clearly exposed that there were fraudulent donations, and Su Mang was swept out the door at the beginning of the year;

Secondly, and the most important reason: currently, the "salary restriction order" is being executed under high pressure, and the "tax storm" has a wide reach. If things go wrong, a large batch of people might die!

Therefore, in this kind of environment, who would still be so "wealthy" and "high-profile" to do charity? Isn't this clearly making oneself a target?

"I reckon this Bazaar Star Charity Night is probably coming to an end soon." Happily, Ning Hao threw the invitation into the trash can and complained with a laugh.

He, Xu Zheng, and Dong Ping would not go to show support. After all, as the old saying goes, the more powerful the limelight, the more low-key one should be. Especially now that the industry is in a state of panic, one must be even more careful; being too eye-catching is also easy to offend people.

"Whether it ends or not, you have to look at the feedback after their charity night this year. If the feedback is relatively good, naturally they will continue to hold it. But it's highly likely the feedback won't be good; after all, everyone is tight on cash, haha..." Xu Zheng smiled and took over the conversation.

"Without high salaries, and with the authorities focusing on catching 'tax evasion, omission, and avoidance,' no need to guess, the number donated at this year's Bazaar Star Charity Banquet will definitely be a big joke compared to last year." Dong Ping also couldn't help but echo Xu Zheng, quite agreeing.

"Won't we know in a few days? Alright, let's get back to the point. What exactly is the matter that you called me over for today?" Ning Hao smiled and changed the subject, asking about serious business.

Hearing this, Dong Ping and Xu Zheng instantly became serious. In the end, the former spoke: "Director Zhang Yimou has given us a difficult problem!"

"What do you mean?" Ning Hao asked, puzzled.

"This morning, when the two of us went to visit the set of 'One Second' to check on the post-production, we saw the outline of his new film script..." Xu Zheng took over the conversation and replied.

"What's wrong with Director Zhang's new script? Did some problem arise?" Ning Hao looked at Dong Ping and Xu Zheng and asked further.

"It involves a lot of plots between officials, businessmen, and the underworld, and a large part of the content setting is much, much deeper than that 'In the Name of the People'!" Dong Ping replied with a helpless look.

Hearing this, Ning Hao finally reacted belatedly. Dong Ping and Xu Zheng were a bit wary of Zhang Yimou's new film, fearing that after investing, the money would go down the drain or accidents would happen.

"So did you mention your concerns to Director Zhang?"

"No, that's why we called you over to discuss it after we got back."

"I'm easy, anyway, you two have always been the ones deciding these things. Or, why don't you wait until the script is completely finalized before making a decision?

Furthermore, in other words, even if the script is a bit 'realistic,' so what? Can't it be filmed?" Ning Hao had an indifferent expression and complained casually.

"Hehe, think carefully. Since 'In the Name of the People' premiered on Mango TV in March last year, it has been nearly 20 months now. Has any other TV station broadcasted it for a second round?

Let me tell you, it has never appeared again. After the first round and the one-and-a-half round, among so many TV stations in the country, not a single one went to buy its broadcast rights.

And even for Mango TV, they didn't schedule it for a second broadcast. Is this normal? You have to know, this drama was truly a sensational hit last year! And yet it wasn't scheduled again?" Dong Ping stared at Ning Hao, biting out every word.

At this moment, Ning Hao finally heard the subtext and had to take it seriously.

"Can't stop Director Zhang's script?"

"Can't stop it. Looking at his stance, he must have made up his mind to do this project. But I also have to consider the group!"

"Wait, wait until the script is completely finalized before talking. Make a decision after seeing the finished draft, or communicate with Director Zhang..." Ning Hao frowned and suggested.

In the lens, just like in Mulan's home, the three men of the Lin family were also arguing. From the time the youngest son learned about the conscription yesterday evening, they had been arguing until now.

Of the three men in the Lin family, it would be enough for one to go. The father naturally took the lead, but the eldest son played by Andy On and the second son played by Lin Nan both opposed it.

As for the reason, it was almost the same as Mulan's statement to her family. Of course, this was indeed the most rational choice. Young people on the battlefield indeed have a greater chance of survival than the elderly!

Unlike the family that had no eldest son, in the Lin family, the two sons could make decisions early on, especially the eldest son. Therefore, the matter of the son taking the father's place in the army was decided by the two sons, allowing no rebuttal.

At this moment, Lin Zhuang, played by Tian Zhuangzhuang, was sitting at the door with a sad and helpless look. Although he felt the deep filial piety, what white-haired person is willing to see a black-haired person go to the battlefield, and it was to take the place of his own old, dying self. However, he was completely pinned down by his two sons.

The camera cut, and one could see Andy On grabbing Lin Nan by the collar, scolding him seriously, which was also a piece of advice and instruction:

"You have been weak since childhood and are a scholar. If you are sent to the army, it is no different from sending you to your death. Only if I go in Father's place is there a possibility of coming back alive.

You are one of the few teachers here. Be a good teacher, marry Mulan, and continue the family line... take good care of Father..."

"Brother." Lin Nan's emotions were also in place, and with a shout, his eyes turned red.

"Cut!" Han Jia called for a stop, and immediately gave a thumbs up to the three of them, sighing with emotion: "This scene is really good. And the screenwriting team is also great; everything is so full of twists and turns, and the story is fully loaded!"

"Many thanks for Han Dao's praise." Lin Nan wiped the corners of his eyes while joking with Han Jia.

"Lin Dao, the literary scenes in the first half are already more than halfway through." Guo Fan leaned over and reminded.

Lin Nan naturally understood the meaning of his words and immediately ordered: "Let the outreach department go and connect with the troops. Thousands of 'professional extras' can be prepared.

In addition, notify everyone about the horses, costumes, and props, especially the armor and weapons. For the next two or three months, most of our time will be spent in the sun and wind. In the vast Western Frontier, we have to drag thousands of people to run through it. I feel tired just thinking about it, but it's also quite exciting, haha..."

"Lin Dao, don't say that, our Han Dao has been looking forward to these scenes for a long time." Hearing Lin Nan's later words, Guo Fan couldn't help but laugh and teased Han Jia.

"Oh right, almost forgot the serious business. You can notify the actors for the second part, let them prepare and be ready to join the crew at any time. Especially Zou Zhaolong, he is the villain, the enemy general..."

"Understood. The three from 'The Forbidden Kingdom' are reunited in 'Mulan'!" Guo Fan smiled, shook his head, and walked to the side.

"Hahaha, that is indeed the case."

(End of this chapter)