Chapter 1069: Casting Decided in One Go; The Finished Film Sent Back!

"Initiated and organized by the Movie Channel, after a month-long joint selection by the film and television industry and the entire internet, the new Mainland Four Little Flowers have been officially announced this morning;

The four are: Zhang Zhang Zifeng, Wen Qi, Zhang Zhang Xueying, and Guan Guan Xiaotong. And Zhao Zhao Jinmai, whom the vast majority of netizens and audiences were looking forward to and had high hopes for, was quite a pity this time, failing to make the list."

"Li Li Xiaoping, Vice President of Enlight Media and well-known producer, made a rare comment on this Four Little Flowers selection, bluntly stating the result: half is professionalism, half is connections, favors, and PR, with the latter clearly weighing more heavily…"

"According to industry insiders, Lin Nan Pictures also participated in this rare industry vote for the Four Little Flowers; but only cast two votes, for Zhang Zhang Zifeng and Zhao Zhao Jinmai respectively."

"Under Shiyue Culture, the animated feature film 'White Snake' had an ideal first-day box office performance, reporting 26.28 million…"

……

On the morning of the 2nd, as expected, a fierce online brawl and melee erupted on the internet, with curses flying nonstop.

Some were hurling abuse and stepping on others for their own idols, some were stirring up trouble to fish in troubled waters, and only the last group was simply fighting for so-called fairness;

Why were the obviously more excellent ones not selected, while the mediocre actresses with average acting, unremarkable looks, and no star quality made the list, and even made it for two consecutive terms?!

"Actually, after the 2013 edition ended, there really was no need to keep doing the Four Little Flowers, because the young actresses in the years since truly don't have much real gold content or national star power.

Since the internet industry entered the scene, the entire film and television entertainment industry has become a competition for traffic, and star power has been equated with traffic.

But those in the know understand, pure traffic can be watered down and whitewashed, and it's very simple to manipulate."

"Exactly, it's traffic. The first public selection of the Four Little Flowers was in 2009, the second in 2013, with a full four years in between; in terms of interval, it was just right.

But since the internet industry came in in 2014, the selection interval has kept getting shorter. The third edition shortened to 3 years from the second, and this fourth edition is even more ruthless, only two years from the previous one.

Why is it getting more and more frequent? In the end, isn't it all because of traffic? It's just here to harvest traffic!" Lin Nan nodded, picking up where Yue Jun left off.

"In other words, this industry selection that originally had a lot of credibility will sooner or later be ruined?"

"Isn't that a foregone conclusion? Is there any need to doubt?" Liu Liu Yifei gave Han Jianü a rather disdainful glance.

"If you've got nothing to do, go help them feed the horses. We've got exterior scenes this afternoon. We're about to discuss the company's real business now, and having an outsider here isn't quite appropriate, is it?" Lin Nan waved his hand at Han Jianü, pretending to be serious

and proper.

"Oh come on, my lips are sealed tight, don't worry. Besides, what's the relationship between us? Saying that really hurts." Little Han shook her head shamelessly, wanting to hear the "business secrets."

Lin Nan didn't bother with Han Jianü anymore, and the video conference got down to business: "So you've set the specific start date for early-to-mid April? Planning to wrap by the end of June and go straight to the New Year slot?"

"This is what I discussed with Director Jiang. We'll publicly announce the project after the 7-day Spring Festival holiday, then have two months for casting and preparation, and a year-end release is best." Yue Jun nodded.

"Mm, no problem, up to you."

"By the way, Sister Teacher Gong Li has politely declined Lin Nan's invitation because she's joining Chen Chen Kexin's film 'Leap' in mid-April." Liu Liu Yifei reminded Yue Jun in a timely manner.

"Understood, Director Jiang and I will start looking for candidates early." Yue Jun heard this and immediately became serious. Failing to get Teacher Gong Li was truly a great pity.

The next moment, before Lin Nan could speak again, Yue Jun on the other side of the video suddenly slapped his forehead and said self-deprecatingly: "Almost forgot, aren't there two suitable candidates right now?

For the role of the eldest daughter, it's either Zhang Zhang Zifeng or Zhao Zhao Jinmai. How do you two choose? Give me a definitive answer now, so Director Jiang and I don't have to worry about it anymore, hahaha."

……

When Dong Ping arrived at Zhang Zhang Yimou's studio, the latter was busy drawing the storyboards for 'Under the Light', with Zhang Mo helping on the side.

"Director Zhang, where exactly has the finished cut of our 'One Second' reached in the review process? The Berlin International Film Festival will be announcing its nomination list within this week!"

"Just started reviewing."

"What? Wasn't it submitted in mid-November? Why is it only just starting to be reviewed now?"

"I only found out when I went to the bureau this morning to inquire. All the finished films submitted for review in November and December were all held until today to start reviewing, supposedly implementing new censorship standards."

"New standards? Were there standards before?" Dong Ping paused, instinctively asking.

Zhang Mo shook her head speechlessly. How should she answer this question? She also didn't know whether there were standards before, or whether they were dynamic standards?

"No need to rush, there's still a month and a half. As long as it passes review before the film festival officially opens, it'll be fine." Zhang Zhang Yimou said lightly.

The three major film festivals all have mandatory preview screening requirements; getting the public screening permit before the preview is enough. And for all these years, many Chinese-language films entering competitions in the industry have rushed through it this way.

Hearing Zhang Zhang Yimou say this, Dong Ping felt a bit relieved, but still couldn't help reminding him, speaking amiably: "If you have time, Director Zhang, please also keep an eye on the review progress of our film. After all, your face carries a lot of weight at the bureau."

"I understand what you mean, I will." Zhang Zhang Yimou nodded and smiled. It was just a matter of pushing for progress.

"Then this time, shall I accompany Director Zhang and Little Director Zhang to Berlin?" At this point, Dong Ping naturally switched the topic, with a smile on his face, hinting at something.

Last time at the Venice International Film Festival, although he was also there, the one following Zhang Zhang Yimou at that time was LeEco's Zhang Zhao; and this time it's finally his turn. The big director's film rights sales, he could also get a taste.

"Then you won't be able to spend Spring Festival at home, because we plan to arrive in Berlin before the 10th of next month. And the 5th is Spring Festival." Zhang Zhang Yimou couldn't help but smile, in an attitude of agreement.

"Spring Festival happens every year, but I can't miss Huanxi's first major three-festival awards-contending film, hahaha…"

While Dong Ping was chatting and laughing with the father and daughter at Zhang Zhang Yimou's studio, a group of people at the Film Bureau were frowning.

Although it had been 8 months since switching to the propaganda department, the psychological shadow from the former leader's forceful "blood purge" was still there, so no one dared to mess around in the review process.

Of course, this also meant that in many cases, when facing films from big directors, everyone became more cautious and indecisive.

"What I'm most afraid of seeing now are these big directors' films. You have no idea what level to give. Each and every one of them steps on the line, completely disregarding other derivative issues, with only their own ideas and films in their eyes! But if we really send it back, who knows what tiger skin these big directors might pull out from somewhere…"

"What I fear most right now is seeing these big directors' films—you have no idea what kind of force to give. One after another they step over the line, completely ignoring any other derivative issues, with only Ji De Xiang Fa and their films in their eyes! But if you really send it back, who knows, these big directors might just pull some tiger skin out of somewhere again…"

"Actually, we should thank Lin Dao for stirring things up a few times, otherwise we wouldn't be here either. In this office, it's quite possible there'd still be a group of 'old predecessors' around sixty years old."

"Let's stop chatting about this, we'll just follow the rules." A middle-aged man in his forties said with a smile.

"Follow the rules? Then tell me, what opinion should we give on Director Xue Xue Xiaolu's 'The Whistleblower', and what review should we give? According to the new rules, this film has crossed the line a bit!"

With one rhetorical question, the laughter in the office instantly vanished completely. Right, Xue Xue Xiaolu's film—this person is a senior professor at Beijing Film Academy and also a member of the establishment.

"It's hard for us to give a review, then let's ask the leaders for their opinion. Asking and reporting more on everything can't be bad, right?"

Someone suddenly interjected, in a playful tone. Well, another sentence that once again livened up the atmosphere in the office.

Because everyone knew very well that this statement was completely correct. Although it had the suspicion of "laziness" and "passing the buck," it was better than getting stuck here, and there were no worries afterward, wasn't it.

"Then let's go find the leader now, and report the sensitive

content of this film in detail. Be careful not to add any embellishments."

"Report the contents in detail. One thing to avoid: absolutely no embellishment whatsoever."

……

……

The *Hua Mulan* crew — Liu Liu Yifei's styling had quite a few changes.

Her facial contours needed to be harder and more resolute, her features more weathered and rougher, her aura absolutely piercing and domineering, and every trace of softness in her eyes had to vanish completely, leaving only coldness and composure.

In the film world of *Hua Mulan*, in terms of the timeline, Hua Mulan's taking her father's place in the army was already something that had happened four years ago.

That's right — four years had already passed.

She was long since no longer just Grandpa and Mom's daughter, or the childhood fiancée of the boy she'd grown up with — now she was even more…

No — right now she could only be a general on the battlefield, keeping the deepest secret in her heart hidden away.

No enemy could stop the march of her victory, and no one could stop her from going home… Win completely, and she could go home!

In the shot, Liu Liu Yifei's Hua Mulan galloped her horse across the hillside; at the highest point she yanked the reins tight, and the bay warhorse instantly halted in place, its forequarters and hooves kicking up into the air as a piercing whinny rang out…

At that moment, the hundreds of cavalry under her command only caught up from far behind, keeping a gap of more than ten meters, quietly waiting.

"That shot — so cool!" Han Jianü couldn't help muttering beside Lin Nan.

"Cut." Lin Dao Da raised his walkie-talkie and called out loudly.

Sure enough, a group of actors a hundred meters away immediately relaxed and turned to head back. Liu Liu Yifei, even more, urged her horse into a gallop, once again leaving all others in the dust.

"You've got to admit, Liu Yifei's styling here makes her even more androgynously charming. Especially when her expression goes ice-cold — it's simply captivating."

"Easy there — my wife doesn't like women." Lin Nan looked at Han Jianü, speechless.

"What's that look for? I'm talking about a woman's appreciation for another woman. Besides, there's a huge group of female fans online calling you 'wifey' and begging you to marry them, haha."

Little Han rolled her eyes and shot back breezily. Damn — she nearly choked Lin Nan, because he knew it too; those fans had even told Miss Liu to dump him.

Before long, Liu Liu Yifei rode back to where Lin Nan and the others were. A crew member took the reins from her and led the bay horse away.

"Are Zhu Zhu Yawen and Luo Jin arriving soon?"

"Tomorrow at noon. Our Director Han gave them a heads-up a whole month in advance." Lin Nan yielded the director's chair to Liu Liu Yifei and handed over the hot coffee the assistant had just brought.

"Mm, let those two die even more miserably." Liu Liu Yifei nodded, giggling mischievously.

"Absolutely." Lin Nan immediately agreed, laughing nonstop as well.

As for the ways the extras could die, he had designed more than ten of them.

"Counting the shooting progress, I'm almost wrapping up too." Zou Zou Zhaolong ambled over slowly, thermos in hand.

"You'll have to wait until the whole film is nearly wrapped. Brother Long, your character is the second-to-last boss — only after a grueling cold-weapon deathmatch will Hua Mulan barely manage to cut him down at the cost of serious injury.

This long take — Director Yuan Yuan Heping is still optimizing it as much as possible, aiming for the most eye-catching result. The expected runtime is around five minutes…"

Lin Nan quipped. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the "tea leaves" in Zou Zou Zhaolong's thermos — the red goji berries were so conspicuous and familiar.

Sure enough — even action stars are only fierce on camera; in life, they have to look after their health too!

……

Afternoon, Lin Nan Pictures.

Having finished dealing with some miscellaneous work, Yue Jun finally remembered the real business and promptly wandered over to Jiang Jiang Xuerou's office.

"In the video meeting with Lin Dao this morning, the role of the eldest daughter was settled."

"Who'd they pick?" Jiang Jiang Xuerou set down her pen, asking curiously.

"Producer Liu nominated Zhang Zhang Zifeng, and Lin Dao also felt she was the better fit."

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Xuerou nodded in agreement, then turned to her assistant:

"Get in touch with Zhang Zhang Zifeng's manager — have them come by tomorrow… actually, the day after tomorrow. And keep the schedule as discreet as possible, don't let anyone snap photos."

"Understood, Supervisor Jiang."

"Are you handling the talk, or am I?" Jiang Jiang Xuerou asked Yue Jun.

"You're the producer — don't even think about troubling me again." Yue Jun laughed, waving his hands repeatedly.

Meanwhile, over at the Film Bureau.

A group of people had only just delivered the issue to the leader's desk that morning, and by the afternoon, the result was already out.

In the office of the department that held "life-and-death power" over finished films, everyone stared at the colleague who had just returned, waiting for the "reply" he'd gotten from the leader.

"What did they say?"

"Come on, hurry up — we've all got bets riding on this."

"The vast majority of us think Director Xue's film will be let through…"

"Sent back. It goes down together with all the finished films submitted for review in November, to be replied to in a batch next month." The person who had just returned from the leader's office announced, forceful and ringing.

And that single sentence shocked everyone in the office.

"Really sent back? You're not joking, right?"

"Don't you dare mess with us on this."

"No joke — it's sent back, for re-editing and rectification! The leader also said that for any big-name director's film they're unsure about, they can come to him. The principle is: business is business!"

"Well then, from now on—

— no, for at least a year and a half we're probably going to have to bother the leader constantly?!" A buzz of chatter instantly rose on all sides.

"Alright, everyone must keep this matter confidential for now — we'll notify everyone together next month."

…………