Chapter 1124: Switching to the Shanghai Circle; The Restaurant Can't Stay Open?!

"At around eight o'clock this morning, China Film, Shanghai Film, Huaxia Film, and Edko Films, jointly with Zhang Zhang Yimou's Director's Film Studio, issued an announcement for a new project's filing:

Directed by Zhang Zhang Yimou, who also participated in the screenplay, and jointly produced by Shanghai Film, China Film, Huaxia Film, and Edko Films, the spy-suspense film *Cliff Walkers* has officially been filed and registered today;

The film will begin open casting within the mainland film and television industry starting from the 10th of this month, with plans to finalize the cast and complete pre-production preparations within three months, and to officially start shooting by the end of the year…"

On the morning of the 6th, the powerhouse collaboration between a top-tier director and four film and television giants hit the industry like a falling meteor, shaking the entire sector.

One must understand that, apart from Lin Nan's Film Company's major projects, the circle had not seen such a heavyweight production with such a luxurious lineup for a very, very long time.

Even *My People, My Country* was not considered particularly heavyweight for actors, nowhere near as tempting as this *Cliff Walkers*.

That was because the former was an ensemble piece, fundamentally unable to highlight the importance of any individual actor, making it impossible to stand out;

Therefore, its boosting effect on the actors themselves was also not significant—at most, it added another tribute film to their resume.

Needless to say, this resume entry looked good on paper only.

After all, neither the box office nor the awards could be claimed for oneself, and all the success belonged to the producers; even the director alone could not take credit.

With this analysis, isn't it obvious that the massive number of actors in the circle immediately flocked to *Cliff Walkers*?

……

"I suggest you all stop wasting your energy scheming, because the result will only be a futile effort.

I've already asked on your behalf—this is a male-driven film, and the only two major female roles have strict, non-negotiable requirements;

One requires an actress around forty to fifty years old with real acting chops, the other requires someone around 20 years old and youthful enough—none of you meet the requirements."

Liu Liu Yifei held her phone in her right hand, her thumb lightly pressing the WeChat voice chat button, and cheerfully opened fire on everyone in the temporary group chat.

"How can you say that? On what grounds do you think I can't play a 20-year-old?" Watching Shu Chang immediately retorted.

"Exactly, even if you're going to say I can't act, don't be so blunt about it. It hurts, haha…" Liu Yan followed up.

"I'm still pregnant with a big belly here, I wasn't scheming at all!" Tang Yan also stressed with a laugh.

"Don't make excuses, you have the will but not the way." Liu Liu Yifei decisively shut down Tang Yan, then turned to tease Watching Shu Chang: "You can play a 20-year-old, but your face is too familiar to the audience.

Director Zhang wants someone with a fresh, dewy screen image, and the best choice is obviously just to find an actual 20-year-old."

"Isn't this obviously a role reserved for that new Mou Girl? I heard part of her management contract is signed with Director Zhang's studio!" Liu Yan exclaimed in sudden realization.

"Just keep it to yourselves, don't spread it around.

Actually, everyone knows that even though a major director's film announcements always include the words 'open casting,' in reality, most of the time it's open casting only within a small scope, a small circle…

In Lin Nan's words, Director Zhang's current casting is completely about playing it safe, even more conservative than Lin Nan himself by many times over;

Up to now, Lin Nan's Film Company still occasionally gives opportunities to some of its younger actors, but Director Zhang's side has completely shut that door—he only uses familiar faces or young actors and newcomers pushed in by major capital circles."

Liu Liu Yifei was in a good mood, chatting away nonstop with the others, and the women even started a group video call, continuing to laugh and joke around.

Unlike Miss Liu's relaxed ease, the Director Lin Da sitting at the door at this moment looked rather "long-faced," because he was currently on a call from the Olympic Organizing Committee.

That's right, the Winter Olympics Organizing Committee had called Lin Nan to inform him of the specific "reporting time," namely the chief director recruitment timeline for the first half of next year.

Sigh, he had been blissfully letting loose at home, only to suddenly be reminded by a phone call that there was still work waiting for him later…

The news struck like a bolt from the blue, hitting Lin Nan right on the head. His mood at this moment was imaginable—definitely not a smiling one.

"No problem, I understand." Lin Nan forced a smile and nodded in response.

"Then we won't disturb you further, Director Lin. If you have any questions later, feel free to call anytime."

"Alright, thank you."

After hanging up, Lin Nan couldn't help but sigh repeatedly, and laughed self-deprecatingly: "Ah, just thinking about this one thing left to do, and I feel inexplicably exhausted."

……

The entire day of the 6th, the film circle was spent entirely in heated discussion of Zhang Zhang Yimou's new film.

Many industry people even teased Zhang Zhang Yimou, saying that *One Second* still had no idea when it would be released, yet here he was, impatiently stockpiling a third film;

Saying that with Director Zhang's incredible stamina and vigorous energy, even if one day he suddenly announced he'd had another son, the entire circle and the whole internet probably wouldn't be surprised at all!

To be fair, this teasing joke was damn convincing, leaving everyone speechless.

On the morning of the 7th, around nine, paparazzi captured footage of Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi fully geared up, striding briskly into Zhang Zhang Yimou's Director's Film Studio.

No one in the circle needed to guess what she was there for—absolutely for film resources.

According to the entertainment reporters' stakeout, she only stayed at Zhang Zhang Yimou's Director's Film Studio for two and a half hours, leaving at 11:30 a. m.

This timing was quite worth pondering, because it was almost lunchtime, yet she wasn't invited to stay for lunch? Or did she politely decline herself?

Regardless of the reason, the fact that they didn't have lunch together was, in the eyes of industry insiders and entertainment reporters alike, an undisputed negative.

Because if she had secured a role or a promise, then following the conventions of social reciprocity and Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi's shrewdness, they would definitely have had lunch together!

Driven by a gossipy heart, Lin Nan specifically went to ask Ning Hao about it in the evening.

Sure enough, Director Ning was equally curious, and had already asked Zhang Mo about it in the afternoon.

As expected, Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi had indeed gone for that female lead role for someone forty to fifty years old, but was ruthlessly rejected by Zhang Zhang Yimou.

And Director Zhang gave the reason for rejection on the spot, leaving Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi completely speechless; namely, that her current appearance and uncontrollable aura were too aggressive, unsuitable for the role.

Not only that, Zhang Zhang Yimou also gave Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi a two-hour lecture, ultimately advising her to thoroughly adjust her mindset, and as soon as possible, wear away that overbearing aggressiveness and competitive, unyielding mentality of hers.

Only then might her temperament become more approachable, and her appearance more restrained and gentle; otherwise, roles would only become harder and harder to find in the future.

Surprisingly, although Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi didn't get the role, she did get a prescription. As for whether it can cure the ailment, that depends on her attitude—on whether she's willing to follow the doctor's orders.

On the morning of the 8th, news of the Venice International Film Festival closing ceremony awards swept the entire internet.

As the rumors that had been trickling back in recent days suggested, Lou Ye's *Saturday Fiction* indeed came away empty-handed.

And this edition's Best Film Golden Lion award fell, as expected by all, on *Joker*. Yes, just as everyone expected.

This film's buzz was enormous; from the moment it held its first global premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, its reputation and fame swept the global film circle within just a few days.

Countless film fans and viewers were all in a state of eager anticipation, naturally including film fans in the Chinese-language film market; but very unfortunately…

"In the early hours of this morning, China time—i. e., the morning of the 7th, Los Angeles time—Warner Bros. issued an announcement regarding the crime-suspense-action film *Joker*:

The film regrettably failed to obtain approval to enter the Chinese film market, and the plan for a global synchronized release has collapsed; *Joker* is now officially scheduled for release in North America on October 4th, and has confirmed it will compete for this year's Oscar Academy Award…"

……

"So the meaning of you calling me is just to remind me to lend you the screener copy of *Joker* when the time comes? Heh heh, you really are a real smart one!"

"Cut the crap, you're an Academy member, and on top of that your relationship with Warner is already pretty good. They're going to push for Oscars during awards season, so they'll definitely send you a screener copy to secure your vote…"

"Fine, I got it. Once I receive it, I'll have Liu Yifei call your family's big-shot screenwriter, and they can come watch it at my home's IMAX3D giant-screen home theater."

"Would you die if you stopped showing off? Hey wait, that's not right—you just said Liu Yifei will call?"

"That's right, she wants to watch this film too. I've already sent an email to Warner, they'll send me a copy in advance, hahaha…" Lin Nan couldn't help but laugh.

At breakfast today, Miss Liu had made this request to him. Without even thinking, he sent an email to Warner, and just half an hour ago received a reply—everything was OK.

"Damn, you got to show off again!"

"Do you have anything else? If not, I'm hanging up. I'm about to head out to the school, and along the way I still need to stop by Enlight Media."

"Alright then, I won't bother you anymore. When your family's Liu Yifei has finally decided on her major, remember to let us know."

Hearing Ning Hao's teasing remark that followed, Lin Nan almost felt like cursing him out.

These guys actually bet on which department Miss Liu would choose for her major. Every single one of them deserves a couple of slaps.

……

Shanghai Film Group.

Chairman Ren Da had never imagined that after his request to swap out the actor was conveyed, someone would actually come over to plead the case!

Sitting in his office at this moment, looking at the person across from him playing dumb, he couldn't help but want to laugh—a cold laugh.

"I truly don't believe you people can't understand what my secretary was hinting at. What top-tier star? In my view, he's just a worm, a pest."

"Chairman Ren, you see…"

"Don't make me look. I'd rather kill the wrong one than let one go. This industry still makes too much money, blinding too many people, robbing them of their senses, leading them down a path to their own death!" Ren Ren Zhonglun cut the other party off.

Immediately after, he turned his gaze to Wang Wang Jiawei, who had been playing dead in silence off to the side: "Director Wang, no problem with recasting, right?"

"Rest assured, Chairman Ren, I'll determine the new casting as soon as possible." Facing Chairman Ren Da, today's Wang Wang Jiawei wasn't wearing sunglasses. And without his sunglasses, Wang Wang Jiawei's presence was pretty ordinary.

"That's good. If there's nothing else, you can go." Chairman Ren Da directly issued an order to leave. Even though the other party was a so-called big-shot Hong Kong director and a senior executive of Yaolai.

Seeing the icy attitude and resolute tone of the person in the main seat, the few people in the office had no choice but to fall silent and stop arguing. After offering their greetings, they all turned and left the office.

"Jackie Chan really is blind—back then he actually helped Yaolai sign this kind of traffic star." Seeing Wang Wang Jiawei and the others had left, Chairman Ren Da finally cursed out loud.

Judging from the attitude and rhetoric of the people who came today, he could now fully confirm one thing: the information obtained from the earlier background check was one hundred percent true.

These people all knew about it, but these people… truly deserve to die.

"Go, catch up to Wang Wang Jiawei…" Sighing, Chairman Ren Da immediately instructed his secretary.

Downstairs at the Shanghai Film Group office building, a group of people walked straight toward the outside, muttering something with serious expressions. From their demeanor alone, one could tell they certainly weren't saying anything nice.

And just at this moment, someone came rushing up from behind: "Director Wang, wait a moment."

Hearing the call, the people in front instantly switched to pleasant faces, turning around with smiles.

"Is there anything else Chairman Ren wants to instruct?" Wang Wang Jiawei immediately asked, his tone polite.

"There is indeed something." The secretary nodded with a smile as well, then stated bluntly: "Director Wang, Chairman Ren hopes the new male lead will be chosen from the Shanghai circle; in fact, for the entire main cast of one male and two female leads, he might as well use Shanghai circle actors across the board…"

……

Watching Lao Lin ultimately failed to hold back the people from Western Film, who once again forced large and small packages of gifts on his home on this day that wasn't a holiday or festival, piled up like a small mountain.

"Director Zhang, you really shouldn't send any more. Over all these years, I've never once finished eating or using everything; in the end, either I gave it away or it went bad."

As the group chatted and laughed with him in greeting, preparing to leave, Watching Lao Lin finally made up his mind to grab Director Zhang, the familiar leader of the group.

"What you're saying is too much of an outsider's politeness—how could we not send it? Don't worry about not finishing eating it, not finishing using it, or it going bad. Worst case, just throw it away in the end; it wasn't worth much to begin with, and we're not short on this little bit…"

Listening to the other's endless chatter, Old Lin muttered inwardly: "I'm just a bit old, I'm not blind, and I still know how to surf the internet; whether the stuff is worth money or not, and how much, how could I not know?"

"…These past few days, the group received the overseas box-office share for *The Wandering Earth*, and all employees of the group get bonuses—you naturally have yours too. All these years, we've treated you as family of Western Film…"

Before long, Director Zhang led a group of Western Film employees and drove off in three commercial vehicles.

Leaving only Watching Lao Lin standing outside his own restaurant, looking up at the imposing plaque, looking up at the archaistic gatehouse, his thoughts drifting to who knows where.

After a long while, he couldn't help but sigh, but with full vigor: "This restaurant can't keep running. If it keeps running, when will the favors owed to Western Film ever end? Won't it all fall on my son to repay?"

Straightening his back, Watching Lao Lin seemed to have grown several years younger in an instant, his posture much more upright.

Only to see him, hands behind his back, stride into the restaurant that was closed for the day with vigorous steps, still muttering: "At least back in the hometown, it can't keep running!"

……