Chapter 115: Under the Hawthorn Tree

A couple of days ago, Hu Ge's "Myth" landed on CCTV.

It only took 6 episodes to surge to the number one spot in nationwide ratings for TV dramas in its time slot.

Another hit show. His position as a top-tier young actor is very secure.

The domestic film market is still dominated by "Avatar"; not a single Chinese film has survived.

Across the entire industry chain, only the theater chains are grinning ear to ear, raking in money hand over fist.

"Three Shots" has been out of theaters for a while now, and the blow this film dealt Zhang Zhang Yimou is just like the impact "The Promise" once had on Chen Chen Kaige.

The latter chose to return to biographical films and made "Mei Mei Lanfang."

Likewise, Zhang Zhang Yimou's team announced with great fanfare the restart of the previously prepared script, "Under the Hawthorn Tree."

Compared with Chen Chen Kaige, netizens seem to be a bit kinder to Zhang Zhang Yimou, with plenty of supportive posts.

A top-tier director returning to the art-house genre he excels at — for actors in the industry, this is simply an enormous temptation.

Once the news spread, the whole circle was buzzing.

A Zhang Zhang Yimou art-house film getting into a film festival is certainly no problem at all.

Liu Liu Yifei also had a few ideas of her own.

"Could you help me go ask for me?"

"I'm not that close with Director Zhang either," Lin Nan said with a smile.

"Still closer than me. Just put in a word for me."

Lin Nan was eighty percent sure Liu Liu Yifei would be turned down by Zhang Zhang Yimou, but he still agreed.

"Fine, I'll help you ask if it's a fit. But if you get discouraged, don't blame me."

"Mm, I won't blame you. I'll be waiting for your good news. Mwah."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Nan went to check on the "Under the Hawthorn Tree" situation.

Zhang Zhang Yimou is one of those people whose energy is absurdly inexhaustible.

The moment he finished saying the project was being restarted, he had already begun preparing the casting.

……

While everyone was focused on "Under the Hawthorn Tree,"

Huayi publicly announced the news of its split with Zhou Xun.

The mainland's first Triple Crown Film Queen — her contract is about to expire, and she will not be renewing with Huayi.

The key point is she's still an A-list film star holding Huayi original shares.

When Wang Wang Zhonglei was interviewed, he spoke softly and gently, saying there was no conflict or anything of the sort, that it was purely a personal choice.

"If I hadn't listened to you back then and bought that one million shares, who knows how they'd be spinning things about me right now."

Now that Zhou Xun is contract-free and light as a feather, she specially invited Lin Nan and Huang Huang Xiaoming out for a meal.

Back then it was Lin Nan and Huang Huang Xiaoming who convinced her to firmly buy the shares, and she made a killing.

"It's fine, Boss Wang is a man who cares about face — he probably wouldn't do that…"

Huang Huang Xiaoming, who had just wrapped his scenes on the "Four Talents" set, habitually tried to smooth things over.

Zhou Xun glanced at Huang Huang Xiaoming and recalled something.

"Your contract is also expiring mid-year, right? I remember it's a three-year deal?"

Huang Huang Xiaoming nodded.

"Going to renew?" Zhou Xun asked.

"Honestly, I'm thinking of opening my own studio…"

Huang Huang Xiaoming didn't hold anything back, continuing: "That way it's more convenient for me to invest and be a producer — I can back myself, and I can sign actors too, haha…"

Zhou Xun smiled, looked at Lin Nan, and teased: "Lin Dao, from now on if you've got work just call me directly — no more middlemen."

"Discount?" Lin Nan laughed.

"Sure, as long as you give me the female lead."

"Haha, same here — I can give you a bone-breaking discount…"

After one meal, the internet was suddenly full of rumors.

"Zhou Xun treats Lin Dao Nan to dinner — suspected signing with Lin Nan Pictures!"

"Lin Dao Nan, Huang Huang Xiaoming, and Zhou Xun dine together — 'Painted Skin 2' greenlit…"

Good lord, Lin Nan actually admired these paparazzi — they straight-up handed him a job!

The next day, Zhou Xun posted on Weibo, announcing the establishment of her own studio.

Not only did the rumors collapse on their own, it also instantly killed the idea for any company that had been eyeing Zhou Xun.

……

Lin Nan met with Zhang Zhang Yimou.

"If it were any other film, I really could give you that face and let Liu Yifei come audition.

But for this film, I won't hide it from you. I want pure newcomers — people who've never acted, never been in a relationship, have zero romantic experience, that kind of complete amateur."

Zhang Zhang Yimou said with a smile, his words carrying a pointed implication.

Lin Nan understood what the other man meant; this reasoning left him utterly helpless.

"Haha, you win some you lose some. Director Zhang, are you planning to hold open auditions at all the arts schools?"

"Mm, wrap it up within two months…"

Zhang Zhang Yimou had already dispatched several assistant directors to famous arts schools across the country to scout talent.

Lin Nan didn't linger. After chatting for a while, he took his leave.

He could tell that only with this kind of art-house film would Zhang Zhang Yimou possibly be free from Zhang Zhang Weiping's interference.

Because within the profit model, copyright is the lion's share, and quality is the key…

Liu Liu Yifei felt a bit dejected after hearing Lin Nan relay the casting conditions.

She didn't even meet the most basic requirements!

"If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. One day I'll save up enough to put together my own crew."

"You've got ideals—I support you. By the way, how's the filming of 'Brotherhood of Blades' going?"

"It's about to wrap. In another two days, I can come back and find you."

Liu Liu Yifei's voice instantly lightened a bit.

…………

Lin Nan stayed at Tiangong Color, staring at the post-production editing.

A small portion of the special effects was also being produced.

Yang Yang Shoucheng's phone call came in abruptly.

"Lin Dao, the finished cut of 'Ip Man 2' is already done. We need to set a release date."

"Didn't Emperor Motion Pictures already tell the outside world they'd set it for the first half of the year?"

"Pick a specific time, Lin Dao. Heh heh."

In Lin Nan's plan, the company's four films could earliest begin screening from the June summer slot, spread across the second half of the year.

Then this 'Ip Man 2' would be best placed at May Day.

"Release it at the end of April, aiming for the May Day window," Lin Nan said.

"Then we'll go with what Lin Dao says."

……

Outside, the box office of 'Avatar' had already surpassed 700 million, and was visibly heading toward 800 million.

Cameron personally brought the main creative team to the capital.

Besides doing another round of promotion, they hoped China Film could bring in more of their films.

Even through the screen, Lin Nan could feel the mood of those mainland film people at the scene—cursing up a storm in their hearts, no doubt.

But this director, who'd once been a truck driver, when he talked about the application of 3D, CG, motion capture and other technologies in film, truly displayed a masterful level.

Quite a few domestic directors and producers in attendance listened as if it were gibberish, dumbfounded from start to finish, extremely awkward.

"Lin Dao, is the gap really this big?"

Over at Tiangong Color, Guo Fan asked bluntly.

"Isn't it just that big!

The equipment used for those technologies he talked about—there's barely any of it in the country. In a few days when the second batch of equipment arrives, you can take a look."

After Lin Nan finished speaking, he saw quite a few people looking over.

"Mm, also another batch of people will be coming back. We'll have more and more hands on deck."

Those employees who'd returned from Crystal Pictures instantly understood.

……

When several trucks carrying machinery and equipment drove all the way to Lin Nan Pictures.

The media immediately thought of this time last year, when Tiangong Color received its first batch of imported equipment.

This is the attitude of someone truly determined to build a special effects company! Actions truly match words.

"Tiangong Color, second batch of imported special effects equipment delivered…"

"The estimated value of this batch of equipment exceeds the first."

"With machines and staff combined, Tiangong Color has already become the largest and most top-tier special effects company in the country."

……

Big clients get big-client treatment.

Along with the equipment came over twenty engineers, responsible for installation, debugging, and necessary guidance.

Lin Nan hadn't expected such a big commotion this time.

Han Han Sanping, Director Tong and others all came to watch the excitement.

Counting the first batch of equipment, this time they finally filled up an entire floor.

"How much did you spend on this?"

"Even if you knew, what good would it do? China Film could never approve this kind of project."

Lin Nan's words—Han Han Sanping really had no comeback.

As a state-owned enterprise, China Film had to be involved in and support all types of films; it truly couldn't spend money specifically to build a special effects company.

After Han Han Sanping, Tong Gang and other bigwigs left, quite a few film production companies came by one after another to visit.

Lin Nan turned no one away, having people lead them around and introduce things one by one.

Surprisingly, over two days, they took on quite a few commissioned jobs.

The influence of 'Avatar' had greatly raised outside attention on Lin Nan's special effects company.

Big films are the most inseparable from special effects.

"He's really going to do the work for real!"

"Big Brother, we have plenty of funds now. Should we also build our own special effects company?" Wang Wang Zhonglei asked.

Back at the premiere of 'The Martian,' when Lin Nan said he was going to open a special effects company, the industry was just watching the show.

Now it looked like it was really happening—at the very least, the equipment and talent were both there.

Thinking about it, a film like 'Avatar' really did need its own special effects company…

"Are you crazy? This kind of project needs long-term cash burning, with no idea when it'll turn a profit—why would we do it?

Investing in anything else would be better than running a special effects company…"

……

Lin Nan was like a billboard, advertising for Tiangong Color at every moment.

Quite a few production companies came over on their own with work in hand — that feeling was wonderful…

Xue Xue Xiaolu, with the mindset of slow work yielding fine craft, spent over two months filming "Love Is Not Blind" and finally wrapped.

"Sister Xue, are you really not bringing it here for post-production?"

"No, I'll take it back to the school to edit, saves taking up your resources there…"

Since Xue Xue Xiaolu had said as much, Lin Nan didn't press further.

"If you need anything then, just call me directly."

The equipment at Beijing Film Academy was all too outdated — "Love Is Not Blind" was just a low-budget urban-themed film.

If it were something like "Brotherhood of Blades" or "The Robbers," Lin Nan would absolutely never agree to take it to the school for post-production.

……

The entertainment circle was more cruel and realistic than other places.

Lin Nan remembered half a year ago, the rumor outside was that Deng Deng Wendi would film "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" together with Zhang Zhang Ziyi.

Then International Zhang got dumped, and the matter was left at that.

Now that Huayi had gone public, this project was brought out again by Deng Deng Wendi, jointly produced with Shanghai Film and Huayi.

Only the female lead had changed.

It became Huayi's number one sister — Li Li Bingbing.

Lin Nan didn't know much about this film, but guessed it wouldn't be any good.