Chapter 117: The Great Heist

After many years, Zhang Yimou is holding open auditions for actors again.

In the eyes of ordinary art students, this is a golden opportunity to reach the top in one leap.

No one will ever forget how Zhang Ziyi became famous back then.

She was just an unremarkable, ordinary acting student in the Class of '96 at the Central Academy of Drama.

Even in the eyes of her head teacher, Chang Li, Zhang Ziyi could only be considered of average aptitude.

But sometimes, luck is truly important!

Zhang Yimou chose her, and that is why we have the "International Zhang" of today.

For the past two days, several art academies in the capital have been bustling beyond belief.

The registration period for this year's art exams hasn't even arrived yet, but many candidates have already rushed in from all over the country.

Current students and exam candidates alike are flooding into the Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama.

Because Zhang Yimou will personally visit these two academies to pick out some newcomers as candidates for the male and female leads of *Under the Hawthorn Tree*.

Although it is only the first round of preliminary selection, no one is willing to give up such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy have provided Zhang Yimou with every convenience.

This is the treatment afforded to a great director.

……

"Sigh, I wonder when I'll be able to get this kind of special treatment like Director Zhang?"

Lu Yang sighed with a hint of jealousy.

He is sitting quite far from Lin Nan and Guo Fan so that they don't disturb each other while editing.

"That will probably have to wait until your next life," Guo Fan quipped.

"Aren't you the same?"

Lu Yang retorted with a smile, subconsciously looking at Lin Nan.

"Director Lin would definitely have no problem."

"If you were to start a new film and hold open auditions like this, the treatment given by the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy would definitely be no worse than what Director Zhang gets."

"For someone like me or Guo Fan, we'd probably just get a classroom at most, haha..."

Lin Nan was also amused.

"That’s likely not going to happen. I can't learn this style of Director Zhang's; I prefer using mature actors—it saves me the trouble."

Everyone says Zhang Yimou is brilliant at coaching new actors, but that takes too much energy.

Lin Nan has only experienced it once, and that was with Jing Tian during *The Martian*.

He still remembers how bitter and sweet that experience was.

Thinking of that scene back then, Lin Nan couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

…………

The box office for *Avatar* has reached 1.24 billion.

Apart from the theater chains, all production companies in the industry are hoping for it to be pulled from screens immediately.

Lin Nan heard from Han Sanping that the authorities have already issued a notice for *Avatar* to be pulled from theaters in the mainland.

Even under these circumstances, it still raked in 20 million at the box office the day before it was pulled—it’s simply terrifying.

Only after the wolf was driven out could the sheep come out to graze.

*Confucius*, starring Zhou Runfa and Zhou Xun, was the first to be released.

The opening day box office was 9 million.

This made a crowd of industry insiders breathe a sigh of relief; this figure is finally normal!

The next day, the Hollywood film *The Spy Next Door*, starring Jackie Chan, was released, with 5.1 million on its first day.

This made the subsequent domestic films feel more at ease, with a sense that they could finally perform again!

Domestic films, which had been deathly silent for over twenty days, instantly became "full of life."

All kinds of promotions popped up all at once, especially for those films scheduled for release in February.

Such as the kung fu blockbusters *True Legend* and *14 Blades*, the romantic epic *Hot Summer Days*, the nostalgic comedy *All's Well, Ends Well 2010*, and the action blockbuster *Little Big Soldier*...

I don't know if the producers and distributors of these films feel embarrassed, but the internet is filled with jeers.

Having witnessed a real blockbuster, the promotional slogans for these domestic films always give the audience a feeling of being watered down—they feel very fake.

……

Among the four films from Lin Nan Film, *Lost on Journey* has the simplest plot and the lowest cost.

Over four months have passed since preparations began.

"Director Lin, I've wrapped up on my end."

When Xu Zheng called to tell Lin Nan this news, the latter was stunned for a moment.

By any calculation, they only filmed for about twenty days—and it's already wrapped?

But Lin Nan immediately thought of the plot of this film, so he didn't say anything else.

Twenty days is indeed enough.

"Then come back; I'll have someone prepare a wrap party for you all."

Many media outlets have been keeping an eye on the films from Lin Nan Film.

The moment *Lost on Journey* announced it had wrapped, the news was already online.

"Actor Xu Zheng's directorial debut, *Lost on Journey*, wraps today."

"Lin Nan Film's low-budget movie *Lost on Journey* finishes filming; Wang Baoqiang plays a migrant worker again!"

"This is a comedy about the various hilarious and absurd things that happen on the way home during the Spring Festival travel rush..."

……

At the wrap party, Wang Baoqiang toasted several times, and it was all hard liquor—this must have been the influence from his time at Huayi.

"Director Lin, I toast you; please drink as you wish."

Lin Nan smiled and took a sip of red wine.

He suddenly remembered Liu Yifei reminding him earlier not to touch alcohol when socializing alone; she had looked quite fierce at the time.

"Director Lin, I'd like to toast you as well. And Director Guo and Director Lu."

Xu Zheng raised a glass and downed it in one gulp. Judging by this, he is a decisive person.

The next day, Xu Zheng arrived at Tiangong Color.

Everyone who comes here for the first time is shocked by the scene before them.

What meets the eye is a massive amount of machinery and equipment, along with nearly a hundred technical staff.

Xu Zheng saw quite a few cards with movie titles written on them, standing in different areas.

These are all projects that Tiangong Color has taken on, none of which are very large.

A staff member led Xu Zheng to the area specifically for film post-production editing, where Lin Nan and the others were.

"Director Lin."

"You're here. Go sit across from Lu Yang; two editors should be enough for you, right?"

"Enough, I can do it myself," Xu Zheng laughed.

That afternoon, the post-production for *Lost on Journey* also began.

Lin Nan has already started considering the scheduling issue—how to arrange the four films most appropriately.

He feels he needs to go find Han Sanping.

……

Xing Aina called, wanting to invite Lin Nan and Liu Yifei to their home for a meal.

This was quite sudden.

Lin Nan felt there must be something going on, so he didn't refuse.

It just so happens that Miss Liu has also been free these past two days.

By the time Lin Nan returned to the villa, Liu Yifei had already been waiting.

She was wearing the same down jacket she wore back in Hengdian, with jeans and ankle boots—this outfit is truly casual.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The girl opened the car door and got into the passenger seat. She was holding a gift box in her hand.

"What's that?"

"Dessert; Sister Xing likes to eat it."

Lin Nan shook his head; they really have become close.

Driving all the way to Ning Hao's house, he was a bit curious—calling him and Liu Yifei over today, surely it isn't just for a meal, right?

When they arrived at Ning Hao's villa, they saw him strolling in the courtyard holding his chubby son, the large gold chain around his neck flashing with a golden luster in the sunlight.

"You guys are a bit slow; my wife is cooking personally," Ning Hao complained.

Lin Nan had wanted to retort, but upon hearing this, he kept quiet.

Liu Yifei looked at the little one in Ning Hao's arms, her eyes shining.

She touched the child's cheek with her finger, "Call me Auntie..."

The little one stared at Liu Yifei with his dark, round eyes, just smiling, but refusing to speak.

"Like kids? Ask Lin Nan for one, haha..."

With that one sentence from Ning Hao, Liu Yifei's face turned red instantly.

"Let's go, come inside with me. I've been waiting specifically for you two."

Xing Aina is quite capable; a table full of dishes, all prepared by her alone.

Lin Nan guessed correctly: the invitation to dinner was real, and having a request was also real.

"I asked you to look at the script for *No Man's Land* before, but I didn't listen to you at the time, and it ended up like this..."

Ning Hao started off by being sentimental.

"After dinner, help him look at the new script," Xing Aina said with a smile.

"This meal of yours, Sister, isn't cheap," Lin Nan joked.

Liu Yifei was already eating on the side, wearing an expression of someone watching the fun.

No business was discussed at the dinner table; half an hour later, Lin Nan followed Ning Hao into the study.

Liu Yifei and Xing Aina were chatting in the living room.

"Director Ning, what kind of script is it this time?"

Just as Lin Nan finished asking, Ning Hao handed the item over.

A script a bit thinner than *No Man's Land*.

Lin Nan looked up at Ning Hao; the latter had a serious expression at the moment, tinged with some helplessness.

"Take a look and give me some feedback."

When he said this, one could hear that Ning Hao lacked confidence; the blow from *No Man's Land* had been too great for him.

Lin Nan began to flip through the script, feeling inexplicably familiar with it.

It was another single-line narrative film, exactly the same as *No Man's Land*, but the style was the black humor of *Crazy Stone* and *Crazy Racer*.

The story was not long, but the details were numerous.

Lin Nan could tell that this script was more restrained, and the thinking was very similar to *No Man's Land*, but what it expressed was the exact opposite.

The difference between this script and *No Man's Land* lay in the direction of the ending. The two films seemed to be told in reverse; this one leaned toward being "correct."

"Why is there no title?" Lin Nan asked.

"It's just not marked yet. The title of this script is *Golden Mystery Case*, or you could call it *Guns and Roses*..."

Lin Nan's eyes widened for a moment; well, he had just been too close to the situation to see it clearly.

"It should be fine. After all, the male lead goes from a hoodlum to a glorious 'revolutionary.' Isn't that what the old guys like? Haha..."

Ning Hao's face was a bit dark.

"You mean I've surrendered to them?

Fine, I've surrendered, to those old fogies."

"Haha, that's your own admission, it has nothing to do with me.

However, this script is indeed good. I suggest you polish it a bit more; it's a little rough."

Ning Hao nodded. "Mm, this is only the third draft. The general plot won't change; I just need to refine the dialogue. When I finish the budget, you can invest a little..."

"Sure, then I'll invest a little," Lin Nan agreed.

The two left the study and saw Xing Aina and Liu Yifei on the sofa, teasing the child. The child, not yet a year old, was quite cute.

"How was it?"

Seeing the two come out, Xing Aina asked hurriedly.

"No problem, I've pulled him onto the boat, haha," Ning Hao said jokingly.

"As long as there's no problem. I will be the producer for this film."

Xing Aina looked a bit excited; she had just been talking to Liu Yifei about this matter.

"She just saw that Yifei was the producer for *Brotherhood of Blades* and felt that she, as a senior, was falling behind, so she felt a bit embarrassed..."