Chapter 179

Since Zhao Liying signed with Shanhai Media, this was the second time Lin Nan had seen her.

The latter appeared a bit excited; the company had just arranged an assistant for her two days ago, a girl of the same age.

"After entering the 'The Four' crew, there will be a one-month training period, and filming will officially start at the end of next month."

Lin Nan paused and smiled:

"Although this sounds a bit realistic, I still have to say it.

There shouldn't be any actor or staff member over there who will deliberately target you, but once such a thing happens, don't endure it!"

The reason Lin Nan said this was because the "The Four" crew had many Hong Kong actors and crew members.

Gordon Chan certainly wouldn't, but it's hard to guarantee that those people below wouldn't trip her up.

After all, he heard that Gordon Chan had originally promised the female lead role to someone else, but it was forcefully rejected.

Hong Kong is a small place, and even when filming in the mainland, actors and crews habitually stick together, take sides, and even incidents of discrimination and exclusion against mainland actors occur...

Zhao Liying's expression became a bit serious, and she nodded earnestly.

"Lin Dao, I won't lose face for the company."

"Lin Dao is just reminding you, it doesn't necessarily mean such a thing will happen, hehe..."

Yue Jun also couldn't help but speak, saying with a smile.

Hearing this, Zhao Liying's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

……

The film market had been lifeless since late February.

Finally waiting for two blockbusters in April, and one was worse than the other.

May hadn't even started, but a crowd of domestic films waiting to be released were already mourning.

China Film Group had calculated it very well at the time; if "The Warring States" and "The Lost Bladesman" put in some effort, they would kill their way to mid-to-late May, grab the market with a batch of imported films, and lead other domestic films.

But who knew, these two films would be so severely disappointing, posing no threat to the imported films in May at all.

A total of six Hollywood major productions, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides", "Kung Fu Panda 2", "Fast Five", "Thor"...

Many production companies with films to be released in May were feeling their scalps go numb.

The May release slot hadn't even started, and the outcome was already destined!

At this moment, China Film Group wanted to arrange films to go in and hold the fort, but it was already too late.

The entire month of May was almost destined to become the world of imported films.

"Love for Life", directed by Gu Changwei and starring Aaron Kwok and Zhang Ziyi, definitely wouldn't be able to make any waves.

"Lin Nan, when are you planning to set 'Star Luck'?"

As soon as Han Sanping opened his mouth, Lin Nan knew what he was up to.

"President Han, don't you have this idea. I won't go to save the situation..."

Lin Nan knew very well that with his and Liu Yifei's box office influence, the results of "Star Luck" wouldn't be bad.

But he would absolutely not agree to putting it into May so hastily...

Han Sanping didn't expect Lin Nan to react so quickly; he hadn't even said it yet, and the other party had already blocked the way back.

"Fine, I was just asking, I didn't think about really letting you go to May."

"Keep bluffing...", Lin Nan complained in his heart.

"Then when are you planning to set it?"

"I'll decide after I return from Cannes."

…………

"'The Four' crew has arrived at Xiangshan Film and Television City today. They will undergo a one-month training before filming starts..."

"It is reported that Shanhai Media artist, Zhao Liying, originally an actress under Huayi, before her contract expired, had already..."

"The female lead of 'The Four' is suspected to have been internally decided nearly two months in advance..."

Lin Nan didn't know what to say about Wang Zhonglei.

This little bit of eye drops, "it is reported", "suspected", besides adding a bit of gossip, what else could it do? It was painless...

Subsequently, Jiang Xuerou's Weibo came out.

"Zhao Liying previously filmed Zhou Yi's 'The Undercover', and the feeling she gave me was very good.

But she stayed at Huayi for five years without many good resources. So, I think that after an artist's contract expires, if there is an opportunity, one should still aim higher..."

Jiang Xuerou acted as the company's spokesperson and stated her position directly to the outside world.

There were many companies in the circle watching the fun, all very interested, waiting to see the two big companies fight.

But who knew that after Jiang Xuerou's Weibo post, no one took the bait, which made everyone very depressed!

…………

"'Dialogue between Famous Chinese and Foreign Directors' Summit?"

"It's organized by the Beijing International Film Season."

Now Lin Nan was even more confused; when did this Beijing International Film Season come about? And they even invited him to participate in the dialogue!

Yue Jun saw Lin Nan's confusion.

"The first edition this year, the highest award is: Tiantan Award.

Directors Feng Xiaogang and John Woo have already agreed to participate."

Hearing this, Lin Nan's face darkened a bit.

Domestic films haven't seen much breakthrough, but film festivals are being established one after another; it's all because they have too much money to burn.

"Same as usual, decline it. Besides, this time I have to arrive several days before the Cannes opening ceremony, so I don't have time."

…………

"The Lost Bladesman" and "The Warring States" were about the same, but it had Jiang Wen as a highlight.

At this moment, the box office was still slowly increasing, about 2 million per day.

For a film with an investment of 150 million, it was already a case of treating a dead horse as a living one, losing a little less is a little less.

Time entered May.

As a rare good release slot in the first half of the year, even if other films were nearing the end of their release period, when encountering such a small long holiday, the box office would still recover a bit.

But "The Lost Bladesman" was not the case; this film was completely in a "dead pig isn't afraid of boiling water" state.

On May Day, the daily box office dropped directly to below 1 million, reporting 820,000.

Counting it all up, "The Lost Bladesman" had only been released for twelve days, looking at it like this, it was indeed the end.

Three consecutive days, the Labor Day holiday ended.

"The Lost Bladesman" daily box office fell below 100,000, and major cinema chains then completely deleted it from the schedule, even though the screen allocation rate was already less than 1 percent before.

Completing a half-month release cycle was the last bit of face and leeway the cinema chains left for the film side.

At this point, the media immediately began reporting the data for "The Lost Bladesman".

"Following 'The Warring States', 'The Lost Bladesman' was also released for half a month and abandoned by the market..."

"'The Lost Bladesman', invested 150 million and starring Donnie Yen, had a total box office of 140 million and was regrettably pulled from theaters."

"After 'Ip Man', Donnie Yen's two consecutive films have suffered huge losses, already affecting his market value..."

This circle is realistic; whether an actor is a box office draw determines your value.

At this moment, Donnie Yen was very anxious.

"I will help you issue an announcement to the outside world, saying that you don't plan to take on any roles for the next half year, will seriously study for a period of time, think about the connotation of an actor, and carefully select new scripts..."

The agent gave Donnie Yen an idea.

Recently, there had been too much negative criticism directed at Donnie Yen. The attack on Jiang Wen also caused some backlash, so it was better to keep a low profile for a while.

"Then..."

"Your market value and status have been affected quite a bit, but it's still acceptable. We'll find a way to make up for it later."

As soon as Donnie Yen opened his mouth, the agent knew what he meant.

"Fine, then let's do it that way."

…………

Liu Yifei's Cannes trip this time was ready, just waiting to set off.

Lin Nan sat on the sofa and called Zhu Yawen.

"Hello, Lin Dao, what made you think of calling me?"

This oily tone was indeed suitable for playing roles like a scumbag.

"Cannes."

Lin Nan only said two words, and only heard a "shh" from the other end of the phone, presumably telling the people around to be quiet.

"Are you sure I can go? Is it necessary to go?"

This question from Zhu Yawen actually stumped Lin Nan.

Although Zhu Yawen was a supporting actor, he still had a chance to compete for an acting award, although the chance was extremely slim.

"Then what are your thoughts?"

"I think it's better not to go, the hope is too small, and going would just make me a third wheel."

Before Lin Nan could speak, Zhu Yawen added hurriedly:

"However, if by any chance my family's ancestral grave did that thing, you know. You have to help me accept the award, and by the way, introduce and promote me well..."

"You're really promising, already setting your sights on the ancestral grave, hehe...

Fine, then I won't take you, if your family, no, if you really hit the jackpot, I will introduce you well."

Liu Yifei rested her forehead on Lin Nan's arm, laughing non-stop. Zhu Yawen talking about his own "ancestral grave" was simply too funny.

…………

Yue Jun took four employees and set off for Cannes in advance to prepare.

China Film Group was led by a vice president and went to Cannes together with people from Wanda Film Industry.

Besides the matter of "Painted Skin 2", the former also shouldered the task of purchasing foreign film copyrights during the film festival.

……

The crew of "White Vengeance" began to summon a crowd of actors.

"Mimi, prepare to join the crew, I have already reported to Director Jiang."

Yang Mi didn't react for a moment, why was it Director Jiang this time?

"Is Director Yue not around?" she asked subconsciously.

"The call didn't go through, heard he went to Cannes."

Ceng Jia showed a look of longing and answered.

Although she was just an agent, she also longed for that place; if her artist could go, then she herself...

Thinking about it, Ceng Jia glanced at Yang Mi, and then dismissed this unrealistic idea.

Hearing this news, Yang Mi also thought of Lin Nan and Liu Yifei's "Star Luck".

Cannes was about to open!

She was also someone with artistic pursuits, and at this moment, her envy for Liu Yifei was indescribable.

"Join the crew."

…………

"White Vengeance" and "The Last Supper", there was some enmity between the two.

Lu Chuan was kicked out of the project by the former's production side, so he pulled investment to make the film "The Last Supper".

The latter had been filming for two months, and at this moment, "White Vengeance" started filming, so the media paid extra attention.

"The epic blockbuster 'White Vengeance' with an investment of 150 million, officially started filming today!"

"Since 'Palace', Feng Shaofeng and Yang Mi once again play the couple Xiang Yu and Consort Yu in 'White Vengeance'!"

"'White Vengeance' and 'The Last Supper', who wins and who loses, is worth looking forward to..."

…………

Every time she went on a long trip, Liu Yifei always had several suitcases.

This time going to attend the Cannes Film Festival, the time would be a bit longer, and it seemed she brought even more things...