Chapter 198: Box Office Results, Filming

Have to say, Hangke Engineering is professional.

The "Xihe" interstellar starship they designed for the film is brimming with sci-fi feel and a sense of fantasy.

"Your role in the whole film is the holographic projection of an artificial intelligence. Expression management and lines are the key points."

This was Especially Reba's first time acting, so Lin Nan had to make the key points clear to her. His own artist still needed special attention.

Although this role didn't test acting skills, it had a very high screen time.

Plus, wrapped in the sci-fi skin of artificial intelligence, for a newcomer it was an extremely rare opportunity — a very standout role.

It would absolutely make the audience's eyes light up and leave a deep impression.

Especially Reba nodded seriously, slightly excited and nervous. "Lin Dao, I'll act with all my heart."

She knew clearly in her heart that goodness knows how many first- and second-tier actresses outside were enviously eyeing her, a newcomer.

"Just don't be too nervous. Lin Dao won't lose his temper and scold people."

Liu Liu Yifei and Zhou Xun sat at the side cracking sunflower seeds, laughing as they offered encouragement.

"Tsk tsk tsk, he won't lose his temper at *you*, right? Back when filming 'Painted Skin,' I just made one little joke, and he made me NG so many times…"

Zhou Xun looked at Liu Liu Yifei and complained.

Lin Nan shook his head, didn't bother responding.

"Hurry to the makeup room. Wah-ge and Lei Lei Jiayin are already getting their makeup done."

"Okay, Lin Dao."

After speaking, Especially Reba hurried off to the makeup room.

Liang Liang Jiahui didn't have many scenes, so he didn't need to stay with the crew — coming when filming started wouldn't be too late.

Zhou Xun, on the other hand, had no scenes in the first few days after shooting began, but this fellow was simply bored, so she just came to the crew to freeload food and drinks.

"Here, peeled for you."

Liu Liu Yifei stretched out a fair, tender hand, her palm full of peeled sunflower seed kernels.

Lin Nan took them with a smile and dumped them all into his mouth in one go.

"Picked out the hibernation pods?"

"Mm, the two of us are next to each other. This stretch of footage in the finished film has to be kept."

Liu Liu Yifei nodded, saying it with full delight.

Zhou Xun couldn't watch anymore.

"Why don't you just have Hangke Engineering make a two-person hibernation pod? I really can't take it…"

"Oh, great idea! Why didn't we think of that back then?!"

Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei exchanged a glance, both immediately feeling a bit regretful.

Ordering a custom one now would be too late, and it would also make the layout of the hibernation area look abrupt.

…………

With his beard shaved off and wearing a specially made vest, Liu Liu Dehua looked completely like a man under forty.

"I'm an actor, a singer, and also an idol, so keeping in shape is very important — unless the role requires otherwise."

Liu Liu Dehua said it without any hesitation, looking very confident.

The heavenly king superstars of this generation all developed across film, television, and music.

Unlike the industry now, where the hierarchy of contempt is very clear and crossing fields is hard — idols sit at the very bottom.

"Yesterday afternoon we were just testing the camera to get a feel. Today counts as officially starting work. Wah-ge, ready?"

"Mm, okay."

The equipment was positioned, Liu Liu Dehua lay down inside the hibernation pod, and Especially Reba waited at the side.

When filming a sci-fi movie, what everyone sees with the naked eye looks even more fake and awkward than the filming of other genres.

The first wave of meteor swarm attacks needed to be completed with post-production special effects.

"'Passengers,' Scene One, action!"

One end of the hibernation pod slowly rose, and Liu Liu Dehua inside was awakened, bleary-eyed.

His gaze was confused and hollow, like a machine that hadn't been used for a long time, struggling to reboot.

The camera swung around, and Especially Reba was already standing in front of Liu Liu Dehua.

In post-production, Tiangong Color would use special effects to render Especially Reba's figure as a virtual projection mode.

A smile appeared on her face, and a crisp voice rang out.

"Good morning, Mr. Liu. Are you feeling alright?"

"What?"

"Very confused, right? That's completely normal. You've just woken from a hibernation state lasting as long as 120 years…"

"What, where is this?"

"This is the 'Xihe' interstellar migration starship. We are about to arrive at our new home."

……

A newcomer definitely couldn't match acting skills with Liu Liu Dehua.

But this back-and-forth question-and-answer style of performance was absolutely no problem — she just needed to deliver her lines with feeling.

When the first shot was called "cut," this film officially entered its filming rhythm.

"Take it slow. Good performance."

Lin Nan gave Especially Reba appropriate encouragement, and a smile immediately appeared on her face.

"Thank you, Lin Dao. Thank you, Wah-ge."

The second shot, get ready.

…………

"Painted Skin 2" is nearing the end of its theatrical run, pirated copies are already everywhere, and daily box office receipts have dropped below 200,000.

The media reported on its domestic total box office.

"Produced jointly by Lin Nan Pictures, China Film, Wanda, Xi'an Film, and Ningxia Film, 'Painted Skin 2' has a total box office of 720 million!"

"'Painted Skin 2' surpassed 'Let the Bullets Fly' by 12 million, rising to second place on the domestic film box office chart!"

"Overseas box office figures are pending announcement by China Film."

A box office of 720 million made all industry peers envious; this didn't even include the rights sold at Cannes or the box office revenue from Southeast Asia.

Han Han Sanping was also extremely happy at this moment, putting aside for now the fact that "The Founding of a Party" had only collected 360 million in a month and a half, far short of expectations.

"How is it over in Southeast Asia?"

"Judging by the news from those distributors, the total box office should reach 46 million dollars."

Hearing this number, Han Han Sanping's eyes instantly sparkled.

"Not bad, 13 million dollars more than the first one, a huge profit!"

The secretary suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, Chairman Han, Japan has sent an intention to buy out the rights."

"Then wait until Lin Nan finishes filming today's scenes to notify him and let him make the decision."

…………

Huang Huang Xiaoming was a bit confused at this moment.

He had just come to visit the set before joining the cast, but upon arrival, he was told to change clothes.

"Give him a simple makeup look; he'll cameo as a young scientist."

"A scientist is good, that works."

Huang Huang Xiaoming happily accepted the cameo arrangement; his old classmate Chen Kun had recently been starring in "Wan Qian Wan Qian Xuesen."

The first part of "Passengers" belongs entirely to Andy Lau's solo performance.

In the shot.

As the protagonist, he thought they were finally arriving at their destination, and his mood was exceptionally good.

After washing up and dressing, he prepared to follow the artificial intelligence's guidance to attend skills training to adapt to life on the new Earth.

"Cut."

"Brother Lau, in the upcoming scene where you realize something is wrong, do you need to build up the emotional loss of control and outburst?"

"Hmm, we can build it up a bit."

In the distance, Liu Liu Yifei and others couldn't help but laugh as they looked at Lei Lei Jiayin in her finalized costume.

The upper body wore a proper suit and tie, but the lower body was the color of a green screen.

"Don't laugh; my lower half will eventually be turned into pure machinery via special effects, a top-tier intelligent bionic robot, understand?"

"Understood, meaning you're not human anymore, just a copy."

Zhou Xun ruthlessly teased, "Luckily it's not your whole body green!"

Lei Lei Jiayin was somewhat speechless.

Filming continued.

"Action!"

In the monitor, Andy Lau's facial makeup was pale, and his voice trembled as he hurriedly asked the spaceship artificial intelligence played by Dilraba.

He received an answer that made him collapse.

"'Xihe' has been away from Earth for about 30 years; we will arrive at our new home in 90 years and three weeks..."

Hearing this answer, Andy Lau stumbled, nearly falling, his eyes wide open; the camera zoomed in, revealing bloodshot veins.

He mumbled, his tone conveying dead silence, "Too early, I... woke up too early..."

"Cut. Brother Lau's details are very on point!"

Lin Nan was the first to applaud, followed immediately by everyone else.

Today's filming has ended.

…………

Liu Liu Yifei pulled Lin Nan, preparing to watch "The Piano in a Factory," which was said to be a highly acclaimed art film.

The two drove around to seven or eight cinemas before finding a showing, and it was during mealtime.

In the huge theater, counting the two of them, there were only five people.

Given this situation, Lin Nan could already guess the box office of this film.

Wang Wang Qianyuan and Qin Qin Hailu, both Best Actor and Best Actress level figures, made "The Piano in a Factory" indeed a very excellent art film.

"When I chatted with Zhou Xun today, she recommended it to me; it's really very good."

Lin Nan nodded; he had just received a missed call, and now a text message had come in regarding "Painted Skin 2."

"6.6 million dollars? Not bad, the deal can go through." Lin Nan sent a text back.

…………

Around eight in the evening, news of Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei watching "The Piano in a Factory" at the cinema broke.

It was a photo of the two leaving the theater.

Liu Liu Yifei's face was impossible to hide; the person beside her needed no guessing—it was Lin Nan.

Early the next morning, Qin Qin Hailu's Weibo post appeared.

As one of the investors, she thanked many industry insiders who supported "The Piano in a Factory" and specifically mentioned Lin Nan and the other person.

After 15 days in theaters, it was unfortunately pulled, with a box office collection of 5.5 million. She joked that she was the clumsy child in the eyes of the market.

Lin Nan even replied specifically, "The movie is very good; the release timing might just be wrong."

The latter half of that sentence might lead many to overthink it, after all, in the July market, "Painted Skin 2" dominated the scene.

Lin Nan's Weibo once again drew netizens' attention to this film, but unfortunately, it was too late...

"Did you get it?"

"I don't know; they said they would consider it."

Yang Mi answered casually.

She was still immersed in "Painted Skin 2" at this moment.

720 million in box office; this was the best-performing film she had ever acted in, ranking second on the domestic film box office chart.

Another impressive credit had been added to her resume.

This achievement should add significant points to her auditions.

"Then let's wait for the news, and in the meantime, look at other scripts," Ceng Jia said while nodding.

Chen Chen Kaige's "Search" has many actors in the industry eyeing it; as for who will ultimately get the role, it depends on talent and background.

In Ceng Jia's eyes, Yang Mi, backed by Shanhai Media and Lin Nan Pictures, should be the female actor with the greatest opportunity, after all, it is only a supporting female role!

The phone suddenly rang; it was an unfamiliar number.

Yang Mi looked at Ceng Jia, who had already answered the call.

A dozen seconds later, Ceng Jia's face instantly broke into a smile as she nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, no problem..."