Chapter 199: Stellar Luck

The dazzling numbers for "Painted Skin 2" had spread like wildfire throughout the film industry.

Domestic box office: 720 million; Southeast Asian box office: 46 million USD.

Cannes rights deal: 10.15 million USD; Island Nation rights: 6.6 million USD.

Insiders could no longer hold back from tallying up the profits of this "Painted Skin 2."

After all, box office revenue had to be split, but rights deals were pure profit. Of course, taxes still had to be paid.

16.75 million USD in rights fees converted to 110 million in domestic currency!

"These companies are raking it in!"

A whole pack of film companies stared enviously at the "Painted Skin 2" numbers.

They could roughly calculate the amount that landed in the production company's hands — over 500 million in domestic currency!

This film was sure to appear in the year-end report of the Film Bureau!

Lin Nan and the crew were filming at the digital production base.

As a result, China Film, Wanda, Western Film, and Ning Film all came by one after another to visit the set.

"A celebration banquet? Sure, hold one if you want. I'll send Yue Jun over when the time comes — I can't get away."

"Fine, whatever you say, as long as you send someone to show up."

The group chatted and laughed for a while, then left again before long.

"Lin Dao, you've got to give me a red envelope — you made so much." Zhou Xun was at it again.

"Didn't you once say that acting in my films, you could give a discount on your fee?"

"Ah? That, um… just pretend I didn't say anything a moment ago…"

Liu Liu Yifei looked at Zhou Xun, who had instantly backed down, and couldn't help but laugh.

…………

"Action!"

In the shot, Liu Liu Dehua wandered through the various sections of the spaceship like a lost soul.

He tried to open the door to the crew's hibernation bay to let them out and fix the problem, but there was nothing he could do.

Until he reached the leisure area and saw Lei Lei Jiayin behind the bar…

He ran over excitedly, then his mood instantly plummeted from heaven back to earth.

In Lin Nan's view, Liu Liu Dehua's facial expressions were spot-on — that disappointment and dejection!

He was a Best Actor winner, yet people always underestimated or overlooked his acting because of his looks.

Liu Liu Yifei was pulled by Lin Nan to sit beside him. "Watch carefully — it'll be very helpful for you."

"Mm, I know." Liu Liu Yifei nodded, watching the monitor intently.

…………

"You're a robot?"

"No, more precisely, a top-tier artificial-intelligence bionic robot! Can I help you with something? Red wine?"

"My hibernation pod is broken…"

"That's impossible."

"But I woke up early…"

"That is impossible."

"Then do you know how much longer until the ship arrives?"

"Approximately 90 more years."

"Then when are the people on the ship supposed to wake up?"

"Four months before arrival."

"If there's still 90 years to go, then why am I sitting here drinking the red wine you poured?"

After Liu Liu Dehua delivered his final line, Lei Lei Jiayin failed to pick it up — the feeling of a robot crashing didn't come through.

"Cut!"

"Lin Dao, I'm so sorry — I didn't catch it…"

Lei Lei Jiayin wore an apologetic expression as he spoke sheepishly.

Lin Nan waved a hand — it wasn't exactly a big problem.

"A momentary crash, then an immediate judgment — that's what shows a top-tier AI is special."

"I understand. Let's do it again."

Lin Nan nodded. This time Zhou Xun also squeezed over to the monitor.

A barrage of questions had thrown the AI robot off its game.

In the shot, Lei Lei Jiayin's neck suddenly locked up, froze for two seconds, then his brows shot up and he nodded.

"Mm, you couldn't possibly be here!"

Liu Liu Dehua lifted the glass of red wine and downed it in one gulp, his tone low and helpless.

"But I am here!"

…………

July — just two more days left.

"The Fault in Our Stars" was only one week away from release.

Plenty of industry insiders were waiting to see what Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei would do next.

In their eyes, this film absolutely couldn't be treated as an art-house picture — its box-office performance would definitely beat the average commercial film.

After all, the male and female leads were just too special.

Those two are both individuals with significant influence in the film industry and even the international film market!

Liu Liu Yifei has left the cast of "Passengers".

As the producer, executive producer, and lead actress of "Stellar Motion", she must take charge of matters regarding "Stellar Motion" these past two days.

At least some of the premiere invitation cards must be handwritten to show respect, such as for Zhang Zhang Yimou and others.

Back then, it was handwritten invitation cards that invited Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei to attend the premiere.

At Lin Nan Films, Liu Liu Yifei was sitting in the boss's office today.

"Mm, truly excellent."

After finishing writing an invitation card, Liu Liu Yifei signed her own name and Lin Nan's name.

The more she looked, the more she felt that her writing of Lin Nan's name looked better than Lin Nan himself writing it.

"Senior Brother Yue Jun, these handwritten ones need to be sent out as soon as possible."

"Liu Yifei, you really look like a strong woman today."

Yue Jun smiled and accepted a stack of invitation cards.

"Really?" Liu Liu Yifei asked, slightly pleased.

"Mm, really. Additionally, the premiere for "Stellar Motion" is set for the 5th, the day before Qixi.

You tell Lin Dao; I won't disturb him. I need to oversee the miscellaneous matters at the premiere venue and the victory banquet for "Painted Skin 2"."

"Mm, no problem, I will remind him."

…………

China Film Digital Production Base.

Waiting by a stump for a rabbit always manages to catch someone.

Jiang Wen went to another soundstage and stopped by to check on Lin Nan, only to be conscripted as a laborer.

"A cameo? I was thinking you could at least give me a role with two lines of dialogue!"

"That won't happen. I can't add one for you on the spot. Hurry up and change clothes."

Lin Nan urged Jiang Wen, who, while scolding Lin Nan for being stingy, followed the crew members to the back.

Watching Jiang Wen walk away, Lin Nan smiled and muttered a sentence:

"If I gave you one line, you'd probably chatter and rewrite it into a short essay for me, and then expand on it, turning a cameo into a supporting role..."

At this moment, Zhou Xun came over.

"Lin Dao, you are truly capable, catching another big shot who doesn't cost a dime."

"It's a piece of cake. When we are close to wrapping up, I'll pick through again. See who else we need to find, and then call them all over at once."

"Then Director Jiang, what identity are you preparing for him to cameo as?"

"Him? His actual profession, of course!"

After speaking, Lin Nan made another joke:

"It's impossible to give him the position of county magistrate, right? Hehe..."

…………

When Liu Liu Yifei returned to the Digital Production Base, Liu Liu Dehua's solo scene was also nearing its end.

She squeezed her way over to Lin Nan on her own and sat in the chair behind the monitor.

In the green screen studio, in the unrenovated, exposed areas, Liu Liu Dehua, wearing the designed spacesuit, was performing without props.

According to the script, he had already walked out of the spaceship and was performing a spacewalk.

This was the suggestion given by the artificial intelligence robot played by Lei Lei Jiayin: since it is already a fact, then enjoy the present moment.

However, in the final cut, this spacewalk shot would require post-production special effects support, and the cost would absolutely not be small.

As this shooting shot ended, the makeup artists began attaching a beard to Liu Liu Dehua, symbolizing that time was passing quickly...

"Brother Xun, roughly around tomorrow or the day after, your scenes should begin."

"No problem, I've been waiting for it."

After a week of filming, the newcomer Dilraba had already entered the zone.

Liu Liu Yifei took good care of this girl, perhaps because she was called "Sister Liu Yifei" so many times.

…………

After filming ended in the evening, it was one of the rare times Lin Nan could relax.

Indeed, the choice of filming location this time was correct. Going home after work every day is much more comfortable than staying in a hotel.

Scrolling through the news, Lin Nan saw many lively pieces of information.

That guy Yang Zi actually sought out Light Media on his own initiative?

"The Bai Shechuan" was lucky, getting selected for the screening section of Venice, which made Tang Jili Films show off for a while.

For the first time exclusively producing a film, getting selected for one module of the three major film festivals; such an achievement directly made this impetuous young man Yang Zi lose his bearings.

He actually posted on Weibo to subtly mock Light Media's "Painted Wall".

"Making movies requires sincerity; what can thirty million do? It can't produce "Painted Skin"!

"The Bai Shechuan" will be the most spectacular fantasy blockbuster of the National Day slot, far surpassing other films of the same type..."

This might no longer count as a subtle mockery; anyone with eyes can see it is talking about "Painted Wall".

No one in the industry bothered to remind this impetuous young man; everyone was just waiting to see the joke.

What kind of person is Wang Wang Changtian?

Don't look at how he is always easy to talk to and smiling around Lin Nan; that is because everyone is on the same level.

Outside, he bears the surname Wang, the character on the tiger's head.

A newcomer who just entered the industry going to provoke a tiger's whiskers; the outcome doesn't need guessing.

The light comes from the television broadcast system; in terms of promotional channels, it's impeccable, and when it comes to striking a dark hand, it's effortless.

…………

The premiere invitation for "The Fault in Our Stars" has already been sent out.

The media have already begun reporting on it.

"The Fault in Our Stars, directed by Lin Nan and produced by Liu Liu Yifei, with both starring, is about to be released."

"The premiere ceremony for 'The Fault in Our Stars' will be held in five days."

"In May, this film won two major awards at the Cannes Film Festival: the Grand Jury Prize and Best Supporting Actress..."

…………

That fellow Yu Dong coming to visit the set was something Lin Nan hadn't expected.

"Lin Dao seems quite surprised to see me?"

"Indeed, quite surprised. Chairman Yu, what brings you here today?"

"I came to visit Lin Dao's 'Passengers,' and also to ask about Mr. Andy Lau's schedule. 'A Simple Life' is produced by Bona..."

Hearing these words, Lin Nan understood.

"Chairman Yu, rest assured. I promised him I would adjust the filming schedule to leave him time to attend the Venice Film Festival."

Lin Nan made some polite remarks for a while, then prepared to start work.

He really had nothing to talk about with Yu Dong; the latter was a pure businessman, and they simply had nothing in common.

Yu Dong felt a bit helpless. He could see that Lin Nan wanted to start filming, so he could only laugh off a few remarks before preparing to leave.

"Strange. When Chairman Han and the others came to visit, they were all asked to make cameo appearances! Why is there no movement when it comes to me?"

After Yu Dong left, he turned back to look at the huge soundstage, muttering a few words under his breath.