Chapter 209: Taken Off Screen, Art-House Film Record, Going Together

Time came to September, and "The Fault in Our Stars" was about to be taken off the screen.

"Lin Dao, Cai Yinong called again, heh..."

In the studio of the digital production base, Lin Nan was speechless when he heard Yue Jun say this.

During filming, he kept his phone off, and he didn't expect Cai Yinong to call Yue Jun instead.

"'Scarlet Heart' premiere media meeting?" Lin Nan asked.

"Right. It's today, right in the capital."

Lin Nan looked at Liu Dehua and others and waved his hand at Yue Jun:

"Same as before, you represent the company to attend."

"Cai Yinong's meaning is, see if you can go over and show your face when you are free at noon?"

"Heh, she really knows how to settle for the second best! Fine, you go first, I'll drive over at noon for a turn."

"Mm, then I'll go first."

Tang Ren had already put it this way, and Lin Nan couldn't be too heartless.

"Lin Dao, not eating together at noon?" Zhou Xun teased.

"No, my director's chair can let you sit for a while."

Lin Nan joked, making several actors unable to help but laugh.

Liu Dehua returned from Venice, indeed carrying regrets; he was also a person who pursued awards.

All along, he had hoped to prove his acting skills, changing the public's first impression of him from Heavenly King Liu Dehua to actor Liu Dehua.

"Speaking of experience in international film festivals, everyone present combined doesn't compare to Lin Dao. Any suggestions?"

This question was a bit direct and really not easy to answer.

"What can I say? There are no accurate suggestions for this kind of thing. Get shortlisted by strength, win awards by luck."

Lin Nan looked at Liu Dehua and said with a smile.

The latter probably remembered the time when Lin Nan won the Golden Lion and Matt Damon also won the Best Actor trophy.

Liu Dehua just smiled bitterly and nodded, saying sincerely:

"If Lin Dao has a suitable role in the next award-chasing film, please definitely consider me, I can do it for zero salary..."

When this sentence was spoken, Zhou Xun, Lei Jiayin, Reba, and others were all stunned.

Liu Dehua's salary wasn't low; when filming "The Warlords" many years ago, it was more than 10 million!

Lin Nan didn't expect Liu Dehua to say this; he really had determination!

"Mm, if there is a suitable role, I will consider Brother Hua."

At noon, when the crew was resting, Lin Nan drove to the media meeting site of "Scarlet Heart."

There were quite a few Hong Kong and Taiwan actors in this drama, and others greeted him, but Lin Nan just nodded, because he didn't know any of them.

The media reporters were very interested in Lin Nan's arrival.

One by one, they ran up to interview him, all asking about "The Fault in Our Stars" and "Passengers," which was a bit of a guest overshadowing the host.

"This is the press conference site for 'Scarlet Heart,' don't ask about my film, there will be announcements later."

Getting rid of the media, Lin Nan chatted with Hu Ge for a few words; the two hadn't seen each other for a long time.

"That TV series finished filming?"

"No, it will take another half month. Once this TV series wraps up, I will never film this kind of subject matter again. What you said back then was really correct..."

Hu Ge looked a bit exhausted, and his tone was also decadent.

Lin Nan looked at Cai Yinong in the distance and said:

"If you want to have some pursuit, take a rest. Your President Cai lets you bring newcomers, don't let the newcomers not be brought out, and drag you back in."

"Sigh, I already have this feeling, I'm preparing to try stage plays..."

In Lin Nan's view, Hu Ge's best way out was to leave Tang Ren; Tang Ren's pond was too shallow to raise big goods.

But thinking about Hu Ge's personality, he probably wouldn't leave; he was too nostalgic, and more importantly, there was kindness...

Lin Nan thought for a while, and as a friend, he still mentioned it:

"This circle is very big, sometimes you can really change the environment.

Not to mention jumping ship, opening a studio is also fine. At least that way you will be freer, and the room for contact and choice will be more, and it will be convenient for other companies to find you for cooperation..."

Lin Nan wasn't afraid of this word reaching Cai Yinong; it was a suggestion anyway, and Hu Ge could definitely distinguish good from bad.

But giving Hu Ge this suggestion at Tang Ren's press conference, Lin Nan always felt this behavior was quite stimulating!

"Overheard 2" had been in theaters for half a month, and the box office had stumbled to 150 million.

The bold words at the celebration meeting were impossible to achieve.

Not to mention the 300 million box office goal? Now, even sprinting to 200 million had no small difficulty.

Two small and medium-budget domestic films in early September, "Love in Space" and "The Martial Arts," held premieres one after another.

At this time, "The Fault in Our Stars" finally welcomed its wrap-up.

"'The Fault in Our Stars,' a romantic art-house film directed by Lin Nan and starring Liu Yifei, officially wrapped up today."

"The film 'The Fault in Our Stars' has been in theaters for a month, with a total box office of 488 million."

"'The Fault in Our Stars' created a new box office record for domestic art-house films, and it is expected that no art-house film will be able to break the 488 million record for a long time to come!"

Not only the media were reporting, but many artists, filmmakers, and production companies in the circle were also sending congratulations.

"The Fault in Our Stars" indeed created a miracle.

"It's very difficult for an art-house film to get this kind of box office. The box office appeal of the two of them played a decisive role," Zhang Yimou analyzed in an interview.

"This should be the most successful art-house film in China so far, with a double harvest of awards and box office!"

Jia Zhangke, Gu Changwei, and others were all envious; it was very difficult for their films to achieve balance.

In the evening, Liu Yifei wrapped up earlier than Lin Nan.

"It's a pity, it didn't reach 500 million," Miss Liu felt a bit regretful.

"Don't say that."

"Mm, why?"

"Be careful of being called insatiable, haha..." Lin Nan teased with a smile.

"Hmph, you are the insatiable one."

"I am at most greedy for you..."

Today on set, quite a few acquaintances came to visit the crew, and three sentences couldn't leave "The Fault in Our Stars."

This box office was too high; any person in the circle could roughly calculate how much Lin Nan and Liu Yifei, as producers, could get.

Everyone was shouting for Lin Nan to prepare a celebration banquet quickly, and it had to be the highest grade.

Lin Nan's answer at the time was also very decisive, "The celebration banquet must be held. Since you are all here, go with the staff to put on makeup first..."

Just like that, there were many more faces of cameo actors in the sleep pods: Huang Bo, Yan Danchen, Fan Bingbing, Xie Nan...

In addition, Lin Nan also sent an invitation to Zhang Yimou, who also agreed to come over tomorrow to make a cameo.

"My dress has arrived, do you want to see it?"

Liu Yifei suddenly said, her expression a bit cunning.

"Fine, take me to see it."

"Mm, let's go." Liu Yifei grabbed Lin Nan's hand and walked towards the cloakroom on the second floor.

Although he had been here more than once, Lin Nan still had to sigh that Miss Liu's cloakroom was big.

A light gauze covered a dress, very beautiful, very beautiful, definitely high-end.

Liu Yifei was obviously very fond of this dress, her eyes shining, but she didn't notice Lin Nan's face was a bit black.

"Can't you change into another one?"

"Why? The styling team said this one best matches my temperament, and I like it very much."

Liu Yifei blinked at Lin Nan, shook her head with a smile; she really didn't want to change.

Lin Nan looked at Liu Yifei, who wrinkled her nose, her eyes moving back and forth between Lin Nan and the dress.

"Fine, I'll hurry up and rush the work these two days, wrap up 'Passengers,' and then accompany you there."

"Really?" Liu Yifei asked expectantly.

"Really."

What could Lin Nan do? This dress was a perfect match for Liu Yifei, and the head-turning rate would definitely be off the charts if she wore it out.

So, she needed a knight to protect the flower!

"Lin Dao, are you serious?"

"Not joking, there aren't many scenes left, let's finish it these few days and wrap up early.

It just so happens that the wrap-up banquet for 'Passengers' and the celebration banquet for 'The Fault in Our Stars' will be held together!"

Lin Nan notified this matter on set.

"So stingy, and they even held one less event." Zhou Xun muttered to herself.

Liu Dehua didn't have any objections; Lin Nan's usual filming pace was moderate, and he didn't like rushing night shoots.

Now that there weren't many scenes left, speeding up the pace a little was fine.

Lin Nan couldn't figure it out; how could some people be so self-righteous?

Lou Ye had been banned domestically for five years, spending these years filming abroad or secretly filming domestically in violation of regulations. He had only been unbanned for half a month, and he was already starting trouble again.

He timed it carefully and prepared a script outline, sending it to the Film Bureau the moment he was unbanned, only to have it rejected in less than a week.

According to normal logic, one should ask for the reason and refine the script.

But Lou Ye didn't do that; he went straight to Weibo to accuse the authorities of making things difficult for him just because he had a "stain" on his record!

Doing that would have been one thing, but this guy actually made a lot of "complaints" when accepting interviews with foreign media.

The result was that public opinion spread outside immediately, and it blew up.

Even Jiang Wen was complaining about Lou Ye, "Fans call him 'Young Master Lou,' and he really thinks he's a young master.

Which one of us wasn't honest and obedient after being unbanned? Originally, we were the ones who violated policy, so we accepted the punishment.

But he's the only one who thinks he's right... He hasn't stopped using the fact that he was banned domestically as a talking point while filming abroad these past few years."

Lin Nan remembered the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, when this Director Lou took *Spring Fever*, which he had secretly filmed domestically, to compete.

After winning Best Screenplay, he publicly criticized the Film Bureau in front of a group of foreign media; he was quite bold back then!

Sure enough, not two days later, Lin Nan heard gossip from Han Sanping.

Lou Ye's script was rejected because it was only an outline and was too sloppy. With him making such a scene, the matter was no longer small.

Given Lou Ye's behavior, Director Tong had already given the word.

For at least half a year, no film festival would approve Lou Ye's work, and no script would be passed; furthermore, he had to take the initiative to admit his mistake...

Lin Nan also felt that this great director had been puffed up to the heavens while abroad these past few years, and his perception must have gone wrong.

Zhou Xun also felt a bit emotional; her first Best Actress award was won at the Paris Film Festival for Lou Ye's *Suzhou River*.