Chapter 221: A Minor Surgery

"Lin Dao, my film 'Hello! Mr. Tree' will be released on the 4th next month; if you're free, please come and give your advice…"

When Lin Nan received Guo Fan's call, he was genuinely surprised.

"Hmm, sure. By the way, congratulations on winning Best Actor, and also on your nomination next month…"

"Hahaha, thank you, Lin Dao, I'll take your good wishes to heart."

Although Wang Wang Baoqiang's film didn't win Best Actor at the Shanghai Film Festival, it recently won Best Actor at the Vladivostok International Film Festival.

These past few days, it's also been nominated for Best Actor at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival—truly a rags-to-riches model for grassroots actors!

Wang Wang Baoqiang's greatest strength, however, is his attitude—he always keeps himself humble, unlike other actors who, once famous, inevitably get a bit arrogant…

Beihua Film Academy graduates many students every year, but very few attract widespread media attention, and most of those are actors.

Yet among the batch graduating next spring, the most talked-about aren't actors, but two "directors"!

"Director Guo Fan has officially entered the graduate graduation process."

"It is understood that Director Guo Fan is not a graduate student from the Directing Department, but from the School of Management, and is not involved in the graduation film production."

"His graduation project is based on Lin Dao Nan's new film 'The Space Passenger'."

…

If Guo Fan is a graduating non-directing-department "director," then the other is a "fake director" who's repeated his year for three years!

"Beihua Film Academy's official website announced: Zhao Zhao Yanzi, 2006 cohort Master of Fine Arts in Directing, has officially entered the graduation process…"

"After applying for three consecutive years of graduation delay, Zhao Zhao Yanzi has decided not to delay any longer!"

…

Online, news about Zhao Zhao Yanzi was everywhere.

A flood of media outlets rushed to Beihua Film Academy and tried contacting Zhao Zhao Yanzi directly, eventually receiving the confirmed answer: this repeating student was ready to graduate.

"I'd almost forgotten about her—wasn't she in the same graduate cohort as Lin Dao Nan?"

"You're right, that year Lin Dao's graduation film was 'The Hunt'!"

"I only remember Lin Dao confessing on stage while Liu Liu Yifei cried uncontrollably below…"

"Lin Dao's golden lion award had barely left his hands before Liu Liu Yifei reached out and 'forcefully' took it away…"

…

Lin Nan had never seen such a thing—a repeating student just graduating, yet holding a press conference!

"Learned something new!"

Zhao Zhao Yanzi's advisor was impressive—he actually held the press conference in the school's small auditorium.

Many stars came to support her, and plenty of faculty from the Acting and Directing Departments were guests.

But when asked about the genre of her graduation film, she instantly fell silent, answered nothing, and claimed it needed to be kept secret.

"Your fellow cohort member Lin Dao Nan is a top-tier director in the industry; his graduation film won the Golden Lion and the Volpi Cup for Best Actor."

"Do you think your graduation work can compare to Lin Dao's 'The Hunt'?"

When the reporter asked this question, not only did Zhao Zhao Yanzi look utterly bewildered, even her advisor was left speechless.

Asking such a question in this setting was embarrassingly inappropriate…

"To be honest, I don't think I can compare—in fact, before winning the Golden Lion, Lin Dao had already won two Silver Bears for Best Director. I know my limits…"

"Director Guo Fan is also graduating next spring—he's already directed the sci-fi film 'Source Code' and served as assistant director on 'The Thief' and 'The Space Passenger'—how about comparing with him?"

Zhao Zhao Yanzi had barely finished answering one question when another was immediately thrown at her.

Her expression was dark, yet she forced a smile:

"Director Guo's 'Source Code' received excellent reviews; he has far more experience than I do—I'll learn from him…"

…

What was meant to be a media meeting turned into a public surrender and comparison session, leaving both Zhao Zhao Yanzi and her advisor deeply uncomfortable.

"Old Tian, why do I sense you're enjoying this?"

"Am I? Don't overthink it. Your student just got unlucky—same cohort as Lin Nan, and now delayed graduation collides with Guo Fan…"

Here, Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang couldn't help asking: "By the way, what kind of film did she make?"

Hearing the question, Zhao Zhao Yanzi's advisor also looked embarrassed: "Youth campus drama…"

Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang nodded, as if he understood.

Even if such films earn high box office returns, they still sit at the very bottom of the film industry's hierarchy—because they lack prestige and rely entirely on nostalgia.

Who doesn't look back on their past? Who hasn't had regrets about their youth? These films are easy to make.

…………

Lin Nan continued refining his script at the company when Yue Jun knocked and entered.

"Lin Dao, Zhang Zhang Weiping actually called to ask."

"You made it clear to him," Lin Nan said, intrigued.

"I did. I told him you've promised that if he leads, we'll support him."

"And what did he say?"

"He was silent for a minute or two, then said this was for the benefit of all production companies, and hoped we'd honor our promise and not kick someone when they're down…"

Lin Nan nodded—that matched his understanding of Zhang Zhang Weiping.

Though this guy sometimes speaks without restraint and likes to provoke, he can also back down and speak softly when he needs to achieve his goal.

"Still, it's strange—Zhang Zhang Weiping organized this, yet it hasn't leaked into the industry," Yue Jun murmured in amazement.

"That's understandable. Production companies naturally stand opposed to theater chains."

Even if they don't want to follow Zhang Zhang Weiping, they secretly hope he succeeds, so they won't go spreading the news…"

At this point, Lin Nan was quite looking forward to it, though he didn't know when Zhang Zhang Weiping would make his move; he imagined it would surely be spectacular.

【60】 At this point, Lin Nan was genuinely looking forward to it—he just didn't know when Zhang Zhang Weiping would act, but he imagined it would be quite spectacular.

……

This new scene here.

Zhang Zhang Weiping wore a serious yet confident expression; he had plenty of experience in raising the profit-sharing ratio.

Back then, with "Hero," he forced theaters to raise the studio's share from 38% to 40%.

Later, with "House of Flying Daggers," he raised it from 40% to 41%.

Although studios now receive 43%, he still felt it wasn't enough—it could go higher!

After making a round of calls, as Zhang Zhang Weiping had predicted, several major production companies agreed to support him—but all demanded he lead the charge.

"Heh, a bunch of cowards, clinging to their safety when trying to accomplish great things—what can they ever achieve? Only fit to be supporting players…"

At this moment, Zhang Zhang Weiping radiated authority: if he led, then he led; others merely needed to follow.

"Things are different now from nine years ago…"

Hearing Zhang Zhang Yimou's words, Zhang Zhang Weiping grew irritated.

"Our break-even pressure is immense; every additional percentage point in box office means hundreds or even thousands of millions more."

In the office, Zhang Zhang Weiping's voice carried a cold, impatient edge.

After making "The Flowers of War," the two had already grown as distant as strangers.

"I want to transfer Ni Ni's contract to my studio…"

Before Zhang Zhang Yimou could finish speaking, Zhang Zhang Weiping cut him off sharply.

"Impossible. She's the female lead of 'The Flowers of War'—she must stay at New Picture."

Zhang Zhang Yimou looked at Zhang Zhang Weiping's hostile expression and truly felt this longtime partner had become unfamiliar.

Before Zhang Zhang Yimou could speak further, Zhang Zhang Weiping struck back.

"Zhou Zhou Dongyu is signed under your studio and left to languish—I think it's better to move her to the company, for easier management and scheduling."

For a moment, both fell silent; Zhang Zhang Yimou shook his head. "No, she's doing fine—studying while taking roles…"

Seeing Zhang Zhang Yimou's firm refusal, Zhang Zhang Weiping no longer pressed—but he hadn't abandoned his intention.

As long as these "Misty Girls" remained under the company's control, he felt at ease…

After Zhang Zhang Yimou left the office, Zhang Zhang Weiping turned on his computer.

He resumed editing a half-written draft: "Me and Bell..."

…………

Feng Feng Xiaogang's "1942" had begun filming.

Previously blocked by the Film Bureau's review, the original author made minor adjustments to the script.

Some particularly disturbing scenes were rendered with subtle implication.

It seemed Feng Feng Xiaogang himself had some premonition—he even posted a Weibo:

"This may be the most earnest film I've ever made. I hope I don't let it down, and it doesn't let me down…"

When the cast list for "1942" was announced, the entire film industry turned its gaze toward it.

Zhang Zhang Guoli, Chen Dao Ming, Li Li Xuejian, Zhang Zhang Hanyu, Fan Wei, Feng Feng Yuanzheng…

This was unmistakably an all-Emperor cast!

Only now did the industry understand why Feng Feng Xiaogang said this was his most earnest film!

Lin Nan suddenly remembered a saying—he couldn't recall who had said it.

Namely: every great director must, at least once in their life, make a film of pure sincerity, made without ulterior motives.

Perhaps "1942" was Feng Feng Xiaogang's that film.

…………

As Lin Nan left the company and returned home, he happened to meet Liu Liu Yifei driving back.

"Help me carry the cage out of the trunk—I'll park first."

Miss Liu parked beside Lin Nan and looked up at him, her face beneath the sunglasses carrying a hint of sweetness.

"Oh, alright."

Inside the cage, three cats lay quietly, their eyes toward Lin Nan seeming to glisten with tears.

"Where did you take them?"

By the time Lin Nan asked, Liu Liu Yifei's car had already driven into the garage.

Five minutes later, Liu Liu Yifei emerged carrying a bag.

"Where did you take them? Why do they look so listless?"

"Guess."

Liu Liu Yifei skipped up to Lin Nan, winking at him playfully.

"I can't guess—I only ever clean their litter and feed them. How would I know?"

Hearing Lin Nan's words, Liu Liu Yifei burst into laughter.

She leaned close to his ear and whispered softly:

"I took them to the pet hospital for a little surgery, hahaha…"

"Sss…"

At that moment, Lin Nan felt a chill.

He looked at the three pitiful little creatures in the cage—truly pitiful; from now on, they'd be sisters.

"Liu Qianqian, you're too cruel," Lin Nan couldn't help saying.

"Hmph, you don't understand. The vet said it's for their own good. In a while, there'll be a few more—I'll need you to come with me then!"

Liu Liu Yifei looked at Lin Nan with playful arrogance.

…………

(Chapter ends)