Chapter 248: Script, Treating Guests

Once again, the year was drawing close to Lunar New Year's Eve.

Judging by the situation this year, Lin Nan, Liu Liu Yifei, and the others were expected to spend New Year on Hong Kong Island with the crew.

Yinghuang even sent Lin Nan an invitation, asking him and the crew to attend the New Year's Eve gala together.

However, after discussing it with everyone, Lin Nan decided they would have the New Year's Eve dinner with the "Bad Genius" crew and skip Yinghuang's invitation.

Meanwhile, the news of "Thirteen Flowers" losing out at the Golden Globe Awards had already spread back like wildfire, and the whole industry was watching the show.

Not winning the Golden Globe meant the odds of "Thirteen Flowers" taking the Oscars were even slimmer.

For the sale of the film's rights, this was undoubtedly adding insult to injury.

To this day, the only domestic director to have won a Golden Globe was still Chen Chen Kaige, alone. His standing in the industry was rock solid!

"Are South Korean girl groups really that popular? Today's Hong Kong news is all about them."

On the "Bad Genius" set, Zhu Zhu Yawen muttered, tugging at a newspaper.

The nine-member South Korean girl group Girls' Generation had arrived in Hong Kong Island this morning, and word was they were holding a concert here tonight.

The fans at the airport caused a short traffic jam, and it instantly became the top gossip headline.

"I heard they're really quite popular." Luo Jin chimed in.

"What? You want to go take a look? I can give you half a day off."

Lin Nan asked Zhu Zhu Yawen while reviewing the footage they had just shot.

"Better forget it. They look fine, but out of nine people, who knows how many are genuinely good-looking?"

"Then you could ask Lin Dao Da to help out, see if he has any connections in South Korea, let you get up close and personal…"

"Cough, cough, cough…"

Luo Jin was cut off mid-sentence by Lin Nan's coughing.

Because Liu Liu Yifei and the other two girls were walking over.

"What are you talking about?"

"Zhu Zhu Yawen was talking about the South Korean girl group, saying they're good-looking. Luo Jin and I were criticizing him—most of them over there have had work done."

"Right, right, we were criticizing him." Luo Jin chimed in agreement.

Zhu Zhu Yawen's eyes went wide—good lord, ganging up to slander me, are you?

"I, I…"

"Alright, stop teasing him. Get ready for makeup, we're starting work!"

Just as Zhu Zhu Yawen was about to explain himself, Lin Nan cut him off.

…………

Black stockings, long legs, high heels, a fitted blazer, a pencil skirt, plus heavy makeup, waves, and glasses…

That was the look and styling designed for Especially Reba.

Lin Nan was not the type with a sick aesthetic; he wouldn't demand his artists be skin and bones.

Twenty years old, with a slightly fuller figure, and that minority look of hers—once made up, Especially Reba instantly carried the air of a woman nearing thirty.

"Watch your posture and bearing. Think of those female teachers invigilating exams back in school. In the film, you need to be more professional than them."

Age and looks can be faked with makeup, but bearing is the hard part. Worst case, we'll shoot a few extra takes!

"Mm, got it, Lin Dao."

Lin Nan knew that asking Especially Reba to cameo in this role was indeed a bit of a stretch.

But there really wasn't a better cameo role for her in the film. Fortunately, her total screen time was only three or four minutes. With some care, it could still be shot well.

Lin Nan also instructed the lighting crew to make Especially Reba look as mature as possible.

"What are you looking at? Your eyeballs are falling out!"

Hearing Lin Nan's rebuke, both Zhu Zhu Yawen and Luo Jin looked a bit sheepish, and laughed as they tried to talk their way out:

"No other meaning, just pure appreciation."

"Right, right, appreciating!"

…………

That same day, the screening shares of "Thirteen Flowers" and "Flying Swords of Longmen" were cut to below 1%.

This signaled that both films were about to come out of theaters.

Film companies in the industry all instinctively turned their attention to their box office numbers…

"Affected by 'Pacific Rim', since entering January, the daily box office of 'Thirteen Flowers' and 'Flying Swords of Longmen' has dropped noticeably…"

"'Flying Swords of Longmen' has come out of theaters smoothly, with a total box office of 521 million."

"Bona chairman Yu Dong expressed great satisfaction with the result, saying the company had turned a profit and its stock price had risen…"

"'Jin Ling Thirteen Flowers' saw its dream of a billion box office shattered, with a total of 560 million. Its overseas box office was an even more crushing failure!"

"The two Zhangs, after sixteen years together, finally suffered a crushing defeat at the box office of 'Thirteen Flowers' and went their separate ways. New Picture's investment this time resulted in massive losses!"

With the two blockbusters out of theaters, only one film filled the gap—"The Viral Factor," with an investment of two hundred million.

Films like "Pacific Rim" and "Those Years" seized some screening share in turn.

Lin Nan Pictures' Weibo had already put up a celebratory message.

"'Pacific Rim' has been in theaters half a month, box office breaks 810 million, aiming for 1.2 billion!"

The production companies all understood what 810 million meant.

It meant the revenue split for Lin Nan Pictures, China Film, and Wanda had reached 44.5%!

……

"Director Han, has the application for an extended run come through yet?"

This was Ye Ning's fifth time pressing on the matter.

The bulk of a film's box office is generated in the first half-month of its theatrical run.

He was very worried about whether "Pacific Rim" could reach 1.2 billion by the end of January.

Between 1 billion and 1.2 billion in box office, after paying the film special fund and surcharges, the split for the producer comes to 44.5% and 46% respectively — the difference in what the production side actually takes home is roughly a hundred million yuan.

Han Han Sanping was helpless too. "The Bureau is still deliberating — after all, neither of those two films was approved for an extension."

To say he wasn't tempted would be a lie — Han Han Sanping was tempted. An extra hundred million in distributable box office, based on the investment ratio, meant China Film would pocket an additional twenty million!

"Now we can only wait. Director Tong won't even take my calls anymore, haha…"

…………

Lin Nan, on set, received quite a few congratulatory calls.

From Enlight, Huayi, Western Film, Ning Film…

Everyone was watching eagerly to see whether "Pacific Rim" could break 1.2 billion domestically.

Because the overseas box office had already been released by Warner.

"Two weeks in, overseas box office has broken 300 million USD. And that doesn't even count the home video rights later. Lin Dao, your film is destined to make a killing!"

Yang Yang Shoucheng came in person to the SAT exam-location set, his words a mix of congratulations, envy, and a certain other intention.

Liu Liu Yifei, Zhu Zhu Yawen and the others nearby were all stunned by the 300 million USD figure — this was news that had come out just that noon.

"It's alright, I suppose. After all, when we invested up front, we took on a lot of risk, didn't we?"

Lin Nan looked at Yang Yang Shoucheng, who wore a constant smile, and offered a modest reply.

Lately, Emperor Motion Pictures had been sending people over at the drop of a hat, handling big matters and small alike.

Filming with the crew felt more comfortable and relaxed for Lin Nan than it had on the mainland.

Lin Nan could guess what Yang Yang Shoucheng was after, so today he simply laid it out in the open.

"Director Yang, my company will be greenlighting a film later on — Emperor Motion Pictures can come on board."

Hearing this, Yang Yang Shoucheng was instantly thrilled.

"Lin Dao, is it 'Ip Man 3'?"

Lin Nan shook his head. "We'll talk about it later. I'll have someone notify you, Director Yang."

Yang Yang Shoucheng didn't press further — having Lin Nan's promise was already enough.

"Alright, I'll be waiting for news from your end, Lin Dao."

Half an hour later, Yang Yang Shoucheng left the set thoroughly satisfied.

"Lin Nan, what film were you just talking to him about? Isn't it 'Ip Man 3'?"

Liu Liu Yifei asked, suspicion written all over her face.

"There are two scripts to choose from, and I'm still deciding which one to go with. Once we wrap and get back, I'm planning to discuss it with Director Lu Yang."

…………

Filming continued.

On the main camera side, Liu Liu Yifei and Zhu Zhu Yawen entered the exam room.

Dilraba walked through the exam room in her high heels — her English lines were already memorized.

"Please write your personal information on the answer sheet. Check carefully. Part One, 52 questions, 45 minutes…"

"Cut!"

Lin Nan's shout made everyone tense up, Dilraba most of all.

"Dilraba, walk toward the camera from the very back of the exam room. Don't instinctively look at the camera, understand?"

Dilraba nodded blankly. "Lin Dao, I'll be sure to pay attention next time."

"Everyone to your marks, ready… action!"

The same lines were repeated, and this time Dilraba did much better — her gaze was on the examinees on either side of the corridor, not instinctively darting to the camera.

……

"I'm now collecting the papers. You have a ten-minute break…"

Liu Liu Yifei and Zhu Zhu Yawen hurried out of the classroom and rushed to the restroom, where a phone had been hidden in advance.

On Camera Two, it was Luo Jin and Watching Shu Chang.

When, on Camera Three, Liu Liu Yifei sent back the answers for Part One, on Camera Four, Zhu Zhu Yawen didn't move. He demanded another million, transferred by computer immediately.

On Camera Two, Luo Jin was hopping mad, cursing furiously with intense emotion — it was still Watching Shu Chang who first fronted part of the money with her own cash…

"The first million was what I earned helping you cheat. This million is compensation for him hiring people to beat me up, put me in the hospital, and make me miss the exam…"

……

"Cut! That's a wrap!"

"Filming the transmission of the answers for the remaining three essay sections is the final climax of our film.

That means we're not far from wrapping. That's it for today!"

Lin Nan called Jiang Jiang Xuerou over.

"New Year's Eve is in two days. Director Jiang, go find a decent restaurant and book it out. The budget can go high. The whole crew's New Year's Eve dinner will be held there.

Also, don't put the bill through the film's budget — run it through my account. I'm treating."

Jiang Jiang Xuerou nodded and said with a smile: "So generous, Lin Dao — in that case, I'll pick a high-end restaurant, shall I?"

Hearing that, Lin Nan laughed along: "I can accept up to six digits — it can't hit seven!"

"Haha, don't worry, Lin Dao — absolutely won't hit seven digits…"

…………

(End of chapter)