Chapter 329: Extension Denied, Cameras Roll

Early that morning, just as Lin Nan was getting ready to head to the airport, he received news from the domestic New Year film season.

The application that Huayi and Jackie Chan Emperor Huang Pictures had submitted to the Film Bureau for an extension key for "CZ12" had been denied.

The result caught Huayi completely off guard, like a blow to the head.

It also made plenty of production and distribution companies in the industry gleefully gloat.

Back in November they were backstabbing and playing double-agent — now they're getting their comeuppance, right?

From the two "Tai Chi" films to "Back to 1942," every single one bled money.

And now, just as they were finally looking at a film that might actually make money — "CZ12" — the application for an extension key got denied.

In the eyes of the vast majority of their peers in the circle, this was deeply satisfying. Huayi absolutely had it coming!

"You crossed Boss Han, and you thought it'd just blow over that easily? If he doesn't throw a wrench in your works, do you think he's forgetful? Or do you think Zuo Zuo Shandiao is some pushover? Ha ha…"

Lin Nan sat in the car, scrolling through the domestic news on his phone, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

A couple of days ago, when Han Han Sanping had called him, he'd mentioned it in passing.

He said "CZ12" was a mainland-Hong Kong co-production, and for films like that, the requirements for an extension definitely wouldn't be low…

Now, working backward from the result, the requirements really weren't low — they'd been shut down outright, denied!

Even Star King's Qin Hong posted a snarky Weibo: "The one who has found the Dao has many to help him; the one who has lost the Dao has few. The ancients did not deceive me."

Even funnier, Wang Wang Changtian, Yu Dong and a few others all liked the post.

The internet instantly exploded. Media and netizens were thrilled, and headlines and jabs came pouring out in a flood.

But the actors and artists in the circle stayed much quieter.

Apart from those in the Star King camp, most other artists had no idea whether to like the post or pile on.

Everyone wanted to suck up, but also feared offending Huayi — caught in a bind for the moment. Quite amusing.

……

Liu Liu Yifei's flight and Lin Nan's flight to Hollywood were scheduled around the same time, both around seven in the morning.

"Lin, Crystal should be coming out of the airport soon, right?"

Tang Mu glanced at the watch on his wrist.

"Isn't that her right there."

Lin Nan looked at the graceful figure at the airport exit, said softly, then walked up to meet her.

Liu Liu Yifei's face bloomed into a smile. She left her two assistants behind and quickened her pace.

Plenty of passersby glanced at the tightly embracing couple and couldn't help but show a faint smile.

Holding the person in his arms, Lin Nan felt very steady, very sweet.

"Are you cold? Wearing so little?"

"Mm? Not cold. You're very warm." Miss Liu denied softly, her voice tinged with joy and languor.

"I'm saying — have you two hugged enough?

Crystal, can't you see big Tang Mu right here? I got up early too to come pick you up!"

Tang Mu leaned against the back of the car, affecting a wounded tone, teasing Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei.

"I see you, Tang Mu. You've put on at least another 50 pounds."

Liu Liu Yifei turned her head from Lin Nan's embrace, smiled sweetly, and delivered a critical hit to Tang Mu.

"Oh, God. Why do you two always have to hurt my heart the moment you see each other? One of these days, you'll lose me as a friend."

Tang Mu clutched his chest, trembling in a most comical way — he could have made a living as a comedy actor.

"Ha ha, alright, let's head back."

Lin Nan cut off Tang Mu's impromptu performance and said to the group.

The two assistants stuffed the suitcases into the BMW at the very back and climbed in.

Liu Liu Yifei followed Lin Nan and got into the Mercedes in the middle; Tang Mu took the big G at the very front — he was in charge of leading the way.

Three SUVs sped off toward Hollywood.

The group had barely arrived at Crystal Pictures when news about Liu Liu Yifei popped up on the domestic portal sites — it was already ten in the evening by then.

"Liu Liu Yifei Lands in Hollywood, Director Lin Nan Greets Her at the Airport, Intimate Embrace."

"Crystal Pictures boss Tang Mu travels with Director Lin and others…"

……

Lin Nan and the others didn't go to the company, but headed back to Beverly Hills instead.

Liu Liu Yifei couldn't stay by Lin Nan's side every day — later she still had to fly to Paris, Italy, and New York.

"I expect in the next couple of days, among the invitations to those cocktail parties, there'll be one with your name on it too."

After several films, Liu Liu Yifei had built up some name recognition over here as well.

"Jessica Chastain? Naomi Watts?"

Hearing Lin Nan's words, Miss Liu simply nodded, then began looking over the casting list.

"We went to see 'Jin Gang' back then — was it her?"

Liu Liu Yifei suddenly caught on, looked at Lin Nan and asked in surprise.

"Yep. I only realized it myself a couple of days ago — after all, it's been seven years."

Lin Nan smiled and nodded. "Once we start shooting, I'll introduce you to them."

"Mm, sure."

…………

That afternoon, Lin Nan met the candidate for the supporting male role at Crystal Pictures — Tang Mu Berenger.

Come to think of it, they'd already worked together once, on "Inception."

Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei are members of the main cast, while this one is an ordinary supporting role with few scenes.

The character he plays is the helmsman of a family conglomerate, and only tells his son on his deathbed that the latter is the treasure he has cherished most in his life.

Although not hugely famous, his skill is considerable; aside from appearing in some films, he usually does Broadway stage plays.

"Very glad to see you again, Lin."

Lin Nan also smiled and shook his hand.

"Likewise, looking forward to working together on this film."

This person's age is just right—perfect for playing an adult's father, not even needing deliberate old-age makeup.

With the main cast settled, the remaining unimportant supporting roles could easily be filled through the actors' guild.

"Leonardo, how's the prep going?"

"Ok, no problem."

"That's good. I saw a tabloid piece—they caught you bringing Margot Robbie back to the apartment?"

Lin Nan held the phone, teasing with great interest.

"These paparazzi, still so boring…" From the other end of the line came Little Li Zi's grumbling.

"Then let's get ready. I want to wrap this film in a month, like The Hunt, so I can head back before the end of January. I don't want to spend New Year's Eve over here."

Lin Nan spoke very seriously, and glanced at Liu Liu Yifei beside him; she nodded at him, clearly also very much in favor of getting back before New Year's Eve.

"Don't worry, Lin. Trust our ability."

…………

Before Crystal Pictures announced the finalized casting, Liu Liu Yifei had already kept her promise to her fans before coming here, posting the film's cast list on Weibo.

"A promise kept—here's the finalized cast list for The Invisible Guest:

Male lead: Leonardo; Female lead: Naomi Watts; Supporting actress: Jessica Chastain…"

The media and entertainment industry's attention was immediately drawn over.

Apart from the well-known Little Li Zi, the other actors were quickly searched up.

"Damn, the female leads of The Ring, Jin Gang, and The Tree of Life…"

"Our domestic big flowers losing to Jessica Chastain doesn't seem unfair at all. Last year's Palme d'Or winner—she was the female lead!"

"Liu Liu Yifei's got game—looks like Hollywood hasn't even officially announced it yet!"

"Obviously—do you even know who she is?"

……

Honestly, seeing that Liu Liu Yifei really wasn't on the finalized cast list, many young actresses felt inexplicably relieved.

Although Liu Liu Yifei had already made it clear before that she wouldn't be in this film.

Only now did everyone fully believe it.

When Los Angeles was still on the last day of December, back home it was already New Year's Day.

Lost in Thailand smoothly passed 1.1 billion, with the box office now at 1.11 billion.

Riding the New Year's Day holiday, the daily box office might still climb a bit, edging toward ten million.

Jackie Chan's CZ12 stormed through, taking 11 days to break 600 million, leaving a group of producers both delighted and pained.

The pain was because the extended screening key hadn't been approved, which would certainly cost them some box office.

"Star Media's The Bullet Vanes stumbled again, falling before the New Year's Day holiday, exiting with a regretful 70 million at the box office…"

"The Last Tycoon's box office barely scraped 92.4 million, with daily takings already below two million—no hope of breaking even, massive losses."

"The Grandmaster held its premiere ceremony in the capital, and announced that it had been invited to be the opening film of this year's Berlin Film Festival…"

"Director Lin Nan's new film The Invisible Guest officially started shooting tonight at around 11 p. m. domestic time in Hollywood!"

…………

The set of The Invisible Guest.

Since The Hunt, Lin Nan hadn't touched another foreign-language film, and he took this one very seriously.

Naomi Watts, in a silver-white short wig and old-age makeup, gave Lin Nan an OK gesture. Leonardo on the other side did the same.

"Then everyone take your places."

Lin Nan planned to start with the dramatic scenes, still using the flashback shooting method, following the plot's progression—it would also help the actors get into character and build toward the climax.

Liu Liu Yifei was arranged next to Lin Nan, ready to learn from the strengths of the two Hollywood actresses.

"Scene one, shot one, action!"

She carried a briefcase, exuding an impressive presence, walked into the hotel elevator expressionlessly; the look in her eyes in the frame carried wisdom and an indescribable emotion.

Arriving at a room, she rang the doorbell; the one who opened it was a slightly weary, listless Leonardo—the act was convincing!

"Mr. Adrian, I'm defense attorney Virginia, sent by your lawyer…"

Little Li Zi rubbed his eyes and let her in. "Give me a moment, I'll change clothes."

The elderly female lawyer played by Naomi Watts nodded, then was drawn to a TV news broadcast playing nearby, which was covering the investigation of a murder case.

The parties involved in the murder case were the male lead played by Little Li Zi, and his lover played by Jessica Chastain.

However, the news report didn't use any definitive language—only saying that with the woman's death, the man was a major suspect, and the latter claimed he too was a victim of a conspiracy.

…………

The area outside the hotel was completely jammed up—not only with Hollywood media, but also domestic media.

A Golden Lion-winning director from the East making a film with Leonardo and others was worthy of every Hollywood outlet's attention.

They were also hoping to grab more news material.

And the domestic correspondents abroad were each more excited than the last.

Because before Lin Nan came here, he hadn't revealed a single word about this film back home.

Right now everyone only knows the movie's name; as for the content and such, there's simply no way to know.

Filming continued, and Leonardo appeared perfectly at ease.

"I'm innocent. I've told you every truth I should, without hiding anything at all…"

He said to the elderly female lawyer played by Naomi Watts.

"There are many loopholes in your testimony. I need the specific details to defend you better… I guarantee I'll win the case for you… All these years, I've never lost…"

"The police have been watching me 24 hours a day. It's like being in prison. If there were anything else I could say, would I have waited until now?"

……

Lin Nan watched the two people in the frame and nodded with satisfaction.

With good actors, the director only needs to make his requirements clear — no need to worry too much.

Right now, that was exactly how Lin Nan felt — very comfortable!

…………

(End of Chapter)