Chapter 348: Fifty Degrees…

The promotional campaigns for several domestic films were in full swing.

First-time director Zhao Zhao Yanzi had impressive connections and was being endlessly elevated within the industry.

Even the female lead of "So Young" was crowned by the media as "V Girl," her fame unrivaled at the moment.

"Kung Fu Jungle" was likewise the focus of attention both inside and outside the industry.

On the poster, Zhao Zhao Wenzhuo and Wang Wang Baoqiang — one like a wrathful Vajra, the other ferocious as a mad demon — stood in a tense, murderous standoff across from each other.

Director Lu Yang, with his crew, was still rushing nonstop around the country doing roadshows and appearing on shows.

He was hoping this film could help him climb a few more rungs, just like Xue Xue Xiaolu had.

……

The Film Bureau's latest film filing information was released.

To the media's great surprise, they discovered something extraordinary.

"Five years after 'Wolf Tooth,' action actor Wu Jing once again crosses over, this time making a run at the director's chair. The military-themed film 'Wolf Warrior' has been greenlit."

The news itself wasn't anything unusual, but the filing details for "Wolf Warrior" that the media forwarded left the film industry stunned.

"Film, 'Wolf Warrior';

Director: Wu Jing;

Producer: Red Star Fort;

Executive Producer: Liu Liu Yifei;

Starring: Wu Jing, Yu Nan…"

Every production company and actor in the industry noticed the two columns for producer and executive producer on "Wolf Warrior."

The production company was Red Star Fort, with Liu Liu Xiaoli as its legal representative; and the executive producer was Liu Liu Yifei!

If everyone remembered correctly, this should be the first time Liu Liu Yifei had invested in a film outside of Lin Nan Pictures.

And this time it was an independent, fully self-funded production, with no trace of Lin Nan Pictures.

Wu Jing and Xie Nan reacted quickly, posting a Weibo update.

"Thank you Liu Yifei for your investment and support of 'Wolf Warrior.' I know full well that an investment of eighty million yuan is an enormous sum. So I will pour a hundred times the heart into this film, striving for perfection, and I won't betray the investor's trust."

"The film is still in the process of casting. Later we'll undergo military training, start shooting mid-year, and look forward to meeting the audience afterward."

Liu Liu Yifei followed suit, posting on Weibo: "My first independent film investment, let's go!" and then tagged Wu Jing and Xie Nan.

The two Weibo posts set the film industry abuzz — but not in a positive way.

"A military-themed film, and they poured in 80 million? A greenhorn director just starting out — just wait for them to go bankrupt."

Wang Wang Zhonglei read the news and sneered mockingly.

"This time Lin Nan isn't being rational — how could he agree to let Liu Liu Yifei invest in a military-themed film! You can't just throw money down the drain!"

Companies like Bona, Starlit, and Orange Sky were almost unanimously of the same view: Liu Liu Yifei's investment this time was bound to lose money.

Just two days ago, the industry's actresses had been envying Liu Liu Yifei for being invited to dub the female lead in a Disney animated film.

Now, everyone was even more impressed by her grand gesture.

Being able to fork out eighty million in one go to invest in a film — and a military one at that — she truly lived up to her status as an A-list actress who had risen into capital circles: rich, willful, and with a great boyfriend to boot!

The new generation of Four Dan Actresses were also watching this news; the gap between the two generations was simply too vast.

Yang Mi and Ceng Jia both felt utterly helpless at this moment.

"Take on gigs, negotiate acting contracts, sign new talent — we've got to get the studio up and running as fast as possible," Yang Mi said to Ceng Jia.

"I've already made the arrangements."

…………

Lin Nan had just hung up on Han Han Sanping when Wang Wang Changtian's call came in.

"I tell you, Liu Yifei may not understand these things, but don't you? Feng Feng Xiaogang's 'Assembly' only broke even thanks to its overseas rights!"

"Military-themed films — even Hu Bayi Studio loses money on them year after year. We can't compare ourselves to Hu Bayi Studio; for them it's a mission, they have to shoot even at a loss."

Wang Wang Changtian's words were practically identical to what Han Han Sanping had said.

"Thanks, Director Wang. You rejected the investment back then with exactly this reasoning, didn't you? Haha…"

Lin Nan's laughter caught Wang Wang Changtian off guard. "You knew?"

"I heard."

"Yes, I turned them down. I definitely wouldn't invest in a film like this. When the film loses money later, be sure to comfort Liu Yifei properly — don't let her get discouraged, after all, she's a girl."

Hearing Wang Wang Changtian say all this, Lin Nan didn't know how to respond and could only say with a laugh: "It's fine, just consider it practice for her. I can afford to keep her."

"Huh? Fair enough — one of you alone is worth my entire group, so you can certainly afford to take the loss."

Lin Nan smiled and said nothing.

He couldn't exactly say this film would work miracles — wouldn't that be a slap right in Wang Wang Changtian's face?

The industry was almost unanimously pessimistic about Liu Liu Yifei's investment in Wu Jing and "Wolf Warrior," all believing this investment went against the laws of the market.

Miss Liu had a big heart and didn't care what others thought.

She knew Lin Nan supported her investment, and that was enough!

…………

Jiang Jiang Xuerou called back.

"Lin Dao, that person passed the audition — second male lead."

"On his own?" Lin Nan pressed.

"No. With such a great opportunity, so many age-appropriate male actors with real acting skills in the industry came to audition. Director Zheng Zheng Xiaolong couldn't possibly have decided on him right away — there were supposed to be several more rounds of auditions."

Hearing Jiang Jiang Xuerou say this, Lin Nan understood. The favor owed to Jiang Teacher Wenli had now been repaid.

"Tell Director Zheng I'm sorry — I had promised not to interfere with casting before."

"Director Zheng understood. He even asked me whether it was about personal connections.

He said this actor was actually fine. Among a group of actors of roughly equal skill, who gets eliminated and who stays in the end still depends on connections. If no one has connections, it comes down to fate—that's just how this circle works."

"Crystal clear."

Lin Nan nodded and replied.

This was already the greatest fairness within the circle—picking the well-connected from among actors of comparable ability, rather than simply handpicking the well-connected outright. Real skill was still the prerequisite.

…………

A film produced by Enlight Pictures, "The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel" starring Huang Bo and others, had been released.

Three Best Actors in one film—the box-office draw was indeed impressive.

"Produced by Enlight Pictures, directed by Director Guan Hu, 'The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel' broke twenty million on its opening day, reporting 21.7 million."

"'The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel' has injected a shot of adrenaline into the domestic film market, which had been in the doldrums for the past half month."

Wang Wang Changtian must be overjoyed right now—Enlight had once again bet correctly on a low-cost film.

Guo Fan's "About Time" was nearly done in post-production; only a few special-effects shots remained.

Lin Nan looked over the footage from the second fine cut—pretty good.

"For this film, we'll need to pick the release date carefully."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Lin Dao. I'm not really good at that sort of thing."

"No problem, leave it to me."

…………

The past couple of days had been a little crazy. Lin Nan needed a proper rest—blame the stockings.

While napping at home at noon, he was shaken awake by Liu Liu Yifei.

"What's up, Liu Qianqian?"

He didn't even need to open his eyes to know it was Liu Liu Yifei—that grip, and that faint body scent.

"Tang Mu couldn't get through on your phone, so he called mine. He said Crystal Pictures and Lionsgate are preparing to co-produce a new film."

"If they want to cooperate, let them. What's the big deal? They even had to call about it. It must be around ten in the evening over there right now, right?"

Lin Nan squinted, took Liu Liu Yifei's phone and checked the time—his own phone was switched off.

"Mm, no problem. He's just letting you know—this one's still adapted from a bestseller, with Crystal Pictures providing the rights. The film is called 'Fifty Shades of Grey'—what a weird name…"

Liu Liu Yifei kept muttering to herself, but Lin Nan gave a start and was instantly wide awake, sitting bolt upright.

Good lord, that bastard Tang Mu—of all the scripts out there, he had to pick this one. If word of this got out…

Lin Nan already had the picture in his mind:

"Crystal Pictures, the Hollywood independent film company in which Lin Dao Nan holds shares, will partner with Lionsgate to release an R-rated film, 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' with content involving…"

"It's already greenlit?"

Lin Nan looked at Liu Liu Yifei, swallowed, and pressed further.

"Yeah, Tang Mu said filming will start in a few days."

"I-I-I… forget it. If we're shooting it, then shoot it. It's just one film—as long as it makes money."

Lin Nan stammered for ages, not knowing what to say, so he simply lay back down and went on sleeping.

"What kind of film is it? Why are you reacting like this?" Liu Liu Yifei asked, puzzled.

"R-rated…"

Hearing those two words, how could Liu Liu Yifei not understand—it was nothing more than those usual things.

"You bought the rights?"

"Don't try to trap me. How could I possibly buy rights like that? Tang Mu bought them."

Lin Nan lay there, smiling at Liu Liu Yifei: "This film can only be released in North America. There's no way it'll be seen domestically."

…………

(End of chapter)