Chapter 423: Strong Scheduling, The Newbie of the Spring Festival Slot

The reporters were still formidable.

Starting from the early morning of the second day, the entire process of Zhu Zhu Yawen's wedding began to flood the entertainment news.

Which A-list actors and stars from the industry appeared at the wedding, and who sent gifts but could not attend due to scheduling conflicts, were all reported without exception.

From classmates and close friends of the bride and groom to co-actors and artists, the guest lineup was quite luxurious.

Zhu Zhu Yawen's grand wedding this time was jokingly dubbed by the media as: a powerful alliance between the Class of 2002 Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy and the Class of 2002 Performance Department of the Central Academy of Drama!

However, the most eye-catching piece of news was Lin Nan snatching the bouquet and giving it to Liu Liu Yifei, the two gazing intensely at each other with deep affection, and kissing on the spot.

This leaked footage was also the most talked-about romantic story among industry insiders and online, with extremely high heat and topic engagement!

There were even many industry insiders joking on Weibo, saying Zhu Zhu Yawen and Shen Shen Jiani were truly pitiable. It was clearly their wedding, yet Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei stole the show, overshadowing the couple!

In the morning, Lin Nan returned to the company.

The two special effects teams at Tiangong Color ultimately failed to complete all special effects work for "Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy" by early November.

"Lin Dao, rest assured, only a tiny bit of special effects shots remain; we will definitely finish before the middle of the month."

The project manager assured solemnly, and the forty employees shared the same attitude, certain and firm.

The year-end bonus has already lost one month's salary; it cannot lose a second month. Not receiving it is equivalent to having the bonus deducted!

"Then everyone, pull together; finish completely before the 20th. Once the final cut is ready, we need to immediately submit it to the Film Bureau for review."

Lin Nan's estimate for the time required for this film to pass review was also around one week.

By then, he would also go to the Film Bureau to ask Director Tong for help, striving to get the public screening permit for "Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy" before the end of November.

Next, these two months before the Spring Festival slot could be used to focus wholeheartedly on promotion.

However, in the early stage of promotion, Guo Fan would have to lead the main cast and crew to run around, as Lin Nan certainly would not be in the country.

He hadn't stayed at the company long before the call from Li An came through.

Counting the days, the opening ceremony of the Golden Horse Awards was also only one week away.

At this moment, filmmakers from the mainland, Hong Kong, or Southeast Asia and other Chinese-speaking circles were basically ready and could depart for the Golden Horse at any time.

"Lin Dao, this is the 50th anniversary; can you make it before the opening ceremony? Everyone can walk the red carpet together..."

To be honest, Lin Nan had never planned to arrive at the opening ceremony; he was an award presenter and didn't want to do any other errands.

"Director Li, the film in my hand is quite tight on schedule those days; I estimate it won't work. I'll arrive on the morning of the closing ceremony instead."

Lin Nan thought for a moment and still followed his own schedule, rejecting Li An; the matter of "Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy" was more important.

This answer was obviously unexpected by Li An; he paused for a second or two before speaking:

"That is a bit regrettable, but as directors, we must indeed prioritize the film. Alright then, Lin Dao, see you at the closing ceremony."

"Good, see you on the day of the awards ceremony."

…………

November was indeed the slot for imported films.

Although currently only three Hollywood films had been released: "Hotel Transylvania," "Escape Plan," and "Thor 2."

Yet their combined daily box office reached about 110 million, accounting for fully over ninety percent of the daily total market, which was simply terrifying.

A host of domestic films had no room to resist; they were all cannon fodder. The production companies suffered bitterly but could only grumble, which was of no help.

Beside La La Peikang also experienced Han Han Sanping's feelings for the first time, being "harassed" by a group of production companies.

But this was a problem of choosing between the big and the small; although both palms and backs of the hand were flesh, one had to be sacrificed.

Previously, Lu Zheng said he had found a TV drama for Miss Jing Tian, and it was a female-led one.

Lin Nan had always been curious: what TV drama was it? Until today, when he saw the film and television news, he finally knew.

"Jointly produced by CCTV, Dongyang, etc., and produced by Yu Zheng Studio, the TV drama 'Legend of Ban Shu' is officially launched!"

"Actor Miss Jing Tian will star in her first TV drama, taking on the female lead role, Ban Shu!"

"Yu Zheng stated that this role was tailor-made for Miss Jing Tian; no one else could do it."

"The TV drama 'Legend of Ban Shu' will begin filming before the Lunar New Year."

Yu Zheng's thick skin, and his ability to speak human language to humans, were indeed suitable for mixing in the entertainment circle.

It was just that his character wasn't great; he was accused of plagiarism by many screenwriters, but he could always solemnly deny it outright, stating directly that it was merely a similarity in creativity.

Zhu Zhu Yawen's wedding ended; Lin Nan had only one and a half things left this month.

The complete thing was going to the Golden Horse as an award presenter, and the half thing was meeting Tong Gang when "Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy" was submitted for review.

"Should I go to Hollywood with you?" Liu Liu Yifei blinked her eyes, looking at Lin Nan expectantly.

"How about you just don't go?"

"Why?"

Hearing this, Liu Liu Yifei instantly got anxious, questioning him, and for a moment even had the meaning of the legendary "shrew."

But in Lin Nan's eyes, her appearance was another kind of alluring charm; this was the dominant side of Liu Liu Yifei's personality.

"You are the producer of 'Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy'; go run the promotion with Guo Fan and the others.

If it goes quickly, I can return by mid-to-late December; for this half-month-plus of film promotion, don't you have to represent both of us and go together?"

Liu Liu Yifei rolled her eyes and nodded reluctantly: "Alright, but remember, stay away from..."

"Stay away from Leonardo, I know, Princess Liu Qianqian."

Lin Nan answered with a smile, taking the opportunity to pinch Liu Liu Yifei's nose, and almost got bitten by her.

…………

In the blink of an eye, several more days passed.

The film market was a scene of one-sided slaughter; five foreign films slaughtered more than twenty domestic films, making industry insiders tremble with fear.

In contrast, the entertainment circle was very lively.

Wang Feng opened his concert at the Shanghai 80,000-person Stadium; after warming up with the song "I Love You So Much," he took the opportunity to make a deep, eight-and-a-half-minute love confession to Little Zhang Zhang Ziyi sitting in the audience.

The nine-hundred-character love confession had already been transcribed by every major media outlet and reported.

No one knew whether it was improvised or drafted in advance, but in any case, it was delivered off-script.

Not to mention, opening every paragraph with "I imagine one day…" — flowery, ornate parallel sentences and ornate diction — it was actually quite "flashy"!

Plenty of people in the circle played along, saying this was definitely "true love."

……

After breakfast, Lin Nan hurried off to the company.

Yue Jun told him that the special effects for Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy were finished, and the editor had already wrapped the final cut.

When Lin Nan arrived at Tiangong Color, he saw both special-effects teams looking at him with burning eyes — it gave him goosebumps, didn't it?

And the members of the other special-effects project teams looked on with envy.

"Lin Dao, over here."

Yue Jun waved Lin Nan over; on the screen here was the final cut of Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy.

"Let's begin." Lin Nan sat down and instructed.

A crowd gathered around, all ready to get the first look.

After editing, the nearly two-and-a-half-hour final cut began.

None of the dragging, preachy feel of the usual main-melody films — on the contrary, this film's pacing was superb.

Conflict, clash, atmosphere, and suspense were all cranked to the max — a "main-melody blockbuster" with a distinctly commercial flavor, and a thoroughly satisfying watch!

"Good, very good! Within a limited budget, the Siberian tiger you pulled off is quite impressive."

After saying this, Lin Nan smiled and looked at the two special-effects teams around him: "Congratulations, you've held on to that other month's year-end bonus incentive."

"Sigh, originally it could've been two more months. Lin Dao, will there be any more good news like this next time?"

At this point, the group had relaxed considerably, and were even joking around with Lin Nan.

Lin Nan smiled and shook his head. "I don't know, depends on luck. Get me a copy — I'm heading to the Film Bureau now."

"Lin Dao, it's already prepared. Here."

…………

A little over half an hour later, Lin Nan's car stopped at the entrance of the NRTA; he got out and walked in.

A few reporters' eyes lit up. "Lin Dao? What's he doing at the headquarters?"

Even as they spoke, their cameras never stopped — even Lin Nan's profile had to be captured.

The secretary led Lin Nan to knock on Tong Gang's office door; the latter was busy writing something with his head down.

"Here for another review today? I thought main-melody films basically never had any issues!" Tong Gang looked at Lin Nan and teased.

"Haha, Director Tong, you jest — how could a main-melody film have any issues? It's just, I'd like to ask you for a favor — give this review timeline a discount."

"Apart from that Bad Genius, has any of your other films' review time not been short? All of them were done in ten-odd days, within half a month. How much shorter do you want it to be? Everyone else takes over a month."

"Director Tong, how about within a week?" Lin Nan said with a grin.

"You said a week? What are you trying to do?" Tong Gang burst out laughing.

"I want a Spring Festival release."

At this point, there was no need to keep it under wraps — Lin Nan was ready to give everyone a surprise!

Sure enough, Tong Gang was stunned for a moment hearing this, then pointed at Lin Nan and laughed out loud:

"You — you suddenly pull this stunt, and the production teams of the other films locked in for Spring Festival are going to lose it, haha…"

"Lose it? Aren't they all not optimistic about my main-melody commercial film? I'm purely going there to be their stepping stone, to make their films look better. Haha…"

Lin Nan pretended to be one of the disadvantaged — a newbie making his first Spring Festival run.

"Stepping stone? Do you even believe what you just said?"

"Believe it or not, I believe it." Lin Nan spread his hands.

Tong Gang pointed at Lin Nan, laughing so hard he couldn't speak for a moment. Only after a long while did he open his mouth:

"Fine, fine, leave it with me. I'm looking forward to the box-office results of this Spring Festival 'newbie' making his first foray.

You shouted a 1-billion box-office target yourself, and asked Wang Wang Zhonglei for a 1.2-billion guaranteed distribution — and you're a 'newbie'? Haha…"

Lin Nan smiled and didn't respond, placing the copy disc and the form on Tong Gang's desk.

……

After leaving the headquarters' main gate, before a swarm of reporters could crowd around, Lin Nan quickly got into his car.

But he didn't start the engine; instead, he sat in the driver's seat and made a call. No matter how the reporters outside called out to him, Lin Nan just smiled and waved.

"Lin Nan?"

"Director La, Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy can be locked in for release — sorry for the trouble."

A hearty laugh from La La Peikang came through the phone at once:

"What's the trouble? Don't be so polite. China Film is already one of the producers and the distributor anyway, and Director, Director Han is still the lead. Good, I'll give the order right now — Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy locks in for January 31st, Spring Festival!"

"Director La, we can announce it at the same time."

"Good, let's announce it together, haha…"

…………

I'm taking compensatory leave these two days, but there's some bad news — the main power line in my area is being re-cabled, with a power outage from 7 in the morning until 5 to 6 in the evening, so updates may have issues — just may.

(End of chapter)