Chapter 435: A Delayed Secret Key, Backroom Manipulation?

"This year's admissions brochure was already printed at the end of last month. It's because of you that the school decided yesterday morning to reprint it."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"In your profile, must emphasize the addition of this film 'The Invisible Guest,' along with the results it achieved."

Although he had guessed this was the reason, hearing Old Jiang's answer for real, Lin Nan still felt it was a bit of a joke.

"Isn't this making a mountain out of a molehill?"

"It's a small matter to you, but not to the school. This is one of the most direct, eye-catching teaching achievements and calling cards."

Lin Nan didn't know what to say—everywhere you look, it's all business.

"Whatever."

"By the way, have you decided which secondary department to go to after you come back? The Directing Department or the Acting Academy?"

"No need to think about it this early, right?" Lin Nan said suspiciously.

"You can start thinking about it. There will definitely be plenty of departments fighting over you."

"Alright, I'll think about it."

"Never thought there'd come a day when I'd be colleagues with you. When you first transferred departments, you didn't look like one of us from the Directing Department at all."

"Haha, yeah, among a bunch of ugly ducklings, suddenly a good-looking guy walks in—everyone does feel a bit inferior!" Lin Nan joked.

"You brat, talking nonsense, haha…"

Just as he had hung up Old Jiang's call, someone was knocking on Lin Nan's office door.

"Come in."

"Lin Dao, the script is finished. But it's still a few days later than the original schedule."

A person from the screenwriting department walked in smiling, holding the bound script.

"Just a few days, no rush."

Lin Nan took the script—it was quite thick, worthy of a TV series script.

"Then Lin Dao, I'll get back to work."

"Mm, okay."

He flipped through the script casually. To be honest, Lin Nan really couldn't be bothered with this kind of story, but the current environment was just like that.

"Let Jiang Jiang Xuerou continue to follow along later."

Tossing the script casually into a slot on the bookshelf behind him, Lin Nan stood up, preparing to leave the company.

……

'New Police Story 2013' had indeed received special treatment.

The relevant departments personally stepped up to promote it—this was "the story of mainland police," and Jackie Chan's character also represented the image of mainland police.

Although no one openly said there were group bookings, plenty of viewers from that profession did go to the cinema to watch this film.

The opening-day box office of 68.45 million, plus the photos online of a thief surrounded by dozens of plainclothes police in the cinema, were all powerful proof.

Those in the industry could tell this New Year season was likely going to be split between 'Personal Tailor' and 'New Police Story 2013.'

The small-to-medium budget films like 'The Assassin' and 'Waiting for the Wind' releasing in the following days were probably completely out of luck.

Lin Nan decided to give himself a vacation during the period before the end of the month.

After New Year's Day, he'd do a few more days of promotion, then he could sit back and wait for news from the Oscars, as well as the premiere and theatrical release of 'Taking Mount Mount Weihu.'

Sitting in the rocking chair in the garden, basking in the warm winter sun, Lin Nan carefully looked at the casting list for 'Nirvana in Fire' in his hand.

After much deliberation, he still felt too lazy to replace Liu Liu Mintao.

Apart from the flaw of age and looks being a bit on the "mature" side, he really couldn't find any faults—her acting was decent.

"Fine, let's go with her."

The main cast list was fine, and there were quite a few veteran actors among the supporting roles. Lin Nan looked at it for quite a while.

The most impressive was Liu Liu Mintao—that 'Fu Gui' had left quite an impression on him, and Lin Nan had worked with Chen Chen Yanxi before.

Although these two couldn't compare with Gong Li and Ge You, they had also performed 'To Live' brilliantly.

His phone buzzed suddenly, startling the two cats sleeping at Lin Nan's feet into instantly bristling.

They meowed at Lin Nan, then turned and ran aggrieved into the villa to find Liu Liu Yifei and Shu Chang.

"I was going to wait two days before giving Noon Sunshine an answer—didn't expect them to call already?"

Looking at the three characters 'Hou Hou Hongliang' on the caller ID, Lin Nan chuckled.

"Hello, Producer Hou."

"Lin Dao, how's the finalized cast list? The company wants to sign the actors' contracts before the New Year and start filming right after Spring Festival."

"I've finished looking at it."

"There shouldn't be anyone you want to replace, right?"

"Haha, not among the main cast. Producer Hou is afraid I'll replace your company's Wang Kai, right?"

"I won't hide it from you, Lin Dao, there is that worry. But please rest assured, his acting isn't bad. Huh? You said no replacements among the main cast—what about the supporting cast?"

"Mm, replace that young Lin Shu."

"Why?"

In the deepest, deepest memories of Lin Nan, Old Lin, who had served in the military, would always sit by his hospital bed and read him online news…

"Replace him with someone from Beijing Film Academy—consider it looking after my junior."

This reason was so powerful that Hou Hou Hongliang didn't know how to argue back, nor did he want to.

Let alone a small supporting role—even if Lin Nan wanted to replace the lead, he'd have to agree.

"Alright, I'll replace him next. Anything else?"

"Nothing else. Producer Hou can send out the contracts to the actors."

"Mm, when filming starts, if Lin Dao has time, drop by and visit the set."

"That'll really depend on luck then. Haha…"

…………

The last few days of the month passed rather quickly.

Liu Liu Dehua's "Storm" stopped at 308 million — a pretty good box office.

But the most eye-catching film on the mainland market was still "Personal Tailor" — as of the 29th, after 11 days in theaters, it had raked in 518 million.

Next came "New Police Story 2013," which pulled in 280 million over its opening six-day weekend.

Word had already spread through the film circle: Huayi had recently submitted an extension key application to the Film Bureau for "Personal Tailor," and it had been rejected.

Everyone in the industry was guessing at the reason, because by box-office performance alone, there was absolutely no way it should have been turned down.

As for why it was rejected, the industry was full of every kind of speculation.

Only Lin Nan knew the specific reason.

When he saw this news at home, he couldn't help feeling a bit of schadenfreude.

"The Taking of Mount Mount Weihu" was still a full month away from release, but the film's extension key was already prepared and waiting for him.

"What are you laughing at all by yourself?"

Liu Liu Yifei peeled a small tangerine clean and popped it into Lin Nan's mouth, asking curiously.

Watching Shu Chang beside them was equally puzzled — how could reading the news make someone laugh?

"The Spring Festival slot's film extension key wasn't given to Huayi because it was being saved for 'The Taking of Mount Mount Weihu.' Han Dong and Chairman La had already worked this out with Director Tong long ago!

A one-month extension key — consider it preferential treatment for me, the first director to make a commercial main-melody film! Of course, I can't rule out Han Dong and Chairman La having their own private motives either, haha…"

Liu Liu Yifei and Watching Shu Chang were both dumbfounded — good lord, so this is backroom dealing?

"Then, doesn't that mean it'll be in theaters three weeks longer than 'Bad Genius' was? Can it break the record?" Watching Shu Chang's question was very direct.

"We'll have to wait until after it releases to find out."

……

In the last two days of December, the entire film and television industry turned its eyes to Galloping Horse.

From its initial forty-million-dollar financing onward, it had been the most dazzling dark horse in the film and television circle.

Once upon a time, countless industry insiders were unanimously bullish on Galloping Horse.

They believed that once it went public, it would inevitably surpass Huayi and take the top seat among privately listed Shangshi Companies in the film and television industry.

But facts proved that between steady, step-by-step progress and signing a gambling agreement with capital to borrow strength for an IPO, one really must be cautious.

Ever since it took on the gambling agreement, Galloping Horse's luck seemed to turn sour.

Right now, the industry was waiting for the final outcome.

……

The plot below is a bit dense, so I need to think it through carefully. Today's Tian Di Er Zhang will have to be like this.

(End of chapter)