[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-in-huayu":3,"chapter-that-year-in-huayu-that-year-in-huayu-chapter-51":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","That Year in Huayu",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2286887,4473,"Chapter 51: *Dead Silence* Final Cut","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-51",51,"\u003Cp>\"It makes me want to go sing, and then come back to direct movies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen said with a hint of sourness in his tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The box office growth of *Initial D* is indeed being sustained by Jay Chou's fans; they deserve at least half the credit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The media has been reporting on this frantically lately, and quite a few veterans of the domestic music scene have developed an urge to go make movies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should just forget it; you might be better than me, but you're also completely unremarkable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan retorted mercilessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop talking about me, you should worry about your own movie; it's about to be released.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All the necessary promotion has been done. I even managed to get someone as low-key as Teacher Li Baotian to record an interview. Now, all I can do is wait for the results.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen hasn't been very busy lately and often comes back to school to chat. Coupled with *Initial D* grossing over 30 million in one week, that’s where his sour remarks came from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traditional filmmakers, including old-school directors and actors, sneer at the high box office of *Initial D*. How much of that is out of consideration for cinematic art and how much is out of envy and jealousy is unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next month, when *Return to Dust* is released, I have to fly to Los Angeles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan said suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're not even going to keep an eye on your movie's release? Is there something important?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lionsgate has finished the first movie, and it's also being released in July. I have to go over and follow up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn, how long has it been? It's already finished?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They started preparing after signing the contract in the first half of April, started filming at the end of the month, shot for a month in May, and told me it was almost done at the beginning of this month. They've been rushing post-production during this time and can finish before July.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen was dumbfounded, \"With this speed and efficiency, is that how Hollywood makes movies?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In Hollywood, except for some special dramas, even for big productions, the actual filming time isn't too long. It’s just that post-production is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Besides, *Dead Silence* is a B-grade horror film, and its characteristic is speed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan explained to Zhu Yawen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's true, that side is indeed much more important. This counts as your first battle entering Hollywood, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan nodded. The box office performance of *Dead Silence* is very important to him; it will directly affect his bargaining power in future collaborations with Hollywood companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the June market, *Initial D* dominates alone, and many movies are being suppressed. There are also quite a few people looking forward to seeing Lin Nan make a fool of himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The media seems to love a spectacle and came to interview Lin Nan, asking if he feels pressure in the face of *Initial D*'s unabated box office growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First of all, I want to congratulate this movie on its current success, but everyone seems to be asking questions that are a bit too general.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The subject matter and content of the two films are completely different. The background of *Return to Dust* is the countryside from decades ago; it's a realist subject. And this film actually helped me win the Silver Bear for Best Director in Berlin...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan was unlucky and got blocked at the company entrance, so he had to accept the interview. He guessed that these reporters had specifically staked him out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since he was forced to accept an interview for the first time, the media seems to have started targeting Lin Nan specifically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Return to Dust* is about to be released, and Lin Nan is the youngest major director in the country. He has topics, buzz, and attention in abundance. The reporters seem to have had a breakthrough and found a way to generate results, rushing over all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staying in the dormitory, Lin Nan browsed the web portals, \"These people are really annoying. If I can't afford to offend them, I can at least hide. Flying out early should be fine, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen laughed from the side, \"Are you going to Los Angeles early to hide from this group of reporters?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Lin Nan answered bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haven't you noticed? Although those reporters are annoying, they are also helping to promote *Return to Dust* in a roundabout way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan ignored Zhu Yawen and called Han Sanping to tell him about his itinerary, asking China Film to keep an eye on the movie's release, since the promotional costs were settled as a share of the box office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Sanping has also been very annoyed lately, even doubting if his decision to trade promotional fees for a box office share was a mistake, but he couldn't show it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can go with peace of mind. I'll have people keep an eye on things here. I look forward to the box office achieving good results over there. By then, you'll be completely different, haha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're going to Los Angeles?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To Lionsgate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei's eyes were filled with heat, which made Lin Nan feel a bit uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can I go with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Lin Nan's affirmative answer, Liu Yifei asked happily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan made a bitter face, \"I'm afraid your mother will kill me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pfft, coward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei was clearly a bit frustrated, yet helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should just continue your training at home. Your mother won't agree to you running off to America with me alone,\" Lin Nan said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then how long are you going for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei couldn't help but turn her head to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll definitely be back before your birthday.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei smiled happily; she was very satisfied with this answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan boarded the plane, his mind filled with *Dead Silence*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He referenced the failures of the original *Dead Silence* and deeply processed the script. Moreover, he had told Lionsgate at the time that they must control costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered that the original Lionsgate blindly expanded the production budget of *Dead Silence* to over ten million dollars because the *Saw* series was a huge hit, and as a result, the box office did not meet the target. He only hopes that after his intervention this time, they can reap a different ending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon landing, it was still Tom who picked him up, dressed in cowboy attire, which, paired with his physique, was truly quite comical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, Lin, I haven't seen you in over two months, I've missed you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom came over wanting to hug Lin Nan, but was stopped by the latter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tom, you've gained weight again, and it's only been two months.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shit, don't mention it, those girls say the same thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom instantly made a constipated face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting into the car, Tom started telling Lin Nan about his achievements over the past two months, besides continuing to register scripts, how many stocks he had bought...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn't you say you were coming in July? Why did you come a few days early?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom asked. When he received Lin Nan's message, he even suspected he had remembered the date wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The movie I won the Silver Bear for is about to be released, and the reporters are too annoying,\" Lin Nan said casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand. It's the same in Hollywood. You should hire two bodyguards so those people will know to restrain themselves,\" Tom offered his advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's different. That sort of thing isn't popular where we're from.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan knew what Tom meant; bodyguards here are the type who actually get physical when necessary. If he did that back home, he reckons he'd be roasted to death by public opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having arrived in Los Angeles early this time, Lin Nan also greeted the people at Lionsgate and agreed to head directly to the company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking into the Lionsgate film headquarters again, Lin Nan had noticed the number of people here last time—only twenty or thirty. Coming again this time, it still hadn't changed much. Ordinary people might not believe it if told, but this is a film company second only to a few old-school Hollywood powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Lin Nan, you seem very interested in the number of people here. We have nearly a hundred employees, many of whom are stationed with film crews.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A foreigner with gray curly hair greeted Lin Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We meet again...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan stepped forward and shook hands with the foreigner. Although nearly a hundred employees isn't much for a major studio like Lionsgate, it's still more convincing than twenty or thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Follow me, they are already waiting for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the conference room from last time, this place was much larger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome, Lin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were eight people in the large conference room. Except for James Wan, the other seven were Western faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good afternoon, everyone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Wan took the initiative to hand a document to Lin Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Lin Nan, according to the plan, the post-production of *Dead Silence* has been completed. We have just finished rating it and it can be released at any time. Do you want to see the final cut?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan looked at the materials in his hand; these were the production process of *Dead Silence* and the cost statistics to date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lionsgate listened to Lin Nan's advice, and so far, including promotional expenses, it has only cost 2.8 million dollars, while the actual production cost was 2.4 million dollars, twice that of *Saw*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horror movie promotion doesn't need to be as extensive as other films; it only needs one or a few posters, including the information of the production company, director, and actors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the machine on the long table, Lin Nan nodded, \"Then let's take a look.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 100-minute film had a strong sense of suspense between the cuts, the background sound effects were maxed out, and the rhythm was extremely tight. The few people watching in the conference room experienced varying degrees of the heart-palpitating effects of watching a horror movie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, we have already watched it once, but it doesn't affect the experience of watching it this time at all. I have full confidence in it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Wan said to Lin Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then how is the release arranged this time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Lin Nan opened his mouth to ask, a bearded foreigner replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A full release on Friday. It will land in other countries at the latest in two weeks. We have a powerful distribution network in many places...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan knew he would have to stay at Lionsgate for at least three days, until the opening box office results came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back home, *Return to Dust* was ready for release at any time, just waiting for July 1st.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the director, Lin Nan, was nowhere to be found. The media was also surprised; logically speaking, this shouldn't be happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the 30th, domestic time, one of the web portals was the first to post a news item with a picture—the release poster for *Dead Silence* from North American theaters, with the release date clearly written on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director: James Wan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screenwriter: Lin Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Production\u002FProducer: Lionsgate Films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The netizens' emotions exploded; they had only heard in April that Lin Nan was collaborating with Lionsgate, and they didn't expect the film to be released in just thirty or forty hours! There hadn't been a whisper of news before this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subsequently, a photo of Lin Nan and Tang Mu appeared on the webpage; the two were coming out of the Lionsgate building, accompanied by three foreigners, chatting and laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging from the photo, the photographer was over thirty meters away from them, but it didn't affect the clarity, and everyone recognized Lin Nan at a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two movies, released at the same time; did he go over there to keep an eye on things?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He really has gone to kill it on the other side of the ocean!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not many people knew Lin Nan's itinerary, and even fewer in the company did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Sanping looked at the breaking news and revealed a smile, \"Have someone write some articles; take this opportunity to boost the popularity of *Return to Dust*.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Numerous companies and artists in the industry were drawn by the news about Lin Nan; for the latter to ignore the release of his own award-winning work and run off to Lionsgate to keep an eye on *Dead Silence*, the stakes involved were definitely not simple, or rather, he was very confident that he could use this to pry open the doors of Hollywood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Lin Nan succeeded, would that mean there would be one more ship capable of crossing the ocean?\u003C\u002Fp>",2122,"2026-06-20T03:22:09.099Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","330be93f438f94a74a77bddbeeffeac91e418519c370a2205bc14891e42345a8","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-52","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-50",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-in-huayu-cover.jpg"]