Chapter 558: Brushed off, Celebration

Scheduled for the 31st of the month, the *Breakup Buddies* celebration banquet hosted by Bad Monkey was destined to be a grand event in the film and television circle.

Because this was the fifth movie in the Chinese film circle to break 1 billion at the box office.

Ning Hao also relied on this to officially be promoted to become the fourth big Chinese film director with a single-film box office exceeding 1 billion, which was of extraordinary significance!

There were really too many people in the circle who were eager to win over, curry favor with, and befriend him.

And on the other side, since Ma Te Damon appeared at the capital airport on the 25th, he had been targeted by mainland media.

For these three or four days, although his itinerary was very confidential, he was still photographed by reporters squatting outside China Film Group.

If the industry was only suspicious before, then this time it was a solid hammer.

That is: Ma Te Damon was one of the core leads of *The Great Wall* selected by the two major Hollywood giants, Legendary and Universal, and the production team!

Because whether it was status or fame, he was 100% in line with the casting requirements for the male lead of *The Great Wall*.

Especially on the morning of the 29th, when Willem Dafoe and Pedro Pascal, two well-known Hollywood stars, appeared at the capital airport at the same time and were picked up by China Film Group, the mainland film and television circle was completely boiled over.

Even Lin Nan and Liu Yifei, who had eaten and drunk their fill at Ning Hao's and just returned home, couldn't help but exclaim: *The Great Wall* was really a big deal!

"You were brushed off? Was it notified by phone? You weren't very suitable to begin with."

Liu Yifei received a call from Zhou Xun, joking playfully.

The latter's unconvinced voice came out from the phone's speaker:

"Saying that, how do you know I'm not suitable? What role can't I handle?

Oh my god, you haven't seen the script, right? Otherwise, how would you say I'm not suitable? Tell me quickly, have you seen the script?"

Zhou Xun's reaction was quite fast, instantly grasping the point.

"I heard it from Lin Nan, don't spread it blindly."

"Hmm? He knows the script, and you didn't go?? Understood! I'll honestly prepare to promote *Girls' Generation*."

"It's just that I don't know if Xiaoming has a chance to get a role? When we auditioned that day, we even bumped into each other at China Film Group."

"Don't think about it, he definitely has no chance."

Lin Nan walked over with a cup. For the two most important big male supporting roles, Huang Xiaoming's comprehensive strength wasn't enough; as for the remaining supporting roles, he was even less suitable.

"Tsk, you are so sure again?" Zhou Xun was quite stubborn.

"Hmm, I am just that sure."

Lin Nan handed the brown sugar water to Liu Yifei, who held it in her palms, smiling sweetly.

……

The industry was indeed restless right now; the cast of *The Great Wall* had begun to show its edge, worthy of being a top-tier team, making all actors' hearts flutter!

But at the same time, "rejection" calls were constantly being made to various industry artists or their agents and assistants who were confident, nervous, excited, or uneasy, and there was no lack of top big stars!

"Director Zhang, I am Ziyi..."

When the assistant told Zhang Ziyi that she had been brushed off, the latter couldn't accept it from the bottom of her heart.

In her view, *The Great Wall* could completely help her return to Hollywood; she didn't want to lose this opportunity!

After thinking for a long time, she was still unwilling, so she called Zhang Yimou himself.

But the result was not what she wished; there wasn't even a sliver of a chance:

"You have also acted in Hollywood movies; is casting all decided by the director?"

A short sentence completely shattered Zhang Ziyi's "hope."

Of course she knew it wasn't; several of her foreign language films were seen by producers first, and she even deliberately befriended Weinstein at one point.

"Zhang Laoshi, has the female lead been decided?" Zhang Ziyi changed her address and asked the last question.

The other end of the phone hesitated, "Decided."

Zhang Yimou had a sentence he wanted to say but didn't: the female lead was decided even earlier than him, the director! All the actresses who came to audition for the female lead were just going through the motions; the result had been decided long ago.

"I understand, thank you Zhang Laoshi."

……

The same was true for Shiba Culture, only the two sides of the conversation changed to Wang Jinghua and Zhu Yawen.

"From signing as an artist to hanging the studio under the company's name, thank you Flower Sister for your care over these ten years."

"Care? Rather than saying I cared for you, it's better to say it was Lin Dao. Wang Jinghua is no longer the Wang Jinghua she was back then."

The former number one agent in the mainland also felt a bit lonely at this moment.

Just this morning, she received notice from China Film Group that Zhou Dongyu's audition had been brushed off.

And half an hour ago, Zhou Dongyu ran over personally and clearly proposed to her that she would not renew her contract after it expired next year.

Relying on her seasoned experience, she probed Zhou Dongyu, but the result she got made her feel even worse.

Because the latter hadn't found a new home yet, but even so, Zhou Dongyu was still so determined to choose not to renew her contract after it expired in the first half of next year!

As for Zhu Yawen's departure, Wang Jinghua had been waiting for this day for a long time.

Relying on his relationship with Lin Nan, Liu Yifei, and others, Zhu Yawen didn't worry about resources and connections.

"Flower Sister is joking, back then I was still a newcomer, you did care for me quite a bit." Zhu Yawen said politely.

Wang Jinghua smiled and didn't stand on ceremony again:

"The last two months, the company will hold a farewell banquet for you then. Right, do Lin Dao and the others know you are going to operate your own studio?"

"Haven't said it yet, it won't be too late to say it later."

"Why didn't you try *The Great Wall*?" Wang Jinghua suddenly thought of this matter.

"Haha, big Lin Dao and Producer Liu didn't go either, I'm following them..." Zhu Yawen's eyes flashed with a hint of craftiness.

…………

The imported blockbusters *The Maze Runner* and *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* were released one after another in the last three days of the month.

Not to say how strong these two movies were, anyway, they were able to suppress the recent domestic films.

Especially Liu Shishi's *Five Minutes to Tomorrow*, which could be described as miserable, ridiculed by a group on the internet, and there were even many press releases calling her the "four little starlets" with the most water and "zero box office appeal"!

Thinking about it, it was right; released for 8 days, the daily box office dropped to 450,000.

It was estimated that it would be pulled from theaters in these two days, and the total box office would highly likely not reach eight digits; the film side could lose until they vomited blood!

Leaning on the door frame of Liu Yifei's boudoir, Lin Nan watched her quietly as she dressed and made up.

Miss Liu did it herself, always choosing the simplest way.

Light makeup, a bun, sporty casual style; not wearing any jewelry or accessories, only a lady's wristwatch, reflecting her simplicity and capability. This was today's styling and attire!

"Ma Te said he wanted us to take him around, so I specifically invited him to attend today's celebration banquet yesterday." Lin Nan checked the time and said.

"Ah? You really know how to arrange. He is clearly the male lead of *The Great Wall*, won't he be surrounded today?" Miss Liu turned her head, smiling and rolling her eyes at Lin Nan.

"Surrounded is surrounded, it's all an open secret. It's estimated that in these two days, China Film Group should also announce the results."

Another twenty minutes, Liu Yifei completely finished her makeup, picked up her bag, took Lin Nan's arm, and walked out.

……

In the film and television circle, as long as they were first-tier actors and stars in the capital, basically everyone came to attend the *Breakup Buddies* celebration banquet today. Those who didn't come were those who weren't invited.

Everyone was here for the two big directors, Ning Hao and Lin Nan!

The peers who came to show support in the industry knew very well that *Breakup Buddies* was one of the most profitable movies this year so far.

As for whether Lin Nan Film Industry earned more on *Breakup Buddies* or *The Taking of Tiger Mountain*, that was unknown!

The celebration banquet was hosted by Bad Monkey, so Ning Hao brought the main creators over very early, but Xu Zheng didn't come; he was still filming *Lost in Hong Kong*.

At the venue, Huang Bo, Zhang Ziyi, Huang Xiaoming, Li Bingbing, and others were all talking to Ma Te Damon.

The ones who talked to him the most were Zhang Ziyi and Li Bingbing; after all, both had mixed in Hollywood, and these two also had a meaning of not giving way to each other.

"Brother Wah is here."

Don't know who shouted, and many people's attention was drawn to Andy Lau who had just walked in.

The latter had a smile on his face, "Director Ning, congratulations on becoming a 1.3 billion big director."

"Brother Wah is polite, please this way, Lin Nan and the two haven't... they're here!"

Lin Nan and Liu Yifei arrived just in time.

"Lin Dao, Yifei."

"Lin Dao, Yifei."

……

Ma Te was chatting quite well with Li Bingbing over there, and after waving at Lin Nan and Liu Yifei from afar, he didn't come over.

And the two of Lin Nan walked straight to the side of Ning Hao and the others; Andy Lau was also there.

"Brother Wah, decided?"

This question without a head or tail made Ning Hao a bit confused, but Andy Lau reacted.

He nodded with a smile, his voice a bit light:

"Decided. I've been staying in the capital recently, waiting for the press conference and then going abroad to participate in some training together later."

"Hmm, I can also participate in the premiere event of Yifei's *Interstellar*... As for Hong Kong, I won't go back for now, it's a bit chaotic recently."

When Andy Lau said this, Ning Hao also heard it; "decided" referred to *The Great Wall*!

As for what Andy Lau said about Hong Kong being a bit chaotic recently? Lin Nan, Liu Yifei, and Ning Hao all knew in their hearts that it was indeed quite chaotic.

Stars in the Hong Kong circle were divided into camps because of this, and started scolding each other.

A camp that feared the world wouldn't be chaotic; a camp that couldn't watch anymore and argued on the basis of reason; and the final silent camp!

Quite a few Hong Kong stars with crooked buttocks were all exposed this time. Had to say, they hid really well before!

Jackie Chan, Natalis Chan, and others couldn't watch anymore and spoke out to blame those people and those behaviors, but it was useless; instead, they were wantonly insulted.

Heard that Wong Jing even publicly announced a break and split with those Hong Kong stars with crooked buttocks who were exposed; the consciousness was still very strong, and the attitude was also very upright!

Next, mainland film and television companies had to pay attention; they had to carry out a "default ban" on certain Hong Kong stars!

……

In the huge ice cube was a card with the words "1.308 billion"; the main seats were Ning Hao and Lin Nan, followed by Xing Aina and Liu Yifei.

With a hammer smashing the ice cube, the *Breakup Buddies* celebration banquet officially began!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 559 =====