Chapter 681: Since the Decision is Made, Shanghai Film is Prepared

"Pacific Rim 2?!"

For the entire Chinese film and television industry, the most heavyweight industry news today is without a doubt the film project "Pacific Rim 2," with an investment of 165 million US dollars.

Two years later, following "The Great Wall", the domestic film circle finally has another S-level production, top-tier resources, and a super big cake that is a China-US co-production with global distribution and release!

Moreover, it is the sequel to the sci-fi blockbuster "Pacific Rim" with an impressive track record, a series!

What does this mean? This means that as long as the production company and the production team do not intentionally slack off or court disaster, the sequel will inevitably sell globally like the predecessor, with countless merchandise.

Countless actors and agents in the industry, at this very moment, are all shining-eyed, anxious, excited, and flocking to it.

Because the jade is before them and the road is paved, all they need to do is copy:

Speaking of the lower end, there is Li Li Bingbing from "Transformers 4" and "Resident Evil 5", supporting roles and the second female lead;

Speaking of the higher end, there is Miss Jing Tian from "Pacific Rim" and "The Great Wall", the female lead;

Even looking at the top-tier configuration -- Liu Liu Yifei's "Inception", "Interstellar".

These are all examples, all international big resources that can make followers go global, go crazy, and skyrocket in status and influence, a Hollywood big cake!

"Comparing the production company lineups before and after the sequel, Crystal Pictures replaced Lin Nan Pictures, West Film replaced China Film, and Light Media was added!

It is understandable that Crystal Pictures replaced Lin Nan Pictures, after all, Lin Nan holds 55% of the shares in Crystal Pictures; adding Light Media is also understandable. But what is going on with China Film?

Did they just give up such top-tier quality resources? Or were they kicked out? Also, I don't see Shanghai Film! On the West Film side, on what basis did they get in?"

In the industry, not only the bottom-level actors and stars are waiting eagerly, but the upper-level film companies and film capital are also paying attention, only the latter's points of interest are completely different.

Peers often have keen senses, able to spot the "big" problem at a glance and dig to the root. After all, China Film being "squeezed out" is truly no small matter!

"Have you noticed, from "Detective Chinatown" to "Operation Operation Mekong", China Film's 'voice' and 'presence' seem to be getting smaller and smaller?

Until "Pacific Rim 2", China Film completely lost its share..."

The more Wang Wang Zhonglei muttered, the sharper his eyes became, and his expression was vaguely shocked and excited; did he really discover the "truth"?

"Just like when we 'dumped' China Film, is Lin Nan doing the same thing? Did they break up?"

Wang Wang Zhongjun had a sudden realization and asked.

He did not use words like "backstab" and "betrayal" to describe Huayi's behavior back then, nor did he delve into the differences between Lin Nan and Huayi, because how could his own side be the villain?

"It looks pretty much the same, they must have broken up. Otherwise, that greedy and domineering Chairman La would absolutely not give up a film project that is clearly a double win for political achievements and performance!"

Wang Wang Zhonglei looked at Wang Wang Zhongjun, his eyes shining, his tone excited. Huayi and Lin Nan, after all, are on the same path, both egoists, heh.

For a whole morning, the domestic film and television circle was in a mess.

The phones of Lin Nan Pictures, Light Media, and Wanda were almost blown up, and below the company buildings, media were clustered, with countless entertainment reporters.

West Film was okay, it was far away, and no one dared to block the door of a state-owned enterprise.

It was just that Ning Film called over and gave West Film's Director Zhang a sarcastic lecture:

"Crying poverty and playing the victim all day, but secretly acting inhumanely and pulling off a big move behind the scenes... Not bad, even replacing China Film..."

Hearing this, Director Zhang immediately refuted, saying that West Film had bet everything, its family assets and its belt, and might go bankrupt...

But in the end, he only heard "Keep pretending, keep pretending", and then the call was hung up.

Director Zhang was speechless for a moment; he was clearly telling the truth, but Ning Film actually didn't believe him? They were brothers in trouble, how could they not even have basic trust?

"Heh, wait until we meet next time, see if I don't shut you up. Your project is well-covered, but aren't we allowed to break the cauldrons and sink the boats to save ourselves?

Indeed, as the old saying goes: the one who can least stand seeing you do well is your brother. Haha..."

Lin Nan glanced at his phone constantly chiming with incoming messages, remained indifferent, and continued to lean lazily on the sofa.

Wang Wang Changtian must be excited over there, because Light Media's stock is shining red; a big project is indeed a sharp weapon to stimulate stock prices.

The buzzing sound suddenly replaced the chime, and Lin Nan picked up his phone to answer the call.

"For a whole morning, the industry's network has been asking about the casting of Chinese actors for "Pacific Rim 2". Our unified response is: there is a plan, not public for now..."

Wang Wang Changtian's voice indeed revealed his mood at this moment, very good.

"Although the first and second female leads have already been internally decided, a few supporting roles can still be squeezed out to be distributed."

Lin Nan thought for a moment and said to Wang Wang Changtian.

To be honest, neither Lin Nan Pictures, nor Light Media, Wanda, and West Film, have much actor agency business.

Therefore, some small supporting roles in "Pacific Rim 2" can be completely used to do favors or trade.

"To us?" Wang Wang Changtian was stunned and asked with a smile.

"Yes, I only handle Miss Jing Tian and Especially Reba's matters. As for the other few small supporting roles, Chairman Wang, find Yue Jun; the detailed data is at my company, and he is the one coordinating with Tom..."

"Okay, then leave it to me. Hmm, I'll go tell Wanda; West Film should have no interest."

After Wang Wang Changtian finished speaking, he immediately hung up the phone excitedly. Lin Nan didn't need to guess; surely many companies in the circle had approached Light Media and Big Lao Wang.

"Director Jiang couldn't get through to your phone, so he called me."

Liu Liu Yifei, wearing a printed T-shirt and a denim skirt, holding the beautiful calico cat, returned from the garden. She waved her phone at Lin Nan, with an unspoken meaning in her smile.

"Let her contact Chairman Wang; there are still a few supporting roles."

Lin Nan smiled and helped Liu Liu Yifei, who was sitting sideways on his lap; she was tight and elastic, the feeling of holding her was very secure.

Both of them were a bit lazy; first, because last night's sleep time was too short, and second, because they had been bothered by the "Pacific Rim 2" matter since early morning today.

"Liu Qianqian, I'm going to catch up on sleep; do you want to join me?"

"Are you crazy? In broad daylight, last night..."

"I'm just catching up on sleep; what are you thinking? Thinking wrongly? Hiss... gently..."

Although "The Great Wall" and "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" gave Beside La La Peikang great confidence, seeing "Pacific Rim 2" completely revealed, and a considerable part of the industry's public opinion focus on China Film, made him feel a bit angry again.

At this very moment, who knows how many people in the industry are watching China Film's joke, watching his joke.

"Chairman La, why are you still zoning out? You didn't listen to what Director Zhang just said about the Shanghai International Film Festival, did you?"

Ren Ren Zhonglun laughed and teased Beside La La Peikang, which also jolted him out of his absent-minded state.

Among so many domestic film festivals and film awards, only two can prompt the Film Bureau to hold a meeting. One is the country's only international A-class film festival, and the other is the Huabiao Awards.

And after a gap of three years, this year's Huabiao Awards, which is being held again, happens to fall in the same month as the Magic City International Film Festival, with the award ceremonies separated by only 5 days, which is why today's meeting was convened.

La La Peikang shot Ren Ren Zhonglun a sour look; he knew exactly what the latter meant — it was ill-intentioned and snide.

"The Magic City International Film Festival is Shanghai Film's home turf, so Ren Dong just needs to listen carefully. But don't be so focused that you can't hear anything else…"

La La Peikang's one vague remark left Ren Ren Zhonglun somewhat baffled.

On the rostrum, Zhang Zhang Hongsen had already begun his instructions regarding the Huabiao Awards — after a gap of three years, it must be held with grandeur, splendor, and formality…

"'Railroad Tigers' is under review, right?"

La La Peikang lowered his voice; with just one sentence, he made Ren Ren Zhonglun's face change. The ones who pay the closest attention to you are always your competitors!

The atmosphere between the two of them inexplicably stiffened. After a long while, Ren Ren Zhonglun finally replied: "So what if it is?"

"Back then at the general assembly, China Film took the lead in supporting the ban, including when drafting the document, and in the end the red-header document was issued smoothly.

Doing it this way — have you thought about the consequences, the consequences after public release? You should know that 'Meigonghe Action' should also be in the second half of the year…"

"Similar issues, I've argued with Han Han Sanping about them. I can only say it's a matter of different perspectives and considerations, but since the decision to do it has been made, Shanghai Film is prepared."

Ren Ren Zhonglun stared straight ahead, muttering very solemnly.

"When is the release date set?"

"Second half of the year, or around mid-year."

After a few cold exchanges, Ren Ren Zhonglun and La La Peikang fell silent with each other.

The former mocked the latter, the latter flipped the former's table — both sides suffered. But things like reporting each other are taboo; no one would do it.

……

For two days in a row, "Pacific Rim 2" occupied the top spot in film and entertainment news, and every actor and artist was thinking about it.

However, those who had ideas and dared to covet the lead role were all top-tier, currently popular actors and stars in the industry;

But unfortunately, the domestic production companies, as well as Lin Nan Pictures — which, though not a production company, certainly had a voice — refused to leak even the slightest bit of information.

Unlike Huang Huang Xiaoming, who was clutching the report and trembling with excitement, Yang Ying was sighing with regret: "If I weren't pregnant, I'd want to go fight for a role in a big production like this — I've never even had one…"

"'General and I' is enough, don't think about it so much. My connections don't reach that level."

Huang Huang Xiaoming said gently, soothing Yang Ying.

An eighty-million total pay for a TV drama — that was indisputably the treatment of the most popular top-tier actress in the country; this was the limit to which he could elevate Yang Ying, and it couldn't go any higher, unless her acting could undergo a qualitative leap!

"Sigh, I was just making an observation. If we work harder in the future, who knows, there might be a chance?"

Yang Ying instantly changed her tone, her face breaking into a coquettish smile. She was well aware that, starting today, her weight in Huang Huang Xiaoming's heart would reach an unprecedented level of importance.

"Work harder? You mean I should work harder, right?"

Huang Huang Xiaoming was amused — if Yang Ying wanted that kind of resource, it could only come from him working harder.

"Haha, don't put it so bluntly — we're inseparable, after all."

……

At nine in the morning on the 6th, Lin Nan hurried out of the house; Liu Liu Yifei was still sleeping in.

Shortly after ten, after breaking through the reporters' heavy encirclement downstairs, he finally managed to enter the company.

The announcements issued successively by Bona and Alibaba attracted the attention of the entire film and television capital circle, setting many film and television capital players in motion.

"Bona Pictures issued an announcement at around seven this morning: Chairman Yu Dong personally led a team and arrived at Nasdaq several days ago;

Bona Pictures officially completed its privatization process at 4 p. m. New York time on the 5th — that is, 3 a. m. domestic time today;

From today, Bona Pictures will prepare for its return to A-shares… The first round of financing is scheduled for December this year…"

"At around seven this morning, Alibaba and Youku issued a joint announcement:

After six months, Youku has successfully delisted from the NYSE. From today, Youku, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba, will no longer consider listing…"

Having only just sat down in his office for less than five minutes, Yue Jun also rushed into the company in a flurry.

"Director Lin, you really received it? Bona's side must have picked their targets in the industry early on, right?"

Lin Nan sipped his coffee, smiling as he pointed to the invitation letter on his office desk — "Bona Pictures First Round Financing Invitation."

Yue Jun flipped it open and read for a few seconds. "It's really December? Planning to raise 2 to 3 billion…"

"On my way here, I also called Wang Dong — Enlighten received the invitation too."

Lin Nan was well aware that the trend of capital development lay in mutual entanglement and forming alliances — that was the choice of big capital, and the direction of capital's wild yet stable growth.

"So what about us?"

"I'm not interested, and Enlighten feels the same way."

Lin Nan didn't have such big ambitions, wanting to dip his fingers into everything; he and Yu Dong were not cut from the same cloth. Moreover, the competition going forward would only intensify.

"But the invitation has been sent — end of the year?"

"We'll talk about it when the time comes.

How's the progress on the script review for 'Marriage Story' and 'Hoffma'?"

What Lin Nan was more concerned about now were these two films — shooting two films back-to-back was better done sooner, to avoid being overwhelmed in the second half of the year.

"Given our company's compensation, it should be soon, right? Those people over there have been scared stiff by you, hehe…"

Hearing this, Lin Nan couldn't help but chuckle. As for 'Hoffma', he didn't take it seriously — it was a film made just to give the audience some sweet moments.

But 'Marriage Story' was different, especially the casting — Lin Nan hoped for a top-tier lineup, since it was going to a film festival after all.

As for whether he could invite some top actors to play supporting roles, he was confident his own face was absolutely enough!

While Lin Nan and Yue Jun were discussing matters related to "Pacific Rim 2," the Film Bureau once again received visitors from the Air Force Political Department — Han Han Sanping and La La Peikang were still present.

Looking at the director candidate selected by the Air Force Political Department who was politely greeting them, not to mention Tong Gang's and Zhang Zhang Hongsen's reactions, Han Han Sanping and La La Peikang exchanged a subtle glance: this is truly an international joke!

A dignified Air Force-themed film, and they're handing it to an actor as his directorial debut? Have all the film directors in the industry died out?

"The project for 'Sky Hunter' can be officially announced in a couple of days. Li Chen is very confident he can direct this film well; the Air Force Political Department is willing to give him the chance... hoping the Film Bureau and China Film Group will offer strong support..."

As the words of the Air Force Political Department's deputy general, who led the delegation, fell silent, Li Chen immediately stood up to present his "military order pledge."

However, those from the film sector, including Tong Gang, Zhang Zhang Hongsen, Han Han Sanping, and Beside La La Peikang, all wore smiles that didn't reach their eyes, feeling utterly speechless in their hearts.