Chapter 768: *Cell Phone 2*; Simultaneous Project Launch, Simultaneous Casting

"Let's submit it for review after the National Day holiday. Even if we submit it now, those people won't look at it. They'll just throw the script in the office to gather dust, and they won't start the process until after the holiday."

Lin Nan kindly reminded Huang Bo. Among the people present, if you ask who has the most dealings with the Film Bureau and the most experience, it is undoubtedly him.

"Okay, I'll listen to Lin Dao."

Having settled the investment matters related to his directorial debut, Huang Bo could be said to be in high spirits and beaming with joy, even using a fist-and-palm salute when talking to Lin Nan.

"Then we won't go out for lunch at noon. Let's just solve it at home. Consider it a celebration that our Director Huang's directorial debut *The Island* has been unofficially launched today!"

Xing Ai, on the side, teased Huang Bo with a smile, while also finalizing the arrangements for the meal.

After the few of them nodded in agreement, she immediately picked up her phone and called the restaurant, "Yifei, come, let's order together?"

"Hmm, okay." Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei immediately leaned over with a smile.

When the three big men, Lin Nan, sat in the villa courtyard again, chatting while basking in the sun... outside, the *I Am Not Madame Bovary* crew, who returned to Beijing in the morning, had already reached the boiling point in terms of news heat.

Wearing sunglasses and looking "arrogant," Feng Xiaogang announced high-profilely in front of a crowd of media at the airport: his new film *Youth* will officially start casting on National Day.

And Fan Bingbing, with heavy makeup and a charming, bewitching look, even openly expressed her love for her boyfriend in front of so many cameras and fans...

The new film casting of the newly promoted "international big director" and the public display of love by the double A-list actress... can you say this kind of film and entertainment news won't explode into a topic? Naturally, it focused countless eyeballs from the film and television circle and the entire internet!

Huayi.

After leaving the airport, Feng Xiaogang didn't go straight home but had his driver take him to the Huayi building.

"Huang Xuan? That works, he does have an artistic temperament and is suitable for the male lead of *Youth*. But is Director Chen's *Legend of the Demon Cat* definitely going to wrap up before the end of December? I don't dare to snatch his people, hehe..."

Looking at Wang Zhongjun, Feng Xiaogang asked with a smile; according to his plan, *Youth* was to start filming in early January.

"No problem, Chen Kaige's *Legend of the Demon Cat* can wrap up before late December. Chang Jihong has already confirmed this with Chen Hong."

Wang Zhonglei answered for Wang Zhongjun. The male lead of *Youth* had been promised to Huang Xuan, brought by Chang Jihong, by the two of them the day before yesterday.

"Since there's no problem with the schedule, then I have no problem. Let's settle on him. Also, Chairman Wang should have already heard from President Wang about *Cell Phone 2*, right?"

"I also communicated with Bingbing when I was in Spain. She can reserve her schedule in advance next year or the year after, waiting for *Cell Phone 2*."

Feng Xiaogang changed the subject, talking about the film after next, looking full of confidence.

When *Cell Phone* was released back then, it was the annual box office champion; Fan Bingbing even won her first Best Actress award—the Hundred Flowers Award Best Actress—because of it!

"Hmm, the group will fully support this project. You just go ahead and prepare." Wang Zhongjun nodded; he and Wang Zhonglei had already discussed this matter.

Hearing this answer, Feng Xiaogang didn't show much of a smile, but rather looked a bit serious and inexplicably contemptuous?

"I will have Zhenyun start writing the script as soon as possible. But I hope the group pays attention: this time it will be a sequel to *Cell Phone*, and Bingbing's Wu Yue will still be the female lead..."

"I don't want to see disgusting things like what happened after *Cell Phone* was released back then, with some mad dogs jumping out to bark and bite randomly."

"How did that saying go? Oh, right: the story is purely fictional, if you identify yourself with it, that's your own problem!"

Wang Zhongjun and Wang Zhonglei couldn't help but laugh; they naturally could hear which "dog" Feng Xiaogang was referring to.

"Why are you worrying about this? He's been at odds with us for more than a decade, what can he do? It's just that Zhenyun is a cultured person, cares about face, and apologized to him because he took him seriously. You haven't been paying attention to him, just keep ignoring him!"

"Back then, he was still a host for CCTV, but now he doesn't even have that background. Who still looks at him straight? Hmm, I remember now, he's also an internet troll now! As long as it's something on the internet, isn't it easy to handle him? Hahaha..."

Wang Zhonglei said with disdain, his tone filled with naked contempt. Wang Zhongjun didn't speak, but nodded in agreement.

With Wang Zhonglei's words, Feng Xiaogang felt much more at ease:

"Good, as long as he can be handled. I really do have some psychological trauma from being disgusted by this guy. Didn't the *Cell Phone 2* project die back then because he made the public opinion lose control?"

"Times are different now. Back then, our Huayi didn't have the current scale; that was four or five years before we went public." Wang Zhongjun said with a smile, giving Feng Xiaogang another shot of confidence.

The next day, early morning.

Liu Yifei's phone call woke Lin Nan from his sleep.

He opened his eyes groggily and saw Liu Qianqian, with disheveled hair, sitting on the bed, humming and answering the phone;

As she lowered her head, all the irritability in her eyes was directed at the "innocent" person beside her; Lin Dao didn't dare to make any sound, silently closed his eyes, and naturally pulled the quilt up.

It seemed that the overseas scenes for *Wolf Warrior 2* had completely wrapped up, and Wu Jing, along with the core creators, would arrive in the capital in the afternoon. The other crew members would return one after another in the next two days.

"Hmm, then let's do it at night. Lin Nan and I will host a welcome dinner for your Director Wu... No, I've been up for a while. Hmm, okay... See you in the afternoon..."

Lin Nan continued to play dead, while inwardly he couldn't help but laugh at Liu Yifei: two women have so much drama; Xie Nan definitely could tell Liu Yifei wasn't awake, and Liu Yifei also knew Xie Nan definitely knew she wasn't awake...

"Get up, hmph, still pretending? Wu Jing and the others have a flight in the afternoon. Should we go to the airport to pick them up? And what about arranging the dinner?"

Liu Yifei slapped the quilt. Well, Lin Dao hadn't succeeded in his disguise from the very beginning.

"Hmm, I'll have someone arrange it in a while, okay?" Lin Nan opened his eyes and looked at Liu Yifei with a smile, "Are you going to sleep more?"

"Not sleeping anymore, get up, everyone get up... You get up too!"

Forget it, Lin Dao decided that after seeing Xie Nan today, he must complain to her; don't call Liu Yifei before 10:00 AM in the future, even if it's for business.

Lin Nan Film Industry.

Yue Jun had already been busy in an orderly manner—the finishing touches for the *Operation Red Sea* casting:

"The actors decided on in the later stages of the audition must be notified within today, and have them come to the company to sign the contracts as soon as possible in the next two days."

"Okay, Director Yue."

"Director Yue, Tiangong Color said that the final cut of *Eternal Love* is done. Should we have Red Star Dock come to pick it up, or send it directly for review?" One employee had just left, and another ran over in a hurry.

"Director Jiang isn't here?"

"Did you forget? Director Jiang is on a business trip recently, watching over the casting for *Nirvana in Fire 2* at Daylight Entertainment. This script should pass review after the holiday."

"Then send the final cut directly to the Film Bureau, and tell Red Star Dock at the same time."

Yue Jun looked up and ordered. Suddenly, a text message popped up on the phone on the table. After glancing at it, he told the employee to leave while also calling his assistant in.

"Director Yue?"

"Lin Dao has a welcome dinner tonight, go and book a private room."

"Okay."

Watching the assistant turn and leave, Yue Jun recalled and muttered, "It seems like it adds up to a 50% share?! Hmm, Lin Dao and Yifei really should prepare a welcome dinner..."

In the morning, Lin Nan originally intended to continue drawing storyboards at home, but Han Sanping's phone call forced him to put down what he was doing.

Things had already started moving in Shanghai, and they were communicating with the health system... Anyway, the explanation given to Ren Zhonglun and Han Sanping was very "professional," that is:

They didn't give any definite words or guarantees, but the tone was quite overbearing and very strong, completely in a "sure thing" posture!

Sitting in the living room of Han Sanping's house, Lin Nan took the... hmm, freshly ground coffee handed over by Han Jia's "special care"!

He looked at the three people in front of him—Han Sanping, Wang Yong, and Ren Zhonglun—and asked again, not very sure: "So the meaning of calling me here today is to advance the audition and casting time for *Dying to Survive*?"

"Right, we previously said we would try our best to clear all obstacles before the end of December. Now it seems there's no problem at all, and it might even be a month early... Also, you know, whether the script passes the Film Bureau's review is actually just a formality."

"After clearing all relationships, we don't need to wait for the Film Bureau's review process; we will directly launch the project and start casting." Ren Zhonglun took over Han Sanping's words and said very seriously to Lin Nan.

"So, as early as late November or early December, we can officially launch the project?"

Lin Nan was a bit "frightened" by this time; he would be busy to death! Because for *Operation Mekong*, this period was the most critical, just on the eve of release or just after release.

"Is there a problem?" Wang Yong held his teacup and asked kindly.

"No. I remember before, I clearly told Yifei that I wanted to slack off, but looking at this, where am I slacking off? I'm simply busy endlessly."

Lin Nan's smile was a bit bitter. Drawing storyboards, running film promotions, launching projects, casting... and then filming! He was simply working continuously; he wasn't acting like a human, but like a beast of burden!

"That, Lin Nan. I heard you have a hardcore sci-fi film later..." As soon as Wang Yong said this, Ren Zhonglun and Han Sanping were delighted.

"Hmm, West Film Group can prepare the funds in advance. The cost of this sci-fi film will be very high, maybe 500 or 600 million." Lin Nan's attitude was obvious; he gave his promise.

"Good, good. Later I'll mortgage that piece of land, haha..." Wang Yong laughed and slapped his thigh. This sentence left Lin Nan speechless.

"Chairman Ren, Shanghai Film Group is the same." Lin Nan looked at Ren Zhonglun, who also nodded with a smile.

"In other words, by late November or early December, I can go and preside over the audition and casting work for *Dying to Survive*?!"

Han Jia drank the coffee in her cup in one gulp and said excitedly, looking quite like she couldn't wait to "do a big job."

"More or less, Han Dao." Lin Nan teased with a smile.

"Lin Dao, please call me—Han Dao!"

In the afternoon, the news that Huayi had won the Golden Shell and Silver Shell awards for *I Am Not Madame Bovary* and was holding a celebratory banquet for Feng Xiaogang, Fan Bingbing, and others in the evening spread throughout the film and television circle.

Of course, this banquet naturally didn't invite Lin Nan, Wang Changtian, and the others.

After all, everyone was not on the same path at all, and could even be said to be clear-cut enemies, because Wanda and Enlight Pictures both had grudges against Huayi!

Around 3:00 PM, Wu Jing, Wu Gang, Yu Nan, Yu Qian, and others landed smoothly at the Capital Airport. Immediately, this news was reported by the media.

And the news that *Wolf Warrior 2* had completely wrapped up its overseas scenes was also leaked to a group of reporters through Wu Jing's mouth... This large-scale military-themed blockbuster was about to start filming its domestic scenes.

When Lin Nan and Liu Yifei set off from home, it was already 6:00 PM.

In the car, the two chatted and talked about *Dying to Survive* advancing its project launch and casting, and at this moment, Lin Nan suddenly remembered another very important thing.

According to his previous plan, *Dying to Survive* would affect the whole situation, so Lin Nan had to tell Yue Jun. While driving, he had Liu Yifei in the passenger seat dial the phone.

"Lin Dao? I've already gotten off work."

The first time Yue Jun answered the phone, he started joking. Because he knew very well that Lin Nan calling at this time was definitely for business; after all, Lin Dao was also a person who hated work!

"Have the *The Wandering Earth* project team in the script department speed up their work. At least the script for the first part must be finalized before the end of November."

"Hmm? Lin Dao, why the sudden rush?" Yue Jun was very puzzled.

"Because the project launch and casting time for *Dying to Survive* has been advanced. And I plan to launch *Dying to Survive* and *The Wandering Earth* at the same time, and cast them at the same time. The two films will be filmed one after another!"

Hearing this, Yue Jun understood, "Okay, I'll go tell them tomorrow morning and finalize the script for the first part first."

When Lin Nan and Liu Yifei arrived at the private restaurant, Wu Jing, who had arrived less than five minutes ago, was already bragging with Wang Changtian while holding Maotai.

"... If it weren't for the embassy's care, the crew would have almost been robbed... Those places are truly chaotic... Anyway, it was very bad... Aiya, Lin Dao and Producer Liu are here? Sit down quickly, haha..."

In the private room, Wu Jing, Xie Nan, and Wang Changtian had just arrived not long ago, plus Lin Nan and Liu Yifei, exactly five people.

As for those few actors, they all declined the invitation; because after being away from home for so long, they definitely had to take care of their families first upon returning.

"You can serve the food." Liu Yifei looked at the waiter and greeted.

"Come, Lin Dao, Chairman Wang, I'll pour it for you. The two ladies will drink red wine, right? Forget it, you two do as you please, I'll just focus on Lin Dao and Chairman Wang, haha..."

Wu Jing said as he started pouring. Lin Nan and Wang Changtian were both speechless, but the former had been drifting outside for so long, so drinking a glass was just giving the director face!

"Cough cough, I'll report to the three producers—no, Lin Dao and Producer Liu are one family—I'll report to your two families."

Wu Jing took a sip, and amidst Xie Nan's speechless smile, he started to speak:

"For the domestic scenes, I plan to finish filming within a month, take it slow. Start filming during the National Day holiday, and wrap up *Wolf Warrior 2* completely by the end of October at the latest..."

... ===== CHAPTER 769 =====