Chapter 85: A Dragon Spring on the Tongue

Lin Nan gave everyone a week off; filming would officially start in one week.

Tang Mu held up a copy of Vanity Fair and sighed the whole morning as he flipped through it.

This issue's cover was Kate Winslet.

She sat on a stool with her legs crossed, fully nude, draped in an oversized white suit jacket.

On the first inside page, black stockings and high heels, no clothes on, sprawled across a sofa.

A fur coat half-covering, half-revealing, every curve sharply defined.

"Tang Mu, the way you're acting is really disturbing everyone else's work," Lin Nan reminded him.

Leonardo might be coming over in a bit; Tang Mu's lecherous look right now was a bit inappropriate.

"Lin, look how sexy she is."

"Leon will be here in a bit, you can discuss it with him."

"Ah? That's really not necessary."

Only when Tang Mu heard this did he put the magazine away, then suddenly thought of something.

"I saw a movie from your country doing promotion in Hollywood, seems like it was directed by the Palme d'Or director."

Lin Nan knew Tang Mu was talking about Mei Mei Lanfang; he had seen the poster too, the Peking Opera version of the poster.

Li Ming on it was in the female lead costume from the Peking Opera Rainbow Pass, so androgynous it was impossible to tell male from female.

Plenty of foreigners on site were watching the novelty; Peking Opera is also one of the country's signature cultural exports.

In the morning, Leonardo drove over; he'd heard that recently he'd broken up with another one on amicable terms, probably because it was the other person's birthday.

"That guy Ma Te keeps saying your script this time is amazing, but he just won't tell me what's in it."

"It's all right, I guess."

"No, no, no, I know him. It's just like when I brought up Inception in front of him — he used the exact same words to describe your film's script."

Lin Nan was genuinely impressed by these two, "So how about taking a look at the script?"

"I'd love nothing more."

Leonardo followed Lin Nan up to the third floor; many employees stared at the two of them.

"This is the biggest international star I've ever seen."

"Me too, I wonder if we could get a photo with him later?"

……

A group that had just arrived from the country not long ago was excitedly discussing it.

"What's the big deal, Lin Dao and…"

Some of the first batch were just about to say something and forcibly swallowed the words back down.

"What's up with Lin Dao?"

Quite a few from the first two batches looked at the brother who had nearly run his mouth a moment ago with mischievous grins.

"Nothing, isn't Lin Dao a big deal?"

"Now that's what I call a skilled ass-kiss."

…………

Leonardo sipped his coffee, flipped through the script, and every now and then asked after Ma Te Damon.

Lin Nan sat in front of the computer, browsing domestic news.

The industry had long been buzzing that Chen Chen Kaige would cut Zhong Zhong Xintong's scenes, but it had never been officially announced.

Now, China Film, the producer, had spoken up: the parts of the film involving Zhong Zhong Xintong had indeed all been cut clean out.

As for the reason, no need to spell it out — everyone gets it.

Leonardo pulled a long face. "Lin, you should have come to me first."

"Same reason as before — you're too expensive," Lin Nan shook his head.

"Lin, next time you have a script you have to show me first; pay is a separate matter."

Leonardo returned the script with a look of regret on his face.

"Then we'll talk about it next time."

The Martian had set off a slew of domestic film companies and directors itching to make big-budget sci-fi.

Lin Nan, inevitably, was being held up for comparison.

Wang Jing's Future X-Cops was a China Film investment, with a budget of nearly two hundred million.

"Lin Dao Nan's produced film The Martian is excellent; we will strive to measure up to it and give it everything we've got to make Future X-Cops a success."

By contrast, another film, the LeEco-invested Iron Man, was quite the bragger — fitting, really, for a Jeffrey Lau directorial.

"Boss Jia gave his support, so of course I have to make a good film.

This movie is absolutely a sci-fi film on par with The Martian, maybe even surpassing it…"

Netizens went into a frenzy of mockery.

"Just because you made A Chinese Odyssey doesn't mean you can talk big here."

"Ten million U. S. dollar budget — what are you going to measure up with? Your mouth?"

……

The reason Lin Nan waited a week before starting filming was that The New Moon was about to be released.

As a pure fan film, its life cycle couldn't possibly be long.

Lionsgate's distribution push this time was even stronger than last year's.

The release date was still a Friday.

On Monday, Paul called Lin Nan.

The box office is doing very well; it should reach one hundred million in the end.

But the problem remains—the box office potential is insufficient, declining sharply every day. You should have chosen global release from the start.

No need. Thank you, Paul.

You're welcome.

Lin Nan never expected the second film to reach the same success as in his original timeline.

After all, the impact of the financial crisis was truly significant.

Tang Mu, you can start contacting equipment suppliers ahead of time.

Use the profits from *New Moon* to buy the machines; later, I'll ship them back home…

Lin Nan had already prepared himself for long-term spending.

The box office of *New Moon* sounds impressive, but the visual effects company is a true black hole.

Hmm, I'll contact them these two days.

Tang Mu deeply admired Lin Nan—he knew that on the mainland, the trend was always to outsource visual effects overseas.

But Lin Nan had been preparing for years to launch a visual effects company, and Crystal Film was his stepping stone.

Han Han Sanping sat in his office, reading reports on *New Moon*, frowning.

When *Twilight* came out last year, Lin Nan had a small stake—what about this *New Moon*?

What did he say?

"Lin Dao says his stake is still under ten percent. He's asking whether China Film Group wants to buy out the distribution rights," the secretary replied.

Han Han Sanping's lip twitched—last year's *Twilight* had been a massive loss.

Buy it? Buy it just to keep losing money?

You're dreaming. Tell him, China Film Group won't buy it.

Han Han Sanping remembered clearly that last year, Lin Nan had warned him *Twilight* might not suit the local market.

Now he's directly asking China Film Group whether to buy the distribution rights? Of course they won't buy it.

The makeup artist's design for Ma Te Damon's divorced man character fit the script perfectly.

His complexion was slightly yellow, wearing glasses.

His cheeks were thin and hollow, with stubble, the classic look of a middle-aged good-natured man.

"Ma Te, you need to give this your full attention. I want to finish this film within a month."

"Lin, don't worry—I won't let Leon laugh at me."

Lin Nan found these two men quite amusing.

The entire crew was ready.

"Action."

In the frame, Ma Te Damon instantly embodied the protagonist's shy, reserved tone and demeanor.

In the script, only such a personality could allow the male lead to bond with a group of children.

…………

For the Berlin International Film Festival, Lin Nan was truly the innermost insider.

Upon learning he had started a new film—a drama—the festival's official invitation arrived.

"Last year was fine—*Buried* needed almost no post-production; just a quick edit."

But this film? We can't handle it that way.

Lin Nan's head ached—the Berlin Film Festival next year starts nearly a month earlier than last year's; there's no time.

He didn't want to rush and compromise the film's quality.

After much thought, Lin Nan sent an email to the Berlin Film Festival's official team.

He explained why he couldn't attend and expressed his gratitude.

Domestic media were still excited.

"Lin Dao Nan and Director Chen Chen Kaige may meet at the Golden Bear."

"The competition between two generations of directors—China's film industry is brimming with talent…"

……

When Liu Liu Yifei told Lin Nan about the domestic news, he was startled.

They really hope to see me face off against Chen Chen Kaige?

"I can't go—not even if we finished before nominations, let alone before the opening ceremony; post-production will almost certainly fall behind."

Liu Liu Yifei's advertising shoots were packed tight.

As a result, whenever Lin Nan called home, it was Liu's mother who answered, because Liu Liu Yifei was busy.

On set.

Ma Te Damon, as Lu Kasi, received his first confession from a precocious little girl under ten.

He was first startled, then laughed and gently refused her, treating it as nothing serious.

Then the nightmare began.

Here, the little girl perfectly demonstrated what it meant to be:

Lying is a woman's nature—she is born an actress.

"Lin, your script is amazing."

Ma Te Damon raised his thumb again.

"You should have started this film earlier—then we wouldn't have missed the Berlin Film Festival."

"I've already turned it down. Stop regretting it."

Filming continued.

Everyone, including the parents, began to have doubts and launched an investigation.

The result was that there was no basement in Lu Kasi's home as the little girl had claimed; all the evidence proved him innocent.

The male lead had thought everything was over, but in truth the nightmare had only just begun.

…………

*New Moon* had been in theaters for just over a week before it was pulled again.

But that did not affect its standing among fans; the status of its several lead actors shot straight up to the highest tier.

The matter of the third film had to be considered once more.

"Lin, they want to raise their fees."

Tang Mu relayed the intention of the core creative team.

"What do you think?" Lin Nan asked in return.

"If we go by the earliest contract, the pay really is too low for those few actors.

But not raising it is also reasonable — after all, we signed a contract."

It was indeed a problem. Lin Nan thought for a moment, then made his decision.

"Give them a twenty-percent raise. After all, as you said, we don't have to."

"Mm, I'll arrange it."

The *Twilight* series was a cash cow; Lin Nan was still counting on it to prop up the special-effects company.

When the news that Lin Nan had turned down Berlin reached China, the media's reaction was, just like the *Hunt* he was currently filming, nothing but rumors and gossip.

"Lin Dao Nan encounters *Mei Mei Lanfang*, suspected of lacking confidence…"

"Lin Dao retreats before the battle even begins."

……

"These people really have too much time on their hands — they can even make up a reason like that." Lin Nan was speechless.

The filming of *The Hunt* grew increasingly unhurried.

Whether it was Ma Te Damon, the other actors, or Lin Nan the director, everyone had gotten into the zone.

In the shot, Ma Te's Lu Kasi was making dinner with his son.

A stone smashed through the window glass and flew in, nearly hitting Lu Kasi in the face.

Ma Te Damon's facial expression was right on the money.

That subtle expression of the protagonist realizing something inside — he performed it perfectly.

"Cut."

"Take a break."