[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-in-huayu":3,"chapter-that-year-in-huayu-that-year-in-huayu-chapter-86":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},2286922,4473,"Chapter 86: Killing Without Drawing Blood","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-86",86,"\u003Cp>The *The Hunt* film crew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was Lin Nan the director or Matt Damon the lead actor, both were extremely dedicated during filming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Filming efficiency improved significantly without anyone realizing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonardo came to visit the set several times, and each time he sighed with regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said Lin Nan should have talked to him first; he definitely would have been willing to lower his salary for a film like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he said this, Matt Damon would always retort with a few words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Matt, you should thank me; this script was originally mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've touched so many scripts and models with those hands; you're too greedy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matt Damon laughed and teased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of a break and preparation time, Lin Nan was reviewing the footage shot that morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matt was indeed putting in a lot of effort while filming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shift in the protagonist's mental state was spot on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan had hesitated for a long time about whether or not to kill off the character Lucas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he decided to let him live.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if condemned by everyone, innocence is still innocence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The male lead staying alive was the finishing touch, keeping all the villains in constant fear, like having thorns pricking their backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back home, *Hard Men* and *If You Are the One 2* began direct competition, and several New Year films were still in the midst of promotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>News that Lin Nan's new film had started shooting a week ago traveled back and landed straight on the headlines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at Lin Nan; he's not even in the country, yet the media news is all about him. He's much better than you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Aina, with her big belly, placed a plate of fruit on Ning Hao's desk and joked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not comparing myself to him; he's an animal. By the way, when the baby is born, make him give a big red envelope.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go ask him if he can make it back before the premiere of *Crazy Racer*.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name of Lin Nan's new film appeared online.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"*The Hunt*?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can't guess the content from the name of Director Lin's new film.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It won't be like *Buried*, will this movie actually be about hunting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Kaige had certainly gone to great lengths to deal with piracy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the rules of the Berlin International Film Festival, films competing for awards must have their premiere at the festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To guard against domestic pirates, the release date of *Forever Enthralled* was moved up by a week, releasing on the 5th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While on set, Lin Nan heard about the preferential treatment this film received.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By 6:00 PM on the 4th, *Forever Enthralled* was already fully scheduled across major theater chains in the mainland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The results from those 6 hours up until midnight would also be counted toward the opening day box office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this the treatment for a Palme d'Or-winning director?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many film companies, directors, and producers had strong opinions, but no one dared to say it openly because this matter was decided by Chen Kaige and China Film Group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan sat back behind the monitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Matt, let's do that take again. Express the internal breakdown more subtly. In front of his son, he is always a father; it cannot be seen...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"OK, you are very right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matt Damon returned to his original position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Action.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the facial expressions, hand movements, and the look of loss and helplessness were all there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His spirit seemed to be drained in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he still had to pretend to be calm in front of his son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cut.\" Lin Nan clapped his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they kept filming like this, this movie should be finished very soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Weiping began to bombard *Forever Enthralled*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone else's opening box office is for 24 hours; why does *Forever Enthralled* get an extra 6 hours?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of Zhang Weiping's usual arrogant and domineering personality, this time he really took the lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the 4th, the 6 hours brought in 5.5 million; on the 5th, it brought in 9.5 million for the day. The total opening day box office for *Forever Enthralled* was 15 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had artificially created a new record for domestic art films, and a biographical art film at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after Zhang Weiping took the lead in speaking out did the industry's public opinion begin to emerge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There really weren't many who could butt heads with Chen Kaige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Zhang Weiping counted as one, because he had Zhang Yimou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were also many directors with opinions, including Jia Zhangke and Wang Chang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The total box office of many of their films didn't even add up to what *Forever Enthralled* made in 6 hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>China Film Group did not respond, and Chen Kaige ignored it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The box office for *Forever Enthralled* dropped to five million on the third day...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>New Pictures immediately announced to the public that Director Zhang Yimou's new script was about to be completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many people realized belatedly: after all that trouble, was Zhang Weiping trying to talk about this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, for the industry, this was also major news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Zhang Yimou's first film after his legendary work at the Olympics; the attention it received was definitely international-level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the production company for Zhang Yimou's films was always New Pictures; Zhang Weiping never let go, and outsiders couldn't get involved at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when it came to casting, Zhang Weiping was easy to talk to; he was a pure businessman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And over these years, he had intervened in Zhang Yimou's work more and more often, and he had succeeded every time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gave many talent agency companies ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning that this film was a commercial movie, all the actors and stars in the industry became even more excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan noticed that the competitor of the same type for *Ip Man* was actually the action film *Fatal Contact*, directed by and starring Wu Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was very interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Motion Pictures' promotional strategy was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By using Lin Nan's name, both the audience's willingness to buy tickets and the theaters' screening rates were very good, just waiting for the release in a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The filming of *The Hunt* started in mid-November, and it had been twenty days now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matt Damon's new makeup made him look more decadent and exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The male lead was the target of exclusion and oppression by everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alienation of his girlfriend, the malice of strangers, the distrust of his ex-wife, and even the pet dog he raised was poisoned to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though that little girl had already admitted she lied, all the malice and harm had not disappeared, nor had it even decreased in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made a person who knew he was innocent become increasingly introverted, panicked, and uneasy, surrounded by malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lin, about how many days until we wrap up?\" Matt asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up to now, for the entire script, only the final bit of scenes remained to be filmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just these two days; I have a pile of things to take care of afterward too,\" Lin Nan replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's really fast! But this movie is really good; we are all objects being 'hunted'.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan ignored Matt's sentiment; he was thinking about whether to take this film back and do the post-production editing himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one hand, the on-site sound recording effect was very good during filming, and on the other, there were no special effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about it carefully, he really could take it back to the country for post-production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Forever Enthralled* was a film released globally, and Lin Nan went to the theater alone to take a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Kaige's aesthetic attainments were truly high, and they were displayed vividly in this film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As supporting actors, Wang Xueqi and Sun Honglei performed very vividly, and the lines and details were aesthetically pleasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the plot became more hollow and boring the further it went, and there was even a lot of preaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the \"Death\" part, it was really unwatchable, and the film was so long...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching it, Lin Nan really felt it wasn't as well-portrayed as the protagonist in *Farewell My Concubine*; Li Ming lacked a bit of charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Domestic news reported that *Forever Enthralled* reached a box office of 42 million in its first 4-day weekend, including those 6 hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the eyes of the audience, it was an art film, but this box office result was higher than many commercial films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An art film with an investment of 100 million—only Chen Kaige could play like this, because his films were never short of copyright buyers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was already destined that this film would be the highest-grossing art film in the country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao calculated the time difference and called Lin Nan, asking if he could return before the premiere of *Crazy Racer*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not shooting a commercial film; how could it take that long? It's wrapping up immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nowadays, the box office records for domestic films were breaking 200 million and 300 million one after another, and Lin Nan had even smashed through 400 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao was getting a bit anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little achievement *Crazy Stone* had obtained had already fallen out of the first tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, get the red envelope ready; make it a big one. Your nephew is about to be born...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he hung up the phone, Ning Hao didn't forget another important matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine, these things are about give and take,\" Lin Nan said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*The Hunt* began its final scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas, played by Ma Te, had reconciled with his girlfriend after a year of effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rumors and gossip also seemed to be gradually fading away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he accompanied his son to complete the essential hunting portion of the coming-of-age ceremony, an accident occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he was separated from his son and searching for animals alone, a bullet grazed his forehead and struck a tree nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tree bark exploded, splattering onto Lucas's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instinctively slumped to the ground beneath the tree, looking toward the direction of the gunshot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sunlight pierced directly into his eyes, making it impossible to see clearly; he could only see a blurred figure quickly dodge away and disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the shot, Lucas, played by Ma Te, struggled to stand up, his legs trembling slightly, looking fearful and heavy-hearted as he went to find his son under the setting sun...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no prey around at all, so why did that familiar figure fire a shot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out he had always been the prey; from the moment the rumors were born, he had become the prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cut.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Te walked back with a smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lin, why not let the protagonist die? That would stir up the audience's emotions even more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Lucas died, the story would be over. But look at reality—aren't these things happening all the time? It has never ended.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan could understand Ma Te's perspective; he had thought the same way initially.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But thinking about it carefully, if Lucas died, wouldn't that just turn the lie into the truth, and the right into the wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the protagonist died, this film could only be an excellent drama; by living, the film is elevated...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you all for your hard work over the past month. *The Hunt* has officially wrapped.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not participating in the crew's wrap party, Lin Nan hurried back to Crystal Pictures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Mu handed over a report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lin, this is the quote for the first batch of equipment. Take a look.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If there are no issues, I will place the order. Also, there are no problems with the exports here, but you need to handle the import matters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan took the report and read it carefully; the items were all high-quality, but the numbers at the end were quite frightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already spoken to Han Sanping about the import of the machinery and equipment, and the China Film Group would help him resolve the paperwork issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No problem. Leave the rest to you; I'm heading back to the country.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will also recall those 11 people from the first batch in a few months. Tell them in advance so they can prepare.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2045,"2026-06-20T03:22:09.099Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","8a0c88836f267a3cbe1d1d80fa0896ab12435b5ded91c0a287fef7a52d66dab9","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-87","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-85",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-in-huayu-cover.jpg"]