Chapter 928: The Sucker; Cutting in Line!

A child star who maintains good looks after reaching adulthood is guaranteed to successfully return to the film and television industry, and the process will be simple, making it easier for her to rise to prominence once again.

Take, for example, Watching Shu Chang's former relative with no blood tie; although they have become strangers, this has not hindered her from making a high-profile return to the industry, and her momentum is extremely strong.

Early in the morning, Lin Nan only remembered this person again after seeing film and television news online:

New drama filming begins, accepting interviews, currently preparing for the Level 18 National Art Exam four months from now; the ideal institution is the Performance Department of the Film Academy.

Moreover, this young lady seems to have already firmly re-established herself in the entertainment industry. Currently ranking near the top of the third tier, she is eager to leap to the second tier. Yes, one foot has already stepped into the second tier.

"It's her trending search topic? We actually met her at the variety show yesterday afternoon; she was in a corner seat while we were in the golden area. I didn't expect her to already be working on set this morning; that efficiency is quite high.

How to describe this girl? She gives me a very bad feeling. She has more traces of 'acting' than when she was a child; at such a young age, she already deeply understands the entertainment industry's rules of flattery and kicking down while climbing up, and she is very experienced, very slick, and deep-minded..."

Liu Liu Yifei yawned, walked past Lin Nan, and sat down beside him. She merely glanced at the news page on the tablet before speaking her mind at length.

"Did she greet you and try to get close yesterday?"

"Yes, many people tried to get close to us, but she just left a bad impression on me. Watching Shu Chang didn't even show a good face at the time.

I even asked Watching Shu Chang the reason afterward. Logically, even if the elders in the family divorced, at most they would just be strangers. It's been two and a half years; there's no need to be so hateful and show such a bad temper. Guess what?"

Before Lin Nan could react, Liu Liu Yifei had already leaned close to his ear and whispered a few words:

"Watching Shu Chang heard it from her uncle last year... She is only twenty this year, and was abroad for several years before... very promiscuous, especially in her private life, very chaotic..."

Hearing this, Lin Nan immediately recalled something; Watching Shu Chang's elders had officially divorced in early last year, and before that, wasn't it necessary to pay for someone's overseas studies and living expenses?

"Snakes have their paths, rats have their routes. Let's not talk about this; it's a mood killer." Lin Nan waved his hand and said with distinct disgust. He then decisively changed the topic:

"Ning Hao called this morning, saying 'The Wandering Earth' has been confirmed to wrap up filming in early next month, roughly around the 5th, and asked us to hurry up with the casting.

To avoid conflicts of interest next year, I definitely cannot openly go to Monkey Bad to help with the audition and casting, so you will have to go. Producer Liu, can you work overtime again recently?"

"No problem, I'll go over there to help this morning."

Mumbling to herself, Liu Liu Yifei leaned back into Lin Nan's arms. When it came to work outside of official schedules, she felt sleepy and wanted to take a nap.

Just past 10 o'clock, the Performance Department actually responded to the morning's trending topic, truly riding a wave of good traffic: welcoming all young people with dreams to apply for the undergraduate program of the Beijing Film Academy's Performance Department...

Only one week remained until the release of 'Marriage Story'.

And the publicity and distribution department of Enlight Media also began its final push; a large number of honor press releases and edited short clips regarding 'Marriage Story' were dumped all over the entire internet.

The original intention of the publicity campaign fully followed Lin Nan's wishes:

Do not force a certain box office amount; just try to let as many audiences and film fans see it as possible; after all, this is Liu Liu Qianqian's breakthrough work, so sharing the joy is the priority, while the box office is secondary.

"I truly admire Shanghai Film; they actually invested in a movie like this before. They dare to use a box office poison; do they not believe in fate?"

At Enlight, Wang Wang Changtian had just solemnly finished instructing on the publicity and distribution issues for 'Marriage Story' when he immediately saw the movie scheduling information online.

Another commercial suspense film, "The City of Light: The Psychology of Crime," has officially announced its schedule, landing directly in the New Year's Day holiday slot.

This film is co-produced by Shanghai Film, Edko Films, and Deng Chao's Cheng Zi Yin; Deng Chao is the male lead, while the female lead is Liu Shishi.

That's right, the female lead is Liu Liu Shishi, who even leaves Wang Wang Changtian with some psychological shadows!

"Ruan Miss Jing Tian, Guo Guo Jingfei, Tian Yu... so many famous actors as supporting cast, and Deng Chao's box office appeal is not bad either. Mr. Wang, isn't your conclusion this time a bit too rash?"

"I am rash?" Looking at Li Li Xiaoping's teasing smile, Wang Wang Changtian was very dismissive:

"Just wait and see. If Deng Chao's box office record and critical reputation don't take a huge fall this time, I'll take his surname. No, I'll take her surname!

And Shanghai Film, who knows who approved the project funding; if my prediction really comes true, that person who approved the funds will probably get a good scolding from Mr. Ren Dong, haha..."

After a burst of laughter, Wang Wang Changtian finally asked about his own film project, "How is 'Time and Again' doing over there?"

"Post-production should be completely finished within a month. But there seem to be really many blockbusters next year; do you want to coordinate with Lin Dao to try to avoid a situation where our own people fight each other?"

"Yes, we must inquire about his situation, but I estimate we still cannot avoid some overlap; after all, major slots are limited, and blockbusters... sigh, 'Dying to Survive', 'Pacific Rim 2', 'Dying to Survive', 'The Wandering Earth', 'The Billionaire from Xihong City'... other companies' films like 'Asura', 'Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings', 'The Hidden Blade'..."

As he spoke, Wang Wang Changtian didn't dare to continue listing them because they were all tough opponents.

He couldn't help but sigh to Li Li Xiaoping, "Next year is a big year for domestic films; I estimate all the good slots throughout the year will be meat grinders!"

"Mr. Wang, Director Hu Mei is here again; she is currently being stopped downstairs." The secretary knocked on the open office door, interrupting the conversation between the two leaders.

Wang Wang Changtian immediately showed a look of disgust, "Why is she here again? Isn't she annoying?"

"I heard she has already secured half the investment, so she is even more anxious now. Because her movie 'Dream of the Red Chamber' has really become visible and tangible." Li Li Xiaoping explained jokingly.

"Hmm? Then I must listen; which big fools gave her the investment?" Hearing this, Wang Wang Changtian immediately became interested.

"It seems Alibaba gave a part of 'charitable' investment, and then some small and medium-sized film and television companies followed suit and contributed a bit." Li Li Xiaoping couldn't help but laugh.

"Heh, it really is patched together from everywhere. Go send her away. If they really invest in this movie, just wait for the stock price to turn green when it releases. Yes, these are the exact words Lin Nan told me!"

"Okay, Mr. Wang."

On the morning of the 22nd, the industry saw a huge joke.

To be honest, regarding Guo Guo Degang daring to put his self-written and self-directed directorial debut 'Ancestors of the Nineteenth Generation' into the Spring Festival slot, the entire film industry scoffed at it.

Where exactly did his confidence come from? Was it from his crosstalk fans, or from the fans of the entire Deyun Society?

Or was it because he had become hugely popular on variety shows with a group of apprentices over the past two years, earning a lot, causing his confidence to explode, so he dared to dive headfirst into the Spring Festival slot, a dragon's den and tiger's lair?

"This is a joke! But we must admit, Guo Guo Degang is indeed a truly shrewd person; he knows deep down which circle makes the most money, and it is the film and television industry, not the crosstalk circle!"

In Lin Nan's view, the film and television industry can despise this person's thick skin, but cannot underestimate his business acumen.

"Who cares? Just crush it in the Spring Festival slot." Director Lu Yang, while editing 'Detective Chinatown 2', confidently made a threatening remark.

"Lin Dao, I'm finished!" Guo Fan's simple six words caused the surrounding area to instantly fall into dead silence.

"'Operation Red Sea'?" Director Lu Yang looked over with a shocked expression.

"Yes, it's done."

Lin Nan also approached Guo Fan and slid the mouse to check. Half a minute later, he looked at the assistant standing guard nearby and instructed:

"Have Director Yue contact the Naval Political Department right now, and also notify Shanghai Film and China Film, telling them that the final cut of 'Operation Red Sea' is out."

"Okay, Lin Dao."

"Good heavens, they actually finished it? Does that mean I have to stay at Tiangong Color all by myself?" Director Lu Yang muttered, speechless.

"I'm heading off on leave first; you just keep grinding, hahaha." Guo Fan chuckled, patted Director Lu Yang on the shoulder, then stretched widely, feeling comfortable.

In less than ten minutes, feedback from Shanghai Film and China Film arrived one after another—send the finished cut of "Operation Red Sea" to the Film Bureau immediately.

The response from the Naval Political Department was actually the slowest, yet the most solemn: "Prepare the big screen... we can arrive at Tiangong Color in about an hour!"

By the end of the morning, news that "Operation Red Sea" had completed post-production spread through the circle in a bizarre manner.

First the Film Bureau, then the Air Force Political Department, and finally it even appeared in online film information. Who was the one with the loose lips, spreading it everywhere?

There certainly wouldn't be any issues with the review process, and no one dared to find problems. Although the film did contain some relatively gory battlefield scenes, those were approved by the Naval Political Department...

"Let them cut in line; they've already seen the finished cut, saying the film is shot very well and the editing is also excellent, requiring no further changes."

In the afternoon, the first thing Zhang Zhang Hongsen handled was the application for review of the finished cut of "Operation Red Sea."

From his own leader's words, the secretary could clearly hear that tone of helplessness. What did "no changes needed" mean? That was a judgment the Film Bureau should have been the one to make!

"Alright, I'll convey it to them shortly, cut in line and mark it urgent. However, Director Zhang, if this gets approved before "Youth," won't Feng Feng Xiaogang start complaining online again?

His mouth has never had a lock on it; with a few sips of cat urine, he can say anything in a sarcastic tone." The secretary shifted his tone, smiling as he mentioned it.

"Then let him try; actually, I'm quite looking forward to it, looking forward to him spewing a few lines for the Naval Political Department to hear!"

Laughter that wouldn't stop came from behind the desk; he truly wanted to see a spectacle, to see Feng Feng Xiaogang's spectacle.

"Alright, I suppose he might chicken out, or at most grumble behind closed doors?"

The secretary shook his head with a smile. In his view, Feng Feng Xiaogang should have learned to be sensible; at least before "Youth" obtained its screening permit, he had to keep a lid on his mouth.