Chapter 186: A Unique Premiere

Just like what Ning Hao said, the coordinator, after Cao Yang's instruction, started to adjust the filming plan.

Speaking of it, it's very simple, the daily filming increased by a factor, but behind this, many things had to be adjusted and laid out again.

However, many of the crew members were the original old people. They were already used to Cao Dao's sudden acceleration of progress, and they did things in an orderly manner.

It was a few professional personnel hired by Columbia who couldn't understand this.

But no one raised any objections.

Don't look at Hollywood's various systems as if they are very perfect, but when working with big directors, these so-called systems don't exist, and privileges play a more obvious role in Hollywood.

You can refer to the truck driver James Cameron. A film is filmed for more than ten years. Which staff member would raise an objection to his face?

The work intensity increased. Among the few Hollywood actors, only Ian McKellen mentioned it to Depp privately.

"The daily filming plan has increased by a factor. I'm worried that it might not be completed. I don't mind working overtime, just afraid that it will be difficult to complete even if working overtime."

He ignored today's filming speed. After all, in the previous few days, every day was completed in a bumpy way, which was the norm.

Depp curled his lips, stupid Englishman, never knowing how to open his eyes to see the world.

Cao Dao's film, is it something you conservative faction can understand?

"Ian, put your heart in your stomach. This is Cao Dao Yang's film. Don't look at him with old eyes. Since he adjusted the filming progress, there must be his reasons."

On the way back, Ian McKellen cursed Depp in his heart.

"Damn American, saying it is equal to not saying it, just like their President, only knowing how to fart. I'm really stupid, I shouldn't have gone to ask the hypocritical American."

The subsequent filming surprised Ian McKellen.

He was a bit confused. Why was the filming progress faster even though the filming plan increased by a factor and it was completed more easily than before when it hadn't increased?

What overtime, bullshit overtime, he never encountered it.

This world is really becoming more and more incomprehensible.

If it is said that Cao Dao Yang didn't film seriously? He shook his head afterwards.

Some performances that he thought were very great were considered to have some flaws by Cao Dao Yang, and they were actually filmed three times before it was finished!

Three times, that's three times!

Hey, wait, why do I think that filming a shot three times is a bit unacceptable?

Three times, for other directors, this is already very efficient, okay?

Ian McKellen felt that he must be crazy. He has lived for sixty years, what kind of director hasn't he seen?

But like Cao Yang, filming one take and keeping one take, and still being able to guarantee very, very high quality, he really hasn't seen it!

Even that Wu who played the alien, he could actually see the constantly changing emotions from his eyes, even the makeup mask couldn't block it!

With body language combined with changes in eyes and tone, he was a living alien who was oppressed and missed his hometown!

He himself also had a special feeling. This film is filmed, as long as you stand in front of the camera, it is like rehearsing a thousand times. Many expressions and actions were done subconsciously!

After thinking about it afterwards, using those expressions and actions in that scene was really the best choice!

Then, Ian McKellen suddenly realized. He finally understood why Cao Dao Yang wanted to accelerate the progress.

It's the actors!

Several actors with heavy parts all acted effortlessly, and were natural and not pretentious. To use the most popular words, it was like acting for real. Then he remembered Cao Dao Yang starting to lecture them on the play before filming, lecturing on the big background, lecturing on the story core, lecturing on the metaphors to be expressed, lecturing on the story on the surface...

After filming started, for the first few days, he was still lecturing on the play tirelessly, even if he kept NG, Cao Dao Yang didn't have the slightest impatience.

"So, Cao Dao Yang is really a remarkable person. No wonder he can cultivate so many Best Actresses, can let that damn American win the Oscar for Best Actor, and can win so many international awards. This is unparalleled ability!"

*District 9* was filmed in Jingcheng, almost all indoor shots, and some shots that didn't need slum backgrounds.

After adjusting the filming plan, it took less than a month, and on July 7th, it was all filmed.

Now there is still going to South Africa to take scenes, filming shots involving slum backgrounds, and special effects production that needs to spend a lot of time.

Cao Yang didn't go to South Africa immediately. He let Cheng Jianye and several assistant directors go there to contact the local side first.

He received a call from Old Mouzi himself, inviting him to attend the premiere ceremony of *House of Flying Daggers*, which will be held at the Beijing Workers' Stadium on July 10th.

Speaking of which, this film will not be released on a large scale until July 16th. Zhang Weiping, however, was unconventional, and in order to promote this film with an investment of 280 million, he held a grand celebration event many days in advance.

According to the small circle in the Beijing Film Academy, in order to create momentum for the film, Zhang Weiping spent nearly 20 million on this unique premiere celebration.

This money is really not bragging.

!

Renting the Workers' Stadium, inviting CCTV to broadcast live, rebuilding the Peony Pavilion in the film at a ratio of 1.5 times as a performance stage, and also inviting hundreds of security personnel.

Besides this, he also spent a lot of money to invite a lot of popular singers to perform in the "Peony Pavilion."

Big-name singers include: Jonathan Lee, Angus Tung, Jeff Chang, Han Hong, Kelly Chen, Pu Shu, A-do, Dao Lang, S. H. E, Twelve Girls Band, etc.

He also spent a lot of money to invite Kathleen Battle, who won five Grammys, to sing the theme song in the "Peony Pavilion."

The whole premiere celebration turned into a large mixed-bag concert, lasting more than three hours.

Not only that, in order to recover the cost, this guy Zhang Weiping sold the premiere celebration tickets at a price of 1,800 yuan, and also thought about renting advertisements!

Yes, you heard it right, renting other advertisements at the film premiere, and also marking the price clearly. Different positions have different price lists...

Cao Yang thought at the time, should he put an advertisement for *Nine-Tailed Fox* on the plaque in the center of the "Peony Pavilion"?

That place is said to only need 4 million...

Of course, it's just thinking about it. Zhang Weiping is not a fool. Putting an advertisement for another film at the premiere celebration of a film, thinking about it is really a bit exciting.

In order to make money, Zhang Weiping also held six branch venues in several big cities.

Of course, the branch venues also need the cinema to pay money.

At first, Zhang Weiping wanted to charge 1 million for each branch venue. As a result, people would rather Zhang Weiping not give film resources than pay this money.

Finally, after bargaining, each cinema paid 500,000 and held a branch venue.

Actually, the so-called branch venues were just playing the programs of the main venue on the big screen. Zhang Weiping used "Old Mouzi" to order the cinemas, and used all means.

A film premiere, in the hands of businessman Zhang Weiping, was simply played out with flowers.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 187 =====