Chapter 128: Xiji Animation

The evening roadshow event ended, and Seeing Lu Kuan was heading to a banquet, feeling refreshed.

Today, Jiang Zhiqiang was hosting a return banquet for the group of Taiwanese entertainment industry figures who had shown support the previous night.

Chai Yinong, known as the godmother of Taiwanese idol dramas, the godfather of variety shows Wang Weizhong, and other big names in the film circle.

The one Seeing Lu Kuan was less familiar with was a short, fat, middle-aged man, but looking at the intimate way An Yixuan was with him, it should be An's father.

The drinking culture in Taiwan is eccentric, with common practices of forcing drinks, persuading drinks, and toasting around the table, no different from the mainland.

The indigenous people are even better at drinking, drinking for no reason, treating wine like water; some tribes drink from jars, and their capacity seems bottomless.

But today, after all, they were prominent figures in the island's entertainment industry, so everyone just took a sip and began to discuss the core topics.

The casting for *Chinese Paladin* and Seeing Lu Kuan's new film.

Boss Lu's new film script was nearly finished, still a drama film that weighs both commerce and art: *Shoplifters*.

This art-house film, which was exclaimed by the media in later generations to be more popular than commercial films, was of course also subjected to more refined and film-festival-oriented artistic processing by Seeing Lu Kuan.

Boss Lu looked at the people, each with their own motives, and had to smile bitterly: "Everyone, the film script is still being polished, and we still need to scout locations and draw storyboards. Let's not talk about it today."

"As for *Chinese Paladin*, except for the female lead, everyone can recommend suitable artists."

An Yixuan's original surname was Wu, and her father, Wu Anguo, asked Wang Weizhong in a low voice, somewhat confused: "Boss Wang, isn't this show a collaboration between Seeing Lu Kuan and the mainland's Hunan TV? Does he have the final say on the roles?"

Wang Weizhong knew he was here this time to pave the way for his daughter.

"Hunan TV issued a statement on the mainland's blog network a few days ago. Seeing Lu Kuan participated in the filming as a producer, and the rights to casting and so on are all in his hands."

An Yixuan, who was on the side, couldn't help but gasp; she could barely be considered an entertainment industry figure.

The cooperation between a private cultural media company and a provincial TV station, where the former can actually hold the dominant position, is not common.

Qiong Yao's dominant position in her cooperation with Hunan TV had its own historical reasons and cultural background, which was different from the nature of Seeing Lu Kuan's Wenjie Culture.

Chai Yinong got straight to the point: "Director Lu, *Chinese Paladin* is a product of a Taiwanese game company; we are all very familiar with it."

"For the male lead, I want to recommend myself. What do you think of F4?"

"In terms of popularity, appearance, and fan value, they are currently in a league of their own, right?"

The word "fan" had become popular after Boss Lu's popularization; it was concise and vivid.

Boss Lu didn't think much of it in his heart. What kind of acting skills do these four have?

On the surface, of course, he wouldn't refute it immediately: "Let's have an audition and see how they look in ancient costumes."

"In addition, as a producer, the first standard I measure for every role is the fit of the character and acting skills. I hope everyone understands this."

Chai Yinong only had male artists in her hands; she wouldn't sign her first female artist, Lai Yayan, until 2005.

But other talent agencies and industry insiders couldn't sit still. The female lead was gone, but there were still so many supporting roles?

Among the three main female leads, there were still Lin Yueru and Anu, and there were even more male supporting roles, not lacking some with few scenes but outstanding images.

But facing a Golden Lion Award-winning director who had come to the island for the first time, everyone was quite cautious, not wanting to leave a bad impression on him by stuffing people in indiscriminately.

After all, he started at the peak, combined with the box office of *Whiplash*, which had been released for more than 20 days, and his strong position in the cooperation with Hunan TV.

No one doubted the future development prospects of Seeing Lu Kuan and Wenjie Culture.

After collecting a pile of audition recommendations, Seeing Lu Kuan and Jiang Zhiqiang prepared to return to the hotel to rest and recharge for the evening roadshow event.

"Director Lu, please wait!"

Seeing Lu Kuan was just about to enter the elevator when he looked back and saw An Yixuan and her father, who had attended the banquet at noon.

Presumably there were things not suitable to be said at the table?

"Boss Wu, is something the matter?"

Jiang Zhiqiang smiled and patted Boss Lu on the shoulder, nodded to Wu Anguo, and returned to his room first.

Boss Lu also nodded to An Yixuan; she had just run over from a distance, and the little rabbit jumping was quite cute.

It could be said that it was beginning to take shape.

"Director Lu, there were too many people at the table just now. It's like this."

He gestured to his daughter beside him: "This is my daughter Xuanxuan. She just entered the entertainment industry and wants to see if there are any suitable roles in *Chinese Paladin*, hehe."

Wu Anguo was naturally doting on his daughter, but his eyes were wide open, afraid that his daughter would suffer in the mixed entertainment industry.

In later generations, when An Yixuan was filming *The Outsiders* and had a rumored relationship with Dylan Kuo, Wu Anguo directly gathered the younger brothers of the security company to threaten the latter, and the two's budding romance ended.

However, such high-pressure management also fueled An Yixuan's rebellious psychology. When she eagerly wanted to break free from control, she plunged into the big dyeing vat of mainland entertainment and quickly fell.

At this time, for the sake of his daughter, this big shot who was well-connected in both the black and white worlds had to come up with a strange plan, bypassing the entertainment industry insiders at the table to snatch this hot, popular chicken that Boss Lu was holding.

The three sat down in the coffee shop of the high-end hotel, and the lobby manager and the hotel owner came over one after another to greet them.

Wu Anguo's momentum and social status were evident.

"Boss Wu, I made it very clear at the table just now. People are people, and plays are plays. Everything still needs to be suitable in all aspects."

"Xiao An's image is good, but I estimate that there will be some lack of acting skills. Let's participate in the audition first."

How could Wu Anguo not know what level his daughter was at? At this time, he could only raise the golden stick of money to lure him.

"Director Lu, filming a TV series is not easy, especially a script with fantasy colors like *Chinese Paladin*, which must cost a lot of special effects budget."

"How about this: I will personally participate in the investment of this TV series, and Xuanxuan will not take any salary. The share of the stake is negotiable."

"In addition, I still have some connections with Taiwan's CTV and other stations. When it comes to selling the film and broadcasting rights, I think I can help."

The implication was: I put up the money, and you can share some of the stake with me.

Boss Lu sighed in his heart. If you had told me this a year ago, it would have been no problem, but unfortunately, what I lack now is no longer funds.

However, the special effects Wu Anguo just mentioned aroused Seeing Lu Kuan's interest.

As mentioned earlier, Boss Lu gave Emperor Li Shoucheng and others a lesson, explaining how Hong Kong cinema declined under the iron hooves of Hollywood.

An important time context for this was the several major technological changes of Hollywood film companies.

In other words, the theme and branch of special effects science fiction films will increasingly become the outlet for film companies and practitioners of various countries to snatch resources.

At this time, it was still 7 years before James Cameron invaded the Chinese-language film scene with the power of *Avatar*.

Seeing Lu Kuan's foresight and forward-looking nature required him to make capital accumulation for science fiction films and visual effects and related industrial technologies in advance.

Even if these things are currently "wealth-attracting" industries that only lose money.

"Boss Wu, I do have one thing I want to trouble you with."

"Are you familiar with Taiwan's Xiji Animation?"

Wu Anguo was stunned, then smiled: "Of course, the best animation company on the island. They also have some business that I introduced."

Xiji Animation was founded in 1988 and is Taiwan's top 3D computer animation production company. In later generations, it participated in the production of animated films such as *How to Train Your Dragon* and *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*.

Although it is not a pure visual effects company, it is enough for Boss Lu, who has just set his mind on forming the prototype of the team.

All he wanted were a few core backbone members.

Boss Lu pondered for a while before tentatively saying: "It's like this, Boss Wu. My company also has a visual effects company under preparation, but professional talents in this area are indeed not easy to find in the mainland, so..."

Due to historical reasons, Taiwan has occupied an absolute technological advantage over the mainland in the electronics industry and high-tech industry for a long time.

This point cannot be avoided, but it can be used to poach people during periods when cross-strait relations are not too sensitive.

Poach some backbone from Xiji Animation, poach some backbone from the Beisi Special Effects company that is about to be established in the country, and then recruit some technical talents with professional counterparts in the mainland.

Then start with this *Chinese Paladin* to train through war, and slowly pull the special effects team up.

It can also avoid paying large special effects fees to overseas companies when the company and partners shoot special effects films later, which is too much of a loss.

Boss Lu saw the hesitant look on Wu Anguo's face and gave him a shot in the arm.

"Xiao An, I will return to the mainland in two days. I will give you an address, and you can come to Beijing for an audition then."

"I think your image is quite compatible with Anu and Lin Yueru; both are quite arrogant and pretty."

An Yixuan grew up in a merchant family and was no stranger to the trading rhetoric between her father and Seeing Lu Kuan.

It was just that she was praised by the young director she worshipped and invited to audition, and she couldn't help but feel her heart beat faster.

She stole a glance at her father. Wu Anguo had no way to deal with her look; he was a daughter-slave, after all.

"Director Lu, I dare not guarantee anything. I will try my best. You give me a list of the technical personnel you need, or the departments, in short, give me a standard."

"I'll find a way!"

Boss Lu was overjoyed: "Good! Boss Wu is really generous! It's settled then."

Poaching people from Taiwan's high-tech enterprises is not just about money. Core backbone employees naturally have to consider family factors, cross-strait political environment factors, etc.

With Wu Anguo, who is well-connected in both black and white worlds, arranging this, Boss Lu can still look forward to it.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 129 =====