Chapter 58: Plotting (Seeking follow-up reading)

The *Whiplash* crew had been working for a week in the studio at the Central Conservatory of Music, but there were only a few shots that met the requirements of director Lu Kuan.

Filming was not going well.

The reason was that Nicholas Tse had his dissatisfaction with the accuracy of his prediction in the substitute driver incident, and also had doubts about him taking advantage of the fire to suppress his salary.

Moreover, such a young director who had cheated some funds to make a film—did he really have this ability?

Arrogance and prejudice are always the root of disputes.

"Tse, the performance here is a bit too much. This is your first meeting with Zhuangzhong; there's no need to be so exaggerated."

This week, not only did the crew not run smoothly, but the progress was even slower. Everyone knew the reason, but it was hard to say.

Nicholas Tse resisted passively, Edison Chen was unruly, Shawn Yue was reticent...

The most common rhetoric of this Hong Kong young heavenly king was: "I think so," "I think this role should be..."

Then everyone could see Shawn Yue, who was silent on the side, and Edison Chen, who was gloating.

The three popular young Hong Kong actors led by Nicholas Tse and Lu Kuan's Youth Film Studio team, Feng Yuanzheng, and Liu Yifei, the two leads, were now secretly competing.

If the east wind suppressed the west wind, Lu Kuan would become a puppet director in the crew and would have no prestige at all.

Mani Fok was also on set today. Seeing that the scene was a bit awkward, she quietly walked to the monitor and whispered to Lu Kuan: "Director Lu, do you think this scene should be put aside first? Tse and your concept of the role might have some differences..."

Boss Lu didn't give anyone face when working, and Liu Yifei had been scolded to tears by him many times.

Immediately, his face was solemn: "Am I the director or are you the director? Don't come near the monitor without my permission!"

He picked up the walkie-talkie: "One more take, act as I say!"

Mani Fok's face was a bit ugly. Lu Kuan was usually in a lazy manner and rarely clashed with people. Unexpectedly, he gave her a reprimand in exchange.

The mature young woman walked away, but Nicholas Tse in the distance was unhappy.

When Mani Fok became his agent, Nicholas Tse was only 16 years old. He also worked as an assistant in the early days. His feelings, life trifles, were all handled by Mani Fok. It was not an exaggeration to say she was like his sister.

Immediately, he coldly shook off the makeup artist's hand, walked to the monitor, and said arrogantly: "Although you are the director, you must learn to respect people."

Without waiting for Lu Kuan to respond, he turned and left, as if he felt the intensity just now was not enough, and added: "There is no problem with my performance in this segment. If you are not satisfied, you can change people."

The crew members were completely stunned. Mani Fok also hurriedly chased after Nicholas Tse. Having just had a car accident and a substitute driver case, he couldn't have such black material of publicly clashing with the director again, which would be a huge blow to his image.

Qiu Yuanxu of the Youth Film Studio sighed secretly and quietly left the studio.

*Still too young, can't hold the scene. Old Tian's pulling up the seedlings to help them grow this time is a disaster. *

Lu Kuan was still in a light and breezy manner, as if he wasn't worried at all, arranging for everyone to rest and eat according to the plan.

Nothing useful was polished out all morning, and it was noon again.

Lu Kuan was smoking by the flower bed downstairs, his brows furrowed.

"Here, drink some water!"

Liu Yifei stood on the side, her white dress over her knees gently blown by the breeze, her raven-like hair draped, the whole person as elegant as a clear water hibiscus.

This was one of her looks in the play.

Seeing her, Lu Kuan wanted to tease her, looking her up and down: "Little Liu, why do your legs seem to be thicker again!"

"Put... Nonsense, not at all, impossible!"

Liu Yifei was so angry her teeth itched. She saw that Lu Kuan had been struggling for the past few days and felt a bit of compassion to come and comfort him, but didn't expect to be teased instead.

*Wolf-hearted and dog-lunged! *

"Your scenes are coming in two days. Are you ready?"

Liu Yifei patted her small chest, which was beginning to take shape: "Don't worry, I've been preparing according to your requirements for several days, definitely no problem!"

Aside from personal moral standards, she was very recognized for Lu Kuan's acting and lecturing skills. At least he could completely point out the correct form and direction of her performance, and grasp the character's emotions and action chain.

"Lu Kuan, this bunch of Hong Kong people..."

"Call me by my title on set, no big or small."

"Plant, this bunch of Hong Kong people are so difficult to deal with, what are you going to do?"

Boss Lu sneered and flicked the cigarette butt: "Cold mix!"

It was another wasted day, the crew was scattered, and there was much discussion.

And the protagonist who was laughed at and discussed after dinner, Lu Kuan, was now in front of the large clubhouse on the west side of the Great Wall Hotel on the East Third Ring Road in Beijing.

He and Ning Hao were hiding in the car, looking at the large "Tian Shang Ren Jian" (Heaven on Earth) neon sign on the opposite side.

"Went in?"

"Went in."

Lu Kuan counted silently in his heart; it had been the fourth day.

"Saw the person clearly?"

"No mistake, it's Zhang Jianting from Hong Kong, and a young man around twenty, about the same as the Liu Zeyu you described."

Lu Kuan sneered in his heart, a bunch of dogs who couldn't change their habit of eating shit.

People in the present world might not know, but the reborn Lu Kuan knew too well what these Hong Kong film nomadic people were like.

From actors to directors and producers, a large part of them came to the mainland with the intention of smashing the bowl while eating.

After the Hong Kong film people went north after CEPA was introduced in 2003, they pitted more than one or two mainland investors.

Chen Kexin's *The Warlords* claimed an investment of 300 million. According to the production side, Jet Li took away 100 million. In the end, the box office collapsed, and the investors almost jumped off the building;

In his *The Sorcerer and the White Snake*, a prop straw hat was priced at 6,000 US dollars. Similar cases of increasing expenses under false pretenses were too numerous to mention.

Nicholas Tse and the three of them colluded with Zhang Jianting, who had an incorrect butt (political stance). Wasn't it obvious what kind of mind they had?

Therefore, he had been meeting moves with moves these days, not giving the three of them a chance to have a direct conflict.

Anyway, he was just a little-known little director. Let's see if these three popular young Hong Kong actors had the time to waste with him!

Boss Lu lit a cigarette: "Go back first, no need to come again, wait for them to make a move!"

Crew hotel.

"Little Lu, I heard the filming is not going well?"

After the clouds and rain stopped, Dong Jie lay in Boss Lu's arms, her green onion-like jade fingers drawing circles on his chest.

Lu Kuan was tickled by her, and immediately wondered: "This has spread? Where did you see it?"

Dong Jie got up in surprise: "It's really true, small newspapers, and media from Hong Kong."

"That Edison Chen is yin and yang in the Hong Kong media, saying that the mainland director's level is not enough, the crew is not professional, etc. It made me angry!"

Boss Lu played with the pepper breasts in his hand and asked on a whim: "Do you believe I can film this movie well?"

White Lotus didn't hesitate: "Of course!"

Actually, she had a big question mark in her heart. They all said "wait for the price to sell," and she had sacrificed so much, but it wasn't time to harvest yet.

Now, of course, she had to pay close attention to the trend of this potential stock in her hand.

It's just... it doesn't seem very clear.

Boss Lu turned into a licentious Jie Zhou, not caring about the crew's mess, and turned over!

"Come, let's play another round!"

"Ah!"

Room 208, Heaven on Earth.

Liu Zeyu was the host today, very generous in arranging attendants and foreign wine, trying to show his style as a local snake.

Zhang Jianting introduced this person's identity to the three of Nicholas Tse, and everyone tacitly supported the scene.

In the future, they would inevitably have to go to the mainland to make a living, so they couldn't help but build a good pier.

Nicholas Tse was still steady, but Edison Chen had already let go with the girls. He didn't expect that there would be such fun to find in the mainland, which was like the countryside.

After a while of indulgence, Liu Zeyu signaled the miscellaneous people in the private room to go out first. This was a conspiracy.

"Director Zhang, Young Master Liu, what arrangements are there, so grand."

Edison Chen let go of the girl and looked at them as they left gracefully.

Zhang Jianting adjusted his glasses and gave Nicholas Tse a wink.

He was the son-in-law of Emperor Entertainment boss Albert Yeung, and Nicholas Tse was Emperor's current head artist. This matter was the middle connection between the two.

"Edison, Ah Yue, there is a matter I want to ask for your opinions on, about the *Whiplash* crew."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 59 =====

(End of chapter)