Chapter 105: Taking the Stage Personally
“Boss, that door ahead, why do I feel a little eerie, a bit chilly?”
Li Chen couldn't help but laugh. Indeed, it was already mostly dark, and that door did have a certain… vibe.
“I also feel a bit cold. Will we be able to get out once we go in?”
Yang Siwei and Tang Yan looked at the 'Gate of Wuji' over three meters tall standing before them, and both expressed their thoughts.
“Nonsense! It’s minus ten-something degrees today, how could it not be cold?”
“But this door, it’s truly hard to describe. You two, doesn't the red carpet look like the Road to the Underworld leading to the Gate of Hell?”
“And these movie fans on both sides of the red carpet, wildly waving flowers, don't they look like possessed ghosts!”
The three walked onto the red carpet, waving to the media and movie fans on both sides, while jokingly chatting amongst themselves.
Yang Siwei and Tang Yan both burst out laughing: “Boss, your analogy is too vivid!”
At exactly six o'clock, the Wuji red carpet ceremony officially began.
Han Sanping was the first to walk the red carpet, and as soon as he finished, he came to Li Chen's side.
“Not bad today, not late!” Han Sanping said.
Li Chen and the other two had actually arrived just in time, and hadn't yet entered the auditorium.
Tang Yan and Yang Siwei greeted Han Sanping, smiling silently beside their boss.
“Han Dong, not many people came today. I knew I wouldn’t have come either. After the Premiere, I’m sure the media reporters will shoot me full of holes like a hornet’s nest!” Li Chen said with a laugh.
Indeed, besides the main creative team, not many big names were present today.
Zhang Yimou and Jiang Wen were both in Yunnan, and Chen Kaige's aloofness was well-known in the industry.
Several film and television company CEOs had come, but few directors from the fifth and sixth generations showed up.
“Good that you know. I don't want to hear anything bad about Wuji today!” Han Sanping said with a stern face.
Li Chen nodded, saying no more.
With the introduction by host Wang Han.
Director Chen Kaige and his wife, along with the main creative team of Wuji, began to walk the red carpet.
The movie fans on site went completely wild, waving the flowers and posters in their hands like mad, screaming the names of their idols hoarsely.
“Dong-geon!”
“Ting-fung!”
“Bai Zhi!”
Cecilia Cheung was truly beautifully frozen!
It was minus ten-something degrees, and she was still wearing a black strapless dress.
Well, prioritizing style over warmth, freeze to death!
Director Chen Kaige and his wife were like the Yang Cult Leader and his wife on Bright Summit.
They joined hands with the Left and Right Protectors and the Four Great Dharma Kings to light the Light of Wuji, which resembled the sacred flame of the Ming Cult.
“Wuji loves you, loves everyone in the world who loves Wuji!” Chen Kaige roared like Pavarotti.
The movie fans were completely infected, breaking through the security guards and staff, rushing forward to interact with their idols up close.
Han Sanping was also immersed in this enthusiastic atmosphere.
Li Chen quietly took two steps back and said to Yang Siwei and Tang Yan: “Doesn't it feel like joining a cult?”
“Join my divine cult, boundless magic power, cult leader, accomplished in literature and martial arts!!!”
Yang Siwei and Tang Yan both burst into laughter. Since it was all cheers, no one noticed them.
“Boss, you’re too naughty, but it really does seem like it.” Tang Yan said.
“I feel like I’ve been brainwashed, Director Chen is definitely a spiritual mentor!” Yang Siwei exclaimed.
Afterward, everyone entered the venue together.
The Wuji Premiere officially began.
Li Chen sat beside Han Sanping, and Wang Changtian was also there.
Yang Siwei and Tang Yan sat behind them.
After the two-hour movie finished.
Yang Siwei and Tang Yan whispered to each other: “Siwei, what do you think?”
“It feels very hollow. Was this made for 350 million? I think it’s not even as good as your painted skin!” Yang Siwei commented.
“Don't laugh at me, I didn't understand it,” Tang Yan whispered, afraid of being overheard.
“I’m starting to believe what Starlight International Media said now. Later, let’s both keep our mouths shut and not talk nonsense.” Yang Siwei said.
“Brother, what did Chen Kaige film? Did you understand it?” Wang Changtian asked.
In his opinion, it was ridiculous that this film could cost 350 million.
Some of the scenes reminded him of a game, Super Mario!
“Don’t say anything, ignorance is bliss,” Li Chen replied in a low voice, as Han Sanping was still sitting next to them.
Wang Changtian understood. The atmosphere today could be summed up in one word: fake!
From the beginning to the end of Wuji's screening, applause barely stopped.
He was even a little puzzled, was it really that good?
Han Sanping was completely immersed in Wuji, clapping and smiling.
“Alas, Old Han, Old Han, I hope you can still smile after Wuji is released.” Li Chen muttered to himself.
Then the main creative team went on stage, each taking a seat, with a word behind each seat.
The host began to interact with everyone.
The first was Director Chen Kaige.
Director Chen Kaige's word was 'obsession'.
Director Chen Kaige, in a formal suit, slowly stood up.
“Uh, I think I’ll stand up to show respect to the movie fans, thank you all.”
“Obsession is a very good word.”
“In this world, ah, I am obsessed with two things.”
“The first thing is, Wuji, which my wife and I filmed together.”
“The second thing is, obsession with Chen Hong.”
After Director Chen Kaige finished his poem, he smiled and slowly sat down.
“Wow!” Wang Han exclaimed.
“Ah!” Movie fans screamed.
No one expected Chen Kaige to be so flamboyant. The host's exclamation and the wild shouts of the movie fans below seemed possessed.
Li Chen got goosebumps all over.
The one thing he admired most about Chen Kaige was his ability to make everyone else uncomfortable, but he himself either didn't feel it at all or simply ignored it.
The Premiere hadn't even ended, but over a hundred media outlets from three countries had already begun interviewing guests and audience members on site.
Tonight's scene could be described in one sentence: mountains and seas chanting Wuji.
Probably no one would dare to challenge Chen Kaige tonight, and Li Chen certainly wouldn't.
The Premiere ended perfectly.
Director Chen Kaige and his wife came off stage to socialize with the guests.
Li Chen and Wang Changtian had intended to greet Director Chen Kaige and his wife before leaving.
However, the couple walked towards them first. Li Chen prayed that Chen Kaige wouldn't ask him about Wuji.
He really didn't want to go against his conscience to flatter him.
“Brother, have you thought about how to lie through your teeth?” Wang Changtian joked with a smile.
Li Chen gave his friend an annoyed look and said, “You take care of yourself first!”
Already, no less than a dozen media outlets had surrounded them.
Earlier, some of them had already interviewed Yang Siwei and Tang Yan, but both had merely stated: “The visuals are beautiful, quite stunning.”
There was nothing else worth digging into.
Now, Chen Kaige was finally about to meet Li Chen.
Golden Palm winners meet, Wuji will challenge painted skin, who will win the annual box office championship?
They had already thought of the headlines.
More and more media gathered, the main event was finally about to begin.
Even Han Sanping stopped socializing with others.
“Director Chen, Hong Jie, I wish you great box office success.” Li Chen spoke first.
Chen Hong smiled and said, “Thank you, Director Li and Wang Dong, for coming to support Wuji today.”
Wang Changtian nodded in acknowledgment, not speaking.
“Director Li, do you think Director Chen’s Wuji can surpass painted skin at the box office?”
A reporter couldn't hold back anymore. Among over a hundred media outlets, not everyone was a good boy.
“Director Li, you’ve also seen Wuji, please give us your comments.”
Cameras clicked madly. The side-profile showdown photos of two generations of Golden Palm winners were captured by many media outlets.
Chen Kaige was elegant and full of confidence in Wuji.
He smiled and said, “Li Chen, why don’t you say a few words?”
“Yes, Director Li, say a few words. Director Chen has already spoken.”
“Director Li, which do you think has a better chance of winning an Oscar, Wuji or perhaps love?”
Damn it, these cursed reporters, their questions were getting sharper and sharper.
Wang Changtian quietly took two steps back, pushing Li Chen into the spotlight.
“Wang Dong, you’re too unkind, leaving my boss there.” Yang Siwei stepped forward and said with a smile.
“Hahahaha, Siwei, even if I stood next to him, no one would notice me.” Wang Changtian laughed.
Li Chen smiled helplessly and said, “You all just want to see a good show between Director Chen and me today, but I won’t let you have your way!”
“Hahahaha,” the reporters burst into laughter.
Chen Hong also smiled and said, “Director Li is right, we can’t let our media friends lead us around by the nose.”
The atmosphere was lively.
The reporters’ microphones moved closer, almost touching Li Chen’s face. Everyone knew Li Chen was about to speak.
“I can’t predict the box office. You should ask the cinema owners who are here today; they have more say.”
“After watching Wuji, I still, deep down, prefer farewell my concubine.”
What kind of answer was that? Everyone expected Li Chen to give a sharp critique, but he came up with this sentence instead.
Even Director Chen Kaige and his wife didn’t immediately grasp the deeper meaning of Li Chen’s words.
Taking advantage of the brief one or two seconds of everyone's stunned silence, Li Chen smiled, "Today's protagonists are Director Chen and The Promise. Don't mix up the main and supporting roles."
"Tomorrow, the Golden Globe Award nominations will be announced. I'll wish Director Chen success in advance!" Li Chen said, changing the subject.
Chen Kaige was in a good mood, and Chen Hong also smiled, "Thank you for your auspicious words."
Li Chen took the opportunity to leave, but the reporters wouldn't let him go easily.
Li Chen had Yang Siwei block the reporters, greeted Han Sanping, and then slipped away with Wang Changtian and Tang Yan.
"My young brother, if you were to host the Catman competition, you'd at least make it into the top three!" Wang Changtian said with a laugh.
Li Chen's answer just now was too clever.
Using farewell my concubine to disparage The Promise, Chen Kaige couldn't really say anything.
At this moment, the media reporters were still reeling from the hype of The Promise.
But once the movie was released and word-of-mouth spread, looking back at Li Chen's words, they would definitely be interpreted in a thousand ways.
Li Chen shook his head and smiled, not continuing the topic.
"I'm actually a bit curious now, how bad will The Promise's box office be?" Wang Changtian said with a laugh.
After watching The Promise, he knew in his heart that this movie would probably lose a lot of money, and the box office would probably be at most 100 million.
"Bad? Even if it can't compare to painted skin, it definitely won't be too low."
"What do you mean by that?" Wang Changtian asked, puzzled.
"Brother, if someone told you that a movie directed by Zhang Yimou or me was terrible, would you still go see it?"
"Of course I would! I'd want to see how bad it was!" As soon as Wang Changtian finished speaking, he understood.
Indeed, if someone told him that The Promise was terrible.
Out of curiosity and trust in Chen Kaige's Golden Palm reputation, he would definitely want to see it with his own eyes to believe it.
Moreover, The Promise had now built up maximum anticipation, almost becoming a legend.
After leaving the auditorium, Li Chen was chased and stopped by several reporters.
Wang Changtian waved to him and left first.
Only Li Chen and Tang Yan remained.
"Director Li, since perhaps love has already been released in Hong Kong, what are your thoughts?"
"I haven't seen it, so I can't comment. Please make way, thank you."
"Tang Yan, are you and Director Li in a relationship?" Tang Yan pursed her lips and smiled, not answering.
Li Chen, protecting Tang Yan, finally fought his way through the crowd of reporters and got into the car.
"Boss, I'm afraid your and my scandal will be hyped up again tomorrow."
Tang Yan said with a smile. Li Chen had just put his arm around her shoulder, protecting her as they broke through the reporters' encirclement, and they must have been caught on camera many times.
"Let them hype it up. You get used to it."
After a while, Yang Siwei returned.
"Boss, as soon as you appear, the reporters act like they're on stimulants, they all go crazy." Yang Siwei said, panting and laughing.
The next day, the grand occasion of The Promise's Premiere was reported.
Basically, it was all praise, and even Li Chen's words were considered icing on the cake, also mentioning farewell my concubine.
One sentence praised two films.
But his statement that he hadn't seen perhaps love was interpreted by reporters as a slap in the face to Chen Kexin and taking sides with Chen Kaige.
Li Chen was helpless but didn't pay attention to it.
But how could Wu Junru tolerate it? Now, The Promise and perhaps love had completely fallen out.
Li Chen's words were tantamount to slapping her boyfriend in the face.
Immediately, she started to insinuate things about Li Chen to the media.
"The reputation of perhaps love has already been recognized by a large number of movie fans; it doesn't lack one or two people."
"Zhou Xun is the lead actress in both films. A man is too narrow-minded."
No names were mentioned, but everyone on Earth knew who she was talking about.
The media and netizens were excited again. The feuds between these few ladies had just subsided, and Wu Junru was firing shots again.
"Wu Junru blasts Li Chen for being narrow-minded from afar!"
"Skin care fanatic Wu Junru stirs up trouble again!"
The eye-catching headlines immediately topped the Entertainment Live section.
"Director Li, you can't tolerate this! That woman is insinuating things about you again!"
"Director Li, if you keep tolerating it, you'll become a Ninja Turtle! I look down on you!"
"Boss, is this woman crazy?" Yang Siwei was fuming.
"She really is getting a bit too big for her britches, bullying me because I don't have a wife, huh?" Li Chen leaned back in his chair, also a bit annoyed.
"Boss, I'll handle it!"
"No need. This time, I'll do it myself!"
Yang Siwei said, feeling relieved, "You can't indulge her. Then I'll go out first, Boss."
As soon as she went out, Yang Siwei received a call from Liu Yifei.
"Siwei, do you think I should speak up?" Liu Yifei said with some trepidation.
Yang Siwei laughed, "What? Is the boss's wife itching to speak?"
"No, last time Li Chen joked that he envied others for having a good wife, and I don't know if he really cares deep down." Liu Yifei hesitated.
"Yifei, don't say anything. The boss is going to handle it himself. Just wait and watch the show."
"Ah, he's doing it himself?"
Li Chen indeed planned to do it himself. He wouldn't let Miss Liu jump out and act like a shrew online.
Typing away, Li Chen began to post his second blog post since opening his blog.
"I didn't expect that just casually stating a fact would make Chen Kexin break down again."
"I've only seen one of Chen Kexin's movies, and that's comrades: almost a love story."
"Because I'm a fan of Maggie Cheung, that's why I went to see it."
"My not watching perhaps love has nothing to do with the actors."
"Finally, one last thing: if you have something to say, don't always hide behind your girlfriend!"
As soon as Li Chen's blog post was published, it was like a mushroom cloud.
It stirred up a storm in the red-hot entertainment industry at the end of the year.
Sina immediately put Li Chen's blog post on its homepage.
Wang Changtian was overjoyed and ordered Entertainment Live to temporarily add Li Chen's blog post to today's program.
"Director Li's linguistic artistry, 'I didn't watch it has nothing to do with the actors,' that means it has something to do with the director! Simply put, I'm sick of you!"
"Director Li clearly distinguishes between love and hate! I also dislike Chen Kexin. To elevate perhaps love, he can even step on his own comrades: almost a love story, and for box office, he can slap himself in the face."
"Regarding the man behind an unsuccessful woman, please act like a man and give the mother of your child a proper title!"
"Director Li spoke my mind. I went to see comrades: almost a love story because of Maggie Cheung. Who knows who Chen Kexin is!"
"Exactly, who's narrow-minded? Director Li just stated a fact that he hadn't seen it, and your man couldn't sit still? If he couldn't sit still, he should speak up himself! Is he a gourd with a sawn-off mouth?"
The internet was flooded with scold Chen Kexin.
Friends in the industry also left comments under Li Chen's blog post.
Even Maggie Cheung replied under Li Chen's blog post, "Thank you for your liking, Director Li."
Jiang Wen: You should just go against him, brother, I support you!
Li Bingbing: Director Li, calm down.
Fan Bingbing: Very insightful.
Mei Ting: Nothing wrong with what was said. What's the deal with hiding behind a woman?
Xu Zheng: A true man!
Yang Siwei saw Xiao Fan's reply, immediately made a call, and teased, "What? Did you learn something?"
"Of course I learned something! Dozens of words, not a single curse word, but it directly poked a hole in someone's lung! Like you said, the criticism hit the mark."
"Not a single mention of Wu Junru, but it seems to have included both of them, the husband and wife!"
Chen Kexin was extremely annoyed.
"Why did you step on him again? Aren't I embarrassed enough?"
"I just wanted to stand up for you," Wu Junru mumbled, not daring to speak up anymore.
Andy Lau called Li Chen, "Director Li, calm down, let it go."
"Hua Ge, originally I didn't intend to continue, but if I didn't reply, I was afraid some people would take advantage! Did someone call you?"
"Yes, you are both great directors, and making a big scene isn't good for anyone."
As soon as Li Chen spoke, Chen Kexin and Wu Junru both fell silent again.
When the news came that The Promise had received a Golden Globe Award nomination.
Chen Kaige and his wife, who were attending The Promise's Premiere in Hong Kong, were even more overjoyed.
At this point, The Promise's buffs were fully stacked.
Investment amount ranked first in film history!
Record-breaking copies!
Unprecedented cast!
Oscar barometer Golden Globe Award nomination!
Everything indicated that The Promise would become an epic myth.
Even the small group of people who had not been optimistic about The Promise before had closed their mouths.
Chen Kaige was just one step away from being crowned the new emperor.
The highly anticipated The Promise was finally going to be released!