Chapter 150: Who is the King of Hell?
Li Chen was still unaware of the news that genius gunner had been rejected.
Macau, Green Garden Bar.
Today's scene was Charlize Theron preparing to seduce the hotel manager, with Dan Stevens assisting to steal the room card.
However, something unexpected happened: Dan Stevens had to go in for the seduction because the hotel manager was attracted to men.
Li Chen had already stopped Dan Stevens three times.
The lead actors on set couldn't even crack a smile, let alone the audience.
This scene where Dan Stevens was forcefully kissed by a man just wasn't achieving the comedic effect.
"Dan, I'll show you once!" Li Chen couldn't hold back and decided to give an on-site demonstration.
The lead actors, from Charlize Theron to Liu Yifei, all perked up.
They all leaned on the bar, ready to see how Li Chen would teach by example.
Dan Stevens, this 186 cm tall British big boy, was a bit embarrassed.
He also didn't know how to make this scene comedic.
"Director Li, you can do it!" Liu Yifei clenched her small fist and openly cheered for Li Chen.
"Come on, Li," Charlize Theron also added.
Tony Leung Ka-fai just smiled without speaking.
He also wanted to see how Director Li would make a simple forced kiss scene comedic.
Li Chen glared at Miss Liu with a stern face, but Miss Liu was fearless.
Li Chen snapped his fingers, signaling the hotel manager to begin.
Li Chen and the hotel manager sat on a two-seater sofa.
The hotel manager rubbed his hands, slowly leaning closer to Li Chen and cooing, "Casino guests are so annoying! Shall we go somewhere quieter for another drink?"
Li Chen got goosebumps from the tension, every hair on his body standing on end.
He restlessly and subconsciously shifted his butt to the side.
The corners of the actors' mouths, leaning against the bar, already had an arc; Liu Yifei was covering her mouth, her eyes curved in a smile.
She was also curious how her boyfriend, a Director Department student, seemed more like an Acting Department student than she did.
Li Chen was completely in character, his face even a little pale: "Uh, no... here, it's fine."
The bar manager's butt followed Li Chen's butt, leaning closer to Li Chen: "It is indeed very good here, do you like it too?"
Li Chen's facial expression was a bit spastic, and his speech was unclear.
Because as the hotel manager spoke, he also started to use his hands.
"I said I... like... it... too."
The hotel manager's left hand caressed Li Chen's face, while his right hand began to unbutton Li Chen's shirt.
Li Chen's body was stiff, his expression even stiffer, and his eyes slowly met the hotel manager's burning gaze!
The hotel manager moved a step closer, his body gradually enveloping Li Chen.
At this point, Li Chen's face could no longer be seen.
But every detail made everyone on set burst into laughter.
Li Chen first clenched his left hand into a claw, then tightly gripped the armrest of the sofa, and his feet were stretched out straight.
Miss Liu was already laughing uncontrollably, her face flushed.
No one knew that this scene reminded her of the time they were on the sofa in the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong.
It was just that the person being forcefully kissed at that time was her, and the one with straight feet was also her.
Li Chen patted the hotel manager's back, signaling him to stop.
Everyone on set applauded Li Chen.
Li Chen snapped out of character instantly, not looking at Miss Liu, but staring at Dan Stevens: "Did you understand?"
"Even if you can't see the face, body language can still express psychological states."
Dan Stevens nodded: "I'll try again, Director."
Li Chen nodded in agreement: "Five-minute break, then continue."
Liu Yifei walked over and pinched Li Chen's waist.
Her clear, bright eyes were full of playful reproach: "Were you imitating me just now!"
Li Chen took a deep breath, just about to tell her to be careful of the impression she was making, when his assistant walked over with a cell phone: "Director Li, General Manager Xiang's call."
Li Chen took the cell phone: "General Manager Xiang?"
"Director Li, genius gunner did not pass the review."
Li Chen's heart skipped a beat. What he had worried about had still happened. After all, this genius gunner was released in 2017 in later generations.
That was 11 years later than now, and the review committee members had changed several times.
And with the 2014 exam cheating case as a precedent, and it not being filmed by Chinese people, it was imported.
But now, these conditions were not yet mature.
"What's the reason?"
Xiang Huaqiang scoffed over the phone: "Specific criminal acts are not conducive to the healthy physical and mental growth of teenagers!"
Li Chen also laughed: "I understand, General Manager Xiang, I'll think of a way."
After hanging up, Miss Liu asked curiously: "What's wrong?"
Li Chen shook his head and smiled: "It's nothing, genius gunner was rejected."
Tony Leung Ka-fai and Liu Jialing, who were nearby, also heard.
Both of them had roles in genius gunner; Tony Leung Ka-fai played the father, and Liu Jialing made a cameo as a teacher.
"Director Li, what was the reason for the rejection?" Tony Leung Ka-fai couldn't understand.
The ending of this film was positive and very educational, so why would it be rejected?
Li Chen smiled bitterly: "I'm not sure either. Let's not worry about these for now."
When they returned to the hotel that night, Liu Yifei had already learned the whole story from Yang Siwei and Tang Yan.
Although genius gunner was produced by China Star, Rongchen Film and Television was a co-producer, and the script was also written by Li Chen.
It was actually rejected. It wasn't that Hong Kong films hadn't been rejected before.
Like Bodyguard from Beijing, My Father Is a Hero, flash point, and so on.
They were usually due to sensitive subject matter or overly bloody and violent content.
The two returned to their room, and Li Chen went to take a shower first.
Liu Yifei, on the other hand, directly opened her computer.
The internet was already buzzing.
"I said, why did Li Chen's script have to be filmed in Hong Kong? It seems they were prepared early on. It couldn't even pass the filing in the mainland, let alone the review!"
"genius gunner, by its name, sounds like a proxy exam, but looking at the lead actors, it's clearly a campus theme. Why couldn't a campus theme pass the review? Was it pornography or did it cross a red line?"
Li Chen's blog was flooded with tens of thousands of comments.
"Director Li, don't be a coward. If you don't speak up this time, I'll look down on you!"
"Director Li, who challenges everything, will probably keep silent this time. But it's understandable, the arm can't twist the thigh, and the people can't fight the officials."
"What exactly did genius gunner film? Why don't people from your Rongchen Film and Television stand up and say a few words?"
Yang Siwei only replied on her blog: "Thank you for the attention from movie fans and netizens. The specific situation is still being understood."
After replying to the blog, Yang Siwei warned several artists in the Q group: "Before things are clear, none of you should reply to the media. These are the boss's exact words."
"Especially Yang Mi, if you dare to act on your own again this time and reply to the media without authorization, the company will not let it go easily."
Zhou Xun and Yang Mi, far away in XZ, replied after a long time: "Sister Xun and I are almost out of oxygen in the snowy region, how can we have the energy to reply to the media?"
"Tangtang, I couldn't get through to Luo Jin. Please tell him for me."
"Got it, Siwei. He was annoyed by media calls, so he turned off his cell phone."
Li Chen came out after taking a shower, walked to Miss Liu, who was in front of the computer, kissed her on the cheek, and smiled: "My blog is probably already flooded, isn't it?"
Miss Liu, however, couldn't smile: "You know that and you can still smile?"
Li Chen picked up his cell phone, walked to the sofa by the window, and sat down: "I was prepared for this. Let me ask you a question, Xixi?"
Miss Liu walked over and sat beside Li Chen: "What question?"
"Do you know the average age of the people in the review committee?"
Miss Liu shook her head honestly.
"Sixty and above."
Miss Liu's small mouth was slightly open, somewhat incredulous.
What Li Chen said was the truth; Chen Peisi had said it back then.
These old guys were old-fashioned, the kind of old fuddy-duddies who could associate 'sleeves' with 'white thighs'.
The imaginative criminal methods in genius gunner had the same impact on them as the 'Four Olds' did back then.
Li Chen didn't plan to play hardball this time; a tough fight would only be a war of words and would not benefit the film's approval in the slightest.
"Then what are you going to do?" Miss Liu's beautiful eyebrows raised slightly.
Li Chen smiled: "What to do? It's easier to deal with the King of Hell than with the little devils. I won't confront them directly."
As Li Chen spoke, he dialed Han Sanping's number.
Han Sanping seemed unsurprised that Li Chen would call.
The conversation between the two made Miss Liu, who was beside them, completely confused.
Li Chen didn't explain to Miss Liu; Han Sanping's official tone with him was already strange.
However, the last sentence enlightened him.
Only then did Li Chen realize that his strategy was correct, but he had mistaken the King of Hell.
In this matter, Han Sanping was at most a judge, and Director Tong was the King of Hell.
Looking at Miss Liu's eager expression, she looked especially cute.
Li Chen pinched her cheek: "In China, it's a society based on relationships. The review process is very flexible."
"As long as it's not a complete rejection, there's hope. The most important thing is to find the right person."
Miss Liu was good at grasping the key points: "Who is the right person?"
"The head of the review committee: Director Tong!"
When Li Chen debuted, Director Tong had already gone for further studies.
The two had met at the Premiere of shoplifters, and Director Tong had given him his contact information then.
However, Li Chen only made courtesy calls on holidays; for specific matters, he would still contact Han Sanping.
This was the most basic social etiquette in the workplace and officialdom.
If he went to Director Tong for everything, not only would others laugh at him for not understanding the rules, but Han Sanping probably wouldn't think highly of him either.
Reporting above one's direct superior was a major taboo in the workplace, but now that Han Sanping was playing mind games with him, he had a clear idea.
"Xixi, don't you love to use my blog to speak for me? Today, you don't have to be sneaky. I'll tell you what to write!"
Miss Liu pouted and punched Li Chen: "What sneaky? When was I ever not open and above board!"
Miss Liu was a little curious about what Li Chen would say.
Excitedly, she sat in front of the computer and opened Li Chen's blog.
Li Chen leaned back on the sofa and smiled: "Thank you to movie fans and netizens for your attention to genius gunner."
"Regarding the guiding opinions from the bureau on the rejection of genius gunner, our production team humbly accepts."
"Regarding the questions from movie fans and netizens, I, on behalf of the three production companies, will answer them one by one through this blog platform."
"genius gunner is indeed a youth campus film, but it is different from typical youth campus films."
"It breaks the impression of petty love in previous campus movies, highlighting the uniqueness of each individual under the examination system."
"Although the details of the cheating and criminal acts in it are indeed very bold, this is also the main reason why the review committee could not pass it."
"As many netizens have speculated, I did have concerns at the time, and now it proves that my concerns were not groundless."
"However, the ending of this film has significant educational and warning implications. There are absolutely no violations such as crossing lines or being sexually suggestive."
"Our production team will still actively cooperate with modifications, hoping that the re-review can pass."
"At the same time, I also hope that the review committee can keep pace with the times and accept new things with an inclusive mindset. It is the 21st century, and if Chinese films want to go global, they cannot use old perspectives to make blanket judgments."
"Does not watching genius gunner mean that exam cheating can be eradicated? We cannot draw a circle around ourselves, much less give up eating for fear of choking!"
Just when everyone thought Rongchen Film and Television would swallow their anger.
Li Chen, as the legal representative of Rongchen Film and Television, spoke out for the fifth time on his personal blog.
Yang Siwei was the first to receive a call from her subordinate: "The boss's blog has a response."
Yang Siwei was startled. Surely the boss wasn't going to blast again.
She opened it and saw that the worries in Yang Siwei's heart finally subsided. At least the boss wasn't so impulsive this time, but the subtle yet firm essay was still very eloquent.
Yang Siwei immediately reposted it.
As soon as Li Chen's blog post was published, countless netizens immediately replied, reposted, and discussed it.
"What a 'drawing a circle around oneself' and 'giving up eating for fear of choking'! For this sentence, I'll buy two tickets when it's released in Hong Kong. The mainland should have implemented a rating system long ago!"
"As expected of a great director. Feng Xiaogang is Xiao Gang Pao, Zhang Weiping is Zhang Dapao, and Li Chen is a Li-zi Pao!"
Miss Liu enthusiastically used Li Chen's blog, occasionally anonymously replying to some netizens.
Li Chen then called Xiang Huaqiang, asking him to also exert some effort.
He asked those influential filmmakers in Hong Kong to speak out, such as the chairman and vice-chairman of the Golden Horse Awards, Wen Jun and Chen Jiashang.
Especially Chen Jiashang, who was originally the director of genius gunner and had the most right to speak.
Li Chen wasn't idle either; if he didn't use his connections now, when would he?
Li Chen called his teacher, Tian Zhuangzhuang, asking him to also think of a solution.
Li Chen's reputation among some veteran artists was currently at its peak due to his statement about the difference between actors and celebrities.
This was the perfect time to strike while the iron was hot.
Even full city of golden armor could pass, so there was no fear of it being an eyesore.
Then why was the later the empress of china cut into 'big-headed dolls'?
Li Chen didn't even get to see it before it became a 'one-cut plum'!
In this life, he absolutely could not miss it.
A day later, public opinion online fermented, and many filmmakers in Hong Kong and the mainland spoke out.
Chen Jiashang: "genius gunner is an imaginative and highly creative film. Not being able to be screened in mainland China is definitely a loss for movie fans."
Tony Leung Ka-fai: "genius gunner has no problems. In my opinion, this film will definitely be a huge hit."
Below Li Chen's blog, even more acquaintances, unafraid of stirring up trouble, added fuel to the fire.
Jiang Wen: "Little brother, your big brother is still filming! A toast from afar!"
Li Chen had a headache, but still replied to Jiang Wen: "You'd better focus on filming! It's been over a year, and you still haven't finished!"
Jiang Wen called directly, laughing heartily over the phone: "What? Are you anxious?"
Li Chen helplessly: "Yes, yes, yes, I'm dying of anxiety! Will I live to see the sun also rises?"
Jiang Wen was overjoyed: "Don't worry, next year, next year I'll definitely let you see it!"
Li Chen was truly speechless with Jiang Wen; only Jiang Wen could make an art film like an epic blockbuster.
After hanging up, Li Chen finally called Director Tong.
Within this day, netizens didn't care about the age of the review committee members, nor would they give them a pass because of their age.
Adopting an impartial attitude, they heavily criticized the review committee for nitpicking, asking if everyone had to watch Black Cat Detective every day to be satisfied?