Chapter 157 Eternal Protagonist
Wu Ershan was straightforward and did not cover for Yang Mi.
"Her acting is still a bit superficial; she needs to calm down and put effort into studying it."
Yang Mi's mouth twitched, her expression a little awkward.
"Understood, Director Wu, senior, I will seriously study it."
Li Chen looked at Yang Mi, smiled, and nodded, saying nothing.
It was Zhou Xun next to him who spoke up for Yang Mi: "Director Li, Mi Mi is quite diligent, but she just needs time to grow."
Zeng Li and Hu Ge couldn't interject.
Yang Mi stood uneasily, like a child who had done something wrong.
She could feel that her senior came to visit the set mainly because he was worried about her.
Li Chen didn't pick up on Zhou Xun's words, nor did he comfort Yang Mi.
Instead, he said to Wu Ershan: "You guys continue; just pretend I'm not here."
Li Chen observed the set for an afternoon.
Yang Mi's performance could be summarized in four words: bland as water.
This wasn't something that could be helped by reasoning with her, appealing to her emotions, or moving her with logic.
If she couldn't see her own problems, no one could help her.
After filming wrapped for the evening, Yang Mi walked up to Zhou Xun, her spirits low: "Sister Xun, is senior angry? He didn't say a word to me."
Zhou Xun smiled slightly: "Director Li just has that temperament. If he doesn't talk to you, you can take the initiative to talk to him."
"If you don't take the initiative, are you waiting for Director Li to? Do you think you're Yifei?"
"Sigh!"
Yang Mi sighed helplessly, a faint smile on her face.
She wondered: What would senior do if Yifei encountered such a situation?
Not far away, Zeng Li finally found an opportunity to approach Li Chen and strike up a conversation.
Li Chen encouraged her with a few words, then walked away with Wu Ershan.
In the afternoon, he reviewed the previously shot footage.
He already had an idea: "Director Wu, Yang Mi's crying scene, reshoot it tomorrow."
"If it's still like this, then cut this part!"
Wu Ershan was stunned, and it took him a while to say: "I understand, Director Li. Actually, this crying scene is optional; cutting it won't affect anything."
Li Chen nodded: "It's fine. Go call Yang Mi over; I'll chat with her for a bit."
Yang Mi felt inexplicably uneasy when she heard her senior was looking for her.
Looking at Yang Mi, who slowly walked over, looking like a primary school student who had done something wrong.
Li Chen found it quite amusing: "Why that expression? I'm not going to scold you. Come walk with me."
Yang Mi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slightly: "Okay."
"Mi Mi, I just told Director Wu that your crying scene before death will be reshot tomorrow."
"If there's still no improvement, then that scene will be cut."
"Ah! Why cut it, senior?"
"Why cut it? Don't you know yourself?"
Yang Mi's face darkened, feeling an inexplicable grievance in her heart.
This scene had been NG'd over a dozen times, but ultimately, it was all for naught because of a single word from her senior.
All her hard work before was in vain.
Li Chen observed her expression: "Feeling wronged, are you?"
Yang Mi lowered her eyelids and remained silent.
Li Chen chuckled: "That's still better than your acting being a target for others to pick apart when the movie is released."
Yang Mi was silent for a while before looking up and saying: "Senior, am I really that bad?"
"If that's the case, why did you sign me in the first place?"
Li Chen paused slightly, not expecting Yang Mi to ask such a question.
It caught him a bit off guard.
Yes, why did he sign Yang Mi, who had no acting skills, back then?
Should he tell her?
You will become hugely popular sooner or later.
What I value is your ability to make money.
Li Chen couldn't help but laugh: "When I sign people, I comprehensively evaluate their potential in all aspects."
"Even if you can't become a powerful, skilled actress like Gong Li or Zhou Xun."
"I still believe that with your personal conditions."
"Sooner or later, you will become hugely popular, just like what I said to the media before about the difference between an actor and a star?"
"I have never doubted that you would become a big star. But I am not satisfied with you merely becoming a star, becoming an idol."
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Yang Mi stared blankly at her senior.
She never knew that her senior thought so highly of her.
And had such high expectations for her?
Looking at Yang Mi, who was looking up at him in a daze.
Li Chen thought for a moment and then said: "Alright, don't look at me like that. I'll talk to Wu Ershan."
"That scene won't be cut. Good or bad, the audience will rate it. Perhaps this isn't a bad thing, at least for you."
Yang Mi felt a little sour in her nose and softly said: "Senior, I will take tomorrow's reshoot seriously."
Li Chen burst out laughing, and Yang Mi herself felt a little embarrassed, her face slightly flushed.
At this moment, Yang Mi finally showed a bit of a girl's delicate side.
Li Chen didn't stay long in the snowy region.
He returned to the capital early the next morning.
Liu Yifei picked him up at the airport.
After exiting the airport's VIP channel, they got into the car.
The couple, who hadn't seen each other for several days, couldn't help but kiss passionately in the car.
Miss Liu's familiar scent made Li Chen, who had been like a monk for a few days, impatient.
"Drive! Home! Xixi! Hurry, I can't wait."
Miss Liu tossed her head and put on her sunglasses.
She deliberately didn't grant his wish: "I won't. I'll drive slowly. Someone was embracing left and right in Venice. He didn't even come home, just went to see Yang Mi."
"Now you remember me? Too late!"
Li Chen laughed heartily, leaned towards Miss Liu's face, and kissed her again.
Still not satisfied, he said: "Did Shu Chang report on me again? I lived a more ascetic life than a monk in Venice. Where was I embracing left and right?"
Liu Yifei drove and said: "Don't wrongly accuse Changchang. Your photos with Scarlett at the hotel are all over the internet. Do you think I didn't see them?"
"Hey! What do you mean? That was just a cheek kiss. Should I have pushed her away? That would be too impolite."
"Besides, foreigners can only be admired from afar, not up close."
"Otherwise, just the fine hair on their skin would scare you away."
Liu Yifei couldn't help but burst out laughing: "How can you talk about people like that? She's at least the top of the global top 100 sexiest actresses."
Li Chen's mouth was as if smeared with honey, and he chuckled: "In my eyes, let alone the whole world, even the sexiest person in the entire universe, there is only you."
Liu Yifei listened impassively, stepped on the accelerator, and with a whoosh, the Porsche shot forward.
When they got home, Liu Yifei parked the car.
As Li Chen was about to get out, Liu Yifei unbuckled her seatbelt and directly straddled Li Chen's legs.
Li Chen was stunned: "Xixi, what are you doing?"
Liu Yifei's face flushed: "Stop acting with me. In Hollywood, who was misbehaving in the car?"
Li Chen laughed heartily: "You saw through me, then I won't be polite."
The Porsche's seat slowly reclined.
The familiar music in the car played again.
Mixed with the gasps of a man and a woman, it was intoxicating.
After a long time, Li Chen finally had his fill.
Looking at Miss Liu, with her fair skin, trembling slightly before him.
Li Chen suddenly felt that this scene seemed familiar.
Right, it was that terrifying dream that night.
Miss Liu sat up and deftly put on her underwear and a yellow bubble skirt.
She said meaningfully: "Consider yourself honest!"
Looking at Miss Liu's flushed face, Li Chen didn't immediately understand the meaning of her words.
The two got dressed and got out of the car, then went home.
After entering the house, the two of them took a mandarin duck bath together.
In the large bathtub that could accommodate three people.
Miss Liu leaned lazily against Li Chen, not wanting to move at all.
Her fingers tapped up and down on Li Chen's chest like playing a piano.
Li Chen held her and remembered something: "Xixi, you and Shu Chang will start training on the 15th."
Liu Yifei looked up: "Archery?"
Li Chen nodded in response.
To film "draw the bow, Father" well, Li Chen specifically hired a retired archer.
To provide formal archery training for Liu Yifei and Shu Chang.
Originally, Li Chen planned to choose a different actress for the role of the younger sister.
But a single sentence from Miss Liu made Li Chen abandon that idea.
In reality, the two were already close friends, like sisters.
Playing sisters in the movie would not feel out of place at all.
The next day, he returned to the company.
Another pile of invitations lay before Li Chen.
What kind of fashion ceremony? Golden Horse Awards ceremony.
If Li Chen remembered correctly, this should be the second time the Golden Horse Awards had invited him.
Last time, he had already clearly stated.
This year, he would only go to the Hundred Flowers, not the Golden Horse Awards.
But this year, a mainland delegation from the Film Bureau suddenly decided not to attend the Golden Horse Awards.
The reasons were varied.
Some mainland actors said that previous Golden Horse Awards had discriminated against mainland actors.
Not only did they have to pay a deposit for accommodation, but they also had to pay out of their own pockets.
The Golden Horse Awards Organizing Committee flatly denied it.
Both sides bickered, and even Zhou Xun hesitated whether to go.
Li Chen told her not to worry about these things and just go.
After all, if he remembered correctly, Zhou Xun was still going to win a Golden Horse Best Actress award this year.
Anyone could choose not to go, but he still had to go.
In half a month, "father's love is like a mountain 2" will be released.
Li Chen, without rest, took Andy Lau and Fan Bingbing, the main actors, to make the final sprint for "father's love is like a mountain 2."
The premiere of "the banquet" was said to have received an enthusiastic response.
The audience praised it universally; whether it was the music or the story, there was nothing bad about it.
Fortunately, Li Chen was still in Hollywood during the premiere.
Otherwise, if he had gone, Li Chen would have made Xiao Gang Pao embarrassed again.
Making him go against his conscience to praise Feng Xiaogang's bad work, he would rather cheer for Poet.
Poet, who had been silent for several months.
Finally, he came out again.
This time, Chen Kaige finally returned to a script-centric approach.
The dismal box office performance of "the promise" in North America should have made Chen Kaige sober up.
Currently, Chen Kaige is in the United States with screenwriter Yan Geling, researching the script for forever enthralled.
This is probably Chen Kaige's painful introspection, amidst the barrage of criticism for the promise.
He realized that he had deviated from the most fundamental element of film: the script.
This time, he put a lot of effort into meticulously polishing the script, striving for perfection.
The first stop for promotion was the magic city.
The day they arrived in the magic city was also the first day of the national release of "the banquet."
Li Chen, along with the main actors, once again came to the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where "father's love is like a mountain 2" was filmed.
The multi-functional screening hall, reserved in advance and capable of accommodating 750 people, was already packed with media and movie fans.
Outside the hotel, there were also many Andy Lau fans who had come from all over the country.
In a commercial car heading to the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Fan Bingbing had returned to her normal state.
She seemed to have completely forgotten about what happened that night.
Li Chen naturally wouldn't bring it up either.
In the car, Andy Lau and Fan Bingbing sat together.
Li Chen sat alone on one side.
Behind them sat Chen Baoguo and Chen Shu.
Andy Lau turned to Li Chen and smiled: "Li Chen, the media will definitely give you a hard time today."
"With 'the banquet' being released nationwide, the media will definitely want to hear your evaluation of 'the banquet.'"
Chen Baoguo and the other two also smiled.
Now everyone knew Li Chen's style.
He always dared to speak his mind, dared to speak the truth!
Often, a single sentence could ignite the entertainment industry.
Fan Bingbing smiled charmingly: "Chen Ge, you must be merciful with your words today."
"After all, 'the banquet' is produced by our company. Even for my sake, please consider me, a Huayi Brothers person."
"Otherwise, if the media asks later, how will I face them?"
"Don't worry, if they ask me about 'the banquet,' I haven't seen 'the banquet' yet."
"What can I evaluate? Besides, good or bad doesn't need my evaluation. It's released nationwide today, and movie fans will give the correct answer."
Li Chen thought well, but wishes are beautiful, and reality is stark.
As soon as they got out of the car at the hotel entrance.
They heard Andy Lau's fans shouting frantically.
Fortunately, there were many security guards maintaining order.
Otherwise, it would have been difficult for them to break free from the encirclement of the fans.
They made their way to the multi-functional screening hall.
The movie fans were quite cooperative, but how could the media let go of Li Chen and the main actors?
The questions they asked were more cunning than the last.
They asked Andy Lau: "Hua Zai, do you think the box office of 'the banquet' will be higher or 'father's love is like a mountain 2'?
How could this question stump the highly emotionally intelligent Andy Lau?
Andy Lau smiled and said: "Xiao Gang and Li Chen are both top-notch directors in China."
"If you ask me whose box office will be lower among their two movies?"
"I will definitely answer that no one will be low."
"But if you ask me whose box office will be higher between their two movies?"
"Then I can only tell you, we'll know after comparing."
The scene erupted in laughter.
Andy Lau was still Andy Lau.
Then came the question for Fan Bingbing.
It made Fan Bingbing even more helpless.
"Bingbing, your contract with Huayi Brothers is about to expire. Is your next company Rongchen Film and Television?"
Fan Bingbing sighed inwardly; this question had been bothering her for a long time recently.
Whether it was the media, Huayi Brothers, or her agent.
Basically, someone would ask her the same question every day.
She could only reply: "My contract expires next year, and I haven't considered these issues yet."
After speaking, she glanced at Li Chen, intentionally or unintentionally.
There wasn't much to dig into with Chen Shu and Chen Baoguo.
The media also didn't go head-to-head.
Finally, it was Li Chen's turn.
No one expected the media to ask: "In the Oscar nomination battle between 'the banquet' and 'curse of the golden flower,' who do you favor more?"
Li Chen knew the answer to this question with his eyes closed; it was definitely Zhang Yimou.
The main actors all looked at Li Chen.
In their opinion, Li Chen should not offend anyone.
Just like Andy Lau, play tai chi.
But Li Chen was not that kind of person.
He wasn't afraid of offending people, and today, he was destined to snatch the headlines from "the banquet" again.
The scene was quiet, and everyone's eyes were on Li Chen.
The media, of course, hoped that Li Chen would be as sharp-tongued as ever.
Li Chen had never disappointed them.
"I haven't seen either film, so I can't comment on who will win."
"But even if one wins, what then?"
"Since the sudden emergence of 'hero' in 2002. Our Chinese filmmakers seem to have fallen into a misconception."
"What misconception? It's the misconception that only so-called big productions can contend for an Oscar."
"A massive cast, a luxurious production team, and high production costs."
"But precisely the most important element, the script, often becomes the weakest link."
"So in recent years, Chinese films have only had 'hero' nominated for Best Foreign Language Film."
"And that was just a nomination."
"The root cause is actually very simple."
"How can you win by comparing your weakness to the other party's strength?"
"Our strength lies in scriptwriting. Director Yi Mou and their award-winning works at the three major European film festivals, not a single one of them won by relying on so-called big productions."
"The script is the main line; everything else is supplementary."
"If the direction is wrong, no matter how many times you try, it's all in vain!"
Li Chen's astonishing remarks stirred up a thousand waves.
The media and the other main creators were all stunned.