Chapter 173: The Definition of an Idol
Li Chen's words caught Fan Bingbing, who had always held herself in high regard, off guard.
She had stubbornly believed that she held some weight in Chen Ge's heart.
She never expected to be hit with such a blow today.
Fan Bingbing quickly adjusted her mood.
No matter what, at least Li Chen promised to consider her for suitable roles in the future.
Watching the two in front of her, as intimate as an immortal couple.
Fan Bingbing felt both envy for Liu Yifei and a touch of jealousy.
“Yifei, Chen Ge is so good to you, you must protect him well and not let any female demon snatch him away!” Fan Bingbing teased, her mood instantly changing.
Liu Yifei glanced at Fan Bingbing, and their eyes seemed to spark across the air.
“Don’t worry, even if Tang Sanzang goes through eighty-one trials, he will still be Tang Sanzang.”
“In the end, all the female monsters will just be deluding themselves.”
Fan Bingbing choked, and Li Chen also looked at Miss Liu with a hint of pleasant surprise.
Her mouth was sharper than his!
Fan Bingbing smiled awkwardly, then turned and walked away.
Only then did Li Chen laugh, “Your mouth is getting sharper and sharper.”
Miss Liu snorted, “It’s all because you forced me to be!”
The Premiere started on time.
It was an uneventful movie; everyone was familiar with the plot, which had been clearly explained in the novel.
With those years as a precedent, so young wasn't expected to bring any surprises.
However, with the support of original fans and the addition of popular stars like Hu Ge, the box office wouldn't be too low; at least, surpassing 100 million shouldn't be a problem.
The host on stage began to joke with Andy Lau.
“Hua Zai, this is your first time as a producer, how does it feel?”
Andy Lau laughed, “It doesn’t feel great, it’s much harder than being an actor.”
The host smiled, “father's love 2 achieved a good box office of 162 million yuan, and netizens are all joking that they can no longer call you a box office poison.”
“We all know that the previous buried also had unsatisfactory box office results.”
“Netizens even once declared that no one could take away your title of box office poison.”
“But now, Director Li has taken it off.”
“This should be your highest-grossing film to date. Do you have anything to say to Director Li?”
Andy Lau looked at Li Chen, who was smiling below the stage.
“Li Chen has profound skill; he helped me detoxify, and I must thank him.”
“He not only helped me shed the label of box office poison but also made me a qualified investor. I finally don't have to lose money.”
“From now on, you don’t have to say I’m bankrupt every now and then.”
The host and guests all laughed.
The host then threw the question to Li Chen.
“Speaking of this, I’d also like to ask a question on behalf of the vast number of netizens.”
“Director Li, it seems that ever since buried, Hua Zai has been your most frequent collaborator among Hong Kong artists.”
“Whether it’s for roles or investments, many of Rongchen Film and Television’s films feature Hua Zai.”
“Are you also a fan of Hua Zai? But I remember you only publicly admitted to being a fan of Miss Maggie Cheung.”
Li Chen looked at the host on stage, then took the microphone.
Such a question couldn't stump him.
“That’s right, I’m not Hua Ge’s movie fan!”
“But I am his fan!”
Andy Lau’s movie fans and fans in the audience burst into laughter, and applause thundered.
Once the applause died down a little, Li Chen continued, “Hua Ge is an idol in my heart.”
“His character and acting skills are well-known.”
“The most commendable thing is that he has always worked hard to do meaningful things within his capacity for Hong Kong films.”
“As fellow Chinese filmmakers, I certainly have to support him.”
“The two words ‘idol’ are not just about the number of fans on the surface.”
“Only those who, like Hua Ge, persistently and genuinely work for Chinese cinema, can truly be considered idols and worthy of the title.”
The host interjected, “Director Li's summary is truly excellent!”
“I think, in the future, the standard for defining an idol should be whether they have a fan like Director Li.”
The guests present all laughed and applauded.
The host then turned his attention to Yang Mi.
“Mi Mi, this is your first big-screen representative work. Do you regret that the male lead isn't Director Li?”
“After all, in Director Li’s other novel, he and Yifei play the male and female leads.”
Yang Mi smiled, “No regrets. Senior’s fame is too great, and his aura is too strong. I feel pressured acting opposite him.”
“So you have no pressure acting opposite Pan Yueming?”
“Then I must ask Director Li. Director Li, the movie is over. How do you evaluate Mi Mi’s acting skills?”
Yang Mi looked at Li Chen with some trepidation.
Wang Zhonglei chuckled inwardly from below the stage. He wanted to see if Li Chen would lie through his teeth.
Even he could tell how green Yang Mi’s acting was; if he were to evaluate it, it would be two words: none.
Li Chen’s eyes, filled with a smile, swept over Yang Mi.
“Acting is something that requires systematic learning, accumulation of experience, and personal contemplation.”
“Yang Mi is very intelligent. She is a student and a newcomer, with a lot of room for growth.”
“I am always very tolerant of newcomers. They need time to grow, and I won't easily define them.”
“To be admitted to Beijing Film Academy with the top professional score is not simple in itself.”
“I never doubt whether Yang Mi will become popular or famous; that is beyond question.”
“My expectations for her are not low. As long as she is willing to settle down and hone her acting skills, she will eventually become a qualified actress.”
On stage, Yang Mi looked at Li Chen with wide eyes, a little emotional.
Many people in the audience were somewhat unconvinced.
Although Yang Mi's conditions were good, they hadn't reached an astonishing level.
Compared to actresses with outstanding looks like Fan Bingbing and Liu Yifei, she was not just a little bit behind.
Compared to acting powerhouses like Li Bingbing and Zhou Xun, she was even less comparable.
But no one dared to refute Li Chen’s words.
Now that one entered Rongchen Film and Television, no one doubted whether they would become famous.
Because they definitely would, it was just a matter of time.
The entertainment industry already had a title for Zhou Xun, Tang Yan, and Yang Mi: the three golden flowers of Rongchen Film and Television.
This title rivaled that of the four little dan actresses.
Zhou Xun was a stable super first-tier, Tang Yan had also joined the ranks of first-tier actresses, and now only Yang Mi remained.
The Premiere of so young concluded.
Reports from the event quickly appeared online.
Li Chen's definition of an idol and his comments on Yang Mi sparked heated discussion online.
“Xiao Li Zi’s speeches are always profound. Regarding the idol discussion, starting from Hua Zai, don’t just call anyone an idol anymore!”
“If Yang Mi wasn’t protected by Xiao Li Zi, she’d never get popular. That small square face of hers really looks like a Five-Spiced Beef Wrap from afar.”
“Is Xiao Li Zi spoiling Tang Yan and Yang Mi too much? Treating my fairy like air, only one movie released in a year. Is her boyfriend not trying anymore?!”
“The poster above, is your brain broken? Look at Chen Hong’s career path. The other half of a big director, she’s definitely heading towards a behind-the-scenes route.”
“Look at how well Producer Chen handles Poet. If she wants to act, she makes a cameo; if she doesn’t want to act, she manages the family film set. Tell your fairy to learn a thing or two!”