Chapter 194: April's Non-Stop Gossip
“the thieves” began its global promotion in April.
It will be released worldwide simultaneously on September 7th.
Liu Yifei, having undergone martial arts training in advance, started flying around the world with the thieves crew from April.
Tim called to say that the conjuring had started filming and that the release date had been set with Li Chen.
Tim also started running promotions with the thieves crew, while also assisting his boss, Fan Bingbing, wherever needed.
Li Chen, on the other hand, was at the company, overseeing the editing and post-production of pieta.
He was also pushing forward the progress of the message project.
The script had been submitted almost two months ago.
For this type of subject matter, there was more than one review department.
The propaganda department and other relevant departments all needed to review it.
Reviews often took at least two or three months.
So Li Chen first finalized the cast for draw the bow, Dad.
Besides Dilraba Dilmurat and Hazikizi, who were selected nationwide in advance.
For the parents' roles, specifically the mother's role, Li Chen had his future mother-in-law in mind: Miss Liu!
Liu Xiaoli, dressed in loose white loungewear, maintained her slender and graceful figure even at her age.
She was indeed a dancer.
“You want me to act?”
Miss Liu, holding a cup of coffee, was quite surprised.
Li Chen chuckled, “Auntie, the Queen Mother of the West is acting.”
“Does Yifei’s mother need to act? She already is!”
Liu Xiaoli thought about it and realized he was right. She hadn't expected that at nearly fifty years old.
She had consecutively appeared in two plays in a short period, which made her feel a bit amused.
“Can I do it, Li Chen?”
“The Queen Mother in that play was actually just one shot, which is why I agreed.”
“And I’ve read the script for your play; the mother’s role has quite a lot of screen time.”
Li Chen laughed, “Auntie, I can understand if you lack confidence in other roles.”
“But to play mother and daughter with Yifei, is there anyone else in this world more suitable than you?”
Liu Xiaoli smiled softly, “Your mouth is so sweet, no wonder my daughter was taken by you.”
Li Chen scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. Why did that sound so awkward?
It was only then that Liu Xiaoli felt Li Chen was a bit like a big boy.
“Then it’s settled, Auntie.”
“Alright, acting in one play is acting, and acting in two is acting. Since I agreed to outsiders, it wouldn't be right to not agree to you, one of my own.”
“But let’s be clear first, if I don’t act well, you absolutely must not consider our relationship and be too embarrassed to speak up.”
Li Chen smiled, “That’s for sure, Auntie.”
“Once we’re on set, in my eyes, there are only two types of people: actors and crew members.”
With Liu Xiaoli confirmed, Li Chen intended to cast Zhang Fengyi for the father’s role.
The next day, he went to the company and handed these matters over to Yang Siwei.
Yang Siwei looked as if she had something to say but was hesitant.
“What’s wrong? Look at you, are you going to resign or ask for a raise?” Li Chen asked, amused.
Yang Siwei said a little awkwardly, “Boss, Xiao Fan came to see me yesterday.”
Li Chen raised an eyebrow, waiting for Yang Siwei to continue.
Yang Siwei bit the bullet and said, “She wanted to give me some shares before, but I didn’t take them.”
“Yesterday, she told me she wants me to invest in the first drama her studio is producing.”
Li Chen scoffed, “I thought it was something serious. This is your personal matter; you don’t need to tell me.”
“But I’ll remind you of one thing: you are the Director of Publicity for Rongchen Film and Television.”
“Every word and action of yours will be implicitly taken by the media as representing my intentions.”
“I don’t want to hear any gossip about Rongchen Film and Television and Fan Bingbing Studio. Am I clear enough?”
Yang Siwei understood. Her boss was still her boss.
He said he wouldn't interfere with her private investments.
But with the big hat of Rongchen Film and Television’s Director of Publicity placed on her, would she still dare to invest?
“I understand, Boss.”
Li Chen waved his hand, dismissing Yang Siwei.
April brought one piece of gossip after another, all concerning the top female stars in the industry.
First, Zhou Xun and her boyfriend were caught by the media showing off their affection.
Then, Gao Yuanyuan and Xia Yu, who were filming the play “A Romantic Encounter,” took their play off-stage.
The media reported that Gao Yuanyuan spent the night at Xia Yu’s apartment, while Yuan Quan remained out of sight in the same city.
The gossip-loving public hadn't even had time to catch their breath.
Li Bingbing, who had called herself a lotus in the entertainment industry after her Hundred Flowers disappointment, was then exposed as having been married for many years.
Her mysterious husband behind the scenes was a high-level executive at a certain company, ten years her senior.
The two had already registered their marriage back in the 90s.
Most importantly, many neighbors in the high-end apartment complex where they lived confirmed that this was true.
Even Li Bingbing’s younger sister, her manager Li Xue, had her cell phone forwarded to an answering service.
Meanwhile, Fan Bingbing also refused to be left out, with her new manager, Mu Xiaoguang, emerging.
She even engaged in open and veiled jabs with her good sister, Xiao Yanzi, from “Princess Pearl.”
Fan Bingbing mocked Xiao Yanzi, saying she could only be a judge now, earning six hundred thousand in a few months.
Whereas she herself made one million in three days for a single drama.
Xiao Yanzi’s manager on the other side also didn't play the part of a quail.
She retorted to Fan Bingbing from afar, saying that if Xiao Yanzi accepted every role like her, she wouldn’t earn any less.
This chaotic fight left netizens dazzled and greatly satisfied.
Even the complete failure of Chinese films at the Cannes Film Festival, and Jiang Wen’s “the sun also rises” returning with nothing, didn't create much of a stir.
As for the casting change controversy in “red cliff” and the news of Chow Yun-fat being exposed by the producers, damaging his reputation, even fewer people paid attention to it.
On the last day of the month, Fan Bingbing posted a blog clarifying that she had never said those words.
Unfortunately, Xiao Yanzi’s manager had already taken it seriously.
Fan Bingbing could only leave behind eight characters: “Pierced by countless arrows, I am used to it.”
During this period, netizens naturally did not forget Li Chen, this encyclopedia of the entertainment industry.
Unfortunately, no matter how many messages netizens left on Li Chen and Liu Yifei’s blogs.
Li Chen never came forward to respond to the scandals or mutual bickering of these female stars.
Li Chen was on the phone with Jiang Wen.
This guy had spent almost two years making “the sun also rises,” and he thought its entry into Cannes was a sure thing.
But it was surprisingly eliminated, and over the phone, he expressed great dissatisfaction with the Cannes Film Festival.
He absolutely did not believe it was his own problem.
Li Chen didn't say anything. Jiang Wen wanted him to come and give his opinion at the premiere of “the sun also rises.”
Li Chen then chuckled, “If I go, I’ll be honest.”
Jiang Wen laughed heartily, “What I want is for you to speak the truth. I don’t believe you’re as unperceptive as those foreigners.”
Li Chen said, amused, “So if I say it’s not good, I’ll be just like those foreigners. That means if I go, I can only say good things.”
“We’ll see then. If I have time, I’ll go support you.”
As the two were on the phone, Yang Siwei came in, accompanied by Zhou Xun.
“I won’t chat with you anymore; someone’s here. Let’s talk another day.”
Li Chen hung up Jiang Wen’s call and joked with Xun Ge’er.
“Xun Ge’er, you seize any free time to fall in love, your displays of affection are dazzling!”
Zhou Xun smiled generously, “What, only Director Li and Yifei are allowed to provoke me every day?”
Li Chen raised a hand, “Alright, I didn’t say anything. What brings you two here?”
Yang Siwei smiled, “Boss, Director Xu wants to invite Xun Ge to star in his new drama.”
“But the script isn’t available yet, so I came to ask you.”
Li Chen said, amused, “If you can’t see the script, what are you telling me? Is Director Xu superior to Teacher Cao Baotian or something?”
Yang Siwei said to Zhou Xun, “See, I told you this would be the result. In the boss’s eyes, Director Xu and Teacher Baotian are no different.”
Zhou Xun looked at Li Chen and smiled, “Director Xu’s wife, Producer Shi, called me.”
“She briefly mentioned it’s a women’s drama, and she intends for me, Xu Jinglei, and Zhao Wei to star.”
“I’m quite interested.”
Li Chen nodded, “I told you before, I don’t object to you taking outside roles, but I need to review the script.”
“Siwei, contact Director Xu’s company.”
Although Li Chen said this, he had already mentally crossed it off.
Why would Zhou Xun get involved in a drama with Xiao Yanzi?
Li Chen took out the message script from the safe and placed it on the table.
“This is the script for the message. The two female leads will be played by you and Maggie Cheung. Pay attention, she’s not called ‘Goddess Maggie’ for nothing.”