Chapter 49: The Altered painted skin
nightclub earned 13 million at the box office in its first week.
Xu Zheng was very excited on the phone.
After all, this was his first independent directorial film.
Li Chen estimated the final box office would be around 30 million.
The final domestic box office for new world settled at 69.5 million.
Hong Kong box office was 56.4 million.
It surpassed infernal affairs' 55 million from back then.
Emperor Entertainment Group reaped both fame and fortune from this.
Yang Shoucheng and Li Chen's communication became more frequent.
Yang Mi's sudden visit also somewhat impressed Li Chen.
Visiting Zhou Xun was a perfectly legitimate reason.
Li Chen forgot that she and Zhou Xun were both at Rongxinda.
One could say these two really had a connection.
If Li Chen remembered correctly, next year, once Zhou Xun's contract expired,
after signing with Huayi Brothers, Zhou Xun's agent, Zeng Jia, would become Yang Mi's agent.
Li Chen couldn't refuse; Da Mi Mi was also an important part of his future entertainment empire.
Her super strong money-making ability made her stand out among the '85-born' actresses.
Perhaps the role of Que'er in painted skin 2 was destined for Yang Mi.
On set, Yang Mi smiled happily upon seeing Zhou Xun.
She raised her hand and called out, “Sister Xun, I'm here to visit.”
Zhou Xun glanced at Li Chen.
She smiled and said, “As long as Director Li agrees, even your Sister Xun has to watch Director Li's expression on set.”
Yang Mi looked at Li Chen piteously, “Director Li, what do you think?”
Li Chen didn't respond to Zhou Xun's teasing.
He swept his gaze over Yang Mi and said, “Since you're already here, I'm not that unreasonable.”
“It's good that you're visiting, perhaps you also have a connection with painted skin.”
Yang Mi was stunned, what did he mean?
Zhou Xun, however, reacted quickly because she had read the script and knew the ending.
The lizard demon is destroyed, and Xiao Wei sacrifices her inner core.
She narrowly escapes death through a method of 'transplanting flowers and connecting trees,' but is severely weakened.
Li Chen had made changes to the script of painted skin.
After all, this painted skin was to be released globally, so logical flaws had to be corrected.
It shouldn't cater to Western values, but it also shouldn't destroy common sense!
Otherwise, according to the ending of the previous painted skin,
Wang Sheng, after realizing that the one he loved in his heart was actually a demon,
and that his deeply loved wife and battle-harded brother had died tragically because of the demon's mischief,
could still utter such a ridiculous line: 'I love you, but I already have Pei Rong.'
This screenwriter truly had an open mind, a loyal proponent of human-beast relationships.
Such idiotic words could only fool himself and those infatuated men and women.
Li Chen felt no emotion at all when he watched it at the time.
You were deceived by a demon, leading to your family's ruin, and after understanding the truth,
any normal person
shouldn't they team up with Pang Yong and Xia Bing to seek revenge and eliminate the demon?
When Xiao Wei was a beauty, it was fine that you were captivated by her looks.
But later, when you knew she wasn't human, didn't you feel disgusted?
Foreigners have brains.
Li Chen would never be like Xiao Gang Pao.
Attaching personal biases to Hamlet.
The result was a ludicrous the banquet.
Both were adaptations of Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Why could the American Lion King achieve global fame?
Yet the banquet was lambasted mercilessly.
The fundamental reason was this:
The Lion King spoke of human nature, which resonated globally.
Whereas the banquet spoke of ancient Chinese social customs, conspiracies, and was mixed with Xiao Gang Pao's 'black humor' sketch-like style.
Even locals didn't like it, let alone expecting foreigners to accept it.
Zhou Xun smiled, “Director Li means this painted skin will have a sequel?”
Yang Mi immediately understood and excitedly said, “Senior, I, I…”
painted skin was to be released globally.
Yang Mi was so excited that she stammered for a moment.
Her usual quick wit was nowhere to be found.
Li Chen didn't pick up on their conversation, directly saying, “Stop talking nonsense, get ready, next scene.”
Yang Mi suppressed her excitement and greeted the seniors in the crew.
“Gu Tianle is so handsome, almost as handsome as Nicholas Tse,” Yang Mi thought to herself.
Today's scene wasn't difficult, but it was expensive!
Li Chen added, “Xun Ge, try to get it in one take. This skin of yours costs 900,000 per sheet.”
“If you have to take it off two or three times, I won't be able to sleep tonight!”
Zhou Xun didn't dare to laugh loudly; with the skin on, it took six hours just for makeup.
Suppressing her laughter, she said, “Don't worry, Director Li.”
“Do you think this skin feels good on? I don't want to suffer another six hours either.”
Yang Mi gasped in surprise, quietly asking Tang Yan, whom she had just met, “This skin costs 900,000 per sheet?”
Tang Yan nodded, “It's imported from abroad. My reaction was similar to yours when I first heard it.”
Yang Mi didn't dare to say another word.
Everyone on set held their breath; this shot had to be done in one take.
“Action!”
After the skin-shedding, special effects would be needed.
Li Chen had also considered this; it wouldn't be like the Hong Kong version.
After shedding her skin, she would be a white fox with ruby-red eyes.
Unlike the previous painted skin, where it looked like a tangled mess of wires.
Demons are demons, and ghosts are ghosts.
Since the script was changed to a demon, it should just reveal its true form.
This way, it would be reasonable for Pei Rong not to be so scared when she saw it.
In the next scene, Li Bingbing is poisoned by the demon.
She turns into a terrifying, green-faced, fanged creature, neither human nor demon.
After filming a scene, Li Bingbing complained, “Seeing myself like that, I even scared myself.”
“Director Li, please get it in one take. I really don't have the courage to look at myself again.”
Yang Mi stayed on set for one day and then left.
Before leaving, she bravely expressed her feelings to Li Chen, “Senior, if painted skin has a sequel, please don't forget me.”
Li Chen was speechless; she hadn't even enrolled yet, and 'Senior' was already rolling off her tongue!
By mid-March, nightclub had grossed 29.25 million after one month of release.
By this calculation, several films produced by Rongchen Film and Television had all made a fortune.
Entering April.
Hou Hongliang called him, saying that after nearly half a year of preparation, the script was completed.
Hou Hongliang planned to hold a press conference for the start of filming, as it was the company's first major production.
It couldn't be done quietly.
Li Chen also thought so; he had already planned it in his mind.
“Old Hou, painted skin is almost wrapped up. I'll head back to Beijing these two days.”
“Since we're doing it, let's do it big. That dae jang geum isn't ridiculously popular, right?”
“Then let's pour a bucket of cold water on it to make it sober up.”
“Just kill two birds with one stone, and give Crossing the Guandong an unprecedented GG!”
Hou Hongliang became agitated, “What do you mean, Li Chen?”
Li Chen smiled and didn't say much on the phone, only saying he would elaborate when he returned to Beijing.
Recently, Mango TV had confirmed that it had purchased the exclusive domestic broadcast rights for dae jang geum at a high price.
Now, it was just waiting for approval to meet the audience this year.
dae jang geum's DVDs were already sold out in the market.
This time, Li Chen was going to stir up a storm.
Whoever drowned, deserved it.
He called Yang Siwei, asking her to prepare for the Crossing the Guandong's press conference.
Li Chen had no other demands, just two points: the momentum must be big, and the attention must be sufficient!
The next day
Southern Weekly News
The press conference for the historical drama Crossing the Guandong, co-invested by China Film Group Corporation and Rongchen Film and Television with 32 million yuan, will be held soon at the Political Consultative Conference Auditorium.
Sina Entertainment News
Ms. Yang Siwei, Publicity Director of Rongchen Film and Television, accepted an interview with our reporter.
The creation of the Crossing the Guandong script was based on more than four months of on-site visits by a large number of crew members.
The first-hand information obtained was revised three times.
It strives to respect history and do its best to restore that true historical period.
Huaxia Daily Report
Our special correspondent interviewed Ms. Yang Siwei, Director of Rongchen Film and Television, on site.
“Compared to the super high ratings achieved by the Korean drama dae jang geum in South Korea and various Southeast Asian countries,”
“Does Crossing the Guandong have the confidence to be a pioneer among domestic dramas going global?”
Yang Siwei's heart rate accelerated, but she smiled calmly.
“The two are not comparable. One is a serious historical drama, and the other is a cultural plunder with malicious intent.”
The reporter was stunned for a moment.
It wasn't until a staff member reminded her that she realized this was a live interview.
“Director Yang, 'malicious intent,' 'cultural plunder,' are you referring to the drama dae jang geum?”
The reporter was trembling slightly.
She felt that today's news was going to be a bombshell.
And a huge one!
dae jang geum, praised throughout Southeast Asia and every country,
was actually disparaged with eight weighty words: 'malicious intent' and 'cultural plunder'!
If not handled well, Rongchen Film and Television could be condemned by thousands and get into huge trouble.
After all, this drama had already been introduced by Mango TV, a leading satellite TV station in China.
The public also spoke highly of dae jang geum.
Was this young Director Yang simply young and inexperienced, speaking without thinking, or was it deliberate?
Yang Siwei was also terribly nervous at this moment.
She silently prayed: 'Boss, please don't mess with me. If you screw this up, I, Yang Siwei, will have died before even achieving success!'
Yang Siwei smiled and said, “That's right, these eight words represent Rongchen Film and Television.”
“Director Yang, can you explain the basis for these eight words?”
Yang Siwei smiled and said, “Let's not for now. On the day of the Crossing the Guandong press conference, Director Li will explain it, which might be more credible.”
“Let's all look forward to that press conference.”
A single stone stirred up a thousand ripples.
Huaxia Daily not only held an extraordinary position domestically.
More importantly, it was a window for the world to understand China.
Yang Siwei's statement was like a powder keg.
One wrong move and Rongchen Film and Television could be blown to smithereens.
Thanks to everyone for voting, thank you.