Chapter 56: Lingering Aftermath
Song Gou was quick to jump out, and even quicker to be slapped in the face.
In a single day, events turned around so quickly that people couldn't keep up.
Song Gou published an apology to Li Chen in newspapers and online posts.
“I believed rumors from a friend, and now that friend isn't answering his calls.”
“I hereby sincerely apologize to Director Li Chen. In the future, I will be more cautious in choosing friends and in my words and actions.”
The netizens' taunts were like adding insult to injury.
“I knew this wouldn't end well. Now that he's backed down, there's no show to watch.”
“It was never that interesting anyway. The two aren't in the same league. Didn't you see Director Li didn't even speak up?”
“He only bullies the powerless Yang Meiren and the ambiguously defined Golden Princess.”
A farce thus came to an end.
Yang Siwei set an example and pioneered a new approach for agents in the entertainment industry.
Previously, when faced with online rumors and defamation,
celebrities either ignored them or tried to manage public relations themselves.
No one had ever filed a lawsuit to court like Yang Siwei did.
Wang Jinghua also greatly admired Yang Siwei's decisiveness.
As expected of a top student from Communication University of China, she was indeed more professional than Wang Jinghua, who was a latecomer to the field.
As for the small maneuvers Yang Siwei made in private,
while Wang Jinghua admired them, she also respected Li Chen's judgment.
He was a bit young, but his potential was limitless.
However, he showed no interest in the olive branch she extended.
“Sister Hua, if it really went to court, do you think we could win?”
Fan Bingbing asked with interest.
Wang Jinghua's lips curved slightly: “Difficult!”
“But Siwei did the right thing. On this point, she saw things more clearly than I did.”
“It's not about whether you can win the lawsuit, but whether you file the lawsuit.”
“As long as you sue, you've already won in public opinion.”
“She is indeed a top student from Communication University of China; her crisis management is very professional.”
Fan Bingbing didn't respond. The rift between Sister Hua and the company was almost public knowledge.
Wang Zhonglei had already declared that Sister Hua's nanny-style agent approach was outdated.
Without Sister Hua, Huayi Brothers would still be Huayi Brothers.
Although Sister Hua was her benefactor,
compared to Huayi Brothers, Fan Bingbing still felt it was better to lean on a big tree for shade.
Yang Siwei's crisis management this time also made a name for herself.
She was gaining momentum as the top agent of the new generation in the industry.
Miss Liu called, teasing him for being too serious.
There was no need to bother with those rumor-mongers.
Li Chen secretly chuckled. Miss Liu was still too naive.
Without his intervention, Song Gou would have bitten her sooner or later.
A single press conference brought more than just the complete suppression of the South Korean drama dae jang geum by the review committee.
At the same time, a wave of resistance against the Korean Wave swept across the internet.
Li Chen became the target of verbal attacks from South Korean media.
However, they couldn't find any reason to refute the evidence Li Chen presented at the press conference.
So, it was all bark and no bite, and even the official channels didn't get involved.
Conversely, in China, Li Chen became the foremost figure in expelling Korean influence, and his positive image resonated deeply with the public.
The promise from the Huaxia Daily official was very timely.
The next day, the English edition of Huaxia Daily published an article titled “Chinese Culture in dae jang geum.”
It detailed the origins and development of Chinese culture involved in dae jang geum on the front pages of its culture and lifestyle sections.
Furthermore, the Huaxia Daily website's homepage updated information on the origins of traditional Chinese culture for a week.
This was like stepping on the tail of dae jang geum's production company and South Korea.
Their original intention was to use dae jang geum to create a false image of South Korea as a major cultural power in the world.
Now, they had become complete, ostrich-like thieves.
Even the South Korean government couldn't sit still and put pressure on MBC.
MBC, unable to withstand the pressure, could only hold a press conference.
“Some of the plot in dae jang geum is fictional; this was necessary for scriptwriting.”
“The drama indeed involved many Chinese elements, but we also had our own innovations.”
“MBC absolutely had no intention of misleading; we just felt it wasn't necessary to deliberately mention it.”
“From beginning to end, dae jang geum never mentioned the origin of the culture.”
“Because in our eyes, culture knows no borders.”
Listen, they are implying that we are narrow-minded for setting boundaries for culture.
There was no need for the government to get involved.
Chinese netizens completely outmatched the Korean side, immediately launching a barrage of sarcasm.
“In your eyes, culture indeed knows no borders, because you have never had any culture from beginning to end.”
“Why don't you fabricate a storyline where American soldiers bully your women? Wouldn't that resonate more?”
“You can create bee sting acupuncture? Why don't you create the Ancient Tomb Sect?”
“No need to deliberately mention it? Of course not, only a fool would humiliate themselves.”
Han Dong called, laughing heartily: “You're quite famous now, kid. Even Director Wang praised you a few times.”
“Oh no, Han Dong, when you say it like that, I feel like it's not good news,” Li Chen also laughed.
“Hmph, who says it's not good news? The Directors' Association and the Screenwriters' Association came to me, hoping you'd join.”
Li Chen chuckled: “Han Dong, didn't I tell you before? Don't waste your breath.”
Han Sanping angrily said: “Suit yourself. I'm just relaying the message.”
“Your school will definitely talk to you about it too.”
“Who told you to make such a splash this time, gaining both fame and fortune?”
“If someone like you doesn't have a name listed in the association, aren't you slapping the association in the face?”
Li Chen changed the subject: “Han Dong, I'm about to board my flight. Let's talk about it when I go to Cannes at the beginning of the month.”
Li Chen hung up the phone. Han Sanping had also asked him if he wanted to travel to Cannes with the Wuji crew.
Li Chen refused without even thinking.
Chen Kaige treated Cannes as his home turf, spending a large sum to rent a castle to promote Wuji.
Getting involved with him and carrying his sedan chair? Only a madman would do that.
Bang! A newspaper was slammed onto the rectangular conference table.
“Television stations must not lose their bottom line for ratings!”
“Satellite TV channels should set an example.”
“Old Lu, this is what you said was fine?”
The conference room was filled with cadres from the Hubei-Guangdong General Bureau. When the big leader erupted, everyone below remained silent.
Seeing Old Lu's silence, some were happy, some were worried.
“That film reviewer, transfer him to logistics first!”
The big leader gave the order, and no one raised any objections.
Returning to the painted skin film set.
Everyone looked at Li Chen with a slightly different gaze.
Before, people mostly looked at Li Chen with awe.
After all, Li Chen's word was law on the set, and even the free-spirited Zhou Xun didn't dare to challenge him.
Now, there was an added layer of admiration, and everyone was all smiles.
Li Chen chuckled: “What, haven't seen me in a few days, and you don't recognize me anymore?”
Zhou Xun nodded seriously and laughed: “I feel the same way. How is it that after a few days apart, it feels like an eternity?”
Tang Yan stepped forward and continued: “Sister Xun, it's 'one day apart feels like three autumns.'”
Li Bingbing also teased: “Tangtang's vocabulary is precise!”
Zhou Xun playfully scolded: “Get out of here, you're the one who feels like three autumns have passed.”
The crew burst into laughter.
During the few days he was away, painted skin was essentially wrapped up under Wu Ershan's direction.
Only the final scene remained: the lizard demon's death and Xiao Wei's sacrifice of her core to escape.
The martial arts director was demonstrating to Tang Yan, who had never filmed a martial arts scene.
Compared to Zhao Wenzhuo, Zhou Zhaolong, and Gu Tianle, she was far behind.
However, her martial arts scenes were few, mainly focusing on the three male actors.
Accompanied by Wu Ershan's “Cut!”
Li Chen announced that painted skin had wrapped filming.