At the end of July, shoplifters and initial d were released one after another.
shoplifters topped the 2005 domestic film box office chart for the first half of the year with 69.2 million tickets.
initial d ranked second.
After Han Sanping watched painted skin, he felt a slight sense of relief.
Fortunately, it was released on a different schedule than The Promise!
Wang Changtian, on the other hand, was extremely satisfied, completely unexpected that domestic films could produce such brilliant effects.
As soon as it was approved on the 20th, Li Chen contacted Marco and asked him to send someone to pick it up.
Li Chen had not yet told Han Sanping and Wang Changtian about participating in the Venice Film Festival.
On July 29, Tsui Hark's seven swords was released nationwide.
A few days ago, Tsui Hark held a media screening of the Mandarin version in BJ.
It was met with a barrage of negative reviews.
However, most of the media in the south who had seen the Cantonese version strongly supported the film.
The polarized word-of-mouth further attracted the attention of movie fans and added to the buzz for seven swords.
On August 1st, seven swords had been released for three days, and its box office reached 26 million.
Miss Liu insisted on dragging Li Chen to contribute to the box office for seven swords.
Li Chen had seen seven swords before, but he had long forgotten what it was about.
He re-watched this forgettable film with Miss Liu.
After leaving the cinema and getting into the car.
"Was it good?" Li Chen asked with a smile while driving.
"Hmm? I, I don't seem to have understood it..." Miss Liu frowned and smiled, a little unsure of herself.
After all, it was Tsui Hark's work.
Miss Liu suspected herself but didn't dare to suspect Tsui Hark.
Li Chen smiled and said, "It's right not to understand it. Look at the online reviews these past two days."
"The people's eyes are sharp."
Miss Liu happily said, "You didn't understand it either?"
"The story structure is loose, and the character development is weak."
"After watching it, besides remembering a few big-name stars, who remembers what it was about?" Li Chen said casually.
"It just took advantage of the schedule. shoplifters and initial d were released one after another."
"seven swords just enjoyed a good release window," Li Chen said with a smile.
This seven swords is very likely to lose money completely.
Miss Liu didn't reply, holding her cell phone and looking at it intently.
Sometimes she frowned, sometimes she showed disgust.
Li Chen glanced at her: "What are you looking at, Xixi?"
"Ah, nothing?" Miss Liu's face flushed.
Li Chen was even more curious, but he was driving at the moment, so he couldn't press the issue.
When they arrived home, Li Chen asked with a smile again, "What were you looking at in the car just now, that made you blush?"
Miss Liu impatiently handed her cell phone to Li Chen and said, "Here, here, here, see for yourself. You keep asking endlessly."
Li Chen took the cell phone suspiciously.
He glanced at it twice and lost interest, while Miss Liu, on the other hand, genuinely started to laugh.
"What, it's not good?"
Li Chen was speechless and helpless: "Do you think it's good?"
"Everyone says it's good," Miss Liu said with a smile.
"Not even as good as your little finger!" Li Chen replied.
Miss Liu's smile completely bloomed.
She had just been worried that her boyfriend would be like everyone else in the QQ group.
Unexpectedly, she had been worrying for nothing.
"This FHM is getting more and more bottomless. She's so skinny and her face is ordinary."
"How can that be considered sexy?"
Li Chen commented.
No wonder Miss Liu had blushed just now.
It turned out that a Star Girl had taken a series of wet body photos and appeared in FHM.
It was widely reported by the media, with praise overflowing.
Such as wet body temptation, extreme sexiness.
"These media outlets, in order to grab eyeballs, really speak nonsense with their eyes open."
Miss Liu smiled and said, "Is that what you really think? Not just to make me happy?"
Although Miss Liu's popularity was not inferior to that of the Star Girl now.
Her status certainly couldn't compare to hers, after all, she was a movie star and a Star Girl.
Li Chen was truly speechless: "Xixi, you shouldn't doubt!"
"Someone like that, even if she stood naked in front of me."
"I wouldn't be interested."
"Sexiness isn't just about exposing a few ounces of flesh."
"In my eyes, the three words Liu Yifei are sexiness," Li Chen said in an annoyed tone.
Ignoring his girlfriend's paranoia, he sat down on the sofa in a huff.
This girl, he didn't know if it was because the gap between them was getting bigger and bigger.
She had become a bit insecure and had been paranoid lately.
Liu Yifei saw that her boyfriend was angry, but what he said was like Cupid's arrow, hitting her bullseye.
She immediately transformed into a koala, wrapping her arms around her boyfriend's neck and swaying, saying, "Alright, alright, I believe you, don't be angry."
"Isn't it because I care about you that I worry?"
Li Chen felt dizzy from the swaying and continued, "Don't give me sweet talk, I don't fall for that."
Miss Liu pursed her lips and smiled, then leaned down and kissed him directly.
Ten breaths later, their lips parted.
"What about this one?" Miss Liu said charmingly, smoothing her slightly disheveled hair with a smile.
"Sigh! You win, I only fall for this. Let's continue."
Miss Liu, quick as a rabbit, jumped out of her boyfriend's arms and said with a charming smile, "Dream on."
Just as Li Chen was about to pounce like a hungry tiger, the phone rang. Miss Liu leaned over and saw it was Han Sanping.
Ten minutes earlier, a piece of news from the Venice Film Festival was pinned to the top of major portal websites.
It instantly overshadowed the buzz of the Star Girl's FHM feature.
The 62nd Venice Film Festival, scheduled to open on August 31st.
On August 1st, announced the list of finalists for this year's competition unit.
Mainland China's The Golden Palm director Li Chen's magical martial arts epic "painted skin,"
Hong Kong director Guan Jinpeng's "Red Bean,"
Taiwan Director Li An's "brokeback mountain," and 17 other films will compete for the Golden Lion award.
Following his Golden Palm award at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
Director Li is once again aiming for Venice.
Han Sanping and Wang Changtian, as the other two producers of painted skin.
Also learned of this news from their subordinates at the first opportunity.
Han Sanping's first reaction was that his subordinate must have made a mistake.
"Are you sure there's no mistake?" Han Sanping frowned.
As he spoke, he picked up the phone and muttered, "I was wondering why Li Chen suddenly cared about the review time for no reason."
"Han Dong, there's definitely no mistake. Phoenix Net, Sina, Sohu, and several other portal websites have all published this news."
"I just contacted the Venice Film Festival committee, and they also confirmed the news."
As soon as the call connected, Han Sanping laughed angrily.
"When did you hook up with Marco, you little brat?"
Han Sanping understood with a little thought.
It had only been approved on the twentieth.
Apart from internal recommendations, and apart from Marco Müller, this Chinese culture fanatic.
No one else had the ability and power to do this.
It was just that Li Chen was too tight-lipped.
Li Chen answered the phone, a little slow to realize: "Han Dong, what do you mean?"
"The Venice shortlist has been announced?"
"Go see for yourself."
After hanging up the phone, Han Sanping laughed to himself again.
Li Chen always gave people surprises inadvertently.
His anger just now was feigned.
To be nominated for Venice, it must be another profitable film.
Moreover, painted skin and shoplifters are different in subject matter. He had seen the finished film.
Whether it was the spectacular martial arts, the beautiful and exquisite visuals, or the acting skills of the several actors.
They were all impeccable. He had a premonition that painted skin might be even more profitable than shoplifters.
"Issue a few more announcements to build momentum for painted skin," Han Sanping instructed.
His subordinate smiled and said, "Han Dong, as soon as this news came out, I already sent them out."
"Rongchen Film and Television and Enlight Media are probably the same."
He was right, Wang Changtian's mood right now was as comfortable as soaking in a hot spring.
Not only was Enlight Media a producer of painted skin.
But it would also be the first major production primarily promoted and distributed by Enlight Media.
Upon learning of this news, he immediately called Li Chen.
"Brother, you kept it too quiet."
"As a producer, I actually learned this news from the internet."
"That's not right, brother," Wang Changtian said with a hearty laugh.
"Before there was a result, saying it would only be false joy," Li Chen also laughed.
"That's also true. Don't worry, brother, I guarantee that the promotion of painted skin this time will definitely be brilliant."
Wang Changtian was determined to do an excellent job with the promotion of painted skin.
"Okay, I certainly trust your strength, old brother. Let's not talk anymore for now, we'll talk when we meet."
Finally, it was a bit quieter.
Miss Liu pouted her cheeks pitifully: "When can I go to a film festival?"
Li Chen was a bit confused now, unable to tell when Miss Liu was acting.
The teacher he found for her had already started teaching her, accommodating Miss Liu's schedule.
Miss Liu also studied very diligently at home on weekdays.
As soon as she met him, she used all her learning achievements on him.
Laughter and scolding, all at her fingertips.
Just like her current expression, her small eyes were pitiful.
Her puffed cheeks made her look charming and cute.
It made Li Chen almost unwilling to doubt whether she was acting for him.
"It's not hard for you to go to a film festival. How about I make an official announcement?"
"Then I can openly take you to the film festival?"
"The two of us are a match made in heaven, like the Golden Palm, the palm of the Golden Palm."
Although Miss Liu was very satisfied with her boyfriend's attitude.
She also knew it wasn't appropriate now.
She had nothing but popularity at the moment.
Her boyfriend had already achieved fame and success.
She didn't want people to gossip.
"I don't care! Three years, no, five years, five years at the latest."
"I want to bring my work and walk the red carpet of the film festival with you openly."
Miss Liu declared confidently.
"If you can't do it, then from now on, don't even think about touching me again."
Miss Liu said with a sweet smile, hands behind her back.
"Heh! What a big threat! You've really found my weakness!" Li Chen laughed.
"It's a man's nature, a hero's nature. Don't you know that lust is a knife to the head?"
Li Chen sighed again!
Miss Liu immediately retorted, "What did you say?"
Li Chen's expression changed again, and he smiled, "I said, I will definitely complete the mission!"
In Li Chen's opinion, it would be too difficult to help his girlfriend win an award at one of the three major international film festivals within five years.
But it shouldn't be too difficult domestically. If worst comes to worst, he would also go with the flow this once.
As the two were chatting and laughing, Zhou Xun called again.
"Director Li, painted skin was nominated for Venice, and I, the lead actress, was actually told by someone else."
"Sister, I'm very unhappy. I'm calling just to tell you, I won't be going."
Zhou Xun's voice sounded somewhat cold and distant.
But she couldn't hide it from Li Chen.
"Is that so? I heard that the perhaps love crew is also going to Venice, and I heard it's even the closing film."
"If you're tough, then definitely don't go."
"Then I salute you as a man, Xun Ge."
Miss Liu covered her mouth and laughed, lightly hitting her boyfriend. How could he talk back to people like that!
"Ah, how did you know?" Zhou Xun instantly broke down.
Zhou Xun was actually extremely happy after learning that painted skin was nominated for Venice.
Among all the acting in painted skin.
Zhou Xun believed she was the most capable of competing for Best Actress.
Li Bingbing was still a bit lacking.
Moreover, in painted skin, she was the first female lead.
Both her screen time and the scope for her performance were more eye-catching than Pei Rong's.
Coupled with Li Chen's relentless pursuit of perfection on set.
Just for that one shot of surfacing from the water, she was soaked in water for half a day.
She was almost at her breaking point.
Now, looking back, everything was worth it.
How could she not go?
"Director Li, do you think I have a chance to be crowned in Venice?" Zhou Xun, exposed, stopped pretending.
She asked whatever came to mind.
After all, Li Chen was already The Golden Palm director.
His opinion, though not representative of the jury, must be quite professional.
"Who can say for sure? I haven't even seen the other nineteen films, so how can I comment?" Li Chen laughed.
"You need to be prepared, your film perhaps love will most likely be crushed by painted skin!" Li Chen added.
“Tch! They’re not the same type, there’s no comparison!” Zhou Xun said indifferently.
“I’m talking about the box office. It won’t hurt to tell you in advance, painted skin and perhaps love will be released at the same time.”
“At that time, it will be a direct confrontation between two films you star in. You can weigh your options.”
Li Chen hung up the phone after speaking.
Miss Liu said in surprise, “What you just said is true?”
“Mm, Han Dong’s decision.” Li Chen held back a laugh.
Zhou Xun hung up the phone, unsure whether to tell Director Chen Kexin about it.
After some thought, she decided to pretend she didn’t know.
Li Bingbing contacted Yang Siwei to confirm the matter and was also exceptionally pleased.
Yang Siwei handled media interviews in an orderly manner.
She revealed a piece of news to the public.
Li Chen was warmly invited by Marco Müller, the chairman of the Venice Film Festival.
painted skin had actually submitted its application late.
However, in view of Director Li’s achievements and Mr. Marco’s enthusiasm and warmth for Chinese culture.
Mr. Marco discussed with the organizing committee, and the head of Asian film selection directly submitted painted skin.
At the same time, Yang Siwei also stated that painted skin is definitely a classic oriental magical martial arts epic.
Film fans should not miss it.
Explosive news in August came one after another, making it overwhelming.
At the end of July, someone broke the news that Wang Jinghua was about to leave Huayi Brothers and start her own business.
Today, someone else broke the news that Wang Jinghua would rather give up her previous shares.
She also wanted to part ways with Huayi Brothers, taking her artists with her.
Over in Hong Kong, Stephen Chow’s Starlight hadn’t had time to respond to the Star Girl’s accusations.
That Star Girl had already taken the initiative.
Her tears were as cheap as if they were wholesale, flowing all the way from south to north.
She even held a press conference to accuse Stephen Chow.
She was a typical weak woman who had been persecuted.
And she unilaterally announced the termination of her contract with Starlight.
Even if it meant paying a heavy price, she would not hesitate.
This shocked everyone in the industry. They still remembered more than half a year ago.
This Star Girl had also been at the Kung Fu Premiere.
She expressed special thanks to Director Stephen Chow in front of a group of Beijing media.
How could she contradict herself in just half a year?
“Boss, there’s an expert behind this!” Yang Siwei ran to report to Li Chen.
Speaking of the Star Girl incident, she also benefited greatly.
“Not bad, to be able to see that point, you’ve grown very fast in the past two years.” Li Chen nodded.
“Boss, you know?” Yang Siwei immediately seized the opportunity.
Sometimes she was also very curious how her boss knew more about these messy things in the industry than anyone else.
“A guess!” Li Chen tapped his temple.
“Don’t bother with these, you have something to do too, look at this.” Li Chen said.
Yang Siwei walked over to her boss and looked.
It turned out that a piece of news about Wang Zhaojun was published online.
The title was Yang Mi will compete with Fan Bingbing, Li Bingbing, and Gao Yuanyuan for “Wang Zhaojun.”
Yang Siwei understood at a glance: “Boss, don’t worry, I know what to do.”
As soon as this news was published, Yang Mi immediately became the target of public criticism.
Yang Siwei returned to her office and instructed her four trusted assistants to be extra vigilant.
To pay attention to the online trends.
Bystanders love gossip, especially this kind of struggle between popular actresses.
Soon, netizens shifted their attention from the Star Girl to the competition for Wang Zhaojun.
It was previously rumored that Shuang Bing and Gao Yuanyuan were the three competing.
Everyone didn’t feel anything unexpected.
After all, all three had representative works and striking looks.
But what was this newly emerged Yang Mi all about?
Many people didn’t even know who Yang Mi was.
Yang Mi was also feeling anxious and surprised, sitting in front of the computer.
Yang Xiaolin also sat beside his daughter.
Yang Mi had already met with Director Chen Jialin.
Chen Jialin didn’t expect that more than ten years later.
The little girl who used to sit on his lap had grown into a graceful young woman.
Although he didn’t give Yang Mi a direct answer.
But Yang Mi could feel that Director Chen should be satisfied with her.
Because Director Chen said a sentence to her.
“Since you know me, you should have just come to me yourself, why trouble others.”
Yang Mi immediately understood and smiled sweetly.
“I understand, Director Chen, next time I’ll call you directly.”
“Girl, was this really your senior’s effort?” Yang Xiaolin asked.
Yang Mi didn’t bother to answer, focusing on browsing the online comments.
“Who is this woman? Where did she pop out from?”
“Yeah, why should she compete with my Zhi Ruo?”
“Someone must be backing her, right? Maybe she’s the second Liu Yifei.”
“Someone from Rongxingda?”
In less than fifteen minutes, Yang Mi’s information was dug out.
Yang Xiaolin and his daughter sat in front of the computer, staring at each other.
The information above was even clearer than what they themselves knew.
It almost listed her ancestors eight generations back.
Yang Xiaolin muttered, “How do these people know…”
Things escalated quickly.
Rongxingda responded immediately.
Stating that Rongxingda had already terminated its contract with Yang Mi and there was no longer any relationship between them.
At this, the internet exploded even more.
“I told you there was someone behind her! Otherwise, what courage would a newcomer have to terminate a contract with Rongxingda?”
“Did Liang Jingru give it to her? Or maybe a coal boss?”
“Upstairs, maybe it’s Bearded Zhang, this girl is Guo Xiang from The Return of the Condor Heroes.”
Yang Mi watched, trembling with fear.
It was the first time she truly understood the meaning of the famous saying, “People fear fame as pigs fear fattening.”
The phone rang, startling the dumbfounded father and daughter.
Seeing the caller ID, Yang Mi quickly answered.
“Siwei?”
“Mi Mi, don’t respond to the online comments, leave it all to me.”
“If anyone asks, follow what I taught you before.”
“Only talk about the connection with Director Chen during the Tang Ming Huang period, don’t say another word about anything else, OK?”
“I’ve noted it, Siwei, don’t worry, I won’t say anything out of line.” Yang Mi said earnestly.
Public opinion intensified, and the key was that none of the other three actresses competing for Wang Zhaojun were fighting alone.
In Wang Zhonglei’s office at Huayi Brothers.
Wang Zhonglei also couldn’t understand what charm this girl possessed.
Since she had severed ties with Rongxingda, he didn’t care who was behind her.
He couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
“This time, Bingbing is out, she doesn’t have an age advantage, I’ve already asked.”
“Xiao Fan has a great chance, you need to have a broader perspective, understand?” Wang Zhonglei said.
Li Xue, standing in front of him, nodded and replied simply and decisively, “I understand, President Wang.”
In fact, she had known for a long time.
Her sister’s age was indeed the biggest disadvantage when competing for the role of Wang Zhaojun with Fan Bingbing and Gao Yuanyuan.
“Since you understand, go do it.” Wang Zhonglei said.
Li Xue agreed, turned and left the office, and made a call to her subordinate.
Wang Zhonglei then called Fan Bingbing.
“Bingbing, don’t worry, no one else but you will be Wang Zhaojun!”
“Thank you, President Wang.”
After hanging up, her boyfriend accompanied Fan Bingbing, also paying attention to the online comments.
Where did this Yang Mi come from, and who could be behind her?
Fan Bingbing thought and thought but couldn’t figure it out, then suddenly caught sight of the news about painted skin online.
A flash of inspiration struck her, and she remembered that when she went for the audition that day, Yang Siwei seemed to deliberately change the subject from Wang Zhaojun.
Could it be?
No way?
What does this girl have?
Fan Bingbing picked up the phone and dialed Yang Siwei directly.
Yang Siwei was busy at the moment, but still didn’t ignore Fan Bingbing.
“Why did you think of calling me now?” Yang Siwei walked out of her office and said with a smile.
“Where are you? Why don’t we go out for a drink?” Fan Bingbing said.
“Another day, I’m already in bed, what’s up?”
“I don’t believe you called me this late just to ask me out for a drink?” Yang Siwei said with a laugh.
“Sigh, isn’t it because I felt anxious when I saw that news about Wang Zhaojun?” Fan Bingbing sighed softly.
“What’s the big deal? You’ve been in the business for so many years, can’t you see through these things?”
Yang Siwei didn’t take her bait.
“Siwei, do you think I won’t even be able to compete with a newcomer?”
“Then I’m really having bad luck!”
“I just missed Zhang Yongcheng, and now Wang Zhaojun, this cooked duck, seems to be flying away again.”
Fan Bingbing said playfully, trying to probe.
“What are you talking about? If you don’t play Wang Zhaojun, who will? Who is more suitable than you?”
“Please, Wang Zhaojun is one of the Four Great Beauties!”
“Is it about who’s prettier? Don’t you know what you look like?” Yang Siwei said with a laugh.
“Get out of here! You’re the one who looks like a ghost. Alright, I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Okay then, if there’s nothing else, let’s go for a SPA another day.”
After hanging up, Fan Bingbing dismissed her doubts.
If it wasn’t Rongchen Film and Television, then who could it be?
Yang Siwei was still at the company, directing operations, with no time to sleep.
However, she couldn’t reveal everything to Fan Bingbing, as Fan Bingbing was not yet an artist of the company.
Keeping work and personal matters separate was the most basic professional quality.
Negative news and ugly pictures of Yang Mi gradually appeared online.
The ugliest one was the ‘bangs ghost smile picture’ which was clearly photoshopped.
Yang Siwei shook her head and muttered, “That’s really ruthless.”
He didn’t need to think, he knew who the people behind these trolls would be.
When Yang Mi saw this picture, the father and daughter looked at each other in dismay.
Yang Xiaolin was stunned for a long while: “Girl, is this you?”
Yang Mi got angry: “Dad, how can you be so confused? Don’t you know what your daughter looks like?”
Yang Mi angrily ignored her father.
She turned off the computer and cell phone and went straight to bed.
The next day, she woke up naturally.
She opened her cell phone, and it was full of missed call notifications and text messages, a whole bunch of people she knew and didn’t know.
Yang Mi scrolled through a few messages, and there were also people from several film and television companies.
Such as Tangren and Hairun Media.
Yang Mi hurriedly opened her computer.
She went online and saw that the style had completely changed.
Beautiful pictures of her from childhood, starting from Tang Ming Huang and Su Qi’er, were everywhere.
It was as if an army of Yang Mi was fighting everywhere.
And with overwhelming superiority, they crushed the enemy on the internet like a hot knife through butter.
Fully proving that she had been beautiful since childhood.
That fake photoshopped picture was also ‘corrected’ by ‘enthusiastic’ netizens.
Even bigger surprises were yet to come.
Near noon, the Wang Zhaojun crew announced.
The casting for Wang Zhaojun was finally set as Yang Mi.
Director Chen Jialin publicly stated: “We have filmed with all the big names in the country, what we want is to bring forth new ideas.”
“Especially for a drama like Wang Zhaojun, we should introduce new talent.”
“Because the big names no longer have innocence or simplicity in their eyes, only price tags.”
“What we want are authentic mountain delicacies, not hothouse flowers.”
Immediately after, the production company also spoke out: “We hope to unearth the inherent nature of the actress playing Wang Zhaojun.”
“Rather than having her deliberately act. Just like the super girl currently airing, we are looking for new stars from the public.”
“We chose Yang Mi because her temperament matches the charming smile and beautiful eyes of the young Wang Zhaojun.”
“This is the unanimous choice of us as the production company and Director Chen Jialin.”
Yang Mi was stunned. How did the world change after she woke up from a sleep?
Coming to her senses, Yang Mi excitedly shrieked, jumping and bouncing as if no one else was around.
“Ah!!! I’ve been chosen, I’ve been chosen.”
