sinovels Chapter 628 Third Master VS Director Chen
Chapter 628 Third Master VS Director Chen
……
……
The first day after the successful conclusion of the New Year's Eve dinner.
Gu Qing officially received a phone call from Director Chen informing her that the "Legend of the Demon Cat" project was about to begin.
Until the moment before departure,
Gu Qing could still receive Director Chen's rambling messages.
The phone screen stayed lit all night, from dusk until dawn, with one message after another.
The texts that were sent were unusually free of deliberately flowery language.
Most of the time, I talked to Gu Qing about the script, Bai Juyi, and the opening ceremony.
They talked about Bai Juyi's early success, his high spirits in Chang'an, and the poignant verses in "The Song of Everlasting Regret"...
Sometimes, when messages were being sent late at night, Director Chen would suddenly send a message saying, "Letian, do you know what I'm talking about?"
Gu Qing replied with a single word, "I understand."
There was no sound from that side for a long time.
Director Chen got nervous.
This was something Gu Qing could clearly sense.
That tension wasn't from worrying about gains or losses, but from caring too much.
The Legend of the Demon Cat took a full six years to prepare for the construction of the city, and the saplings on both sides of the city have grown into big trees, which undoubtedly shows the hard work put into it.
Simultaneously,
This is also the second fantasy film that Director Chen has brought to the screen in twelve years.
The previous fantasy masterpiece... uh...
Yes: The Promise.
Ten years have passed, and still no audience can appreciate the art of "The Promise".
Director Chen naturally wanted to redeem himself.
Furthermore, the term "Tang Dynasty" represents the era that countless literati and scholars throughout history have longed for.
That was Chang'an, where Li Bai could write a hundred poems after drinking a bucket of wine; that was Luoyang, where Du Fu shed tears for the flowers in his poem "The Song of the Pipa"; that was the Xunyang River in Bai Juyi's poem "The Song of the Pipa".
Chang'an, the city where all nations paid tribute.
Poets drank together under the moon, splashed ink among the flowers, and delivered impassioned speeches in the imperial court...
This is Director Chen fulfilling his childhood dream.
That tension, excitement, and anticipation, like a pilgrimage, is the most authentic portrayal of Director Chen today.
……
The next day, at 8:00 AM.
Before it was fully light, the airport waiting area was already full of people catching early morning flights.
Wearing a mask and a baseball cap, Gu Qing huddled in a corner of the waiting hall, with a half-read copy of Bai Juyi's poetry open in front of her.
He had memorized those poems perfectly, but he would still flip through them to pass the time when he was bored.
"Boss, the contract is finalized. The salary is 80 million, and the filming period is two and a half months. It's all agreed upon."
On the way to Xiangyang Cinema, Zhao Ya reported to Gu Qing the contract details that had been finalized at the last minute.
For Gu Qing right now, an 80 million yuan salary is definitely a great deal.
of course,
He's probably the only one in the entire entertainment industry who has the confidence to say that an 80 million yuan salary is low.
After all, "Wolf Warrior 2" brought him a box office of six billion yuan, and the subsequent box office revenue share was as much as 300 million yuan.
The mere 80 million yuan salary seems insignificant compared to those other figures.
but,
The pay was low, but for Gu Qing, it wasn't entirely a loss.
Firstly, it's because this is a film by a famous director.
Although Director Chen has a penchant for artsy types,
Regardless of what he made in his previous film, his status in the history of Chinese-language cinema and the minimum level of his artistic merit are guaranteed.
Simultaneously,
"The Legend of the Demon Cat" is a major production jointly invested by China and Japan. From the beginning, it was positioned as a key project to compete for international awards and promote Chinese culture.
On the occasion of the film's release,
They will naturally make appearances at major international film festivals.
Putting everything else aside, I will definitely be attending the Tokyo International Film Festival.
This is also the highest-level international A-list film festival in Asia, second only to Berlin, Cannes, and Venice, and holds a pivotal position in the Asian film industry.
When,
This will be Gu Qing's first official appearance on the international stage as a Chinese actor.
This change of identity can bring Gu Qing many hidden benefits.
All top luxury brands value an artist's international reputation and influence the most.
This is why so many actors lower their fees and are willing to act in films by famous directors for free.
Only top directors have the qualifications and connections to receive invitations to international film festivals as honored guests.
Those film directors who rely on making rubbish films to please Western audiences can only secretly go abroad to win awards first, and then resell them to the domestic market for promotion.
……
"Two and a half months should be enough to finish filming, right?"
Gu Qing fastened her seatbelt, mentally calculated the time, breathed a sigh of relief, and felt at ease.
This was a condition he specifically asked his team to add during negotiations; he didn't care about the amount of money, as long as the filming period was clearly stated in the contract.
He knows all too well the "creative habits" of those great directors.
While filming, inspiration struck and we decided to reshoot.
While filming, they felt the lighting wasn't right and had to wait until the next season. While filming, they felt a certain supporting character didn't have enough screen time and had to add scenes on the spot.
Gu Qing came to film a movie, not to sit in meditation with the director.
He was terrified of encountering a director like Wong Kar-wai.
A movie can take eight years to make, often wasting three or four years of the actors' youth, and in the end, the finished film might only have three to five minutes of footage cut out of the entire movie.
You've worked so hard for three years.
All I got was a fleeting glimpse of my own back on the screen.
Although Director Chen is not as unethical as Wong Kar-wai, he often has a penchant for artistic sensibilities and frequently has to start over halfway through filming.
Often, the results are still less than ideal, and the harder you try, the more heartbreaking it becomes, and the less the audience understands it.
Gu Qing's move was intended to subtly put some pressure on Director Chen.
The contract clearly states two and a half months; you can decide for yourself.
He had already found out about the screenwriter of "The Legend of the Demon Cat" beforehand.
Wang Huiling is an extraordinary woman who wrote "Eat Drink Man Woman," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," and "Lust, Caution."
This name carries weight in the Chinese-language screenwriting world no less than that of Director Chen in the Chinese-language directing world.
Her scripts are known for their delicate emotional portrayals and profound insights into human nature.
Director Li An's masterpieces include "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Lust, Caution".
For "The Legend of the Demon Cat"
This elderly woman wrote tirelessly for six years, almost simultaneously with the six years that Director Chen spent building the city.
The two of them were so dedicated to this work that they were almost obsessive.
Then the question is coming,
Gu Qing should have placed more faith in Director Chen's boundless imagination and his ability to adapt ideas worth the price of a steamed bun.
Or should we place more faith in the solid script quality that this professional older lady has painstakingly crafted over six years?
He felt this was an easy choice to make.
quickly,
The plane landed at Xiangyang Airport.
The grass on both sides of the runway was still withered and yellow, and the horizon in the distance was gray and hazy.
Winters in Xiangyang are colder than in the capital. The wind blows in through the cabin door, carrying a dry, earthy smell.
Gu Qing kept everything simple, traveled discreetly, kept her itinerary confidential, and had no fans waiting for her at the airport.
In order to immerse himself in the filming process, Director Chen did not even plan to hold a grand opening ceremony.
Outlet,
Two middle-aged men wearing black cotton-padded coats held up signs to welcome people to the airport.
"Teacher Gu, Teacher Gu."
The production team of "Legend of the Demon Cat" sent several special cars in advance to pick up Gu Qing and take her to Tangcheng Film and Television Base.
Two personal assistants and one agent – that's Gu Qing's standard setup.
The group walked out of the terminal simply, without any entourage or security escort, just like a few ordinary business travelers.
The staff in the chauffeur-driven car who picked Gu Qing up were visibly taken aback when they saw that there were only three people following behind her.
Their gaze swept around Gu Qing's back, then around again, making sure there were no more people and not much luggage, before they turned their attention away.
The driver was a man in his fifties who had worked on film sets for over a decade, handling countless artists from A-list to obscure, and had seen all kinds of extravagance.
But this is the first time he's ever seen someone as important as Gu Qing bring only three people.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then wisely swallowed his words, secretly marveling at the situation.
After about an hour's drive, the van turned off the airport expressway onto the road leading to Tangcheng Film and Television Base.
Gu Qing looked out the car window and admired the scenery along the way.
Outside the car window, Tang Dynasty architecture with green tiles, red eaves, carved beams, and embroidered pillars unfolds one after another from the shadows of the trees on both sides of the road.
The first thing that catches the eye is a seven-story pavilion-style pagoda with upturned eaves and copper bells hanging under the eaves, which make a clear and melodious tinkling sound when the wind blows.
How big is this place?
Gu Qing's gaze fell on a stone arch bridge spanning the water. The river beneath the bridge was covered with a thin layer of ice, which shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
Weeping willows are planted on both sides of the bridge.
The bare willow branches swayed gently in the breeze, vaguely evoking the scene of willows and painted bridges in spring.
"Teacher Gu, the filming location we're shooting at is about 600 acres in size."
The employee in the passenger seat perked up, sat up straight, and hurriedly explained with a smile:
"This is a replica of the Tang Dynasty style building that Director Chen spent six years and a total of 1.6 billion yuan to build. Even the number of finials on the pagoda is strictly based on the records in the literature."
Gu Qing nodded slightly, her eyes sweeping over the rows of antique buildings outside the window.
He silently sighed to himself:
Director Chen is truly a business genius.
Compared to Director Chen's dualistic directorial talent, Gu Qing suddenly realized that...
Director Chen's talent in civil engineering is truly off the charts.
Filming is nowhere near as lucrative as civil engineering!
Starting with "The Emperor and the Assassin," Director Chen has demonstrated his keen sense for engineering.
In 1999, this epic production, which cost nearly 200 million RMB, was released in theaters across the country, and its box office barely exceeded 10 million RMB.
That's right, it's ten million.
Two hundred million investment, ten million in box office revenue.
This rate of return on investment would be enough to get the person in charge torn to pieces in any industry.
It stands to reason,
Director Chen should have been choked by the investors and thrown into the Huangpu River to feed the fish long ago.
But who would have thought,
The Qin Palace, which was built by blasting up five hills and covering 800 acres to film this movie, did not disappear into history despite the movie's box office failure.
It stays peacefully in Hengdian, receiving millions of tourists every year, and the owner of Hengdian Group makes a fortune from the venue rental fees.
Even Zhang Yimou, when making "Hero"
Gu Qing herself starred in "The Journey of Flower" and "Nirvana in Fire," both of which had cameras set up in a corner of that Qin Palace.
That was a golden hen that truly laid eggs; more than twenty years have passed.
That 200 million investment has long since been recouped many times over.
Gu Qing also came across related news about the later novel, "The Legend of the Demon Cat".
Less than two years after the film's release, Tangcheng officially transformed into a 5A-level tourist attraction, boosting tourism development and the local economy in Xiangyang.
One play revitalizes an entire city —
It is no exaggeration to say that all the people of Xiangyang have benefited from this.
Those who run inns, restaurants, sell Hanfu (traditional Han clothing), and work as tour guides in Tang City are all making a fortune.
"No wonder Director Chen always looks down on people. If he had those abilities, he'd be a good official in ancient times, unless he became an imperial censor and got beheaded by the emperor for spitting at people."
If he were thrown into the Ministry of Works to build wonders, he'd probably be remembered for generations…
Gu Qing admired him inwardly.
He gazed at the exquisite buildings outside the car window and couldn't help but feel a little tempted.
"Could we build one in Anhui Province as well?"
"Even if we don't mention the Tang Palace, the entire Daming Palace would do. After all, it's the ancestral home of the Hongwu Emperor; its popularity is bound to be high."
No one understands better than him the love that young people in later generations have for Ming Dynasty Hanfu.
Discussions about horse-face skirts, flying fish robes, and bi-jamb vests have never been low on social media platforms.
If this leads to the construction of a Daming Palace, replicating the layout of the Ming Dynasty palace, boosting local tourism, and bringing blessings to the people of the hometown, it would undoubtedly be an excellent thing.
The investment may be large, but the long-term returns are definitely comparable to any commercial real estate project.
"Should we take some time sometime to go and learn from Director Chen?"
The thought had just popped into my head.
……
"Teacher Gu, Teacher Gu, Director Chen is up ahead. It seems he came specifically to pick you up." At this moment, the employee in the co-pilot's seat pointed ahead and whispered a reminder.
Gu Qing looked over and saw an old man standing at the entrance of Tang City with his hands behind his back.
Compared to the people around him who were dressed in thick clothes, he was dressed rather lightly, and he was clearly shivering from the cold, his shoulders trembling slightly.
They also had to maintain a composed demeanor, slightly raising their chin and gazing into the distance with a distant look, as if they were staring at something profound.
Gu Qing suppressed a laugh and was about to get out of the car when her gaze inadvertently glanced at him.
They noticed that there was another person standing next to Director Chen.
He was a thin, short man with a simple and honest demeanor, wearing a dark Zhongshan suit, standing next to Director Chen.
"That's strange. Wearing a Zhongshan suit and cloth shoes in the dead of winter, how come someone is even more pretentious than Director Chen?"
Gu Qing muttered to himself.
There wasn't time to take a closer look before the vehicle stopped.
"Lotte—"
As soon as Gu Qing got out of the car, Director Chen's imposing aura was immediately apparent.
He slowly pulled his right hand out from behind his back, beckoned to Gu Qing, and a refined smile appeared on his lips.
"Director Chen, it's freezing cold, why did you come in person?"
Gu Qing automatically switched roles, a pleased expression on her face, and walked over.
"I will not mind the long mountain road, and I will travel through the snow to see you."
Director Chen simply shook his head slightly and recited a line of poetry to express his feelings.
This is Zhang Jiuling's "Answer to Lu Li" from the Tang Dynasty.
"The wind startles the bamboo outside the window; the snow covers the mountains when the door is opened."
I thought that Director Chen would finish showing off and that was the end of it.
But the old man next to him, dressed in a cadre's uniform, also recited a line of poetry by Wang Wei, his tone steady and his breath long and drawn out.
He didn't forget to smile and glance at Gu Qing, nodding slightly in approval:
"Brother Kai, is this the Bai Juyi you've been longing for? He truly is... a fine and elegant young man, a man of outstanding talent. It's been a long time since I've seen such a promising talent."
Gu Qing: "..."
Seriously, are all you guys from Beijing this pretentious?
So you're starting by reciting a poem, right?
"Third Master, when have I ever lied to you?"
Director Chen, with a hint of smugness, laughed heartily, the sound echoing across the empty square.
"Le Tian, I specially had someone warm the yellow wine this time. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this,
Gu Qing was about to speak when he fell silent for a moment.
Surrounded by "pretentious" people, he suddenly realized that he should also put on an act; he couldn't possibly stray from the group, could he?
In an instant, countless thoughts raced through his mind.
Gu Qing has memorized all of Bai Juyi's poems.
Which song would be most fitting for the occasion, one that would make these two "old literary youths" applaud?
"If you come here in the evening, can you drink a cup of snow?"
Gu Qing suppressed her embarrassment, smiled faintly, and lightly raised her arms, crossing her hands in return.
"Asking Liu Nineteen".
The meaning of the poem is clear: even if it is freezing cold outside and heavy snow is coming, there is still warm wine and close friends waiting inside.
The other long-term employees: "..."
Are these three really human?
Are you here to film a movie or to hold a poetry competition?
Director Chen's line, "Third Master,"
Upon closer inspection, he realized that this man was none other than Han Sanye, the godfather of the film industry.
From the perspective of cooperative relationships,
Master Han greatly admired Director Chen, regarding him as one of the directors he respected most, and the two maintained a close working relationship for a long time.
Together they created many big-budget films, including "The Emperor and the Assassin", "The Promise", and "Forever Enthralled".
The two could be said to have a very close personal relationship, being extremely intimate.
Once you understand this,
Gu Qing could easily understand why this Third Master Han was even more pretentious than Director Chen.
He can't be a big brother if he can't suppress Director Chen's domineering aura!
"If you come here in the evening, can you drink a cup of snow?"
Director Chen and Third Master were both taken aback.
That stunned silence wasn't because they didn't understand, but because they understood it too well, to the point that they didn't know how to respond.
"Lotte, you really are my Lotte!!"
The next second, Director Chen's blood rushed to his head, and his face turned red.
Gu Qing was afraid that "The Legend of the Demon Cat" would be canceled before filming even began.
He really didn't understand what excited these "artsy old men".
"Well said, well said!"
Director Chen flared his nostrils slightly, took two steps forward, grasped one of Gu Qing's hands, and patted his arm with the other.
He was so excited he couldn't contain himself, as if he were looking at a rare treasure. He turned to Third Master and shouted, "Third Master, tell me, is the person I found right?!"
"color."
Third Master maintained his composure, nodding and smiling, unlike Director Chen who had lost his composure.
"This young man is quite good; he is both talented and handsome."
He looked at Gu Qing, his tone slightly fluctuating, "No wonder my little girl keeps talking about you in my ear every day, making this old father jealous."
After saying that, he even extended his hand.
"Third Master, I've long admired your name."
Gu Qing clenched her hands, feeling that the world was truly small.
His daughter invited him to make a cameo appearance in "Dying to Survive," and it seems the father also invested in "The Legend of the Demon Cat."
How come he managed to hit the whole family by himself?
After shaking hands, Gu Qing was about to let go.
Unexpectedly,
The third master held on and didn't let go.
His strength was neither too loose nor too tight, as if he were weighing something.
"Your name is Gu Qing, right? How old are you?"
Third Master smiled kindly, as if he were chatting with a neighbor's child.
"I'm twenty-three."
Gu Qing's heart skipped a beat.
What does that mean?
First they wouldn't let go, then they asked my age.
He felt like he'd seen this process somewhere before...
"Twenty-three, born in '96? Ten years older, or is the woman older..."
The wrinkles on Third Master's forehead deepened slightly as he silently did some calculations.
He raised his head and looked at the young man in front of him again. He had high brow bones, a straight nose, fair skin, and handsome features.
Even though he was wrapped in an ordinary black down jacket, he still couldn't hide his upright and scholarly demeanor.
She has good looks, a dignified demeanor, literary talent, and an exceptional way of speaking.
He still vividly remembered the impromptu remark from earlier: "The sky threatens snow tonight, shall we have a drink together?"
Just looking at him was like a breath of fresh air, and even his father, who initially held a somewhat scrutinizing and hostile attitude, couldn't help but feel a sense of appreciation for his talent.
In ancient times,
The biggest advantage of being handsome isn't that beautiful women like you, but that you can easily encounter countless benefactors who will support you.
Even influential people are human, and everyone prefers those who are pleasing to the eye.
"Xiao Gu, do you usually keep in touch with your daughter?"
Third Master spoke in a gentle tone, still holding Gu Qing's hand tightly, and even patted the back of his hand lightly, "Have you met privately to discuss the script?"
"No... no."
Gu Qing pursed her lips slightly, feeling as if something was about to be fed to him.
"No?"
Third Master raised a thick eyebrow slightly, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes.
"How could you not have been in contact with my daughter, who is so outstanding?"
He felt a strange unease and asked in a skeptical tone, "Surely you young people don't have anything in common to talk about?"
"Third Master, it's probably because I'm too busy with work that I rarely even look at my phone."
After all, they're in the entertainment industry; every day they're either filming, shooting commercials, or recording shows, so it's hard to have any personal time.
Gu Qing felt that she had made her point quite clearly.
He had no intention of becoming a "phoenix man" (a man from a poor background who achieves success), yet he went crazy and became a gigolo.
"That's true. You must be quite popular right now, right? I hear your name every time I eat with my friends."
Third Master nodded, but his scrutinizing gaze remained fixed on him.
He paused.
I couldn't help but ask the most crucial question: "Do you have a partner now?"
Upon hearing this,
Director Chen was about to lose his temper.
This isn't how you force a marriage!
In Third Master's eyes, his own daughter must be the best of the best.
But in the eyes of outsiders—especially in the eyes of Director Chen:
"Who could possibly be worthy of my Lotte?!"
……
"Third Master, I'm an idol. I'm mainly focused on my career and don't date," Gu Qing said directly.
"He can still maintain a clean reputation?!"
Third Master's eyes lit up again. He patted Gu Qing's hand with satisfaction, this time with much more force than before.
"That's right, that's right. When you're young, you should focus on your career. There are too few self-disciplined young people in this industry, including my daughter..."
Gu Qing: "..."
"However, it's not enough to just focus on your career."
As the ancients said, "Settle down first, then..."
Just as Third Master was about to say something,
"Master~~"
A sweet and charming voice suddenly rang out from behind the crowd:
Gu Qing turned her head and slightly opened her eyes, "Sister Tiantian?!"
Incredibly, Da Tiantian ran out of the film set.
She was wearing a long white down jacket, wrapped from head to toe, with only her pretty face, slightly red from the cold, showing.
The down jacket was too bulky, making her look round and chubby.
"Master, are you surprised? Unexpected?"
When Jing Tian saw Gu Qing's face, which was filled with surprise and whose mouth was still agape, her beautiful eyes curved into crescents, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a smug smile.
She spread her arms wide, jumped with all her might, and landed directly on Gu Qing, causing her puffed-up down jacket to deflate with a 'poof'.
Jing Tian hugged Gu Qing's neck tightly, her pink cheeks flushed with happiness as she pressed her cool nose against his ear.
Her voice was filled with undisguised joy, "Have you missed me? Have you missed me?"
In an instant,
Third Master's face darkened, and he stared at Gu Qing in disbelief.
Didn't you just tell me you weren't going to date?
But that's not all.
Just as Gu Qing put Da Tiantian down,
Another gentle voice came from behind Da Tian Tian.
"younger brother--"
Before Gu Qing could see clearly, her cheek was touched by slender, icy fingertips, and a gentle voice sounded in her ear.
"Sister Ya Ya, what are you doing here?"
Gu Qing winced from the cold, and what came into view was a pair of bright eyes, a pert nose, and a delicate oval face with dimples.
He was sure he wasn't seeing things, but he still couldn't believe it.
What are Jing Tian and Tong Liya doing on the set of "The Legend of the Demon Cat"?!
at the same time,
Upon seeing Gu Qing being embraced by two charming actresses, the three of them acted intimately and without any awkwardness.
Third Master left without saying a word.
"Third Master, aren't you going to drink anymore?"
Director Chen pretended to try and persuade him to stay, but Third Master just waved his hand and didn't turn around.
He had to go home and have a drink with his daughter first...
……
...(End of this chapter)