Entertainment Reborn Rhapsody

Chapter 477: My country is so great!

Discussions and rumors about the "Three-Body" series are still spreading, and "North Africa Operation" has already started filming in Beijing.

As a Chinese mainstream war blockbuster directed by Shanhe, "North African Operation" has the best cast in the country, bringing together the most appealing cast in China.

Liu Ye plays Yang Rui, the captain of the "Jiaolong Special Forces", Deng Chao plays the diplomat Zong Dawei, and Huang Bo, Wang Baoqiang, Hu Ge, Sun Honglei, Zhang Yi, Zhou Yiwei, Sun Li and other actors form a powerful cast for "North African Operation".

Actors of older generations such as Li Xuejian and Chen Daoming all participated in guest appearances, and almost every role was claimed by well-known domestic actors. It was simply another "Founding of a Republic".

As soon as the press conference for the start of filming of "North Africa Operation" was held, this movie became the hottest and most anticipated film in the country.

Over the next four months, the crew of "North Africa Operation" moved back and forth between Dar Beida, Morocco, Dubai, UAE, ZJ Naval Port, SY Naval Base and Beijing.

It was also the first time for Shanhe to control such a large crew and the first time to shoot a subject of such a large scale. Even with the experience of shooting "Operation Mekong" as a foundation, he still felt very strenuous at times.

Especially the more than two months of location shooting in Morocco was simply a nightmare shooting experience.

Morocco is known as the Pearl of North Africa and is a legendary African country. The crew chose to shoot the main exterior scenes here for a simple reason: it is almost exactly the same as the background in the script, with deserts, Gobi, mountains and ravines, vast and desolate. Also, Morocco has just opened visa-free permits to Chinese tourists, and the local government of Morocco is extremely welcoming to the mountains and rivers, offering excellent conditions and even sending troops to participate in the filming and protection.

The crew of "North Africa Operation" went through more than 80 days of arduous filming here. Not to mention the actors, even the director Shanhe often cried for help!
Most of the war scenes in the film are located in the Gobi desert east of Marrakech, the famous commercial capital of Morocco. It is the only way to drive from Marrakech to the heart of the Sahara Desert.

Due to Morocco's poor infrastructure and bad road conditions, the journey is bumpy. If you are only traveling for a few days, there are many wonders here, which are completely different from the scenery in China, so you won't feel very tired.

But if you wait for a long time and have to do all kinds of high-intensity shooting, it is simply hell on earth. The weather in the desert Gobi area is unpredictable, and the temperature difference between day and night can reach more than 40 degrees. It is so hot during the day that it can cause sunburn and peeling, and the temperature at night can drop sharply to below zero. The harsh natural conditions plus the extremely difficult shooting tasks have left every main creator of "North Africa Operation" with "scars".

Liu Ye fractured his ankle, Deng Chao was almost disfigured by facial allergies, Sun Honglei, Zhou Yiwei and others were tortured to the point of dehydration, and even Wang Baoqiang, who claimed to be the most adaptable, experienced continuous vomiting. Director Shan He was not much better than them. Not only did he lose several layers of skin due to the sun, but he also became visibly thinner. The crew was extremely cruel to them. The two "funny guys" Liu Ye and Deng Chao even called the crew a "hell training camp"!
But it is precisely because of this Gobi desert and harsh climate that it fits the original story and can bring the most real, shocking and passionate scenes to the film, thus touching the hearts of the audience.

Another filming location of the movie is the famous fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, which is known as "the most beautiful village in North Africa".

But it is very different from the traditional sense of "beauty" here, and it even looks very deserted and dilapidated. However, such a "plain-looking", desolate and dilapidated medieval ancient village has become a popular filming location since the 1960s. Dozens of Hollywood blockbusters such as "Lawrence of Arabia", "The Mummy", "Gladiator" and "Alexander the Great" have been filmed here.

Compared to Morocco, filming in Dubai is simply a paradise. Although it is also a desert area, the conditions are completely different!

The Arab tycoons were extremely attentive to the crew led by Shanhe, a super celebrity tycoon. During the more than ten days in Dubai, the crew was really eye-opening and fully experienced what "the willfulness of the tycoons" means with Shanhe!
Not only was there a private jet to pick him up and drop him off, but he also stayed at the world's only seven-star hotel. All the luxuries made everyone call him abnormal.

Shanhe, the guest of honor, was treated as a super VIP. The king of the country immediately invited him to the palace and arranged a welcome dinner in the palace. During the lively conversation, the king even proposed to cooperate with Shanhe to shoot a movie about Dubai, with no upper limit on the investment and any remuneration could be set!

After the dinner, the country's crown prince visited the crew several times, watched the filming process of the movie, and deepened his relationship with Shanhe. These wealthy people are generous and magnanimous, but they are also shrewd. Their purpose is very direct, to let Shanhe, the world's number one celebrity, promote Dubai!
After a cycle of hell and heaven, the crew returned to China and the filming entered its climax. What made Shanhe and the entire crew extremely excited was the moment of filming the aircraft carrier fleet in the domestic naval port.

On the shore, looking at the majestic Chinese fleet, the entire crew was filled with excitement. When they boarded China's first aircraft carrier, all the staff could hardly control their inner excitement. Almost everyone had tears in their eyes, and Shanhe's eyes were also red.

This is our powerful motherland, this is the source of our security, and it is also the pride of the Chinese people!
During the days of filming in the military port, the entire crew was like a fully wound spring, and the actors performed exceptionally well in this atmosphere. An indescribable feeling was stirring in the hearts of all the Chinese staff!

We are not just making a movie, we are also representing China and announcing our return to the world!
When Shanhe announced the completion of "North Africa Operation" at Sanya Port, it was already September. This arduous yet dreamlike filming experience will surely be unforgettable for the entire crew!

Shanhe couldn't help but shed tears of emotion again when he saw the naval soldiers on the ship saluting and bidding farewell to them.

After returning to the capital, the babbling little Huihui no longer recognized Shanhe, her dark-faced father. She burst into tears as soon as she saw Shanhe, which made the whole family feel distressed but also couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh.

Fortunately, he has his brother, Little Bear. Qiu Yanche, who is almost five years old, can't forget his father. When he saw Shanhe, he pestered his father and was very happy. Especially when Shanhe took out the gifts he brought for him from his bag, Little Bear was very happy. Various warship and airplane models are the favorites of all little boys!
With her brother Xiaoxiong's repeated affirmation, Xiao Huihui reluctantly accepted Shanhe, the father who was away from home. Shanhe hugged the delicate little cotton-padded jacket, smelled her refreshing fragrance, and was intoxicated by the singing and laughter of his family.

However, Shanhe did not enjoy his stay at home for too long. Due to various factors, the release date of "North Africa Operation" was scheduled for the Spring Festival of 2017. As a result, the post-production time of the film was quite tight. He had to accompany his daughter and family while starting the heavy post-production work. Time passed quickly in Shanhe's busy schedule. In the blink of an eye, it was December. After several months of overtime work, "North Africa Operation" finally completed the post-production on time with guaranteed quality and quantity. The finished film was immediately placed in front of the top leaders of the country.

In the past year, the international situation facing China has undergone tremendous changes. Especially after Country M elected an extremely unreliable leader, the suppression faced by China will be directly exposed from behind the scenes. The challenges facing China in the future will be more direct and severe.

But this is an experience that a rising great power must face. After decades of keeping a low profile, China can now face these challenges on its own and, through these challenges, return to the world stage.

At this moment, China needs to give the world an attitude: Come on, we are ready, we are not afraid of any form of suppression and smearing, and no one can stop China's revival!
And Shanhe’s "Operation North Africa" ​​is the best declaration: We have the ability to protect our citizens, and we have the ability to protect the results of decades of hard work of more than one billion Chinese people!
The first audience of "North Africa Operation" was not large, but it was very important. After nearly two and a half hours of screening, applause broke out in the small screening room in the center.
"Shanhe has done a great job in his mission. The movie is both passionate and heroic, and well-reasoned. It fully demonstrates the attitude of our Chinese people. We Chinese do not cause trouble, but we are not afraid of it either. For the safety and future of the Chinese people, we will do everything!"

"Haha... I'm really looking forward to seeing the faces of those politicians when this movie is released in the West. I guess our big baby will be criticized by the Western media this time!"

"He is not afraid of these. This kid has enough confidence and character. I like this about him. He has the persistence of Chinese literati and is tough enough!"

"Haha... Speaking of Shanhe, I met him more than a decade ago when I was an ambassador to Country M. At that time, he was still a half-grown boy with a long-term vision. I still remember what he said, that in the near future, we will be able to look at each other on an equal footing. Now that moment has really come, I am looking forward to it!"

...

"North African Operation" passed the censorship at the speed of light without any cuts. Chuhe Film and Television and China Film Group immediately began to promote the film in an all-round way around the world. The news that Shanhe's new film "North African Operation" will be released worldwide on January 30, 2017 spread all over the Internet.

Coincidentally, the day when "North African Operation" was released happened to be the day when the new leader of Country M was sworn in. Shanhe was very happy about this coincidence!

On the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rooster, the premiere of "Castle in the Sky" was grandly held at the Bird's Nest Stadium.

Needless to say, the scene was so grand. Not only did it gather almost all the celebrities in the Chinese film industry, but the ordinary audiences who came to support the event filled the entire National Indoor Stadium Plaza. Waves of high-decibel cheers set off the New Year atmosphere in advance, especially when the Shanhe couple walked onto the red carpet, the cheers from the audience could be heard from miles away.

As legendary figures in the Chinese film industry, Stephen Chow and Jackie Chan were also invited to attend the premiere. Looking at the phenomenal popularity of the Shanhe couple, they both sighed and felt helpless.

The reason is very simple. Their new films "Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back" and "Kung Fu Yoga" were originally scheduled to premiere during the Spring Festival holiday, but "Casablanca" had to be released, and the distribution companies of the two films communicated with the two.

Everyone knows very well that releasing a movie in China at the same time as Shanhe's movie is simply seeking death. Jackie Chan has a big name, but he can't cause any waves when facing Shanhe. The same goes for Stephen Chow. You can't even beat "Ghost Blows Out the Light", let alone encountering a freak like Shanhe!
What's more, "Casablanca" is a mainstream war commercial blockbuster. Just look at "Operation Mekong". All the movies released at the same time as it flopped!
Both Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow understand this point. There is nothing they can do about it. Those that need to be advanced should be advanced, and those that need to be postponed should be postponed!

Nearly three hours later, the premiere of "North African Operation" ended with thunderous applause. The film did not disappoint the Chinese film and television industry and the audience. Under the flapping of the butterfly wings of mountains and rivers, this "North African Operation" not only maintained the real war scenes of the original, but also made it more realistic and story-telling!
The dual narrative lines of diplomats and special operations teams make the entire evacuation operation full of thrilling story tension, which constantly drives the audience's emotions. While showing the heroes risking their lives for their compatriots, it also highlights the country's powerful strength and the impact of this strength on the people!
The torture the crew endured while shooting on location in Morocco was not in vain. The whole film is full of reality, sincerity and honesty. While restoring the difficult and efficient evacuation operation, it also gives full play to the film's imagination, allowing the audience to be immersed in the scene and feel the thoughts of the characters in the play!
The two main lines each have their own responsibilities. The diplomat line is responsible for telling the background and expressing the story of the film, while the special operations team is responsible for various war scenes, bringing coolness and passion to the film.

In addition, the weapons in "Castle in the Sky" include everything from the sky to the ground, from land to sea and air, which can be called "showy" level. For example, the scene where the battleship's anti-aircraft secondary gun intercepts the artillery shells shocked all the audience present.

The high-tech equipment in the movie is also combined with the high-tech personnel. The Jiaolong Squad has conscripts, observers, snipers, communicators, etc. with clear division of labor. There is no high-tech or high-end equipment, but only dry content throughout the whole process!

When the Chinese aircraft carrier fleet appeared majestically on the big screen, the emotion of the film reached its climax. The whole audience burst into amazing cheers. Everyone was proud of it. This is my country, this is where my blood is!
That night, "North Africa Operation" became an unshakable hot topic on the Internet, and various exclamations appeared on the Internet.

“Operation North Africa is awesome, Shanhe is awesome, and China is awesome!”

"My heart is filled with excitement, not for anything else, just because I am Chinese!"

"Awesome, my country!"

...

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, "Castle Ballarat" took the lead in the entire Chinese film market on its first day of release, breaking the record for the first-day box office and bringing the single-day box office of Chinese-language films to another level, breaking 500 million yuan on the first day, 570 million, and not far from 600 million!

(End of this chapter)