Started as an independent producer in 1988

Chapter 128 Everything goes wrong

In the bright and messy information room, Chen Shiping sat at his desk and carefully proofread the information.

Gong Li had already left to go home, and the two of them didn't talk much about the role of Farewell My Concubine. Later, they asked Xu Feng to sign the contract.

At this time, Xu Feng had landed in Xiangjiang. After first asking people from the company to purchase the equipment requested by Chen Shiping, he contacted Cheng Long directly.

Farewell My Concubine is different from other movies in that it contains too much Peking Opera content. The actors had to practice in advance, and they also had to practice their accents.

You can't just say that Hong Kong films are from Beijing. If you want to participate in a larger film festival, you have certain requirements for your films.

There is a hard rule that dubbing is absolutely not allowed and the original voices of the actors must be used.

There was actually dubbing in the original version of Farewell My Concubine, but it was so well dubbed that no one could hear it.

Many of Leslie Cheung's lines were not spoken well, and they were all re-dubbed by someone later. The dubbing person was Yang Lixin from I Love My Family.

He spent a lot of effort to learn Zhang Guorong's timbre, and finally presented a seamless disguise.

If it weren't for his dubbing, the original movie's rating would have dropped by at least one point.

At this time, Xu Feng also contacted Cheng Long, and they made an appointment to meet at a place and took the script with them.

After seeing Cheng Long, Xu Feng secretly looked at him and couldn't help but think of Chen Shiping's evaluation of him.

He's too short and bow-legged, and he really doesn't look like a bully.

Cheng Long was very polite to Xu Feng. He was not only a wealthy wife but also a strong woman, so he would not be rude to her.

"Hello, Mr. Xu, please take a seat." Cheng Long said with a smile.

Xu Feng also smiled and said, "Long time no see. Do you have any dates soon?"

"Yes, I just finished shooting a movie." Cheng Long said with a smile: "There are no work arrangements yet."

Xu Feng's eyes lit up and he said with a smile: "That's great, I want to make a movie with you."

As he spoke, he pushed the script of Farewell My Concubine over and introduced it in detail: "This is a film co-produced with the mainland. The director is Chen Shiping, and he also wrote the script. The script is very good. We plan to compete at Cannes and Oscars!"

Xu Feng introduced it in a slightly exaggerated way, hoping to impress Cheng Long. He was going to Cannes and had not yet decided on the Oscars, but he could blow the whistle first.

When Cheng Long heard Xu Feng's words, he couldn't help but said in surprise: "So ambitious."

When he saw that the title of the script was Farewell My Concubine, he couldn't help but said: "Historical film? Want me to play Xiang Yu?"

Cheng Long's tone was not very confident. How could he play the role of Overlord with his height?

"It's not a historical film. You'll know just by looking at it. It's a really excellent script. It's the best script I've seen in so many years!"

Xu Feng praised the script without hesitation. She really liked the script. If the original novel was 80% in her heart, then the script was 120% in her heart!

Seeing how serious Xu Feng was, Cheng Long felt a lot of anticipation in his heart, so he picked up the script and started reading.

After Cheng Long spent more than 20 minutes watching it hastily, he felt strange in his heart. This was indeed not a historical drama, but an art film or a homosexual theme.

The person he plays is not an overlord, but a fake overlord.

But the story really attracted him. He looked at Xu Feng and said, "The script is really good. I'll read it again carefully. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry." Xu Feng said with a smile: "I can give you a salary of 30 million, I hope you will consider it carefully."

Hearing the 30 million salary, Cheng Long felt a little moved. His current salary has not yet exceeded the 30 million mark.

If you want to break through the 30 million mark, you need at least one movie with a high box office, otherwise you can only wait slowly.

Now Xu Feng offers himself a salary of 30 million yuan, which can directly increase his worth!

Cheng Long felt a little shaken in his heart, but when he thought about whether it was a literary film or a gay-themed film, the heat in his heart subsided again.

"Can I take the script and discuss it with the team?" Cheng Long couldn't help but ask.

Xu Feng hesitated and said, "No, the script cannot be taken away. If you want to discuss it with the team, we can reschedule."

Hearing Xu Feng's words, Cheng Long smiled and said, "Okay, I'll treat you to dinner that night, and then we'll talk about this issue."

Xu Feng felt a little unsure now. She could see Cheng Long's hesitation, which was similar to what Chen Shiping predicted.

Not to mention Cheng Long's hesitation, even she herself began to hesitate. Especially when she went to eat, walking behind Cheng Long and looking at his walking posture, she felt even more unsure.

There is no magnanimity at all, how can he look like a famous actor in Peking Opera?

However, she still wants to find someone with box office appeal to ensure the movie's box office. Cheng Long's box office appeal is unique in Southeast Asia and cannot be matched by others.

However, after including Cheng Long's salary, the cost of the film increased linearly, and she felt a little unsure. The original investment of more than 30 million yuan would now increase to more than 50 million yuan.

During dinner in the evening, Cheng Long also invited his team and godfather over, hoping to ask them to help him make decisions.

His intention to take on the film was half and half, mainly because he was interested in the salary, which was 30 million!

How many movies have failed to reach this number at the box office!

At this time in Beijing, Chen Shiping was also discussing film preparations with his team.

The first is to build a theater overpass, the second is to select young actors from drama schools across the country, the third is to prepare for the service, and the fourth is to prepare for actor training.

This is just the first step. After these preparations are completed, Chen Shiping will discuss the storyboard design with the photography, lighting and art.

There are a lot of troubles, and we can only deal with them step by step.

Chen Shiping looked at Yang Zhanjia and asked with a smile: "Teacher Yang, you are an expert in landscape construction. Where should we start?"

"Let's start with the Liyuan first." Yang Zhanjia adjusted his glasses and said, "This requires the most effort. To save time, let's start here."

Chen Shiping nodded and looked at the drawing at hand. The more he looked at it, the more satisfied he became. The drawing was so beautiful that the feeling of a pear garden came out immediately.

In addition to the opera garden, there are street scenes and theater troupes. There are too many scenes that need to be built.

Yang Zhanjia couldn't help but said at this time: "Director, have you applied for the land?"

"It's coming soon. It will be approved in three or four days at most." Chen Shiping said with a smile: "Don't worry, it won't delay your start of work."

Yang Zhanjia said with a smile: "It's okay to delay me. The main thing is to delay you from starting up."

Everyone in the conference room laughed.

Chen Shiping also laughed, saying that he was the one who was delayed.

The construction team of Jianjing Jianjing also needs to be found. This kind of project cannot be done by the art workshop in the factory. They are not that professional in building houses.

However, there are many experts in this field in Beijing, and Chen Shiping has given full authority to the Yang Zhan family to handle this matter.

This old gentleman is a master of Chinese film art, and he also designed the scenes of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Leave professional matters to professionals, and Chen Shiping will not interfere so much. "Xiao Li, you are here to produce for me this time. You are not the deputy this time. Do it well." Chen Shiping looked at his assistant who had followed him in several dramas and said with a smile.

Xiao Li smiled and patted his chest and said, "I promise it will be okay!"

"Okay, now I'll give you a task. Contact opera schools across the country to select young actors, from seven to eight years old to 12 or 13 years old. We must complete it before the end of the year!"

Chen Shiping then arranged other work, from costume design to prop design. It was already past seven o'clock when all the work was arranged.

Things are going very smoothly on the Beijing side, but things are not so easy on the Xiangjiang side.

After reading the script of Farewell My Concubine, Cheng Long's godfather directly rejected it on Cheng Long's behalf.

How can a Kung Fu star with such a tough guy image act in a same-sex drama? And it’s not a positive image! A fake overlord who eats, drinks, whores and gambles!

Xu Feng couldn't help but persuade: "This is a good opportunity for Cheng Long to go international. I hope you can consider it again."

"No, there's no need to say anything more, Mr. Xu." Cheng Long's godfather refused very directly, with no intention of talking about it anymore.

Cheng Long could only say sorry to Xu Feng. The team's concerns were right. His current screen image has been fixed. He finally broke through with kung fu comedy and must not let his image be damaged.

And he didn't have the confidence to play this role well. It would be best if he could win an award. If he couldn't win an award, it would be a waste.

Xu Feng felt a bit regretful after being rejected. From the moment he wanted to film Farewell My Concubine until now, he has never had any success, so he could only find success with Chen Shiping.

However, she also found that she didn't seem so lost, and she felt faintly grateful.

At this time, she realized that she also felt that Cheng Long was not suitable. She only wanted to find a box office guarantee when she chose him at first.

Now after listening to the analysis of Cheng Long's team, I also feel that Cheng Long may not have box office appeal if he does not act in kung fu movies.

In this case, if you miss it, just miss it, and you can save tens of millions of investments. Even if the box office is not strong in the end, it will be easier to recover the cost.

After failing to deal with Cheng Long, Xu Feng went to find Zhang Guorong the next day, praying in his heart that Zhang Guorong would not reject him, otherwise he would be too shameless as a producer.

Leslie Cheung was currently filming Across the World, and Xu Feng went directly to the studio to find him.

After arriving at the set, Xu Feng looked at Zhou Runfa joking with Leslie Cheung and suddenly felt that Zhou Runfa was very suitable for the role of Overlord.

Moreover, the screen partnership between Chow Yun-fat and Leslie Cheung is very marketable, perhaps more suitable than Cheng Long.

Xu Feng, who was interested, called Chen Shiping without hesitation and wanted to ask if Zhou Runfa was suitable.

Chen Shiping, who was busy going through the review process at the film bureau, immediately refused after receiving Xu Feng's call.

How could it be possible to find Zhou Runfa! It’s not appropriate at all!

Zhou Runfa's Hong Kong flavor is too strong, and he can't speak Mandarin, let alone Beijing dialect.

Xu Feng, who was rejected again, felt like a producer and had no face at all. He couldn't help but pick up the phone and said: "Shi Ping, you have to consider the box office!"

Chen Shiping frowned and said: "First of all, you have to understand one thing. We are a literary film participating in the film festival. His Mandarin is not up to standard and his acting skills are not good. How can I do it? Why do I film Farewell My Concubine if I only want to pursue box office. "

Xu Feng was unable to refute what Chen Shiping said, and finally said: "I'll go and see if it's okay first. Maybe his Mandarin is pretty good."

"Okay, you go and ask, but I reserve my own opinion." Chen Shiping said and hung up the phone.

Xu Fengqi's teeth started to itch after he hung up the phone, feeling that the movie "Farewell My Concubine" was trying to defeat him.

At first, Cheng Kaige didn't give him any face, and Chen Shiping was fine with him at first, but as soon as the filming started, he turned against him, and he was even rejected by Cheng Long yesterday.

Nothing has gone smoothly until now!

When Xu Feng came to Zhang Guorong to talk about things, she was still feeling aggrieved and angry.

Zhang Guorong could tell at a glance and asked with a smile: "Are you so unhappy to see me?"

Looking at Zhang Guorong, who had a gentle temperament, Xu Feng felt a little better. He talked to him about his efforts in Farewell My Concubine and the obstacles he had encountered in recent years.

Leslie Cheung smiled and comforted: "Good things come in hard times. You and Director Chen are both responsible for the movie. I am very interested in this movie now."

A smile appeared on Xu Feng's face and he said: "This is the best news I have heard in these days."

After giving the script to Zhang Guorong, Xu Feng began to observe Zhou Runfa. Looking at his height and posture, she really felt that Zhou Runfa was very suitable to play the role of the Overlord.

So Xu Feng, who did not believe in evil, took the initiative to chat with Zhou Runfa.

"Can you speak Mandarin?" Xu Feng asked curiously.

Zhou Runfa chewed gum and said in Mandarin: "Hello, Voss. Haha, I'm sorry, I'm not very proficient in Mandarin."

Looking at Zhou Runfa who was smiling very cheerfully, Xu Feng couldn't smile. His accent was really bad.

"But I can practice." Zhou Runfa said with a smile: "I wonder what Mr. Xu wants me to shoot?"

Xu Feng thought the same thing. If you don't know Mandarin, you can practice it. Zhou Runfa is always much better than the Zhang Fengyi Chen Shiping mentioned, so he briefly told the story of Farewell My Concubine.

Zhou Runfa didn't like this story and was not touched at all, but he still asked: "How long will it take?"

Regardless of whether you like the script or not, just make money.

"One year." Xu Feng said conservatively.

Zhou Runfa: "." One year is enough for me to make several movies. For such a long time, I have to spend more money!

"It's been too long. I need to think about it. I'll let my agent communicate with Mr. Xu."

Xu Feng couldn't help but frown. Don't you want to read the script?

But if Zhou Runfa is willing to act, it is really a good choice.

Zhang Guorong on the other side had already read the script and felt in his heart, this script is great!

love it! He felt that Cheng Dieyi was himself, like himself in another world and another time and space.

After Xu Feng came back, Leslie Cheung immediately said: "I like this script, I will take it!"

"Thank you!" Xu Feng happily held Leslie Cheung's hand, finally getting an actor!

However, thinking that the training and filming would take a long time, she said a little uneasily: "I need to go to the capital to learn dialect and Peking opera, and the filming time is very long. Can you accept it?"

Leslie Cheung said with a smile: "I have quit the music scene, and I won't take on any roles next year. I have time!"

"That's great!" Xu Feng said excitedly. It's not easy to finally get an actor!

And it was Zhang Guorong, so she could explain to Li Bihua that Cheng Dieyi was Zhang Guorong in her heart.

Xu Feng suddenly discovered that the only thing that went well for him was the actor chosen by Chen Shiping. Whose credit is this?

Why are the actors he doesn't want not so successful, and why is it so difficult to get the ones he likes?

No, ask Lin Qingxia tomorrow, she will definitely be willing to take Chen Shiping's role!

I can’t believe that I can’t hire any of the actors I like!

Otherwise, Chen Shiping would be so proud! He cannot be allowed to underestimate himself as a producer.

If that were the case, I would really become a cash machine.

(End of this chapter)