China Entertainment: I just want to give my child a home

Chapter 370: Excitement and Freshness (Please subscribe!)

"Congratulations to Director Chen for winning the Best Director award tonight, and congratulations to Yifei for winning the Most Popular Actress in the audience's online vote."

"Thank you."

"Then Director Chen and Yifei, can you briefly share your feelings at this moment?"

"happy."

"Me too, very happy."

"Haha, that's really simple." The reporter changed his strategy from asking two people at the same time to asking one person individually.

"Yi Fei, do you have any plans to make a comeback? Or will you continue to retire from the entertainment industry?"

Liu Yifei subconsciously wanted to find the answer from Chen Dong again, but then she realized that he didn't have the answer, so she could only think about it herself.

"Uh... I haven't thought about it yet, but I don't think there will be any comeback plans this year."

"Where's Director Chen?"

“I’m always working…”

"Well, what I mean is, when will Director Chen's next movie be launched? Or does Director Chen plan to continue to work on TV series?"

"The next play is already in preparation."

"Oh, is that the movie Detective Chinatown?"

"Hey, you knew that too...it looks like you've done your homework."

"Thank you Director Chen for your affirmation. What stage is the film in preparation? Will there be public auditions? When is the expected start date? Would Director Chen be inconvenient to tell us the media?"

"The investors have been confirmed, and we are designing the costumes and props now. When I return this time, we will arrange auditions. Yes, there will be open auditions. As for the start time, that is uncertain. As long as the preliminary work is ready, we can start shooting at any time."

"Okay, thank you Director Chen for your answer."

Outside the Magnolia Awards ceremony, Chen Dong and Liu Yifei were surrounded by reporters as soon as they came out. After accepting a wave of interviews, they took the organizer's car back to their hotel.

Teacher Yang had just coaxed her granddaughter to sleep. In the middle of the night, she was stunned when she saw her son and daughter-in-law coming back with a bunch of trophies.

"How come there are so many prizes? Did you rob someone?"

"You are such a real mother. Just now someone said we were buying goods, but you directly said we were robbing... Look carefully, the names of your son and daughter-in-law are written on these trophies."

"Huo, my goodness, you have won four awards by yourself."

"Yeah mom, I only have one."

Liu Yifei said 'wrongly' on the side.

When Teacher Yang heard this, he immediately gave two trophies from his son's pile to his daughter-in-law.

This includes the Best Director Award.

After Liu Yifei received the trophy from her mother-in-law, she showed off to Chen Dong like a little girl.

Chen Dong was embarrassed to argue with her in front of his mother, so he pretended not to see it.

Maybe they were talking too loudly and woke up the little one in diapers on the bed.

Then the room became completely lively.

In fact, the little guy is hungry.

Liu Yifei fed her and she soon calmed down again.

Although it was early morning.

But Chen Dong was not sleepy at all, and then he remembered that his phone was still on silent mode.

After a quick wash, he turned off the mute button and ignored the pile of missed calls because it was impossible to reply to them in the dead of night. He directly started to look through his unread text messages.

Because nowadays, whether it is a film festival, a television festival or a music festival, basically all of them are broadcast live, so at the moment the awards are announced, people who want to know can know it first, even if they are not present at the scene.

This is also the reason why the congratulatory text messages in Chen Dong’s mobile phone are basically sent around seven or eight o’clock in the evening.

"Wife, do you like watching dramas?"

After Chen Dong finished reading the text message sent by Hu Ge, he suddenly asked Liu Yifei.

"What play?"

"Have you ever heard of "A Dream Like a Dream"?"

"Is it the one Xu Qing and Hu Ge performed at the Poly Theater some time ago?"

"You actually knew that?" Chen Dong was surprised.

Liu Yifei nodded and said, "My mother told me about it during that time. I heard that it was a hot topic at that time. If I wasn't about to give birth to Yueyue, I would have asked you to go with us to see it. What's going on? Is it going to happen again in the business world recently?"

"Yes, and tomorrow, Hugo invited us to see it, saying he would treat us..."

Before Chen Dong could finish his words, Liu Yifei interrupted him and said, "Go ahead. We are in Shanghai right now."

"Then I'll call Hugo back and ask him to reserve some tickets for us."

"It's too late now. Don't call me. Send me a text message instead."

"Ok."

However, less than ten seconds after Chen Dong sent the text message, the other party called him.

"It's already early morning, Hugo, why are you still awake so late?"

"I just finished rehearsal and returned to the hotel to lie down and rest, and then I received your text message, Director Chen."

"We're going to perform tomorrow, so why are we rehearsing so late?"

"As the saying goes, it's better to sharpen your sword before the battle, haha." Hu Ge made a joke, and then added: "In fact, it's mainly because several actors couldn't come due to schedule issues, so a few newcomers joined the performance this time, and they need more time to get used to each other."

Chen Dong understood, because it was really too late, the two of them did not exchange too many pleasantries on the phone. After explaining the situation clearly, they said good night to each other and hung up.

……

"Dream Like a Dream" is an eight-hour play written and directed by Lai Shengchuan, telling a story about life, death, love and the meaning of life.

Because of the long time difference, Chen Dong and Liu Yifei were actually a little worried that their daughter would cry or make a fuss. As a result, the little girl was very quiet throughout the whole process, which was much less troublesome than taking care of her brother.

To be honest, although Chen Dong knew that "Dream Like a Dream" was very famous, this was his first time to watch this drama.

Even if Liu Yifei didn't want to watch it, he might not have watched it. Firstly, it was because the drama was too long, and secondly, Chen Dong had no interest in drama.

But today, sitting there, watching the ecstatic performances of more than 30 actors on the stage, watching them condense a life story of several decades into a stage performance of only a few hours, I suddenly felt that these eight hours were not that long, and I suddenly felt the charm of drama.

"Director Chen, let me introduce you. This is Director Lai Shengchuan, the screenwriter and director of our film "Dream Like a Dream."

At noon, during the intermission, Chen Dong was invited to the backstage of the drama and said hello to the director team and actors.

"Director Lai, your story is so wonderful, so cool!" Although Chen Dong hadn't finished watching it yet, as there was still the second half in the afternoon, he had to admit that this drama was indeed quite something. It was very infectious, and it really seemed as if you had seen someone else's long life in just a few hours. The key point was that in this life, it portrayed the exploration of the meaning of life, as well as the profound reflection on love, life and death.

Because Chen Dong had memories of many movies and TV series in his mind, after his rebirth, he criticized and analyzed almost every work with a professional and critical eye. He never thought that he regained the excitement and freshness of chasing TV series because of a drama.

……

Lu Yang's "Lost in Hong Kong" was initially filmed in the capital, and later moved to Hong Kong for filming. It is now entering its final stages.

However, Wen Muye, the assistant director, had to come back to promote his movie because it would be released in just one month.

The day when the promotional video of "One Man's Martial Arts" was released was also the day when Chen Dong and his team returned from the business world with the trophy.

Chen Dong had just left the airport, no, to be exact, he had just got into the car that picked him up at the airport, when he received a call from Wen Muye.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Dong "applied" to his wife:

"Today, the trailer for "A Man's Martial Arts" is being released. Mu Ye wants me to go over and give a presentation. What do you think, honey?"

"Then go ahead." Liu Yifei thought Chen Dong was going to go directly to the scene, so she stretched out her hands and said, "Give me the baby."

Chen Dong hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll go over after I send you home."

"Can you make it?"

"I'm still in time..." Chen Dong said, "It doesn't matter if I'm not in time. I'm just going to stand on the stage. If I'm late, I'm late."

Liu Yifei opened her mouth and tried to be reasonable, but knowing her husband's character, she swallowed the words back.

Chen Dong didn't explain anything. He lowered his head and started playing with his daughter who was "eavesdropping" on their conversation.

"My dear, when did you wake up? You didn't make any noise after waking up, but just quietly listened to mom and dad talking, right?"

After sending the mother and daughter home, Chen Dong said to Teacher Yang who got off another car, "Mom, call Dad over later. Let's get together as a family tonight."

After getting a response from Teacher Yang, Chen Dong teased his daughter again, who was already in his wife's arms, before getting back into the car and driving away.

"Yueyue, say goodbye to daddy."

"Yeah..."

When Chen Dong arrived at the trailer launch of "A Man's Martial Arts", the launch was already halfway through.

In addition to director Wen Muye on stage, actors Wang Baoqiang, Zhao Wenzhuo and Bai Zhuo also appeared.

Chen Dong was invited to the stage as soon as he arrived, without any preparation at all.

"I thought I was late and the press conference would be over, but I didn't expect that I didn't get the timing right."

After Chen Dong got the microphone, he first made some self-deprecating remarks so that others would not say that he was late.

But what surprised Chen Dong was that the host actually embellished and beautified his ridicule.

She said, "I heard that Director Chen just got off the plane, and then was invited by our Director Wen. He didn't come here on purpose..."

"Well, this is an excellent host, worth cultivating." This thought flashed through Chen Dong's mind.

Zhong Lifang, who was also present but in the audience, nodded subconsciously, as if to say: "Got it!"
The press conference continued, and the first question Chen Dong was asked was about the creative background of "One Man's Martial Arts".

There is no such thing as a creative background. It was all made up by Chen Dong. However, it was not made up on the spot. It was an idea that came to Chen Dong when he was moving this story.

"There is no market for martial arts films nowadays. There was even a period of time when people said martial arts was dead. So why did Director Chen create such a story?"

"First of all, I don't agree with the online saying that martial arts is dead. Maybe this genre is not as popular as it was ten or twenty years ago, but even if it is a niche genre, since it exists, there must be people who like it, and if there are people who like it, there is a market for it."

Chen Dong thought for a moment and continued, "Besides, if we don't shoot because it's a niche topic, then this subject matter will be even more niche. As a filmmaker, I think it's okay to make commercial films for the sake of box office, but we can't just focus on the box office. Feelings, personal preferences, reality and meaning are equally important."

The press conference had just ended when Wang Baoqiang offered his first flattery to Chen Dong.

"Director Chen, I think what you just said is absolutely right."

"..." Chen Dong was stunned by the compliment, but seeing Wang Baoqiang's expression, it didn't seem like he was complimenting her forcibly, so he asked directly, "Which sentence?"

"Just now, you answered the reporter from Capital Morning News who said that martial arts is dead... I think it's the same for actors. They can't just act for the sake of acting. They should have their own ambitions and ideals."

Chen Dong understood that this guy was relating this to himself, so he followed up by asking, "Then what are your ambitions and ideals, Baoqiang?"

"I don't mind Director Chen making fun of me. I want to win the Best Actor award."

"..." Chen Dong wanted to ask, "Are you sure you're not kidding me?" But then again, Wang Baoqiang's honest and simple face was so deceptive that Chen Dong had to confirm again and again, "Didn't you achieve it a long time ago?"

"Oh, I was talking about the international movie emperor." Wang Baoqiang also realized the loophole in his words and quickly corrected it.

Chen Dong suddenly realized and encouraged him verbally: "Then I wish you can realize your dream as soon as possible."

After Wang Baoqiang thanked him, he changed the subject and finally revealed his true colors. He said, "Director Chen, I heard that you are preparing for auditions for your next film?"

"hold head high."

"Then do you think there is a role suitable for me?"

Before Chen Dong could answer, Wang Baoqiang added, "I can perform for free."

Even Chen Dong was stunned when he heard this outrageous request.

After a while, he looked at Wang Baoqiang seriously and asked, "Why?"

"Because Director Lu contacted me to star in Lost in Hong Kong last time, but due to poor communication between me and my agent, some misunderstandings occurred, so I have been feeling guilty and want to find an opportunity to make up for it, so Director Chen, you see..."

Chen Dong is a director who is very good at capturing an actor's emotions. At this moment, he saw only honesty on Wang Baoqiang's face, without a trace of hypocrisy, so he couldn't help but believe what he said.

Since you believe it, then the previous incident cannot be blamed on Wang Baoqiang. What's more, Wang Baoqiang has already apologized for it and the matter has long been over.

Now he wants Chen Dong, a big director with a net worth of tens of billions, to use this "old debt" to squeeze the value of an actor. To be honest, if that's the case, Chen Dong would rather not have this actor.

"If you hadn't mentioned that incident, I would have almost forgotten about it. But since it's just a misunderstanding, it's fine to just talk it out. Why do you keep bringing it up?"

As he spoke, Chen Dong couldn't help but ask about the situation of Wang Baoqiang's agent out of curiosity.

After learning that Wang Baoqiang had opened his own studio, he actually brought him out from Huayi.

For a moment, there was a hint of sympathy in the eyes when they looked at Wang Baoqiang.

But Chen Dong didn't know whether Wang Baoqiang's agent had stolen his house this year, so he could only remind him out of friendship: "Actually, I suggest you change your agent."

Seeing that Wang Baoqiang was hesitating, Chen Dong didn't want to force him to make a choice, so he changed the topic again.

"There is a role in my new play that is quite suitable for you, but I will not send out invitations this time. All roles require auditions."

When Wang Baoqiang heard this, he immediately said, "Don't worry, Director Chen, I will definitely not be late on the day of the audition. I will arrive early."

"Don't come too early." Chen Dong smiled and patted Wang Baoqiang on the shoulder, saying, "Don't worry, if you pass the audition, I will give you whatever salary you want. My crew doesn't need your share of the salary."

Wang Baoqiang seemed to be hesitant to speak, perhaps he suddenly understood something, he met Chen Dong's gaze and nodded vigorously.

……

(End of this chapter)