China Entertainment 1997

May 8, 2002, Zhuozhou Film and Television Base

The opening ceremony of "Eternal Dragon Sword" was held here. The male protagonist Cao Xuan, producer Zhang Guoli, female protagonist Jia Jingwen, Gao Yuanyuan and related actors were all present.

The red silk wooden case is dedicated to Guan Erye, who holds a knife and caresses his beard. On the wooden case are placed wine, meat, melons, fruits, snacks and other offerings.

Everyone gave in a little, Cao Xuan was in the middle, Zhang Guoli and Boss Wu were on the side, the three of them held incense and worshiped, and the others followed them.

This opening ceremony has emerged in the mainland film and television industry in the past two years, especially for crews from Hong Kong and Taiwan. It must be held at the launch of almost every drama, regardless of the scale, but it must be a formality.

Cao Xuan himself was not superstitious, but he felt that it was harmless to say goodbye, so he should seek good omens and avoid bad luck.

Luck in the entertainment industry can sometimes be quite mysterious.

Maybe one day something bad happens, the director of the crew is caught under the rules, the male and female lead are exposed for cheating on their mistress, and the assistant director and producer die in a car accident. Who can bear this?

Originally, there was hope that this drama would take advantage of the popularity of "Soldiers Assault" and become a hit. However, the showrunners became desperate and everything was fine if it could be aired.

This thing is difficult to explain scientifically, just like no one knows how many stars will be included in 2021.

So although Cao Xuan doesn't believe it, he will never stop him, and he will do it when he should. If it works, even if it doesn't work, he can just ask for psychological comfort.

After the opening ceremony, the surrounding reporters took photos and then entered the interview session, mainly focusing on Cao Xuan and Jia Jingwen. Gao Yuanyuan and Zhang Guoli were also mentioned a few words.

"Cao Xuan, there is news on the Internet that your current TV series is not in line with your fame and status. You should make movies. Do you have anything to say?"

“I think there is no distinction between high and low in film and television creation. Movies have the advantages of movies, and TV series also have the benefits of TV series.

Teachers Chen Daoming, Chen Baoguo, and my master Li Xuejian are all very good actors and very famous. Does it mean that they should not be filming TV series?

When I take a role now, I dare not say that I don’t consider other factors at all, but basically I still put the role first. I like the role, so I play it, whether it is a TV series, a play or a movie. "

Cao Xuan pondered for two seconds and answered the reporter's question.

Movies are of higher quality than TV series. This is a generally accepted impression in the industry and drama. However, from an artistic point of view, drama has higher artistic value than movies.

Movies are the seventh art, and television is the eighth art. They are both new to the position. Who looks down on the other?

You know, people's drama has become an art hundreds of years ago. If Cao Xuan pursues art, he should not make movies, but should act in stage plays.

Of course, this is a bit of a strong argument.

Movies are indeed better than TV series, whether it is the audio-visual effects, specific shooting techniques, actors' acting skills, or artistic tension.

Cao Xuan has never resisted acting in movies, but that doesn't mean he can't act in TV series.

Especially for his own company's dramas, all the money made goes into his pocket. Whether he stars in it or not is directly related to the tens of millions of dollars in the overall profit of the drama.

Cao Xuan is now out to take roles and make movies, and his salary is only 20 million. No matter how much, few people can afford it, and they are not willing to pay it.

The movie market is very realistic, especially now that it has not been affected by the traffic era. Although reputation is important, it depends more on your lack of box office appeal.

Cao Xuan's reputation is worth gambling on, but it's not worth spending any money on. The 20 million yuan in film remuneration is difficult to recover domestically at this stage. If the price cannot be raised overseas, it will definitely be a loss.

In comparison, they are more willing to split the 20 million into two 10 million or four 5 million to hire other Hong Kong and Taiwan stars. It is not that expensive, and they are relatively familiar faces, which is safer.

Cao Xuan is very popular in the film market, but it is difficult to agree on the conditions.

Cao Xuan was often dissatisfied with the price given by the film crew, and the film crew failed to meet the requirements mentioned by Cao Xuan, and the film ended up falling apart.

There are also many film crews who plan to use the so-called dividends to offset their wages and come to Cao Xuan for free.

But Cao Xuan is not short of money, and the salary and dividends are low. It is better for him to directly manage the crew himself. Not to mention the profit and loss, the shooting environment is comfortable and there are not so many worries.

And since you choose to raise your own crew, there must be many business considerations, especially since Cao Xuan is Fanxing's most profitable brand now.

Therefore, making movies and TV series is secondary, making money in business is the first priority.

If Fanxing can develop, no fool will use the so-called artist status to measure a film and television giant.

As I said before, real bosses don't care about casting, the number of roles, or the number of roles. They only care about their own feelings and act whatever they want.

Cao Xuan has not yet reached that level of ambition, but he is not particularly demanding either.

Only artists who are on the rise or on the decline will be extremely concerned about the so-called matching of resources, because they cannot retreat, because if you step back, someone else will take your place.

Cao Xuan is now the first person to enter the foreign music scene and the Chinese music scene, and has increased his capital.

Not to mention that he is aloof from the world at home, but he also has enough confidence to be "willful", and it's not like Cao Xuan doesn't make movies.

After refuting the so-called "coffee position theory", Cao Xuan also made a emphatically statement.

"In the future, I will not give up filming TV series, but I will also try to actively explore the field of film and television."

When the reporter heard this, his eyes lit up: "I heard what you said, and it seems that he is interested in starring in a movie."

"It's not intentional, it's already being implemented."

Knowing that many people are concerned about this matter, Cao Xuan also revealed: "Our company plans to have a new film project, and the official application is currently under review.

If passed, the film starring me for the first time in the second half of the year will be officially approved. I hope everyone will pay more attention to it. "

Well, why do I look more and more like Teacher Six...

The reporters were all very interested in Cao Xuan's first appearance in a movie, but Cao Xuan didn't talk much about it. After all, this was the opening ceremony of "The Heavenly Dragon Slayer".

After participating in a large number of interviews, the reporter took the red envelope and left. Boss Wu turned around and left, and the crew officially started filming.

Today's scene was mainly about Cao Xuan. The two heroines had nothing to do. Jia Jingwen took advantage of the studio to adjust the machine. While Cao Xuan was waiting for the scene, he came over to chat, exchanged a few words, and then casually asked.

"You just said that your company is preparing a new movie. What is the theme?"

"Romance movie."

Jia Jingwen's eyes suddenly lit up. The romance film is good, the heroine is important, and it can also be used to stir up scandals.

This time she participated in "The Legend of Heaven and Dragon Sword", and she got a taste of the benefits.

Cao Xuan's popularity is so great, and the two of them have "criminal records" that the crew didn't even turn on their cameras. All the materials and exposure alone made her famous in the mainland, and her popularity is no less than that of many A-list celebrities.

If this is another romantic movie together with "The Heaven and the Dragon Sword", Jia Jingwen will have the confidence to compete with the four young actresses.

What's more important is that cooperating in two consecutive dramas will not only lead to a successful career, but it may also be a good promotion for the two of them.

For Jia Jingwen, whose career is gradually shifting to the mainland, if she can do a real fake role with Cao Xuan, it will be worth more than ten movies.

Jia Jingwen recalled what she accidentally heard from Cao Xuan and someone on the phone -

During the filming stage, Cao Xuan plans to take time to inspect the area near Baiyangdian, a city in Hebei Province. If everything goes well, he plans to spend a lot of money to purchase land, with an initial investment of more than 300 million.

300 million, 300 million, you can’t spend it all in a lifetime!

Jia Jingwen didn't know how many shares Cao Xuan could hold in it, but being able to lead the operation of such a large project already showed his strength.

Not to mention that Cao Xuan is young, handsome, talented, and has such high potential that Jia Jingwen has ignored other factors. If he can win the best, he still hopes to have a good relationship with him.

"Have you decided on the heroine? Boss Cao gives you a chance. I'll charge you the friendship price."

Jia Jingwen probed like a joke, and Cao Xuan laughed: "It's a small business, but I can't afford a big star like you."

This is considered a polite refusal, but Jia Jingwen is not discouraged. Anyway, there is a chance before it is announced. Even if it is announced, it is not impossible to kick him out. It has been filming for several months, so take your time.

After chatting for a while, Jia Jingwen was called over to set her makeup and take photos. Cao Xuan took a look at the busy scene and simply reviewed his lines.

After a few glances, Gao Yuanyuan slipped over in costume. She looked like Zhou Zhiruo in the previous period, with a pink gauze skirt and a red mole between her eyebrows. She was beautiful, handsome, and charming.

"Boss, what were you two talking about just now?"

"If you have something to say, just say it, don't beat around the bush."

Gao Yuanyuan was considered an old man in the company, and Cao Xuan was not polite to her. Da Meiyuan was embarrassed and stuck out her tongue, but she still had the courage to ask,

"Has the heroine of the movie you just mentioned been decided yet?"

"deal."

"Who?"

"Hu Jing."

Cao Xuan glanced at Gao Yuanyuan strangely. He was not satisfied with the acting of the heroine in the TV series and wanted to star in a movie with him.

"Sister Jing, it's okay."

If it were Dong Xuan or other actresses, Gao Yuanyuan would be dissatisfied, but Hu Jing, the company's first sister and proprietress, had no objection at all, and she didn't dare to have one.

Gao Yuanyuan left in despair. Cao Xuan was about to continue reading the script when his cell phone rang and the call was connected. It was Fan Xiaopang's clear and sweet voice.

"Brother Xuan, I heard that you are going to make a movie?"

Good guy, less than two hours after this reporter left, the news got out.

Cao Xuan was speechless, said a few words casually, and hung up Fan Xiaopang's call. Within five minutes, Mr. Zhou's call came.

"Brother, I can live a cheap life, so think about it."

"Don't call me brother, I'm scared. This time it's a romance film. Go talk to Jingjing. If she agrees, I'll ask you to act in it."

"Forget it, think of me next time if you have something good to do."

Mr. Zhou gave up immediately. She and Hu Jing were considered friends and kept in touch frequently. She knew that Hu Jing had always wanted to play a real couple with Cao Xuan.

She even suspected that Cao Xuan might have made this movie specifically for Hu Jing. Not to mention that she couldn't cut Hu Jing, even if she could, she couldn't do it.

Not to mention other things, Mr. Zhou is definitely a good friend who is loyal and cannot do the job of stabbing someone in the back.

After that, Cao Xuan either politely or bluntly rejected many female stars he knew, and was finally forced to shut down his phone.

But this still hasn't dampened the outside world's enthusiasm for the movie.

It is a romance film with a strong heroine, a gimmick from Cao Xuan's first film, and it can ride on Cao Tianwang's popularity.

If you can find a good director, you have great hope of becoming a small hit, not to mention a hit. Coupled with various additional benefits, the resource value is comparable to some big productions.

Those who have projects on hand are lucky, but actresses who don't have projects or have average projects are all eyeing this movie and trying various connections to see if they can grab this resource.

If it really doesn't work and you can't get the female lead, you can have a second female lead with a heavy role.