novellhall Chapter 79: The desire for stillness persists, but the ice remains.
Chapter 79: The desire for stillness persists, but the ice remains.
Time ticked away again.
One drop lasts for half a month.
End of March.
The five-story building of Hehuan Film and Television.
At the front desk on the first floor, the new receptionist, Zhou Xin, was answering a phone call.
Don't let her position as a receptionist fool you; she's actually a senior at the Beijing Film Academy, majoring in management.
A top student who scored over 650 points on the college entrance exam!
There's no way around it, except for those in the performing arts department.
The other majors at Beijing Film Academy actually have very high requirements for college entrance examination scores.
The standard is generally the score requirement for admission to a university or above.
It's just that the requirements for the performing arts department are not high.
Given Zhou Xin's education and background.
That's actually enough for her to intern at a mid-level position in one of the major film and television companies in Beijing.
But she refused and ultimately chose Hehuan Films.
It was only through the influence of Professor Yu Jianhong, the head of the Department of Management at Beijing Film Academy, that they were able to come.
However, the company did not have a suitable position for her, and she had not yet graduated.
I'll temporarily act as the company's receptionist and help answer the phone.
"Hello, this is Hehuan Film & Television. Mr. Wei is not currently in the office. May I ask who you are?"
She spoke while quickly taking notes in her notebook.
Second floor, content department.
Su Xiao and two newly hired screenwriters were having a meeting around a table, where a densely drawn character relationship diagram covered the whiteboard. The names of Qingchuan, the Eighth Prince, and the Fourth Prince were repeatedly connected.
The third floor is the artists' department. Zhang Xuan is practicing her lines, Zhang Xiaofei is helping her with her acting, and Yuan Shanshan is sitting alone in a corner reading the script and taking notes while biting her pen.
The three just signed an artist management contract a few days ago, officially becoming the first batch of signed artists of Hehuan Film and Television.
Fourth floor, post-production studio.
The graduate students personally trained by Mu Deyuan are debugging the equipment, and the walls are covered with storyboard sketches from "Detective Chinatown".
Fifth floor.
Wei Yi stood by the window, watching the employees coming and going downstairs.
The system panel pops up.
[Sect: Hehuan Paradise Sect (Hehuan Film and Television)]
[Rank: Lv.1]
[Inner Disciples: 3/3 – Li Hua, Mu Tingting, Wang Baoqiang]
Wang Baoqiang. He was just confirmed to play the male lead, Tang Ren, in "Detective Chinatown". After discussing it with Wei Yi, he paid a one million yuan penalty to buy out his contract with Huayi Brothers.
Bao Qiang is now an employee of Hehuan Film and Television.
[Outer Disciples: Zhang Xuan, Zhang Xiaofei, Yuan Shanshan, Su Xiao, Zhou Xin]
[Nominated Disciples (Uncontracted but Regularly Resident): Fan Binbin, Yang Mi.]
[Sect Bonus: Reduces spiritual energy consumption by 20% (within the dojo)]
The company is finally starting to look like something.
It's no longer just two or three people and seven or eight guns.
That afternoon.
A minivan was parked downstairs at Hehuan Film and Television Building.
Yu Dong personally brought a team over.
There was a dark-skinned middle-aged man in the team who wore a gold chain. As soon as he entered, he introduced himself in Mandarin with a Chaoshan accent.
"Hello Director Wei, my name is Chen Acai. I grew up in Bangkok's Chinatown and have been a producer in Thailand for twenty years. President Yu asked me to come and assist you, Director Wei."
Chen Acai laid out all the documents he had brought on the table.
It includes real photos of various blocks in Bangkok's Chinatown, venue rental quotes, a list of Thai filming companies, contact information for local extras associations, and aerial photos of filming locations in Chiang Mai.
Densely packed, categorized into different groups.
"...Bangkok's Chinatown has too many people during the day, and the police usually don't grant permission to close the street."
Chen Acai spread out a map and pointed to several alleys. "But we can handle these alleys next to it. Especially this back alley on Yaohuali Road, there's basically no one there after 6 p.m., so shooting night scenes won't be a problem."
Li Hua quickly took notes beside him.
I thought to myself that this person was a seasoned veteran who got things done.
Chen Acai took out another piece of paper.
"The Thai Film Authority has a tax refund policy for foreign film crews. 50% of the filming cost exceeding 50 million baht will be refunded. There are also subsidies—if approved, you can get a subsidy of up to 10% of the total investment. This is usually difficult to obtain, but 5%-8% should be achievable. If we register a production company locally to handle the accounting, we can save a lot more."
Wei Yi only asked one question throughout the entire process: "Can the local police cooperate?"
Chen Acai grinned, revealing a gold tooth.
"I have a long-standing relationship with the deputy chief of the Bangkok police. I spend several thousand baht a day on tea and drinks, and he can send two officers over to help us maintain order."
"That's fine then."
After Chen Acai left, Wei Yi picked up his phone.
The call was first made to Huang Xiaoming.
"Brother Xiaoming, are you available? There's a small but very memorable role for me. Are you interested?"
"Of course! I'm interested in any role in any of your films, Director Wei."
"His role might be a bit of a comedic one, a comedic character."
There was a slight hesitation on the other end of the phone, but the reply was quick: "No problem. Director Wei, remember to save it for me. Let me know in advance when you need to film so I can arrange my schedule."
Wei Yi thought to himself that this person was truly exceptional.
No wonder she was famous for so long in her past life.
Huang Xiaoming then asked, "By the way, Director Wei, does my character have many scenes with Baoqiang?"
Although they were both artists under Huayi Brothers Entertainment, Xiaoming was the kind of person who could compete for the top spot in the company and had a very high chance of winning.
What about Baoqiang?
He was better off than a background actor before the era of thieves.
He finally made a name for himself after "A World Without Thieves," but he's still just a character actor with a distinctive style.
He only became truly famous thanks to Wei Yi's "One Shot," but his acting roles are still relatively narrow, and he is currently considered a second or third-tier star.
But compared to a rising star like Xiaoming, he is still far inferior.
But who is Xiaoming?
Even on the set of "One Shot," it was clear that Wei Yi admired Wang Baoqiang.
Because of Wei Yi's appreciation for Wang Baoqiang, several bigwigs at the Beijing Film Academy also took a liking to this grassroots talent.
Tian Erzhuang even took the initiative to suggest that Wang Baoqiang attend the vocational college program at Beijing Film Academy.
Baoqiang listened to the advice. He had already made his debut and was already a second or third-tier celebrity.
He stated directly that he would start studying this September!
Now Wang Baoqiang has left Huayi Brothers and officially signed with Hehuan Film & Television, becoming Hehuan Film & Television's "number one actor" (he is the only male artist in the company).
Huang Xiaoming knew perfectly well that this person's status was about to rise.
With Xiaoming's high emotional intelligence, his relationship with Baoqiang has naturally gotten better and better over the past few months.
"Most of your scenes are with him."
"That's great! I already said I wanted to work with Director Wei again without paying him, and I didn't expect the opportunity to come so soon!"
"Brother Xiaoming, pay me the normal fee this time."
"Director Wei, I..."
a few days later.
Chow Yun-fat came to Beijing to attend an event.
Wei Yi asked him to meet him at the hotel coffee shop.
"Brother Chow, I'd like to ask you for help with a role."
Chow Yun-fat laughed: "Just a few more cameo roles? I've been a lighting technician before, what's this time?"
"The Godfather of Chinatown. A Thai-Chinese gang leader. Only two scenes, but each one is a key turning point. Not many lines, all relying on charisma. I think you're perfect for the role."
Chow Yun-fat picked up his coffee cup, but didn't drink it, and then put it down.
"Xiao Wei, you always come to me with trivial matters. But I'm always very interested. Do you know why?"
Before Wei Yi could answer, he laughed first: "It's because of the roles you gave me. Whether they're small or large doesn't matter, they're all good roles."
Wei Yi chuckled inwardly.
I thought to myself, isn't this because I gave you other, better compensation?
As Chow Yun-fat spoke, he put down his cup: "A cameo appearance is no problem. But I have one condition: could you give me one or two more pages from your Vogue publication? It doesn't have to be the international edition; the Asian edition is fine too."
Wei Yi knew that if he wanted this person's help, he would have to give something in return.
He was about to agree when he heard Chow Yun-fat immediately add:
"But don't get me wrong, this time I'm not asking for it for myself. I'm asking it for Tony. You don't know, after seeing the photos you took for me, Carina is so envious, she keeps pestering me to introduce you to the couple."
Wei Yi thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Wei-zai, Carina, isn't that Sister Jia-ling and Brother Chao-wei?"
"right."
"Brother Fa, do you think it's possible if I asked Sister Jialing and Brother Chaowei to make cameo appearances?"
Chow Yun-fat: "..."
"You little rascal, you're really something else, picking every last feather from a passing goose. Let me ask you something?"
"Okay. If they're not willing, I can give them a copy of VOGUE. But it can only be the domestic edition, and the couple will be on together. I'll decide the shooting time."
"OK, I'll call you right away."
"Wait a minute," Wei Yi called out to him, "Brother Fa, you and Ng Man-tat are very close, aren't you?"
"Ada, of course. What's wrong?"
"Please call him over too, there's an important person here."
"You, you... okay, no problem. Is there anything else you want to shout? Say it all at once, and I'll call them all for you."
That's all for now.
Five days later.
Early April.
Fifth floor of Hehuan Film and Television.
Li Hua placed the final version of the "Detective Chinatown" preparation schedule in front of Wei Yi.
Screenwriting team: Script finalized, completed.
Casting team: All main roles have been finalized.
Behind-the-scenes team: Director of Photography, Art Director, and Lighting Technician are all in place. Two-thirds of them are from the Beijing Film Academy.
Production team: Bo Na Chen A Cai has completed the preliminary location scouting in Bangkok. The location rental contract has not yet been signed, but Wei Yi only needs to make one trip to finalize it.
Legal Department: Contracts for both China Film Group and Bona Film Group's shares have been signed.
Visa: All visa application materials for Thailand have been prepared and can be submitted to the Thai consulate at any time.
After reading the last page, Wei Yi leaned back in his chair.
Outside the window, the willows in Chaoyang Park are beginning to turn green again.
In the spring of 2006, there was a sandstorm in Yanjing, but it didn't seem so bad.
System pop-up window.
The trials for "Detective Chinatown" are about to begin. Countdown: 21 days.
[The trials for "Palace: The Lock of Jade Heart" are underway simultaneously, with the sect pursuing two parallel paths. Please allocate your energy accordingly.]
Wei Yi picked up the enamel mug on the table.
The instructor's portrait on the cup is smiling at him.
"I am not as great as you. I am not even as good as a single hair on your leg. I can only serve myself first."
He finished his tea and left the office.
In the waiting room outside, Mu Tingting was practicing her priest skills in World of Warcraft on her laptop.
She's started playing World of Warcraft too, and leveled an Undead Priest.
Yang Mi sat next to her, teaching her how to predict and interrupt the BOSS's casting.
At first glance, the relationship between the two seems quite harmonious.
Zhang Xuan and Zhang Xiaofei sat cross-legged on the sofa, rehearsing their lines from the script of "Palace," as did Yuan Shanshan.
All four of them in the dormitory landed roles in "Palace: The Lock Heart Jade," which was not even officially in preparation yet.
Wei Yi stood at the top of the stairs for a while, but didn't disturb them.
He quietly went out through the side door and lit a Xuanhemen cigarette.
I had just taken a deep breath when another phone rang in my pocket.
Fan Xiaopang.
"Feed?"
"Wei Yi, something happened to me at Huayi."