novellhall Chapter 90 The Crown Prince of Beijing Film Academy
Chapter 90 The Crown Prince of Beijing Film Academy
Chapter 91 The Crown Prince of Beijing Film Academy
On the vast and boundless land of China.
An airplane is flying south at a high altitude.
In the first-class cabin of the airplane.
Having recovered, Gao Yuanyuan looked at the young and handsome man in front of her with great curiosity.
This person has become incredibly famous in the industry lately!
He has been given titles such as "genius who scored full marks in the college entrance examination," "domestic box office record creator," "master photographer," and "crown prince of Beijing Film Academy."
Gao Yuanyuan listened to one story after another; she had long been curious.
I never expected to run into someone like that on a plane, and she's so good-looking too.
She flipped to the cover of City Pictorial, pointed to the photo of Gong Li, and said, "You said this photo of Gong Li isn't good. If it were you, how would you take it?"
Wei Yi did not answer directly.
He knows exactly how to flirt with an artsy girl like her.
In his previous life, before he "debuted," he was still a civil servant in a small county and writing novels online.
He was hailed as a talented young man in the county at the time, and he already knew how to woo these artsy girls.
When you encounter this kind of girl, the first thing you should do is not to "throw" her at her.
What can't you smash?
We can't throw money at it, and we can't waste our influence.
Only ambitious, rational, and realistic people like Fan Xiaopang and Yang Dami fall for this kind of thing.
The woman before me has a personality similar to that of a famous courtesan from ancient times.
It's not that they're completely detached from worldly affairs, but rather that they exist outside of them.
You also need to make them think you are exceptionally talented.
That's the only way to win their hearts, make them devoted to you, and even make them willingly become your concubines!
Moreover, they often fill in the blanks in their own minds, imagining that they are not materialistic or unrealistic because of their talent or love!
So—Wei Yi took out a notebook from his bag, the one he had been using on the set of "Curse of the Golden Flower".
He turned to a blank page and took out a ballpoint pen from his pocket.
"Gong Li's advantage is not her cheekbones."
He drew, wove, and talked as he went, the pen nib swishing across the paper, "It's her eyes."
Gao Yuanyuan leaned over to take a look.
Wei Yi drew very quickly; with just a few strokes, the outline of a human face appeared.
"When photographing her, the light should come from below as a base light. Most people don't use this method; it makes the scene look gloomy. But for Gong Li, the base light actually brings out what's in her eyes. Her gaze is more powerful in the shadows than in the sunlight."
He turned the notebook over for Gao Yuanyuan to see.
The bottom light shines upwards from the chin, hiding the eyes in the shadow of the brow bone, revealing only a very bright spot of light—the reflection of the pupil.
Gao Yuanyuan stared at the sketch and remained silent for a long time.
"you're right."
She spoke softly, "When I used to take photos, photographers always told me to look up. Looking up makes your eyes look bigger. But Gong Li doesn't need to make her eyes look bigger. Her eyes already have something there."
She returned the notebook to him, her eyes holding a look that was hard to decipher.
"Are you really only a freshman?"
Do I look like someone who repeated a grade?
Gao Yuanyuan laughed: "Not really. But you know so much in your first year of university, you're really amazing."
The airplane meal has arrived.
Plastic cutlery, chicken breast wrapped in foil with rice, and a small box of fruit.
Gao Yuanyuan poked the chicken breast twice with her fork, then gave up.
"You just asked me why I entered this industry?"
She leaned back in her chair, looking at the clouds outside the window. "I love acting. But signing with a company is too tiring. It's all about scheming and fighting for resources. I'm not good at that. I just terminated my contract at the beginning of the year, and now I'm a free agent, not signed with any company."
"So what are you good at?" Wei Yi asked.
Gao Yuanyuan thought for a moment: "Good at acting? But I can never act well. And in our industry, just wanting to act well isn't enough. You have to be good at socializing, good at choosing sides, and good at reading people's expressions. I'm not good at any of those."
She spoke very calmly.
"Then why are you still in the industry?"
Gao Yuanyuan was silent for a moment: "Because besides acting, I don't know anything else. Although I'm not a very good actor."
She laughed first after she finished speaking.
"And you?"
Gao Yuanyuan turned to look at him, "Why do you want to make a movie? You got a perfect score on the college entrance exam! When I first saw this news, I thought it was fake!"
"Oh my god," she exclaimed in an admiring tone, "If I got a perfect score on the college entrance exam—well, that's impossible. If I could score over 600 on the college entrance exam, I probably wouldn't be doing acting!"
Wei Yi thought for two seconds.
"Because it's fun."
"Fun?"
"Yeah. Turning a story from your mind into reality, making millions of people laugh and feel tense at the same time in a movie theater, I think that's fun."
He spoke with a very serious expression.
This is indeed one of the reasons why he enjoys making movies.
But that's only one aspect, certainly not the whole picture.
It also needs to be added that directing movies allows you to have sex with actresses.
That's all.
Gao Yuanyuan looked at him and suddenly said, "You are unlike any other director I know."
"What's different?"
"Other directors would say I love movies, that movies are my life. You said it was fun."
"Being passionate is too tiring. Let's make it more fun and relaxing."
Gao Yuanyuan laughed.
As the plane flew over Guangxi Province, Wei Yi suddenly spoke.
"You just said you wanted to act in commercial films?"
Gao Yuanyuan was taken aback. She had only mentioned it casually during their conversation, but she hadn't expected him to remember it.
"Hmm. I'd like to give it a try. Actually, I've already tried. I just finished filming a Hong Kong commercial film with Jackie Chan and Louis Koo."
""
"Is 'Project Rob-B-Hood' right? What do you think of it?"
Gao Yuanyuan nodded: "I feel—I'm superfluous. Judging from the plot, I'm dispensable, like a decorative vase—"
No, they're not as useful as a vase.
"That's how Jackie Chan's movies are," Wei Yi said. "His humorous fight scenes and comedic action are the core. Let alone you, any female star would seem superfluous in his movies."
"Yes," she sighed. "At first, I didn't know that my agent had secured the role for me. I was so happy, thinking I could finally star in a blockbuster. But in the end, I was more of a decorative vase than a pretty face."
Wei Yi looked at her.
As the saying goes, if you have Fei, choose Fei; if you don't have Fei, choose Yuan; if you have neither Fei nor Yuan, choose Tian Tian.
The circle is right in front of me now.
"You must have heard of my new movie, right?"
"Of course I know it, it's 'Detective Chinatown'!"
"I'm currently in Thailand scouting locations for this film. There's a character in it, not a big role, but quite crucial. A mysterious woman who runs an antique shop in Bangkok's Chinatown. On the surface, she sells antiques, but in reality, she's helping Chinese gangs launder money. She only appears in two scenes, but each scene is a turning point in the plot."
Gao Yuanyuan listened attentively, her eyes gradually brightening.
"This role requires an actress who, at first glance, makes the audience believe she has a story behind her. She can't be too young, but she can't be too old either. She has to have a certain presence, not the kind that screams 'bad,' but rather the kind that—you know she's not simple, but you just can't help but believe in her."
Does the original Detective Chinatown have this character?
No.
Did Wei Yi's heavily modified version of Detective Chinatown originally have this character?
nor.
But it's very simple to have.
Director Wei can just make one up for you on the spot.
Gao Yuanyuan laughed: "Is this an invitation?"
"I'm basically asking if you're interested."
"Of course I'm interested. This is a film by the famous Director Wei; any actor would be interested, right? But—"
She paused for a moment, then said, "I've never played a role like this before. Many people say my acting lacks warmth and realism. This antique shop owner should be very down-to-earth, right?"
"No need for a lively atmosphere. You're just right. A woman who runs an antique shop should naturally be quiet and aloof. Too much heat would just look fake."
Gao Yuanyuan thought for a few seconds, then smiled.
"Did you interview me on the plane today?"
I even wanted to sleep with you on the plane.
Wei Yi: "It was just a coincidence. We just happened to run into each other."
"So, does that mean I bumped into them?"
"It's all about fate."
He laughed first after he finished speaking, and Gao Yuanyuan laughed along with him.
Just then, Wei Yi suddenly heard a notification sound in his mind.
[Good news: The favorability rating of the near-immortal female cultivator has exceeded the critical threshold. Host, please remain natural and continue at the current pace. Do not overdo it!]
"call----"
Wei Yi let out a pleasant sigh.
He knew that artsy girls loved this kind of style.
I checked my partner slots in the system; they're currently at 2/5.
There were originally only three during the Foundation Establishment stage, but they later successfully completed the Core Formation stage.
We're currently in the Golden Core stage, so we've added two more slots.
However, he has only signed two Daoist partners so far, namely Xiao Fan and Xiao Mu.
Now he wouldn't mind adding another Xiao Gao to the list.
The more female cultivators you have in your friendships, the better, as it can increase your spiritual power.
Since there are limited spots for Daoist partners, we can only try to choose the best ones and those that suit our aesthetic preferences.
The plane encountered severe convective weather when it entered Thai airspace.
The fuselage shook violently, and the lights in the cabin flickered and then came back on.
Gao Yuanyuan instinctively grabbed the handrail.
The flight attendant announced over the loudspeaker that everyone should fasten their seatbelts and not leave their seats. Several gasps came from the economy class section behind.
Wei Yi didn't say anything like "Don't be afraid."
He took the tattered notebook out of his bag, turned to a new blank page, and started drawing again.
The ballpoint pen made a swishing sound on the paper.
His movements were very steady, as if the plane wasn't bumping at all.
Gao Yuanyuan was drawn to his actions. This person was actually drawing at a time like this?
"What are you drawing?"
Wei Yi didn't look up, drew a few more strokes, and then turned the notebook around.
He painted Gao Yuanyuan.
With just a few strokes of a ballpoint pen, she was drawn to look like this.
He gripped the handrail, pursed his lips, and looked straight ahead.
It's not one of those candid shots of a "beautiful woman in fear".
It is her, but it is not her.
The woman in the painting is both afraid and trying hard not to show it.
It's a quiet, solitary fear—this is Gao Yuanyuan's perspective.
Gao Yuanyuan looked at the sketch and forgot about the bumpy ride.
She reached out and took the notebook, looked at it carefully for a long time, and then looked up at Wei Yi.
"How did you draw that? The plane was shaking like that, didn't your hand shake?"
Wei Yi put the pen back in his bag: "I got a perfect score on the college entrance exam."
What does getting a perfect score on the college entrance exam have to do with whether your hands shake or not?
Were you nervous during your college entrance exam?
Gao Yuanyuan thought for a moment: "I'm nervous. My palms are all sweaty."
"I fell asleep in the exam room during my college entrance exam because the questions were too easy," Wei Yi said. "When I woke up after the exam, the proctor thought I was cheating and spent half an hour reviewing the surveillance footage to confirm that I had really fallen asleep."
These words are not false; Wei Yi did indeed pass the college entrance examination in this way.
But that's not because he's good.
Instead, it was some silly creature that was really powerful; at the time, it thought it was a grand competition among all the immortal cultivation sects in the world.
Fearing that Wei Yi couldn't compare to others, this guy simply cheated.
Gao Yuanyuan, however, was so taken aback that her mouth was slightly agape.
Mmm, it's very moisturizing.
I really want to stuff it in.
"So whether it's bumpy or not makes no difference to me," Wei Yi said. "My heart rate is probably only a third of yours."
"You're lying to me." Gao Yuanyuan chuckled. "There's no way your heart rate could be that low."
The plane began its descent.
A broadcast will be broadcasting a message requesting that electronic devices be turned off.
Gao Yuanyuan returned the script to Wei Yi and then said, "I'm serious about the role you mentioned before. If it's convenient, I'd like to learn more about it."
She took a business card out of her bag.
It wasn't one of those fancy business cards that celebrities wear, but a simple white card with her name and phone number printed on it.
"This is my personal number. You don't need to contact me through an agent. Just call this number."
Wei Yi took the business card, glanced at it, and put it in his notebook.
Gao Yuanyuan added, "I don't have a specific itinerary in Bangkok this time. I'm just going to relax and unwind for a few days. If you need any help while scouting locations, feel free to contact me."
She said it very casually.
But what this means is: I'm in Bangkok, you can make plans with me.
Wei Yi thought for a moment: "I'll be scouting locations in Chinatown tomorrow. If you're bored, you can come and take a look. See what a commercial film set is like."
"Won't that bother you?"
"I'll talk to you later."
Gao Yuanyuan smiled: "Okay. I'll go tomorrow."
The plane landed.
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The humid, hot air characteristic of Southeast Asia hits you, carrying a faint aroma of spices and fuel.
The coconut trees in the distance on the tarmac were bent by the wind, the signs were written in Thai and English side by side, and the Thai on the radio had a soft, sweet ending.
Gao Yuanyuan's assistant had already retrieved her luggage and was waiting at the exit.
Wei Yi said a brief goodbye to her and led Xiao Wang toward another exit.
He had only walked a few steps when Gao Yuanyuan suddenly called out to him.
"Wei Yi".
Wei Yi turned around.
Gao Yuanyuan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What's the name of the character you were talking about?"
Wei Yi thought for a moment: "I haven't decided yet. I'll let you know when I do."
2
Because this role doesn't exist yet.
Gao Yuanyuan smiled: "Then remember to think about it."
She waved to him, then turned and got into a black Toyota that had come to pick her up with her assistant.
Xiao Wang, dragging his suitcase, followed behind Wei Yi and finally found an opportunity to speak.
"Boss, is Gao Yuanyuan—"
"What is it?"
Xiao Wang carefully considered his words: "—Do you want to join our company?"
Wei Yi glanced at him.
Xiao Wang thought for a moment and said, "—Then she probably wants to be the boss's wife."
Wei Yi stopped in his tracks.
Xiao Wang immediately changed his story: "I didn't say anything. I'll go call a taxi right now."
Wei Yi watched Xiao Wang frantically trying to flag down a taxi and chuckled.
This assistant is quite clever; I'll make him a permanent employee when we get back.
At this point, the system panel pops up.
[Gao Yuanyuan, a female cultivator at the Quasi-Immortal Rank: Favorability 85 (Clearly attracted), Status: Scheduled to visit the set in Chinatown tomorrow]
[Side Quest Trigger: During your time in Thailand, complete at least one in-depth conversation with Gao Yuanyuan (any format is acceptable). Reward: "Words Become Law - The Law of Cause and Effect" upgraded to LV2]
Side Quest 2: Recruiting Independent Cultivators—Persuade Gao Yuanyuan to join Hehuan Film and Television or establish a cooperative relationship. Reward: Sect Reputation +50, unlocks the "Outer Sect Elder" position (can appoint non-Beijing Film Academy executives)
[Special Note: Gao Yuanyuan is currently the only quasi-immortal-level female cultivator among all female cultivators who does not belong to any sect. Her recruitment value far exceeds her short-term conquest value. It is recommended that the host recruit her first, and then delve deeper into her cultivation.]
What do you mean by "in-depth"?
Wei Yiwen System.
System: [You already know the answer, why are you asking me?]
Depend on!
What a vulgar system! No wonder it attracted the descent of the God of Harmony!
Wei Yi closed the control panel.
He took out his Nokia and dialed Chen Acai's number.
I answered the phone after it rang twice.
"Director Wei! We're here? I'm at the exit, holding a sign. You'll see me as soon as you come out!"
Chen Acai's Chaoshan accent sounded even stronger on the phone.
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Wei Yi hung up the phone and patted Xiao Wang, who was still looking around.
"I'm gone."
at the same time.
domestic.
It's 2 PM Beijing time.
Hehuan Film & Television's official blog posted a new update.
The accompanying image is a handwritten script cover.
Two large characters: Palace Lock.
The line below in smaller print reads: Xinyu.
text:
[Hehuan Film & Television's first TV series project, "Palace: The Lock Heart Jade," has officially launched!]
Director: Li Hua; Producer/Screenwriter: Wei Yi; Starring: Mu Tingting; Investment: 30 million; Genre: Historical Fiction, Time Travel; Start Date: June 2006; Stay tuned!
The news elicited a stronger reaction from industry insiders than from netizens.
Sina Entertainment issued a breaking news report ten minutes later.
The Tianya Film and Television section directly created a pinned post.
"Has Wei Yi gone mad? He's making a TV series before even filming the movie! And it's a time-travel story!"
Huayi Building.
Wang Zhonglei walked into Wang Zhongjun's office with his mobile phone in his hand.
"Brother! That kid surnamed Wei is saying he wants to film a TV series called 'Palace Lock Heart Jade,' a time-travel drama, and he's planning to invest 30 million."
Wang Zhongjun was reading a document when he heard this and looked up.
"Who is the director? Is it himself? Can he extricate himself from the situation?"
"Li Hua. That's his senior, the one who used to be with Zhang Yi."
Wang Zhongjun put down his pen and leaned back in his chair.
"This kid has big ambitions. He's diversifying his risks. He doesn't want to rely on just one thing."
"Li Hua is the director, and he is the producer and screenwriter. He can promote his own people without having to do anything himself. With the help of the Beijing Film Academy, he is not afraid of not being able to sell the film or making a bad film. He has done a shrewd job."
Wang Zhonglei frowned: "Then what do we do? Should we also follow suit and produce a few time-travel dramas?"
"No rush," Wang Zhongjun shook his head. "Let's see how it turns out first. Time-travel stories have been made before, but most of them flopped."
"Besides, Fan Binbin's contract still has more than a year left, and this whole mess has already happened. Wei Yi is practically the crown prince of Beijing Film Academy now; there's no need to break ties with him. Let's wait and see."
Rongxinda.
Li Shaohong's office.
The assistant placed the printed official announcement on her desk.
"Director Li, Hehuan Films has officially announced the cast for 'Palace'. The female lead is Mu Tingting. The second female lead—the second female lead is Mimi, but we didn't receive any prior notice, and she didn't tell us either."
1
Li Shaohong glanced at it and tapped her finger on the table.
"Has Yang Mi been spending all her time at Hehuan Film and Television lately?"
"Yes. I go almost every day, supposedly to help with cleaning."
Li Shaohong sneered.
"Cleaning? I think you're trying to sweep yourself into the mess."
"Go, have the legal department prepare the contract renewal plan. The terms can be a bit more lenient. We can't let Wei Yi poach her."
Beijing Film Academy.
The performing arts department building.
The bulletin board was surrounded by layers of students.
"The drama 'Palace' is casting! Beijing Film Academy graduates preferred!"
"Wei Yi's acting! Even if it's just a minor role, it's worth it!"
"I just went to Hehuan Film and Television. Director Li Hua conducted the auditions personally, and it was packed with people!"
Fifth floor of Hehuan Film and Television.
Li Hua was on the verge of tears as he faced a room full of students auditioning.
Professor Xu Xiaodan brought more than thirty people with her.
They have departments for directing, acting, literature, and all sorts of other majors.
Their eyes lit up, as if they had seen the flesh of Tang Sanzang.
"Junior brother! When are you coming back? This time it's even worse than last time! I can't take it anymore!" Li Hua wailed into the phone.
Last time, they recruited people from Detective Chinatown, since it's a movie production.
Everyone knows that filmmaking is much more difficult, so some people with self-awareness don't dare to come.
This time, we're filming a TV series.
The difficulty of the TV series is significantly lower, and many people who missed it last time regretted it later.
In order to seize the opportunity, they all rushed over at once.
"I've been scheduled for interviews since 8 a.m., and I haven't even had a sip of water!"
Wei Yi's lazy voice came from the other end of the phone.
"What's the rush? All roles that pass the audition come with a fee. For students from the Beijing Film Academy, we're offering a sincere price, 20% higher than the market rate."
"Go talk to the school and say that anyone willing to help, regardless of their position, will be appreciated. They'll be given priority for future projects."
Li Hua hung up the phone.
Looking at the room full of eager students from the Beijing Film Academy.
Suddenly I realized...
Having a junior classmate who's the heir apparent at the Beijing Film Academy must feel pretty cool.
Wait a minute! If my junior brother is the heir of the Beijing Film Academy, then what am I?
Surely he couldn't be the Crown Prince's chief eunuch?
Depend on!
It seems that's really true!
Li Hua shook his head, trying to shake off this nonsensical thought, and tried to smile as he began to face his juniors.
That evening.
Wei Yi sent an email to Li Hua from his hotel in Bangkok.
Title: Preliminary Marketing Plan for "Palace: The Lock Heart Jade"
There are only two sentences inside.
First, start a blog called "Qingchuan's Time Travel Diary," updated daily from the female protagonist's perspective, so that the writers in the content department can come up with ideas.
Second, start a popular science thread on Tianya, talking about daily life in the ancient palace, without mentioning the drama's title.
Li Hua looked at the email, filled with mixed emotions.
He had never even heard of these marketing ideas.
But he knew that as long as he did what Wei Yi said, he would be right.
Wei Yi turned off the computer.
I walked to the window.
Bangkok's night view is dazzling with lights, and cruise ships float on the Chao Phraya River.
He pulled out the old notebook.
Turn it over.
On the left is Gong Li's background lighting sketch.
The image on the right is a sketch of Gao Yuanyuan when she was scared.
The white business card was sandwiched in the middle.
He couldn't wait until tomorrow, so he made the call directly.
"Feed?"
'
"In a foreign land, the night is long, and I can't sleep. I'd like to ask the beautiful Ms. Gao, would you be willing to come out and have a drink with me?"
"Haha, Wei Yi?"
"Um."
"Where shall we meet?"
"you say."
"Okay, I can't sleep either. Come over here, I'm staying at the XXX Hotel."