Chapter 148: The Difference Between a Star and an Actor
Shiba Culture's General Manager's Office.
Wang Jinghua looked at the online reports, a smile unconsciously curving her lips.
Since her departure from Huayi Brothers, Huayi Brothers not only didn't collapse but instead launched a series of high-quality projects.
Whether it was movies or TV series, Huayi Brothers' presence was everywhere.
In contrast, Orange Sky Entertainment, which she joined.
Although its slogans were loud, and the Orange Sky Entertainment All-Stars New Year Film Season poster at the beginning of the year was quite grand.
When it came to actual projects, there were very few that could be immediately presented.
Guan Jinpeng's Red Bean ended in obscurity.
Wu Yusen's red cliff would not see results anytime soon.
Her dozens of artists, on the other hand, seemed to be making a living by relying on Rongchen Film and Television.
The release dates set for Rongchen Film and Television's several films truly hit her sweet spot.
However, amidst the satisfaction, Wang Jinghua also let out a helpless sigh.
The future struggle with Huayi Brothers would no longer be about who was first, but who would be the perennial second.
It was too difficult to bring down Rongchen Film and Television.
Wang Jinghua was lost in thought when Chen Daoming knocked and entered.
"Daoming, is something wrong?" Wang Jinghua smiled, looking at the elegant Chen Daoming before her.
The two had cooperated for over a decade, working together seamlessly.
When she established Shiba Culture, he became her artistic director.
Though not like family, it was better than family.
Chen Daoming had short hair, a white stand-collar shirt paired with navy blue trousers, and a clean-shaven face.
He didn't look old at all; standing next to Wang Jinghua, he seemed to be the same age as her.
Chen Daoming came in and casually sat opposite Wang Jinghua, saying, "Rongchen Film and Television sent over the audition list for painted skin 2, and it only includes Mei Ting."
Wang Jinghua felt a bit regretful: "No male actors at all?"
Chen Daoming nodded: "It seems Director Li already has suitable candidates in mind."
Wang Jinghua frowned and, in front of Chen Daoming, called Yang Siwei.
When Yang Siwei saw the incoming call, she knew Hua Jie would definitely call.
With a helpless smile, she still answered.
"Hua Jie?" Yang Siwei said with a smile.
"Siwei, I won't be polite with you. I'll just ask directly, did Xia Yu offend Director Li in some way?"
"Hua Jie, where are you going with this? My boss chooses people purely based on his own preferences. I also spoke for Xia Yu, but it was useless."
"I probed my boss's intentions, and it's mostly because Xia Yu is already a Best Actor. My boss probably wants to use new talent."
Wang Jinghua hung up the phone helplessly.
For painted skin 2, only the second male lead was open for auditions, requiring actors under thirty years old.
Xia Yu just met the criteria.
As a result, Wang Jinghua submitted his resume but didn't even get an audition opportunity.
Wang Jinghua didn't give up and found Yang Siwei again.
She hoped Yang Siwei could help push for Xia Yu to get an invitation to audition for the first male lead.
Now it had fallen through again, leaving Wang Jinghua at a loss for words.
Among her dozen artists, Xia Yu was a top-tier actor, but he just wasn't favored by major directors. It was strange!
None of Rongchen Film and Television's films had ever chosen Xia Yu.
Could it really be, as Yang Siwei said, because Xia Yu was already a Venice Film Festival Best Actor?
Li Bingbing had already received a call from her sister; painted skin 2 had confirmed they would no longer use her.
The answer didn't need Yang Siwei to state it explicitly; everyone knew.
The Li Bingbing sisters had no other choice but to be helpless.
When Li Xiaowan received Yang Siwei's call, her brows couldn't help but furrow into a frown.
Li Xiaowan was becoming a bit paranoid.
Even if Rongchen Film and Television threw a female lead audition her way now, she wouldn't dare to accept it rashly.
Li Xiaowan couldn't make up her mind and immediately went to Li Shaohong's office.
Seeing Li Xiaowan enter, Li Shaohong said, "What's wrong?"
Li Xiaowan sat opposite Li Shaohong and frowned, saying, "Yang Siwei just called. Zeng Li is invited to audition for the female lead in painted skin 2."
Li Shaohong's brows furrowed upon hearing this: "Is it Li Bingbing's role?"
Li Xiaowan nodded: "It should be!"
Li Shaohong leaned back in her sofa chair, thought for about half a minute, and then her brows relaxed.
She picked up the phone and called Li Chen directly.
Li Chen was puzzled when he saw Li Shaohong's call. Since Yang Mi terminated her contract with Rongxinda and signed with him.
He and Li Shaohong had neither met nor spoken on the phone again.
"Hello, Director Li."
Both of them had the surname Li, so Li Shaohong directly called Li Chen by his name.
She had the confidence to do so; Li Chen's teacher, Tian Zhuangzhuang, was her classmate. By seniority, she was considered Li Chen's martial aunt.
"Li Chen, I won't beat around the bush. Are you interested in our Zeng Li again?" Li Shaohong asked.
Li Chen was a bit confused: "Zeng Li is from your Rongxinda?"
"So you are indeed interested in her?"
Both answered with questions, but both got their answers.
Li Chen chuckled: "Where are you going with this, Director Li? You're making me sound like a bandit."
"I invited her to audition purely because she's a newcomer and her temperament matches the role."
"Even if I had known she was from your Rongxinda, I would still have invited her to audition."
"If you're worried, you can completely refuse."
Li Shaohong chuckled: "That's not necessary. I called you to clarify what you meant."
Li Chen also laughed: "Director Li, I believe what happened with Zhou Xun and Yang Mi was open and honest; there's nothing I owe you."
"That matter has long been in the past for me. I didn't expect you to still hold a grudge."
Li Shaohong was stunned and then said after a moment, "You're right, it's time to move on."
After hanging up, Li Shaohong said with a smile, "Call Zeng Li and tell her to go for the audition."
"Back then, Wang Zhonglei wanted to poach Zhou Xun, but the banquet couldn't keep Zhou Xun. If Zeng Li snatches Li Bingbing's role again, I'd be happy to see him make a fool of himself."
Li Xiaowan also smiled. As long as Rongchen Film and Television wasn't trying to poach Zeng Li, then everything was fine.
Li Chen hung up and then called Yang Siwei again.
Yang Siwei only found out after checking that Zeng Li had only signed with Rongxinda last year.
She didn't take it seriously and didn't report it to Li Chen.
the barber, like a meteor, streaked across the night sky; once it passed, it was gone.
It failed to cause even a ripple.
As her first film, Zeng Li put a lot of effort into it, but it still left no trace.
After the barber, she didn't receive any more film offers.
She didn't expect to suddenly receive a call from her agent.
painted skin 2 sent an audition invitation, and the role was still the female lead, Li Bingbing's character, from painted skin.
It truly brought Zeng Li an unexpected surprise.
On the day of the audition, Zeng Li actually met an acquaintance on the third floor of Rongchen Film and Television.
"A-Li?"
"Xiaomei?"
"Why are you here?"
"That's what I should be asking you!" Mei Ting said with a laugh.
She had been to Splendid Diamond many times.
Whether for shoplifters or parents love, she was much more familiar with Splendid Diamond than Zeng Li.
Zeng Li wasn't embarrassed; she indeed hadn't been here as many times as Mei Ting.
The last time was for the painted skin audition, when Li Bingbing defeated her and Sun Li to get the role of Pei Rong.
The two classmates from the '96 class met at Rongchen Film and Television, feeling a bit like meeting an old friend in a foreign land.
Neither of them was a native of Beijing.
Mei Ting was also a year older than Zeng Li, but Zeng Li privately always liked to call Mei Ting Xiaomei.
"Are you also here to audition for painted skin 2?"
Mei Ting nodded and smiled: "What? Scared?"
Zeng Li rolled her eyes at her: "What am I scared of? You're the Cairo Best Actress; it's not embarrassing to lose to you."
Mei Ting said calmly: "I'm afraid some people say one thing and mean another."
The two classmates, knowing each other well, bantered until a staff member from Rongchen Film and Television came to call Zeng Li in for her audition first.
Zeng Li greeted Mei Ting and then went into the audition room.
As soon as she entered the audition room, Zeng Li saw the three people sitting behind the long table.
She had met Director Li and Yang Siwei; the other person was probably Wuershan, the director of painted skin 2.
There weren't many people in the audition room, but Zeng Li was still a bit nervous, giving her a feeling like her art school entrance exam days.
It was truly because of Director Li, sitting in the middle; she really couldn't understand how a young man could have such sharp eyes.
Like the Buddha's light shining into the void, making people dare not look directly.
Li Chen carefully scrutinized the woman before him, who was known as: the Central Academy of Drama's two-hundred-year beauty, a stage actress for eight years who was tone-deaf, and in a hundred film and television works, she either died or was injured.
Everyone's aesthetic is different. Perhaps that 'two-hundred-year beauty' health enthusiast hadn't seen many women, which is why Zeng Li was given that title.
Just like the 'four-thousand-year beauty' in later generations, such a title worn on one's head is not an enhancement but a burden!
Netizens also joked that if this woman didn't disfigure herself for a day, she would have food to eat for a day.
In later generations, there was even a post titled "With such stunning beauty, why isn't she more famous?" which garnered over a million clicks.
Li Chen secretly nodded, she was beautiful, but not to that exaggerated extent.
After more than two years, Zeng Li hadn't changed much.
She had auditioned for the role of Pei Rong back then.
But precisely because her looks were too dazzling, and her slender face was too aggressive, it didn't fit the character of Pei Rong.
That's why Li Chen passed on her.
However, for the role of Princess Jing, she was quite suitable; there was a heroic spirit about her.
"Director Li, General Manager Yang, Director Wu, I am actress Zeng Li, here to audition for the role of Princess Jing."
Li Chen nodded: "You've read the audition script, so let's begin."
Zeng Li said nothing more, brewed for half a minute, and began her imaginary performance.
When she left Splendid Diamond, Zeng Li felt uncertain.
Even after Mei Ting called her, Zeng Li didn't believe it was true.
"You, you're not joking?"
Mei Ting laughed: "Who jokes about this? I'm familiar with Director Li."
"Director Li just said one sentence: 'This role, Zeng Li is more suitable than you.' What he meant, you can figure out yourself."
After hanging up, Zeng Li absentmindedly called her agent, Li Xiaowan.
Li Xiaowan then contacted Yang Siwei, which confirmed it was correct.
Li Shaohong and Li Xiaowan were also happy for Zeng Li.
Zeng Li felt even more like she had finally seen the light after a long wait.
Five years after graduation, her classmates from the '96 class—Liu Ye, Zhang Ziyi, Qin Hailu, Mei Ting, Hu Jing—were all more famous than her.
This was a world of difference from the treatment she received at school back then.
Back then, she was also a prominent figure at school, recognized by all students as the most beautiful.
There were countless admirers around her.
Zhang Ziyi was just ordinary back then, who knew that in just ten short years.
Zhang Ziyi was already International Zhang.
She was still Zeng Li.
It truly was fate playing tricks.
On the first day of July, Rongchen Film and Television announced the casting results for painted skin 2.
Xiao Wei: Zhou Xun
Princess Jing: Zeng Li
Huo Xin: Zhu Yawen
Pang Lang: Hu Ge
Que'er: Yang Mi
Queen of Tianlang: Qin Lan
Wizard of Tianlang: Fei Xiang
As soon as the news was released, it once again sparked heated discussions among netizens.
Except for Zhou Xun, painted skin 2 underwent a major cast change.
Gu Tianle and Li Bingbing were both replaced.
"Princess Jing Zeng Li, isn't this the most beautiful female ghost from painted skin? Calling her Ghost Princess would be more accurate!"
"A major cast change! But then again, except for Xiao Wei who can't be replaced, I'll watch whoever they cast!"
"Li Chen is also sparing no effort to promote his own artists. Zhu Chuanwu from ""crossing the guandong"" makes a magnificent transformation to become the male lead of painted skin 2!"
"Li Chen wouldn't have set his sights on the most beautiful female ghost again, would he? Zhou Xun, Yang Mi, Zeng Li... Is Li Chen trying to catch Rongxinda in one swoop!"
Zeng Li also saw the netizens' comments. She hadn't expected that her painstaking effort in the barber went unnoticed.
Instead, it was the beautiful female ghost from the painted skin unit of "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" that remained memorable!
Netizens were buzzing, and the industry was equally restless.
In the Central Academy of Drama's '96 class QQ group, messages came in one after another.
Chen Minghao: "I didn't see wrong, did I? Is the female lead of painted skin 2 our beautiful Li?"
Liu Ye: "That's right, I just called Li Zi specifically, and it is her."
Mei Ting: “No need to doubt, Zeng Li and I went to the audition together!”
Hu Jing: “There’s such a thing? How come I never heard you two talk about it?”
Mei Ting: “It was an invitation for an audition, and we only found out after we got there.”
Chen Minghao: “Where’s our beautiful Zeng Li? Still lurking?”
At this moment, Zeng Li was also receiving countless congratulatory calls.
Even her homeroom teacher, Professor Chang from the Central Academy of Drama, called to encourage her.
A simple sentence: “You are no worse than Zhang Ziyi or Mei Ting.”
This made Zeng Li’s heart warm, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
In Professor Chang’s eyes, she had always been the undisputed choice for the lead female role.
Unfortunately, she had been disappointing people in recent years.
Zhang Ziyi, Hu Jing, and Qin Hailu all sent congratulatory messages.
Zeng Li replied patiently to each one.
Li Chen returned to the villa, and Miss Liu had a rare day off today.
She clung to Li Chen, pressing him about the casting for "painted skin 2."
Whether it was Hu Ge or Qin Lan, they could basically be linked to her.
Li Chen was not dissatisfied with her; choosing these two was indeed for Miss Liu’s sake.
Of course, choosing Hu Ge was also a way for him to help Hu Ge out.
At least it could help him avoid the major car accident in August.
Li Weida was kicked around like a ball, from Shanghai Film Group to China Film Group Corporation, and then to Rongchen Film and Television.
And now he was kicked out by Rongchen Film and Television.
The reason given by Director Li was simple and crude: “Is this small share meant to appease beggars? For such matters in the future, please find someone else; Rongchen Film and Television is not interested.”
Li Chen sent Li Weida away, originally thinking Li Weida would go to Huayi Brothers.
But he didn’t.
The repeated rejections made Li Weida wonder if he was even in China.
He returned to the United States dejectedly, and the Relativity Media executives were furious with Li Weida.
This failure directly resulted in Relativity Media losing millions of dollars in deposits from Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
Of course, that’s a story for later.
Li Chen and Liu Yifei both graduated, and Tian Zhuangzhuang found Li Chen, telling him that the school had repeatedly studied the directed training program, but it had still fallen through.
The main reason was the personal safety of the students; the school could not bear that responsibility.
Li Chen was not discouraged and went to Han Sanping.
He hoped that he could find some interested children from Beijing Film Academy who could sign a contract with the company to study abroad.
Han Sanping was very supportive of Li Chen’s approach and promised to help him find a way.
In the past half month, the new Star Girl has frequently made appearances.
Whenever Li Chen saw Stephen Chow taking Zhang Yuqi for ‘morning exercises’ online,
He could always think of a lyric: “Come, left side, draw a dragon with me!”
The Star Girl was truly not easy, like a python, she was wrapped around Stephen Chow’s neck in a headstand, like a circus act.
Besides the Star Girl, Zhang Ziyi’s body double in "the banquet," Shao Xiaoshan, also became famous overnight.
Just after Zhang Ziyi publicly admitted to the Cannes media at an outdoor party in Cannes that the bare back in the bathing scene in "the banquet" was not hers, and the chest touched by Ge You was not her own.
Originally, there was no issue, but after returning to China, Shao Xiaoshan heard that Huayi Brothers denied the existence of a body double and would not credit her.
This made Shao Xiaoshan unhappy. She tried to contact Xiao Gang Pao but couldn't get through.
So she directly stood up and spoke out on her blog, stating that she was Zhang Ziyi’s body double.
Her statement, “The body you saw is mine. Since the filmmakers won’t credit me, I will use my own method to let the public know,” successfully made her famous.
At this point, anyone with eyes knew what was going on.
However, Huayi Brothers’ series of bizarre actions added fuel to the fire for "the banquet."
People from Huayi Brothers contacted Shao Xiaoshan, telling her to shut up, and even threatened her, asking if she wanted money or a role!
This directly enraged Shao Xiaoshan.
Shao Xiaoshan told the media, “I acted as Zhang Ziyi’s body double for 20,000 yuan.
It’s not for hype. I have evidence. If you dare to threaten me, I’m not done with you!”
Through this incident, Li Chen lectured Yang Siwei.
Crisis public relations fears confusing accounts the most.
The filmmakers actually weren’t clear whether Zhang Ziyi had a body double; even a three-year-old couldn’t tell such a foolish lie.
While the mainland entertainment circle was bustling, Hong Kong was also in full swing.
Nicholas Tse and Cecilia Cheung’s reunion angered Xiang Tai, but Cecilia Cheung still went her own way.
The female lead for "lust, caution" was finally settled, and as expected, it was Tang Wei.
Entering mid-July, "curse of the golden flower" was the first to register for the Oscar.
Huayi Brothers’ previous gesture of goodwill, giving up the New Year Film Season to "curse of the golden flower," did not seem to win over Zhang Dapao.
Huayi Brothers was stubborn; in this year’s Oscar race, no one could beat Zhang Yimou.
Just based on Zhang Yimou’s status as the national master, having secured the position of chief director for the Olympics, anyone else would be futile.
Li Chen didn’t even register, and when interviewed by the media, he simply replied: “Perhaps I will register next year.”
"the thieves" was about to start filming, so Li Chen accompanied Miss Liu to get a neat short haircut.
Afterward, Li Chen took the crew to Hong Kong on July 13.
At the same time, the producer Tim, along with Charlize Theron, the global beauty Monica Bellucci, and a group of British and American actors, also flew from Europe and America to Hong Kong to meet Li Chen.
After dealing with the paparazzi stationed at Hong Kong airport, Li Chen and his group checked into the Peninsula Hotel.
Xiang Huaqiang hosted a dinner for Li Chen that evening, and Li Chen did not refuse.
The distribution of "the thieves" in Hong Kong would ultimately go to either Emperor Entertainment or China Star.
Photos of Li Chen and Liu Yifei, with her new short haircut, appearing at the Xiang family’s luxurious mansion in Kowloon Tong, quickly went online.
Netizens were all amazed by Liu Yifei’s new look, which showed less childishness and more of a neutral, heroic spirit.
Leaving the Xiang family villa, Xiang Huaqiang and his wife saw Li Chen and Liu Yifei off to their car.
Only after the couple turned back and sat in the living room, Xiang Huaqiang still couldn’t figure out what Li Chen’s true intentions were.
After the earlier probing, Li Chen politely declined his kind offer, making it even harder for him to understand Li Chen’s thoughts.
Xiang Tai handed her husband a glass of red wine, sat beside him, and said, “Do you think his acquisition of TVB is just a show? Otherwise, there’s no need to refuse us.”
Xiang Huaqiang shook his head: “It doesn’t seem like it. Don’t look down on his youth; his wealth might not be any less than ours!”
“Such a young man, I’ve never seen in my life. Extraordinary people do extraordinary things. Let’s wait and see.”
“Besides, what we can help with, apart from funding, there’s nothing else now.”
“This also indirectly shows the strong financial strength of him and the two mainland companies behind him.”
Huo Wenxi also came to visit Li Chen early the next morning.
Li Chen also didn’t intend to keep Emperor Entertainment hanging any longer. Huo Wenxi received a clear answer and returned to report, satisfied.
At noon, hundreds of media outlets from Hong Kong and the mainland gathered at the airport.
Charlize Theron and Monica Bellucci, two dazzling beauties, appeared at the airport, causing a temporary traffic jam on the airport road.
Five black Mercedes picked up Theron and the others and drove directly to the Peninsula.
At the entrance of the Peninsula, another large group of paparazzi was waiting.
Camera shutters clicked like a Maxim machine gun, frantically capturing the stunning beauty of Theron and the global beauty.
When Tim arrived at the hotel, after settling Theron and the others, he and Monica Bellucci immediately went to Li Chen’s suite.
As Li Chen and Liu Yifei opened the door, they saw Tim’s pale face and Monica Bellucci’s deep cleavage.
Monica Bellucci, who had changed into a white camisole and tight jeans, had an extraordinarily ample bosom.
“My dearest boss, boss’s wife, I finally see you again. It’s wonderful.” Tim spread his arms, wanting to hug Li Chen.
But Li Chen pushed him away with a laugh, saying, “Chinese people don’t hug their boss; they just stand at attention!”
Tim’s face was awkward, and Liu Yifei found it amusing, her beautiful eyes also inadvertently drawn to Monica Bellucci’s deep cleavage.
Monica Bellucci, standing nearby, didn’t understand the Chinese Tim was speaking.
Her violet eyes were fixed on Li Chen. When Li Chen looked at her,
Monica Bellucci stepped forward, smiling familiarly, and gave Li Chen a cheek kiss: “Li, I turned down a ‘Manuale d'Amore’ for your film, and you didn’t even come to the airport to pick me up.”
Li Chen laughed and said, “I’m not falling for that. Let me introduce you, this is my girlfriend: Crystal Liu.”
Li Chen had already felt Miss Liu’s scorching gaze and, without taking Monica Bellucci’s bait, quickly clarified his stance.
Monica Bellucci then seriously scrutinized the Chinese girl in front of her. Comparing her to herself, she wasn’t as voluptuous, but she should fit the Eastern aesthetic.
Monica Bellucci proactively gave Liu Yifei a cheek kiss and whispered in English into Liu Yifei’s ear: “Keep an eye on Li; don’t let him learn bad habits from Hollywood directors.”
Liu Yifei was momentarily lost in thought but quickly reacted, smiling and replying in English: “Thank you, he wouldn’t dare!”
Li Chen only saw Miss Liu’s beautiful eyes glare at him, and only heard “thank you” and “he wouldn’t dare!”
The group sat down and chatted for a few minutes. Half an hour later, Monica Bellucci excused herself.
Immediately after, Charlize Theron came to report to Li Chen.
It was the first time they had met. Charlize Theron’s appearance, compared to Angelina Jolie, actually conformed more to the aesthetic of the Chinese people.
Shoulder-length golden hair, emerald-like eyes, paired with a standard small, oval face.
And at nearly 1.8 meters tall, even without high heels, she was about the same height as Li Chen.
Such grace, no wonder she was known as the Hollywood Venus.
Li Chen was now even more eager to see the performance of this Oscar-winning actress.
He wasn’t as familiar with Charlize Theron as he was with Monica Bellucci, so they simply shook hands.
Charlize Theron was also seeing this mysterious Eastern director in person for the first time.
In fact, she often saw photos of this Eastern man on Hollywood’s "Variety."
However, like ordinary Easterners, he seemed unremarkable.
But upon meeting, the first impression this young The Golden Palm director gave her was that his ink-black eyes were particularly bright.
It was as if he could see through people’s hearts, and his gaze towards her lacked the possessiveness other men had when looking at her.
Li Chen still, as usual, introduced Miss Liu to Charlize Theron.
Miss Liu was very friendly towards Monica Bellucci, but towards Charlize Theron, her curiosity outweighed her admiration.
This older sister was a full twelve years older than her, but she was a true powerhouse and an idol.
Unlike the global beauty sister from earlier, who, after only a few words, began teaching her how to manage her husband.
At 6 PM, Li Chen and the main cast held a grand press conference at the Peninsula Hotel.
No less than three hundred media outlets from various Asian countries attended.
Charlize Theron and Monica Bellucci became the undisputed focus.
Among the Chinese actors, only Tony Leung Ka-fai’s status and Liu Yifei’s popularity did not suffer from media neglect.
A reporter from an island nation asked in English: “Ms. Theron, can you reveal what Director Li Chen used to impress you?”
Sitting in the very center, in a black slip dress, with flowing golden hair and fiery red lips, Charlize Theron turned slightly to look at Li Chen, who was seated beside her.
“Li is very well-known in Hollywood, as intriguing as this mysterious country in the East. When Smith found me, I was actually still a bit hesitant.”
“Later, when I learned that Li would be directing, I accepted without hesitation. It was only due to scheduling conflicts that it was delayed until now.”
Li Chen and Tim exchanged smiles; no one who can be an Oscar-winning actress is a fool.
This display of acting skills, which fooled the media and elevated Li Chen, was truly well-executed.
A Sina reporter from the mainland then asked: “Ms. Monica Bellucci, I heard you and Director Li Chen met at the Venice Film Festival. This time, Director Li Chen personally invited you. Did you also accept without thinking?”
Monica Bellucci and Charlize Theron sat together, with Monica Bellucci at a disadvantage due to her age.
Even though she was over forty and still very charming, when compared to the peak-era Charlize Theron, the difference was immediately apparent.
However, her full, at least E-cup breasts still exuded formidable power.
“Li and I are old friends. I witnessed his talent as early as 'painted skin.' It’s a pity I was born twenty years too early, otherwise Crystal wouldn’t have had a chance.”
After saying that, she smiled and looked charmingly at Li Chen and Liu Yifei.
The media and the main creators present all laughed.
Another Hong Kong Island media outlet stood up and asked, “Director Li, this time you cast Mr. Zhang Hanyu, an unknown actor from the Mainland, as the male lead. Aren’t you afraid of a box office flop?”
Such sharp Hong Kong Island media, this clearly sounds like they are standing up for Hong Kong Island artists.
For such a big production, the male second was Tony Leung Ka-fai, but the male lead was Zhang Hanyu, an extra from the Mainland.
It was truly shocking.
The media all aimed their cameras at Li Chen.
Li Chen smiled faintly: “My style in choosing actors has always been to prioritize their fit with the role. As for the box office?”
“So far, for my scripts, the only box office failure was 'buried', but 'buried' already made a profit from its reputation and copyright sales.”
“Besides, if we’re talking about star power, my scripts are at least A-list, right? Otherwise, do you really think Miss Charlize Theron joined because of my mysterious oriental face?”
Charlize Theron had a translator next to her, and after listening, she also applauded Li Chen. The media once again witnessed Li Chen's humor.
Li Chen hadn't finished speaking yet, and he glanced at Zhang Hanyu, who appeared calm on the surface but was probably turbulent inside, and continued.
“As for what you called ‘unknown,’ that’s even more of a joke. Actors ultimately rely on their acting skills to make a living; those who rely on fame are stars, not actors!”
These words resonated with Tony Leung Ka-fai and Zhang Hanyu.
Several translators also translated Li Chen's words to the European and American actors.
Everyone applauded Li Chen in unison.
The Hong Kong Island reporter who caused trouble blushed and sat down awkwardly.
A Taiwan reporter stood up and asked, “Director Li, is Liu Yifei a star or an actress now?”
Li Chen shook his head and chuckled: “With me around, she will eventually be both a star and an actress!”
Li Chen's ambiguous answer immediately earned him a flirtatious glance from Miss Liu, sent from across the room.
The press conference finally ended with great difficulty.
Back in the room, as soon as Miss Liu closed the door, she couldn't help but take a three-step run, jump, and hang onto Li Chen.
Her pair of round, strong legs held Li Chen in a captivating embrace.
“Woo~”
Li Chen, with both hands supporting Miss Liu's hips, fell onto the sofa.
“How could you say that, both an actress and a star? If you can’t achieve it in the future, I won’t let you off!”
“Alright, alright, alright, it’s best if you never let me go for all eternity!” Li Chen chuckled playfully, then captured Miss Liu’s rosy lips.
Less than two hours later, Li Chen, Charlize Theron, and Monica Bellucci's statements from the press conference were online.
“Monica Bellucci filming with her child, regretting not being born twenty years earlier, otherwise she could have replaced Liu Yifei.”
“Oscar winner Charlize Theron showcases perfect curves, alluring charm radiating a cool and elegant allure.”
“Li Chen boldly states no worries about box office, publicly supports Zhang Hanyu as male lead, and his comments on actors versus stars receive unanimous approval from Chinese and foreign actors present.”
Mainland netizens, as well as the majority of Hong Kong Island and Taiwan netizens, overwhelmingly supported Li Chen's 'actor theory' this time.
“Li Chen’s words, at such a height, don’t look like they’re coming from a student. If an eighty-year-old artist said this, I wouldn’t be surprised! But this guy is only 25.”
“Truly awesome, my script is an A-list star! That sounds really powerful.”
“Xiao Li Zi wasn't bragging. A script priced at three million US dollars? In China, not to mention screenwriters, how many artists’ salaries can reach that?”
“Liu Yifei will eventually be both an actress and a star. Can I interpret this as Xiao Li Zi is going to cheat in the future, throwing resources at my 'white moonlight'?”
Li Chen didn't expect that his simple distinction between actors and stars would lead to so many phone calls.
The first call came from Tian Zhuangzhuang.
Tian Zhuangzhuang received many calls from friends, all congratulating him on taking in such a promising talent.
This made Tian Zhuangzhuang laugh and cry at the same time; Li Chen's journey so far has mostly been due to the child's own efforts.
He merely exerted some effort during the review of 'shoplifters'.
After that, he just helped Li Chen fend off pressure from those old guys.
The real achievements were Li Chen's well-received and commercially successful films, built up one by one.
Han Sanping also called, saying some inexplicable words of encouragement and praise.
Li Chen realized later that his words must have resonated with those old artists.
After a day of rest, 'the thieves' began filming on July 15th in Hong Kong.
Li Chen had already done script readings with the cast.
The first scene: the initial meeting of the Chinese and foreign thieves in Hong Kong.
The clapperboard clacked.
“Action!”
On the second floor of the restaurant.
Pope (Antonio Banderas), dressed in a suit, Anneke (Charlize Theron), looking cool and beautiful, and Zampano (Dan Stevens), also in a suit, sat around a round table.
Pope held a cigar in his right hand, with a fake mustache on his face.
“Hey, smile, smile.” Pope was the first to show a smile that couldn't be more fake, looking towards the door.
Anneke and Zampano also turned their heads and grinned.
The camera shifts.
Tony Leung Ka-fai wore black sunglasses, a white shirt paired with white trousers.
As the saying goes, 'to look pretty, wear all white.' The imposing Tony Leung Ka-fai led the four-person Chinese thief group, smiling, slowly walking towards the three foreigners.
Wang Qianyuan, in a floral shirt and black sunglasses, walking with an erratic, almost epileptic gait, looked at the three foreigners opposite him and sneered as he walked, “Idiots, it’s so hot, and they’re wearing so many clothes!”
Liu Yifei, with short hair and a black tight-fitting half-sleeve, stood with one hand in her pocket, looking at the three people opposite her, and also smiled, “Yeah, what’s so funny? Idiots!”
The four sat at a table not far from Charlize Theron and her two companions.
Wang Qianyuan scurried towards the three foreigners, not caring if they understood him, and spewed profanities: “American girls are really something!”
Liu Yifei chimed in: “Yeah, not just something, but they have a certain ‘flavor’ too!”
For this part of the dialogue, Li Chen changed the original South Korean plastic surgery reference to the body odor of foreigners.
Immediately after, Wang Qianyuan stood up, swayed over to Charlize Theron, and began to flirt with her.
Zampano, who understood Chinese, heard Wang Qianyuan ask if his goddess's face was surgically altered and if her breasts were augmented.
His expression instantly changed: “Get lost!”
Wang Qianyuan was stunned; this pretty boy actually spoke Chinese.
Pope and Charlize Theron didn't understand what the two were saying until Zampano translated.
Charlize Theron then angrily stood up and burst into a string of English: “You damn pig-headed uncle, do you know how hard it is to be born this naturally beautiful?!”
Wang Qianyuan patted Charlize Theron's shoulder: “It’s nothing, it’s nothing, it’s nothing.”
Zampano, seeing Wang Qianyuan's paw dare to touch his goddess's shoulder, instantly stood up and grabbed Wang Qianyuan's wrist.
Wang Qianyuan didn't take this pretty boy seriously at all, shaking his hand: “How dare you grab me!”
But he didn't expect the pretty boy's hand to be like a vice; he couldn't shake it off in one go and was pressed down again by the pretty boy!
Wang Qianyuan, not believing it, shook again: “How dare you grab me!”
Still couldn't shake it off, this time Wang Qianyuan was furious.
He directly pulled out a gun from his waist and pointed it at Zampano’s chest: “Look at you, you brat! Believe it or not, I’ll shoot you dead with one shot!”
Tony Leung Ka-fai, Liu Yifei, and Luo Jin, seeing Wang Qianyuan pull out a gun, all couldn't sit still.
Tony Leung Ka-fai walked around the round table, while Liu Yifei and Luo Jin tried to persuade Wang Qianyuan from the side.
Charlize Theron and Pope were also startled, involuntarily leaning back.
Tony Leung Ka-fai stepped forward, grabbed Wang Qianyuan's gun-holding hand with one hand, and directly disarmed him with the other.
Then he patted Zampano's shoulder and smiled: “Sorry!”
Zampano spread his hands: “It’s nothing!”
Wang Qianyuan turned around, still wanting to continue flirting with Charlize Theron.
Charlize Theron directly picked up a cup of scalding hot coffee and splashed it on Wang Qianyuan's face.
Wang Qianyuan screamed: “Hot, hot! Cold water, quickly bring cold water!”
After splashing the coffee, Charlize Theron walked out to smoke, leaving Pope and Zampano to clean up the mess.
“Cut!”
The first scene, unexpectedly, went so smoothly, one take.
Charlize Theron walked over to Wang Qianyuan: “Are you alright?”
Wang Qianyuan had been brushing up on his English, so he understood and waved his hand: “It's Nothing.”
Li Chen instructed the staff to prepare for the second scene.
Zhang Hanyu was already ready; this was his first appearance.
Charlize Theron also indicated no problem and they could continue.
“Action!”
Charlize Theron pulled out a cigarette, then patted all over her body, unable to find a lighter.
Suddenly, a Zippo lighter clicked open near her mouth: “Did you come with Pope?”
Charlize Theron's cigarette was lit, and only then did she examine the mysterious man in front of her, about forty years old: “Are you Uncle Macau Li?”
Like Pope, he was also dressed in a suit in the middle of summer, wearing dark brown sunglasses, and unremarkable in appearance.
Zhang Hanyu gave a self-deprecating smile; only he knew how much bitterness was mixed in the nickname Macau Li.
Who would willingly come to Macau to make a living unless absolutely necessary?
Charlize Theron smoked her cigarette, feeling a bit disdainful of Zhang Hanyu: “Smells of alcohol.”
Before she finished speaking, Zhang Hanyu handed her the bag in his hand: “Take this.”
Charlize Theron instinctively took it, continuing to smoke.
Zhang Hanyu directly squatted down, carefully examining Charlize Theron’s long, beautiful legs under her miniskirt, and couldn't help but reach out and touch them.
Charlize Theron was startled and looked down: “Oh, wait a minute.”
Zhang Hanyu acted as if he hadn't heard: “Are you a rope climber?”
Charlize Theron answered irrelevantly: “Be careful, this skirt is very short.”
Zhang Hanyu: “Women should have short skirts and long hair.”
“Cut!”
Li Chen gave Zhang Hanyu a thumbs up; his presence was not at all weaker when acting with Charlize Theron.
For the next week, all the scenes in Hong Kong were dialogue-heavy.
Before leaving Hong Kong, Li Chen was once again caught in the vortex of the former Star Girl.
It turned out that Huang Shengyi's high-profile signing with her new agency, China Vision Wonderful Film and Television Culture, led to a complete ban in Hong Kong.
Because Huang Shengyi currently has a lawsuit with Starlight.
Therefore, Hong Kong and Taiwan television stations dared not buy TV series starring her recently.
Previously, Zhang Weijian's contract dispute with his former management company almost led to the ban of 'The Proud Twins' in Hong Kong.
It was only after the dispute was resolved that it could be broadcast.
Because of this, if Mainland producers want to sell TV dramas to Hong Kong and Taiwan, many producers would indeed not cast Huang Shengyi.
But this China Vision Wonderful was an exception.
Stephen Chow has a large sphere of influence in Hong Kong, and many TV stations show him respect.
On the other hand, according to Hong Kong law, if an artist breaches their contract by participating in another company's film during their contract period.
Then the management company can apply for a “broadcast ban,” which means the TV series cannot be broadcast in the Hong Kong region.
Coupled with Li Chen's soft ban on Star Girl a while ago, which was hyped up by the media, saying he colluded with Stephen Chow to suppress Mainland artists.
With this accusation, Huang Shengyi's fans, netizens, and people who disliked Li Chen all attacked him online.
Yang Siwei sneered inwardly; she knew exactly who was behind this.
To make them give in, to make her boss bow down, based on her understanding of her boss, it was basically impossible.
Li Chen made a phone call to Yang Siwei.
After hanging up, Yang Siwei sneered, she had been waiting for her boss's call.
