enjoyebooks Chapter 16 Start-up
Chapter 16 Start-up
Filming for "Caught in the Web" officially began on June 6th.
There was no extravagant celebration, and only a few media outlets with which they had a good relationship were invited.
The opening ceremony was simple yet efficient. The media took a few group photos of the main cast and crew, asked a few routine questions, and then gradually dispersed.
Fu Yibai stood under the makeshift sunshade, watching the staff begin to set up the venue for the first scene in an orderly manner.
June in Beijing was already sweltering, and the filming location was an old-style residential building and the surrounding streets in Chaoyang District.
The art department had arrived a few days in advance and decorated a rented apartment as Ye Lanqiu's "home" where she lived alone.
Fan Binbin has already finished her makeup and changed into her costume.
She sat alone in the corner, script in hand, her lips moving silently, immersed in the role.
On the other side, Hu Jing was also ready.
Today, she was filming several scenes as Chen Ruoxi, a reporter for a metropolitan newspaper. She was wearing a neat shirt and trousers, her short hair was combed meticulously, and her face showed the competence of a professional woman and a hint of anxiety.
Upon seeing Fu Yibai, she nodded in greeting from afar, her smile tinged with gratitude and a hint of nervousness.
Fu Yibai nodded to her but did not go over.
Hu Jing has very few scenes today; her main role is a solo performance by Ye Lanqiu, with only a few interactions with supporting characters.
At nine o'clock in the morning, everything was ready.
"Scene 1, Shot 1 of 'The Search,' get set—" the script supervisor claps the clapperboard.
"start!"
.........
After several media outlets reported the start of filming for "Caught in the Web," it attracted considerable attention within the industry.
After all, this is Fu Yibai's first new film after winning the award, and it is also a project in deep cooperation with China Film Group.
While the cast may not be exactly star-studded, the combination of Fan Binbin and Hu Jing, along with several talented male actors, makes it quite appealing.
More importantly, the project's novel subject matter—"focusing on cyberbullying and interpersonal dilemmas"—stood out and was particularly bold in the context of Chinese-language films in 2003.
Print media coverage was relatively restrained, focusing mainly on project introductions and interviews with key creators.
"Fu Yibai's new film 'Caught in the Web' begins filming; Berlin Silver Bear winner explores the human dilemma in the internet age."
Fan Binbin takes on a tragic role, stating that he "hopes to let his work speak for itself."
With the backing of China Film Group, can Fu Yibai's "Caught in the Web" replicate the success of "Black Coal, Thin Ice"?
Meanwhile, emerging online forums and entertainment portals engage in more heated and direct discussions.
"Fu Yibai's new film has started filming! 'Caught in the Web'? That's an interesting title. I heard it's about cyberbullying?"
"Fan Binbin as the female lead? Is she suitable? She doesn't seem to fit the Berlin director's style..."
"Don't jump to conclusions, upstairs. Maybe she can successfully transition into a new role. There must be a reason why Director Fu chose her."
"They're really daring with this subject matter! There are so many online arguments these days, BBS forums, chat rooms, it's all about personal attacks. If this movie is well-made, it'll definitely generate a lot of buzz."
Meanwhile, the promotional campaign for "Black Coal, Thin Ice," which is set to be released in mid-June, has also entered a heated phase.
China Film Group mobilized its powerful distribution channels, and a deluge of posters and trailers began appearing in major cinemas, newsstands, and television entertainment news.
The promotional slogans closely follow keywords such as "Berlin Twin Bears", "the most talked-about art-house suspense film of the year", and "a test of humanity between ice and fire".
High-resolution photos of Fu Yibai and Zeng Li winning awards in Berlin were used repeatedly. Their figures at the awards ceremony, one full of vigor and the other dazzling, became the best calling card for the film.
Zeng Li's team also cooperated with the publicity, arranging interviews and cover shoots for several high-end magazines, striving to create an image of her as a "low-key and powerful woman" and a "transformation in temperament after winning the Berlin Film Festival."
Suddenly, the name "Zeng Li" became incredibly popular, with film offers, GG endorsements, and invitations to fashion events pouring in.
Her agency was overjoyed and became even more cautious in selecting projects, hoping to ride this wave to propel her to the position of a top-tier actress.
However, when faced with questions involving "Caught in the Web" or Fu Yibai, Zeng Li's responses were always very brief and official, politely saying "I wish Director Fu's new film a success" and "Black Coal, Thin Ice is the hard work of the team, and we hope everyone will support it," and then she would not say anything more.
This deliberate avoidance, in the eyes of some sensitive media outlets and industry insiders, only fueled further speculation.
Regardless, "Black Coal, Thin Ice" generated considerable buzz even before its release, becoming one of the most anticipated domestic films of the first half of 2003.
Many in the industry are watching closely: Will the domestic box office of this art film be worthy of its international awards?
How will Fu Yibai's market appeal be?
In Huayi Brothers' office, Wang Zhonglei looked at the recent industry briefings delivered by his subordinates, his fingertips tapping on the words "Chenxi Media," "Fu Yibai," and "Search."
"Wow, that was fast."
He leaned back in the boss's chair and spoke to his brother, Wang Zhongjun, who was sitting opposite him.
"How long has it been since you returned from Berlin?"
The company has been established, the new film has started shooting, and it's so closely tied to China Film Group.
I heard they're secretly looking at cinemas, planning to establish a cinema chain?
Wang Zhongjun remained calm and took a sip of tea.
"It's not surprising that young people are energetic, have ideas, and have achievements to back them up."
Han Sanping is a shrewd man; the fact that he's willing to place a bet shows he genuinely believes in him.
"Shouldn't we also get in touch?" Wang Zhonglei asked.
"Let's see if there's any possibility of cooperation? Or... let's probe a bit?"
"No rush."
Wang Zhongjun waved his hand.
"Let him run for a while first."
Cinema chains are capital-intensive businesses, and they're not easy to run.
We'll have to wait until the film is released to see how good "Caught in the Web" is.
The box office performance of "Black Coal, Thin Ice" is key.
If he can maintain his box office success domestically, then his reputation as a "genius director" will truly be solidified.
"Whether it's cooperation or... we can see later."
His words contained both appreciation and a hint of caution and observation typical of an industry veteran.
According to Han Shanping of China Film Group, he is very satisfied with the start of filming for "Caught in the Web" and the progress of the publicity for "Black Coal, Thin Ice".
Fu Yibai's efficiency and professionalism exceeded his expectations. This kind of young person who can "fight tough battles" is exactly what the industry needs.
He privately confided in a few close confidants about his feelings.
"This kid is determined to do something big."
They have vision, skill, and execution—they're all top-notch. This time, we've really hit the jackpot.
As long as he doesn't make a major mistake, he'll have a prominent position in the Chinese film industry for the next few years.
As night fell, the film crew began packing up their equipment.
When Fu Yibai got into the car, he felt a deep sense of exhaustion wash over him.
The intense focus of the work was extremely taxing. Although he had a pre-refined version of the footage in his head, he didn't shoot many unnecessary shots.
But at the end of the day, I still felt very tired.
He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and his mind replayed today's scenes, the actors' performances, the details that needed adjustment, and the scenes to be filmed tomorrow, like a movie playing in his head.
My phone vibrated; it was a message from Zhao Qi.
"Mr. Fu, the domestic release date for 'Black Coal, Thin Ice' is set for June 18th, and China Film Group's promotional campaign has already begun in full swing."
The cinema chain research team has compiled preliminary information on three potential acquisition targets and sent it to your email.
In addition, director Ning Hao hopes to come to the company next week to report on the script revisions and location scouting progress for "The Big Diamond."
Fu Yibai replied: "Received."
You arrange a time to meet with Ning Hao.
I'll look at the theater listings tonight.