enjoyebooks Chapter 109 A Very Busy Person!
Chapter 109 A Very Busy Person!
Chapter 108 A Very Busy Person!
Fan Pangbing thought of Zhang Zhiliang's style, and the contrast with Zhang Junyi was quite obvious.
Zhang Zhiliang is the kind of person who's fine with "good enough." Once he feels a film is good enough, he won't dwell on it anymore.
But Zhang Jun is different. He strives for perfection in every scene and has very strict requirements for every aspect, especially for the actors.
After filming this scene, Fan Bingbing said to Zhang Jun, "Now I understand why you're able to make so many great movies."
"What? Did Director Zhang Zhiliang not make a good movie?" Zhang Jun asked with a half-smile.
"It's not that simple, it's just that—" Fan Pangbing felt a little disappointed when she thought of those negative reviews.
Seeing this, Zhang Jun comforted him, saying, "The poor box office performance of the film is not your fault; it's due to a variety of reasons. Besides, the story of 'A Battle of Wits' is actually very complete, much better than 'House of Flying Daggers' and 'The Promise'."
Fan Bingbing looked at the man in front of her: "Really?"
"certainly!"
Zhang Jun said, "The period dramas of recent years have focused more on form than story, merely having a superficial appearance. 'A Battle of Wits' is an example."
Regardless of the story itself, at least there's a story.
Fan Bingbing was in a slightly better mood: "From what you're saying, it sounds like you're talking about your own 'Reign of Assassins'."
Zhang Jun clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "In my opinion, 'Reign of Assassins' is a martial arts film, not some kind of period epic. It just has a strong cast, mainly because you're in it!"
"Aren't there Zhang Ziyi and Andy Lau?"
Although Fan Bingbing said it aloud, she was actually very pleased with what he said.
The two talked about Fan Bingbing's contract. Fan Bingbing said, "Huayi Brothers proposed a plan, saying that I can set up a studio and be affiliated with Huayi."
Mr. Wang told me that I could become a shareholder of Huayi Brothers in the future.
This offer is indeed very tempting. After all, Huayi Brothers is now the number one private entertainment company in mainland China, with abundant funds and resources.
Becoming a minority shareholder of Huayi Brothers seems better than being one of their artists; it sounds more prestigious.
But Zhang Jun shook his head: "My suggestion is to end this contract and have no further dealings with Huayi Brothers. You can start your own business."
"Starting their own business?"
Fan Bingbing expressed her disapproval: "If I can start my own business, where will the resources come from? With the help of big companies, at least I don't have to worry about these things."
Zhang Jun explained, "But you'll also be subject to the control of large companies; you'll have to get involved in some of their affairs. What if there are future investments that require your involvement, and those investments lose money?"
Fan Pangbing was taken aback, half believing and half doubting his words. She trusted Zhang Jun's judgment and insight, after all, she had been communicating with this man for so long.
But now that Huayi Brothers is at its peak, she instinctively feels it's impossible—how could Huayi Brothers be losing money?
Seeing Fan Bingbing's skeptical look, Zhang Jun patiently explained to her: "You should know the origin story of Huayi Brothers. They were originally GG Company."
At that time, the Wang brothers approached Han Sanping, the then director of Beijing Film Studio, and obtained filming quotas from the studio, thus making their fortune.
Mainland entertainment companies, including Huayi Brothers, have developed well and accumulated a certain amount of capital, but they are still short of money.
Especially in the era of blockbuster movies, investments of tens or even hundreds of millions can easily lead to total loss if one is not careful.
Fan Bingbing nodded: "I understand that. Investing in movies is a very risky business, which is why Huayi Brothers has artist management and record businesses."
"That's right!"
Zhang Jun continued, "But the artist management business suffered a heavy blow after Wang Jinghua left. As for the record business, you should know that it simply couldn't be done."
Huayi Brothers is currently expanding too rapidly, but its financial strength is insufficient to support its strategy. I dare say they will encounter cash flow problems.
After a pause, Zhang Jun added, "Moreover, a large influx of hot money will soon flood into the entertainment industry."
"You mean Boss Wang?"
"It's not just Boss Wang, but also Ye Xiaoyi, the future CEO of Guanzhi Pictures, whose father is Ye Bingcheng. And the Wanda Group next door, they are all ambitiously developing plans related to the film and television industry."
Zhang Jun made a prediction: "The film and television industry is currently in dire need of money; it's scarce everywhere. The entry of coal mine owners or real estate tycoons will bring a surge of investment."
That will be a golden opportunity for famous and talented actors like you; you can easily snag an investment with any project you choose.
Fan Pangbing was so moved by Zhang Jun's words that she paced back and forth excitedly.
"Is this what you meant by 'developing your own network and organizing your own events'?"
Zhang Jun shrugged: "If you feel you can't do it alone, you can partner with me."
"I need to think about this carefully!"
Fan Pangbing calmed down and realized that this matter couldn't be rushed.
Zhang Jun made this suggestion for a reason; he knew Huayi Brothers faced a huge pitfall in the future. In the future, Huayi Brothers would envy those real estate developers who entered the market, start their own real estate ventures, and end up losing everything.
Not to mention, there might be some dirty and corrupt things happening inside, and in the end, Fan Bingbing will be pushed out to take the blame.
Although Fan Bingbing did indeed participate in the scheme in the original timeline and wasn't entirely innocent, they had shared a bed and a dream together, and Zhang Jun didn't want to see her end up like this.
Fan Bingbing is different from a certain actress; there is still a possibility of redemption for her.
But if things couldn't be saved, Zhang Jun had no choice but to cut ties in time; after all, a wise man doesn't stand under a crumbling wall. He wasn't exactly a gentleman, but he didn't want to be implicated either.
Moreover, Zhang Jun's suggestion was really effective. If history hadn't gone astray, the era of female protagonists would have arrived very soon.
If Yang Mi was able to carve out a path in the era of leading ladies, there's no reason why Fan Bingbing, who is both beautiful and shrewd, couldn't do the same.
Even if Fan Bingbing is not up to the task, Zhang Jun will still provide some assistance.
Zhang Jun had said the same thing to Gao Yuanyuan, but Gao Yuanyuan's situation was much better than Fan Bingbing's; her agency didn't exert as much pressure on her.
Fan Bingbing and Zhang Jun engaged in several intense scenes during their set visit, while Yang Mi tactfully refrained from bothering them. She is currently working hard to prepare for the role and strives to portray it well.
If the film is successful, she could become one of the leading actresses of the new era and no longer have to play supporting roles.
After Fan Bingbing left, Yang Mi then became involved with Zhang Jun and continued to be his bedmate.
Everyone in the crew could see it clearly: Director Zhang is young and has a thing for beautiful women in the entertainment industry.
However, this incident did not provoke any negative feelings from the public.
Firstly, this kind of thing is very common in the entertainment industry, so people are used to it. Secondly, Zhang Jun is young, promising, and handsome, which gives him a much better impression than those old men.
China has a long-standing tradition of talented men being romantic figures. Zhang Jun is considered a talented man by many, so it's not surprising that such a talented man would be a bit romantic.
This even made Jiang Yan, the second female lead in the drama, a little tempted. She and Yang Mi are the same age, and she understands the principles that Yang Mi understands.
However, as a girl, she was too embarrassed to do such a thing, and Zhang Jun didn't take the initiative, so nothing happened between them during filming.
Jiang Yan was too shy, while Yang Mi was very proactive, and Zhang Jun was also very interested in her, so the two of them became lovers.
Filming of "Bad Genius" continues, and Fan Bingbing returns to Beijing, where she once again fails to reach an agreement with Huayi Brothers due to issues with her management contract.
Huayi Brothers also realized that Fan Bingbing was determined not to renew her contract.
The head of Huayi Brothers' artist department took over after Wang Jinghua left. He tried everything to keep Fan Bingbing, but she still refused to sign a contract.
Helpless, the person in charge had to report it, and in the end, the matter was placed on the desks of both the eldest and youngest bosses.
Mr. Wang was furious: "That shameless woman, she doesn't know what's good for her. Has she forgotten who made her famous?"
His words completely forgot that when Fan Bingbing was being bullied by Huayi Brothers, she couldn't compete for resources or gigs.
Fan Bingbing only gets what others leave behind, and she has to find work herself. If she had relied entirely on Huayi Brothers, she wouldn't be where she is today.
The king remained calm: "I expected this. Never mind."
Young Master Wang looked fierce: "How about we blacklist her, make sure she can't get any work, and force her to comply?"
"madness!"
The boss yelled, "How can you block them? They have resources. And even if we take a step back, they have Zhang Jun behind them!"
Only then did Mr. Wang realize that Fan Bingbing, that stinky woman, had already hooked up with Zhang Jun, this rising top director.
He said irritably, "Then what do we do? Just watch her contract expire and she leaves? What if other artists follow suit?"
The king leaned back on the sofa with his eyes closed: "If it's going to rain, it's going to rain; if it's going to happen, it's going to happen. It's better to part amicably than to end up unhappy!"
"But----"
"Do as I say!"
Young Master Wang was still somewhat unwilling, but since his elder brother had made the decision, he had no choice but to comply.
However, when speaking to the head of the artist department, Xiao Wang still said, "With the contract still in effect, give her as much work as possible, preferably work her to death."
It's impossible for Fan Bingbing to be exhausted, but her schedule has definitely gotten busier. Filming, making appearances, attending various events—she's either on a schedule or on her way to one.
However, Fan Bingbing didn't complain. She was already free once she got through this period, and instead, she was full of energy.
The news that Fan Bingbing would not renew her contract caused some ripples within Huayi Brothers.
However, the CEO quickly reassured everyone, and with the company's two pillars of stability, Feng Xiaogang and Zhang Jizhong, the market was able to remain stable.
Those who want to leave should also think carefully about which company they can go to after leaving Huayu Entertainment.
Fan Bingbing isn't afraid because she has Zhang Jun backing her up, which is no secret.
After much deliberation, everyone felt it was best to stay with Huayi Brothers. Besides, Boss Wang had already said that the company was going public, and it would be great if everyone bought some shares and became mini-bosses of Huayi Brothers.
Some people even mocked Fan Bingbing behind her back, calling her a short-sighted and foolish woman. The company was about to go public, and she suddenly terminated her contract.
Fan Bingbing ignored these comments; she believed Zhang Jun's words anyway. She was confident that Zhang Jun wouldn't abandon her if there were any losses.
After spending a lot of time with this man, Fan Pangbing discovered that although Zhang Jun was a scoundrel in some ways, he was at least a reliable scoundrel who wouldn't break his promises.
Time flew by and the Golden Horse Awards were about to be held. Zhang Jun gave the crew a few days off so that the crew, who had been working hard for so long, could have a good rest.
He himself, along with photographer Li Dahui, flew to Taiwan to attend this year's Golden Horse Awards ceremony.
At this year's Golden Horse Awards, his film "Reign of Assassins" received ten nominations, but it's hard to say how many awards it will win.
While the Golden Horse Awards are generally considered fair these days, it's hard to say when it comes to each individual film.
A week before the awards ceremony, Taiwan's China Times and United Daily News began publishing special reports on "Reign of Assassins," with increasingly sensational headlines: "Ten Nominations Lead the Golden Horse Awards, 'Reign of Assassins' Becomes This Year's Biggest Favorite."
"A New Pinnacle in Wuxia: Can Zhang Jun Replicate the Legend of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?"
"Andy Lau and Zhang Ziyi team up for the best martial arts film of the year."
Television was also busy, with ETTV broadcasting a special feature on the filming of "Reign of Assassins" for three consecutive days, showing how the editors made the action scenes look incredibly smooth.
With its grand and majestic soundtrack, it's incredibly catchy.
He Xuan personally flew to Taipei, bringing gifts to visit several judges of the Golden Horse Awards Executive Committee, and also had dinner with a few film critics.
The gift wasn't expensive, but the message was conveyed.
"Reign of Assassins is a new attempt for martial arts films in mainland China. Director Zhang truly respects the Golden Horse Awards."
The judges understood perfectly; these days, although the Golden Horse Awards touts art above all else, personal relationships have always been the norm.
Besides, the quality of "Reign of Assassins" speaks for itself, so awarding it is a fair compliment.
The weather was nice the day Zhang Jun and Li Dahui flew to Taiwan.
Seven or eight reporters were squatting at the airport exit, raising their cameras as soon as they saw Zhang Jun emerge. Zhang Jun waved as a greeting and got straight into the car arranged by the organizers.
Li Dahui, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and asked, "Shall we go straight to the hotel?"
"Let's go and meet up with them first."
Zhang Jun looked at his phone: "Bingbing said that she and Andy Lau are waiting at the hotel."
When the car arrived at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, a circle of fans had already gathered at the entrance, holding up light boards of Andy Lau.
Zhang Jun entered through the side door, took the elevator to the eighteenth floor, and saw Fan Pangbing standing at the end of the corridor as soon as he got off the elevator.
She was wearing a simple black knit sweater, her hair was tied up, and her face was bare.
"You've finally arrived."
Fan Bingbing greeted them, saying, "Andy Lau and the others are waiting in the room. They're saying they want to discuss how to walk the red carpet."
Zhang Jun followed her inside: "What's there to discuss? Whoever has the bigger name should stand in the middle."
"That's what they say, but who can say for sure what reporters will film?"
Fan Bingbing pushed open the door: "They're here."
Inside the room, Andy Lau and Zhang Ziyi were chatting when they both stood up when they saw Zhang Jun enter.
Andy Lau smiled and extended his hand: "Director Zhang, you're quite the hot topic this time."
Zhang Jun shook hands: "Whether it's popular or not depends on whether the judges are willing to give it a try."
Zhang Ziyi chimed in from the side: "A thousand nominations and you call that disrespectful? I only got eight nominations when I was filming 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'."
"That's because the judges in your year had poor judgment," Zhang Jun joked, and Zhang Ziyi laughed and patted him on the shoulder.
Fan Bingbing invited everyone to sit down, and Andy Lau's assistant brought tea.
The group started discussing the order of the red carpet walk, and finally decided that Zhang Jun would walk in front with Fan Bingbing, while Andy Lau and Zhang Ziyi would walk behind, so that the media could take more photos from different angles.
After finishing their business, Andy Lau suddenly said, "By the way, you all know that 'Kangxi Lai Le' is scheduled to record tomorrow afternoon, right?"
Zhang Jun nodded: "He Xuan told me."
Fan Bingbing's eyes lit up: "Me too?"
"What are you going to do?"
Zhang Jun looked at her and said, "You're a supporting actress with few scenes. People want to interview me, Andy Lau, and Zhang Ziyi."
O
Fan Bingbing pouted and said, "Fine, I'll watch TV at the hotel."
The following afternoon, Zhang Jun, along with Andy Lau and Zhang Ziyi, appeared on time at CTiTV.
The dressing room for "Kangxi Lai Le" was small, and the three of them squeezed in to touch up their makeup. Suddenly, Little S pushed the door open, peeked around, and then went straight to Andy Lau.
"Andy Lau, I like you so much, please go easy on me later."
Andy Lau stood up with a smile: "You're too kind. It's me who should be begging you to go easy on me."
Little S then looked at Zhang Ziyi and said, "Zhang Ziyi, you fought so well in 'Reign of Assassins' this time. I was stunned when I watched the movie."
Zhang Ziyi smiled politely and said, "Thank you."
Finally, Little S turned to Zhang Jun, looked him up and down, and said, "You're Director Zhang? You're so young?"
Zhang Jun held out his hand: "Zhang Jun, graduated from the Department of Astronomy at Tsinghua University, switched to making movies, and is twenty-four years old this year."
Little S paused for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Are you reciting a resume? That's hilarious!"
Cai Kangyong walked in at this moment and smiled when he saw Zhang Jun: "Director Zhang, I heard that at the last press conference, the reporters asked you for a long time but couldn't get any answers?"
Zhang Jun shrugged: "That's because the movie isn't finished yet. I'll be willing to say anything once it's finished."
"Is filming finished for today?"
"It's not finished filming yet, it's a secret."
"That's not a good idea."
Cai Kangyong clapped his hands: "Let's go, get ready to record."
The recording studio was brightly lit, and the audience seats were packed. Little S and Kevin Tsai sat down on the sofa, and Zhang Jun and the other two came out from backstage, to the cheers of the audience.
After taking her seat, Little S immediately started talking.
"Director Zhang, let me ask you a question first. You're a graduate of the Astronomy Department at Tsinghua University, so what made you decide to make movies? Did you give up on your studies?"
The audience burst into laughter.
Zhang Jun picked up the microphone: "I can keep up with my studies, but I feel that after graduating from the astronomy department, I can only work in a planetarium. Talking to the stars every day is too lonely. I want to find something more exciting to do."
Cai Kangyong chimed in, "So making movies isn't lonely?"
"Making movies is even more lonely."
Zhang Jun said, "When we were filming, there was a group of people around us, but during post-production editing, there were only a few people left, sitting in front of the screen all day long."
Little S asked, "Have you ever regretted it?"
"no."
Zhang Jun said, "Because after the movie is finished, people watch it and discuss it. That feeling is more interesting than talking to the stars."
Cai Kangyong turned to Andy Lau: "Andy Lau, what was it like working with Director Zhang on 'Reign of Assassins'? He's young, do you think he's professional?"
Andy Lau became serious: "Very professional. I've been making films for so many years and have worked with many directors, but Director Zhang is one of the few who never wastes time on set."
He tells the actors exactly what effect he wants, and they do it in one take.
Little S exclaimed in surprise: "One take? Andy Lau, you're not just bragging about him, are you?"
"real."
Andy Lau said, "There was a scene where I had a long dialogue with Zhang Ziyi. I was thinking that we might have to film several takes, but Director Zhang said, 'OK, that's a wrap.'"
Zhang Ziyi added from the side, "He's very demanding, but he's very clear about his requirements. Actors don't need to guess what he wants; he tells you directly."
Cai Kangyong looked at Zhang Jun: "Is this your directing style?"
Zhang Jun nodded: "I think the most tiring thing for actors is guessing what the director wants. If the director himself doesn't know what he wants, then the actors are even less likely to know."
Little S's eyes darted around, and she suddenly asked, "So, do you have any... you know... unspoken rules" with actors?"
The audience gasped in surprise.
Zhang Jun remained unfazed: "I only make serious films, not those kinds of movies."
Little S laughed: "You reacted so quickly, I didn't even get it out of you."
Cai Kangyong steered the conversation back on track: "Director Zhang, are you familiar with Taiwanese films? Which directors do you admire?"
Zhang Jun thought for a moment: "I've watched Hou Hsiao-hsien's 'A City of Sadness' and Edward Yang's 'Yi Yi' many times."
Director Hou's cinematic language is particularly evocative, and Director Yang's structural arrangement is exquisite.
Little S asked, "Have you considered collaborating with them?"
"Yes, I do."
Zhang Jun said, "However, these are my seniors, and I can only show them respect."
Cai Kangyong laughed: "You're a director with ten nominations, and you're speaking so modestly?"
Zhang Jun also laughed: "A nomination is a nomination, and achievement is achievement. Director Hou and Director Yang's films can stand the test of time for decades, I still have a long way to go."
Zhang Ziyi chimed in from the side, "That's just how Director Zhang talks. She sounds humble, but she knows exactly what she's doing."
Little S immediately chimed in: "What number? Zhang Ziyi, spill the beans!"
Zhang Ziyi smiled but remained silent.
Cai Kangyong changed the subject: "Director Zhang, what do you think movies mean to everyone?"
Zhang Jun's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Film is a particularly good medium. It allows people to see different lives and understand different people."
We share the same cultural roots, and the stories told in movies are understandable to people on both sides.
I hope that film can serve as a bridge, allowing more people to see the charm of Chinese-language films, and encouraging more people to sit down and quietly watch the stories unfold.
Little S nodded seriously, "Well said. I'll treat you to braised pork rice later."
The audience burst into laughter.
By the time we finished recording the show and came out, it was already dark.
Fan Bingbing was waiting in the room when she saw Zhang Jun return and asked, "How did it go? Did Little S give you any trouble?"
"You're making things difficult for me."
Zhang Jun sat down on the sofa: "He asked me if I had any experience with actors engaging in unspoken rules."
Fan Bingbing glared at him: "What did you say?"
"I said I only make serious movies."
Fan Bingbing laughed out loud: "You're smart to know what's good for you."
The Golden Horse Awards ceremony was held at the Municipal Stadium on the second night.
The cast and crew of "Reign of Assassins" were scheduled to appear on the red carpet during prime time. Zhang Jun, dressed in a simple black suit, walked in front, with Fan Bingbing linking arms with him, and Zhang Ziyi and Andy Lau following behind.
Reporters on both sides kept shouting.
"Andy Lau! Over here!"
"Zhang Ziyi! Look here!"
"Fan Bingbing! Smile!"
No one called out to Zhang Jun, and he didn't care, cooperating as he walked the entire red carpet.
Upon entering the stadium, staff led them to the VIP lounge. The lounge was large, with people standing in twos and threes, clearly divided into several groups.
Mainland filmmakers gathered together, while Hong Kong artists formed their own group. Andy Lau took Cheung Chun over to greet them.
"This is Aaron Kwok, this is Donnie Yen, this is—"
Andy Lau introduced them one by one, and Zhang Jun shook hands with each of them.
Aaron Kwok said, "Director Zhang, I've seen 'About Time,' it's really well made."
Donnie Yen said, "The action scenes in 'Reign of Assassins' are beautifully designed. Let's exchange ideas sometime."
Zhang Jun responded politely that this is basic social interaction in the industry; getting to know each other makes future collaborations easier.
The awards ceremony officially began at 8:00 PM. After the host's opening remarks, the first award was for Best Visual Effects, which was given to "Reign of Assassins".
Zhang Jun clapped from his seat and did not go on stage.
Next up is Best Art Direction, again for "Reign of Assassins".
Then came the editing and sound effects—after several technical awards, *Reign of Assassins* won Best Visual Effects.
Three awards were given: Best Art Direction and Best Motion Design.
Chin Ka-lok was very excited. After the decline of Hong Kong films, stuntmen like him didn't know what the future held. He was introduced by Andy Lau to work as an action director for "Reign of Assassins."
Unexpectedly, his first film as action director won the prestigious Golden Horse Award for Best Action Choreography, for which he was very grateful to Andy Lau and Zhang Jun.
I am grateful to Andy Lau for his introduction, and also to Zhang Jun for recognizing my talent.
Li Dahui whispered to himself, "This is a good start."
Zhang Jun nodded: "We've won three technical awards; now it's all about the big prizes."
It's time for the Best Supporting Actress award ceremony.
The presenter read out the list of nominees, then opened the envelope and read out a name: "The winner is 'Reign of Assassins,' Fan Bingbing!"
Fan Bingbing was stunned.
She was sitting next to Zhang Jun, still holding his arm, and didn't react for a moment.
Zhang Jun nudged her: "Go up."
Fan Bingbing then stood up, then suddenly bent down and gave Zhang Jun a hard kiss on the cheek.
All the cameras around were focused on this scene.
Fan Bingbing strode onto the stage, took the award from the presenter, and stood in front of the microphone.
She took a deep breath, her eyes a little red.
"Thank you to the judges, thank you to the Golden Horse Awards. This award is so important to me."
She paused, then looked at Zhang Jun below the stage.
"I want to especially thank one person. Director Zhang Jun, thank you for giving me the opportunity to play Ye Zhanqing. When you first approached me for this role, I was very nervous because this role is so difficult and so crazy."
But you said you could do it.
Fan Pangbing's voice was a little choked up.
"I've been acting for many years, and this is the first time I've met a director who is willing to give me such an important opportunity, who is willing to teach me again and again, and who is willing not to scold me when I don't act well, but just to say let's do another take."
Director Zhang, thank you. You are the most reliable director I have ever met.
"He's a reliable jerk too," Fan Pangbing added to himself.
Fan Bingbing held up the trophy: "Half of this award belongs to you."
She left after speaking and returned to her seat only after giving a backstage interview.
"This trip was definitely worthwhile!" she said to Zhang Jun, showing off her trophy.
Zhang Jun put his arm around her shoulder: "What's a Best Supporting Actress? I want you to be the Best Actress."
"Your best leading lady? What about Gao Yuanyuan?"
Zhang Jun laughed and said, "There's one Best Actress every year, so there's no competition."
These two flirted all the way to the Golden Horse Awards ceremony.
During the Best Original Screenplay segment, the presenter announced Ning Hao's name: "Crazy Stone".
Ning Hao stood up and walked towards the stage, but turned back halfway and grabbed Zhang Jun's arm.
"Let's go up together."
Zhang Jun waved his hand: "You can take your own script."
"Your name is listed in the scriptwriting section."
Ning Hao wouldn't give up: "If you don't go, I won't go either."
Helpless, Zhang Jun had no choice but to stand up as well, and the two of them walked onto the stage together.
Ning Hao stood in front of the microphone, holding up the trophy, and looked at Zhang Jun.
"This award should actually belong to Director Zhang alone."
The audience fell silent.
Ning Hao said, "I wrote the script for 'Crazy Stone' when I was in school. I wrote it and then left it for several years. Nobody read it, nobody submitted it, and nobody thought it could be made into a film."
Later, I met Director Zhang. He took the script, read it once, and then said, "Film it, I'll invest."
I asked, "Can this script be filmed?"
He said yes.
I asked, "Can you sell it?"
He said yes.
I said, what if we lose money?
He said, "I'll cover for you."
Ning Hao paused for a moment: "It's that simple. He said he could, so I filmed it. After it was released, it grossed over 30 million."
He looked at Zhang Jun and said, "Director Zhang, you are my benefactor."
Zhang Jun took the microphone: "Alright, stop getting sentimental, hurry up and get down, there are other people waiting to receive awards."
The audience burst into laughter.
Ning Hao also smiled and stepped off the stage with Zhang Jun.
Back in her seat, Fan Bingbing leaned over and asked, "Were you moved by what Ning Hao said just now?"
Zhang Jun shook his head: "What's there to be moved about? He's a screenwriter, he deserves the award."
Fan Bingbing looked at him and said, "You're just being stubborn."
Zhang Jun did not refute.
After that, Andy Lau lost to Aaron Kwok for Best Actor in "After This Our Exile". However, Andy Lau wasn't too disappointed, as he already had several Best Actor awards.
In the Best Actress category, Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun surprisingly tied for the award, sharing the trophy.
On stage, Zhang Ziyi also thanked Zhang Jun: "When Director Zhang invited me, I was actually hesitant and wanted to refuse. But he was very sincere and postponed the project for more than half a year to wait for me."
After reading the script, I found the story to be very exciting.
It would have been a loss for me not to star in this movie, so I did, and in the end, I won a Best Actress award.
Director Zhang, thank you for your persistence.
Zhou Xun, who was standing next to Zhang Ziyi, also won the Best Actress award, but her eyes were filled with envy as she looked at Zhang Ziyi. The film for which she won the award only grossed over 30 million yuan, unlike the huge success of "Reign of Assassins".
If possible, Zhou Xun also hopes to achieve box office success and win awards, just like Zhang Ziyi.
Looking at mainland filmmakers, only a handful of directors have this ability, and Zhang Jun is one of them.
After that, "Reign of Assassins" didn't win Best Director or Best Feature Film; both awards were taken by "Perhaps Love".
The Best Feature Film award was also a tie, with "After This Our Exile" and "Perhaps Love" sharing the prize.
After the awards ceremony, there was a simple celebratory reception. "Reign of Assassins" won five awards, five out of ten nominations, which was considered a great success.
Andy Lau, holding a wine glass, approached Zhang Jun and said, "Director Zhang, if you have a good script next time, remember to call me."
Zhang Jun clinked glasses with him: "Definitely."
Zhang Ziyi also came over, and after chatting for a few minutes, she said, "I heard your new movie is currently filming?"
Zhang Jun nodded: "Yes, it's not finished filming yet."
Zhang Ziyi thought for a moment and said, "Next time you have a good role, think of me, and I can give you a discount on your fee."
Zhang Jun looked at her: "Weren't you going to Hollywood?"
Zhang Ziyi laughed: "Hollywood is just so-so, it's more comfortable at home."
Fan Bingbing listened silently, but her eyes remained fixed on Zhang Jun.
As the party was drawing to a close, Ning Hao came over again, holding the trophy in his hand.
"Director Zhang, I'll take this award home and keep it. You can come and see it anytime you want."
Zhang Jun waved his hand: "Take it, take it, just don't bother me."
Ning Hao walked away with a smile.
Fan Pangbing stood next to Zhang Jun, looking at Ning Hao's back, and suddenly said, "How far do you think he can go?"
""
Zhang Jun thought for a moment: "It's very far, farther than you imagine."
"And what about you?"
"I?"
Zhang Jun looked at her and said, "I'll be right here, filming the movies I want to film, and sleeping with the people I want to sleep with."
Fan Bingbing glared at him, but wasn't angry.
After a while, she whispered, "Zhang Jun, thank you."
Zhang Jun turned to look at her.
Fan Bingbing said seriously, "You said Huayi Brothers would run into trouble, I don't know if it's true. But if you ask me to terminate my contract, I will."
You told me to start my own business, so I did.
It's not because I trust your judgment, but because I believe you wouldn't harm me.
Zhang Jun remained silent for a few seconds.
"Bingbing, keep those words to yourself. We'll talk about them when I actually do you a big favor."
Fan Bingbing smiled and didn't say anything more.
After the party ended, Zhang Jun and his group walked out of the stadium. A cool night breeze blew by.
Li Dahui asked from the side, "Going back tomorrow?"
Zhang Jun nodded: "Go back, the crew has to start filming the day after tomorrow."
Fan Pangbing looked at him and said, "Aren't you going to take a couple of days off? You've been quite tired from all the socializing these past few days."
"I can't rest."
Zhang Jun said helplessly, "There's still a lot to do with 'Bad Genius,' and I also need to look at Ning Hao's new script."
Fan Bingbing sighed: "You workaholic."
"Thank you, you too," Zhang Jun said with a smile.
Overall, this year's Golden Horse Awards were not very controversial. The film "Reign of Assassins," which was predicted to be a favorite by the media, won five awards, which was in line with expectations.
However, after the awards ceremony, some media outlets that had previously praised "Reign of Assassins" changed their tune and began to criticize the film for being unworthy of its reputation.
Zhang Jun expressed his understanding, after all, this is the environment of this place, and it will be even worse in ten years or so.
If he wants to win the Golden Horse Award for Best Director, he should do so within the next ten years; otherwise, it will be difficult to win it again in the future.
Before leaving, Andy Lau told Zhang Jun, "Don't forget to attend the Hong Kong Film Awards next April —"
Zhang Jun asked, "Do we meet the Hong Kong Film Awards' selection criteria?"
Andy Lau said no problem: "Of course you qualify. As long as you register, I'll do some networking and I should be able to get at least one or two prizes!"
Although he's not particularly enthusiastic about awards, Zhang Jun is a fan of his movie fans.
If one of your fans gets into an argument with someone and the other person says that your director doesn't have a Golden Horse Award or a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director, the fan will be speechless.
For the sake of his fans, Zhang Jun decided to be more enthusiastic and actively participate in award ceremonies in recent years.
Once he's had this thing once, he'll definitely lose interest in it.
After returning from Taiwan, Zhang Jun continued working on "Bad Genius." Under his guidance, Jiang Yan and Wang Kai, two relatively inexperienced actors, began to perform better.
After filming the scenes in Shanghai, Zhang Jun took the crew to Guangzhou and Hong Kong Island to shoot some scenes, and also had Jiang Tao take the assistant director to Sydney to shoot some outdoor scenes.
Zhang Jun plans to film the exam scenes in Australia in Guangzhou, along with some outdoor scenes in Sydney.
After all, the investment in "Bad Genius" wasn't high, and it wasn't worth going abroad just for a few scenes.
As December arrived, the weather gradually turned colder. However, Guangzhou was relatively mild compared to the north, making filming less of a hardship for the crew.
The last major period drama of the year will also be released in December.
This movie is "Curse of the Golden Flower," directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Kevin Tsai, Gong Li, Jay Chou, Liu Ye, and others.
Interestingly, during the pre-release promotion, Zhang Yimou even sang Jay Chou's "Double Sticks" in dialect.
The buzz generated by the film is clearly unmatched by previous period dramas.
The film raked in 9600 million yuan at the box office in its opening week. The opening week box office record held by "Reign of Assassins" for several months was thus broken by "Curse of the Golden Flower".
Inviting Jay Chou to star in the film had another advantage: it included theme songs. Both "Curse of the Golden Flower" and "Chrysanthemum Terrace" became hit singles, generating buzz for the film.
However, the film did not receive the critical acclaim it was expected to do, or rather, it did not receive the same overwhelming praise as "Reign of Assassins".
Zhang Jun had previously told Fan Bingbing that current period dramas only have form but no story, which is perfectly exemplified in "Curse of the Golden Flower".
It's not that this movie lacks a story, but rather that the story feels strangely familiar; upon closer inspection, it's reminiscent of the film *Thunderstorm*.
The ancient costume version.
Zhang Yimou also admitted that the story was adapted from "Thunderstorm".
However, the film's exaggerated performance and boring plot led to mostly negative reviews from domestic media, and online audience comments were also not very good.
Surprisingly, this movie received extremely high praise abroad.
"Curse of the Golden Flower" is the first Chinese-language film to achieve a global release, with the film being released in mainland China and North America in the same week. Only Zhang Yimou's films could achieve this in this era.
Since its release in the United States on December 21, the film has garnered widespread coverage from mainstream American media.
The four major U.S. print media outlets, including Time magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times, have all shown unusual enthusiasm for the film.
American film critics and media professionals have generally praised the film as an "epic," a "grand dramatic spectacle," and "visually stunning."
Time magazine commented: "Curse of the Golden Flower is indeed a remarkable film, and also a dramatic work full of tension."
It is by no means a soap opera, but a grand drama.
It's an intensely dramatic tale of love, desire, and death. The film is dazzling, not only in its color palette but also in the raw, untamed emotion it exudes.
The New York Times commented: "The release of 'Curse of the Golden Flower' is an important step for Zhang Yimou towards becoming a classic."
The film uses extremely rich story scenes to express an unrestrained artistic conception, which seems to have become a taken-for-granted expectation of Zhang Yimou by his Western counterparts, as if this were a gift that Zhang Yimou would naturally give to the world.
What's most unsettling is The Washington Post's statement: "Curse of the Golden Flower is a wild journey for period films, giving martial arts movies a new kind of fun."
Actually, "Curse of the Golden Flower" is not a martial arts film; "Reign of Assassins" is.
Interestingly, "Reign of Assassins" has not yet been released in North America, and Sony Pictures Entertainment has not scheduled a release date for it after acquiring the rights.
>