Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 138 Wu Yuchen, a man of unwavering loyalty and righteousness

No one disturbed Guo Baochang too much, letting him rest first. They then found a private room in a restaurant and sat down.

Chen Kaige, sitting in the main seat without hesitation, spoke first with a stern face:
“Master Bao is my mentor and close friend. Without Master Bao, I wouldn’t have made my first film. How could I, Chen, stand by and watch Master Bao be humiliated like this! This matter cannot be left like this!”

Zhang Yimou chimed in, "Back then, He Qun and I were assigned to the Western Guangdong Film Studio. We were given opportunities to hone our skills thanks to Master Bao's appreciation, which is why we are where we are today. We must get justice for Master Bao and not let his life's work be wasted like this!"

When this group of people graduated in 82, Zhang Yimou and He Qun were assigned to the Guangdong Western Film Studio. At that time, Guo Baochang was the director of the studio and strongly advocated giving several talented young people who had just arrived opportunities to make "One and Eight." Zhang Yimou and Xiao Feng served as cinematographers, and He Qun was the art director. To be able to independently direct a film less than a year after graduating from university was unprecedented in the history of mainland Chinese cinema.

Chen Kaige, who was assigned to the Beijing Children's Film Studio after graduation, was frustrated and unfulfilled. The following year, he was recommended to Guo Baochang by Zhang Yimou and He Qun and was seconded to the Guangdong Western Film Studio. With Guo Baochang's full help, Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou collaborated to make "Yellow Earth", which brought this film about Shaanxi folk customs to the international stage, winning 10 awards and causing a sensation in China.

In the mainland film industry at that time, there were very few people who were so bold as to give young people the opportunity to showcase their talents. Therefore, it can be said that Guo Baochang was their mentor!

Moreover, it wasn't just the two of them; the entire fifth generation, including Tian Zhuangzhuang, He Qun, Zhang Junzhao, and many others, all received help from Guo Baochang to varying degrees.

Not only directors, but also actors who have come from the same industry, such as Ning Jing, whose first work was Guo Baochang's "Joining Hands with Detectives".

Therefore, everyone present was indignant when the topic of Guo Baochang and the fate of "The Grand Mansion" came up.

At this moment, Wu Yuchen asked, "What's the background of that company?"

Jiang Wen smiled and said, "I know that. The boss is a businessman from eastern Guangdong. They wanted me to play Bai Jingqi. I told them that the filming budget was one million per episode, and if it was less, they shouldn't bother me. That scared them away."

These days, it's rare to find a TV series with a budget of even four or five hundred thousand yuan per episode, let alone one million.

Upon hearing this, Chen Kaige instantly gained confidence. He was just a businessman with no powerful background, but Director Chen was not afraid of him at all!

Kai waved his hand dismissively: "Just because they have a little money, they think they can cause trouble in our territory? We'll teach them a lesson! Today, I'm going to spread the word that anyone in the industry who dares to cooperate with them from now on is going against me, Chen!"

“Kai Ge is right, we must get justice for Master Bao! Count me in!” Tian Zhuangzhuang chimed in.

Everyone followed suit, and Wu Yuchen naturally supported it. Maintaining a healthy entertainment industry environment and expelling bad apples is everyone's responsibility!
However, he added, "It's right to ban them, but we have to get 'The Grand Mansion Gate' back for Master Bao, and we have to cancel the contract, otherwise his illness probably won't get better."

Zhang Yimou immediately nodded in agreement: "Wu Yuchen is right. Banning them is not the goal. The key is to help Bao Ye solve his problem."

Tian Zhuangzhuang said, "Let's spread the word first, and then have the Directors Guild and the Film Guild come forward to talk to them."

Chen Kaige finally made the decision: "Okay, let's do it this way!"

Then Zhang Yimou asked, "I think the script for 'The Grand Mansion Gate' is very good. Why didn't you, Mr. Bao, collaborate with a TV station?"

Both he and Chen Kaige are very busy people and rarely have time to meet with others, so they don't know much about Guo Baochang's current situation.

However, Tian Zhuangzhuang, who was banned, had maintained contact with Guo Baochang. He sighed and said:

"He approached several TV stations, but none of them were willing to agree to anything. The most the TV stations were willing to offer was ten million, but Master Bao had high demands. He wanted the sets built exactly like the original 'Grand Mansion Gate,' and he wanted many episodes, which would drive up the total cost. No TV station was willing to pay that much. That's why he went to film and television companies one by one, but he still got scammed..."

Upon hearing this, the others either sighed or remained silent, without responding.

They're willing to help advocate for justice, but when it comes to actually funding the film themselves, they either lack the resources or are simply unwilling to take the risk, since they, as insiders, know that the film and television industry is very risky.

Moreover, although those who have read the script of "The Grand Mansion" say it is good, if it is actually filmed and broadcast, who knows whether the general public will like it or accept it?

Just as Chen Kaige was trying to change the subject, a voice broke the silence:

"I'm actually quite interested in 'The Grand Mansion Gate'."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Wu Yuchen, and Tian Zhuangzhuang's face lit up with joy as he asked:
"Wu Yuchen, do you want to film, or..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen smiled and said, "Even if I wanted to film it, I could never take away Master Bao's hard work. I definitely wouldn't do such a thing! I've read the script. Although it's quite risky, it would be a real shame not to film it. If Master Bao is willing, I'd like to invest some money and give it a try."

Xie Xiaojing nudged Wu Yuchen's arm and reminded him, "Wu Yuchen, think it through. This is not a small amount of money."

Although he really wanted to help Guo Baochang film "The Grand Mansion Gate", he also knew that the risks were great, and Wu Yuchen was his student, whom he had brought with him today, so he definitely had to remind him of this.

Wu Yuchen laughed and said, "Teacher Xie, don't worry. Our company recently made a small fortune from 'The Passionate Years,' which is just enough to fund the production of 'The Grand Mansion Gate.' At most, we'll just lose all that money. Consider it my contribution to art!"

Jiang Wen smiled and gave Wu Yuchen a thumbs up, exclaiming, "Great job!"

Chen Baoguo, who was the male lead, excitedly raised a cup of tea to Wu Yuchen to express his gratitude.
"Director Wu, you are incredibly righteous! I heard you don't drink, so I'm offering you tea to express my gratitude!"

Although Wu Yuchen only said it verbally, in this kind of occasion, with a group of big names in the industry as witnesses, he, as a well-known director in the industry, naturally couldn't just make empty promises, otherwise his reputation would be ruined.

Therefore, Chen Baoguo was overjoyed upon hearing this, and immediately offered Wu Yuchen a respectful bow while holding his teacup.

Wu Yuchen immediately went to help him up, then smiled and said, "I really admire Teacher Chen's righteous act!"

Immediately, everyone in the room cheered. After all, this trip had not only helped Guo Baochang resolve the contract issue, but also secured funding for the filming of "The Grand Mansion Gate." It was truly a worthwhile and successful endeavor, and the best outcome for Guo Baochang.

Seeing Wu Yuchen stealing the spotlight, Chen Kaige, who was always the center of attention, felt a slight unease. However, he naturally wouldn't show it. He was happy to help Guo Baochang solve the filming funding problem and praised him, saying:

"He truly deserves to be called an outstanding new director from Beijing Film Studio. He has a bright future ahead of him!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen humbly replied, "I'm new to this field and can't compare to the seniors here. I still have a lot to learn from Senior Brother Chen in the future."

Wu Yuchen naturally knew the nature of the poetry prodigy, so there was no harm in saying a few more nice words. Sure enough, Kai Zi showed a satisfied expression after hearing this.

The private room then entered a cheerful atmosphere, and everyone was finally able to enjoy their meal. The group of people who had finally managed to gather naturally chatted about all sorts of things. Chen Kaizi even quoted extensively from his novel "The Assassination of Qin," occasionally throwing in a few erudite remarks that drew agreement.

At the dinner table, Ning Jing ran over to toast Wu Yuchen: "Director Wu, I really regretted it after watching your 'Run Lola Run'. If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten married. I should have gone and made your movie first!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen laughed and said, "It's not that serious. Getting married is more important! We can work together again if there's a suitable opportunity in the future."

"Director Wu, I'll remember your words. You must remember me if you have the chance in the future~" Ning Jing downed a glass of wine in a hearty manner.

Jiang Wen then joined in and said:
“I really liked your movie ‘Run Lola Run,’ it was awesome! But your recent movie ‘My Brothers and Sisters’…” Jiang Wen shook his head as he spoke: “It was too sentimental!”

Wu Yuchen understood what he meant; he was practically saying that his film was too vulgar. But that was indeed the case, and he was only in it to make money, so he wasn't angry.

Wu Yuchen lightly touched it, then smiled and said, "I don't care about being vulgar or refined, as long as people watch it and the public likes it, that's enough."

Jiang Wen glanced at Wu Yuchen, seemingly lost in thought, and then praised him, "You're so open-minded; I can't compare to you in that respect!"

Jiang Wen is the kind of person who knows what people like and what films will do well at the box office, but he doesn't like making those kinds of films; he just makes the films he wants to make.

Wu Yuchen said with a smile, "I watched your movie with Director Zhang this year, 'Keep Cool,' it was really good!"

Zhang Yimou, who was not far away, also heard Wu Yuchen's words, and shook his head with a smile, saying, "No matter how you film it, people will criticize it!"

One of the reasons for making the film "Keep Cool" was that a large number of people criticized Zhang Yimou for only making rural-themed films and ridiculed him as a rural director.

Therefore, Zhang Yimou made an urban-themed film, "Keep Cool," starring Jiang Wen, Li Baotian, and Qu Ying. This humorous and absurd comedy aimed to prove that he could also be trendy. He used a lot of shaky camera work and flamboyant music to inject a lot of energy into the film, engaging the audience's emotions from beginning to end.

Wu Yuchen was deeply impressed by the film, especially the line spoken by Zhang Yimou in the Shanxi dialect, "An Hong, I miss you." The Beijing Qinshu (a type of storytelling with musical accompaniment) segment was also a classic; the evocative lyrics perfectly depicted the capital city and the protagonist's predicament. It was sung by Guan Xiaotong's grandfather, Guan Xuezeng. Unfortunately, the art form of Beijing Qinshu never found a successor, and with the passing of Mr. Guan, the art form died out.

To be honest, both being comedy films released in 1997, *Keep Cool* is in no way inferior to *The Dream Factory*. It's humorous and funny, and its box office of 46 million yuan far exceeds *The Dream Factory*'s 30 million yuan. Its artistry and dramatic tension are also significantly stronger than *The Dream Factory*. However, it has been rarely mentioned since. The media really treats different people differently.

Zhang Yimou is currently in a strange situation where any film he makes attracts criticism from intellectuals.

Wu Yuchen advised Zhang Yimou, "Brother Zhang, don't take it to heart. Just treat it as the media barking like dogs."

Jiang Wen laughed heartily upon hearing this: "That's right, they're just a bunch of stinking bullies!"

Ning Jing rolled her eyes at Jiang Wen. She still harbored resentment towards him for dumping her before, and secretly speculated that, given Jiang Wen's character, he might have gotten involved with the female lead, Qu Ying, on set.

After the meal, everyone started to leave, but Wu Yuchen stopped Zhang Yimou and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, there are a few things I'm not sure if I should say."

Zhang Yimou was somewhat surprised. He had a good impression of his junior apprentice, Wu Yuchen, after all, he had been so generous in spending money to make "The Grand Mansion Gate" for Guo Baochang.

Zhang Yimou chuckled and said, "It's alright, it's alright, just say what's on your mind."

Wu Yuchen thought for a moment and then said, "I heard that Zhang Weiping invested in 'Keep Cool and Talk,' and lost 1800 million yuan?"

Zhang Yimou nodded, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I'm sorry for what happened, Brother Zhang."

Wu Yuchen pulled him closer and said, "I think you'd better investigate this matter thoroughly. He said he sold the copyright for 800 million, but is it really 800 million? Think about it, the movie hasn't even been released yet, and he'd rather lose 1800 million to sell the copyright for 800 million. I think there's something fishy going on..."

Wu Yuchen knows Zhang Weiping's true colors all too well; he's just a bloodsucker tied to Zhang Yimou. Who knows how much he's made off Zhang Yimou, but the promised solution to the over-birth problem remains unresolved. Even Zhang Yimou, who's become a "national director," still had to borrow money to pay the fine for having too many children. It's truly outrageous that he hasn't made any money working for Zhang Weiping all these years.

Zhang Weiping, the producer of "Keep Cool," claimed that he invested 2600 million yuan and lost 1800 million yuan because he sold the copyright for 800 million yuan before the film's release.

Leaving aside the fact that this film grossed 4600 million yuan at the domestic box office, just considering Zhang Yimou's reputation, the international rights to this film would easily have sold for no less than 100 million US dollars. Given Zhang Weiping's shrewd nature, would he foolishly choose to sell the rights for 800 million yuan before the film's release?

Zhang Yimou has always focused primarily on making movies and hasn't worried about commercial matters. Therefore, Wu Yuchen believes that Zhang Yimou is likely already being manipulated by Zhang Weiping, who is creating the impression that he's willing to give his all and even his life savings to make Zhang Yimou feel guilty.

Actually, Zhang Weiping and his wife were involved in the breakup between Zhang Yimou and Gong Li. Gong Li later repeatedly denounced the couple as despicable people who tried to drive a wedge between her and Zhang Yimou. When filming "Curse of the Golden Flower", the contract clearly stated that Zhang Weiping could not be seen on set.

Zhang Yimou looked at Wu Yuchen with some suspicion, but he felt that Wu Yuchen wouldn't harm him, so he stammered, "This... Brother Zhang, you don't need to lie to me, do you?"

Wu Yuchen sighed: "Senior Brother Zhang, although many intellectuals in China are criticizing you now, you can't belittle yourself. Your movies are very influential both internationally and domestically. There are quite a few people with ulterior motives who want to get close to you. I think you'd better pay more attention."

Zhang Yimou nodded with a troubled expression. He actually just wanted to focus all his energy on making movies and didn't want to deal with these things.

Seeing this, Wu Yuchen didn't say anything more. After watching Zhang Yimou say goodbye, he left with a heavy heart.

Originally, it had nothing to do with Wu Yuchen, but he thought about how Zhang Yimou was later betrayed by Zhang Weiping, so he still wanted to give him a reminder. Whether Wu Yuchen would listen to him or not was up to him.

……

That same day, news spread within the industry that fifth-generation directors such as Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou, along with Jiang Wen and Wu Yuchen, had joined forces to blacklist that film company.

The backbone of the mainland film and television industry today is the fifth generation, who are at the height of their careers. Moreover, with the participation of two rising directors in recent years, Jiang Wen and Wu Yuchen, it can be said that the top directors in China have joined forces to unleash their full potential.

Therefore, once this news got out, who in the industry would dare to cooperate with this film and television company? Even those who had been in talks and considering cooperation cut off all contact with them immediately after hearing the news.

It's just that there aren't any Weibo or similar platforms in this day and age. Otherwise, all the big-name celebrities on Weibo would be lining up to speak out and support, afraid of being a step behind.

This completely stunned the company. They never expected such a thing to happen. And it wasn't just the "Grand Mansion" project; another production crew that had already been involved was thrown into chaos. All the staff quit, and no amount of threatening them with the contract worked. The entire crew went on strike.

That's not all. Soon they learned another piece of news: all the major TV stations had cut off contact with them. After inquiring, they found out that their company had been blacklisted and no one would buy their shows in the future!
In that instant, everyone in the company realized they were doomed. If the TV station didn't buy their film, all their good work would be for nothing!

This really worried the boss. He had learned this trick from a friend in Hong Kong, which involved using contracts to set traps and get something for nothing, but now the contract was completely useless!

At this moment, he was filled with regret. How could he have known that Guo Baochang had so many big directors backing him? If he had known, he would never have targeted him!
Everything then proceeded smoothly. After the Directors Guild and the Film Association intervened, the company honestly returned everything of "The Grand Mansion Gate" to Guo Baochang. As for other losses, they could only accept them themselves. The big boss withdrew his investment and never planned to work in the film and television industry again.

As this matter spread, some of the things discussed at the dinner table that day were also revealed, such as Wu Yuchen's timely assistance in helping veteran actor Guo Baochang prepare for the filming of "The Grand Mansion Gate".

Chen Baoguo would give a thumbs up to everyone he met, praising Wu Yuchen for his generosity and righteousness!

In truth, Wu Yuchen could more or less guess that the reason this good reputation spread so quickly was naturally to solidify his investment. After all, his reputation had already spread, so he probably wouldn't back out. Even if he regretted it later, he would still invest a portion to save face.

But why would he back out on such a great project as "The Grand Mansion Gate," such a classic TV series? He'd be overjoyed if he could finalize the deal right now!

However, the chivalrous director Wu did not go directly to Guo Baochang, but instead took the script to another person first.

(End of this chapter)