Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 184 The Curtain Falls and the Start of Filming

In Beijing, Wu Yuchen had already instructed his company to prepare for the filming of the movie "Love." The filming locations for the movie were simple, mainly in the apartment where the elderly couple lived. Therefore, before leaving, he had asked the assistant director to find a house that had a homey atmosphere and was warmly decorated.

Grandma Wang Danfeng also returned to Beijing with him. She took the initiative to communicate with the male lead, Ge Cunzhuang, in advance. After all, the two were going to play an elderly couple, and the film would also shoot some of their daily lives. They definitely needed to have a tacit understanding. They needed to discuss some details of their living habits in advance, so as not to find that things didn't feel right when they joined the crew for filming.

At this time, Gong Li also put down the script of "Love". The script was excellent, but it was a pity that the role she played had too few scenes and not much room for her to perform.

At the same time, she glanced at another script on the table, "Pretty Mom." What a coincidence! One script asked her to raise a daughter, and the other asked her to play the mother. Compared to her previous roles, in "Pretty Mom," she was the absolute lead, the dominant female character; the entire film revolved around her.

Looking at these two scripts, Gong Li's choice was, of course, to have them both!
"Pretty Mom" ​​can be postponed, since her role in "Love" isn't that big anyway. Besides, this is Wu Yuchen; delaying it for an extra month or two is nothing, it's worth it!

After Wu Yuchen hung up the phone, he also smiled. The movie *Love* has three main characters: an elderly couple and their daughter. Of course, the daughter's role is relatively minor.

Wu Yuchen never considered having Jiang Qinqin or any other woman in his life play the role of their daughter. You can't exactly cast someone in their twenties to play the daughter of two people who look like they're in their seventies or eighties, can you? That would be too jarring.

In reality, Gong Li also had to age about 10 years in this role, appearing to be around 40 years old. There are actually many actresses suitable for this role, so Wu Yuchen wasn't worried at all initially. It's just a shame to leave Gong Li unused!

Wu Yuchen did not hide the fact that he was preparing for a new movie, which attracted many people to inquire about it. However, when they heard that the movie was about the elderly and that even Gong Li could only play a minor supporting role, everyone sighed with regret.

Wu Yuchen's projects are now highly sought after. As a director who can win awards and achieve commercial success, he is even more attractive than Chen Kaizi was back then. As long as you can get involved, even a supporting role is a great qualification.

Just as Wu Yuchen was getting the film crew almost ready and having Wang Danfeng and Ge Cunzhuang develop rapport, he received another piece of news: the casting for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" had wrapped.

Seeing Zeng Li's tired face, Wu Yuchen went over and cupped her face, stroking it gently: "Lizi, are you alright?"

Zeng Li shook her head: "I just feel a little empty inside after training for several months and then not being selected..."

Zeng Li felt conflicted about her defeat, since Li An had ultimately chosen her classmate and roommate, Zhang Ziyi, and she had essentially lost to her.

Wu Yuchen probably understood this feeling of both fearing his brother's hardship and fearing his brother driving a Land Rover. He gently patted Zeng Li and said, "It's okay. Not every role is suitable. Just do your best."

Zeng Li didn't speak when she heard this. Then she leaned her head on Wu Yuchen's shoulder and said, "Actually, I had a feeling before that Director Li would choose Ziyi."

"Ok?"

“Ziyi always trains like she’s risking her life. Half a month ago, during a sparring session with her instructor, her hand touched the opponent’s sword, and one of her fingernails was sliced ​​off. She didn’t utter a sound and wanted to continue. The coach was terrified. When I saw that, I knew I was no match for her…” Zeng Li murmured.

Listening to Zeng Li's words, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but admire her. "As expected of Zhang Ziyi, she's ruthless!"
Yu Jiaolong wanted this kind of ruthlessness, so it's no wonder Li An chose her. If Wu Yuchen heard Zeng Li describe her like that, he would also choose Zhang Ziyi.

In the previous life, Zhang Ziyi's performance in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was outstanding, completely overshadowing the other female lead, Yang Ziqiong. Even Chow Yun-fat could not suppress her sharpness. Afterwards, even Li An said that Zhang Ziyi made "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" a success.

Wu Yuchen gently kissed her cheek and whispered comfortingly in her ear, "You don't have to compare yourself to her. Everyone has their own path. Do you think you've gained anything from this training camp?"

Zeng Li nodded. After several months of training and receiving guidance from Li An from time to time, she had naturally gained a lot: "I want to go back to school for a while."

Seeing her state, Wu Yuchen knew that she was probably exhausted both physically and mentally after relaxing. He figured it would be better for her to go back to school to calm down and reflect before making any further plans. So, he decided not to schedule any projects for her and let her take a break. Besides, it seemed that "The Grand Mansion Gate" would be released soon, and she might have to travel around with the "The Grand Mansion Gate" crew for various programs.

The next day, Wu Yuchen went to Li Xiaoran's place again. At this time, Li Xiaoran was sitting in front of the computer, intently clicking the mouse and pressing the keyboard to play "StarCraft".

Her actions were swift and fierce, but she was quickly overwhelmed by the computer's Zerg army. Furious, Li Xiaoran pouted and slammed her hand on the keyboard, yelling, "What is this?! How can it develop so much faster than me?! The computer is cheating!"

Seeing her like this, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but smile and ask, "Seeing you like this, I'm relieved!"

Li Xiaoran stood up and took a sip of water, acting as if she didn't care at all: "What are you worried about? It's just a movie, not yours!"

Wu Yuchen asked with a chuckle, "You really don't care?"

After months of hard practice, she felt that Li An was quite fond of her, but in the end she was not selected, so Li Xiaoran was naturally unwilling to accept it. When Wu Yuchen asked her, she stopped pretending and complained:

"That Zhang Ziyi is insane! She's just a supporting actress, why is she risking her life like that!"

In the original "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" storyline, Michelle Yeoh's Yu Shu Lien was the female lead, while Yu Jiao Long was the second female lead. However, Zhang Ziyi went to great lengths for this role, dragging everyone down with her, only to be left unsuccessful in the end, much to the dismay of the somewhat lazy Li Xiaoran.

Wu Yuchen thought for a moment and asked, "Sister Ranran, what are your plans next?"

Li Xiaoran, hands on her hips, said, "Let's play games for half a month first!"

Wu Yuchen smiled and shook his head. Alright, no need for him to comfort her. With the game around, her self-regulation is incredibly strong!

Half a month isn't a long time, so I could introduce her to an opportunity.

Wu Yuchen asked, "Ranran, would you like to act in a comedy?"

"A comedy? Like 'Mr. Donkey'?" Li Xiaoran immediately grabbed Wu Yuchen's arm and asked.

Wu Yuchen waved his hand: "No, it's just a comedy to make people laugh, like a New Year's film."

Upon hearing about the Lunar New Year film, Li Xiaoran reacted quickly: "Feng Xiaogang?"

"Yes, he's preparing for his new film 'Never Ending,' and if you want to act in it, I'll push you there as the female lead."

Li Xiaoran thought about it and decided that filming a comedy would be a good idea to change her mood, so she nodded.

Wu Yuchen didn't waste any words and immediately called Feng Xiaogang.

"Oh, Director Wu, I'd love to have a Golden Horse Award-winning actress as the lead! Xiao Ran grew up in Beijing, she's perfect for my movie, the ideal choice!"

"Thank you so much, Director Feng. Please take good care of Xiaoran after she joins the crew, along with Teacher Ge."

In the previous life, the female lead of "Endless" was originally Wu Qianlian. The production team wanted to add a Hong Kong and Taiwan star to attract the audience, but it was obvious that not only did it not achieve the desired effect, but Wu Qianlian also did not fit into the atmosphere of this Beijing-style comedy, and the whole film seemed somewhat out of place.

Now, after Wu Yuchen made a phone call, he changed the female lead to Li Xiaoran, because he felt that the effect should be better than Wu Qianlian.

……

Inside the concert hall, a young man on stage finished his piano solo, stood up, and bowed to the audience. An elderly couple also applauded along with the audience, their genuine smiles reflecting their joy for their student.

Backstage, they hugged the students, chatted with some of their friends and peers who had come with them, and were praised for nurturing another outstanding musician.

After leaving the concert hall, the elderly couple, dressed in cashmere coats and wearing bowler hats, with the old lady carrying a small bag, chatted casually about the students they had just met. It was clear that they were a very cultured and tasteful couple. The old gentleman would also humorously praise his wife, eliciting a sweet smile from her, creating a warm and beautiful scene.

"Pass! Very good, both teachers have the right demeanor~" Wu Yuchen praised. The selection of the people was indeed correct. A dignified and well-mannered elderly couple appeared on camera, and their tacit understanding and warmth gave people a sense of peace and comfort.

He's currently filming the opening scene of the movie, showcasing the beautiful, simple life of a retired couple supporting each other, which evokes longing in many viewers, making them feel that this is the ideal state they pursue in their old age. It's a classic example of building suspense before revealing the true essence, setting the stage for what follows.

The filming locations for this movie were not complicated, so Wu Yuchen adopted a completely sequential shooting method, which was more conducive to the actors' emotional changes.

At this moment, Huang Lei walked over and asked Wu Yuchen, "Director Wu, how was I just now?"

That's right, the actor Wu Yuchen invited to play the elderly couple's musician student is Huang Lei, who was the one playing on stage just now. Huang Lei isn't greasy at all; he has a literary and artistic temperament, which makes him very suitable for this role.

His character could be considered the second male lead, and there's a scene later where he visits the elderly woman who is paralyzed, but his role and room for development are relatively small.

Although the focus of the play wasn't on him, Wu Yuchen still praised Huang Lei, saying, "Elegant and composed!"

Hearing Wu Yuchen say that, Huang Lei laughed. He had watched Wu Yuchen grow up from a student in his class to an internationally renowned director who won the Golden Bear and dominated Hollywood.

Huang Lei had actually wanted to act in Wu Yuchen's films, but unfortunately, he either missed the opportunity or there weren't any suitable roles for him. This time, Wu Yuchen's Oscar-nominated film remembered him, and he finally got to play a supporting role, allowing them to collaborate.

Wu Yuchen then reminded Huang Lei, "Teacher Huang, your scene in the later part is quite important, especially your eyes. You need to make sure the audience can recognize you at a glance."

"Don't worry, I won't hold you back!" Huang Lei assured him.

……

"Dad, do you need my help?"

"No need. You're so busy with work, how many days can you stay at home? You're across the Pacific Ocean, there's nothing you can do anyway," Ge Cunzhuang waved his hand.

Gong Li opened her mouth, wanting to say something but unable to. She had taken leave from America to visit her mother after hearing that she had suffered a stroke and was hospitalized, but as her father had said, it wasn't easy for her to work in America and she couldn't stay long.

Ge Cunzhuang looked away from Gong Li, and after a moment he raised his eyelids and said, "You can leave after your mother is discharged from the hospital in a few days. We can take care of ourselves, and if we can't, we can hire a nanny or caregiver."

Gong Li nodded, and then chatted with her father about her children and other things, just like an ordinary father and daughter.

……

"Action!"

Ge Cunzhuang opened the door and saw Huang Lei, his and his wife's prized student, standing outside. He couldn't help but smile happily: "Xiao Lei, what brings you here? Come in quickly!"

Huang Lei said with a smile, "Teachers, I called you before but no one answered. Now that I'm back from the tour, I wanted to visit you again!"

Huang Lei was also holding a bouquet of flowers: "This is for Teacher Wang. I know she loves jasmine the most!"

"Thank you, Xiao Lei, you're so kind~" Ge Cunzhuang led Huang Lei into the house.

After Huang Lei entered the living room, he noticed that Wang Danfeng was not there and asked curiously, "Isn't Teacher Wang here?"

Ge Cunzhuang paused for a moment: "Oh, yes, she's inside."

Huang Lei bowed slightly, apologetically saying, "I'm sorry to have disturbed your rest!"

"I'll go arrange the flowers first, then I'll tell your teacher, Mr. Wang," Ge Cunzhuang said after a moment's hesitation.

Huang Lei sat in the living room for a while, waiting and waiting, but no one came out. However, his good upbringing prevented him from making any sudden movements. He just kept looking around and examining the various things in the house.

Then, with a click, the door opened, and Huang Lei immediately stood up, a bright smile on his face, to greet his mentor. However, he only saw Ge Cunzhuang pushing a wheelchair, and the old lady in the wheelchair was none other than his beloved teacher, Ms. Wang.

For a moment, Huang Lei's smile froze, his eyes filled with shock. Before he could even speak, the old lady gave him her usual elegant smile: "Xiao Lei, it's so nice to see you here!"

Huang Lei let the smile that had been frozen on his face continue, and then it became bright again. He politely replied, "Hello, Teacher Wang!"

The old lady smiled and said, "Please sit down. Don't be so serious. Be more relaxed when you're at home."

The old lady then initiated the conversation, asking him about his concert tour and whether he would release an album later, adding that she would buy one to support him.

Huang Lei maintained a polite smile as he replied to the teacher, but it was clear that he was very restrained, and sadness and sorrow occasionally flashed in his eyes.

Finally, Huang Lei's smile faded, and he couldn't help but ask with concern, "What's wrong with your health?"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Ge Cunzhuang lowered his head, while Wang Danfeng maintained her smile and forced herself to say, "It's just paralysis on the right side of my body. That's how it is when you get old."

"How is it..."

Huang Lei wanted to ask more questions, but Wang Danfeng interrupted him directly: "Can we talk about something else?"

Clearly, the old lady couldn't bear the students' gazes. She felt sad, sorrowful, pitying, and sympathetic, even if these were well-intentioned, but her strong sense of self-respect prevented her from seeing these feelings in other people's eyes.

"Ah, okay, of course..."

Huang Lei sensed the teacher's mood and immediately shrank back to show that he had no intention of offending him.

"Xiao Lei, could you play me another piano piece in G minor?"

Then, Huang Lei played a piece with deep emotion. In the sound of the piano, he also understood that, facing his once tall and imposing teacher, the elegant and charming lady in his memory, he didn't need many words. Playing a piece that his teacher had taught him was the best way to show his kindness.

Respect is not about tearing open the wounds of illness under the guise of care, but about healing the wounds with a warmth that can be felt by both parties.

"Pass!"

When Huang Lei walked over, Wu Yuchen gave him a thumbs up: "Teacher Huang, your performance was excellent. You captured the emotions and the nuances perfectly!"

Huang Lei is the key character in this scene, and the purpose is to allow the audience to further understand the female lead's inner feelings through his emotional changes.

"Haha, if you can say hello to me, then this trip was worthwhile!"

Huang Lei spent half a month studying this short scene. He had played both teacher and student roles before, so he was able to capture the emotions very well.

(End of this chapter)