Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 215 Route Problem
The crew of "Alien Land" has a very tight schedule of promotional activities in Beijing. In addition to several interviews and media and fan meetings, there is also the "Climbing the Great Wall" activity.

The crew specially opened an official Chinese website and randomly selected enthusiastic audience members to participate in the event.

Together with Mei Yanfang and Jay Chou who just arrived yesterday, the large group set out in a mighty force, which had a very good publicity effect.

In particular, Leonardo also opened his own Chinese blog, and his first blog post shared his experiences and feelings of living in a siheyuan.

In this day and age, having a Hollywood superstar appreciate and experience Chinese culture in such a down-to-earth way can provide great emotional value for fans.

Just like when Lu Kuan went abroad to attend the European Big Three several times, the most common questions Chinese reporters asked foreign stars and directors were:

"Which Chinese films have you seen? Who is your favorite director and actor?"

All this painstaking marketing effort will translate into the box office numbers for "Alien Land" next June.

Six o'clock in the evening, Gongjian Hutong, Bingjiao Palace.

The temperature in Beijing in December was already below zero. Lu Kuan prepared a table of Huaiyang cuisine in the restaurant on the south side of the east wing to entertain Mei Yanfang, Jay Chou and others.

"Ah Kuan, Director Hou also called before I came here and asked me to persuade you again."

Boss Lu laughed and said, "Why is this old Hou like a foot wrap, he won't let go once he gets hold of someone!"

Liu Yifei rolled up her sleeves and prepared a barbecue in the yard. Su Chang also came today. This was the first time the two best friends met since the premiere of "Thief".

Liu Xiaoli pushed open the glass door and said, "Come in, both of you. Stop grilling. We can't finish all the food."

How could she know that Liu Yifei had dragged Su Chang along under the pretext of barbecue, in order to gather information.

"He's been in the company these two days?"

"How would I know? I went there yesterday when we were talking about Love Is Not Blind and saw him."

Su Chang also played a supporting role in the movie, the role of Jiao Junyan in later generations.

She was able to play the role of Dong Efei while she was in her teens, and with some makeup she was very suitable for this supporting role.

Concubine Liu Yi was dissatisfied: "Can you do it? Didn't I ask you to develop more inside players? That Sun Wenwen or something, huh?"

"No, I'm going to work, not to be your undercover agent, okay? What kind of artist would spend all day trying to get information from their boss?"

The little girl frowned and snatched a skewer of meat from Su Chang's hand.

"What are you eating? You are not doing your job well!"

He turned around and pushed the door into the restaurant angrily.

Su Chang really wishes she had the martial arts of the Tianshan Tonglao, otherwise she would be unable to beat this best friend who had practiced boxing and kicking in "Foreign Land".

As soon as Liu Yifei entered the room, she heard Lu Kuan and Mei Yanfang teasing Jay Chou.

"Jaylen is amazing! He's now on the cover of Time magazine!"

Boss Lu laughed and said, "Fortunately, he wasn't so famous when we filmed 'The Drummer' last year, otherwise his 50 yuan salary wouldn't even cover his 10-minute performance."

In February of this year, Jay Chou appeared on the cover of the Asian edition of Time magazine in the United States. This year was also the first time that Jay Chou appeared on the Spring Festival Gala stage.

Jay Chou is still a little unused to being teased: "I'm very nervous right now. The Spring Festival Gala, wow, over a billion people across the country, just thinking about it makes me sweat."

"It's okay, I'll go too."

Liu Yifei joked: "Jie Lun, Mei Jie and I are all going to perform, are you going to be the audience?"

"What audience? I'm just an art consultant, okay?"

Boss Lu knocked on the table in dissatisfaction.

Yuan Dewang, the chief director of the Spring Festival Gala, invited him to participate in the program review as an artistic consultant, and he will also sit in the front row to participate in the live recording.

It is normal for famous domestic directors to participate in various evening parties as consultants. Kuazi even served as the chief director in 2014.

Mei Yanfang joked: "Brother, you must have learned magic. You guys from the 'Drummer' crew are all very famous now."

"You are a famous Chinese director entering Hollywood, Jay Chou is the rising star of Asian music, and Xixi is the hottest young actress in mainland China."

Liu Xiaoli looked at the people in front of her and suddenly realized that they had all suddenly risen to this level in the past two years.

Just like my own daughter, even if she took a wrong step, it would be impossible for her to have such a smooth journey.

Looking at the scene in front of her, she also felt sad.

Liu Xiaoli recalled that she had just brought her daughter back to China two years ago and plunged into the deep water of domestic entertainment without knowing the details.

If Lu Kuan hadn't appeared, I really don't know what Sissi would be like now.

His appearance led Concubine Liu Yi to a smooth and prosperous path, but when he thought of the look his daughter gave him on the set...

Liu Xiaoli thought of her own failed marriage and she couldn't bear to see her daughter repeat the same mistakes.

But what can I do...

Su Chang interrupted, "Director Lu, I looked at the sample film this afternoon. Was my performance okay?"

"You? You're acting too hard."

"But for a teen film like this, a little bit of pretentiousness is fine, as long as it doesn't ruin the overall tone of the movie."

Liu Yifei suddenly asked, "Changchang, are you planning to take the entrance exam for the Central Academy of Drama or the Beijing Film Academy next year?"

After Su Chang signed the contract with Wenjie, Lu Yao from the artist management department tailored a development plan for her.

She will graduate from high school early next year when she turns 17, and then take the art exam.

In fact, she took the college entrance examination in June, but did not enroll in school after being admitted. Later, she joined the crew of "The Lotus Lantern".

Now I am filming while preparing for next year's art exam. I will not apply to Beijing Foreign Studies University as I did in my previous life.

"Beijing Film Academy! I want to be your classmate."

"Schoolmate, ok? What classmate!"

Mei Yanfang suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "That Professor Huang who's been making a lot of noise online lately, you girls should all be careful."

Liu Xiaoli also said with concern: "Changchang, just apply to the Beijing Film Academy. Your boss Lu is well-connected there, and there won't be any teachers doing anything shady there."

Huang Ding had been detained today and was later acquitted.

But he was also expelled from the Central Academy of Drama. It is very likely that he paid someone to settle the matter and then retired at the right time.

Lu Kuan agreed: "That's right, you should apply to Beijing Film Academy. There are too many bad people in the entertainment industry, and you will easily suffer losses."

He had just picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks when he looked up and saw that everyone, including Mei Yanfang, was looking at him with puzzled expressions.

"What are you looking at me doing?"

Concubine Liu Yi burst out laughing, then looked at him as he continued to eat with an indifferent look, and thought to herself that this man was really shameless.

Perhaps it was because he was young and had not seen the ugliness of the entertainment industry, or perhaps it was because he and Liu Yifei became familiar with Boss Lu, who was still a small figure at the time, on the crew of "Gold Powder", but Su Chang was not as cautious with Lu Kuanyuan as he was with other artists in the company.

"Director Lu, the company's development plan for me states that I'll be focusing on roles in chick flicks. What does that mean?"

The domestic brokerage business is still underdeveloped these days, and there is no other company like Wenjie that formulates development routes based on the artist's personality, appearance, and comprehensive abilities.

Of course, this is also what Boss Lu taught by example, just like the fashion route he talked about with Bingbing in Cannes.

"Chick flicks are a genre of film that uses a female perspective and tends to discuss issues facing modern women in a humorous and playful way."

"You've all seen Breakfast at Tiffany's, which is the earliest representative of chick flicks, which are called chick flicks in Hollywood."

The first chick flick in China was "Perfect Match" produced by Zhang Ziyi in 2009, but the related concept had already existed abroad.

"Taking into account your various qualities, you have the potential to develop in this direction. The company will pay attention to collecting such scripts for you, and even organize screenwriters to produce dramas of this type."

"Genre films are the most popular, just like kung fu films have produced so many Chinese martial arts superstars."

"Chick flicks have developed very rapidly in the West, with Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind, Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, and more recently, Jun Ji-hyun in last year's Korean film My Sassy Girl."

Mei Yanfang agreed, "Ah Kuan is right. There are many girls in Hong Kong now who have no characteristics at all. Directors can use you or not."

Jay Chou finally understood: "It's just like singing. If you don't have your own style, you can't succeed."

"That's right. Being an actor requires being recognizable. If you nail the chick flick genre, all the directors will look for you when they think of this type of subject."

Liu Xiaoli was very envious when she heard this. This was a professional company with a professional plan, which was much better than her previous home workshop.

In other words, this star-making plan cannot be told to outsiders, otherwise the entire domestic entertainment industry will start to roll up its sleeves and learn this set of artist training programs.

Looking at the actors signed by Boss Lu, almost all of them have certain characteristics and development paths.

Wang Baoqiang is a simple and straightforward type, suitable for all kinds of funny and straightforward male supporting roles;

Huang Bo is a humorous and funny person. He has high acting potential and is very versatile. He can also be a variety show star.

Zhang Songwen is an all-rounder, a panacea, and can be moved wherever needed;

Hu Ge is the first male lead in ancient idol dramas. In the first few years after his debut, his company gave him enough ancient costume dramas.
Zhu Yawen was just signed and he hasn’t graduated yet, so his acting career hasn’t been finalized yet, but his role as Wang Xiaojian in “Love Is Not Blind” was pretty good.

"Xiaolu, what route do you think is suitable for our Sissi?"

Liu Yifei, who was gnawing on a pig's trotter, heard everyone mentioning her, wiped her lips and looked at Lu Kuan expectantly.

Goddess type? Cute type? Fairy type?
"Her? Let's talk about it after she turns eighteen."

Liu Xiaoli asked in confusion: "Xiaolu, why is this happening?"

"Your acting skills are basically set between the ages of 18 and 20. If you don't make much progress, you'll just play cute characters and beautiful women for the rest of your life, and at most, appear in co-productions." "For example, characters like Wang Yuyan and Zhao Linger have become popular in the past two years thanks to Chinese Paladin and Tian Long (a legendary drama). There are many projects following suit, and you'll be indispensable for such roles in the future."

The little girl was unconvinced: "What if I have to make great progress?"

Lu Kuan smiled and said, "Then you can first find one or two roles that will break through your image, just like the script of The Revenant that Leonardo read that day."

"From a handsome young man to a 200-pound savage, I gained dozens of pounds."

"Another very important point is that most of your current fan base is between 15 and 20 years old, with limited spending power and no habit of going to the cinema."

"If you continue to focus on these fixed character types, it will take at least another 5-8 years before these people have purchasing power."

"During this period, the movies you star in will have no box office appeal, and directors who want to make commercial films will not consider you first."

Everyone nodded secretly as they pondered Lu Kuan's analysis. This was a judgment based on the age composition of the fan group, and it had to be said that it was quite prescient.

Most of Liu Yifei’s fans now are teenagers who watch TV. To become truly wealthy enough to pay for her products, they must at least go to college and have a job.

Why did she become popular with three dramas in a row since her comeback in 21? Now her first generation of fans are all 30 years old and above, and are the main consumers.

Jay Chou laughed and said, "If Kuan wasn't a director, he would definitely be a top agent."

Everyone nodded in agreement, except for Concubine Liu Yi, who was secretly wondering what his purpose was in saying this.

Is he still trying to trick me into asking the world so that he can realize his dream of a long and prosperous life?

It can be said that one is judging a villain by one's own standards.

Xiao Liu, you are really good at judging people!

The theme song of "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" sounded on the TV in the restaurant, and another work of Liu Yifei was released.

There are only a dozen days left in 2003, which will soon become the past.

The next day, Lu Kuan accompanied Mei Yanfang, Jay Chou and Liu Yifei to CCTV's 1000-square-meter Spring Festival Gala studio.

Of course he wouldn't be so bored as to accompany the little girl and the older sister to rehearsal.

No one comes to visit you for no reason. He is here to recruit people.

"Lao Zhang, here!"

Boss Lu saw the bearded man chatting with some friends from a distance.

At this time and place, the young Taoist priest who had asked Zhang Jizhong for a role could already wave his hand and call Zhang over like summoning an old horse.

"What's going on? Where's Director Kang?"

The direct purpose of Boss Lu's trip is to poach Kang Honglei.

Kang Honglei was the director of last year's Spring Festival Gala, and this year he also serves as an artistic consultant like Lu Kuan.

When Big Beard filmed "Swordsman" in 2001, Kang Honglei was his assistant director, so today he was specially asked to be the middleman.

"We're already here. The little room is waiting for you. Let's go."

Big Beard and Yang Siwei agreed on the salary for "The Return of the Condor Heroes", 18 per episode, and he thought he had successfully approached Boss Lu again.

This time, Lu Kuan took the initiative to call him for help, which was a positive signal for Zhang Jizhong, so he naturally flocked to him.

There are several small dressing rooms in the studio, which are reserved for the exclusive use of top stars. They are currently empty and are temporarily used as meeting rooms for Lu Kuan to recruit people.

He took the initiative to extend his hand to the Inner Mongolian man in front of him, showing courtesy to the wise man.

"Director Kang, I've heard of your great name for a long time!"

Kang Honglei still doesn't know why this film director, with whom he has never had any contact, came to contact him.

"Mr. Lu, you're too polite. I've admired you for a long time."

Without saying anything polite, Lu Kuan took out a script.

It was adapted from the military drama that I had previously bought from Lan Xiaolong.

"this?..."

Boss Lu smiled and said, "Director Kang, since you are a straightforward northern man, I won't waste my time."

"The company is recruiting now. We are extremely short of talent in the field of TV dramas. Currently, we only have Mr. Jiang from Beijing Film Academy."

"This is a military-themed work that Wenjie bought last year. After much deliberation, I think only you have the talent and ability to orchestrate it. You might want to take a look at it first."

Kang Honglei is a straightforward person, but today he seemed to have met someone who spoke even more directly than him, and he was speechless for a moment.

If you are speechless, don't say anything. Just open the script disrespectfully.

"Soldier Assault".

Kang Honglei was born into a military family. He fought his way from Inner Mongolia to Peking and suffered a lot.

He really came to prominence in 1995, when he served as the assistant director of "Water Margin", followed by "Swallow Li San" in 1997 and "Swordsman" in 2001.

But what he longs for most is undoubtedly military dramas.

It was also because of his close relationship with Big Beard that the former strongly supported him to be the director of "The Passionate Years" in 1999, which made him famous.

Ironically, he had been working as a director at Inner Mongolia TV Station for eight years without being on the payroll.

The script Lu Kuan gave him was just the first five episodes that he had abbreviated himself. To truly implement the project, he still had to find Lan Xiaolong and the screenwriter team to further refine it.

However, these short five episodes have already made this man, who is obsessed with military themes, unable to put it down.

He closed the script and asked, "Director Lu, what do you mean?"

"Come to Wenjie. I've asked Lao Zhang about this. You're still working at Inner Mongolia Television. It's a waste of your talent."

Logically speaking, after eight years of struggling to get a job, Kang Honglei should have refused it.

But what's quite coincidental is that Zhang Guoli from the Beijing circle is preparing to set up a film and television company and has also extended an olive branch to him.

These days, Zhang Jizhong and Zhang Guoli are two big names in the domestic television drama industry. Both are unfathomable figures with complex interpersonal relationships.

Zhang Jizhong said with a smile, "Da Lei, if you have something to say, just say it. Director Lu is my old friend, and we are all family."

But he is not one of us. Lao Liu has been put on the double track. Zhang Jizhong feels a little scared when he thinks of the rumors in the underworld.

It is said that the video that was sent to Haizi was first discovered on Blog.com, and Lu Kuan has always had a close relationship with Blog.com.

This can be seen from the promotions of many of his films.

Seeing this, Kang Honglei told the truth: "It was Teacher Zhang Guoli. He has been communicating with me more recently and wanted me to go over and help him, so I..."

"Did you promise him?"

"No."

Boss Lu smiled and said, "That's easy."

He took out his cell phone and dialed directly, turning on the speakerphone.

"Teacher Zhang, my path is wide open."

"Hey, Director Lu, I saw you promoting 'Foreign Land' on TV a few days ago. Are you back in Peking now?"

"Thank you so much for helping me with my son's problem. If you have nothing to do tonight, how about we get together?"

The bearded man looked at Boss Lu strangely.

He considered himself the most powerful person in terms of TV drama resources among those who were close to Lu Kuan.

How come Zhang Guoli shows up again?

Oh, he's so jealous, just like Xiao Liu.

Boss Lu chuckled and said, "I'm not busy eating. I haven't been going anywhere recently, so there are plenty of opportunities."

"That's right, Mr. Zhang. I'm working with Director Hong Lei right now. I have a project I'd like him to help me with."

"Look..."

Zhang Guoli understood immediately.

Being a TV drama director is not particularly important to him, not to mention that it is not certain whether the company can be opened.

The major shareholder said that the first phase of investment of 500 million has been implemented for several months but there has been no further news.

Isn't it a good idea to do someone a favor? It's cheap and affordable.

"Director Lu, if it's convenient, could you please give the phone to Hong Lei so I can have a chat with him?"

Lu Kuan was quick to follow the advice, and Kang Honglei took the phone and returned it without saying a few words.

"Director Lu, I'm so happy. I've been looking for an opportunity to thank you, and now here comes the chance!"

"I told Hong Lei to take care of the urgent matters first. I can do whatever I want here, haha."

Boss Lu was annoyed when he heard him asking for a favor and hung up the phone without saying a word.

Looking at Da Lei Zi again, he was already holding the script and starting to work on it again.

Use good materials to bait your nest, and you will never go empty-handed.

(End of this chapter)