It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 24: The Rules for "Adults"?

While Lü Rui was setting up the main framework of the production, Zhao Peng also returned smoothly from the acting department.

"Did the head of the performing arts department help determine these candidates?" Lu Rui asked while looking at the list.

Zhao Peng nodded: "Yes, Director Liu personally selected the person, and I didn't express any opinion throughout the process."

"okay, I get it."

Lu Rui put away the list and didn't say anything more.

Zhou Yiwei plays the girl's boyfriend, Lin Jiachuan plays the first murderer who killed the girl, and Jia Nailiang plays the unlucky second murderer who is brutally beaten by Zhou Yiwei.

As for the girl's two best friends, the school arranged for Huang Shengyi and Wang Luodan, both freshmen, to play the roles.

The character design and image are quite fitting for the role, and there's nothing particularly wrong with Lü Rui.

Especially Lin Jiachuan.

Upon seeing him, Lü Rui couldn't help but think of Tang Xiaolong, the character he played in "The Storm".

"If you don't repay your loan, you'll be in deep trouble. I'm Brother Dao, Tang Xiaolong, chasing after people with frozen fish in hand. Illegal lending is glorious!"

Having him play a "bad boy" when he was young was absolutely perfect for the role.

Like Sun Honglei, his face didn't look like that of a good person.

Lu Rui thought it was over, since everything had been arranged properly.

Unexpectedly, just as he was preparing to go to Hengdian ahead of schedule, he was summoned to the office by the head of the acting department.

Then, the class advisors from the 98, 99, 00, and 01 cohorts, along with the department head and deputy head, took turns brainwashing him:
"The Beijing Film Academy also has good actors. Don't just give important roles to the neighboring school every time you get a good script. Think more about your own family members and don't let outsiders laugh at you..."

Directors who graduated from the Beijing Film Academy often prefer to use actors from the Central Academy of Drama; this is already a common practice in the industry.

The same goes for "Mystic River," where the main character, Jiang Wen, is from the Central Academy of Drama.

However, Lü Rui was quite confident this time, "Isn't Zhang Fengyi from our Beijing Film Academy? Don't worry, I won't forget my roots..."

After making some assurances, he successfully escaped.

But the moment he stepped out of the performing arts building, he forgot all about his earlier promise.

It's not that his classmates aren't good enough, it's just that the quality of the students next door is too high, and he can't keep up!

There are actors to choose from, but who wants a star?

……

On April 1, Lü Rui, along with Zhao Peng and several other people arranged by the investors, successfully arrived in Hengdian.

Founded in 1996, Hengdian World Studios, covering an area of ​​over 50000 mu, is currently the largest film and television shooting base in China.

Filming for Mystic River will begin here.

Over the next few days, Lü Rui led his team to finalize all the filming locations needed in Hengdian.

The people who contributed the most were none other than those sent by Huayi.

Wang Zhonglei was afraid that Lü Rui would abandon Huayi when starting a new project next time, so the people he sent this time were extremely diligent, saving him a lot of effort.

The price was agreed upon, the shooting time was confirmed, and everything was ready.

The team from Enlight Media is mainly responsible for communicating with reporters and the media. They will arrange for someone to come and conduct an interview on the 8th.

During this period, actors arrived in Hengdian one after another and checked into the hotels booked by the production crew.

Meanwhile, thanks to Zhao Peng, a professional surfer, Lü Rui also learned about two major events that occurred during this period!

In Hong Kong, Nicholas Tse was formally arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) for allegedly taking the blame for someone else, and his entertainment career was suspended.

On the mainland, Liu Xiaoqing's investigation for tax evasion has caused a huge uproar!
As for the Nicholas Tse incident, Lü Rui just watched it as gossip, since it had nothing to do with him anyway.

But Liu Xiaoqing...

"Won't this drag Jiang Wen into this?"

Lü Rui had a headache.

The press conference for the start of filming of "Mystic River" is scheduled for the day after tomorrow. If the main actor is absent, it will be a big problem.

The reason he had such concerns was that Jiang Wen had fallen deeply in love with Liu Xiaoqing, who was 32 years old at the time, when he was filming Xie Jing's "Hibiscus Town" in 86.

The two developed feelings for each other over time, confirmed their relationship, and lived together for three years!

Later, in an interview with reporters, Jiang Wen stated that Liu Xiaoqing was a major driving force behind his path to becoming a director.

When Liu Xiaoqing encountered financial difficulties while filming "In the Heat of the Sun," he did not hesitate to find a friend and borrow more than 300 million yuan to fully support his filming.

A former lover, plus an immense favor.

Given Jiang Wen's character of "returning a favor tenfold," he certainly wouldn't sit idly by while Liu Xiaoqing was imprisoned.

However, on the morning of the 7th, he still arrived at the film set with Ning Jing, Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, and Mao Shunyun. Lü Rui inquired and learned that Liu Xiaoqing was only under investigation, and the outcome was still unclear.

He immediately felt much more at ease.

That evening, the launch ceremony was officially held in the banquet hall downstairs at the hotel!

"Let me first raise a glass to everyone to thank you for your support of me, a new director."

At the table, Lü Rui stood up and looked at the nine people sitting at the same table: Han Sanping, Yu Dong, Wang Zhonglei, Wang Changtian, Dong Ping, Jiang Wen, Zhang Fengyi, Zhang Guorong, and Ning Jing.

These are the investors and main cast members in the "Mystic River" production team; they need to be given the respect they deserve.

Upon seeing this, everyone stood up and spoke politely.

A Silver Bear for Best Director completely solidified his status in the industry!
At the next table, Liu Yifei looked over with intense gaze, her large, watery eyes filled with admiration.

Although Lü Rui was only a few years older than her, his social skills, which he displayed in every gesture, made her feel that no matter how hard she tried, she could never catch up with him!

"Senior is so amazing!"

However, just as her attention was focused on Lü Rui, she suddenly heard a question in her ear: "What's in your glass? Why isn't it wine?"

Liu Yifei turned around and saw Huang Shengyi sitting next to her staring at the wine glass in front of her.

It contained a milky white liquid, which was clearly different from the wine in other people's glasses.

“This is milk,” she replied.

"Huh?" Huang Shengyi frowned. "Everyone else is drinking alcohol, why are you drinking milk? Director Lü will definitely be coming over later, and you're not drinking alcohol, isn't that disrespectful?"

Liu Yifei was slightly taken aback; she hadn't thought that far ahead.

She subconsciously turned to look at her mother, casting a questioning glance at her.

Liu Xiaoli pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and then whispered, "Drink less, then go and toast the teachers and directors later."

In the entertainment industry, a place of fame and fortune, alcohol is always an indispensable part of life.

Liu Xiaoli doesn't intend to raise her daughter like a caged bird. Letting her see another side of this circle early on will also benefit her future growth.

"Baijiu (Chinese liquor) is so bitter..."

Liu Yifei muttered something under her breath, but did not refuse Liu Xiaoli's gesture of changing her wine glass.

She may look innocent and naive like a little girl, but she knows very well that no one will treat her like a child anymore.

But then, a cheerful voice suddenly rang out from behind: "Minors can't drink alcohol, milk is fine."

The voice carried a hint of teasing, yet it was like a pebble suddenly thrown into a calm lake, causing Liu Yifei's fingertips to tremble slightly.

She turned her head and saw that Lü Rui had somehow appeared behind her, his gaze containing both the advice of an elder and a hint of tacit approval for the "sober child" in this complicated situation.

"Senior!" Her eyes lit up.

Lu Rui smiled slightly at her, then raised his glass and said to everyone at the table, "Everyone, come on, let's have a drink. From now on, we'll be comrades-in-arms fighting side by side. I hope we can cooperate happily."

Seeing this, Liu Yifei followed the others and stood up, picked up her glass of milk, and lightly clinked it against Lü Rui's.

Happy boot-up!

After clinking glasses, Lü Rui went to another table.

Liu Yifei secretly watched his back, her fingertips unconsciously twisting her sleeve.

When Lü Rui spoke just now, he had a gentle smile on his face, much like the tone of his elders when they handed him red envelopes and candies when he was a child. In this world of fame and fortune filled with the clinking of wine glasses, it suddenly warmed her heart.

It turns out that besides her mother protecting her, there are other people who notice her, this child who "looks grown up but hasn't really grown up," and quietly move the "rules of adulthood" aside for her.

"Hehe~ Senior is such a nice guy."

She suddenly smiled brightly, her smile dazzling in the lamplight.

……

On the 8th, the press conference for the start of filming of "Mysterious River" was officially launched.

In fact, news of Lü Rui preparing for a new movie had already spread long before.

Many people are curious about what kind of work this newcomer, who just won the Silver Bear for Best Director, will create next.
However, due to the tight secrecy, no word of it had ever leaked out.

Even today, when the media reporters saw Jiang Wen, Zhang Guorong, and Zhang Fengyi appear at the press conference for the start of filming, they all stared wide-eyed in disbelief!
What is this for?
What kind of project is this? They actually invited three such "big shots"?
After the worship ceremony was completed, when Lü Rui announced, "The filming of 'Mysterious River' has officially begun," the media reporters on site finally came to their senses.

In an instant, a barrage of questions followed!

But at this moment, Lu Rui's attention was mostly diverted to the system.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have organized the opening ceremony for the movie "Mystic River"!]

[A-level talent: Clint Eastwood's directorial technique of alternating between "omniscient perspective" and "limited perspective" has been successfully awarded!]

(End of this chapter)