Chapter 157 Eternal Protagonist
Wu Ershan was straightforward and did not cover up for Yang Mi.

"Her acting skills are still a little superficial. She needs to calm down and work hard to improve them."

Yang Mi twitched the corners of her mouth, looking a little embarrassed.

"Well, Director Wu, Senior, I will think about it carefully."

Li Chen looked at Yang Mi, nodded with a smile, and said nothing.

Zhou Xun, who was standing next to her, spoke up for Yang Mi: "Director Li, Mi Mi is still working hard, but she just needs time to grow."

Zeng Li and Hu Ge were unable to get a word in.

Yang Mi stood unsteadily, like a child who had done something wrong.

She could sense that the senior came to visit her mainly because he was worried about her.

Li Chen didn't respond to Zhou Xun's words, nor did he go to comfort Yang Mi.

Instead, he said to Wu Ershan: "You guys go ahead and pretend I don't exist."

Li Chen was in the crew, watching for the whole afternoon.

Yang Mi's performance can be summed up in four words: bland as water.

This is not something that can be helped by appealing to her emotions or reasoning with her.

If she can't see her own problem clearly, no one can help her.

After the show that night, Yang Mi walked up to Zhou Xun and said in a low mood, "Sister Xun, is the senior angry? He didn't say a word to me."

Zhou Xun smiled slightly: "Director Li is just like that. If he doesn't tell you, you can take the initiative to talk to him."

"If you don't take the initiative, are you waiting for Director Li to take the initiative? Do you think you are Yifei?"

"Ugh!"

Yang Mi sighed with a helpless smile.

I was thinking: I wonder how the seniors would treat Yifei if she encountered this situation?
Not far away, Zeng Li finally found an opportunity and walked up to talk to Li Chen.

Li Chen encouraged her with a few words and then walked away with Wu Ershan.

In the afternoon, he reviewed the footage he had taken previously.

I already had an idea in my mind: "Director Wu, Yang Mi's crying scene will be re-shot tomorrow."

"If it's still like this, just cut this part!"

Wu Ershan was stunned for a moment, and then he said, "I understand, Director Li. In fact, this crying scene is dispensable, and it won't affect the film if it is cut."

Li Chen nodded: "It's okay, go call Yang Mi over, I'll talk to her."

Yang Mi heard that her senior was looking for her.

I felt inexplicably uneasy.

Looking at Yang Mi who was slowly walking towards him, he looked like a primary school student who had done something wrong.

Li Chen was amused: "Why are you like that? I'm not going to scold you, just walk with me."

Yang Mi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slightly: "Yeah."

"Mi Mi, I just told Director Wu that we need to reshoot your crying scene before your death tomorrow."

"If there's still no improvement, cut this scene."

"Ah! Why do you want to cut it, Senior?"

"Why do you need to cut it? Don't you know it yourself?"

Yang Mi's face was gloomy, and she felt inexplicably aggrieved.

This scene was NGed more than a dozen times, and in the end it was because of a word from the senior.

All my previous hard work has been in vain.

Li Chen observed his expression and said, "Do you feel wronged?"

Yang Mi lowered her eyelids and said nothing.

Li Chen sneered: "That's better than letting others use your acting skills as a target for criticism after the movie is released.

Yang Mi was silent for a while before she raised her head and said, "Senior, am I really that bad?

"If that's the case, why did you sign me in the first place?"

Li Chen paused slightly. He didn't expect Yang Mi to ask such a question.

It caught him off guard a bit.

Yes, why did Yang Mi sign her in the first place when she has no acting skills?
Should I tell her?
Sooner or later you will become famous.

What I value is your ability to attract money.

Li Chen couldn't help but laugh: "When I sign people, I evaluate their potential in all aspects comprehensively."

"Even if you can't become an acting talent like Gong Li and Zhou Xun, you are still a talented actor."

"I also believe that based on your own personal conditions."

"You will become famous sooner or later, just like what I told the media before about the difference between an actor and a star?"

"I never doubted that you would become a big star. But I am not satisfied with you just becoming a star, an idol."

"Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Yang Mi stared at the senior in a daze.

She never knew that her senior thought so highly of her.

Do you have such high expectations for yourself?
Looking at Yang Mi who was looking up at him in a trance.

Li Chen thought for a moment and said, "Okay, stop looking at me like that. I'll say hello to Wu Ershan."

"That scene won't be edited. The audience will decide whether it's good or bad. Maybe this isn't a bad thing, at least for you."

Yang Mi felt her nose a little sour, and said softly: "Senior, I will take tomorrow's reshoot seriously."

Li Chen laughed loudly, and Yang Mi herself felt a little embarrassed and her face turned slightly red.

At this moment, Yang Mi finally showed some of the tenderness of a girl.

Li Chen didn't stay in the snow area for long.

He returned to the capital early the next morning.

Liu Yifei came to pick me up at the airport.

Exited the airport VIP channel and got in the car.

A couple who hadn't seen each other for a few days couldn't help but kiss passionately in the car.

The familiar smell of Miss Liu made Li Chen, who had been a monk for a few days, impatient.

"Drive! Go home! Sissi! Hurry up, we can't wait."

Miss Liu shook her head and put on her sunglasses.

But he didn't follow his wish: "I won't, I'll just drive slowly, someone is in Venice with many girls. I didn't go home, I just went to see Yang Mi."

"You remember me now, but it's too late!"

Li Chen laughed loudly and kissed Miss Liu on the face again.

He said with a lingering feeling: "Did Shu Chang tell you about me again? I'm living a duller life in Venice than a monk, how can I be surrounded by beauties?"

Liu Yifei said as she drove: "Don't wrongly accuse Chang Chang. The photos of you and Scarlett in the hotel are all online. Do you think I can't see it?"

"Hey! What did you say? It was just a kiss on the cheek. Am I going to push him away? That would be too rude."

"Besides, foreigners can only see from a distance, not up close."

"Otherwise, the fine hairs on the skin alone would scare you away."

Liu Yifei couldn't help but burst out laughing: "How can you make up stories about me like that? After all, I'm the top one of the top 100 sexiest actresses in the world."

Li Chen's lips were as sweet as honey, and he smiled: "In my eyes, you are the sexiest person in the entire universe, not to mention the entire world."

Liu Yifei listened without saying anything. She stepped on the accelerator and the Porsche sped away with a whoosh.

After returning home, Liu Yifei parked the car.

Li Chen was about to get out of the car, and Liu Yifei unbuckled her seat belt and sat directly between Li Chen's legs.

Li Chen was stunned: "Xixi, what are you going to do?"

Liu Yifei blushed: "Don't act like that. Who was the one who did the bad things in the car in Hollywood?"

Li Chen laughed: "Since you saw through me, I won't be polite."

The Porsche's seat slowly fell down.

The familiar music in the car sounded again.

The mixed breathing of men and women is intoxicating.

It took a long time for Li Chen to get enough of his craving.

Looking at Miss Liu in front of me, she has fair skin and is trembling.

Li Chen suddenly felt that this scene seemed familiar.

Yes, it was that terrible dream that night.

Miss Liu sat up and put on her underwear and yellow bubble skirt neatly.

He said meaningfully: "You are honest!"

Looking at Miss Liu's flushed face, Li Chen didn't understand the meaning of this sentence for a while.

The two put on their clothes, got out of the car, and then went home.

After entering the room, the two took a bath together.

In the large bathtub that can accommodate three people.

Miss Liu leaned lazily on Li Chen, not wanting to move at all.

His fingers tapped up and down on Li Chen's chest like playing the piano.

Li Chen hugged her and remembered something: "Xixi, you and Shu Chang will start training on the 15th."

Liu Yifei looked up: "Archery?"

Li Chen nodded in response.

In order to film "Draw the Bow, Dad", Li Chen specially found a retired archery athlete.

Liu Yifei and Shu Chang received formal archery training.

Originally, Li Chen was planning to choose the role of the younger sister.

But Miss Liu's words made Li Chen give up this idea. In reality, the two were close friends.

It's not at all awkward to play sisters in the movie.

I returned to the company the next day.

Another pile of invitations was placed in front of Li Chen.

What fashion event? The Golden Horse Awards.

If Li Chen remembers correctly, this should be the second time the Golden Horse Awards invited him.

He had made it clear last time.

This year I will only go to the Hundred Flowers Festival and not the Golden Horse Festival.

But this year, a mainland delegation from the Film Bureau suddenly decided not to go to the Golden Horse Awards.

There are many reasons.

Some mainland actors said that there has been discrimination against mainland actors in every Golden Horse Awards.

Not only do you have to pay a deposit for accommodation, you also have to pay out of your own pocket.

The Golden Horse Organizing Committee would never admit it.

The two sides were arguing with each other, and even Zhou Xun was hesitant about whether to go.

Li Chen told her not to worry about it and just go when she needed to.

After all, this year at the Golden Horse Awards, if I remember correctly, Zhou Xun still has a Golden Horse Best Actress award to win.

Anyone can choose not to go, but he still has to go.

In half a month, "Father's Love is Like a Mountain 2" will be released.

Li Chen continued to lead Liu Dehua, Fan Qiaoqiao and other leading actors to make the final sprint for "Father's Love is Like a Mountain 2".

I heard that the premiere of "The Banquet" received a warm response.

The audience applauded the show, no matter the music or the story.

Fortunately, Li Chen was still in Hollywood when the premiere took place.

Otherwise, if he went, Li Chen would embarrass Little Cannon again.

Instead of asking him to flatter Feng Xiaogang against his conscience, he might as well encourage the poet.

The poet has been silent for several months.

Finally came out again.

This time, Chen Kaige finally returned to the script-centered route.

The dismal box office performance of "The Promise" in North America should have made Chen Kaige sober up.

At present, Chen Kaige is studying Mei Lanfang's scripts with screenwriter Yan Yanlin in the United States.

This is probably what Chen Kaige learned from his mistakes, amid the bombardment of Wuji.

I realized that I had deviated from the most fundamental thing about movies: the script.

This time, I put in a lot of effort to polish the script and strive for perfection.

The first stop of the promotion is Shanghai.

The day we arrived in Shanghai was also the first day of the nationwide release of The Banquet.

Li Chen brought a group of leading actors to the Grand Hyatt Hotel where "Father's Love 2" was filmed.

The multi-purpose screening room with a capacity of 750 people, which was booked in advance, was already packed with media and movie fans.

Outside the hotel, there were also many Liu Dehua fans who came from all over the country.

In a business car heading to the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Fan Qiaoqiao has returned to normal.

She seemed to have forgotten everything that happened that night.

Li Chen naturally wouldn't mention it.

In the car, Liu Dehua and Fan Qiaoqiao sat together.

Li Chen sat alone on one side.

Sitting in the back were Chen Baoguo and Chen Shu.

Liu Dehua turned to look at Li Chen and said with a smile: "Li Chen, the media will definitely give you a difficult problem today."

"The Banquet is being screened nationwide, and the media will definitely want to hear your comments on it."

Chen Baoguo and the other two also had smiles on their faces.

Now everyone knows Li Chen's style.

I always dare to speak and tell the truth!
Often just one sentence can set off a storm in the entertainment industry.

Fan Qiaoqiao smiled charmingly: "Brother Chen, you have to be more gentle with your words today."

"After all, The Banquet is produced by our company. Just for my sake, please consider me as a member of Huayi."

"Otherwise, if the media asks about this, how will you embarrass me?"

"Don't worry, if they ask me about The Banquet, I haven't even watched it yet."

"What am I to judge? Besides, I don't need to judge whether it's good or bad. The movie will be screened nationwide today, and fans will give the correct answer."

Li Chen had a good idea, but wishes are beautiful and reality is cruel.

Several people got off the car at the hotel entrance.

Then I heard Liu Dehua's fans shouting wildly.

Fortunately, there were many security guards maintaining order.

Otherwise, it would be difficult for them to break free from the crowd of fans.

All the way to the multi-purpose screening room.

The fans are easy to talk to, but how could the media let Li Chen and the other leading actors go?

The questions asked were more tricky than the last.

The question to Andy Lau was: "Andy, do you think the box office of The Banquet is higher or that of Father's Love 2 is higher?"

How could this question stump Liu Dehua, who has high emotional intelligence?
Liu Dehua smiled and said, "Xiaogang and Li Chen are both among the best directors in China."

"If you ask me which of their movies had lower box office?"

“I would definitely answer that no one would be lower.”

"But if you ask me, whose movie has higher box office?"

"Then I can only answer you. You won't know until you compare it."

There was a burst of laughter at the scene.

Liu Dehua is still Liu Dehua.

Now comes the question of Fan Qiaoqiao.

This made Fan Qiaoqiao feel helpless.

"Qiao Qiao, your contract with Huayi is about to expire. Will your next company be Rongchen Pictures?"

Fan Qiaoqiao sighed in her heart. This problem has been bothering her for a long time recently.

Whether it is the media, Huayi, or her agent.

Almost every day someone asks her the same question.

She could only answer: "My contract expires next year, and I haven't thought about these issues yet."

After saying that, he glanced at Li Chen intentionally or unintentionally.

There isn't much to explore about Chen Shu and Chen Baoguo.

The media did not respond.

Finally it was Li Chen's turn.

No one expected the media to ask: "Which one do you think will win the Olympic bid, The Banquet or Curse of the Golden Flower?"

Li Chen knew the answer to this question with his eyes closed. It must be Zhang Yimou.

Several leading actors looked at Li Chen.

In their opinion, Li Chen should not offend anyone.

Practice Tai Chi like Liu Dehua.

But Li Chen is not such a person.

He is not afraid of offending people. Today, he is destined to grab the headlines of "The Banquet" again.

The scene was silent, and everyone turned their eyes to Li Chen.

As for the media, they certainly hope that Li Chen can be as sharp-tongued as he was in the past.

Li Chen has never let them down.

"I haven't seen either film, so I can't comment on which one wins."

"But even if we win, what can we do?"

"Since the release of Hero in 02, Chinese filmmakers seem to have fallen into a misunderstanding."

"What's the misunderstanding? It's the misunderstanding that only so-called big productions can win Oscars."

"A huge cast, a luxurious production team, and high production costs."

"But the script, which should be given the most attention, often becomes the weakest link."

"So in recent years, the only Chinese-language film nominated for Best Foreign Language Film is Hero."

“It’s just a nomination.”

“At its core, it’s very simple.”

"How can you possibly win if you compare your weaknesses to the opponent's strengths?"

"Our strength lies in scriptwriting. None of the three major award-winning works directed by Yimou in Europe were won by so-called big productions."

"The script is the main plot, and everything else is auxiliary."

"The direction is wrong. No matter how many times you charge, it will be in vain!"

Li Chen's shocking words caused a huge uproar.

The media and other creators were all stunned.
(End of this chapter)