18 February 2006.

Suncheon International Airport.

When Liu Chengzhang dragged two big suitcases out of the exit passage, the passengers of their flight were almost empty, and only a few passengers who were also waiting for their luggage walked out with him. Although no one noticed that he was a former great director, he still subconsciously took out his sunglasses and brought them on.

Over the years, although he felt that it was likely that he didn't even know reporters anymore, his heartfelt fear of reporters and media reports still made him a little nervous as soon as he got off the plane.

This problem has not been there before, since "Sword Immortal" pounced and "Flying Sky" also pounced, it began to have - the questions raised by those reporters are too scathing, even if they don't answer, just hearing it, it will make people's hearts rise namelessly, and Liu Chengzhang has always been clumsy in words, it is difficult to shoot directly at reporters without saying a word like Zhao Meicheng, so he just wants to avoid reporters.

When he walked out of the exit, the person who should have caught the next flight was about to come out, and many people outside were holding signs and looking inside on tiptoe, so Liu Chengzhang lowered his head and walked out quickly.

At this time, a familiar voice suddenly shouted loudly, "Lao Liu, this way!"

Liu Chengzhang subconsciously glanced up, saw the person clearly, couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then showed a sincere smile and walked towards him. The two converged, and it wasn't until they left the crowd that Liu Chengzhang asked with a smile, "Why are you here?"

The one who came to pick him up was Fang Baijin. His old buddy, old partner.

At this time, Fang Baijin said with a smile: "You said the time of the ticket, I checked it on the Internet, and I knew that it was this flight, and my sister-in-law was not here, of course I would come over to pick you up." ”

Liu Chengzhang grinned and said, "I didn't tell the agent for the time being." ”

Fang Baijin nodded and said, "Understood." ”

The two went out of the airport and soon found Fang Baijin's car in the parking lot - he actually came in an SUV, which was really convenient for luggage.

When he got into the car, Liu Chengzhang looked at his car and asked, "When did you change the car?"

Fang Baijin smiled and said, "Find the company to borrow it." ”

Liu Chengzhang nodded when he heard this, and didn't ask anymore.

By the time the car drove onto the airport expressway, he had already lit a cigarette, opened the window a slit, felt the dry and cold Chinese air outside, subconsciously sniffed his nose, and suddenly said: "Last time we talked, didn't you say that you were busy recently, but you don't have to come!"

Fang Baijin laughed when he heard this, "Busy is to be busy, but it is okay to meet friends when you are busy!"

Liu Chengzhang laughed.

After a while, he asked: "Zhao He's Journey to the West-themed film, has it been filmed?"

Fang Baijin nodded, and replied without squinting while driving: "The filming is over! But I can't be idle, whether it's the company or Zhao He, I mean that I want to shoot the second part directly. I guess it's April, it's going to start, and I'm still the producer. ”

Liu Chengzhang was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then turned his head to look at him, his eyes were bright, and he looked very happy, "Okay, you, it's good!

After a pause, he said, "Li Qian can be regarded as trusting you enough!"

Fang Baijin smiled, he could feel that his old friend was happy for him.

Then, he said: "The first part is called "Journey to the West", filming the part where Tang Sanzang accepts three apprentices, and the name of the second part has not yet been decided, it may be called the Demon Chapter, or it may be called Mrs. White Bone, that is, the part of filming the White Bone Spirit, now look at it, the filming cycle is about from April to August, and when this drama is finished, Li Qian's meaning is to let me take over Jin Han's "A Chinese Ghost Story", and shoot the second part, saying that it is for me to practice." ”

Hearing that his good friend was going to be a director, Liu Chengzhang's face was even more pleasantly surprised - he has been partnered with Fang Baijin for many years, and naturally knows the ability of his old friend, but he has been an art director with him for many years.

At this time, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion, "Li Qian has the wisdom to know people! Okay! Good thing! You are finally going to start taking charge on your own!"

Fang Baijin laughed.

But at this time, Liu Chengzhang seemed to finally couldn't help it, and asked: "On the side of Minghu Culture, are you ready to make a sequel from the beginning of making a film? Isn't "A Chinese Ghost Story" not released yet? Preparations for the second part have already begun? Zhao He's Journey to the West film will be filmed before the first part is released......? Don't you think it's risky?"

Fang Baijin laughed when he heard this.

He began to work as a producer and art director before joining Minghu Culture, and participated in the filming of "Dragon Gate Inn" throughout the process, and later joined Minghu Culture and participated in the production of Jin Han's "A Chinese Ghost Story" filmed in 05, and then joined Zhao He's crew and became the producer of "Journey to the West", so today, I have a deep understanding of the operation rules, systems, and habits of the Minghu Culture Film and Television Department.

Before that, people often said that Hollywood producers had to squeeze the oil and water out of any theme and any movie, and knock out the last copper plate, so Hollywood producers were the most willing to make a sequel to the big hit movie. But in fact, Minghu Culture has begun the layout of "serial drama movies" since Li Qian began to make movies.

After proving that this production idea also works in China through the "Once Upon a Time" series, many of Minghu Culture's projects are planned directly in accordance with the trilogy from the beginning of production.

Therefore, there will definitely be a third part of the "Once Upon a Time" series, there will definitely be a sequel to "The Matrix", and even the "Avatar" that Li Qiangang spent 500 million yuan to shoot is also planned to have a sequel.

Of course, some of these things already involve trade secrets, although the relationship between them is very good, and Fang Baijin also believes in Liu Chengzhang's character, but he is still not ready to say too much, so he has to explain simply: "Commercial operation! In fact, it is just a practice of maximizing profits, as long as the story is good and the movie is good, the audience likes to watch it, in my opinion, it is very normal." As for the risk ......"

Speaking of this, he laughed, and even couldn't help but turn his head to look at Liu Chengzhang, and said with a smile: "I won't tell you the truth, although any movie on the side of Minghu Culture will conduct a certain amount of market research before production, so as to avoid possible risks, but ...... As long as Li Qian makes a decision and says that this drama can be done, basically we all think that this drama should be risk-free...... You know what that means, right?"

Liu Chengzhang was stunned, and then laughed.

He nodded slowly, but his face suddenly became a little bitter.

Yes, he understands.

Over the years, Li Qian has made a popular film, and even the screenwriters and producers he wrote and produced have all been big hits.

Don't say that those people in Lake Culture who have followed him from the beginning to fight the world will obey him, if possible, I'm afraid that even some people who have always been sworn enemies with Li Qian can't wait to let Li Qian help read the script before the movie starts, or help supervise the production or something.

All his past achievements underpin the authority of his views.

Before his first failure, this authority is currently one of the most reliable things in the entire Chinese film industry - famous actors are not necessarily reliable, and big directors are not necessarily reliable, but Li Qian said that this drama will be popular, but it will be generally considered very reliable.

At this time, seeing that Liu Chengzhang didn't speak for a while, Fang Baijin subconsciously turned his head to look over, but happened to see the bitter smile on Liu Chengzhang's face.

So he quickly changed the subject and asked, "Finally back, will you go back?"

Liu Chengzhang shook his head, withdrew from the emotion just now, and said, "Don't go back!" After staying for this time, I have gained a lot, so I can digest and digest it well. ”

Fang Baijin nodded and stopped talking.

At the beginning, the box office of "Flying Sky" was not ideal, Liu Chengzhang was very distressed, he knew this very well, so after being closed for a period of time, he made that unexpected decision: simply pack his bags, get a passport and go straight to the United States. Then, without telling anyone, he found a job in Los Angeles, doing drama and photography assistants for people, and went for seven or eight months. After chatting with QQ on the phone, Fang Baijin knew that he had stayed in several Hollywood crews.

Of course, although he is a well-known director in China, when he arrives in Hollywood, it is estimated that no one knows him when he was working as a drama manager and camera assistant.

He said he was going to Hollywood.

After "Sword Fairy" suffered a box office fiasco, he went to Europe for several months, traveled everywhere, thought, and came back to shoot "Flying Sky", I can feel that he thinks a lot of things, although that drama is still not too successful, but as a collaborator, Fang Baijin can feel some kind of transformation in him.

He is especially looking forward to Liu Chengzhang's better transformation after returning from his "part-time job" in Hollywood this time.

Seeing that the car had entered the urban area of Shuntian Mansion, Fang Baijin said: "Send you home first, you settle down your luggage, rest, and let's have a drink and talk in the evening." I'd like to know what you've learned from spending so much time in the United States. Also, talk about your next steps. ”

Liu Chengzhang smiled when he heard this, the whole person collapsed on the seat, and after a while, he couldn't help but take out another cigarette, wanted to smoke, looked at Fang Baijin again, and asked, "Did you bring a cigarette?"

Fang Baijin took out his cigarettes and lighter from his pocket, so Liu Chengzhang took them, and then threw the pack of cigarettes he brought back from the United States into the glove box. took out a domestic cigarette and lit it, he took a beautiful puff and said with a smile: "It's still our domestic flue-cured tobacco, right for the taste!"

Fang Baijin laughed when he heard this.

Smoking a cigarette and being stunned for a long time, Liu Chengzhang suddenly said: "I'm coming back this time, and I'm going to take refuge in Li Qian!"

Fang Baijin was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and turned his head to look at Liu Chengzhang in surprise.

"Really, fake? Why did you suddenly figure it out?"

They are very familiar with each other, and there has been a considerable period of cooperation, although later because Li Qian was not optimistic about "Sword Immortal", he also told the truth, which caused Liu Chengzhang's unhappiness, so the relationship between the two of them has been difficult to restore to the original intimacy and talk about everything, but it was that that that time, but it made everyone understand each other more deeply - Li Qian thinks that Liu Chengzhang is a "ghost talent", and Liu Chengzhang says that Li Qian is a "friend".

Of course, Liu Chengzhang was stubborn, Li Qian also wanted to save face, and the two of them praised each other in front of others behind their backs, but when they met each other, there were only two words of greeting from nodding their heads.

As early as during the filming of "Sword Fairy", Li Qian was invited by Liu Chengzhang to make a cameo, and the three of them drank wine and chatted at night, Li Qian said that he hoped that Liu Chengzhang would go to Minghu Culture to help run the film and television department, and later "Flying Sky" was in preparation, Li Qian also expressed his hope that this film could be handed over to Minghu Culture to produce and invest, and he would serve as the producer and producer - Liu Chengzhang declined politely.

For the first time, "Sword Immortal" had not yet been released, Liu Chengzhang was making the largest investment film in the Chinese film industry at that time, and he himself was the box office record holder of domestic films, and Minghu culture at that time was still quite weak in film and television, just starting, although Liu Chengzhang admired Li Qian himself, but he didn't care about the invitation of Minghu culture.

The second time, Minghu culture was on the rise, Li Qian had already achieved great fame, and his prediction of "Sword Immortal" was proved to be extremely correct - this almost became a scar in Liu Chengzhang's heart.

In fact, Li Qian's request for investment and production by Minghu Culture, and the condition that he go to Liu Chengzhang as a producer and producer was also unacceptable to Liu Chengzhang, who was arrogant at the time and tried to prove himself—it was clear that Li Qian wanted to limit his power as a director.

This shows that Li Qian actually doesn't trust his directing ability and production ability! That's why he wants to personally check "Feitian" that was being prepared for him at that time.

However, when "Flying Sky" was released, the two completely cut off contact.

Li Qian didn't call to comfort or explain, he just called Fang Baijin at that time and told him to spend more time with Lao Liu, while Liu Chengzhang was directly closed.

Then, Liu Chengzhang left and went to the United States to "work", while Li Qian began to ascend to the altar.

…………

Liu Chengzhang nodded slowly, pursed his lips, and it took a long time before he said, "I figured it out!"

He opened the window, watched the smoke being pumped away rapidly, flicked off the cigarette ash, and then said slowly: "I found that I am a director who needs a little restraint." Because I'm too easy to be imaginative. ”

This is almost exactly the same as what Li Qian said to Fang Baijin in private!

Fang Baijin was a little sluggish.

At this time, Liu Chengzhang said: "I know that Li Qian is very busy, you can make an appointment for me when I go back and see when he has time, I want to go to Minghu Culture and find him to sit!"

Fang Baijin immediately said: "No problem!"