On the morning of the next day, Li Mutong producer Huang Jianxin, Xu Jiao, assistant director and martial arts instructor Yuan Heping and others discussed the shooting plan in the China Film Conference Room, and at noon Wang Zhonglei privately found Li Mu and asked him what he thought of Fan Binbin playing one of the heroines. Regarding the selection of the hostess, everyone had a public discussion at the meeting before, but Wang Zhonglei privately found Li Mu to ask this is the first time.

"It's not suitable, it's too young." Li Mu said directly.

"Too young?" Wang Zhonglei was surprised.

"Well, the two heroines are going to form a CP with the two big brothers, and the age is too young to be suitable."

“CP？”

"The relationship between characters and couples, the meaning of husband and wife, couple."

Wang Zhonglei couldn't help but complain in his heart: "Last time, it was inappropriate to say that Binbin was too old, and this time it was inappropriate to immediately become too young, and next time it will be inappropriate?" ”

However, he didn't bother with it, and immediately asked, "What about Li Lianhua?" ”

"Li Lianhua is okay, and it basically meets the requirements on the whole."

"Director Li, let's have a meal together tonight, the location is still at Grand Hyatt, and I want to discuss some details about the movie with Director Li in private."

"Okay." Li Mu nodded.

……

7 p.m., Grand Hyatt.

As soon as Li Mu entered the hotel lobby, he was greeted by a woman in a white dress, who was not only capable of temperament, but also quite beautiful.

"Director Li, let's meet again." The woman smiled and held out her hand.

"Hello Li Economy." Li Mu and the woman's hands were clasped together.

This person is Li Lianhua's sister and her agent Li Xuehua.

"Mr. Wang, my sister and Sister Xu Qing have arrived, let's go up."

"Xu Qing?"

"It's the line drawn by Mr. Han Sanping, Mr. Wang wants to sign Xu Qing to Huayi."

Li Mu nodded and didn't ask, the two came to the private room on the second floor together, and in the private room, Wang Zhonglei, Li Lianhua, and Xu Qing saw that Li Mu had arrived, and they all stood up to say hello. Li Xuehua beckoned to the hotel staff to order the food, everyone chatted a few words first, and then the wine and food were served, and when the atmosphere arrived, they began to talk about business.

In fact, you don't need to ask to guess that Huayi wants Li Lianhua to play the role of the fox, and wants Xu Qing to play the girlfriend of the role of Brother Cheng Long, otherwise Li Lianhua and Xu Qing would not appear here on this occasion today.

The Huayi Brothers investment in the project "Assassin" accounts for a large proportion, and they naturally have a considerable say in the selection of actors, and it is understandable that they want to arrange their own artists.

"Director Li, everyone is a friend, so I won't go around in circles, this time we Huayi want to arrange Li Lianhua to play the role of the fox, and in the next discussion, it is indispensable to ask Director Li to say a few words for Lotus." Wang Zhonglei said.

Li Mu nodded, in fact, he was willing to come to the appointment today, which had already indicated his attitude to a certain extent, if he recognized Shu Qi more in his heart, he probably wouldn't have come to this meal. Before he came, he had already thought about it, since Huayi is a big investor, people want to arrange their own artists, as long as the candidates are not too bad, he will not easily object, originally Li Lianhua and Shu Qi were half a catty in his heart, counting Huayi's investment share, Li Lianhua is naturally more advantageous.

"Sister Lotus, whether it is image, temperament or acting skills, it is no problem to play the role of a fox, at least for me." Li Mu said.

Hearing this, Li Lianhua stood up and saluted Li Mu with a glass of wine: "Thank you Director Li for your recognition." ”

Next, everyone talked about the role of Cheng Long's girlfriend, Huayi's meaning is obvious, they want to use Xu Qing this time, maybe this is also one of the bargaining chips for them to pull Xu Qing to join Huayi.

For Li Mu, this role is not only Cheng Long's girlfriend, she is also Liu Yifei's mother of that character, so Shu Qi is not suitable, one is age, and the other is appearance.

Shu Qi doesn't say that she is not beautiful, at least she and Liu Yifei stand together, in terms of age and appearance, the two do not look like mother and daughter, from this point of view, Xu Qing is indeed more suitable than Shu Qi.

But there is still a difference between his attitude towards Xu Qing and his attitude towards Li Lianhua.

"Sister Xu Qing plays Brother Cheng Long's girlfriend, I have no opinion, Mr. Wang, you can discuss it with several other investors and creators."

For Li Lianhua, Li Mu will help speak, but for Xu Qing, he just has no opinion, Xu Qing is suitable for that role as a whole, but it is far from the point where she has to do it, and the two have not had any intersection before, so he doesn't need to argue with other investors for Huayi and Xu Qing.

"Director Li, I also toast you."

After Li Mu finished speaking, Xu Qing also stood up with a smile.

……

That night, a mansion in Beijing.

In the shower room, Fan Binbin tilted her head and let the warm and comfortable water flow directly on her face, she shook her head, her wet hair was thrown up, and she remembered the news she finally got from Mr. Wang - Li Mu thought she was too young this time and refused.

"!"

Fan Binbin blurted out.

Last time, I thought she was too big, but after a year, I thought she was too small, and this excuse was too clumsy.

"He hates me?" Fan Binbin immediately shook his head, "No, he doesn't have any such inclination in the way he looks at me." ”

"That is deliberately making things difficult because you can't get it?" This time she nodded, "There is no other explanation, it must be so, there are too many such men." ”

……

Regarding the selection of the two leading actresses, in the next week, several producers and creators of the film met and studied three times, and finally the role of the fox was given to Li Lianhua.

The cross girlfriend, that is, the role of Liu Yifei's mother in the film, was finally given to Xu Qing, so far all the main actors of the movie have belonging. With an investment of $60 million (the previous investment was expected to be $55 million, and another $5 million was added after post-accounting), the film that brings together two kung fu superstars, Cheng Long and Li Lian, finally ushered in the final moments before the start.

A week later, the production and art director sent a large number of videos and pictures abroad, they found a sugar factory in the Czech Republic that was built in 1914, and the sugar factory environment basically met Li Mu's requirements for gloomy, quaint and mysterious.

Li Mu approved the art director's suggestion, and the external producer immediately approached the owner of the sugar factory to discuss the details of the contract.

On November 28, 2005, the film "Assassin" held its first press conference in Beijing, directed by Li Mu, starring Cheng Long, Li Lianjie, Li Lianhua, Xu Qing, Morgan Freeman, David O'Hara (Mr. X), Liu Yifei, etc.

A large number of media reporters who heard the news looked at the so-called director on stage, and everyone invariably had a sense of absurdity.

Looking at the information, this is the first time Li Mu has directed a movie independently, and theoretically speaking, he is still just a rookie director.

But......

The eyes of the reporters swept over the faces of many actors on the stage one by one, Cheng Long, Li Lianjie, Li Lianhua, Xu Qing, Morgan Freeman, Liu Yifei - do you call the director of this kind of project a rookie director?

"Hello Director Li, we all know that this is the first time you have directed a movie independently, and you have met so many superstars for the first time you directed, do you have a lot of pressure in your heart?"

"Of course, there is pressure, it is the long-cherished wish of many Chinese people to let Cheng Long and Li Lianlian fight in the movie, and now this long-cherished wish is in my hands, it is impossible to say that there is no pressure, but I have confidence in the script of the movie and the professionalism of all the main creators, this movie may not be able to satisfy all Cheng Longji and Li Lianlian, but I believe that with the unremitting efforts of all the main creators, this movie will definitely be recognized by the vast majority of fans."

"Can Director Li reveal a little bit about the plot of this movie?"

"I'm sorry, I can't say this just yet."

……

Just the day before the press conference, Li Mu sent the manuscript of "The Martian" in Chinese and English to the editorial department of Science Fiction World Magazine.