Winter in Yanjing is still quite cold, as long as it enters December, it may snow one day.

For those who love snow scenes, they are looking forward to the day when they can take pictures, build snowmen, and ski.

This year's snow was a little later than usual, but luckily it still came.

Li Shengyao liked snow when he was young, mainly because he lived in the south and had never seen the kind of snow that did not melt for several days.

Occasional snow falls in his hometown, often melting in less than a day.

Rare things are expensive, and handfuls of snow grains are interesting.

One morning at the end of December, when he got up, he suddenly found that he was covered in white flowers outside.

Chen Hao was very happy, put on the super thick cotton pants that he had bought a long time ago, and then went out to take photos, and then posted them to the circle of friends to show the baby.

Li Shengyao didn't have such a mood, "La La Land" was not completed, his heart was hanging all the time, and he couldn't relax.

Therefore, his life is still the same as before, ten hours a day, his eyes are dry, and he often needs eye drops.

Finally, on December 29, he and three editors completed the editing of La La Land.

He immediately called Lu Guanting, who was thousands of miles away.

At 11 a.m. on December 30, the weather in Yanjing was even colder.

However, Yanjing Airport is full of people and passengers, and it is New Year's Day soon, and many people go out to travel.

Li Shengyao led two assistants and waited for people at the passenger exit passage.

He wore a hat and a mask, and he wasn't worried about being recognized, but it was so cold that he couldn't help rubbing his hands together.

Finally, a pair of men and women who looked to be in their fifties walked out, these two people had a gentle temperament, it was Lu Guanting and Tang Shuchen.

"Teacher Lu, Teacher Tang, please come here."

Lu Guanting and Tang Shuchen looked over in shock when they heard Li Shengyao's words.

The two of them thought that Li Shengyao would arrange for his subordinates to come over to pick up the plane, but they didn't expect Li Shengyao to come over in person.

"Director Li, you're too polite."

"It's okay, I finished editing anyway, and now I don't have any work, so I rushed over and met the two teachers, and I just had something to discuss with you."

Li Shengyao invited Lu Guanting and Tang Shuchen to dub "La La Land" last year, and the two of them received the task and began to study the script and write songs and arrangements according to the script.

But this kind of thing is not something that can be done if you want it.

Inspiration isn't so hard to find.

Especially when Lu Guanting and Tang Shuchen are older, they are naturally not as active as when they were young.

Fortunately, the time was long enough, and the two of them still wrote a few good songs and made up a few beautiful tunes.

When the two of them were on Hong Kong Island, they were quite confident.

But at this time, when I came to Yanjing, I felt the sub-zero climate here, and then saw Li Shengyao's expectant and serious eyes.

Thinking that this film is about to participate in next year's Cannes Film Festival.

Both were feeling the pressure.

"Yes, Director Li, let's have a good chat."

"Let's eat first."

When Lu Guanting and Tang Shuchen heard this, they both breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Li Shengyao was going to chat in the car, and it would be much easier to eat and chat later.

Not long after, in the restaurant of the International World Wing, Li Shengyao, Lu Guanting, and Tang Shuchen sat down.

Li Shengyao invited them to eat Su cuisine, and when the exquisite dishes were brought to the table, he smiled and poured tea for Lu Guanting and Tang Shuchen, "Su cuisine tastes relatively peaceful, you won't get tired of eating it, and it's easier to nourish your body." ”

So the three of them talked about the soundtrack of "La La Land" while eating.

Li Shengyao mainly explained to Lu Guanting and his wife the style he wanted, how to operate it, he was a layman, and he would not intervene too much.

In fact, they have talked about this for a long time, and now it is just an old story, which can be regarded as a final explanation.

"I'll stay in Yanjing for a few days, and then I'll go south to Shanghai to participate in the event, and the two of you will decide what kind of soundtrack to use."

Lu Guanting breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this.

As an artist, I naturally don't like to be stared at.

It seems that Li Shengyao personally picked up the plane, just to express his attention, not to interfere with the work of their husband and wife.

He couldn't help but glance at Tang Shuchen, and both of them saw the smile in each other's eyes.

After eating.

Li Shengyao said solemnly: "Teacher Lu, Teacher Tang, please leave the soundtrack work of "La La Land" to you. ”

"Director Li rest assured, our husband and wife will go all out."

……

Li Shengyao didn't want to put too much pressure on Lu Guanting and his wife, so he didn't interfere with the creation of the two of them.

After picking up the airport that day, he didn't go to the company, but has been spending time with women and children in several houses.

On January 10, 2014, Li Shengyao went to the company, said hello to Lu Guanting and Tang Shuchen, and then took a plane and went south to Shanghai.

One day later, at the New Jin Jiang Hotel in Shanghai, Sina Weibo Night held an awards party here.

Li Shengyao, Cheng Long, Lao Mouzi, and Xiao Gang Cannon all came over.

Now it seems that there are fewer and fewer people using Weibo, but I have to say that Weibo's "hot search" can still stir up news.

Sina hinted at Li Shengyao, saying that as long as he participated, there would be no topic of black Li Shengyao on Weibo this year.

Anyway, he was idle, so Li Shengyao went to participate.

Cheng Long was dressed in a Tang costume, smiling all over his face, and waved to the audience from time to time, but it could still be seen that he was very tired and not in a very good mood.

When you do something you like and can make a difference, even if you are tired, you are happy.

And when you can't get results in what you're doing, and all your efforts are in vain, then you're in a much worse mood.

Cheng Long is in this state at this time, in the 2013 Chinese New Year file, there are not many blockbusters, and it is not even as lively as the 2012 New Year file.

The only two movies worth looking forward to are "Police Story 2013" and "Private Custom".

Others like "Waiting for the Wind to Come", "Storm", "Firefighting Hero", "The Verge", and "Predecessor Raiders" have no box office at a glance.

"Police Story 2013" invited Cheng Long and Liu Ye, with Jing Tian, Cheng Long thought that with the reputation of the previous "Police Story", there should be good feedback, but the result disappointed him, and the box office was not ideal.

Although some netizens ridiculed that it was because of Jingtian, Cheng Long knew very well that it was mainly because his own appeal was not as good as before.

This made him a little helpless, unwilling, and at a loss.

The opposite of Cheng Long is the little steel cannon, at this time, the little steel cannon is full of spring breeze, and the smile can't be suppressed, very proud.

Last year's "1942" was his attempt, and he wanted to make something serious.

The box office is not so good, but the reputation is not bad.

In order to deal with the Wang brothers this year, he made another comedy, and as a result, he easily dominated the Chinese New Year file.

At this time, Xiao Gangcang was in a very good mood, according to his agreement with the Wang brothers.

"Private Custom" is good at the box office, and he can make a more serious movie again.

Although he is not from a professional background, and although he has never won the three major European ones, Xiao Steel Cannon has always had the idea of proving himself.

He wanted to make serious films.

Seeing Li Shengyao at this time, Xiao Gang Cannon immediately greeted him with a smile on his face, "Director Li, you have been really busy lately, are you done with "La La Land"?" ”

"The editing is done, but the rest of the work has not been done, and there is still a lot of work to come."

"Why don't you win the prize? Your attitude is really convincing. ”

Now Lao Mouzi and Brother Kaizi have no way to win the grand prize.

Xiao Gangcang doesn't envy these two people very much, he envies Li Shengyao now, because Li Shengyao can still win the award.

And this is the honor that Little Steel Cannon dreams of.

If he can get a golden palm, he can go around Yanjing City and talk about it for ten years with a big microphone.

"Director Li, I'm thinking about a new movie now, when I confirm the story, how about you help me take a look?"

"Okay, but I don't have time before March, you look for me after March, I should have time at that time."

Hearing this, the little steel cannon nodded happily.

Lee Shengyao is going to Berlin in February to participate in the Berlin Film Festival with "Dalian by the Sea".

So there's not much time.

I can only wait until March to see the script.

At that time, "La La Land" should be in the production of special effects, and Li Shengyao couldn't do anything at this time, he had time and could help Xiao Gang Cannon read the script.

When Lao Mouzi and Cheng Long heard this, they both looked at Li Shengyao with some heart.

Needless to say, Li Shengyao's business vision is a good idea to help read the script.

However, Lao Mouzi is working on "The Return", and when he finishes "The Return" and prepares for the next movie, Li Shengyao will definitely have no time.

Cheng Long thought about it, and planned to think about a story again, and then talk to Li Shengyao, he was really unwilling to sink like this.

Next, everyone watched the Weibo Night Awards Ceremony together.

This is an awards ceremony for sharing pork, those little actors and directors can win awards, but big guys like Lao Mouzi and Li Shengyao came to watch the ceremony and did not receive the award.

After the Weibo night, a group of bigwigs went to the celebration banquet together.

Recently, there have been a lot of things in Shanghai, and Li Shengyao and they can't leave, and some activities must be attended.

They have a lot in common.

So with Li Shengyao, Cheng Long, Lao Mouzi, and Xiaogang Cannon as the core, more and more filmmakers were attracted to join, and a circle of them were the top bosses in the mainland film industry at this time.

Except for Cheng Long, the others are all mainland filmmakers.

Outside this circle, Wu Yusen and Huang Baiming held wine glasses and looked at them with a smile.

Wu Yusen came over this time, naturally not to laugh, he wanted to talk to Li Shengyao about something.

Finally, the bigwigs had their own affairs, and they all had some private words, so they dispersed.

Li Shengyao is idle, and there is no one around.

Wu Yusen glanced at Huang Baiming, and then strode over, rushing ahead of Huang Baiming, "Director Li, do you have time, I have something I want to talk to you about." ”

When Li Shengyao heard this, he nodded, "Director Wu, what's the matter?" ”

"Director Li, I am now working on a blockbuster film covering the stars of China, Japan and South Korea, called "Taiping Wheel", this movie is divided into two parts, and the estimated investment is 500 million."

Li Shengyao naturally knew about "Taiping Wheel", but he wondered what this matter had to do with him?

"Director Li, we are in production, all aspects are going very smoothly, only one thing is not ideal, that is, the budget of this film is a little overrun, I think about it, I think you may be interested, are you willing to invest?

At that time, the movie will be released in China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, and there will be absolutely no problem in making money. ”

When Li Shengyao heard this, he looked at Wu Yusen speechlessly, and actually invited him to invest.

It's not the investment before the start of filming, but the movie budget is overrun, and I want to pull him over to get to the bottom of it.

If I remember correctly, there are many investors in "Taiping Wheel", and there are film and television companies in China, Japan and South Korea, and China Film occupies a very high proportion.

That is, this movie is not good, Han Sanping can be regarded as seeing John Woo's movie appeal clearly, and has not voted for John Woo's movies again since then.

Lao Wu's previous "Up and Down the Red Cliff" tasted the sweetness, and now "Taiping Wheel" is also doing two parts.

Moreover, "Red Cliff" invited stars from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and "Taiping Wheel" made stars from China, Japan and South Korea.

It can be said that "Taiping Wheel" is investing, and the selection of actors is completely an enlarged version of "Red Cliff".

However, the story of the Three Kingdoms is known to the audience, and many people like it.

Woo was given a chance.

Now if you make a nameless "Taiping Wheel", it is difficult to say whether the audience will buy it.

Lee Shengyao knows very well that the audience does not like "Taiping Wheel", and this movie will be ridiculed by the group in next year's Chinese New Year stall and become a joke.

Naturally, he had no desire to invest.

"Director Wu, I don't care much about the company's investment now, if you have time, you can talk to our manager of the Fenghua Investment Department."

This is a word of shirk, before Li Shengyao also encouraged Wu Jing and Chen Sicheng kindly, saying that he would mention how much money he wanted.

Now responds like this, naturally I didn't watch John Woo's new film.

Wu Yusen was not a fool, and quickly understood what Li Shengyao meant.

He couldn't help but think of something, it is said that his movies and China Film will be recommended to Li Shengyao, but Li Shengyao has never agreed, and it is not recommended to invest.

What does that mean?

Is it true that his own movie is not worth investing in?

Wu Yusen was a little angry in his heart.

He wanted to refute, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he thought of asking China Film for additional investment before, but he coldly refused.

He still hopes to win over Li Shengyao, everyone knows that Li Shengyao is rich, and the movies he is optimistic about attract other people to invest, just like those movies that Li Shengyao is optimistic about, there are obviously more advertising sponsorships, so he suppressed the anger in his heart, and then said: "Director Li, can you help?" This movie is not the Titanic, it is more a reflection of that special period, different people and different situations, and there is no movie to tell such a story.

Now this film can fill that gap.

I believe that when the movie is released, the audience will definitely enjoy it. ”

That's what the old-fashioned filmmakers think.

Especially the filmmakers on Hong Kong Island, except for Tsui Hark and Chen Kexin, who pay more attention to the ideas of mainland audiences, no one else cares.

They think that their works will be enjoyed by mainland audiences.

The story of "Taiping Wheel" is really not interesting to mainland audiences, in fact, even the audience on Hong Kong Island is not interested.

Only people like John Woo, their parents and elders, have experienced that period, heard about it since childhood, and want to shoot such a story.

"Director Wu, when you say these words, you should find a company to do market research, and you will know what the mainland audience thinks."

When Wu Yusen heard this, he couldn't help but say: "Director Li, the box office of your recent "Three Billboards" is not high, why can you support "Three Billboards" but not "Taiping Wheel"?" ”

""Three Billboards" has no big stars, big scenes, and the production cost is only 30 million, before I made the movie, I relied on advertising placement to recover the cost, which is completely different from "Taiping Wheel", if the cost of "Three Billboards" costs 500 million investment, I won't shoot at all."

Li Shengyao paused for a moment and added: "Director Wu, to be honest with you, your biggest problem is not your concept, but that after you came back from Hollywood, you never considered investors, how could it be possible to recover the cost of such a high investment in "Taiping Wheel"? Investing in your film is scary, who dares to continue investing? ”

"Director Li ......"

John Woo is much older than Li Shengyao, and he is very faceless to say this to Li Shengyao.

"Director Li, the box office of "Taiping Wheel" will definitely not be bad."

Li Shengyao naturally won't compete with John Woo, and it's not a movie he voted for, "Let's wait and see." ”

Soon after, Lao Mouzi found Li Shengyao.

"Director Li, did you quarrel with Director Wu?"

"There's no quarrel, it's just normal communication."

He went on to repeat what had just happened.

When Lao Mouzi heard this, he sighed, "I feel that I can't keep up with the times, and young people don't like the things I shoot." ”

He then glanced at Li Shengyao, "Director Li, I think the theme of "Three Billboards" is a bit old-fashioned, unlike your style, you shouldn't make movies like this, you should lead the film industry."

"1937" and "Parasite" are very good, and the choice of themes is eye-catching.

Although "Three Billboards" is very neatly produced, the subject matter is not so exciting. ”

Li Shengyao was stunned when he heard this, "Director Zhang, are you worried about my movie selection?" ”

"It's not worrying, it's just a little advice, I think you should consider this aspect, in the past, you led the trend, this time "Three Billboards" didn't have such a feeling, watching the movie trailer, "Dalian by the Sea" didn't feel like this."

Li Shengyao thought about it seriously, "Thank you for the reminder."

When I chose the theme this time, I didn't think about it comprehensively enough, "La La Land" is much better, and it should be able to make people shine.

I will seriously consider this in the future. ”

He didn't expect Lao Mouzi to look at his movies like this.

"Three Billboards" and "Dalian by the Sea" are indeed very neat in terms of theme and production, but they are not eye-catching settings.

Now I can only watch "La La Land", I hope this movie can be powerful.

(End of chapter)