radiothebook Chapter 29 New Film Launch
Chapter 29 New Film Launch
At the end of August, the crew of "Crazy Stone" was officially established and filming began in Chongqing.
Fu Yibai did not go to the scene in person, but he closely followed the filming progress through Ning Hao's daily reports and sample footage.
Guo Tao, Huang Bo, Xu Zheng, Liu Ye and others joined the team one after another, and this low-cost, style-driven comedy project is progressing in an atmosphere full of grassroots enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, positive signals have emerged from China Film Group's communication regarding the submission of "Caught in the Web" for review.
Thanks to Han Shanping's efforts, relevant leaders of the Film Bureau were able to watch the film in advance.
With Han Shanping's help, "Caught in the Web" passed censorship smoothly and was scheduled to be released on October 1st.
After obtaining the film's official seal, China Film Group's propaganda machine was fully activated.
The official poster has been released: the main visual features a silhouette of Fan Binbin's character, Ye Lanqiu, looking back with a complex expression. The background is blurred city buildings and flickering computer screen lights, with the eye-catching tagline: "Are we all searching for the truth, or creating a whirlpool? See the eye of the storm this National Day holiday."
The trailer was released simultaneously, featuring tight editing, suspense, and direct attacks on cyberbullying and the dilemma of human nature, sparking heated discussions on major TV stations and emerging video websites.
As the leading lady, Fan Binbin has embarked on a non-stop promotional campaign.
Interviews, magazine covers, TV appearances, offline events...
She has worked hard to reverse the "pretty face" label that she was previously associated with in the public eye, and in interviews she talks more about her understanding of the roles and her thoughts on cyberbullying, showing a completely different seriousness and depth.
Hu Jing also participated in some media group interviews and programs, and her reputation steadily improved.
As the director, Fu Yibai also needs to cooperate with the publicity.
However, he consciously controlled his exposure, choosing only a few authoritative media outlets and in-depth interview programs to focus on explaining his original creative intentions, his observations of society, and the value of film as an art form, maintaining a calm and professional image.
On September 1, amidst the fervor of the promotion of "Caught in the Web," the start of filming for "Crazy Stone," the near completion of the first batch of songs recorded by Morning Light Music, and the orderly progress of the cinema acquisition, Fu Yibai set his sights on his next core project—"No Country for Old Men," which was set to be screened at the Berlin Film Festival.
This crime allegory, which has been systematically localized and is set in the northwest frontier of China in the late 1990s, is cold and cruel in style, profound in theme, and extremely impactful.
The Berlin Film Festival usually closes its submission deadline in early December of the previous year, and films must be completed before submission.
Time is tight.
Fu Yibai temporarily handed over the company's daily management to Zhao Qi and Lin Wei, while a special team followed up on the music business and cinema acquisitions. He devoted himself to the preparation of "No Country for Old Men".
The first thing to be finalized is the lead actor.
The film centers on three characters: an experienced but powerless and confused veteran police officer, a cold-blooded and ruthless killer who seems to be the embodiment of fate, and a hunter who drives the story forward.
On September 15th, the "No Country for the Elderly" project completed its preliminary preparations with astonishing efficiency.
Fu Yibai has a clear vision for this work, which is aiming for the Berlin Golden Bear.
Using the purest cinematic language, it tells a cold allegory about fate, violence, and moral disorder.
The localized script is set in a border town in Northwest China in the late 1990s, where the desolate and vast landscape and the human wasteland form a strong intertextuality.
Casting is of paramount importance.
Fu Yibai personally approved the casting of the three core lead actors:
For the role of the veteran policeman, he invited Li Xuejian, a powerful actor with solid acting skills and a reserved temperament.
Fu Yibai chose Sun Honglei as the cold-blooded killer, a character who is like the embodiment of death.
For the crucial hunter role, Fu Yibai boldly cast newcomer Zhang Yi.
Other supporting roles were also quickly finalized, mostly by seasoned actors with solid acting skills and reasonable prices, or promising newcomers.
The entire preparation process was efficient and discreet.
Morning Light Media has already gained some fame, and with the endorsement of Fu Yibai and Bai Bolin's awards, the project has attracted many high-quality behind-the-scenes talents to join.
With a budget of eight million RMB, it's quite generous for a film aiming for awards.
Because it was an award-winning film, Fu Yibai did not allow China Film Group to participate in the investment.
He doesn't need to let China Film Group get a share of the profits from award-winning films, which are a sure-fire way to make money.
On September 18, filming for "No Country for the Old" officially began near Jiuquan, Gansu.
Despite the tight shooting schedule, the team progressed smoothly under Fu Yibai's effective leadership.
On September 30, when "Caught in the Web" held its premiere, "No Country for Old Men" had already completed more than a third of its filming.
Because of the tight schedule and heavy workload, Fu Yibai handed over the entire responsibility for the premiere to China Film Group.
Zhao Qi represented the company at the event.
Fan Binbin, who hadn't seen Fu Yibai for almost half a month, was quite resentful when she learned that he wouldn't be attending the premiere.
If Fu Yibai hadn't persuaded her otherwise, citing the harsh conditions at the filming location, she might have flown to the set after the premiere.
During this period, other business lines of Chenxi Media are also progressing simultaneously.
Morning Light Music Studio has completed the recording of ten songs and reached a preliminary agreement with China Mobile and China Unicom for ringback tones, securing a rare 50/50 revenue split with the operators.
The demo songs received unanimous praise during internal listening sessions, especially "Ten Thousand Reasons" and "Seeking Buddha," whose catchy melodies and emotionally resonant core resonated with the public, leading Zhao Qi to judge them as having "great potential for viral spread."
Regarding cinema chains, the renovation project of Beijing Chaoyang Cinema is more than halfway complete, the Shanghai Pudong project has been signed and entered the design stage, and the intention to add three cinemas in second-tier cities has been reached.
The prototype of Galaxy Cinemas is being built slowly but steadily.
Lin Wei's artist management department has been initially established. Among the potential newcomers she has contacted, two have entered into in-depth negotiations, one of whom is Huang Bo, who just participated in "Crazy Stone".
Because of his "outstanding appearance and unique temperament," Lin Wei believed that he "has the potential to become a skilled actor."
Another one is Lei Datou, who is famous for his unlucky appearance.
Fu Yibai wholeheartedly agreed to signing these two "talented" actors.
His artists need to be talented; as for idols, the company only needs one handsome guy like him.
Liu Yan has fully adapted to her role as a personal assistant.
She arranged Fu Yibai's work and life in an orderly manner. Her presence truly freed Fu Yibai from many trivial matters, allowing him to focus more on creation and decision-making.