Filming Wraps and a Release Date Is Set
As Liu Yifei got better and better, filming progressed smoothly, and the campus scenes gradually came to an end.
After the location change, Wei Jin shot the hotel scenes first. The hotel had also provided the location as a favor, because he had promised them a five-second close-up of its sign.
In those days, commercial product placement was still rare, so Wei Jin's sponsorship-like arrangement was quite appealing.
Oh, and the final kissing scene was shot using camera angles to fake it. Liu Xiaoli had specifically requested it, and Wei Jin had no objection.
Today they were shooting the final scene, in which the male lead had his head shaved. It had been saved for last because the shot had to be completed in one take.
For once, Wei Jin was a little nervous today, but he still said to Qiao Zhenyu beside him:
"Zhenyu, don't be nervous. Do your best. We can definitely get it in one take."
Over the time they had spent together, Qiao Zhenyu had come to feel both grateful to and admiring of the Silver Bear-winning director his own age.
He was grateful to Wei Jin for giving him a chance. After all, Qiao Zhenyu wasn't even a third-tier actor yet, and his only particularly notable role was in Snowflake Goddess Dragon. When he had gone to the audition, he had merely wanted to give it a try. He hadn't expected good fortune to fall from the sky.
His admiration came from the professionalism and meticulousness Wei Jin displayed while filming. The Silver Bear Award was well deserved.
Hearing that, Qiao Zhenyu cheered himself on:
"Mm, don't worry, Director. I'll definitely do my best."
After mentally preparing himself, Qiao Zhenyu signaled to Wei Jin that he was ready to begin.
"Attention, everyone. Scene thirty-two, take one, action."
With the clack of the slate, filming officially began on the final scene.
Everything went smoothly. Qiao Zhenyu slipped into character, his hair was shaved into a crew cut, and the emotion and rhythm of his performance were just right.
"Cut."
Sitting in front of the monitor, Wei Jin watched it over and over.
"That's a wrap."
All the crew members present breathed a long sigh of relief, and the stagehand brought Wei Jin the megaphone.
"I hereby announce that You Are the Apple of My Eye has officially wrapped filming."
"We've wrapped!"
"That's a wrap!"
"Yay, we've finally wrapped!"
In early November 2004, after a month and a half of filming, Wei Jin's first commercial movie officially wrapped.
On the night filming wrapped, the entire crew gathered for dinner at the hotel that had sponsored the production by providing a filming location.
Huang Bai came too. He had been bored and had come over for a cameo, playing the man the female lead ultimately married.
Wei Jin had compared the two versions and found that her marrying someone as homely as Huang Bai also made sense.
After spending more than forty days together, the dozens of people on the crew were reluctant to part, especially Liu Yifei. Because of Liu Xiaoli, she had not interacted much with her fellow actors on previous sets.
This time, she had taken part in filming from beginning to end and had even delivered the best acting of her career, so she had grown deeply attached to the crew.
The principal creatives were also full of emotion and repeatedly offered toasts. Wei Jin, relying on his robust constitution, naturally feared no challenge.
"Big Head, you're graduating soon, right? What are your plans?"
When Lei Jiayin came over to offer a toast, Wei Jin asked casually.
Wei Jin had been the one to call him Big Head. Perhaps it was a habit from his previous life; he simply liked giving people nicknames.
And sure enough, everyone on the crew had embraced the name Big Head. There was no other reason: his head was simply that big around.
"Director, nothing's settled yet. I'm planning to try out for the Magic City Theatre first and polish my acting."
Lei Jiayin missed the implication in Wei Jin's words and answered him directly.
"Mm, that's a good plan. With your looks, you won't be an idol heartthrob, so you can only develop as a serious actor."
Wei Jin affirmed Lei Jiayin's plan, then gave him another boost:
"If I have a role in the future, I'll consider you."
"Thank you, Director. I'll drink mine, but please take your time with yours."
After the dinner, Wei Jin went to room 501, hoping to get a good night's sleep.
He opened the door with practiced ease and saw Gao Yuanyuan standing gracefully by the entrance, a smile on her face.
Wei Jin shut the door behind him and was just about to speak when Gao Yuanyuan threw herself at him. They kissed passionately, entwined as they slowly made their way into the room.
Seemingly stimulated by what had happened on set, big sister was especially forward that night, and Wei Jin experienced a different kind of surprise.
After sleeping well in room 501 for several days, Wei Jin had no choice but to leave this haven of tenderness.
He had noticed that the way Gao Yuanyuan looked at him was growing increasingly strange. There was nothing wrong with adults each getting what they needed, but if things were going to turn romantic, Wei Jin would have to think it over.
Afterward, Wei Jin got busy with post-production. As before, he chose to edit the film himself. After all, the finished movie was already in his head, so it was more efficient to do it himself.
As for the score and everything else, Wei Jin handled those single-handedly too, keeping himself overwhelmingly busy.
Soon, the finished film was complete.
On November 12, Wei Jin brought the finished film to China Film Group and headed straight for the familiar office.
Han Sanping, who had just finished a meeting, sat in his office looking somewhat tired. When he saw Wei Jin knock and come in, he asked in surprise:
"What brings you here today?"
"The finished film is ready. I'm inviting you to take a look, President Han, and settle on a release date while we're at it."
Wei Jin made himself at home, leaning back comfortably on the sofa. After dealing with Han Sanping more often, he had found the man easy enough to get along with.
"Wait, you haven't submitted it for review yet, and you've already finished post-production? Aren't you afraid they'll send it back and make you reedit it?"
Wei Jin's approach had genuinely shocked Han Sanping.
A movie couldn't be released as soon as filming was finished; it still had to go through a review process.
If the finished footage differed substantially from the script originally approved for production, the filmmakers could be asked to reedit it. That was why the version usually submitted for review was the uncut original.
"Mm, the whole movie was in my head, so the editing went smoothly. As for the review, I considered that from the start. Don't worry."
Wei Jin acted as though it were only natural.
"All right, then. Let's see what you've got, you 'quick shooter.'"
Han Sanping joked as he stood and left the office with Wei Jin. They went to a screening room, where the staff were already prepared.
Without further ado, the two of them started watching the finished film.
As the picture faded and the movie came to an end, Han Sanping said with some emotion:
"Not bad. You've thought things through carefully. The review shouldn't be a problem."
"Sorry to trouble you with that, President Han."
Wei Jin stood as he spoke and returned to the office with Han Sanping.
"As for the release date, take a look first. There's no need to rush; take your time choosing."
As he spoke, Han Sanping handed Wei Jin a stack of documents from his drawer.
Looking at the movie release schedule, Wei Jin frowned deeply.
The domestic film market was still relatively small. The total box office for all of 2003 had been just one billion yuan, and audiences had yet to develop the habit of going to the movies, so a good release slot had a major effect on a film's box office.
At present, the biggest release window in the domestic film market was the New Year season.
The New Year season referred to the golden period of nearly thirty days from mid-to-late December through early January, encompassing both Christmas and New Year's Day. It was a fiercely contested prize for many film production and distribution companies.
Later, as the domestic film industry flourished and more and more movies reached theaters, with blockbusters crowding together, the traditional New Year season and the Spring Festival season were separated. The New Year season was changed to run from late November through early January, while the Spring Festival season ran from mid-to-late January through early March.
As things stood, Feng Dapao's A World Without Thieves was coming out on December 9, and Stephen Chow's Kung Fu on December 23. The two movies effectively cut off the beginning and end of the release window, leaving Wei Jin no choice.
"How about December 3?"
"Hmm... does it have to be this year?"
Han Sanping hadn't expected Wei Jin to be in such a hurry.
"Yes. We can't miss the New Year season, or the later slots will be even worse."
Wei Jin had no other choice.
"Even if you're a few days apart, you'll still have to go up against those two. Are you confident?"
As an investor, China Film Group naturally wanted the box office to be as high as possible. For Han Sanping, it would all count toward his political record.
"I don't know if I can beat them, but I have confidence in my movie."
Wei Jin was brimming with fighting spirit. So what if one was the country's top commercial director? So what if the other was the King of Comedy? They'd only know after a fight.
"All right, then it's settled."
Han Sanping said no more. After all, the movie's cost was right there; if its first-week box office was strong, it might even make its money back straight away.
Young people—having drive was a good thing.
A week later, the movie officially passed review. China Film Group promptly announced that You Are the Apple of My Eye, a youth campus film directed by Wei Jin, was set for release on December 3, its sword pointed at the New Year season.
The industry was shaken.