Recaps

Wei Jin secured China Film Group's investment and distribution support for Those Years, then arranged an open audition after the film passed review. He also gave Jiang Wei the television script The Infiltrator to direct, and the chapter ended with the audition notice drawing intense interest from actors and students.

• Wei Jin met Han Sanping, who agreed that China Film Group would invest three million for a thirty percent stake in Those Years and handle publicity and distribution.
• Wei Jin discussed casting and cinema business with Han Sanping, then collected a list of interested graduating students from Zhang Jiandong.
• Wei Jin offered Jiang Wei the script for The Infiltrator, and Jiang Wei agreed to direct it and begin preparing the crew.
• China Film Group notified Wei Jin that Those Years had passed review, allowing approval and casting to proceed.
• Wei Jin Fengliu Studio announced open auditions for Those Years on September 9, and Wei Jin refused requests for special treatment.
• The audition announcement prompted a rush of interest among industry artists and film-school students, while the novel gained sales.

Wei Jin held auditions for the female lead and second female lead, meeting several actresses with connections to him and the industry. Yan Danchen impressed him enough to be entered for the female lead, while he left the other candidates awaiting decisions.

• Wei Jin began the crowded auditions and marked Hu Jing's résumé as pending after she tried out for the second female lead.
• Fan Bingbing auditioned for the female lead, but Wei Jin said her beauty was too striking for the innocent school belle; they exchanged phone numbers.
• Yan Danchen demonstrated her understanding of the character and performed a scene, after which Wei Jin wrote her name in the female lead's slot.
• Liu Yifei auditioned at her mother's suggestion, but Wei Jin thought her acting still needed polishing and told her to wait for word.
• Gao Yuanyuan auditioned for the female lead and asked Wei Jin whether he still wanted to rent the apartment; he said yes, and the auditions continued.

Wei Jin finalized the cast for his film, chose Liu Yifei as the female lead, and began filming at a middle school in Huairou. After the crew settled into working together, Liu Yifei asked Wei Jin for feedback as the production moved toward more demanding scenes.

• Wei Jin chose Qiao Zhenyu, Lei Jiayin, and Lam Tze-chung for the male roles, Hu Jing for the second female lead, and, after Zeng Li's advice, Liu Yifei for the female lead.
• Wei Jin called Liu Xiaoli to tell her Liu Yifei had won the role, then informed Gao Yuanyuan and Yan Danchen; Yan Danchen agreed to appear as a teacher.
• On September 19, Wei Jin held a commencement ceremony, answered reporters' questions, and began reviewing the script with the cast and crew.
• Wei Jin filmed at a middle school in Huairou, where the principal waived the location fee and arranged for students to appear as extras; Wei Jin also hired the first members of his studio's production team.
• After the cast and crew had grown more comfortable together, Liu Yifei asked Wei Jin how she had been performing, and he praised her while advising her to prepare for later emotional scenes.

Director Wei Jin struggled with Liu Yifei’s acting until he provoked a strong emotional reaction from her during a private coaching session. Liu Yifei soon found her footing on set, and filming sped up.

• Wei Jin repeatedly stopped Liu Yifei’s scene because she could not bring out the required emotion, then told Liu Xiaoli that her performance was delaying the production.
• Liu Xiaoli asked Wei Jin to help Liu Yifei get into character, and he arranged to speak with her alone that evening.
• Wei Jin pushed Liu Yifei to imagine her mother controlling her life until she angrily slapped him and burst into tears.
• Wei Jin told Liu Yifei to remember the emotion she had felt, and she nodded before leaving with Liu Xiaoli.
• Over the next few days, Liu Yifei’s performance improved and filming moved ahead more quickly.

Wei Jin wrapped filming You Are the Apple of My Eye, finished post-production, and secured a December 3 release date after the film passed review. The movie was set to enter the New Year season against major releases by Feng Dapao and Stephen Chow.

• Wei Jin completed the final scene with Qiao Zhenyu and announced that filming had wrapped in early November 2004.
• The crew celebrated at the hotel, where Wei Jin encouraged Lei Jiayin to pursue serious acting and promised to consider him for future roles.
• Wei Jin spent several days with Gao Yuanyuan before leaving the hotel and handling the film's editing and score himself.
• On November 12, Wei Jin showed the finished film to Han Sanping, who judged that it should pass review and discussed release dates with him.
• Wei Jin chose December 3 despite competition from A World Without Thieves and Kung Fu, and China Film Group announced the date a week later after the film passed review.

As Wei Jin’s New Year release drew skepticism from the media and Huayi, he devised a publicity campaign with China Film Group that used the novel, its theme song, and online discussions to promote Those Years. The campaign spread widely, and the film’s premiere arrived.

• Wei Jin explained his New Year release plans to Teacher Jiang and asked about preparations for The Infiltrator.
• The Wang Brothers and Feng Dapao discussed Wei Jin’s film and dismissed him as no match for their commercial releases.
• Wei Jin proposed promoting the film through book signings, its theme song, and online discussions, and Han Sanping approved a large publicity budget.
• Wei Jin held packed book signings across major cities, signed more than ten thousand books, and sang Those Years for fans in Magic City.
• Online discussions about youth and regret were steered toward the film as its publicity spread across the country.
• The premiere of Those Years finally arrived.

Wei Jin attended the premiere of his film, which received an enthusiastic response and strong media coverage. As he took the cast on a national promotional tour, the film opened to record-breaking box office numbers and made Wei Jin the center of attention.

• Wei Jin met industry figures and actors at the premiere, while the principal cast and crew gathered before the screening.
• After Li Jian sang Those Years, Wei Jin and the cast introduced the film; the audience applauded and cheered when it ended.
• Reporters and critics praised the film, and Wei Jin took the cast on a nationwide cinema tour to build its opening-week audience.
• Han Sanping told Wei Jin that the film earned 9.16 million on its first day, and Wei Jin shared the news with the celebrating cast and crew.
• Wei Jin continued the tour in Magic City as Zeng Li congratulated him and the China Film Group sent box-office updates.
• The film earned 15.21 million on December 4 and 13.85 million on December 5, bringing its three-day opening total to 38.22 million and drawing widespread attention to Wei Jin.

Wei Jin and the cast of "Those Years, the Girls We Chased Together" recorded an episode of "Happy Camp" to promote the film. After sharing stories and playing games, they left Changsha for the next roadshow stop.

• Wei Jin and the cast arrived at Mango Channel in Changsha, where Teacher He welcomed them and reviewed the show’s script with them.
• Wei Jin led the cast onto the stage and introduced the film to the audience.
• Teacher He and the other hosts asked Wei Jin about his career and the film, and he discussed his Berlin Silver Bear and the regrets of youth.
• Qiao Zhenyu and Liu Yifei shared stories about Wei Jin’s strictness during filming, and the cast recounted how they had been chosen for their roles.
• Wei Jin and the cast played games, finished recording, declined Teacher He’s late-night meal invitation, and set off for the next roadshow stop.

After Hu Jing spent the night with Wei Jin, he struggled with guilt over betraying Zeng Li, her close friend, before Hu Jing reassured him. The success of "Those Years" helped Wei Jin complete investments in two literature websites and plan a cinema chain, and the chapter ends with "Kung Fu" releasing on December 23.

• Hu Jing told Wei Jin she would keep their night together secret from Zeng Li, and Wei Jin set aside his guilt.
• After returning to Beijing, Wei Jin learned that Moujiang and Moudian had become more receptive to investment after the success of his film adaptation.
• Wei Jin met the two website founders and completed investments that secured priority copyright rights to their novels.
• Xiang Wenlong reported twelve promising cinema locations, and Wei Jin decided to negotiate for all of them and start renovations after the new year.
• By December 23, Wei Jin had finished handling company business, and "Kung Fu" had been released.

Wei Jin’s Those Years finished its theatrical run at 118 million yuan, and he held a victory banquet that drew major figures from the film industry. The celebration ended with Wang Changtian and Yu Dong courting Wei Jin for future projects.

• Wei Jin arranged a Taiwanese distribution deal for Those Years through Manager Han at China Film Group and negotiated a seven percent distribution fee for his future films.
• Those Years left theaters with 118 million yuan in box-office revenue, and Wei Jin’s studio prepared a victory banquet featuring an ice sculpture of the total.
• Wei Jin and the film’s main creative team thanked the guests before smashing the ice sculpture’s digits together.
• Wang Changtian and Yu Dong praised Wei Jin’s success and invited him to consider Guangxian and Bona for future projects.

At the celebratory dinner, Wei Jin received toasts from Liu Yifei, Fan Bingbing, and H&R manager Liu, who introduced Sun Li and discussed Drawing Sword. After the dinner, Wei Jin met Fan Bingbing at a private residence, and they spent the night together; she had left by morning.

• Liu Yifei toasted Wei Jin, and he advised her and Liu Xiaoli not to get conceited and to focus on steady progress.
• Fan Bingbing toasted Wei Jin, flirted with him, and arranged to meet him later for advice.
• Manager Liu introduced Sun Li to Wei Jin and told him that filming on Drawing Sword had begun.
• Wei Jin left the dinner with his assistant Li Na and went to a new home he had bought.
• Fan Bingbing arrived after Wei Jin texted her, and the two went to the bedroom together.
• Wei Jin woke to find Fan Bingbing gone and reflected on her skill at navigating the entertainment industry.

Wei Jin chose My Love from the Star as the company’s next drama project and invested in Ning Hao’s film, then recruited him as a contracted director. The chapter left Wei Jin and his friends playing mahjong and discussing recent box-office results and the Golden Horse Awards.

• Wei Jin reviewed the company’s finances and selected My Love from the Star as a benchmark urban idol drama to produce.
• Ning Hao and Huang Bai brought Wei Jin the script for Crazy Stone, and Wei Jin agreed to invest six million yuan.
• Wei Jin offered Ning Hao creative freedom and first-right investment for future projects, and Ning Hao signed a cooperation agreement with Wei Jin Fengliu Film and Television Company.
• Wei Jin, Ning Hao, Huang Bai, and Chen Zhiming played mahjong and discussed Kung Fu, A World Without Thieves, and Wei Jin missing the Golden Horse Awards.

Chinese Paladin premiered in Taiwan and mainland China to strong ratings despite harsh criticism from game fans, while Wei Jin dismissed the backlash as publicity. After dining with the talented Miss Xu, Wei Jin was caught in a misleading paparazzi photo that upset Gao Yuanyuan and prompted Zeng Li to have Hu Jing keep watch over him.

• Chinese Paladin drew strong ratings in Taiwan and then mainland China, while game fans attacked the adaptation and its creators.
• Wei Jin reassured Miss Cai that the online criticism was boosting the series and its ratings.
• The talented Miss Xu invited Wei Jin to dinner to ask for advice about filmmaking and audience tastes, then was photographed adjusting his collar as they parted.
• Gao Yuanyuan confronted Wei Jin over the newspaper photo, and he denied having a relationship with the talented Miss Xu.
• Wei Jin moved back to his own place to avoid further rumors, while Zeng Li asked Hu Jing to keep other women away from him.

Wei Jin spent the Spring Festival with his father before visiting his uncle, where he unexpectedly met the young Jing Tian. After giving her advice about preparing for an entertainment career, he watched her leave and was left reflecting on the encounter.

• Wei Jin returned home and told Wei Xingbang he would leave for Beijing on the fifth, while Wei Xingbang urged him to visit Wei Anguo after the New Year.
• Wei Jin and Wei Xingbang shopped for New Year supplies, shared a meal, and talked about the historical drama Emperor Wu of Han, which Wei Jin's company had invested in.
• On New Year's Eve, Wei Jin celebrated with Wei Xingbang and wondered how to develop his business after building his initial wealth.
• Wei Jin visited Wei Anguo on the second day of the New Year and met Jing Tian, who had come to see his uncle.
• Jing Tian recognized Wei Jin as the director of Those Years and praised the film, then asked him for advice about becoming a star.
• Wei Jin urged Jing Tian to study singing or acting fundamentals, learned that her newly established company was backed by her family, and exchanged phone numbers with her before she left.

Wei Jin traveled to North America and met with Summit Entertainment’s executives to negotiate a partnership. He proposed investing $100 million for a 70% stake in the struggling company, leaving Friedman to consult the other shareholders.

• Wei Jin received Chinese Paladin’s sales breakdown, then left for North America while Zeng Li joined The Infiltrator.
• Hunter met Wei Jin at the airport and took him to Summit Entertainment’s headquarters in Santa Monica.
• Wei Jin presented two scripts, but rejected Friedman’s offer of $5 million for them and demanded an ownership stake in Summit Entertainment.
• Wei Jin proposed investing $100 million for a 70% stake and offering Summit his scripts and priority access to his future films.
• Friedman hurried away to discuss Wei Jin’s proposal with the shareholders, while Hunter and another executive took Wei Jin out for the evening.

Wei Jin negotiated a forty percent stake in Summit Entertainment and presented screenplays to help the struggling company recover. At Summit’s welcome reception, he met Scarlett Johansson and reconnected with Charlize Theron, then spent the night with Scarlett.

• Wei Jin and Summit’s shareholders agreed that he would pay sixty million dollars for a forty percent stake and receive a separate twenty percent share of investments in any screenplay he provided.
• Wei Jin gave the shareholders two screenplays and said he planned to use them to help Summit raise money and grow.
• Summit Entertainment held a welcome reception, where Wei Jin kept his major-shareholder status private and met Scarlett Johansson.
• Charlize Theron greeted Wei Jin and told Scarlett about his Silver Bear-winning film and his connection to Buried Alive.
• Theron left Wei Jin and Scarlett to talk, and Scarlett later invited him to her room.
• Wei Jin spent the night with Scarlett.

Wei Jin met with William to direct the North American Investment Team and began production on Dead Silence and The Infiltrator for Summit Entertainment. After both films were completed and scheduled for release, he gave Scarlett Johansson a song as a parting gift and flew home.

• Wei Jin met Hunter and then reviewed his investment plans with William, head of the North American Investment Team.
• Wei Jin told Friedman and Summit Entertainment's executives to produce Dead Silence and The Infiltrator at the same time.
• Wei Jin directed both films, which finished post-production and were scheduled for June and September releases.
• Scarlett Johansson learned Wei Jin was leaving, and he gave her lyrics and sheet music for a song he had prepared for her.
• Wei Jin spent one last night with Scarlett Johansson and boarded a plane home the next morning.

After returning from North America, Wei Jin reunited with Zeng Li, resumed writing a film script, and met with his company staff. The chapter left him preparing to discuss Crazy Stone’s release date with Huang Bai and Ning Hao.

• Wei Jin returned home, reunited with Zeng Li, and spent the next day resting and working on a new script.
• Zeng Li and Wei Jin took a stroll, where a fan recognized Zeng Li as Shangguan Haitang and asked for autographs and a photo.
• Wei Jin continued writing his script while also assigning a project to the game studio.
• Huang Bai called to arrange a meeting with Wei Jin and Ning Hao about the movie’s release date, and Wei Jin agreed to meet them at the company.
• Li Na brought Wei Jin the revenue-share documents for Those Years, and Wei Jin signed them before asking her to direct Huang Bai and Ning Hao to his office.

Wei Jin reunited with Huang Bai and Ning Hao, then took Ning Hao’s “Crazy Stone” to China Film Group to arrange distribution and choose a release date. After Han Sanping watched the film and Wei Jin argued that its story mattered more than its cast, they set its release for July 15.

• Wei Jin met with Huang Bai and Ning Hao, discussed his new project, and promised Huang Bai a supporting role.
• Wei Jin explained Hollywood’s producer-centered film system and asked Huang Bai about his successful new album.
• Wei Jin and Ning Hao visited Han Sanping at China Film Group and screened the finished “Crazy Stone.”
• Wei Jin praised the film’s commercial potential and argued that a good story mattered more than a star-studded cast.
• Han Sanping agreed that China Film Group would handle publicity and distribution, and Wei Jin and Ning Hao chose July 15 as the release date.

Wei Jin pitched Painted Skin to Han Sanping as an effects-heavy blockbuster intended to challenge the domestic box office record, and they arranged financing, a release schedule, and potential cast members. After the script passed review and the project was announced with a 100 million investment, actresses across the entertainment industry rushed to pursue roles.

• Wei Jin gave Han Sanping the Painted Skin script and described his plan to use special effects to make the film stand out.
• Han Sanping agreed that China Film Group would invest 20 million, and Wei Jin planned to approach Bona and Guangxian as partners.
• Wei Jin and Han Sanping discussed a year-end release and considered Chen Kun and Liu Ye for the male lead and Zhou Xun for the fox demon.
• Three days later, the script passed review, and China Film Group announced that Painted Skin had been greenlit with Wei Jin Fengliu Film and Television Company in control and a total investment of 100 million.
• Actresses throughout the entertainment industry scrambled for roles in Painted Skin.

Wei Jin revised Painted Skin’s story, finalized its five-party investment, and faced a rush of actresses seeking roles. He cast Zhou Xun as the female lead, Chen Kun as the male lead, and Zeng Li as the other female lead, leaving Zeng Li nervous about taking the part.

• Wei Jin removed the extra romantic entanglements from Painted Skin and planned to focus on its effects, central romance, and action scenes.
• President Deng persuaded Wei Jin to accept a small investment from Western Film Group, and the five investors settled their shares.
• After Painted Skin received approval, actresses and industry representatives contacted Wei Jin or his company to pursue roles.
• Wei Jin invited Zhou Xun to join the film, and she offered to cut her fee in half.
• Wei Jin chose Chen Kun as the male lead and gave Zeng Li the other female lead role, reassuring her that she would do well.

Wei Jin attended the Beijing College Student Film Festival with the cast of Those Years, where the film won two awards and he and Liu Yifei won audience-voted honors. He used his final acceptance speech to promote Crazy Stone, making the unreleased film a major news story.

• Wei Jin attended the festival after Teacher Jiang threatened to fail him if he skipped it again, and Liu Yifei and Qiao Zhenyu joined him as Those Years nominees.
• Wei Jin thanked Huang Xiaoming for saving Liu Yifei from drowning during filming and suggested they work together in the future.
• Those Years won best director and a jury prize, while Liu Yifei won the college students’ favorite actress award and Wei Jin won favorite director.
• Wei Jin promoted Crazy Stone during his acceptance speech, announcing its July 15 release and praising the film.
• Entertainment newspapers put Wei Jin’s speech on their front pages, and Crazy Stone became a hit before its release.

Wei Jin finalized the cast and began filming Painted Skin in Hengdian, then directed the actors through their early scenes. After a week, he started shooting Wang Sheng and Xiao Wei’s emotional scenes while continuing to grow close to Zeng Li.

• Wei Jin finalized the cast of Painted Skin, with Chen Kun as Wang Sheng, Zhou Xun as Xiao Wei, Zeng Li as Peirong, Donnie Yen as the demon hunter, and Huang Bai as the Lizard Spirit.
• Wei Jin converted his eight-million-yuan directing and writing fee into an investment, and his company announced the cast on May 20, sparking heated reactions from fans.
• Wei Jin brought the creative team to Hengdian, held a script read-through and makeup tests, and began filming Painted Skin after an opening ceremony.
• Wei Jin filmed for a week before beginning the emotional scenes, repeatedly directing Chen Kun to show Wang Sheng’s inner conflict during Xiao Wei’s seduction.
• Zhou Xun teased Chen Kun on set, while Wei Jin spent his nights visiting Zeng Li’s room and admiring her in costume.

The Infiltrator became a North American box-office success, while Wei Jin’s Hollywood connections and Scarlett Johansson’s hit song made him a major subject of attention in China. As reporters disrupted his filming, Wei Jin held a press conference and later dealt with Sister Li’s questions in private.

• The Infiltrator opened on June 3, earned $18.81 million in its first weekend, and reached $54.81 million after ten days; Friedman proposed a worldwide release, which Wei Jin supported.
• News of the film’s success prompted Chinese companies, including China Film Group, Western Film Group, Guangxian, Bona, and Huayi, to consider how they could work with Wei Jin.
• Scarlett Johansson’s song “Unstoppable” entered the Billboard Hot 100 top ten on June 21, and she said Wei Jin had created it as a parting gift after they met at a Summit Entertainment dinner.
• Chinese media and netizens focused on Wei Jin’s rumored romance with Scarlett Johansson, while film companies, record labels, musicians, and reporters sought his attention.
• After reporters repeatedly disrupted filming, Wei Jin held a press conference; he later answered Sister Li’s questions in private.

Wei Jin attended the premiere of Crazy Stone, praised Ning Hao’s work by directing reporters to the new director, and discussed North American distribution opportunities with Chinese film executives. Crazy Stone opened in theaters the following day.

• Donnie Yen joined the Crazy Stone crew and treated Wei Jin with humility.
• Wei Jin arranged a promotional campaign that kept Huang Bai busy promoting Crazy Stone at commercial appearances.
• Wei Jin returned to Beijing on July 14 to attend the premiere of Stone, where Crazy Stone entertained the audience with its comedy and multi-threaded story.
• Ning Hao told reporters that Wei Jin had invested six million in the film and explained his casting choices.
• At dinner, Wei Jin described his cooperation with Summit Entertainment and discussed potential North American revenue-sharing distribution with Han Sanping and other executives.
• Crazy Stone officially opened in theaters on July 15.