Banned News

Fan Bingbing hurriedly rose to her feet. "Director Shen."

"Don't stand on ceremony, Sister Bingbing. Just call me little brother."

Shen Shanden gave her a brief handshake. Her hand was warm and smooth.

Glancing at her assistant, he said apologetically, "I thought today was a private get-together with Sister Bingbing. If I'd known we were discussing work, I would've brought more people. It wouldn't do to hold up Sister Bingbing's business."

"What work? Today, this big sister simply wanted to get to know her little brother." Fan Bingbing was a master of social graces and immediately waved her assistant away with bold generosity. "Stop being an eyesore. Let us brother and sister have a private chat."

"Sister Bingbing, don't you need someone to pour tea, serve dishes, and all that while you eat?" The assistant did not leave right away.

She mainly felt that Shen Shanden's move looked far too much like the trick used by seasoned hands—sending her away so they could be alone with Fan Bingbing.

What did he want to do? Did she even need to think about it?

Whenever this happened, she had to step up and play the villain.

Shen Shanden took off his coat, not particularly bothered. "That does seem to be the case."

Fan Bingbing, however, was not very pleased. A capable man like Shen Shanden treated her as his big sister and was so polite. Maybe it was just a courteous phrase, but that did not mean she could not seize the chance to make it real.

"Aren't there waiters? What are you worried about? This is a private gathering today. No business talk."

Shen Shanden advised, "Don't scare the young lady. We can take care of both business and pleasure."

"No." Fan Bingbing insisted.

Seeing the assistant leave, Shen Shanden felt helpless.

This sister was a little too bold.

He had only been polite. He called plenty of women "sister"—why had Fan Bingbing taken it seriously?

Fan Bingbing took the initiative to sit beside Shen Shanden, then signaled the staff that they could begin serving the meal.

Shen Shanden quietly shifted away. While pouring water, Fan Bingbing edged closer again, and he gave up struggling.

Fine, then.

To freeload Fan Bingbing into joining his project, Shen Shanden had made all kinds of mental preparations. If she wanted to take advantage of him, then so be it.

Having accepted reality, Shen Shanden had to admit that Fan Bingbing at this time was simply stunning.

He was not the shy type, either.

If he liked looking, he would look openly.

"Is there something on my face?" Fan Bingbing could not help asking when she saw him staring at her.

Shen Shanden told the truth. "Sister Bingbing's face gives me an intense creative urge. I want to shoot you hard with a big camera. I feel like you'd glow under the lens."

Fan Bingbing froze. Was that what she thought he meant?

"Little brother, you're starting to sound like a Big Director." Fan Bingbing teased him, flirting right back. "Then big sister will have to see whether your camera has enough pixels."

Shen Shanden hurriedly explained, "Your looks are exactly those of a natural commercial-film leading lady. You're suited to true female-led films—you're an actress who can carry a movie."

"Like Hollywood's Julia Roberts, or Jennifer Aniston from Friends. You're a female star capable of creating a beautiful era, leaving behind a string of beautiful, classic, sweet screen roles."

Hearing this, Fan Bingbing's breathing quickened.

She had misunderstood!

So Shen Shanden had had his mind entirely on professional matters!

Listen to those words—they struck straight into Fan Bingbing's heart, hitting the softest part of her.

Her hand involuntarily grabbed Shen Shanden, and her body instinctively leaned toward him.

Satisfaction, vanity, and anticipation surged through her chest.

"Can I compare to them?"

Fan Bingbing's tone was probing, but her eyes shone brilliantly, her desire for affirmation completely undisguised.

Shen Shanden had always spoken the truth and never lied. "You're better than them. It's just that our film and television industry is behind the times, so it can't give you roles that suit you."

"Your face is incredible—naturally made for the big screen. What you need isn't an awards-season film, but a commercial blockbuster: that kind of sunny, captivating, positive screen image."

Fan Bingbing came back to herself and felt something hard. It turned out she had bumped into Shen Shanden's elbow.

Only then did she realize she had lost her composure. The steps of her strategy had gotten a little muddled; it seemed she had been persuaded instead.

Secretly, she was astonished. Shen Shanden really knew how to talk.

She hurriedly calmed herself. "Come, big sister will peel some shrimp for you. You must be under a lot of pressure right now, with all those unreasonable criticisms outside."

Shen Shanden gave a disdainful smile at her question. "Just dogs barking. If they like barking, let them bark. They can even bring more attention to my project."

Fan Bingbing froze again. The rhythm had gone off again.

Shouldn't Shen Shanden have asked what her stance was? Then she could have used the opportunity to make her position clear, say a few words for him, and stand with him in the same camp, sharing a common hatred for their enemy.

But Shen Shanden was far too arrogant.

Quite a few of those criticizing him were standouts among the Fifth Generation and Sixth Generation, and even his teachers and elders. They were all people with names in the industry, yet he dismissed them outright as dogs barking. If word got out, it would certainly cause a tremendous uproar.

Shen Shanden seemed to realize he had misspoken and hurriedly asked, "Sister Bingbing, you won't tell anyone, will you?"

"I can keep it a secret for you, but... shouldn't big sis get a little hush-money fee?" Fan Bingbing finally felt she had seized some initiative and couldn't help teasing him.

After two glasses of red wine, they chatted about some gossip.

Fan Bingbing felt that the ice between them had initially been broken.

"Little brother, we're fellow townspeople—close kin made even closer. Listen to your sister's advice: the waters in this circle run deep. I'm wrapped up in negative press myself, so you must handle things carefully. The fight between the academic school and commercial directors is fiercer than you can imagine."

Shen Shanden sneered. "By the academic school's definition, I'm a proper academic-school director myself. I'm currently receiving a formal education at a legitimate film and television academy."

"But over here, the academic school isn't merely Formal Film School Training. It's also a creative style."

"Hollywood academic-school directors pursue commercial films too. Only directors capable of commanding top-tier commercial blockbusters are truly top-tier directors."

"But we're different. Since the eighties, elite film schools represented by Beijing Film Academy have had their directing education deeply influenced by European art films, auteur theory, realist traditions, and a consciousness of social criticism."

"As a result, course design, classic scene analysis, and mentor preferences all leaned more toward cultivating directors with auteur consciousness, humanistic concern, and the ability to explore form."

"That influence remains profound even today. Even among our generation of New Generation directors, the divide between the academic school and commercial cinema still exists—sometimes even in absolute opposition."

"When New Generation directors make a commercial film, they still have to carry some inexplicable psychological burden."

"When all is said and done, it's garbage! They study that European set of tricks, but Europe was trampled to pieces by Hollywood—the industry collapsed. Learning from losers will only make you even more worthless!"

"Garbage, yet unaware of it! Garbage, yet unwilling to reflect! Garbage, yet refusing to improve! Garbage, yet smugly pleased with itself! Garbage, and proud of it! Garbage, and treating it as an honor! Cheap people, cheapening themselves, cheapening the whole industry!"

"A female star like you should have had good works during the years when you were meant to bloom brightest. It's these rotten people who caused that."

Fan Bingbing was stunned—almost frightened!

She didn't understand things like directorial schools and artistic lineage, but what she did understand was already horrifying enough!

Shen Shanden was no ordinary rookie director!

This further confirmed Fan Bingbing's guess. Shen Shanden's family power really did lie outside the industry; otherwise, he would not have looked down on the state of the industry so completely.

Those who truly had power simply didn't think much of this circle.

Fan Bingbing began to feel dizzy and enchanted. The wine did not intoxicate the drinker; the drinker intoxicated herself.

All the dishes had been served, and the staff had withdrawn.

Seeing this, Fan Bingbing's assistant became a little anxious.

Were the two of them going to make a baby right there in the private room?

Though she had already prepared herself for an exchange, shouldn't it be happening this fast!

Shen Shanden quickly held out his hand.

Fan Bingbing looked at him with an innocent glimmer in her eyes, mixed with puzzlement. "What is it?"

One look told him she was putting her acting skills to use!

Shen Shanden sighed inwardly. For the sake of the film.

In an instant, Fan Bingbing could no longer keep acting. Shen Shanden's progress was simply too fast!

She felt it was necessary to make Shen Shanden cool his head.

"John Woo has spread word through the Hong Kong and Taiwan circle that you're Banned."

Shen Shanden froze. He and John Woo had nothing to do with each other, but such news would not be hard to verify. Fan Bingbing had no reason to lie to him.

"Looks like John Woo has chosen his own road to death!"

Fan Bingbing felt like crying without tears. Take that energy to John Woo!