Super Ice Ice

Shen Shanden chuckled, " Apple is a realistic theme popular for overseas awards, a theme about the urban fringe. Director Jia and the others all shoot these."

"But," he didn't need to say it, Fan Bingbing leaned on the bed and helped him continue, word by word.

"Right, but," Shen Shanden said, "Trends are for countries in the allied system of America. Not for us."

"I'll break it down for you, urban fringe themes. The movie's theme is about marginalized urban groups."

"First, there's the city. That's no good. They want rural areas. Our dream is still the Qing Dynasty."

"Fringe, corresponding to the center. This means there are still central beneficiaries in the city, which is even worse."

"Groups are a disaster. It means there are fringe people in the city, and even central populations, and even quite a few people."

"Isn't this just a normal city in a Western country? Even if there aren't police sirens every few minutes, the hidden background is that you have good public order."

"Good heavens! For Western film festivals, this is too terrifying. There's a city, many people in the city, central populations and fringe populations, and good public order."

"And shooting this kind of theme in the first place is the director wanting to show they care about marginalized groups, thereby displaying their moral integrity."

"There's even moral integrity, people with 'noble' sentiments, and gentlemen."

"There's a city, people, public order, and gentlemen. This is going against heaven."

"Themes and such are meaningless. This isn't the stereotype they want."

"From the director's perspective, shooting urban fringe themes is about showing they use art to care about marginalized populations and follow Western values."

"But for the West, this is an offense."

Fan Bingbing was silenced.

She originally thought Shen Shanden would chat with her about art, then undress, like an artist.

Who knew he would actually talk about overseas awards with her, and so profoundly.

The key was, she understood it!

This was even crazier than their last talk about the domestic entertainment industry!

Fan Bingbing broke down, "You, you're talking nonsense!"

"Whether it's nonsense or not, you know in your heart."

Shen Shanden said, "If you use my standard, look at the topic selection for Tuya. Isn't it exceptionally gifted? A grassland story, primitive scenery. This step is much stronger than Apple's urban setting."

Speaking of which, Shen Shanden couldn't help but complain, "What were you thinking? The character's profession is a high-rise window cleaner."

"Doesn't Li Yu understand? A high-rise window cleaner. This occupation represents high-rise buildings, and there must be many, otherwise, such an occupation wouldn't exist."

"With just this one character, no matter how exotic the angle chosen, it's useless."

"To put it bluntly, even if they were having sex directly in a high-rise building, two men doing it, it still wouldn't work. You shouldn't have had the high-rise building in the first place!"

"Unless you could call it Lost BJ and aim for a ban, then maybe there'd be a chance."

"The fact that you could get into the main competition list is probably related to this revised name. The tone is too poor."

"High-rise window cleaner."

Shen Shanden clicked his tongue in amazement, finding it quite amusing.

He could imagine the artistic director and committee members' dilemma.

Was this flattery?

This was slapping them in the face.

Fan Bingbing remained silent for a long time.

Her head throbbed faintly. Years of artistic perception had vanished at this moment.

If she weren't involved, if she weren't the lead actress, if she weren't the one who brokered the project, she could lie to herself. But she was.

Fan Bingbing shivered, hugged a pillow, and threw it on the bed.

Then, she started hitting herself.

"Don't, don't do that."

Shen Shanden quickly hugged her, telling her not to get agitated.

Fan Bingbing cried, she had shattered.

"You're too wicked! Why are you telling me this? Do you know how much I suffered to film this movie? You're making me feel like a clown!"

Amidst Fan Bingbing's breakdown, she recounted many behind-the-scenes stories of Apple.

To get the project approved, they first made it a co-production, registered in Hong Kong Island.

When that didn't work, they changed distributors to Bona. Bona had connections, and it barely passed.

Shen Shanden listened, feeling speechless.

So it was you "seniors" who closed off all the paths.

With two years until the Olympics, regulations regarding foreign film awards were tightened.

Shen Shanden had also considered the path of overseas awards. He thought it was excessive at the time, but later understood that some seniors had used the timing to please outsiders.

To put it plainly, the relevant authorities now have the same rigid stereotype of art films that later generations would have.

As soon as they hear about winning awards abroad, they think of stigmatization, of pleasing the West with their own country's scandals or successes. It's become a conditioned reflex.

One generation plants the trees, and the next generation enjoys the shade. One generation chops down the trees, and the next is left to bake in the sun.

A place for every turnip, and every turnip in its place. The Fifth and Sixth Generations who occupy the spots can still make films, but the "turnips" coming in now face new rules.

At this pace, if some turnips self-destruct, retire, or die, their spots might not be passed down.

Like how some films in later generations can't be released, and they pretend to be victims – it's highly unlikely that government departments are the ones causing trouble. The problem is most likely with the film itself.

It's not that ten out of ten films are like that, but nine and a half out of ten probably are.

You have to trust the average level of the film industry.

Sunlight reflected on her face.

The winter sun was warm.

Splash!

The sound of water woke Fan Bingbing. She opened her eyes, her pupils contracting instinctively at first. Seeing that her clothes were undisturbed, she remembered last night and relaxed.

Emotional stimulation, combined with the fatigue of travel, had made her fall asleep.

Fan Bingbing wiped her face with a wet wipe and instinctively teased Shen Shanden, who had just finished showering and emerged from the bathroom, "I gave you a chance yesterday, are you okay?"

Shen Shanden immediately blushed.

Then Fan Bingbing knew she had made a mistake, a big one.

"I was wrong, I'm sorry."

"Too late."

"Let me go to the bathroom first, let me shower first."

Fan Bingbing still managed to get time to take care of her personal hygiene. Then, the humidity in the bathroom gradually increased, and soon, water appeared on their bodies.

"Yes or no?"

"No!"

"Say that again?"

"Yes, it's great! It's unspeakably great!"

"Am I okay?"

"You're fine."

"Am I capable?"

"You are! You are!"

"Am I a man?"

"Yes! Yes!"

"Am I a man?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

"What kind of man am I?"

"You are a righteous, towering man!"

"Do you have any objections to Chen Hao participating?"

"Yes!"

"Say that again?"

"Yes."

"Say it again."

"No more, I give up, no more. Chen Hao should have acted, I shouldn't have been angry."

"Getting angry randomly, so you're a bad woman!"

"I'm not—"

"Say you are!"

"I'm not."

"You are!"

"Yes!"

"What are you?"

"I'm a bad woman! I'm a bad woman! I stole Mimi's man, I'm a bad woman, sob sob sob~~~"

Sixty minutes later.

Let alone calling her a bad woman, Fan Bingbing would have admitted to being a kitten or a puppy.

"You're not human!"

Fan Bingbing returned from the heavens, accusing him timidly.

"Steamed buns, not convinced?"

Shen Shanden glanced at her. "Let's be clear, I'm afraid you won't adapt, so I haven't gone all out yet."

"Of course, you can try."

Shen Shanden let Fan Bingbing choose whether he had bullets.

Fan Bingbing didn't dare to gamble and quickly said, "I mean you're a special kind of man."

The sun was high in the sky.

The little assistant entered the room and was startled.

"Did the thermos break?"

Fan Bingbing naturally knew what had broken – her own worldview.

She quickly packed her things and left as if fleeing.

Shen Shanden hid his merits and fame.

Successfully appeased the lead actress!

Giving his all for the movie!

The main actors for The Grand Director arrived one after another, and the project entered the fast lane.

February 23rd.

On the sixth day of the lunar new year, the production team released the news of Chen Hao's participation.

The fact that Fan Bingbing and Chen Hao were joining the same film crew sparked heated discussion.

Following that.

A series of major announcements followed.

February 25th, the eighth day of the lunar new year, Huang Xiaoming officially announced his joining The Grand Director.

March 3rd, before the Lantern Festival, Chen Kun, who had been rumored to join, was officially announced as part of The Grand Director, playing the male lead.

With the addition of top stars like Fan Bingbing, Chen Kun, Huang Xiaoming, Chen Hao, and Wu Jing, no one in the industry or outside would underestimate the The Grand Director project anymore.

Looking at the star-studded cast, it was already impressive.

It was no longer just a medium-sized production; it was increasingly living up to its reputation as an important project for China Film.

While some were happy, others were naturally uncomfortable.

Sun Li was very upset. She had been there first. Chen Hao's participation further highlighted the value of the role "Su Xiaoxiao."

If she hadn't had the opportunity to get this role, she wouldn't have been so upset.

It was just that such an opportunity had come to her first.

It was like buying a stock that she was optimistic about, but for various reasons, she sold it after it rose a few points. It was true that she made a small profit, but then the stock doubled, and it kept rising. At that point, it was impossible to buy it back.

It was truly painful.

Sun Li had argued with Huang Li many times before and didn't want to argue anymore, but she couldn't help herself.

The The Grand Director project already had a certain representational significance, symbolizing a collective breakthrough of the ceiling for the new and middle generations of mainland China.

This was not just about fame and fortune, but also about honor.

Originally, she was mentioned alongside Wu Jing, Chen Kun, and Fan Bingbing.

In her distress, Sun Li couldn't help but text Shen Shanden to vent her troubles.

Occasionally receiving a response, even if it was a stern lecture, made her feel a sense of relief.

After the Lantern Festival.

The The Grand Director crew began casting for non-major roles, calling out "Rejecting Casting Coups" and inviting university students to supervise.

As its reputation grew, the The Grand Director crew found cooperation with relevant parties increasingly smooth, and the project's operations became more fluid.

March 23rd.

The The Grand Director crew released the first batch of stills and announced the completion of casting.

April.

At the beginning of the month, preparations for The Grand Director entered an accelerated phase.

Chen Kun joined the crew and began physical and martial arts training.

Shen Shanden visited major film bases, personally inspecting the filming locations selected by the assistant directors and producers, and carrying out the final acceptance work.

Mid-month.

The main actors and creative team gradually began participating in rehearsals and script readings.

Entering May.

Shen Shanden invited Han Sanping, the new chairman of China Film Group, to attend the commencement ceremony.

A star-studded cast has its advantages and disadvantages; no matter how good things sound in private, the individual needs of each star must always be balanced.

Unless, of course, there's someone who can keep all the stars in check.

Shen Shanden invited Chen Daoming for a cameo, but it wasn't enough. Fortunately, he had a trump card: Old Deng.

Once played, all the stars would have to obediently fall in line.

Shen Shanden disliked playing games that tested human nature; he preferred to embody the principle that a skilled warrior wins without renown, extinguishing conflict before it begins.

If you have a card, play it.

Han Sanping received the invitation and gladly accepted.

The main reason was that Han Sanping hadn't expected that a project of "The Grand Director's" caliber, a multi-million dollar production, would be brought to its current momentum by Shen Shanden, seemingly out of thin air, like stepping on his own foot to lift himself up.

Among the many projects at China Film, "The Grand Director" was certainly noteworthy.

This ranking wasn't given by anyone; it was earned by the project itself, which had already proven its strength.

It was a flagship project, no less impressive than those helmed by renowned directors with star-studded casts!

Regardless of how Shen Shanden achieved it, he had done it.

John Woo was making subtle moves behind the scenes, and the Hong Kong and Taiwan media were stirring up trouble. Han Sanping saw all of this, and these factions, in collusion with the media, continuously hyped that "The Grand Director's" all-star cast lacked appeal, giving "The Grand Director" a special significance.

Han Sanping couldn't refuse!

He knew very well that Shen Shanden was aiming for "Paperclip"; this project, once completed, would likely be a success.

Setting aside the long-term goal of upgrading the blockbuster strategy, and not even mentioning that Shen Shanden's success would give him a formidable general, simply breaking the narrative of denial and suppression of the mainland's New Generation was enough to attract him.

As a leader, if he didn't dare to charge forward at this moment, he wouldn't have reached his current position.

A true leader dares to take responsibility!

May 4th, Youth Day.

After more than four months of preparation, the crew of "The Grand Director" held its commencement ceremony in Wuxi.

Seeking guaranteed monthly votes, there will be two more chapters tomorrow at noon.