Shocking Lineup!

Wuxi, the Wuxi of later generations, one of the "Three Heroes of Jiangsu" along with Suzhou and Changzhou.

Wuxi Film and Television City.

Located on Shanshui West Road, Binhu District, WX City, JS Province, it covers an area of 1 million square meters, with a water area of 2 million square meters.

In 1987, construction began on Wuxi Film and Television City due to its selection as a filming location for the TV series Journey to the West. Subsequently, the Tang City scenic area was built for the TV series Emperor Tang Ming, the Three Kingdoms City scenic area for Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and the Water Margin City scenic area for Water Margin.

Although there are other filming locations like Europe City and The Grand Mansion, it is primarily an ancient architectural complex with a background of Tang and Song dynasty culture, mainly consisting of Three Kingdoms City, Water Margin City, and Tang City.

The Grand Director is a period drama set in the Ming Dynasty. Wuxi Film Base was chosen mainly for filming scenes related to "Investigating the Jiangnan Case" because the base is adjacent to Taihu Lake and possesses unique water scenery resources.

In the Water Margin City's Shuibo Liangshan area, the "Elder Song's Courtyard" and "Superintendent Zhang's Mansion" are notable. The former features a layered Taihu stone rockery, while the latter has a corridor surrounding a pond, both very suitable for filming.

There are better filming locations, such as the bamboo grove path of "Xiaoxiang Pavilion" in Shanghai Grand View Garden, which is ready-made, but there are equipment limitations.

Considering everything, the garden scenes and dialogue-heavy parts related to the Jiangnan Case plot will be filmed at Wuxi Film Base.

As for action scenes, more considerations are needed: whether there is enough space to set up wire rigs, which ponds can be used for water combat, and higher requirements are in place.

Inside a Ming and Qing style architectural landscape at the film and television base.

In front of a newly constructed government office scene, which has a distinct Ming Dynasty charm.

The ground is paved with bluestone slabs, with vermilion pillars and upturned eaves. The air is filled with the scent of new wood and paint, along with a sense of historical depth.

A propitious hour in the morning.

The early summer morning light in Jiangnan carries a hint of warmth, but is not yet scorching.

Rest area.

"Director."

Shen Shanden welcomed the guests, maintaining his address for Han Sanping.

What's the point of a promotion if he has few capable people under him?

He still has to rely on him.

He also greeted Chen Daoming, his smile blooming: "Teacher Chen, thank you so much for coming."

His attitude, while not entirely inconsistent with how he addressed Han Sanping, was the complete opposite, showing an excessive level of enthusiasm.

Han Sanping's mouth twitched slightly, but he maintained his signature smile.

Just wait, today he would also let the young comrade taste what a sneak attack was like.

"Director Shen is too kind, too kind. It's only natural to do something for our Chinese cinema."

Chen Daoming, who was making a friendly cameo, only slightly shifted his gaze, but was inwardly deeply shocked.

Shen Shanden was not to be trifled with. Daring to treat King of the Mountain Eagle with such casual disregard meant he was no ordinary young director.

Zhou Qifeng excitedly followed behind Shen Shanden, helping to serve tea and water.

After several months of training, he had shed his youthful immaturity and become much more composed.

But immersed in the grand, professional, undercurrent-filled, and highly anticipated atmosphere, he still couldn't control his excitement.

This was not just the start of a movie, but more like a declaration of a new force in Chinese cinema.

And this was being achieved step by step by his Senior Brother.

It felt so much like a dream that Zhou Qifeng was afraid of waking himself up; it was simply too beautiful.

After entertaining the distinguished guests.

Shen Shanden then had a brief, low-voiced conversation with the core members of the production team.

There were people from Beijing Film Studio, key industry professionals recruited with the help of Guangxian and Bona, and experienced post-production staff Wu Jing had brought from the Hong Kong film circle.

Shen Shanden checked the procedures. The volunteer team, composed of fourth-year students from Beijing Film Academy, greatly satisfied him.

Their practical skills might be lacking, but their quality was high, they were conscientious, polite, and possessed the spirit of youth.

Shen Shanden's gaze swept across the entire venue, ensuring everything was running according to his designed plan.

The opening ceremony was much grander than the launch ceremony.

The core area was covered with a red carpet, with a massive poster of The Grand Director as the backdrop, its design incorporating the movie's logo.

The poster in the center was similar to the one at the launch ceremony, but it was not the yin-and-yang design from that event.

Chen Kun, dressed in a bright red python pattern uniform, and Wu Jing, also in a formal feiyu uniform, stood side-by-side, their gazes subtly focused on a distant point.

In addition to these, there were several single-person and group posters, with the logo of the main producer, China Film Group, being the most prominent on each.

A long offering table covered with red velvet was placed at the very front.

On it sat the main camera model, Arriflex 435, covered with a red cloth, an incense burner, and traditional offerings such as fruits and pastries, though no roasted suckling pig.

On either side of the offering table were rest areas with dozens of neatly arranged folding chairs, designated for the main creative team and principal actors.

The surrounding area was cordoned off by a police line, but it was filled with cameras and recording equipment, with reporters having already secured advantageous positions. The setup was larger and more professional than that of the launch ceremony.

Media from entertainment, film, and social news sectors had gathered.

The flashbulbs were poised and ready.

The perimeter was a dense crowd of onlookers.

There were student volunteers in red, as well as crew members in uniforms with distinct logos, orderly film crew staff, other personnel from various productions at the base, tourists who had rushed over upon hearing the news, and local residents.

"Wow, Fan Bingbing is so beautiful, her face is so fair."

"Huang Xiaoming looks so spirited."

"Wu Jing still has that baby face, so young, so young." This was from an older woman.

"This crew is amazing, all big stars."

"Chen Hao is here too, and with Fan Bingbing, that's incredible!"

"That must be Shen Shanden, he's really young. His bold statement, 'A weak nation has no art,' is indeed very spirited."

Heads bobbed, and a buzz of conversation filled the air.

It wasn't just the audience; the celebrities and their agents present were also filled with emotion.

"Sister Xiaowan, I'm right to seize this opportunity, aren't I?"

Chen Kun's tone carried a hint of arrogance, which greatly disrupted his unique artistic temperament, a blend of melancholy and depth.

"Amazing."

Li Xiaowan exclaimed, unsure how to respond, only able to say that the younger generation was formidable.

Han Sanping personally attended, Chen Daoming made a cameo, and a host of stars including Chen Kun, Wu Jing, Fan Bingbing, Huang Xiaoming, and Chen Hao participated.

When the Grand Director crew visibly demonstrated its influence, even she, who had seen it all in the industry, couldn't help but be shaken.

This kind of gathering was actually put together by Shen Shanden.

"My fellow townsman is truly incredible."

Huang Xiaoming, dressed in a well-tailored casual suit, his hair meticulously styled, flashed a smile that was sunny yet carried a hint of deliberately maintained "handsomeness," secretly pleased with his choice.

Last month, he had joined Huayi. Because they couldn't invest, and Shen Shanden was close to Fan Bingbing, who had "betrayed" Huayi, they wanted him to withdraw from this project. Even the Li Bingbing sisters had put pressure on him.

Huang Xiaoming had refused. Such a move would offend too many people.

He had the strength to refuse; he wasn't an ordinary artist but a "number one young actor in the mainland" whose popularity was rapidly rising. He joined Huayi with expectations, but it was also a cooperative relationship.

However, although he liked to maintain good relationships, he also hoped the other party could demonstrate some real strength.

Now, it seemed Shen Shanden's demonstrated strength far exceeded his imagination.

"Director Han."

Huang Xiaoming, spotting an opening around Han Sanping, quickly jogged over and squatted down to chat with him, smiling like a simpleton from a wealthy family.

Fan Bingbing, radiating glamour, was dressed in a meticulously coordinated fashion ensemble.

It was both grand and practical, her makeup exquisite. She displayed her signature confident smile to the cameras, becoming one of the most dazzling stars on the scene.

Her departure from Huayi to form her own studio was a huge topic, and her appearance triggered screams from fans and a barrage of camera flashes from reporters.

But her gaze, from time to time, drifted towards the figure at the center of the crowd. That figure exuded an aura of unshakeable presence amidst the fleeting glares of light.

It contained the power of a mountain.

That power, she had experienced once again last night.

Fan Bingbing's eyes suppressed a fiery emotion. Shen Shanden was too formidable, his professional capabilities too strong, too solid.

Apple was unlikely to be released as expected, and this was a critical period for her to prove herself after leaving Huayi to go solo.

She sat with the industry's top dog, King of the Mountain Eagle, and excluding Chen Hao, she was surrounded by rising stars like Wu Jing, Huang Xiaoming, and Chen Kun, among other A-list celebrities.

There was also the usually low-key Chen Daoming. His presence was, in itself, a subtle endorsement of the project's quality and Shen Shanden, or rather, China Film.

Fan Bingbing's business acumen allowed her to capture immense benefits from this opening ceremony.

What was this?

This was top-tier industry connections, and a certification of status.

Moreover, the fame gained from this was legitimate, clean, and without any negative repercussions.

Fan Bingbing's gaze towards Shen Shanden was like that of the White Bone Demoness looking at Tang Sanzang; she couldn't help but swallow.

Their eyes met.

The "heartthrob" was as charming as ever, her smile sweet and friendly, her attire elegant and poised.

They sensed a familiar connection.

Chen Hao's eyes held a smile as she looked back.

Fan Bingbing and Chen Hao's gazes met politely and with restraint.

In a corner.

Da Mimi gazed at Shen Shanden, mesmerized, her worshipful eyes piercing and undisguised.

She was using her acting skills to tell everyone that this was her man.

Shen Shanden was flying too fast, making her feel insecure.

Da Mimi occasionally made eye contact with Fan Bingbing, Chen Hao, and others.

Chen Hao's smile froze slightly, then she acted as if nothing had happened.

After all, she was just greedy, but she hadn't actually done anything. She longed for a love she could be proud of, and she had her limits.

Taking advantage of small gains was just playing around, it didn't count.

Fan Bingbing's expression remained unchanged.

She hadn't stolen the other person's man.

She just occasionally had the right to use him for half an hour, an hour, or a few hours.

"Senior Brother."

Zhou Qifeng whispered that it was almost time.

Shen Shanden frowned slightly, "What are you calling me on set?"

"Director Shen," Zhou Qifeng immediately corrected himself. "Director, it's almost time."

Shen Shanden then nodded gently.