National Tide 1980.

Just as the two finished speaking, Patricia Casey couldn't help but speak up, asking for a role for herself.

Six years younger than Ning Weimin, she had a shy yet expectant look on her face, just like a child asking for candy, her eyes full of pleading.

"Can I play this female lead? Boss, I think your story is so interesting, and the female lead's personality is so similar to mine. I feel like Alice is me, I am Alice..."

Unfortunately, while her expression was undeniably charming, this girl seemed to have reversed the cause and effect of certain things.

Moreover, her appetite was a bit too big, completely ruining Ning Weimin's plans, and he really couldn't agree to her request.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I can't agree to that."

Ning Weimin shook his head somewhat awkwardly, his tone apologetic yet as gentle as possible.

"However, I can offer you another role, and you can sing the theme song if you want. Patricia, your voice is very distinctive; it can be both passionate and gentle, which is perfect for this movie. I will combine your vocal style to create a classic song that will be known worldwide, and I promise you won't be disappointed."

Despite this, Patricia Casey did not give up.

Perhaps, as she said, she loved the role so much that she crossed her arms, pouting in a more devout manner, her stubbornness undiminished.

“Boss, are you worried that my acting skills won’t be up to par because I’m not a professional actor? I’ll work hard. I’m already taking acting classes. Besides, my acting skills have improved a lot in ‘Taken.’ Catherine taught me a lot, and even the director praised my great progress when we were filming the second movie…”

Ning Weimin was quite helpless. Faced with the girl's persistence, he really didn't know how to refuse her.

Under the somewhat sympathetic gazes of those around him, he couldn't help but sigh, softening his tone as he patiently explained.

“Don’t say that, Patricia. To be honest, it has nothing to do with your acting skills. You did improve a lot in Taken, and we all saw it and were happy for you. But you’re the kind of girl who makes people know you’re confident and independent at a glance. You have a natural sharpness about you, which is different from the Alice I have in mind.”

He paused, his gaze focused, and looked at the other person earnestly as he explained further.

"The Alice I'm looking for isn't just superficial strength and independence; it's a kind of inner strength beneath a gentle exterior, growing step by step through cruel trials. Therefore, this character needs a strong sense of contrast—possessing a striking presence, able to show vulnerability and beauty in safe environments, but also daring to fight against fate, having a distinct personality, and unleashing astonishing courage and survival skills in dangerous situations. Only such a character is believable. To be honest, I already have a suitable candidate in mind; as long as that girl doesn't refuse, this role is perfect for her."

As he said this, his gaze unconsciously swept over Monica, who was sitting quietly to the side.

He glanced at her almost imperceptibly, his eyes carrying a hint of affirmation.

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the wine cellar instantly became subtle.

Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve, and other shrewd individuals followed Ning Weimin's gaze and immediately focused on Monica Bellucci.

Almost everyone instantly understood his implication—the person Ning Weimin had chosen was right in front of them, this stunningly beautiful and uniquely elegant Italian girl was the Alice in his heart.

So much so that Alain Delon, who loved to joke with him the most, held a wine glass, a playful smile on his lips, his gaze sweeping lightly over Monica, his tone full of teasing.

“Ning, you’ve always had good taste, and I have absolute faith in your aesthetic sense. It’s no wonder you’ve already decided on this girl, who has both a gentle appearance and a strong personality, without even considering giving Patricia a chance.”

As soon as he said that, a low chuckle rippled through the wine cellar.

Even Catherine Deneuve smiled and agreed, her eyes showing a hint of approval.

"Yes, based on Ning's description, this girl must be a girl with a special temperament, with a charm that can make people fall in love at first sight, gentle yet strong, which perfectly matches Alice's character."

Monica Bellucci, whose face was now the focus of everyone's attention, blushed instantly, her ears turning bright red, but she couldn't hide her radiant glow and her eyes filled with unbelievable surprise.

Although she had vaguely guessed before, she never dared to be sure. At this moment, Ning Weimin's hint and the reactions of others were undoubtedly a definite signal, making her almost unable to suppress her excitement. She felt her blood surging and her fingertips trembling slightly.

The problem is that, perhaps because she was too focused on the argument, or perhaps because she was too young and too persistent, Patricia, who was only focused on Ning Weimin and wanted to get the role, did not notice this detail at all.

Even at this moment, she still didn't understand the deeper meaning behind Ning Weimin's words, and with a hint of grievance and stubbornness, she tried to change Ning Weimin's mind.

"Boss, I can be very vulnerable too! I can create a sense of contrast!"

Her eyes were slightly red, and her voice trembled with emotion, "I can learn again, I can practice again. Whatever you ask of me, I can do it. Just give me one chance, okay? At least give me one audition so I can prove myself, please?"

Seeing the pleading look in Patricia's eyes, Ning Weimin couldn't bear to refuse her directly anymore.

There was no other way but to soften my tone and gently persuade her, like coaxing a child with a lollipop, my voice full of patience.

"Alright, Patricia, don't be sad. Although I can't let you play Alice, I can give you a better opportunity. I'll design a role specifically for you, allowing you to play yourself. How about that? For example, before the apocalypse, you're a dazzling pop star, adored by millions; after the apocalypse, you miraculously survive, and through your courage and wisdom, you meet Alice in a difficult situation, then work together, becoming her friend, fighting the crisis and finding a way to survive. This role allows you to simply be yourself on screen, with a significant amount of screen time, and it also allows you to showcase your strengths. What do you think?"

Having already put it this way, Patricia was rejected three times.

Even if she were stubborn, she should know that no matter how much she pleaded, it would probably be useless. Besides, most of the others were more worldly-wise than her, and they were all looking at her with gentle eyes, their gazes carrying a hint of persuasion and dissuasion.

For example, at this very moment, director Luc Besson spoke up at just the right time, taking the initiative to help Ning Weimin share his worries and also comforting Patricia.

"Patricia, don't be so willful. I agree with Ning's opinion. The female lead in this movie must be stunning and powerful, gentle yet sharp. Only this contrast can support Alice's transformation from an ordinary person to a hero in the apocalypse. It's really not suitable for you. I still look forward to you playing a role that suits you better. Don't worry, I will try my best to add some exciting scenes for you and make the character more complete and outstanding. I promise you won't be disappointed."

He paused, then added with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of goodwill, as if he were thinking of her best interests.

"Besides, shouldn't your career mainly focus on singing? Don't forget, this is a series of movies, which might take several years to film. Do you have that much time? What if it conflicts with creating a new album and holding a concert tour? I think you'd better just listen to me. The arrangements Ning has made for you are already enough to make people envious. You can play yourself in the movie and sing the theme song, which will increase your exposure and allow you to leverage your strengths. Isn't that a good thing?"

Hearing Luc Besson's words and seeing Ning Weimin's sincere eyes, Patricia's grievances and stubbornness gradually dissipated.

She herself began to realize that if she continued to beg, she would only appear immature and disappoint Ning Weimin and Luc Besson.

So she nodded gently, finally giving up her obsession. The disappointment in her eyes was gradually replaced by anticipation. She said softly, "Okay then, boss, I'll listen to you. Thank you, and Director Luc, I will definitely play this role well and won't let you down."

"That's right." Ning Weimin smiled and ruffled her hair, his tone gentle and doting. "Good girl, you'll definitely have the chance to be a leading actress in the future, I promise."

Monica, watching this scene, also wore a gentle and grateful smile.

She glanced at Ning Weimin discreetly. Although it was not appropriate for her to say anything from her perspective, her gratitude was evident in her eyes.

What just happened made her realize that Ning Weimin had given her not just a sky-high contract, but a ticket to the world's pinnacle, an opportunity for her to realize her dreams and shine.

Ning Weimin didn't say anything more. He simply nodded gently to Monica with a kind look, as a form of encouragement and affirmation, indicating that she didn't need to say anything more, as he already had his mind.

The atmosphere in the wine cellar returned to a relaxed and pleasant state.

Everyone started discussing the characters and filming details of "Resident Evil" with great enthusiasm, their tone full of anticipation, as if they could already see the movie becoming a global phenomenon.

However, at this moment, Catherine Deneuve gently set down her wine glass, appearing somewhat out of place. She not only abruptly interrupted the discussion, but her tone also carried a distinct seriousness, breaking the lively atmosphere: "Oh, wow, Ning, stop for a moment, everyone wait, let me hear what I have to say first..."

Ning Weimin looked at her with some confusion, seemingly not expecting her to suddenly stop him. "What's wrong, Catherine? Is there something you want to say?"

"I just want to ask, do you really intend to make this whole series of movies with such a huge investment? To be honest, until just now, I thought you were joking."

Catherine Deneuve's eyes were full of seriousness, and her tone was somewhat urgent, "I remember you just said that you might have to build a small town for filming. I really can't believe it, after all, the investment is too big and the risk is too high."

“I don’t understand…” Ning Weimin frowned and asked with some doubt, “Catherine, did you think I was just bragging? We’ve been old friends. When have you ever seen me bluff about investments? If I dare to say that, I must have enough confidence and preparation. I wouldn’t joke around with such a large amount of money.”

“Okay, I admit, the zombie story concept is quite good, and there are many creative and original parts. Ning, I really didn’t expect you to have thought this through to this extent.”

Catherine Deneuve nodded, her tone softening slightly, but still tinged with serious concern. "But... don't think I'm being a spoilsport, haven't you considered the risks? I have to remind you, the French film market is limited in size. Even if all the European countries combined, their box office revenue is less than half the size of the American market. That's why France can't make big-budget films like Hollywood—the market can't support such high costs."

She paused, then continued, her tone tinged with helplessness.

"Take this year's highest-grossing French film, for example. Even Hollywood's 'Dances with Wolves' only grossed around 230 million francs in France. Our 'Taken 2,' while a commercial film with good reviews and box office performance, was far less successful, only earning nearly 200 million francs. So, according to the principle of recouping costs at two and a half times, a film like 'Resident Evil,' with an investment of 200 million francs, would need to gross at least 500 million francs to break even. Do you think that number is realistic? Even if you could get the film released in Japan, it would probably be very difficult to achieve, right? After all, the Japanese film market is limited, and the acceptance of zombie themes in Japan is also an uncertain factor."

It must be said that Catherine Deneuve was truly an extraordinary woman; she was both emotional and rational.

Even though everyone says she is the most elegant and art-loving female celebrity in France, she is the one who manages to remain relatively clear-headed when everyone is a little too excited and immersed in beautiful dreams.

While everyone else was focused on their own interests and indulging in a beautiful vision, she alone saw the practical problems that others had overlooked and dared to speak out about the risks that no one else dared to mention.

“Catherine, you’ve certainly hit the nail on the head.”

Ning Weimin nodded approvingly, his tone becoming serious. "You're right, you've considered everything very thoroughly. Even if we combine the box office revenue from France and Japan, even if we make a blockbuster commercial film, it's difficult to reach 500 million francs. Breaking even is indeed a challenge. I remember when we made 'Crazy Rich Asians,' we invested 20 million US dollars, won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, and the box office revenue in Japan and France, plus income from Hong Kong and mainland China, barely broke even. The film ultimately made money mainly from the Southeast Asian distribution rights, videotape revenue, and the soundtrack album. Now, with the investment nearly doubling, the difficulty naturally increases exponentially. I'm not entirely confident that we won't lose money..."

Hearing Ning Weimin say the same thing, so frankly revealing his own shortcomings, was quite disheartening.

Suddenly, everyone looked at each other as if struck by a thunderbolt, their excitement and anticipation fading instantly, replaced by a sense of solemnity and worry.

The intense and enthusiastic discussion we had just been engaged in seemed to have been doused with cold water, and was quickly fading away.

At this moment, everyone had the same question popping into their minds: If you know that the risk is so great, that it is difficult to break even, and that you may even lose everything, then why do you still do it?
Why risk investing so much money in a film series with an uncertain future when there are safer and more profitable investment options available?

Unexpectedly, Ning Weimin turned out to be such a remarkable person.

As he changed the subject, he neatly filled in the hole he had dug for himself with his earlier words. (End of Chapter)