The opening of China Entertainment Group gave Jay Chou a head-on confrontation

Chapter 920 Olympic Games Completion Gift Pack

"How's it going? Is it done?"

Beijing, Zhang Yimou's studio.

As soon as Zhang Yimou hung up the phone, Zhang Jigang, a member of the opening ceremony's directing team and one of the assistant directors, asked a follow-up question.

As the deputy director of the propaganda department of the General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe, he attached great importance to the possibility of inviting Zhou Yi to join the troupe, after all, Zhou Yi was a world-class superstar who grew up on his own land, the kind that is unique.

Back in 01, before the I Ching had gone international, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games had already made contingency plans after the city's successful bid for the Games. In terms of music and performing artists, they had to look abroad and consider whether to learn from the advanced experiences of other countries and find a well-known foreign singer to participate.

It has a big reputation, after all, because it's known worldwide.

But not anymore.

Zhou Yi is now so well-known that everyone in the world knows him, and his name, the Phoenix, resounds throughout the Western world. Why go to the trouble of finding someone else when you already have a homegrown, world-class male singer?

The only concern is that Zhou Yi might not dare to take the job, since the pressure is indeed immense and it has risen to another level.

“Agreed. He will not only be a performing singer, but also the music director for the opening ceremony.” Zhang Yimou nodded, and his answer brought smiles of surprise to some of the directing team members who had been waiting for his news in the studio.

They had originally prepared to "open the window" by first asking Zhou Yi to be the music director for the opening ceremony, and if he declined, they would then invite him to be a guest performer at the opening ceremony.

I never expected this young man, Zhou Yi, to be so courageous—

Yes, I have guts.

In their eyes, Zhou Yi's action of agreeing to everything without the slightest refusal was indeed very courageous.

Don't assume that because the Olympics are so important, these key positions will be highly sought after—in reality, many people will choose to give them up due to excessive pressure.

They also came into contact with many potential partners in Zhouyi, but nearly half of them found various excuses to get away.

For example, their originally appointed music director, Tan Dun, is unwilling to take over, preferring to stay in the Olympic music group, claiming to focus on making music. In reality, however, he's insecure and afraid to take full responsibility.

Without the I Ching, this matter would have dragged on until the end of May 2007. With Tan Dun still unwilling to budge, Zhang Yimou had no choice but to turn to his old partner Chen Qigang and persuade him to take on the role.

At this time, there were only one year and two months left before the official start of the 08 Olympics, and time was very tight.

When Zhang Yimou approached Chen Qigang, the latter was quite surprised, after all, he thought the music director was his old classmate Tan Dun.

“The responsibilities of a music director and a solo performer are different. A music director needs to handle and arrange the music for the entire show. Zhou Yi has no experience with large-scale galas before. Would it seem like we are being too eager for quick success and forcing him to take charge?”

Chen Weiya, the current artistic director and deputy head of the National Song and Dance Troupe, a professor and master's supervisor at the Beijing Dance Academy, and another assistant director of the opening ceremony, frowned and raised his doubts.

He actually preferred to continue talking to Tan Dun, but he couldn't resist the fact that Zhang Yimou was the chief director and had also joined forces with Zhang Jigang to determine the I Ching.

"I believe in Zhou Yi's abilities; his intuition and sensitivity to pure music far surpass that of ordinary people. Most importantly, he has boundless energy and is capable of handling the musical manuscripts received by the Organizing Committee..." Zhang Yimou pulled out his trump card—

energy.

The immense power of the I Ching needs no further explanation.

To be able to persevere with such an intense workload of releasing two albums a year is nothing short of a miracle in the history of world pop music. And what's needed most as the music director for the Olympics is sheer energy.

After all, with so many music manuscripts, the music director needs to screen, evaluate, arrange, and record them one by one, which undoubtedly requires a lot of energy from the position.

Zhou Yi could do without composing instrumental music, since there are so many composers submitting their work. All he has to do is screen them all and arrange them appropriately.

"..."

Chen Weiya hesitated, but finally sighed helplessly and backed down.

Now that things have come to this, we can only choose to trust the I Ching: "Let's hope he can truly shoulder this responsibility..."

China Film Group also has its eyes on Zhou Yi.

The following morning, Han Sanping of China Film Group, one of the producers of the Olympic biographical documentary film "One Man's Olympics," proactively called Cheng Hao.

"This is a film commemorating the Olympics, mainly to recreate the scene of Liu Changchun traveling across the ocean to participate in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932. We started planning and preparing to shoot this film in 2004."

"Everything is almost ready now, and we'd like to ask Zhou Yi to write a theme song for the movie..."

In short, I know this assignment is difficult and the burden is heavy, but Zhou Yi is indeed the best candidate that China Film Group can think of right now—he is politically reliable, famous, and of high quality.

Even if Zhou Yi doesn't sing it, it doesn't matter; he just needs to write it down.

...............................

"You're both the theme song for a biographical film and the music director for the Olympics. Can you manage all that? If not, I'll turn down the theme song for this biographical film."

Cheng Hao's voice came through the phone. Zhou Yi, who was on the set of the music video shoot in the United States, found a quiet corner: "It's normal for people to contact me for anything related to the Olympics. There's nothing I can do about it, I'm just so popular."

"Stop showing off, I'm serious."

Cheng Hao's voice was very calm: "With the Olympics approaching, once you start this, the task on your shoulders will only get heavier and heavier, not easier. You might not even have time to prepare an album."

You can tell just by looking at the photos; it's Zhang Yimou.

He already had plenty of energy, but after being confirmed as the chief director of the 08 Olympics, he immediately suspended his new film project.

According to industry insiders, "Curse of the Golden Flower" was a project Zhang Yimou initiated before being confirmed as the chief director of the Olympics. Filming took place in 05, and this film will be his last film in recent years.

"If there's no time, there's no time. We'll see later. The Olympic events are the priority." Although it's an open-book exam with the answers in hand, Zhou Yi can't guarantee that he'll be able to release the new album on time.

The perfect answer key only gives him enough confidence to face all music-related Olympic events.

If anything were to happen, everything would definitely give way to the Olympics – this is considered an industry norm, given that the number of entertainment industry figures gathered for the 08 Olympics was unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated.

This is a microcosm of an era, and a most direct manifestation of the national cohesion in the new era.

Before and after the 2008 Olympics, the spirit and outlook of China in all aspects underwent a dramatic transformation compared to the past.

To put it bluntly, if it weren't for the importance of the 08 Olympics, he would have retired long ago.

After all, this is the home Olympics. As the top superstar who came from the local entertainment industry, it would be unreasonable for him to not participate now, given how much official publicity he has received in the past.

Zhang Yimou's career was secured for life because of the opening ceremony of the 08 Olympics.

"...Then 'One Man's Olympics'?"

“Tell Han Sanping that I accepted the offer. We are now in a cooperative relationship. If I accept it so readily, he will make things easier for us in the future. He can ask for less money or even no money at all. I don’t need that much.”

This kind of biographical film has a limited budget, so it's just passable. Zhou Yi doesn't think the production company can offer a high price.

"...Let's set a minimum price of 100 million, and set an example for other companies in the same industry."

Cheng Hao paused for a moment, then suggested, "You can't refuse. If you refuse, it might put some people in a difficult position. Setting a limit of 100 million will actually make things easier for all the people in charge of Olympic-related projects..."

This is, after all, a commercial project, so it wouldn't make sense to offer it for free.

Since it's a commercial project, and even someone as world-class as Zhou Yi only takes 100 million RMB, others in the entertainment industry naturally have a benchmark to refer to. And for those who don't understand—no matter how famous you are, can you be more famous than Zhou Yi? As a producer who has already produced a commercial film, Cheng Haokan's perspective on the issue has subtly changed compared to the past: "As for the 100 million, you can donate it directly after you take it."

It's neither a public welfare project nor a traditional national tribute film; it's pretty much a solution where a symbolic fee is charged.

"Okay, you can talk to Han Sanping about this. I'll give you the requirements for the theme song when I get back."

Zhou Yi hung up the phone without feeling any psychological pressure.

The movie "One Man's Olympics" didn't get many viewers, but its theme song, "Stand Up," was arguably the second most popular Olympic song of 08, second only to "Welcome to Beijing."

The collaboration between Cheng Long, Wang Lihong, Han Hong, and Sun Yanzi brought this song directly to every household.

Those who don't know might think this song is the opening ceremony song, after all, "Me and You" really doesn't have much prestige, and it was met with a lot of criticism and a terrible reputation when it was first released.

In terms of quality alone, the song "Me and You" doesn't really deserve this criticism, but the atmosphere of the performance is completely at odds with the vibrant atmosphere of the Olympic opening ceremony...

Zhou Yi plans to bring over the 2009 "SD Province Song" "We Are Family" to replace "Me and You" for the opening ceremony. The song's enthusiastic style is perfect for the opening ceremony, since it was originally the song for the 11th National Games opening ceremony.

"Though separated by thousands of miles, our hearts are united in spirit"—this is far more suitable to be sung at the opening ceremony of the 08 Olympics than "My heart and yours are connected, we live in the same global village."

As for the classic Chinese cultural elements in the song "We Are Family," they far surpass those in "Me and You."

Mount Tai, where the Fengshan ceremony was performed;
The Yellow River, the mother river;
East Sea, Sages, and the Nine Provinces.

This place is full of Chinese symbols.

If you simply remove the "Yimeng Mountain Ballad" that deliberately emphasizes the regional characteristics from the song, it would fit perfectly into a grand international event like the Olympic Games opening ceremony.

It's fine not to remove it, after all, Shandong folk tunes are also part of Chinese music culture.

As the old saying goes, what is national is also international.

We can make both versions and let the higher-ups choose which one to use.

Don't ask Zhou Yi, a Jiangxi native, how he knows about Shandong folk songs. The answer is Cheng Hao's influence—Cheng Hao is a genuine Shandong native!
Anyway, everyone in the circle knows about Cheng Hao's relationship with him, so it's perfectly reasonable.

A son-in-law from Shandong can be considered half a Shandong native!

As for the other occasions...

According to Zhou Yi, "Heaven and Earth Dragon Scales" is more suitable for a solo performance at the "Olympic Countdown Temple of Heaven Concert."

"This land, I begin with my pen, and the bloodline of the nation stretches for thousands of miles."

"For centuries, over six hundred years, the descendants of the dragon have weathered countless storms..."

The relationship between the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven needs no further explanation. Using the imagery of the Forbidden City, the image stands atop the Temple of Heaven and sings to the heavens: "I inherit, deeply cultivate culture, and break through changes to turn the tide."

The reason why the 08 Olympics received such great attention is that China needs to use this opportunity to showcase itself to the world, break through the Western stigmatization of China, and turn the tide.

Specifically, Zhou Yi, the singer, is also one of those who broke through Western limitations.

After the 08 Olympics, the Spring Festival Gala in early 09, his last before retiring, would be more suitable to use the song "As You Wish," as that was a time when national sentiment and pride were at their peak.

"And I will love the world you love, and wish you the smiles you desire."
"May our efforts not be in vain, may we forge ahead bravely, for every single day of this prosperous age..."

When I finish writing "As You Wish," I can also slip a copy of "The Nation" to my older sister.

The song goes, "A piece of jade represents China, a tile forms a home; everyone says the country is vast, but it's really just one home."

Many people may think that this classic patriotic song was written in the last century or the beginning of this century, but that is not the case. This song, "The Nation," was written in 09 as a tribute song.

The project was conceived by the original team behind "Welcome to the Capital" from 08, with Wang Lihong and Yu Binghan serving as producers.

When he retires in early 09, he only needs to hand it over to his eldest sister to sing on the Spring Festival Gala, which can also serve as a main theme song to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

He sang "As You Wish," followed by his older sister's "The Nation"—his Spring Festival Gala buff was maxed out.

Thus, his final dance came to a perfect end.

He cleared this most important Olympic hurdle in one life, and now he can enjoy his retirement in peace.

From 06 to 08, Zhou Yi had meticulously planned his retirement process, and was just about to refine it when a call came from nearby—

"Spike, the Olsen sisters have arrived."

"Have we arrived? I know."

Coming to his senses, Zhou Yi nodded, and then the Olsen sisters appeared before him, led by staff members.

To be honest, she's not very good-looking, at least not as good-looking as Elizabeth Olsen, who played Scarlet Witch, and she doesn't even have the same figure.

No wonder she lost her popularity after growing up; child stars who became famous in their childhood are most afraid of growing up to be ugly.

"Mr. Zhou, hello, I am..."

The Olsen sisters, who introduced themselves confidently, were also observing Zhou Yi, mainly because they were hoping to curry favor with him. Zhou Yi had a notorious reputation; what if…?

However, Zhou Yi's businesslike attitude completely baffled the two of them; he offered absolutely no hints...

This is very unusual in Hollywood.

At least those two sisters have the advantage of being a child star duo...

As it turned out, Zhou Yi was fine. After the interview, he met the requirements and started filming immediately. After filming, he took a private jet back to China without any delay.

There are no unspoken rules or hints.

"Really? Isn't Spike supposed to be a lecherous monster?"

The Olsen family home.

Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Olsen was quite surprised to hear her two older sisters talking: "Is it all just media smear campaigns?"

"Who knows? Anyway, Spike is much more respectable than he appears in the news."

The older sister seemed to have thought of something: "Elizabeth, don't you also want to get into the industry? When Spike shoots another music video next year, you can submit your resume to Warner and give it a try."

"also."

Seeing the unanimous praise Spike gave to him by his two older sisters, Elizabeth Olsen, feeling curious, thought for a moment and nodded: "I'll give it a try next year."

Although she could be considered a child star, she was actually struggling last year with whether or not to attend university normally.

It wasn't until this year that she decided to study acting at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, with her aim of entering the entertainment industry, given that her physical advantages far surpass those of her two older sisters.

(End of this chapter)