It's reasonable for me, a stuntman, to live a crazy life, right?

Chapter 1401 The Unemployed and the Weight Loss Miracle!
"Cameo? Sure! No problem! With Director Chen asking, what else is there to say?"

When Jiang Wen received Chen Fei's call, he agreed almost without hesitation, without even mentioning reading the script.

"Then thank you very much, Director Jiang."

Chen Fei thanked him with a smile, and after hanging up the phone, he immediately called Wang Shiliang: "Director Jiang agreed. Now, send him a copy of the script for 'Detective Chinatown 1990' and also coordinate with him on the specific start date for filming."

Wang Shiliang was pleasantly surprised and said, "Okay! Thank you, Director Chen, I'll get on it right away!"

After the communication was completed, Chen Fei put the matter out of his mind and continued to work on his tasks.

Unexpectedly, around noon, just as he finished his work and was about to go to the cafeteria for lunch, his phone rang again. It was Jiang Wen.

Over the phone, Jiang Wen's tone was full of praise: "You wrote a really good script! Bai Xuanling is a character with a lot of spirit, I like him."

As he spoke, he suddenly raised his voice and recited lines from the script: "If you could really change anything, we wouldn't have to cross oceans to beg for food at people's doors..."

The tone carried a hint of self-deprecation, yet also concealed a defiant spirit, perfectly conveying the character's helplessness and stubbornness.

As Chen Fei listened, the smile on his face slowly faded, and his expression began to look strange.

Something is wrong!
Something's definitely not right!
The way Jiang Wen read his lines, the way he delivered them, it all sounded sharp and edgy.

The character Bai Xuanling does indeed have a tragic undertone, but the script leans more towards a restrained and weathered quality.

But Jiang Wen's tone just now carried a hint of questioning about reality.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat!
Jiang Wen has always had his own style when filming, and he likes to hide some "personal touches" in his characters. After he handled the lines this way, will they be too forceful?
"Detective Chinatown 1990" is essentially a commercial film. Although it has some historical background, its core is still a detective comedy.

If the character Bai Xuanling is portrayed as too "aggressive," will the final cut be delayed because of this line when the film is submitted for review?

"Director Jiang," Chen Fei said cautiously, "do you think this way of handling the lines is appropriate?"

Jiang Wen laughed on the other end, seemingly knowing what he was worried about, and comforted him, "Haha, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. If this character doesn't have this kind of spirit, he'll just be a spineless old man, which is meaningless. I'm just helping you to bring the character to life."

"Alright, then take it easy..."

Chen Fei didn't say anything more, but after hanging up the phone, he felt a little uneasy.

He knew Jiang Wen's temperament; if he said she was measured, it was most likely true.

However, the degree of "appropriate measure" may not completely overlap with the review standards.

"Forget it, let's film it first." Chen Fei shook his head, temporarily suppressing his concerns. "If there are any problems, we can adjust them in post-production."

He then turned and left the office, walking towards the cafeteria, silently making a mental note of the incident.

I need to talk to Wang Shiliang later and prepare several versions of this scene, just in case...

……

That afternoon, while Chen Fei was handling other work, there was another gentle knock on the office door.

Shen Ao walked in carrying a stack of documents, a cautious smile on his face: "Director Chen, the project proposal for 'All or Nothing' is ready. Would you like to take a look?"

Unlike Wang Shiliang's casting dilemma, Shen Ao's project proposal already had the main roles finalized, awaiting only Chen Fei's final confirmation and signature.

"Okay, I'll take a look."

Chen Fei took the document and opened it to the first page, which contained the cast list.

Wang Jinsong plays Lu Bingkun, Yang Mi plays Liang Anna, Zhu Yilong plays Pan Sheng, and there are a group of young male and female actors who frequently collaborate with Feiyue Film & Television...

He flipped through the pages, his gaze lingering briefly on the character introductions and actors' biographies.

Wang Jinsong's calm and ruthless demeanor makes him a natural fit for the role of Lu Bingkun, the head of a fraud ring.

Zhu Yilong's gentle demeanor conceals a tenacious spirit, perfectly capturing the transformation of programmer Pan Sheng from being deceived to fighting back.

While Yang Mi hasn't achieved much in the film market in recent years, the role of Liang Anna, a model who is tricked into a dangerous situation, does fit her image...

Overall, the casting and the characters fit well, and there are no obvious problems.

Chen Fei picked up a pen and signed his name in the approval column at the end of the project proposal.

Shen Ao's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down the moment he saw the signature, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

When Yang Mi was initially recommended to play Liang Anna, there was some controversy within the team, as her previous idol drama image was too strong, and there were concerns that the audience would be distracted from the role.

Chen Fei's signing without objection not only signifies his approval of the entire casting plan but also sends a clear signal to him.

I can finally repay the favor I owed Yang Mi!
“Then I will proceed with the preparations based on this list.” Shen Ao put away the project proposal, his tone much lighter.

“Yes,” Chen Fei nodded, adding, “Don’t make realistic films too unrealistic, especially the details of fraud. Check with the police to ensure authenticity.”

"Don't worry, Director Chen, I've already contacted an advisor from the anti-fraud center, and they'll be providing guidance throughout the process." Shen Ao nodded in agreement and then briefly reported on the progress of the film crew's setup.

When are you planning to turn on your computer?

"The filming is tentatively scheduled for early May. The set construction and prop preparation are almost complete. We are just waiting for the actors' schedules to align. Zhu Yilong just finished filming his last project and needs two weeks to adjust, which will coincide with the start of filming."

Chen Fei nodded, tapping his finger lightly on the table. Suddenly remembering something, he asked, "By the way, is there a problem with Yang Mi's contract?"

There have been many rumors circulating online lately, saying that Yang Mi is going to break up with Jaywalk Studio and may even go to court.

If something goes wrong and affects the production schedule, it would undoubtedly be a major headache.

Shen Ao shook his head, his tone resolute: "Director Chen, don't worry, I've already inquired about this matter with her. Her contract with her original company expires at the end of this month, so there's no question of 'breaking up,' it's just a normal contract termination."

She's probably planning to open her own studio; she's already found a team, and the contract details are pretty much finalized, so it definitely won't delay her joining the production team.

At this point, he added, "I met with her new agent last week. She signed a contract under her own name, which has nothing to do with her original company. Even if there are any disputes later, they won't involve our production team."

Hearing this, Chen Fei didn't press further, simply saying, "That's good. Just focus on filming and don't get distracted by things off-set."

"Understood." Shen Ao replied, and seeing that there was nothing else, he took the signed project document and left.

Chen Fei continued with his current work.

Contract disputes are common in the industry, and he usually doesn't bother getting involved as long as it doesn't affect the progress of the project.

For him, an actor's professional ethics are far more important than off-screen news.

Yang Mi's willingness to step out of her comfort zone and take on realistic roles is itself a statement of attitude.
As for her career plans, that's ultimately her own business.

……

"The casting is finalized?!" When Yang Mi received the notification from Shen Ao, she was sitting in the preparation office of her new studio, discussing future plans with her team.

Upon hearing the news, she jumped up from her chair, her face beaming with barely suppressed joy, finally putting her mind at ease after a long period of anxiety.

"Yes, it's confirmed," Shen Ao replied with a smile.

"Great, the dust has finally settled."

Yang Mi's voice trembled with excitement.

In the past few months, she has been busy dealing with the termination of her contract with Jaywalk Studio while looking for suitable film and television projects, which has really worn her out.

Being able to successfully join Feiyue Films' "All In" is simply the best possible turning point!

Shen Ao added on the other end of the phone, "I'll send the complete script over. You should spend more time memorizing the script and thinking carefully about the character of Liang Anna..."

"Don't worry, Director Shen," Yang Mi quickly assured him, her tone firm. "I will definitely do my best and will absolutely not take on multiple projects at once."

She knew in her heart that she had not yet officially terminated her contract, and the company was not assigning her any work, which directly resulted in her being in a state of "unemployment".

The opportunity to receive an offer from Feiyue Films is extremely rare, and we absolutely cannot afford to mess it up.

The two chatted for a while about the filming plan and pre-production preparations.

Finally, Yang Mi hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking tentatively, "Director Chen... doesn't have any objections, right?"

She harbored a certain fear of Chen Fei, and was inevitably somewhat uneasy, fearing that she might not meet his expectations.

“Director Chen didn’t say anything,” Shen Ao replied truthfully. “He just asked about your contract termination and made sure it wouldn’t affect filming.”

"That's good, that's good." Yang Mi breathed a sigh of relief, her tense nerves completely relaxing.

As long as Chen Fei agrees, she is confident that she can prove herself in this project!
After hanging up the phone, Yang Mi was still immersed in joy and paced back and forth in her office.

Joining Feiyue Films' project this time is of great significance to her.

This not only means being able to participate in a high-quality film, but also means that in the future, it is very likely that you will be able to board the big ship of Flying Leap Films and obtain more high-quality cooperation opportunities!
The more she thought about it, the more she felt that leaving Jaywalk Studio was definitely the best decision she had ever made.

Shedding the old shackles, I finally know who I am!
Meanwhile, just as Yang Mi was thrilled to have landed a new role, the crew of "Hot and Spicy," directed by Jia Ling, quietly began filming.

There was no grand opening ceremony, no media press releases, and not even a few leaked photos. It was as low-key as "If You Are the One 3," barely making a ripple in the industry.

This was something Jia Ling did intentionally.

Because what she wanted was the effect of "remaining silent until the moment of truth, then making a stunning debut!"

During the day, she directs filming with great efficiency; at night, while others finish work and rest, she plunges into the gym, working with a personal trainer to lose weight and handle work...

"Sister Ling, the variety show interview team is confirming the time again." The assistant carefully handed her the schedule.

"Cancel it." Jia Ling wiped her sweat, without looking up. "Don't schedule any interviews or events for the next few months."

The assistant hesitated for a moment: "But what about the advertising spaces we booked before..."

"Turn them all down." Jia Ling emphasized, "From now on, don't give me any work. I'll only act in movies, and I won't show my face before the movie is released."

She really went all out to market the movie!

"Hot and Spicy" requires going from fat to thin, but what she wants is success!
She understands her film audience very well. As long as the quality isn't too bad, she can just go all out with marketing her weight loss and naturally attract a lot of support from "independent women".

From weighing over 200 pounds to losing 80 pounds, from fat to thin, from comedian to goddess...

Isn't this exactly what those "independent women" fantasize about every day?
Although most of them can't do it, they dream and immerse themselves in the movie!

that's enough!
"Okay." The assistant nodded and left.

A short while later, there was a knock on the door of the lounge.

Jia Ling was wiping sweat in front of the mirror when she heard this and instantly tensed up, raising her voice warily, "Who is it?"

From the moment she decided to use "weight loss" as the biggest gimmick for the movie, she set a rule: her image during the weight loss period must not be revealed in the slightest!

If someone were to be photographed now showing off their bloated figure or struggling during their weight loss journey, and then release a before-and-after photo of them "losing weight to 80 pounds" when the movie is released, the impact would be greatly diminished, and all the previous marketing efforts would be wasted. That would truly be a loss.

"It's me, Xiaofei." Zhang Xiaofei's voice came from outside the door, tinged with a hint of caution.

Jia Ling breathed a sigh of relief and went to open the door: "Why are you here?"

Zhang Xiaofei walked in and immediately noticed Jia Ling's sweat-soaked workout clothes and flushed cheeks. She couldn't help but feel sorry for her and said, "I just came from the film set. My assistant told me you've been training again... Are you really going to lose weight to 80 pounds in a few months? That's too much."

Jia Ling picked up a towel and wiped her neck, nodding vigorously: "Of course, what's said is said."

"How is that even possible?" Zhang Xiaofei frowned slightly.

She knows Jia Ling's physique too well. She has a high starting weight and doesn't like to exercise. It's simply a fantasy that she could lose so much weight in a short period of time.

"Why not?" Jia Ling chuckled and winked mysteriously at her. "I have a magical artifact."

"A divine artifact? What kind of divine artifact?" Zhang Xiaofei asked curiously as she leaned closer.

Jia Ling turned and pointed to the gym bag in the corner, pulled out a white pill bottle from it, and shook it: "This is it."

Zhang Xiaofei leaned closer to take a look, and the words "Simeglucopyranoside" on the label stood out. She was immediately stunned: "Isn't this... a diet pill? You're relying on this?"

"Otherwise what?" Jia Ling stuffed the medicine bottle back into her bag, her tone nonchalant. "How can exercise and dieting be effective so quickly? A few of these pills will kill your appetite and make you lose weight very fast."

“But wouldn’t this betray the realism of weight loss? The movie is supposed to show you gradually losing weight, right? Using medication…”

“Who cares?” Jia Ling suddenly laughed, her laughter tinged with sarcasm. “What moviegoers want to see is the shocking contrast of me losing weight from 200 pounds to 80 pounds, the exhilarating feeling of an ‘inspirational comeback.’ Who really cares whether I lost weight through exercise or medication? The process doesn’t matter, only the result matters.”

She patted Zhang Xiaofei on the shoulder, her tone tinged with pride: "When the movie is released, everyone will see how thin I am and will only praise my willpower. Who will bother to find out what methods I used? If the box office is a hit, it will all be worth it."

Zhang Xiaofei stood still, without saying anything more.

Under the lights, Jia Ling's face still had a rosy glow from exercising, but her eyes gleamed with calculation.

That desire for viewership and box office revenue was almost overflowing!

The person in front of her seemed to be the same best friend she knew, yet also seemed completely different.

The Jia Ling who used to joke about being "cutely fat" and laugh on set is gone. In her place is a shrewd and mercenary woman who will stop at nothing for marketing.

Zhang Xiaofei silently looked away, feeling a heavy weight pressing on her chest, making her feel suffocated. In the end, she could only sigh softly and say nothing more...

(End of this chapter)