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

Chapter 1405: The Three-Body Problem Project Officially Launched! 30 Billion! A Sensation Across the Internet!

Feiyue Films has released its latest film project approval announcement:

"Today, the Chinese science fiction film and television industry has ushered in a historic moment! The film 'The Three-Body Problem,' adapted from Liu Cixin's landmark science fiction masterpiece and presented by Feiyue Film and Television, directed by Chen Fei himself, has been officially announced!"

This work, which carries the expectations of hundreds of millions of book fans, will focus on the fate of three core characters: Ye Wenjie, Luo Ji, and Cheng Xin. With a grand narrative spanning centuries, it will unveil the interstellar epic concerning the survival of human civilization on Earth and the Trisolaran civilization.

From the clandestine radio waves of the Red Coast Base to the silent struggle of Project Wallfacer, and then to the choice of civilization on a cosmic scale, the film will reconstruct a shocking world on the big screen that is both full of hard science fiction imagination and deeply rooted in the struggle of humanity.

The film is expected to have a production cost of no less than 30 billion RMB, of which more than 60% will be used for visual effects and set construction.

Feiyue Film & Television has reached a deep cooperation agreement with Shanhe Film & Television City, and plans to build a 'Three-Body World' real-life base covering an area of ​​over 50 square meters.

A 1:1 scale replica of the Red Coast Base radio telescope array will pierce the sky, and a special effects studio simulating the extreme climate of the Trisolaran planet can instantly switch between 'three suns in a row' and 'a stable era and a chaotic era'.

The iconic scene in "Operation Guzheng" where nano-blades cut through a giant ship will be presented through a combination of real-life set construction and CG technology, delivering a visually stunning experience that will defy conventional understanding!
Since its inception, director Chen Fei has led the screenwriting team to spend a year polishing the script, revising it seven times in order to balance the hard science fiction core with the humanistic core.

Meanwhile, the special effects will be strongly supported by Dianjing Digital, and together with top international forces such as Weta Digital and Industrial Light & Magic, a special research and development project on the 'Three-Body Universe Physics Engine' will be launched to strive to make famous scenes such as 'cosmic flicker' and 'two-dimensional attack' break through the 'imagination ceiling' and present them to the audience with scientific and rigorous visual language.

As another assault on world-class standards by Chinese science fiction films, the initiation of the Three-Body Problem project is not only the beginning of a film, but also a cinematic expedition about civilization, courage and the future!
As the warning 'Do not answer' echoes throughout the universe, this war of civilizations spanning light-years will finally awaken everyone's interstellar imagination on the big screen!
Stay tuned for – [Flying Leap Films].

When the name of "The Three-Body Problem" appeared on the list of approved scripts by the Film Bureau, many people had a premonition that there might be big moves in the industry.

The announcement from Feiyue Film & Television instantly caused a huge uproar both inside and outside the industry!
An astronomical investment of no less than 30 billion yuan, the trump card combination of Chen Fei and "The Three-Body Problem", and an unprecedented real-life base plan...

Every single detail above clearly proclaims: This film is destined to redefine the boundaries of Chinese science fiction!

In an instant, the entire internet was in an uproar!

"Holy crap! The Three-Body Problem is actually getting a film adaptation?! After all these years, it's finally been approved!"

"We were just talking about AI-powered sci-fi movies, and now this bombshell has dropped! If AI technology were used in the special effects of 'The Three-Body Problem,' would it be considered a masterpiece?"

"The stories of Ye Wenjie, Luo Ji, and Cheng Xin... condensing them into a movie is so exciting! I just hope they don't drastically alter the original!"

"I thought 'The Wandering Earth' was already pretty awesome, but I didn't expect Director Chen to pull out all the stops."

"I knew it! How could Chen Fei, that quick-draw guy, possibly stop? Turns out he was waiting here."

Sci-fi fans were in an uproar, and industry insiders also turned their attention to the issue.

As a milestone in Chinese science fiction literature, the difficulty of adapting "The Three-Body Problem" into a film or television series has long been an open secret.

The official launch of this project not only signifies enormous technical challenges, but also carries the expectations of countless people!

……

At this time, Zhang Yimou's studio.

The morning sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Zhang Yimou, who had just finished the follow-up work on "Man Jiang Hong", was sitting at his desk piled with documents, flipping through a thick stack of case studies.

This is material for a new project led by the Supreme People's Procuratorate, which requires a focus on judicial fairness and the promotion of the concept that "the law cannot yield to illegality."

He plans to take this opportunity to challenge himself with realistic themes again, using his camera to record the human stories hidden behind the law.

However, at this moment, the tablet screen on the corner of the table was lit up, and the news headline it was pushing was particularly eye-catching:

Feiyue Films officially announced the development of "The Three-Body Problem," with Chen Fei as director and a 30 billion yuan investment to create a new sci-fi epic!

Zhang Yimou's gaze lingered on the words "30 billion yuan investment" for a long time, his eyes darting over the words "50 square meters of real-life set" and "international top special effects team" on the screen, and he gradually stopped flipping through case studies.

He picked up the tablet, looked closely at Chen Fei's name, and then glanced at the descriptions about "real-life Red Coast Base" and "cosmic blinking special effects development." He remained silent for a moment, then gently placed the tablet back on the corner of the table, a complex expression on his face.

Seeing that he hadn't moved for a while, the assistant director next to him asked softly, "Director Zhang, do you think this story of 'appeal for retrial' in the case could be used as the main storyline?"

Zhang Yimou snapped out of his reverie, shook his head, but didn't answer directly. Instead, he gazed at the horizon outside the window, his tone tinged with a touch of melancholy: "I'm really getting old, I can't keep up with the times anymore."

The assistant director paused for a moment, then realized he was referring to the news about "The Three-Body Problem," and quickly smiled and smoothed things over: "You're delving into realistic themes, which is different from their science fiction approach."

Besides, a 30 billion yuan investment is a huge undertaking; anyone would think twice before doing it, only Chen Fei would dare to do something like this.

“It’s not a question of whether we dare to or not.” Zhang Yimou picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of warm tea. “It’s just that times have really changed.”

Back when we were making movies, we had to be very careful with investments of a few hundred thousand yuan. We were afraid of exceeding the budget if we made an extra take. But these young people today can spend 3 billion yuan in no time, building bases, doing research and development, and telling stories to the stars. It's unimaginable..."

The assistant director opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.

He really wanted to refute this, saying it wasn't that young directors these days are bold, but that Chen Fei is just too awesome!
But fearing to hurt Zhang Yimou's pride, they could only remain silent.

Zhang Yimou remained silent for a long time, then sighed: "I'm still better suited to filming the land beneath my feet and the rules in people's hearts. Those universes and interstellar spaces are too grand; my brain can't handle them."

Despite saying that, there was no disappointment in his eyes, but rather a sense of relief.

Every era has its own films; some look up at the stars and build science fiction universes, while others are rooted in the earth and record the myriad aspects of human life.

He's too old to make big-budget films anymore, so he can only focus on realistic things.

As for "pioneering and enterprising," let's leave that to the more talented young directors.

...

At the same time, in Chen Kaige's studio.

The editor had just exported the final version of "The Chinese People's Volunteer Army: Mighty Army Strikes Back," and the screen was still frozen on the image of the Volunteer Army soldiers charging forward.

Chen Kai rubbed his throbbing temples, picked up his cold coffee, and was about to get up and stretch when a news pop-up suddenly appeared on his phone.

The title of the announcement for the approval of the "Three-Body Problem" project was particularly glaring!

He opened the announcement and read it word by word, his eyes repeatedly scanning over the words "30 billion investment," "directed by Chen Fei," and "international special effects team." A sharp resentment flashed in his eyes, and his fingers even unconsciously tightened their grip on his phone.

"Science fiction...it's science fiction again..."

He muttered to himself, recalling that he had thought about touching on this kind of subject matter in his early years, but always put it off for various reasons.

Seeing Chen Fei's impressive deployment right away, their competitive spirit ignited like a flame!

Why are young people able to cause such a stir?

He wanted to give it a shot! He wanted to show the world that he might be capable of making such a grand narrative.

But as soon as this thought popped into my head, reality threw cold water on it.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, tossed his phone onto the table with a dull thud.

My family knows their own affairs.

Filming "The Chinese People's Volunteer Army" was no easy task. Post-production underwent over a dozen revisions to recreate the atmosphere of the battlefield, and even so, market reception remains uncertain. If he were to tackle a cosmic-level subject like "The Three-Body Problem," he might not be able to fully grasp its science fiction core concepts such as the "dark forest theory" and "dimensional attacks."

Not to mention those special effects scenes that require top-notch technology, his team probably can't even get close to the basics.

Even if he were confident he could make a good film, who would be willing to invest 30 billion in him?
Over the years, his works have received mixed reviews, with films like "Monk Comes Down the Mountain" and "The Orphan of Zhao" generating constant controversy. Investors are no longer as obedient to him as they used to be.

No one dares to bet 30 billion on an "uncertain" director.

Seeing his expression, Chen Hong, who was sitting next to him, handed him a cup of hot tea: "Old Chen, don't think too much. Our 'Volunteer Army' will definitely have a good reputation."

Chen Kaige took the teacup, his fingertips touching the warm cup. The resentment gradually subsided, eventually turning into a long sigh.

"Times have really changed..." he said softly, his tone tinged with melancholy.

Young people have their own battlefield, and perhaps he really should accept his own pace.

The phone screen was still lit. The announcement of the Three-Body Problem project was like a mirror, reflecting the distance between ambition and reality.

He closed the page and sat back down at the editing table, but this time, when his gaze fell on the faces of the volunteer soldiers, there was a more complex feeling in his eyes.

……

As evening approached, Feng Xiaogang finished a day's filming and walked out of the film set.

His assistant handed him a thermos, which he unscrewed and took two sips. The dryness in his throat eased slightly, and a rare tired but relaxed smile appeared on his face.

Today's filming went smoothly without any mishaps, which put him in a great mood.

Immediately afterwards, he took the phone from his assistant to check the time.

But then, a news notification popped up on the screen, causing him to freeze in place.

The announcement of the Three-Body Problem project was like a stone thrown into my eyes!
He subconsciously clicked on it, his finger swiping across the glaring numbers and words: "30 billion investment," "directed by Chen Fei," "real-life location," "international special effects team"...

At that moment, he froze on the spot, the thermos slipped from his hand and smashed on the ground with a "thud," spilling water all over the floor, but he was completely unaware.

My vision gradually blurred, and descriptions of "Red Coast Base" and "Cosmic Flash" flashed before my eyes. I could almost hear the clamor of netizens discussing "a new era of Chinese science fiction."

He flipped through the pages, looking at the almost insane plans announced by Feiyue Films, and at the industry's expectations for the film. His straight back suddenly hunched over, as if crushed by an invisible weight.

The setting sun was slowly sinking, turning the sky a deep orange-red.

The afterglow fell on him, casting a long, lonely shadow.

The dazzling sunset, as he saw it now, seemed to be silently announcing the end of an era.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered the high spirits he had when he was filming "The Dream Factory" and "Assembly", and the attention he received when the box office broke records.

But now?

The failure of "Hachiko" still feels like a thorn in my heart.

The announcement of the "Three-Body Problem" project is like a mirror, reflecting his distance from the film market.

Young directors are already making 30 billion dollar sci-fi blockbusters, discussing the universe and civilization.

But he is still struggling with the box office and critical reception of realistic dramas.

It's not that I'm not trying, it's just that... I really can't keep up.

The assistant carefully picked up the dented thermos and tentatively asked, "Director Feng, shall we go back to the hotel?"

Feng Xiaogang didn't respond, but just stared blankly at the orange-red sky.

A breeze blew by, carrying the coolness of the evening. He subconsciously hugged his arms, as if that could ward off the sense of powerlessness of being left behind by the times.

This sky once witnessed his glory, but now it only reflects the back of a figure that can't keep up with the pace.

……

Meanwhile, the conference room at Feiyue Film and Television was brightly lit.

As soon as the teams from Xi'an Film Studio and Enlight Media sat down, a preliminary cooperation plan for the "Three-Body Problem" project was laid out on the table.

Chen Fei personally attended the event and gave an introduction, creating a very lively atmosphere.

"Director Chen's move is truly bold and decisive. Only Feiyue would dare to take on a 30 billion yuan project!" Wang Changtian said with a smile as he flipped through the documents. "We at Enlight Media are willing to contribute 5 million yuan, without getting involved in the creative process. We just want to get a piece of the action."

The head of Xi'an Film Studio hurriedly replied: "Although Xi'an Film Studio has limited resources, it can still afford to invest 200 million yuan. Moreover, we have several old film studios that we can utilize, and our technical team can provide support at any time. We must participate in a project like 'The Three-Body Problem,' which can be written into the history of Chinese cinema."

Chen Fei responded with a smile: "Thank you both for coming..."

During the exchange of pleasantries, a sudden surge of emotion welled up within him.

Back when he made his first commercial blockbuster, Han Sanping was still working at China Film Group, while Ren Zhonglun was working at Shanghai Film Group.

Back then, whenever he had a new project, people from China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group would always come to him immediately, either to invest in him or to coordinate resources. Their tone carried the encouragement of seniors to juniors, as well as the confidence of state-owned enterprises.

Back then, when we collaborated, the idea was to "join forces and expand the market."

But now?

For a project of the caliber of "The Three-Body Problem," China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group have long been ineligible to participate.

The strained relationship is one aspect, and the changing industry landscape is another.

Private companies have risen rapidly, while the pace of large state-owned factories has gradually slowed down. They are now separated by an invisible wall, polite and distant, and the warmth of the past is gone.

"Director Chen?" Wang Changtian's voice brought him back to reality.

"It's alright." Chen Fei smiled, collected his thoughts, and opened the cooperation agreement. "Let's talk about the specific division of labor. Xi'an Film Studio's photography base can be used to build part of the exterior scenes for the 'Red Coast Base,' and Enlight Media's distribution channels..."

As night deepened outside the window, the sounds of discussion rose and fell in the conference room.

The people from Xi'an Film Studio and Enlight Media had anticipation for the project in their eyes, and Chen Fei was also focused on the details of the collaboration at hand.

But occasionally, when he looked up, his gaze would sweep across the night sky outside the window, and he would recall the days when Han Sanping patted him on the shoulder and said, "Go for it."

The wheels of time keep turning forward; some people get on the train, some get off, and gatherings and separations are the norm.

The most important thing right now is to do a good job with "The Three-Body Problem".

As for those old acquaintances who are now like strangers, perhaps they are like stars in the sky, each running on its own orbit, and there is no need to deliberately force them to intersect...

(End of this chapter)