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

Chapter 1406 The place may be small, but there are plenty of troubles!

By midnight, the general framework of the collaboration plan for the "Three-Body Problem" project had finally been finalized.

Xi'an Film Studio Chairman Zhao Wentao glanced at the time, stood up to say goodbye: "Director Chen, President Wang, I'll head back now. The team will handle the follow-up details. Xi'an Film Studio will definitely go all out for 'The Three-Body Problem'."

Chen Fei got up and saw him to the door, smiling as he said, "Thank you for making this trip, Chairman Zhao. I'll have someone send you the contract details tomorrow."

"it is good."

After seeing Zhao Wentao off, only the teams from Feiyue Film & Television and Enlight Media remained in the conference room.

Wang Changtian didn't rush to leave. Instead, he took out a neatly bound proposal from his briefcase and pushed it in front of Chen Fei: "Chairman Chen, may I take a few minutes of your time to look at our new project at Guangxian?"

"Oh?"

Chen Fei peeked out and saw the words "Article 20" prominently displayed on the script cover.

"This is a script we've been preparing for almost a year. It focuses on Article 20 of the Criminal Law, which defines 'legitimate self-defense.' It tells the story of an ordinary person who gets caught up in a dispute and uses legal means to defend his rights."

As Wang Changtian spoke, he opened the planning document and pointed to the plot summary, saying, "The prototype is a real case from a few years ago, in which the person involved was misunderstood as having 'excessive self-defense,' but the verdict was overturned through judicial procedures. It has a lot of practical significance."

Chen Fei picked up the proposal, his gaze sweeping over keywords like "legitimate defense" and "judicial fairness," and looked up to ask, "What style do you want to go for?"

"I wanted to combine dark humor with realistic themes," Wang Changtian added. "The protagonist is a low-level employee who is a bit timid. He panics when he gets into trouble, but eventually becomes tougher with the help of a lawyer."

The goal is to make the audience laugh, but also to leave them with something to ponder, like the classic film "Under the Light," which had both warmth and sharp insight.

"Who is the director?" Chen Fei already had the answer in his heart, but he still asked the question.

"Zhang Yimou".

"Hey?" Chen Fei couldn't help but chuckle. "Did they see the success of 'Under the Light' and want to replicate the same genre?"

Wang Changtian smiled but did not deny it.

Since previous works of the same type have been successful, it would be better to continue with this type of work to ensure a safe outcome.

After all, Lightspeed & Quantum Studios can't compare to Leap Motion Pictures; the risks of tackling the unknown are too great!

The conference room lights shone on the proposal, making the words about laws, humanity, and struggles particularly clear.

Chen Fei glanced through it briefly, closed the proposal, and after thinking for a moment, said, "I'll take the project proposal and script back to take a look. You've chosen a good subject matter. 'The law cannot yield to illegality,' and it's definitely worth making a film about."

Wang Changtian's eyes lit up: "Then I'll wait for your news?"

“Hmm.” Chen Fei nodded. “But we need to make it clear first that if Feiyue Films participates in the investment, the details may need to be changed according to my ideas.”

“No problem!” Wang Changtian laughed heartily. “As long as the film is made well, any changes are fine.”

Although Zhang Yimou was among the screenwriters for this script, Wang Changtian was confident that he could persuade Zhang Yimou to agree to Chen Fei's request to adjust the script.

Everyone's goal is to make the project better, so we should all brainstorm together.

……

The following morning, representatives from all parties gathered again in the signing room of Feiyue Film & Television.

Representatives from Enlight Media and Xi'an Film Studio signed their names, officially finalizing the cooperation terms for the "Three-Body Problem" project with Feiyue Film & Television.

Xi'an Film Studio will be responsible for the exterior set construction and some technical support at the Red Coast Base, and will invest 2 million yuan.

Enlight Media invested 5 million yuan and also undertook the subsequent issuance work.

The capital market reacted strongly immediately upon the announcement!
Enlight Media's stock price rose immediately after the market opened, with the increase exceeding 8% within half an hour. It continued to climb in the afternoon, eventually closing with a 12% increase, adding nearly 30 billion yuan to its market value in a single day!
Stockholders cheered in the stock forum:
"Following the Three-Body Problem is the way to go!"

"This bet hit the jackpot; we're just waiting for it to take off!"

"It feels like Enlight Media is practically becoming a subsidiary of Feiyue Film & Television, haha, even Lao Wang is trying to ride on their coattails..."

Meanwhile, what has drawn even more attention from the industry is another piece of news released at the same time:

"Feiyue Films' official Weibo account announced that it will co-produce the realistic film 'Article 20' with Enlight Media, with Feiyue Films holding a 30% stake in the investment. Meanwhile, the Film and Television Center of the Supreme People's Procuratorate has confirmed its participation in the collaboration, providing legal guidance and content endorsement for the project..."

In an instant, heated discussions resurfaced!
"Article 20 has some impressive backing! With Feiyue, Enlight Media, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate Film and Television Center, the endorsement is strong enough! Is this another project similar to 'Under the Light'?"

"Focusing on legitimate self-defense and dealing with realistic themes, it seems to be following the path of 'Dying to Survive,' which has both social significance and box office potential."

"Well, here comes Zhang Yimou again. He just made 'Man Jiang Hong,' ruined his reputation, and now he's trying to salvage it with 'Article 20'?"

The comments sections of various websites are buzzing with discussion.

At Enlight Media, Wang Changtian looked at the constantly updated news and smiled at his assistant, "It was definitely the right decision to partner with Feiyue Pictures. We haven't even started filming yet, and the attention is already building."

The assistant nodded: "The Supreme People's Procuratorate's Film and Television Center also said that they will send someone to follow up on the script to ensure that every legal detail is accurate."

"What about Zhang Yimou?"

"He said he was open to Director Chen's involvement in refining the script, and also indicated that he could personally visit Feiyue Film & Television to discuss the matter."

"Haha, this Zhang Yimou is really smart. After making a fool of himself with 'Man Jiang Hong,' he wants to salvage his reputation with a new project. Among the directors in the industry, he is the most flexible and adaptable."

At the same time, the atmosphere in the office buildings of China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group was somewhat somber.

Fu Ruoqing sat behind her desk, watching the news on the screen about the soaring stock price of Enlight Media, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table.

The 30 billion yuan profit margin of "The Three-Body Problem" and the soaring stock price of Enlight Media were like needles pricking his eyes!

These are all things that China Film Group should have been able to participate in, because of the convenience of being a state-owned big brother, China Film Group was able to provide a lot of help.

However, since Han Sanping stepped down to the second line and La Peikang took office, the cooperation between China Film Group and Feiyue Film & Television has gradually broken down.

Seeing others sharing this cake now, it would be a lie to say I'm not envious.

However, he remained relatively calm. After all, it was a set pattern, and there was no point in dwelling on it. He could only have his team keep a close eye on the project's progress and see if there were any gaps in the cooperation later.

But on the Shanghai Film Studio side, Wang Jian'er's expression was much more unpleasant.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the Huangpu River in the distance, his knuckles turning white as he recalled the "Three-Body Problem" collaboration announcement.

It's worth noting that the collaboration between Shanghai Film Group and Feiyue Film & Television was severed under his leadership!
Because of that film, "Mozart from Outer Space," the two sides parted on bad terms and never spoke again.

At the time, he didn't care, believing that Shanghai Film Group, as a long-established major studio, had no shortage of project resources.

But now, seeing the overwhelming popularity of "The Three-Body Problem" and the fact that Enlight Media's market value skyrocketed with just one investment, he felt a tightness in his chest.

"Chairman Wang, Enlight Media has really made a killing this time. If we could get involved in 'The Three-Body Problem'..."

The assistant spoke cautiously from the side, but was interrupted forcefully by Wang Jian'er before he could finish.

"Stop talking!" He turned around abruptly, his voice filled with barely suppressed frustration. "What's the point of saying all this now?"

Despite saying that, a wave of regret washed over me.

That's not just breaking off a partnership; it's practically throwing away a money-making treasure trove! Projects like "The Three-Body Problem" can not only bring box office revenue and investment returns, but also drive the resource operation of the entire industry chain.

The film studios and distribution channels held by Shanghai Film Group could have played a huge role in this project, but now they can only watch helplessly as Xi'an Film Group and Enlight Media share the profits.

"Why is Chen Fei so petty?" Wang Jian'er muttered under his breath, but without much conviction.

He knew better than anyone that Chen Fei wasn't petty; he genuinely didn't lack partners.

They have great projects in hand right now, and plenty of capital and companies are eager to cooperate with them, so they don't need to be subservient to him.

The office was eerily quiet, with only the ticking of the wall clock, as if counting down the days to the opportunities he had missed.

Wang Jian'er took a deep breath and slowly sat back down in the chair, but he just couldn't sit still.

The feeling of deep regret is even more bitter than swallowing gallstones.

But the damn thing is, I'll probably have to hold this grudge for a long time.

"Ideally, this project would lose money, and all 30 billion would be poured into it and go down the drain..."

Just as I was simmering with anger, there was a sudden knock on the office door.

"Chairman Wang, are you free right now?" The person in charge of publicity and distribution for the "The Vanished She" project walked in with a stack of proposals, his tone somewhat cautious. "The movie is scheduled for release on June 22nd, which is more than a month away. It's time to start the publicity campaign, and I'd like to finalize the direction with you."

Wang Jian'er took a deep breath and forced himself to clear the mind of "The Three-Body Problem".

There's no use dwelling on it anymore; the only thing we can hold onto right now is the project we have.

He took the proposal, turned to the page on the publicity plan, and paused his fingertip on keywords such as "suspense," "marriage," and "women."

“The promotion of this project needs to lean towards feminism.” He looked up at the person in charge of publicity and his tone became decisive. “There is a lot of discussion about marriage and emotional manipulation in society right now, so let’s start from there.”

The publicity manager paused for a moment: "You mean...highlight the plot where the female lead is deceived by her husband and ultimately fights back?"

“It’s not just about retaliation.” Wang Jian’er circled plot points such as “concealing debts before marriage” and “psychological control after marriage” on the proposal. “We need to amplify the trust crisis in the marriage and create a sense of antagonism.”

For example, posting topics like "Men's mouths are deceitful" or "Marriage is a cage" can resonate with female viewers, making them feel, "Isn't this just what happens around me?"

To generate buzz, be bold. You could post clips of the couple arguing, captioned "Seeing the true face of marriage"; then collaborate with relationship bloggers to analyze "how to spot your partner's lies." Don't be afraid of controversy; the bigger the controversy, the higher the buzz.

The PR manager hesitated: "Wouldn't this be too deliberate? What if it backfires..."

“What are you afraid of?” Wang Jian’er interrupted him. “That’s how the market is now. If it’s lukewarm, nobody will watch it. ‘The Vanished’ is a suspense film, so breaking into the mainstream through topicality is the fastest way.”

Think about it, once the audience is in the theater, even if some people criticize it for 'creating gender antagonism,' the box office success is already secured.

He immediately pushed the proposal back: "Go with this idea, focusing on 'female awakening' and 'anti-marriage and childbirth anxiety.' Next week, release a set of posters on the theme of 'marriage as a prison' to get the atmosphere going."

The publicity manager nodded: "I understand, I'll make the arrangements right away."

The office fell silent again.

Wang Jian'er leaned back in his chair, feeling a little more at ease.

Ultimately, no matter how popular "The Three-Body Problem" is, that's someone else's business. Right now, he just wants to seize the opportunity with "The Vanished" and use the box office to prove that Shanghai Film Group can still succeed even without Feiyue Films.

For some reason, when he thought about the "marital conflict" propaganda points he had just come up with, he felt a strange unease.

But soon, the desire for box office success overcame this awkwardness.

After all, in this industry, the result is often much more important than the process.

……

“At midnight last night, ‘Life is Not Familiar’ officially ended its run, with box office takings of 11.84 billion yuan.”

"The King of the Skies" box office reached 8.5 million yuan, a regrettable end..."

"The 'MeToo' controversy erupts in Taiwan's entertainment industry..."

Before we knew it, it was June.

The news of the "Three-Body Problem" project's approval has barely faded when preparations for the project are already underway.

At the construction site of Shanhe Film and Television City, giant cranes are operating day and night, and the framework of the radio telescope at the Hongan Base is gradually rising from the ground.

The special effects team also officially moved into the temporary technical center and began debugging the optical simulation equipment for the "cosmic flicker" scene.

However, Chen Fei didn't have much time to keep an eye on the film set.

His schedule was divided in two: one half was reserved for polishing the storyboards and supervising the scenes for "The Three-Body Problem," while the other half was devoted to the preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Hangzhou Asian Games.

During this period, he became a frequent flyer between Hangzhou and Shanxi Province.

It's no exaggeration to say that in the morning I was watching the lighting rehearsal at the Asian Games venue, and in the afternoon I was at the construction site of Shanhe Film and Television City, discussing the surface texture of the Trisolaran planet with the construction team while looking at the blueprints.

The assistant, holding the schedule, muttered to himself, "Tomorrow morning there's a technical meeting in Hangzhou, then we fly to Shanxi Province to see the base's model rooms, and I have to rush back tonight to review the revised draft of Article 20..."

Chen Fei rubbed his temples and nodded, then casually tapped on the news notification on his phone.

The next second, the headline that popped up on the screen, "Taiwan's entertainment industry erupts in 'MeToo' controversy," made him pause.

Clicking in reveals that in just a few days, more than a dozen celebrities have been exposed for alleged sexual harassment!
From veteran directors to popular idols, the list grew longer and longer, causing a great uproar in the public sphere, and even bringing up a lot of old news.

He scrolled through the screen, looking at the reports of mutual accusations and blame-shifting, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

When I saw details like "a variety show producer exposed for sexually harassing newcomers" and "a movie star accused of behaving inappropriately while drunk," I couldn't help but mutter to myself, "Damn, this place isn't big, but there's a lot of messy stuff going on."

The assistant overheard this but didn't dare to say anything.

While sordid affairs within the industry are nothing new, the sheer number of such concentrated outbreaks, which also expose a host of unspoken industry practices, is truly astonishing.

Chen Fei turned off the news, put his phone back in his pocket, and said in a calm tone, "Make a note of this: revise the lighting plan for the Asian Games again. It should emphasize the artistic conception of a 'landscape painting,' and not be too flashy."

"Okay," the assistant nodded in response.

Outside the airplane window, clouds flew by quickly.

Chen Fei closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

He knew in his heart that the two things at hand were more important than the messy dramas in the entertainment industry.

A sporting event that concerns the nation's image, and a film that embodies science fiction dreams.

As for the turmoil on the other side of the strait, it's ultimately just noise from across the strait.

"call!"

He let out a long breath, opened his eyes, and drew his attention back to his work list. His pen circled heavily between "Red Coast Base Radar Debugging" and "Asian Games Lighting Ceremony Ideas"...

(End of this chapter)