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

Chapter 1425 Jing Tian's Change of Mindset

This morning, Feiyue Films officially announced: The global casting call for the sci-fi epic "The Three-Body Problem" has officially begun!

"To ensure a high degree of fidelity to the characters in 'The Three-Body Problem,' the core supporting roles and corresponding casting requirements are hereby published. Qualified actors are welcome to submit their applications:"
Chang Weisi (age 55-65, calm and dignified demeanor), Yang Dong (age 28-35, cool and intellectual appearance), Ding Yi (age 35-45, with an untamed scholarly air), Shen Yufei (age 30-40, elegant appearance with a slightly aloof air)...

"Feiyue Film & Television's official Weibo account announced: After multiple rounds of selection and in-depth communication with the creative team, the main cast of 'The Three-Body Problem' has been finalized. The core characters and their actors are listed below:"

Wang Miao (a nanoscientist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences) will be played by Chen Fei.

Shi Qiang (a criminal police officer/counter-terrorism expert, "Da Shi") will be played by Zhang Yi.

Ye Wenjie (astrophysicist, supreme commander of the Earth-Three-Body Organization) will be played by Liu Yifei.

Luo Ji (university professor, founder of cosmic sociology, Wallfacer) will be played by Zhang Ruoyun.

Cheng Xin (a PhD in aerospace engines and the proposer of the Ladder Project) will be played by Jing Tian.

The main cast will collaborate with the supporting cast, whose casting has been finalized. Filming is expected to begin in December 2023. Stay tuned for the big screen launch of the *Three-Body Problem* universe!

……

The moment the casting announcement for "The Three-Body Problem" was released, the entire internet erupted in excitement!

The hashtags #TheThreeBodyProtagonistCast# and #ChenFeiPlaysWangMiao# quickly rose to the top of the trending search list within just half an hour.

Fans are enthusiastically discussing how well the actors fit their roles.

But what really caused a strong shock was the film and television industry itself.

Since the news of the Three-Body Problem project was announced, the massive investment of 3 billion yuan, the popularity of Liu Cixin's original work, the reputation of Feiyue Films for producing high-quality works, and the fact that Chen Fei wrote and directed the film have led more than 90% of the actors and their agencies to inquire about how to participate in the project.

Many people even came directly to the main cast, asking for favors, submitting materials, and even voluntarily lowering their fees, all in an attempt to get a chance to appear on screen.

But no one expected that Feiyue Films would directly announce that the main cast had been confirmed, which was equivalent to locking in the core positions in advance.

Immediately, heated discussions arose within the industry, with various opinions fermenting privately:
"This is so unfair! Such a big project, and the lead role wasn't even given a public audition, it was decided right away? They didn't even give him a chance to submit his resume?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying! In the past, although Feiyue Film and Television would promote its own people, at least they would go through an audition process. But this time, it's obvious that they're keeping the profits within the family and treating other actors in the industry like they don't exist?"

"Chen Fei is too stingy! It's a 30 billion yuan production, what's wrong with giving a few more opportunities to outside actors? Why does he have to reserve all the main roles for people from his own company, even stuffing his wife into the female lead role? Isn't he afraid of ruining his reputation?"

"Haha, that's hilarious. Feiyue Films invests its own money and produces its own projects. Isn't it up to them to decide who gets the lead role? Just because you want to act doesn't mean you have to get the chance. Instead of complaining, you should see if you can get a supporting role."

"Stop complaining about how unfair it is! Didn't you see the announcement that the supporting roles are still being cast globally? Hurry up and get the artists to prepare their materials and submit them! If you keep dawdling, even the supporting roles will probably be snatched up. It's a 30 billion project; even a small role would be worth it!"

"..."

Discussions were rife within the industry, and Chen Fei, at Feiyue Films, naturally heard all sorts of talk.

But he didn't take it to heart at all.

His projects, from script polishing to casting, always focus solely on suitability; it's none of the business of outsiders interfering.
He played Wang Miao simply because he wanted to experience the role of a "nano scientist".

Moreover, as a director, he knows better what kind of performance rhythm he wants.

Zhang Yi's casting as Shi Qiang is a natural fit, as he has played police officers and similar roles many times before, possessing a rugged yet insightful temperament that perfectly matches the character of "Da Shi".

Liu Yifei is my wife, and more importantly, she has won several Best Actress awards over the years, from art films to commercial films. Her acting skills have long since shed the "pretty face" label, and she has no problem portraying Ye Wenjie's emotional changes from youth to old age.

Chen Fei felt very reassured that Zhang Ruoyun would play Luo Ji.

In recent years, he has played a high-IQ detective in "Detective Chinatown" with great skill, and he is very good at handling rational thinking characters. He can definitely carry the growth arc from "casual professor" to "guardian of humanity".

Jing Tian's portrayal of Cheng Xin, however, has generated some controversy both within and outside the industry.

Some people feel that her previous roles have not shown complex inner emotions, so she may not be able to portray Cheng Xin's struggles well.

But Chen Fei didn't care.

Because everyone's doubts only focused on her acting skills, no one denied that her character was inconsistent with Cheng Xin.

On the contrary, her own characteristics are exactly the same as Cheng Xin's!

Her inherent kindness, her inner struggles when faced with choices, and her unwavering commitment to her beliefs all resonate deeply with the character.

In Chen Fei's opinion, as long as she incorporates her true self into the role, she can play Cheng Xin well.

As for acting skills, with him around, why worry about him not being able to "train" him well?
"To eat salty radish and worry about nothing."

Chen Fei pursed his lips, ignoring the noise from the outside world, and turned to instruct the casting director to carefully screen the resumes.

Some obviously unsuitable ones can be screened out directly; there's no need to give face to those brokerage companies, and it's a waste of time.

Meanwhile, Jing Tian, ​​who had nothing to do lately, was at home scrolling through her phone.

The screen is currently displaying a discussion about the casting of "The Three-Body Problem":
"Can Jing Tian handle Cheng Xin's inner turmoil? I feel like she can only play naive and innocent characters."

"Is he another one with connections? Is Chen Fei just pushing him hard?"

"I think she's perfect for the role! Let's all look forward to it!"

"It would be better to let Zhao Liying do it..."

Seeing the online criticisms of her portrayal of Cheng Xin, Jing Tian paused, a sense of disappointment rising in her heart.

She couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Am I really not good enough?"

But the next second, she remembered the scene when Chen Fei called her personally some time ago.

At that moment, Chen Fei's voice was gentle yet firm: "The first person I thought of when I thought of the role of Cheng Xin was you. Her inherent kindness, her struggle in the face of human destiny, and her unwavering perseverance are so similar to yours. Don't worry, I believe you can play the role well..."

Thinking of these words, Jing Tian instantly adjusted her mindset.

A smile returned to her lips, and she even made a face at the doubts on her phone screen: "He said I'm suitable, so I must be! Doesn't this big director understand the role?"

She simply clicked on a comment questioning her status as a "resource-backed star" and secretly retorted with her alternate account: "So what if I am a resource-backed star? If you're not happy, bite me, hehehe!" In fact, in her opinion, the opinions of the outside world were not that important at all.

Over the years, working with Feiyue Films, she went from being criticized as a "resource-backed actress" to gaining fans through her roles. She has long understood that only those who recognize her are worth keeping in mind.

Chen Fei was willing to give her a chance and believed in her potential, and that was enough.

She put down her phone, picked up the script for "The Three-Body Problem" on the table, and her expression gradually became serious and focused.

At that moment, she had only one thought in her mind:
She must perform well and not let Chen Fei down. She also wants to show those who doubt her that she is not just a resource-backed actress, but a good actress who can carry a role!
……

Meanwhile, while the casting team for "The Three-Body Problem" was busy screening resumes for supporting roles and preparing auditions, a wave of new news from the film and television industry was also emerging:
First, "The Twentieth Article" and "Detective Chinatown 1990" released wrap-up specials, and the behind-the-scenes footage released sparked a lot of anticipation.

Following that, the post-production of "All or Nothing" was also completed.

The editing team posted photos of the "finished film" on social media, hinting that the film will soon be available to audiences.

The one who has garnered the most attention is Feng Xiaogang.

He announced via his personal Weibo account that "If You Are the One 3" will be released during the Lunar New Year holiday season, adding the caption "After ten years, Ge You and Shu Qi reunite to bring laughter to everyone at the end of the year," directly seizing the popular release window.

As soon as the news broke, discussions arose both inside and outside the industry about whether Feng Xiaogang's comedies could recreate the box office miracle of yesteryear.

Before Feng Xiaogang's smile could even fade, new developments emerged from Feiyue Film & Television.

A notice was immediately issued:
"All or Nothing" is scheduled to premiere on December 22nd. See you during the Lunar New Year holiday season!

Those in the industry believe this is clearly intended to clash with "If You Are the One 3".

Before the release date was set, Shen Ao specifically asked Chen Fei: "Won't it seem too targeted that our film's release date is only one week earlier than 'If You Are the One 3'?"

But Chen Fei didn't seem to care, saying, "The schedule is public, anyone can book it, what's there to be afraid of?"

After the news was released through Feiyue Film & Television's official channels, the internet was immediately filled with anticipation.

"The release date for 'All or Nothing' has finally been set! I've been waiting for so long, finally something to watch during the Lunar New Year season!"

"Shen Ao vs. Feng Xiaogang: A showdown between two directors, one young and one middle-aged – this year's Lunar New Year film season is going to be incredibly exciting!"

"Personally, I feel that 'If You Are the One 3' will probably be a disastrous flop. Feng Xiaogang has really been a disappointment these past few years..."

Meanwhile, Feng Xiaogang, who was in the Meila office in Dongyang, Hengdian, was furious when he saw the news!
"Chen Fei did it on purpose! I had just finalized the Lunar New Year release schedule when he crammed 'All or Nothing' into the Lunar New Year slot as well. He's clearly trying to mess with me!"

His assistant tried to comfort him: "Director Feng, don't be angry. Maybe it's just a coincidence? Post-production for 'All or Nothing' was just finished, so choosing the New Year's release date is normal..."

"Coincidence my ass!" Feng Xiaogang interrupted him, his tone urgent and angry. "What is Chen Fei thinking? Do you think I don't know?"

After a moment of silence, the assistant tentatively suggested, "How about we withdraw it from the release date? Change it to another period? Maybe the Spring Festival?"

"The Spring Festival film season?" Feng Xiaogang sneered. "That's the real battlefield; if you go there, you'll die."

"Now what?"

"What can we do? We'll just have to deal with it. We'll keep pushing the publicity and try not to fail..."

Despite his anger, Feng Xiaogang knew in his heart that he had no confidence to go head-to-head with Feiyue Film and Television.

His works have consistently received poor reviews over the years, while almost every production by Feiyue Films has been a hit, resulting in a significant gap in audience trust.

If it comes down to a direct competition during the Lunar New Year film season, "If You Are the One 3" may not have the upper hand.

All he can do now is pray that there are still fans willing to support him.

……

Time flew by and it was already mid-October.

The cinema market was originally dominated by the lingering effects of the National Day holiday and the popularity of the casting of "The Three-Body Problem". However, the release of "The Room Next Door", directed by Liu Yifei and starring Gong Li and Zhang Manyu, completely stirred up the art film track.

Chen Fei had always felt that this purely art-house film had a limited audience, and that it would be enough if it could recoup its costs and receive good reviews. He didn't have high expectations for the box office at all.

On its opening day, the film grossed 5500 million yuan!

The following week saw a steady increase, with daily box office revenue consistently exceeding 5000 million yuan, and the cumulative box office revenue in seven days directly surpassing 4 million yuan!
This data might not be top-tier for commercial films, but for a purely art-house film without a strong plot or flashy marketing tactics, it is already a "phenomenal" performance.

Even film critics in the industry were amazed that Liu Yifei had unlocked a new identity as a director and broken the deadlock in the art film market.

Opening the film's comment section reveals a flood of positive reviews, with viewers almost unanimously praising the plot and overall quality.
"I didn't expect Liu Yifei to be so good at directing for the first time! There are no melodramatic plots in the story, but she filmed the redemption between the two women in a delicate and touching way. The scenes between Gong Li and Zhang Manyu gave me goosebumps, and I couldn't stop crying at the end."

"This is a true women's film! It doesn't deliberately create conflict or sell anxiety; it simply tells the story of two women finding warmth in each other's difficulties. Even the dialogue and cinematography exude a gentle power."

"The worst thing for art films is to be pretentious, but this one is not at all! The pacing of the plot is just right, and every detail has a deeper meaning. For example, the old photos that Gong Li always holds in her hand and the glass that Maggie Cheung keeps wiping are both hiding the characters' past. This kind of 'leaving blank space' is often more touching than straightforward narration."

"The acting of the two actresses is truly divine! Without exaggerated emotional outbursts, a single look or a subtle movement can convey the characters' pain and hope. Especially the scene where the two share an umbrella in the rain, without saying a word, it is more impactful than a thousand words."

"After watching 'The Room Next Door,' I finally understand why it won the Golden Lion Award. It doesn't try to please any audience, but it allows each viewer to see themselves in the characters. This kind of 'empathy' is what a good movie should be like."

It's worth mentioning that, despite also focusing on female themes, "The Room Next Door" never took the route of "marketing women's issues."

The film does not deliberately emphasize popular labels such as "female independence" or "anti-PUA," nor does it rely on creating gender antagonism to attract attention; it simply focuses on the story itself and character development.

In contrast, the Shanghai Film Group's previous production, "The Vanished," achieved high box office returns thanks to intensive marketing campaigns focusing on women's issues, but its unrealistic plot sparked considerable controversy.

While "The Room Next Door" relied on quality to speak for itself, it did not rake in huge box office revenue in the short term like the former, but it garnered almost zero negative reviews.

Some viewers even commented: "This is what women-themed content should be like—not exploiting women, but respecting them!"

Thus, with its high praise, "The Room Next Door" steadily climbed the box office.

However, in late October, a statement released by Zhang Ziyi once again brought the topic of "gender antagonism" to the forefront...

(End of this chapter)