Chinese Entertainment

Chapter 49 Domestic
Dong Xuan: "Congratulations to the director for the big hit of his new movie."

Qin Hao: "Congratulations, Director. When will you return to China?"

Wang Changtian: "Director Gu, let me know before you return so we can get together."

Han Sanping: "The introduction of the film is under review, there is no major problem..."

Liu Yifei: "Congratulations to you on the success of another movie. When will you return to China?"

...

As the box office figures for the movie came out in the first three days of its release, Gu Wei’s phone started to receive numerous calls.

As for the text messages he received, there were even more of them. Gu Wei did not reply to them one by one. He only picked a few familiar people and called back.

During this period, Gu Wei received a call from Wang Chen, saying that the filming of "Legend of Sword and Fairy" was going smoothly and much ahead of schedule. It is now coming to an end and is expected to be completed in mid-July.

...

Hollywood is a typical place of fame and fortune, filled with all kinds of temptations.

After the box office performance of "Taken" came out, many more companies and filmmakers contacted Gu Wei, including his new movie. Some film companies also tried to join, but Gu Wei declined one by one.

Half a month after the release of "Taken", the North American box office exceeded 100 million. It is definitely a huge profit, and we can only imagine how high the final box office will be.

The production and editing of the special effects shots of "The Day After Tomorrow" were handled by Warner special effects engineers. Gu Wei went to see it twice and found that the progress was very fast and the quality was very good.

Gu Wei gave some suggestions that the film cannot be produced in only one 3D format.

Considering the global distribution situation, for the sake of box office, we have to take into account the fact that there are few or no 3D theaters in other places.

Warner Bros. listened to Gu Wei's suggestion and said that it would produce two different modes based on actual conditions, mainly 2D.

Gu Wei handed over the preparation work of the new movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" to Reid.

The earliest the film will start shooting is the end of the year, depending on Will Smith's schedule. Some preliminary preparations are ongoing...

At the end of July, "Taken" was officially withdrawn from theaters. Influenced by other Hollywood blockbusters, its North American box office reached 7 million, which was a little different from the prediction of Universal Business Department.

However, this movie was also released globally, and considering the box office data from other regions, it should have no problem breaking 200 million US dollars.

A celebratory reception for the film was held in Beverly Hills. Universal Studios took this opportunity to invite many directors and celebrity artists to attend, and Gu Wei also attended as usual.

During this period, he met many celebrities and artists. Gu Wei looked at them and felt that most of them had face blindness and he couldn't remember many of them.

Instead, I was impressed by Scarlett Johansson. I think the young Black Widow deserves the title of "beauty". The two chatted for a while.

I learned that the movie "Lost in Translation" starring her will be released at the end of August. This is an American-Japanese comedy romance film directed by Sofia Coppola and starring Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray and others.

Gu Wei congratulated her and wished the movie a good box office. The two exchanged contact information, and Scarlett looked forward to working with Gu Wei in the future...

...

After attending the cocktail party for "Taken", Gu Wei boarded a plane and headed back to China.

This time he returned to China alone. Gu Wei left his assistant in a Hollywood company and studied hard with Reid.

Just like the previous times, I bought a flight at around 8pm. I started to rest as soon as I got on the plane to adjust to the jet lag in advance, and I got back just in the morning.

Domestic time, at around 8:2 am on August , Gu Wei arrived at the Capital Airport.

It was about the same time as the last time I came back, which was the hot season in the capital.

Wearing a mask and carrying a suitcase, Gu Wei got into a car.

"Director, how long do you plan to stay this time?"

Qin Hao asked while driving.

Before coming back, Gu Wei contacted Qin Hao and asked him to pick him up at the airport. The two hadn't seen each other for a long time.

"The exact time is uncertain, I guess I can stay a few more days. How have you been lately?" Gu Wei asked back.

"Not very good, I've been idle at home recently," Qin Hao said with a somewhat embarrassed tone.

Gu Wei was a little surprised to hear this, but he didn't ask any further questions in the car.

"Let's go find a restaurant and have something to eat," Gu Wei said with a smile, waving his hand.

"Okay, Director, I know a private restaurant with authentic dishes..."

Qin Hao kept chattering while driving.

Gu Wei had been eating Western food for the past six months. When he heard what Qin Hao said, he smacked his lips and missed the taste of Chinese food.

More than half an hour later, they arrived at the place and Qin Hao ordered some delicious dishes, all of which were local specialties.

At the dinner table, the two of them ate and chatted.

“Logically speaking, you started with “Time and Space Lovers” and joined the Tianlong crew in the middle. Your status should be at least second-tier, if not first-tier.

Why are you sitting idle at home all the time? Is there something going on at home?"

"Everything is fine at home. It's my own problem."

"Tell me, what's the problem?"

...

It turns out that after Qin Hao finished filming Tianlong at the beginning of the year, he also took on a lot of movie and TV scripts in the meantime. However, because they did not meet his expectations, he turned down more than a dozen dramas in the past six months. As a result, many crews and directors now dare not invite him for fear of being rejected.

Gu Wei put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth. "More than ten movies in a row, are they all this bad?"

"No, each one is worse than the last. Some of the scripts don't even seem like they could be written by a screenwriter. There's no logic and the story doesn't flow." Qin Hao felt a little depressed after he finished speaking.

"Director, according to the online reports, are you really going to work with Will Smith in your next movie?"

"Well, I've discussed the new movie with him and it's expected to start at the end of the year," Gu Wei admitted directly and generously.

Qin Hao's eyes lit up instantly, "Director, is the movie still short of actors? What do you think of me?"

Looking at Qin Hao who was a little excited and asked continuously, Gu Wei looked at him and shook his head.

"Director, is it really not suitable? A supporting role is fine too," Qin Hao asked again, not giving up yet.

"This is a script adapted from a true story about black people. It's a male-centered movie. Are you sure you can act in it?"

Hearing the word "black", Qin Hao also understood that acting skills know no borders, but skin color cannot be changed.

"Don't think too much. There is no suitable script for the time being, so just take your time."

"You are the leading actor in my first domestic commercial film, which grossed over 100 million yuan. Are you afraid that no one will ask you to act?" Gu Wei comforted him.

Hearing this, Qin Hao felt much better. To be honest, he had almost lost confidence after rejecting so many invitations in a row during this period.

"By the way, how is your classmate Chen Minghao doing recently?"

Gu Wei remembered Chen Minghao very clearly. He was a generous person with a sense of humor.

"Same old, performing in a play, director. Do you remember him?"

Qin Hao was a little surprised. He didn't expect that Gu Wei still remembered his classmates. It had been two years since they last met.

"Yeah, I still have some impression."

……

After dinner, Qin Hao sent Gu Wei to the company and then drove away.

"boss!"

"The boss is back."

As soon as he entered the company, the front desk staff spotted him and greeted him loudly.

The filming of "The Legend of Sword and Fairy" has been completed for nearly 20 days, and we are now doing post-production editing and special effects production.

Some employees of Xingchen Film and Television and Wang Chen were coordinating post-production work with each other, while the others were doing nothing.

Gu Wei saw this situation and didn't say much. Ever since he was banned from directing in China, the company couldn't make movies and had never independently produced a TV series. In two years, it only collaborated with Tangren Film and Television on one TV series.

Just as I was feeling emotional, my cell phone vibrated. I looked at the number and saw it was Liu Yifei calling. Gu Wei only told her and Qin Hao the time of his return.

"Yeah, I just arrived in the country."

Liu Yifei called and wanted to invite him to dinner, and Gu Wei did not refuse and agreed.

Not long after I arrived at the company, I received a call from Mr. Han, the chairman of China Film Corporation. He was really well-informed. Needless to say, I must have been photographed by the paparazzi at the airport.

"Gu Wei, you returned to China in secret. If the people below hadn't seen the news released by the media, I would not know your whereabouts. When you are free, come to China Film and have a chat."

"Director Han, I just arrived in China. You are really well-informed. I will go to the China Film Academy to see you in the next two days."

"Don't wait two days, come over tomorrow."

Han Sanping made an appointment directly on the phone. After hearing this, Gu Wei shook his head helplessly.

The two chatted for a while, and after the call ended, Gu Wei called the office computer and browsed the portal website.

Among a lot of news information on the Internet, not only were there photos of herself at the airport, but even photos of her and Qin Hao going to the hotel were posted. This group of people were really following her closely.

After sending a text message to Liu Yifei and postponing the dinner date with her for one day, Gu Wei planned to go to China Film Studio tomorrow.

After returning this time, Gu Wei also thought about seeing if there were any suitable investment projects, such as movies or TV series. Since he was often abroad, he really needed to find something for the employees of domestic companies to do.

After staying in the company until the evening and seeing that there was nothing to do, Gu Wei drove the company car, took his suitcase, and headed straight home.

Not long after arriving home, my parents came home from work. When they saw Gu Wei coming back, they greeted him with concern again. However, they were used to the fact that Gu Wei was not at home most of the year.

During dinner, Dad Gu talked to him about work at the company. Ever since Gu Wei became successful in Hollywood, the leaders of the company often looked for Dad Gu to chat and drink tea. From what the leaders said, Dad Gu's position would be changed recently.

During the holidays, people would often visit the house with gifts. Dad and Mom Gu welcomed the visitors, but they would confiscate all the gifts.

Gu Wei nodded after listening to this. This was in line with the national conditions. Besides, the two elders had worked in state-owned enterprises for half their lives and were more sensitive about giving and receiving gifts.

"Son, you are not young anymore, it's time to talk about..."

Mother Gu asked directly.

"Mom, stop it, I'm only in my early twenties, still young, I don't want to think about this for now.

Besides, I'm very busy over there and don't have time to do these things, let's talk about it in a few years."

Gu Wei found an excuse and put the two elders off.

...

After dinner, Gu Wei went back to his room to rest, using the excuse that he was tired after sitting on a plane all day. He was afraid that his mother would bring up the issue of dating again. The two elders were relatively traditional and had always hoped that he would find someone outside his circle.

The next day, Gu's father and mother went to work early in the morning.

Gu Wei slept until about nine o'clock. After getting up, washing up, and preparing to rush to China Film Corporation.

(End of this chapter)