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Chapter 103: Three Visits to Venice

"I can play a gangster boss, fifty years old and above. Can you give more details? In what sense is he a gangster boss?" Liu Zhenwei thought for a while and asked, "The kind that fights and kills, or?"

"More shrewd, the kind that uses their brains."

"What do you think of Xie Xian?" Liu Zhenwei said, "He started acting as the leading actor more than 30 years ago. He is considered a veteran in the film and television industry. It is not out of place for him to play a gangster boss."

"And as long as you pay enough money,"

"Him!" Huang Ze recalled, wearing a suit and a pair of light brown glasses. It must be said that he was very stylish. "Okay!"

"I'll give you another task, Zhenwei. You are responsible for signing actors like Xie Xian! Let's do it for the period from the end of September to mid-November." Huang Ze wrote down the names of several people who had not yet been negotiated, including Danny Chan, Cheng Kuian, and Zheng Zeshi, and handed them over.

Liu Zhenwei took a look and decided that only Fat Cat Zheng Zeshi had just won the Best Actor Award at the Academy Awards last year. It might take some effort, but since the box office was not hot enough, it would not be too troublesome. The other two often played supporting roles.

"No problem!" Liu Zhenwei responded affirmatively.

"Well! I'm at ease with you doing the job."

Huang Ze nodded, and handed the task of finding Chen Peisi, Ji Chunhua, and Wang Zhiwen to Zhang Jianya, and at the same time made a big plan. Well, it wasn't really a big plan, it was really planned that way.

"You can help me as the assistant director of this play first. After the filming is completed, I will invest in a film for you by the end of the year at the latest."

"Is three million enough?"

"Uh..." Zhang Jianya almost choked on the pancake, "That's enough, that's enough."

"Well, that's fine. Besides, given our relationship, I won't restrict you. If you can find a script you want to film, then film it. If you can't find one and need me to write a script, just tell me and I can write one for you."

"Then you should write it."

"Then it's up to me. You shoot whatever I write." Huang Ze raised his eyebrows and continued to ask.

"It's my first film." Zhang Jianya smiled.

"I still believe in your writing ability and vision, Old Huang. You will definitely not cheat me."

"If I had to do it on my own, to be honest, I didn't even know what I wanted to shoot for my first film."

"I want to make movies like In the Mood for Love and Taste of Cherry, but I know I can't do it. I want to make comedies that make money. I don't think I can make the movies made in Hong Kong for the time being. I still need to learn for a while."

"Don't worry, I'll give you something different when the time comes." Huang Ze laughed.

After arranging these two people to gather actors, Huang Ze began to consider the next position in the "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" crew.

Others can use In the Mood for Love, which they are already used to.

But the most important photographer has to be changed.

Gu Changwei, who was often used in the past, followed the director of Xi'an Film Studio to shoot Zhang Yimou.

Moreover, the Xi'an Film Studio must have some opinions about the time he spent using the other party, as he spent more time working than in the factory.

Considering that this is a commercial film and the photography requirements are not high, we don't need him.

It is also time to train a backup photographer for his own use. As for who to use, Huang Ze has already chosen one.

What a coincidence, I don’t know how Wang Jiawei found it, but the photographer he used was Liu Weiqiang, the photographer of the original version of "Chungking Express", who later directed "Infernal Affairs".

Thinking that this person was talented, Huang Ze arranged for someone to sign him. Not to the crew, but directly to the company with a high salary as an inducement.

After the cinematographer was confirmed, Huang Ze spent most of his time discussing the styling and costumes of each character in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" with Zhang Shuping, and drawing the storyboards of the film at home.

During this period, another thing happened. Gong Xing's immigration procedures were completely completed. "From now on, I will..."

Holding the newly obtained ID card, Gong Xing stared at it for a while, blinking his eyes, "I always feel empty, as if I have no roots."

"It's okay, I'm here! I'll give you roots." Huang Ze gave her a shoulder, "Besides, in a decade or so, you'll be back again, it's just temporary."

"If you feel empty, let's go back and get the marriage certificate soon, and then we can choose a good date for the wedding."

"Don't worry." Gong Xing thought for a moment, "It's already August 20th, right? Your film Taste of Cherry has also been selected for the main competition unit of Venice Film Festival, and you will have to go to Italy in a few days. You should focus on this matter first, and we can get the marriage certificate after the film festival is over."

“That’s fine.” Huang Ze estimated that if “The Taste of Cherry” could win another award, he would have to go back to China. It would be convenient for him to do it at that time, so he nodded and didn’t mention the matter.

"By the way, come on!" Gong Yu held Huang Ze's hand.

"Try to win the grand prize, the golden lion, as a wedding present for me."

"Good fellow!" Huang Ze wiped his sweat, "I was just thinking about it, but you actually said it out loud. Do you think it's so easy to win the Golden Lion? The Venice Film Festival is not run by my family."

"As the saying goes, three times the limit. You have participated in Venice Film Festival twice, including "The Underachiever" and "Good Will Hunting", and won awards both times. This time you will definitely win the Golden Lion."

"How do you explain the saying 'three times the limit'?" Huang Ze was dumbfounded. "You should study logic."

"I think you're fine!" Gong Xing said, stiffening his neck. "Cannes has given so many awards, how can Venice be so embarrassed to be reluctant to give up a trophy?"

"You're talking about a young director with unlimited potential, a Venice Film Festival ancestor, who can increase the influence of the Venice Film Festival in our country. Once the status of Venice is fully established in our country, he may be able to seize the position of the boss of Cannes."

"As a result, they were lured over by Cannes."

"What's going to happen if this continues?"

"If I were the Cannes Film Festival, I would nail you down as a direct descendant of Venice!"

"Hahaha, your analysis is not entirely accurate." Huang Ze couldn't help laughing. Although it was just a fantasy, if I really got a Golden Lion, I would be willing to be temporarily nailed to Venice.

"Then I wish you success!" Gong Xing stretched out his left hand.

"Wish me success!" Huang Ze stretched out his left hand and shook it tightly.

……

Before leaving, he finished the storyboard script and gave it to Zhang Jianya, who had just returned from China after signing the cast, to scout the locations. Huang Ze then boarded a plane from Hong Kong Island to Venice.

Domestic teams basically also depart at this time, and we will meet in Venice then.

An unknown amount of time had passed, but as he felt the plane slowly lowering its altitude, Huang Ze looked out the window and could only see the azure blue sea.

It was a color that made people feel calm, but Huang Ze's heart became more and more excited.

This is the last chance for nearly two years.

If it doesn't work this time, I'll have to wait until I finish shooting two commercial films and then try to get into the three major films the year after next.

If this works, it will be like what Gong Xing said, and I will get the Golden Lion...

Just a thought, Huang Zeton felt himself getting excited.

That is the first of the top three in China, and even in the entire Chinese-language film world!
"I hope it will come true in the end..."

Huang Ze took a deep breath to cool down his brain, and after the plane landed, he walked out of the airport with firm steps.

(End of this chapter)