Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 124 Boss Lu’s Inspection
Inside the headquarters office of Bigstar in Beijing, the atmosphere was as silent as death.

The short-haired editor stood in front of the blinds with his back to Zhuo Wei and Feng Ke who were sitting on the sofa, smoking one cigarette after another.

The two workers could only hold their breath and listen to the editor-in-chief's helpless sighs.

The magazine is not a big company. Apart from the editor-in-chief's office which has a window, the people working in the cubicles have to endure the torment of the foul smell from the bathroom for a long time.

The working environment is not very good.

But Zhuo Wei was already quite content, having been kicked out of Tianjin's Daily News and now working briefly in an advertising company.

Now working at this professional entertainment magazine, he continues to contribute his extraordinary gossip skills as always.

Feng Ke is Zhuo Wei's photography partner. They often have one driving while the other taking photos, or one keeping watch while the other sneaks in.

In short, we have become best partners not long after we met.

Zhuo Wei inexplicably felt that this atmosphere was somewhat familiar, and he mentally counted the classic battles of his career so far:
The first time was in 2000 when he broke into Fang Long’s birthday party and photographed the erotic scenes between the popular actress Zhang Ziyi and his elder brother.

The second time was when I soloed the big BOSS Jiang Wen. I cannot write the details, but you can check it out yourself. It was about the Japanese toilet.

In short, due to all the problems, Miaoxiao Magazine could no longer accommodate him, and under pressure from all sides, he had to be suspended indefinitely.

The editor-in-chief sighed and extinguished the cigarette butt on the ground.

He turned around and said to the two of them, "Xiao Han, Xiao Feng, it's better for you to go back and have a rest. Don't worry, I will do my best."

Before Feng Ke could argue, Zhuo Wei pulled his partner's arm and said to the editor-in-chief with a smile, "Thank you, boss. We'll be leaving now and wait for your notification."

The two of them walked out of the company facing the mocking eyes of the cubicle urchins. Feng Ke then complained angrily: "Old Han, you shouldn't have stopped me just now!"

"We are the ones who work so hard to find the materials, and we are the ones who are chased by the security guards and bodyguards every time!"

"The company didn't even offer to help us out, but they just took advantage of us and kicked us out?"

The photographer drooled profusely and sat on the curb, sulking. Zhuo Wei looked at the young man, who still lacked some social experience, and said with a smile, "Xiao Feng, actually, my original pen name wasn't Zhuo Wei."

Feng Ke was stunned and looked at his companion who was also sitting on the curb, wondering what he wanted to say.

"Because I reported on the first two major news stories, I changed my pen name from Han Jiang to Shi Yu, and then from Shi Yu to Zhuo Wei, which means I split Han into two parts."

"This time, I don't want to change my name again. I want the name Zhuo Wei to truly gain a foothold in the entertainment industry and be feared by everyone!"

Feng Ke stared at him blankly, remembering the countless times he had been chased, belittled, and caught between the parties and the company. He slapped his thigh and said, "Brother Han, what do you say?"

Zhuo Wei handed him a cigarette and said, "The Xinjing Newspaper will be launched in the second half of next year. They are the most outspoken media outlets in the Nanfang Group. We will set up a studio to work with them. If they are still so timid, we will do it ourselves. Damn them!"

"But...the thresholds for these major southern newspapers are high. Why do they want us?" Feng Ke hesitated.

"Submit your letter of surrender!"

"what?"

“Two directions!
"One is Lu Kuan, one of the hottest young directors today. I suspect he has had improper relationships with several actresses."

"The second one is a photo of Liu Xiaoqing released from prison!"

Jiang Wen's old lover didn't know at this time that he had been targeted by the number one paparazzi in later generations.

She will be released from prison on August 8 next year after serving 17 days in prison. In later generations, Zhuo Wei ambushed at the gate of Qincheng Prison in advance and became famous.

Just because of the flapping of Lu Kuan's butterfly wings, this life's shocking melon will obviously have no chance of appearing on "Big Star".

On the evening of October 2002, 10, in the mountain city, at Hongyadong Wharf Old Hotpot.

"Crazy Stone", a film solely produced by Wenjie Culture, has officially started filming today.

While visiting the mountain city for a roadshow, Boss Lu also stopped by to inspect the crew.

Ning Hao thoughtfully sent someone to pick him and Huang Bo up to the dining location. The latter would also join the crew after finishing his performance on Shancheng Road.

As soon as I walked in, everyone stood up and greeted me.

He is the investor and also a talented director. Who wouldn't want to leave a good impression on him the first time they meet him?

"Director Lu!" This is the actor I met for the first time.

"Guide!!" This is Wang Baoqiang.

"Road guide!!!" This is Zhang Songwen.

Lu Kuan and Ning Hao chatted and laughed as they entered the private room. Seeing the actors standing up one after another, they quickly put their hands together and politely asked everyone to sit down.

Those who are here today are the main creators.

Guo Tao, Liu Hua, Lian Jin, Zhang Songwen, Xu Zheng, Wang Xun, and Wang Baoqiang who played one of the security guards. He later played a stupid worker.

Among them are actors like Guo Tao who have just switched from drama to film and television and have already gained some fame.

There are also talented actors like Liu Hua who made his debut in the Chinese Opera "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

There is also Xu Zheng, who won the Magnolia Award for Best Actor for his role in "The Legend of the White Snake".

But when they saw the young director who was already famous and had just won the Golden Lion, everyone stood up and greeted him.

Wang Baoqiang and Zhang Songwen were particularly loud.

Ning Hao also politely helped him pull out the chair and said politely: "Director Lu, I'm waiting for your order."

Lu Kuan glanced at Ning Hao's flattering look and couldn't help but sneer in his heart.

When it comes to women, power and money are the best aphrodisiacs for men.

When facing these big and small celebrities in the entertainment industry, power is like a thick layer of armor covering them.

While it can better protect oneself and demonstrate one's status, it can also be intimidating and create class barriers.

"Everyone, please sit down! Don't be polite, we are all family."

Everyone present had heard this many times, in different situations and by different people, but no one took it seriously.

“Good guide!”

Wang Baoqiang sat down first. Lu Kuan, who was standing, was stunned for a moment, then sat down with a smile.

This was actually a serious matter. Xu Zheng was a man of great social skills, so he took the initiative to pick up the kettle and walked over to Lu Kuan to fill his cup of tea.

Lu Kuan was not a person who put on airs, so he thanked them repeatedly, and everyone felt a little relieved.

This is a guy who dares to slap the Eagle Emperor in front of the whole nation. Who knows if he will be caught because of a small detail he fails to pay attention to.

Lu Kuan suggested drinking some white wine. No one present said they were afraid of drinking, and they all started to clink glasses enthusiastically, and the atmosphere became a little lively.

Liu Hua smiled and said, "Director Lu, you really are this!"

He and Lu Kuan drank a glass together and excitedly gave a thumbs-up: "That thing with the Eagle King was done beautifully! It was absolutely amazing!"

Although the spectators in the street could not observe the details of the entire incident closely, the twists and turns of showing weakness first and then waiting for the opportunity to counterattack were still amazing.

Other young people may not feel it, but industry veterans like Liu Hua know it too well. The mainland has suffered from the Hong Kong and Taiwan film industry for a long time!
Xu Zheng said, "Old Liu, you're so indignant, it seems there's a story behind it!"

"Yes, tell me about it, Teacher Liu!"

Those who like to watch the fun started to make a fuss.

Liu Hua is Dao Ge in "Stone". He sighed and put down the cup.

"I was demobilized at 17 and went to work at the Beijing Oriental Chemical Factory. Because I always loved acting, I would often go to the Beijing Film Studio. Sometimes I could get a job as a stagehand, and sometimes I could get a small role, and I would be very happy for a long time."

Everyone present was listening attentively, and Wang Baoqiang was probably the one who was most deeply touched.

"In 1983, director Li Hanxiang came to Beijing to film 'The Burning of the Old Summer Palace.' I pestered him into being a stagehand, but I ended up in big trouble!"

"We mainland employees and actors are discriminated against. Their meals are served in clean food carts, but we are like dusty buns lying on the ground. We have to eat a mouthful of dust and not let it go!"

"Let alone where I live, it's the difference between a big hotel and a public restroom."

Liu Hua frowned and said, "Wang Xun, don't laugh. I have actually slept next to the toilet before!"

"Okay, okay, are you going to eat or not?"

Xu Zheng was afraid that Lu Kuan would be unhappy, so he interrupted him with a smile.

Liu Hua said a little excitedly: "I'm going to tell you something. No one knows it, so don't tell anyone."

As expected, the familiar rhetoric aroused everyone's curiosity, and even Ning Hao urged him to speak quickly.

"Liu Xiaoqing was pretty awesome back then, wasn't she? Even she was starving every day. One night, she stole Liang Jiahui's meal ticket and got scared. Coincidentally, I was sleeping outside that day."

"She accidentally stepped on my hand and let the cat out of the bag, so we called a few tight-lipped people to share the meal tickets. That's when we finally had a few days of peace!"

Everyone laughed as they watched him reminisce about the good old days, and at the same time they couldn't help but sigh that the status and treatment of mainland actors in this era were indeed too low.

Lu Kuan thought it was funny. Not to mention 1983, even today, twenty years later, the situation hadn't changed much.

If you don’t believe it, go ask Wang Bozhao two years later?
Wang Baoqiang was filled with righteous indignation. He had experienced all the hardships of life along the way. With a bitter face, he said to Lu Kuan, "Director Lu, we are all compatriots and we are from the same crew. Why do those Hong Kong and Taiwanese people always bully others? They even bully actors like Liu Xiaoqing?"

The whole room was silent for a moment, and everyone looked at Lu Kuan, wondering what answer he would give.

"Just like a country, we often say that a weak country has no diplomacy, and the same is true for an industry."

"The mainland's film and entertainment industries lag far behind those of Hong Kong and Taiwan, so their directors, actors, and crews have more say in the mainland."

"Just like Fang Long could get 1000 million in Hollywood, now mainland actors like Zhang Ziyi and Li Lianjie wouldn't have that kind of salary and wouldn't be able to play the lead role."

Guo Tao made a timely joke: "What should we do then?"

"Improvement of this situation depends on the relative power of the cultural industries in both places. For example, if I have a 3 million yuan blockbuster and want to go to Hong Kong to cast, will they still look down on me with such condescension?"

"In other words, when Hong Kong people also need to come to the mainland to make a living and must work closely with the mainland to maintain their previous income and save their increasingly declining film industry, this situation will naturally change."

Except for Wang Baoqiang, everyone present had worked in several film crews and would understand the reason behind this. Lu Kuan looked at everyone's solemn expressions, raised a glass of wine with a smile, and turned to talk about topics related to "Crazy Stone".

Xu Zheng's face was somewhat blank. He was more deeply touched by Lu Kuan's words than anyone else present.

He is from Shanghai, and his ancestors were once wealthy, but the capitalists' garden houses were distributed to their proletarian brothers as dormitories. As a child, he was indignant and was often pointed at in the nose and told to know his place.

After entering the drama industry, I have learned from many talented actors, such as Xi Meijuan and He Zhengjun at the Lyceum Theatre.

It was not until 1998 that he left his hometown at the age of 26 and went to Beijing to embrace the wave of entertainment in the mainland. After several twists and turns, he deeply realized the warmth and coldness of human nature and the difficulty of making a name for himself.

Looking at Lu Kuan, who was still so young but already had honor and wealth, and was chatting and laughing at the table, he secretly made up his mind.

Under Lu Kuan's deliberate guidance, both the host and the guests had a great time at the meal, and everyone left with laughter.

In the crew hotel, Ning Hao, Lu Kuan and Huang Bo were smoking together and chatting about the many filming matters of "Crazy Stone".

Ning Hao said with a bitter face: "Director Lu, I'm really unsure!"

The crew has been preparing for so long, and everything is ready.

He himself had just finished filming "Whiplash" with Lu Kuan, and that should have been the time when the director's creativity and inspiration were overflowing. Lu Kuan didn't know what he was worried about.

Huang Bo laughed and said, "Director Ning is worried about wasting your investment!"

"Yes, yes! That's what I mean!"

Ning Hao drank so much that his face turned dark red and he kept talking in a hurry.

"Crazy Stone" cost 600 million, 200 million more than later generations, but the money was spent without worry at all.

The actors in the crew are basically the original cast, and Ning Hao has filmed a movie with me.

The script was personally crafted and polished by him, and the budget is sufficient. In all aspects, it will be a low-cost dark horse.

"Are you scared of 600 million? Wait until you're working on a 6000 million project!"

Lu Kuan tossed him a cigarette and said, "Don't worry, go ahead and shoot. I'll take a look at the sample footage you send me and point out any issues."

Lu Kuan follows the strict filming discipline requirements of the Hollywood crew system. As a producer, he has to regularly check the details of the sample films to ensure that the filming ideas and quality are under his control.

Ning Hao gritted his teeth and stamped his feet: "Alright! I'll go all out! I'll sell myself to pay off your debt!"

In his previous life, Ning Haozhen paid hundreds of thousands of dollars out of his own pocket to participate in filming despite insufficient budget. This was all the money he had for shooting commercials and MVs, and it was also his last-ditch effort.

(End of this chapter)