Nobody knows movies better than me

Chapter 68 The Fairy Sister and Yang Mi

Although the events at the darkened restaurant generated many laughs and awkward moments, the movie "About Time" became more widely known as the event progressed.

Many media outlets in Shanghai and Beijing reported on the event, eventually bringing up the movie and reminding everyone that it would be released on Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day).

Needless to say, this is the result of the distributor, China Film Group, bribing the media.

The strategy was indeed effective; compared to older generations, the young people who are stepping into a new era do not have the same mindset as the older generation.

Starbucks coffee, movies, shopping malls, KFC or McDonald's lifestyles are becoming part of popular culture.

This is one of the reasons why the mainland film market experienced a box office boom in the following decade or so.

Other promotional methods were basically the same as usual. Chen Kun and Gao Yuanyuan, as the male and female leads, even participated in Hunan TV's "Happy Camp" program to promote the movie.

Although Zhang Jun didn't go, there was no shortage of talk about him.

Host He Jiong then asked the two actors how they felt about working with Zhang Jun.

Chen Kun replied, "It was very enjoyable. Director Zhang has very high standards for acting and is very insightful. We often discuss the script and story together."

Gao Yuanyuan said, "First of all, I felt that he was very handsome and had a very pleasant voice."

He Jiong agreed: "That's true, we've all seen those photos of him circulating online."

Several photos of Zhang Jun's good looks were displayed on the big screen, which caused a stir among the audience.

Of course, it was mostly acting.

Gao Yuanyuan continued, "Director Zhang is a very special kind of director, which may be related to his graduation from Tsinghua University. He plans everything carefully when he makes a film."

He knew what effect he wanted, so filming was very easy for us.

He Jiong added, "Speaking of Tsinghua University, we also learned that not long ago, director Zhang Jun represented Tsinghua University and won the Palme d'Or for short films at the Cannes Film Festival."

Did Director Zhang Jun mention this to you when he comes back?

"No, he didn't say. I only found out from the news reports," Chen Kun said.

Gao Yuanyuan flaunted her unusual relationship with Zhang Jun: "He did tell me, but he didn't sound as happy as I expected."

"Why?" He Jiong asked curiously.

"Maybe he wants to win a bigger award!" Gao Yuanyuan explained.

While the two lead actors were recording Happy Camp, Zhang Jun was concerned about his younger sister's college entrance examination results.

Even nowadays, the method of filling in college applications based on estimated scores is still adopted. Zhang Linwan estimated her score to be around 596, and she applied to Beijing Normal University. This estimated score is not a big problem.

Over the phone, Zhang Jun said to Yao Xia, "After the college entrance exam, you two buy plane tickets and come to Beijing. I'll show you around."

"Why don't you let your sister go with you?"

Yao Xia said, "Your dad and I won't go. Your grandfather isn't in good health, and we need to go back and take care of him."

"Oh well!"

Zhang Jun expressed his regret: "I'll have Xiao Wan contact me when the time comes, and I'll send someone to pick her up."

With the college entrance exam over, Zhang Linwan's ordeal was finally over. These past two days, the young girl has been letting loose and having a blast, seemingly making up for all her losses.

Zhang Linwan was very happy about going to Beijing to visit her brother, as she had rarely traveled outside of Beijing since she was a child.

The only time she remembers was when she went to see the giant pandas.

Leaving her parents' control and heading to the capital made Zhang Linwan very happy, but also a little apprehensive.

However, she still diligently packed her things, planning to go to Beijing to find Zhang Jun as soon as she received her admission notice.

As for Zhang Jun, besides being busy with the film's promotion and distribution, he also took some time to visit Chongqing to check on the filming progress of "Crazy Stone".

"The scene is ready, quiet!"

"Ready to film!"

On set in Chongqing, Ning Hao skillfully managed the production, and with the actors all being well-behaved, the filming progressed quite well.

Zhang Jun nodded approvingly: "It seems my role as producer isn't very useful; you can handle everything by yourself."

Ning Hao humbly replied, "That's not how it works. If it weren't for your help in securing investment, I don't know when I would have been able to make this film."

Indeed, the most difficult part, attracting investment, was solved by Zhang Jun, who deserves great credit.

However, Ning Hao was unaware that even without Zhang Jun, he would have been selected for Andy Lau's Asian New Star Director Program, thus attracting investment.

That said, with a budget of four million for "Crazy Stone," if it achieves the same box office performance as its predecessor, the investors won't actually make much money from the box office.

Fortunately, the copyright revenue is also quite considerable.

With the export of Chinese period dramas and collaborations between Hollywood film companies and mainland China, Chinese films have unexpectedly entered a golden age of copyright sales.

Even if we don't sell to North America and Europe, the copyright alone could fetch tens of millions in the Japanese, Korean, and Southeast Asian markets.

"Little Miss Sunshine" is a case in point; the revenue from selling the film's rights even exceeded the box office revenue. This is because box office revenue is split with theaters, but copyright revenue is not.

This is also why Zhang Jun invested in "Crazy Stone"—regardless of Ning Hao's potential, at least the film was profitable.

No matter how much or how little you earn, it's still a form of income.

After visiting the set of "Crazy Stone", Zhang Jun learned that Huang Xiaoming's "The Return of the Condor Heroes" was being filmed in Jiuzhaigou, so he went to check it out.

Jiuzhaigou has not yet become the tourist hotspot it is today, but local development of Jiuzhaigou has already begun, and film crews coming here to shoot movies is also a form of promotion.

Huang Xiaoming was delighted to hear that Zhang Jun had come to visit him and personally welcomed Zhang Jun into the film crew.

"This is director Zhang Jizhong, the producer of our show," Huang Xiaoming introduced.

Zhang Jun shook hands with the bearded man: "My parents both loved watching the TV series 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' that you produced; it was very well made."

Zhang Jizhong appeared quite generous: "Director Zhang, please give us your guidance!"

"Not at all, I'm just visiting a friend and learning something along the way," Zhang Jun said politely.

Hearing Zhang Jun say that the two were friends, Huang Xiaoming was very happy. This is what connections are all about!

Huang Xiaoming then introduced Wang Luoyong and Kong Lin, who played Guo Jing and Huang Rong in the same drama.

Also appearing in the series are actors Chung Ching-tao from Hong Kong and Chen Tzu-han from Taiwan, who play Gongsun Zhi and Guo Fu respectively.

Of course, the most important figures are Liu Yifei and Yang Mi.

The reason these two are considered important is that Zhang Jun is more familiar with them than with the others.

However, the "Fairy Sister" simply greeted Zhang Jun and did not show him the same enthusiasm as the other actors.

That's understandable. Zhang Jun's directorial role would be an opportunity for other actors. But for Liu Yifei, opportunities are readily available.

According to Huang Xiaoming, except when filming, Liu Yifei (Fairy Sister) basically doesn't play with everyone; her mother keeps a close eye on her.

Yang Mi was much more enthusiastic. Although she didn't yet have the status and methods she would later achieve, her apparent shrewdness was evident at this time.

She looked at Zhang Jun: "Director Zhang, do you think I have a chance to act in movies?"

Zhang Jun was surprised: "You're very straightforward, but if you want to act in movies, acting skills are the most important thing."

"If my acting improves, can I act in your movies?" Yang Mi pressed her advantage.

Zhang Jun laughed and said, "If your acting improves, of course you can come, but you have to fit the role."

"Then it's settled."

Yang Mi seems to have taken this as a promise, and even exchanged contact information with Zhang Jun, saying that she could ask him questions anytime.

Honestly, if she weren't Yang Mi, Zhang Jun would definitely refuse this approach, but who told him she was Yang Mi!

After a brief chat with Yang Mi, Zhang Jun said to Huang Xiaoming, "She is an ambitious girl, and I am optimistic about her future as a star."

But if she didn't channel that energy into acting, she would never become a good actress.