noveldepot Chapter 36: Unexpected Lead Actor
Chapter 36: Unexpected Lead Actor
December 30, 2007, late at night.
In the study of BJ's International Trade Apartment, Jiang Yu had just finished a video conference with Chen Jingming when a transoceanic call came in from Los Angeles.
Caller ID: David Cohen.
"Boss, sorry to bother you so late, but I have some good news to share immediately."
David's voice came from across the Pacific Ocean, filled with barely suppressed excitement: "The negotiations with Marvel have just been finalized. We won, and we won even better than we expected."
Jiang Yu walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the East Third Ring Road where traffic was still flowing endlessly in the early hours of the morning, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "Tell me about it."
"Final terms: Light Chaser Animation & Studios North America will invest $4000 million in cash in the Iron Man project in exchange for 25% of the global box office revenue."
David's speech quickened, each word like a victory drumbeat: "Not gross profit, but net profit after deducting marketing and distribution! Although they might use some Hollywood-style tricks in cost calculations, we've locked in the core proportions. In addition, there's 10% from film copyright revenue, and 5% from the net profit of character-licensed merchandise. Most importantly, regarding the sequel..."
He paused, took a deep breath, and said, "For any subsequent Iron Man film, as long as Marvel Studios is in charge of development, Light Chaser Pictures will automatically have a minimum 20% investment right, with equal priority in profit sharing. This clause is in black and white, it's a done deal. Kevin Feige has struggled for a long time, and now we are not only their financial backer, but also the visual technology support they desperately need for their films. They have no choice."
$4000 million was no small sum in 2007, especially with the financial crisis already looming.
In return, they gained a ticket to a multi-billion dollar universe and a technology showcase window with a top-tier IP that they would be tied to for a long time.
This deal is incredibly worthwhile.
"Well done, David." Jiang Yu's praise was unreserved. "Send me the contract text as soon as possible. I'll have the legal and financial departments do a final review. The funds must be in place on time; we can't give Marvel any excuse to delay."
"Understood! The funding arrangements have been made. Also, Wu Na's side is moving very quickly."
David continued, and the faint sounds of keyboard typing and English conversation could be heard in the background, indicating that he was still in his office.
"Taking advantage of the current market panic, she poached a mature visual effects team of 45 people, mainly from several mid-sized studios on the verge of layoffs. Many of them are senior visual effects artists and compositors who have worked on the Spider-Man and X-Men series. Combined with our original core team, Light & Shadow Digital is capable of handling at least 50% of the post-production visual effects for Iron Man while ensuring quality and dominating the overall visual style."
"Tell her that the budget can be relaxed appropriately, but we need to establish strict project management and quality control processes. This is our battle to establish our authority in Hollywood, and there can be no compromise on the technical aspects," Jiang Yu instructed.
He never doubted Wu Na's aggressiveness; in large-scale operations, management and processes are equally crucial.
"Don't worry, Wu Na knows what she's doing. She's already like a general."
David chuckled, "Oh, and one more thing. The first draft of the script for *Black Swan*, based on the core concepts and plot development you provided, took the writing team half a month to complete and was just sent to my email. I glanced at it, and it's very compelling; it captures that relentless madness and the artist's obsession perfectly. Shall we wait for you to come back and review the detailed draft?"
"Send it to me, I'll check it on the way." Jiang Yu glanced at his watch. "I'll head to the airport after dawn here, and if all goes well, I'll arrive in Los Angeles tomorrow afternoon."
After hanging up the phone, the study fell silent again.
Jiang Yu sat back down at his desk. The report sent by Chen Jingming was still lit up on the computer screen.
.........
December 1, Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport.
In the VIP waiting room, Jiang Yu was checking his emails on his laptop while listening to Yang Siwei give a briefing.
"...The official announcement for the 'Witch' project will be released simultaneously by China Film Group and our official website at 10:00 AM today. The press release has been finalized according to your requirements, emphasizing the 'collision between an emerging director and talented newcomers,' the 'rigorous casting process,' and the 'commitment to exploring the possibilities of different types of actors.' Director Lu Yang has already communicated with the teams of the main actors, including Wang Zhi, Jiang Wenli, Zu Feng, and Zhu Yilong, and their schedules are being coordinated."
"Very good." Jiang Yu closed his laptop. "Keep a close eye on things domestically. Zhou Mu will be in charge of Guangying Digital. You'll be responsible for the specific development of film and television content and maintaining industry relationships. Keep in touch if anything comes up."
"Understood, Mr. Jiang." Yang Siwei nodded solemnly.
As Jiang Yu sat down and fastened his seatbelt in first class on a flight to Los Angeles, a flight attendant brought him a glass of water.
He opened the first draft of the script for "Black Swan" sent by David and immersed himself in that ballet world about perfection, obsession, and destruction.
After the flight stabilized, he took a short rest.
When I woke up, I turned on the satellite network and connected to domestic news.
Refreshing the page, the official websites of China Film Group and Light Chaser Pictures (China) indeed displayed eye-catching news simultaneously:
The Sino-US co-production sci-fi action blockbuster "The Witch" has officially announced its main cast and crew, with up-and-coming director Lu Yang and talented newcomer Wang Zhi embarking on an adventure.
The news article listed the director, producer, screenwriter, and other key creative personnel. The lead actor section clearly stated:
Leading actor: Wang Zhi
Starring: Jiang Wenli, Zu Feng, Zhu Yilong
Special Appearance: Wang Zhiwen (Guest Role)
The press release was carefully worded, highlighting Lu Yang's outstanding achievements and creative philosophy at the Beijing Film Academy, Wang Zhi's background as a martial arts champion and her professional learning experience in the Central Academy of Drama's acting department, emphasizing that the casting decision was "made after multiple rounds of rigorous auditions and comprehensive evaluations," and stating that "we will work together to create a sincere work that showcases female strength and sci-fi imagination."
Jiang Yu calmly closed the webpage.
He could almost imagine how the domestic entertainment industry would react at that moment.
Just as Jiang Yu predicted, the announcement caused an uproar both inside and outside the industry.
The topic quickly gained traction on major entertainment forums and media comment sections.
"Wang Zhi??? Who's that? I've never heard of him!"
"Not Liu Yifei? Not Huang Shengyi? Not even Shu Chang or Wang Luodan? Who is this Wang Zhi?"
"Found it! Graduated from the Central Academy of Drama's acting department, and she really is a newcomer! Her debut just aired this year."
"Wait a minute, her resume says she served as a college graduate village official for three years? What the heck? A village official turning into a sci-fi blockbuster lead actress? That's more sci-fi than sci-fi itself!"
"Lu Yang really has ideas! No wonder he's a director from the Beijing Film Academy. His casting decisions are bold; he doesn't blindly follow popular stars and dares to use newcomers. He has the potential to be a great director!"
"Stop exaggerating. It's clearly a case of resources being absorbed within the Beijing Film Academy system. Look at everyone except Wang Zhi—Jiang Wenli, Zu Feng, Zhu Yilong—aren't they all from Beijing Film Academy? It's a miracle that Wang Zhi, a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, managed to get in, okay?"
"Holy crap, now that you mention it, it's true! The top directors at Beijing Film Academy always cast actresses from the Central Academy of Drama as leads. Is this some kind of mystical tradition? (doge)"
"Am I the only one who cares who Zhu Yilong is? He's so handsome! Is he a newcomer?"
"Lu Yang's move was brilliant. He used his own people (from the Beijing Film Academy), broke the mold (casting a new female lead from the Central Academy of Drama), and still managed to project an image of artistic integrity. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"
"Let's call it a day, it's just another case of a resource-backed celebrity parachuting in. This is boring."
"Not necessarily. The news said they were selected after multiple rounds of auditions. Maybe they really are talented? They're a martial arts champion, so their action scenes should be reliable."
"With a film like 'The Witch' being such a big production, are they really letting a completely unknown newcomer carry the lead role at the box office? Are Light Chaser Pictures and China Film Group really that willing to take a gamble? Or is this newcomer's background ridiculously powerful?"
Media reporters were scrambling to find, organize, and disseminate all information about Wang Zhi.
A graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, a national martial arts champion, a three-year village official, and recently signed with a small talent agency...
Each piece of information makes this girl, who suddenly burst into the public eye, seem even more mysterious and unique.
When Wang Zhi received the official notification, she was practicing her lines in front of a mirror in a small apartment arranged by the company.
The agent practically burst through the door, phone in hand, babbling incoherently, "It's a win! It's really a win! Wang Zhi! 'The Witch'! You're the lead! It's officially announced!"
Wang Zhi stood there, stunned, and the script slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
Is she really going to star in a Sino-US co-production with an investment of tens of millions of dollars?
A newcomer with a dream of performing enters this complex industry and suddenly becomes the focus of the spotlight?
"Quick, the company phones are ringing off the hook! Interviews, endorsement inquiries... Oh my god, we need to prepare a response plan immediately! Also, you need to send a thank-you note after the interview, but be careful with your wording..."
Wang Zhi bent down to pick up the script. She remembered the question Jiang Yu had asked her during the audition: "Why do you want to play this role?"
She replied, "Because I feel that she wasn't born strong; she was someone who pieced herself back together from brokenness and pain, choosing to become strong. I want to experience that kind of power."