The director starts by learning from the abilities of renowned directors.

Chapter 74 The Box Office of "Mr. Donkey" and Zhao Liying

The scenes set in Beijing were few; filming only lasted one day after returning to Beijing before wrapping up.

Two days after filming wrapped, Lu Zheng and Jing Tian invited Shen Qing to dinner, while Shen Qing brought Chen Zhixi along.

Lu Zheng first thanked Shen Qing for giving Jing Tian the opportunity to appear in the movie, and then asked Shen Qing if Jing Tian had a future if he developed in the film industry.

Jing Tian looked at Shen Qing nervously.

"There's definitely a future ahead of me. I'm not lacking in beauty or resources. But whether I can become famous depends on luck. If I can find a good script that matches my temperament, I might become famous overnight."

Lu Zheng laughed and said, "A good script that matches one's temperament can be attributed to luck or the support of a benefactor. Take Director Shen, for example. If he wants to promote someone, a script that matches that person's temperament is a piece of cake, isn't it?"

"It's not that simple," Shen Qing said with a smile, shaking his head.

Lu Zheng said, "Wanda has a great interest in the film and television industry. As long as it's a script by Director Shen, just name your budget, and we'll take care of the rest."

Shen Qing smiled and said, "There will be opportunities in the future."

……

Magical Film Company.

Chen Zhixi pushed open the door and handed a list to Shen Qing.

"Mr. Shen, please take a look. If there are no problems, I will arrange the audition."

Shen Qing took the list and examined it carefully from beginning to end.

This is the list of actors to be invited to audition for the movie "Nanjing Photo Studio".

The role of translator Wang Guanghai is being considered for casting, with Duan Yihong and Deng Chao to be chosen as the two actors.

Shen Qing previously invited Duan Yihong to play Qi Leshan when filming "Making a Name for Oneself," but ultimately, for various reasons, the collaboration didn't materialize. Now, Shen Qing is planning to film "Nanjing Photo Studio," and Duan Yihong is on the shortlist of potential collaborators, demonstrating that having acting skills recognized within the industry is still very valuable.

Deng Chao previously played Zhou Tienan in "Mr. Donkey", which is considered to have connected him with Magical Films. He recommended himself to Chen Zhixi several times and finally made it onto the list of invited auditions.

The role of Jin Chengzong, the owner of a photo studio, is being considered for auditions. Zhang Jiayi and Hou Yong are both familiar faces to the actor, having previously played the role of Zhou Qingquan, the owner of a cotton mill, in the film "Ip Man".

The photo studio owner's wife only recommended Qin Hailu, which shows that Chen Zhixi really thought highly of Qin Hailu for the role.

Behind Jin Wanyi, the daughter of the photo studio owner, were four names, each with a small photo attached next to it. Shen Qing lingered on Zhang Zifeng's name for about ten seconds.

Zhang Zifeng had not yet appeared in "Aftershock" at this time and should have been relatively unknown. Chen Zhixi's ability to discover her and officially list her as one of the candidates for the role of Jin Wanyi shows that her work was quite effective.

Then he continued reading.

Soldier Song Youyi recommended Zhang Tong, who was noted to have played the role of Wei Heshang in "Bright Sword".

The names of the extras Lin Yuxiu are listed after Fan Bingbing, Wan Qian, Yan Bingyan, and Yuan Quan.

After reviewing the list, Shen Qing found no problems and handed it back to Chen Zhixi, saying, "Arrange the auditions according to the names on the list."

……

The so-called audition invitation is simply to invite people over to talk about the movie and the role. After the conversation has gone on for a while, the candidate performs a short segment to see how it goes.

After going through the entire process, Duan Yihong was finally chosen to translate the role of Wang Guanghai.

The role of the photo studio owner, Jin Chengzong, has been cast as Hou Yong, the role of his wife as Qin Hailu, and the role of his daughter as Zhang Zifeng.

The soldier was assigned to Zhang Tong, and the woman who went mad was assigned to Wan Qian.

One by one, the roles were finalized. The only role that made Shen Qing hesitate was the female lead, Lin Yuxiu. In the original timeline, this role was played by her sister-in-law, Gao Ye, but now Gao Ye is too young and definitely not suitable.

Fan Bingbing is actually quite suitable, and her biggest advantage is that she is famous enough and has a certain box office appeal.

Wan Qian is actually somewhat suitable, as the character Lin Yuxiu is somewhat similar to Su Mengdie in "Making a Name for Oneself," and Wan Qian once portrayed Su Mengdie very well.

Yuan Quan is quite suitable for the role of Lin Yuxiu in many ways, but her appearance is a bit too distinctive.

Yan Bingyan has strong acting skills, and you can tell from the conversation that she has a good grasp of the role. Her only drawback is that she is relatively less attractive than the other candidates.

Fan Bingbing put in a lot of effort for this role, which made Shen Qing hesitate for a while, but in the end, he decided to cast Yuan Quan.

Using Yuan Quan is a safe choice, while Fan Bingbing has always been a controversial figure, and "Nanjing Photo Studio" is, after all, a very serious film.

After the casting was finalized, Shen Qing led the crew to the Chedun Film and Television City in Shanghai, and filming officially began before the Lunar New Year.

……

End of the year.

Many viewers stop in front of a movie poster for a film called "Mr. Donkey" when they enter the theater.

"This female lead looks familiar!"

"Isn't this Su Mengdie from 'Making a Name for Oneself'?"

"Yes, yes, that's her! 'Fame and Fortune' is Shen Qing's directorial debut, right?"

"Yes, look at the production company of this movie, 'Miracle Film & Media,' isn't that Shen Qing's company?"

"Of course it's Shen Qing's company! Look, Shen Qing is the screenwriter for this movie!"

"Shen Qing's movie? That's incredibly low-key. It seems like there's been almost no promotion! Is this fair to Shen Qing's status?"

"I guess the investment isn't very big. Look, the director is Zhou Shen!"

"Zhou Shen? Is he the director of 'Almost a Comedy'?"

"It's him, and the female lead in 'Almost a Comedy' is also this Wan Qian."

"A film written by Qingye must be a little salty!"

The group went to the ticket window and asked for several tickets to the movie "Mr. Donkey".

……

It's a bit frustrating, but even though Wan Qian starred in two movies produced by Shen Qing's company, including "Fame and Fortune" which was directed and starred by Shen Qing himself, and even though the box office wasn't very high back then, as Shen Qing's career has improved, his previous movies have become more and more valued.

CCTV's movie channel has broadcast it many times, and a considerable number of people have seen it through DVDs or online downloads. However, the film's female lead, Wan Qian, just hasn't become famous, as if she's naturally destined to remain unpopular.

After starring in "Fame and Fortune" and "Half a Comedy", Wan Qian did gain some attention, but she just couldn't become famous. Wan Qian herself felt both puzzled and helpless about this.

As for the release of "Mr. Donkey", she will be satisfied as long as it is an improvement over "Half a Comedy".

Last time, "Almost a Comedy" grossed 4000 million yuan at the box office. If it can gross 5000 million yuan this time, it will be considered a very good result.

Don't let it drop below 4000 million!

It shouldn't be that bad. She felt that "Mr. Donkey" far surpassed "Half a Comedy" in terms of both entertainment value and intellectual depth, and she preferred "Mr. Donkey".

But it's not enough if she likes it!

……

On the day the movie was released, there were some scattered reviews on the internet, a large portion of which were "amazing"!

It immediately received a score of 8.5 on Douban.

"Mr. Donkey is too low-key. Why didn't Shen Qing promote it personally? This movie is very high-class, much better than Shen Qing's own directorial works like Nightclub."

"I almost missed a great movie. Luckily, I had a vague impression of Wan Qian. When I saw her poster, I went over to take a look and I didn't expect to actually find a gem."

"Wan Qian is a treasure; I feel sorry for Zhang Yiman."

"I had never heard of the actress who played the coppersmith's wife before, but her acting was superb, and I was deeply impressed by the character."

"The first half was hilarious, the second half was incredibly depressing, and it left a lasting impression."

"A top-notch dark comedy film."

"I'm not familiar with Wan Qian, but since Shen Qing wrote the script himself, I'll give it a try."

"To be honest, it's better than the previously popular 'The Shallows'."

……

The day after the film's release, Zhou Shen, Wan Qian, Guo Jingfei, Deng Chao, and others promoted the film in Xi'an. The box office figures for the first day of the film were sent to director Zhou Shen's mobile phone.

"650 million on the first day!"

Zhou Shen read out the numbers, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The results were not bad.

It surpasses the 472 million of "Half a Comedy".

"5000 million should be a sure thing, and 6000 million is also very likely. It's a good start, so everyone should keep their spirits up," Director Zhou Shen summarized.

Many viewers were lured into the cinema by the hype surrounding the screenwriter Shen Qing and the leading actors such as Wan Qian, Guo Jingfei, and Deng Chao, only to find that the film was indeed of quite good quality.

The coppersmith's wife's lines, in particular, often elicited bursts of laughter from the entire screening room.

"We've been married for so many years, how could I not know him? Has he changed positions all these years? Ever since he came from your place, the positions have changed, and there are more tricks. At first, I really couldn't tell, until last night, he actually bit my ear..."

Word-of-mouth for the film began to spread slowly, and this positive feedback gradually translated into box office success.

The film grossed 980 million yuan on its second day of release.

1120 million on the third day.

1300 million on the fourth day.

The film grossed 4050 million yuan in its first four days!

It looks like the film's final box office is very likely to exceed 8000 million yuan.

Gradually, more and more netizens began to notice the actress Wan Qian.

"So Zhang Yiman was Su Mengdie a few years ago. Her acting skills have improved again."

"The acting was superb, I'm following."

"I have high hopes for Wan Qian as an actress. I feel she will definitely become a big star in the future."

"Not bad, not bad, Wan Qian is really good."

"Has Wan Qian ever been rumored to be dating Shen Qing?"

"It seems like it was rumored for a few days, but then for some reason no one mentioned it anymore."

……

Wan Qian clearly felt that she might really become famous. She had a vague feeling about this when "Fame and Fortune" was released, but it wasn't strong. This time, the feeling was very strong.

It's not easy.

Even with a big director like Shen Qing supporting her, it wasn't easy to get to where she is today; she even felt like crying.

Just then, Shen Qing called.

"The response to 'Mr. Donkey' was quite good, and the audience seems to appreciate your acting skills. Keep up the good work!"

"Thanks."

"By the way, I have another script here that's suitable for you. I might direct it myself, or I might hire another director. The potential of this script should be higher than the films you've acted in before."

"Yes, I will act well."

……

Shanghai, Chedun Film and Television City.

The crew of "Nanjing Photo Studio".

"Click!"

"Alright, get up, everyone!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liying also got up.

Today she plays one of the victims.

When the production team held open casting calls, she submitted her resume and was selected to play a nurse. Later, the casting director saw that she looked pretty and asked her if she would be willing to work as a crew member, and play any role that was needed.

Zhao Liying agreed without hesitation.

Since signing with Huayi, she started getting some opportunities, but afterwards, she was basically left to her own devices. Now she mainly relies on submitting resumes and getting bit parts.

She can only play minor supporting roles.

"Hey you, come here for a second."

"It's not far away," shouted Assistant Director Zhang.

Zhao Liying pointed to herself and asked, "Me?"

"It's you! Come here quickly, the director wants to see you."

Upon hearing that the director was calling her, Zhao Liying didn't dare to delay and ran towards the director's team.

By the time she reached the director, she was already out of breath.

"Director, were you calling me?"

Zhao Liying paused for a moment before speaking.

Shen Qing looked at Zhao Liying and said, "Did you also audition for 'My Love from the Star'?"

"Yes, but we were eliminated back then."

Shen Qing nodded, glanced at the assistant directors beside him, and said, "I'd like to ask her a few questions alone."

Upon hearing this, several assistant directors and script supervisors walked away.

"I know you. You were the champion of Feng Xiaogang's group in the Yahoo! Search Star talent show, acted in 'Golden Wedding,' and were included in Huayi's Top Eight New Talents Program. How did you end up like this?"

Zhao Liying's face flushed slightly, but her expression remained stubborn as she said, "I haven't met a mentor."

Shen Qing laughed and said, "Isn't Director Feng Xiaogang your mentor?"

Zhao Liying was speechless for a moment and stood there without saying a word.

Shen Qing then asked her, "Any other directors who admire you?"

"no."

"So decisive?"

"Some directors said my face was too round and I would never be a leading actor, so they advised me to get jaw reduction surgery; some directors said my chin was too short and told me to get chin implants; and some directors asked me why my mouth was always pouting, like a pig's snout."

"Would you like to hear my opinion of you?" Shen Qing asked.

Zhao Liying looked at Shen Qing sitting in the director's chair, her heart racing, and said, "Yes!"

If a top director and superstar like Shen Qing were to be criticized so harshly, she wouldn't even know if she would have the courage to continue down this path.

Shen Qing said seriously, "In my opinion, you have a face that's perfect for becoming famous. Everyone who sees you will admit that you're good-looking, but you also happen to have the face of an ordinary girl. Often, being too beautiful or too glamorous isn't necessarily a good thing; it can make you seem aggressive. Fan Bingbing is incredibly beautiful, but she still has a lot of viewers who don't like her, especially female viewers. On the other hand, someone like you, with your pretty and approachable looks, actually has a very wide audience."

Zhao Liying suddenly looked at Shen Qing, her eyes filled with disbelief, her heart pounding, and asked incredulously, "Director, are you telling the truth?"

Shen Qing laughed and said, "Why would I lie to you? What could I possibly get out of you?"

Zhao Liying asked cautiously, "Since you think highly of me, will you support me?"

Shen Qing shook her head.

Zhao Liying's heart, which had just been burning with excitement, seemed to plummet into an ice cave in an instant.

Shen Qing said, "You're an artist under Huayi Brothers now. If I promote you, wouldn't I be doing all the work for someone else?"

"What if I terminate my contract with Huayi?" Zhao Liying asked anxiously.

Shen Qing said seriously, "Then come to me and sign with my company. I will personally tailor a script for you."

Zhao Liying is currently not valued by Huayi Brothers, so terminating her contract should not be difficult. I remember that in 09, she terminated her contract with Huayi Brothers and joined Peking University Starlight. She stayed at Peking University Starlight for less than two years before terminating her contract again and jumping to Hai Run. Only then did she get the role that made her a star, "Legend of Lu Zhen".

……

the other side.

On its 10th day of release, "Mr. Donkey" had already grossed over 7000 million yuan, and its final box office reached 9300 million yuan, making it a mid-career hit.

The movie is a hit, and Wan Qian herself is also a hit!

It's barely a big fire, but clearly not a small one either.