Chapter 259 270 [The Godfather of Asian Films Has Spoken! ]

4 month 20 number.

After staying in Los Angeles for a day and a half, Li Yishu flew back to Hong Kong.

Repulse Bay.

Qingxia’s home.

Qingxia, who was already pregnant at this time, had a more maternal glow.

“Why is there no sound?”

Li Yishu listened to Qingxia’s slightly bulging belly, but did not hear any fetal movement.

Qingxia said with a smile: “How old is the baby? I guess we can hear fetal movement next month.”

“Haha, that’s true.”

Li Yishu said, “Your belly is getting bigger now, and it’s not convenient for you to stay here. Why don’t you come back to Shanghai with me?”

It is quite good for Qingxia to live in Shanghai now. At least she doesn’t have to worry about paparazzi. Besides, the two villas she bought before have been renovated. If she moves there now and hires a few older nannies, I believe no one will recognize Qingxia, the big star.

Qingxia hesitated for a moment, but finally shook her head: “Forget it. Didn’t you say you were going to attend the Cannes Film Festival in May? I might as well stay in Hong Kong instead of living alone in Shanghai. After attending “Tien Shan Tong Lao” in a few days, I will return to Taiwan. After two months, I will go to the United States to prepare for the birth of my baby.”

Seeing Qingxia say this, Li Yishu didn’t insist anymore.

He has to attend the Cannes Film Festival in May and will have to stay in Cannes for at least half a month. Qingxia lives alone in Shanghai and has no friends there, so it is definitely not as convenient as staying in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

“Okay, whatever you think, but why hasn’t ‘The Childlike Grandma of Tianshan’ been released yet?”

Li Yishu was also puzzled. Wasn’t the film “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: The Childlike Grandma of Tianshan” shot in the middle of last year? It’s been almost half a year, why hasn’t it been released yet? This doesn’t fit the fast pace of Hong Kong movies.

“It’s not because of you.”

Qingxia rolled her eyes: “I don’t know what you said to Director Qian Yongqiang at the beginning. Later, he went directly to Yongsheng’s Long Wu to ask for another production company. He filmed a lot more scenes, and then he has been doing post-production editing for the past few months.”

“This…I just said it casually, who knew he took it so seriously.”

Li Yishu touched his nose awkwardly. He did suggest that Qian Yongqiang make the film more explicit. Since they had already let Heroine Wu and Li Qiushui be ambiguous, they might as well keep it ambiguous to the end and make it into a martial arts and homosexual film.

Moreover, both Qingxia and Gong Li are big stars, and the overall style of the film is dreamy. It may be able to carve out a niche for itself in the Hong Kong market where martial arts films are prevalent.

It’s better than the original film which flies around and bombards everywhere. When filming the forbidden love between Wu Xingyun and Li Qiushui, it only touches on the surface and stops, which makes people feel itchy inside.

Seeing Li Yishu’s embarrassment, Qingxia burst out laughing: “Since you, the godfather of Asian movies, have spoken, Director Qian will naturally believe you. In my current situation, I don’t really want to attend the movie premiere, but I’m afraid that Director Qian will be tricked by you and Yongsheng Film Company will cause trouble for him. So I called Gong Li and asked her to wear the movie costumes and show up with me.”

“That’s true. Long Wu from Yongsheng is no pushover.”

Li Yishu thought for a while and asked back, “When will the movie be released?”

“Saturday, the 23rd.”

Three days later?
Li Yishu silently calculated the time. After attending the premiere, she would return to the mainland to deal with some things, and then take a look at the progress of the casting of “Red Cliff of Three Kingdoms”. It was still in time.

“Okay, then do you have Director Qian’s contact information? Give him a call and tell him I’ll also attend the premiere in three days.”

“Aren’t you in a hurry to go back to the mainland?”

“It doesn’t matter if I spend these few days with you in Hong Kong, and I can visit Gong Li on the set.”

When Qingxia heard Li Yishu talking about Gong Li, she looked at him strangely, and finally stopped talking.

Li Yishu naturally noticed her behavior and asked curiously, “Do you have something to tell me?”

“Nothing, just…” Qingxia laughed before she could finish her sentence.

“What’s going on?”

Li Yishu was even more confused by her smile.

“Just… do you like the older sister type?”

Qingxia had already noticed the situation between Li Yishu and Gong Li as early as when they were filming “The Fairy of Tianshan Mountains”. However, she was not a talkative person, so she naturally did not talk about it or ask questions randomly. But who could have thought that things would develop like this later.

Anyway, in the past few months, Qingxia has come to terms with it. She thinks it’s fine not to get married and just have a baby and raise it herself.

“not me…”

“Okay, okay, I just said it casually, don’t explain it to me.”

Qingxia’s expression that said “I understand” made Li Yishu laugh and cry.

But he didn’t explain. No matter how much he explained, Qingxia thought it was just a cover-up. It was his fault for not being reborn a few years earlier.

The crew of “Chungking Express”.

The main filming locations for the crew are the Chongqing Building on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, and the Central Mid-Levels escalator and surrounding blocks.

The building was completed in 1961 and is a mixed-use building with many cheap hotels, shops, restaurants, currency exchange shops and other service industries.

The 17-storey commercial and residential building was considered outstanding at the time, and together with its famous neighbour, the Peninsula Hotel, it became a landmark building in Tsim Sha Tsui.

However, Chungking Mansions did not become as famous as The Peninsula Hotel. Instead, it does not have a very good reputation in Hong Kong.

In the second year after its construction, a major theft occurred here.

There was once a five-alarm fire caused by a short circuit in the wires, and later it gradually became a gathering place for gangsters, gamblers, drug dealers, prostitutes and illegal odd jobs…

It was regarded by locals as a place where “good and bad people mixed together and nine rebellions were committed”, and was once a hotbed of criminal activities.

Even now, Chungking Mansions has a bad reputation because it is home to a large number of illegal immigrants, mainly Indians.

In the movie “Chungking Express”, the female killer played by Qingxia also went to Chongqing Building to ask an Indian for help in drug trafficking, and shot him after failing.

It can be said that this place is really chaotic.

Fortunately, the crew didn’t have many scenes here, and they also greeted the local community, so there weren’t any blind people coming to cause trouble.

Li Yishu came to visit the set today, and the crew happened to be filming in Chongqing Building.

“Director Li, long time no see!”

Wang Jiawei smiled and stretched out his hand, saying, “I heard that you are going to attend the Cannes Film Festival soon. I wish you a successful start in advance!”

“Thank you.” Li Yishu shook hands with the other party politely.

Then he looked at the narrow corridor in front of him. The flickering lights combined with the old interior really had a bit of the feel of a horror movie.

Li Yishu no longer has much impression of the plot of “Chungking Express”, but in terms of color and atmosphere, Wang Jiawei really did it to the extreme.

“Director Li!” At this moment, Gong Li, who had finished her makeup, came out. She was wearing red lipstick, a golden wig, a pair of sunglasses with a big red frame, and a bright yellow windbreaker. She looked less mature and more sexy and fashionable.

“Sister Gong Li, your outfit is really eye-catching.”

It was the first time that Lee Yi-su saw Gong Li with blonde hair, or rather, it was the first time that he saw Gong Li with hair other than black.

“Yeah, the new look is really nice, but this wig is a bit uncomfortable.”

Gong Li smiled. This was her first time trying this look and the effect was quite good. At least it broadened her acting range and she was no longer limited to rural themes as in the past. It also made the Hong Kong media shut up.

You have to know that the Hong Kong media has a very sharp tongue. They have always described Gong Li as a “country girl” because most of the movie roles she played are rural women.

Even though she had previously collaborated with Lee Yi-su in the drama “Sword Rain”, the Hong Kong media still habitually evaluated her in this way, which would make anyone angry.

The two chatted for a while, and Wang Jiawei occasionally interrupted them. Suddenly, he saw Liang Chaowei, Jin Chengwu and other leading actors, and waved: “Ah Wei, come here.”

“Director Li, let me introduce you. This is Liang Chaowei, this is Jin Chengwu, and this is the princess…”

Liang Chaowei has met Li Yishu, and his current girlfriend Liu Jialing is also familiar with Li Yishu. They had played mahjong together at Zhang Guorong’s house before.

Seeing Li Yishu now, Liang Chaowei immediately extended his hand enthusiastically: “Hello, Director Li, congratulations on winning the European Triple Gold Grand Slam. Jialing told me before that she wanted to treat you to a meal.”

Li Yishu didn’t like Liang Chaowei very much, but she didn’t want to hit someone who smiled at her, so she smiled politely and said, “Haha, Jialing is so polite. Next time I have a chance, I’ll host Guorong and the others and invite them to come sit together.”

“No problem.” Liang Chaowei was smiling happily. He really wanted to make a movie with Li Yishu so that he would have a chance to enter the European Film Festival and win an award. It’s just that they were not close, so he never had the chance. Now that they meet again, next time he can ask Liu Jialing to help make the connection.

“Hello Director Li, I’m Jin Chengwu, I’m a fan of yours and I really like the movies you make.”

Kim Sung-wu was still a newcomer at that time, and he was very enthusiastic and even a little fawning when he saw Lee Yi-su.

Li Yishu responded politely with two sentences, and there was not much communication. However, when she saw the princess, there was a hint of amusement. The last time they met was in Yanjing at the end of last year. At that time, the princess even asked to cut in line at the door of the breakfast shop.

The princess noticed his look and clearly recognized him, which made her very embarrassed, but she could only bite the bullet and say, “Hello, Director Li, I am the princess, and I am glad to meet you.”

“I’ve heard your song ‘A Woman Easily Hurt’, it’s very good.”

“Thank you, Director Li.”

“…”

After getting to know each other, Li Yishu started to observe Wang Jiawei’s filming.

In addition to visiting Gong Li on the set, my main purpose this time was to see how Wang Jiawei filmed his movies and get to know Du Kefeng.

He has always liked Du Kefeng’s photography style, but this foreigner is in the same boat with Wang Jiawei, and has basically been following Wang Jiawei in recent years.

Li Yishu sat next to Wang Jiawei, watching the footage shot by Du Kefeng on the surveillance camera, and was amazed. He was worthy of being a photographer who had won the photography technology awards at the three major European film festivals.

The feeling of pushing the camera forward and pulling it back is really great. With a little bit of post-production, the psychedelic color that is typical of Wang Jiawei’s style immediately comes to the fore.

Having previously thought that Christopher Doyle’s photography skills were top-notch, and now having seen it with her own eyes, Li Yishu has deepened her determination to work with him.

He thought about it and asked, “Director Wang, do you have any movies this year?”

“Ah?” Although Wang Jiawei didn’t understand why Li Yishu asked that, he still shook his head and said, “I don’t think there will be any movie plans this year.”

“That’s good.”

Li Yishu breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that Du Kefeng and Wang Jiawei were closely connected. Normally, Du Kefeng would only join other crews when Wang Jiawei was not filming.

“What’s wrong Director Li?”

“Nothing, I just have a movie here that is very suitable for Director Du’s photography style.”

Wang Jiawei was stunned for a moment, then reacted and said with a smile: “Doyle is independent. If Director Li wants to cooperate with him, he can tell him.”

“Well, wait until the filming is finished.”

Li Yishu nodded. He had been thinking about what kind of movie to make when he went to the United States to accompany Qingxia to give birth. Now after meeting Du Kefeng, he had an idea in his mind, that is, a musical.

Americans have always had the habit of watching musicals, and the old white men at the Oscars Film Festival happened to have come from the golden age of the United States, and they have a special fascination with musicals.

In the 30s, 50s and s, American musicals were very popular, and any film with singing and dancing did well at the box office. This is just like India’s preference for incorporating singing and dancing into any film.

However, with the advent of film industrialization and the obsolescence of musicals, the United States has rarely produced traditional musicals in the past decade or so.

If we make an English musical now, coupled with Christopher Doyle’s photography skills, I believe it will not be a problem to win an Oscar. After all, old white men are so eager to return to the golden age of Hollywood.

The only thing that troubled Lee Yi-su was which film to choose.

He remembers many American musicals, many of which are classics, such as “Moulin Rouge”, “Chicago”, “La La Land”, “Mamma Mia”…

Especially “Mamma Mia”, Li Yixi remembered that this movie was adapted from a stage play, and this stage play was very popular in Western countries and seemed to have created a record of global touring.

In this case, Mamma Mia is more appropriate?
Not only can the movie make money, but it can also be adapted into a stage play.

But unfortunately, Li Yishu only remembered the general plot, and he had long forgotten the lines.

But I can write out the general plot later, and then ask Lai Shengchuan and foreign stage play screenwriters to help expand it.

4 month 23 number.

Inside a cinema owned by Yongsheng.

Li Yishu exchanged pleasantries with Long Wu and Long Tai, and said a few words of encouragement to director Qian Yongqiang before sitting back down next to Gong Li and Qingxia.

At this moment, they are both dressed in ancient costumes from movies.

Qian Yongqiang gave a speech in front of the media, thanked Li Yishu for her advice, and then left the stage to start the movie.

Watching the affectionate expressions of “Wu Xingyun” and “Li Qiushui” in the movie, the whole movie basically deviated from the original plot. A Zi played by Zhang Min was dispensable, and the young monk Xu Zhu disappeared after appearing a few times.

Li Yishu glanced at Long Wu who was not far away, and saw his serious expression, and knew that the film did not suit his aesthetic taste.

But in Li Yishu’s opinion, the movie is still quite good, the style is beautiful, and the acting skills of the two heroines are also very good.

But I think it will be difficult to become popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Movie fans here prefer action and martial arts movies that are more entertaining, rather than movies like this that use martial arts as a cover but focus on homosexual themes.

Qian Yongqiang really got himself screwed.

Li Yishu touched his nose and glanced at Qian Yongqiang who was full of excitement, wondering whether he should help him.
If this film was edited a bit more, completely removing those irrelevant plots involving Zhang Min, and turned into a film about ancient feudalism and unrequited love, it should be able to sell for some money in Europe and the United States.

Political correctness in Europe started very early. The legalization of homosexuality in West Germany was a typical example of political correctness. The purpose was to tell the people in East Germany at that time how free we are here, even homosexuals are allowed to get married.

But after the two parties merged, they immediately cancelled the legalization of same-sex marriage, just because they gained related benefits.

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(End of this chapter)