Chapter 108: He Is Planning a Major Production This Time (Part Two)

Chapter 108: He Is Planning a Major Production This Time (Part II)

To Zhang Le’s surprise, he did not receive a reply from Li Jie; instead, he received a call from Chen Ke. He was slightly puzzled, but after a moment’s thought, he felt relieved.

Before Li Jie headed to Hollywood, he and Chen Ke were long-time partners. In fact, beyond Li Jie’s own hard work, much of his success today could likely be attributed to Chen Ke. The two could be considered both mentor and student, as well as friends. If there was one person Li Jie should thank most for his current achievements, it was undoubtedly Chen Ke.

“Director Chen, did you put in a good word for me?” Zhang Le asked with a smile as soon as he heard the inquiry about whether he had invited Li Jie to star in his new film.

“If I did, are you going to report it in the news?” Chen Ke chuckled.

“That can be arranged!” Zhang Le replied, laughing.

“I’m just joking,” Chen Ke said with a smile. “From what Li Jie said, I can tell he was somewhat moved by your script, but he has some reservations. I suspect he will reach out to talk to you. Whether you can dispel his concerns depends on your own ability.”

Zhang Le’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. “Then I’ll thank you in advance, Director Chen. I’ll treat you to a meal when I’m back.”

“That sounds great,” Chen Ke laughed. “I thought you were holding your breath, planning to shoot another film to challenge the Golden Dragon Awards again. I didn’t expect you to be planning such a big move, and to set your sights on Li Jie, no less. Martial arts films aren’t easy to make these days!”

“Tough bones are the most flavorful to chew on,” Zhang Le replied with a smile.

“How did it go?” Yang Xin’er asked curiously after Zhang Le hung up the phone.

“Li Jie is tempted, but he doesn’t have much confidence in me and has some reservations,” Zhang Le said with a smile.

“I believe you’ll be able to put all his concerns to rest,” Yang Xin’er said, smiling back at him.

“I’m afraid our trip is coming to an end,” Zhang Le said apologetically.

Yang Xin’er smiled, looked at Zhang Le, and suddenly asked, “Who do you plan to cast as Luo Xiaohu?”

Zhang Le was stunned for a moment. Then, seeing the expression on Yang Xin’er’s face, he immediately understood. Yang Xin’er was to play Yu Jiaolong, and in the film, there were intimate scenes between Luo Xiaohu and Yu Jiaolong. The meaning behind her question was self-evident.

“I’ll play it!” Zhang Le thought for a moment, then smiled and said.

Zhang Le did not particularly enjoy being in front of the camera, but that didn’t mean he was opposed to it. Furthermore, he had already planned to star in his upcoming project, *Mr. & Mrs. Smith*. Accumulating some acting experience beforehand wouldn’t be a bad idea.

It didn’t take much effort to persuade Li Jie. Zhang Le already had the original version of *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* as a reference, and he had poured a tremendous amount of energy into analyzing, thinking, and studying it. He was undoubtedly more dedicated to this film than his previous two. Although his first two films were classics, they could not compare to this one in terms of artistry, influence, or achievement.

Zhang Le didn’t harbor delusions of matching the success of the original version, but he refused to allow himself to produce something mediocre when he had the original as a guide. Standing on the shoulders of giants, one must strive to reach even higher. As for the achievements of the original, those were due not only to the film itself but also to the circumstances of the era. Zhang Le could control the film, but he could not control the environment—such as the competition for awards; who could guarantee anything there?

Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er returned home from Hawaii. *Flirting Scholar* had already finished its theatrical run, unexpectedly grossing over 500 million. Combined with *Crazy Stone*, they had raked in a total of 1 billion, which undoubtedly shocked many film and television companies. What surprised them wasn’t just the total box office, but the contrast between the investment costs and the returns. The profitability of these two films made many companies envious and resentful. Xinle Film Studio seemed to be trending toward becoming a full-fledged production company, and its recent recruitment efforts had attracted many talented individuals.

Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er kept a low profile upon their return and did not attract much attention. As soon as they were back, Zhang Le began preparations for his new film. Instead of finalizing the cast first, he invited the country’s top art director, Ye Ming, and cinematographer, Bao Zhen.

Cinematography and art direction were crucial for this film. Although Zhang Le had the original as a reference, he couldn’t manage every minute detail. He lacked both the ability and the energy. Ye Ming and Bao Zhen were renowned, independent filmmakers who didn’t sign with any company. They were never short of work and were known for being selective about the films and directors they worked with. Zhang Le was quite lucky to catch them during a gap in their schedules, though it took a Herculean effort to persuade them.

While Zhang Le was famous and had strong box office appeal, in the eyes of industry veterans like Ye Ming and Bao Zhen, he was still a newcomer—one they even looked down upon slightly. Both were master-level filmmakers and regulars at the Golden Dragon Awards, having worked almost exclusively with top-tier directors. Although Zhang Le’s two films had caused quite a stir, he was still a novice in the industry, and his previous work was lackluster in terms of cinematography and art direction.

The actual filming process didn’t take long, but when factoring in pre-production and post-production, it was a different story. Once the crew was assembled, Zhang Le had put in a great deal of effort to invite many famous filmmakers, and the overall quality of the team had undergone a sea change. Of course, this was also an excellent opportunity for Zhang Le to improve his own skills. Although he had a good idea of the locations, he still took the crew for on-site inspections and held repeated discussions.

During this period, the cast was also confirmed. The international action superstar Li Jie would play Li Mubai, Yang Xin’er would play Yu Jiaolong, Zhang Le would play Luo Xiaohu, and he invited Yang Liu to play the other female lead, Yu Xiulian. Yang Liu was the younger sister of the dancer Yang Li and also had a dance background. However, she didn’t pursue a career in dance but instead used her training to achieve great success in action films. She could be considered the country’s premier female martial arts star. Even more commendably, she was a Golden Dragon Award-winning actress with superb acting skills.

Yang Liu was in her late thirties and had once been extremely popular; she had semi-retired after getting married. While her fame might not be what it once was, expectations for her performance as Yu Xiulian remained high. With the four leads confirmed, the supporting cast followed. The crucial role of Jade Fox was given to Zhen Pei, who had played Madam Hua in *Flirting Scholar*. This was a coincidence similar to the original films.

Zhang Le was now a highly famous director, and with his popularity far exceeding that of an average director, his new film garnered immense attention. Moreover, he and Yang Xin’er were constant subjects of media interest, and the fact that Zhang Le had returned empty-handed from the Golden Dragon Awards had sparked quite a debate. *Flirting Scholar* had also polarized opinion, leading to significant discussion given its staggering box office performance.

It was already a highly anticipated film, and once the list of key personnel was announced, the entire film and television industry was shocked. Everyone could see that Zhang Le was planning a major production this time!