The next day.
It was the weekend.
At Zhang Ye's Studio.
Everyone looked like they had seen a ghost.
"What?"
"What did you say?"
"We have the money? More than 200 million yuan? "
"It's all from your family's own money?"
"Director Zhang, t-this is too risky!"
"What if the box office earnings aren't good? What are we going to do then?"
"Yeah, it's too risky. You can't just take all the money from your own pocket!"
The studio staff were all feeling a lot of pressure. This was the house and savings that Director Zhang's family had bet on. If they lost, wouldn't Director Zhang's family have to sleep on the streets? None of them could have expected that Zhang Ye would actually do something like this. He was betting his entire fortune on this movie. They couldn't understand it either. This was clearly his first time making a movie, so what made him so confident that it would definitely be a success? He didn't even leave any room for retreat?
"Everyone, there's no need to say anymore. Making a movie has always been a matter of staking everything on one throw. Now that the matter has been settled and the money has been secured, we can start setting up the stage. Everyone, hurry up and finish whatever work you have on hand. For the next few months, we won't be doing anything or taking on any other work. We'll just focus on making this movie. The entire lineup of our studio will be the core of the Wolf Warrior 2 production crew."
"Director Zhang, we don't have enough people."
"Then let's start recruiting."
"We also have professional equipment and cameras —"
"Then let's go and buy them."
"What about the actors?"
"I'll pick."
After assigning the tasks, the film crew officially entered the preparation stage.
Although many of the studio staff had already predicted that they would definitely be chosen by the Wolf Warrior 2 production crew, when they heard Director Zhang say this, they still felt a little speechless. The majority of them had come from television stations and filmed TV shows.
But in the end?
What had they been doing all these years?
Filming documentaries!
Filming music videos!
Filming commercials!
Filming TV series!
And now, they were going to fucking make a movie!
Sometimes, even they themselves felt that they were too bold!
In this world, there was nothing that Director Zhang did not dare to take them on!
…
In the office.
Zhang Ye flipped open the script and propped his chin as he pondered.
It was time to choose the roles. How should he invite the actors?
He picked up a pen and started scribbling on the first page. The top line was: "Wolf Warrior 2's Cast List (Draft)"
Producer: Zhang Ye
Executive Director: Zhang Ye
Screenwriter: Zhang Ye.
The choreographer was Zhang Ye.
Assistant Directors: Ha Qiqi, Zhang Zuo.
Male lead, Leng Feng: Zhang Ye
Female lead Richael: To be determined.
There were some roles that he still needed to consider, but there were some roles that he already had a choice in mind.
He picked up the phone and called Yao Jiancai.
Du, du, du. The call connected.
"Yao, what are you doing?"
"I'm eating out."
"Do you have any free time recently?"
"Not recently. I'm in negotiations for a TV series. It might start shooting next month."
"Has the contract been signed?"
"Not yet."
"Then don't sign it. Reject it. Give me some time."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to make a movie and save a good role for you. Only you can play this role. Other than you, I can't find anyone else to replace me."
"What? Do you make movies? "
Then, Zhang Ye called action star Jiang Hanwei.
"Old Jiang, I have an appointment with you."
"What play?"
"I'm preparing to shoot a movie, and there's a role for a veteran. You should come."
"Ah?"
"Will it work?"
"Make a movie? When did you say you were going to make a movie? "
"I just decided on it."
"Are you going to make an international movie?"
"No, I'm just going to make a normal domestic movie."
The call ended.
He gave the role of Yu Qian to Yao Jiancai.
He gave the role of Wu Gang to Jiang Hanwei.
These two were actors that he was 100% sure of. There was no need for them to audition because they had already worked together on In the Name of the People. Zhang Ye knew all of their acting skills, what they were capable of, and what they knew. He was very familiar with them.
An hour later.
Yao Jiancai and Jiang Hanwei rushed over.
"Are you serious?" Yao Jiancai had a look of disbelief.
Jiang Hanwei also asked, "Are you really going to make a movie? You're going to direct and act it yourself? "
Zhang Ye threw the script on the table. "The script is ready and the funding is in place. All that's left is the actors. Take a look at the script first."
Yao Jiancai rolled his eyes. "Why would I look at the script? Let me ask you this first: Do you know how to make a movie?"
Zhang Ye chuckled and said, "Why wouldn't I know?"
Jiang Hanwei pointed at the two books on the table. "Then what do these books mean?"
The two books were:
How to Make a Movie?
What is a Movie?
Zhang Ye was extremely embarrassed. He pulled open the drawer and threw the two books inside, "Aiyah, don't mind the details. I was just casually flipping through."
Yao Jiancai was speechless. "You just don't know how."
Zhang Ye boasted shamelessly, "I really know how to do it."
Jiang Hanwei: "…"
Zhang Ye said, "So are you guys going to do it or not?"
Yao Jiancai said gloomily, "I'm almost done negotiating the contract. Is your movie reliable or not?"
Zhang Ye laughed and said, "If they weren't reliable, I wouldn't have approached the two of you. We've been friends for so many years, so even if I wanted to scam someone, I wouldn't scam the two of you. Don't worry, it'll definitely be a good role. Wasn't that also my first time acting in a TV series with In the Name of the People? What was the result? You don't believe me? "
Yao Jiancai said helplessly, "Alright, I got it. I'll reject them."
Zhang Ye looked at Jiang Hanwei.
Jiang Hanwei nodded. "Alright then."
Zhang Ye clapped his hands. "Alright, then it's settled."
After the two of them left, Zhang Ye continued thinking about his character.
At this moment, Ha Qiqi came in to get something.
Zhang Ye called out to her. "Old Ha, I thought of someone. That American celebrity who was replaced by Wilson in Commando 2. What was his name again?"
Ha Qiqi was taken aback. "Jacques."
Zhang Ye banged the table. "Right, Jacques. He has a very good image!"
Ha Qiqi had also read the script before. She said in surprise, "You want to get him to play the main antagonist, 'Old Dad?' He's an international C-list celebrity. Although his ranking isn't as high as yours, he's still an international celebrity. We're making a Chinese movie, and it's even going to be a villainous role at that. Will he be able to join us? Even if both of you have been hyped up by Commando 2, it still won't be easy, right? We can't afford to pay him too much with this bit of money we have. "
Zhang Ye said, "Help me get in touch with him. I'll talk to him."
Ha Qiqi said nervously, "You sure can dream. Alright, I'll go look for him."
Very quickly, Zhang Ye found his number.
Zhang Ye called Jacques.
"Hello, Jacques."
"Hello, you are?"
"I'm Zhang Ye."
"Oh, it's you? Zhang Ye? "
"Are you interested in coming to China to make a movie?"
"China?"
"I've made a movie that I think you'll be interested in."
Half an hour.
An hour.
Zhang Ye fooled Jacques for a full two hours.
What about getting rid of Wilson!
What about overturning Hollywood!
What about getting an eye for an eye!
What about getting you into the billion-dollar box office earnings club!
When the studio staff heard Zhang Ye fooling around, they were all speechless.
Little Wang pouted. "Director Zhang is bragging again."
However, to everyone's surprise, Jacques was even more excited than Zhang Ye in the end. "Zhang, I'll take on the role! I'll bring my agent to China tomorrow! "
Zhang Ye smiled and said, "Alright, Old Jacques, I'll be waiting for you!"
Putting down his cell phone, Zhang Ye said, "It's settled."
Everyone in the studio rolled their eyes and slapped their foreheads.
Ah? You can even do that?
Aren't you too good at bragging!
Aren't you just fooling them?
A billion-dollar box office earnings? That's more than 6 billion RMB!
In the history of China's film industry, there have never been more than three movies that have earned a billion-dollar box office earnings! But you're really good, talking about 6 billion RMB the moment you open your mouth? Can't you even go a day without bragging? The most speechless of all was that international celebrity, Jacques. Did you really believe him? Oh my god! Aren't you too honest? Don't you know Director Zhang's nickname? He's the internationally renowned Great Hoodwinker!
…
Casting.
Auditions.
Buying equipment.
Renting a venue.
The film crew of Wolf Warrior 2 had quietly taken shape.
It was also getting closer and closer to the start of filming.
…
Several days later.
The news still couldn't be kept a secret.
"Zhang Ye wants to make a movie?"
"Shock! Zhang Ye enters the film industry! "
"News: After Zhang Ye's failed attempt to enter Hollywood, he will be directing and acting in a movie!"
"Movie title revealed: Wolf Warrior 2!"
"Zhang Ye's virgin movie to start filming soon!"
"Zhang Ye wants to challenge Hollywood?"
This news was too shocking!
The country was instantly in an uproar!
On Weibo.
"Holy shit!"
"Zhang Ye has flipped out!"
"Yeah, he wants to make a movie himself? He wants to direct it himself? "
"I knew it. After Zhang Ye was made a fool of by a Hollywood director, he definitely wouldn't remain silent. So it turns out that Zhang Ye has been holding back his trump card!"
"Challenging Hollywood?"
"No one else has the guts to do that!"
"But why do I feel that it's not reliable? Even if Commando 2 is a flop, it can't possibly get less than 500 million USD at the box office, right? That's more than 3 billion RMB we're talking about. Moreover, with the reputation of Commando 1 and Wilson's reputation as a Hollywood big shot, I don't think even 3 billion RMB would be enough to stop it. I think the movie that Zhang Ye wants to make is a domestic movie, right? How is he going to go up against Hollywood like that? If he loses in the end, how embarrassing would that be? It would definitely be another blow to Zhang Ye's international popularity. It would also further prove that Wilson looked down on China's film industry back then! "
"Zhang Ye is vowing to fight to the death!"
"I heard that he invested all of his assets into this movie! He even mortgaged his house! "
"That can't be true, right?"
"It's true. Someone from the bank revealed that Zhang Ye's house has really been mortgaged. He's betting all of his money, honor, and reputation on this movie! You're f * cking trying to fight Wilson and Commando 2 to the death! "
"Zhang Ye is a real man!"
"But why is the movie called Wolf Warrior 2?"
"Pfft, how would I know!"
"Yeah, where's 1?"
"1 got eaten up by Face-smacking Zhang!"
"This fellow, he's really not playing by the rules!"
Some people were cheering for Zhang Ye.
But there were also people who were not optimistic about this movie.
In just a short period of time, the country was in an uproar!
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