Chapter 4: Casting and Filming
The news that a freshman from Beijing Film Academy's Director Department was going to shoot a movie spread like wildfire.
With the filing information for lost on journey appearing on the Film Bureau's public notice board,
people in the film and television industry noticed Rong Chen Film and Television Co., Ltd. and the name Li Chen.
When they learned that Li Chen was a newbie freshman in the Director Department at Beijing Film Academy,
the old veterans in the industry all just laughed it off.
“What does a freshman know? He hasn't learned to walk yet and wants to run?”
“The box office will teach him to be down-to-earth!”
“Young people nowadays are too impetuous. Students can't settle down to study and only think of taking shortcuts.”
“Young people dare to think and act; their courage is commendable!”
The outside comments were not mixed reviews; they were almost entirely negative.
Li Chen ignored these, contacted a person in charge of equipment at China Film Group Corporation for handover,
and then invited several students from Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama to participate.
He knew his situation; if he held open auditions, it would likely become a joke and waste time.
He had a good idea of who was suitable and who wasn't, so direct invitations were simple and convenient.
Finally, for the role of Xiaoli, Li Chen decided to invite Zuo Xiaoqing.
Others were either unsuitable or unavailable.
The final cast for lost on journey was set:
Li Chenggong: Baiyulan Award Best Actor Xu Zheng
Niu Geng: Wang Baoqiang
Xiaoli: Zuo Xiaoqing (Beijing Film Academy, Class of '95)
Mandy: Yao Di (Beijing Film Academy, Class of '01)
Female Teacher: Zhang Xinyi (Central Academy of Drama, Class of '01)
Dawei: Luo Jin (Beijing Film Academy, Class of '02)
Sexy Married Woman: Tang Yifei (Central Academy of Drama, Class of '01)
Nana: Tang Yan (Central Academy of Drama, Class of '02)
Aside from the two leading actors and Zuo Xiaoqing, the others were all current students, a whole bunch at cabbage prices.
Although Central Academy of Drama freshmen and sophomores are not allowed to take on roles during class, these were all minor supporting roles that could be completed in one to two days, so the impact was minimal.
Teacher Li was very supportive, finding two senior students from the Director Department to be Li Chen's left and right-hand men.
He also reminded him that post-production editing should be done at school to save as much as possible.
From the looks of it, he had concluded that Li Chen was bound to lose money.
Li Chen thanked him with a smile.
The filming location was set in Beijing.
On April 2nd, lost on journey quietly began filming, unnoticed by anyone.
“Action!”
Inside a restaurant private room, Li Chenggong sat alone, beginning to scold his subordinates standing before him one by one.
“Your intelligence is very refreshing!” The person smiled.
Li Chenggong then looked at Xiao Zhang: “And Xiao Zhang, you've still made progress this year. Last year you were mentally deficient; this year you've been promoted to stupid.”
Li Chenggong then looked at a long-haired man: “And regarding you, thank you for making me realize that long hair and short insight is a truth. You don't need to come to work after the Spring Festival.”
“Boss, this is my resignation letter.”
The scene froze on Li Chenggong's face.
Post-production required editing in subtitles: Name: Li Chenggong, Nickname: Grey Wolf, Occupation: CEO of United Doll Culture Group.
“Cut!”
The first shot was no challenge for the Baiyulan Award bald Best Actor, and it passed in one take.
That year, for lost in thailand, fifty thousand of the seven-million-yuan production budget was astonishingly due to Xu Zheng's wig.
Xu Zheng's wig was said to be custom-made in Switzerland, costing over two hundred thousand each.
Although this wig could pass for real, it was delicate like a young girl.
It was afraid of dirt, heat, water, afraid of everything.
As a result, 'coincidentally' during a rain scene, due to the crew's oversight,
the wig still got soaked.
Now, the filming wasn't finished, but the protagonist's hair was gone.
'Under duress,' the crew had no choice but to order another wig from Switzerland, costing over two hundred thousand.
Li Chen truly felt it was unfair to the mainland producers.
Hong Kong directors have so many ways to make money.
A wig costing five hundred thousand, can you imagine?
On April 15th, blind shaft was released in Hong Kong.
Everyone knew this was Wang Baoqiang's big screen debut, but it was banned in mainland China, and Director Li Yang was also banned from directing for five years.
“Baoqiang, don't worry too much. A good movie will meet its audience sooner or later.”
Wang Baoqiang chuckled: “Director, I'm fine.”
Xu Zheng smiled, changing the subject: “Director Li, with so many actors, why did you think of me?”
The crew members all gathered around; they had become familiar with each other these past few days.
They found this young director to be witty, humorous, and without any airs.
Zuo Xiaoqing also smiled: “Yes, Director Li, tell us why you chose me. I don't have any big screen experience, you know.”
Li Chen chuckled: “When a director chooses actors, experience isn't the most important thing.”
“Teacher Xu Zheng is a Baiyulan Award Best Actor; his acting skills are definitely on point.”
“Senior Sister Xiaoqing also has two dramas, God of Wealth and Qianlong Dynasty, as a foundation, and her temperament highly matches Xiaoli's.”
“To put it more plainly, with a budget of only four million, you two are a bargain, haha.”
“Once our movie is released, I'm afraid your two remunerations won't be this price anymore.”
Yao Di also smiled: “Director Li, when you say that, I feel like a few of us are bundled as a buy-one-get-one-free deal.”
Tang Yan and the others beside her nodded in agreement, smiling.
Li Chen smiled: “Characters may have differences in importance, but acting does not. Minor characters can also stand out.”
“Being able to make the audience remember you through a single shot, a single action, a single expression is an essential skill for a good actor.”
Xu Zheng smiled: “Director Li is right.”
“Alright, let's continue.”
“Action!”
Inside a room, the security check attendant, facing Niu Geng with his ten thousand whys, still answered with a smile.
“Sorry, sir, according to the regulations of the Civil Aviation Administration, liquids are strictly not allowed on the plane.”
“We can bring all these on the train, why not on the plane?”
“Sorry, this really cannot be brought on the plane. If you insist on bringing it on the plane, then you can go down with your cleaver to check it, or you can drink it now.”
The scene switched, Li Chenggong looked at Niu Geng, this bumpkin, with disdain.
His narrowed eyes showed undisguised impatience.
Niu Geng, under everyone's incredulous gazes, truly drank a bucket of milk like an ox drinking.
The camera zoomed in on the security check attendant, then focused on Li Chenggong.
The attendant's mouth was slightly agape.
The disdain in Li Chenggong's eyes earlier had now completely turned into surprise, as if he had seen a monster.
A little milk spilled from the corner of Niu Geng's mouth.
Li Chenggong's mouth opened wider and wider, his expression changing from surprise to disgust and revulsion.
Niu Geng let out a burp.
Li Chenggong exclaimed: “What a talent!”
“Cut!”
“Excellent, Teacher Xu Zheng's facial expression change was very smooth. Baoqiang, are you alright?”
Wang Baoqiang was indeed dedicated.
For the next scene, to naturally vomit the milk due to being full and the plane's turbulence,
he literally drank the entire bucket of milk, truly drank it.
Li Chen had originally thought of just switching the shot.
But Wang Baoqiang said, “Director, I'm fine.”
Li Chen struck while the iron was hot, next scene.
Time came to the end of April, with only one scene left.
Li Chenggong finally arrived home, and not just his body.
His heart, too, had arrived.
“Are you okay?”
“I'm fine.”
“I'm sorry.”
The couple embraced.
“I have a lot to tell you.”
Xiaoli gently patted her husband, only saying: “It's good to be home.”
The unspoken meaning was that nothing else mattered.
The long shot zoomed out.
“Cut.”
“I announce that lost on journey has wrapped.”