Chapter 91 Pig 8 Ring
Chapter 91 Zhu Bajie
"Okay then, let's go meet our leading man first."
Wang Hao nodded and made the decision, and Wang Jingchun naturally stepped on the accelerator.
The straight-line distance from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Shanghai Drama Arts Center is only more than ten kilometers, and it only takes half an hour to drive there.
When they were almost there, Wang Jingchun called the other party in the car. When the car arrived, he could see from a distance that a person was waiting at the door of the drama center.
The other person was wearing a silk pajamas inside and a coat outside, as if he had just got up. It was obvious that he was rehearsing. He suddenly received a call and hurried out without even having time to change his clothes.
Of course, compared to this, the most eye-catching thing is actually the other person’s shiny forehead.
Wang Hao got out of the car and walked forward quickly. The two men also came forward to greet him.
When he got closer and saw the other person's face clearly, Wang Hao almost shouted out loud.
"Zhu Bajie!"
That’s right, the leading actor Wang Hao chose for his new movie is none other than Xu Zheng, who became famous all over the country for his role as Zhu Bajie in “The Legend of the White Snake”.
Of course, at this time he was still working in the TV drama industry, and had gained considerable popularity with many TV dramas such as "Li Wei as an Official" and "Love Across Time and Space".
However, he did not really enter the film industry until next year, when he played a manager named Feng Hai in "Crazy Stone". Then "Love Call Transfer" helped him gain a foothold in this circle.
As for "Lost in Journey" and "Lost in Thailand", they were the turning point for him to become a director and gain financial support.
So now, when Xu Zheng learned that a director wanted him to make a movie and play the leading role, he was still very excited. When he heard the news from the director, he immediately imitated the story of Cao Cao who greeted someone with his shoes turned upside down and ran out without even having time to change his clothes.
"Oh, Director Wang is here so early. I have nothing to prepare. I should find a better place."
Xu Zheng's Mandarin is mixed with the Shanghai accent, but it is mostly filled with enthusiasm.
Wang Hao didn't bother to be polite with him and said with a smile:
"It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. Brother Zheng, are you rehearsing?"
Xu Zheng looked at his attire and said with a smile, "There is a performance the day after tomorrow, and we are rehearsing it. Let's go, Director Wang, come in and sit for a while first?"
Wang Hao and the other two followed him into the theater, and said at the same time, somewhat embarrassedly:
"We haven't delayed your rehearsal, have we? It's mainly because we are pressed for time and have a heavy workload. The schedule is set for this year's Lunar New Year holiday. We still have to go scout locations and then fly back to Beijing."
"The time is very tight, but it won't affect me." Xu Zheng waved his hand to indicate that it was okay.
"Although our play will not be staged until the end of the year, as long as Director Wang opens his mouth, I will definitely support you."
The play Xu Zheng is currently rehearsing is called "The Last Lover". The script is based on a stage comedy that has been performed on Broadway for more than 30 years. It is also the first time that he and his wife Tao Hong have co-starred in a play.
Wang Hao had never paid attention to this drama before, and he didn't know that Xu Zheng had no schedule now, but since the other party said so, he just believed it.
The few of them chatted about the drama along the way. Xu Zheng led them to a lounge in the theater and started talking about business.
"Director Wang, I really like your script. The idea is very unique. There are very few exciting science fiction action films like this in China. It has some Hollywood influences."
"Fatal Call"
Xu Zheng held a script in his hand, with the name of the new movie printed on it. This was sent to him by Wang Hao via email a week ago. He knew that he would come today, so he printed it out and bound it to bring with him. To be honest, when Wang Hao contacted him through Wang Jingchun, he did not have high expectations for this script.
After all, he and Wang Jingchun were not that familiar with each other. They had only met a few times when rehearsing a play.
In addition, Wang Hao is just a new director who graduated not long ago and has only made two movies.
For this kind of project, Xu Zheng was very hesitant even if he was invited to be the leading actor.
However, after reading the script, his mind changed.
Although he had been filming TV series before this, it doesn't mean that he can't tell whether Wang Hao's movie is good or bad.
Gunfights, science fiction, horror, and suspense, these few key points alone are rare elements in the Chinese mainland film and television industry today.
Those so-called big directors, even when making blockbusters, are always stuck in the categories of costume dramas, action, martial arts, and fantasy.
A new movie like Wang Hao's is still in a new track and does not have any strong competitors.
And according to the other party, this film has already received investment from China Film Group, which makes it more likely to succeed.
"Brother Zheng has a good eye. To be honest, I got the inspiration for this movie after watching a Hollywood crime thriller.
The movie is Larry Cohen's "Phone Booth", if you have time, you can watch it."
The inspiration for Wang Hao's film did come from "Phone Booth", but that film had already been released in Europe and the United States in 2003, so he naturally couldn't use it directly.
then what should we do?
There are two options. Either he finds this company and buys the rights to remake "Phone Booth".
Or, he would make some changes to the other party's general framework, turning the so-called plagiarism into a "tribute."
Of course Wang Hao chose the latter.
So he moved the story of "Fatal Call" to Shanghai, and the telephone booth originally used to trap the male protagonist of the movie was also changed into a more sci-fi mobile phone.
In this way, the protagonist no longer has to be confined to a small telephone booth, but can hold a mobile phone and fight wits and courage with dangerous criminals under the threat of a sniper rifle.
For this point, Wang Hao referred to another Hollywood movie "The Sound Machine" which was released last year.
Of course, in addition to some elements of "Phone Booth" and "The Voice of China", Wang Hao also added a lot of science fiction elements in "Fatal Call", allowing it to be linked with the other two parts of "The Heart Labyrinth", while also introducing the next stage of the science fiction movie universe.
Xu Zheng was not aware of Wang Hao's plan.
But according to Wang Hao's guess, even if Xu Zheng knew it, he probably wouldn't care.
After all, how can the work of intellectuals be called plagiarism?
Besides, as long as a movie is well adapted, it is difficult to determine whether it is plagiarism.
He didn't really copy it from beginning to end, he just extracted some inspiration from it and then made a secondary creation.
(End of this chapter)