Deceiving Chinese Entertainment Industry for Thirty Years 32

Chapter 32: Heard, Ma Xun’s First Film

January 21, 2025

Chapter 32: Heard, Ma Xun’s First Film

From peak to trough.

Like life itself, ups and downs.

Feel it with your hands.

That’s the powerful life force.

That’s the dazzling youthful vitality.

That’s the proactive, upward-striving, unwillingness-to-be-outdone drive.

“Actually, you don’t need to care so much about Gao Yuanyuan.”

“Hearing you say that, I know I’m not wrong.”

Hao Li pushed away Ma Xun’s hand, her expression saying: *I’m not falling for that*.

Ma Xun shook his head helplessly. While he wouldn’t dare say he could completely understand this girl’s inner thoughts,

he could get a general idea.

She was definitely a little jealous of Gao Yuanyuan.

Otherwise, why would I, a cinematographer, be recording her youth?

Ma Xun admitted, her youth was amazing.

He couldn’t help but try to guide her.

“What I mean is, you are you, she is she, you are both independent souls.”

But Hao Li had her own ideas, in other words: *She was very opinionated*.

“I’m not going to believe your men’s lies.”

“What do you mean? I don’t think I’ve ever lied to you.”

“You haven’t now, but that doesn’t mean you won’t in the future.”

“That’s a bit harsh.”

“No, not at all. Have you ever seen Gao Yuanyuan about to cry?”

“This…”

“On the playground, we were filming a scene. She was punished for early dating, and many boys were watching. She was about to cry, but before she could, I saw many boys couldn’t bear it.”

Ma Xun laughed after hearing Hao Li’s story.

That was indeed very Gao Yuanyuan.

He remembered later, during the filming of *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*, Su Xiaohu mentioned in an interview that when he was acting, as soon as he saw Gao Yuanyuan looking like she was about to cry, he immediately felt that rejecting Zhou Zhiruo was a terrible sin.

And now…

“So, what do you think?”

Hao Li glanced at Ma Xun and replied, “I admit, if I were a man, I’d like Gao Yuanyuan too.”

“So there you have it,” Ma Xun continued to guide her, “She has her strengths, you have yours, there’s no need to compete.”

However, Hao Li said calmly, “I’m not trying to win or lose.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I don’t care who you like, but for the next four years, you can’t ignore me.”

Truly clear-headed.

Ma Xun smiled and nodded, “Don’t worry, I also see your potential, otherwise, do you think just anyone can be my… someone?” (This implies a romantic relationship).

This fully showcased Ma Xun’s high-handed attitude.

But it also made Hao Li feel much better inside.

“Just four years,” her unspoken words were, *In four years, I’ll become a big star*.

Ma Xun smiled, “Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to leave me after four years?”

There was a hint of challenge in his tone.

But Hao Li said, “I will leave you no matter what.”

She didn’t say the second half of her sentence: *Even if I fall in love with you*.

Ma Xun didn’t speak, he nodded, “Good, with this drive, you’re destined to become a big star!”

Hao Li felt reassured.

She wasn’t really trying to compete with Gao Yuanyuan.

In fact, she quite enjoyed the sisterly combination with Gao Yuanyuan in *Heard*.

Yuanyuan was like her younger sister, relying on her, clinging to her.

But sometimes, she also needed this sister.

In short, just looking at the script, the movie was very good.

Hao Li was even more certain.

Ma Xun was her only hope for fame.

Her only chance.

How could she not hold on tight?

But…what kind of name is Ma Bangde?

Do you really think you’re 007?

In fact, Hao Li didn’t understand.

Ma Xun had to hide himself.

Not for anything else, at least he couldn’t let Sun Donghai find out.

Otherwise, how could Hong Jie act freely in the future?

Copyright business was currently Ma Xun’s most important business.

There was a lot more he could do in the future.

Of course, he couldn’t tell Hao Li this.

He’d better continue to guide her.

Oh, she had figured it out herself.

Okay then…

…

In the hospital ward, a girl had just woken up.

I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.

It’s not your fault, I didn’t hear the alarm.

No! It’s my fault! I…

You’re so busy with work, how could you have thought of such an accident?

I…

Look at you, you haven’t even taken off your makeup…

The older sister couldn’t help but hug the girl and cry.

They had just communicated using sign language.

Silent and unspoken.

Even now that the older sister was crying, her voice was not loud.

The girl in the hospital bed was her younger sister. Although they were hugging,

it was more like the older sister throwing herself into her younger sister’s arms.

And the younger sister seemed more mature, not only forgiving her older sister

but also constantly comforting her.

This scene…was captured by our cinematographer, Ma Bangde.

He also used a very special camera angle.

Subtly enlarging the younger sister in the hospital bed.

Because in this part of the plot, the younger sister behaved more maturely.

More like an older sister.

But regardless, Gao Yuanyuan and Hao Li embraced each other.

This scene is destined to become a classic sisterly moment.

And after filming…

“I actually went on a date with a boy.”

“That’s okay.”

“Really?”

“Even if the younger sister knew, she would understand her older sister, and even be happy.”

“But the fire, the smoke would hurt the younger sister’s lungs. What if the swimming competition is affected?”

“That’s okay too. I think the younger sister can still tell the difference between priorities.”

“What priorities?”

“Although the younger sister wants to win the competition, I think she should want her older sister to be happy more.”

“You…”

“Hao Jie, what’s wrong with me?”

“You, you’re quite talented.”

“Ah? No way, they all say my acting is bad, you know that too.”

“What does that have to do with anything? You can empathize with this character, that’s already very good, most people can’t do that.”

“Really?”

“Of course, hey, you’re good.”

“Ha! My Hao Jie.”

The filming was completed, Hao Li and Gao Yuanyuan, the two sisters, were chatting, but as they chatted, they hugged each other.

This plot was easy to make them develop a deep emotional bond.

Even in reality, it would definitely be affected.

Especially since Yuanyuan knew exactly why her older sister didn’t come back.

She went on a date with someone she liked.

And this…seemed to have a huge overlap with reality.

So strange.

And this scene… cinematographer Ma Bangde secretly recorded it again.

Movie film, 1500 yuan a box.

It’s not cheap.

Does our director know?

Hong Jie watched from the side, just smiling slightly.

Even if she knew, what could she do?

Anyway, the money was all Ma Xun’s.

…

Time in 1996, actually didn’t pass that fast.

But it was constantly moving forward.

October quietly arrived.

When Ma Xun realized this, he was somewhat surprised.

Fortunately.

He hadn’t been idle, he hadn’t neglected many business opportunities.

CCTV 6’s *A Chinese Odyssey* became a hit.

And the subsequent *The Swordsman II* and *Fist of Legend* also became hits.

CCTV was very satisfied.

But they still felt that the copyright price was a bit too high.

Understood.

Negotiations were possible.

Ma Xun didn’t mind selling it again.

Of course, the most important thing was *Heard*.

He completed this film.

It seemed to have been done in a flash.

Moreover, he wasn’t just the cinematographer.

Director Hong Jie was too much of a novice.

Ma Xun had to help with a lot of things.

It was fine, anyway, it was his film.

Thinking about it carefully, he was also the screenwriter.

Therefore, this film was entirely his.

This gave Ma Xun a special sense of accomplishment.

Because in the future, he would never have this opportunity.

Being able to direct a film like this, this would absolutely allow the film to be filled with his personal style!

For the future, small-time director Ma Xun, this was completely a fantasy!

And now, I have perfectly hidden behind the scenes.

Director Chen, Hong Jie, are just my puppets.

Even if she really becomes a great director Chen in the future.

That would be a wonderful thing.

Imagine, the great director Chen Hong, praised by countless people.

Secretly bowing down at the feet of Ma Xun…

Awesome!!!

Okay, our film hasn’t even been released yet, Ma Xun still needs to calm down.

The film was completed, post-production wasn’t difficult.

The main thing was editing and scoring; for the score, just find some royalty-free music.

This time, the collaboration was with the Beijing Film Studio, which had a lot of this kind of music.

It could be said that they were readily available.

Next, it was the release.

For a film release at this time, the first step was to print the film.

It was the film era, selling copies.

The cost of a copy was 600 yuan.

And selling to theaters, the bottom price was 10,000 yuan.

For a new film, if it had a lot of potential.

Then a “bidding” could be done.

Currently, the domestic film market basically operated city by city.

That is, the film production company chose which city to attack.

First, they negotiate with the cinemas in that city; some cities have their own cinema chains.

They would talk, and if they thought it was feasible, they would have a bidding.

Whichever cinema was optimistic about the film would bid the highest price.

Guanglu Cinema back then secured *A Chinese Odyssey* through bidding.

It made a killing.

That cinema was on Zhongjie Street; at that time, there was a long queue.

And now, negotiating the bidding with cinemas and cinema chains.

Ma Xun entrusted this to Hong Jie.

This choice was correct; Hong Jie had really made many films and had many friends in the industry.

She was definitely up to the task.

But, an unexpected situation occurred.

“Come to Guangzhou with me.”

“Why?”

“To attend the premiere of *Ode to Qin*!”

“This…”

“You must come! Of course, you can come with Sun Donghai.”

Hong Jie’s tone on the phone made Ma Xun laugh.

Xu Qing must have been showing off in front of Hong Jie again.

He might as well go; Ma Xun also wanted to see.

The film *Ode to Qin*, there was a lot of gossip surrounding it…

Thank you all for your monthly tickets, collections, follow-ups, and recommendation votes. Thank you for your comments. I will address the issues you have pointed out, please rest assured, thank you very much.

(End of Chapter)

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