Chapter 209 Preparation Stage
Jiang Heng thought about it carefully and felt that this was a good idea.

Getting paid 100 million yuan for directing and starring in a special effects blockbuster that is not very important, and having such a beautiful heroine as the lead, it is not a loss no matter how you count it.

Of course, the prerequisite is that the young lady’s acting skills must be up to standard.

However, judging from Jing Tian's performance in "Journey to the West: Pingdingshan", he does have some talent.

In fact, in another time and space, Jing Tian is not popular despite having such good resources. This is largely due to the deviation in his route, and the strong promotion of resources has caused his popularity to collapse.

In the later self-media era, when the audience discovered her many character strengths and saw her acting skills, the young lady was almost past her "blooming period". One can only say that it was fate!

"Okay, I'll go back and think about it, and I'll tell you if there's a suitable script!"

"Really? You're not kidding me, are you?"

"Of course not!"

"That's good!"

The young lady smiled sweetly, and then asked about the Oscar award like a curious baby.

Jiang Heng responded in a casual manner and took a car to the downstairs of iQiyi Film Company.

There were already a lot of people gathered in the square in front of the building, and there were many reporters around.

Jiang Heng's return home with honors naturally attracted a lot of media.

Considering his huge influence, the industry department took the initiative to contact Jiang Heng, hoping that he would accept the interview somewhere else instead of blocking the airport.

Jiang Heng readily followed the advice and arranged the interview location in the square downstairs of the company, which turned out to be packed with people.

There was a makeshift stage, a giant poster display board of "Inception", as well as a red carpet and banners.

Security personnel separated media reporters from the audience and barely maintained order.

When Jiang Heng got out of his car and walked onto the red carpet, the atmosphere at the scene reached its peak.

Amid the sound of salutes, Jiang Heng came to the huge poster display board.

The host was the beautiful CCTV reporter Tu Jingwei. "Hello, Director Jiang. Congratulations on winning the five Oscars for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Effects, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects. At this moment, everyone is very excited to come to the scene. Can you say a few words to us?"

Jiang Heng took the microphone and said slowly: "Thank you to all the media friends and audience friends for coming here despite your busy schedule. I am really touched, because it is your continued support that has made me what I am today.

A few years ago, when I first came to the mainland market and wanted to make a blockbuster, someone advised me that the film should cater to Western aesthetics as much as possible, because the market is there! The total box office revenue of the mainland for the whole year is not as much as that of a Hollywood blockbuster... "

Jiang Heng wanted to say, "If we cater to the West, wouldn't that be like begging for food on our knees?" Here's a line from Let the Bullets Fly.

However, considering that domestic directors now attach great importance to Western awards, Jiang Heng swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, so as not to make a lot of enemies for no reason.

He just said some inspiring words that aroused a sense of pride, and then accepted interviews from reporters.

The media reporters present were very excited and rushed to ask many questions.

Jing Tian quietly got off the car and mixed in with the audience. She even pretended to be an audience member and asked questions, but the microphone was not given to her.

Jiang Heng answered for nearly half an hour before leaving the event and entering the iQiyi, Youku and Tencent Video Film Company accompanied by a group of senior executives.

In the conference room, the executives could hardly suppress their joy and were all beaming with joy.

Jiang Hengze was in the office, chatting with Du Huan and Li Xiaoping about the major events that had happened in the company in recent times.

The most important thing is naturally the preparation for "Pacific Rim 2".

"Director Jiang, China Film Corporation has deposited 2 million US dollars into the crew's account. Columbia has also deposited million US dollars. The remaining million will be deposited after the filming is halfway through!" Du Huan reported. Jiang Heng nodded. Pacific Rim is a joint production of three companies. China Film invested million US dollars, Columbia invested million, and the remaining million was paid by iQiyi, Youku and Tencent Pictures.

With so many lines, it's natural that they didn't arrive at the crew all at once, and there's naturally no objection to this.

"How's the progress on the props and models?"

Du Huan said hurriedly, "It has been made according to the drawings you gave me before you left. It is now 80% complete and will definitely not affect the start of filming."

"Where's the hero?"

"According to your previous request, I have contacted those artists. They are all willing to perform and have reserved time. They are just waiting for you to come back for the final audition."

Jiang Heng nodded, there was nothing wrong.

After all, "Pacific Rim 2" is a movie about mechas fighting monsters. In comparison, the tall and mighty mechas and the huge and ferocious monsters are the real protagonists, and the importance of the human male and female protagonists has been greatly reduced.

From the perspective of saving money, Jiang Heng would naturally not use Wu Yizu, whose status is getting bigger and bigger, but would just find a popular young actor with low pay in the mainland market.

As for the female lead, Jiang Heng narrowed his considerations to Liu Yifei and Tang Yan, and he decided on them without much thought.

"Then let them come to the company for an interview tomorrow!"

"Ok!"

Jiang Heng turned to look at Li Xiaoping, "What's your problem?"

"Everything is fine on my end. Although Tang Ren's company is a little short of funds, filming is still going well. The Chinese Paladin III is progressing very quickly, and Good Times has also sent a 'Visual Effects Director' to help design the action from a special effects perspective!"

"That's good. So there are no problems?"

"Uh, I have an immature suggestion, but I don't know whether I should say it!" Li Xiaoping hesitated.

"Then don't say it!" Jiang Heng said firmly.

"what!"

Li Xiaoping was dumbfounded. Director Jiang didn't play by the rules!

"Speak now, or you'll accuse me of being the only one who has the final say!" Jiang Heng smiled.

Li Xiaoping glanced at Du Huan and said, "I saw the storyboard for Pacific Rim 2. The mechas in the film are still the old mechanical ones. The film is set 20 years after the first film. Has technology advanced?"

Jiang Heng laughed after hearing this.

At present, the division of labor among iQiyi, Youku and Tencent Pictures is relatively simple. Du Huan, the company's CEO, is in charge of the company's film, animation and peripheral development businesses. Li Xiaoping is in charge of TV drama production, brokerage, variety shows and other businesses.

However, Li Xiaoping is too ambitious. After the TV series production got on track, he even set his sights on making movies.

This was not out of the ordinary. After all, when she first arrived at the company, she served as the production director of two sequels of "The Matrix", so she had an excuse to get involved in "Pacific Rim 2".

The problem is that her thinking is still a bit superficial.

There are several reasons why the previous version of "Pacific Rim 2" failed at the box office, the most important of which was that in the pursuit of innovation, the heavy feeling of the mecha was lost.

In "Pacific Rim 1", the cockpit uses the most direct mechanical linkage control method. The driver's body parts are closely connected to the mecha. Every move reveals a huge sense of resistance, making the mecha look very heavy.

In "Pacific Rim 2", the mechas all use magnetic levitation cockpits, and the pilots can perform difficult moves at will. There is no sense of resistance and oppression when humans drive the iron giant. It is like Ultraman fighting monsters. It looks like a special effects drama. It would be strange if it didn't flop!

(End of this chapter)