This movie made both Jiang Se and Lin Xiwen successful. Although "Peking Events" unfortunately ran into Zhang Jing'an's "Rescue Operation" at the China International Film Festival that year, which resulted in the failure of the Best Director Award, it also made Lin Xiwen famous. With this momentum, Shangjia Company has been developing quite well.
The most important thing is that Hou Xiling had a good eye at that time and recognized Jiang Se when she was still a newcomer. Under Hou Xiling's influence, he gave up his original plan to ask Ye Yingfei to play "Doukou" and instead hired Jiang Se, who was still a newcomer, to play a supporting role with a lot of lines.
Jiang Se was not well-known at that time and was still a newcomer. Her pay was not high. She was very lucky to be signed to a play for only 160,000 yuan.
The waiter in the store brought the afternoon tea that Jiang Se ordered, and also gave some desserts. After Jiang Se thanked him, the boy left, looking back every few steps. Lin Xiwen looked at the pile of snacks in front of her with a smile on her face.
Jiang Se has recently become very popular with "Devil" and has also become the spokesperson for Federer. His popularity is even overshadowing Tao Cen of Century Galaxy.
Both of them knew the reason why he asked Jiang Se to meet him today.
Her agent is Xia Chaoqun, who should remind her of his recent situation. The movie "Erlang Shen" he invested in and filmed has a bad reputation, and he is currently preparing for the next drama. The reason for making an appointment with Jiang Se is actually to try to see if he can coordinate the schedule for the next drama with her.
But when Jiang Se came, she mentioned that it was a private meeting with a friend, not to discuss business. Lin Xiwen guessed her intention in her heart, wondering if her words were a tactful refusal.
He sighed inwardly, but decided to give it a try.
"Director Zhang's "A Glimmer of Hope" has finished filming. Do you have any plans for the next step?"
Jiang Se nodded. In fact, she had auditioned for Cesare's "Prisoners" when she was in France earlier, but she had never received a response. She didn't know what Cesare's final decision would be.
If she still hasn't received any news by June, she plans to take on other scripts.
"The company mentioned a few scripts, but I haven't read them yet. I'm also preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam, so I'm not in a hurry."
After she said this, Lin Xiwen pondered for a while and asked:
"What if I'm shameless and want to ask you for a favor?"
As he spoke, he picked up the briefcase beside him, took out a stack of documents from it, put it on the table and pushed it in Jiang Se's direction:
"This is the next movie I'm going to shoot. The script, outline, and character outline are all in it. Sese," he smiled bitterly, with a hint of pleading in his tone:
"I know that when you came here today, you mentioned that this was a private meeting between friends and that we were not going to talk about business. I don't dare to rely on our past friendship and ask you to take over this drama directly. But if you haven't decided which drama you want to take, can you take a look at this drama of mine and then give me an answer?"
Lin Xiwen stared at her:
"Even if you feel it's inappropriate to refuse, I will still accept your favor. If you need my help in the future, I will definitely help you."
His request did not make Jiang Se feel embarrassed. Xia Chaoqun had reminded her early in the morning. Jiang Se had actually anticipated such a situation when she came here. She nodded, picked up the information and placed it next to herself.
This attitude surprised Lin Xiwen. He was stunned for a moment before smiling bitterly:
"I thought you would refuse."
"You've refused. Are you going to wait for Director Lin to beg you?"
Jiang Se couldn't help but laugh. Her joking attitude dispelled the serious atmosphere that Lin Xiwen had created earlier. Lin Xiwen also breathed a sigh of relief and continued the conversation along with her words:
"Under normal circumstances, if you accept it without my hard efforts to beg you, would that make me more grateful?"
"That's not necessary." She picked up the boiled water beside her and took a sip.
"You are Director Lin, not a staff member who needs sponsorship. There is no need to bow down to me. If there is a good script, I will beg you for it without you having to ask for it."
Having said this, she continued:
"Besides, I had actually guessed it when I came here."
"Erlang Shen" failed both at the box office and in terms of reputation. Even if Lin Xiwen can make back his investment with this movie, if he wants to make a small-scale movie for the next one, he may not have to worry about investors to play with him.
But if he wants to make another good movie and raise a lot of money, it will be very difficult.
With the reputation of a bad movie, actors who work with him will think twice before acting.
So he dared to find me, he must be confident about the script in his hand, in other words:
"In fact, I believe that if you were not confident in the script in your hand, you probably wouldn't have come to me."
She said this directly. Lin Xiwen was stunned for a while, then smiled bitterly twice:
"Then what you said at the beginning scared me."
"I'm not saying this to reject her. I'm just telling her my attitude first." She wouldn't be blinded by friendship and unconditionally accept Lin Xiwen's film regardless of the quality of the script.
The reason for the meeting was because I knew that Lin Xiwen was under the name of "Erlang Shen". If he contacted me through Century Galaxy, there was a high chance that the script would be rejected by the company as soon as it was handed over.
Jiang Se is currently a popular first-line actress in Century Galaxy. The company is very careful about her reputation and is much stricter in checking the scripts, so her meeting with Lin Xiwen privately can be regarded as giving him a chance.
"I am very grateful that you gave me an opportunity to audition for "Beijing Events" because of Director Gu's recommendation when I was still unsuccessful."
Although she was able to successfully perform in "Beijing Events" in the end, it was actually due to Jiang Se's own temperament, image, understanding of the role, and Hou Xiling's special preference for her.
But if Lin Xiwen hadn't given her an audition opportunity that year, she might have never had the chance to play the role of "Doukou" in her entire life.
In the later stage, after she recognizes and falls in love with Pei Yi, perhaps there will be more opportunities waiting for her, but the role of "Doukou" is also unique to Jiang Se.
"I have always liked Mr. Hou Xiling's works. It is not easy for his novels to be adapted for the screen. I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to play a role in his works. So this meeting today is also my way of repaying you."
Jiang Se was straightforward. He did not flaunt his specialness to Lin Xiwen so that he would remember his kindness, nor did he use a tone of conferring favors. His attitude was open and frank.
There was a complicated look in Lin Xiwen's eyes. He didn't know whether he should say that Jiang Se was too stupid.
"In fact, the reason you were able to audition for "Beijing Events" is because your own temperament is quite consistent with what Mr. Hou thought of the scholarly family background of the first half of the life of the character "Doukou" in the play."
"That's not the case." Jiang Se sighed and thought of Dai Jia:
"There are many people who are suitable for this line of work, but there are few opportunities. It requires the right time, right place, and right people." She pushed the cake in front of her towards Lin Xiwen:
"The waiter said that the desserts and afternoon tea here are very good. I have to go back to review in the afternoon, so I'll excuse myself first."
Jiang Se didn't touch the dessert and coffee in front of her. She maintained a very strict habit in terms of diet. After being out for a long time, she just smelled and drank water at most. She didn't even touch the fruit on the cake.
When she stood up, Lin Xiwen noticed her slender waist. To maintain such a perfect figure, it takes not only exercise but also strong willpower and persistence.
"After I finish reading the script, I will consider it carefully and get back to you."
If Lin Xiwen had heard this while chatting with anyone before meeting her today, he would have thought that the other party was rejecting him politely, but when Jiang Se said this now, he believed it.
He nodded and watched Jiang Se leave with the documents. The lucky cat placed at the entrance of the cafe was shaking its head and waving at her because of her movement when she left.
Her figure was bathed in the sunlight, and she gradually left his sight with light footsteps.
Lin Xiwen recalled that when she came to the company to audition for "Beijing Events" a few years ago, except that she still had a somewhat immature face at that time, she actually had the illusion that Jiang Se had not changed at all.
Before going home, Jiang Se called Xia Chaoqun and mentioned that he had met Lin Xiwen and accepted his script.
Xia Chaoqun was very clear about her character, so he just responded indifferently.
Jiang Se explained on the phone:
"I'll read the script first. If it's not good, I'll reject it. If it's good, I'll give it to you, Sister Chaoqun, to talk to the people at Shangjia Company."
Her attitude was also very correct. Xia Chaoqun said "hmm" and asked again:
"Have you returned home? Anqi has called me and said that the fitness trainer will be at your house soon. When you go out, you must apply sunscreen and hold an umbrella in the sun."
She has two hours of fitness classes every day. Jiang Se looked at the time and agreed:
"It will take at most half an hour."
"I have asked someone to prepare all the materials you need for the postgraduate entrance examination for you. I will send them to your home later. That's it. I have other things to do."
Xia Chaoqun hung up the phone. Jiang Se couldn't help laughing as she looked at the phone. In fact, her personality was very similar to Xia Chaoqun in some aspects, which was why the two of them had always been in sync since they started working together.
After taking a shower in the evening, she called Pei Yi. Before going to bed, Jiang Se found the movie information that Lin Xiwen gave her. When she was about to turn off her phone to read the script carefully, the character for selecting "power off" popped up on the screen. Before she could touch it, piano music came from the phone. She cancelled the power off button, and Cesare's name was flashing on the screen.
"Hey Jiang, did I bother you?"
It was ten o'clock in the evening in China. When Jiang Se heard Cesare's voice, he couldn't help but feel happy in his heart:
"In fact, if you called a little later, I might have turned off my phone."
"Hahaha, then I'm really lucky." Cesare laughed out loud, and Jiang Se shook his head:
"No, lucky me, in fact I have been waiting for your call for a long time."
"Smart girl!" Cesare laughed again when he heard her say that. His voice on the phone was filled with undisguised joy, and his laughter had already conveyed the good news to Jiang Se in advance:
"The investors have seen your audition for the role of Shireen in Prisoners and are very satisfied with it." He paused for a moment, "Now, dear, tell me, do you still love 'Shireen' and want to get her? If you still desire her, this role belongs to you!"
Although Jiang Se had already guessed this when Cesare called, when he actually told her that he was confirmed to play the role of "Shireen" in "Prisoners", Jiang Se still couldn't contain his inner joy:
"I have waited for this good news for too long!"
It was so long that Xia Chaoqun once thought that Jiang Se might not get this role, and then Cesare finally called.
"Jiang, there is a Chinese saying about wine: the older it gets, the better it tastes." Cesare joked with her:
"The longer I waited for this call, the more pleasantly surprised I felt."
After Cesare finished speaking, he explained, "The reason why it took two months is that, as you know, I needed some time to convince the investors."
No matter how famous Jiang Se is, he has a Chinese face. The appearance of a Chinese face like Tao Cen in a commercial film like "Rosemary City" was obviously for the box office. In addition, he didn't have many scenes and the role was dispensable, so it was easily passed at the time.
But in "Prisoners", although Shireen doesn't have many roles, her presence is very important.
Although Cesare had exchanged a large investment in the filming of "Prisoners" for the filming of "The Lost City" trilogy, and he also had absolute rights in the filming of "Prisoners", the fact that the actors were not Westerners still gave investors a headache, as they were afraid that European and American audiences would not accept it.
This was not only compensated by Jiang Se's lack of fame. Even though Jiang Se performed very well in the audition that day, and even though Cesare believed that there was no one more suitable for "Shireen" than her, the investors still held on tightly.
For this, Cesare spent a little time and effort to persuade him. "But after the news is confirmed, I will inform you first, and then contact your agent later. Please arrange time as soon as possible to go to Rome and prepare for the signing and other matters. I am looking forward to working with you."
"Thank you, Cesare. I am also looking forward to working with you."
He only briefly mentioned the process of persuading the investors, but Jiang Se could guess that it was not easy. As soon as she finished speaking, Cesare laughed:
"The best way to thank me is to bring Shireen into this world, let the audiences all over the world go crazy for her, feel her charm, and revive a minor character created by Matthe. That is what I want."
Cesare didn't need to say anything. Jiang Se mentioned the content of "Prisoners". This time, Cesare didn't avoid talking about it. After confirming that Jiang Se was about to join the crew, he was willing to reveal more:
"In fact, I have been working on adapting the script of this drama since ten years ago. It is now roughly the same, but the preliminary preparations will take some time. By the way, after it is put on the screen, I plan to change the name of the drama to "God's Redemption". Jiang, what do you think?"
"'God's Redemption'?"
Jiang Se murmured and asked, and Cesare responded:
“Yes. Although Prisoners is also good, let me pay tribute to Matthe with God’s Redemption.”
The script is indeed full of "redemption", but whether this "redemption" is a blessing or a curse is still unknown. This can be regarded as an alternative irony of Cesare. Compared with the name "Prisoners", it can more ironically point out the core meaning of the work "Prisoners".
"I believe Matthe will like this name very much. His intention is fully understood by you."
“Hahahahahahaha…” Cesare was obviously in a good mood after hearing her say that. He had laughed many times during the short call: “I knew you would understand.” (To be continued)