396: Chapter 396 Short Stories from Journey to the West

Zhang Wentang has recently received many offers for male lead roles.

In fact, he had several films that were shelved for a long time after filming, with no chance of release, but it is estimated that they should be released one after another later—even if they are just some supporting roles like the second or third male lead.

There is also a drama for which he has already signed a contract but hasn't started filming yet; they might even rewrite the script overnight to boost his billing.

In short, these directors would wake up laughing in their dreams: who could have imagined that a certain middle-aged actor could suddenly become an overnight sensation?

It is true that there is an external impact, but Zhang Wentang himself has not changed at all.

Anyway, he is not a multi-hyphenate talent like Lin Chuyan; he only needs to act well in his own roles. So, if he needs to read a script, he reads it; if a director comes to him to discuss a collaboration, he talks.

Besides that, he still spends every day in his small courtyard in the suburbs, occasionally teaching Ruan Xingyu about Acting, and his life has become increasingly simple.

While other lead actors have already started accepting endorsements, he is not in a hurry. He is willing to talk, but he wants the product first to try it out; if it's good, then they can continue the conversation.

Lin Chuyan quite admires his senior's way of handling things.

He can't do that; his mind is still set on making tons of money, after all, he has a diva girlfriend.

However, a gentleman loves money, but acquires it in a proper way. When it comes to work, he feels he is truly serious and responsible.

Throughout February and March, except for taking one or two days off, he spent every day seriously filming lotus lantern. During this time, he never dropped the ball once. From fight scenes to dramatic scenes, and a large number of wire-fu stunts, Lin Chuyan's performance was widely praised, and everyone saw it.

Now, having just stepped into April, lotus lantern has finally wrapped up.

The production crew was very low-key, and the official social media account only posted one photo of the wrap-up ceremony.

Lin Chuyan didn't mind; if the director needed him to promote it, he would naturally be duty-bound, and for everything else, he would just follow Director Lin's arrangements.

When it was time to leave the set, Lin Chuyan found the director to say goodbye and chatted for a few moments.

"Director, when will lotus lantern likely be released?"

"Summer vacation! That is, when the students are on break." Director Lin was very clear about this point. "This is also the intention from above. It's been so many years since journey to the west; I wouldn't dare say we can replace it, but changing the flavor is not bad. In my opinion, at least in our drama, Erlang Shen is in no way inferior to the Monkey King in any aspect; maybe it can become a hit, too."

"I wouldn't dare say that; you have to know how many people idolize the Great Sage Equaling Heaven..."

Director Lin interrupted him: "You are being self-deprecating, aren't you? I have confidence. As soon as this drama airs, from then on, the face of Erlang Shen will be your face, Lin Chuyan, and your Erlang Shen will also be an idol for many people. Let me make a bolder prediction: in the future, there might be more literary and artistic works with Yang Jian as the protagonist."

Lin Chuyan nodded without speaking; he would be too embarrassed to say such things himself.

Director Lin continued the topic: "In our country, with five thousand years of civilization, how many treasures are there? It is not an exaggeration to say that they are inexhaustible. It just depends on whether anyone goes to dig them up and whether they can film them well. Let's not talk about anything else; just take this journey to the west, it is definitely the number one national IP. Everyone is familiar with every character in it, so why don't you film them? Is there really nothing left to explore? I don't think so."

Lin Chuyan agreed wholeheartedly: "Erlang Shen is a prime example; as long as the adaptation is good, the audience will definitely approve."

"Erlang Shen is, but isn't ne zha? The Monkey King, Yang Jian, and ne zha—these three great rebels—isn't every single one of them a good story if you pick them out? It's just that our country lacks good screenwriters."

"Tripitaka can also be a protagonist, and Zhu Bajie is not impossible either. People have already filmed love stories for the Monkey King and received rave reviews, so why wouldn't the other two work?"

Although Director Lin was old, his mind was not rigid at all, and he clearly agreed with Lin Chuyan's words: "The Kingdom of Women, Gao Village—as long as you dare to imagine, they are all stories. Also, Sha Seng isn't impossible either. You think he's just an honest fellow carrying luggage with no skills, but that's because no one has ever tried to explore him."

"Maybe even a Little Pig Demon on the journey of the master and disciples could be a protagonist, writing about how it is kind-hearted and tries to stop the Demon King from eating the meat of Tripitaka."

Director Lin slapped his thigh after hearing this!

"Awesome, truly awesome! Who says that's not true!"

Lin Chuyan smiled without saying anything; of course, he knew this little story.

"The audience never knows what they want to watch. Only when you truly deliver it, when you give them a good work, will they realize: Yes, yes, yes! This is what I wanted to watch!"

Director Lin's thigh was numb from slapping. Looking at Lin Chuyan now, he felt like he had met him too late: "Xiao Yan, this sentence of yours is really... In fact, lotus lantern is just such a story. Can Erlang Shen be filmed? Can his ending be written as a death? Actually, there was controversy during the creation. In short, we will know if it works when it airs."

"I think it will work. It's just that you, Director, need to hurry; the summer vacation is only a few months away..."

"Hmm..." However, Director Lin was still thinking about what Lin Chuyan said earlier, "I think that little story you mentioned just now is excellent. I feel you can think more in this direction; maybe you can write it out and film it..."

Lin Chuyan, being told this, also felt it was quite suitable.

He couldn't remember long stories, but this little story was so short, and he still remembered the main plot points that needed to be remembered. He felt he could make an effort to film it, just as a practice run.

After all, not everything has to be provided by the system.

...

After the wrap-up ceremony ended, Lin Chuyan had to immediately fly to another city to attend an awards ceremony.

It wasn't a music award, but rather the film industry had awards to be presented—

The Golden Feather Awards, the largest film award in the mainland.

The mainland Golden Feather Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards—these are the two to watch in the country.

However, having said that, Lin Chuyan really hadn't won any film-related awards.

He wouldn't be able to get the Best Newcomer Award anyway, after all, hunting blue star had long since been notorious...

As for the others, the hovering blade had a breakthrough, but the quality of the film itself was really not good enough to win awards; pegasus 2 was almost a pure commercial film, and Lin Chuyan was just showing off cool driving in it, so he definitely couldn't win an award; although a moment of romance didn't have such a strong commercial flavor and had better word-of-mouth, he was limited by the role itself in it, so there was definitely no chance.

Thinking about it this way, currently all his roles, whether in television dramas or films, could only allow his popularity to reach a level that others could hardly reach, but he really lacked a film that was truly suitable for him and capable of winning awards.

It was time to carefully pick a script.

Unfortunately, it never rains but it pours; he couldn't get any mainland film roles.

Zhang Wentang also talked to him about this matter.

For this Golden Feather Awards, there should be three friends and family members around him who have a real chance of winning an award.

Li Mujian—played Ji Chang in Creation of the Gods.

Uncle Da—played Taibao in a moment of romance.

These two people have already been nominated and are currently the favorites for Best Supporting Actor, but it is unknown who will ultimately take the prize.

Zhou Shiyun—played JOJO in a moment of romance.

Xiao Jun was also nominated and is expected to be a strong contender for the Best Newcomer Award. To be honest, she acted really well.

However, Lin Chuyan was still concerned about one thing.

"Senior, are you going this time?"

"The organizers invited me, and since Teacher and you are both going, then I will go too."

Sure enough, it's different when you're famous. In the past, who would have thought of a person like Zhang Wentang in this kind of vanity fair?

Now, though... Lin Chuyan was a bit curious about what the scene would be like when the three master and disciples met.

Zhang Wentang and Lin Chuyan are currently at the height of their popularity.

It was time for some people to step aside.