Chapter 123: Fighting for Her

Chapter 123: Fighting for Her

When it comes to talent shows from a previous life, "The Voice" is absolutely impossible to ignore. With its immense influence, who would dare to overlook it?

What makes "The Voice" so compelling? That is a matter of opinion. Some say the collective singing level of the contestants is far superior to other talent shows. In "The Voice," the judges are not overbearing, nor is the selection process one-sided. You can choose me, and I can choose you; the contestants and the judges are equals. By making selections based solely on the voice, it focuses on the essence of singing—something that had long been ignored by judges who favored appearances over talent.

Of course, as an average viewer, what people relished about "The Voice," besides the genuinely high quality of the singing, were the contestants' backstories that played on family ties, which satisfied the gossip-loving nature of many. Love is an eternal theme, and so is family. However, the aspect that generated the most discussion was the "tug-of-war" between judges to secure contestants for their teams.

Zhang Le shared these ideas with Yang Xin'er. She listened in astonishment, especially when hearing about the judges fighting over contestants with endless, sometimes absurd, tactics. She found it hard to believe. Could a talent show really be done this way? It certainly seemed like it would make for great television!

Based on his memories of "The Voice," Zhang Le carefully explained his ideas to his company staff. He had little interest in participating in the subsequent concrete planning of the show or the negotiations with China Central Television (CCTV). Negotiation was simply not his strong suit.

"The Voice" was just the beginning of his variety show ventures. As long as this show succeeded, it would be much smoother to introduce other hit programs from his past life.

Zhang Le and Yang Xin'er were both busy with their own work. They seemed to have moved past the stage of being glued to each other every moment. Both understood that giving each other space was healthy for their relationship.

Zhang Le was busy helping Chen Ke prepare his new film. The budget for this movie could not compare to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," mainly because Chen Ke did not intend to invite a superstar with a tens-of-millions salary to play the lead. Aside from that, the budget was substantial. Of course, compared to the original version's investment of over twenty million dollars, it was still less, as the filming locations and personnel were different.

He had originally intended to invite Zhou Run, who was an excellent choice in terms of acting, appearance, and box-office appeal, especially since they were familiar with each other from previous collaborations. Unfortunately, Zhou Run did not have the availability.

This film was undoubtedly a major production. Whether it was the gimmick of an investment exceeding one hundred million or Chen Ke’s own status in the industry, many superstars showed great interest. However, this was a standard action film that required a lead actor with a foundation in martial arts and a certain age requirement.

When thinking of someone who could fight and was of a certain age, Li Jie would be the first to come to mind. Unfortunately, his salary was too high, and more importantly, as an international action superstar, his movements carried his own distinct style, which did not quite mesh with the style of this film.

Chen Xiao, an action actor who had worked with Zhang Le on three films, would have been a good choice, but he had a fatal flaw: he had mostly played supporting roles, and his current fame could not support such a blockbuster. If he were a contracted actor with Xinle Film and Television, it wouldn't have mattered to take a risk and promote him. But he wasn't, so neither Zhang Le nor Chen Xiao could cast him as the lead.

The film was essentially a solo performance for the male lead, requiring an actor with excellent box-office drawing power. The female lead was only a seventeen-year-old girl with limited screen time, so she could not be expected to contribute much to the box office. As for the other supporting roles, they had little presence; even the villain only made a brief appearance, being gunned down by the lead after only a few lines of dialogue.

"What about Zhao Wen?" Zhang Le asked Chen Ke. The two had been struggling with the choice of the lead.

"Zhao Wen? The martial arts school senior of Li Jie? I worked with him over a decade ago. His acting and skills are both good. But don't you think his appearance is too heroic and striking?" Zhang Le frowned as he spoke.

"Although I haven't met him in person, he isn't young anymore, so that heroic air should be somewhat restrained by now. Today, while he wouldn't be mistaken for a random passerby, he isn't the type to turn heads on the street either. Besides, a movie isn't reality." Zhang Le smiled and continued, "Director Chen, haven't we fallen into a misconception? Think about all those Hollywood spy films—how many of the leads aren't handsome? Most of them are as bright as fireflies in the dark night."

"As bright as fireflies in the dark night?" Chen Ke laughed upon hearing this. "Fine, let him come for a screen test. His career might be on the decline, but he is still one of the top action actors in the country."

"For matters regarding actors, I'll let Director Chen make the final call; I'm just offering a suggestion," Zhang Le said with a smile.

"By the tone of your voice, it sounds like you're about to slip away! You are the screenwriter, producer, and the investor of this film. The cast isn't even finalized yet," Chen Ke said, looking at Zhang Le.

"Xin'er and I are going to Nanhu Satellite TV in two days to participate in a show. Then we're heading to Cannes, and immediately after, we'll be busy promoting 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'" Zhang Le explained.

Since he had entrusted Chen Ke to direct this film, he had to trust that he could get it done. Offering occasional input was fine, but saying too much would clearly be counterproductive. In a film crew, it is best to have one voice, and that voice should belong to the director.

"Participating in a show to promote your film?" Chen Ke asked. Chen Ke rarely appeared on television programs to promote his films. He was a famous director, not a celebrity. When his films were promoted on shows, he might attend, but he wouldn't participate in the recording. Zhang Le, however, was different. He was a director, a singer, and an actor—naturally, he was a star. He didn't enjoy being in the spotlight, but he had long been forced into it.

"Not exactly, but it's to build some goodwill for future film promotions," Zhang Le said with a smile. "Nanhu Satellite TV is producing a new show, and He Jun invited Xin'er and me."

Chen Ke nodded, expressing his understanding. He Jun was the pillar of Nanhu Satellite TV; not only a host but also a producer, he held significant influence at the station and possessed a wide network of contacts in the industry.

He Jun was the host and producer of "Happy Tonight," a variety show that had been popular for years and held the highest ratings in the country. The new program Zhang Le and Yang Xin'er were joining was also produced by him. Furthermore, when Zhang Le and Yang Xin'er had recorded "Happy Tonight" previously, they had received a lot of help from him, and they maintained a good relationship.

Back when Zhang Le was being attacked across the internet and mocked by the media, He Jun and the other two hosts of "Happy Tonight," Xie Meng and Wei Hai, had very publicly expressed their support for Zhang Le and Yang Xin'er. That, to some extent, was a debt of gratitude.

The name of that new show was identical to a show about couples that Zhang Le had watched in his previous life: "Fighting for Her!"

Like "Always With You," it was a show for couples, but while the other was filmed on location, this one was recorded in a studio. The title alone indicated a different focus: "Fighting for Her" clearly involved competition and challenge.