Chapter Twenty-Two: The Start-of-Shooting Press Conference

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Start-of-Production Press Conference

When it comes to a film with low investment, high returns, both critical and box office success, and sensational impact, apart from "Crazy Stone," Zhang Le couldn't think of another. In truth, he hadn't seen any other film meeting all these criteria. Moreover, this world had no Guy Ritchie. The influence of "Crazy Stone" would far surpass its predecessor.

Those interwoven storylines, the uncanny coincidences that drive events into irreversible madness—the Guy Ritchie-esque techniques simply didn't exist in this world. The difference between originality and imitation is naturally profound.

Once "Crazy Stone" is made, will the so-called Guy Ritchie style from Zhang Le's previous world become known here as the "Zhang Le style"?

Given Zhang Le's current situation, whatever film he directed would inevitably face scrutiny. He needed a film to establish his reputation, one that would unmistakably announce his directorial style. Thus, he didn't invite any famous actors for this project.

Of course, the absence of stars was partly due to budget constraints, but above all, Zhang Le wanted this film to be associated first and foremost with himself, not with any leading actor.

Yang Xin'er played the protagonist’s girlfriend, but her role consisted of only a few scenes—more of a cameo than a lead. To insist she was the female lead would surely invite criticism.

Most of the actors in Zhang Le's film were unknowns, some merely background extras. The most famous was probably Feng Lei, who played Xie Xiaomeng.

Feng Lei’s fame didn’t come from his own work, but from his father. Among those with substantial roles, only Feng Lei had any notable credits. This alone showed how "unsightly" the cast appeared to outsiders.

When media reporters arrived at the launch press conference for "Crazy Stone," they were visibly shocked by the cast. The most recognizable attendees were Zhang Le and Yang Xin'er, yet neither was an actor—Zhang Le was the director, and Yang Xin'er, the producer.

But for those journalists, these details were inconsequential. They weren’t there for the film itself, but for Zhang Le and Yang Xin'er.

For a singer, having popular songs but not being personally famous is a tragedy. For a director, being well-known while his works languish in obscurity is equally tragic.

Zhang Le was currently a celebrity, his fame soaring, but few paid attention to his films. To him, this was not only sad, but also ironic.

Zhang Le glanced at the reporters below, then at Yang Xin'er, before addressing the audience: "Thank you, friends in the media, for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the launch of my first film, ‘Crazy Stone.’ I hope your questions today will pertain to the film."

"Mr. Zhang Le, is it true that you sued Li Ming for slander? Why did you choose such an approach?" asked one reporter.

"I can answer that," Zhang Le replied calmly, "but if there are any more questions unrelated to the film, don’t expect me to cooperate. As for Li Ming, I think everyone knows the situation. My choice is simple: every citizen has the right to defend themselves using the law."

"Mr. Zhang, we've heard that many film companies rejected your project, unwilling to invest in it. Clearly, they don’t believe in you or your film. Miss Yang Xin'er, why did you decide to invest? Is it merely because Mr. Zhang Le is your boyfriend? And Mr. Zhang, how can you justify asking Miss Yang to invest in a film that so many companies have dismissed? Aren’t you afraid of letting your girlfriend down?" another reporter pressed.

Zhang Le and Yang Xin'er exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of resignation. The reporter’s question was blunt, but they had anticipated such lines of inquiry and weren’t caught off guard.

"I know him, so I trust him! You can say I invested because he’s my boyfriend, and that wouldn’t be wrong. Because he’s my boyfriend, I know his talent better than anyone. I believe this film will surprise everyone. Besides, the investment was my initiative, not his. I’m confident that if he’s given a chance, he’ll prove himself to all," Yang Xin'er admitted straightforwardly.

Everyone knew the truth; there was no room for denial. To claim she invested solely due to the project’s merit would be seen as insincere—better to admit it openly.

"Xin'er has countless admirers, yet she chose me, someone obscure and unsuccessful. Many don’t understand, thinking her judgment is flawed. I’ll prove to everyone just how keen her vision is, and this film is just the beginning. I’m confident, so my conscience is clear," Zhang Le said calmly.

"Mr. Zhang Le, where does your confidence come from? We’ve heard the budget is only four million—how can you ensure quality with such a low investment? If the film is shoddy, how will you ensure its release? If it isn’t released, how will you recoup costs? If you fail, how will you justify your girlfriend’s support? Are you not simply letting her down?" another reporter pressed.

"The quality of a film has never been measured by its budget," Zhang Le replied with a faint smile.

"I believe in him, so I support him. He will prove himself, and prove my judgment," Yang Xin'er echoed with a smile. "I believe."

Zhang Le was no stranger to skepticism about this film. It didn’t bother him; as long as Yang Xin'er believed in him, it didn’t matter if the whole world doubted.

At this moment, Zhang Le looked at Yang Xin'er, his eyes filled with happiness.

With the original as a reference, Zhang Le was certain he could make the film a success. When the time came, he would slap the faces of all those who had predicted failure.

"Mr. Zhang Le, if your film is released, how do you plan to attract audiences to the cinema? The budget prevents you from inviting major stars, so what will drive its box office appeal? Frankly, the only actor I recognize here is Mr. Feng Lei," another reporter asked.

"Major stars do guarantee box office, that’s undeniable. But the greatest assurance for a film’s success is the film itself. Star power can help, but it isn’t decisive," Zhang Le replied with a smile, his gaze suddenly sharp. "I’ll prove with this film that a low-budget movie without big stars can achieve high box office returns."

Undoubtedly, Zhang Le’s words sounded arrogant. But the media thrived on controversy; bold statements made for great headlines.

They preferred arrogance over humility—otherwise, where would the hype come from?

"Mr. Feng Lei, why did you take this role, and why aren’t you the lead?"

After endless questions for Zhang Le and Yang Xin'er, finally someone addressed Feng Lei, the well-known "second-generation star."

Heaven be praised, someone finally acknowledged his presence. Feng Lei almost wanted to weep with joy.

"Hehe, this film has many highlights, and even supporting roles have plenty of room to shine," Feng Lei laughed. "Alright, I know you’re not keen on official answers. But I’m telling the truth—there are many memorable roles, including my part as the hapless Xie Xiaomeng. Actually, another reason I took the role—and I know you want to hear this—is that Zhang Le is my buddy. He invited me to join his first film, so I couldn’t refuse. What can I say, my acting is good. Though I’m busy, friendship dictated I had to be here."