Cao Kefan took a group photo with Wang Dani and Jiang Zhiqiang
There are short-lived shooting stars in the show business, there are also stars that shine for a long time, and some people, although they have long gone, seem to have never left, and they are always remembered and missed for a long time. Mei Yanfang is such a star. She debuted at the age of four to earn money to support her family, and at the age of nineteen, she participated in singing competitions and came to prominence, working hard all the way to grow into a generation of superstars and a variety of singers. At the same time, her character and artistic virtues have also been praised, and she is known as the "daughter of Hong Kong".
"Mei Yanfang" poster
On December 30, 2003, Mei Yanfang, who was only forty years old, died of illness, and a gorgeous woman flower withered away. Eighteen years later, a biographical film about her is about to come out, behind the eighteen-year-old complex of Jiang Zhiqiang, a well-known filmmaker in Hong Kong, China, and seven years of preparation.
Director of this issue: Lu Qingyun
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Jiang Zhiqiang is the president of Anle Film Company, who has produced and distributed many blockbuster movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, To Catch a Demon, and Cold War, and is well-known in the industry and is known as "Asia's most successful filmmaker". The relationship between him and Mei Yanfang dates back to the 1980s. At that time, Jiang Zhiqiang was just starting out, and Mei Yanfang was already a popular singer, and a film promotion cooperation made them get together, which also made Jiang Zhiqiang feel nostalgic to this day.
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"She's not only helped me, she's helped a lot of people. She loves other people more than she loves herself, and she does more for others than for herself. She has always been like this, you say she is domineering, but her heart is actually one, she said, in fact, I am an ordinary woman, what I want most is a man who loves me, having a small happy family is satisfied, I am enough. --Jiang Zhiqiang
At the end of 2002, Mei Yanfang was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Perhaps feeling that her time was running out, she began to race against the clock to fulfill her unfulfilled long-cherished wishes, such as the "1:99 Stars Charity Concert" launched to fight SARS and the eight farewell concerts at the Red Pavilion in Hong Kong. However, the illness did not leave her enough time, and her wish to make another film did not come true. This planned film is "Ten Faces Ambush" produced by Jiang Zhiqiang and directed by Zhang Yimou, and although there is no Mei Yanfang in the final film, it will always leave a position for her.
End credits for "Ten Faces Ambush"
"I owe Mei Yanfang a movie, and I want to fulfill this wish before I retire." To some extent, making this movie, in terms of spending money, is very willful. But I can't stop this matter, because Mei Yanfang is my benefactor, but I have never made her in a movie later, which is a pity. --Jiang Zhiqiang
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If you don't forget it, there will be an echo. Making a movie for Mei Yanfang has become a thought that Jiang Zhiqiang has always haunted, and he is waiting for a suitable opportunity. In 2015, Jiang Zhiqiang finally found the ideal director candidate, that is, Liang Lemin, the director of the movie "Cold War", and the other party also came up with a satisfactory script. Everything is ready, only the East Wind is owed, and the most important and arduous task left is to find Mei Yanfang's actor.
Dani Wang plays Mei Yanfang
"The last six or seven (candidates) had makeup rehearsals. Wang Dani was the last, she came, put on makeup, sang on it, and after singing, everyone in the back cried. We have a makeup that has helped Sister Mei make up for more than ten years. She later told us, Boss, if you didn't choose her (Dani Wang), I wouldn't do it. For a moment, everyone felt that Sister Mei had returned. --Jiang Zhiqiang
Liao Qizhi guided Wang Dani to perform acting training
Mai Qiucheng conducted a special dance training for Wang Dani
Born in 1989, Wang Dani is a professional model who has never had film and television drama performance experience before, and it can be said that it is a complete blank piece of paper. After being identified as the actor of Mei Yanfang, she experienced more than half a year of high-intensity "devil training", and the crew specially invited three teachers for her to teach her to sing, dance and perform.
Dani Wang
"The team really gave me a lot of time and was very good at shooting, trying to go along with the shot. Every morning as soon as you arrive, (they say) Sister Mei is early, help you to invest, and then you will feel that I am Mei Yanfang. Of course, when shooting concerts, all the staff will be spectators, really will be there to call, there will be glow sticks, they are also very enjoyable, I also enjoy very much. --Dani Wang
Gu Tianle plays Mei Yanfang's best friend Liu Peiji
On the one hand, the protagonist boldly uses new people, on the other hand, a number of supporting roles in the film can be described as a group of stars, including Gu Tianle, Yang Qianwei, Lin Jiadong, Yang Youning and so on. Out of their feelings for Mei Yanfang and their trust in Jiang Zhiqiang, they all agreed to the performance invitation, regardless of the return, and were willing to be green leaves. In particular, Gu Tianle, who plays Mei Yanfang's best friend Liu Peiji, is not only an actor, but also one of the investors in this movie. Guan Jinpeng, the director who once worked with Mei Yanfang in the movie "Rouge Buckle", came to visit the class, praised Wang Dani for the high similarity with Mei Yanfang, and encouraged her to feel with her heart and avoid simple imitation of the show.
Guan Jinpeng visited "Mei Yanfang" and guided Wang Dani
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In Jiang Zhiqiang's film resume, "Mei Yanfang" is a rather special one. For such a literary and artistic film reminiscing about the deceased, he put the box office and profits aside from the beginning. His past works are almost all commercial blockbusters, from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Hero" to "Cold War" and "To Catch a Demon", which have repeatedly achieved box office success at home and abroad, and are known as "the people who brought Chinese films into the blockbuster era".
Jiang Zhiqiang's entry into the film circle belongs to the "son inheriting the father's business", his father Jiang Zuyi founded ANLE Pictures from scratch in his early years, and gradually developed from a small company. But until the age of thirty, Jiang Zhiqiang did not have much interest in movies. In 1986, he bought Miyazaki's animation film "Castle in the Sky", which sold well, and Miyazaki handed over more than a dozen subsequent films to Jiang Zhiqiang for distribution. Since then, Jiang Zhiqiang has gradually found a feeling for the movie, felt the doorway, and became more and more comfortable.
In 1999, Ang Lee, who was filming "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", was in trouble due to financial problems and found Jiang Zhiqiang. Jiang Zhiqiang released Ang Lee's debut film "Push hand" in his early years, he recognized Ang Lee's character and ability, and also foresaw the possibility of a comeback in kung fu films, so he boldly bet on all his wealth. As a result, he not only won the bet, but also won a big victory.
After "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Hero", "To Catch a Demon" released in 2015 is the third time that Jiang Zhiqiang has bet on all his money, and the final box office exceeded 2.4 billion yuan, setting a record in the history of mainland films. The film's release can be described as a twist and turn, just before the release, due to the misconduct of one of the main actors, the film was stranded. Jiang Zhiqiang resolutely decided to pursue 70 million yuan for substitution and remake, which finally saved a good work and once again proved his unique vision and accurate judgment.
"I love movies, I don't seek to make the most money, I pursue making good movies. Probably the reason people believe in me is because they believe in my commitment to movies. People think you are reliable, I wrote a good thing, I handed it to you, I have confidence, I am at ease, you will do your best. I feel like my own son to every movie. --Jiang Zhiqiang