No one expected that while everyone was still discussing when Jiang Cheng's second film would come out, it had already been in production for half a month, and he had kept it well hidden. Many were frustrated by his secrecy, but what intrigued them more was the theme of his second film.
Some tabloid journalists went to great lengths to uncover this secret and eventually got a breakthrough from some students who had participated in the first scene. According to them, "It's a film about singing and dancing, almost like a large-scale music video!"
A singing and dancing film? A musical? That seemed ambitious, especially since China wasn't known for musicals. The genre had been in decline, even in the West. Where did Jiang Cheng find the confidence?
Those doubting didn't realize that in the past couple of years, musical films had been slowly reviving in the West, with "Chicago" set to release later that year and win the Oscar for Best Picture the following year, sparking a full-scale revival of the genre.
Indeed, it was daring to attempt a musical in China, where the genre was not mainstream, and there was a risk of being accused of promoting "unhealthy thoughts."
"Clearly, the success of '[Immortal]' has gone to his head."
"Who does he think he is? Such a rushed approach, he need to be careful not to lose even his underwear this time!"
"Super popular new star? More like a shooting star soon!"
Jiang Cheng's bold and rapid approach inevitably drew mockery and criticism from his detractors.
Even some of his fans, "[Alum]," were worried this time. A youth campus-themed musical could easily cross the line, and even if well-made, it might end up heavily edited or outright banned.
Despite the outside world's concerns and doubts, Jiang Cheng paid no attention. With the film's secrecy already compromised, he openly instructed Zheng Hai and Cai Yining to start the promotional activities.
Soon, in the latest issue of "Southern Weekly - Entertainment Edition," there was an interview detailing the creation and crew of "High School Musical." The official website of Tangren Company also launched a page for "High School Musical," kicking off the official promotion. A set of photos featuring the cast was released.
Seeing those youthful faces confirmed it: this was a campus-themed musical. What puzzled many was the seemingly low investment, indicated by the mostly new cast. Take a look at the seven main actors:
Jiang Cheng, the current superstar in the Chinese entertainment circle, wasn't low on popularity, but he was also the writer, director, and producer, saving a significant amount of money.
Liu Yifei, the female lead, was a Chinese-American who had recently returned to China. She had done an advertisement with Jiang Cheng in Beijing at the end of last year. A new face in the industry, but she was quite attractive.
Yuan Hong, the male second lead, was Jiang Cheng's roommate and classmate, also a newcomer.
Han Xue, the female second lead and another of Jiang Cheng's classmates, was also new to the scene.
Hu Ge, a supporting male actor and Jiang Cheng's junior, had been in a few of Jiang Cheng's previous projects, indicating a close relationship, though he was still relatively unknown.
Sun Xiao, another supporting male actor and Jiang Cheng's roommate and classmate, also a newcomer.
Jin Sha, the supporting female actress, was a field host for Shanghai TV and signed under HuaXiang Entertainment, soon to release her album. This was her screen debut.
Low investment, a new cast, a fast production, a youth campus musical, and a domestic film—people couldn't find a reason for its potential success.
However, there was one unpredictable factor: Jiang Cheng himself. Unfortunately, he hadn't responded to the media with any heartening statements, which allowed the critics to continue their attacks, while his fans retreated, fearing the worst for "High School Musical."
Jiang Cheng was aware of the buzz but chose to ignore it. Debating with critics was pointless; it was better to focus on making a good film. He was determined to make this film as beautiful and excellent as possible.
Despite the film's simple structure and storyline, it wasn't easy to shoot, especially the singing and dancing parts, which posed a significant challenge for actors unfamiliar with these skills. Especially for Hu Ge and the other male actors, who had to juggle this film with another stage play, "I'm Crazy for Singing," often running between two sets and undergoing rigorous training.
The actresses Liu Yifei, Han Xue, and Jin Sha also faced a considerable workload, particularly Liu Yifei and Han Xue, who had many dance scenes as the lead and second lead. Jin Sha, despite having fewer scenes, was juggling multiple commitments and had even developed dark circles under her eyes from exhaustion. Jiang Cheng felt guilty for overworking her, especially for plagiarizing her future hit song for the film.
But what moved Jiang Cheng was the actors' dedication and hard work without any complaints. He marveled at their professionalism and lamented that many talented Chinese actors lacked the opportunity and platform to showcase their skills.
To alleviate their pressure, Jiang Cheng decided to shoot only the non-musical scenes before the New Year and leave the challenging musical parts for after the holidays. With the musical scenes removed from the schedule, there wasn't much left to shoot before the year's end.
After another week, the pre-New Year filming was completed. With just a few days left until the New Year's Eve, Jiang Cheng disbanded the crew, giving them an extended break and red envelopes to celebrate the upcoming New Year.
While everyone else went on vacation, Jiang Cheng's work wasn't done. He had to record an interview for the film's promotion.
The show was "A Date with Luyu."