The National Cultural Administration has recently disclosed the record-filing and project approval for the first quarter of 2023 movies. Among them is Same or Not, an adaptation of the novel by the writer "Nuan."
Nowadays, film adaptations of novels are not uncommon, but the script featuring two male leads has been absent from the Chinese film market for quite some time due to various constraints and censorship. Therefore, right from the project initiation, the movie Same or Not has sparked hot topics such as #MovieSameorNot#,#SameorNotAdaptation#, and #WriterNuan#, generating significant online buzz.
Undoubtedly, the major contributor to these trending topics is the film production company S·D Entertainment Group's veteran producer, Song Chunuan, also known as writer Nuan. Song Chunuan is not to be underestimated. Initially gaining fame under the pseudonym "Nobody Shows Up," Song Chunuan's debut work When We Walked Together unexpectedly became a hit. She later sold the film rights to the work, and the movie, featuring popular actress Lv Duo as the lead, achieved great success both at the box office and reviews among the youth films of that year. Two years later, she started anew as "Nuan," basing the novel Before, Us, After on Lv Duo, which became the best-selling female-oriented novel of the year.
The story continued to unfold as Song Chunuan, the CEO of S·D Group who acquired Multi Entertainment, the real-life prototype of the male lead from When We Walked Together, reconciled with his childhood friend and love interest, resolving misunderstandings from their youth, and eventually married four years ago. The male lead prototype in Before, Us, After is the current CEO of Starry Group, Song Chunuan's twin brother Song Ling, who also, after many obstacles, managed to win back his sister-in-law Lv Duo.
The novel Same or Not (abo) is the first work after the warm marriage of Song Chunuan, which was completed 14 months ago.
In the author marks, she revealed for the first time the inspiration for the story:
"The story ends here, thank you for your company once again. Finally, I want to share a little secret with everyone. Well, the story goes like this. One day, when I was discussing the setting of the two male protagonists in this story with Lv Duo, I was more inclined towards AB, while Duo was more inclined towards AO. We had a very pleasant discussion, so much so that we didn't notice that two men were eavesdropping at the door the whole time (shocked expression). In the spirit of 'confession is leniency', these two men accepted my use of their personalities as character settings, but with a firm determination that they both should be A (as always, a terrifying competitive desire). In the end, this led to the dual Alpha love setting in the story. Secretly, I wanted to say, at that time, even if both of you are A, one of you still has to be the submissive one in my story for love's sake! So, the alternate title of 'Same or Not' is actually 'Wrote a Ccuple for my Husband and Brother'."
This post has been pinned to the top of Song Chunuan's Weibo homepage for various book fans to admire.
In the year following the conclusion of the story, Fu Qiao and Song Ling's true appearances have not escaped the scrutiny of big data and fans. Many amateur artists have taken the two as models, creating countless illustrations of Yu Yue and Ji Chen. This led to a wave of related audiobooks, radio dramas, and fan-made plot songs, making it quite lively. Even more lively are the online viewers, who boldly hide behind various aliases and fearlessly tag the two young distinguished figures, expressing their genuine curiosity about their thoughts. Responding to the continuous calls from netizens, as a "well-known viewer," Song Chunuan tagged the two creators online.
Fu Qiao, emphasizing efficiency in handling matters, promptly responded on Weibo after receiving Song Chunuan's tag: "My wife's happiness is the most important. You see, my little brother-in-law can't beat me."
Song Ling quickly followed suit, replying: "Open the derivative works copyright, the only requirement is that I have to be on top!"
The author, after reading the comments, remarked, Clearly they are both tops, why do men have to make it difficult for other men?
Upon glancing at WB Square, Song Chunuan and Lv Duo switched the page back.
This was the closing ceremony and awards ceremony of the Golden Tulips Film and Television Festival two months ago.
The duo could vividly reproduce the entire scene of the segment before them, yet it did not stop them from watching it again. Who doesn't love to watch a good-looking actor with talent and no quirks?
In the entertainment industry's melting pot, there are many talented actors who do not pay attention to fame and romance. However, not all talented actors can be seen. Among young actors, those who can endure loneliness, calm down and focus on acting are very few.
The splendid golden stage set the scene for the award presentation as two presenters engaged in light-hearted banter before opening the envelope to announce the winner.
"In this era of big data, the youthful yet mature countenance of the recipient, portrayed by the character Wang in the role of an internet police officer, showcased how online law enforcement meticulously unravelled the mastermind behind the "online course explosion," silently and powerfully safeguarding order and tranquillity in virtual classrooms."
The camera focused on the composed young actor as he gracefully rose from his seat amidst praises and applause, embraced the director and producer nearby, and confidently strode onto the stage.
Bathed in a golden glow from the lights, he exuded a sense of timeless elegance.
Accepting the prestigious "Best New Actor" award from a senior figure, the young actor stood tall in a sleek black suit, clutching the trophy. His expression remained calm as he gazed at the award in his hand, his demeanour filled with reverence.
Addressing the audience, he began his acceptance speech, "Hello everyone, I am Yu Cheng. This year marks my tenth year in the industry, and as a 'senior rookie,' I would like to express my gratitude to the entire cast and crew of the film 'The Order Placer,' the judging panel for their recognition, and every audience member who enjoyed the movie."
With his speech concluded, Yu Cheng took a step back, bowed to the audience, and expressed his gratitude for the recognition he received today after a decade of hard work and dedication.
The official registration process for the movie "Same or Not" on Weibo has been completed, along with obtaining the V certification. The first post related to the film was released, featuring a concept poster with a background that subtly encapsulates the two male leads. Listed on the poster are not only the two main actors but also all other cast and crew members, as well as the post-production and production companies.
Fans of the novel were reassured to see the author, Song Chunuan, involved, along with the presence of both the parent and subsidiary companies of the two major characters.
Meanwhile, as the final credit rolled on the screen, the crew in the studio could finally breathe.
Tan Ye shifted from the soft couch to a reclining position like an empress, his gaze following Zhong Shao's movements.
"Seen enough?"
Zhong Shao took out the disc from the player without looking up, simply replying,
"Three times, enough."
The first viewing was to grasp the storyline, the second to evaluate the actors' performances, and the third to immerse oneself in a specific character. This was Zhong Shao's method of dissecting a film.
The unveiling of the box office hit "The Order Placer" has sparked discussions in the industry and among the media for quite some time. The film has garnered praise at numerous film festivals, with the director, lead actors, editing, and musical score all receiving accolades.
"Have you considered the performance of the young policeman in there?" Tan Ye couldn't contain his curiosity.
The young policeman in Tan Ye's words is Yu Cheng, the lead actor in "The Order Placer" and a key collaborator in Zhong Shao's upcoming film Same or Not.
The contract was just signed this morning via electronic signature.
The adapted script was handed directly to Zhong Shao by Fu Qiao.
As one of the lead actors' agents, Tan Ye was informed by his actor and business partner Zhong Shao the night before signing the contract.
Tan Ye knows Zhong Shao too well. Since the beginning of their collaboration, he has been clear about his own identity - an actor, not a star.
Having been in the industry for seventeen years, Zhong Shao does not participate in variety shows, irrelevant award ceremonies, or endorse brands indiscriminately.
As an actor who cherishes his reputation, Zhong Shao does not chase after big IPs or prioritize the scale and content of projects. If he shows interest in a project, it must meet three conditions: a good script, a high-quality crew, and competent co-stars.
Otherwise, no personal connections can sway him.
The film Same or Not, adapted from a novel with two male leads, boasts a confident production team led by Tan Ye. However, the curiosity of Tan Ye's towards the main collaborating actor, Yu Cheng, is evident.
Throughout the years, working with actors like Zhong Shao, who are recognized as strong performers by both the public and the industry, has been the norm for Zhong Shao. Yu Cheng's performance in The Order Placer was indeed commendable, meeting the expectations of a lead actor. He acknowledges that he is not one of the mediocre idol-turned-actors in the market. Yet, Zhong Shao wonders how Yu Cheng will handle his role.
Tan Ye carefully recalls his experience in the industry for over a decade and realizes he has never crossed paths with Yu Cheng, prompting him to delve into Yu Cheng's background.
Yu Cheng, known as the "Shinny Young" due to his early media exposure during his art entrance exam at 17, gained fame online. His transformation from a singer to an actor came after his initial success with three hit songs in his debut album. Despite a lack of strong support from his management company, he never terminated his contract until its expiration, transitioning into acting without a financial company but only with an executive assistant. "The Order Placer" marked Yu Cheng's debut in a major film, portraying the 18th character and the first male lead, for which he won the "Best New Actor" award at the Golden Tulips Film Festival.
In contrast to Tan Ye, Zhong Shao recalls several encounters with Yu Cheng. Two years ago, during summer, he discreetly visited his professor at uni and witnessed Yu Cheng embracing him with a smile that was both shallow and profound.
Just two months ago, Yu Cheng attended an audition alone, engrossing Zhong Shao as he observed from the shadows.
Reflecting on this, Zhong Shao offered his assessment of Yu Cheng as "quite a malleable youngster."
Tan Ye sat up straight from the sofa, momentarily questioning if there was something wrong with his ears. Zhong Shao was a person who excelled in everything, except for praising others, which could make him twist into a centipede. However, when he suddenly praised someone, it seemed a bit... unusual.
"Shao," Tan Ye crossed his legs and solemnly asked, "When was the last time you praised someone's acting skills?"
"It's been a very long time," Tan Ye answered his own question and hesitated, "Is he really that good?"
It was no wonder Tan Ye was surprised. He and Zhong Shao were schoolmates, friends, and business partners. In their early days, one majored in performing arts while the other in cultural industry management, but Tan Ye had been Zhong Shao's agent since graduation. After more than a decade in the industry, Tan Ye had seen all kinds of young actors, so when he heard the words "has potential" from Zhong Shao, it was a great compliment to their young collaborator.
"Can perform, dares to act, and even dares to take on this role," Zhong Shao put the disc back on the shelf and pulled out a script from a pile of film books, with a hint of expectation in his smile, as he teasingly asked, "Do you think there's still some potential?" He added, "He is also a disciple of Professor Wang Shuo."
Catching the script thrown by Zhong Shao, filled with annotations, Tan Ye looked shocked, "He... is a disciple of Professor Wang Shuo? How come I didn't know this intelligence?" Well, that explains it.
In fact, using the word Xian Sheng is much more appropriate than Professor in regardless of similarity. In Chinese literature context, Xian Sheng connotates the respect for achieving the honour of being.
Thus, it is indicative of Wang Shuo's prominent position in the industry. As a performance professor at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts and a national first-class actor, Professor Wang has dedicated his life to the art of performance, interpreting a variety of roles from the theatre stage to the big screen with remarkable skill, making significant contributions to the development of performing arts in our country. Consequently, anyone studying performance hopes to be noticed and accepted as a disciple by Wang Shuo. However, the selection of disciples depends on affinity, talent, and connection to the stage. Throughout his career in the performing arts, Wang Shuo has only taken on eight disciples, with the most recent disciple being Yu Cheng.
Tan Ye glanced over Ye Cheng's resume. It seemed as though he was deaf to the past but blind to the present. Under the section detailing Ye Cheng's alma mater, it clearly stated: Royal Academy of Performing Arts (Master's degree); Royal Academy of Performing Arts (Bachelor's degree).
As Tan Ye Cheng's gaze shifted from the phone screen to Zhong Shao, then back to Zhong Shao again, a sudden twitch appeared on Tan Ye's forehead. Both were senior brothers in college and disciples of Wang Shuo; it seemed like there was an undisclosed secret between them.
Shaking his head, Tan Ye Cheng cleared his mind of any unnecessary thoughts, dismissing the idea that there might be something inappropriate going on.
"So, are you confident about the next movie you're working on?" Tan Ye asked teasingly. "This movie is challenging to film," Zhong Shao replied after taking a sip of water, adding, "but it's quite interesting."
Tan Ye fell silent, pondering the air around him as if it carried a unique scent.