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[The Beginning] is a time loop TV series adapted from the novel of the same name by Mr. Prayer.

It tells the story of the game architect "Xiao Heyun" and the college student "Li Shiqing" who "resurrected from the dead" after encountering a bus explosion. They continuously experienced a time loop during the time of the bus accident, trying to prevent the explosion and find the truth.

Movies with time loop themes are not uncommon abroad. [Groundhog Night], [Source Code], [Terror Cruise], and [Edge of Tomorrow] are all excellent works on this theme.

However, this theme is scarce in domestic dramas, and the filming of "The Beginning" is a very novel attempt.

At the beginning of the plot, the heroine first "awakened" on the bus. According to her memory, the No. 45 bus she was sitting on had exploded. As a result, a bright light flashed, and with severe pain, she returned to the place where she had just got on the bus. time.

Then she managed to escape from the bus, only to experience the process all over again.

However, she soon discovered that the male protagonist had also "awakened" and had the memory of the previous bus explosion.

After some exchanges, the two experienced several explosions together and found that they could not escape the time loop no matter what, so they began to search for the real cause of the bus explosion.

Because of the time loop, they can obtain new clues through attempts and actions again and again. Each loop accumulates more information and clues for their cognition and reasoning.

Repeatedly in limited time conditions and space scenes, different actions taken by the protagonist group will trigger different possibilities.

They are getting more and more information, getting closer to the truth step by step, and heading towards the end of the cycle.

As the two investigate the bomb carrier, the backgrounds of the characters in the car slowly unfold as branch lines in the play:

Nervous Lao Ma holding a snakeskin bag: He spent many years in prison for a traffic accident. After his release, he returned to his hometown to grow melons. He hadn’t seen his son in many years. It was his first time in this city to give him a gift. watermelon.

Lao Jiao with a suitcase: I have a daughter who is in high school. There was an accident at the construction site and the work was stopped. The rental garage was evicted due to fire inspection. I didn’t know where to go with my luggage. I heard from the workers that if you act bravely, you can get something. Bonus, try your best to help the protagonist group subdue the murderer.

There is also the middle school boy who rescues stray cats, the Internet celebrity anchor Happy Brother who broadcasts live broadcasts and shoots short videos at any time, the enthusiastic aunt who carries various medicines with her, and the muscular man who listens to music with headphones.

Finally, there are two villains that no one expected: the strange aunt wearing a gray suit and carrying a pressure cooker on the bus, and the bus driver who seems to be loyal and kind, but actually hides it very deeply.

The essence and excellence of "The Beginning" actually lies in the portrayal of these characters. Everyone on the bus is an ordinary person with flesh and blood and their own story, and each has their own difficulties.

Even the driver and Auntie Guo, who were the instigators, planned the explosion because of their daughter’s tragic death.

This profound and genuine portrayal of small characters is very touching, and is the basis for "Beginning" to become such a hit.

"I got a particularly important piece of information. The police have confirmed that the bomb is indeed in the car."

On the seat in the back of the bus, Gu Wei was wearing prop glasses and a gray shirt. He looked gentle and had the temperament of a "code farmer".

"Officer Zhang also reminded me of something. He asked me why I didn't tell the driver and passengers when I knew there was a bomb in the car and asked everyone to get out of the car.

I was so anxious just now that I didn’t even think of this solution.”

Next to him, Zhao Jinmai was wearing a blue short-sleeved T-shirt and black pants. His fair face was full of collagen and his temperament was very pure.

“I’ve tried it before.

I said the car would have an accident, but no one believed it! "

"The effect of a car accident is different from the effect of a bomb on the car."

After Zhao Jinmai finished speaking, he stood up and shouted to the driver in front of the bus: "Uncle, stop the car quickly, there is a bomb on the bus!"

After she finished speaking, Gu Wei stood up and put his hand in front of Zhao Jinmai's face.

In the plot, the bus is about to explode at this point.

"Ka! It's over, let's take a break and transition."

After the director finished speaking, Gu Wei and Zhao Jinmai relaxed and got out of the bus where they were filming.

The place where they are at the moment is a photo studio.

The bus is a very important filming location in "The Beginning". Most of the scenes in the plot take place on the moving No. 45 bus.

However, since live shooting will have a huge impact on road traffic, the in-car scenes in "The Beginning" were all shot in the studio with the assistance of LED screens.

"You performed well just now. I feel like you are getting more and more into the mood in recent days, Mai Mai."

Sitting down in the rest area next to the studio, Gu Wei took a drink from the water glass from his assistant and praised Zhao Jinmai beside him.

"I'm under a lot of pressure. We have so many teachers with great acting skills in our crew. It would be embarrassing if I always failed.

I just have to work hard quietly."

What Zhao Jinmai said is correct. Even though "The Beginning" is only a 15-episode low-budget web drama, the actors are basically all capable.

Liu Yijun, who plays the policeman, Huang Jue, the driver, and Liu Dan, the "pot aunt", and other less famous actors also performed very well.

"Brother, are you really going to Hollywood to film?"

"I'm not going to Hollywood, I'm just cooperating with Hollywood companies."

Recently, Lionsgate announced that John Wick 4 was officially launched and that they would be working with John Wick: The Next Generation.

It was revealed by relevant personnel that Gu Wei would join John Wick 4 as the protagonist, so naturally, this incident caused a stir on the domestic Internet.

Gu Wei was also pushed to the forefront of public opinion.

It is not the first time that domestic actors have shot Hollywood blockbusters. There are those who became famous all over the world through Hollywood, such as Cheng Long and Li Lianjie, and there are also those who participated ineffectively, such as Jing Tian and Liu Yifei.

Gu Wei's fame and appeal have undoubtedly reached a limit in China. After knowing this news, everyone is looking forward to what kind of results his first global movie will have.

Gu Wei's fans are naturally overjoyed, thinking that their idol will continue his previous glory even if he stars in a Hollywood movie.

But more passers-by netizens are not optimistic.

Everyone thinks that although Gu Wei has a strong appeal in China, he is not well-known internationally, especially in the Western world. If [John Wick 4] wants to sell well, it will probably rely on the Chinese market.

However, what everyone agrees is that Gu Wei's participation this time is indeed a good opportunity to expand his personal global popularity.

"It's the same. According to the news, you will be one of the protagonists of the Hollywood blockbuster [John Wick 4]. When the movie is released, you will be an international superstar!

I wish I could be like you."

Zhao Jinmai looked at Gu Wei with admiration and envy in her eyes.

"Act well. You have such a big name at such a young age. Your future is limitless."

Gu Wei patted Zhao Jinmai on the head and encouraged her.

"Yeah!"

Zhao Jinmai nodded confidently at first, but then she thought of something and felt a little discouraged.

"I started filming when I was very young, but I haven't won any important awards in all these years. Sometimes I wonder if I don't have any talent in acting."

Gu Wei looked at her with some amusement.

"How old are you and you want to win an award? There are many actors in the entertainment industry who have been filming for a lifetime and can't win an award."

"But Zifeng is about the same age as me. She has been winning awards since she was a child. Last year, she even became the first Golden Rooster actress born in the 2000s."

Zhao Jinmai and Zhang Zifeng are also good friends. When they were young, they filmed "A Little Farewell" directed by Wang Jun together.

"Well, Zifeng is indeed more talented."

Before she finished speaking, Zhao Jinmai pouted her lips. Gu Wei hurriedly continued: "But there is one thing she is not as good as you."

"What?" Zhao Jinmai asked with her big eyes blinking.

Gu Wei smiled and said: "Zifeng is not as pretty as you. Compared with the two of you, you are undoubtedly more beautiful, Mai Mai!"

"Hehe."

After he said that, Zhao Jinmai laughed foolishly.

[Beginning] The filming went on in an orderly manner, and half a month passed quickly.

That day, Gu Wei took a day off and flew from Xiamen to Shanghai to participate in the [Weibo Movie Night] held in Shanghai Center Building.

Similar to [Weibo Night], [Weibo Movie Night] is a party hosted by Sina specifically for domestic filmmakers.

It was founded in 2016, and this year is the fifth year.

Relying on the wide influence of Sina Weibo, [Weibo Movie Night] will have a large number of top domestic stars participating every year.

Of course, everyone can come first to give face to Weibo officials, second to promote their own movies, and finally some artists want to get more exposure.

For example, the widely circulated incident of Peng Yuyan and Li Bingbing swapping seats happened at [Weibo Movie Night] in 2018.

At that time, Jiang Wen brought the [Evil Never Dies] crew to attend, and the organizer arranged Jiang Wen and his wife and Xu Qing in the first row, and Peng Yuyan, who was in the same group, was arranged in the second row with Feng Shaofeng and Liao Fan.

As a result, Peng's staff exchanged his name tag with Li Bingbing, and he sat next to Xu Qing.

In the eyes of others, it seems that there is nothing wrong with the [Evil Never Dies] crew sitting together.

Arriving in Shanghai at noon, Gu Wei changed into a formal suit for the ceremony, put on some makeup, and came to the Central Building in the afternoon.

"Long time no see~"

At the backstage, Gu Wei met Xin Zhilei, who had arrived earlier than him, and the other party greeted him with a smile.

Xin Zhilei wore a black tweed slim dress today, with long wavy hair in a retro style, fair skin, red lips, a round pearl necklace hanging on her chest and a pair of sparkling diamond earrings, and the whole person was full of a lady's style.

"The last time we met was at the end of last year in the crew of [Celebrating Yu Nian 2], and it has been more than half a year."

Gu Wei said as he looked Xin Zhilei up and down.

"But your temperament is getting better and better!

Have you finished filming [Flower]?"

He felt that the other party's outfit today was 70% similar to the "Li Li" in his impression.

Xin Zhilei was obviously very pleased with Gu Wei's compliments, with a smile on her face.

But when she heard his question, the expression on her face froze instantly.

"I really want to say that we have finished filming, and in fact, we have finished filming all the scenes in the script.

But a few days ago, I received a call from Director Wang Jiawei, asking me to go back and reshoot the scenes. He has some new ideas.

I don't know when it will be finished this time."

"Haha, this is very Wang Jiawei, you should not be the only one, right?"

Xin Zhilei shrugged: "Of course, Hu Ge, Tang Yan and others also need to reshoot"

Gu Wei thought for a moment: "This month, [Life Events] will be released, and [Joy of Life 2] will be broadcast at the beginning of next month. You are involved in both dramas. Can you spare some time to promote them?"

The reason why the two walked the red carpet together was to represent the crew of [Life Events], which will be released at the end of the month.

"No problem. Although [Flowers] has been filming all the time, the filming task is not heavy. It just takes a long time. Actors can directly ask for leave if they have something to do."

Gu Wei nodded.

The two chatted for a while, and when it was almost time, they came out of the waiting area and walked on the red carpet prepared by the organizer.

Entering the main venue, Gu Wei separated from Xin Zhilei. His seat was in the middle of the first row. Obviously, with Xin Zhilei's status, it was impossible for him to sit with him.

Gu Wei saw many familiar faces walking along the way under the guidance of the staff. Others waved and greeted him after noticing him coming in.

The CEO of Sina sat in the middle of the first row of the venue, with Cheng Long and Zhang Yimou on his left and right.

Gu Wei's seat was next to Cheng Long, and Xu Zheng was next to Gu Wei.

"Brother Cheng Long, Director Xu~"

After sitting down, Gu Wei greeted the two of them.

"Gu Wei, you have a new movie coming out, right?"

[Life Events] The movie started to be promoted as early as last month, and it has been one of the most promising movies in this summer's movie season. Cheng Long obviously knows something about it.

"At the end of the month, there is still some time."

"I heard that you will also be involved in a Hollywood movie, playing opposite Keanu Reeves.

When I first met you, I knew that you were definitely not an ordinary person. I didn't expect that you have reached this level of Kung Fu in just a few years."

Cheng Long is almost 70 years old. Although he has taken good care of himself, his face is still full of traces of time.

He wore a pair of black-framed glasses and looked at Gu Wei with emotion.

"Brother, you are too kind. I am just lucky and have benefited from the development of the domestic film market in recent years. It is not as exaggerated as you said." Gu Wei smiled modestly.

What he said was what he really thought in his heart. In terms of international influence, he is not as good as Cheng Long.

The other party's decades of accumulation have almost become a synonym for Kung Fu in the world.

Whether in developed countries or third world countries, as long as you make a kung fu pose, the first reaction of the other party is "Jackie Chan".

"The development in China has indeed been very good in recent years, but there are very few people who can achieve your level.

It is a good thing to have the opportunity to go abroad now.

I am old, and Li Lianjie can no longer fight. There are no more kung fu superstars in China who can show off."

"Wu Jing is OK. Brother Jing originally studied martial arts and can definitely take over your class."

Jing Long shook his head.

"Wu Jing is OK in China, but almost no one knows him outside of China.

I know you are very popular in Asia, and now you have the opportunity to expand your fame to the world. I just hope that you can have the opportunity to shoot more action movies in the future."

"I will if I have the opportunity."

Gu Wei nodded.

He actually understands Cheng Long more. When people get old, they all hope to pass on something.

Cheng Long is not asking Gu Wei to inherit something from him, but he hopes that Chinese kung fu stars around the world can continue to pass on from generation to generation.

From the earliest Bruce Lee to him and Li Lianjie, they have had a considerable influence on the world.

By now, Zhen Zidan, Wu Jing, Zhao Wenzhuo and others are basically only famous in China.

And in the next generation, even real kung fu actors are rare.