. By August, Fan Bingbing had already wrapped filming on the first season of "Succession."
The typical production cycle for an American TV series is 7-14 days per episode. The first season of "Succession," comprised of 10 episodes, took approximately three months to shoot.
However, because Fan Bingbing's role as the stepmother wasn't a main character in the first season, but rather a minor supporting role, she was able to finish filming her part early.
In fact, "Succession" doesn't follow the typical production process of many American TV series.
How are most American TV series produced?
Generally speaking, most are created by screenwriters, but some are discovered by producers. In the United States, producers hold the highest position in the television industry, and many of them are screenwriters themselves. Often
, the director's status is even lower than that of the screenwriter. On average, a full-length American TV series has 15-18 screenwriters. The writers for sitcoms change more quickly than for dramas because each writer has a limited repertoire of gags, and directors typically change every few episodes.
Generally speaking, the first step in the development of an American TV series is a screenwriter's recommendation to a producer or film company.
When a screenwriter has a good idea or script, they first try to convince a producer or film company. If they believe the script has potential, they begin working together to develop it. The next step is to pitch it to a television station.
If the network is interested, they'll buy the script (mostly the first episode). Once the first episode is filmed, it's presented to the network for a small test screening, and then they'll decide whether to include the series in the following year's lineup.
Every year, countless new series ideas are proposed. Networks, through a series of rounds of screening, select a small test screening list, then spend $50,000 to $500,000 on each series for trial and error. From the final product, they'll choose the one they'll buy and produce. This is the typical process for American television series.
"Succession," however, is completely different. Its production was directly decided by the Marvel-MGM TV production department—or, more accurately, by its owner, Barron.
Therefore, there's no need for network screening; the quality of the series is solely controlled by the group itself.
Furthermore, "Succession" will not be filmed and broadcast simultaneously, but will instead be shot immediately for the entire first season of 10 episodes. Barron, in any case, will have no shortage of platforms for the series, whether it's Sinclair's TV stations and Netflix in the United States or ITV and Daily Video in the UK, all guaranteeing the series' access to viewers.
After filming "Succession" wrapped, Fan Bingbing made her public comeback.
She returned directly to China by private jet—Barron's first Gulfstream G450, which is now rarely used, will be hers for the time being.
This also facilitated Fan Bingbing's return to China with her two children, Andy and Bell. In Beijing, they settled discreetly into a beautifully restored courtyard house near the Summer Palace.
Fan Bingbing's first public appearance was the Huabiao Awards ceremony in August, where her glamorous appearance on the red carpet naturally caused a media sensation.
You know, this female star who was previously considered the "top star in the country" has "disappeared" for a year...
It's not that she disappeared completely. During this period, there were sporadic news about Fan Bingbing. According to Fan Bingbing's studio, Fan Bingbing went to the United States for further studies and will return to China soon. Fan Bingbing's personal blog and Woaw profile page occasionally feature photos of her time in Los Angeles—though, of course, the angles used in these photos are very professional, minimizing her figure.
Her latest news is that she's been cast in an American TV series, though she hasn't gone into detail.
In an interview with reporters, Fan Bingbing thanked everyone for their concern and stated that her time in Los Angeles has helped her realize many of her previous shortcomings. She will soon be filming, but she wouldn't directly reveal the film, insisting it remain confidential for now.
Most interestingly, Fan Bingbing presented the Best Actress award at the Huabiao Awards ceremony, which went to Li Bingbing, another of the "Four Dans and Two Bings."
She won the Best Actress award for her role in "The Legend of Yunshui."
This scene subsequently became the cover photo for numerous media reports.
Just as the public was buzzing about Fan Bingbing's return to the Chinese entertainment industry, another piece of news quickly ignited the discussion.
Marvel-MGM has announced the upcoming production of a new Bond film, "Quantum of Solace."
Following the critical and financial success of last year's "Casino Royale," which grossed $616 million worldwide and ranked fourth in the 2006 box office,
Marvel-MGM has decided to release a sequel, "Quantum of Solace." Unlike the previous film, this one will be produced independently by MGM Studios, rather than in partnership with Sony Pictures. Quantum of Solace
can truly be called a sequel to "Casino Royale," as the plot of "Quantum of Solace" begins an hour after the conclusion of "Casino Royale," marking the first time the Bond series has two films that are truly connected.
This is due to clues introduced in "Casino Royale" that were left unresolved at the end of the film, prompting the screenwriter to continue the story.
The film will once again star Daniel Craig, who played Bond in the previous film. In the previous film, Daniel's style was radically different from previous Bond films, earning widespread audience acceptance and recognition.
Chinese journalists, however, noticed the inclusion of Fan Bingbing in the cast announced by MGM. She will play MI6 agent Fields Fan, effectively the second Bond girl in the series.
This makes Fan Bingbing the first Chinese-born Bond girl.
The first Chinese actress to appear in a Bond film was Zhou Caiqin in the 1967 film You Only Live Twice. Other Bond actresses who have appeared in the series include Yuen Qiu, who played the young "landlady," and Michelle Yeoh, who married a Jew.
Yuen Qiu's role in that Bond film was so minimal, she didn't even have any lines, making her a Bond girl. The other two actresses were merely Chinese, so Fan Bingbing's appearance in this Bond film was quite a sensation.