Huayu: I'm reborn, but you still force me to be a scumbag?

Chapter 449 Chen Nuo's Ideal

The episode-directing system is actually very common in Hollywood TV series.

For a Hollywood series with an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars, the episode director system has many advantages, the two most important of which are:

First, as Chen Nuo just mentioned, it can improve production efficiency. When one director is shooting the first episode and another director is starting to prepare for the third episode, working simultaneously can accelerate the shooting schedule and shorten the shooting cycle.

Secondly, multiple directors participate together. Under the control of the executive producer or director, episode directors can boldly try different styles in specific plots, injecting a sense of novelty into the audience.

Popular TV series now and in the future, such as "House of Cards," "Game of Thrones," "Stranger Things," "The Mandalorian," and "Chernobyl," all adopt this model.

The now-shelved "House of Cards" series originally only had its first two episodes directed by David Fincher. After he set the style and tone for the entire series, the remaining episodes were handled by a number of directors, including James Foley, Carl Franklin, and Robin Wright.

In other words, as long as the core creative team is strong enough, and there is a producer or director who can oversee the whole process and ensure a consistent style, the episode director system can not only speed up the filming process, but also enhance the diversity and appeal of the series and avoid audience fatigue.

In China, this model is actually used by Zhang Jizhong for some big-budget TV series, such as Chen Nuo's "The Return of the Condor Heroes". It is commonly known as the "producer-centric system".

Zhang Jizhong, as the producer, controlled the overall style, while Yu Min and Huang Moumou were responsible for filming different chapters.

The same approach was taken with the directors Kong Sheng and Li Xue in the 2015 drama "Nirvana in Fire".

The last attempt to truly approach the Hollywood model was the 2018 drama "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace".

This is the case in mainland China, but what about Hong Kong?
To put it bluntly, with limited funding and resources, TVB production teams are basically still in the "workshop" stage. In 2011, the production process is not much different from that in the 90s.

When Chen Nuo proposed adopting a segmented directing system, the entire conference room immediately became lively.

……

The discussion process need not be elaborated upon, as there was indeed little room for discussion. Regardless of other factors, given the decision to build the production ourselves, the episode-directing system was practically the only way to expedite the process.

As for which directors to invite, that's not something Chen Nuo decides on a whim.

Not long after, Chen Nuo assigned the tasks and then adjourned the meeting.

The employees below looked excited, whispering among themselves as they filed out of the meeting room.

However, Johnnie To, Pang Ho-cheung, and Wai Ka-fai—the producer, director, and lead screenwriter—along with Lo Yu, all stayed on.

Facing this core group of members, Chen Nuo began to speak Chinese in order to express his meaning more accurately.

"What I just said is actually just a rough outline of what I have in mind right now. Next, I'll need to trouble Director Du, along with Haozai, Hui Ge, and Hai Ge, to select your ideal directors based on the script for each episode. Ideally, you should have two, one as the first choice and one as a backup. Once we've finalized the series schedule, we'll then coordinate their availability."

“But the budget…” Johnnie To glanced at Lorraine Eisner.

"No need to consider that."

Johnnie To's expression was somewhat complicated. After pondering for a moment, he nodded and said, "Okay."

"Director Du, relax, you're fine," Chen Nuo comforted him.

Johnnie To was left speechless, both amused and exasperated.

He knew the other person must have figured it out.

His real concern wasn't the budget. He was confident he could handle it even if it were a lesser-known director or someone like Peter Chan, who, while highly skilled, lacked a distinct personal style.

But what if it's Zhang Yimou, Jiang Wen, Wong Kar-wai... directors with such strong personal styles that you can feel them just by listening to their voices with your eyes closed?
leave.

Johnnie To genuinely feels that the 100 million per episode production fee he's receiving is a hot potato; one wrong move and he might ruin his 30-year reputation as a director!
Chen Nuo then turned to Pang Ho-cheung: "Hang-zai, don't blame me."

Pang Ho-cheung pushed up his glasses and asked, "Boss, I didn't. As a henchman of the company, I can cut off whoever you want... But are you sure I'm the director?"

"of course."

"Even Zhang Yimou and Jiang Wen have to listen to me?"

“It’s not about listening to you,” Chen Nuo said earnestly, “but about accepting the coordination and scheduling of you and Director Du, the two producers.”

"After all, we're making a TV series."

"For example, I think Director Zhang might be very suitable to direct the third episode. As for Jiang Wen, he might be quite good for the fifth episode. Although I hope that each director can give full play to their strengths according to the different content of the series, the overall tone must be consistent."

Pang Ho-cheung grinned: "OK, I understand. I'm fine with it."

He had a mischievous grin on his face, and Chen Nuo didn't bother to ask further. Seeing that both Johnnie To and Pang Ho-cheung understood his meaning, and knowing he had other plans for the evening, he announced that filming was officially over.

Behind Chen Nuo, Gulnazar followed the man's hurried steps, watching him talk to the blonde foreign woman as he walked towards the parking lot, feeling genuinely puzzled.

Her doubts stemmed not from what Chen Nuo said, but from his attitude.

The last time Gulnazar saw Chen Nuo so serious was at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

After that, no matter what happened, he rarely expressed his opinion; his attitude was, "Whatever."

For example, the paparazzi blocking the entrance to my birthday party a few days ago.

When celebrities across China encounter this situation, they simply wear a mask or cover their face with a bag and move on.

But he didn't.

When she saw that photo on Weibo, she really wouldn't have recognized the person if it weren't for the clothes.

She pulled her hat brim up to her nose, covered her entire face with her coat, and kept her head down, looking furtive—she looked like a thief stealing electric bikes. Like those netizens who left comments in media comment sections saying "Hahahaha, I'm dying of laughter," she was truly speechless and hilarious.

Gulnazar racked her brains but still couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

Which other celebrity in China would do something so self-destructive?
Fortunately, the photo didn't cause any serious consequences after it went viral online; instead, it sparked a wave of imitations. In the past few days, Weibo, Hupu, Tianya, and Tieba have been filled with netizens cosplaying his look, imitating him, and having a great time making fun of the memes.

She saw a report in Southern Weekly yesterday that provided an in-depth analysis of the matter.

It contained quite a lot of information, and one point that Gulnazar remembered was that the reporter said Chen Nuo "has never lived up to the public's expectations since the first official announcement of his relationship. But now, the public, who are incredibly harsh on other celebrities, seem infinitely tolerant of him regarding the big and small things that have happened to him..."

The reporter felt that "it's related to his 'indifferent' attitude."

It is said that "this temperament has been with him since he first appeared in the public eye. Over the years, it has become even more obvious as his trophies, titles and influence have grown."

Therefore…

Gulnazar really thinks that's absolutely right.

After working as his assistant for almost a year, she realized that there weren't many things in the world that her boss valued.

To put it bluntly, aside from sleeping and sleeping with people, there doesn't seem to be much else.

That's why she felt so strange at that moment.

It's just a TV series, is it really necessary to go to such lengths? The company didn't even invest any money in it.

If it's a good film, we'll earn more. If it's a bad film, we'll earn less. Why are we so invested? Even when promoting *Inception*, she hadn't seen that same expression on Chen Nuo's face.

They were serious and focused, even bordering on tense.

Others might not notice, but she could tell that she and he spent 16 hours a day together.

She couldn't figure it out.

She was so relaxed and carefree on the plane, but a day later... After getting into the car and being alone with others, Gulnazar finally couldn't help but ask the question.

Upon hearing this, Chen Nuo couldn't help but chuckle.

He opened his mouth, intending to say, "Don't listen to the nonsense in the magazines. What do you mean by not caring? On the contrary, my brother cares about too many things and has too many desires."

This drama is no small matter either.

If he could become as popular as "Squid Game" in his previous life, he could make enough money to circle the earth. Who wouldn't take it seriously?
Don't be fooled by Johnnie To's meticulous talk about director's fees and set construction costs at the meeting. Many people simply don't believe that a Chinese-produced TV series can achieve great success or make a lot of money in the Western world.

If they knew... then it would be different...

Chen Nuo's thoughts got stuck here.

The answer I had prepared remained unspoken.

……

When the meeting ended, Chen Nuo swapped cars with a newly hired Hong Kong employee.

There's no way around it; he took a stroll around Hong Kong today, and the news has already spread. Now, there are probably over eight hundred eyes watching him, wondering if he'll meet with someone. This person told him when she contacted him that there were many reporters lying in wait outside her house, and she only managed to sneak out with the help of her parents and sister. In the end, she had a friend book a room for her online.

This forced Chen Nuo to be extra careful.

As it turned out, his caution was necessary.

As the car drove out of the parking lot and onto the road from behind, he immediately saw that the rear windows of several cars on the side of the road were open, with a few gaps showing dark cameras pointing towards the exit.

"Get down."

He said something and immediately lay down on the back seat, and Gulnazar followed suit. The back seat of the Corolla is quite cramped, so when the two of them lay down together, their heads were very close together.

The faint scent of perfume emanating from Gulnazar kept wafting into his nose; it was a scent that was surprisingly familiar to him.

"You switched brands?"

"what?"

"perfume."

"Oh...yes, it's been changed." Gulnazar's heart raced a little.

Chen Nuo had no idea what the girl was thinking.

As a normal person, who the hell would think that someone would use scent to enhance the immersion of role-playing in certain fantasies?
He assumed that Gulnazar had switched to Dior J'adore after meeting Charlize Theron and thought the South African diamond was nice, so he didn't say anything.

Having successfully evaded the paparazzi at the hotel entrance, Linghu drove his ordinary Toyota Corolla through the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and stopped at an intersection on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Just to be on the safe side, he got out of the car and looked around before getting back in to confirm, "Mr. Chen, there's no problem."

Chen Nuo had considerable confidence in Linghu's investigative skills. Ever since that minor mishap in Canada, the man seemed to have been a little hurt in his pride, and he hadn't made any mistakes in finding paparazzi since.

He immediately put on a mask and sunglasses, and said to Linghu and Gulnazar, "Go back and rest, and come pick me up at 6:30 tomorrow morning."

"Boss, I'll go with you. Let Xiao Gu drive the car back," Linghu said.

"What 'Little Gu,' you're the one who's 'Little Ling'..." Gulina thought to herself. But she immediately said, "Boss, let Brother Linghu drive back. I'll go with you. If anything happens, I can help you handle it."

Chen Nuo hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright then, Nazha, come with me. Linghu, drive the car back."

Wen Yongshan was clever; she knew that the more upscale the hotel, the more dangerous it was at this time. So, she opened a mere three-star hotel, just by the roadside, ordinary and inconspicuous. When Chen Nuo and Gulnazar walked in together, they looked like a couple returning to their room. The receptionist glanced up briefly, then paid no attention and continued looking down.

"Boss, I...I...where...am I staying tonight?"

As Chen Nuo stepped into the elevator, he breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear Gulnazar stammering in a low voice. He turned his head and asked, "What did you say?"

“I mean…” Gulnazar felt her face burning and stammered, “Don’t I need to book another room?”

Chen Nuo understood and said, "She booked two rooms."

"Oh, ok."

Not only were there two rooms, but to avoid attracting attention, they were also on different floors, which made Gulnazar slightly disappointed.

Especially since the soundproofing in the shabby hotel was terrible, after taking a shower and getting ready to sleep, the couple next door kept making noises, which was incredibly annoying. She angrily stuffed her headphones in and started playing a CD.

That sounds so good. Yang Mi is such a kind person; she acts well and is a good person too. She not only gave me a CD but also a CD player. It's such a pity; I should have gone back to sleep there. The Ritz-Carlton costs several thousand a night; what a waste. What's the boss doing now? I really want to see...and hear it.

Lost in thought, Gulnazar, who had been busy all day, fell asleep without realizing it.

……

……

"Are you troubled? What are you thinking about?"

In this world, if we're talking about people who understand Chen Nuo the most, besides Gulnazar, Janice Man is definitely one of them.

Having lived together for quite some time, the woman would notice anything amiss immediately if he acted out.

Chen Nuo was a little speechless. "What's wrong?"

Wen Yongshan blinked at him and said, "What do you think?"

"I'm thinking about something."

"What?"

Chen Nuo turned around and saw the girl turn her head away, pretending not to care. Under the room's light, a thin layer of gold powder was sprinkled on her face, but her eyelashes trembled, showing the unease in her heart.

“It’s not what you think,” Chen Nuo explained. “It’s about work.”

Janice Man breathed a sigh of relief, immediately looked up, and said, "Is it the TV series you're currently preparing for?"

"almost."

"Huh? Why?" Janice Man looked surprised and tossed her hair with her hand. "It's just a drama."

Chen Nuo remained silent for a while, without answering immediately.

He put his hands behind his head, looked up at the ceiling, and seemed lost in thought.

why?
This is a long story.

Actually, it was a casual remark from Gulnazar that reminded him, and he suddenly realized that a seed had long been planted in his heart.

The moment the seed truly sprouted was on the plane, after watching the video that Luo Rui played for him.

He had seen that video on YouTube in his previous life.

Except for the parts related to themselves, the rest of the content is almost identical.

Indeed, many Chinese people may not know that Donald Trump actually began promoting his views as early as 2011. At that time, the media only regarded him as a businessman who loved the limelight.

On the plane, when he saw the blond, chubby man talking confidently in front of the camera again in his laptop, Chen Nuo was suddenly overwhelmed with an indescribable feeling—

A sense of reality that the future is about to arrive.
A sense of urgency, as if a crisis is quietly approaching.

He was actually a firsthand witness.

That feeling is unforgettable.

So, he suddenly wanted to do something.

This is why he made Gulnazar feel like a different person.

Not only for himself, but also for the world ten years from now, he had a very bold, even somewhat naive, idea—

What if he could use his influence and film and television works to tell China's story well, so that "Made in China" would no longer be a synonym for cheap, and "Chinese culture" would truly be respected, understood and appreciated by the world?
It's not one of those loudly proclaiming propaganda videos.

Instead, it uses Hollywood's most effective methods—entertainment, visuals, and the language of popular culture—to make people around the world first like a character or a story, and then come to understand a nation or a culture.

Perhaps it was the struggle of a lone hero.

Perhaps it is an epic that transcends a thousand years.

Perhaps it's just a relatable everyday story from an ordinary person's life.

If one day, in North American cinemas, white audiences would walk into an AMC with the same excitement they would have for a BLACKPINK concert to watch a Chinese film.

So perhaps, many things will be different in the future.

This does sound very idealistic, even somewhat naive.

But if "culture" is the last vestige of tenderness and understanding in this world—then, since he has already taken this position,

Why not try pushing it forward, a little further, and then a little further?

"Darling? What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?" Janice Man's voice came from beside my ear.

Chen Nuo knew that he was indeed behaving strangely, and it was no wonder the woman was so nervous. So he turned over, looking right at Wen Yongshan, and said softly, "I have an ideal now."

……

……

"Hahahahaha."

This is a scene from December 13, 2011, in an ABC studio on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

A burst of laughter suddenly erupted from the audience of "The Jimmy Kimmel Live Show," a late-night talk show jokingly referred to as "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in China.

Two years later, the show will be involved in a major racial discrimination controversy. Almost all Chinese Americans are outraged by the remarks made by a child on the show, and tens of thousands of people have signed a petition on a certain website to protest and demand an apology from ABC.

But nothing has happened yet. On the guest sofa, the young and handsome Chinese vampire made an apologetic gesture and continued, "I was just giving an example. If it's really as Jimmy says, that you owe us so much money and haven't paid it back, as your creditor, I would definitely provide you with door-to-door debt collection services. Jimmy, how many trillions did you say? Really?"

Jimmy Kimmel let out a rooster-crowing laugh and said, "Seriously, with $1.1 trillion in national debt, China is now the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt."

Chen Nuo nodded and said, "So when I really become a vampire... Hey, is there anyone among you willing to be a hostage? I can agree on behalf of China that Obama will return our money and split it with you 20/80. Of course, we get 80% and you get 20%."

"hahahahahahahahahahaha!"

Amidst an even louder burst of laughter than before, many people in the audience, regardless of race (Black, White, or Asian), raised their hands.

(End of this chapter)