I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 301, The Director of "Lurking": This Li Xuan, he can't be that strong, right?

"They're having an affair, aren't they?"

This was Jiang Wei's first thought.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to figure out why I was rejected.

Li Xuan rejected him.

She also rejected herself.

I'm puzzled. Li Xuan is arrogant because of his talent, so what does Gao Yuanyuan rely on?

"Are we spy filmmakers really that unpopular?"

Jiang Wei wasn't angry.

I just have some doubts and questions.

"So what if they refuse? It's normal if they don't click. Do you expect all the actors to be crazy about your production team?"

Liu Guanglong, standing to the side, chuckled.

As the first director to reap the benefits of a spy drama, he also enjoyed immensely.

"You guy."

Jiang Wei was speechless.

A long season.

That sounds interesting.

Unlike those in the industry who felt this project was shrouded in mystery, this plan was something else entirely.

Jiang Wei was genuinely interested in him.

Although I don't understand why Gao Yuanyuan abandoned his undercover mission to join the project.

But the script for this drama still piqued his interest.

He is also from the north and has experienced the era of layoffs.

Of course, his family lost others' jobs, not theirs.

Focusing on the era of mass layoffs.

Does he really understand it?
For that era.

Can you capture the essence in a photograph?
Liu Guanglong, standing nearby, remained noncommittal. He hadn't experienced the War of Resistance against Japan when he filmed "The Plot," yet he still managed to capture its essence.

"His extraordinary ability to understand and empathize with scripts will definitely surprise you."

"Then let's wait and see."

At this moment, Jiang Wei said calmly, "I will definitely support this work."

This was just a minor incident.

A little anecdote from the Jiang Wei film crew.

In his opinion, "Lurking" was definitely stronger.
From its subject matter to its cast, "The Long Season" features Fan Debiao, who has played supporting roles his entire life, and a rising star; the two of them are responsible for carrying the ratings.

Honestly, it's hard to say how they can hold out. Considering the star power of the cast, they might achieve a moderate viewership rating.

This does not mean that Jiang Wei underestimated Li Xuan.

On the contrary, I am very optimistic about it.

He was referring to relative contrast.

Compared to him, a senior director with connections and talent, this is a different story.

He's even been nominated for one of the three major awards.

"I heard he signed a performance-based agreement with Huayi?"

At this moment, Liu Guanglong showed a slightly regretful expression: "Yes, we signed a performance-based agreement, an investment of ten million, and various resources. The conditions are quite harsh."

From the perspective of an experienced director.

It will probably be very difficult to fulfill the performance-based agreement.

Even Liu Guanglong is a professional; he came from making crime dramas. "The Long Season" seems to be trying to take a humanistic approach to the era, combined with a suspenseful background, a path that no one has taken before.

However, it's quite surprising that Li Xuan was able to leverage his net worth.

To put it simply, when filming "The Plot," Liu Guanglong had about the same amount of resources at his disposal.

Although he doesn't need to sign a performance-based agreement.

But Li Xuan just graduated.

Jiang Wei, who was standing next to him, then said...

"This means he's probably worth that price, which is already quite remarkable. Among the celebrities currently being discussed, excluding their management companies, a star like Chen Kun can already command a value of around 30 million."

He still thought highly of Li Xuan.

He was even invited to this infiltration mission.

It's a bit of a shame that I was rejected.

Even Liu Guanglong didn't understand why Li Xuan refused.

Jiang Wei then gave a brief explanation.

He probably wanted to be the one in charge.

If you give him the dominant position, he might actually be willing.

But there are no "what ifs" in this matter.

“It’s no use for someone to teach someone else, but he can understand things after being taught them once. He’s just too confident in his abilities. There are some things that he can understand after being taught them once. He still needs some polishing. However, with his comprehension, he won’t waste too long.”

At this moment, Jiang Wei showed a great deal of admiration.

Liu Guanglong, who was standing next to him, must have felt a little bittersweet and even somewhat emotional upon hearing this.

You should know that after I filmed "The Plot", I did receive praise from an old friend.

But it was just a compliment; there wasn't much other emotion involved.
No, not like now, there's a feeling of anticipation.

Jiang Wei's skill level is much higher than mine; he can see things that ordinary directors can't, just like what's happening now.

At least for him, Li Xuan is someone who can grow.

He grew to a level that interested him.

It is an 'opponent'.

It doesn't feel like a 'junior'.

Indeed, Liu Guanglong also felt that Li Xuan was exceptionally talented.

I'm afraid that in just a few years, he will be able to completely surpass himself.

Perhaps if he specializes in one genre, he might be able to try for a Golden Eagle Award nomination in a few years.

However, this thought only lasted for a moment.

Then I chuckled.

how could it be possible.

If someone is really that young and can win an award.

Then we old folks will probably all have to go underground.

It probably won't be that strong.

"If you need any help here in the north, just tell me, Lao Zhao."

At this point, Zhao Benshan assured Li Xuan that he would provide any assistance he needed while filming "The Long Season".

Just talk to him directly, the "King of the Northeast," and he'll agree to anything.

In fact, Zhao Benshan was truly sincere in saying this. Even if he felt that "The Long Season" was unlikely to achieve good results, he would still do his best to help.

This is an 'investment'.

An investment in a potential future prodigy.

Even if the investment fails, it doesn't matter—as long as he has invested enough.

This is a kind of wisdom that he has followed all his life so far, especially after his own real rise to power, there is a living example to prove it.

Even if the probability is small, there is still a possibility of it happening.

"Fan Wei, that traitor!"

At this moment, Zhang Xiaoguang, Zhao Benshan's apprentice, said from the side, "He doesn't know how to be grateful to his master at all! He actually went to take on roles behind our backs. People like him will never amount to anything! This Li Xuan is the same; he won't amount to anything in acting either, and he's bound to fail!"

The discord between Fan Wei and Zhao Benshan is nothing new internally; in fact, it has escalated to the point of almost coming to blows.

These are all old stories, not really secrets anymore.

Zhang Xiaoguang also analyzed the situation, considering whose side to take and how to maximize his own interests while ensuring his master remembered him.

With so many apprentices under his master, Zhang Xiaoguang felt a great sense of crisis. Recently, he took on a new apprentice named Song Xiaobao, a former dishwasher from humble beginnings.

Zhang Xiaoguang didn't know what kind of bewitching potion he had given his master, but his master paid so much attention to him that he didn't think he was any worse than Song Xiaobao, and even thought he was much better than him!

If I want to survive in this industry in the future, what will I rely on? The key is to please my mentor!

After all, his mentor was the king of comedy sketches, and in the Northeast entertainment circle, his words carried more weight than those of the TV station.

Zhang Xiaoguang continued with a fawning smile: "Master, we won't work with that kind of good-for-nothing."

He originally intended to continue trying to please them.

However, Zhao Benshan looked gloomy.

Zhang Xiaoguang was stunned. Had he said something wrong?
“My disagreement with Fan Wei is his business. What are you, a junior, interfering in? After all, he is your senior in the martial arts world,” Zhao Benshan said calmly.

Zhang Xiaoguang immediately knelt down.

The master is angry!
But Zhang Xiaoguang still felt unconvinced!
You two have gotten so worked up, and your apprentice is just trying to help you out.

Of course, seeing Old Zhao's gloomy face, he didn't dare to say anything reckless, for fear of saying something wrong and angering his master.

She felt quite wronged.

That flattery backfired spectacularly.

In fact, Zhao Benshan's thoughts were somewhat complicated.

Fan Wei was indeed someone he didn't get along with; it was even a blatant conflict of interest. Zhao Benshan couldn't refute this.

There is only one main character in a work.

A skit needs another person to act as the straight man and supporting actor.

As for myself...

Of course, I only wish I were the protagonist.

I will mentor others, but I will not let them surpass my position.

This is something Zhao Benshan once said to all his apprentices and friends, openly admitting that he would only ever see himself as the protagonist.

If you act with me, you can only be the straight man.

As an ordinary person.

Some people don't even have both parents and were raised by the kindness of many families.

He deeply understood this principle.

It's a dog-eat-dog world principle.

There is absolutely no deceit or falsehood.

If Van Welshman were still under his command.

He will only ever be Fan Debiao.

A farmer with a negative image.

Simple and kind, but also cunning and mercenary—these are the stereotypical images of farmers.

He needs Fan Debiao.

I also hope that Fan Debiao can't live without him.

But Fan Wei is also his friend.

Zhao Benshan would be happy if he failed.

Because this means he can only come back to be his own Fan Debiao.

However, if we look at it from the other perspective, if he succeeds, Zhao Benshan will also be happy.

Because we are friends.

Seeing that he can handle things on his own.

Isn't that also a kind of joy?

"Actually, there's no real conflict between us. We just had a disagreement and neither of us was willing to back down. If we're talking about any financial disputes, there's nothing special about it. It's just a matter of pride, not money."

Fan Wei was at a loss for words, both amused and exasperated.

When he arrived at Li Xuan's film crew, the reaction from those around him was surprisingly calm.

Fan Debiao left Zhao Benshan and joined the crew of up-and-coming director Li Xuan.

It sounds like it might be a bit of a bombshell.

Among sketch comedy actors, Fan Wei is at least among the top, if not the best. He is a regular on the Spring Festival Gala every year.

But what he didn't expect was that his decision to act alongside Li Xuan went completely unnoticed in the industry.

Even more than that, it can only be described as paying attention to Li Xuan.

Instead of focusing on him.

There's actually a bit of a sense of disappointment in this.

Honestly, how could there not be a sense of disappointment?

I'm Fan Debiao from Liu Laogen, after all.

Am I really that pathetic without Zhao Benshan?

Or perhaps this is the fate of green leaves.

I was both amused and exasperated.

So Fan Wei felt that his choice to join Li Xuan's production team wasn't a mistake after all; at least in this production team, he wasn't just a supporting actor.

Rather, it is the main character.

Even if this opportunity offers him only a very small chance of getting ahead.

But he was also very grateful to Li Xuan.

Even Li Xuan himself didn't know why Fan Wei agreed so readily without even asking about the pay.

Because I made him the lead actor.

It's that simple.

He played a supporting role his entire life.

Li Xuan decided to make him the lead actor.

Even if the protagonist is doing terribly.

That's the main character too.

At this moment, Fan Wei took over the script from Li Shengdi, and his expression was initially quite relaxed and cheerful.

It's nothing serious.

However, when I saw this script...

His facial expression changed.

This was the first time he had seen the complete script.

This was also the first time I knew what kind of story Li Xuan was going to tell.

A long season.

A long winter.

At this very moment, Li Xuan was also conducting a script reading, regardless of which side was making the bet.

Li Xuan also had only one simple idea.

That is to film the work.

It must be admitted that Huayi Brothers has shown a strong sense of contractual responsibility this time. The performance-based agreement not only provided funding but also a professional team, including a backup team for Ma Xiaogang and Zhang Yimou's films. Although they were just backups, their individual abilities are beyond doubt.

This is a cast that is significantly higher level than that of "The Young Students".

This also made Li Xuan realize what it means to have resources that money can't buy.

"No wonder this circle is so corrupt, the Matthew effect is so obvious, and family background is emphasized so much. The resources that people with and without connections access are fundamentally different."

Li Xuan clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Huayi Brothers are such good people; they've lent them so many resources this time.

However, this is also Huayi's own idea. If this work is invested and distributed by Huayi, then at least it will be under Huayi's brand. If the production quality is too poor...

This will damage Huayi's reputation.

Huayi Brothers isn't incapable of producing bad films, but their bad films can't be attributed to Huayi Brothers itself. If a reason must be found for a bad film, then it must be a problem with the director, screenwriter, or actors.

This actually reflects Huayi's own little scheme.

It is also a signal sent to the outside world.

He Yangmou.

Come and see, everyone!

With the support of Huayi's top-notch photography team.

That's how this effect was achieved.

Isn't this something to laugh at?

Isn't it worth dying for?

If you're willing, I can mercifully take you in.

But this stain and shame will be nailed to your career.

Wang Lei had already seen through everything.

The real purpose is...

We still need to completely subdue Li Xuan.

Before subjugating him, we must thoroughly smear his reputation, forcing him to rely on capital to survive.

Some shareholders are also asking questions.

Throwing real money down the drain, plus the investment in the photography team, it must be at least 20 million. All that money going for one person, isn't the price a bit too high?

Wang Lei simply said they didn't understand.

What is most important in the 21st century?

He is a talented person.

It would cost 20 million to go down the drain, if only we could recruit a truly talented person.

Then the value he can bring is far more than 20 million.

Especially on the eve of an IPO.

Market share demonstrates strength and highlights the importance of the platform and its capital backing.

Twenty million has gone down the drain.

worth it.

As for the pie in the sky I painted earlier.

Then it really is just a pie.

After reading the rough outline of the entire script.