This director is vindictive.

Chapter 215 Chen Mo's move in the atmosphere
The three films released during the National Day holiday have highlighted the importance of subject matter for many people.

To be honest, the themes of all three films were too much in line with this release period.

Even if you put it in any other time slot, it simply wouldn't reach this level.

This is why "The Climbers" was criticized so harshly; mainly because, in many people's minds, the quality of the film and its box office performance were simply not commensurate.

It only benefited from the subject matter and release date.

To some extent, this understanding is not wrong.

The fact that the big screen is filled with films of this kind means that audiences have no other choice during this period!
However, Chen Mo's reputation as a prophetic genius only grew louder.

However, these three movies are not really related to Chen Mo.

He is preparing a new film, and also several web series.

As one of the most watched directors today, Chen Mo's every move is closely watched by countless people.

Seeing Chen Mo suddenly stop making movies and instead go off to film TV series, and even web series, with several in a row, has caused quite a bit of controversy.

This wasn't the first time Chen Mo had neglected his duties.

But last time was somewhat understandable, after all, even though "My Love from the Star" is a TV series, it was still a phenomenal TV series!
Although the declining TV viewership in recent years has led to the emergence of many high-quality web dramas, web dramas have also become a popular trend.

However, it hasn't reached the point where web series surpass television dramas yet.

Therefore, many people still consider web dramas to be rather low-quality!
Especially who is Chen Mo? He's the highest-grossing Chinese film director and the first Chinese director to have a film gross over 10 billion yuan.

But in the end, this director with billions in revenue actually neglected his duties and lowered himself to make web series. If he had just taken a short break and made one, that would have been fine.

However, many people were surprised to find from the plans announced by Shengshi Pictures that Chen Mo's plans for this year do not include any other films, but only web series, all of which are directed by Chen Mo.

"No way? What's going on? The movie market is so hot, Chen Mo's movies are guaranteed to gross at least 1 or 2 billion yuan, and yet he's not making movies but instead making web series? Web series! That's a bit outrageous."

"That's why they're directors with billions in revenue, while we aren't! Our thought processes are just different from ordinary people!"

"But web series, and they don't seem to be big-budget web series, which is a bit hard to understand!"

"Could it be a case of false advertising? For example, claiming to be directed by Chen Mo, but actually having someone else film it?"

"That doesn't make sense! What's the point?"

For a time, movie fans were truly baffled.

Not only movie fans, but even Chen Mo's confidantes and business partners were completely baffled.

Even the stock price of Shengshi Pictures has shown a downward trend due to this news.

It can only be said that Chen Mo is indeed the soul of Shengshi Pictures, and his every move has a huge impact.

While many people were still somewhat skeptical, Chen Mo directly confirmed the truth of the matter.

"We are indeed preparing to film a few web series/mini-series. Filming movies is too tiring, so we want to relax by filming a few web series!"

Although Chen Mo took the initiative to clarify and gave a reason, saying that filming movies was too tiring and that filming web series was supposed to be relaxing.

But people still couldn't understand it.

"No, what's the point of making a web series? And is making a web series easier than making a movie? Are you kidding me? It doesn't seem like it takes any less time than making a movie, does it?"

"Exactly, unless it's a phenomenal work like 'My Love from the Star,' even a web series is one thing, but a mini-series at that, what's the point?"

"It was one thing for you to be a little willful when you were running a real business, but please don't be so willful in your old profession, okay?"

"You can make some lighthearted movies too, why do you have to make web series?"

Chen Mo's female confidantes also asked him this question.

"Why does it have to be a web series? A low-budget movie would be fine too! You're a director with billions in revenue, and you're making web series? Tsk tsk!" Fan Binbin said, somewhat puzzled.

"What? Can't watch web dramas?" Chen Mo said sarcastically.

Fan Binbin rolled her eyes charmingly and said, "It's not that I look down on you, it's that you should look down on me!"

"You're mistaken. The web series I'm going to film this time are all different from the current web series. You'll see when the time comes," Chen Mo said with a smile.

He chose to film a web series at this time instead of continuing to make movies, partly because the pandemic that was sweeping the world was about to arrive.

There will be an explosive growth in online dramas and TV series at that time.

On the other hand, it's also because the web series he chose were all carefully selected.

In some ways, it is quite different from current online dramas.

Many people can watch current online dramas at double speed without any problem, which frankly means they're just too damn padded out.

However, the web series that Chen Mo selected were all the type that viewers couldn't watch at double speed.

Simply put, it's short, concise, and incredibly fast-paced.

Moreover, each one is a top performer in terms of critical acclaim among web series.

For example, Chen Mo is currently preparing to film his first web series, "I Am Yu Huanshui"!
Chen Mo watched this drama countless times in his previous life.

This show is really awesome!

Moreover, this is a truly unique web series.

It's the web series mentioned earlier, which can be described as dark and gloomy, covering everything.

Unfortunately, this web series is short and concise, with only 12 episodes!
The show "Past Life" became a hit after its release, but it also received a lot of low ratings. Why? Because it was really too "black"!

The show "I Am Yu Huanshui" has too many villains, like a slap in the face to every viewer.

Black workplace, black teachers, black middle class, black media, black charity, black the masses, black families of origin, black dog lovers, black property management, black home renovation.
Even murderers are damn black!

To be honest, Chen Mo had never seen a show like this before; it was absolutely awesome and incredibly cool!

But the key point is that it's so accurate in its criticism that it resonates with countless people.

For example, the "Black Workplace" series thoroughly criticizes the dregs of modern companies.

The goal is for viewers to easily find themselves or their own company reflected in the show!
Have you ever seen a drama that gathers elements of "divorce crisis", "unemployment crisis" and "life crisis" on its first day of airing?
No, it's unique and unparalleled. It's not just random shooting; it makes you feel like things are too tragic, but you can still find a bit of yourself in it.

The news that Chen Mo is preparing to film a web series has left many fans somewhat bewildered.

However, the news generated unprecedented buzz.

As a director with billions in box office revenue, Chen Mo always generates a lot of anticipation for whatever he films.

Even though it's a web series, it's precisely because of this contrast that Chen Mo's filming schedule has become one of the most anticipated works even before filming has started.

Look, even several online video platforms contacted Shengshi Pictures immediately, wanting to get in first.

What? You haven't seen the show yet?

Just kidding, they'll buy it with their eyes closed just because it's using Chen Mo's name, okay?
It's unclear whether it's the online video platforms vying for Chen Mo's unreleased web series, or even the numerous businesses that immediately approached him wanting to insert their advertisements!

You know what, even though the web series "I Am Yu Huanshui" only has 12 episodes, in terms of making money and return on investment, it may not be worse than the movie.

The budget for this drama will definitely not be too high, after all, it's short and concise, and it's a web series. Apart from Chen Mo's own salary, the rest is really just a drop in the bucket.

However, the prices offered by several online video platforms are enough to make countless web series directors green with envy and resentment.

Tencent Video, iQiyi Video, Youku Video, Sohu Video, and even the declining LeTV have all come. And they're all deep down and seem to have plenty of money; they all want to acquire Chen Mo's web series in a package deal.

For example, when it came to the TV series "I Am Yu Huanshui", several top-tier video websites offered a package price of 100 million yuan!
This price would have been considered normal before this year, but due to the impact of major industry events such as dual contracts, tax storms, exorbitant actor salaries, policy adjustments, and capital withdrawal this year, the TV drama industry has entered a "winter." It is now almost impossible to see a drama with a price of several hundred million yuan or more than ten million yuan per episode.

Needless to say, Chen Mo's "I Am Yu Huanshui" doesn't actually have any particularly big-name stars or popular idols in it.

The male lead, Guo Jinfei, has never been a big-name celebrity!
Even so, several platforms are eager to try their luck, offering exorbitant prices for purchasing the films.

Although it's not completely finalized yet, several platforms are all planning to acquire all of Chen Mo's web series in one go.

So no agreement has been reached yet, but the news still spread quickly.

The entire internet was immediately astonished.

"Holy crap, I thought Chen Mo was out of his mind to lower himself to film a web series, but I never expected that we're on the first level while Chen Mo is in the atmosphere!"

"That's fucking outrageous, okay? A web series with no particularly famous actors besides the director, and it's a mini-series, and they offered 100 million? The key is that Chen Mo has several projects on his list, isn't that too much of a shrewd move?"

"Have these video websites gone mad? Can they even break even at this price? 100 million for 12 episodes? Wasn't the TV drama industry supposed to be in a downturn?"

"Hehe, do you guys misunderstand the value of Chen Mo, this director with billions in box office revenue? If we can secure him, let's put everything else aside, I'm just asking you, do you want to watch it? Even if you have no idea what he's filming, do you want to watch it?"

"We thought Chen Mo had lost his mind, but it turns out we, the onlookers, are the ones who have lost our minds!"

The profits of a web series come not only from the broadcasting rights, but also from product placement.

Take Chen Mo's "I Am Yu Huanshui" as an example. This drama is a modern drama, so there is no problem with product placement. In fact, almost all the businesses are eager to have it on their screens.

With the popularity of Chen Mo's new drama, earning at least ten million yuan wouldn't be unreasonable, right? Add to that all the other revenue streams, wow, wow!

In other words, a web series that costs at most a few million to produce, even with Chen Mo's salary, would only cost ten or twenty million at most, but it can easily be sold for several times that price.

They're still fighting over it! Tell me, who's the fool here?
This caused quite a stir, not only among movie fans and netizens, who exclaimed that Chen Mo had just made a splash in the atmosphere.

Even the film industry was shaken. Some film directors got the idea, thinking that this was much riskier than making movies.
Of course, not everyone has Chen Mo's charisma.

However, it still makes many film directors very interested. What is the purpose of becoming a director?
Art? Don't be ridiculous!

In the end, isn't it all about fame and fortune?

As for the film industry, how risky is it? Look at "Shanghai Fortress" and "Asura"—they lost everything.

The losses are in the hundreds of millions!
The investors must be furious!

But look again, Chen Mo switched to making web series, and people wanted to buy it for a sky-high price. They didn't even finish making the series, and they still wanted to take it all.

Who wouldn't be tempted by this?

Although web series can't bring fame, they can bring profit!

Chen Mo certainly wouldn't sell it so easily. Is 100 million a lot?

A TV drama winter? No, in a few months, while the movie winter arrives, the TV drama spring will come!
Moreover, Chen Mo's dramas never have to worry about selling!

"You still can't watch web dramas now?" A few days later, Chen Mo asked Fan Binbin again.

Fan Binbin's gaze towards Chen Mo was almost drooling.

There was no way around it; this kind of man was simply too amazing. She never expected that this turn of events would come so quickly.

Highbrow? Is a movie really more highbrow than a web series at this point?

That's not necessarily true! After all, the current film market and public perception are completely different from what they used to be.

Movies have also begun to be judged to some extent by "box office performance." If you look at it from this perspective, they all make money, so what's the difference?
Just look at the twists and turns in the netizens' comments to see why.

When people saw Chen Mo suddenly stop making movies and start making web series, many felt angry at his lack of ambition and his self-degradation.

But what happened? Rumors circulated that several video platforms offered exorbitant prices to compete for Chen Mo's new web series, and Chen Mo hadn't even agreed to them immediately.

This made many people realize that it wasn't that web series lacked sophistication, but rather that other people's web series lacked sophistication. Could Chen Mo's web series be the same?

In the TV series "I Am Yu Huanshui", Chen Mo directly used the original cast.

To be honest, the casting for this drama was incredibly precise, especially Guo Jinfei. In Chen Mo's opinion, his portrayal of Yu Huanshui was absolutely perfect.

Chen Mo didn't intend to change anything; this time, he even planned to completely replicate the plot from his memories.

Web series are actually different; the requirements aren't as high.

Chen Mo's description of a relaxed filming session was no joke.

Of course, it was an easy shoot for Chen Mo, but it wasn't for the actors at all.

The character Yu Huanshui is naturally the most important character in this drama.

"I've read the script, what do you think? Share your thoughts," Chen Mo asked with a smile.

Guo Jinfei said immediately, "When I watched it for the first time, I had one feeling: What a pitiful guy!"

Chen Mo couldn't help but smile. Wasn't he a pitiful guy?
"At work, he was ostracized by his colleagues, exploited by his boss, and always made a scapegoat for his poor performance. At home, his wife looked down on him for being incompetent, and even his son was indifferent to him. His marriage was also coming to an end."

"Actually, at first I also thought he was a good-for-nothing, but after reading carefully, I suddenly realized that he was not a simple 'good-for-nothing,' but a microcosm of countless middle-aged people in contemporary society."

Most people who reach middle age are like Yu Huanshui, unable to act recklessly or live a carefree life. They walk cautiously with every step, carefully watching traffic lights when crossing the street, eating cautiously for fear of choking, working cautiously for fear of losing their livelihood, treating family cautiously for fear of hurting their feelings, and treating friends cautiously for fear of that final bit of loneliness.

"Exactly, Director Chen, isn't this character, who embodies all the tragedies and midlife crises of middle-aged people today, a bit too much?" Guo Jinfei couldn't help but ask after his analysis.

Chen Mo laughed and said, "That's exactly the feeling we want! Otherwise, how can we highlight the realism and absurdity? Perhaps some people may not experience such a workplace, but they may be able to find their own reflection in life. Or they may not have such an unhappy marriage in life, but they may be able to find their own reflection in the workplace."

What is resonance? What we need is for different people to find a bit of themselves in this character, and only then can we create resonance.

He is the embodiment of countless middle-aged people who are unhappy with their lives, but he is not any one person; he is just Yu Huanshui!
Of course, I've considered that point you mentioned, so you see, the cancer was misdiagnosed!

At least it won't make things too bad for him, right?

Guo Jinfei's lips twitched slightly. This wasn't as bad as he thought.
Are you the devil?
"But almost everyone in there is a villain, isn't that a bit much?" Guo Jinfei raised his doubts.

Chen Mo hadn't expected him to notice this.

"A bit fake? A bit unreal?" Chen Mo countered.

Guo Jinfei nodded.

"That's right. What we want is never realism. Every character serves the plot! Yu Huanshui is a collection of many middle-aged men who are unhappy with their lives. He's too miserable, a bit too miserable. Similarly, the characters in the show, who may seem like there are no good people, are actually a collection of the 'injustices' and 'villains' that people encounter in their lives. With so many people and so many different kinds of 'villains,' it's impossible for the audience to encounter them all in their lives, but they can always find the shadow of some people around them, right?" Chen Mo said with a smile.

Guo Jinfei's gaze towards Chen Mo became somewhat strange.

Sure enough, I was right; the director really is a devil.

But was Chen Mo right? Absolutely right.

What is reality? What is absurdity?
This show has it all! You can see both reality and absurdity, that's what makes it a show. If you only see reality, it's not a show, it's reality. If you only see absurdity, how can you resonate with it?

So, this arrangement is damn cunning! But undeniably, it works wonders!

The protagonist is a microcosm and a collection of everyone, and the supporting characters are also microcosms and collections of the "bad guys" we encounter around us!

There's bound to be one that suits you!

(End of this chapter)