Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 455 Social Interactions: Did she think she was Liu Yifei?
In the height of summer in July, the cicadas were already chirping incessantly in the capital.

On the campus of Beijing Film Academy, the stone-paved paths are slightly white under the afternoon sun, and heat waves rise from the ground.

Because of the summer vacation, the campus is less noisy with students and more spacious and quiet.

Inside the Beijing Film Academy's office building, Zhang Huijun's hand was still resting on a new academic affairs document, while his other hand held a mobile phone to his ear.

Wu Chen's voice on the other end of the phone was as usual.

"Actually, I have no objection. Since the China Academy of Art is involved, it's normal for the Central Academy of Fine Arts to want to get involved as well. It's just that the domestic side is more of an auxiliary development team."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Huijun felt a sense of relief.

Actually, he personally hoped that the Central Academy of Fine Arts could participate.

They are both principals of art colleges in Beijing, so there's bound to be some personal connection between them.

Moreover, at their level, their core role is not only that of "administrators" of the school, but also that of resource integrators, image ambassadors, and hubs of relationship networks.

Resource mobilization, public relations, academic guidance, and relationship maintenance, etc.

These are things that lower-level people cannot handle, because they are not of high enough rank to make promises that would render such promises meaningless in a dialogue of equal standing.

This is why it was Pan Gongkai who approached him directly, rather than the deans of other departments or colleges.
Zhang Huijun thought for a moment and then said thoughtfully, "Will this be difficult to handle? I've explained the situation you mentioned to Principal Pan of the Central Academy of Fine Arts."

“It’s not difficult at all. There’s no harm in having more collaborations between art academies,” Wu Chen chuckled.

"Should I have Principal Pan contact you?"

Wu Cheng was about to say something when he subconsciously froze, then politely declined: "I think it's better if you, Principal Zhang, agree on my behalf."

The favors he had with the Central Academy of Fine Arts were of little use to him; he might as well give them to Zhang Huijun and the Beijing Film Academy.

When you're in the world, you're surrounded by interpersonal relationships.

It's important to understand that humans cannot live in isolation; mutual trouble is an essential way to build relationships.

A moderate amount of trouble can foster interpersonal relationships and create a virtuous cycle of interaction.
Zhang Huijun, who had been well-versed in this matter for many years, could easily understand Wu Chen's meaning.

"By the way, Principal Zhang, could you please ask Director Wang and the teachers in the Fine Arts Department to keep an eye out for elite talents in film and television art from the major universities? Xingchen Pictures is quite lacking in behind-the-scenes talent in this area."

After this back and forth, Zhang Huijun couldn't help but admire Wu Chen's skill in handling interpersonal relationships.

Having just done someone a favor, and then deliberately finding a reason to "trouble" the school, it left no one with a reason to refuse.

“Okay, Lao Wang is good at this. He has been working as an art consultant on some big projects for many years. He can’t tell how much potential a person has at a glance, but he can definitely get a pretty good idea.”

Moreover, your Starry Night Pictures is quite attractive to behind-the-scenes personnel.

Meanwhile, on the other side, at Hengdian World Studios, Tangren Film & Television...

The afternoon sun slanted in through the gaps in the blinds, falling on the desk and casting dappled shadows.

There was a faint smell of glue in the air, emanating from the new costumes made by the props department next door.

Cai Yinong sat in his office, his brows furrowed, his phone screen lying silently on the table.

She had been waiting for a call back from Liu Xiaoli or Liu Yifei these past few days, and even hoped that the best person to call back would be Wu Chen.

However, these people didn't make a sound at all.

She can wait patiently, but the longer she waits, the more likely "Scarlet Heart" will be snatched up by other TV drama production companies.

It's highly likely that Starry Night Pictures will collaborate with production companies in the industry; this is something not only she knows, but other companies also know.

Thinking of this, she picked up her phone, quickly scrolled through her contacts, saw the number with Wu Chen's name in the contact, hesitated for a moment, then swiped to Liu Yifei's number and dialed it directly.

It was morning in Paris at the time.

The summer sun poured down on the banks of the Seine, and a long cordon was set up around the film set. The busy crew members moved about in the morning heat.

Outside the film set's cordon, Liu Xiaoli sat under a rest tent set up by the crew, drinking ice water, glancing at Liu Yifei who was filming out of the corner of her eye.

Her phone vibrated slightly. She picked it up and saw it was Cai Yinong again. She frowned slightly but ultimately did not answer the call.

Half an hour later, with Nolan's "Cut," Liu Yifei quickly walked out of the filming area and took the water handed to her by Liu Xiaoli.

Liu Xiaoli then asked, "Does Wu Chen know about Cai Yinong's matter?"

Liu Yifei paused for a moment, blinked, and nodded with a grin: "Of course I know, I told him on the phone a couple of days ago."

"Oh, that's fine then." Liu Xiaoli nodded upon hearing this. Since Wu Chen didn't intend to contact Tangren, there was no need for her to do anything unnecessary.

He also asked me what I thought should be done.

Liu Xiaoli realized what was happening and pressed, "So what did you say?"

"I told you I didn't know, and I didn't want to interfere in his affairs." Liu Yifei gulped down her water, then raised her arm, flexing her biceps as if showing off a trophy.
"Hehe, look, I've gained some muscle recently."

Looking at her daughter's expression, Liu Xiaoli couldn't help but laugh. She reached out and ruffled her hair, then said seriously:

"That's right, we don't owe the Tang people anything."

Cai Yinong felt a chill in his heart and was also somewhat anxious.

Liu Yifei didn't answer the phone, and neither did Liu Xiaoli. Their attitudes were quite clear. After thinking for a long time, she could only abruptly call Wu Chen as a last-ditch effort.

The situation is beyond our control, so this is all we can do.

Beep. Beep.
The phone is on.

"Hello? Who is this?" Wu Chen's voice came from the phone.

Cai Yinong immediately suppressed his anxiety and adopted a professional yet gentle tone: "Director Wu, this is Cai Yinong from Tangren Media. Is this a convenient time for you to take a call?"

There was a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by Wu Chen's slightly teasing voice: "Oh, President Cai, is this about 'Scarlet Heart'?"

"Oh, you know?"

Cai Yinong's heart sank immediately.

Wu Chen knows this, yet he doesn't contact her. Doesn't that mean Tangren has no hope?

Wu Chen smiled.

He wouldn't say he was deliberately ignoring Cai Yinong, but Xingchen Pictures had previously collaborated with Xiaoma Benteng on TV dramas, and the two sides had a good working relationship. Xiaoma Benteng would definitely be the first choice, not Tangren Media.

He is not the kind of person who abandons someone after they've served their purpose.

Moreover, if Tangren Media wants to get involved, they can't do it without giving something in return; that's business.
Seeing Wu Chen remain silent, Cai Yinong didn't have time to think anymore. She took a deep breath and spoke up:
"Director Wu, Xingchen Pictures doesn't have a mature TV drama production team yet, right? Is it possible for us to co-produce one? Or participate in the development through outsourcing?"

"Hmm, Mr. Cai, what reason do you think I have to choose Tangren?"

Wu Chen's imposing presence was truly overwhelming for Cai Yinong, but she quickly recovered and hurriedly added:

"The novel 'Scarlet Heart' was a project that Tangren Media wanted to work on immediately. We also conducted research and prepared key creative personnel in the early stages."

I guarantee that if our company were to produce a TV series adapted from this novel, it would be a masterpiece.

Every second Wu Chen remained silent felt like an extra second of agony for Cai Yinong.

"Hmm, I'll think about it some more, and I also need to ask Shanda Literature for their opinion."

Wu Chen dodged the question and then hung up the phone.

To be honest, dramas like "Scarlet Heart" and "Nirvana in Fire" aren't particularly classics, but these types of dramas have a strong long-tail effect.
The age of the audience is constantly changing, batch after batch, and some dramas have a large market for a long time.

LeEco survived in its previous life thanks to "Empresses in the Palace".

These all contribute to the future foundation of Starry Night Pictures.

Meanwhile, Cai Yinong sat in his office chair, his face grim.

Just then, the assistant pushed open the door and came in, reporting in a low voice:

"Mr. Cai, there's been another problem with Yang Mi. Even raising the price isn't enough. She says she can't film 'Fantasy Zhu Xian' anymore and will film another game instead."

The assistant's words made Cai Yinong, who was already in a bad mood, even angrier.

She worked so hard to make Yang Mi famous with "Chinese Paladin 3", and is now eagerly waiting for Yang Mi's contract with Rong Xinda to expire so that she can naturally sign her to her own company.

Now she understood Yang Mi's intentions perfectly: she was planning to use Tangren Media as a stepping stone to find a better company.
"Does she think she's Liu Yifei?"

Hearing his boss's anger, the assistant immediately lowered his head.

However, while the statement may be crude, the principle is sound.

Cai Yinong specifically invited Liu Yifei to film "Chinese Paladin 1," while Yang Mi begged Tangren Media for the role in "Chinese Paladin 3," even using Rong Xinda's expiring contract to keep Tangren on their toes.
(End of this chapter)