Huayu: A Commercial Director

If Chapter 100 fails to pass censorship, you will be nailed to the pillar of shame.
"I'm planning to make a movie."

At the meeting the following day, Chen Shouzhe addressed the company's current management team.

"Huh? You're making another movie? What about the robotics project?" Tao Le exclaimed.

“Guo Fan can oversee the robotics project; handing it over to him is perfectly fine.” Chen Shouzhe looked at Guo Fan, who was somewhat caught off guard by the sudden appointment.

"The movie will be released in July, which is a good time to prepare. Filming will take place in August, September, and October, a three-month period. The movie scenes are also relatively simple," Chen Shouzhe said.

"What kind of movie are you going to make? What's the script? What's the approximate budget?" Zhong Lifan asked curiously.

"It's a supernatural movie like Painted Skin. I wrote the script a long time ago, and the budget is only a few tens of millions, not that high," Chen Shou said.

"That's good." Zhong Lifan breathed a sigh of relief.

Money is needed everywhere. She finally earned some money, and now she has to spend it. Even though it's Chen Shou's money, she still feels bad spending it.

"Let's submit the script for review first, and then the production team can estimate the script's cost. We'll make this movie ourselves without anyone else involved," Chen Shouzhe said.

“We can easily handle an investment of tens of millions ourselves,” Zhong Lifan nodded.

With investments in the tens of millions, there's no need to share the pie with others. Only large investments require sharing the pressure—either sharing the fruits of the labor or bearing the burden of the burden.

"A Chinese Ghost Story?"

When Tao Le received the script, he was surprised to see the title on it; the title sounded like a ghost story.

Chen Shouzhe still enjoys stories about gods and ghosts as always.

When a film script is submitted for review, the production team needs to communicate with the special effects team. The production of a film requires the collaboration of multiple departments and budget.

Having a specific budget ensures a smooth filming process, preventing you from impulsively picking up a camera and starting to shoot.

The production team is still calculating how much to invest; two days after the script was sent out, news came from the other side.

While Chen Shou was still making robots for Xiao Xiaomeng, the outside world was already in an uproar.

[Film Bureau Announcement: The script for "A Chinese Ghost Story" submitted by Shouzhe Film Industry involves feudal superstition. After review by the Film Bureau, the result is: Not approved!]

The news caused an uproar in the film and television industry. Chen Shouzhe's film was rejected?
Chen Shou's script was rejected the first time, and soon some directors who like to walk the tightrope came out to speak out.

Jiang Wen said sarcastically, "It involves feudal superstition. The most feudal and superstitious person in the world is in there, yet he's calling others feudal and superstitious."

"This is Director Chen Shou's first script, but some people have seized the opportunity," Feng Xiaogang added, as he himself had been subject to numerous reviews.

"This shows that the scripts from Director Chen's company are actually quite good; it's just that some superstitious people have something to hide," said Section Chief Jia.

"I'm curious what's going on. Does this mean we're going to abandon traditional Chinese mythological stories?" Wuershan, who is currently preparing for Painted Skin, left a comment.

A group of directors and industry insiders are analyzing how Chen Shou's company's films have gotten involved in illegal activities.

And netizens were even happier.

"Serves him right, for telling ghost stories. This isn't meant to be sarcastic towards men."

"A Chinese Ghost Story, you can tell it's a ghost story just by listening to it, so it's normal that it didn't pass censorship."

"It seems that Chen Shou's decision to make science fiction movies makes sense; at least science fiction movies won't fail to pass censorship."

"Are we going back to the era of smashing temples?"

Shh, watch out when they check the water meter.

"If you have a guilty conscience, of course you'll be afraid of ghosts."

Chen Shouzhe received the news at noon. He hadn't expected the script to fail censorship. Were supernatural beings forbidden after the founding of the People's Republic of China? The problem was, his film wasn't set in the current dynasty.

"Don't worry, I'll go to the Film Bureau and ask." Chen Shouzhe decided to go there himself.

In the afternoon, Chen Shouzhe arrived at the Film Bureau, having already made an appointment in advance.

"Director Chen is here!!" Zhang Hongsheng greeted Chen Shouzhe with a smile as he entered.

"Director Zhang, what's wrong with my script?" Chen Shou asked.

“I’ve looked at it, there’s no problem. Have someone submit it again this afternoon,” Zhang Hongsheng said.

"No problem, you even gave me the card?" Chen Shou narrowed his eyes.

"Don't overthink it. Movies involving gods, demons, and monsters are usually handled more strictly," Zhang Hongsheng said.

"Looks like they don't like me, right? In this kind of environment, forget about developing movies, just let them have their own fun," Chen Shou sneered.

“Young people are still hot-tempered. Don’t overthink it. Just submit it again. It’s not a big deal if you have to make another trip,” Zhang Hongsheng said softly.

"Director Zhang, I don't want a second time like this. If there isn't a better reason to convince me, I won't care about anything when I start cursing."

"Learn more from your master, don't be like your godfather." Zhang Hongsheng waved his hand. He knew Chen Shou was angry, but there was nothing he could do. Those old men were all full of energy, but they would pretend to be dead in front of him. He was helpless and what else could he do?

"I brought the script. I'll still hand it to you directly if I have any scripts in the future," Chen Shou said with a smile.

"Okay, you can send your script directly to me."

As Chen Shouzhe left the Film Bureau, a group of reporters surrounded him as soon as he stepped out of the bureau's gate, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Director Chen, did you come to the Film Bureau because of the script?"

"Director Chen, is it because your script involves feudal superstition that it was blocked?" "Could you reveal some details about the script?"

"Director Chen, how do you feel now that your script has been blocked for the first time?"

Chen Shouzhe hadn't expected so many reporters. He waved his hand and said, "You have too many questions. There are some I can't answer because I don't know why I'm being blocked. According to them, movies involving gods, ghosts, and demons can't be made anymore. They can only make movies about rural life in a beautiful society, since that's what they're good at. As for how I feel, how can I be happy? Do you want me to sing you a few lines of Taiping lyrics?"

Hearing Chen Shouzhe's sarcastic and angry remarks, the reporters present were all very excited. They wanted to ask more questions, but Chen Shouzhe had already gotten into his car and left.

But that was enough, and soon Chen Shouzhe's interview appeared on major portal websites.

"Well said! They're just a bunch of old geezers, occupying the toilet without doing their business."

"I've never seen those people make more than a few movies, yet they're all famous filmmakers."

"Where did their fame come from? Where did their rights come from?"

"It's been a long time since we've heard Chen Shou sing Taiping lyrics. How about a 'Hundred Tolerances Picture'?"

"If you can't tolerate it anymore, then you don't need to tolerate it anymore, right?"

Chen Shou's words quickly reached the ears of some people who were drinking tea in their offices. After seeing the news, they were furious.

"Are these the students taught by Wang Hongwei?"

"We can't let his script pass the review. Humph, we'll block it."

“That little bastard has ignored us many times.”

"They're lawless and think they're some kind of Monkey King."

"Should we also suspend the release of his upcoming movie?"

"Let's forget about this."

"Never mind, let's just block his script, we absolutely can't let him pass."

"it is good!"

"That's right, we can't let him get away with it."

Zhang Hongsheng, who was walking to the door, heard the indignant words inside. His face darkened, and he turned away with the script in his hand.

Chen Shou returned to the company to wait for news. If it didn't work out, he would take the film to other places. Hong Kong was a good option, and they wouldn't care, unless they dared to ban him.

Many people advised him not to be too impulsive, or that he should just soften his stance.

Chen Shouzhe simply refused to do it, not changing a single word.

"Teacher, they've gone too far," Chen Shou said.

“Sigh, I know, you too. As a big director in the industry, it’s embarrassing for them if you don’t attend any awards,” Wang Hongwei said on the phone.

"Do they think they'll give me an award just because they ask me to go? That's like stepping on my face, okay? A bunch of old geezers, do they really think everyone gives them face? They better pray their offspring don't get into the entertainment industry, otherwise I'll kill every single one of them."

"You know, your temper has gotten worse and worse over the years. You used to be fine, but now you're becoming more and more like your godfather, like a hedgehog. If anyone touches you, you'll beat them to death." Wang Hongwei never expected Chen Shouzhe to change so much.

“Teacher, a good horse is ridden, and a kind person is bullied. They all think I'm easy to bully. In this industry, good people don't live long. Only by being strong enough can you make them fear you. You shouldn't get involved. If they don't approve it, then forget it. I'll just make other movies. Once they're done, I'll settle accounts with their descendants one by one. Anyway, I'm still young. Let's see who can outlast whom.”

Hearing Chen Shouzhe's tone of "Don't underestimate a young man's potential," Wang Hongwei was also afraid. Every family has several descendants. Those people are almost sixty or seventy years old. If they pass away in a few years, will their descendants still be able to make a living? Unless they can become some kind of high-ranking leader, Chen Shouzhe's influence is growing. If he surrounds them, they may be easily crushed.

Thinking of this, Wang Hongwei wanted to curse, not at Chen Shouzhe, but at those blind old men.

Some people have already started to speak on Weibo, with an old man surnamed Lu being the most vocal.

"I advise some young people to just make science fiction movies properly and stop being so mystical and thinking about sensational topics all day long."

In addition, some old men also joined in the discussion, none of them looking old at all, and they were all making sarcastic remarks.

Chen Shou laughed when he saw these posts. Suddenly, he remembered a poem and, without saying a word, opened Weibo and started editing.

"I just remembered a poem that I feel perfectly captures my current mood, so I'll share it here."

This is a stagnant pool of despair, where even a gentle breeze cannot stir a ripple.

Why not just throw in some scrap metal or dump your leftovers?

Perhaps the copper will turn green like jade, and a few peach blossoms will rust on the iron can.

Let the grease weave another layer of silk, and let the mold steam out some clouds.

Let the stagnant water ferment into a ditch of green wine, filled with pearl-like white foam.

The laughter of the little beads turned into big beads, only to be bitten by the wine-stealing mosquitoes.

So even a ditch of stagnant, hopeless water can be described as somewhat vivid.

If the frogs can't stand the loneliness, they'll sing even in stagnant water.

This is a stagnant ditch of despair; beauty is nowhere to be found here.

Let ugliness cultivate it, and see what kind of world it creates.

(End of this chapter)