Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 126 I’m here to resign
"Director Chen, an invitation from the Shanghai International Film Festival."

The assistant delivered the invitation to Chen Shouzhe. Such invitations were common; some were for premieres, some for celebration banquets, and others for various film festivals.

These posts can be seen as cocktail parties, a way for people to get to know each other.

Chen Shouzhe had attended such gatherings before, but later he realized he didn't need them because he was powerful enough and didn't need them to elevate himself.

He always becomes the center of attention at these gatherings because his projects are profitable. As such, Chen Shouzhe only attends these invitations depending on the situation. He will go when it is necessary, after all, it is only natural to reciprocate. If you go today, others will come to you tomorrow.

In the entertainment industry, where making friends is difficult, you can't be too solitary. When your own strength isn't strong enough, this is the only way.

I attended the Shanghai Film Festival last year, so it's normal that they invited him again this year.

"Just tell them I'll be there, and I'll bring our company's film with me," Chen Shou said.

“Okay, I’ll reply to them right away,” the assistant said.

Chen Shou nodded, and a moment later his assistant came in.

"what happened?"

"Director Chen, Director Wu Jing is here."

"Let him in."

A short while later, a man with a buzz cut walked in.

"Brother Jing," Chen Shou called out.

"Director Chen, I have something to ask of you," Wu Jing said with a smile.

"So direct?" Chen Shou smiled and asked his assistant to pour him a cup of tea.

"Post-production on the film is complete, and I'm planning to release it during the National Day holiday. However, the National Day holiday release schedule is bound to be chaotic, so I'm thinking of releasing it in August," Wu Jing said.

“Great, it’s the August release date. Luckily, it’s not the National Day release date,” Chen Shou said with a smile.

"What's wrong?" Wu Jing asked in surprise.

"My movie 'The Taking of Tiger Mountain' will be released during the National Day holiday, 'Painted Skin' in June, 'A Chinese Ghost Story' in July, 'The Taking of Tiger Mountain' in October, and 'Let the Bullets Fly' during the Lunar New Year holiday," Chen Shou said, spreading his hands.

"Well, thank goodness I chose an August slot." Wu Jing breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily she came to ask; otherwise, it would have been a real problem if the schedules had clashed.

At the same time, he was also shocked. He hadn't realized that this junior in front of him already had such strength. He was going to release four movies in the second half of the year, plus his own, making five movies in total. He wondered which production company in China had such strength. Even if there were, they couldn't possibly produce every movie as high-quality as Chen Shouzhe's, which made people wary.

Currently, Chen Shou is the only director in China who is recognized as a top commercial film director; no one else can be considered one. He has not only achieved the highest box office in China, but has also achieved extremely high box office returns abroad with various blockbusters.

In just a few years, he has become one of the top film producers in China.

"Actually, it doesn't matter. Yours is a military-themed story, so it's not a conflict. Have you already discussed it with the publisher?" Chen Shou asked.

"The distribution has been handed over to Enlight Media," Wu Jing nodded.

"Then why did you look for me?"

"I want to use your name in the publicity."

“Use it, of course I will. I’ve invested so much money, why wouldn’t I use it? If all else fails, you can put my name on the producer’s list.”

"really?"

"So what? It's a movie I invested in, why can't it use my name?"

"Okay, I'll include your name in the promotional materials and at the premiere..."

"Don't worry, I will be there."

"Thank you so much, Director Chen," Wu Jing said, moved.

He was practically bankrupting himself to make the movie when Chen Shouzhe helped him out and is still putting in the effort, which deeply moved him.

"What's there to talk about? Besides, you're practically my uncle," Chen Shou said with a smile.

"Don't say that. Who would dare ask you to call me 'uncle'? It's just Brother Qian joking around," Wu Jing said with a chuckle, scratching her head. "Oh right, I forgot about the important matter."

Wu Jing rummaged in her bag and pulled out a bright red invitation.

"This is?"

“I was originally planning to send it to the horse farm for you, but Xie Nan said it wouldn’t work and he wanted to send it to you personally. You weren’t in the country last month, so I didn’t send it over. Luckily, I’ve been carrying it with me, so I’ll send it to you. I’m getting married on the 11th of this month, so come over for a drink then,” Wu Jing said.

"Hahaha, congratulations! I'll definitely be there." Chen Shou said with wide eyes and a face full of joy.

“Okay, Xie Nan and I will wait for you.” Wu Jing nodded with a smile.

Chen Shouzhe planned to invite Wu Jing to stay for a meal, but he had to leave early because he was busy with other films.

He's currently in debt, busy getting married, and with his child due soon, he's at his busiest time.

Opening the drawer, there were two invitations. Chen Shou, afraid he might forget, asked his assistant to write them down and notify him on the 11th.

The Shanghai International Film Festival is next month, so there's no rush.

This means his company will have five movies scheduled for release, which will put a strain on his PR team. After all, if you eat too much, people will start to have designs on you.

Driving to Xiaoxiaomeng, Chen Shouzhe found Guo Fan.

"How about it? Will we make it?" Chen Shou asked.

“Absolutely no problem, our team is working together very well now,” Guo Fan nodded.

“Once this movie is finished, you and I will go to America together in the second half of the year,” Chen Shou said with a smile.

"What are you going to America for?" Guo Fan asked in surprise.

"Be my assistant director," Chen Shou said.

"Huh?" Guo Fan looked surprised: "Are you going to the US to direct a movie again in the second half of the year?"

"Yes, we signed a contract with Warner Bros. last year. If The Martian does well at the box office, I will direct the next film we'll be working on. It'll be a sci-fi blockbuster," Chen Shou said.

"A sci-fi blockbuster? How big?" Guo Fan asked with a smile.

“An investment of $1.5 million,” Chen Shouzhe said.

"Hiss~" Guo Fan gasped.

"This film has been in preparation since last year, and it adopts a CG cinematic approach, which is a completely new way of presenting a film," Chen Shouzhe said.

"CG cinematic?" Guo Fan's eyes lit up. This was exactly what he was doing now—presenting animated films on the big screen. If that were the case, he would be quite suitable.

"You'll have to come to the crew and help me out. The role won't be filmed for long, but the production is really difficult. It's been in production for almost a year, and we won't be able to start filming until the second half of the year," Chen Shou said.

"That really is a big production." Guo Fan nodded. There are very few domestic films that have grossed over 1 billion yuan, but foreign films often have investments of 1 billion yuan, which is completely beyond their reach.

"Around next year, you'll be able to direct on your own. Just tell me what you want to film then," Chen Shou said with a smile.

"I'm really looking forward to this day," Guo Fan said eagerly. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something. "Oh right, two of the post-production team leaders have resigned."

"Resigned? Do you know where you're going?" Chen Shou asked, squinting his eyes. Sure enough, someone was trying to poach him.

“Someone contacted me before with pretty good offers, but I turned them down. I also asked two former team leaders, and they, like me, received invitations. The other party was quite mysterious, but they only revealed it after they left,” Guo Fan said.

Which company poached him?

"Huayi".

"Huayi?"

Chen Shouzhe had anticipated this, but he never expected that Huayi, which was trying to move away from a single film business, would start poaching talent. Was this an attempt to make a comeback in the film industry?
After thinking about it, it wasn't impossible. Ye Ning had also been won over. Huayi was currently at its peak, and its stock was still rising.

It seems that the companies targeted are not only those in the film industry; other companies have probably been targeted as well. Since Ye Ning has already been compromised, the two team leaders will naturally be easy targets.

No matter how high Xiaoxiaomeng's salary is, it can't compare to the glitz and glamour of the outside world.

Fortunately, they don't need technical talent, so it's impossible for them to start a special effects company like him. There are very few special effects companies in the entire domestic film and television industry, and the salaries and benefits of the few special effects companies that were established later are definitely not as good as Xiaoxiaomeng. In fact, they all want to switch jobs to Xiaoxiaomeng because the projects here are stable, the reputation is great, and the benefits are good.

Chen Shouzhe wasn't worried about the logistics staff. As long as he was still there, the company could continue to operate. There were plenty of talented people in society, and if you were willing to spend the money, you could definitely find them.

Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, Shanghai Film Academy, and a whole host of other science and engineering colleges in China have a considerable number of graduates specializing in special effects.

Chen Shouzhe arranges for people to recruit students every year. Now, Xiaoxiaomeng has more than 300 people. In addition to his own company's special effects, other companies are also willing to entrust their special effects to them.

Chen Shou also has a benefit that other companies don't offer: the opportunity to study abroad.

He collaborates with companies like Columbia and Warner, sending several groups of people there every year to learn their advanced technologies before returning to work in China.

This is something other companies cannot do, and it is also Little Dream's biggest advantage.

He will do everything he can to help them. If any of his employees feel that they can go out and start their own special effects company, Chen Shouzhe will support them. He can also provide funding and business connections if needed.

"If you're leaving, then you're leaving. Just don't go. I'm counting on you to make movies for me," Chen Shou said.

"Haha, I'm not leaving either. There's no place in China more suitable for me than Xiaoxiaomeng," Guo Fan laughed.

It's true that Huayi offered a very high price, but he asked the headhunter what Huayi could offer him if he joined, and how many billions of dollars would be provided for him to make movies.

The headhunter was speechless. He realized that the pie in his sky wasn't as big as Chen Shouzhe's. Chen Shouzhe was willing to put up hundreds of millions of yuan for Guo Fan to make movies, but Huayi could only offer a paltry sum. At most, they could give Guo Fan a club membership card to spend money on.

The unexpected event that Chen Shouzhe did not expect still happened, and it was an earthquake for the entire Shouzhe Film Industry.

Chen Shou was preparing to attend Wu Jing's wedding the next day. He would go with his master Yu Qian, his godfather, and others. They all had a good relationship and were going to the wedding.

However, on the 10th, Chen Shouzhe's office door was pushed open, and a person walked in.

"Director Chen."

"What's the matter?"

Chen Shou was writing a script and didn't think much of it, so he asked a question with his head down.

"I'm here to resign..."

(End of this chapter)