Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 213 Living in a World of Bullets
"What's wrong with the script? I think it's fine." Jiang Wen immediately got angry upon hearing this, picked up the script and said, her smile vanishing and replaced by displeasure.

"I think you're obsessed with the bullets. I can't even understand this script, and you expect the audience to understand it?" Chen Shou said bluntly.

In his view, this script was just another bullet, and not even as good as the bullet. It was full of metaphors, but he didn't know what they were metaphors for. He was only concerned with his own enjoyment and incorporated his own ideas into it, completely disregarding whether the audience could understand the core of the story.

To put it bluntly, the story lacks a central plot and appears to be a mess.

I can watch half of Chen Da Shi Ren's movies, but I can only watch ten minutes of this one because I can't understand what it's about at all.

“Take another look. Every sentence I wrote has been carefully considered. I’ve been polishing this script for two years since the events of Bullet Day,” Jiang Wen said, still unwilling to give up.

"No need to watch anymore. I'm not interested in what you're trying to say, and neither is the audience. The movie the audience wants to watch needs to have a core and a main plot. At the very least, your main plot can't be messed up. Dialogue is just part of advancing the main plot, it's not necessary, understand? You have so many metaphors and so much satire in your dialogue, who are you talking about? What's the point? Even the best movies are like that."

"How can there be no core? The core of the story is right here, as I've already said."

"I don't see it coming. You built a vinegar factory just for a dumpling, producing a single drop of vinegar to soak a dumpling that you've been sitting out for months. How could you possibly eat that? It's rotten."

Chen Shouzhe only said that because they had a good relationship; if they didn't, he wouldn't bother with it.

In his view, Jiang Wen was too affected by the bullet, overthinking things and completely disregarding the audience's feelings, purely indulging in self-gratification.

“I think it’s fine; these are all necessary for the film’s progress,” Jiang Wenqiang insisted.

"You completely disregard the audience's feelings, right? So you're trying to emulate Wu Baige, saying that the audience doesn't understand movies and that they're emotionally agitated? Let me be blunt with you: a good movie is still a good movie, and a bad movie is still a pile of crap no matter what. The audience doesn't want to see you cram a bunch of ideas into your movie. You should let the audience gain something from the movie themselves, instead of forcing it on them and making them understand it. That's not the essence of film. Since its inception, film has never been about teaching the audience anything. It's entertainment, not education."

“I didn’t have that idea. Instead, I wanted to express what I wanted to say through the characters, so that the audience could understand the underlying meaning.”

“Deliberately planting foreshadowing makes the work seem incongruous, not at all for the purpose of advancing the plot. Instead, you’ve planted your own thoughts, not to advance the plot. You just want your bullshit metaphors. There’s no need to show me this kind of script; it’s boring.” Chen Shouzhe didn’t bother to discuss it with him.

Writers often belittle each other, and filmmakers are no exception. It's not that I respect you just because your film has a higher box office than mine; rather, I'm thinking about surpassing you.

Status is determined by power and money.

So what if you get first place? You're still not a student.
But if you have a 1.9-meter-tall, 200-pound body that's good at fighting, it's different. If you don't obey me, I can beat you to death.

Jiang Wen has her own pride, otherwise Lu Taro wouldn't have been scolded to tears by her.

He stopped arguing with Chen Shouzhe for the time being, and the two sat in the study. Chen Shouzhe pulled on a drawer and found a cigar. He had tried this thing when he was in the United States. It was just a quick sip in his mouth. At first, he even inhaled it into his lungs, but the force was too strong and he was almost carried away.

Seeing that there were quite a few accessories, Chen Shou picked up one, cut it off, and started smoking.

Jiang Wen continued reading his script, glanced up at Chen Shouzhe smoking a cigar, and said nothing.

I scroll through my phone while smoking a cigar, watching time slowly pass by.

Jiang Wen frowned more and more as she looked at it, her face showing a variety of conflicted expressions.

When Zhou Yun came in, she saw the two sitting opposite each other without saying a word, and she was confused for a moment. She had heard them arguing earlier, so she guessed they had a disagreement.

Jiang Wen had been preparing the script for so long, but he didn't really think much of many directors in China. He had his pride, and apart from a few, he was most compatible with Chen Shouzhe.

Moreover, Chen Shou is the record holder for domestic box office revenue. Who says that directors don't want their movies to sell at the box office? Everyone wants to sell for a good price. Otherwise, why make movies? Movies don't have costs, right?
Jiang Wen sought out Chen Shouzhe partly to show off her new script, and partly to ask Chen Shouzhe to assess the film's potential and earnings.

Unexpectedly, Chen Shou poured cold water on his confidence, severely damaging his self-esteem. "Dinner's ready," Zhou Yun said.

Jiang Wen put down the script, and Chen Shou also extinguished his cigar.

The two left the study without saying a word and sat down in the kitchen.

Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit off, Zhou Yun didn't say anything. He started cooking and poured drinks for the two of them, which were baijiu (Chinese liquor).

"Let's have a toast," Jiang Wen said, raising her glass.

Chen Shouzhe raised his wine glass and clinked it against his, took a sip, put it down, and continued eating.

What are your expectations for the final result of the film?

"With your box office appeal, exceeding 500 million is no problem. If you can find a sucker to rip you off and get a minimum guarantee, you might earn even more."

"Only 500 million? The film project has an investment of over 200 million," Jiang Wen said.

"You can compare it to Alibaba's movie. It made 500 million yuan in box office in four days. After that, don't expect any more box office revenue. The word-of-mouth is already out. Audiences don't like it. Audiences won't buy into it now. As long as there is one good enough movie, it can completely dominate the entire movie market during a period."

"What if I insist on filming?"

"Then I wish you good luck."

Do you have a good movie script?

"No."

Jiang Wen continued drinking, and the two eventually parted on bad terms. The assistant drove Chen Shouzhe back to the villa to rest, instead of returning to the horse farm.

Jiang Wen and her husband saw him off at the door and watched Chen Shou get into his car and leave.

"Didn't he approve of the script?" Zhou Yun asked after everyone had left.

"Hmm, I don't think it'll be a good time," Jiang Wen nodded.

"then you?"

"I don't believe it, I'm going to film it."

"I support you."

Jiang Wen nodded, and the couple turned and went into the house.

Chen Shouzhe closed his eyes to rest in the car; a pound of liquor wasn't much for him.

"He'll probably make it. Oh well, he's stubborn as a mule, never learns from his mistakes." Chen Shou was too lazy to pay him any attention and had to focus on his own film.

Tomorrow we will continue to communicate with Golden Shield. The staff has already set off to select a location. We will try to finish filming before May. Once May is over, the area will enter the rainy season, and the filming may be affected by the weather. He does not want to delay for too long and aims to finish filming within two months.

(End of this chapter)