Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 38

Yang Mi became a sensation last year, with a period drama series becoming a hit across the internet, making her incredibly popular at the time.

As a result, she caught the eye of a great director, Chen Shiren, and it was this experience that almost ruined her acting career.

Because they signed too many notices and their team was too ambitious, they overlooked an important matter.

Director Chen is known for his strict rules when it comes to filming; once you're on his set, you can't work on multiple projects at once.

At the height of her popularity, Yang Mi took on multiple projects simultaneously and secretly left the film crew to do other work.

As expected, the great poet was offended. Although the great poet did not personally intervene, his wife, who was also the film's producer, spoke up on a TV program. Soon, the entire Kyoto circle knew about the incident and unanimously gave Director Chen face.

Yang Mi was kicked out of the film crew and simultaneously blacklisted by the capital circles in Beijing. Now, she can forget about getting involved in big-screen movies; television dramas and variety shows are her only option.

Yang Mi was certainly unwilling to accept this, but who in the entertainment industry would dare to offend Director Chen? Unless she went overseas or developed her career in Hong Kong, everyone in China would give Director Chen face.

It was at this moment that she realized that even top-tier actors could be blacklisted.

In her opinion, it was just a film shoot and a short trip, yet it ended up like this.

She only truly shines on the big screen. Once she leaves the big screen, no matter how much money she has, her status in the entertainment industry will still be inferior. The reason she now runs her own studio and works independently is that she wants to become a force to be reckoned with and control her own destiny.

Now she finds it too difficult. There are no resources to speak of. Although she has a constant stream of film offers, they are all bad movies. She doesn't care about the money, but it's almost impossible for her to continue to improve her status.

A few days ago, she was in a bad mood and went home. It just so happened that her father was going to see a performance by the Deyun Society. Her father is a public servant and a fan of the Deyun Society. Seeing that his daughter was unhappy, he took her to see the performance.

Unexpectedly, when she saw Chen Shouzhe on the stage, something suddenly occurred to her.

It's true that Director Chen has power and influence in Beijing's entertainment circle, but Chen Shou is no less capable; he can certainly help him.

Although Chen Shouzhe has only been in the industry for two years, he is the highest-grossing director in China and has also collaborated with foreign companies, making him a major commercial director in the country.

Director Chen has achieved his current status because he has won several unique awards in China. Chen Shou, as a major director of commercial films, is not afraid of Director Chen and can even ignore him.

After the performance, she began contacting Guo Degang, hoping to strike up a conversation with Chen Shouzhe.

Chen Shouzhe hadn't had time several times, but when she heard that Chen Shouzhe had appeared at the Beijing Film Academy, she came over immediately, without her agent or assistant, coming alone from home.

Chen Shouzhe nodded when he heard Yang Mi say, "I've heard about it. You've ruined Director Chen's film."

"I know it was my fault. I had no choice at the time; I had already signed other contracts." Yang Mi's voice trailed off.

“No film director wants actors to film multiple projects at once. Even if they do, they need to know in advance whether it's for publicity or something else. It's not that they won't approve it, but if you sneak out, you'll offend people,” Chen Shouzhe said, shaking his head.

"I know I was wrong. Now the Beijing film industry has blacklisted me, and I've basically lost my chance to be on the big screen. I can only come to you now, please help me." Yang Mi looked pitiful.

"But I'm not familiar with Director Chen, so I can't speak on your behalf."

Yang Mi looked dejected upon hearing this. Indeed, even if Chen Shouzhe knew Director Chen, it would be difficult to resolve the issue, as it concerned the reputation of a great director.

She begged Director Chen and his wife, but they wouldn't even look at her. Actors she used to get along with started to distance themselves from her, and film companies only offered her roles in some bad movies; she never got a single film on the big screen.

Chen Shou, smoking a cigarette, looked at Yang Mi and shook his head. Breaking the deadlock wouldn't be easy. Director Chen was one of the top directors in the country, and it wasn't worth offending him for the sake of Yang Mi.

The private room was quiet. Chen Shou looked at Yang Mi, who seemed lost in thought. She was much prettier than when he saw her at school.

At least her face shape isn't as square as before, and she looks better.

"Ugh!"

He sighed, picked up a cigarette to smoke, but hadn't smoked for a while, and the ash fell off. Chen Shouzhe quickly patted it off, and Yang Mi saw it and came over to help him clean it up.

Suddenly, Chen Shou felt a chill, followed by a heat, and his brain went blank. He couldn't remember anything for a moment, which was wonderful.

after an hour……

Chen Shou walked out of the restaurant with light steps, returned to his car, and gave a wry smile.

Yang Mi enjoyed the meal immensely, but he was about to suffer a huge financial loss.

"This is the bone-scraping knife. No wonder so many people want to be directors." He didn't drive for a while, so he picked up a cigarette and smoked it before driving off.

"Hello, Director Zhou, this is Chen Shouzhe."

Stephen Chow, who was preparing for his movie, received a call from Chen Shouzhe and thought he was urging him to hurry up.

"Director Chen, I'm casting here. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Keep the female lead role for me," Chen Shou said.

Zhou Xingxing frowned immediately. They had agreed that he would decide the actors, and Chen Shou's words displeased him; Chen was interfering with the director's casting process. "Director Chen, we had an agreement beforehand," Zhou Xingxing said.

"Director Zhou, could you do me a favor? How about I bring Xinghui along next time I start a project?" Chen Shou said.

“Star Overseas has no shortage of projects,” Zhou Xingxing said in a deep voice.

“One percent, I’ll give it to you extra from here,” Chen Shou said, taking a deep breath.

“Okay.” Zhou Xingxing agreed without hesitation.

Chen Shou looked at the phone that had just been hung up, gave a wry smile, and said, "Two million in one go, I've never spent so much before. I'll have to go all out next time."

However, the pay will also be high, so either way, it's a loss for them.

She made another phone call to a private room in the restaurant. Yang Mi, who was touching up her makeup, had just hung up the phone and had already called someone to pick her up, as she was not in a good position to drive right now.

Hearing the phone ring again, Yang Mi thought it was her assistant and answered, "I didn't say to..."

"Are you alright?" Chen Shouzhe's voice came from the other end of the phone.

Yang Mi swallowed subconsciously and said softly, "It's nothing."

“I’ve already talked to director Stephen Chow. He’ll contact you later. You’ll be the female lead. This time, you can’t take on other projects at the same time. Listen to Stephen Chow on set. He’s not so easy to talk to on set.” Chen Shou’s tone was very serious.

Yang Mi immediately became excited and said happily, "Really? Thank you, thank you."

"There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. I paid a considerable price for this." Chen Shou said before hanging up the phone.

Yang Mi's face was flushed. She jumped up and down with her phone in her hand, but after only a couple of jumps, she felt a little pain.

"Ouch, has that guy never seen a woman before? It hurts so much." Yang Mi clutched her lower abdomen as she sat down in a chair.

……

"Damn it, we can only squeeze money out of you."

After hanging up the phone, Chen drove to the company, where Ye Ning from Wanda and Wang Changtian from Guangxian arrived.

As their former partners, Chen Shouzhe would definitely prioritize them.

"What are your thoughts?"

"Let's skip the lighting, but remember to add some lighting when it's released," Wang Changtian said with a smile.

“If Bona and Huayi come in, Enlight Media won’t get a chance to be a distributor,” Chen Shouzhe said, shaking his head.

"Sigh, then let's leave it to them," Wang Changtian said, shrugging.

"Wanda wants forty million, let's say ten percent," Ye Ning said magnanimously.

"Okay." Chen Shou nodded in agreement. As expected of Wanda, she just gave him twenty million like that.

After seeing the two off, Chen Shouzhe received a phone call.

"The remaining 60 million is also settled. I didn't expect Fatty to have such courage. I underestimated him." Chen Shou stroked his chin.

Around 4 PM, Ye Ning signed the contract, and a man in a suit arrived late.

"Chairman Yu?" Ye Ning asked in surprise when she saw the person who had arrived.

"So Wanda ate that 10%?" Yu Dong said with a chuckle.

"What? Chairman Yu, are you going to take it all?" Ye Ning asked with a smile.

"Hehe, I can't eat anymore, the remaining 15% is enough. Director Chen, as we agreed before, the distribution in mainland China will be handled by Bona," Yu Dong said.

“No problem, now everyone’s here. Filming is expected to start at the end of the year, and the movie will be released next year,” Chen Shou said.

"By the way, Director Chen, about the release of '2012'." Yu Dong looked at Chen Shouzhe.

"The distribution is handled by China Film Group, and there's nothing I can do about that," Chen Shou said, spreading his hands.

"That's a pity. If Director Chen has any projects, he should think of Bona Film Group."

"Once is never enough; there will definitely be more opportunities in the future."

(End of this chapter)