Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 53: Is Going Abroad the Same as Immigration?

The importance of cultural export lies in expressing different cultural perspectives, allowing different people to correct the errors caused by media and public opinion guidance and understand the truth of the other side after they come into contact with each other.

Why do some countries have a culture of theft?

On the one hand, it's because they don't have it; on the other hand, they want to appropriate the culture for themselves, to take what is originally beautiful and make it theirs, to cover up their original ugly side.

A person who has international influence is an effective cultural weapon for external propaganda.

Chen Shouzhe's crisis was gradually resolved, and public opinion was redirected to another topic.

With the rise of internet self-media, people have easier access to information from the outside world, making it harder to be fooled.

After filming the movie, Chen Shou brought the completed footage back to the company and edited it himself.

He only came back with his assistant and didn't bring anyone else. But the paparazzi in China have become very sophisticated, and there are a lot of news media people watching the airport every day. Chen Shou didn't hide himself and walked out of the airport openly.

"Director Chen."

"Director Chen."

Chen Shou looked at the media reporters who had gathered around with some surprise. People nearby were also attracted by the commotion and looked up.

"What's up?"

Chen Shou said as he walked.

"Director Chen, I'd like to ask why you didn't choose to co-produce your new film with a domestic company?"

“Because the script was sold to them. Whether or not to collaborate is Columbia Pictures’ problem. You should ask them that,” Chen Shouzhe replied.

"Then why don't you take the script back to China to film it?" another reporter asked.

They were surprised that Chen Shouzhe would actually answer their questions, and they asked him quickly one by one.

"You'll see when the movie is released. Not every movie is suitable for filming in China. Even if it's filmed in China, the special effects are still done abroad, and the cost is even higher," Chen Shou said.

"You mean the special effects in China aren't good enough?" the reporter asked.

"That's what you said, but I can answer that question too. It just won't work. As a journalist, you should have done some research. Let me ask you, are there any good special effects companies in China?" Chen Shou asked rhetorically.

The reporter immediately fell silent and asked a pointless question.

Then a reporter asked, "Director Chen, could you respond to the matter regarding your acquisition of foreign citizenship?"

“This is my ID card. What do you think? You can’t just call me a foreigner just because I went abroad once. Leaders also go abroad for visits and reach cooperation agreements with foreign countries. Are you suggesting that they are foreigners?” Chen Shou sneered.

Not a single reporter dared to speak. Chen Shou's words were too harsh; if they dared to say anything, not only would they lose their jobs, but their companies would also be dissolved.

"No wonder he's a comedian!!"

The reporters present were completely silent; not a single one dared to ask any more questions. If they continued to ask, Chen Shou would be fine, but they would all be in trouble.

"It's just normal business cooperation, you all agree, right?" Chen Shou smiled, giving these media people a way out.

The reporters surrounding Chen smiled and considered the matter closed.

"Director Chen, may I ask what your relationship is with Yang Mi?" a reporter asked, his eyes darting around.

“She’s my senior from university,” Chen Shou said.

"Anything else?" the reporter pressed.

"That's all? What else could it have to do with us?" Chen Shou asked, looking completely bewildered.

"I heard that you attended the celebration party for '2012' with Yang Mi."

"You mean this? I just ran into her at the door. She's the female lead in 'Kung Fu Hustle,' a new movie I wrote and directed by Stephen Chow. It's already started filming in Hengdian. Can everyone help spread the word?" Chen Shou said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

Chen Shou's polite demeanor and sharp tongue made many reporters who were dealing with him for the first time feel quite uncomfortable.

The reporter asked a few more questions until Chen got into the car, at which point the reporter stopped.

"He has a pretty good temper, completely different from his godfather."

"Nonsense, he's Teacher Yu's apprentice."

"But what you said just now was really harsh; you even brought up the leader."

"Those people are stupid; they believe everything they hear."

"They must be targeting us." "Send the recording back quickly."

Chen Shouzhe returned to the horse farm, and a bunch of internet portals started reporting on it.

Some media outlets dared not report what Chen Shouzhe said, while others didn't care and uploaded the video directly.

Many netizens who watched Chen Shouzhe's interview video could only describe him with three words.

Good guy!
He's comparable to Guo Degang in the early 2000s; he dares to say anything.

And it's not easy to refute, who would dare to refute it? That's just how it is.

"Thanks to the internet, I've seen the diversity of the world and realized that not everyone can think independently."

"There are too many followers who believe whatever others say and have no ability to make their own judgments."

"If you watch the news broadcast even a little bit, you won't easily believe others."

"Now I can finally understand why so many people get scammed. It's not that the scammers are so clever, but that the people who get scammed are so stupid."

"Good for you to criticize. It's true that there are no special effects companies in China. What's wrong with saying that? If you're not as good as others, you're not as good as others. If you don't even try, you can't make a film even if I give you the script."

"Is it really not related to Yang Mi? I've heard that the two of them have an affair."

"It's all fake, it's all fake. They're just senior and junior students."

"Mimi is so beautiful, how could she possibly be in a relationship?"

"Is it possible that it's not a romantic relationship?"

Inside the racecourse, Chen Shouzhe was sitting and drinking with his master, Yu Qian. Due to jet lag, he was still very energetic, proving that youth can withstand the strain.

“Say less in the future. This time, official media are backing you up, but next time it will be even more intense, since you have already touched their interests,” Yu Qian said while drinking.

"Yes, this time it didn't turn into a co-production. All the so-called allies turned a blind eye. We need to be strong ourselves to succeed," Chen Shou nodded.

"Crosstalk is a small circle, and it wasn't very good to begin with. Later, your godfather revitalized the commercial performance market, and you saw the subsequent controversies surrounding him. Similarly, the film and television industry is a much larger circle, with even more complex interests, and it's a pack of insatiable wolves."

They'd love to tear a piece of your flesh off. So-called allies are built on the premise that you can feed them. You're just a feeder; once you can't provide them with food, you'll be the first one they eat.

“I understand, Master, so I need a hunting rifle.”

"The shotgun is meant to intimidate them, and you can only fire one bullet at a time. You're already surrounded. Even if you take down one, the others will still come and kill you."

"so what should I do?"

"Get them a cage, or tie them with a rope. Even if they get hungry, they'll only eat the people around them and won't affect you."

"Then what should I do to tie them up and keep them locked up?"

The master and apprentice sat in the horse farm, lit a stove, ate roasted meat, drank wine, and chatted.

The next day, Chen Shouzhe adjusted to the time difference. Although he was very sleepy, he got up early and went to the company first.

After arranging the company's affairs properly, Chen Shou handed over the film he brought back to them for editing, and then he would analyze the film himself.

In addition, the special effects team has been almost assembled. After returning from the "2012" crew, they have successively purchased some special effects equipment, and the newly recruited personnel will be arranged to go to the "The Day After Tomorrow" crew for training.

Although we started late, it's better than doing nothing. If we get held hostage one day, we'll have nothing left.

Don't wait until you've soiled your pants to realize you need a latrine. Chen Shouzhe doesn't want to keep outsourcing special effects to foreign companies.

After finishing his work at the company, he could clearly feel that fewer people were looking for him.

Chen Shou then went to the "Journey to the West" production team and released the third installment of "Ghost Blows Out the Light".

Good news came from his master: he had found him several nice houses. Chen Shou insisted on villas, which meant that houses were becoming increasingly expensive.

"This one is nice. It's close to your company, 600 square meters, and the price is around 80 million."

Yu Qian accompanied Chen Shouzhe to a villa area in Chaoyang. The overall environment was very good, with a large yard, and it wasn't particularly remote. Chen Shouzhe bought it without much thought. However, he didn't buy it all at once, but instead paid the down payment in installments.

The house still needs renovation and is expected to be ready for occupancy by the end of the year. Chen Shou is not in a hurry at all. He prefers to take out a loan, since he is currently under financial pressure and can pay it off slowly in the future. He is confident in his repayment ability, and the bank is more than happy to lend him the money.

After finishing up the house business, Stephen Chow invited him to visit the set in Hengdian. Filming had been going on for almost a month, and it wouldn't be right for Chen Shou not to go even once, so he decided to go and take a look.

(End of this chapter)