Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 6 Two Kinships
After running Wanda, Chen's day's work was finally over.

Neither of the two companies immediately agreed to the deal. He wasn't a big-name director, and even award-winning directors might not be able to secure investment unless they were commercially very successful directors who didn't lack investment.

Chen Shou was already quite satisfied with today's results. He could always visit a few more places if necessary. He had already planned to try visiting a few more places tomorrow.

Huayi, Bona, Xiaoma, Orange Sky, and if all else fails, there's Emperor Entertainment in Hong Kong, etc. He doesn't believe that 20 million won't come through.

At the dinner table, Chen Shou reported to Yu Qian and his teacher's wife. With Meng Hetang's thumbs up, Chen Shou was full of motivation. He felt that there was nothing shameful about seeking investment for his dream. Everyone has a first time, and everything is difficult at the beginning. This industry is like that. The more famous you are, the more good friends you will have.

Once you succeed, you'll be surrounded by friends.

Chen went again the next day, but when he arrived at Huayi, he was immediately turned away. The investment department didn't even glance at the script when they saw him.

"I'm sorry, Huayi currently does not have a new talent support program. If you are here for an interview, you can go to the human resources department. Huayi currently only has investment plans for renowned directors." As soon as the investment department manager heard that Chen Shouzhe was a newcomer, he rejected him without hesitation and handed him the script without even glancing at it.

Newcomers mean instability. Huayi is a private enterprise, not the state-owned China Film Group Corporation, so it has a newcomer support program.

If you're not running a charity, and you come begging for alms with nothing to your name, we'll just give you a bowl of porridge. But you come up demanding a Manchu Han Imperial Feast. How could we possibly agree to that? Besides, there's no such thing as a Manchu Han Imperial Feast in this world.

Chen Shou was dismissed without being allowed to say much, which left him somewhat disappointed. He had high hopes for Huayi, but he didn't know what the future held. Currently, Huayi was the world's leading private enterprise, and the higher-ups hoped that this company could stand up and represent Chinese cinema.

Helpless, Chen continued to try Little Ma and Bona Film Group, but both times he was turned away and they wouldn't even look at his script.

He was greatly discouraged after visiting all three companies. Just as he returned to the horse farm, he received a phone call from home.

"I heard you're preparing to make a movie?" The voice on the other end of the phone was Chen Shouzhe's mother.

"Yes, Mom, if all goes well, you'll be able to see it this year," Chen Shou said with a smile.

“If things go smoothly, we’ll see it. But things aren’t going smoothly right now. Mom heard that you’re trying to get investment everywhere, right? We still have some savings from the past few years. We were planning to buy you a house after you got married, but your dad and I discussed it and decided to give it to you first. Anyway, it’s all going to be for you.” Zhang Fengjiao said on the phone.

As Chen Shouzhe listened, tears welled up in his eyes. He thought of his mother from his previous life. In the past few days since arriving in this world, he had not dared to contact his family, fearing that he would not do well. He did not know why, but the moment the call was connected, he accepted this identity with a clear conscience, as if he had always been Chen Shouzhe, only with the memories of another world.

“The money has been transferred to you. How you handle it is your business. Your father is a man of few words…” Zhang Fengjiao kept instructing him.

“Who says I can’t talk? I’ve already transferred it to him. Anyway, he can rely on himself from now on. We two will have our retirement pensions to support us.” A strong voice came from the other end of the phone.

The face of a man from Northwest China immediately came to mind, so unfamiliar yet so familiar.

"That's enough, Lao Chen. I'm talking to my son. What's it to you? Son, don't listen to your dad. Keep up the good work. Call me if anything happens." Zhang Fengjiao yelled at Lao Chen, then gently encouraged him.

"Yes, Mom, I'll do my best. Just wait for the movie to be released." Chen Shou wiped away his tears and nodded vigorously.

"Get some rest, son."

"Take care of yourselves and Dad too. I'll be back in a few days."

"Okay, I've already heard from your master. I'll be back in a few days."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shou couldn't sleep at all. He went to the balcony, opened the door, took out a cigarette, and took a few puffs.

"Damn it, I don't believe it."

Chen Shouzhe turned and went back to his room to continue drawing storyboards on his desk.

China Film Group has already submitted his script for review. The review process usually takes about twenty days. If it's a big-name director, then naturally they can skip the deadline. If China Film Group submits it for him, it will probably be faster. Once the script is approved, the project can be officially launched, the film can be prepared, the actors can be selected, and then filming can begin.

Chen Shouzhe then went to several other film companies, including Shanghai Film Studio, which is known for its deep pockets, but all of them refused him. Enlight Media and Wanda Media had not yet given him a reply. Chen Shouzhe decided to wait and see, and if all else failed, he would ask again after the performance in the ancient capital.

A few days later, Deyun Troupe set off for the ancient capital to perform. After the performance, Chen Shouzhe did not go home directly, but was taken to Xi'an Film Studio by his master Yu Qian.

Xi'an Film Studio, a state-owned enterprise like China Film Group, was once glorious, but has gradually declined with the departure of great directors. However, even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse, and Xi'an Film Studio still has a certain influence.

Yu Qian brought Chen Shouzhe here with the intention of attracting investment. Yu Qian was originally from the ancient capital, but moved to Beijing with his elders. Otherwise, how could he be related to Chen Shouzhe's family? Their relatives were all from the grandfather's generation.

They had some connections at Xi'an Film Studio. Upon hearing Yu Qian's purpose, the head of the production department received them. Compared to those companies that directly rejected Chen Shouzhe, the head of Xi'an Film Studio still read the script and inquired about the current status of Chen Shouzhe's film.

I heard that China Film Group has already invested, and Director Wang is also the producer. There is also investment from Deyun Society, as well as Enlight Media and Wanda Pictures. The production director of Xi'an Film Studio is a little hesitant.

There's no way around it, Xi'an Film Studio is also poor. Investing in a new director is a gamble. Comedy films are easy to make at the box office, and he read the script and there were no logical problems. It's just that Xi'an Film Studio has been very poor in recent years.

"Xi'an Film Studio can only offer a maximum of two million." The production director gritted his teeth and finally gave two million. Better than nothing, Chen Shouzhe breathed a sigh of relief. That evening, he took his mentor, Yu Qian, to his home for dinner. The two cousins ​​drank and chatted for a while, and then Chen Shouzhe escorted them back to the hotel.

"China Film Group has four million, my godfather has two million, Xi'an Film Group has two million, and I have a little over one million myself. If we factor in the director's fee, that's two million. Now I have ten million, but I still have ten million left. I doubt Enlight Media and Wanda Media can provide that much." Chen Shou realized that he had exhausted all the resources he could, and there was still a ten million shortfall.

The next day, after flying back to Kyoto, Chen Shou went straight to Guangming.

"Chairman Wang!"

Seeing Wang Changtian again, Chen Shou felt a little uneasy.

"How much has Director Chen prepared?" Wang Changtian asked directly.

"It's already halfway done. What's your decision, Chairman Wang?" Chen Shou didn't waste any more words; he still needed to go and ask Wanda.

“Guangxi has followed suit, but they’ve already invested in quite a few projects this year, so they can only offer a maximum of three million,” Wang Changtian said.

"Thank you, Chairman Wang, thank you so much," Chen Shou said excitedly.

“I and several directors have read the script, and they all think it’s good. I wonder what Director Chen thinks of the casting?” Wang Changtian said with a smile.

Chen Shouzhe suddenly thought of someone and said, "The second female lead is a very beautiful woman."

“Our company has some suitable ones,” Wang Changtian said with a smile.

"I think Sister Liu Yan is pretty good," Chen Shou nodded.

Enlight Media is very good at producing TV commercials, and many well-known TV hosts are under its management.

Liu Yan was selected by Enlight Media's own talent show. She's a great beauty, especially her figure, which can be described in one word: stunning.

The second female lead role doesn't require much acting skill; being pretty and having a good figure is enough.

"What about the male and female leads?" Wang Changtian asked, as their company had quite a few artists.

"You can come for an audition then," Chen Shou said.

"Okay." Wang Changtian didn't make things difficult for Chen Shouzhe; it was already good enough that the second female lead had been secured.

As for the many passersby, Chen Shou probably reserved them for actors from Deyun Society, since it didn't matter who played the supporting role.

After leaving Guangmang for Wanda, Ye Ning also replied, offering the same amount as Guangmang: three million.

"Cool!"

Standing at the Wanda gate, Chen Shou made Charlotte's classic pose.

It was right at the end of the workday, and many passersby kept their distance from Chen Shouzhe.

"So, both Enlight Media and Wanda have invested, leaving a shortfall of four million, right?" Yu Qian said while eating braised pork at the dinner table.

“Well, we’re still short four million. I’ll go to Hong Kong in a couple of days and see what happens. We can also try to get Emperor Entertainment Group; they’ve been trying to expand north, so maybe that’s an opportunity,” Chen Shou said.

"You've matured quite a bit these past few days, but you don't need to go to Hong Kong anymore," Yu Qian said calmly.

"Huh? Why, Master?"

Chen Shouzhe was momentarily stunned, while the teacher's wife, who was supervising the child's meal, chuckled.

"You're so silly, you don't understand. Your master has already made preparations. We'll handle the rest ourselves. Your master has already told me to prepare four million," the master's wife said with a smile.

Chen Shou felt a warm current, his neck a little sore, and his eyes felt like they were being moistened. He choked out, "Thank you, Master! Thank you, Mistress!"

"Why are you crying? Eat your food." Yu Qian took a swig of baijiu without expression.

"Uh-huh……"

Chen Shou picked up his rice bowl and kept stuffing rice into his mouth. Even without any side dishes, the rice tasted salty. He didn't know why, but he just found it delicious and appetizing.

(End of this chapter)