Internet moguls are being held hostage by the entertainment system!

Chapter 106 Mr. Chen, I want more autonomy

"I am mortal enemies with evil!!"

In the police station, on set, Xiao Yang, whose appearance was even greasyer than his hair, raised his fist high and shouted this line with a resolute look in his eyes.

Zeng Xiaoxian, who was standing next to him, and the other extras were all stunned by Xiao Yang's righteous and awe-inspiring appearance.

Chen Xiu, who was sitting outside watching the live performance, burst out laughing at this classic scene.

He wasn't the only one laughing; many actors around him who weren't filming were laughing too.

Even Chen Sicheng, sitting behind the monitor, covered his mouth.

The movie "Detective Chinatown" has many famous references, but the most well-known ones are the lines that Xiao Yang is saying now, and the lines he says later.

Two lines of dialogue completely cemented Xiao Yang's identity as an actor.

It's been three weeks since we arrived in Bangkok, and filming has gotten back on track. Today is the day Reba officially joins the crew, and Chen Xiu will be picking her up from the airport later.

"Um, Mr. Chen..."

The sudden sound from beside her made Chen Xiu's smile vanish.

Turning my head, I saw Peng Yuchang standing there blankly, his eyes, which often made people feel sorry for him, filled with tension and anticipation.

"Are you looking for me?"

"Correct."

"Sit down! Don't stand. You don't have any scenes to prepare for later, so take a rest."

Chen Xiu handed the small stool to Peng Yuchang, preparing to have a good chat with this employee who seemed to have a lot to say.

Peng Yuchang put down the stool, hunched over, and sat down, his eyes darting around as if he didn't know how to start the conversation.

Seeing this, Chen Xiu still went to "help" him out: "Peng Peng, this should be the second time we've sat and chatted like this, right?"

"Yes! Last time was in the capital, when I got the role of Qin Feng."

"You were in good condition last time, so take a break and don't be nervous."

"Oh well."

Peng Yuchang nodded; the two related topics made him begin to relax.

Staring at Chen Xiu for a long while, Peng Yuchang suddenly blurted out a seemingly unrelated question: "President Chen, my recent performance hasn't disappointed you, has it?"

"Huh?! Why would you think that?"

“Every time I was on camera, I would have to do a retake. People on the crew privately said that my acting wasn’t very good and they didn’t know why I got this role…”

"Getting a role has little to do with your acting skills!"

When Chen Xiu speaks, people always unconsciously turn their attention to him.

Peng Yuchang was the same; he stared blankly at Chen Xiu: "Boss, you cast me in this role, wasn't it because of my acting skills?"

"Although you have formal training, acting skills are something that are honed through a series of works. Geniuses are only a minority. When you act alongside Wang Baoqiang, your acting skills aren't particularly outstanding, are they?"

"I definitely can't compare to Brother Baoqiang..."

Peng Yuchang has this much self-awareness.

"Let me put it this way! In my eyes, acting skills are just a basic requirement, not a necessary one. The reason why you were able to get the role was already made very clear to you when Yang Ming was discussing the contract terms with you."

Chen Xiu smiled as she looked at Peng Yuchang, but didn't talk to him about ideals or offer any motivational platitudes.

It simply conveyed one meaning: you got the role because you signed with Datang Film & Television.

This attitude is very realistic, but it is very useful when told to subordinates.

This could easily lead them to believe that as long as they stay with Datang Film & Television, roles and resources will no longer be a problem.

The thought flashed through Peng Yuchang's mind, and then his gaze toward Chen Xiu held a new kind of expectation and longing.

The change in his eyes told Chen Xiu that the conversation had been fruitful and it was almost time to end it.

"Okay, don't put too much pressure on yourself! Everyone makes mistakes when acting. As long as the shot is acceptable, you're not that sensitive, are you?"

"No, no, I'm just afraid of disappointing you."

"No, I have always been firm in my choices."

Chen Xiu patted Peng Yuchang on the shoulder and said the only word of comfort.

The emotional value of that one sentence alone made Peng Yuchang leave with a smile on his face.

Glancing at his departing figure, Chen Xiu took out her phone, which had started vibrating earlier.

"Brother Xiu, I'm already on the plane. I'll be in Bangkok in 3 hours!"

Chen Xiu sent Reba a "see you later" emoji, then got up and went behind the monitor to confirm the remaining workload for the day with Chen Sicheng.

"Director Chen, once these two takes are finished, the police station scene should be almost done, right?"

"Correct."

Chen Sicheng nodded in confirmation, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

Chen Xiu didn't pay attention to his micro-expressions; once she got the answer, she wanted to turn around and go back.

As a result, after taking only two steps, Chen Sicheng stopped him.

"Mr. Chen, is it convenient for us to chat for a bit during our break?" "Sure! What would you like to say?"

Chen Xiu turned to look at Chen Sicheng, her face showing no surprise whatsoever, as if she had already guessed that the director wanted to talk to her.

Perhaps not expecting it to be so simple, Chen Sicheng paused for a moment before picking up the script he carried with him from the chair next to the monitor.

"Mr. Chen, I've noticed that the ending of the script you've written is slightly different from the novel's. For example, in the novel, the adoptive father was terminally ill and being used by his daughter, but in the script, he's portrayed as having malicious intentions..."

"Novels need to be somewhat uplifting in order to be published, while movies need to have sequels, so screenplays need to take an unconventional approach. The two are not in conflict."

Chen Xiu said dismissively that he initially revised the novel's content according to his father's advice simply to facilitate publication.

Now that a movie is being made, the script can certainly be changed back. Adapting literature into film and television works is itself an initiative to promote secondary creation.

Are you planning to make a sequel?

Chen Sicheng looked at Chen Xiu with a strange expression, but his eyes revealed an obvious realization.

When he received the script, he felt that the story was unfinished, which led him to speculate that there would be a sequel. Now, Chen Xiu has confirmed it.

"If the results are good, why not film it?"

Chen Xiu asked a question in return, and then waited for Chen Sicheng to continue. He did not believe that the other party had stopped him just to discuss the script.

Chen Sicheng did indeed elaborate further: "Mr. Chen, if it's being produced as a sequel, could the content be adjusted accordingly?"

"No need, just take pictures according to the sketches I give you."

Chen Xiu rejected the suggestion without hesitation, never expecting that Chen Sicheng could produce a better result than the original.

Based on his memories from his previous life, he knew that the other party's strength lay in the marketing and hype of films, and that his directing ability was not particularly outstanding.

This theory was fully validated in a future film.

Chen Sicheng probably wanted to try designing some mind-bending plots to improve the film's sophistication; the visual style is quite similar to that of a certain Hollywood director, but unfortunately, his personal abilities are really limited...

Chen Xiu had no expectations for this guy's directing ability; he just hoped that Chen Sicheng could "copy" the answer and not try to challenge any creative ideas that were beyond his scope.

That thing requires talent; it's not something you, Chen Sicheng, can do.

Their demand for more autonomy was once again rejected.

Feeling like a puppet in Chen Xiu's hands, Chen Sicheng finally voiced the protest he had prepared long ago.

“Mr. Chen, I think you need to consider giving me more creative space, instead of setting a framework in advance and just letting me fill it with things.”

"You've been thinking about this for a long time, haven't you?"

Chen Xiu remained unmoved, clearly not taking Chen Sicheng's words seriously.

Seeing this, Chen Sicheng also began to recite the speech he had prepared long ago.

"Mr. Chen, are you aware of Warner Bros.' shady dealings?"

"..."

Chen Xiu remained silent, only glancing at his pretense with a pout.

"After the first Superman movie was a huge hit in the last century, Warner Bros. producers interfered with director Richard Donner on set and even replaced him, which led to a sharp drop in the reputation of the second Superman movie and a complete box office failure for the third sequel!"

Chen Sicheng spoke with great emotion and circumlocution, almost shouting the words "You'll lose money if you don't listen to me" at the top of his lungs.

Chen Xiu pressed down on her lips as she looked at him, raising one eyebrow as she asked, "So, what do you want to say?"

"This example fully demonstrates that the director is the key to whether a movie can be made well, while the producer can only play a supporting role!"

Chen Sicheng made his words even more explicit, having already decided to lay his cards on the table, and he didn't care whether Chen Xiu would be unhappy to hear them.

Faced with this producer-assisted theory, Chen Xiu did not show any displeasure, but the corners of her mouth began to twitch more and more.

Seeing Chen Sicheng's obvious nervousness as he forced himself to look at her, Chen Xiu finally let go of all control over her facial muscles after a moment of eye contact.

"Hahaha!"

He shook his head with a smile, his smile restrained, and the more he smiled, the more contemptuous and cold his gaze became towards Chen Sicheng.

Hearing Chen Xiu's laughter, Chen Sicheng's worry began to turn into anger.

If Chen Xiu didn't have his current wealth, he felt he would have already punched this bastard in the face.

Unfortunately, Chen Xiu just happened to have...
"Mr. Chen, what's so funny about what I said?"

"Hehehe, I said..."

Chen Xiu stopped shaking her head, her laughter gradually subsiding, then she wiped the corner of her mouth and said, "Are you taking me for a fool?"

"what?"

Chen Sicheng was startled by Chen Xiu's appearance.

For the past two weeks, Chen Xiu has always been gentle and polite.

He had never looked at trash with that kind of gaze before, but it appeared on his face today, and it was directed at Chen Sicheng.

Chen Xiu maintained that gaze, looking Chen Sicheng up and down, and spoke in a very impolite tone.

"You just went to Hollywood for a while to study, and you think I don't know this kind of old news? Then you bring it over here, trying to use the information gap as a reason to convince me. Are you taking me for a fool?"

(End of this chapter)