How did I become famous?

Before the official media could even launch their own campaigns, Su Erge's media outlets were the first to publish interview reports.

[A maverick director – Fang Bie, a pioneer of postmodern cinema]

"Director Fang Bie is a very special director. He never accepted interviews in the past and kept to himself every day. We even learned when we contacted his company that Director Fang Bie did not have an agent."

What's interesting is that director Fang Bie frequently replies to fans on Weibo, and he even makes fun of himself and jokes with them, instead of having his assistant post official information and new movie promotions like other directors do—director Fang Bie has never promoted his own movies on his own Weibo.

Even during this interview, he didn't promote his new movie. When we asked him if his new film was about mountain climbing, he just smiled and didn't answer.

Perhaps this is the confidence of a director.

However, at least we have confirmed one thing: director Fang Bie's new film will be an art film, and the production cost will exceed 100 million yuan.

We naturally assumed this was a big-budget production, as is typical of director Fang Bie, and we even questioned whether an art film really needed such a high budget. Could such a film still be considered an art film?

However, Director Fang denied our claims.

He asked me what art films were, and I was momentarily speechless.

But I just feel that big-budget art films with special effects are unlikely to be well-received by industry professionals.

But director Fang Bie said he makes films not to win awards, but to bring better films to the audience.

I think what he said makes a lot of sense.

Some directors in our country define the genre of their films solely based on cost, visuals, and special effects. If their films perform poorly at the box office or receive negative reviews, they'll say, "This is an art film, and art films don't care about box office returns. If the audience doesn't like it, it's just that their appreciation level is insufficient."

This is a complete attempt to shirk responsibility and a self-indulgent escape.

A film must first and foremost not lose money so that more industry professionals can create better works without worrying about making a living.

Is something that isn't popular with the public truly art?

Director Fang said it very well: If you don't like what the audience likes, who do you think you are?

Moreover, he said that the cost of "Captain China" was not as much as the 80 million yuan that the outside world had speculated, but only a mere 7 million yuan!

With only seven million dollars, an Oscar-winning film was made, which grossed over a billion dollars and set a good benchmark for domestic films in terms of special effects and editing.

This makes us wonder: if a commercial blockbuster like *Captain China* could be made with only seven million, what kind of result will Director Fang deliver when the budget exceeds one hundred million? I'm very much looking forward to it.

The following section consists of interviews with Liu Mang and other crew members...

Liu Mang: "Fang Bie is a genius. He actually has the integrity of an old-school filmmaker. We've advised him to do more publicity, but he insists that good wine needs no bush and refuses to do that. Instead, he wants to use all the money where it's needed. Nowadays, if a film has an investment of 100 million yuan, the actors will take more than 60 million yuan from the box office. After deducting publicity and other expenses, how much money is actually used for the film's production? I don't want to say more. I can only say that Director Fang's new film will not disappoint everyone."

Luo Wei: "Actually, many companies and production teams offered me high salaries, ten or even twenty times better than what Director Fang offered, but no one in our crew will leave. Because what we want to do is true art, and Director Fang is the one who understands us best."

Yoshikage Kira: "Why did I take this role? Because I trust Director Fang, and even more so, I trust my own eyes. I've worked on many productions before, but when filming 'Captain China,' I didn't see the 'unspoken rules' that are common in other productions. Other production crews' boxed lunches cost only a few dollars, and even then, they still received kickbacks. But Director Fang required the crew's boxed lunches to be at least twenty or even thirty dollars. All the props and costumes on set were brand new, not rented clothes that were full of sweat and grime. Even getting to and from work every day was done by car. It's hard not to be completely immersed in a production like that."

It was a long, rambling piece, mostly praising the other party and expressing gratitude to them.

As soon as this news came out, Fang Bie once again topped the trending searches.

And now everyone calls him differently.

In addition to his titles such as maverick young director, the only Chinese face at the Oscars, and the father of superhero movies, Fang Bie has gained another new title... a director of conscience.

............

In an office, Wu Kai was smoking a cigarette with a blank expression.

Zhang Luo sat opposite him, looking at him without saying a word.

After a long pause, Zhang Luo sighed, "Xiao Wu, are you sure you want to make this an art film?"

Wu Kai looked up, his expression blank: "Isn't this an order from the company?"

"It was the company's order, but times have changed. I never expected that the art film Xiao Fang mentioned would have such a large investment!" Zhang Luo was also speechless.

You make art films, fine, but art films with an investment of over 100 million?

You think you can make "Captain China" with an investment of seven million? What are you planning to do with an investment of over one hundred million? Try to reach for the sky and stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun?

Anyway, Zhang Luo doesn't plan to shoot any new films this year. He just can't compete with the odds, there's nothing he can do.

Originally, the company wanted to postpone Wu Kai's film and wait for Fang Bie's controversy to pass, but Wu Kai insisted on filming it and even wanted to schedule it at the same time as Fang Bie's.

Isn't this courting death?

Wu Kai pursed his lips: "Uncle Zhang, give me a chance, I want to try. I might not be a match for commercial films, but art films... I don't think I'm any worse than anyone else."

Zhang Luo didn't respond; he just sat there smoking.

After a long silence, he stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, looked up, and said, "I can help you apply for additional funding from above, but the maximum is only thirty million."

He paused, his expression serious: "Remember, this is for my sake and your father-in-law's sake. If this movie fails again, you should understand the consequences."

Film companies, after all, need to make money.

Wu Kai's previous commercial film, "Iron-Blooded Sand," already lost over 50 million yuan. If this film also loses money, the company might have to give up on Wu Kai.

Even if his father-in-law is a company director, the result will be the same.

When his father-in-law was mentioned, a flash of resentment crossed Wu Kai's eyes, but he quickly concealed it by lowering his head.

He looked up again and nodded emphatically: "I understand, this movie won't fail!"

Goodbye! Fortune changes every thirty years! Since you're making an art film, I can't possibly lose to you!

This time, I will not do anything that "aids the enemy" again!

I won't hire online trolls; I'll defeat you fair and square!

............

On the other hand, Xu Kuangfu, the director who had previously criticized Fang Bie during the Oscars live broadcast, smashed his tablet.

"Is Fang trying to cause trouble?! He makes art films just because I make them? Is he trying to embarrass me? And what's the meaning of these media interviews? Are they targeting me?"

His assistant, standing in front of him, smiled obsequiously: "Director Xu, calm down. This is actually an opportunity. The company will strongly support you. The investment in your new film has been increased to 150 million yuan. It's a big-budget art film, you know, we can make that too."

This was indeed an opportunity for Sheng Yu Company, where Xu Kuangfu worked.

How can we maximize our profits?

It's definitely hype!

And what could be more eye-catching than competing against an Oscar-winning director?

Besides, that director had never made an art film before; in fact, this was only his second film.

What if we win?

That would mean gaining both fame and fortune.

So they increased their investment in Xu Kuangfu's film and even encouraged him to go head-to-head with Fang Bie.

Unfortunately, Fang Bie didn't react much, and didn't even respond to Xu Kuang's Weibo post about his relapse.

"I know I can't possibly lose," Xu Kuangfu said calmly.

He is a veteran in the domestic film and television industry.

What's most important for domestic art films? Box office? No, it's winning awards, of course!

Fang Bie is someone who operates outside the industry. In this interview, he showed his sharp tongue and offended the domestic film and television circle.

No matter how good his photos are, he has no chance of winning an award!

But that's not enough; we need to add something more substantial.

Xu Kuangfu himself probably didn't realize that he was actually a little insecure when facing Fang Bie.

"Xiao Ye, find someone to write a film review. When the movie is released, write me a smear article about Fang Bie, not just about the movie, but also about him as a person. I hope there's as much dirt on him as possible."

Assistant Xiao Ye pushed up her glasses: "Okay, I know a film critic who criticized Fang Bie before. He's quite popular lately. I'll contact him later."

"Oh? What's his name?"

"I don't know. He's an online film critic. His Weibo ID is 'Great Yin-Yang Master - The Strongest Paramecium'."