So what if I work with celebrities?

Anyone who has ever borrowed money from the underworld knows that this money is not easy to get back.

The sailors didn't show up on the day filming started. It wasn't until everything was on track that two people appeared on set.

They were the sailors' trusted lieutenants, one named Wang Chao and the other Mahan. They were lean and wiry, but had a bandit-like air about them, and were definitely ruthless fighters.

As far as Xu Zan knew, these two weren't using those names; they were just nicknames. His own name in the underworld was "Tanuki" (狸猫).

The nicknames of Taiwanese gangsters are hilarious, like "Thunder Piercer" or "Crutch Seven," and sometimes the nicknames have no connection to the person at all.

"Big brother sent us to help you because he was worried you were in danger!" Wang Chao was only twenty-one years old, but he spoke with great maturity.

"With your help, I don't think the local thugs will dare to harass us." Xu Zan pondered for a moment, but he couldn't tell the crew that these two were thugs from the Bamboo Union.

"Since my brother sent you here, I can't refuse. Here's what we'll do: you two will work as assistant producers, and you'll get five thousand dollars for this film!"

"Really?" Mahan's long face showed surprise, clearly not expecting to get money. "Can I call a few more of my brothers?"

Wang Chao immediately interrupted, "Director Xu, we don't understand either. We really shouldn't accept such praise without having done anything right!"

"It's alright, you guys just need to help me keep things under control and maintain order for the crew."

Xu Zan knew from her past life that film crews always played the game of interpersonal relationships. It was never about unspoken rules, but about making everyone happy.

As long as the lead actor is happy, there will be another opportunity to collaborate; as long as the boss is happy, there will be another investment.

But if no one is happy, then the chances of further cooperation are slim, and making money becomes secondary.

Back then, he hadn't grasped this principle. His poor relationship with investors led to a lack of investment, and after betting his entire fortune, he lost everything...

The two gatekeepers took the money and actually did their job. When it was time to collect lunch boxes at noon, no one dared to make a fuss or cut in line.

Xu Zan was sitting there eating his boxed lunch, a simple meal consisting of two vegetarian dishes and one meat dish. Just as he was enjoying his meal, Hu Huizhong came over.

"Brother Zan, are those two gangsters involved in the underworld? They look fierce and menacing, not like good people."

"Wipe your mouth! There's rice stuck to your lips." Xu Zan handed her a tissue. "You can find Tang Chongsheng agreeable, but you can't stand other thugs?"

"How can that be the same?"

"Putting aside the facts, they are indeed different!"

Hu Huizhong punched Xu Zan on the shoulder with her small fist, "I'm ignoring you!"

She hadn't walked far when she turned back and asked, "Are the outfits I took okay?"

Bring your own clothes.

Hair styling done by myself.

A makeup artist will help with some simple touch-ups during the makeup application process.

That's how it is with poor film crews, or rather, this is basically the formula for "three-hall films" in this era.

Many celebrities frequently visit various clothing stores to select items, and even when traveling abroad, they prioritize buying stylish clothes.

In Taiwan during the 1970s and 80s, the overall style of celebrities leaned towards Europe and America, unlike in the late 1990s when Japanese style began to become popular.

Hu Huizhong wore a white sundress and a wig while singing in a Western restaurant. Xu Zan chose the very famous Columbia Café for the venue.

Of course, it's called a round table Western restaurant now.

The owner is very fond of the arts, and singers like Hu Defu and Li Shuangze, two pioneers of folk songs, often perform at his Western restaurant.

The salaries are also quite generous; for example, Hu Defu can earn a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan.

"Card!"

Xu Zan, who was sitting in the audience, suddenly called for a stop. Hu Huizhong's sign language stopped instantly, and she looked over at him, at a loss.

"Huizhong, you probably haven't observed many resident singers. You can think of a singer's voice as a product, and the singer themselves as the packaging. They can be beautiful, they can be quirky, but they must resonate with people. You're too tense; relax and put on a little smile."

He transformed into a "wedding photographer," walked onto the stage, sat down, placed one foot on a stool across his back, held a guitar, and skillfully played "Olive Tree" for the audience.

"Don't ask me where I come from, my hometown is far away. Why do I wander? I wander far away, I wander..."

Xu Zan's voice is not ethereal, but it is always in tune, making her a singer who focuses on emotional expression.

"Okay! You go next!" he then said to the others, "Keep rehearsing!"

In the era when movies are still made on film, each frame of film represents money, unlike the digital age where you could just shoot directly.

Hu Huizhong's brothers and parents watched the whole night, and their worries were finally relieved. Just as Xu Zan said, the film crew was very interesting, without any unnecessary troubles.

The only thing that surprised them was that Xu Zan seemed like a completely different person when he sat in the director's chair; he spoke coldly and criticized people ruthlessly.

The first day of filming ended at 11:30 PM. The extras were very happy; they got a day's pay for three hours of work. Unfortunately, transportation costs weren't reimbursed.

Just as Xu Zan was supervising the stagehands and instructing the extras to move equipment onto the truck, a fat man walked over.

"Hello, sir, I am Hu Defu."

Xu Zan sized him up. He wasn't tall, had dark skin typical of indigenous people, and a square face that made him appear robust. "Hello."

"Sir, it's like this, I heard you sing 'Olive Tree' just now. As far as I know, this song has not been authorized to any individual?" Hu Defu said.

"That's right, I'm planning to visit Professor Li Taixiang. I wonder if you could introduce me?" Xu Zan said.

"Huh? Why do you think I know Li Taixiang?" Hu Defu was stunned.

"Taipei isn't very big; you can find out a lot by asking around."

The following day, through Hu Defu's introduction, Xu Zan met the famous Li Taixiang. Despite his fame, Li Taixiang was actually very short of money.

People who pursue art are not sensitive to money. He filmed a lot of GG (Ghostly) films, but often in pursuit of exquisite detail, he disregarded costs and ended up not making much money.

He's a restless person; otherwise, he could have become a professor at any university and lived a comfortable life for the rest of his life.

"No, I don't even know what movie you're making." Li Taixiang refused directly.

Xu Zan, having no other option, went on to describe the movie's plot in detail. "Mr. Li, I think the movie's theme perfectly matches your song 'Olive Tree.' As you've seen, movie theme songs often become hits for an entire album these days."

Finally, a deal was reached for 30,000 yuan to have Li Taixiang produce the soundtrack and songs for "Joyful Face".

It was only then that Xu Zan saw the original manuscript of "Olive Tree". The lyrics were different from what he remembered. There were no birds, but there were little donkeys.

"You're lucky. The song was recently rejected by the record company. Otherwise, you would have needed to talk to them," Li Taixiang said.

Back on set, Xu Zan sped up the filming schedule. The first few days were spent getting the various departments working together, and letting the actors familiarize themselves with the plot, lines, and his style.

"Huizhong, you just need to be more natural, and... well, imagine you're about to separate from your boyfriend, and a handsome man is silently supporting you. Swing between loss and sadness, mystery and fantasy."

She was the only newcomer in the entire crew; everyone else was a seasoned veteran. As long as Xu Zan made a request, the other actors could react quickly.

Xu Zan records the film's progress and the rate at which funds are consumed every day to ensure that the production cost does not exceed 800,000.

After working non-stop for fifteen days, he gave the crew a day off. It wasn't out of kindness, but because he inexplicably received a phone call asking him to attend a hometown association gathering.

Xu Zan's ancestral home is Shandong, and his father was once a junior military officer. After his parents passed away, he never participated in any hometown associations again.

Originally, he didn't want to participate, but when he thought about how influential the Shandong Hometown Association was in Taiwan, he felt he should go, just in case he gained something.

Xu Zan arrived at the Grand Hotel early as agreed. There were many people standing at the entrance. When they saw Xu Zan, some of them immediately recognized him.

"You're Xu Laosan's son? You've grown so much?"

"I heard you became a director? What kind of film did you make?"

"Romance movies? Oh my, these are going to make a lot of money! That girl, Brigitte Lin, her movie 'Girlfriend' grossed 17 million NT dollars in Taiwan."

"She's a female celebrity, and you're a director. If we collaborate in the future, it'll definitely work!"