I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

Li Zijian got straight to the point.

"What? Brother Li, didn't I already tell you that I have a sensitive stomach and can't eat very soft food?"

Lu Ban also got straight to the point.

"No, no, no, you misunderstood. It's like this, Mr. Song has a friend whose child studied acting at Yannan Drama Academy a couple of years ago and is now a minor celebrity. He's preparing to star in a horror thriller movie, which isn't your forte. The young man isn't sure how to handle this kind of acting and would like to ask you for advice. Is this convenient for you?"

Li Zijian explained patiently.

"Want to learn acting from me?"

Lu Ban was momentarily unsure whether this was a compliment, but since it was such a request, as a senior figure in the film and television industry, it would seem petty of him not to offer some guidance. After a moment's thought, he answered.

"Okay, then give him my contact information."

Chapter 234 So you're the only variety show personality?

In early March, the wind blowing on the face in Wuhan was still a little cool.

Lu Ban walked into a coffee shop in the city and saw a young man about his age waving in his direction.

The young man was fairly handsome, unlike many of today's young heartthrobs who are prettier than girls. Apart from being a bit frail, he was alright overall.

"Hello Director Lu, I'm Ye Cheng."

The young man introduced himself.

Lu Ban had previously obtained information from Li Zijian.

Although he's called a young man, Ye Cheng is actually two years older than Lu Ban, almost 25. His family is in the real estate business, and his father is one of Jiangcheng Industrial's partners. But Ye Cheng doesn't want to inherit the family business, or rather, he doesn't want to just lie down and inherit the family business. He has his own dreams and wants to pursue his dream in the entertainment industry. If he fails, he can go back to inherit the family business.

These young people nowadays are truly ungrateful. Some dream of being able to lie down and have a wonderful life without having to work hard, while others, who clearly no longer need to work hard, insist on experiencing life.

"Just call me Lu Ban. I heard this is your first time making a movie?"

Lu Ban casually ordered a coffee and asked.

"Yes, I used to only participate in variety shows and didn't have the opportunity to film formal movies and TV series. Now that I have this opportunity, I want to make the most of it."

Ye Cheng answered simply.

"A variety show? What kind of variety show?"

Lu Ban doesn't usually pay much attention to these variety shows, but he asked casually.

"It's a lifestyle variety show called 'Beautiful Fields,' where a few celebrities farm, cook, and experience life in the fields."

Ye Cheng took a sip of his coffee.

"Oh, that's good."

Lu Ban hadn't actually watched the variety show, but he had always heard about the hierarchy of contempt in the industry: movie stars look down on TV drama stars, TV drama stars look down on variety show stars, and variety show stars are considered inferior.

The main reason is that the fan economy is largely linked to variety shows. The typical process is for a young idol to debut and film one or two web dramas, most of which are adapted from online novels or are dramas about brotherhood. Then they participate in variety shows to maintain their presence and establish a persona. Some of them keep appearing on variety shows and then take on advertisements, living a very comfortable life.

Moreover, there are all kinds of variety shows nowadays, including life-themed shows about farming and cooking, shows about playing games, shows about singing and dancing, shows about playing board games, and even shows about dating.

Seriously speaking, as long as they don't mess with their fans, use drugs, or violate principles, these young male celebrities can keep themselves in check. But the premise is that they can't continue to make serious movies and TV series. If they do, their true colors will be exposed, and they will be fiercely criticized by the audience.

Ye Cheng, on the other hand, clearly doesn't want to be confined to the world of variety shows and wants to make a breakthrough.

What movie are you going to make, and what role will you play?

Lu Ban's coffee was finally served. He stirred it with a spoon and then asked.

"No. 9 Huangmei Street is a low-budget horror film."

Ye Cheng answered truthfully. Although it is generally taboo to inquire about other film crews that have not yet started filming, Ye Cheng thought he should express his sincerity first, so he was open and honest.

"To be honest, Director Lu, this film project was initiated because of your movie. The producers felt that horror movies had great potential, so they rushed to start filming."

"Then I think your production team might lose money."

Lu Ban also had his own opinion.

The market for horror films has never been large because the scary nature of the genre naturally limits the audience. The films that can truly generate box office revenue are family-friendly or, at the very least, suspenseful. Lu Ban's breakthrough came from online movies, which is less than half a year ago. Horror films produced in such a short time are mostly just crude imitations.

"..."

Ye Cheng didn't know what to say for a moment.

"But it's okay, just because your production team lost money doesn't mean you lost money."

Lu Ban comforted her.

"...Actually, my family also invested in this movie."

Ye Cheng felt somewhat embarrassed.

For a nobody like him, who only makes appearances on variety shows, to be cast in a movie, he needs a very powerful agent. However, Ye Cheng's agent obviously doesn't have that kind of power, so his family invested some money, and Ye Cheng can be considered to have brought his own investment to the project.

"...No problem. Even if it loses money, if the whole movie is terrible, people won't focus on criticizing your acting if it's a little bad...You didn't also take on the roles of director and screenwriter, did you?"

Lu Ban realized this too late.

No, no.

Ye Cheng quickly shook his head; he wasn't that arrogant.

But then he thought, doesn't this imply that if he were the director and screenwriter, the film would be a complete disaster?

If someone else had said that, Ye Cheng might have felt that they were mocking him.

But the person opposite him is Lu Ban.

The man who set a box office record for domestically produced horror films.

Even if he criticizes my acting skills to my face, I have to put up with it.

"That's good."

Lu Ban took a sip of coffee; it was very bitter, but enough to refresh him. After putting down the cup, he asked again.

How do you feel about your acting skills?

"My acting skills are alright, I think. I studied Stanislavski's method acting techniques, and I feel..."

Before Ye Cheng could finish speaking, Lu Ban raised his hand.

"You don't still have an account verified on 'Do You Understand?', do you?"

No, why?

Ye Cheng was puzzled.

"That's all."

Lu Ban recalled a popular influencer on the "Dongleme" platform who had previously commented on his acting skills. This influencer was not only a film and television star but also a double PhD and a proponent of the "method acting" approach.

Lu Ban secretly searched on his phone and discovered that the celebrity had actually been blacklisted for academic fraud. Life is truly unpredictable.

"How about this, just show me your fear expression."

Lu Ban said.

"A look of fear?"

Ye Cheng was taken aback.

Then, he felt that Lu Ban was definitely testing him. After thinking for a moment, Ye Cheng closed his eyes and prepared himself.

Then, Ye Cheng opened his eyes, the muscles on his cheeks twitched, his eyes widened, and his mouth opened.

"Don't come any closer!"

It was also accompanied by a line of dialogue.

Several people around looked over.

Lu Ban sighed as he watched Ye Cheng's performance, which resembled a meme.

"Brother Ye."

"what happened?"

Ye Cheng composed himself and hurriedly asked.

"How about we go and play a serial killer?"

"Director Lu, are you saying that I'm more suited to playing cold and ruthless characters?"

Ye Cheng was somewhat excited.

"No, a serial killer doesn't need to show his face."

Lu Ban spoke the truth.

"..."

Ye Cheng was starting to lose his composure.

"Was it really that bad?"

"Ahem, maybe you've been on too many variety shows and need this kind of exaggerated performance. By the way, has your family invested in Yannan Drama Academy?"

Lu Ban was a little curious whether Ye Cheng had bought his acting degree.

No, why?

Ye Cheng was puzzled.

"it's okay no problem."

Lu Ban now feels that there are big problems with this commission.

Chapter 235 Method of Performance

The next day.

Lu Ban put his work in the morning, and after taking a lunch break, he went to Ye Cheng's villa in Jiangcheng.

This villa is located on the banks of the Lingjiang River, a true luxury river-view property. It is said that several celebrities who have settled in Jiangcheng live here. You can even see big stars from the Lunar New Year movies or CEOs of listed companies when you go out to throw away the trash.

Lu Ban didn't care about these things. Since he had already agreed, he was determined to teach Ye Cheng a lesson.