I became famous in the entertainment industry by burning incense

Chapter 667 Meeting (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

After Chu Chenliang mentioned it to her, Jinli received the script for the second part of Dawn from him the very next day.

The script is quite thick because Director Chu not only gave her the current version, but also the inspiration and ideas they had discussed, the initial version, and the second revised version.

Some content was not adopted in the current version, but that doesn't mean it's bad; it just means it's difficult to integrate.

If Jinli can figure out how to integrate it, they wouldn't mind adding it to the current version.

Jinli could tell from Director Chu's efficiency that he really wanted to finish filming "Dawn 2: Apocalypse" this year.

Other directors may not have this ability, but Director Chu might.

Generally speaking, a typical blockbuster with special effects signifies a large investment, and the process of attracting investment can drag on for six months or even a year.

After all, an investment of over a billion yuan is not something a single person can come up with; it requires the participation of multiple parties and careful consideration.

But Director Chu had no concerns about this.

He has been making special effects blockbusters for several years, and investors have confidence in him.

Even the worst flop barely broke even.

Therefore, he has a good understanding with other investment tycoons when it comes to attracting investment.

While others might need six months to a year, he could finalize things with just a phone call, and if the process is expedited, the distribution of benefits among all parties could be determined in half a month.

As for the preparations, that goes without saying.

Director Chu uses his own personal team; the entire crew was trained by him, so building the team is effortless for him.

As Jinli thought about it, she suddenly realized that all that was missing before Dawn 2 could start filming was the script.

Once the script is finalized, Director Chu will be able to prepare and find suitable locations for filming within two months.

As for the actors, there's even less to say.

As the biggest beneficiary of the first season of Dawn, Jinli has few personal announcements and no plans to join any productions in the second half of the year.

If Dawn 2 starts filming in the second half of the year, she will definitely be able to join the cast.

Although Bai Jiang and Xu Ting are nominally the male and female leads in the film, their star power has not increased significantly.

Bai Jiang will definitely still cling to Director Chu's coattails.

Xu Ting's promotion was even slower than Bai Jiang's, and she was equally eager for it.

It's a good thing for all the actors if a special effects blockbuster can be made into a film series.

The production team will try its best to retain the original cast to ensure that fans won't feel lost when watching the film.

After reading the script, Jinli discovered that Director Chu had made significant changes to the character "Ruan Ruanruan".

If she was an important supporting actress in the first movie, she rose to become the female lead in the second movie.

Jinli felt that this storyline was too similar to the female lead's storyline in the previous installment, and it was as if Ruan Ruan Ruan had stolen the female lead's opportunity, without really developing a new character description for Ruan Ruan Ruan.

So she didn't have a good impression of him.

She sent her thoughts after reading the script to Director Chu, and quickly received a reply from him.

Chu Chenliang: [Your eye for scripts is indeed very sharp. Even though you didn't participate in the scriptwriting process yourself, you can still tell.]

Yes, when we were writing the second script, in order to meet the deadline and make things easier, we moved all the highlight shots that belonged to the female lead to you.

The screenwriter and I both thought the change was fairly natural, but I didn't expect you to spot it so easily. It seems this change was a failure.

Director Chu sent a wry smile emoji.

Chu Chenliang: [I can't be lazy after all; I still have to keep working on it.]

Jinli replied: 【Keep it up!】

After reading the script, she pondered for a while and then made a phone call to Sister Fang.

Sui Lingfang was handling business at the company. It was only the beginning of the year, and everyone was very busy.

Sui Lingfang answered the phone and asked curiously, "How's your trip to Hong Kong Island? Why did you suddenly want to call me?"

Jinli said with a smile, "Can't it just be that I miss you?"

Sui Lingfang laughed and said, "I would believe it if others said it, but I don't believe it if you said it. How many times do we see each other in a month? Some couples don't even see each other as often as we do."

That's true.

Every week or two, Sui Lingfang would go to Tsinghua University to find Jinli and buy her a lot of supplements so that she could make soup to drink whenever she had free time.

If she later saw that the supplements weren't being used up, she would personally cook them and bring them to school for her.

Jinli's smile faded, and she got down to business:
"The company hasn't found a script they like yet. They need to free up my schedule for the second half of the year, um... after summer vacation, after September. I should join a film crew."

Sui Lingfang frowned: "Who contacted you? Which film crew do you want to join?"

Jinli: "Dawn 2: Apocalypse".

Sui Lingfang was taken aback: "So fast? Aren't you still working on the script?"

She recalled that good scripts in the industry often take a year or two to polish, and it's normal for them to take three years.

Jinli: "Director Chu answered fans' questions at the screening ceremony in Hong Kong Island and said that he plans to start filming the second film this year and strive to meet everyone next year as soon as possible."

"Although it's just an empty promise, Director Chu has already shown me the script for the second part, which is half-revised. They plan to finalize the plot as they revise it, and then polish it for a long time before it's fully revised."

Sui Lingfang hesitated for a moment and said, "Wouldn't this be too rushed? And is the quality of the script really good enough?"

Jinli smiled and said, "I also participated in the script adaptation. If they don't adapt it well, I definitely won't take the job. So I want to set my schedule in advance, so that I won't be too busy when it's ready to start filming."

Sui Lingfang thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll leave it open for you."

She added, "If your schedule for the second half of the year is really going to be empty, why don't you continue filming a movie in the first half of the year? Just pick a time when you're on summer vacation."

Jinli raised an eyebrow and said with interest, "Sister Fang, you know I have high standards for scripts. If you can find a good script, I'm willing to give it a try."

After hanging up the phone, she had at least tasted some of the benefits of reading.

When she was a celebrity, even if she had to study and take the college entrance examination, her time was very fragmented.

It can be said that it operates year-round without rest.

But since I got into university and started studying, my routine has become much more regular.

Her work hours are mostly concentrated during winter and summer vacations, or regular holidays and weekends, which gives her more time to focus and makes her feel more comfortable.

Although fragmented time makes no difference to her in the face of the "achieve twice the result with half the effort" ability, the physical experience is still different.

Immersive learning allows people to learn more deeply.
-
Jinli stayed in Hong Kong Island for a few more days. Suddenly one day, she received a call from an unknown number on her phone.

A gut feeling flashed through her mind, and instead of hanging up, she answered the call.

Jinli said, "Hello." The person on the other end of the phone said, "Hello, is this Ms. Jinli? This is Chen Derong."

Jinli's eyes flickered slightly as she said, "Yes, that's me. Hello, young master of the Chen family. I've heard of you before."

Chen Derong smiled and said, "Director Chu Chenliang sent someone to tell me that you want to know about the copyright contract for the song 'Pink Girl'. This contract has always been in my aunt's hands."

My aunt isn't in good health and has been recuperating abroad. She just returned to China this Chinese New Year to reunite with her family. I was wondering if you'd be free tomorrow? My aunt would like to meet with you and talk to you in person.

Jinli agreed without hesitation: "Sure, where shall we meet?"

Chen Derong gave an address.

Jinli searched online and found it to be a very private hotel, frequented by the wealthy and powerful.

She was worried about her safety going alone, so since Director Chu was the one who made the connection, it would be better to bring him along.

So Jinli added Chen Derong on WeChat and asked him if he could bring Director Chu over.

Chen Derong: [Okay]

Jinli then told Director Chu about it.

Chu Chenliang had other plans for the day and a dinner party in the evening, but upon hearing that Jinli had been invited out by the Chen family, he immediately canceled the dinner party.

“I’ll go with you tomorrow. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know how to start a conversation with the Chen family.”

Director Chu explained, "The Chen family has a lot of influence in the entertainment industry. Mainland films need his approval to be shown in Hong Kong."

If we can establish good relations beforehand, then Dawn 2 might be able to be released simultaneously on both mainland China and Hong Kong platforms, resulting in even better box office performance.

Director Chu and Jinli did not disclose their trip to the Chen family's dinner party, and the crew did not know either, so there was no need to worry about anyone leaking the information.

After she had done everything, she remembered that she needed to inform Sister Fang, so she made a special phone call to say so.

Upon hearing this, Sui Lingfang became somewhat nervous: "Should I hire a bodyguard for you?"

Jinli said, both amused and exasperated, "Sister Fang, they're from a wealthy family, they have some pride, unlike the entertainment industry in other countries which is so chaotic."

Moreover, strictly speaking, the Chen family were my true former employers; there's a bond between us."

Sui Lingfang smiled bitterly, "Logically I know they probably won't hurt you, but emotionally I always feel that you're just an innocent little rabbit. It should be me who handles these social interactions with rich kids."

Jinli said softly, "This is about pink-clad girls, you don't need to get involved."

Sui Lingfang thought for a moment: "Qi Guanmingzhu and Xi Mengze are already busy with their schedules, but they can spare a day or two. How about I have them go to Hong Kong Island, and you two can go together?"

Jinli declined: "No need. I happen to be working in Hong Kong Island, and I've already arranged to go with Director Chu. The two of them don't need to go through all that trouble."

She added, "Moreover, when Chen Derong called me, he sounded quite relaxed, so it shouldn't be anything serious."

Sui Lingfang: "Okay, you can keep the voice record on the whole time after you go in. I'll listen in from the side. If something really happens, I can help you call the police. You can't be too careful."

If they search your body and bags after you go in, don't go in. A regular dinner party doesn't need this kind of thing; it's not like you're meeting some important international leader.

Jinli smiled, her eyes crinkling slightly, and replied sweetly, "Okay!"

After hanging up the phone, Jinli thought for a while and then sent a message to Gu Cheng, saying that she was going to have dinner with the Chen family tomorrow night.

Gu Cheng, seemingly doing something, replied very quickly.

Gu Cheng: [The Chen family, Chen Derong?]

Gu Cheng: [My family has cooperated with and dealt with the Chen family before. Chen Derong is one of the more capable and ambitious members, but his abilities are not as outstanding as those of other family members. However, his aunt is very capable.]

Gu Cheng: With his aunt around, I don't need to worry about your safety.

A hint of curiosity flashed in Jinli's eyes.

Is his aunt very authoritative in the family?

Gu Cheng: [I guess so. One reason is the pressure from seniority, and the other is that his aunt has a very good eye for investment. She has never lost money on her investments. In terms of investment acumen, she can rank among the top three in the Chen family. It's just a pity that her health is too poor, and she has been living abroad all this time.]

Jinli asked, amused, "What would you do if his aunt didn't accompany him?"

Gu Cheng: [I'll hire a bodyguard for you, but I'm not entirely comfortable with that. Chen Derong is a playboy, so I'd better go and keep an eye on things myself.]

Jinli replied with a few mischievous emojis.
-
The second night arrived quickly.

Jinli and Director Chu arrived at the hotel's private room, where Chen Derong and his aunt Chen Leyao were already there.

Jinli and Director Chu arrived half an hour early, but unexpectedly they arrived even earlier.

Director Chu said smoothly, "I'm sorry I'm late. I'll punish myself with six drinks first, and I'll drink Jinli's share too!"

Chen Leyao said calmly, "I'm not late, so I don't need to drink. There's no alcohol on the table today."

She looked at Jinli, scrutinizing her intently, and nodded slightly.

You look much healthier than before.

Jinli looked puzzled: "Mr. Chen, have we met before?"

Chen Leyao: "It happened many years ago, when your Pink Girls was just becoming popular. Hao Zhongyi Entertainment held an end-of-year party, and I attended for a while."

She recalled, "You were very thin and pale back then. Although you looked great on camera, I was always worried that you would faint at any moment. You were the weakest-looking one in your group."

She emerged from her reverie: "I never imagined that years later, you would be the most successful, and you look to be in good health too."

Jinli smiled faintly: "I'm lucky, heaven took pity on me and didn't take my life."

Chen Leyao smiled faintly and said, "Let's eat first."

So everyone ate their meal in a proper and conventional manner.

Director Chu originally intended to befriend Chen Derong, but he found that Chen Derong was extremely docile in front of his aunt and rarely responded to his words.

Fortunately, he exchanged WeChat contacts with Chen Derong, which provided him with another channel of communication, and he will have opportunities to exchange ideas in the future.

After the meal, Chen Leyao took the initiative to say, "You wanted to ask about the copyright issue of the Pink Girl contract, what happened?"

Jinli hesitated and said, "There is something you don't know. Hao Zhongyi is using the copyright contract to blackmail my former teammate into coming back to Hao Zhongyi Entertainment."

Chen Leyao frowned: "Is that so?"

Chen Derong quickly replied, "It was Chen Peixian who made the decision on her own."

He then explained to Jinli, "My aunt lives abroad most of the year and doesn't watch domestic news much."

Chen Leyao pondered for a moment and said, "Back then, Hao Zhongyi Entertainment was part of the property distribution. My elders originally wanted me to take over, but I was unwilling. So they gave me all the copyright contracts of the artists, so I could have a share of the profits in the future."

“But before I went abroad, I had already distributed most of the copyright contracts. Since you were not in Hong Kong at the time and it was inconvenient to contact you, I simply took them abroad.”

She frankly stated, "I have other investment channels, and the copyright fees for artists are dispensable to me. I'm returning this contract to you; you can do whatever you want with it."

Jinli and Director Chu exchanged a glance.

Does this mean that Chen Leyao not only doesn't want the copyright fees she's owed over the years, but also wants to hand over the contract for free?
　I was so stupid! Turns out, if I don't complete the monthly pass sprint event, the remaining Qidian coins won't be refunded. I should have asked the operations team to schedule it for the end of the month (laughing and crying). Oh well, I'll be more experienced next month~
　　(End of this chapter)