I'm just trying to ride the wave of popularity!

Chapter 17: Striving to persevere
"They're a joke!"

"Yeah, what movie is it? 'Monkey King vs. Superman 2', oh my god, this is hilarious, the poster is amazing..."

"Haha, this is interesting. Are these guys actually making a movie? No way..."

"Shen Long? Chen Jianfeng?"

"Haha, I've never heard of that!"

"Wait, I've heard of him. I remember who Chen Jianfeng is. He's that idiot, the one who worked on our film set for half a month..."

"Oh, it's him! Hahaha, that's hilarious! He's so desperate to make a movie!"

"..."

The morning sun shone on this open space.

In the crew of "Love Ferris Wheel," everyone's eyes were fixed on the cheap stall in the open space not far away, and the few crew members who looked like a joke.

Laughter, a sound of amusement, echoed throughout the film crew, much like watching giant pandas at a zoo...

However, Shen Long and Chen Jianfeng seemed not to hear the laughter, and continued to smile as they handed out business cards to everyone.

Someone took a close look at the business card...

Someone looked at it and nodded...

Some people simply tossed their business cards aside...

……

When I saw the business card being carelessly tossed into the trash can...

Although Chen Jianfeng and Shen Long looked somber, they didn't get angry or upset. They simply smiled, silently picked up the business cards, and carefully stuffed them into their pockets. Amidst the jeers, they continued to quietly introduce themselves to everyone, whether they knew them or not...

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

in the office.

An Xiaoshi looked into the distance.

When I saw the poster for "Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2" swaying in the wind, and Zhou Yang sitting in a chair, supporting his stall while being interviewed by reporters, I felt an indescribable sense of emotion.

She then saw Shen Long and Chen Jianfeng being ridiculed in the crowd...

She saw a sense of seriousness towards film.

"They don't really think they can become directors and actually make a movie, do they?"

In the office, Zheng Yichen looked at the two people not far away, sipped his coffee, and looked down at them as if he were watching a few clowns in an extremely absurd farce.

"And another thing, you actually authorized this movie theater to operate on the verge of bankruptcy!"

When he looked away and saw the crew member in charge of agreements and contracts walking over with a film crew cooperation agreement, Zheng Yichen frowned.

He put down his coffee cup and looked at An Xiaoshi.

“I just want the movie ‘Love Ferris Wheel’ to be made…” An Xiaoshi stared at the agreement.

“Remember, our film is a masterpiece, it’s very tasteful, and countless fans will go to the cinema to see it…” Zheng Yichen stared at An Xiaoshi, throwing the agreement into the trash can as he spoke: “I just got the information on this [Feihe Cinema]. Its tables and chairs are old, the projection screen is terrible, and it’s on the verge of bankruptcy…”

"Can……"

"I don't want our theater partners to see the agreement for this movie, and I especially don't want my fans to go into a moldy movie theater with high expectations, to see a dirty screen and shabby decorations. That would be a desecration of the film! This agreement... is null and void!" Zheng Yichen looked at An Xiaoshi, who was about to say something more.

An Xiaoshi stared blankly at the agreement.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Soon, Zheng Yichen's assistant came over and quietly handed him a document.

After reading the document, Zheng Yichen couldn't help but shake his head: "Take a look, who exactly is your collaborator!"

"A high school graduate, an assembly line worker who had just been laid off from the factory..."

"A loser who, after graduation, took odd jobs in some second- or third-tier film crews, eventually ended up living in a rented room, not even worthy of being called a director..."

“A month and a half ago, he worked on our film crew, begging us for a role, but he was just a marginal character who didn’t even pass the first round of auditions…”

"These people brought in a film crew and claimed they were going to make a movie?"

"If their movie is ever made, it will probably be the biggest joke of this century, or even the entire entertainment industry!"

"..." Zheng Yichen placed the documents on the table.

An Xiaoshi glanced at the simple information on the document, then looked into the distance. Although her expression was complicated, she didn't say anything.

A moment later, her gaze fell on Zheng Yichen.

At this moment, Zheng Yichen was looking at those "clowns" not far away with a mocking expression.

The assistant next to him couldn't help but burst out laughing.

But for some reason, these sounds became increasingly jarring to An Xiaoshi…

She looked at Zheng Yichen: "Senior, what are the plans for our 'Love Ferris Wheel' next?"

Zheng Yichen withdrew his gaze, looked at her delicate face, and said seriously, "You don't need to do anything extra. You just need to sit in front of the camera and watch the professionals film. After filming, we will compare the market and the fans' expectations to edit a collaborative film. Then, during the promotion, you just need to be there and follow our arrangements!"

"I...only do this?"

"Yes, as long as you are serious and follow the path I've laid out, Tianyu Entertainment behind us will push you to the top... and take you into the Golden Horse and Hong Kong Film Awards... and you won't lack resources afterward!"

"So, aside from investing, you never think I'm a qualified director?" An Xiaoshi bit her lip and stared at Zheng Yichen when she heard this.

"You've always been a competent director, that's beyond question..."

"Can……"

"Isn't your dream to own your own movie? Do you know how many people want a movie but can't have one?"

"My dream is to make movies, I want to make my own, I want to..."

"I'm not here today to discuss the movie, but to help you get the crew in order!"

Zheng Yichen frowned upon seeing An Xiaoshi's expression.

Then, he winked at his assistant.

The assistant nodded upon hearing this, and then handed a list to An Xiaoshi.

"Director An, these are the staff members we've selected after considering various factors... Regarding the cinematographers you mentioned earlier, after careful evaluation, we feel these students are still too inexperienced... not suitable. The lead cinematographer position absolutely cannot be theirs, and the third and fourth camera positions are also important, so they can't be given to them either. However, they can be assigned to production assistant roles on set..."

“They are all excellent students in school, they need an opportunity!” An Xiaoshi was stunned when she looked at the names on the list.

“Yes, they are indeed very talented, but everything has to be done step by step. Using newcomers all the time will only make the movie look strange... This is your first movie, and what we need to do is to make it as perfect as possible…” The assistant patiently explained to An Xiaoshi.

Seeing An Xiaoshi remain silent with her head down, she smiled again: "Also, I think we should cut some of these lighting technicians... Like I said, they're not suitable, besides these..."

……

An Xiaoshi had no idea what her assistant was talking about.

All she knew was that familiar names were being crossed off, checked off...

One by one, the roles that were decided half a month ago, even though they were supporting roles and not important, were replaced.

this moment……

She was somewhat dazed, then suddenly realized...

In this movie, I feel like I'm nothing.

All my efforts these past few days seem to have been in vain.

I don't know how much time later...

She looked up at Zheng Yichen: "Senior brother, is this all I can do for this movie?"

"This is for your own good!"

"Can't we leave any of them alive?"

"As I said, I've already prepared a professional team for you, so you don't need to worry about anything."

Zheng Yichen stood by the window, smiling as he looked at her.

When she heard this, she didn't respond; she just looked out the window.

Outside the window, Zhou Yang and his group were still struggling to hold up the movie poster for "Sun Wukong vs. Superman 2," enduring the sunlight and the laughter, persevering like a joke.

(End of this chapter)