Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 502 The Screenwriter is Unhappy

Hengdian World Studios, the filming location of "The Imperial Doctress".

The May morning sunlight was just right, and the set was still bustling with activity during breaks in filming.

Having just finished a group scene, Yuan Bingyan and Hu Bingqing walked side by side toward the actors' rest area not far away.

Hu Bingqing turned his head and glanced at his girlfriend next to him, who was yawning and whose eyelids were almost stuck together. He couldn't help but gently nudge her with his arm.

He asked with concern, "Bingyan, what's wrong? Didn't you get enough rest last night? We still have several scenes to film this afternoon. If you're like this, the director might yell at you."

As he spoke, he also vividly imitated the director's frowning gesture as he yelled "Cut!"

Yuan Bingyan was amused and yawned widely. She raised her hand and slapped her cheeks hard, trying to wake herself up.

"Don't even mention it. I got so engrossed in playing 'Protect the Carrot,' a tower defense game from Tengda, that I ended up playing until 3 a.m. before I knew it."

It feels like I just closed my eyes for a short while before I was dragged out of bed to get my makeup done. My body is on set, but my soul is still in bed.

"Protect the Carrot? That sounds interesting." Hu Bingqing blinked, looking curious, but more concerned with real-world issues.

"Then you'd better perk yourself up. You have a lot of scenes to film this afternoon, so you'll have to be extra alert."

"Yeah, I need to order a coffee to perk myself up, otherwise I definitely won't be able to hold on this afternoon." Yuan Bingyan muttered as she picked up her phone and habitually tapped on the familiar blue icon.

However, the message that appeared on the screen startled her, and she exclaimed in confusion, "Huh? Unable to deliver? What happened?"

Hu Bingqing leaned over and glanced at it, then gave a knowing "Oh," and explained, "Baidu Waimai's business mainly covers the capital region."

In Hengdian, people usually order takeout through Ele.me or Jinri Youxuan. He then generously pulled out his phone, saying, "Let me treat you to coffee; I have Ele.me on my phone."

"No need, no need." Yuan Bingyan quickly waved her hand, smiled somewhat embarrassedly, and quickly switched to the app.

“I’ve also used ‘Today’s Picks’, but I feel that its promotional activities are not as good as ‘Baidu Waimai’, so I haven’t used it much lately. I can do it myself.”

Hu Bingqing expressed his understanding and casually shared his experience: "Speaking of which, Tengda's platform is really powerful. You can order takeout almost anywhere in the country."

I usually live in Donghai, and I actually use "Today's Choice" more often. Although the coupons aren't as generous as those from "Ele.me", the delivery speed is super fast.

It usually takes about ten minutes to get the food, and it's still hot when it arrives. Ele.me (a food delivery app) sometimes offers great discounts, but the waiting time is agonizing.

I've used it a few times before, but it's incredibly inefficient. The food always arrives cold, and the experience is terrible in this freezing weather.

“That’s absolutely true.” Yuan Bingyan nodded in agreement as she selected two hot Americanos on the 'Today’s Picks' page.

"In terms of speed, 'Today's Choice' is undoubtedly the best, and Baidu Waimai cannot compare in terms of delivery range and speed."

The two chatted and laughed as they entered the makeshift rest shed.

At a glance, you can see the male lead Chen Xiao and Huang Xuan sitting on chairs not far away, holding scripts in their hands and focusing intently on rehearsing their lines.

Yuan Bingyan gestured over there with her eyes, lowered her voice, and curiously asked her friends about it.

"Bingqing, I heard that screenwriter Zhang Wei came to the set yesterday. She didn't seem to be in a good mood. Is it because the script has been changed a lot?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Bingqing pursed his lips and chuckled dismissively, "Yes, they've arrived."

You've read the original script; it was supposed to be a historical romance with a focus on career development. But now, the plot has been completely altered, turning it almost entirely into a female-centric career drama.

The core focus is entirely on the female lead's career, medical research, and fight against prejudice; the romance has been completely removed. The screenwriter's hard work has been drastically altered, so it's understandable that there are emotional reactions.

She paused, lowered her voice even further, and said in a tacit manner, "But it doesn't matter much if she's unhappy. In the end, the leading lady still has the final say in the production team."

My senior insisted on these changes, and the director agreed, didn't he? The screenwriter's say is limited.

“That makes sense.” Yuan Bingyan nodded, then sincerely praised, “But to be honest, I think the current changes are quite good.”

A strong, career-driven female lead with a clear storyline is a refreshing and engaging character that female viewers will definitely appreciate. The character of Tan Yunxian immediately establishes her charisma.

Hu Bingqing also strongly agreed: "That's right! In the new script, all the romantic storylines have been cut, making it clear that there is no couple."

The interactions between the two male leads and the female lead are currently confined to relationships such as doctor-patient, ruler-subject, teacher-student, and ally. There is appreciation and respect, but no emotional connection whatsoever.

As she spoke, she glanced with a hint of sympathy at the two male actors rehearsing their lines not far away.

"It's tough on Teacher Chen and Teacher Huang. Their scenes have been cut quite a bit, and they've become more functional. I guess netizens will criticize them as 'supporting male leads'."

As Yuan Bingyan listened, a hint of envy and longing flashed in her eyes, and she couldn't help but sigh softly, "Ah, that's so wonderful!"

To be able to star in a truly female-centric drama is something every actress dreams of.

Look at Shi Shijie, Yang Mi, and Sun Li, which one of them didn't rely on leading roles in dramas to establish themselves as a top-tier actress and become incredibly popular?

"Scarlet Heart," "Palace," "Empresses in the Palace"... Which female celebrity in the industry wouldn't want a script like these these days?

Hu Bingqing also looked on with longing, gazing at the luxurious RV of the top female celebrity in front of him, and sighed: "Yes, it's so enviable."

But for now, let's be realistic and focus on playing our supporting roles well and making them stand out. We have to take things one step at a time.

In another corner of the rest area, Chen Xiao and Huang Xuan finished rehearsing a scene and stopped to catch their breath, each taking a few sips of water from their water bottles.

Huang Xuan flipped through the script, which was noticeably thinner, and a helpless, bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"Teacher Chen, looking at it this way, wouldn't you say we've had a tough time before the sweetness comes? Once we've memorized these key lines, things seem much easier later on."

His tone was clearly self-deprecating. In the new script, the roles of these two nominal "male leads" have been significantly reduced, and their functional roles have been clearly defined.

Chen Xiao's face was also filled with helplessness, and he gently shook his head.

Liu Shishi is undoubtedly the lead actress in the drama, and her status is undeniable. She insisted on highlighting the female lead's career storyline, so the entire production team naturally had to cooperate.

The original romantic entanglement between the two male leads was cut into pieces, and their roles were completely transformed into "important NPCs" in the female lead's career storyline.

One is the emperor who appreciates the heroine's medical skills and provides her with a platform and support; the other is a powerful figure who has ideological clashes with the heroine but is ultimately impressed by her medical skills.

All interactions with the female lead are based on politics, medicine, and court intrigue, with no romantic elements whatsoever. Being jokingly called a "tool" isn't entirely unjustified. "Try to think positively," Chen Xiao, being more experienced, quickly adjusted his mindset and comforted the somewhat dejected Huang Xuan.

"I'm just here to build relationships and network. Being able to work well with my senior sister and leave a good impression is more important than anything else. There's still a long road ahead."

Huang Xuan wasn't one to dwell on things, so he nodded in agreement: "That's true."

He knew very well that even if he was just a "supporting male lead," it was still a top-tier resource. Countless young actors of his age would do anything to get a chance to appear in the show, so he had nothing to complain about.

The atmosphere eased slightly, and Huang Xuan suddenly remembered something, his eyes filled with envy as he looked up at Chen Xiao.

"Teacher Chen, I heard that Yu Zheng's studio is interested in remaking 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' and has invited you to play Yang Guo? Jin Yong dramas are a big IP, and their viewership is very stable. Congratulations!"

With a hint of sourness in his tone, Chen Xiao, backed by the powerful Tengda Culture and being a top-tier entrepreneur himself, had access to external resources that were the envy of many.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao felt even more helpless and waved his hand with a headache, saying, "Don't even mention it, Teacher Yu Zheng is best at this..."

"The Return of the Condor Heroes is still in the planning stage, there's no confirmation of its establishment yet, it's barely a done deal, and the news is already flying everywhere. I really don't know what to say!"

He then composed himself, his tone becoming serious, even tinged with bitterness, and began to recount his grievances, half-truthfully and half-jokingly:
"The previous versions of 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' were all classics! Andy Lau, Louis Koo, and Derek Yee, weren't they all masterpieces?"
The pressure of remaking a film now is immense! A good performance is expected, but a bad one will be ridiculed by the entire internet.

To be honest, given my current situation, taking on this kind of rebranding project is too risky. Both the company and I are still carefully evaluating it, and we might not accept it.

Upon hearing this, Huang Xuan couldn't help but secretly roll his eyes, thinking to himself: This is truly a case of the well-fed not knowing the hunger of the starving; he can play Yang Guo but he's still being picky!

Chen Xiao keenly caught that fleeting expression, chuckled, patted Huang Xuan on the shoulder, and said sincerely:

"Teacher Huang, if you are really interested in the 'Condor Heroes' project, I can help you introduce it to Teacher Yu Zheng."

It's unlikely for Yang Guo, but getting important supporting roles like Yelü Qi or Huo Du shouldn't be a problem.

As she spoke, she gave Huang Xuan a special look and added, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "I think you have a straightforward quality about you, so you might be quite suitable to play Wu Dunru."

Upon hearing this, Huang Xuan's slight annoyance vanished instantly, and a delighted smile immediately spread across his face.

"Oh, thank you so much, Teacher Chen! Please put in a good word for me when you have the chance!"

He is currently in a stage where he urgently needs exposure and to build national recognition, and he basically accepts any significant resources that come his way.

Chen Xiao smiled and said in a calm tone, "You're too kind. We're just helping each other out."

Inside the studio, where the light is focused, Liu Shishi, playing Tan Yunxian, is sitting elegantly behind an antique table.

She wore a long, dark blue ancient-style dress, the fabric of which was clear and bright, like a pool of clear spring water flowing quietly.

The eldest sister's hair was styled in a high bun, her face was beautiful, her expression was focused and peaceful, and she exuded a classical temperament as elegant and composed as an orchid in a deep valley.

Beside her, He Qing, who played the Empress Dowager, stared intently at Liu Shishi, her eyes filled with admiration and a sense of nostalgia as if from another world.

It was as if I saw my younger self in the calm and elegance of the leading lady.

Meanwhile, the actresses Jin Chen, Li Chengyuan, and others in the same scene, though also dressed appropriately, couldn't help but look at Liu Shishi with a mixture of amazement and undisguised envy.

It's no secret that the production team of "The Imperial Doctress" invested heavily in costumes.

Liu Shishi's character needs to gradually rise from a folk healer to a court physician and even a noble concubine, requiring her to wear more than fifty different costumes.

Each outfit was exquisitely designed, and the cost of one person's costume accounted for more than half of the entire production crew's costume budget.

In comparison, while the costumes of these supporting characters were also well-made, they were far inferior in terms of quantity, exquisiteness, and cost.

She's definitely a supporting actress, destined to be compared and "outshone" by viewers after the series airs.

"That's a wrap!" Li Guoli's voice came through the loudspeaker, breaking the silence on set.

Upon hearing the sound, Liu Shishi, who was in front of the camera, relaxed slightly from her tense and focused state, and breathed a sigh of relief. The morning's scenes had finally come to a successful end.

Assistant Su Xiaoxiao ran over quickly and handed over a thermos: "Senior Sister Shi, quickly drink some hot water to soothe your throat."

She looked at the eldest sister's pretty face carefully for a moment, then asked with concern, "Sister, are you alright? You look a little tired."

Liu Shishi took the water glass, nodded slightly, and said softly, "It's alright."

After significant script revisions, the time originally dedicated to showcasing the romance between the male and female leads was entirely replaced with scenes depicting the female lead's growth in medical skills, including studying medical texts, gathering herbs, practicing acupuncture, and treating patients.

These professional scenes required her to spend a lot of extra energy learning and imitating them, striving for both physical and spiritual accuracy. The continuous filming did make her feel a little tired.

She took a few sips of warm water and was about to get up and go back to the lounge to rest when the executive producer hurried over and respectfully asked, "Sister Shi, excuse me."

Several reporters from CCTV's drama channel have arrived, hoping to interview you and Director Li to promote our drama in advance. What do you think...?

After a moment's thought, Liu Shishi readily agreed: "Okay. Please ask them to sit in the rest area for a while, I'll tidy up and then come over." CCTV has a huge influence, so she had to give them this courtesy.

"Okay, okay, I'll arrange it right away." The executive producer replied and left.

On the other side, the CCTV staff who had been led to a spacious rest area had barely sat down when they saw a beautiful woman in ancient costume walking gracefully towards them from afar.

With a composed gait and graceful demeanor, her exquisite costume appeared even more elegant and refined under the sunlight, as if carrying a cool, frosty aura, making her a sight to behold.

The lead female reporter, Wang Lan, couldn't help but whisper to her colleague, "I'd always heard people say that Liu Shishi was a 'chosen one from ancient times,' but seeing her on set today, I finally understand what that means. Her aura is absolutely amazing."

The people around him nodded in agreement, and the camera was already ready.

As Liu Shishi approached, Wang Lan immediately stepped forward with a professional smile on her face: "Hello, Ms. Liu, I'm sorry to disturb your filming."

I am Wang Lan, a reporter from CCTV. I would like to take this opportunity to conduct a brief interview with you and talk about the TV series "The Imperial Doctress".

Liu Shishi smiled gently and said in a warm voice, "Welcome. Please have a seat." She then took a seat in one of the prepared chairs, her posture remaining elegant.

Wang Lan sat down opposite her and looked closely at Liu Shishi's still beautiful face after washing away her makeup, as well as her gentle and calm demeanor that emanated from within. She felt a little ashamed of herself.

I quickly dismissed the thought, calmed myself down, adopted a professional attitude, and began the formal interview.

(Due to family matters, there will only be one update)
(End of this chapter)