Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 4 China Film
In the afternoon, following the address provided by my master, I drove to a villa area on the East Fourth Ring Road. Entering this place felt like entering another world.

The people living here are all extremely wealthy and powerful; villas costing hundreds of millions of yuan are scattered throughout the area.

After explaining the situation to the security guard and making a phone call, someone came out to meet them, and then they were able to drive their car in.

Chen Shou drove the car to the garage of a villa, opened the door, and followed his master into the villa.

"Teacher Yu is late, you were the only one missing."

Upon entering the villa, Chen Shouzhe realized what luxury truly meant. The lavish decor clearly cost a fortune. The first person to speak was a long-haired woman who looked vaguely familiar to Chen Shouzhe. It took him a moment to realize that she was Na Ying, a top-tier singer in the music industry.

"The performance lasted too late yesterday, so I got up a little late. Sorry, sorry." Yu Qian clasped his hands together and sat down skillfully at the mahjong table. The other two were also singers and actors, and the four of them got together to play mahjong.

Chen Shouzhe found these scenes in his memory. These people formed a small circle. Don't be fooled by Yu Qian's crosstalk performances; he's not just a director. He's also a singer who loves rock music, so he has many friends in the music industry, including some superstar singers.

Chen Shouzhe was watching and serving from the side, and there were also other assistants present.

Normally, Xiao Meng would accompany them, but they probably brought him here today to try and pull some strings.

After a while, Chen Shouzhe still couldn't sit still, so he took out his notebook and started writing. He had so much on his mind that he was afraid of forgetting it, so he quickly wrote it down.

"Teacher Yu, your assistant is quite good; she's still working."

While playing mahjong, Na-young took a sip of water and saw Chen Shou-zhe typing on the keyboard at the dining table. She smiled and said to Yu Qian.

“This is my apprentice. He just graduated from the directing department of Beijing Film Academy this year. I guess he’s working on a script again,” Yu Qian said with a smile, picking up a card.

"Hey, a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy's directing department. Deyun Society is going to produce a great director in the future," Zhou Xun, a man with a cigarette dangling from his lips and a husky voice, chuckled.

A social circle can be very large or very small. Friendships can only be maintained between people who are completely unrelated, because there are no vested interests involved.

The four people sitting here are all like that: a crosstalk comedian, a pop diva, a movie queen, and a rock star. They have no conflict of interest and actually get along well in private.

"Hehehe, I wouldn't call him a big director, but if my apprentice ever makes a movie, I'd appreciate your help," Yu Qian said, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture.

“No problem, just go by market price,” Zhou Xun said with a smile.

If it's a cameo role, they might give you face, but if it's a leading role or a major supporting role, face won't work. For them, their value can only go up, not down; once it goes down, it'll plummet.

"That's only right," Yu Qian said with a smile.

The game went on until evening. Na-young's assistant ordered a table of food from a restaurant, and after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they went home.

Having had a little wine, Teacher Yu sat in the back with his eyes closed, resting. Chen Shou drove silently, very slowly and steadily. Looking at the wrinkles on his master's face in the rearview mirror, he became even more determined to make a good movie.

It's likely that Mr. Yu attended today's card game on purpose, because two of the characters in his script are among the three people present today. If he can bring them in, it will definitely generate some buzz for the movie.

Chen Shouzhe understood in his heart that he knew the purpose of today's gathering without needing to say it outright.

The next morning, Chen Shouzhe got up early, ate his fill, and continued to help out at the horse farm for a while. After Yu Qian woke up, he greeted him and drove to the Rose Garden.

Today I'm going to my godfather's house. When I arrived, I chatted with my godmother, Wang Hui, for a while before going upstairs to the study.

“I’ve read your script several times. It’s a very mature script, but 20 million is not a sum of money. Deyun Society can only help you with a small part of it. The rest is up to you.”

"I've already contacted my teacher at the Beijing Film Academy, and he said he'd take me to China Film Group to give it a try. China Film Group has a support program every year, with special funding to support new directors," Chen Shouzhe said earnestly.

He was prepared; 20 million is no small sum, and some people can't earn that much money in their entire lives.

The hardest thing about making a movie is not having a script, a director, or actors, but having no money.

With money, you can have a whole bunch of celebrities playing with you, effortlessly defeating all sorts of martial arts masters, making everyone involuntarily call you "daddy." Without money, you can only beg and plead, clinging to others for investment.

“China Film Group is a state-owned enterprise, so that’s fine. You graduated from Beijing Film Academy anyway. Take some things to visit your teacher this afternoon.” As he spoke, Guo Degang looked around the study and found two cans of tea.

"Please take this to your teacher for me."

Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure; what about having two elders in the family?

The Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix?

Chen Shou left Rose Garden with great excitement, drove to his alma mater in Haiding District, and went directly to his teacher's office at the agreed time.

"Teacher." After knocking on the door, I entered the office and saw a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties looking at a computer screen, on which was the script he had written.

"I'm here to see you. I'm reading your script," Teacher Hou waved to Chen Shouzhe.

"Teacher, this is tea that my godfather asked me to bring for you." Chen Shou placed the tea on the table.

"Your godfather? Oh, Teacher Guo. Please thank Teacher Guo for me. Let's talk about your script first." Teacher Hou glanced at the tea leaves. They were indeed genuine tea leaves. He nodded and accepted them as a token of his student's respect.

"Is there a problem with the script, teacher?" Chen Shou asked nervously.

"Why did you want to make comedy films?" Teacher Hou asked, staring at Chen Shou.

Chen Shouzhe took a deep breath and said, "Teacher, I want to make money first."

"Oh? Why do we need to make money first?"

"Teachers and film directors generally have almost no chance of getting a big screen opportunity right after graduation unless they have a family background. My mentor and godfather gave me this opportunity, and I felt that I couldn't just do it on my own."

My godfather is right: learn to eat first before thinking about art. Otherwise, artists will starve to death, like Van Gogh. No matter how valuable his paintings are now, it has nothing to do with Van Gogh.

I want to make movies to earn money. Only when I have money can I make the movies I envision. But without money, who would be willing to make movies for me? I need to earn money first, and then..." Chen Shou said, becoming less and less confident, because he noticed that Teacher Hou's expression was somewhat serious.

"Ah~"

After a while, a sigh was heard.

"A penny can stump a hero," you're right. Filmmakers have their own pursuits, but investors are also concerned about returns. Directors and investors have always been at odds, which is why in Western countries, many profitable films are producer-centric, with the producer representing the investors.

"What you said isn't wrong. Comedy movies are fine too. I didn't mean to blame you. I've read the script, and it's very well-made. The storyboards are also great; you drew them very well. It's a very interesting script. I'll take you to China Film Group to try it out first. If they agree, then you can prepare to submit the script for review. Once China Film Group approves it, other investments will be easier. If all else fails, I'll try to get it done at Xi'an Film Studio and Shanghai Film Studio," said Teacher Hou.

"Thank you, teacher! Thank you, teacher!!!" Chen Shouzhe stood up and bowed.

Ninety-nine percent of hard work may not be worth one percent of the help of a benefactor. Many people rise to prominence because of a single person. Chen Shou sighed at the original owner's good fortune. He could never have imagined having such a good background in his previous life.

Since Teacher Hou had no classes in the afternoon, he took him directly to China Film Group.

There are many people in China Film Group. Every day, a large number of people come with scripts looking for investment. After all, China Film Group is a state-owned enterprise and shoulders the heavy responsibility of the national film industry. Sometimes, even if they know it is a bad film, they will still invest in it. If it becomes a hit or wins an award, it can represent the country's image.

Of course, there are those who are completely biased and win awards abroad by smearing the country's image, and then call it art.

Bah! How shameful.

Chen Shouzhe originally thought that Teacher Hou would just pick anyone, but he didn't expect to have arranged an appointment for him with a very important person.

(End of this chapter)