This director is so innocent.

Chapter 124 Architect Jiang: I Rely on Myself

"How is it?"

Su Jin smiled slightly and said softly.

"Director Su, I'm impressed." Jiang Wei clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, deeply admiring him.

Huang Jiaqiang gave his boss a thumbs up, while Zhang Hongzhen smiled broadly, his eyes full of surprise.

If he had only valued Su Jin's popularity before, now he has a premonition that "Lurking" will definitely be a hit.

"Mr. Su, when are you available?"

"I'll have to wait until the beginning of next year; I have two movies to film later," Su Jin replied with a smile.

"OK, how about we start filming at the end of February or the beginning of March?" Zhang Hongzhen asked.

"Okay." Su Jin nodded gently.

"President Su, do you have any recommendations for the female lead?" Zhang Hongzhen asked.

Generally speaking, film and television companies usually engage in artist management, keeping the profits within the company.

Dongyang Qingyu doesn't work as an artist manager and doesn't have many actresses she frequently collaborates with.

None of the directors had a particular "goddess" in mind; casting was based on the characters themselves. They had worked with Mei Ting, Che Xiao, Zeng Li, and Zhang Xinyi before.

"No, it's fine as long as President Zhang and Director Jiang decide." Su Jin shook her head slightly, then added in her mind, "As long as you don't choose Yao Dazui."

Too Holy Mother.

"Any other roles, Mr. Su, would you like to take?"

I'll get back to you in a couple of days!

OK.

Seeing that the discussion about "Lurking" was almost over, Su Jin glanced at Huang Jiaqiang, who, sensing her interest, said, "Mr. Zhang, Jianmu is about to start a project. I wonder if your company would be interested in participating?"

"Oh? What kind of subject matter?" Zhang Hongzhen asked with interest.

"It's an urban romance drama, revolving around mortgage slaves, mistresses, and corrupt officials—it's a TV series adapted from Liu Liu's novel 'Dwelling Narrowness'," Huang Jiaqiang explained.

Zhang Hongzhen was somewhat disappointed when he heard it was a TV series; he had thought it was a movie!

However, it would be nice to collaborate on a TV series.

Who is the director? Who are they planning to cast for the male and female leads?

Dongyang Qingyu had always wanted to make movies. After the huge success of "Lurking", he approached Ge You to develop "Gasping for Breath".

With a budget of 3000 million and a box office of 4000 million, the company lost so much money that it never dared to set foot in the film industry again.

"The director is Teng Huatao, and the male and female leads have not yet been determined."

"Okay, have the costs been calculated?"

"Yes, tentatively set at 20 million, with Jianmu taking 30%."

"How much share is left?"

"The project has just been approved, and it's only 70% complete yet. However, we plan to bring in Shanghai Runhe and Xinbaoyuan, plus a television station."

.

Zhang Hongzhen thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll invest 20%."

OK.

We chatted for a while longer, and the event ended around 10 o'clock.

After seeing Zhang Hongzhen and Jiang Wei off, Su Jin took out a Little Panda cigarette and handed it to Huang Jiaqiang.

He lit the lighter, handed it to Huang Jiaqiang, and exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Old Huang, tomorrow morning, bring the company's artists to the company and give them the two scripts, 'Dwelling Narrowness' and 'Lurking,' so they can choose for themselves."

"it is good."

"Regarding 'Lurking,' you served as the producer and executive producer, and you handled the subsequent coordination with them."

"What about 'Dwelling Narrowness'?"

"Regarding 'Dwelling Narrowness,' please inform Chen Zhixi and ask her to be the producer."

"7

"it is good."

The next day, in the morning.

Jianmu Media Conference Room.

The air was thick with the smell of smoke.

Ni Dahong, Wang Jinsong, Luo Jin, and Lu Fangsheng were all heavy smokers, each with a cigarette in their hand.

"Luo Jin, you're familiar with the boss, so why did he call us over?" Ni Dahong asked.

"I don't know, I was also notified at the last minute." Luo Jin shook his head.

"Where's Xiao Lu?!"

"I don't know either."

"Click."

The conference room door opened, and Huang Jiaqiang, Zhao Shan, and Chen Zhixi walked in.

Behind Zhao Shan was a short-haired girl, who looked like a tomboy. Her name was Jiao Junyan, and she was Yang Mi's classmate.

When the leader arrived, the four heavy smokers stubbed out their cigarettes and sat up straight.

Huang Jiaqiang glanced at Zhao Shan, who understood and whispered to Jiao Junyan beside her, "Give them the script you have."

"Okay." Jiao Junyan picked up eight scripts and handed them out, two to each person.

When the message reached Luo Jin, he asked curiously, "Junyan, what are you doing here?"

"I signed with Senior Brother Su's company!" Jiao Junyan winked at him, then returned to her seat.

Huang Jiaqiang, who was sitting at the head of the table, said, "These are the projects that the company is preparing to develop. They are all projects with an investment of more than 20 million. Except for the male lead, you can choose whichever one you like."

Oh wow.

So arrogant.

The four of them picked up the script and started reading. When they saw that "Lurking" was still just an outline, they had some doubts.

However, when they finished watching it, they were amazed.

This script is amazing!

"You've finished watching it? Tell me about it!"

"Mr. Huang, may I ask who plays Yu Zecheng?" Ni Dahong asked.

"Boss," Huang Jiaqiang said directly.

"————" The four of them exchanged glances, and they could all see the surprise in each other's eyes.

He's already a director with hundreds of millions in revenue, why is he still acting in TV dramas?

"What? Is there a problem?" Huang Jiaqiang frowned slightly, his eyes sharp as he stared intently at the four of them.

Upon seeing him like that, the four of them felt a tightness in their chests, and swallowed back the words they were about to say.

"No, no problem." Ni Dahong quickly shook his head and said with a forced smile, "I'm just a little surprised."

""

"Do you guys think that since the boss is already a director with hundreds of millions in revenue, it's beneath him to act in a TV series?"

"No, how could that be?" The four of them shook their heads repeatedly, denying it.

Huang Jiaqiang gave them a cold look. "The boss once said that movies and TV series are art forms that serve the public. There is no distinction between high and low, only passion."

When you come across a good script, don't overthink it. As long as you like it and the general public likes it, that's all that matters.

When you become fixated on the distinction between high and low, you will forget your original aspirations and succumb to desires. You will no longer be an actor, but a tool for pursuing fame and fortune.

After saying this, Huang Jiaqiang didn't look at them again, stood up, and left the conference room.

The four of them looked at each other, and a silence fell over them.

Jiao Junyan shrank back and looked down at the table.

Good grief, on my first day at work, I saw the boss lose his temper.

Zhao Shan and Chen Zhixi exchanged a glance, and the former said, "Alright, don't think too much about it. You may have different reasons for choosing to become actors."

But I hope you will respect it, rather than simply treat it as a tool for making money, as that will hinder your long-term success.

After Bose left, Luo Jin joked, "Sister Shan, my heart is pure: make money, make money, and make more money."

"

"Hahaha————" Everyone chuckled softly.

Luo Jin's words eased the atmosphere considerably.

Zhao Shan laughed and scolded, "Luo Jin, shut up. Let me introduce you to the company's newest employee, Jiao Junyan, the boss's junior colleague."

"Greetings, seniors." Jiao Junyan stood up, bowed, and greeted them.

"Hello." Everyone waved and greeted them.

After Jiao Junyan sat down, Zhao Shan said, "You've all read the script, so you can discuss it with each other and give me an answer before you leave work at noon."

By the way, the project is still in the confidential stage; the script can only be viewed here and cannot be taken out.

After saying that, she said to Jiao Junyan, "Jiao, you stay with them and bring the script back to me after you've finished reading it."

"Okay, Sister Shan."

After Zhao Shan and Chen Zhixi left, they went to Su Jin's office.

Once inside, you can hear Huang Jiaqiang flattering you.

"Boss, you have no idea, when I used your words, I stunned them all. None of them dared to look me in the eye."

Su Jin chuckled twice.

Huang Jiaqiang's words were intentional, mainly because he realized that Luo Jin had really become greedy and obsessed with money.

The role of "Hua Zi" already made him somewhat famous, but the song "Wrong Wrong Wrong" further boosted his popularity.

He frequently performs at commercial events, which has greatly increased his temper, causing him to turn down many acting roles.

"You're here, have a seat."

When Su Jin saw Zhao Shan and Chen Zhixi come in, she poured them each a cup of tea.

"Thank you, boss." The two picked up their teacups and took a small sip.

Zhao Shan felt it tasted better than before, leaving a lingering fragrance on her lips and teeth. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Boss, your tea-making skills have improved tremendously!"

"It's not that my tea skills have improved dramatically, it's just that tea is expensive. The Bai Mao Jian from Guizhou province costs more than 50,000 yuan per tael."

"So expensive? Then I'll have to drink a few more sips."

"Hahaha----"

Upon hearing that it was so expensive, Chen Zhixi and Huang Jiaqiang drank a few more sips.

"How's the preparation for 'The Invisible Guest' going?" Su Jin asked Zhao Shan.

Zhao Shan is the producer of "The Invisible Guest," and she was responsible for the production team's preparation and the invitation of actors.

"It's basically finished, and we can start filming in the middle of next month," Zhao Shan replied.

"What about Gong Li and Sun Honglei?"

"They have no problems either, they're just waiting to start the machine."

"Junyan isn't quite right for the role of the lover; she's too inexperienced. Ask Fan Bingbing if she'd be willing. If she's not, then go to Shanghai Xing'an Music Company and poach someone named Wan Qian."

"Boss, I think there's someone who would be a good fit."

"Who is it!"

"Gao Lu, who works under Xu Li at Chengtian Shijiu, is beautiful and should be playing the role of a Qingyi (a type of female role in Peking Opera). Xu Li really wasted her potential."

Gao Lu is not famous; her only well-known role is that of the eldest sister-in-law in "All Is Well," who is also Xiaomi's mother.

She's not strikingly beautiful, but rather pleasing to the eye. She has a dignified and gentle appearance, making her particularly suitable for playing the role of a virtuous wife and loving mother.

She would be quite suitable for the role of a lover, and there would be a sense of contrast.

But judging from Zhao Shan's words, it seems she might not be the right fit and they want to poach her.

"Are you planning to poach her?"

"right."

"Okay, if Fan Bingbing doesn't want to, then you can ask her. You can also give her Haiping from 'Dwelling Narrowness'."

Actually, Da Meiyuan is quite suitable for the role of the lover, but she is unavailable because she is filming "Nanjing! Nanjing!".

There's another person who would be quite suitable, Sister Ge.

With a center-parted, wavy hairstyle, the feeling of a lover instantly comes through; you can take inspiration from Han Han's "Red Tea" look in "The Continent".

However, Ge Meimei was also busy, as she was filming the movie "The Passing Car".

"You could also give her the role of Xu Baofeng, the station chief's wife in 'Lurking'."

"Thank you, boss." Zhao Shan said excitedly.

Although the lover's role in "The Invisible Guest" is still uncertain.

But with the female lead from "Dwelling Narrowness" and Xu Baofeng from "Lurking," and with some resources, poaching talent would be a piece of cake.

"Junyan, do you see if there are any suitable roles for her in 'Dwelling Narrowness'? You could let her get a role and make her a familiar face."

"it is good."

After discussing "The Invisible Guest," Su Jin asked Huang Jiaqiang, "Old Huang, what's Wuershan up to lately?"

"When he was working on his 'Painted Skin,' he was either checking on the set construction progress or discussing it with the storyboard artist."

Seeing that everything was proceeding smoothly, Su Jin let them go back to their work.

Then he went to Shen Haobo to ask about the progress of the "Building a Wooden Pavilion".

The progress is going well; the main framework has been erected, and it is estimated that it will be open for business in May or June next year.

The main frame is not made of cement, but of steel, so it can be assembled relatively quickly.

After that, I went to 7 o'clock again to check on the situation.

Everything is going smoothly at 7 o'clock, and we are far ahead.

It's even more powerful than the original timeline, with a market share exceeding 60%. Shanda's acquisition... is no match for it at all.

The main reason is that he and Shen Haobo don't like micro-management like Shanda and interfere with the decisions of the ruthless ones, which is why Qidian developed so rapidly.

Back in the office, I took out my phone and called Architect Jiang.

The reason I contacted her was, of course, to discuss my role in the TV series "Dwelling Narrowness".

When he first thought of the character "Haizao," he felt that she was a perfect fit for architect Jiang.

"Hey—how come you, such a busy person, have time to call me!" Architect Jiang said with a smile.

"I've got some good news for you!"

"Have you finished writing the song for me?"

Upon hearing the good news, Architect Jiang immediately thought of Su Jin's promise to write a song for her.

Speaking of this, she regretted not listening to Su Jin before. Why did she want something so elegant? Something simple and common would have been much better.

Look at Luo Jin, he's so popular now.

"No, there's a role that would be perfect for you."

Upon hearing this, Architect Jiang was a little disappointed, but his mood improved when he heard about the role. "What role?"

"Do you know Liu Liu? I bought the film and television adaptation rights to her novel 'Dwelling Narrowness'."

"I know, you're planning to adapt it into a TV series?"

"Yes, the role we've given you is the second female lead."

"The second female lead!"

"Disapproving? Although she's the second female lead, the character is outstanding and has a lot of screen time. If she performs well, she'll definitely become famous."

"Really? You're not kidding me, are you?"

"When have I ever lied to you? If you had listened to my pop songs before, you might be as famous as Luo Jin now."

"Can I change it now?"

"able."

Hearing Su Jin's straightforward answer, Architect Jiang hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "Let's forget about it!"

"what ever."

"Can you give me that song this month? My album is going to be released in December."

"I think so!"

"What does 'can' mean? 'Can' means 'can,' and 'can't' means 'can't.'"

"How can I be sure about inspiration? I asked you for popular songs, but you didn't want any." Su Jin's tone suddenly rose eight notches.

"Don't be angry, I apologize, I'm sorry, but you really have to give it to me as soon as possible, I was planning to use your song as the title track!"

I still have a music video to shoot, so if you give it to me at the end of next month, it won't be in time.

Su Jin thought for a moment and said, "I'll try to give it to you by the end of this month."

Upon hearing this, Architect Jiang gave Su Jin no chance to back out and immediately said, "You said it yourself. I didn't force you. You're a big-name director with hundreds of millions in assets. You can't go back on your word. You have to keep your promise."

"Okay, I said it."

Seeing that the song was settled, Architect Jiang felt relieved and in a good mood. He then turned to ask about "Dwelling Narrowness".

When will filming for the TV series "Dwelling Narrowness" begin?

"I don't know, it was just approved, and it'll probably be back by the end of the year."

"OK, I'll come back to see you at the end of the month."

"Hmm, the role I'm giving you is Hai Zao, the younger sister of the female lead Hai Ping. Go buy a copy of the novel 'Dwelling Narrowness' and think about it some more."

You'll be acting opposite seasoned, experienced actors. If you can't keep up, don't expect me to save you.

"Don't worry, I won't count on you. I, Jiang Yiyan, never use my background to intimidate people on set; I rely on my abilities."

"So you're using your connections to intimidate people off the field?"

"I rely on myself off-screen too. That's all I have to say. I have to go film now. Bye."

"Bye-Bye."

I'd like to change the book title. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Please, thank you so much!

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