Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: You're a Director, But You're a Casanova?

On the other end of the phone, Niu Qun was clearly taken aback.

"Where did you hear this rumor, kid? I haven't told your father or your master either."

"However, the county does have this proposal, intending to revitalize these non-performing assets, contract them out to private individuals, and invest all the proceeds in special education. Isn't this doing a practical thing for the people?"

"Apply for TMXXXX".

"Sir, the waterworks and schools are vital to people's lives. You're just a figurehead, a deputy county head in name only, leading the privatization of these things. Do you know who will ultimately get this piece of the pie?"

"You probably can't guess who those people are connected to. But they made money through dishonest means, while ordinary people's water bills and tuition fees went up. In the end, who's the one who's cursing? They're cursing you, Niu Qun."

"You think you're using your assets for charity, but in other people's eyes, you're just a sitting duck, taking the brunt of their attacks."

"Grandpa, you're a crosstalk performer. Your greatest asset isn't the money in your bag, but the trust that the people have in your face."

"This is your only intangible asset. As long as you maintain a clean reputation, you will be able to raise funds wherever you go."

"If you ruin your reputation for this little hole, who will trust you in the future? What will happen to the children's education expenses? You're killing the goose that lays the golden eggs."

There was a deathly silence on the other end of the phone.

The old man is a simple artist, full of passion. His longtime partner Feng Gong and his mentor had tried to persuade him, but he just wanted to do something practical for the people.

But now, precisely because Niu Yuehua's words are pragmatic and realistic enough, they have served as a bucket of cold water, waking up the fervent idealism in Niu Qun's mind.

After a while.

"Uncle understands." Niu Qun's voice was a little hoarse. "I will suppress this matter to the end. You should study hard in the capital and not use all your cunning to scheme against people. In the end, there are still more good people than bad in the world."

"Alright, drink more water and smoke less, take care of yourself."

After hanging up the phone, Niu Yuehua smiled with relief. This time it should be settled; the Niu family's reputation was preserved.

Niu Yuehua stretched contentedly and sent a message to Boss Wang while washing his feet.

[The commercial street scene will start filming promptly at 10 PM tomorrow night.]

After sending the text message and pouring out the water, Niu Yuehua lay sprawled on the bed and fell asleep a few minutes later, carefree and oblivious to everything.

At this very moment, in three other corners of the capital city.

In the drama troupe's dormitory, Zhang Yi stared at the ceiling, his excitement palpable. He kept rehearsing the oppressive and depraved script in his mind, unable to close his eyes.

In the freshman dormitory at the Central Academy of Drama, Tong Yao tossed and turned, and whenever she closed her eyes, the image of that young director was always on her mind.

His casual "Director Huang" sounded like a curse. She didn't know what she would face tomorrow night, and the fear of the unknown sent chills down her spine.

On the other side, Tang Yan was hugging a pillow, drooling, and sleeping soundly.

……

The next morning, Niu Yuehua was eating a jianbing (Chinese crepe) while frantically calling for help with his Nokia phone.

Regular film studio photography teams are too expensive, and students in school don't have much experience. Mr. Niu, after a moment's thought, decided to try and leverage his master's and uncle's connections at the television station.

"Master, I have a big project worth several million. I urgently need a few skilled and discreet workers. They don't need to be big shots, just the kind who want to earn some extra money on weekends and aren't picky."

During the lunch break, two middle-aged men on bicycles arrived at the entrance of Beijing Film Academy.

One of them, carrying a camera with peeling paint, is Old Li, who films stories of getting rich for the agricultural channel year after year. The other, carrying two tattered reflectors, is Old Zhao, who provides lighting for the legal news program.

These two usually film either sows giving birth or anti-pornography and anti-illegal publication operations. Their main selling point is shaky camera work, which they use to create a sense of realism.

Old Li wiped his sweat. "Director Niu, is this multi-million dollar project just the two of us?"

"Uncle Li, broaden your perspective. When you film sows guarding their food, don't their eyes look especially pure?"

Old Li nodded blankly.

"I'm asking you to film people today. Film people in dire straits, fighting to keep their jobs, that kind of desperate protectiveness where they'd give up even their dignity."

"No need for a tripod, just handheld, to achieve that shaky, breathless spying feeling."

"I'll pay you 300 yuan in cash a day, plus meals and cigarettes. Want to work?"

For the sake of his 300 yuan stash of savings, Lao Li reluctantly took the job.

……

At 8 p.m., Mr. Niu's first makeshift team began applying makeup in a rented, dilapidated van.

To save that 50 yuan, Liu Xiaoli reluctantly took on the role of makeup artist herself.

Tong Yao sat on a small stool, her heart pounding. This was her first leading role, even though the script seemed a bit twisted. She eagerly anticipated that Aunt Liu would paint her beautifully.

Just then, Niu Yuehua squeezed in. "Xiao Li, stop for a moment."

Liu Xiaoli looked displeased: "Mr. Niu, you should at least call me 'Auntie'."

"There are no aunties here, only my crew members." Niu Yuehua skillfully used psychological manipulation.

Niu Yuehua frowned as he looked at the foundation that Tong Yao had just applied to her face.

"Don't put so much putty on her face. She's playing a desperate businesswoman whose husband is burdened with high-interest loans and paralyzed in bed, not an office lady going on a blind date. Make her look even more pitiful, and deepen her dark circles."

As she spoke, she pinched Tong Yao's chin and examined her from left to right.

"See this jawline?" Niu Yuehua said to Liu Xiaoli in a low voice. "Draw it like Zhang Ziyi in 'The Road Home' and 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.' Make the eyebrows a bit more stubborn and press the corners of the mouth down."

"I want the audience to think, 'Wow, Zhang Ziyi went bankrupt and is now selling noodles,' from the very first glance."

Upon hearing this, Tong Yao's eyes welled up with tears. She hated being called "Little Zhang Ziyi" at school; it felt like her self-respect as a professional actress was being trampled on.

"Director Niu," Tong Yao retorted, "I am Tong Yao. I am not someone else's shadow. I am an actress, and I have my own unique qualities."

Niu Yuehua chuckled, released her chin, and looked down at the arrogant freshman.

"Your special quality? Your special quality is that you walk down the street and not even a dog would recognize you." Niu Yuehua's words were piercing and incisive.

"Zhang Ziyi is an international movie star now. Do you think our late-night viewers have the time to understand the inner world of a self-proclaimed newcomer?"

"I let you use her face to ride her coattails. This similar face can save us at least 50 yuan in advertising costs!"

"When you can carry a box office of 1000 million on your own, then come and talk to me about your artistic qualities."

"Now, in this film crew, whoever I make you resemble, that's who you become, Hua."

After saying that, he leaned close to the nursery rhyme's ear and whispered:

"You don't actually think Director Huang chose you as number one because of your excellent acting skills, do you?"

"If it weren't for this face, you wouldn't even be qualified to enroll."