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

The traffic police officer replied expressionlessly, "We received an urgent notice from above that this week is designated as Gunma Prefecture Tourism and Environmental Protection Promotion Week in order to protect the natural environment."

"Starting today, traffic control will be implemented along the entire Akina Mountain route for three consecutive days."

"All heavy-duty diesel trucks, regardless of whether they are empty or loaded, are prohibited from passing."

The production manager immediately lost his temper.

"Three days? Are you kidding me? My machine rental fee is over ten thousand yuan a day. Who's going to pay for three more days?"

The traffic police ignored him completely, and after posting the notice, they simply parked their police car across the intersection.

Liu Yuehua, who was not far away, saw the production manager jumping up and down anxiously at the intersection. He walked over, patted the production manager on the shoulder, and spoke sincerely and with great understanding.

"Oh well, the Japanese are just stubborn and environmentally conscious."

"As you said before, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and prioritize the greater good."

"Since there are traffic police watching over it, the equipment won't get stolen if it's left here. It's fine."

The production manager almost yawned.

"The machine can't be lost, but it's burning through money every day."

That's my money! If they shut it down for three days, how much money will I lose? Am I supposed to thank them?

Liu Yuehua ignored the production manager's wailing and turned to walk towards the crew members who were cleaning up the set.

The crew members at the bottom of the production team only care about money. They are paid on a daily basis through labor contracts. Since the machines can't move, they have no work to do, which means they only get their basic salary.

This is the most difficult thing for migrant workers who come out to earn a living through hard work.

He found a translator named Xiao Li and addressed the group of technicians:

"Everyone, since we can't move the machines, and we're just killing time tonight anyway, I've personally funded a freelance job in China."

"For three consecutive days, participants will receive double overtime pay each day, paid daily in cash. Are you in?"

The eyes of several crew members lit up instantly.

"Director Liu, we'll shoot wherever you point."

Liu Yuehua nodded in satisfaction. This way, the money wouldn't be used for official accounting, and there would be no grounds for criticism.

Using the money from Japanese reparations, they freeload off the machinery of capitalism and make their own films.

Cool!

At 11 p.m. that night, at the hotel booked by the film crew.

After finishing their daytime announcements, most people had already drifted off to sleep.

Edison Chen, whose role was already small, had just finished showering, sprayed some perfume in front of the mirror, and was about to change into his trendy clothes to go to a nearby nightclub to relax.

Tang Yan sat in front of the dressing table, carefully drawing her eyebrows, wanting to give Director Liu another surprise tonight.

Wang Baoqiang was vigorously scrubbing his work shoes, which he had brought with him, in the sink.

Liu Xiaoli was flipping through a magazine about body management in her room.

A moment later, the silence of the corridor was broken by urgent banging on the door.

Ten minutes later, four people stood in Liu Yuehua's hotel room, looking completely bewildered.

Although Chen Guanxi was unhappy, he still patiently spoke up.

"Director Liu, what kind of meeting is this in the middle of the night? My schedule is already finished. I'm going to have some fun tonight."

Tang Yan, hiding her half-applied makeup, sat in the corner of the sofa, yawning repeatedly.

Liu Yuehua ignored Chen Guanxi's complaints and distributed the four copies of the script that he had printed that afternoon to the four people.

"Wake up, all of you." Liu Yuehua's gaze swept over the four people in front of him.

"The machines cost tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars a day to rent, and now they're stuck on the mountain, gathering dust. Seeing so many production tools sitting idle keeps me up at night. It's a complete waste of film and television resources."

Liu Xiaoli asked hesitantly:

"Director Liu, what do you mean?"

"What I mean is, since the equipment can't be taken down the mountain, let's do some side jobs."

"Look at the scripts in your hands. Starting today, for three consecutive days, we will work from midnight to 5 a.m. every day. We will use the free time at night to shoot this movie."

"Are you kidding me?" Edison Chen finally couldn't hold back anymore, without even looking at the script.

"Shooting a movie in three days?"

"Director Liu, do you think this is taking photos?"

"Besides, my contract only covers Initial D, I didn't sign any other contracts with you."

"Overcome difficulties if they arise."

Tang Yan's eyes widened, thinking she had misheard.

"Is Director Liu making us work for free again?"

What does it mean to work for free?

Liu Yuehua has once again resorted to his most proficient methods: shifting concepts and using PUA logic to brainwash people.

"This is called broadening your acting range."

"Some of you didn't film my previous works, 'Comet' and 'Peng Zu,' so you don't understand."

"I finished filming two movies in one weekend."

"One film was a box office smash, and the other won critical acclaim and awards—a double success."

"Do you still have doubts about me?"

"Do you usually want to work on scripts that rely entirely on acting skills? The investors probably think you can't carry the box office."

"Now I'm going to direct for you for free, and I'll provide the lighting and filming services for you for free. This is my masterclass for you."

Liu Yuehua pointed at Edison Chen and said, "Stop playing those idol types with that crooked smile all the time."

"The male lead in this script is a hypocritical and scumbag businessman. You can basically just play yourself. If you do a good job, you'll get a Hong Kong Film Award nomination next year."

He then looked at Liu Xiaoli and said, "Sister Xiaoli, you shouldn't be following Qianqian around like a babysitter all day long."

"In this play, you play a mother who pretends to be a lawyer in order to seek revenge."

"You've established this character well; you'll be Sissi's role model from now on. Don't you want to see her look at you with admiration?"

Finally, Liu Yuehua looked around and his tone became low.

"Of course, you can choose to refuse. We are a civilized film crew and we don't force you."

"If anyone doesn't want to take pictures, they can leave this room."

"I will absolutely not threaten you with your scenes in 'Initial D,' and I definitely will not cut your scenes."

"Now that I've finished speaking, who agrees? Who disagrees?"

The group of people looked at each other for a long time, bewildered.

Liu Xiaoli was about to speak, but seeing Liu Yuehua's gaze, she ultimately lowered her head.

Wang Baoqiang was the first to step forward.

"I'll do whatever Director Liu tells me to do!"

Tang Yan originally intended to take advantage of Liu Yuehua's favor, but seeing Liu Yuehua's cold eyes, she lowered her head and agreed.

Seeing that everyone had agreed, Chen Guanxi secretly rolled his eyes at Wang Baoqiang, and finally nodded helplessly in agreement.

……

Lake Haruna, on the back side of Mount Akina, at 1 a.m.

The altitude is even lower here.

The cold wind blowing from the lake was chilling.

According to the script, the main event here is that after the male protagonist has a car accident, in order to cover up his crime, he pushes the victim's car and body into the lake to destroy the evidence.

Liu Yuehua couldn't bear to use the GTR that Han Han had won.

He spent 2 yen to buy an old Toyota sedan that was almost falling apart from a local junkyard, and then drove it up the road shakily and unsteadily.

"All departments, take your positions. Dim the lights, we want that cool vibe."

"Don't let the audience find fault with my prop car."

Liu Yuehua, wrapped in a red down jacket he had tricked from Liu Yifei, directed Chen Guanxi to dive into the water.

Edison Chen stood on the edge of the lake, wearing a thin suit.

The temperature in the mountains at night is close to 0 degrees Celsius, let alone in the water.

He had just put his ankle in when he bounced back as if he'd been electrocuted.

"It's cold, it's so cold, Director Liu, there's ice in the water." Edison Chen was so cold that he started speaking Cantonese.