Chinese Entertainment: Directors Start with the Fairy Sister

Chapter 52 Celestial Heart's Desire, Arrival in Berlin (Seeking First Subscriptions)

"Director Kang, what is your budget?"

Kang Honglei was delighted upon hearing this, and looked at Zhao Yanxi carefully before saying, "I plan to make 30 episodes, with a budget of 40 per episode, oh no, 35."

Ten thousand is enough; the total budget is approximately 1050 million!

After a pause, Kang Honglei continued, "At most, the August 1st Film Festival can produce half of it, since it's a military-themed film."

"How about this," Zhao Yanxi said after thinking for a moment, "this amount of money isn't much, we can definitely afford to invest it."

"But does this kind of military-themed film need the endorsement of the August First Film Studio? After all, it involves weapons, props, and troupe performances, etc."

"If Bayi is willing to invest and endorse, we can let them invest first, and we will make up the rest; if Bayi doesn't care about investment and supports the filming, we will invest fully."

"We won't interfere with casting or filming; everything will be done according to your requirements. We'll just send a producer as usual. What do you think?"

"Of course...of course!"

Kang Honglei was stunned for a long time before he realized what was happening.

"Thank you, Director Zhao!"

Kang Honglei acted swiftly, and within just one day, he gave Zhao Yanxi a clear reply: the 181st Factory could opt out of the investment and encouraged private enterprises to invest in military-themed works.

They were willing to provide weapons and equipment, filming props, and even coordinate support from troop extras.

Since the August First Film Studio had given the green light, Zhao Yanxi didn't hesitate and had Yang Siwei, who had just returned from his hometown, formally sign the investment agreement with Kang Honglei.

The news of Kang Hongleila's investment is no secret in the industry.

After Yanxi Film and Television Company agreed to invest, the news quickly spread in the industry, and many companies that focus on TV series production immediately became interested in Zhao Yanxi.

Although movies and TV series are often referred to together as "film and television," there is an invisible barrier between the two.

People like Zhou Yi, Tang Ren, and TVB are very successful in the TV drama field, but they find it very difficult to make progress in the film industry.

Several films invested in by Tang Ren either failed to materialize or suffered huge box office losses.

While Zhao Yanxi may be quite talented in the film industry and has achieved remarkable results, she is still a newcomer in the television industry.

Since they are newcomers, is there a possibility of cooperation? Each party can get what they need, and it would be mutually beneficial.

Not only production companies, but also many actors and artists have been asking Zhao Yanxi about the project's progress.

Unlike movies, which typically focus on a few key creators, a TV series requires a much larger cast. With dozens of episodes, it's enough to give many actors screen time and open doors for many newcomers to the industry.

Every year, numerous performing arts graduates from major art colleges and countless newcomers from other fields flood into the performing arts industry, of whom nearly 80% end up as extras or background characters.

Zhao Yanxi never expected that investing in a TV series would actually cause her a little trouble.

"Actually, I didn't direct it. I just felt that this subject matter was very meaningful, and someone had to step up and make it into a film."

"Okay," came Liu's sweet voice from the other end of the phone, "I can act if needed, my mom won't object!"

"Thank you so much, Mom!"

Zhao Yanxi's tone was somewhat flattered.

Although Liu Xiaoli has never said it explicitly, there is almost a consensus in the industry that since "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and her amazing performance in "You Are the Apple of My Eye", Liu Yifei will no longer take on television dramas.

Otherwise, with Huang Xiaoming and Shu Chang in the cast of "The Deer and the Cauldron," she would have no reason to refuse Zhang Jizhong's invitation to Liu Yifei, as Zhang Jizhong has mentioned it quite a bit during the promotion.

"What do you mean, 'our mom'?! Don't call me that!"

Liu Yifei retorted fiercely, but there was not a trace of ruthlessness in her tone. Instead, it made people feel soft and itchy inside.

"Hehe, it was bound to happen sooner or later~" Zhao Yanxi replied with a smile, "But you really can't act in this movie."

"On what grounds?"

Xiao Liu was immediately indignant. Was there any play she couldn't act in?

"Because there are absolutely no female characters in this show. To be precise, there isn't even a single female character with a name. Even the cockroaches that appear in the show have to be male!"

"Huh? Would anyone watch a show like that?" Liu Yifei asked, puzzled.

As we all know, female characters in film and television works are not merely there to embellish the visuals or attract attention; they are indispensable emotional lubricants and spiritual uplifters in the plot.

Just like Yang Xiuqin in "Bright Sword", her love and revolutionary friendship with Li Yunlong became a warm and bright spot in the years of war.

"There should be some, anyway, the money's already invested, so we can only wait and see!"

"Okay, once I finish producing my album this year, I can continue taking on acting roles."

"If this movie loses money, I'll act in movies to support you~" Liu Yifei said proudly.

"Great, great, I'm waiting for Rich Lady Liu to take care of me!"

Two days before the film festival opened, Zhao Yanxi and Yang Siwei boarded a plane to Berlin.

In the past two years, China Film Group Corporation (CFGC) has also contacted various parties to form a "Chinese film contingent" to compete in Berlin.

This year, perhaps because there weren't many serious Chinese-language films nominated, and Han Sanping was hurt by "The Promise," there was still no news from China Film Group before the opening ceremony.

Upon arriving in Berlin, Paul and Ryan Reynolds were already waiting to pick him up at the airport.

He waved to Zhao Yanxi from afar.

"Word!"

Paul exclaimed in surprise, while Ryan Reynolds respectfully greeted him, "Director!"

"Paul, Ryan, let me introduce you. This is Yang Siwei, my CEO in China."

Hello, Yang!

Yang Siwei already knew that the white man in front of him was his boss's spokesperson in Hollywood.

Meeting again as fellow travelers was especially "friendly," and a flame of "friendship" seemed to burn as their eyes met.

"Let's go, there are reporters at the airport!"

Paul immediately led the way, and the bodyguards he brought quickly escorted the group away from the airport.

As soon as Zhao Yanxi got into the van, she saw a new copy of Vanity Fair on the seat—with Scarlett Johansson and Keira Knightley on the cover.

Although Keira Knightley was just nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress, she was still utterly outclassed by Scarlett Johansson's Baymax.

"Paul, please tidy up your baby properly next time. If I see it again, I'm throwing it down the stairs!"

"Hahaha," Paul said with a laugh as he put the magazine into his bag, "Yan, don't you think she's very...?"

"Is that right?"

"She was named the world's sexiest woman by Esquire magazine!"

"How are the premiere arrangements going?"

When it came to serious matters, Paul stopped joking and said earnestly, "I've already contacted reporters from The Daily Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and the Los Angeles Film and Television Times, and I guarantee that Buried will shine in Berlin."

"I've also sent invitations to some well-known film studios in Europe and America. Actually, there's no need to worry about that; any film that's nominated for the main competition will attract a lot of attention from studios!"

"It's always good to do more preparation," Zhao Yanxi said calmly, then instructed Yang Siwei, "This time you should also keep an eye on some film distributors in Asia and Europe."

"In the future, domestically produced films will definitely go international, so it won't hurt to get to know more film distributors!"

"I understand, boss."

Since we're preparing to groom her for CEO, we need to develop certain methods and skills; we can't just rely on unorthodox and unconventional methods!

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