The director starts by learning from the abilities of renowned directors.

early morning.

Shen Qing, with a towel wrapped around her waist, walked to the sofa and sat down. She picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts, stopping at Wan Qian's name.

I sent a text message: "Still in Shanghai?"

Wan Qian replied in less than half a minute: "Yes, still awake so late?"

Shen Qing typed a text message quickly: "I'm so bored I can't sleep. How about we get together sometime another day?"

Wan Qian quickly replied, "How about I come find you now? What's your room number?"

Shen Qing replied, "No, it's too late."

Wan Qian: "It's okay. Aren't you having trouble sleeping right now? I'll take a taxi there, it'll be quick."

Shen Qing sent the hotel address and informed the lobby beforehand. In less than an hour, Wan Qian arrived looking travel-worn.

"I missed you so much." Wan Qian hugged Shen Qing's neck as soon as she entered the room.

Shen Qing asked her, "Then I haven't seen you send me any text messages."

Wan Qian looked at Shen Qing with tender eyes and said, "You're so busy filming, I was afraid of bothering you. I'll only come if you need me."

Shen Qing looked into Wan Qian's eyes, unsure how much of what she said was true and how much was false, but it sounded pleasing to the ear.

"So that's why you rushed over here in such a hurry when I said I couldn't sleep?"

"Um."

"Didn't you consider that with you here, I'd have even less time to sleep?"

"If you hurry up, you'll have time to sleep."

"This can't be rushed. Everything else can be rushed, but this is the only thing that can't be rushed. I just can't speed it up."

Wan Qian chuckled foolishly.

Shen Qing made her sit on his lap and said, "I'll invest in a movie for you, and you can be the female lead."

"real?"

"Of course it's true. The film's investment isn't large, maybe three or four million. Just act well, and if the response is good, we'll continue to invest. If you mess it up, there might be no more funding."

"You're so good to me."

"Shouldn't you show your appreciation?"

"How do you want to express it? I'll do whatever you say."

……

Wan Qian didn't leave the hotel until 10 a.m.

By noon, Shen Qing had come up with a movie idea that might be suitable for Wan Qian to star in. The box office potential might not be high, but it shouldn't be a loss.

He was willing to make the film even if it lost money, not just because of Wan Qian, but because he thought the movie was alright.

Making movies is about making money, but you can't just think about making money. Some good movies may not do well at the box office for various reasons.

Half a comedy.

A Happy Twist production, starring Ren Suxi.

Shen Qing thought the movie was alright. With a budget of 20 to 30 million yuan and a box office of 1.88 million yuan, the original timeline made a profit and the word-of-mouth was also okay, but it failed to break out of its niche, at least not as much as "Mr. Donkey".

If Wan Qian's acting is decent, we can let her try "Mr. Donkey". If she messes it up, so be it.

This time, Shen Qing doesn't plan to direct or act in his own films. He has tens of millions in his Magic Films account, which he can use to invest in some interesting but not-so-interesting movies.

In addition, we should also pay attention to the matter of stockpiling the copyrights of online novels in advance.

……

a few days later.

noon.

Shen Qing took some time to meet Zhou Shen at the hotel.

This person is the director of the original versions of "Mr. Donkey" and "Almost a Comedy". He is from Shanghai and graduated from the Directing Department of the Central Academy of Drama.

"That's roughly the story. Are you confident?"

"Yes, thank you Director Shen for giving me this opportunity."

"The female lead has been cast, I will personally choose the second female lead, and we'll discuss the other roles."

"clear."

Not long after Zhou Shen left, a young and beautiful woman walked into Shen Qing's room.

"Hello, director, I'm Chen Xi."

"Please sit down."

Chen Xi sat down as instructed, looking slightly uneasy.

Looking at the beautiful actress in front of him, Shen Qing knew that she would change her name to Chen Zhixi in the future and become the producer of films such as "Lost in Thailand", "Jianbing Man", and "Detective Chinatown".

The films she produced grossed over 3 billion yuan in a very short time, earning her the nickname "3 Billion Sister." She later even became the chairman of Wanda Film.

Shen Qing had long wanted to bring them under his command, but he had been waiting for the right opportunity.

The actress who played the second female lead, Gao Lu, in "Half a Comedy" could have been anyone else. The reason we specifically brought her in was to create an opportunity for them to interact, so that we could recruit her into the company.

Magical Films can't always be a lone force.

"The role they're looking for you to play is called Gao Lu, the second female lead..."

Shen Qing gave a brief introduction to the plot and characters.

Chen Xi asked curiously, "Director, are you directing this film yourself?"

Shen Qing shook her head. Chen Xi was slightly disappointed, but the second female lead role was also a rare opportunity for her.

"Do you think this movie will be commercially viable?" Shen Qing suddenly asked her.

Chen Xi was slightly surprised, not expecting the director to ask her such a question, but she still cheered herself up and earnestly explained her views.

Shen Qing listened and nodded. After Chen Xi finished speaking, she looked at Shen Qing. Shen Qing's gaze fell on her face, then moved to her chest, then her waist, then her legs, and finally returned to her face, her eyes full of amusement.

Chen Xi initially avoided Shen Qing's gaze, then casually glanced into Shen Qing's eyes. Their eyes met, and she again avoided Shen Qing's gaze, but one thing she was absolutely certain of was that Shen Qing's gaze was indeed constantly lingering on her.

"Perhaps the role of Gao Lu requires a high level of physical fitness from the actress?" she couldn't help but think.

Shen Qing didn't hide his scrutinizing gaze. Seeing the other person's eyes meet his twice and then look away each time, Shen Qing chuckled and said, "I can give you the second female lead role. In the future, I can even make a movie just for you, with you as the lead. But you'll have to pay a price. Are you... willing?"

Such blunt words startled Chen Xi, and her cheeks gradually turned red. She opened her mouth to speak several times, but swallowed her words back each time.

"Hehehe..." Shen Qing laughed again, and asked her, "When you auditioned for roles in the past, were you ever asked to sleep with someone?"

Chen Xi blushed and hesitated for a while before finally speaking: "A producer said he would give me the lead role if I was willing to accompany him. I turned around and left, but he actually grabbed me. I slapped him across the face."

Shen Qing nodded.

He read an interview where Chen Zhixi said that the reason she transitioned to becoming a producer was because she couldn't stand the unspoken rules she was constantly faced with, and also because actors are too passive. You don't write the script, and you still have to say things that are inhuman. You're always playing the roles that others want you to play, which is very depressing for her.

Shen Qing recounted the situation of unspoken rules to steer the conversation towards the difficulties faced by actresses, suggesting they become producers instead, and then naturally invite them to join Shen Qing's company.

"That's how it is with actresses. It's true that unspoken rules are a bad practice, but to be honest, they're hard to eradicate because while you might not be willing, there are plenty of others who are. It's better to just leave it at that—"

"It's better to find a big brother to rely on. Without a big brother, everyone wants to bully you, even cats and dogs want to sleep with you. With a big brother, you only need to keep him company, and cats and dogs will treat you with respect." Chen Xi interrupted Shen Qing with a blush.

Shen Qing was stunned: "?"

He clearly meant to say: Why not switch to behind-the-scenes work? I just listened to your analysis of the film market and I think you have the makings of a producer. If you want the second female lead, you have to pay a price, take on more responsibility, and become the producer of this film.

So how did it turn into the situation where keeping your older brother company is better than any cat or dog wanting to sleep with you?

Is this the normal brain circuitry?

"I'm willing. If the director wants me to accompany you, I'm willing," Chen Xi continued, making another surprising statement.

"ha?"

Chen Xi blushed and continued, "After I slapped that producer yesterday, he said that no one in the industry would hire me anymore, and I should just wait to get out of the entertainment industry! I know he doesn't have that much power, but working with a director as big as you is not an insult to me. If you are willing to protect me, I am willing to go along with you."

"Huh?" Shen Qing finally understood. The incident she just mentioned, where she slapped the producer, happened just yesterday.

Shen Qing became serious: "Actually, that's not what I meant. I heard you talk about the film market and I think you're very perceptive. You'd be more suited to be a film producer, so I wanted you to try being the producer of this film while you're playing the second female lead."