Chapter 724

·

·

·

Main Character:

Shen Yao

What Shen Yao and Director Zhou You discussed in private, aside from the two of them, no one else could know. Only, seeing the reassured look on Director Zhou You's face, Shen Yao thought to herself: could it be that he's feeling reassured a bit too early?

What?

'Director Zhou You still doesn't understand Jiang Han Zhou well enough.' Right now Jiang Han Zhou was acting gentle and agreeable, but that didn't mean Director Zhou You could endlessly make unreasonable demands. It was only later, during chats with Jiang Han Zhou, that she learned Director Zhou You had once proposed filming two more movies, which would bind both parties' interests too tightly, disadvantageous for film promotion and distribution. He suggested filming one more after this "No One Survives," leaving the rest to the market to decide.

The System felt Director Zhou You's words sounded like unilaterally tearing up the contract, but thinking it over carefully, there didn't seem to be anything wrong with it either.

If "Speed Forward" and "No One Survives" perform poorly upon release, filming one more could still count as a try. Filming two back-to-back, wouldn't that be a loss to the nth degree?

'Loss or not, that's not something the director needs to consider.' The director just needs to shoot the film well.

Shen Yao tapped the still-uncomprehending System, indicating that Zhou You spoke in high-sounding phrases, but in reality just wanted to jump ship and switch paths as soon as he found a new backer.

'Does Jiang Han Zhou agree?' The System thought to itself. If going by the Host's theory, then he definitely wouldn't let Director Zhou You have his way.

Filming one less movie means earning a lot less money. Moreover, these were originally the conditions that propped the other party up. How can a person go back on their word?

'Go back on their word?' Shen Yao was amused by the System's words. 'The entertainment industry has always been profit-first. Where are so many sentimental and righteous people?'

Director Zhou You just wants to breach the contract early. A forcibly twisted melon isn't sweet. As for Jiang Han Zhou, who has always been considerate yet has a notoriously polarized reputation, how could he possibly make things difficult for a film director?

She narrowed her eyes slightly. Today's weather was nice. The crew's stylists were doing the actors' makeup. Since several important scenes were involved, both Shen Yao and Jiang Han Zhou were currently staying on set to hold down the fort.

A staff member jogged over to Shen Yao's side, holding a data sheet that needed Shen Yao's review.

"Is this week's expenses?" Shen Yao raised an eyebrow. It exceeded the previous budget by a lot.

Hearing this, the staff member grew a bit nervous. "Yes, yes, something came up on the procurement side, so we had to buy some extra."

The staff member's explanation was that the crew had been delayed for some time, but the procurement person in charge also had a small issue, which led to the submitted data sheet being off.

Shen Yao: ……

'Hmph, this person is lying. Clearly some people are using the crew's name to secretly spend money on themselves,' the System claimed it had fiery golden eyes — nothing in the crew could escape its gaze.

The reason the data sheet exceeded the budget was that those actors' hands reached too far. Regardless of whether it was reimbursable or not, they charged it all to the crew's account.

As for why they dared do this? The top director didn't speak up, so it was taken as tacit approval.

'Host, you can't let them off cheap. Audit the accounts, get the money back!'

The System urged the Host not to stop there — she should make a scene to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.

'Both sides still have one movie unfilmed, one movie about to release.' Besides, the promotion and distribution of this "No One Survives" is also their responsibility. If things get too ugly, even a little leak will affect the film's reputation.

The audience doesn't care about your rights and wrongs. Once some things blow up, there's no winning side.

"Mm, take it back. Later Finance will reimburse you all in full."

Hearing this, the staff member breathed an even greater sigh of relief, couldn't help but curve his mouth into a smile, and even his walking pace back looked exceptionally light.

The System was shocked. 'Just like that?' Too stifling.

This is their money being used, yet the director gets all the goodwill!

'Let it go?' Shen Yao tilted her head, raised a hand to press her slightly throbbing temple. 'Let what go? Right now we can't tear things up, but I never said we can never tear things up.

They're all veterans in the circle. The actors in the crew aren't stupid either.' Those who accepted the favor this time are only a small portion. Most people are even less willing to offend the production side for this bit of petty cash.

'Record all these things. Hold every last detail, big and small, in hand. Wait until both sides part ways, then see if we need to use them.'

As Shen Yao spoke, her hands already rested on her chin. On the surface she looked serene and open, but behind the scenes, when she schemed against people, it was swift and ruthless, without any hesitation.

System: ……

While the System muttered in its heart, it also mourned in silence for this director who had offended its own Host.

Director Zhou You was guiding actors' positions when he suddenly felt a chill all over.

He rubbed his increasingly plump arms, and a sudden surge of irritation rose in Director Zhou You's heart.

He waved his hand, telling the actors to reconfirm their positions properly, then turned and went back to sit behind the camera.

With the Best Director trophy and halo, Director Zhou You's mental journey over these past two-plus years could be described as undergoing an earth-shaking change.

Before, he was grateful to Jiang Han Zhou. After all, the grace of recognition and the grace of a second life were both important. He could regain fame in middle age, which owed no small part to Jiang Han Zhou's hard work. So even though they'd agreed to collaborate on three commercial films afterward, he never thought of cutting ties.

But now is different from the past. A person can resist temptation for a while, but continuous temptation — and in the entertainment industry at that — Zhou You is no saint either.

The final result was two films becoming one. This is also connected to the fact that although Director Zhou You has great fame, his monetization ability still needs observation.

At the very least, he has to wait until both "Speed Forward" and "No One Survives" have fully released. Or rather, until their box office and word-of-mouth are both good. Only then might that other film be ditched.

But by that time, it won't be something a sentence or two can explain clearly. Director Zhou You will at least have to offer some compensation. After all, Jiang Han Zhou is also a well-known producer and investor in the circle. Who knows if they'll need to collaborate in the future? Although directors hold more power than actors on set, some actors with greater fame can indeed exert reverse pressure on the crew and director, making the crew serve them.

Director Zhou You feels he won't sink to that level for now, but nothing is absolute. Leave a line of retreat, so future meetings go well.

"Future meetings go well?" Jiang Han Zhou felt he and Director Zhou You probably wouldn't have too good an ending. This person really has no self-awareness.

"What? Did Director Zhou You say something else that dissatisfied you?"

Shen Yao looked at Jiang Han Zhou's expression and thought: just who is Director Zhou You's retreat route? He actually came running over to poach Jiang Han Zhou's peach.

Tsk tsk tsk

Not afraid of Jiang Han Zhou retaliating? After all, Jiang Han Zhou is ruthless. Few in the circle can take advantage of him.

"Director Zhou You says after this film wraps, he wants to rest for a while and invest all his energy early into 'Speed Forward's promotion."

In short, the next film originally agreed upon can only be pushed back.

Pushed back — wouldn't that still mean intentions to run?

Jiang Han Zhou silently nodded, drawing Shen Yao's utterly unexaggerated mockery.

Hahahahaha

Looks like Jiang Han Zhou's investment can't fully break even either. How can human nature be simply predicted? In the end, it's still profit above all.

"Let's first look at the word-of-mouth and box office of 'Speed Forward'; not only are we waiting, others are waiting too."

"Hope it doesn't disappoint the audience; as long as it's above the passing line, it can make money riding on its reputation."

Talking about ideals and ambitions is all too fake and pretentious; Shen Yao sees through the operation of the entire circle even more clearly. Director Zhou You is currently full of swagger, entirely because the halo of Best Director is still on him; everyone fawns over him because the audience buys in.

Once Director Zhou You shoots a film that the audience doesn't buy into and curses roundly, these capitalists who previously propped him up will absolutely turn tail and run.

The film 'No One Survives' wrapped about a month earlier than the previous 'Speed Forward'.

And this film has more suspense elements; the sets are also relatively simple. What's more, the cast are all veteran actors with unanimous praise in the circle (limited to acting skills).

With the final scene wrapped, the crew disbanded.

Shen Yao and Jiang Han Zhou returned to Jing Shi together; the two planned to rest for a period of time before handling the release matters of 'Speed Forward'.

Currently 'Speed Forward' has already received its license; just waiting to confirm the release date, then coordinating with the actors and crew for several promotional activities to heat up the market in advance.

"This promotion absolutely cannot be skimped on, especially online where traffic is the largest; whether it's praise or criticism, it all draws attention."

Shen Yao appeared in the company office; a group of people sat together discussing the marketing plan.

"Continue marketing the director's honors? When 'Wang Sheng' was released before, the word-of-mouth was good." As for the box office, that's a 'those who know, know' situation; after all, art films really don't have much revenue; many people shoot art films aiming for awards.

Fortunately, the investment in 'Wang Sheng' wasn't large; compared to the returns they got, they still made quite a lot.

"Continue the promotion, but grasp the angle well; don't make people too disgusted." Jiang Han Zhou tapped the tabletop, indicating they aren't that kind of selfless people either. Zhou You is about to shake them off and start anew; not adding fuel to the fire is already Jiang Han Zhou being kind enough; expecting him to put more heart into hyping Zhou You? Simply impossible.

"Right, need to link up with a few more TV station variety shows and Tao Tao Video entertainment interviews.

Best to write these into the plan arrangements, strive to have them laid out properly before the film's release."

Shen Yao couldn't help but interject a word, then thought of 'Speed Forward''s release time being around the end of the year, right in the middle of a hot market period where numerous films are counting on making a sum during the New Year.

The content of 'Speed Forward' is a growth history of a little person; it depicts more of the emotions between people.

Mm

Not a pure commercial film, because the comedy level doesn't reach family-friendly standards, but also not that kind of pretentious pseudo-art film; it's content that men, women, old, and young can all watch and understand. The story is smooth and natural throughout, coherent and fluent. Shen Yao and Jiang Han Zhou are confident they can rely on this film to snatch a piece of the big cake during the New Year holiday schedule.

Discussion ended; Shen Yao and Jiang Han Zhou went out to eat.

In fact, recently for a period of time, they haven't had many opportunities to go out because of work.

Jiang Han Zhou only spent more time with Shen Yao after running to the 'No One Survives' crew later on.

"Lots of matters, people are busy." This is inevitable; moreover, they aren't old; if they don't fight for their careers now, when will they?

Jiang Han Zhou raised his hand and held Shen Yao's palm. "I plan to rest for a period of time; after 'Speed Forward' finishes its release, let's go abroad to rest."

Compared to the domestic paparazzi disturbing them so they can't properly relax and rest, abroad lets people be more at ease and relaxed.

The relationship between Jiang Han Zhou and Shen Yao is gradually becoming intimate and seamless.

It's just that both are rational career-obsessed types; more energy is placed on their careers, which leads to their interactions being cold/indifferent, unlike other people in the circle who date and it's a storm of drama.

Therefore, aside from circle insiders knowing some of the situation, others still don't understand their relationship.

Shen Yao gave an "Mm" and nodded, then spoke of her own parents currently playing on a small island abroad; a group of old men and old women, all with spare cash in hand and not short on this bit of expense.

Jiang Han Zhou:...

Jiang Han Zhou raised his hand and touched his chin. "Uncle and Auntie seem to rarely stay at home?"

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow. "That's their only hobby. If my career planning hadn't been somewhat unexpected, right now I should be staying with them."

Just eating, drinking, playing, and enjoying everywhere; no life pressure and no career pursuit; a not-long life was already set in stone early on.

"We're about the same." It's just that his parents are busier with work, but his initial requirement was also to follow in his father's footsteps, muddling in the even deeper financial circle.

Jiang Han Zhou has no interest in finance; by a twist of fate he entered the entertainment circle, currently doing not bad; moreover, his family has slowly accepted his work.

Talk a bit about family, chat a bit about work, discuss a bit about daily life.

The two people went around outside for a circle; when they returned to the company, they threw themselves back into work.

The system mocked the host for having some hidden attribute; once touching work, she would automatically transform, even ignoring others to the point of forgetting herself.

"In life, one must always find pleasure to fill oneself, just like work, indispensable and irreplaceable."

Shen Yao turned the ballpoint pen held in her hand, signing her name at the bottom of the document placed before her.

This is a promotional plan; it lists the various methods everyone proposed earlier, all integrated and sent before Shen Yao.

Seeing that not only was nothing missing, there were even quite a few new supplementary and perfected contents.

Shen Yao nodded in satisfaction, then made a call to the responsible assistant, telling the other party to seize the time and implement it step by step according to the plan above.

As the weather turned colder day by day, many promotions and photos related to 'Speed Forward' appeared online; occasionally there would be one or two good articles, promoting and praising in the tone of an insider; occasionally video behind-the-scenes clips would be leaked to increase heat.

Even platforms like Fruit Station and Blueberry TV variety shows featured 'Speed Forward' actors.

These were all items booked before filming. The only thing to say is that Director Zhou You, responsible for the film's shooting, did not attend due to a family matter; only an Assistant Director from the crew was in charge throughout. One might not know and think he was the real person in charge.