Chapter 415: Why is this gesture so Li Zhibai?

Lu Yan He had never heard that Long Yan Films had a conflict with the current Asia-Pacific head of HP.

Of course, this was not exactly a rare occurrence.

Although film and television are art, the people who make them are, in essence, still business people.

Doing business inevitably leads to conflicts and friction.

However, the way Huang Tai went about this was a bit uncomfortable. If he hadn't asked Tang Mu White in advance, and if Tang Mu White hadn't been straightforward, he might have truly been kept in the dark, doing a disservice with good intentions while completely unaware.

At the final stop, Director Wang Zhong's company.

Lu Yan He and Tang Mu White watched the rough cut of *Rouge* together.

The rough cut of *Rouge* was nearly three hours long and hadn't undergone any special effects or post-production yet, though the English subtitles had been preliminarily added, thanks to the help of Linyu and He Lan.

Both of their English levels were incredibly impressive, far beyond the level of daily conversation.

When the rough cut began, Lu Yan He was actually a bit surprised, because compared to the original version in his memory, the shots, visuals, and style were so similar that it felt as if a tacit understanding had formed in the unseen realm.

Wang Zhong had treated the film's visuals with a bit less obsession and a bit more of the melancholy of passing time.

The rough cut was very long, nearly three hours, and many of the shots and the pacing were much slower than the original; simply put, it was less "commercial" and had a bit more artistic expression.

Setting that aside, the development of the entire story and the feel of the characters were very similar to when Lu Yan He wrote the script.

Especially Huang Kai—

Chen Bige's excellence was within Lu Yan He's expectations.

Although he believed Huang Kai could handle the role, he still held his breath. But in the film, he had clearly acted his way into it.

His acting style was different from the dashing, romantic charm of Zhang Guorong in his memory, and fortunately so; otherwise, Lu Yan He worried he would feel that the original was an insurmountable jade.

Huang Kai's portrayal in *Rouge* felt more like the feeling of Takeshi Kaneshiro watching Zhang Ziyi dance in *House of Flying Daggers*.

A wealthy son, playboy, with a casual, nonchalant air, only revealing a hint of deep affection when alone with Ruhu, like looking at Zhou Xun in *Perhaps Love*.

The love was true, no need to question it. The coldness was also true, and because of that nonchalant, casual air, it carried even more irony.

Lu Yan He realized that Huang Kai had taken a more dangerous path. He didn't, like Zhang Guorong, treat the character as beautiful, making the cowardice something the audience felt was human nature, feeling only anger and disappointment toward him, yet vaguely understanding him.

Huang Kai didn't beautify the Twelfth Young Master at all, and his acting ability and style couldn't beautify him either; the foundation was there, and not everyone is Zhang Guorong. However, ambitious actors will always strive to shape a three-dimensional character in their own way.

The Twelfth Young Master played by Huang Kai: the playboy, dashing charm was the surface; holding hands, deep affection was the truth; cowardice and retreat, unable to take responsibility, was the core.

After watching it, one only feels that his tenderness toward Ruhu might be true tenderness, but before life and death, it was just tenderness destined to wither.

To Lu Yan He's surprise, when the rough cut screening ended and he was about to turn to look at Tang Mu White, he found that the latter's eyes were actually red, with tears welling up.

Tang Mu White took a deep breath and said to Lu Yan He, "This is truly a heartbreaking story."

Lu Yan He suddenly remembered, oh, these foreigners seem to have a soft spot for these tragic love stories set against a Chinese cultural background.

Especially a story like *Rouge*, about a woman stubbornly waiting for someone for over a hundred years... Lu Yan He gasped. Well, such a story in the current Chinese film market is already a bit behind the trend, but for foreigners, this kind of "love that is too deep to last" tragic romance set in another cultural background hits the spot perfectly.

Tang Mu White's liking for *Rouge* actually carried a very strong personal touch.

Of course, regardless, Lu Yan He was very happy.

Afterward, Director Wang Zhong also took time to meet with them.

After meeting Director Wang Zhong, Tang Mu White immediately expressed his feelings as a fan.

Wang Zhong gave Tang Mu White a signed Blu-ray disc set of *Three Mountains*.

Tang Mu White accepted the gift almost cautiously, then quickly took out the gift he had brought and said, "Director, this is the first DVD version of *The Tail of the Fish*, which you directed, released in the United States twelve years ago. You mentioned in an interview before that you hoped to one day collect a complete set of DVD versions of your directed works released around the world. I hope you like it."

At this moment, Wang Zhong was stunned.

*The Tail of the Fish* was a film he shot over a decade ago, and the number of DVDs released in the US was very small; he didn't know the exact number, but it certainly didn't exceed ten thousand copies. He didn't even have this set himself, and today Tang Mu White had actually brought it.

Wang Zhong couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

"Wow, this, this... is truly significant."

Lu Yan He looked at Tang Mu White in surprise.

This gift was truly thoughtful. Tang Mu White saying he was a veteran fan of Wang Zhong was really not just talk.

To give such a gift, one first had to have watched that interview of Director Wang Zhong, know what he wanted, know which ones Director Wang Zhong had already collected and which he hadn't, and finally, have the ability to get a DVD version that even Director Wang Zhong himself hadn't managed to get.

Simply put, to give such a gift, it was filled with heavy, heartfelt sincerity.

During these three days, except for attending classes, Lu Yan He had been accompanying Tang Mu White the whole time.

Finally, after meeting Director Wang Zhong, Tang Mu White's trip to China came to an end.

On the way to the airport to see Tang Mu White off, Lu Yan He said, "Tang Mu, next time you come to China, remember to tell me in advance."

"This trip to China has allowed me to see a lot, and I've gained a lot," Tang Mu White said. "I hope that after I go back this time, I can convince headquarters to sign a long-term cooperation framework with you, just like Arctic Light Video."

Hearing Tang Mu White say this, Lu Yan He was actually quite surprised; he hadn't expected it.

Tang Mu White said, "If we at HP want to build up the Asian market, we definitely have to cooperate with the most outstanding creators in various Asian countries. Yan He, your inviting me to China this time has allowed me to see the current state of film and television production in China and understand it with my own eyes."

Lu Yan He: "I'm very happy to hear you say that."

The news that Tang Mu White, the soon-to-be Asia-Pacific head of HP, had toured China and was personally hosted by Lu Yan He spread not only in the Chinese film and television circle but also reached the ears of Zhong Benshuo at Maxine.

Now Zhong Benshuo wouldn't doubt it anymore.

He immediately became nervous and contacted Lu Yan He right away.

"You want to see the footage now?" Lu Yan He was a bit surprised.

Zhong Benshuo said, "Yes, Yan He, if it's appropriate, we can totally sign the agreement now; there's no need to wait until after it airs to consider overseas distribution."

Lu Yan He truly hadn't expected that Tang Mu White's visit would stir up such a sense of crisis in Zhong Benshuo.

Lu Yan He said, "Mr. Zhong, the two dramas currently finished are films; the *Squid Game* you are interested in hasn't started filming yet."

As for what kind of project *Squid Game* was, Zhong Benshuo had actually known for a long time. If he really wanted to buy it in advance, he could have made a move long ago; there was no need to wait until now.

Zhong Benshuo was speechless for a moment.

He was hesitating.

He was hesitating whether Tang Mu White had reached an agreement with Lu Yan He during this trip.

Is it possible they had already signed some agreement?

It is also possible that Tang Mu White didn't like these projects and returned empty-handed.

Zhong Benshuo actually didn't want to make a decision so early. Without seeing the finished product, if he bought it in advance now, it might end up in his hands as a failure. After all, their Maxine couldn't enter mainland China and could only do business outside of mainland China. If the final product wasn't good and the data looked bad, it would become a failure in his hands.

With this hesitation from Zhong Benshuo, Lu Yan He actually understood Zhong Benshuo's true thoughts.

He was actually afraid of being beaten to the punch by Tang Mu White, and also afraid of suffering a loss himself.

Lu Yan He: "..."

At this moment, Lu Yan He suddenly realized why he had always been a bit repelled by Zhong Benshuo, and didn't have as good an impression of him as he did of Tang Mu White.

Because Zhong Benshuo gave him a very strong feeling of being a businessman; his speech, actions, and attitude toward him were full of a sense of calculation, while Tang Mu White gave him a feeling of more respect for creation and creators, without such an obvious, palpable sense of utilitarianism.

You can certainly be utilitarian, but it's best not to appear so utilitarian.

Seeing that Zhong Benshuo didn't speak, Lu Yan He couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush with him, saying, "Mr. Zhong, if you haven't thought it through yet, let's talk about it later. Indeed, the dramas haven't even been filmed yet; talking about cooperation now isn't stable. I understand."

Lu Yan He stated it directly, and Zhong Benshuo felt a bit sheepish, though Lu Yan He couldn't see it.

After finishing this matter with Zhong Benshuo, Lu Yan He put down his phone; he still had to go to Arctic Light Video.

Regarding the cooperation with HP, Lu Yan He actually didn't have such powerful strength yet; the one who could truly stand in a relatively "give and take" position to negotiate cooperation was still a large video company like Arctic Light Video, which also had a large library of films and creators.

"I don't mind if you use my few projects as test subjects to try and develop cooperation with HP." This time, Lin Desheng, the CEO of Arctic Light Video, was also there; for matters involving the company's strategic development, he had to be present. Lu Yan He spoke bluntly, "Because of policy reasons, overseas streaming media like HP cannot directly launch in our country; this is a certainty, and for now, it basically won't change. However, HP is very eager to open up the Asian market, and this market certainly includes our mainland China. Since HP cannot enter directly, just like Maxine, they can only earn some copyright fees through licensing cooperation with domestic video platforms for one work after another."

"Hmm, but some copyright fees are a drop in the bucket compared to the true core interest of a video platform—members," Zheng Huairen said immediately. "If HP wants to enter the Asian market, especially the mainland China market, they certainly don't have such a small goal as just these copyright fees."

Lu Yan He nodded, "That's right, but the current prospect is like this. Therefore, under such a premise, since they have a demand for our domestic market, we can also use this demand to open up the overseas market. I'm just giving an example: suppose, I'm saying suppose, Arctic Light Video and HP Video sign a cooperation framework, create a separate film list, and the works on the list are open to each other, without having to negotiate cooperation one by one, saving each other a lot of time and energy, based on playback volume or number of viewers or member acquisition, etc... In short, how to divide the interests is those indicators you care about, make a formula, this is what you go to communicate. However, under such cooperation, HP's works can enter our market on a large scale through you to meet the audience, and Arctic Light's works can also truly go overseas through HP."

"This kind of cooperation model has existed before," Zheng Huairen said. "Our domestic video platforms have also had similar cooperation with overseas streaming media and film companies, but none of them lasted. The risk of this kind of cooperation model is very high. To put it bluntly, in this kind of cooperation, everyone must feel that they have suffered a loss and the other party has taken advantage. The first year or second year might be fine, but later, there will be unclear accounts, no one trusts anyone, and finally, it will end in disintegration."

"Mr. Zheng, such an ending actually proves one thing," Lu Yan He said with a smile. "I was just making a hypothetical plan, but what you said tells everyone that this kind of cooperation model actually doesn't lack the prospect of profit and successful results; its end is not because the audience doesn't buy it, but because of internal problems between the two parties."

Zheng Huairen was stunned.

"I still think that such cooperation can be taken slowly. The initial film library doesn't need to be very large. First, explore, establish trust with each other, and that is also exploration," Lu Yan He said. "What kind of promotional intensity our dramas get there, what kind of promotional intensity their dramas get here, how much investment needs to be made, and what kind of effect can be obtained—only by testing it bit by bit, testing it yourself, can you have the confidence to carry out larger-scale cooperation later. Of course, these are just my little thoughts; not only HP, but other video platforms are the same."

He looked at Lin Desheng and said, "Mr. Lin, the reason I ventured to make such a suggestion is because many of my subsequent film and television projects will definitely want to take the route of internationalization and global sales, not just limited to the domestic market. I have a cooperation framework with you, and the cooperation is currently going very smoothly. The need for overseas channels is not only needed by me, but also by you, which is why I rashly threw out such an idea, a vision of cooperation, just hoping to throw out a brick to attract jade."

Lin Desheng nodded.

Lu Yan He didn't know whether Lin Desheng agreed with the idea he proposed, or to what extent.

However, this was indeed Lu Yan He's true thought at this moment.

Everyone is saying they want to go out, that works should go overseas, but how to go, where to go? Once out, will anyone watch?

Because there is no successful precedent, no one knows if this path can be walked through.

Only Lu Yan He knows that in the context of globalization, with streaming media as a playback platform that dominates most parts of the world, the so-called cultural barriers can be crossed.

Therefore, Lu Yan He is unwavering in letting his works go out.

Among the projects Lu Yan He is currently cooperating with Arctic Light Video on, *Squid Game* and *My Own Swordsman* are the most important; *Rouge* only invested a little, just to show interest.

However, besides film and television projects, Lu Yan He also had an "unexpected joy" that was booming at Arctic Light Video, and that was *High Platform Confession*, which was created for the promotion of the film *Late Spring*. It has now become an important project for the Jump Up company to cooperate with Arctic Light, exchanging very low costs for very high returns.

People at Arctic Light Video found it incredible that such an idea had become an evergreen program, with each episode's playback volume exceeding ten million, and occasionally when the content topic of an episode exploded and went viral online, the playback volume of that episode could even reach tens of millions.

It is a true low-cost, high-return.

Just this one program alone can bring tens of millions in revenue to Arctic Light Video and Jump Up company every year.

Of course, compared to those S-level programs, such revenue is much less; other people's revenue might start at one hundred million. However, the key lies in the low production cost of *High Platform Confession*, which makes this program have almost no risk of losing money, which is the most powerful part.

It is the kind that truly makes money based on an idea.

This idea was thought up by Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi.

Because Lu Yan He's reputation in film and television dramas is so great, almost no one noticed that in the screenwriter column of the *High Platform Confession* program, Lu Yan He's name is ranked second, and Chen Siqi is in the first place.

But people at Arctic Light Video would never ignore this point.

Zheng Huairen suddenly spoke up and said, "Yan He, actually, you came over today, and we also want to talk to you about other cooperation."

"Other cooperation?" Lu Yan He frowned in surprise, looking at him without understanding.

They hadn't mentioned this to him before.

Zheng Huairen said, "We heard that the producer of *City Travelogue*, Xin Zixing, was poached to the new company founded by your agent."

"Uh-huh?" Lu Yan He looked at him with some surprise. "There is such a thing, but, Mr. Zheng, does this have anything to do with our business today?"

Zheng Huairen smiled and said, "We heard that the reason for poaching Xin Zixing was to serve the clients of this company, some artists who are very rich but have passed their prime and want to make a comeback, or artists who want to explode again. Simply put, it is to tailor variety shows for them and help them make a comeback."

Lu Yan He said "uh".

"We also heard that you will be the planner and screenwriter for these programs."

Lu Yan He knew what they were up to.

Lu Yan He looked at them with slight surprise.

After coming out of Arctic Light Video, Lu Yan He couldn't help but sigh to Chen Siqi for the first time about how fast Arctic Light Video's reaction speed was.

After Chen Siqi heard about it, she laughed: "It seems *High Platform Confession* has given them a taste of the sweetness."

"I really didn't expect it either." Lu Yan He's focus was not on this at all, so when Zheng Huairen solemnly proposed to him that he wanted to sign another cooperation agreement with him on program production, Lu Yan He really didn't expect it.

Chen Siqi: "Actually, I think this is a good thing."

"Hmm?" Lu Yan He was stunned.

Chen Siqi said: "On one hand, this can help Sister Ziyan's company attract very powerful partners, and itself also needs the support of a video platform, as you know. On the other hand, think about it, even if you have opened so many dramas, the artist friends you have to refuse are still the majority. Sometimes, people's careers really need you to help them, but due to the suitability of the work, script, and character, you really can't force it and can only refuse. Now, if you can have a stable channel to produce programs, let them make a comeback through this channel, they can actually achieve the same goal, it doesn't have to be your drama."

Chen Siqi's words opened Lu Yan He's Ren and Du meridians, and he reacted instantly.

"Put like that, it really is."

Chen Siqi: "Actually, you have a talent for making programs. You did so many designs for *Young Days* before, and the feedback you got was also very good. This time *High Platform Confession* is the same. Although it is said that you just mentioned an idea to us casually, it is this idea that can make this program established."

Lu Yan He smiled sheepishly.

Just kidding, before he transmigrated, he also watched quite a few programs.

Even if he hadn't watched them from beginning to end, he had heard about where the essence and explosive points of each program were.

Lu Yan He didn't "just mention an idea casually," but he could only "mention an idea." If he were asked to fill in the content specifically and enrich the details, he wouldn't know either.

Lu Yan He said: "I have indeed been cooperating quite happily with Arctic Light Video. They want to cooperate with me in this regard, and of course, I am willing, but this is not up to me. After all, the copyright of program production is not in my hands. I have agreed with them to find a time later, invite Sister Ziyan to talk about it together."

"Hmm." Chen Siqi said, "Every time you say my ambition is getting bigger and bigger, and the stall is getting bigger and bigger, I think you are no better than me."

Lu Yan He thought to himself, he was because he had the golden finger of a transmigrator, having an endless treasure of "creativity."

You are a native, and you can have all kinds of interesting ideas popping up in your head continuously; you are much better than me.

Lu Yan He couldn't say these words to Chen Siqi and could only smile.

Chen Siqi suddenly sighed easily.

"After this semester's classes are over, it will be the senior year, and I will graduate." Chen Siqi said, "Suddenly I feel a bit of pressure."

"Ah? Pressure?"

"Hmm, before I always felt that I was a student, doing *Jump Up* and so on, even if it really messed up in the end, it didn't matter. After all, my main job is a student, and I have such a retreat in my heart. But soon I won't be a student anymore, and I can't leave such a psychological retreat for myself."

Chen Siqi's words made Lu Yan He fall into deep thought.

So Chen Siqi had such thoughts.

But then again, he was also about to be a senior.

Then, university would be over.

Of course, if other people heard what the two of them were sighing about now, they would probably complain that they were crazy.

After all, they were only juniors now, and they started thinking about their graduation.

The Bikalo Film Festival closed, and unfortunately, *Night Run* did not win an award in the short film competition unit.

However, following that, there were media reports that HP had won the exclusive global streaming rights for *Night Run* for a seven-figure sum.

This transaction price made major media outlets publish news.

A short film basically cannot be shown in theaters, and in the film and television system, it is not the kind of work that can make money. However, HP actually spent a seven-figure sum to buy the exclusive streaming rights for *Night Run*, which was surprising and jaw-dropping.

When this news reached the country, everyone thought of the news that Lu Yan He had hosted Tang Mu White, the soon-to-be Asia-Pacific head of HP, not long ago, and for a moment, they had all sorts of thoughts, and only two big words remained in their minds: No wonder.

Actually, this matter really had nothing to do with Lu Yan He.

This transaction was negotiated as early as when they were at Bikalo. This transaction was not negotiated by Tang Mu White as the specific person in charge; of course, he must have contributed behind the scenes, pushing the waves. The high reputation of *Night Run* at Bikalo, as well as Wang Zhong's fame and influence in the hearts of global film fans, were the key reasons why HP gave such a transaction price.

Can make money.

A short film is a short film, it can still make money.

In the streaming media era, users are gold mines, traffic is the code, and clicking play is the money counter.

While the transaction price of *Night Run* attracted widespread attention, it also made Lu Yan He's commercial value once again the focus of everyone's attention.

Lu Yan He knew the key was not him, but others didn't know.

Now everyone in the country might feel that this matter cannot be separated from the relationship of Lu Yan He and Tang Mu White's trip to China.

"Sigh, I really don't know what to say." Lu Yan He himself was very helpless. After class, he came to Chen Ziyan's place and complained to her, "How come everything has something to do with me? How come I don't know I'm so powerful."

"Remember what I said before? At your current stage, even if it's something that has nothing to do with you, as long as it has the slightest connection to you, others will feel it has something to do with you, not to mention that your trip with Tang Mu White was not hidden, everyone knows."

Chen Ziyan took a latte made from the coffee machine and brought it to Lu Yan He, "This is also a good thing, just let everyone think that your relationship with Tang Mu White is good. In the eyes of others, the more cards you have in your hand, the more they dare not go against you."

Lu Yan He said: "No one is going against me now, right?"

"There will always be. A tall tree catches the wind, and a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind," Chen Ziyan said. "You don't see opponents now because you haven't let them get a handle on you. Once they get a handle on you, the offensive they launch will be overwhelming, making you caught off guard."

Lu Yan He's heart tightened.

"So scary."

Chen Ziyan nodded, "However, the path you are taking now is correct. Make friends widely, having many friends has no harm. I am very happy that you have filmed so many dramas and haven't made enemies with anyone. On the contrary, most people have become your friends."

Lu Yan He laughed.

Chen Ziyan: "Now *Lost in Journey* has been filmed, *Squid Game* is about to start filming, and *My Own Swordsman* is expected to start filming in the middle of this year. Basically, all projects are in the process of being promoted. What are you going to film next? Have you thought about it? The film *Burning Fire* that came to you before, are you going to take it?"

Lu Yan He: "Not quite sure, Sister Ziyan, I don't know if I should act."

Chen Ziyan said: "If you are not sure, then I would suggest you take it."

"Hmm?"

"Still the same sentence, because this is a commercial blockbuster, you need a blockbuster," Chen Ziyan said. "And this film has another advantage: the role it is looking for you for is not the lead, but Shang Yongzhou. This means you don't need to carry the box office. To be honest, whether you can carry the box office of a commercial blockbuster now, I don't know. Being able to act as the second male lead, both as a lead and without facing too much pressure."

From a long time ago, Chen Ziyan told him that he must act in a commercial blockbuster.

Lu Yan He nodded upon hearing this.

"Then do you think this script, this story, can be filmed well?"

"I'm actually quite optimistic," Chen Ziyan said. "This is Long Yan Films' specialty project, a magic blockbuster. Although the reputation of magic blockbusters in the country has always been average, without particularly explosive, particularly classic works, this is an indispensable part of the film industry, and Long Yan Films belongs to those who do it quite well, with rich experience, and their past achievements have also been quite good. In this kind of subject matter that is destined to be very expensive, their films have never lost money and can break even at the box office."

Lu Yan He understood Chen Ziyan's meaning.

"Okay, then let's act," Lu Yan He said. "Anyway, I don't have any other dramas to join the group next."

The script for the second season of *Seventeen Layers* is still being written, and it is estimated that filming will have to wait until next year.

Since the funding for *Miss Ning* was cut off, it has lost its trace. He Han has gone to France and hasn't been in the country for a long time. Lu Yan He feels that this film may be difficult to film again.

A bit of a pity.

For Liu Bige's new spy film, Miao Yue is still revising the script, and he is currently preparing the romantic comedy film starring Li Zhibai, so the new spy film has to be moved back.

The originally busy Lu Yan He suddenly had no projects to join the group.

So, acting in *Burning Fire* is also fine.

What Chen Ziyan said made Lu Yan He attach great importance to it—

He cannot just be a film actor who acts in art films, low-budget films, and works by new directors.

Upon learning that Lu Yan He finally relented and agreed to sign with *Burning Fire*, Huang Tai immediately called Lu Yan He.

"Great, Yan He, you are willing to join our film. Believe me, it will definitely not disappoint you," Huang Tai said. "With your joining, this film will definitely be even better."

Lu Yan He said with a smile: "Huang Tai, you are too polite. I am very happy to have the opportunity to shoot this film together. This is my first time shooting this type of film, and there is a lot to prepare and learn."

Huang Tai said: "If you have any needs, just tell me, and I will arrange it for you."

Lu Yan He hurriedly said okay.

After finishing this call with Huang Tai, Lu Yan He immediately called Shang Yongzhou.

"Senior brother, I have decided to sign with *Burning Fire*."

Shang Yongzhou was a bit surprised, "So fast?"

"Hmm, looking around, this film project is the most suitable for now," Lu Yan He said. "Will you act?"

"I'm still hesitating, haven't thought it through," Shang Yongzhou said. "Indeed, it's been a long time since I acted in this kind of film."

In the past, Shang Yongzhou still acted in quite a few of these visual blockbusters, but in the last two years, he has acted less. Mainly because his status has been consolidated, and he no longer needs to rely on the box office performance of such blockbusters to raise his status.

Lu Yan He said: "I'm actually quite moved by this story."

"Hmm, its emotional infection is very strong," Shang Yongzhou also said. "Actually, it would be better if the literary quality of this script could be stronger."

"Hmm?"

"I also said the same to Huang Tai and the others. They said the screenwriter is still revising the script, and I also said then let's wait and see," Shang Yongzhou said. "The current script, it's good to look at, but the lines, dialogue, and characters are still a bit thin. It's not that it must be complicated, must have reversals, but it really lacks a sense of completeness. At least when I read the script, I can't visualize this character in my mind."

Shang Yongzhou has extremely high requirements for scripts; Lu Yan He felt this when he was filming *Road to Glory* with him.

Actually, it's not that the script needs to be very complicated, very twisted, but a feeling. Just like a Japanese film *Little Forest* that Lu Yan He watched before, it basically has no plot, just talking about a young girl planting vegetables and fruits, cooking, brewing wine, etc., in the countryside. As a result, Lu Yan He watched it from beginning to end and didn't feel bored at all.

What is the standard of a good script? It may be difficult to give a quantitative indicator of one, two, three, four, but at least a good script is that after you finish reading it, you have a clear understanding in your heart, hmm, you know it is good.

Shang Yongzhou smiled again and said: "Huang Tai called me, probably to tell me that you agreed to sign, and to persuade me to sign."

Lu Yan He couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

"Then I'll hang up first."

"Hmm."

Lu Yan He hung up the phone and fell into deep thought.

Magic blockbuster?

Lu Yan He actually thought of a story in his mind.

If it weren't for Chen Ziyan's reminder, Lu Yan He wouldn't have thought of it for a long time.

However, in fact, at that time, this film also belonged to the magic blockbusters in the country with relatively better reputation.

*Painted Skin*.

Perhaps after filming *Burning Fire* and seeing the shooting scene of a magic blockbuster, he can write the script for this film?

Anyway, the *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio* story has already been filmed by many people.

The story of *Painted Skin*, this world also has people who have filmed TV dramas, but it has not been filmed into a movie.

Because the story is already known to everyone, everyone thinks that such a story filmed into a movie will not have many people to watch.

But Lu Yan He knows that the film *Painted Skin* actually just retains the core element of "heart changing," and other stories are re-created.

It can totally be filmed into a brand new story.

Old wine in a new bottle.

Lu Yan He created a new folder called "Painted Skin" on his laptop and put it here first, so as not to forget it.

Not a day or two later, the nomination list for the new Honghe Awards was announced.

The Honghe Awards, held in March every year, were also held as scheduled this year.

Lu Yan He was nominated for Best Actor for *Seventeen Layers*, and Chen Bige and Li Yuefeng were nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor for the same drama.

These were all expected nominations.

Unexpected was the second season of *Friends*.

The second season of *Friends*, which had just finished airing, this time at the Honghe Awards, actually missed the nomination for Best Director while being nominated for Best TV Drama.

Someone asked why, and an insider directly answered that there was no name of Bai Jingnian in the registration list.

At this time, everyone suddenly noticed one thing: Bai Jingnian was no longer at Beijing TV.

He went to Arctic Light Video.

The drama fans of *Friends* exploded for a while.

You know, during the airing of the second season, there was a lot of scolding, and only Director Bai Jingnian received a lot of praise. At that time, many people said that in the case of such dog-blood scripts and lines, the director was still trying hard to keep the second season in the original flavor of the first season, which was not easy. Everyone could see the director's efforts, trying to weaken those dog-blood plot developments with lens language as much as possible, and preserve the warm and cozy atmosphere of this drama.

Because of this, Beijing TV was scolded onto the hot search by the drama fans of *Friends*.

Lu Yan He learned about this and couldn't help but scold a sentence.

"It's really short-sighted. Just because Director Bai Jingnian went to Arctic Light Video, you don't register him for the Best Director award? Hehe." Lu Yan He curled his lips, "It's really ridiculous."

Wang Biao nodded and echoed.

"Petty to the extreme."

"Isn't this just asking for scolding?"

Bai Jingnian looked at the clamor on the Internet, and the phone notification sound that had basically not stopped since the clamor happened, sitting in his office, silently in a daze.

Many friends sent messages to comfort him.

For these comforts, Bai Jingnian didn't really want to reply now.

Beijing TV didn't even register him for the Best Director award, which was something he never thought of.

He had worked hard at Beijing TV for so many years, he was an old man.

This made Bai Jingnian's heart feel like it had been cut, bleeding and uncomfortable.

Bai Jingnian really wanted to call Beijing TV and ask what they were thinking.

The phone rang again.

This time it was not a message, but someone calling.

Bai Jingnian took a look, saw the three words "Lu Yan He" displayed on the screen, hesitated for a moment, and still answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Director, how are you feeling?" Lu Yan He asked straight to the point.

"It's okay, just a bit disappointed."

"Sigh, I don't know if my experience can comfort you." Lu Yan He said with a bit of mockery, laughing.

Bai Jingnian suddenly remembered that the conflict between Lu Yan He and Beijing TV was much bigger than his.

At that time, Beijing TV's "blockade" of Lu Yan He was also magnificent.

Lu Yan He said: "I hope you won't be affected by this matter. We still have *My Own Swordsman* later, and this drama can also help you win Best Director."

Bai Jingnian laughed after being told this by Lu Yan He, and his depressed mood eased a bit.

"Whether I win an award or not, I actually don't care that much anymore. I've been filming for so many years."

"You can not care in your heart, but you still have to win the award. Look, the eyes of the masses are discerning. The audience of *Friends* can see how much contribution you have made to the second season of *Friends*."

"But the audience can see it, they can't see it." Bai Jingnian still couldn't help but say indignantly.

Lu Yan He said: "If they can't see it, they are blind. If they weren't blind, they wouldn't have let you go."

These words went into Bai Jingnian's heart.

"Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for, Director," Lu Yan He said. "*My Own Swordsman* will definitely become a work no less than *Friends*. At that time, no one will question your ability as a director, and turn a blind eye."

"Actually, it's all thanks to the good script you wrote."

"It's understandable for my fans to say that, but if people in this industry still say that, it's really ridiculous," Lu Yan He said. "We have all seen how many good scripts are filmed into bad dramas by a director every year. If a screenwriter could handle everything with one script, I would have called my screenwriter's pay higher than my actor's pay long ago."

Bai Jingnian laughed loudly.

"The screenwriter is very hard-working, very serious, and very talented, but there must be a director who can film it," Lu Yan He said. "TV dramas are not the art of words, but the art of lenses. The person who controls the lens is not the screenwriter, nor the actor, nor the photographer, but the director who holds the megaphone and shouts pass or no pass."

Bai Jingnian listened to Lu Yan He's words and took a deep breath.

"Yan He, thank you for coming to comfort me, your words really comforted me."

"I believe, Director, when you look at what happened today next year or the year after, you will only tell it as a joke," Lu Yan He said. "Just like when I look at the things that happened with Beijing TV at the beginning, it is definitely not my joke, but Beijing TV's joke."

A sense of heroism was stirred up in Bai Jingnian's heart by Lu Yan He's words.

"You are right, let this matter be Beijing TV's joke, not mine."

Lu Yan He: "Director, let's work hard together!"

"Hmm, work hard!"

Lu Yan He hung up the phone, took a deep breath, rubbed his aching head, and thought, why has he started to have a headache recently? Is it because he thinks too much?

Will he get white hair?

He hurriedly ran to the mirror to check.

After confirming that he still had a head of dark and shiny hair, Lu Yan He breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, looking at himself in the mirror, he was stunned.

Wait, what is wrong with him?

This gesture, why does it look so Li Zhibai?