Chapter 827: Changing Directors

If it were something Li Zhibai had to do or star in, Lu Yan He would definitely say whatever was on his mind; he couldn't just watch Li Zhibai suffer a loss and stand idly by.

But whether it's the sequel or the spin-off from South Korea's tvN, it doesn't really have much to do with Li Zhibai anymore. So why should Lu Yan He make himself unwelcome by stepping up before they've even done anything to say, "This is unlikely to succeed"?

Besides, it's not certain that Liu Manbo would fail just by leaving Li Zhibai.

Lu Yan He didn't want to be that arrogant.

. ttkΛn. co

Although he was indeed quite arrogant—

But he shouldn't show it; it's annoying.

……

"Yan He." Yu Mengling came over. "Do you have a moment? I want to talk to you about the scene we're shooting tonight."

Lu Yan He put down his phone and nodded: "OK, I'm free."

It was impossible for the Beijing Station to publicly apologize to Chen Pinhe.

However, that didn't mean they were just going to swallow this loss quietly.

Zhang Yuezhen had calculated for a long time and decided she had to wipe this matter clean; she couldn't let such a stain remain on Chen Pinhe's acting career.

After various platforms uploaded the re-edited Episode 8, Zhang Yuezhen arranged for internet trolls to leak "the truth behind the re-editing of Episode 8" through the mouths of marketing accounts.

They didn't mention the internal affairs of the Beijing Station, only saying that the editing staff was unprofessional, which led to the "overacting" situation in the previously released Episode 8. In reality, Chen Pinhe had provided several different performances, and they had taken a segment from each and combined them into that "overacting" scene.

As a result, this blame was shifted by the confused masses onto the director, Wen Zichong.

The audience weren't industry insiders; how would they know about all these twists and turns?

According to the simplest understanding of the public, the finished product of a drama is the responsibility of the director.

If a drama has technical problems, the one taking the blame should be the director.

Wen Zichong, however, had long been angered by this "sleazy operation" of the Beijing Station. He had been enduring it in silence because, as the director, he was responsible for the drama and didn't want it to fall into a scandal with an ugly appearance before it had even finished airing.

Now, the problem with Episode 8 was being pointed directly at him.

How could he let himself fall into the quagmire of being "unprofessional"?

He immediately posted on Weibo: "Don't push every bit of blame onto me. Although I am a director, I am a director without final cut rights."

Once this Weibo post went up, it exploded.

"Here it comes, the familiar sleazy operation." Lu Qingzhen held her phone and shook her head speechlessly. "Beijing Station, they can always play a good hand of cards into a state of mental confusion."

Chen Ziyan laughed.

"Otherwise, it wouldn't be the Beijing Station."

Lu Qingzhen said: "Seventeen Layers is already their only pillar, and they still pull this kind of thing."

Chen Ziyan: "Because it's the only pillar, everyone wants a piece of the pie; they aren't willing to just drink the dregs."

Lu Qingzhen: "I want to see how the Beijing Station responds to this, and what Chen Pinhe and Zhang Yuezhen will do."

"Let those mad dogs bite each other." Chen Ziyan sneered, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right, I forgot one thing."

"What thing?"

"Wen Zichong has broken ties with the Beijing Station for now, so the director for the second season of Seventeen Layers: Reboot will probably need to be found again," Chen Ziyan said. "We can't let the Beijing Station find Lian Bei again."

"Director Lian Bei is preparing his new drama, so he shouldn't be available, right? He hasn't taken on any platform projects; he's doing his own," Lu Qingzhen said. "It's a 16-episode short drama adapted from a short play in the Jump Up Theater."

Chen Ziyan: "After finishing this project, won't he be in a gap period? If Director Lian Bei returns to Seventeen Layers: Reboot, maybe he could really take this project to the next level; after all, it's his own flesh and blood."

"Then what do you want to do?"

"Station Head Jiang, you're here."

Jiang Lan had already been to this studio many times.

She knew the way well.

Many people already recognized her face, and seeing her appear, they weren't surprised.

In fact, this was where Lian Bei's studio was located, and people coming to visit Director Lian Bei were endless.

Jiang Lan wasn't the only television station leader to visit.

However, because of the Seventeen Layers trilogy and Jiang Yan, Lian Bei's cooperation with the Beijing Station had been closer in recent years.

But the people in the studio were also very clear that the person Lian Bei actually cooperated with more closely wasn't the Beijing Station, but Lu Yan He.

Jiang Yan was only directed by Lian Bei because of Lu Yan He.

And the Office Woman that Lian Bei was currently working on was also adapted from a short story on Jump Up; it had previously been made into a two-episode short drama and aired in the Jump Up Theater.

Regarding the recent Seventeen Layers: Reboot, although Lian Bei was one of the producers, in the actual production process, he had been slowly marginalized by the Beijing Station—

So-called marginalization actually meant that when he spoke or gave opinions, no one listened.

Under these circumstances, how could Lian Bei continue to speak?

It was a waste of his time and energy.

Because of this matter, Jiang Lan had already come once before.

Lian Bei had nothing to say.

At that time, he said: "Indeed, it was I who refused to direct Seventeen Layers: Reboot, so whether you listen to my opinions or not is your business, but if you don't value my opinions, there's no need for me to be this consultant."

Jiang Lan had used all sorts of persuasion, so it didn't end up looking particularly ugly at the time.

Now, Jiang Lan had come looking for him again.

With Wen Zichong pulling this stunt, the Beijing Station definitely wouldn't continue to use him.

So for the director of the second season of Seventeen Layers: Reboot, Jiang Lan had no choice but to go back and find Lian Bei.

If Lian Bei could return to direct, given the current situation, it would be a win-win for everyone.

However, Jiang Lan didn't expect that as soon as she stated her intention, Lian Bei directly declined.

Jiang Lan was stunned, thinking Lian Bei was still angry about the previous matter, and was just about to bring out the arguments she had prepared, including some power they could give Lian Bei in the sequel, when Lian Bei waved his hand and said directly: "Station Head Jiang, I have already promised Linghe that I will direct the three spin-off films of Seventeen Layers for them."

Jiang Lan: "..."

Lian Bei: "They came to me earlier, and I have already promised them. If you had come to me earlier, I would have agreed to your side."

Jiang Lan: "They... they really move fast."

"Yes." Lian Bei laughed. "I was saying the same thing, how could they come to me when there wasn't even a script yet? It turns out they intend for me to write the script as well. There's no way around it; I have to devote all my energy to these three films for the next few years."

Jiang Lan was completely at a loss for words for a moment.

"You move too fast." On the way back, Jiang Lan couldn't help but call Chen Ziyan, her tone filled with a bit of complaint. "And you didn't even tell me."

"How can you poach someone after announcing it to the whole world?" Chen Ziyan laughed. "If I had told you in advance, who knows if you would have come to poach him before me? If you had come to poach him, I might not have been able to win."

Chen Ziyan gave Jiang Lan a slight boost in her words.

The dissatisfaction in Jiang Lan's tone indeed decreased a little.

"You have so many film directors at Linghe; I didn't expect you to use Lian Bei to shoot spin-off films."

"This story was written by him; he is the most suitable." Chen Ziyan said. "What film director or television director? Director Luo Yuzhong is currently directing the film The Boat." Chen Ziyan said. "Nothing is more important than suitability; a film is just a different format from a television drama."

"In the industry, the barriers are very deep."

"Let them be deep. When the box office results come out and they win awards, they will tear down the barriers themselves." Chen Ziyan said indifferently. "As long as you succeed, the barriers will move toward you and move you into their barriers."

Jiang Lan: "..."

Chen Ziyan added: "The results of Seventeen Layers: Reboot are so good, I believe plenty of directors would be willing to take over, as long as the news gets out."

Just like Friends back in the day.

Hopefully, the development of Seventeen Layers: Reboot will be the same as Friends back then.

Jiang Lan couldn't see that the corners of Chen Ziyan's mouth were already curled up in sarcasm at this moment.

After so many years, the large and established Beijing Station still doesn't understand the importance of respecting creators.

Seventeen Layers: Reboot hasn't even finished airing, and they've already started holding their rice bowls and looking for the next cook.

How hard is it to find a director who can shoot a drama well?

Chen Ziyan had communicated and interacted with people from various platforms over the years and had heard too many stories.

Some who feigned compliance while swallowing production funds, some who acted as hands-off managers and left everything to their apprentices to shoot, some who had too many ideas and made a drama unmanageable...

Chen Ziyan didn't know what Wen Zichong's situation was, but at least judging from the results, the production of Seventeen Layers: Reboot was qualified. Before Episode 8, there were no large-scale negative reviews, which was enough to show that Wen Zichong was a qualified director.

Back then, the Beijing Station couldn't see the value of Bai Jingnian, and now they couldn't see the value of Wen Zichong.

Of course, Chen Ziyan wouldn't say this directly to Jiang Lan.

Why say such things?

"How about you come and do the project I have on hand?" After Jiang Lan left, Lian Bei called Wen Zichong.

Wen Zichong was stunned.

Lian Bei said: "Jiang Lan just came to find me, asking if I had time to take over the second season of Seventeen Layers: Reboot."

Wen Zichong was silent on the other end.

"The Beijing Station is just like that. You posted that Weibo post to mock them, so they can't possibly use you again." Lian Bei said. "When Li Zhibai posted on Weibo back then, look at how many times the Beijing Station suppressed him afterward. Lu Yan He broke ties with them, and a lot of stories happened in between."

Wen Zichong: "It's speechless; it was clearly their problem."

"That's not important. What's important is that in front of a behemoth like the Beijing Station, we can't go head-to-head with them, unless you reach Lu Yan He's level." Lian Bei said. "However, you directed Seventeen Layers: Reboot, and this drama isn't considered unsuccessful now. For you, it's a very beautiful entry on your resume."

Wen Zichong asked: "What do you mean by coming to do your project?"

"I'm going to put my energy into other projects." Lian Bei said. "But I have projects in preparation with several platforms, so if you are willing, you can come and take a look and take over one of them directly."

Wen Zichong: "OK, then I'll come to see you in two days."

"Hmm."

Back then, it was Lian Bei who recommended Wen Zichong to the Beijing Station.

And precisely because of this, Wen Zichong didn't even retain final cut rights in his own hands.

He was a weak director.

But Wen Zichong receiving such treatment at the Beijing Station, including being kicked out because of this matter, Lian Bei was naturally also angry.

Jiang Lan came to find him, asking him to return to direct, but didn't mention Wen Zichong at all.

Lian Bei sneered.

With such an attitude, Jiang Lan didn't feel there was anything inappropriate.

That's right, these directors are too humble.

Especially directors who want to work independently.

Even if Wen Zichong was just a "temporary worker," it didn't mean he could be kicked out just like that.

It's chilling.

"The Beijing Station is going to replace Wen Zichong; they won't let him direct the second season." Zhang Yuezhen said to Chen Pinhe.

Chen Pinhe: "Replace Wen Zichong?"

He frowned.

Zhang Yuezhen asked: "What's wrong?"

Chen Pinhe: "People inside the Beijing Station messed up the editing of Episode 8, and in the end, they replaced Wen Zichong?"

"Because of that Weibo post Wen Zichong made, it caused a lot of controversy and made many people go and scold the Beijing Station." Zhang Yuezhen said. "He did indeed ignite public opinion directly by doing that. Now many people on the internet are laughing at this drama because of this matter."

Chen Pinhe: "If they are going to replace Wen Zichong in the sequel, who are they planning to find to direct?"

"I heard they want to bring Lian Bei back."

After Chen Pinhe heard the name Lian Bei, his slightly furrowed brows relaxed.

"If it's him, that's fine."

Zhang Yuezhen nodded.

"Lian Bei does indeed have talent. Besides, the story of Seventeen Layers was something he thought of in the beginning." Zhang Yuezhen said. "Although Seventeen Layers: Reboot is still written by Feng Qiyue, compared to the previous trilogy, it does lack a bit of flavor."

Chen Pinhe: "Whether Lian Bei can return to direct depends on his own willingness."

Zhang Yuezhen said: "I'll go find him and have a chat."

She suddenly smiled.

"I actually thought you wanted to protect Wen Zichong just now."

"I did have that thought initially; he is quite a capable director." Chen Pinhe said. "However, since there is a possibility of letting Lian Bei return to direct, then Lian Bei is definitely better."

Zhang Yuezhen: "Indeed, if the director isn't strong enough, and something like Episode 8 happens again, it will still be a troublesome matter."

Chen Pinhe: "Do many people on the internet know the truth about this matter now?"

"Hmm." Zhang Yuezhen nodded. "The Beijing Station probably thinks those rumors were all released by Wen Zichong. I didn't focus on clarifying your acting skills, but rather, in Wen Zichong's tone, explained clearly why such an unprofessional thing happened. After letting the topic ferment for a day, I started to lead the topic of 'you being innocently implicated'." (End of chapter)