Chapter 62: Teacher Chi Joins The Crew, Everyone Make Way
At this moment, the notebook already had many names densely recorded on it.
Besides Weiwei, there were also ones like My Sunshine, Dear, Beloved, as well as some hit products from Japan and Korea with explosive reputation in certain segments.
But without exception, the projects in the selection area all had a few common points.
1. Investment is less than other genres—no money. The Empress Dowager personally invested a round from her small vault, but after finishing the album, film and television definitely still need to continue investing, otherwise it’s simply not enough.
2. They earn more money than other genres and have good reputation, not only able to quickly accumulate wealth, but also let Chi Ye himself quickly explode—profit maximization + making money.
He is now going solo as his own boss and cannot let the studio lose money right from the start, let alone lose all the hard-earned small savings of the Empress Dowager.
With money, there can be capital, and then takeoff—this is his plan.
As for movies… he hasn’t not considered them.
But first, he can’t squeeze in; that circle is famously insular, and without connections, one can’t move an inch. Second, the investment is larger than TV series, the studio is just established and too small, can’t handle it now.
So, if possible, Chi Ye wants profit maximization; it’s easy to get stuck in timing between different pots and platforms.
Of course, there are many projects on the list, but the studio artists now only have him.
Right now, the most important is Circulation.
Circulation is set to start filming tomorrow.
The filming location is in Haixi City, with some scenes in a film and television city in Jiangsu Zhejiang.
After receiving the notice, Chi Ye set off for Jiangsu Zhejiang today.
Ten o’clock in the morning.
Chi Ye instructed Keke on things to do, then went alone by airplane to the film and television city.
It was already two o’clock in the afternoon when he landed.
At the airport doorway, he saw Director Zhang, they greeted each other, got in the car, and headed to the film crew.
“Heard you grabbed the microphone on New Year’s Eve?”
Sitting in the car, Director Zhang crossed his legs, smoking one cigarette after another. Chi Ye frowned and opened the window: “This is the first time sitting in an immortal realm car.”
Then he said: “Don’t spread rumors, I clearly picked it up.”
Director Zhang: “?”
“Cough cough.” Coughing twice, Director Zhang asked curiously: “That variety show of yours… the one with high popularity recently, Jian Ni, how is it? Going back?”
“Breached the contract, no more announcements for Jian Ni.”
Chi Ye thought about it and said: “Yesterday the program team called me, saying they want me to continue, but the film crew is about to start filming, right? Let’s focus on this side for now.”
Director Zhang nodded in satisfaction, coughed twice more, pointed at Chi Ye: “You kid, always capable since young, knew our play could be a hit.”
Chi Ye: “?”
But he didn’t pay attention to Director Zhang, instead thinking about things regarding Jian Ni.
Not long after he left Jian Ni, the program team officially announced the two new replacement guests.
One was the already known Erlang’s Crown Prince Jiang Cheng, the other was one of the three Green Robes among the Four Little Ones, first-tier Green Robe Wen Tiaotiao.
Speaking of Jiang Cheng and Wen Tiaotiao, they indeed fit Jian Ni’s selection standards very well.
One is a well-known star second generation, young version of Yang Zi, desperately wanting to explode and become popular; the other is famously nitpicky.
In a certain acting variety show, as a mentor, she actually flew into a rage on site because the two apples had different shapes during front-and-back audition practice, smashing things, scaring the trainees into trembling.
Everyone says I act like a diva, but hers was the real diva behavior!
But Green Robe is Green Robe, with solid personal strength, so she doesn’t care about these at all.
This time coming to Jian Ni, it should be her team wanting to whitewash her.
But her and Jiang Cheng’s #Jump River CP#… cough cough, of course this was named by Chi Ye himself, seemed no sparks flew, and they almost fought on site…
The reason was that during a certain mission, Jiang Cheng wanted to hold Wen Tiaotiao’s hand, but how could Wen Tiaotiao agree? Reflexively, she almost swung a big slap over.
Pointing at Jiang Cheng and cursing him out, it went on hot search that day.
It’s just pitiful for the Empress Dowager.
Since Chi Ye left, the Empress Dowager has become listless in Jian Ni, basically unenthusiastic about doing anything, and when sitting on the sofa staring longingly at the fruit platter on the coffee table, no one secretly brings her spicy strips anymore…
No fun!
So Jin Xia has already taken the opportunity of running promotions these past few days to temporarily leave the Jian Ni small dwelling.
“If you ask me, Jian Ni is about to air soon, without you and Jin Xia, the popularity doesn’t feel as good as before.”
Director Zhang is also a loyal viewer of this premium dramatic variety show Jian Ni, and with the main person right beside him, he couldn’t help but roast.
“It’s okay, at least the first few episodes should be quite exciting.”
Chi Ye thought about the content of Jian Ni from the first few days, and even as the person involved, he couldn’t hold it together a bit.
“Cough cough… that, later you meet Ran Qiao. The male and female leads meeting the day before starting filming is a bit late.”
Director Zhang’s tone was regretful.
Although Circulation doesn’t have much romance… but it does have some.
And now he also had some doubts in his heart.
—Before, because he couldn’t resist the temptation of a good story, “letting the wolf into the house”, now starting filming, can Chi Ye’s acting skills pass?
Ran Qiao debuted as a child star, a rare talent-type actor, properly auditioned in.
If the male lead can’t handle the female lead’s scenes, then Circulation would be ruined!
Chi Ye glanced at him, saw him coughing nonstop again while lighting a cigarette.
“You addicted? Why always notification sounds.” Chi Ye couldn’t help: “Sent by cancer cells in your body?”
Director Zhang: “…”
Watch that mouth of yours, careful you get beaten to death in the film crew!
……
At the same time.
Circulation film crew, inside a certain RV.
Ran Qiao, who is only 19 this year, had a solemn expression, sat relaxed on the sofa, twirling stringed skewers in her hand, occasionally flipping a page of the script, sipping from a thermos cup.
Beside her, the forty-to-fifty-year-old close auntie, also her assistant, had an anxious face: “Ran Ran, how can you still sit still!”
Ran Qiao: “Maa?”
Puzzled, she lifted her head, revealing a signature delicate small face, a pair of eyes like autumn water pupils, clear and bright: “What’s wrong, Auntie? Why can’t I sit?”
“Should I stand? Standing for long periods is not good for leg blood circulation.”
Auntie: “…”
“Silly child, Chi Ye! Heard Chi Ye is joining the crew today, and you’re acting like nothing’s wrong. What if… what if he rushes into the car to rub off?”
Ran Qiao: “…”
Silent for a moment: “Auntie, don’t worry, this kind of thing absolutely won’t happen.”
Auntie surprised: “Why?”
“Because I have no popularity, why would he rub off me? Would he pay to do it?”
Auntie: “…”
Thoughtful: “If you put it that way, it’s true… but we can’t not guard against it, after all he has a ‘fierce reputation’… not that I’m saying, how did Director Zhang pick him as male lead… your first female lead role!”
“Just ruined like this.”
“Auntie.” Ran Qiao frowned, earnestly: “You’re just too impetuous. Look, I’m not anxious, why are you? Chi Ye isn’t some flood beast, how did he become so scary in your mouth?”
“We can’t view people with tinted glasses. You’ve been in this circle for a short time, observe more, learn more.”
Auntie: “……Yes, young lady you’re right, Auntie is too young.”
Ran Qiao sighed, just about to continue speaking.
“Hey, where’s the female lead? Come out let me rub off.”
A pleasant magnetic male voice sounded, Ran Qiao dumbfounded.
Immediately after, the familiar voice of Director Zhang: “Cough cough… no, can you act normal? Don’t scare the kid!”
“Adult already, what kid.” Chi Ye continued: “I don’t rub nobodies, let her get popular quick, if not popular, no rub.”
Black lines covered Ran Qiao’s small face.
Auntie beside her gloating: “See? Don’t listen to the old folks…”
“Happy for a hundred years!”
Ran Qiao covered auntie’s mouth, slowly stood up, holding the thermos cup and walked down the car: “Let’s go say hello.”
Auntie: “…”
Sighed, followed down together.
Chi Ye had just walked over with Director Zhang, and saw a young girl wearing a blue hoodie, jeans, looking youthful and vibrant, coming down.
She politely greeted him: “Teacher Chi, hello.”
“Hello.”
Chi Ye’s gaze fell on the stringed skewers in her hand, oddly: “Hobby is quite unique.”
Ran Qiao: “…”
Nodded: “I usually like twirling some things.”
“Like what else?”
“Ah?” Ran Qiao stunned: “Does researching health preservation, fishing count?”
“Counts.” Chi Ye disappointed: “These hobbies are really good.”
“Really?” Ran Qiao happy to hear it, her impression of Chi Ye changed.
Not as “fierce and vicious” as said outside.
“Of course good.” Chi Ye affirmed: “You’ve avoided at least eighty years of detours.”
Ran Qiao: “…”
Hmm, still quite fierce and vicious.
“That, let’s go inside to talk.”
Director Zhang rubbed his hands, signaling everyone to go in.
At this moment, several people were already sitting inside, all familiar faces from television.
For example, Teacher Liu who plays the uncle captain in Circulation, and several supporting actors from hit film and television dramas.
Heard the actor for the bureau chief in the drama is a guest appearance by a certain first-tier Green Robe, and the villain driver is also a veteran actor.
This made Chi Ye have to look at Director Zhang and Han Xing Entertainment in a new light.
—Impressive, these connections.
Director Zhang didn’t speak, just introduced Chi Ye to everyone.
Actually no need to introduce.
Because anyone recently following industry movements knows the name Chi Ye.
The one who eats soft… the little traffic who breached contract.
Teacher Liu and others politely greeted Chi Ye, then obviously with softer attitude nodded to Ran Qiao, before discussing the script.
First gathering of Circulation main creators, of course to hold a script reading session.
Chi Ye really liked this atmosphere, felt much better than the film crews he imagined.
“Director, this newly revised version of the script is really good.”
Teacher Liu, as the most senior and highest star power big star in the Circulation film crew, expressed being unable to put down the new Circulation script: “When I first saw this script, I was only interested in the genre.”
“Honestly, the story quality was a bit lacking, but didn’t expect this new version you made, feels like the story excitement level rose a whole level.”
Teacher Liu is a veteran actor, quite demanding when taking roles, naturally also reads scripts.
And there’s a recognized fact in the industry—that TV series quality depends on the script, movie quality on the director.
Meaning the final product quality of a TV series, its performance, mostly depends on the screenwriter’s level.
Because TV series are long enough, audiences watch TV series for the story.
Movies are completely opposite.
Limited story in two or three hours, more about director’s filming style, techniques, special effects, visual art, even music.
So, film circle is generally director-centered, directors have absolute influence.
While TV series circle is often producer-centered, even directors with some power have to consult with producers and investors.
Few hit screenwriters also have some influence.
Like the Circulation project, director self-wrote and directing, plus connections, so besides the producer, he’s the biggest.
“Mm… this was consulted with another screenwriter teacher, my version had too many flaws, this version is perfect.”
Director Zhang originally wanted to say it was revised by Chi Ye, but seeing the producer sitting opposite bored scrolling mobile phone, he shut his mouth grudgingly.
“Spot on, that screenwriter teacher not coming today?”
Teacher Liu glanced at everyone in the room, a bit eager: “I wanted to meet him.”
“Mm, screenwriter teacher has no time, will come when there’s opportunity…”
Director Zhang paused, looked at Chi Ye.
Chi Ye also blinked, said: “This screenwriter is really a genius!”
Director Zhang: “…”
“Right, Xiao Chi said it well.” Teacher Liu nodded in approval, looked at Chi Ye anew: “The script you picked is really good, Xiao Chi. Really, this genre if filmed well easily gets results.”
Xiao Chi didn’t speak, just kept praising: “Yes, Teacher Liu is too right, I just feel this screenwriter writes so well, how can there be such a talented screenwriter?”
Ran Qiao sitting next to Chi Ye, felt it a bit weird hearing this, but also nodded, crisply said: “Indeed good… shall we discuss our respective roles?”
“Sure.”
Chi Ye took the lead without hesitation, no awkwardness of a newbie in the crew, talked freely: “I think the character Xiao Heyun, in the whole drama, has three obvious personality level shifts.”
“At the start, he is initial self-protection and caution, but as loop times increase, and influenced by the female lead Li Shiqing, his personality gradually shifts from initial self-protection and caution to embracing great kindness.”
“Then in the later stage, he has grown into the team’s leader, together with Li Shiqing making various plans, checking passengers on the bus, trying to find the bomb’s location and explosion reason…”
“Three levels, from cautious evasion, gradually influenced, to finally daring to take responsibility.”
“So I feel this character is nuanced, not a stereotypical idol drama persona.”
After Chi Ye simply finished, everyone was dumbfounded.
Why do you understand so clearly? Didn’t you just join today?
They haven’t read this new script long either.
And this doesn’t match the rumored Chi Ye!
“What’s wrong?” Chi Ye puzzled: “Did I say it wrong?”
“Cough cough…”
Director Zhang saw the producer had already taken the mobile phone and walked out, lightly coughed twice, leaned close to everyone, whispered pointing at Chi Ye: “He is the new version Circulation screenwriter.”
“Shh! We few know is fine, don’t tell outsiders, or I’m afraid investors won’t give follow-up money…”
Everyone: “?!”
Second update today, will make up third update today, but unsure when it finishes, those who don’t want to stay up rest early, see tomorrow
