Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years
Chapter 133 - 130: Are You an Adult? (Request for Double Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 133: Chapter 130: Are You an Adult? (Request for Double Monthly Tickets)

"Haha, thanks a lot!"

As soon as Qi Hao nodded in agreement to invest seventy million, Zheng Xiaolong immediately raised his wine glass.

The others followed suit and took a sip.

Reaching such an investment amount in such a short time speaks to two things.

One is that Qi Hao can truly make decisions for Gao Yang.

Throughout, he did not consult Gao Yang, he agreed to the investment just after a brief thought.

The other is Feiyang Media’s financial strength is truly astounding.

Currently, it has invested over a hundred million, around one and a half billion, yet not a penny has been recouped.

It feels like they still have the capacity to continue investing.

That’s enviable.

Emperor Entertainment releases seven films a year, and even they don’t have such financial power.

"If the male lead is re-written as Yong Zheng, he would appear in his forties, right?" Qi Hao asked.

He reads things particularly fast, novels take some time, but he can quickly flip through a simple script and finish it.

"Yes, so selecting actors becomes difficult, as for you... if you want to act, you could play Prince Guo, the one who makes the emperor a cuckold."

The novel is set in an alternate history, but in the adaptation, it was changed to the Qing Dynasty.

The change to the Qing Dynasty was mainly for policy reasons.

Because domestic costume dramas currently are not allowed to portray fictional dynasties, changing to the Qing Dynasty makes it more in line with real history, and gives the audience a stronger sense of immersion.

"I’d better not, lead roles for others, and I meddle with a supporting role for what."

Qi Hao unhesitatingly refused, there was no need to get involved.

"Do you have any recommendation for the role of Zhen Huan, the original author hopes to find Cai Shaofen, but she’s too old and really not suitable for the role."

Since someone is investing money, their opinions do need to be considered.

"Long, you’re such a great director, how could I have the qualifications to dictate."

Qi Hao didn’t intend to interfere with the casting.

Although he has many rumored girlfriends, some may be suitable for the role, Qi Hao truly had no intention to speak for them.

"Don’t worry, this time I’ll definitely help you make money."

To facilitate potential future collaborations, Zheng Xiaolong would do his utmost to make this TV series well.

If it were an average director, looking for investments would not only need to consider the money but also any additional support the investors might offer, like relationships with TV stations and connections with various judges.

Zheng Xiaolong doesn’t need that because he has all those things.

"Then I must thank you, our Feiyang Media is really paying quite a price for dinner today, we’re talking about 120 million for one meal, two of you, I’m counting on you!"

Qi Hao raised his wine glass and drank it down.

The others raised their glasses in turn.

As they drank, even Emperor Entertainment surreptitiously considered letting Feiyang Media invest in their projects.

Qi Hao definitely wouldn’t agree.

Enough is enough.

He doesn’t plan to invest in any projects for a while.

At least he’ll wait until he sees some recoupment before making further decisions.

After dinner, Qi Hao and the others didn’t forget to leave a red envelope for the child, as he wouldn’t attend the one-month celebration; he’d definitely be as busy as a dog in the next two months.

When the one-month celebration happens, he’ll likely be filming in Northeast China.

Back home, Qi Hao first confirmed the system task.

[Task 20 completed, gained Singing Skills +10, Song "Ten Years," Startup Fund of 500,000]

[Task completed, received training opportunity]

[Train an NPC, choose one out of three: Jiang Wen/Jiang Wu/Zheng Xiaolong]

[Now starting new task release]

[Task 21: With the system’s help, the host has gained increasing recognition in the entertainment industry from being an extra to a supporting role. It’s time to become a true male lead, take a role as the male lead in a serious film or drama. Task Difficulty: 4 stars, Time Limit: 150 days]

[Task completion reward: Riding Skill +10, Script "There Are No Thieves in The World (adapted from Zhao Benfu’s novel)," A Courtyard House]

Got the song "Ten Years."

But it’s actually of no use, Chen Yixun’s signature piece had appeared many years ago.

Train an NPC, choose one out of three: Jiang Wen/Jiang Wu/Zheng Xiaolong.

Definitely pick Jiang Wen.

However, with Qi Hao’s choice completed, the system displayed a new prompt.

Training Space...

It has upgraded again!

This is good news. Each upgrade strengthens the functions of the Training Space.

This time, the Training Space added a Director Function.

If you select an NPC who has directed a project, you can see through their perspective how a movie is made.

Because NPCs are intelligent, you can get explanations during the process.

This...

This is incredibly timely; just as Qi Hao was about to become a director, this feature came along—a perfect comfort when one is sleepy!

Choosing Jiang Wen is perfect; if it’s about directing, Jiang Wen does have some skills.

Well, not just some.

Not just skills, it might as well be a big broom.

The new task is phrased with great vanity by the system, urging Qi Hao to become a male lead.

It restricts to "serious films or dramas."

This is puzzling, what is meant by serious films or dramas?

Are there really non-serious ones?

Would I even shoot Neon love action movies?

This task isn’t difficult for Qi Hao now; taking on male lead roles is the norm, not being the lead would be unusual.

Unfortunately, I was just praising the dog system for being timely; just as I was preparing to direct, it upgraded to allow training in directing a film.

The next second, something unexpected happened.

If this task had come out earlier, then Qi Hao taking on "Wait and See" would have counted as completing the task.

The upcoming schedule is to direct "Steel Piano" and play a supporting role in "Wind Sound."

Neither of them is the male lead.

To complete the task, he’ll have to find something new.

Luckily, he has 150 days to complete the task, plenty of time for him to accept another role.

Otherwise, if he only had thirty days to finish the task, he might need to change his current schedule.

The task rewards are quite generous this time as well.

An entire courtyard house!

Have to admit, Tongzi is really generous.

The scripts given are carefully selected, the songs are all classics, even hits.

The money given now seems a bit small, but if you place it in that era, it would absolutely be a huge sum. Back then, making a movie cost just a few million, and most top actors’ fees weren’t even one million.

Not to mention, there are metaphysical items, various stocks, and now even a courtyard house has appeared.

Not sure how large it is, or how many yards it has.

Even a small couple hundred square meter two-yard house can sell for tens of millions now.

By the next day, Qi Hao was already preparing to head off to the Northeast.

However, before he leaves, he needs to stop by the company.

Old Tian had arranged a new assistant interview for him; now that he’s not only an actor but also a director, one Zhang Nan wouldn’t be enough for him.

Saying it’s an interview is a bit much because Old Tian had already interviewed the candidates.

Now it’s just for Qi Hao to take a look, and if he’s satisfied, he can take the person on, otherwise, Old Tian will continue the search.

"Tang Chuan, is it?" Qi Hao sized him up.

"Yes." The interviewee looked decent, kind of handsome, and quite stocky.

"You’ve served in the military?" Qi Hao glanced at the resume.

"Yes, a military driver, for eight years." Tang Chuan sat up straight as if undergoing a review.

"Why do you want to be an assistant in the entertainment industry?" Qi Hao asked curiously.

The military and the entertainment industry seem like two completely disparate worlds.

"Wu Jing suggested it!" Tang Chuan didn’t hide anything.

"He recommended you to come to me?"

Qi Hao was surprised, though it wasn’t shocking; Wu Jing particularly liked associating with military personnel.

If it was really Wu Jing’s recommendation, there was no need for the interview, he could be hired right away.

"No, he just suggested that after retiring, I could become an assistant or driver in the entertainment industry, and the pay would be really good."

Tang Chuan explained.

"Then why come to me as an assistant?"

Qi Hao shook his head, if you meet someone who doesn’t recognize your value, there’s no high salary to speak of.

The salary for celebrity assistants is surprisingly low, maybe not even as stable as a security guard’s.

If you really want to make money, you could drive long-haul trucks.

"Because... I saw you in Wenchuan!"

Tang Chuan didn’t elaborate; he had seen Wu Jing and Qi Hao, and other celebrities during disaster relief.

However, the ones really putting in effort were only Wu Jing and Qi Hao.

Wu Jing didn’t need assistants and suggested he come to Qi Hao’s interview, because Qi Hao only had one assistant and one agent.

"Uh, alright, you can be my assistant and driver. The company sets the assistant salary at 3800 a month, but since you’ll also be doing driving work, I’ll bump it up to 5000 for you."

According to the statistics bureau’s latest data, the capital’s average annual salary this year is 44715 yuan.

On average, that’s just over 3700 a month.

In the entertainment industry, assistant and driver salaries are generally below average, and many make only 2000 a month.

Qi Hao previously offered Yang Liu 3500 a month.

Of course, Yang Liu’s position isn’t an assistant anymore, and the salary had already increased to over 5000.

Anyway, offering Tang Chuan 5000 was considered a high salary.

"Alright, I can start anytime."

Tang Chuan didn’t hold back; he wasn’t stupid and wouldn’t request a pay cut.

But he knew Qi Hao was taking care of him.

And the best he could do was excel in his roles as assistant, driver, and bodyguard.

To make himself worth the money.

After Tang Chuan went out to complete his employment procedures, another interviewee came into Qi Hao’s office.

Today wasn’t only for interviewing Tang Chuan; there was another assistant.

Qi Hao would have two assistants in the future.

Zhang Nan, the agent, couldn’t be with him all the time.

The second assistant was a female, probably more attentive.

"Are you of age?" Qi Hao scrutinized her for a few seconds, then checked her resume.

Hopefully, there wasn’t a mix-up.

Short and small, looked quite underage.

He clearly remembered the resume saying she had over three years of work experience.

"My name is Li Xiaomeng; I’m 21 years old and an adult already, just a bit short..."

The girl seemed a bit embarrassed, as if she was used to being judged for her appearance, she explained deftly.

"Your height is faked, isn’t it? Where’s your 160 cm?"

Qi Hao was speechless; these days, you encounter candidates falsifying their height during interviews.

And by a lot, at least ten centimeters off.

Though besides the height issue, the girl’s resume was quite impressive.