Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years
Chapter 140 - 137: Be Like a Man (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 140: Chapter 137: Be Like a Man (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

"Fei, you’re now involved in the business, so you need to pay more attention. You’re the general manager, you must act like one..."

Qi Hao wanted to reprimand Gao Fei for his unhealthy mindset, but on second thought, that would be too hypocritical.

He also had an unhealthy mindset, speculating about others’ friendships.

Now he could only put on the guise of an uncle, guiding his niece to focus on her career.

"Tch, I definitely won’t get tricked next time."

Gao Fei isn’t really dumb; she just doesn’t try hard enough, plus she has no concept of money.

Like any ordinary person, seeing something she likes, what’s the big deal in spending an extra twenty yuan?

"It’s not just the script; people will trick you at every step."

Qi Hao reminded her, although paying the ’tuition fee’ is unavoidable, why pay it if you could get the knowledge for free?

Even Gao Fei, who didn’t care much about that money, felt too depressed to eat snacks after she found out she was deceived.

She couldn’t sleep... well, maybe not to that extent.

"Ugh, it’s really frustrating. Why do people always want to trick others? Can’t everyone just do business properly?"

The little princess had never experienced life’s hardships and didn’t know how bitter life could be, so naturally, she couldn’t understand how evil human nature could be.

"Fei, don’t complain. Be like a man, bravely face challenges," Qi Hao jokingly said.

"..." Fei rolled her eyes at him.

"Get in touch with An Feng later and ask her to come over for a screen test."

Qi Hao thought about it; if they waited until May to shoot, they’d have about four months.

Although he could ensure task completion, it would obviously slow down his progress in catching up with the reality timeline.

It was better to push this project forward a bit.

Not to shoot ahead of schedule, as that would be too rushed and chaotic.

The premise for Qi Hao’s tasks is not to affect his normal work and life.

He’s not as intense as Zhang Nan.

His plan was to sign contracts and then casually shoot a scene.

This would count as playing the male lead.

The system gave him five months; the task completion requirement couldn’t be as high as a theatrical release, or even finishing the shoot might be too demanding. Based on his experience completing these ten or twenty tasks, it’s likely just formally completing the performance contract.

And Qi Hao not only signed the contract but officially started filming as well.

If the task ended here, it would save a lot of time.

Shoot one scene now and leave the rest for April or May.

As for whether this would look too odd, Qi Hao didn’t care; he already had plenty of behaviors seen as abnormal, so adding this one didn’t matter.

"An Feng still needs an audition?" Gao Fei looked at him as if he were a jerk.

How could he say that? That’s your beloved... ex-rumored girlfriend.

You’ve worked together so many times, don’t you know her caliber? She actually needs an audition.

"You have to go through the formal procedures, so others won’t say she got resources through connections, and filming the audition can serve as promotional material after the movie’s release..."

Qi Hao had a look on his face like the depths of film production, you need to learn.

Gao Fei didn’t understand and was easily deceived.

After tricking Gao Fei, Qi Hao set off back to Tieling.

If he didn’t return soon, Zhang Meng would finish shooting his movie.

When he left for the capital, he authorized Zhang Meng to shoot some less important parts.

Seeing an opportunity, of course Zhang Meng wanted to step forward.

This was originally his wife after all...

When he arrived on set, Zhang Meng was still shooting late into the night; it was clear he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

"The director’s back."

Someone saw Qi Hao and immediately shouted.

Zhang Meng, with a cigarette in his mouth, turned around and saw Qi Hao striding onto the set.

"Shooting will wrap up soon. You’ve been working all day, why haven’t you rested?" Zhang Meng reluctantly made room.

"It’s okay, I didn’t have to drive, slept all the way in the car."

Qi Hao took a look and noticed the old guy’s filming progress was unusually fast, likely because he had been on ice for too long.

"In that Santana? Must’ve been hard to sleep well. Why didn’t you drive your Rolls Royce Phantom?"

Zhang Meng envied those who had a Rolls Royce Phantom.

If he had a Rolls Royce Phantom and a big villa, he’d be willing too.

"I’ll get used to it, my car’s modified, it’s not lacking in comfort."

Qi Hao replied dismissively and started reviewing what Zhang Meng had shot over the past couple of days he was away.

If it deviated significantly from his expectations, he would inquire.

If necessary, he might even demand a reshoot.

Luckily, the two had mostly worked out their collaboration, as Zhang Meng was also the film’s screenwriter, and the results were roughly on par.

"Director, you’re back."

They were shooting a scene with Zeng Li, and seeing the director return, she quickly greeted him.

She hoped to collaborate again in the future.

This time, she played Chen Guili’s wife, Ju. Since Chen Guili was laid off and couldn’t bear the burden of life, she shifted her affections to a fake medicine salesman. She not only wanted a divorce from her husband Chen Guili but also demanded custody of their only daughter.

According to Chen Guili’s lines, she finally attained the life she dreamed of, getting something for nothing.

It’s not a very likable role.

However, the character isn’t particularly annoying, as this film isn’t overly emotional in nature.

Moreover, her collaboration with Qin Hailu, being classmates, and being junior and senior with Wang Qianyuan, can all be sensationalized as gimmicks.

Not to mention this is Qi Hao’s first movie, the hype is definitely not going to be low.

As for whether she will be rumored with Qi Hao, she doesn’t really force it.

After all, she can’t just knock on Qi Hao’s door late at night, then hang around for half an hour and come out disheveled, right?

That would easily offend people.

Currently, Qi Hao isn’t just one of the four young idols and a best actor, but he’s also got dealings with capital and has become a director; it’s better not to offend him for nothing.

Actually, with Qi Hao’s charm that attracts people.

He and Qin Hailu, Zeng Li, have had quite a few photos taken recently.

Like getting in the same car, or going for skewers together in cold weather.

As long as there’s a photo where people can vaguely be seen, the rest can be left to writing and imagination.

Someone even wrote about Qi Hao in a one-dragon-two-phoenix situation.

Written vividly, it even includes their dialogues and flirting, making you suspect the writer was under their bed at the time; it’s such a pity they’re not writing novels.

Actually, if Zeng Li made a request, Qi Hao wouldn’t be against her stirring up rumors.

The premise is after they get familiar and she doesn’t make him dislike her.

Back then, Li Xiaoran was pursued by a bigwig and almost drugged by her best friend and delivered to his bed; she asked Qi Hao for help, and Qi Hao drove over to pick her up, leading to the rumor.

The bigwig was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

At that time, Qi Hao had already been recognized as one of the four young idols, and Ziwen, having transformed from a state-owned enterprise, wasn’t without any power.

After Qi Hao returned, the crew continued to be in an overspending state.

Zhang Meng was somewhat numb to it, and didn’t bother to persuade Qi Hao; why bother, since it’s not his money being spent anyway.

Let it overspend, and then they can just add a little more investment afterwards.

After all, Feiyang Media is the only producer.

Trying to convince someone who’d spend three million on a script to save is like playing the lute to a cow.

With the previous care from Zhao Benshan, the set hasn’t had any incidents of fake accidents.

However, Qi Hao hasn’t gone to visit Old Zhao.

Because Old Zhao is probably busy with the Spring Festival Gala now.

These years, Old Zhao has been almost inseparable from the Spring Festival Gala.

Qi Hao had been invited to the Spring Festival Gala before, even this year, but he never accepted the invitation.

The phrase "virtue not matching position will lead to calamity" is more powerful than "stick to your original intention".

He doesn’t know how to perform sketches or comic dialogues, is clueless about dancing, and only has an amateur level in singing.

He didn’t even release his own new song before.

Going to the Spring Festival Gala would just be embarrassing and shameful.

The Spring Festival Gala isn’t enjoyable anymore, let’s not disgust the audience further.

The audience has supported the Spring Festival Gala for so many years, they haven’t done anything utterly unforgivable, there’s no need to wipe them out.

It’s tough to organize galas these days.

For example, Mango TV’s live New Year’s Eve concert faced its darkest 23 minutes ever when a guy named Chen Chusheng left a note and disappeared, leaving the hosts in chaos, the directors backstage in a panic, and the audience dumbfounded.

Of course, it definitely won’t be brushed off so simply afterwards.

Mango TV is not to be trifled with.

Another recent hot topic is Zhang Ziyi’s "Beach Gate", reportedly very scandalous.

Qi Hao and Zhang Ziyi have no interactions, nor have they been rumored together.

Other scandals include Gu Changwei’s car affair.

Reportedly going for over an hour, seems Old Gu’s physical stamina is quite impressive.

On January 15, "Wind Sound" officially started shooting.

Qi Hao didn’t attend; he’s at a crucial stage, working day and night, aiming to give everyone a break before the New Year.

Qi Hao wrapped up on January 22, after nearly two months of shooting.

One or two weeks later than Zhang Meng had estimated.

Mainly because Qi Hao was too finicky.

He’d reshoot at the drop of a hat, or try new ideas, even if they weren’t better than the old ones.

This experimenting inevitably wastes time and money.

With a five million investment, they did manage to make the film, but there’s not much left for marketing.

Plus, there’s post-production.

Luckily, this film doesn’t have many special effects.

The focus is on editing, scoring, etc., which isn’t very expensive by comparison.

For editing, Zhang Meng recommended someone.

By then, both he and Qi Hao will be overseeing it, so the result shouldn’t be too bad.

For the score, they trust Jin Dazhou.

His skill is reliable to Qi Hao, and the film’s score is important, with some Russian music to be used.

Marketing is essential.

Even if it’s Qi Hao’s first film as a director, being a top idol, marketing must be well-executed, otherwise there won’t be any box office returns.

Three million for the script, five million for production, and possibly another two million for marketing.

Totaling ten million invested; without box office returns, the film would suffer a significant loss.

Feiyang Media won’t see profits anytime soon.