Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years
Chapter 191 - 188: A True Man Should Be Like This! (Happy New Year)

Chapter 191: Chapter 188: A True Man Should Be Like This! (Happy New Year)

The two chatted for a while about "Li Mi’s Conjecture," and then started talking about Xu Ke’s "Heaven-Reaching Empire."

Deng Zhao was obviously aware that Xu Ke favored Qi Hao the most.

However, he didn’t have much to be jealous about because his star power couldn’t compare to Qi Hao’s.

In fact, it’s fair to say there was a significant gap.

After all, at the beginning of this year, in the "Post-80s New Generation Entertainment Stars" election, which involved millions of people and nearly a hundred entertainment journalists, Hu Ge, Zhang Junning, Lin Yushen, and Zhu Yuchen were named the Four Young Stars.

Deng Zhao still didn’t make the list.

Last time, he wasn’t selected, and this time, he wasn’t selected either.

It’s not that Deng Zhao was less famous than these four, but... he was born in ’79, which means he’s too old to compete for the Four Young Stars now.

Originally, he had a bit of hope last time.

Unfortunately, at that time, his works weren’t strong enough, and he didn’t have any significant backing.

He’s destined to be unrelated to the Four Young Stars in his lifetime.

Fortunately, he’s already decided to take the route of the Acting Faction, learning from Qi Hao to compete for Best Actor.

Nowadays, with an abundance of young stars, Best Actor still holds more prestige.

Look at Huang Xiaoming, isn’t he also striving to become Best Actor?

After chatting for a while, Jiang Xin arrived. She was an extra for this meal, willing to take a role if given, or indifferent if not.

Perhaps she also knew she had a sharp tongue, so Jiang Xin quietly drank tea throughout.

As a result of drinking too much tea, she had to run to the bathroom.

After she returned from the bathroom, Zheng Xiaolong also arrived at the restaurant.

He didn’t come alone; he brought along Cao Ping, Wang Xiaoping, Chen Jianbin, Wu Xuelan, and Zhang Xiaolong.

Among them, Wu Xuelan was the original author and the screenwriter.

The other screenwriter was Wang Xiaoping.

Don’t underestimate Wang Xiaoping, thinking she has less say than the original author. In fact, Wang Xiaoping has another identity—she’s Zheng Xiaolong’s wife.

These days, who doesn’t go out with a few identities?

Besides these two screenwriters, there was actually an entire screenwriting team, but their names are unlikely to appear in public.

The screenwriting market is just like this now.

Hoping to become famous overnight as a screenwriter is absolutely wishful thinking.

Talented screenwriters will consider becoming directors themselves.

Screenwriters who can’t become directors initially join the teams of famous screenwriters.

Even if eighty percent of the script is written by you, you have no right to sign your name.

After plugging away for years, slowly gaining fame and networking connections, you might finally break through.

If you still can’t build connections, then you’ll remain the same for life.

The screenwriting industry is the easiest place to bury talent and is also where the most frauds and plagiarists are.

Anyway, Qi Hao doesn’t believe that Wang Xiaoping and Wu Xuelan can write any good scripts.

But he doesn’t have any intention of speaking out.

The industry’s rules are like this: one is the original author, so naming is natural, and the other is the director’s wife, so there’s even less of an issue.

Qi Hao, instead, put on a demeanor of having admired them for a long time.

Then there’s Cao Ping, she is Zheng Xiaolong’s old partner, and the executive producer and chief distributor of "Golden Wedding Anniversary."

This time, she is still a producer.

Yet, she is not the only producer.

Qi Hao doesn’t have the time to stay on the set of "The Legend of Zhen Huan," so Yang Liu would be replacing him to be stationed with the crew as a producer.

As for Zhang Xiaolong, he’s relatively young and plays Wen Shichu in the drama. Additionally, he will be serving as an etiquette instructor in the drama.

He will also serve as an etiquette consultant and choreographer in the screenwriting stage.

He graduated from Beijing Dance Academy and entered the Central Academy of Drama after graduation. During his time at school, he learned Chinese classical etiquette from the last imperial uncle, Guo Buluo Runqi.

Chen Jianbin is even more familiar.

He’s a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, started in stage plays, and is Jiang Qinqin’s husband.

Moreover, he is playing Cao Cao in Gao Xixi’s new drama "Three Kingdoms," currently a popular figure among mid-generation actors.

If he doesn’t develop well, Jiang Qinqin wouldn’t have retired.

After a round of introductions, everyone began to eat, and it was mostly small talk.

Zheng Xiaolong is genuinely talented, but he truly has no scruples.

He tossed around various topics at the dining table and even mocked the relationship between Qi Hao and Sun Li.

"Everyone in the industry knows about these rumors, and I don’t know who spread the rumor that being rumored with me makes you popular. As you can see, everyone who has worked with me doesn’t miss the chance to exploit me a bit. Take Sun Li, for example; she didn’t even have a scene with me. During the shooting of the drama, we barely met."

Qi Hao was full of grievances.

He perfectly crafted an image of himself as a victim.

"Is it true or false that being rumored with you makes you popular?"

Chen Jianbin wasn’t asking for himself; he was simply very curious.

Actually, he had worked with Qi Hao before, in "Flying Like Chicken Feathers," which was released in 2002. Chen Jianbin was the lead, and Qi Hao was a supporting actor.

Back then, Qi Hao was already quite popular.

Qi Hao and Jiang Qinqin also kind of collaborated.

The reason they weren’t rumored together is...

Because it was the "Records of Kangxi’s Incognito Inspection" drama group in 1997, and Qi Hao was still an extra.

By then, Jiang Qinqin had already played Xi Shi.

"It’s definitely fake. If it were true that just being rumored with me would make someone popular, then look at those dozen or so rumored girlfriends I supposedly have. The entertainment industry might not even fit them all now."

If you want to try dating, it’s best not to overcomplicate things.

Back then, Ms. Liu turned into an overprotective mom, not just because An Feng was young, but mainly due to Qi Hao’s rampant rumors, which to Ms. Liu were no different from pests and flies.

Almost every film crew had several women linked to rumors with Qi Hao.

Qi Hao understood; if it were his own daughter...

After some small talk, the conversation finally shifted to casting.

The original author, Wu Xuelan, was more inclined towards Cai Shaofen and even argued with director Zheng Xiaolong.

Qi Hao didn’t say anything.

Come on, he’s the producer, he doesn’t need to lower himself to get involved in casting disputes.

After Zheng Xiaolong and Wu Xuelan had argued enough, Qi Hao casually suggested, "Everyone wants the best for the project, so why not have an open audition?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Ping immediately agreed, "Yeah, yeah, an open audition sounds good."

Considering Qi Hao, Zheng Xiaolong, and Wu Xuelan, Cao Ping would definitely support Qi Hao and Zheng Xiaolong; the original author was basically an outsider.

She didn’t understand "The Legend of Zhen Huan" at all.

And honestly, why should the lead female role in such a major series go to an actor from Xiangjiang?

What can such an actor contribute to the project, or bring any return to everyone?

And Xiangjiang actors aren’t cheap at all.

Still, not everyone could gang up on the original author; that could easily lead to a fallout. After all, there was a clause in the rights purchase that allowed the original author to participate in movie planning.

Qi Hao, as the producer, was particularly suitable for saying something like this.

As for the audition outcome, it would naturally be up to the director.

What could Wu Xuelan say? He was the producer; the entire project’s money, including her royalties and script fees, came from him.

Moreover, Qi Hao never outright named Sun Li to be the lead actress.

An open audition was already the best result.

And as for Jiang Xin, that was even less of an issue.

The series had many standout female roles, any of which she could slip into.

As long as Jiang Xin didn’t speak up, no one disliked her.

"How’s Jiang Wen’s movie progressing?"

Zheng Xiaolong, having reached his goal, chatted with Qi Hao about other things.

"The casting’s already done, and it will probably start filming in the second half of the year."

Although Qi Hao hadn’t met with Jiang Wen recently, Yang Liu was following up on the film and would report regularly to Qi Hao.

"That fast, huh? I heard you also like to overspend on films; no wonder you get along with Jiang Wen so well."

Zheng Xiaolong was also trying to probe Qi Hao’s attitude towards overspending.

Dramas... it’s not impossible to overspend on them either.

In the future, the three of us could form an over-budget trio, all in it together to both overspend and make money.

"Haha, the reason I get along with Brother Wen is that we both drink and have a great time. It has nothing to do with overspending. If I overspend, I can tolerate it, but if someone else does, I’d almost want to kill them..."

Come on, you’re joking, so I’m joking too.

This joke kind of conveyed Qi Hao’s attitude.

I absolutely loathe overspending, and not being allowed to overspend, so no one better try to swindle my money.

Zheng Xiaolong got it in a second.

He was counting on continued collaboration in the future, so with Qi Hao’s stance, he’d try to spend less.

"I was really tempted when Jiang Wen considered me for the role of Huang the Fourth."

Chen Jianbin chimed in from the side. He didn’t know the script, but he knew about the character’s setting.

Besides, "Let the Bullets Fly" did have its original work.

It’s a pity that the film didn’t have an open audition; otherwise, he would definitely have tried for it.

"I heard they chose Liang Jiahui."

For Jiang Wen’s film casting, Qi Hao really couldn’t do much to help.

Even the casting over at Zheng Xiaolong’s side wasn’t something the producer could easily interfere with, let alone Jiang Wen’s.

At most, he could say that Jiang Wen’s choice of Zhou Ruifa was inappropriate.

Zhou Ruifa’s fee would cost forty million; Qi Hao couldn’t afford to invest in that film. If Jiang Wen wanted his investment, he’d have to pick someone else.

"Alas, I can play powerful roles too. I felt particularly in tune playing Cao Cao. You can all have a look later."

Chen Jianbin’s role as Cao Cao in "Three Kingdoms" would air next year.

Being able to play Cao Cao meant he could undoubtedly tackle powerful roles, and he also landed the emperor role in "The Legend of Zhen Huan," which was definitely another powerful performance.

Qi Hao also appreciated his acting skills.

At least it was better than Zhang Tielin, who played an emperor by simply puffing up his cheeks and glaring, but alas, the director wasn’t Qi Hao, so he couldn’t do much.

"Is there a role for me in that Bullet movie?"

Before Deng Zhao could speak, Jiang Xin broke her silence.

"It’s a men’s film, you wouldn’t fit... Don’t ask me. You all know what Jiang Wen is like; I don’t even have a role myself."

Qi Hao had seen a brief outline of the script and character settings, and indeed, there weren’t any standout female roles.

The county magistrate’s wife and Hua Jie were more interesting roles, but Jiang Xin couldn’t play them.

The dinner went well, and Sun Li achieved her goal.

Moreover, her husband didn’t hold such animosity towards Qi Hao anymore; in fact, there was a vibe of admiration in his words.

He even randomly quipped:

A true man should be like this!