Chapter 31: Low Status, Little Sway

"Does anyone else have any other questions?"

"If you have any thoughts, feel free to share them. This is our first meeting, and I'm here to hear your perspectives on the script."

Director Zhang looked at the people present with a benevolent expression.

No one spoke.

Finally, Uncle Benshan opened his mouth: "Can we add a defining feature to my character? Something that will make the audience remember him at first glance."

"Tell me more."

Director Zhang placed significant value on Uncle Benshan's input.

"For instance, what if this guy is cross-eyed? He never looks anyone straight in the eye."

Uncle Benshan demonstrated, focusing his eyes toward the center, and asked, "Director Zhang, what do you think?"

Pfft!

The conference room burst into laughter.

With the comedic effect Uncle Benshan could elicit from such a character, it was hard for anyone to hold back their amusement.

"Heh, that could work," Director Zhang said with a chuckle.

In his vision, this film was supposed to have a cold, dark undertone beneath the humor. However, he felt the black comedy of *Blood Simple* would struggle to adapt to the mainland, which is why he sought to integrate the humor of Errenzhuan. At this moment, though, he had yet to figure out how to balance the fusion of Errenzhuan and the film’s tone.

Xu Ming, looking at the first draft of the script, found himself at a loss for words. The plot was so loose it felt as if the screenwriter had pulled it out of thin air; the dialogue, while funny, was not without its vulgarities. For a fleeting moment, he even felt like he was reading an extended version of a Spring Festival Gala sketch.

It wasn't until he saw the screenwriter's name on the cover that he realized why. It was Xu Zhengchao, the writer of *Not Short of Money*. No wonder it had that familiar flavor.

Xu Ming hesitated before asking, "Director Zhang, may I ask, what is the specific timeframe for this story?"

He had read the entire script, and honestly, he didn't quite understand what the story was about. In truth, he had his suspicions; normally, a script by Director Zhang wouldn't be handled by Xu Zhengchao. Seeing this, he feared the project was being constrained by the investors.

After all, unlike Uncle Benshan, Director Zhang was a pure director. He had his own persistence regarding his films, but he was also prone to compromise. This was why he never lacked investment and was always on the move. From a certain perspective, Director Zhang had his own slick, commercial side.

In contrast, Chen Kaige, who remained persistently devoted to art, failed repeatedly, only to fail even more spectacularly each time.

"I haven't set a specific background. It's an ambiguous era, because I want to blend in various historical characteristics. For the costumes, I lean toward the traditional floral padded jackets of the Northeast. I think the visual impact of such patterns will create a very interesting aesthetic..."

When Director Zhang talked about visuals and color, he became inexhaustible, yet he rarely touched upon the plot. Xu Ming almost wanted to ask if he had actually read the script carefully.

However, his master gave him a stern glance from the side: "Director Zhang certainly has his reasons. You just focus on memorizing your lines and performing your character well."

He had asked the question to lighten the mood, but when it came to Xu Ming, it wasn't quite appropriate.

"Yes, Master."

Xu Ming replied, his initial desire to change things quickly fading. He had overstepped his bounds; was questioning the script something he should be doing? His master's reprimand brought his slightly inflated ego back down to earth. On the set of *Love Is Not Blind*, he might have been influential, but in the broader film industry, his words still carried little weight.

Forget it.

...

A week had passed since the meeting with Director Zhang. After the director left, his master had led them through the rehearsals. The Errenzhuan style was incredibly prominent. Xu Ming wasn't allowed to act according to his own ideas; in his master's view, this was an opportunity to promote Errenzhuan culture. As his disciple, Xu Ming had to uphold the style of the Zhao troupe. In other matters, there might be room for negotiation, but when it came to the inheritance of Errenzhuan, no one could sway him.

Seeing that there was no possibility of improving *A Simple Noodle Story*, Xu Ming shifted all his focus to *Love Is Not Blind*. He understood his own insignificance, but that didn't mean he would tolerate being in such a position forever. As long as his character, Wang Xiaojian, appeared before the audience sooner, the negative impact of playing Li Si later would not be devastating.

"Cut! That's a take."

"Go touch up Teacher Xu and Little Song's makeup. Let's move to the next location."

Teng Huatao's voice was full of vigor on set; he was becoming more confident with each scene. Although Xu Ming often bossed people around and offered suggestions on filming that annoyed him as a director, he had to admit these suggestions were visibly steering the production in a positive direction.

As long as this film could break even, he was confident he could secure investment for his next one. By then, he told himself, he would never work with someone like Xu Ming again. Despite the lack of open conflict, as a director, he felt his authority had been encroached upon too much.

"Hey, your contract with Orange Sky Entertainment is expiring soon, right?" Xu Ming asked.

"By the end of the year, I suppose. The company is talking to me about renewal, but I'm still considering it. Why else do you think they aren't giving me any resources?" Little Song Jia replied with a wry smile. Thinking back, she regretted not leaving with Wang Jinghua.

"Ever thought about coming over to my side?"

Xu Ming casually brought up the proposal he had been plotting for a long time.

"Your Benshan Media? You haven't even cultivated a single female actress yet..."

"No, I mean my own company." Xu Ming emphasized his tone. "My own firm. Don't worry, if you come, you'll be the top actress of the company. You get first pick of the resources."

"Ha, who are you kidding? If I go, I'd be the only one there. I wouldn't even have a chance to be the second-in-command." Little Song Jia scoffed, thinking he was joking.

"I've already signed three—one woman and two men. They're all your juniors from the Shanghai Theatre Academy." Xu Ming’s tone was serious. "I'm not joking. Think about it carefully. I can't guarantee anything else, but I can promise at least one female lead role of the caliber of *Love Is Not Blind* every year."

A few days ago, Tang Sheng had convinced the people at Lianfan Technology to take a thirty percent share of the copyright for three million. Along the way, he had signed Lou Yixiao, Wang Chuanjun, and Sun Yizhou. Chen He had his own connections and looked down on Xu Ming's small company, while Li Jinming had signed an exclusive acting contract with the producers of *iPartment* last year. Deng Jiajia was with Huayi, and besides, she only appeared in *iPartment 2*.

"Let's talk at the end of the year. Even if I agreed now, would you be willing to pay the breach of contract fee to take me away?" Little Song Jia turned her head to look at Xu Ming.

"Cough, cough. Isn't Orange Sky sending someone to make a cameo? Let's go, let's go welcome them."

Xu Ming dodged the topic. Not to mention that his funds were stretched thin, even if he could afford it, he wouldn't dare. With Little Song Jia in this state, if he agreed, he feared she might actually start harboring thoughts of settling down with him. That wouldn't do; there was a whole forest out there.

Come to think of it, among the artists Orange Sky sent for the cameo, it seemed Tang Yan was one of them.