171 Little Brother Emo (1/2)
”There's nothing surprising about this. I have a very good eye,” Director Zhou gloated. ”This was released in December, so I can register it for Oscar and make use of the fame to make it even brighter.”
”It might be popular, but it won't help with winning the prize.” Luo Mingxin chuckled with a sigh. ”Recent Oscar winners have mostly been biopics; there is not much room for commercial films. Even with the added soul, it's still steps away from others. I've seen this year's competition; have you seen the foreign movies released in November and December? Everyone is trying to release their movies by the end of the year.”
Even though it was a commercial film, a creation of Director Zhou's would not be fully based in love and thriller. Other than the soul of the big brother, the focus was also on the business tactics that the big brother tried to teach his little brother. Manipulation of the economy, crossing swords with commercial spies, the undercurrent of dangers in the shadows… The interconnected plot, the continuous battles, even though there were no swords and guns, it was still quite gripping. These were all elements that made the movie a good one.
However, no matter how good the script was, it could not change the fact that the movie itself was a business type thriller. Brother Shuang had added a new layer to the story, but it would not change the fact that it had multiple layers that could make the audience reflect on certain topics in society. Combined with the natural disadvantage of a national film…
Director Zhou sighed. He thought there was hope that it might get a few awards at the Oscars, but who knew the big bosses at Hollywood would release their new films around the end of the year‽
Probably they saw the lack of competition in the early part of the year and purposely came to fight for the crown. Luo Mingxin listened to Director Zhou's grumbling on the phone as he flipped through the script that he had just received. He was silent for a while before saying, ”Director Zhou, you also know the favored theme for Chinese films are historical films. If you start preparing for this Oligarchy of Nobility that I'm currently reading, you should have a fine chance at next year's Oscars…”
”You really plan to continue your contract with Tian Mo Media?” Director Zhou was stunned.
”…There is no certainty in the entertainment business. Since Boss Mo is willing to take a step back and there's a good script available, why wouldn't I continue the contract?” Luo Mingxin was also feeling helpless. He might have said a lot of pretty words, but if he was given a second choice, of course he would not choose a company that he was one step away from abandoning.
Ye Shuang had told him she was going to find Xiao Zhu Hou to talk about the contract of scriptwriter, and several days later, Tian Mo Media offered him a script adapted from Xiao Zhu Hou's novel. Even a blind person could see the connection between the two.
Luo Mingxin did make a call to confirm, and the other party admitted it rather easily. As she did, she pointed something important to him.
On one hand, he had Miao Yi, who had recently signed quite a number of big stars, and on the other, there was Tian Mo, who had to rely on him for star power. Which company would be more willing to spend their resources on him‽
Tian Mo's boss was straightforward in his tactics. Even though creating rumors to destroy one's career was not a good thing, Boss Mo was open with his dissatisfaction and would let him know how he was feeling. Miao Yi's boss hid his real intention behind a smile.
While he offered something to lead one into his grasp, he cut off one's ability to run away. He acted innocent like he had not done anything, but he had taken all the advantages. Which person would make one feel safer in a cooperation‽
Luo Mingxin was not a dumb person, and he knew that he was being manipulated. However, rationality won over sentiments, so naturally, he selected the company that he would have a greater future in. Now that Tian Mo had regained their footing and procured a new source of scripts, after comparing the contracts, resources offered by both companies, and their bosses' personality… Luo Mingxin realized that staying at Tian Mo might give him a better future.
”Hmm, Miao Yi is also not bad, but it has risen too fast,” Director Zhou said. ”A few of my old friends could produce one or two films before this, but after joining Miao Yi for half a year, they've not even touched a camera.
”A while ago, some of them called me to ask if I was looking for assistant director. They said if they do not touch the camera soon, they might forget how to operate it.
”Miao Yi was fast and quick in digging up the talent, but they do not have enough resources to start the movies. Other than that, they have to consider the assignment of screening dates and cinemas. They cannot have their own movies fight among themselves, right?”
Luo Mingxin laughed. ”Then you're lucky. I remember Director Zhou's friends are all quite famous, right? But I need to consider the casting list for this Oligarchy of Nobility further. There aren't that many main characters, but every single one of them is quite important.”
”I haven't even said I'm willing to take on this movie… Wait a minute, even if I do plan to shoot it, it's me who deals with the casting, so why are you considering the list‽” Director Zhou was frustrated. In this world, who had heard it was the main actor who cast the other actors‽ It was either the director or the producer.
The topic soon changed from the new movie's potential, to Luo Mingxin's contract, to the movie's casting. ”Sigh, if only Ye Shuang was willing to go into the entertainment business…”
…
Ye Shuang did not know about the two men who had lost their sleep talking about her. She was too busy following up on Anthony's business. When she turned back to her male form, she hid herself at her home.
The day after Anthony came to the Ye family for the dinner, Ye Shuang realized that Brother Shuang had gone viral on the internet. The people were dissatisfied that Brother Shuang was not willing to show himself for an interview. He rejected all the offers to appear on television shows and internet programs. Until now, he had only shown himself twice, once was as a side character for the movie and also as a main character for a local real estate commercial.
He was so difficult to keep track of, and that only added to his mystery.
With the fans pushing his popularity to the top, not only was Director Zhou harassed, even the customer service at Noah Real Estate had started to get busy again.
When Fang Mo received the report from his people, he was stunned. It had been quite some time since his previous date with his buddy. He thought that his friend had gone silent, but when he was not paying attention, he had created more chaos around the nation again‽
It was a coincidence that this year's Lunar New Year, Fang Mo had to stay in San Lin City to manage the local company. Since he had no family to gather with, he sent Brother Shuang an invitation to attend a party that he was going to throw. The party could be considered an end-of-year party for Noah Real Estate. Other than his workers, Fang Mo also invited a few of his friends. Brother Shuang did not come from a famous family, but he himself was famous enough, so it was fair for him to receive an invitation.