Chinese entertainment: What's wrong with actresses wanting to improve?

Chapter 251 Account

When I arrived at the interview area, the host, a woman in a red dress, greeted me with a professional smile.

"Director Fu, Yifei, welcome to the premiere."

"Thanks."

Fu Yibai took the microphone and nodded.

"Director Fu, as one of the top directors in China, especially after the success of 'Gravity' which grossed 10 billion yuan, what made you decide to make such a low-budget youth campus film?"

There's no particular reason.

Fu Yibai paused, his gaze sweeping over the reporters below the stage.

"I just wanted to make a story about youth."

Everyone has regrets in their youth, words left unsaid, and times that can never be returned to.

I want to film these things so that audiences can laugh and cry in the movie theater, and then give the people around them a hug when they leave the theater.

A round of applause erupted from the audience.

The host turned to Liu Yifei.

"Yifei, this is your first time working with Director Fu. Is there anything you'd like to say?"

Liu Yifei glanced at Fu Yibai and smiled.

"Director Fu is very strict, but also very patient."

He would spend a long time scrutinizing the details, and it was common for him to shoot a scene more than ten times.

But whenever he felt it wasn't good enough, he would patiently explain the scene to me, telling me what was wrong and how to adjust it.

I learned a lot from working with him.

The host nodded, glanced between the two, and then changed the subject.

"Director Fu, there have been some rumors circulating online about Yifei recently. What's your take on that?"

The media areas on both sides of the red carpet fell silent instantly.

All the reporters pricked up their ears, and their cameras were pointed at Fu Yibai.

Liu Yifei tightened her grip on his arm, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Fu Yibai's expression remained unchanged.

"Rumors are just rumors; they shouldn't be taken seriously."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the reporters below the stage.

"Yifei is a good actress; she is serious, dedicated, and talented."

Those random, trivial things aren't worth wasting everyone's time on.

He reached out and gently patted Liu Yifei's hand, as if to comfort her.

"Okay, thank you, Director Fu."

"Please move inside, both of you. The premiere will begin shortly."

Fu Yibai nodded and led Liu Yifei into the cinema.

The flashbulbs behind her were still going off, but Liu Yifei's steps were much lighter than before.

The two entered the cinema lobby, where the noise was shut out.

Han Shanping was standing in the hall, talking to someone, when he saw Fu Yibai come in and immediately went to greet him.

"Yi Bai!"

"Chairman Han."

The two shook hands, and Han Shanping's gaze lingered on Liu Yifei for a moment before he nodded.

"Yifei looks beautiful today."

"Mr. Han, you flatter me."

Liu Yifei bowed slightly, neither humble nor arrogant.

Fu Yibai chatted with Han Shanping for a few minutes, and then saw Wang Zhongjun not far away.

At that moment, the other party was chatting with several producers in the industry.

"Chairman Han, I have some things to discuss with President Wang, so I'll head over now."

"Okay, go ahead."

On the way, Chen Xiao saw Fu Yibai and Liu Yifei and greeted them awkwardly.

"Mr. Fu, Yifei."

"Um.

You look handsome today.

Has the company allocated resources to you?

"It's arranged; he'll be the male lead in a period drama."

"Yes, perform well, you have good potential."

After saying that, Fu Yibai led Liu Yifei forward.

He led Liu Yifei through the crowd and headed towards Wang Zhongjun.

When Wang Zhongjun saw him coming, the smile on his face faded a bit. He said something to the person next to him and then came forward to greet him.

"Director Fu."

"Mr. Wang."

The two shook hands, their eyes meeting briefly in the air.

Liu Yifei stood beside Fu Yibai and bowed slightly.

"Hello, Mr. Wang."

Wang Zhongjun glanced at her, nodded, and said nothing.

"Mr. Wang, may I speak to you in private?"

Fu Yibai's voice wasn't loud, but his tone carried an air of undeniable authority.

Wang Zhongjun glanced at him, paused for a second, and then nodded.

"Over here."

The three people walked to a corner of the hall, where there were few people around.

"Director Fu brought her here, could it be to apologize?"

We've removed those things from the internet, out of respect for you.

But if it's just an apology, I can't go back and explain it to the company's senior management.

We can't just let things go like this, since we made a promise back then.

Fu Yibai looked at Wang Zhongjun, remained silent for two seconds, and then spoke.

"Mr. Wang has misunderstood."

I'm not here to make Yifei apologize.

Wang Zhongjun frowned slightly.

"So, what does Mr. Fu mean...?"

"I'm here to discuss cooperation."

"cooperate?"

"That's right. This time when I went to North America, I signed another cooperation project with Franchise Pictures."

I personally directed Interstellar, which had a budget of around two hundred million US dollars.

If Mr. Wang is interested, I can help him secure a 10% share.

What do you think of this explanation?

At the beginning of the year, he asked Margaret to start preparations for "Interstellar". He only asked for 20% of the investment from Dawn, and left the rest to Franchise Entertainment.

Margaret, seeing the ample funds in the books, decided that the remaining investment would be fully funded by Franchise Films.

Now, Fu Yibai has no problem getting 10% for Huayi Brothers, and he may even need to get another 10% for China Film Group.

In this way, the investment ratio of "Interstellar" met the requirements for co-production, and it could enter the domestic market as a co-production.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhongjun's expression froze for a moment.

He stared at Fu Yibai for a few seconds, as if assessing the weight of those words.

A sci-fi blockbuster with a budget of two hundred million US dollars, produced by Franchise Pictures, and directed by Fu Yibai himself—he understood better than anyone what these words meant when put together.

While Huayi is a well-established giant in mainland China, its overseas distribution channels have always been a weakness.

If we can use this opportunity to connect with franchise studios and open up the North American market...

"Director Fu isn't joking, is he?"

Wang Zhongjun's voice lowered, and most of the coldness in his tone had disappeared.

"When did I ever joke with Mr. Wang?"

"Okay! Then we'll do it the way Director Fu wants. No one will bring up the matter online again."

Wang Zhongjun reached out and shook hands with Fu Yibai again, this time with a more genuine smile.

"I'll have my team connect with your people as soon as possible regarding the specific details of the collaboration."

It's a deal.

Fu Yibai nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to leave with Liu Yifei.

Liu Yifei remained silent throughout, simply following quietly until they had walked a distance. Only then did she let out a soft sigh of relief, unconsciously loosening her grip on Fu Yibai's arm.

"Brother Yibai..."

"No need to thank me, you're one of my people, it's only right that I do these things."

"Want to come to my place tonight?"

"Hmm~"

Liu Yifei nodded shyly.