Chapter 533 Let's Do It! (7,000-word update!)

The barrier between TV series and movies is not just about actors—although that's the aspect we talk about most often.

In reality, the real barrier lies in the fact that the industrial systems of the two are different.

To be precise, the people who control the cinema chains and the people who control the broadcasting platforms are actually two different groups.

These two groups each occupied a territory.

Sometimes we'll cooperate, but more often than not, you stay out of my business, and I won't get involved in yours.

After all, if they get involved, they're just trying to steal the cake.

It's certainly possible for Beijing and Taiwan to develop a film based on "The Seventeenth Floor," but they would definitely need to find collaborators, especially distributors.

Whether the distributor is supportive or not, to some extent, even determines whether the film will be successful.

Just because your show is a huge hit doesn't mean you can ignore distribution and dominate theaters.

Sometimes, cinemas deliberately schedule your tickets for less desirable showings, making it difficult to sell them. That happens sometimes.

Of course, unless the market was in dire straits and your film was the only thing to save it, theater managers wouldn't risk their jobs.

However, the current film market is no longer the same as it was more than a decade ago, when one film could carry an entire release period.

Issuance is becoming increasingly important.

"Putting all that aside, if one day they really decide to make a movie of 'The Seventeen Floors,' would you act in it?" Shen Yue asked curiously.

Li Yuefeng: "Of course I'll act in it. This is the best drama I've ever filmed, and it's become one of my representative works."

Shen Yue smiled.

"The Seventeen Floors" is indeed in the top tier in terms of both word-of-mouth and viewership. For Li Yuefeng, a popular young actor who mainly starred in modern and historical dramas in the past, it is a very different type of drama and a rare one that has gained good word-of-mouth on a wide scale.

Shen Yue was somewhat surprised and asked, "Aren't you going to hesitate at all?"

Are you still hesitating?

"What if director Lian Bei and teacher Feng Qiyue don't return, and they just use the name of 'The Seventeen Floors' to make a movie, but the script is terrible, would you still make it?"

“Then we won’t film it.” Li Yuefeng answered again without hesitation, “I’ll assume you’re asking this on the premise that the original cast is still here.”

Shen Yue: "I knew it."

Li Yuefeng turned to look at Lu Yanhe.

"Yan He, when the time comes, will you film it?"

Lu Yanhe: "I'll film if you all come back. I won't film if you change the cast, it's not interesting."

Li Yuefeng smiled with satisfaction.

“Look, I’m just like Yan He.”

Shen Yue sighed softly, "I wonder when we'll be able to make a movie."

"You can't make movies now?" Li Yuefeng asked, somewhat surprised. "That can't be, can it?"

Shen Yue: "I'm talking about the real kind of movie."

Li Yuefeng countered, "What is a real film?"

Shen Yue: "Anyway, I don't think so of the ones I've acted in."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yanhe curiously searched for the movies Shen Yue had acted in in the past and immediately understood.

You don't even need to read the plot carefully; just the title tells you what kind of movie it is.

"The Terrifying Overtime Day", "Soul Eater: The Death Pact", "Let's Fall in Love Again"...

Looking at the ratings, they were all below 4 stars...

To be honest, it's quite difficult to make a movie score below 4 points; in comparison, it's easier to make a movie score between 5 and 7 points.

Lu Yanhe suddenly understood Shen Yue's feelings.

"What were you thinking when you made these movies?" Li Yuefeng also searched for Shen Yue's movies on his phone. "These titles just don't sound right."

Shen Yue: "At that time, there were no other roles to play, so I could only film these. It's not like I could get roles right away. I also had to support myself."

Li Yuefeng: "It's not easy."

Li Yuefeng pointed at Lu Yanhe and said, "Here's your thigh, try to hug it."

Lu Yanhe waved his hand with a smile, "I'm not some big shot."

Shen Yue rolled her eyes at Li Yuefeng: "If there's a script I want to act in, I'll definitely fight for it with Yan He. You don't need to tell me."

-

"Is something going on between Li Yuefeng and Shen Yue?"

While learning the movements, Chen Bige asked Lu Yanhe with a gossipy look on his face.

"ah?"

As Lu Yanhe followed the instructor to learn the movements, he glanced at Chen Bige with surprise.

"Don't you think there's something going on between them?" Chen Bige winked at Lu Yanhe.

Lu Yanhe smiled.

"Sis, you're being way too nosy."

“When filming, with so many people and things going on, how could there not be gossip?” Chen Bige said. “I was wondering why your girlfriend has never visited the set. Usually, if a male actor has a girlfriend, she will definitely come to visit the set.”

Lu Yanhe: "She's been busy preparing for an international film critics' festival lately, much busier than me. I'll go see her after I finish filming."

Chen Bige: "You two are so young and you see each other so little."

“It’s not that we don’t see each other often,” Lu Yanhe said. “Apart from filming, we live together now. It’s not as bad as you say.”

Chen Bige: "Oh, you're so young and already living together?"

Her gaze immediately changed, and she looked Lu Yanhe up and down with a very "auntie smile," saying, "You're quite something, kid."

Lu Yanhe said awkwardly, "How do you mean I'm good at this?"

Chen Bige: "Knowing how to make your girlfriend feel at ease, of course you're pretty good at that. With your situation, you must have plenty of women throwing themselves at you, right?"

Lu Yanhe: "There really aren't many. I basically don't go to those kinds of occasions. Sister Ziyan helped me keep people at a great distance."

"You don't even have the thought of cheating? Once you join the crew, you won't be able to go home for a month or two." Chen Bige's smile became "auntie-like" again.

Lu Yanhe was so embarrassed that his ears turned red.

He said, "Sis, can you please focus on your training and stop teasing me all the time?"

He added, "Besides, how could I possibly betray my girlfriend?"

"Oh." Chen Bige nodded. "Alright, I'll be watching."

Lu Yanhe: "..."

The longer Lu Yanhe knew Chen Bige, the more he learned about Chen Bige's past. He had only heard that Chen Bige was quite a troublemaker when she was young, and not an easy artist to manage. In Chen Ziyan's words, she was very restless and the kind of person who would "climb onto the roof and tear off the tiles if not disciplined for three days."

But after getting to know Chen Bige, Lu Yanhe basically only saw her goddess-like, magnanimous, and forthright side, and it was hard to imagine that she was not so docile.

Now I'm slowly starting to see some of it.

They teased him relentlessly.

-

But after Chen Bige told Lu Yanhe about Li Yuefeng and Shen Yue, Lu Yanhe became more cautious and started paying attention.

Upon closer inspection, Lu Yanhe realized that there was indeed something strange about the two of them—

The two often bicker, about everything from big to small things, but it's not the kind of bickering between enemies.

This is a perfect match.

So one noon, when Lu Yanhe was having lunch with Li Yuefeng, he asked him if he liked Shen Yue.

Li Yuefeng stared wide-eyed at Lu Yanhe, his face full of disbelief.

"How is that possible! Oh my god."

Seeing this, Lu Yanhe smiled.

"It was just a question, why are you getting so worked up?"

Li Yuefeng: "Nonsense, if you're not excited, you're spreading rumors."

"What rumors did Yan He spread?" Chen Bige walked over with the script, sat down, and asked curiously.

Li Yuefeng immediately said, "It's nothing."

He also gave Lu Yanhe a warning look, meaning "Don't say it."

Li Yuefeng is afraid that this "rumor" will spread.

Lu Yanhe laughed.

He wanted to say that this so-called "rumor" started with Chen Bige.

Seeing the subtle exchange between Li Yuefeng and Lu Yanhe, Chen Bige gave Li Yuefeng a teasing look, "Oh? Are you talking about your little secrets as men?"

Lu Yanhe: "..."

He suddenly had a bad feeling.

The next second, Chen Bige looked at Li Yuefeng and asked, "You're not talking about Shen Yue, are you?"

Li Yuefeng exploded instantly, like a cat whose foot had been stepped on.

"Why are we talking about Chen Yue like this?"

The mocking look on Chen Bige's face deepened.

"How would I know?" She deliberately feigned ignorance.

However, the more she acted this way, the more uncomfortable Li Yuefeng felt, as if cat claws were scratching at his heart.

"Sister Bige, what are you trying to say?"

Chen Bige shrugged. "I didn't mean to say anything, I was just curious."

Lu Yanhe covered his face and tried to leave.

Li Yuefeng glanced at him sideways.

"Was it you?"

"What do you mean, is it me or not?" Lu Yanhe was taken aback.

"Why did Sister Bige ask us if we were talking about Chen Yue?"

Lu Yanhe: "How would I know why she would ask that? You and Shen Yue might be having some kind of on-screen chemistry. She's the one who told me, that's why I'm asking you."

Li Yuefeng looked at Chen Bige in disbelief.

"Sister Bige, it's you?!"

Chen Bige: "I—I haven't finished memorizing my lines yet, I have to go memorize them."

She got up and left immediately.

He even looked back at them halfway through his walk.

"Lu Yanhe, you actually betrayed me! You just wait!"

Lu Yanhe: "..."

-

While Lu Yanhe was filming on set, Chen Siqi was also extremely busy.

Organizing an event from scratch is, without exaggeration, as painful as scraping off a layer of skin.

Since it was the first time Chen Siqi and her colleagues had done this, they had no experience and would have to put in even more effort.

Even if this event isn't a particularly grand ceremony, according to their idea, simply inviting a dozen or twenty famous film critics to discuss movies is still not a simple matter.

Without inviting celebrities, it's difficult for this film festival to attract sponsors. Without sponsors, the entire budget for "Jump Up" would have to come from their own pockets, and they don't want to lose money just to generate buzz.

They constantly designed solutions, only to scrap them and start over based on the actual situation.

The venue for this film festival has been changed several times.

Besides these major tasks, Chen Siqi also had a crucial task: securing the film's screening rights.

If a film festival wants to screen a film, it needs to obtain authorization from the film's copyright holder.

After much deliberation, Chen Siqi and Lin Yu held several meetings before finalizing a film list. They then went to negotiate with each film company one by one. If they knew the overseas companies, it was easier to negotiate, but if they didn't, they had to send emails in a businesslike manner, which was very costly in terms of communication.

But we have to do it no matter how high the cost.

It really proves the saying that "everything is difficult at the beginning".

The news that they were organizing this film festival, "Jump Up," gradually spread.

Many people in the industry are paying attention.

However, not many people are optimistic about it.

Because Chen Siqi's previous "Green Onion Project" to discover new directors failed.

This time, they're stirring up trouble at the film festival again.

It's important to know that in China, it's very rare for an individual or organization to be able to organize a film festival.

Nevertheless, even those film festivals that have been successfully organized are still not exactly successful.

Some of these voices reached Chen Siqi's ears, but she ignored them.

She knows what she's doing.

There are successes and failures, but one failure shouldn't stop you from trying new things.

This international film critics' festival is also a key step in the launch of the film edition of "Jump Up" magazine.

When some of the older members of the industry learned that her actual goal for the film festival was not to become a film director or star, but a film critic, they were quite puzzled and asked her why she wanted to do something so thankless.

Indeed, in many people's eyes, organizing such an event is even a thankless and exhausting endeavor.

There's no star power, no attention, and probably not even a ripple.

Chen Siqi didn't explain to many people why she did this. It was only when Director Wang Zhong asked her out of curiosity that she explained it.

"The most crucial reason is the lack of money. If we had a sufficient budget, I would certainly like to invite some big directors and stars to make the film festival look glamorous, with lots of media coverage and a red carpet," Chen Siqi said helplessly. "But the reality only allows us to do this somewhat simple format for now. Of course, I don't think this format is really low-class. There are very few film festivals in the world that focus on film critics. Moreover, the international online forum for film critics that we held last year received a very good response in the film industry around the world, and that's why we want to continue doing it."

"This film festival is quite meaningful." Wang Zhong was just curious why Chen Siqi thought of doing this, but he didn't think the film was unworthy of being made. "Which film critics have you invited so far?"

“Nine people have agreed to come so far. They are all well-known film critics from top-tier film media around the world. We already knew each other before, and they are all willing to come and support us. Lin Yu has a very good personal relationship with them,” Chen Siqi said. “However, it is very difficult to obtain film copyrights now, especially the copyrights of foreign films. Foreign film companies are quite skeptical about the film festival we are organizing. We haven’t been able to obtain the copyrights for two-thirds of the films that we want to screen.”

"Are you planning to sell tickets for these movies to the public, or will you organize screenings for them yourself?" Wang Chong asked.

Chen Siqi: "I haven't thought about it yet."

Wang Zhong: "No wonder so many films haven't agreed to license their films to you. Whether you'll engage in commercial activities is something they value highly. If you're selling tickets to the public, that's a different story; you'll have to pay deposits and share the profits. And if it's just a limited screening without public sales, that's another model altogether. Of course, this depends on what kind of film festival you want to create. Is it to bring together film critics for a small-scale forum, or is it like some film festivals around the world, allowing film enthusiasts to join in, watch films together, and listen to their discussions? Different formats, different approaches."

Chen Siqi asked, "Director, what suggestions do you have?"

Wang Zhong: "I suggest that since this is your first time doing this, the simpler the better. Like you said, the more down-to-earth and pure the better. Just a group of you sitting together watching and talking about the movie is fine. There won't be too much of a commercial atmosphere. If it works well once, then do a second and a third edition, and then gradually expand it by adding more content."

"Yes, director, that's what I think too. We really lack experience, we're feeling our way across the river, and we don't know anything about it."

Wang Chong asked, "First, make sure you're sure you don't plan to commercialize the film copyrights. If so, give me a list of the films you want to acquire and those you haven't yet. I have some friends in various places overseas who might be able to help you."

"Ah—" Chen Siqi let out a surprised scream, "Director, really? Ahhhhhh—that's great, Director! I love you—"

Chen Siqi's sudden, startling scream startled Wang Zhong, who felt as if his ears had been popped. He quickly moved his phone away.

He smiled.

“Your idea for this film festival is excellent. I watched your online forum for international film critics last year. It’s rare to be able to bring these people together to seriously discuss film. Although it doesn’t get as much attention as events with celebrities, it attracts pure film fans, and the quality is very high,” Wang Zhong said. “I know how difficult it is for you to organize a film festival like this. Keep up the good work and try to make it happen. If you need any help, just give me a call.”

"Director, I'm so touched. You're the first person to tell me that what we're doing is very meaningful."

“Actually, everyone knows it’s meaningful, but everyone knows how difficult it is to successfully organize it,” Wang Zhong said. “Siqi, I hope you can stick to your idea. Don’t let it become the kind of film festival where people are invited over, take a quick look around, and then leave. That’s meaningless; it’s just for publicity and excitement. Look at why top international film festivals have their current reputation and status—it’s because a consensus has been formed in everyone’s minds. Not only are their films excellent, but they are also places where people can truly discuss film. There are too few places like that in China now.”

Chen Siqi: "Director, don't worry, I will definitely do a good job."

-

"Would it be appropriate for me to show up?"

After listening to Chen Siqi's explanation of the film festival plans, Lu Yanhe immediately asked...

Because Chen Siqi had already made up her mind that she would not invite any celebrities to the first film festival.

Chen Siqi said, "This is also what I wanted to ask you. I don't plan to invite any celebrities to the official events of the film festival, but since they are coming from abroad, and your relationship with 'Jump Up' is well-known, it would seem disrespectful to them if you didn't show up. I was thinking, why don't you host a welcome dinner for them in your personal capacity and invite some friends? This way, it won't affect the public positioning of this year's film festival, and it will still allow them to get to know our domestic filmmakers."

Lu Yanhe nodded and said, "That's no problem."

Chen Siqi: "Even if it's a dinner party, I hope it can be more private and smaller in scale, not a large-scale gathering of people bringing their own people."

"I understand. I still hope the overall atmosphere can be more relaxed and pleasant."

“Yes.” Chen Siqi nodded. “I don’t want film critics to feel that our film festival is a place of fame and fortune.”

This feeling is actually what positioning is all about.

What kind of film festival experience do we hope they will have?

After hearing Chen Siqi mention that Director Wang Zhong had proactively called her to help her contact overseas film copyright holders, Lu Yanhe said, "The director is such a nice person."

“Yes, so I have two ideas now. Listen to them and see which one you think is better,” Chen Siqi said. “Director Wang is willing to help, and from what I heard, he really hopes this film festival will be a success. I’ve been thinking about it, and if a film festival can invite a world-class director as an honorary advisor, it would be a boost to the festival’s reputation. But if we invite Director Wang to be an honorary advisor, he feels that we can’t give him anything, and that we’re just taking his title for nothing, which would be like taking an inch and then wanting a mile.”

“I was thinking, maybe we could hold a retrospective exhibition of Director Wang Zhong’s works,” Chen Siqi said. “Then, we could hold a discussion on Director Wang Zhong’s works.”

Lu Yanhe thought for a moment and said, "Holding a discussion on Director Wang Zhong's works will definitely lead to a lot of negative reviews. You know, Director Wang Zhong's works have always been somewhat polarized in the critical world. Are you sure Director Wang would want to see such a scene?"

Chen Siqi was stunned.

This was something she hadn't considered before.

“However, when holding a film festival, especially a critics’ film festival, this kind of scene is unavoidable. If everyone sits together and says insincere compliments, then the film festival is a waste. To truly create a high-quality film festival, you have to get people willing to speak the truth, and to speak their minds,” Lu Yanhe said. “I can’t offer any advice on this. You have to figure out what the film festival’s positioning is, and what level it can achieve, and then talk openly with Director Wang Zhong or others to see if they can accept it. Not many people can accept their work being suddenly analyzed and evaluated by a group of people in a serious manner. Most filmmakers don’t have a good relationship with film critics; there are even public arguments and insults.”

Lu Yanhe's words made Chen Siqi fall into deep thought.

She suddenly realized another problem.

Organizing this film critics' festival may expand the influence of "Jump Up" in the film criticism community, but in some sense, it may also cause other filmmakers to be dissatisfied with "Jump Up".

Especially at this film festival, works that received negative reviews.

But as Lu Yanhe said, if film critics can't express their true feelings at this time, then what's the point of holding this film festival?

How is influence established?

Chen Siqi asked, "Yan He, will my organizing this film festival cause you any trouble?"

“I don’t know, but I don’t care,” Lu Yanhe said. “You don’t need to consider me. Besides, as an actor, I’m actually really looking forward to this film festival. Like Director Wang Zhong said, there aren’t many places in China where we can truly discuss films. And we know all the film critics we’ve invited. We know whether they’re just stating facts or spouting nonsense. As long as this film festival is truly about discussing films in the end, even if some people are dissatisfied or criticize it in the short term, it will definitely build its unique reputation and influence as it continues to be held.”

Lu Yanhe's words gave Chen Siqi a powerful boost of confidence.

Since Director Wang Zhong and Lu Yanhe both really approve of this, what is she afraid of?

Do! -

Lu Yanhe hung up the phone, rested in the car for a while, and then got out and walked towards the photography studio.

On the way, he encountered Yan Zhimeng, who was walking out.

"Hmm?" Lu Yanhe noticed that Yan Zhimeng had removed her makeup. "Did you finish work today?"

Yan Zhimeng nodded and said with a smile, "I don't have any more scenes to film later, so I'll go back and rest first."

Lu Yanhe: "I'm so envious."

He said goodbye to Yan Zhimeng and continued walking inside when he suddenly heard an angry curse coming from inside.

"He's late again! How many times has he been late now?!"

It was the sound of a machine gun.

Lu Yanhe was startled. For a moment, he thought he was late and that Lian Bei was scolding him.

He ran over immediately, raised his hand and said, "Director, director, I'm here! I'm sorry I'm late!"

As soon as he entered, he bowed and apologized to Lian Bei.

As a result, Lian Bei looked at him with disbelief, his angry expression suddenly splitting into astonishment.

The person next to him said, half-laughing and half-crying, "Mr. Lu, the director isn't scolding you. How are you late? You've never been late before..."

Lu Yanhe gave an awkward "Ah," then looked at Lian Bei with a blank expression.

Even Bei laughed, looking down and smiling, then walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder.

"Brother, can you please stop? If you bow to me once, I have to bow to you three times in return."

Lu Yanhe: "Brother, you're the real brother. If you bow to me three times, I'll have to kneel down before you."

The two people lifted each other up.

Seeing that the situation had calmed down, Lu Yanhe asked, "Director, who was late? I rarely see you get so angry."

"Sigh, someone with connections, the son of some leader, was forced into a role. There were only eight takes in total, and this is already the third time he's been late." Lian Bei sighed.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yanhe was somewhat surprised and asked, "Who is it?"

Lian Bei waved his hand and said, "You probably don't know him either, you've never acted in a scene with him."

Just then, a young, handsome man came over and said, "Director, I'm here."

Lu Yanhe turned and glanced at him.

The latter stared blankly at him.

-

One more chapter, I'll keep writing. You don't have to wait, you'll be able to read it when you wake up tomorrow morning!

(End of this chapter)