Zheng Bohan was still smoking.
When Zheng Bohan first left the "Qingyun Legend" project, he was filled with resentment and determined to film the original script of "Qingyun Legend" exactly as it was made.
But the constant pressure to secure investment, the endless favors and back-and-forth at dinner parties and banquets gradually wore down Zheng Bohan's enthusiasm.
"Old Zheng, you're not working with Old Xu on this drama anymore?"
"Old Zheng, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just that the budget for film and television projects has been limited lately..."
"Old Zheng, why are you so stubborn?"
"Old Zheng, listen to advice and you'll eat your fill. Wouldn't it be better to just be a good screenwriter? Why do you have to become a director?"
"Old Zheng, the production of 'Qingyun Biography' is too big; we can't afford to mess with it."
Zheng Bohan's anger did not subside, but his confidence and ambition waned after repeated setbacks.
Initially, he wanted to film his own script exactly as it was written. Later, he thought that making concessions for commercial reasons was acceptable, as long as he could reproduce 50% of the script, he would be satisfied. Still later, he thought that anything was negotiable, as long as he could film a drama similar to "Qingyun Biography" and compete head-to-head with Xu Hanwen, showing him that he could make good films even without him, that would be enough.
Zheng Bohan lowered his expectations and bottom line time and time again, but still no one was willing to invest in his script.
After nearly a year of delays, Zheng Bohan approached Meta Pictures.
Meta Pictures is a long-time rival of Guanjun Century. Rivalry is common among competitors, and Meta Pictures and Guanjun Century are sworn enemies. If Meta Pictures says the sun rises in the east today, Guanjun Century will make a film called "The Rising Sun" tomorrow; if Guanjun Century's CEO wears red today, Meta Pictures will release a trending entertainment news item within three hours: "Breaking News! Giant Standing Monkey Found in City Center!"
"The Legend of Qingyun" was produced by Guanjun Century. Logically speaking, if Zheng Bohan wanted to compete with this drama, the most suitable external partner he should have considered was Meta Pictures. However, Zheng Bohan has been reluctant to contact his old acquaintances at Meta Pictures.
This wasn't because he had backbone and refused to stoop to the level of a money-grubbing businessman. Rather, it was because Meta Pictures was notorious for cramming people into its projects; its culture of bringing in investment to cast was unparalleled in the entertainment industry. Zheng Bohan knew very well that once he approached Meta Pictures, this project was truly doomed. His dramas would be crammed full of all sorts of nepotistic, crooked-eyed, and unattractive actors!
But there really isn't any time left.
Three months before filming began for "The Legend of Qingyun", Zheng Bohan stepped into the revolving door of Metafilm.
When Meta Pictures heard that a top screenwriter like Zheng Bohan was going to cause trouble for their old baby Guanjun, they were overjoyed but also had some concerns. Initially, they only planned to invest a small amount of money.
In order to get a little more money from the capitalists, Zheng Bohan racked his brains and invoked the name of his old friend Qin Tianye.
Zheng Bohan and Xu Hanwen have collaborated for many years, and their social circles largely overlap. Knowing that his new drama was meant to compete with Xu Hanwen's, their old friends avoided him to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Only Qin Tianye stood up for him, publicly supporting him and offering to participate for a lower fee.
Qin Tianye isn't exactly a top-tier celebrity, but he has many excellent works and a large following. Moreover, he has impeccable character and a good reputation and network within the industry. With him backing him up, Zheng Bohan should be able to secure more investment.
The investor neither confirmed nor denied it, only saying that he needed to go back and hold a small meeting to discuss it.
Zheng Bohan thought all hope was lost. But to his surprise, the next day, things took a dramatic turn when investors from Meta Pictures contacted him!
Metafilm is willing to invest 30 million in this series!
Zheng Bohan was almost overwhelmed by the number, but fortunately he was long past the age of naivety and quickly calmed down, asking the other party what their conditions were.
As expected, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Meta Pictures stipulated that the female lead in Zheng Bohan's TV series must be played by an actress named Su Ge. Furthermore, Su Ge was granted a certain degree of control over script revisions and casting decisions.
Zheng Bohan certainly knew who Su Ge was. He also knew that the "certain degree" the capitalists spoke of was highly flexible. If he agreed, he would likely lose his most fundamental control.
Meta Pictures knew Zheng Bohan's temperament, so they offered him several extra perks. For example, Su Ge's salary was very low, basically the same as Qin Tianye's; for example, Zheng Bohan could use any of Meta Pictures' filming locations; for example, there would be official promotion of Meta Videos later on...
Under such pressure, Zheng Bohan did not hold out for long and soon agreed.
He's gotten old, and he no longer has the confidence he had when he was young to openly challenge capital in order to prevent his favorite leading lady from being replaced.
All he wants to do now is finish filming this movie.
A slight burning sensation came from his finger, and Zheng Bohan realized that the cigarette was almost finished burning.
Zheng Bohan threw away his cigarette butt and silently stared at the revised script his assistant had brought him.
Qin Tianye is gone. Zheng Bohan's only old friend who supported him has also left.
Qin Tianye's attitude was firm. Throughout his life, he has played chivalrous heroes, staunch soldiers, and dignified generals. Although he has also acted in some romantic dramas, that was more than a decade ago, and it's different from the sentimental, life-and-death scenes of today.
Qin Tianye didn't want to ruin his reputation in his later years by acting in idol dramas at his age, and having an affair with a young actress who was old enough to be his daughter!
Zheng Bohan was his friend. But Qin Tianye didn't consider himself a saint who would sacrifice his own popularity and reputation for an old friend.
"Good riddance, good riddance..." Zheng Bohan murmured.
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