Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 60 Sweet pastry

It wasn't until this month that the box office revenue for "The Night the Comet Came" was finally recovered.

The total domestic box office of "The Night the Comet Came" was reported to be 3077 million yuan. After deducting taxes and all other expenses, the revenue belonging to the producer, Li Qiutang Studio, was 924.58 million yuan. Of this 900 million yuan, Li Qiutang had to return 550.2 million yuan to Boss Zhang, and in the end, less than 400 million yuan remained in Li Qiutang's pocket.

Although she did not get the lion's share of the box office revenue, Li Qiutang alone enjoyed the copyright income of more than 600 million US dollars, which is Li Qiutang's main source of income. Besides, what Li Qiutang gained from this movie cannot be measured in money.

Through "The Night the Comet Came", he truly became a director, a box-office director more valuable than the giant panda, and he also received support from Huayi to complete his second film.

These are much more valuable than money.

When transferring money to Boss Zhang, he also happily told Li Qiutang that he had invested in another film about fighting the Japanese devils.

There are many anti-Japanese dramas now. Li Qiutang thought that he had invested in some magical anti-Japanese drama. This kind of drama has a good basic market and will not make a lot of money, but it will not lose much either. Li Qiutang did not persuade him much and only said that he should be cautious when investing.

It is too hot in Yanjing now, so Li Qiutang went to Miyun Qingliang Valley to cool down. However, he could not go too far away from Yanjing, otherwise he would not be able to process some information from the crew in time.

I didn't expect that I could be found even if I hid in a ravine.

Li Qiutang was taking a leisurely walk in the cool breeze when she saw Huang Xiaoming coming towards her.

If Huang Xiaoming also came to Qingliang Valley to escape the summer heat, then why is Wang Zhonglei next to him?
"You are quite leisurely, taking a walk in the mountains enjoying the breeze," said Wang Zhonglei.

"I was relaxing but you still found me. Not to mention you were here for vacation too," said Li Qiutang.

"Normally I shouldn't bother you after you finish filming 'No One', but 'Famous' is your script, and you still have to make the decision on some things."

What else could it be? Wang Zhonglei wants Huang Xiaoming to play Li Jiahui. Even a fool can see that.

One of the promises Huang Xiaoming received when he signed with Huayi was that he would be given the leading role in a movie every year.

It must be said that Wang Zhonglei is a bit boastful. Nowadays, there are very few opportunities for young male actors on the big screen. No matter how much Huayi invests each year and how much the agency department can attract, it is impossible for him to play the leading role in a movie every year.

Therefore, "To Become Famous" is very precious.

However, Wang Zhonglei still has some conscience. He knows that Li Qiutang will not start filming this year after finishing filming "No One in My Eyes", and Huayi can't say anything.

Which director makes two films in a year?
So he just said that Huang Xiaoming will be recording an album later this year and his movie schedule is very free, so they can make an appointment and talk about it anytime.

Then the initiative was handed over to Li Qiutang.

From here we can see the factions within Huayi.

Wang Zhongjun wanted to push Deng Chao to check and balance Huang Xiaoming, Wang Zhonglei wanted to bring Huang Xiaoming to the big screen, and artistic director Chen Guofu supported a group of Hong Kong and Taiwan artists.

All three parties approached Li Qiutang for roles.

But Li Qiutang chose to give up, at least for the time being he will not decide on the actors.

Huang Xiaoming and Wang Zhonglei stayed in Qingliang Valley for two hours and then left. Li Qiutang could escape the heat and relax, but they still had a lot of work to do.

However, a week later, Li Qiutang returned from Miyun.

As soon as he came back, he went to the preparatory group of "To Be Famous". He didn't want to shoot so quickly, but the preparatory group, under the leadership of Chen Guofu, pushed forward step by step, and he had no say.

The assistant director has already taken people out to scout locations.

"Just scouting the scenery?!" This progress is really too fast!
Chen Guofu said: "In fact, there is no need to scout the location. Your Republic of China drama should be set in Hengdian or Chedun."

What you said makes sense.

"What stage has it reached now?" Li Qiutang asked.

"If you can decide on the actors today, we can start filming tomorrow." This sounds a bit exaggerated, but the implication is that the preparations are going very smoothly, and his words implicitly hint at him deciding on the actors.

But the nine main actors of "Famous" were not decided in a day or two.

Li Qiutang now regrets giving the script of "Becoming Famous" to Wang Zhonglei so early.

Li Qiutang has officially joined the crew and taken over the preparatory work for "To Become Famous".

As Chen Guofu said, the selection of actors is the most important thing now. As long as the actors are selected, everything will go smoothly. But Li Qiutang wanted Chen Guofu to get the money from the company as soon as possible, so Huayi gave 300 million as the start-up capital of the crew. The crew had reported the budget to Wang Zhonglei, but the company had not approved it - the internal budget was 2000 million, and Li Qiutang reported 2500 million.

As the hub between the producer and the director, the supervisor should ask for money on behalf of the crew.

But Chen Guofu's suggestion was to select some actors first. Huayi didn't have action actors, but didn't it have plenty of actors for literary plays? He should pick a few first and sell one to the company, so that he could ask for money.

Both of them have a point.

Chen Guofu has always wanted to push Su Youpeng and Lin Xinru to play the male and female protagonists, but Li Qiutang has never relented. If it were an ordinary director, he would have sidelined him long ago. But "Famous" is different. 60% of the crew of "Famous" were seamlessly transferred from "Unruly". They have worked with Li Qiutang for more than half a year and listened to Li Qiutang instead of Chen Guofu.

This was also what Wang Zhonglei left behind during the project establishment stage of "To Become Famous". He considered that the two plays could be almost seamlessly connected, and to facilitate Li Qiutang's work, he basically used the team of "No One in My Eyes".

I didn't expect to set a trap for Chen Guofu.

Li Qiutang never expected that the first people to come to see her would be He Ru and Zhao Liying.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Li Qiutang was swimming in the hotel swimming pool that day and having a drink. He Ru and Zhao Liying rushed up to her and introduced themselves.

Is Zhao Liying also an actress of Huayi? Li Qiutang has no impression.

"Xiao Zhao was discovered by director Feng Xiaogang. She won the championship in Xiaogang's director group of Yahoo Star Search last year and then joined the company." Although the young director in front of her has only one film, "The Night the Comet Comes," she is already famous in the industry. A combination of a new agent and a new actor like her and Zhao Liying still has to support each other.

Li Qiutang looked at Zhao Liying in front of her. To say that she was not pretty was nonsense. How could she win the talent show if she was not pretty?
But Li Qiutang doesn't agree that Zhao Liying is very beautiful. In terms of appearance, Zhao Liying is not really outstanding in the entertainment industry.

"Do you have any acting experience before?" When Li Qiutang thought of Zhao Liying's role, the first one she could think of was Princess Qing.

"Yes, yes." He Ru said with a smile.

"Don't tell me," Li Qiutang said, "let her speak for herself. You are her agent, not her mother. She has to act on her own."

The 20-year-old Zhao Liying then said: "I have acted in commercials directed by Xiaogang. After joining the company, I also filmed commercials with Sister Xun. Last year, I acted in "Golden Wedding" with Teacher Guoli."

"Golden Wedding?" Li Qiutang didn't remember her being in the movie. "Who do you play?"

"I play the third daughter of teachers Guoli and Wenli, Tong Duoduo. I play Duoduo when she is a child, and she becomes teacher Yu Mingjia when she grows up."

"Oh, go on, have you played any other roles?"

"I also acted in "The King of Nanyue" and collaborated with teacher Tang Guoqiang. I played the role of the young queen. That's all. These are all I can act for now."

"You're doing great. You've filmed two commercials and played two supporting roles in less than half a year since signing with the company." It can't be said that Huayi is promoting her, but it really didn't treat her unfairly.

But Li Qiutang changed the subject: "But you have never studied acting, so it must be a bit difficult for you to act in a movie."

He Ru said: "Our Xiao Zhao is very hardworking and willing to learn."

Zhao Liying also said: "As long as I can act, I'm willing to do anything." She said this while looking straight at Li Qiutang.

Li Qiutang refused to accept this move: "You don't have to be so passionate. Acting in a movie is not like blowing up a bunker. This way, it's not convenient for me here. You guys go back first. Tomorrow... tomorrow won't work. The day after tomorrow, come to the crew the day after tomorrow and we'll have a tryout."

"Okay," He Ru said, "Thank you, Director."

The two left, and Li Qiutang also went back.

"Sister, why doesn't he accept the challenge? I already said that."

"Didn't you hear him say that it's inconvenient today? The room is already occupied." He Ru didn't believe that there were good men and women in this circle. "What's the point of taking you up there?"

"Who will it be?"

"Who else could it be? It could be Lin Xinru or Fan Bingbing. They are both eyeing the role of Su Mengdie."

"Ah, the two of them."

The two walked away.

(End of this chapter)