Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years

With the numbness of alcohol, Li Xue'xue felt a lot better.

After three days of shooting, this scene was finally finished. Not only was Li Xue'xue tormented, Qi Hao was also in the same boat.

"Damn you!"

Wang Zhiwen rushed forward and grabbed Commander Zhang, who was about to shoot him from behind.

At this point, Takeda and Commander Zhang needed to arrange for someone to take the fall.

Who could be more suitable than Wang Tianxiang?

That's right, you're the old hand!

"Wu Tianchang," he pleaded to Qi Hao, "Wu Tianchang, I've always been... you know that!"

Qi Hao fired a shot.

And then Wang Zhiwen was done for. This treacherous dog was quite annoying.

The character Wang Tianxiang, who he played, was Takeda's lackey, but in the end, he became the scapegoat.

As for "I've always been..." whether it was a deep affection or something else, none of it mattered anymore.

Once Qi Hao finished shooting this scene, it was a complete wrap.

A few days ago, he had actually shot the scene of his own demise, when he was preparing to return to Neon as a war criminal and was secretly slit in the throat by Zhang Hanyu.

It was equally gratifying.

Gao Qunshu even gave him a red envelope.

Typically, when actors have to act dead, or do scenes involving coffins or the like, the crew will give them a red envelope.

In a meticulous crew, they might even set off firecrackers after the performance, and if not, the assistant director or the extras' head might organize a few people to stomp on the red envelope.

The amount in the red envelope wouldn't be much, because playing dead is considered unlucky, and this serves as a small comfort.

Additionally, the received red envelope is supposed to be spent on the same day.

Qi Hao used the ten-yuan red envelope to have barbecue that same night.

His scenes were scheduled rather intensively, starting from when he joined the crew in February, shooting continuously until mid-March.

After the film wrapped, Qi Hao left the crew.

When he left, Li Xue'xue still didn't have a pleasant expression for him, seemingly reminded of her humiliation upon seeing him.

The woman was a bit crazy, and Qi Hao had no desire to mend relations, so he decisively ran off.

Gao Qunshu originally planned to throw him a wrap party, but Qi Hao politely declined it.

Qi Hao returned to the company, faced with the already edited "Steel Piano."

This was the work he completed as a director for the first time.

In the conference room were Yang Liu, Gao Fei, Old Tian, Zhang Nan, Shi Feng, Zhanqi Laiden.

"If there are no issues, let's submit it for review," Qi Hao paused and then continued, "I want to win an award with this film, does anyone have any suggestions?"

"I've confirmed with Teacher Zhang Meng, and his suggestion is to get it screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival, or the Venice International Film Festival."

Yang Liu adjusted her glasses and reported on her work.

She and Gao Fei were presently mainly following up on various projects, like this "Steel Piano" about to be submitted, the already reviewed "Lost on Journey," and "Wait and See," which is preparing for release.

It even includes the in-preparation "First Love, This Little Thing" all within their work scope.

Once the film enters the publicity phase, it falls into Shi Feng's domain of work.

"I remember one is in September, the other in October, right? That's a bit too late," Qi Hao was not too satisfied.

"Yes, it's March now, so six months until September."

Yang Liu didn't understand why Qi Hao was in such a rush, as film cycles can often last one or two years.

Some directors are very meticulous and might take several years.

"That's too late, is there anything earlier?"

Qi Hao wanted the film to be released a bit earlier.

This would increase the chances of winning the Best New Director Award.

Most importantly, he remembered the Tokyo International Film Festival did not have a Newcomer Award.

The Venice International Film Festival, although there is a Best Newcomer/First Feature award, hasn't seen any Chinese winner since its establishment in 1932.

Qi Hao was willing to gamble on the Golden Lion Award, as 7 Chinese have already won it.

But he didn't have the nerve to gamble on this Newcomer Award.

What if he didn't win it?

By then it would already be September, would he have to wait another year to win?

According to Qi Hao's plan, he needed to complete the main task by October 29th this year, to allow the system to release a new task.

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush!

So, pursuing awards for this film shouldn't be about cost-effectiveness, getting it in hand quickly is the main focus.

It's not easy to win the Best Newcomer Award overseas.

Because the Best Newcomer Award is often used as a "consolation prize" to encourage local young directors.

If you have the ability, they will give you a big award.

Even if it's not the top prize, it could be the Jury Prize or Best Director, Actor, Actress. If you lack ability, then just go be a nobody; there's no need to arrange a so-called consolation prize for you.

They won't accommodate you.

To win an award, Qi Hao's requirement for "Steel Piano" is to be released as early as possible.

The Beijing College Student Film Festival is definitely too late, as it will need review and cinema scheduling after submission.

There is no Changchun Film Festival this year, but the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival in June and the 18th China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in September, if he can win Best New Director in either, Qi Hao would have completed his task.

Of course, if the Music Newcomer Award can be won, that's fine too.

The 16th Eastern Wind and Cloud Chart held in Shen City in March has a Newcomer Award, divided into Gold, Silver, and Bronze Newcomer Awards.

If this award can be won, then there is a guaranteed bottom line for the task.

"If you want to release it earlier, then June is fine, 'Wait and See' is released in May, so the two won't conflict."

Yang Liu and Gao Fei exchanged a glance.

Clearly, although Gao Fei is the boss of Feiyang Media, the one who really makes the decisions is Qi Hao.

Gao Fei wouldn't veto Qi Hao over such a minor matter.

"Are you suggesting the premiere at the Shen City International Film Festival?" Qi Hao remembered that June is indeed the Shen City International Film Festival.

Apart from those insignificant awards, there aren't many awards domestically to arrange for.

"I don't really recommend it... this will make the film's promotion too impacted by film festivals. Even if it doesn't premiere at the film festival, it won't affect the awards." Yang Liu shook her head and said.

"The Shen City International Film Festival almost worships foreign films like they were fathers; they're unlikely to award you. But their secondary unit film channel media awards have some chance."

Zhanqi Laiden wasn't polite at all, almost outright stating that the Shen City International Film Festival fawns over foreign films.

"These domestic matters aren't clear yet, and they're already thinking about engaging in international trash; it won't develop even in ten years."

Old Tian very much agreed with Zhanqi Laiden this time.

He didn't understand why Qi Hao wanted to rely on 'Steel Piano' to win awards; previously Qi Hao wasn't very enthusiastic about awards.

Most likely, he's having a relapse again.

"Let's go with this, release in early June, first grab some domestic awards, then try for the Tokyo International Film Festival or some other international awards."

Qi Hao combined everyone's opinions and made a final decision.

"Another thing is 'First Love, This Little Thing,' scheduled to start shooting in April, but there's a big problem with the script now."

Yang Liu reported the second matter, while Gao Fei was already dozing off beside her.

No choice, this is supposed to be Boss Gao's nap time, Qi Hao, having eaten his fill, came to call a meeting, disturbing people's rest.

"What problem?" Qi Hao had read the script.

He felt that this script was already very mature, a rare gem.

Even if it didn't earn much money after filming, given Qi Hao and An Feng's public appeal, it most likely wouldn't incur any losses.

Hmm, even if it does, it wouldn't be much.

After all, An Feng would bear half of the costs.

"We invited the scriptwriting team to localize the script to a certain extent, but they think the film's ending is a bit cliché."

Yang Liu is currently learning while working.

However, her academic background isn't great; she needs to learn a lot, and doesn't understand many things.

Fortunately, her work attitude is good; she recorded the suggestions from the scriptwriting team and directly showed them to Qi Hao.

"The entire movie is cliché, it's not just the ending that's cliché."

Qi Hao chuckled, took a look at the scriptwriting team's suggestions, and then frowned.

The domestic scriptwriters think:

In a certain sense, the reason first love is worth remembering is because of unfulfilled love, because of regret.

The most beautiful moment in love is when things are ambiguous.

Once truly together, many feelings will disappear.

Sometimes, the meeting and falling in love don't necessarily lead to a happy ending, and sometimes missing out might be the best choice for them.

So the scriptwriters suggest that the ending where Xiaoshui and Liang reunite and finally get together undermines the beauty of the movie.

Tragedy often holds more power than comedy, penetrating the hollow of the soul to spur self-reflection.

Just like in 'A Chinese Odyssey Part Two - Cinderella' where Fairy Zixia dies at the end, it's precisely this tragedy and imperfection that make people cherish their current happiness more and ponder the direction life should go.

Human suffering is absolute, whereas happiness is relative.

"What do you all think?" Qi Hao asked for everyone's opinion.

As far as he is concerned, both the comedic and tragic endings are fine.

After all, his role as the male lead has already been fulfilled.

Now he hopes the movie will help consolidate his fan base, preventing it from being scattered by his roles in distasteful or antagonistic characters.

Abusing fans occasionally should be followed by a sweet gesture.

'Heavenly Dog,' 'Wind Sound,' 'Wait and See' are fan abuse; 'Chinese Paladin 3,' 'First Love, This Little Thing' are for consolidating fans.

As for 'Lost on Journey,' Qi Hao can't figure out what category it fits into.

"I... I don't know either." Yang Liu spoke honestly.

"Of course, I prefer a perfect happy ending; those scriptwriters are too artsy. The audience definitely prefers complete happy endings."

Gao Fei perked up; she doesn't like watching tragedies.

Whenever she sees a tragedy, she wants to bury the director.

"I think it depends on the script's overall style; if a perfect ending fits, go with it. There's no need for a tragic ending. If tragedy works better, there's no need for them to be together."

Shi Feng, responsible for company operations and movie marketing, shared his opinion.

"Actually, many great endings don't make the audience clearly distinguish tragedy from comedy; they just feel things could only happen this way, making it the most perfect and comfortable ending. Some characters must die, like in 'This Killer Is Not So Cold'; some things must vanish like in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' but some things can rise from the ashes like in 'The Shawshank Redemption.'

Old Tian, with many years in the industry, has his own thoughts on movies.

"Like 'Firefly Forest,' when Jin disappears, it leaves a very perfect and comfortable feeling."

Zhanqi Laiden surprisingly did not mock anything.

"You all spoke but said nothing..."