2012 was a special year for Xu Zheng. He was 40 years old this year. Of course, as a male actor, 40 is not the end of the world. This has advantages that many actresses cannot achieve. However, Xu Zheng did not think so. He was unwilling to be just an ordinary actor.

Xu Zheng knew very well that his image was not suitable for playing the male lead in those love scenes, and such films accounted for half of Chinese-language films and even had more markets.

So Xu Zheng began to seek transformation a long time ago, and he wanted to be a director himself. However, for an actor who is not a professional and has no strong background, the difficulty is conceivable.

However, none of this made Xu Zheng retreat. He was very clear about what he wanted for so many years.

With the booming development of mainland movie box office in recent years, Xu Zheng knew that his opportunity had come. [Lost in Thailand] was the ladder for him to complete the transformation from an actor to a director. So Xu Zheng found the Huayi he was most familiar with with his dreams, but he was greeted by a basin of cold water.

Huayi replied to him after reading the script: This script is too vulgar.

Is it really because of vulgarity? Obviously not, were the movies that Xiaogangpao made good at that time?

Xu Zheng understood that Huayi was not looking down on his script, but looking down on him. Indeed, Huayi did not like those who had never proved himself, as did actors and directors. The Wang brothers only valued the achievements. Only when you became famous would they look at you differently.

In fact, Huayi also gave him another plan to acquire his script and allow him to play the leading role. As for the director...

So, without a trace of nostalgia, Xu Zheng took back his script. This blow did not make him unable to recover, but instead strengthened his belief that he must be a director and prove himself.

However, belief cannot solve the practical problems. Xu Zheng found several other film and television companies, and the answers received were even worse than those of Huayi. A film and television company even expressed his willingness to receive his scripts at a "high price" of 50,000 yuan.

Well, this is the treatment of Chinese screenwriters. 50,000 yuan per book is indeed a high price for new screenwriters. Xu Zheng resisted the urge to pour hot coffee on the other party’s face and expressed that he would go back and consider it.

After repeated failures, even if you are mentally strong, you will inevitably feel frustrated. Just when Xu Zheng felt that his future was bleak, he suddenly received a call.

"Hello, is it Director Xu?" There was a very young voice on the other end of the phone.

Xu Zheng was stunned for a moment and subconsciously said: You called the wrong one. There is no Director Xu here. However, soon he was just a shock. Director Xu? Are you talking about him? This title...it's so cool!

"Yes, it's me, you are..."

"Director Xu, that's right. I'm an external link to Zhixing Film and Television. Do you want to confirm with you the [Lost in Thailand] script that you own all copyrights?"

Xu Zheng hurriedly said, "That's right, the copyright is with me."

"Okay, Director Xu, will you come to our company in the near future? Our Mr. Gao wants to talk to you in person."

"Guide-High?"

"Oh, it's director Gao Qunshu, and director Gao is also the production department manager of our company."

Xu Zheng was delighted: "I can do it anytime."

"yes!" After hanging up the phone, Xu Zheng almost jumped up with excitement. Although the two sides had not met yet, he knew that "Zhixing Film and Television" was interested in his script, otherwise he would not have offered to order air tickets for him. In the past, he had taken the initiative to sell the film and television companies.

Two days later, Xu Zheng came to "Zhixing Film and Television". Before coming, he checked some information and found that although the company is not large in scale, it has been in great momentum in the past two years, especially [33 Days of Love Break], which won a box office of 380 million yuan with a production cost of only 8.9 million yuan.

"Hello, my name is Xu Zheng. I made an appointment with Manager Gao at 10 o'clock today." Xu Zheng politely said to the girl at the front desk.

The front desk checked the records and showed a professional smile: "Hello, Director Xu, it's 9:30 now, Manager Gao is still in the meeting. Why don't you take a break in the reception room first?"

"Okay." Xu Zheng nodded.

"What do you drink? There is tea, coffee, coke..."

"Coffee, thank you."

Xu Zheng came to the reception room under the guidance of a girl at the front desk, but found that there were quite a few people here. After listening to their chat, they found that many of them came to invest, including many of them from professional directors, and there was even a director he knew. He also filmed other people's dramas when he debuted.

Suddenly, Xu Zheng felt a little sad. It seemed that "Zhixing Film and Television" did not have projects. On the contrary, this company probably had too many projects to invest, so it was not necessary for him.

At 10 o'clock, under the guidance of the front desk girl, Xu Zheng came to the second floor project team office area. The first floor office area had already shocked Xu Zheng. The operating conditions of a company can actually be seen from the employees that the company's future is slim and the salary is low, and the welfare difference is different, so employees naturally cannot be motivated.

The first impression that "Zhixing Film and Television" gave Xu Zheng was "busy". Everyone was busy. Even if he had such obvious bald characteristics, few people looked up at him when walking by the office. Everyone was busy with the work they were doing.

The second floor gave him a little different feeling. Although the people here are not as busy as the first floor and some office areas are empty, you can tell that they should be under a lot of work pressure when they see the fierce discussions coming from time to time in the two conference rooms.

"Director Xu, you are so young and promising, please sit down." Gao Qunshu was attracted by his shining bald head at the first sight when he saw Xu Zheng. He paused for a moment before looking away. After all, it was a bit rude to stare at a bald head like this.

Xu Zheng quickly said politely: "Director Gao, you are polite. I especially like your [Tokyo Trial] and [Wind Sound]. In front of you, I am a primary school student."

Gao Qunshu laughed. Of course, I can only listen to this kind of scene, but from this sentence, he could feel that Xu Zheng is different from many professional directors. He does not have the problems of those literary youths.

A smart ordinary person, this is Gao Qunshu's first impression of Xu Zheng.

"Oh, I'm ashamed. When the [Tokyo Trial] was filmed, the investor withdrew the investment in the middle and almost killed me. If the boss hadn't lent me five million, the [Tokyo Trial] would probably not have been filmed now." Gao Qunshu smiled and shook his head.

Xu Zheng nodded with deep emotion. Yes, when he was an actor, he only knew how to act, but he didn't know that it was so difficult to invest. If he talked about it, he would not even go out on the first step on the Long March.

"Get back to the point, Director Xu, I have read the script of [Lost in Thailand] and asked our producer team to evaluate it. You can invest. However, as far as I know, you are not a professional and have never served as a film director before..." Gao Qunshu leaned back slightly and leaned on the back of the chair.

Xu Zheng felt a little sad and stood up: "Director Gao, I do not have the experience of being a film director, but I have been a TV series director, and I have been preparing for this drama over the years..."

"Don't be so excited, just chat, sit down and have a little tea." Gao Qunshu said with a smile, his fat face and his eyes almost narrowed into a slit when he smiled.

Xu Zheng cursed secretly, and just chatting casually would make him feel like he was heartbroken. If he didn't casually, wouldn't he be full of holes?

However, after calming down, Xu Zheng was secretly happy. After all, he thought that goods were the buyers. Those who praised you as having something in the sky and not on the earth as soon as they met. They could become famous directors with their hands and feet. They would never invest a penny for you.

Gao Qunshu picked up a document and handed it to Xu Zheng: "This is an evaluation report made by our project team. There is no problem with an investment of 30 million yuan. However, you also know that the company's money is not blown by the strong wind. Why do you guarantee that you can make money in this drama as a director?"

Xu Zheng did not answer directly, but opened the document and saw that it was an evaluation and analysis of [Lost in Thailand]. The first impression this report gave him was: professionalism, and the report analyzed some jokes about [Lost in Thailand], and even made fine adjustments to these jokes and jokes. After careful consideration, the jokes were indeed more prominent after adjustments.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Zheng took out a document from his briefcase. This was the version he repeatedly optimized the script of [Lost in Thailand]. It can be said that this is also his last trump card.

"Director Gao, I can't guarantee that this drama will make money now, and any guarantee before the movie is released is nonsense. However, I have been preparing for this drama over the years. I am the most suitable director for [Lost in Thailand]. Although I am not as professional as some professional directors and cannot draw professional storyboard scripts, every scene in the script is in my mind. All I need now is to turn them into reality." Xu Zheng said excitedly.

Gao Qunshu looked at Xu Zheng deeply. He could feel the bald head's persistence and enthusiasm. He had not seen this feeling in others for many years. The rapid development of mainland films has made many directors obsessed with this carnival. It seems that everyone is busy making money. Who cares about the others?

Gao Qunshu flipped the latest script of [Lost in Thailand] page by page, which was indeed more laughable than the previous jokes and the plot was more reasonable.

"Okay, you convinced me that the director of [Lost in Thailand] can be you, but the company has taken such a big risk, and it is impossible for you to ask for a 10% final profit share."

Xu Zheng was stunned for a moment. This became? He could be a director? A film director? As for 10% of the final income, it was actually a huge price. He knew that no film and television company would be so generous. You must know that even Taozi didn't have this treatment.

In the past, almost all people in the circle felt that Lao Touzi and Zhang Weiping had definitely made a lot of money after working with him for more than ten years. However, it was not until [The Flowers of War of War] that conflicts between the two sides broke out that everyone knew that Lao Touzi had only received more than 12 million yuan in box office works over the years.

That’s right, as Lao Touzi, who has gained a greater influence and the strongest box office appeal in Chinese films, has only paid 12 million yuan in more than ten years. Once the news broke, it shocked the entire Chinese film industry. Compared with other directors, it seems that I am living a pretty good life.

"Uh... the matters you divide can be discussed." Xu Zheng said carefully.

Gao Qunshu nodded: "2%, you will be given up to 2%, and you must sign in the company name. Of course, the conditions in this regard can be discussed again."

With the example of Lao Touzi, Xu Zheng was actually satisfied with the 2% share, but he was a little undecided about whether to sign a contract with "Zhixing Film and Television". According to his idea, of course he wanted to watch the effect after the release of [Lost in Thailand] before making a decision.

However, he also knows the rules in the circle that no one is willing to make wedding dresses for others. If he doesn't sign a contract, the director of [Lost in Thailand] will probably have a big question mark.

"Okay, I'll sign!" Xu Zheng gritted his teeth.

Gao Qunshu laughed with satisfaction and stretched out his hand: "Welcome to join Zhixing Film and Television. Looking back many years later, you will find that you have made a wise decision."

"Thank you, I hope so." Xu Zheng shook Gao Qunshu's fat big hand.

Three days later, Xu Zheng officially signed a contract with "Zhixing Film and Television" and became the second director under the company. Of course, in the eyes of the outside world, what he valued as an actor by "Zhixing Film and Television" signed Xu Zheng.

After finishing Xu Zheng, Gao Qunshu held a project meeting for [Lost in Thailand].

"Director Xu, it's okay for you to play the role of Xu Lang. Do you have any suitable candidates for Wang Bao and Gao Bo's actors?" Gao Qunshu asked.

Xu Zheng said seriously: "Actually, I set the two characters Wang Bao and Gao Bo according to Wang Baozhu and Huang Bo."

"Wang Baozui should be fine. We have always had a good relationship with Huayi, but Huang Bo, we invited him to a drama some time ago, saying that he was too tired recently and wanted to take a break." Wang Xiao habitually pressed the ballpoint pen.

If [Crazy Stone] made Huang Bo come to his prominence, then in 2009, Huang Bo became completely popular after winning the title of Best Actor at the Golden Horse Awards with Guan Hu's [Bulfighting].

Xu Zheng immediately said: "I will do Huang Bo's work and I will convince him to play this role."

"Okay, as long as Director Xu is sure."

In fact, Xu Zheng has a big confidence. Since [Crazy Stone], Xu Zheng and Huang Bo have no interaction. At most, they just call and greet each other during festivals.

But at this point, Xu Zheng had to take the initiative and bought a lot of things to visit the crew where Huang Bo was filming.

When an old friend met, Huang Bo was surprised to see Xu Zheng, but he was still happy. However, as soon as Xu Zheng asked to invite him to film, Huang Bo said that he was too tired recently and wanted to take a break.

Xu Zheng no longer persuaded him, but helped him in the crew every day. A few days later, Huang Bo started to feel embarrassed. After a week, he finally agreed to Xu Zheng's request.

"I'm really afraid of you. I can't act." Huang Bo said this, but in fact he was quite moved.
Chapter completed!