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

"Old Zhang, money's not the issue. Look, there's one project in progress and another about to start. There are plenty more coming up. It's not just animated films; we're only going to make more and more films in the mainland. No matter how you look at it, I've got the upper hand."

Qi Hao was full of ambition, although the future seemed perilous, and the success of animated films wasn't certain. However, with the system backing him up, he wasn't afraid of anything.

As long as the system was on his side, he could even buy out Disney!

"So... are we planning to acquire a Hollywood special effects company?"

Zhang Chenyu had heard that some of the top special effects companies in Hollywood were struggling and barely surviving on borrowed money.

If they didn't take on work, they'd go bankrupt; if they did, they'd go bankrupt even faster.

Then there's the occasional industry strike. It seems to be about welfare for the lower class, but it's actually a power game among the elite.

"Why would we acquire them? Not only do you have to pay for them, but you're also stuck with their debts. As soon as they hear they have to work in Xiangjiang, half of them will flee, and those fleeing are the real tech experts."

Qi Hao had no intention of acquiring them.

No matter how impressive they are, they can't compare to Digital Kingdom, which got sold to Michael Bay anyway.

If they can't make it in Hollywood, it'll be just as tough bringing them to Huaxia.

Might as well build a studio like Naughty Ghost that's suited for the Huaxia market.

First, target some key talents. Then, when special effects companies go under, take in some of their elites. Finally, have them work with local talents in Huaxia to quickly elevate the domestic special effects level.

"The boss is wise."

Zhang Chenyu had a look of realization, wondering why he hadn't thought of that.

"We'll still have to count on you, Old Zhang, looking forward to our studio growing stronger!"

Qi Hao reached out his hand, and Zhang Chenyu hurried to grasp it tightly.

"Ahem, as long as the money's there, I'm... all in!"

What else could he say? Wasn't he also eager to see the studio grow bigger and stronger?

Qi Hao was the most generous and gutsy boss he had ever met.

He would acquire a company, not take a penny for four or five years, personally introduce business, and distribute all profits as bonuses to employees and managers.

As long as Zhang Chenyu could run the studio well, he'd surely benefit too.

"I trust you, I'll send someone over with the money. You can work fearlessly."

Once the person is sent over, they probably wouldn't leave.

No matter how much Qi Hao trusted Zhang Chenyu, he still needed to have his own oversight.

Freedom has to operate within certain rules; unrestrained freedom is absolute indulgence.

Whether Zhang Chenyu understood this or not wasn't clear, but his joy was unbridled.

Five years!

It was almost five years.

He had been lying low, patiently building up strength, waiting for this very opportunity.

At noon, Qi Hao invited everyone for a meal, holding his wine glass and chatting with each person.

Talking about life experiences, industry views, and career plans.

Whether in Mandarin, Cantonese, or English, he was fluent and effortless.

A high schooler?

Education really didn't mean everything.

It was the first time the special effects company's employees had met their boss.

The boss of Naughty Ghost Studio had always been a mystery, with plenty of speculation in the circle, but no one guessed it was Qi Hao.

Many within the studio weren't even aware.

That's because Qi Hao had instructed Zhang Chenyu not to reveal that he was the boss.

People found out that having another big boss wasn't a bad thing.

It didn't affect their benefits anyway.

What's more, the big boss brought business and funds to the studio.

Some of the foreigners were even determined to bring their friends into the studio.

"Boss... "

Yang Yu held onto Qi Hao, having drunk quite a bit, his face flushed red.

"Hold on, I'm not the boss, I'm just a shareholder. You're the bosses. Only if you make money can I eat my fill; you're my breadwinners."

Qi Hao never saw himself as the boss of these animation studios.

If you're someone's boss, you have to shoulder their risks. Is that something just anyone can do?

Being a shareholder is different.

If you make money, I get a cut; if you lose money, at most I lose a little too.

Don't try to morally bind me because if I have no morals, no one can bind me.

"I have a thought... I want to make a major film, one about Nezha."

Yang Yu noticed Wang Chuan received investment and successfully got special effects support from Naughty Ghost Studio.

And Tian Xiaopeng secured 50 million in funding.

That's not counting marketing costs. Once the work is ready, West Hao Film Industry is sure to market it for him.

It's not just him, Yang Yu; all the animation studios were eager to make moves.

The market was good, the funds were there.

If they didn't hurry to launch projects, they'd only watch others succeed spectacularly.

Yang Yu's family was of modest means; his mother endured many hardships for him, faced a lot of gossip from relatives and neighbors. He hoped that one day, his mother could be proud of him.

"Old Yang, you're a medical student; why do you want to make movies anyway?"

Qi Hao had seen his "Hit, Hit a Big Watermelon," and the short film was quite good, winning several awards.

But that alone wasn't enough to make him invest.

Tian Xiaopeng was different. As early as 1997, Tian Xiaopeng was the producer of four episodes of the domestic animated series "Journey to the West."

For over a decade, he had been cultivating his craft in the industry.

That's the kind of talent who was an animation expert.

Yang Yu only has a small short film, nothing else.

Who can guarantee he's not a con artist?

There are quite a few con artists in the film and television culture industry. They hire ghostwriters to create something seemingly plausible, then spend money to buy awards and, once packaged well, go around scamming for funds.

Timing is their main strategy.

By the time people catch on and it spreads in the circle, they've already made off with enough money.

This Yang Yu seems a lot like one of them.

A medical student by background, his first work won a heap of awards.

However, if he's not a con artist, then he must be a genius.

Qi Hao won't completely dismiss someone based on them seeming like a con artist just because of his "sixth sense".

So, he thought for a moment and said, "Do two things after you return: first, organize your ideas, and second, make a short film documenting our journey from going to the airport to when we return."

"Okay!"

Yang Yu was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed.

This means he's being given a chance.

Qi Hao stayed in Xiangjiang for a few days before taking people back.

This trip was a great success; the Naughty Ghost Studio signed numerous collaboration agreements.

It's no longer a question of whether to expand or not.

It's that they have to expand.

While Qi Hao was expanding his career territory, the mainland entertainment circle was also bustling:

First, Zhang Weiping publicly criticized Han Sanping and China Film Company for monopolizing and suppressing other companies and works.

Then Zhao Benshan was exposed for spending two billion to buy a private jet, becoming the first mainland star to own one.

Also, Jay Chou, Lin Zhiling, and Chen Daoming's "Tomb Raider" was released.

Qi Hao and An Feng went to see it together, feeling that such a lineup seemed extraordinary.

The result was indeed extraordinary.

But it was extraordinarily bad; especially the further it goes, it's even more obvious that it's a Zhu Yanping film, as always, starting strong but ending weak.

The movie basically had no acting, just Jay Chou showing off and Lin Zhiling acting cutesy; the solid performers Miao Pu and Chen Daoming were reduced to cannon fodder, with the former's character chattering made her emotional destination puzzling, and the latter's Master Hua immersed in the melancholy of past events all day...

Qi Hao once again warned himself:

Idol stars and stylistic selling points can't decide a movie's mainstream credibility. Without a good story, this grand structure, however splendid, is in constant danger of collapse.

Story, story, story is what the audience wants.

He even wrote this insight and posted it in a group called "The Rise of National Comics" filled with founders of comic studios funded by West Hao Film Industry.

As expected, it received a flurry of praise after posting.

Qi Hao was grateful that "First Love, This Little Thing" wasn't made into a simple idol romance PPT.

He wove a dream for first love through cinema.

He and An Feng were just embellishments in the dream web, at most adding value to the film.

With other suitable actors, it would still be a good film.

"Tomb Raider" was just bad and that's that.

Qi Hao and An Feng didn't go to watch the movie anyway, they just wanted an excuse to date.

They actually had plenty of opportunities to date.

"October Fortress" is set to be released in one or two weeks, and "First Love, This Little Thing" is entering its promotional cycle, with promotional events happening every now and then.

Yet, many times, a day without seeing each other feels like a long time.

The more they see each other, the more they want to see each other.

Even in the dark cinema, just holding hands makes the night feel less cold.

"First Love, This Little Thing" is scheduled for Valentine's Day, a holiday more people have been paying attention to in recent years.

Qi Hao won't avoid this schedule just because he dislikes celebrating Western holidays.

Plus, February 14th is also Lunar New Year's Day in 2010.

Releasing during the Chinese New Year slot means high heat, but its success depends on whether it can break through the New Year's competition.

"Lost on Journey" has been postponed a bit.

Though it speaks about the Spring Festival travel rush, and it's a comedy, it absolutely can't bring joy to those who've been through it.

Qi Hao chose to release it in March.

By then, the Spring Festival slot just ended, and all good movies were shown, which is an opportune time.

People's impressions of the Spring rush would still be fresh, but the pain of buying tickets wouldn't be as severe.

Perfect time to have a laugh with this film.

The movie has plenty that would make people smile knowingly.

Deciding which movie to use to fight the New Year's slot was a point of debate within Qi Hao's team.

Some preferred "Lost on Journey" for its dense quality comedy with highlighted performances from Qi Hao and Wang Baoqiang.

Others liked "First Love, This Little Thing", feeling that showcasing it during Valentine's Day could pull people back into memories time and again.

Lovers might be willing to watch it multiple times.

The distributor, China Film, also favored "First Love, This Little Thing", promising various benefits.

As for why they chose China Film for distribution,

It's naturally because China Film holds significant weight; if not, Zhang Weiping wouldn't be openly challenging Han Sanping.

Zhang Yimou's "Three Guns" is about to be released.

In terms of screening slots, it doesn't seem to have much advantage, which made Zhang Weiping restless.

If Qi Hao were in his shoes, he would also be restless.

But if it were him and "First Love, This Little Thing" being favored, he'd thoroughly understand Han Sanping's "predicament".

Ah, the Zhang duo, poor Old Han has his difficulties too.