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

Animated films generally don't need any start-of-production ceremonies, nor do they require set construction. They usually just get straight to work in their own studio.

For those who care a bit more about formalities, maybe they'll fire off a ceremonial cannon or something.

Someone like Tian Xiaopeng, who organizes rituals and invites Daoists, is truly one of a kind.

Additionally, there are just too many people here to witness the ceremony.

Starting around ten in the morning, people started coming in gradually. Most of them are members of the National Animation Development Alliance, and all eight of the Great Kings from the West Hao family showed up without exception.

Everyone had previously visited the Naughty Ghost studio in Xiangjiang for a study tour, so we have some connections.

Tian Xiaopeng's "The Return of the Great Sage" secured a fifty million investment from West Hao Media, making him the envy of everyone. Plus, Qi Hao himself was invited over, so we all came to bask in the good luck.

Our own failures are certainly frightening, but a friend's success is even more distressing.

"We should've done something like that too, it probably wouldn't have cost much."

Wang Chuan looked at Tian Xiaopeng's setup and wondered if his own "Kuiba" performs poorly at the box office, could it be because he didn't invite a Daoist to perform rituals?

What is destined to happen will happen; what isn't destined, one may strive for.

But "Kuiba" is already nearing completion, would it be ridiculous to hold a start-of-production ceremony now?

Should we get a Daoist to perform a wrap-up ceremony?

"Everyone, everyone... there's really no need, you all should focus on making your films well. We Daoists can't really add much, so don't waste your money on this kind of stuff."

Daoist Suiyun, surely a wise master, can't help but advise these people, as many come to him for rituals.

Look at all of you, although you don't look patched up, you all seem so impoverished, spending so much just for a ritual, isn't that just poor flaunting?

If we Daoists really had the ability to help people get rich through rituals, our temple wouldn't have to rely on Coal Boss for survival.

"Daoist Master, you're now the guardian deity of billion-yuan films! Every time our Alliance Leader starts a project, he invites you. You say you aren't capable, but no one believes it."

Someone quickly retorted on the scene.

Those who are truly capable are very humble.

A full can doesn't make noise, half a can clangs around.

The worst part isn't when someone tries to get you to sign up for a membership during a foot massage, but when they say, "Don't come back next time, you're still young, it's not easy to earn money. Save well, and when you miss me, pick the cheapest package, I'll take care of you, so you can save up and marry well, don't look for someone like me."

In the next life, I won't do this, I'll marry you.

"He's my friend, I'm just a fake Daoist who likes foot massages and eating meat."

Daoist Suiyun was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

No matter how thick his skin is, he wouldn't take credit for Qi Hao's film's good box office performance.

His humility was mistaken for the modesty of a highly capable person.

Quite a few people still wanted to invite him to perform a ritual at project start-ups.

Qi Hao shook his head, not intervening.

The occult is indeed unreliable, but many in the entertainment industry dabble in it, some even keeping little ghosts.

Everyone knows the score; hiring a Daoist is mainly for good fortune and adding a bit of confidence.

Yang Yu looked at Tian Xiaopeng being surrounded by a crowd, looking so content, he couldn't help but be envious, eagerly seeking out Qi Hao.

"Boss, did you watch the short film I sent over? What did you think?"

Yang Yu spoke with Qi Hao before, hoping Qi Hao would invest in his project. Qi Hao was wary, giving him two conditions, both of which he followed.

"The short film is quite interesting. How much did it cost?"

Qi Hao indeed watched it and thought it was very good, even astonishing.

"Hehe, it didn't cost much. I went to lend Wang a hand, borrowed their venue and computers, got some manpower with a meal, and then asked Zhang to spare two interns to do some effects."

Wang is Wang Chuan of "Kuiba", and Zhang is Zhang Chenyu of Naughty Ghost studio. This youngster has brought the art of freeloading to its peak.

"Why not just freeload and make a full-length animated film like that?"

Qi Hao laughed, thinking Yang Yu would use the little money he invested in the studio.

"Why not let me freeload a bit?"

Yang Yu said with a wry face, even a short film took so much effort. There's no way he could freeload a whole movie without exhausting himself.

Truly, lacking money can stump even the greatest hero.

If he hadn't entered Qi Hao's circle and become one of the Eight Great Kings like Wang Chuan, why would anyone let him use resources?

The same goes for Zhang Chenyu's Naughty Ghost studio, which needs to make money. With high labor and technology costs, why would they let you freeload for no reason?

It's all because of Qi Hao.

This is just the beginning. As Qi Hao flourishes more in the future, more people will rely on him for their livelihood.

This is the vanity fair after all.

Truly, the wealthy are the masters.

It's said some stars come from good family backgrounds, but in the face of real power and wealth, it's no big deal.

For example, Xu Qing, known as the Beijing Circle Princess, her father was a guard, mother was the dance team leader of the General Administration Song and Dance Troupe, and her grandmother, aunt, and uncle are also not ordinary people. Yet now she mingles among various bigwigs.

Guan Zilin's ancestors were from the Manchu Xianglan Banner Guwalgiya clan, which counts as an elite family, yet table tennis became an indelible stain.

Huang Shengyi's maternal uncle is an economics authority, yet it didn't stop her from becoming a mistress.

In a time where people laugh at poverty but not at promiscuity, people are willing to give up everything for money.

"Make a plan, estimate a price, I'll consider it."

Investment is not something that can be taken lightly. Qi Hao only watched the short film, and there are still many things to consider.

"I've made all the preparations. This is the proposal, which includes a story summary and market analysis. As for the price, I actually don't quite understand, but I feel that if it's considered marketing, it definitely needs to be over a hundred million. Moreover, making a movie like ours usually takes three to five years, so we can't ignore the issue of inflation."

Yang Yu has prepared very thoroughly.

Qi Hao went to shoot "Hello! Mr. Tree," busy beyond belief, but honestly, Yang Yu was even busier than him.

They're really putting their lives into this.

Qi Hao considering investing in him. For him, this is an opportunity that could impact his life's trajectory.

Others felt the same way.

So, even though Qi Hao was just an honorary chairman, everyone else treated him like a true leader.

"Yeah, what if there's inflation?"

Yang Yu came over to invite Qi Hao to speak, cut a ribbon, and officially start the opening ceremony.

Upon hearing this, he immediately echoed.

After being in the industry for more than ten years, he saved up a little family wealth, even poured in his wife's dowry, and borrowed funds from his parents, in-laws, and friends, managing to gather ten million in total.

That's definitely not a small sum.

Unfortunately, for the animated movie he wanted to make, it's just a drop in the bucket.

Fortunately, Qi Hao provided fifty million.

But with just sixty million in total, he still wasn't sure if it would be enough.

So now, he's stretching every penny to its fullest.

Moreover, the fifty million wasn't given all at once; West Hao Film Industry disbursed it in several stages.

If one day West Hao Film Industry ran into financial issues, he would be affected too.

"You guys just do your best. If it's not enough, we'll discuss it later."

It's just overspending; such a thing is nothing at all.

If "First Love, This Little Thing" weren't backed by China Film's marketing funds, this film would have surely overspent long ago.

Qi Hao, as a director, understands overspending more than anyone.

Of course, he wouldn't say, "Feel free to overspend; I've got the money to cover you," as that would definitely tempt people to make mistakes.

"Hey, boss, my studio wants to sell to you. How about you just buy it outright?"

Tian Xiaopeng felt very touched and had a notion to devote himself.

"I can do it too."

Yang Yu had just received one million from Qi Hao, established a studio, and hired a few people to form a team, which could barely sustain itself for a few months.

It would be better to just work for Qi Hao.

"You guys should manage your studios well. When you have your own works in the future, people will come to you for collaboration."

With Qi Hao's financial strength, even if he wanted to acquire all of the Eight Great Kings, it wouldn't be difficult.

But he certainly wouldn't do that.

Firstly, there's no need. Currently, let alone profits, the future of animated films is still unclear. Acquiring so many studios to raise fish?

Secondly, it would create resentment.

If you monopolize the industry and others can't make money, who would play along with you?

This race would be abandoned directly by others.

It's similar to how Neon People behave in the tech sector.

Simply put, the ambition of Neon People cannot hide their foolish actions.

If every country is diligently cultivating their own saplings in the vast global garden, then what Neon People want is to drive everyone out of this forest.

All the trees and fruits are mine; you can't even pick a leaf, as that's my patent.

If you want to take something, you'll have to pay the price.

The Neons are particularly keen on controlling this industry.

If serious research needs to be done, then all the core technology must be in their hands.

If other countries or individuals want to enter this field, they must be suppressed by Neon Technology, do some basic work, and continually pay royalties to them.

So domineering, so overbearing, who would want to cooperate with them!

If Qi Hao built the entire framework for animated films and didn't leave any room for others, it would not merely concern his peers; even those above might not support it.

"Alright, the opening ceremony is about to start. Alliance Leader, please come on stage and say a few words."

Tian Xiaopeng pulled Qi Hao to go up and give a motivational speech.

Everyone present was from the National Animation Development Alliance, and they called Qi Hao the Alliance Leader when they saw him.

It almost felt like he was the Martial Arts Alliance Leader.

The only thing missing was waving a little flag and shouting, "Xingxiu Laoxian, commanding in the Central Plains, with great magical power and limitless abilities."

Qi Hao originally didn't want to steal the spotlight, but he really couldn't decline.

Now, everyone was urging him on.

So he had to take the scissors and cut the red ribbon.

Eventually, he was pulled onto a prepared table and handed a microphone.