Ye Zhen recalled what she remembered about Ning Yang’s movie in the novel. Other than Meng Jie, the other actors and actresses weren’t famous. Ning Yang even picked up one of the actors that would play a supporting character at the entrance of a film studio. It took over two months just to find enough actors and actresses. Ning Yang couldn’t even afford any actors and actresses with good appearance and good acting skills, much less famous stars, who were dismissive of Ning Yang’s script. Fortunately, the actors and actress he was able to hire had excellent acting skills.

  In the novel, since Ning Yang wasn’t able to find an investor, the filming was repeatedly postponed. As a last resort, Ning Yang spent all of his savings to make the movie. Even so, his savings were only a drop in the bucket. There wasn’t enough money for the cast and crew. Due to lack of funds during filming, Ning Yang reluctantly abandoned many of the magnificent and epic scenes he had originally planned to do.

  After the filming was done, Ning Yang rushed about busily. He couldn’t get this movie past review. He was a nobody and didn’t have a powerful backer. Half a year passed waiting for his movie to be reviewed, and then the process continued to be dragged out. After a delay of a few years, there was still no response for this movie.

  (T/N: In China, movies have to be reviewed by the China Film Administration. It determines whether, when, and how a movie gets released. All films have to obtain a special license if they are to be shown in movie theaters, film festivals, TV, or streaming sites )

  Ning Yang almost went bankrupt. In the end, he sold the movie to a streaming site for a low price. The movie got pretty good word-of-mouth reviews, but without any publicity, the audience remained small. Under these circumstances, Ning Yang submitted his movie to a certain highly prestigious international film festival. His movie won the Best Picture Award, and he became an overnight celebrity.

  It had been ten years since a Chinese film had won the Best Picture Award in this famous international film festival.

  When the news traveled back to China, many people in the film and television circle as well as movie enthusiasts said they had never seen this movie. When they learned that this movie was from a certain streaming site, the website reached a record high in views from that movie alone.

  Many people expressed that it was a pity they weren’t able to watch Ning Yang’s movie at the movie theater and that if Ning Yang made another movie, they would definitely buy a movie ticket to see it.

  Unfortunately, Ning Yang never made another movie after this one.

  What goes up must go down. Ning Yang was in the prime of his youth and had skyrocketed in fame. He didn’t have any background or a powerful supporter. He had done too well for himself and attracted the jealousy of others. In the end, he was blocked by others and toiled in obscurity for the rest of his life.

  However, this was just what happened in the novel. After Ye Zhen finished recalling what she had read in the novel, she tossed it to the back of mind. The current Lu Corporation was rich and powerful, and she was Ning Yang’s powerful supporter. She would be the giant tree that sheltered this seemingly ordinary young director that was brimming with talent under her branches!

  After she had reached an agreement with Ning Yang, in order to avoid problems that may be incurred by a delay, Ye Zhen officially signed a contract with Ning Yang on behalf of Lu Corporation.

  The contents of the content were as follows: Lu Corporation was the sole investor of Ning Yang’s movie, Ye Zhen was the producer, and the terms were written in a way that gave Ning Yang the greatest degree of preferential treatment. Ning Yang had been an assistant director for seven years and naturally knew he was currently unworthy of Lu Corporation giving him these various preferential treatments.

  However, Ye Zhen had repeatedly urged him that the filming was the most important part for the director and that he didn’t have to worry about anything except that.

  So, getting sponsors and investors, gathering the filming staff and choosing the other actors and actresses would fall under Ye Zhen’s responsibilities.

  Lu Corporation was rich and imposing and could cover the roles of the investor and the sponsor by itself. Ning Yang had been an assistant director for seven years and had the filming staff part taken care of. So Ye Zhen didn’t need to worry about either of those things. The only thing that Ye Zhen had to check on herself was choosing the actors and actresses.