Caught in Affairs with Superstar-Chapter 869 - 551: A White Horse Descends from the Sky (2)

Wei Heyun: "Sounds like a hassle."

"You’re luckier than many. Do you know what it takes for someone to become a producer and lead a project under normal circumstances?" Zhou Yun said, "Someone like you who dives right into producing and project management, nine out of ten are bound to fail as outsiders. Many can’t even finish filming before discovering the budget is spent. You invest ten million, and halfway through filming, you run out of money. Then you’re asked to add five million more—refuse and the initial ten million goes down the drain. So you invest five million to save the initial spent. Soon after, you’re told that the five million is gone too, and eight million is needed to complete the film. Do you add more? If not, the initial fifteen million is lost. Often, a project that seems doable with ten million ends up requiring another ten million to save the initial investment. In the end, the project only yields fifteen million, and you lose five million, but note, only you lose money, everyone else involved profits."

Wei Heyun: "I’ve been there; I later directly disciplined a few rampant ones, and the rest toned down."

Zhou Yun nodded: "No way around it, there are parasites in every industry."

"Sigh, honestly, the film industry isn’t much different from others, filled with all kinds." Wei Heyun said quite sentimentally.

The two were conversing exceptionally well.

Zhou Yun hadn’t expected to chat so animatedly with Wei Heyun about the film industry one day.

"Are you not planning to continue anymore?" Zhou Yun asked.

Wei Heyun thought for a moment and said, "I’ll take a break for now. I even opened a company for this, still issuing it to people. It’s tough to quit. I guess I’m speaking out of frustration, but I’m really unsure about the future direction."

"Both of the dramas you’re doing now are low-budget web series. It might be worthwhile to keep exploring this area. Web series are relatively lower risk nowadays. They attract less attention, and online launching is much easier," Zhou Yun commented, "I learned this through talking with Song Chi—turns out many web series that I haven’t even heard of are actually quite profitable."

Wei Heyun: "I learned a lesson this time. I’ll need to handle things better if I proceed."

"That’s a given." Zhou Yun nodded in agreement.

Wei Heyun suddenly recalled something, "By the way, are you about to shoot ’Deep Sea’?"

"Yes, what’s up?" Zhou Yun was surprised Wei Heyun was interested in what she was working on next.

Wei Heyun said, "I heard your team is aiming for a simultaneous broadcast on TV and online, but the TV network seems to have some issues."

"Because of the subject matter?" Zhou Yun asked, "The topic is indeed somewhat sensitive."

Wei Heyun nodded, "Suspense genres face stricter scrutiny for TV broadcasting. Yuehai’s people even approached my mom, hoping she’d help facilitate approval for the drama."

Zhou Yun shrugged, "I don’t care about TV broadcast or not. Frankly, the effect of TV airing isn’t significant now. A pure online release can explode as long as the show’s quality is solid and the buzz is high."

"Aren’t many actors now using TV broadcast series to build their credentials?"

"That’s something boasted by people with nothing else to show—holding TV broadcast as a trump card. Ask any actor between a hit web series and a lackluster TV drama which they’d choose," Zhou Yun said, "Nobody’s foolish; does being TV broadcast put food on your table?"

Wei Heyun laughed, "Internet video platforms should invite you for a lecture to wake up those pretending to sleep."

"What’s there to berate? The more people with that mindset, the fewer competitors for those truly passionate about acting," Zhou Yun said.

Wei Heyun nodded.

"I actually had no interest in film production at first, but seeing you and Yu Sitian so keen on acting, it got me curious enough to delve into it. I could say I’ve made an effort, but honestly, I don’t have an aesthetic sense for this. Good or bad, I lack the judgment. Directors muddle through, film poorly, and I can’t discern it. At the end, watching the final cut, I’m lost." Wei Heyun said, "I could talk more with TV networks, maybe produce their original dramas. This could indeed be my advantage, making approval easier. You’re right, but with my credentials, network people might not value me. Even if they do, they’d surely pair me with co-producers. They wouldn’t dare hand a project entirely to me. Yet, my temperament is like that—having others meddle and compete with me doesn’t appeal. That’s the conflict; pride won’t let me bend, just lousy temper."