Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 1535: Chapter 777: Interview_2

”Wow,” Chen Qiren said, ”President Yao, your support for Wen Bing is indeed significant.”

Yao Yuanfeng nodded.

”It’s not easy to discover a talented director who can continuously create. I’ve worked in this industry for so many years and have only encountered a handful like him. Think about it, which new director can match Wen Bing’s prolific creative drive and such high-efficiency production frequency?” Yao Yuanfeng said. ”He’s only been a film director for three years but is already shooting his fourth film. I admire him; I don’t have his sort of talent. As a film producer and financier, the best I can do is to support him with all my might.”

Chen Qiren nodded.

”Actually, President Yao, you’ve always been very good at dealing with big-name movie actors. Basically, every film you’ve produced boasts a stellar cast. How do you perceive the relationship between actors, big-name actors, and films?” After asking, he added, ”I asked you this question three years ago, and your answer then was that film is the director’s art, but big-name actors can make the art reach more people in the market. I wonder if you have a new perspective on this matter.”

Yao Yuanfeng nodded.

”I do, especially after getting to know Zhou Yun,” Yao Yuanfeng said. ”If you have deeply participated in the production process of films starring Zhou Yun, you’ll know that having a suitable, excellent big-name actor has a significant impact on the final presentation of a film. Honestly, I have a love-hate relationship with Zhou Yun. She always has very high and sometimes very troublesome demands for scripts and production. However, on the other hand, I also know she’s doing it to improve the work. The process is painful, but each of her starred works turns out exceptionally well in the end. Moreover, a good actor can inspire more creative ideas from a good director.”

Chen Qiren said, ”The industry has now dubbed you, Wen Bing, and Zhou Yun the ’Iron Triangle.’ You three have collaborated on three films, and now I hear you’re working on another new project. What do you think about this team?”

This question almost hit the bullseye in Yao Yuanfeng’s heart.

He smiled with delight and said, ”For people to give us such a title means our previous works have been recognized by everyone, which makes me very happy.”

”However, now Zhou Yun’s boyfriend Song Shiyu has started his own film company. President Yao, have you considered that Zhou Yun might dedicate more energy to acting in her boyfriend’s films in the future?”

”Saying that underestimates Zhou Yun and me. Firstly, even though Xiao Yun and I have worked closely together, Xiao Yun has never stopped collaborating with other film companies—a practice common among actresses never confined to one company. Secondly, Xiao Yun collaborating with Song Shiyu’s company is perfectly normal, but have you wondered why Xiao Yun hasn’t cooperated with Song Shiyu’s company these years? It’s because they’re in love and thus more cautious, avoiding collaborating for collaboration’s sake. Thirdly, not only is Xiao Yun working with me, but I have a script I’ve shown to both Xiao Yun and Song Shiyu. They’re extremely interested and expressed they want to act. So far, Song Chi and Zhou Yun have never worked together on a film, making it very likely their first collaboration will be with our New Shield. With such a relationship, do we need to worry about other things?”

Chen Qiren said, ”Besides Zhou Yun, does New Shield have any long-term actress partners?”

”Of course we do; Ning Yao, Yin Lin, Qin Zhihuai, and others have all been collaborating with New Shield for many years. Sure, they might not have cooperated as intensively as Xiao Yun within such a short two-year span, but looking at the time range, many have been long-term partners for over ten years.” Yao Yuanfeng said, ”In fact, these three names I mentioned are involved in secret projects that we’re reaching out and developing with them.”

Chen Qiren said with surprise, ”So many projects are simultaneously advancing?”

Yao Yuanfeng nodded, ”In the next ten years, New Shield’s plan is to become a film company with international influence. Films like ’Life,’ ’Four Killers,’ and ’Two Tigers’ have achieved record-breaking success abroad in recent years. We aim to capitalize on this success by partnering with internationally influential stars to gain even greater international prominence.”

Chen Qiren nodded.

”Indeed, New Shield’s films over the last two years have had great success in international sales. However, many people say all these internationally successful works are films starring Zhou Yun. Some say her international influence is key to the high box office sales. What is your opinion, President Yao?”

Yao Yuanfeng smiled.

”People saying such things only prove they’re complete outsiders in the film industry,” Yao Yuanfeng said. ”I never deny that Xiao Yun’s international fame greatly aids the sales of these films. However, what really makes these films successful is their high quality. So we must consider this objectively, but saying this doesn’t deny Xiao Yun’s role in these films—that’s a separate matter.”