My capital is quite large.

Chapter 126 The Pride of a Great Director

The airing of the first episode of "Running Man" was like dropping a nuclear bomb on a calm lake.

Just one weekend later, this unconventional outdoor competitive reality show went viral with its almost savage approach!

It broke the limitations of traditional variety shows that were only meant to be watched on TV for entertainment, turning its core gameplay, "tearing name tags," into an offline carnival that swept the entire country!

On Monday mornings, groups of young people can be seen chasing each other everywhere on university campuses, high school playgrounds, and free parks in major cities across the country.

"Don't run! Hand over the name tag on your back!"

"Let's form an alliance! Let's rip off the dorm leader first!"

In online stores, the custom-made name tags with Velcro on the back that can be peeled off sold over a million units overnight!

Garment factories in the Yangtze River Delta region are working around the clock with their sewing machines, but they still can't keep up with the delivery speed.

However, such high-intensity running and physical contact naturally come with certain risks.

On Monday afternoon, news reports began appearing online about injuries and bumps caused by people running too fast during the name tag ripping game.

Faced with this potential for negative public opinion, Haofeng Network's public relations department's response was textbook-perfect.

That evening, the official Weibo account of "Running Man" and the seven regular cast members jointly released a heartwarming collaborative poster with a slogan:

"We are a family! Running brings joy, but safety always comes first! While enjoying the fun of tearing name tags, please pay attention to venue safety and protect yourself and your friends!"

The phrase "伐木累" (fa mu lei), spoken with a heavy Chinese-accented English, didn't come across as tacky. Instead, its down-to-earth humor quickly made it the hottest buzzword online.

……

Jinling, Haofeng Group headquarters, inside the president's office.

Han, the director of the film and television department, sat in the chair opposite Li Feng's desk, holding a newly signed memorandum of understanding.

"President Li, Liangjiang TV has really gone all out this time!"

Old Han excitedly reported to his superior: "In order to secure the exclusive premiere rights for 'I Am a Singer,' which we are currently preparing, the director of Liangjiang TV personally approved over 100 million RMB!"

"They went all the way to Vienna, Austria, and brought back the same top-of-the-line sound equipment and mixing console as the Golden Hall to the Nanjing studio! And they promised that this equipment, worth hundreds of millions, would be exclusively for Haofeng's music variety show!"

Upon hearing this news, Li Feng picked up his teacup and chuckled with satisfaction.

"With over 100 million yuan worth of equipment, Liangjiang TV is definitely not losing out this time."

"The original intention of 'I Am a Singer' was to create the most top-notch auditory feast in the Chinese music scene. Without this god-level sound system, how could those superstars showcase their overwhelming strength? How could it make the viewers in front of the TV feel their scalps tingle?"

"What's more, this equipment isn't just for recording 'I Am a Singer.' Our subsequent show, 'The Masked Singer,' will also seamlessly transition to being broadcast on their Liangjiang TV station, won't it?"

"They're incredibly shrewd, using 100 million yuan worth of equipment to secure two nationally popular music variety shows that are destined to be huge hits. The leaders at Liangjiang TV are truly astute."

Old Han nodded repeatedly: "Yes, Hunan TV calls us every day to ask if we have any new programs. But since we're based in Nanjing, the support from our local TV station is naturally our top priority."

"By the way, Mr. Li, besides variety shows, we have also made groundbreaking progress in guiding public opinion in the e-sports field recently."

Old Han flipped to another page of his memo, his tone much more relaxed. "Ever since SKY's documentary was broadcast across the entire internet, the public's resistance to esports has noticeably softened. Many mainstream media outlets have also begun to objectively discuss the positive aspects of esports. Our 'Three Kingdoms Kill' university league is now even getting help from university student unions to organize venues!"

"Once the cracks in public opinion are opened, things will be much easier. When League of Legends is introduced next year, it will be the time for our e-sports empire to break ground," Li Feng said confidently.

After reporting on the macro strategy, Lao Han's expression became somewhat uneasy, as if he had encountered some thorny trouble.

"Mr. Li... everything is going smoothly on the big picture, but there's been a minor hiccup on the film and television production side."

"Speak," Li Feng said, raising his eyelids slightly.

Old Han wiped his sweat and said cautiously, "It's the crew of 'A Chinese Ghost Story.' The movie is about to start filming in Shanghai in the next few days. The set designers, extras, and several Hong Kong lead actors, including Louis Koo, have all joined the crew and are in place."

"But... our female lead, Li Xin, is still a regular MC on 'Running Man.' According to the 'Running Man' recording schedule, she has to take one day off every week to fly to different cities to record variety shows."

"The director of 'A Chinese Ghost Story' has a very strong opinion about this! He called me directly this morning, and his words were very harsh. He said that Li Xin's behavior of filming multiple projects at once and taking leave every week to do variety shows is seriously affecting the filming schedule and the actors' emotional continuity. He strongly demanded that Li Xin stay with the crew around the clock and turn down variety shows!"

Upon hearing Lao Han's report, the smile on Li Feng's face gradually disappeared.

"A lot of opinions?"

"Old Han, how much did Haofeng Films invest in this film, 'A Chinese Ghost Story'?"

Old Han swallowed hard and reported truthfully, "We are the absolute controlling party. Of the total budget of 80 million, we invested 50 million and took the lion's share..."

"Is it so hard for me to invest 50 million in filming, give my leading lady, whom I'm heavily promoting, a day off every week to record my own wildly popular variety show?!"

Li Feng's voice suddenly rose, revealing an undeniable domineering air:

"He's a director who takes my money and works for me, and he comes to me complaining about the schedule being affected?!"

"Film if you can! If you can't, I'll withdraw my funding and replace you immediately!"

"I'm paying to see a movie that will put Lee Shin on the big screen, not to listen to him tell me about insurmountable difficulties!"

"If this director is so stubborn, then replace him! What a terrible habit!"

Hearing Li Feng's ruthless "replace," Old Han felt a chill run down his spine and, forcing himself to speak softly, reminded him:

"Mr. Li... the director of this film is Wilson Yip from Hong Kong. He just finished filming 'Ip Man' a couple of years ago, and he's been very popular in Hong Kong and mainland China these past few years. He's considered one of the hottest commercial directors right now. Changing directors at the last minute... if word gets out..."

Standing behind Li Feng, Zhang Xinyu heard Lao Han's words and her red lips moved slightly, instinctively wanting to offer a word of advice as well.

After all, it's normal for a director of Wilson Yip's caliber to have a bit of a temper. Fired such a renowned director right before filming starts, which is definitely detrimental to the film's later marketing and distribution.

But before she could finish speaking, she realized what she was doing when she saw the boss's unyielding profile and swallowed her words back down.

Are you kidding me?

What is the current size of Haofeng Network? The boss has billions of yuan in cash flow in his hands, and if he stomped his foot, the entire Chinese entertainment industry would be shaken!

In the face of absolute capital, what is a Hong Kong director? I almost made the same mistake of judging my boss by traditional entertainment industry rules!

She obediently kept her mouth shut and took a half step back.

"What's wrong with Ip Man? So what if it's all the rage?"

Li Feng's gaze swept over Lao Han like a knife.

"Don't tell me he's just a Hong Kong director who's only made a few action movies. Even if he were Steven Spielberg, if he took my investment, he'd have to follow my rules!"

"In this production crew, Li Xin's variety show appearances are indispensable!"

"Go! Notify the production company!"

"Since Wilson Yip can't adapt to our mainland's capital operation model, then let him settle his accounts and go back to Hong Kong to film his Wing Chun movies!"

"Go contact Gordon Chan! Didn't he direct 'Painted Skin'? Let him take over this project! As long as he agrees to accommodate Lee Sin's schedule, he can be the director!"

Old Han was horrified. That was Ye Weixin! Just like that, he was replaced?!

But faced with the boss's absolute power, how could Lao Han dare to utter a single word of dissent: "Understood! I'll fly to Shanghai immediately to the film set to replace him!"

……

That afternoon, in the hotel suite where the "A Chinese Ghost Story" film crew was staying in Shanghai.

Hong Kong's renowned director Wilson Yip was sitting in front of a pile of storyboards, smoking with a furrowed brow.

He already had some reservations about Li Xin, the female lead whom the investors had forced into the role. He felt that although the girl looked innocent, she lacked the quality of a big-screen movie.

Now look what's happened! The movie hasn't even started filming yet, and this little girl is already taking time off every week to record some ridiculous comedy variety show?!

This is a desecration of the art of film! It's a bottom line that he, as a great director, absolutely cannot tolerate!

"Bang bang bang".

The suite door was knocked open, and the mainland producer of the film crew walked in, sweating profusely and with a complicated expression.

"Director Ye..." The producer rubbed his hands together, hesitating to speak.

Ye Weixin stubbed out his cigarette and asked coldly, "How did it go? Did Haofeng reply? Did he agree to let Li Xin stay on set?"

In his view, he had absolute authority in the crew because of the huge success of "Ip Man".

If he loses his temper, the investors will have to weigh the pros and cons and give him face.

"Director Ye, I'm really sorry." The producer said with a bitter face, taking out a termination agreement that had just been faxed over.

"The investors said... since you and the production team have irreconcilable 'ideological differences' regarding the filming schedule, in order not to waste everyone's time..."

"Haofeng has decided to terminate your director contract. Your full breach of contract penalty will be deposited into your Hong Kong account tomorrow."

boom!!

Ye Weixin stood up from his chair, his face full of disbelief!

"What did you say?! They replaced me?!"

"Just because I protested the female lead taking weekly leave to film a variety show?! They replaced me?!"

"I'm Wilson Yip! I just got a Hong Kong Film Award nomination! Do they even know anything about film?! Do they even understand what artistic continuity means?!"

Faced with Wilson Yip's furious roar, the producer could only shake his head helplessly, a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

"Director Yip, you may be used to the director-centric system in Hong Kong."

"But this is the mainland. In the eyes of Mr. Li, the boss of Haofeng Film and Television, it doesn't matter whether you are a big director or not. What matters is that Ms. Li Xin is someone he is promoting."

"The investors' exact words were: They spent a lot of money to promote you, not to listen to you talk about your difficulties."

"Director Gordon Chan is already on his way to Shanghai. Director Ip, you should pack your bags and head back to Hong Kong."

With a "bang," the suite door slammed shut.

Ye Weixin slumped helplessly into a chair, looking at the scripts he had painstakingly written all over the table, feeling utterly absurd.

His proud directorial talent and the formidable reputation he had built in the Hong Kong entertainment circle were rendered meaningless in front of that young mainland capitalist who had never even shown his face!

He was kicked out of the film crew simply because he asked the female lead to stay put and film the movie!

It was only at this moment that this renowned Hong Kong director truly realized the power of capital.

The so-called pride of a director is nothing more than a piece of waste paper that can be torn up at any time.