Chapter 144 I'll Film It Myself

In Yandu, at Yang Feifei’s home.

“What? Qin Huang rejected the script?” Su Tong felt a bit downcast. He had just returned from Magic City when Sister Yaya told him that the script for ‘Love Apartment’ had just been shot down by Qin Huang.

Yang Feifei couldn’t understand why Qin Huang wouldn’t even take a chance on a small-budget production worth just a few million. She really liked the script’s dialogue—witty and humorous, many lines were gems of wisdom that elicited plenty of laughs.

“Such small-budget dramas are rare domestically; most have failed miserably, and even more were scrapped by the broadcasting authorities, left to rot in warehouses, never to be aired,” Yang Feifei finally saw the reality and sighed.

Su Tong was frustrated. It wasn’t even that explicit or violent, so the script reviewers must be foolish and naive.

“I’ll make it myself,” Su Tong gritted his teeth. ‘Love Apartment’ had been wildly popular in the previous world. He refused to believe that a remake, with the original for comparison, wouldn’t at least recover its costs here.

Yang Feifei now admired Su Tong a bit; just last night, he had written a song for a mentor on ‘The Voice,’ who praised it highly. How could she not admire him? She also felt less resistant to Su Tong making a TV show this time: “I’m in. I want to play Hu Yifei.”

Su Tong immediately declined, “You’re a big star—I can’t afford you.”

Just kidding. Yang Feifei’s current fee for one episode was about eight hundred thousand. ‘Love Apartment’ Season One had twenty episodes, so that would be sixteen million total.

Yang Feifei snapped, “What are we talking about money for? I don’t want your money.”

Su Tong rolled his eyes, “If you don’t want money, do you think Qin Huang would agree? You’re not like me, free and easy.”

“Don’t believe me? Ask Sister Yaya,” Yang Feifei said, sitting on the sofa, lightly kicking Su Tong’s calf with her bare, fair feet.

Su Tong looked toward Sister Yaya.

Sister Yaya asked, “Xiao Tong, do you really want to shoot a drama?”

Su Tong hesitated a moment, then nodded firmly.

Continuing livestreams and doing some commercial performances could easily bring in seven or eight million a month. Just last night’s livestream earned him four million Great Qin currency from two mentors.

When ‘The Voice’ aired later this month, his popularity—and value—would rise even higher.

The top contestant of the first season of ‘The Voice’ reportedly commanded an appearance fee as high as 1.2 million after the show, surpassing many top-tier artists.

“Feifei can join without pay, but after filming wraps, we have to wait until Feifei is officially allowed to work again before airing. Are you okay with that?” Sister Yaya said.

Su Tong was stunned, recalling the family agreement that Yang Feifei couldn’t accept any engagements for a year.

There were still over seven months before Feifei’s ban was lifted. Filming would take about a month, so after wrap-up, they would have to wait half a year before broadcasting.

Having Yang Feifei onboard was, of course, best.

“Su Tong, Xiao Tong, Tong Tong, just say yes! I’m so bored these months I’m dying. If I rest any longer, I’ll forget how to act,” Yang Feifei pouted, shaking Su Tong’s arm.

“You’re acting right now, can’t you see? You’re so dramatic, it’s unbearable. I almost want to say yes immediately,” Su Tong was speechless.

But he agreed anyway—why turn down a big star for free? The only pity was having to wait half a year post-filming to air the show.

Before Su Tong could answer, Yang Feifei, too eager, threatened, “Don’t think I don’t see through your little scheme to pull in my classmates, juniors, and juniors! Without me, forget it—I won’t let them agree.”

Su Tong was already about to agree, so he said, “Then I’ll reluctantly say yes. Hurry back to school and gather your friends. Remember, no famous ones. Also, I’ll give you two names—Wang Chao and Cheng Kun. You must recruit them. Wang Chao is perfect for Lu Ziqiao, and Cheng Kun is the best fit for Lu Zhanbo.”

Su Tong had already decided on several key roles: he himself would play one of the leads, Zeng Xiaoxian; Lin Yin was perfect for Lin Wanyu; Yang Feifei would be Hu Yifei; Wang Chao as Lu Ziqiao; and Cheng Kun as Lu Zhanbo.

The remaining roles still needed auditions. Wait, the script needed some changes too. Su Tong disliked the Japanese character and decided to replace him—turning Guangu Shenqi into a Chinese-American youth who grew up in Japan.

Without delay, Su Tong went to the music room to revise the script, while Yang Feifei began contacting juniors and classmates. Unfortunately, a promising student named Liu Qiang, whom Su Tong favored, declined upon learning that Su Tong was self-funding the production.

Yang Feifei didn’t push. She was a bit excited—having acted for so many years, she had long considered directing, making TV and films. Su Tong’s imaginative idea was giving her an internship opportunity.

On October 12th, Zhang Xin successfully registered a film and television company. The ‘Nian Nu Jiao’ Studio obtained the qualification to produce TV dramas.

Also on this day, Zhang Xin resigned completely to devote herself fully to the joint venture with Su Tong.

Since Su Tong was in Yandu, and the students were from the Beijing Film Academy, the filming location was naturally chosen in Yandu.

They rented two apartments, as well as filming equipment—keeping everything simple.

The students from Beijing Film Academy were excited; many were playing lead roles for the first time, or even acting genuinely for the first time in their lives.

Many thought Zeng Xiaoxian was the main protagonist. That was partly true but not entirely—through the first season, Lu Ziqiao had even more screen time.

Guangu Shenqi and Lu Zhanbo also had substantial roles, undoubtedly the second male leads.

No matter what the viewership ratings or streaming numbers ended up being, everyone was looking forward to it. After all, they were still in school and treated it as practice; the pay wasn’t that important.

After all, apart from being handsome or pretty, they were just college students.

“From now on, I’ll call you Boss Su,” Wang Chao said, slapping Su Tong on the shoulder at the opening ceremony, showing no restraint.

“How tacky. Call me Director,” Su Tong said, full of youthful vigor. The opening ceremony was simple, held in a green space within the community—the scene of the drama’s opening wedding. They all toasted with champagne.

“So, Director Su?” Wang Chao laughed. “Is it really that easy to be a director? Someone not from directing school and never having filmed before dares to call himself a director?”

However, once filming began, Su Tong’s performance shocked everyone on set.

“Cut!”

“Yang Feifei, watch your positioning.”

“Lighting tech, I want more light. It’s too dark. Look at the monitor—can you even see the skin tones clearly?”

“Lin Wanyu, I know you haven’t eaten much, but your hand gestures are too timid. Make bigger circles.”

“Who made that noise just now? Clear the set! All unrelated personnel, get out of this house and squeeze over next door.”

“Cameraman, can you hold a stable horse stance? If you’re tired, you can kneel to shoot. ‘The knees of a man are golden,’ but there are many who sacrifice dignity for art. It’s just a pair of knees—are you stingy? Want me to kneel and demonstrate for you?”

“Mic holder, have you been overdoing it? You’re shaking so much, do you know you’re in the shot?”

“……”

Su Tong was serious—not just strict but commanding with the professionalism only an outstanding director could possess.

The initially joking Beijing Film Academy students thought Su Tong was young and could be bullied a little, but after a day of filming, they were all scared stiff.

This director was brutal, scolding so fiercely even Yang Feifei wanted to cry.

But no one dared argue—he was the professional, and they were the ones at fault.

“I haven’t acted in a long time and don’t feel quite back to form yet. Could you please go easy on me?” Yang Feifei said, feeling wronged. Even a movie queen like her feared Su Tong; the others dared not speak up.

Wang Chao was easygoing and humorous but no longer dared to casually approach Su Tong without a cause.

(To be continued...)