Chapter 36: Chapter 36: A Masterful Stab in the Back
Editor: Henyee Translations
The second scene wasn’t far away; after about ten more minutes, Brother Li, the driver, parked the car and said, “Get out, we’re here.”
Getting out of the car, Wang Hao looked around and took a deep breath.
“So it’s here…” This is a famous commercial street in Zhonghai City, called Zhonghai Avenue. Wang Hao had been here twice before, intending to buy some clothes, but after seeing the prohibitive prices…
He had only been here twice…
He didn’t expect to be shooting here this time.
They were part of the last group to arrive. Brother Li led the three of them into a six-story shopping center on the commercial street and went straight to the sixth-floor dining area via the elevator.
It was just around 10 a.m., and this floor was still quite empty. Director Gao had already rented a restaurant, and the next scene would be shot there.
As soon as Wang Hao and the two others arrived, Director Gao started explaining their roles—they were to play ordinary diners, a very simple part.
Director Gao said, “You’re here, come over here. The scene is simple. The main plot is that the male and female leads are having dinner here. You’re just diners. Then there’s a scene where the bank gets robbed downstairs, you’ll hear screams, and the male lead will rush down to fight the robbers. That’s when your part ends. Got it?”
Playing someone eating, that’s my thing, and I’m hungry anyway…
It was a normal setup, but just as Wang Hao sat down, Lu Tong suddenly leaned into Director Gao and whispered, “Director Gao, Wang Hao said in the car earlier that the plot of this film is bad, no one will watch it, and it’s bound to lose money.”
“Oh?” Hearing Lu Tong’s words, Director Gao looked at Wang Hao with some surprise, then waved to quiet the room instantly.
“Wang Hao,” Director Gao sat opposite Wang Hao and asked, “I heard you have some opinions on this film?”
“Huh?” Wang Hao was startled and quickly realized Lu Tong must have told on him!
Normally, Wang Hao was easygoing, but it didn’t mean he had no temper.
Lu Tong had often mocked him sarcastically, and Wang Hao bore it. But now, telling on him was too much to tolerate!
“Did this jerk tell you that?” Wang Hao squinted his eyes and gave Lu Tong a dirty look, then sneered, “Acting all high and mighty but stabbing people in the back, huh? Pfft!”
“Did you say it or not?” Lu Tong adjusted his glasses. Wang Hao’s glare had scared him a bit, but he couldn’t back down at this point. “You said it in the car, that our comedy movie wouldn’t work, right? Do you dare to admit it?”
Screw it, your ability to twist words must have earned you a master’s degree, huh?
Turning white into black so smoothly!
What I said was just a casual remark, and you made it sound definite?
But fine, words once spoken are water spilled. Why wouldn’t I admit it?
“Yes, I did say that,” Wang Hao nodded bluntly. “And I’d dare to say the same now. I just think the plot is unappealing and too weird.”
“Young man,” Director Gao stared intently into Wang Hao’s eyes, “having a personality is fine, but don’t be ignorant of the world. I’ve been directing films for over ten years. I can’t claim every one is a hit, but at least none have been total flops.”
People around began to mumble—
“Director Gao is a well-known director in our country, having made at least a dozen stars famous. And someone dares to question his film?”
“Exactly, just his name is a gold standard in the industry. And a nobody dares to criticize him? Today’s young people, really ignorant!”
“Yeah, he’s in trouble now. He’ll never make it in showbiz after this!”
Listening to the murmurs, Lu Tong smugly adjusted his glasses—just a temp worker with some looks, trying to flirt with Yueer, huh? I’ll end you! Yueer is a classy white-collar worker, way out of your league! Only someone with my credentials is qualified to be her boyfriend! As for you, you should scram far away!
Everyone was watching Wang Hao, waiting to see how he’d respond.
Wang Hao knew he was in a tight spot but didn’t feel worried at all.
With all those classic film plots in his mind, if he couldn’t handle this little drama, he might as well quit now!
“Director Gao,” Wang Hao suddenly smiled and said, “I have some opinions on the current plot, but you’re a famous director, and I’m a nobody. I’m afraid you wouldn’t care to hear my opinions.”
“Young man,” Director Gao smirked, “I appreciate your courage, but in this industry, courage alone isn’t enough. Filmmaking requires talent, experience, control—not just taking a wild guess and saying we need to change something.”
“So, there’s no room for discussion?” Wang Hao shrugged. “If you won’t even give me a basic chance, should I just pack up and leave?”
This was a smart strategy to advance by retreat.
Call him out for talking, but refusing to let him speak sits uneasy.
So Wang Hao put on the pressure, hoping Director Gao wouldn’t tell him to leave in front of everyone.
“Haha, you want a chance?” Director Gao, seasoned as he was, couldn’t show weakness with everyone watching. He nodded and said, “Fine, I’ll make an exception so you can’t say I stifled your chance. You have ten minutes. Present your opinion. Just ten minutes. If it makes sense, lunch is on me as an apology. If not, you leave.”