Chapter 776: Each Has Their Own Burdens

In the teahouse, Gao Qun's face was ashen. At first, he thought Zhao Fusheng was an easygoing investor, but now he realized he had been too naive.

A capitalist is a capitalist; how could they have a kind heart?

Seeing Gao Qun's expression, Zhao Fusheng smiled and said, "Director Gao, don't misunderstand. I have no other intentions. I hope you can understand the difficulties we producers face. After all, we're not running a charity. If we don't control production costs, the expenses will be too high, and we'll lose money."

Gao Qun was taken aback. He hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to speak so frankly to him.

Logically, shouldn't he have tried to gloss things over?

Seeing Gao Qun silent, Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said bluntly, "Director Gao, how about this: let's go out for a drink?"

Zhao Fusheng wasn't a heavy drinker, but he felt Gao Qun needed an outlet for his emotions—whether joy or anger, he needed someone to share with.

Admittedly, alcohol's stimulation was quite effective.

At first, Gao Qun seemed a bit restrained, but after five bottles of beer, his face flushed and he appeared much more relaxed.

"As long as you don't change the script, I'll agree to any condition," Gao Qun said seriously, looking at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng was stunned. "Director, are you joking? The script is yours, the idea is yours, and now you say you'll agree to anything as long as we don't change the script?"

To be honest, if he weren't sure that the man before him was Gao Qun, known for his strong personality, he would have thought he was dealing with an impostor.

Gao Qun gave a bitter smile, picked up his beer, and waved to the waiter. "Waiter, bring me a beer mug."

When the waiter brought the mug, he poured himself a full glass, downed it in one go, then looked up at Zhao Fusheng. "Fusheng, you don't understand. You're lucky—you're friends with Jiang Wen, so no one will change your script. But do you know how many screenwriters and directors like me there are? From the moment I heard this story to when I wrote the script, it took a huge effort. Yet even so, I can't guarantee my script will pass. The producer might want changes, the censors might want changes, and even after all that, if the actors aren't satisfied, it might have to be changed again..."

Zhao Fusheng remained silent, having to admit that Gao Qun's words made sense.

The weak position of screenwriters doesn't change just because a few top-tier ones emerge. Life isn't a fairy tale; reality is always more absurd than novels and TV dramas.

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng had seen too much news like this and heard too many such stories. It wasn't just in the film and TV industry—other fields were the same.

Even contracts have dual versions, let alone a script. For producers, they never care whether the screenwriter is happy or satisfied; what they care about is whether they can recoup their investment.

"Isn't it ridiculous? It's my own script, I'm the director, and yet I have to worry about others changing my work," Gao Qun said, glancing at Zhao Fusheng indifferently.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged. "Actually, there's nothing much to say. The world has always been fair; overnight fame inevitably invites a lot of abuse. You have to give something to get something. In the 1990s, people envied the 'ten-thousand-yuan households' because everyone knew they had risked their lives to make that money. But now, the rich are looked down upon because people feel they receive far more than they give."

Gao Qun held his wine glass, glanced at Zhao Fusheng, and seemed thoughtful.

He suddenly felt that Zhao Fusheng must be a man with a story; otherwise, he couldn't have spoken such words.

"Fusheng, I need an opportunity to prove myself, to prove that I, Gao Qun, am a good director. I hope you can help me," Gao Qun said to Zhao Fusheng, word by word.

Zhao Fusheng smiled. Actually, he could tell that Gao Qun was truly eager for success, which was evident from the script he wrote. You see, Gao Qun had written a shooting script, one completely organized according to the story's narrative thread. Such a script fully reveals the story's direction and arc. That was why Dong Chenxi and the others particularly liked this script.

"Director Gao, let me say this: I really like your script. To be honest, Liu Huaqiang is a villain, but he has his own charm. I believe that once this drama is filmed, it will spark huge discussion."

Zhao Fusheng looked at Gao Qun and said, "Coupled with the lines you've designed for him, I think this character will be remembered by many."

He spoke from the heart. The character played by Yan Wang, just as Zhao Fusheng said, is easy to remember—domineering, arrogant, and ultimately self-destructive. Such a character might be satisfying to watch, but his end is also tragic, which actually makes it easier to pass censorship.

After all, such an arrogant and tyrannical gangster is still suppressed by the authorities, showing that our relevant departments are quite capable.

"I hope your words come true."

Gao Qun gave a bitter smile and raised his glass to Zhao Fusheng.

Although Zhao Fusheng spoke with confidence, Gao Qun himself was not that optimistic. You see, as the scriptwriter and director, he was certainly confident in his work, but he knew all too well that TV dramas of this kind often spark huge controversy and might not even get aired.

Seeing Gao Qun's low spirits, Zhao Fusheng didn't say anything more.

Actually, Zhao Fusheng could vaguely guess Gao Qun's concerns, but some things couldn't be said now. After all, passing censorship involves too many factors.

Moreover, Future Advertising was relatively weak in this area. It wasn't a professional production company, and the film and TV industry isn't something you can just dabble in with money alone.

Zhao Fusheng accompanied Gao Qun for a few more drinks. It wasn't until the afternoon that he sent a drunken Gao Qun back to his place, then he himself headed straight to Future Advertising.

Alcohol tolerance varies from person to person. Compared to most people, Zhao Fusheng had a good tolerance. At least compared to Gao Qun, he was undoubtedly better. By the end, Gao Qun was already dizzy, but Zhao Fusheng was fine and could walk into the company sober.

"Have you been drinking?" As soon as he entered Dong Chenxi's office, she looked at him strangely.

"Yeah, had a few drinks with Gao Qun," Zhao Fusheng answered honestly.

"How did it go?" Dong Chenxi asked, unfazed. She knew something about Zhao Fusheng's drinking capacity—he could actually hold his liquor, but he usually didn't drink.

Hearing her question, Zhao Fusheng smiled, looking quite pleased with himself.