This celebrity became even more popular after being exposed of having multiple girlfriends
Chapter 220 - 213: "Disappeared" Starts Filming (4k)_2

Chapter 220: Chapter 213: "Disappeared" Starts Filming (4k)_2

"Yeah, wouldn’t it be better to come back and continue shooting variety shows? I watched the new episode of Extreme Challenge yesterday. Huang Bo was even joking, saying he was looking forward to the director inviting Wu as a flying guest."

"Plus, I saw online that it seems like he became an investor himself, brought funds into the group, and then kicked Zhou Yu out. Even though I don’t like Zhou Yu much, this move is really despicable."

"I can understand him kicking out Zhou Yu, he and Zhou Yu were always rivals, and Zhou Yu’s fans have also cursed him several times. It would be strange if he didn’t kick him out given the chance, but it’s really disgusting for him to invest in the group and cast himself as the lead."

One-sided public opinion.

The main issue is really the act of bringing in funds to kick other actors out and then cast himself, which really pushes everyone’s buttons.

Everyone has been disgusted more than once by those maneuvers where someone invests and stuffs their own family into the cast. In recent years, several popular TV dramas have had such things happen.

A TV drama with great reputation, where everyone’s acting is on point, watching the seasoned actors perform is a pleasure, and then there’s always those few actors who are stuffed in like a fly in the ointment, spoiling everyone’s fun.

Of course, all these premises actually hinge on Wu Mu’s poor acting. If Wu Mu’s acting were good, no worse than the others, then everyone might just see it as a normal competitive tactic.

But could that be possible?

They had seen Wu Mu’s acting before; it was all trying too hard, the kind of performance that made someone’s scalp tingle, making viewers want to pick at their feet.

Netizens wailed that Wu was going to start ruining things, becoming boring, and they were all brushing that when Wu’s TV drama comes out, they definitely won’t watch.

Naturally, this kind of public opinion couldn’t affect Wu Mu and couldn’t affect the crew on the other side either. Yang Rongfa didn’t really want to invite Wu Mu, but he was out of money!

Who else would invest if they didn’t invite Wu Mu?

While they were unaffected, other investors in the project were starting to feel the pressure.

Originally, with Li Hu’s arrest, there had already been a withdrawal of funds. Although the remaining people hadn’t pulled out yet, they were all in a wait-and-see state.

And watching and waiting, they ended up seeing Wu Mu become the primary investor and also wanting to act as the second male lead?

Immediately, some investors chose to pull out, feeling that the project was too risky and unable to see the hope of making money.

After three or four left in a row, the direct result was another funding gap in the project.

They were short more than twenty million.

Yang Rongfa was freaking out.

When Wu Mu, who had become his studio manager, heard about this from Shi Wu, he pondered for a moment and then directly said, "Contact Yang Rongfa, I’ll cover the shortfall."

Shi Wu, having become his studio manager, was clearly taken aback and couldn’t help saying, "President Wu, are we still adding investments? Isn’t the risk too high?"

With these extra twenty million, their investment amount had already reached a staggering ninety million.

For big platforms, this might be a small figure and a risk they could afford.

But for their small celebrity studio, it was already a very large amount.

If they incurred losses, he really doubted whether Wu Mu’s studio would have to dissolve on the spot.

Wu Mu had his own thoughts, "It’s fine, ninety million is ninety million. Also, tell Yang Rongfa that if anyone else wants to pull out, let them. I’ll cover it all, and tell them to proceed with the preparation as scheduled."

To outsiders, Yang Rongfa’s project appeared very risky.

Normally, it indeed would be very risky.

But he had the Performance Card.

Although he wouldn’t use it for the drama itself because of the investment amount and not wanting to work for others,

he could use it for the drama’s original soundtrack album, which could still boost the drama’s popularity. He didn’t dare to guarantee a profit, but the risk definitely wasn’t as great as imagined. Breaking even without a loss was probably not a big problem.

So, investing a bit more now meant that, if it made money later, he could get a larger share.

Not only not following the withdrawal or cutting the budget to start filming but even adding more if someone withdraws?

Shi Wu truly couldn’t understand this move, which seemed like that of a gambler who bets all their capital at the gambling table, nothing like how a serious company should operate.

But after these few days of contact, he understood that Wu Mu only needed him as a tool person in his role, so he didn’t nag any further.

He had given his professional opinion as best he could; it wasn’t his fault if Wu Mu didn’t listen.

Hmm, he thought, I should move on to another company as soon as I adapt to the transition. Otherwise, I’m afraid Wu Mu’s studio might fail under my watch and tarnish my reputation.

He didn’t want people saying that whatever Shi Wu touched turned to loss. No, it had nothing to do with him this time—he was the smart one.

Shi Wu went to assist Wu Mu with the necessary contacts and arrangements.

When Yang Rongfa heard that Wu Mu was actually willing to invest more, he almost wanted to build a shrine for him.

For the first time, he discovered that Wu Mu, as an investor, could be so admirable.

He was even more hands-off than the previous coal bosses! Not only did he not interfere with their filming, but he also readily agreed to increase the investment.

With that in mind, playing the second male lead was hardly an issue; consider it part of the generous investment deal.

The project, which had been beset with troubles from the start, continued its preparation.

And before long, it was almost time for the actual shoot to begin.

The preparations were mostly finished back when Li Hu was the investor; now, all that was needed was some adjustments.

...

A week later.

Beijing, Dongshan Film and Television City.

The entire crew of "Disappeared" gathered in front of the altar for the opening ceremony.

It was a very simple opening ceremony, with only the main creative team and staff present.

Initially, Yang Rongfa had planned to hold a grand launch event for the project, inviting all the big and small media outlets and industry friends to build momentum.

But given the reputation of their series on the internet... better not to advertise now, for fear that more publicity might turn off potential platforms from buying it.

Zhou Yu had been invited previously, and they had promoted the project highlighting a cast full of acting talents and as the first TV series directed by Wang Ren.

Now, this marketing strategy had to be changed; boasting about a cast full of actors would now likely lead to Wu Mu’s previous film dramas being used to mock them.

The opening ceremony consisted of offering incense, praying to the gods, followed by speeches from the leading team.

Yang Rongfa stepped up first, expressing his confidence in the project that, despite its challenges, had seen the light at the end of the tunnel and was now set to sail smoothly and prosper.

Next was Wang Ren.

Director Wang Ren truly lived up to his reputation as someone who could create incomprehensible art films like the ones Wu Mu completely failed to grasp, fitting perfectly into the public’s stereotype of an artist unbothered by worldly affairs.

In all these tumultuous events, he was probably the calmest person, even more so than Wu Mu.

Whether it was Li Hu being doused with wine at the meet-and-greet or later getting arrested, leading to the project’s funding being cut off, he didn’t seem to panic at all. It was as if he had no awareness that if the project failed, it would be his loss that was greater.

Throughout, Yang Rongfa had been the one anxiously handling all the external matters.

Now at the opening ceremony, Wang Ren continued his taciturn demeanour, giving a brief two-sentence speech before stepping down.

The third to take the stage was the investor, Wu Mu.

Yang Rongfa gave Wu Mu, the biggest investor, a lot of respect; as soon as he took the stage, Yang led the applause from below.

And why not? Wu Mu now owned over sixty percent of the investment share, and if he wished, he could dominant the production completely, turning the crew into his echo chamber. As long as Yang Rongfa didn’t want the project to fail further, he would probably have to hold his nose and agree to even the most unreasonable of Wu Mu’s demands.

The applause was thunderous.

But standing on the stage, Wu Mu distinctly noticed that many faces in the audience bore weird expressions.

Some even looked slightly skeptical.