Fishing with bait starts with small fish and shrimp. Gradually, it attracts the big fish. Veterans in the industry either have their own channels or their own profit models—anyone who survives has their own unique logic. But when more investors come along, no one turns them down.
Zhao Yun called directly: "There's a small-budget film investment. Interested? Directed by Teng Huatao. It's about a story of a heartbroken couple."
Director Teng only has a few famous films. Whether this one was the one he was thinking of, he wasn't sure, but it seemed doable—a small production aiming for big returns with minimal investment. The only pity was that most of the lead actors would later be wiped out. But that didn't affect making money now. Word had it that this small-budget film initially invested just over 10 million, but its box office was over 300 million, a huge hit at the time. After deducting promotional and distribution costs, the profit was nearly tenfold.
"Sure, where do we meet? If not, I'll come to Shanghai. I've been bored lately and want to get out and clear my head," Zhou You said, holding his phone between his cheek and shoulder while pulling up his pants with both hands.
"Alright, Director Teng happens to be here right now," Zhao Yun said, sitting directly across from Teng Huatao.
"Director Teng, I'm calling in front of you. Mr. Zhou is pretty agreeable; he'll probably come over tomorrow," Zhao Yun said. As a cameraman, he used to just follow directors around, never imagining he'd now be helping them secure projects. It was all thanks to his dear brother Zhou, who was just too generous. He invested in both documentaries and art films, but he wasn't sure about this commercial film—it carried more risk and could lose big.
"Thanks. This is a small-budget film, also my transition attempt. I've been doing TV dramas all along; now I'm testing the waters with movies," Director Teng said, his chubby face with a hint of baby fat.
"You're too kind. Who doesn't know you? 'Dwelling' made you famous nationwide—everyone's fed up with the housing struggle," Zhao Yun said sincerely. Logically, Teng shouldn't be short on investment, but as a director, he wanted to spread the risk. More channels meant more leverage, so he wouldn't be tied down by a single capital source.
Zhou You, excited, flew over directly. A bit of novelty in life was nice. This time, he planned to stay in Shanghai for a few days, check out the food and fun spots. After landing, he took the subway straight to the hotel. He skipped taxis—too much queuing and traffic. The subway was faster and let him see how the working class was doing. As for expecting Zhao Yun to pick him up, forget it—he was just another struggling worker too. For a moment, he thought about grinding a few more years to get to a level where someone would pick him up at the airport, but the idea flashed by. Soon, the car rental industry would undergo a major overhaul, making airport pickups much easier—why bother?
The subway from the airport was convenient, with fewer people taking it here, and it was way faster than a taxi. Following the signs, Zhou You, backpack on, looked like a young tourist, curious about everything. He flowed with the crowd into the subway station, saw the bustling masses, and occasionally spotted a few eye-catching women—the ratio here was definitely higher than in Luzhou. No transfers needed; he went straight to the hotel and checked in smoothly.
He called Zhao Yun: "I'm here, at Caesar Hotel. Come over."
Soon, Zhao Yun and Teng Huatao arrived. Seeing how young Zhou You was, Teng Huatao was a bit surprised. He came from a good background—his father was a director, and he'd met many people growing up. But someone with Zhou You's aura was rare. Other young people his age were either arrogant or pretending to be low-key, not like Zhou You, whose demeanor was natural, comfortable, and leisurely, giving off a very pleasant vibe.
"Hello, Mr. Zhou. I'm Teng Huatao. I met Zhao Yun a few days ago, and after chatting, he mentioned you. I was intrigued and wanted to see your style in person," Teng Huatao said, extending his hand.
Zhou You quickly stepped forward, shook Teng Huatao's hand, and said, "Director Teng's works are classics. 'Dwelling' stirred up so many young people." It was all mutual flattery—everyone lifts each other up. As for believing it? Whoever believes is a fool. It was all about profit. The higher they praised you upfront, the harder they'd tear you down later. One movie, "Shanghai Fortress," destroyed years of accumulated reputation, and investors lost everything. That's how risky the film industry was—how many coal bosses had been duped, losing their shirts? And some bosses from the southeast, after getting rich, wanted to make a few films or invest in new industries, only to be cheated. Stick with what you know; being good in one field doesn't mean you understand another. Many industry experts talk a big game, pontificating freely, not realizing how many jokes they've made. A manufacturing guy trying to advise on flying planes—ridiculous.
In big hotels, the food was about the same—not too bad, not too great. Zhou You booked a small private room, and the three of them sat down to talk, with Zhao Yun cracking jokes to keep things from getting awkward. Teng Huatao briefly outlined the script.
"This film is about a heartbroken couple. Huang Xiaoxian, a high-end wedding planner, never dreamed that her boyfriend of seven years would end up with her best friend. As a sharp-tongued, domineering woman, she can't stand it. But the world doesn't stop spinning because someone's heartbroken. While dealing with her emotional loss, she also faces work pressure. Yet, during this loveless period, she discovers things she never noticed before—like that effeminate coworker Wang Xiaojian isn't as annoying as she thought, the logic behind a diamond bachelor marrying a Henan-accented Hong Kong-Taiwanese woman, and the secret to a golden wedding anniversary."
"You know I'm good at urban dramas. This is my transition into film, so I'm being cautious. I chose a small-budget urban film—no special effects, no fights, no car chases—so costs are low. The cast are actors I've worked with before, all quite skilled, plus some veteran actors like Wen Zhang and Zhang Jiayi. The overall lineup is strong. We're planning to release it around Singles' Day this year, to ride that wave. The shooting schedule is short, and the leads' schedules are aligned. There were other investors, but they wanted lead roles. Since this is my first film, I'm very careful. After hearing your investment philosophy, I fully agree."
Zhou You sat there listening. How could he not agree? An investor who only puts in money and doesn't meddle—where else could you find that? If he weren't confident, he wouldn't dare invest like this.