wavenovel Chapter 67 Do you want to hear what you're saying?
Chapter 67 Do you want to hear what you're saying?
"Okay...it was my fault. I remember now, it seems like today...the opening day box office results are due, right? You just got back from the film company? Or...are you asking me to come along?"
Jiang Youzhen grabbed his short-sleeved shirt from the sofa and put it on, but as soon as he finished speaking, he heard Tony's suddenly excited voice.
"Anders, of course I'm back from the film company. The opening day box office was very successful, especially considering it's a horror film. It was even more successful than expected, with nearly three million in North America. If you include Mexico, it would have exceeded that amount."
"You did it! Anders, the film company sent me to tell you that you absolutely must continue to work with Columbia Pictures on the second film."
Tony happily opened his arms and hugged Kang Woo-jin, so hard that Kang Woo-jin almost spat out the water he had just drunk.
Fortunately, he was able to control himself. Jiang Youzhen felt himself becoming more sober. He told Tony to rest in the living room while he went to wash up and get ready.
The apartment was quiet. Tony looked around and couldn't help but ask, "Anders, do you live with Mads? This apartment is unbelievably clean. Did you find a girlfriend to move in with?"
"Huh? Don't joke around, Tony. This apartment is clean because I clean it. Besides, who would live with their dad and have their live-in girlfriend with them?"
A surprised reaction came from the bathroom. Tony looked at the group photo hanging on the wall and smiled slightly. "Is that your family photo? I remember ten years ago in London, Mads introduced Ms. Jiang to a few of our old friends."
"Ten years ago? That must have been when I wasn't on vacation, otherwise I would have been there too."
Kang Woo-jin picked up his toothbrush, poked his head out of the bathroom, hesitated for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Tony, if I said I want to find an agent, do you have any recommendations? Ideally, this agent would be able to help me with some miscellaneous tasks on set."
Hearing this, Tony was slightly taken aback. After realizing what he meant, he pointed to himself and said with a smile, "Are you inviting me to be your agent?"
"Hmm~"
"OK, if you can offer a decent salary, I think I wouldn't mind."
The assistant director's salary wasn't much, but with an agent, Tony felt that the pressure of his mortgage and health insurance wouldn't be so great.
However, regarding the salary, Jiang Youzhen couldn't offer a fixed amount. His agent had a contract with him, based on a profit-sharing arrangement. Of course, he was confident in himself.
After discussing the opening day's box office figures, their conversation quickly shifted to the second film. Kang Woo-jin didn't think that he could just write something casually and the film company would happily continue to work with him.
If you can't produce any good work, nobody cares about your life or death. All your words are empty promises; only solid contracts and profits matter.
The contract between the two was signed quickly. Jiang Youzhen called Mads Wu and, after determining the market price for a new director's agent, added a few more percentage points to Tony's price.
Starting tomorrow, he will have one more reliable agent.
Tony was still a little nervous. He had been an assistant director for so many years, but this was his first time being an agent. But... everyone has a first time. He would have to pay more attention to things related to Kang Woo-jin from now on.
Now that he had an agent, Kang Woo-jin became even less inclined to go out. He contacted the producer and told him that he could discuss the film's future with Tony, as he needed time to write new material.
The producer asked a question: he wanted to know what the subject matter of this new director's next film would be. After receiving an affirmative answer, he sounded much more satisfied.
For a new director to succeed, it's unlikely they can rely on just one film. They need to build a solid foundation and release at least two more successful films to prove that their success is not accidental. This will attract big-name actors and encourage film companies to invest more.
The film's respectable opening day box office results allowed the production company to allocate some additional marketing funds.
Jiang Youzhen handed all the money over to Tony to handle, and then he continued his stay-at-home activities. He was planning to shoot another movie in the second half of the year, striking while the iron was hot, and hopefully in time for Christmas.
Watching a horror movie together as a family adds a touch of chill to this winter—how wonderful!
Jiang Youzhen has his own plans for the future. He likes to take things one step at a time, and the feeling of being down-to-earth gives him confidence at all times.
After that day, he stayed in his room for a week. When the first week's box office figures came out, Tony rushed to the apartment again.
With an excited smile, Tony told Kang Woo-jin that the North American box office had reached nine million in its opening week, with the first three days showing the most impressive figures, rising day by day before declining on the fourth day. Many people went to see it a second time.
Perhaps the reason is to clarify the cyclical nature of the movie, and given the relatively low ticket price, some people are willing to watch it a second time.
The movie received good reviews, partly due to the small gifts. Of course, some people complained, but such voices were very few.
Kang Woo-jin rested his head on one hand, watching Tony ramble on about how well the movie did at the box office and how good the reviews were. But all the good news was limited to horror movies. After talking for nearly ten minutes, Tony finally stopped and handed Kang Woo-jin some business cards.
"These are mostly media outlets and film critics, and of course, some small and medium-sized film companies. The numbers written on these sticky notes are those of third-rate stars and new actors."
Some of the names on these business cards were familiar, while others were unfamiliar. Kang Woo-jin already had the contact information for many new actors, so these weren't a problem for him.
"I know you don't like those parties, so you've made excuses to decline some of the invitations."
"Thanks, Tony. Oh, and one more thing, could you buy me two HDV camcorders? I want to do an experiment."
An experiment? Does it require a camera?
Tony had some guesses in mind and asked, "Is it related to the new project? Like 'The Blair Witch Project'?"
"Well, I wanted to write a mockumentary when I was in college, and my mom has experience in this area, so she told me to film a short clip myself to see how it goes."
Jiang Youzhen nodded in agreement, pointed to his computer, and said with a smile, "It's almost ready. At the earliest, we can start preparing next week."
"This is great news. Once you've got it all sorted out, be sure to contact me as soon as possible." Tony was pleasantly surprised. The mockumentary style of filmmaking is low-cost and doesn't require many actors, but setting up the set is troublesome.
Even with a low budget, he already has a film that has received good reviews and performed well at the box office, so he is naturally looking forward to Kang Woo-jin's next work continuing to shine.
While Tony went to buy a camera, Jiang Youzhen took out his phone and checked the time. He calculated when the movie would be released in China.
Not long after, compared to North America and Australia, other countries were only a month apart.
Just as he was wondering whether to send the burned movie disc to Kim Tae-yeon, his phone rang.
Looking down, I saw it was an unfamiliar number; but upon reading the message, I realized the sender was a familiar face.
"Tiffany?"
Jiang Youzhen had given his number to those girls, but they never contacted him afterward, so he gradually forgot about it.
The text message from Tiffany was very simple. She included the names of all the girls in the practice room, followed by a string of well wishes for the box office success.
The main point is to spend one person's roaming fee, but all the good wishes are delivered.
I checked the time in China, it seems to be morning?
.
"Taeyeon, get up now!"
After sending the text message, Tiffany returned to her room and saw Kim Tae-yeon still lying in bed, struggling not to get up. Frustrated, she deliberately raised her voice and shouted.
"Um... wait for me... five minutes, just five minutes..."
Kim Tae-yeon felt her cochlea vibrating. She silently took a pillow and covered both ears, leaving only five minutes before falling asleep again.
Tiffany stared at the scene in bewilderment and shock, exclaiming, "At your age, how dare you sleep in? Get up right now!"
...
Hearing the sound, Kim Tae-yeon reluctantly curled up, until Im Yoon-ah, who couldn't wait outside, rushed in, ruthlessly pulled off the blankets on the bed, and shouted "Get up!" while patting her thighs.
Seeing this, Tiffany couldn't help but take a few steps back. She glanced at the time and saw that Kim Tae-yeon had already forced the camera to turn on, so she had no choice but to walk over again and pull her towards the bathroom.
"Ugh, I don't know what's so great about sleeping. I'd better hurry up and wash up."
Kim Tae-yeon sighed; she almost tripped and fell on the spot after hearing those words.
"Do you want to listen to what you're saying, Tiffany... Also, who hit me just now? I was too sleepy, I didn't even see who it was."
Tiffany pursed her lips. She would never betray Yoona; she should thank that girl for her help.
Even if she did mention Yoona's name, the two of them would probably be wiped out by Yoona!