I am Really a Superstar

At the filming location.

Zhang Ye was at the scene overseeing all operations.

“Action!”

“Cut! Alright, that’ll do!”

“Shanshan, well done. Your expression is spot on!”

“Beautiful, Old Yao!”

“Let’s go, we’re moving to the next location.

All of the actors were getting in the groove. Being veteran actors from yesteryear, they knew exactly what was required of them. There was no real need for Zhang Ye to make any unnecessary remarks. A hint was all they needed to make the scene work out. Furthermore, the production crew was in a very good form and it only took a short time for them to work seamlessly as a team. Even during their breaks and moving between filming locations, no one would be on their cell phones. Instead, they would be discussing their roles and the storyline for the next scene. Everyone was very serious, with a deep sense of dedication towards their love and determination for acting. This was something that wasn’t present in any of the production crews that consisted of those hot, young men.

Ning Lan said, “Old Yao, can you put on a more intense expression?”

Yao Jiancai said, “This is good enough. If I overdo it, that would make it worse.”

Shu Han said, “Teacher Yao is right. I feel that it’s enough.”

Jiang Hanwei said, “Director Zhang, I want to modify my lines for the next scene.”

Zhang Ye said, “Sure, the lines are just written for you, but it will still have to depend on how you deliver it during the shoot. There’s no need to adhere exactly the script. That would be meaningless.”

Jiang Hanwei said, “OK.”

Ning Lan asked, “Director Zhang, I’m wondering how you honed your acting skills?”

Zhang Ye said, “Haha, guess.”

Yao Jiancai said, “That’s right, Zhang’er has really changed my view of him. He’s really got such great presence in front of the camera. When we were acting opposite each other in a scene, I was nearly upstaged by him.”

Shu Han said, “Hur hur, that’s why we mustn’t take our director for a newcomer. Although Director Zhang has never acted in a TV drama before this, don’t forget about how capable he is. If he really gets serious at acting, he won’t be lacking to any of us best actors and actresses! Otherwise, would Zhang Ye still be called Zhang Ye?”

Ning Lan said, “What a good bootlicking that was.”

Shu Han laughed. “Pfft!”

Jiang Bin said, “With today’s shoot, it really felt like the old days again.”

Yao Jiancai replied, “Yeah, wasn’t this exactly how we used to act years ago when we first debuted? It’s totally unlike how the other production crews do it these days. They think that everything will be fine as long as they can get a young gun on board their productions? Can’t remember their lines? Requiring a stunt double whether they’re playing a role in an emotional drama or action movie? And they aren’t bothered by their acting standards either? What the hell!”

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Actually, there isn’t really any designated lead or supporting roles in this drama in my opinion. As long as we play our roles well, everyone can be the main lead. Every role has its own shine and can be performed well with our different styles. This is also the effect that I would like to achieve. So, please, let me request this of everyone. Whatever acting chops you have or however good you are at acting, please pour all of that effort into this drama. Once we leave this behind, there won’t be another chance like it again.”

Ning Lan said, “I’m just afraid my screen presence will oust you, making me stand out in our scenes.”

Zhang Ye said, “Alright, as the male lead, my role is actually just to serve all of you. Hur hur, but it won’t be that easy to upstage me.”

Ning Lan said, “Sure, let’s give it a try.”

Zhang Ye said, “If everything proceeds smoothly, we’ll add another two scenes after this.”

Yao Jiancai said, “I have no problems with that.”

Dong Shanshan agreed, “Sure thing.”

For some directors of a movie or drama, their production tenet would be based on the principle of “slow work means careful work.” Li Ke was an example of one who did it that way. He would repeatedly polish his projects until they were to his satisfaction. Others placed more emphasis on the actors. As long as the actors were popular enough, and as long as the actors could bring up their productions, all other requirements could be lowered. Every director had a different style of directing, and Zhang Ye was the type who focused on efficiency. He asked for both quality and speed in a production, not because he didn’t want to seek the finer details through slowing down, but because in his opinion, it would be an insult if he had to keep hammering out every detail with a group of veteran actors.

…

One day.

Two days.

Three days.

Time passed very quickly.

On the tenth day since In the Name of the People had commenced filming, many netizens were on Weibo discussing the upcoming television series that they were anticipating. It was currently a lull for television series. At the end of last year, Heavenly King Guan Zhaohua’s xianxia series had set a record high viewership rating in recent years. With no highly anticipated series since then, the people were all causing a ruckus at the shortage of series, and at the same time, anticipating the next blockbuster.

Heavens of the Gods, a xianxia series starring Li Shao, a hot, young man.

As well as a costume period drama titled Age of Kingdoms, starring Chi Hao, another hot, young man.

Both series had put in a huge publicity effort in recent times, making the people look forward to them in great anticipation.

“Li Shao’s new show is coming soon.”

“I’m so looking forward to it.”

“I like Chi Hao.”

“Chichi is the most handsome of all!”

“It looks like the viewership ratings for this year’s television series will have to depend on the two of them.”

“Yeah, last year was Guan Zhaohua’s year, so it should be our Li Shao’s year this year. I believe his ascendancy to the throne of a Heavenly King is just around the corner!”

“Get lost! The new Heavenly King will definitely be our Chi Hao!”

“Heavens of the Gods should be wrapping up filming soon, right?”

“Yeah, it’s almost done.”

“Oh yes, how is Zhang Ye’s production doing?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard no updates about it.”

“Has that anti-corruption drama already started production?”

“I didn’t see any publicity for it?”

“I suppose they just started the production then? I’m not gonna pin any hopes on a political drama. There will be all sorts of restrictions and praise lavished on the government, so it’s not likely that it will be interesting. The production is going so slowly as well. If it were Zhang Ye of yesteryear, he would not have needed to take on that sort of TV series. But look at him now. His appeal is really lacking compared to the male idols these days. And with that temper of his, how many people has he offended before? So who would possibly invest in a production of his? Therefore, the only projects he can take will be these small productions.”

“Hai, for a Heavenly King of his generation, it’s such a pity.”

“Yeah, looking at the comments and topicality of the matter, it’s clear to us how things are. No one is paying any attention at all to that In the Name of the People production of theirs.”

…

Elsewhere.

At the Central Publicity Department.

At this moment, some people were reminded of this production as well.

Although this production was headed by their Central Publicity Department, Zhang Ye’s status in the project was still too unique. He was Deputy Minister Wu’s husband, so who would dare question him? Today, when Bureau Chief Liu, who was assigned to oversee this project, found out about the news online, he called for an update from Supervisor Ke.

Bureau Chief Liu asked, “How is the production that we’ve invested in progressing so far?”

Supervisor Ke said, “I didn’t ask for details.”

However, Bureau Chief Liu didn’t get angry at him.

If it were some other director who was directing the show, even if it were the famous Director Li Ke, the Central Publicity Department would definitely be hounding him for an update every day. To check if the production has started? To see how the filming was progressing? They would definitely ask for a report every day. After all, it was their Central Publicity Department who was forking out the money, so of course they would have to supervise the project. But it was different for Zhang Ye. He was Minister Wu’s husband after all. Who would dare to call him every day for an update? If they did that, how would Minister Wu view them?

Bureau Chief Liu said, “It’s been so many days. It’s probably time to ask for an update.”

Supervisor Ke replies, “Alright then, I’ll check with them.”

Bureau Chief Liu said, “They should have started on the production, right?”

Supervisor Ke nodded, “I believe they have already started.”

Bureau Chief Liu said, “Check out what the situation is. This sum of money is not small for our department. If the higher-ups ask about it later, we should at least be able to give them an account of things. We cannot act like we don’t know anything.”

Thus, Supervisor Ke made a call to the site. He did not call Zhang Ye directly but got in contact with the production crew’s assistant director, Ha Qiqi. It was usually her who handled the external communications of their studio. Supervisor Ke also knew that Ha Qiqi was the external communications manager for Zhang Ye’s Studio, as well as a temporary agent for him.

The call connected.

Supervisor Ke said: “Director Ha.”

On the other end, Ha Qiqi said: “Supervisor Ke, hello.”

“Well, about that, how is the production crew’s preparations going?”

“We’re already all prepared.”

“Have you all commenced with the filming?”

“Commenced with the filming?”

“It’s been ten days? And the filming still hasn’t started yet?”

However, the response from the other end of the line left Supervisor Ke in shock.

“What commencement of filming are you talking about? We’ve already wrapped up the shoot!”

Supervisor Ke was stunned. “What?”

Ha Qiqi said: “We just wrapped up filming an hour ago. All of the scenes have been shot, so filming has ended. We should be returning to Beijing tomorrow. After that, we will start on the post-production work, and Director Zhang has said that he will personally oversee it. He will edit the show scene by scene, so once everything is completed, the source footage will be submitted to the SARFT for approval. And after it passes the approval of the SARFT, we will get in contact with the TV stations. Supervisor Ke, please don’t worry about the progress of the drama. When has Director Zhang ever caused any delays for the matters that he is personally overseeing?”

After hanging up, Supervisor Ke was dumbfounded.

Bureau Chief Liu looked at him. “What’s the matter?”

Supervisor Ke wiped away his sweat. “They said that they’ve—”

Bureau Chief Liu frowned. “They’ve not commenced filming yet? ”

Supervisor Ke didn’t whether to laugh or cry. “They said that they’ve already wrapped up the filming!”

Bureau Chief Liu’s jaw dropped. “What? Wrapped up? H-How many days has it been!”

Supervisor Ke was also nearly going crazy!

Writing novels!

Recording radio broadcasts!

Recording variety shows!

Writing songs!

Everyone knew what Zhang Ye’s other nickname was—the fastest draw!

Years ago, the incident in which Zhang Ye recorded several episodes of a variety show in a single day had shocked the entertainment circle!

But it was different this time!

This was a television series they were talking about!

A television series that spanned over 40 episodes in total?

But you wrapped up filming for it in just 10 days?

You filmed four episodes per day?

Wasn’t this too fucking fast!

How is this just the fastest draw! You should be fucking known as the fastest machine gun!