Chapter 183 Li Gui's Bewilderment

Starlight Films.

Several days have passed since filming wrapped up, so Yang Kai has been sleeping particularly well these past two days.

It's often said that the best sleep comes after a long day, and it's true.

With only a few days left before the film's release, Yang Kai decided to spend more time in the evening glow area.

Until this morning.

Yang Kai received another call from Li Gui.

The last time Brother Li called me was when he was filming The Truman Show.

I was just too busy at the time.

"Brother Li."

The voice on the other end of the phone said, "Judging from your voice, are you still not up?"

Yang Kai: "Ready, Brother Li, is there anything you need to tell me?"

Li Gui: "I heard that Li Zhaoyang's movie has finished filming. Are you free now?"

Yang Kai: "Yeah, these past two days have been pretty quiet."

Li Gui: "Okay, come to the company, and then report to the film crew."

Yang Kai: "Is the company making a new movie again?"

Li Gui: "It's the movie that Director Qin was filming before. It hasn't even finished filming yet, and there have been some problems."

Yang Kai: "What's wrong now?"

Li Gui: "An important supporting actor changed his mind and left the crew halfway through, so our film will not be able to meet the release schedule before the end of the year. You need to come to the crew to help out as soon as possible."

Yang Kai: "Another crow?"

Li Gui: "Yes, if it were just other supporting roles, it would be fine, but it's the most important second female lead. Han Ya paid the breach of contract penalty and paid such a high price because we didn't want them to be released before the end of the year."

Yang Kai: "I saw the news online. The release date for The Crow is set for the end of the month, which is four days from now. They avoided the year-end release period, so they shouldn't be targeting us anymore."

The reason we've been focusing on Starlight Films is because everyone is aiming for the New Year's season at the end of the year.

Now that Jackdaws is scheduled for release at the end of October, they're still causing trouble.

That leaves only one possibility: the Raven has recently launched many film projects.

Yang Kai then brought up the fact that Director Li had previously ruined many filming locations for Sihai...

It's estimated that the Raven Group wants to make the most of those filming locations in the shortest amount of time.

Therefore, the movie "The Raven" should be released before the end of the year.

Starlight Pictures is an unavoidable competitor whenever a new movie is released at the end of the year.

After thinking it through, Yang Kai said, "Okay, I'll be at the company in half an hour."

After Yang Kai arrived at the company, he went straight to Li Gui's office.

Knock on the door and go in.

Then I saw Brother Li with a worried look on his face.

Speaking of which, Brother Li has been quite tired lately, worrying about this and that.

First, there was the issue of casting for the movie, which had just been resolved when Jack the Crow interfered.

After the actors resolved their issues and filming officially began, another important supporting actor breached the contract.

At this moment, Li Gui looked as if she had aged several years, with increasingly prominent wrinkles on her face.

"Brother Li."

Yang Kai took the initiative to come in and pour tea for Li Gui. He looked at the man who had brought him into the industry and was now his mentor in the film and television circle, but now he had become like this.

"Sigh..." Li Gui sighed heavily and said, "Go to the film crew this afternoon to hand over your work. With your help, Director Qin will have a much easier time."

Yang Kai: "What about the second female lead?"

Li Gui: "I discussed it with Director Qin and we decided to choose a suitable actress and use AI to swap her face in post-production, but this is a last resort."

Yang Kai: "How about we film the other scenes first?"

Li Gui: "No, she's playing an important role. If we go around her, several plot points won't be able to develop... The board of directors has declared that this film must be nominated for this year's Golden Horse Awards."

Even if I can't be nominated for the Golden Horse Awards, I should at least be nominated.

For a film and television company, an annual awards ceremony is an opportunity to either not be nominated or not be shortlisted.

If it doesn't get nominated, then this year's film was made for nothing.

If it weren't for this incident, Li Gui wouldn't have thought of using AI face swapping. Now it's urgent, and the arrow has to be released.

At first, Yang Kai didn't think much of what he was hearing, but after a moment of thought, he suddenly said, "Brother Li, why don't we stop filming for now and postpone the New Year's release for Starlight Films until next year? This way, we'll have more time and the pressure will be greatly reduced."

Li Gui glared at him fiercely: "At this critical moment, I'm not in the mood for jokes."

Yang Kai said directly, "No, Li Gui, the nomination rules for the awards ceremony are that as long as our name is listed in the director, assistant director, or lead actor columns, we at Starlight are considered nominated."

Li Gui didn't understand what he meant and said, "Hurry up and report to the film crew."

Yang Kai explained: "Brother Li, I can't guarantee 100% that Director Li's film will be nominated, but I can say 200% that it will be shortlisted."

Li Gui was about to drink her tea when she almost choked: "Which Director Li?"

"Director Li Zhaoyang!"

Li Gui: "???"

After a two-second pause, he asked, "Didn't Teacher Li Zhaoyang just start his career in the film and television industry?"

Yang Kai: "Yes, it's his first film, and his imagination is really wild. It's definitely going to be nominated. If it's just because of the nomination, then our film can be put off until next year."

Li Gui squinted, unable to detect even a trace of a joke on Yang Kai's face.

"I dare not say more, but Brother Li, you know me. I never joke. I am absolutely not exaggerating when I say I've been nominated." Due to the confidentiality agreement, Yang Kai would not reveal anything casually. He then said, "It will be released in a couple of days. Brother Li, I will invite you to see it. Just you wait and see."

"Alright, Brother Li, let me give you a massage."

Yang Kai was about to start massaging Li Gui's shoulders to ease his worries.

Li Gui was taken aback by the kid's boldness, but still replied seriously, "Alright, but the production crew can't shut down filming. You'd better go there this afternoon."

Yang Kai: "Okay."

In short, in a couple of days, the top executives of Starlight's board of directors will be amazed by that movie.

Including Brother Li.

Yang Kai is already looking forward to the premiere.