Chapter 64: Director Chen, A Renowned Director Should Have the Vision of a Renowned Director

For some reason, Chen Mo suddenly had a complete change of perspective regarding the great Director Chen.

He actually found him quite adorable!

Although he was a bit proud and aloof, credit where credit is due, Old Chen’s words had truly given Chen Mo a lot to think about.

"Little Chen, why don't you just let this project go to me? You are still too young, you should take your steps a bit more steadily," the poet-director suddenly said in a gentle tone.

"Director Chen, you are a master director, so naturally you aren't short of good projects. I am different; I am young, and finding good projects to begin with is no easy task. Please don't snatch this kind of project away from a youngster like me," Chen Mo refused to play along.

Old Chen was momentarily speechless.

He almost wanted to slap himself across the face. Why on earth did he say so much? Now look at this, he had fallen right into this kid's trap.

He had laid out all his thoughts, and as a result, this guy could simply take them and put them straight to use.

Still, he wasn't genuinely angry, just somewhat displeased.

"I'm telling you, kid, can't you have a little bit of public morality? Do you know anything about respecting your elders and cherishing the young? I haven't even brought up the time you tried to muscle in on my spotlight last time," Director Chen stared at him indignantly.

"Well, I didn't hold it against you for calling me a nobody either!" Chen Mo shot right back.

"Hah! At that time, did I know who you were? Weren't you just a nobody? Besides, didn't that little speech of mine give your movie a massive promotional boost?" Director Chen retorted snappily.

"That's precisely why I'm grateful to you, my respects to you, senior!" Chen Mo cupped his fists in a theatrical gesture of thanks.

"Do I need to thank you for your thanks? You really have an endless bag of tricks, kid!" Director Chen was amused in spite of himself by Chen Mo's antics.

"To be completely honest with you, Director Chen, I genuinely feel that with your status and standing, there's simply no need for you to shoot these small-scale, petty little films. Who are you? You are a master director who created *Farewell My Concubine*, a cinematic classic for the history books! You are the only domestic master director to win the Palme d'Or..." Chen Mo launched straight into flattery mode.

Of course the great poet-director wasn't a fool, but being buttered up still felt wonderful. Even though he knew the kid in front of him was as crafty as they came, listening to it was thoroughly satisfying.

Naturally, given Chen Mo's earlier attitude—not putting this master director in his eyes at all and arguing with him rationally—this sudden praise actually came across as completely sincere.

Nine-tenths of what Chen Mo said was absolute truth.

To be fair, did the great Director Chen have capability? Without a doubt, he did.

While many people criticized him for coasting for the rest of his life on the strength of a single film, *Farewell My Concubine*, that accusation was certainly overly biased.

Although he never again directed another masterpiece on par with *Farewell My Concubine*, calling all his subsequent films utter garbage without a single redeeming quality would be going much too far.

For instance, the first half of *Sacrifice* was genuinely well-made; it was only the latter half that fell a bit flat.

"If someone offers courtesies for no reason, they are either plotting evil or stealing. You suddenly start buttering me up like this, so out with it—what are you hiding up your sleeve?" Though Director Chen was floating a bit on air from the flattery, he was not so easily bamboozled.

Of course, one could tell from the expression on his face that Chen Mo's flattery had made him feel quite good.

"There's really nothing hidden, I'm just speaking the truth, Director Chen. Take Old Mou for example—you might not like hearing what I have to say, but he genuinely has a higher profile than you right now," Chen Mo said, stealing a peek at the director.

Sure enough, at the mere mention of Old Mou, Director Chen's expression twitched.

The look he shot Chen Mo turned somewhat unkind.

"Director Chen, look at yourself—you've long since had more than enough awards. Now look at Old Mou; what is the real reason he is more famous than you?" Chen Mo continued to prod him.

There was no helping it. If the great Director Chen had two fatal sore spots, the first was that old incident involving *A Bloody Case Caused by a Steamed Bun*, which had shattered his pride for the very first time.

The second was Old Mou, who used to be merely a cinematographer working under him, but had subsequently surpassed him to become the frontrunner—something that had perpetually haunted the proud poet-director ever since!

Chen Mo was deliberately twisting the knife, and upon hearing this, Director Chen nearly coughed up a mouthful of old blood.

Yet he managed to hold it in, though the gaze he fixed upon Chen Mo became razor-sharp.

"And what do you think the reason is?" Director Chen felt like devouring Chen Mo alive. This young man had seemed pretty decent earlier, but why did he have to be blessed with such a foul mouth?

He wanted to hear precisely how this younger generation of directors viewed the matter.

"The Olympic Opening Ceremony!" Chen Mo declared!

Credit where credit is due, the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games truly became Old Mou's greatest foundation of confidence.

The man was undeniably formidable!

By comparison, the great Director Chen was in an awkward spot. After all, Old Mou had crafted a breathtaking, world-conquering creative proposal; the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics had both originated from Old Mou's team, and he had not failed the people of the entire nation, treating everyone to a visual feast rich in national aesthetics and boasting superb stage effects.

As for Director Chen himself? He had merely recited a few lines of poetry. How did people think the moniker of "the poet-director" had come about in the first place?

At the mention of the Olympic opening ceremony, Director Chen's face flickered between shades of green and purple.

This was the pain he never, ever wished to bring up!

Back when they were selecting the chief director for the opening ceremony, he had also been one of the major directors in the running.

Full of high spirits at the time, he had stood before a panel of experts and recited Du Fu's poem, *Hearing the Imperial Forces Recapture Henan and Hebei*: "Beyond the borders, news suddenly comes of recapturing Ji Bei; upon first hearing, tears drench my garments. Turning to look, where is my family's sorrow? Lazily rolling up books of poetry in joyous madness." He had intended to use the poem to convey emotion and express his personal sentiments.

Yet he had been eliminated in the very first round. The reason was quite simple: the committee stated they wanted concrete, practical creative proposals, not a poet.

And that had been deeply awkward!

If one were to say when Old Mou completely pulled away from the great Director Chen and left him far behind, it truly began right from that moment!

"And then? What on earth are you trying to say?" Director Chen was on the verge of exploding.

"Director Chen, just think about it: with your status and standing, what's the point of directing some *Hamlet* or some fantasy epic? No matter how well you shoot it, can it possibly compare to the Olympic Opening Ceremony? In my view, what kind of film should you be directing above all else? It has to be a mainstream blockbuster!" Chen Mo said.

"A mainstream blockbuster?" Director Chen was momentarily struck dumb.

He froze completely in place.

"A mainstream blockbuster?"

"That's right! Just think, what are you aiming for when you make movies these days? I feel that a master director should maintain the prestige of a master director. What kind of prestige is that? A master director should shoot mega-productions—and not just any mega-productions, but ones unprecedented in history. Mainstream blockbusters are the ultimate solution!" Seeing that Director Chen was persuaded, Chen Mo pressed his advantage.

Well, truth be told, he simply felt that the truly acclaimed films Old Chen would direct in his later years in his past life were precisely those patriotic mainstream tribute films.

Such movies were projects where master directors like them possessed absolute, peerless advantages. After all, even if Chen Mo wanted to make one, he simply didn't have the qualifications!

"I suppose there's some sense to what you're saying, kid. But why do I feel like you harbor malicious intentions? Fine, out with it—what are you really plotting by saying all this? Don't tell me you're after nothing at all." Deep down, the great Director Chen actually thought Chen Mo's suggestion was exceptionally good and felt genuinely tempted. Yet upon careful reflection, he realized that through Chen Mo's crafty diversion, his thoughts of seizing the adaptation rights for the novel *Net Death* had completely faded away.

Therefore, his emotions stabilized quite a bit after a moment, and his intellect reclaimed the upper hand; he remained convinced that Chen Mo had ulterior motives.