The Best Director

Was she unhappy that her ideas were always altered by Wang Yang? She shook her head, even though the man was 14 years younger than her, his skills were beyond question, and his understanding and grasp of the film were far superior to hers. During the time they had worked together, she often marveled, “No wonder they call him ‘Magic Yang’!” She wasn’t so much resentful; maybe her ideas were somewhat lacking, but it was just that she wanted it that way…

Or was she dissatisfied with herself for not doing well enough? The more she thought about it, the more Annie Fletcher’s head ached. She wasn’t some young girl fresh out of school, and with this outburst, Magic Yang might start to act cold towards her, which could complicate their future work…

“Director, may I sit down?” Hearing this gentle voice, she opened her eyes to see a smiling Annie Darren standing in front of her. She returned the smile and said to the girl who shared her namesake, “Of course, please sit, Annie.” Over the past few months, they had bonded over learning street dance and discussing the script in private, becoming good friends.

Annie Darren sat down on the chair beside her and could naturally tell Fletcher was troubled. She patted the director’s shoulder with a smile and comforted, “It’s okay, I know you two will understand each other.” Fletcher wiped her golden hair and frowned, “I really don’t know what came over me, I just couldn’t control myself, it was so embarrassing…” Annie reassured, “Director, I don’t think Yang will mind. You don’t need to worry about it. Yang is a good guy, right?”

Thinking of the help he had given her over the years, both in life and in her acting career, Annie felt a warmth in her heart and laughed, “He can be said to be the best of all the people I know, haha! I mean, in terms of guys.” Although Fletcher still felt somewhat stifled, she couldn’t help but smile back and wink at her. Annie continued with a smile, “Anyway, he’s a very kind person, very willing to help his friends. Annie, I think he really just wanted to help you and wanted ‘Sweetheart’ to be better.”

I know, I know that.” Annie Fletcher nodded silently, reflecting on the recent scene, “Actually, Yang was right, that scene should indeed be done like that, especially with Jessica’s tone getting rougher, it would’ve been much funnier…

Annie Darren gave a slight smile, she too believed that by following Yang’s directions, she would perform better, but the issue at hand wasn’t about that. She patted Fletcher’s shoulder again and said, “Forget about that scene for now, you need to understand why you reacted like that and then face it, deal with it.”

Right, I just…” Annie Fletcher frowned in thought for a while. When she initially received Magic Yang’s invitation call, she was incredulous at first, then jumped for joy. During the following months, she spent all her time revolving around ‘Sweetheart’, storyboarding, understanding the characters, choreographing the dances, and relearning some directorial knowledge…

She took a deep breath, certain of something in her heart, and said softly, “I’ve always wanted to be a good director.” But these past few days on set, Wang Yang always managed to make her shots and the actors’ performances better, which was a good thing. But was it him directing, or her? She felt like a puppet, with her confidence and momentum gradually slipping away. At times, she even felt she didn’t belong on set.

“You are a good director,” Annie said, noticing some of the reasons and continued, “You’re under too much pressure. We all want to do well, but don’t put so much pressure on yourself!” She smiled and said, “Remember what you told me during the audition? ‘Relax, Annie girl! You won’t be as nervous as I am, it’s my first time playing a major supporting role, a very, very important character, you won’t be as nervous as me…'”

She looked up slightly, lost in memory, and said, “I came to Los Angeles when I was 18, and now at 23, after hundreds of movie auditions, working as a waitress, performing in small theater productions, and some mall performances…” As she spoke, she smiled brightly, turned to Fletcher, and said, “Now that I can be here, I’m really happy and content. But the strange thing is, I’m not nervous anymore. My friends all say, ‘You’re going to be a big star’, ‘You’re going to make it this time’, ‘Perform well!’ No, I don’t want to think about that all the time. It’s not easy to get this role, and right now, I just want to enjoy her, enjoy the process.”

Annie Fletcher nodded, vaguely understanding some things. She ought to enjoy this directing opportunity, instead of behaving like a middle-aged complainer… Looking at the 23-year-old girl beside her, she couldn’t help but smile, gave Annie a nudge, and said with a laugh, “Thank you, Annie girl!” Annie Darren laughed and replied, “Don’t mention it, I hope I can help.”

The two of them chatted for a while, and then saw Wang Yang walking over with a smile, obviously about the earlier incident. Annie Darren gave him a smile and stood up to walk away. Wang Yang pulled over a chair and sat down, saying to Fletcher with a smile, “Annie, I think we need to talk.”

“Yang, I’m sorry about what happened just now, you were right, and I was being unreasonable,” Annie Fletcher began with an apologetic face, then spread her hands with a smile and said, “This is my first time directing, I’m so nervous…”

“No, no, no!” Wang Yang interrupted, as he could see she was being polite but what he wanted was open communication. He said sincerely, “Annie, let’s speak frankly. I don’t want this to cause any friction between us, which would be terrible for everyone involved with ‘Sweetheart.'” He chuckled and snapped his fingers several times, “Please, let’s be young this time! No beating around the bush. You’re dealing with a 21-year-old kid, you know? OK, you’re 21 now too.”

Annie Fletcher let out a joyous “Wow,” saying, “21 years old? Wow, that’s so delightful!” They both laughed for a while, and she felt much more relaxed in her heart, also feeling his warmth and sincerity. Annie was right, he was a good person.

Let me start.” Wang Yang looked at her earnestly and said, “This is my first time as a producer, and you know I lack experience in this area. I think I’ve made some mistakes, got a bit too involved, and interrupted you, sorry.”

Annie Fletcher thought for a moment and shared some of her thoughts as well, “I don’t have as big of a problem with it as you think… it’s just that sometimes, I want to stick to my ideas, but most often, yours are better.” She shrugged and added, “I’m troubled whether I’m really suitable for holding that microphone and sitting in this chair.” As she spoke, she patted the director’s chair she was sitting on.

It seemed that his interference had already affected her confidence and passion… Remembering Jessica’s words, Wang Yang quickly praised her, “Annie, your ideas are all fantastic, and my suggestions are based on them. Actually, my suggestions may not even be better; they are just a different approach. Trust me, you are definitely suited to sit in this chair!” Looking at Fletcher’s smiling face, he also laughed, “But you need to relax, Annie, relax!”

“OK! I will enjoy it,” Annie Fletcher said with a laugh, nodding her head. Wang Yang asked doubtfully, “So there are no issues now?” Annie Fletcher shook her head with a smile and said, “Why would there be? Were there any just now?”

In the laughter of the two, the small tempest of a conflict between the producer and the director was resolved. However, Wang Yang knew that it wasn’t the end—not things to be resolved by talking and communicating but by doing. He had to hand the film set back over to Director Annie Fletcher, to rebuild her confidence and passion, to establish her own system, commanding “Sweetheart” to move forward.

He realized the biggest mistake he had made was constantly imposing his own methods on her, forcing her to change and comply, which was obviously very frustrating and irritating for a director; what he should have done was tell her the basic tone of style, then let her create freely, and help her dig out her own methods, constantly improving.

A bad producer only cares about themselves; a good producer stands behind the director, in the director’s camp, to consider and develop, making every effort to let the director feel “that was my idea, but it’s gotten better,” not “that’s his better idea.”

“CUT!” With a shout from Annie Fletcher, the production crew stopped immediately, and actors like Jessica, Annie, and Joseph all halted their performance. Fletcher looked at them, frowning, then said, “Jessie, you can, can…” She thought for a moment, then suddenly raised her fist with a smile, “When you roar, you can be more wild and fierce! The cute kind, that would be more interesting…”

Wang Yang, standing to the side with his arms crossed, didn’t speak, just nodded in agreement. They had been shooting better and smoother these days, and he had rarely given his opinion on set, just sometimes a reminder. Seeing Annie Fletcher now, full of confidence and vigor, he couldn’t help but smile as he overheard Jessica saying, “Okay, I got it.” Then the clapboard came down, and Fletcher shouted, “Action!”

As Jessica and the others began to perform again, Wang Yang watched for a while, smiled, and gave a thumbs up to Jessica, who glanced over at him. Then he walked away toward the restroom. After walking a distance, he faintly heard Annie Fletcher’s voice, “CUT, that was very good!”

After relieving the pressure on his bladder in the restroom, and while washing his hands, he saw Joshua walk in looking downcast. Wang Yang asked with a smile, “Bro, what’s up?” As soon as Joshua saw him, he let out a long sigh with a face full of sorrow and sadness, saying, “I just got rejected.”

“What? You mean you just confessed to someone?” As Wang Yang walked over and put his arm around Joshua’s shoulder, heading outside the restroom, he asked, “Scarlett?” Joshua just sighed again, and Wang Yang laughed, “You didn’t really use Tom’s proposal vows, did you? If so, I’m sorry, but you deserve to be rejected.”

II

How could I be that stupid?” Joshua still looked listless, heaving a sigh, “I just asked her ‘Interested in getting dinner?’ and she said ’NO¹…” He gritted his teeth, a bit indignant, “A date! Just a date, and she wouldn’t even give it a try with me! She said ‘You’re not my type,’ please, what type is that? Merciful Lord, Blessed Virgin Mary, why do you treat me so! Just take me to heaven!”

Wang Yang punched him in the chest and comforted him, “Josh, you know there’s a whole forest out there. With your speed, you’ll find another confession target in a few days, right? How about we hit the bars tonight and chat up some hotties?” Frowning, Joshua said, “But I was serious this time! Man, I’m tired, I want a long, sweet romance too! Why can’t I have it?”

“That doesn’t sound like your style?” Wang Yang looked at him curiously, and Joshua shrugged, “Actually, this is the real me, a romantic, persistent, charming young man.” Wang Yang burst out laughing and patted his shoulder, saying no more. As they walked a bit further, Joshua suddenly sighed mournfully, “So, which bar are we going to tonight? Wait a minute…”

He blinked, paused and thought aloud, “Something’s wrong, I was definitely going to the restroom to pee! Oh my gosh, no wonder I was so uncomfortable!” Watching him turn around and hurry back, Wang Yang whistled at him with a laugh.

In the dimly lit bar where the sweet country music was swirling around, Joshua looked across the table where Wang Yang and Jessica sat snuggled up together, chatting and laughing intimately, and he wailed, “What on earth is happening? Dude, why did you bring her along?” Wang Yang took a sip of beer and asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t need to worry about us.” Joshua glared at him, exclaiming in astonishment, “HELLO!”

He pointed at Jessica with her drink and then back at himself, complaining, “Don’t you realize I am a handsome guy; your girlfriend is a beautiful woman? With her sitting there, what other hottie is going to hit on us?”

“Haha!” Jessica immediately laughed, quite smugly saying, “You got it half right, I am a hottie, but you’re not a handsome guy.” Wang Yang smiled, took her hand, and stood up, “Then let’s go dance and not get in your way.” With that, the two of them headed toward the dance floor.

Joshua slumped down in defeat, his head thudding on the table with a thump, and he said dejectedly, “But I need the Brilliant Yang signboard!” (To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please visit