Apparently, there is a new definition of creative control.  Pay for the entire television series, cast yourself as the leading lady, personally select your leading man and then insist on more than 60 kissing scenes.

Yes. Sixty.

A recent Chinese short-drama production reportedly became so kiss-heavy that the director and crew warned the investor that the romance was beginning to interfere with, you know, the actual story. More than 20 intimate scenes were ultimately cut, reportedly leaving the plot looking like someone had taken a pair of scissors to it.

But the part that bothers me isn’t just the kissing. Although  that did cross boundaries and should have been addressed.

It’s the power.

When one person controls the money, the casting, the script and potentially whether the entire production continues, how much freedom does anyone else really have to say, “No, this isn’t okay”?

And where was the protection for the actor?

The young actor, Zhong Yufei, has alleged that his boundaries were crossed during intimate scenes. The production team has since said it intends to establish clearer protections for actors and responsibilities in future contracts.

Because money can buy a lot of things.

It can buy a production.

It can buy creative control.

Apparently, it can even buy 60 kissing scenes.

But it shouldn’t buy someone’s ability to say no.

And this is where art gets into trouble. When the person holding the checkbook becomes the person making every creative decision, the question can quietly shift from “Is this good?” to “Can anyone afford to tell me it’s bad?”

That’s not artistic freedom.

That’s artistic capitalism with tongue.

And unfortunately, this isn’t exactly a new phenomenon.

We’ve always had people with money who believe that because they paid for the table, they also get to decide what’s served, how it’s cooked and whether everyone has to eat it.

Maybe the real lesson here is that every production needs something money can’t provide.

Someone in the room who has the power to say, “Absolutely not.”

Even if the person writing the check doesn’t like it.

Especially then.