diymy I want Chapter 28, 5000
I want Chapter 28, 5000
In 2000, the film and television production process was extremely crude.
In order to save costs, sitcoms like "Internet Addict's Diary" rely heavily on the director and actors' improvisation on set for their jokes and dialogue.
The so-called script is just a reference point.
It looked one way before filming started, but another way after editing. This was perfectly normal at the time.
This is why Ji Tao showed little interest in Zhang Hua's "screenwriter recommendation".
"What good stuff can a student in a refresher course possibly write?"
In a small meeting room in the Performance and Guidance Building of Beijing Film Academy, five men and one woman sat around a table.
A middle-aged man, of medium height and slightly overweight, wearing a white T-shirt, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, looking annoyed.
As the deputy to Bian Xiaojun, the general manager of Asia Pacific Audio-Visual, he was responsible for overseeing the early preparations of the entire "Internet Addict's Diary" project.
Sina's studio has not yet been finalized; writer Wang Shuo's schedule needs to be adjusted; the publicity budget figures don't match...
With a mountain of things to do, Ji Tao really wasn't in the mood to come to the Beijing Film Academy to listen to a kid talk about scripts.
There's nothing we can do about it.
Most of the outstanding directors in mainland China come from the Beijing Film Academy, and Zhang Hua is a well-known mentor at the school, having mentored Huang Lei, Jiang Wu, Wang Zhiwen, Jiang Wenli, and many other prominent figures in the industry.
Even if he doesn't care about the monk, he has to come for the sake of the Buddha. For the sake of future cooperation, he has to come this time.
"Teacher Zhang Hua is not one to boast."
At the middle of the conference table, Lü Xiaopin reassured:
"Perhaps there really is a surprise."
Ji Tao scoffed, then pulled out another cigarette. The flame of the lighter licked the cigarette butt, flickering for a moment.
"surprise?"
He flicked his cigarette ash, his tone nonchalant:
"How many manuscripts have been submitted by the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, and Shanghai Theatre Academy over the years? They're all just good at talking."
Lü Xiaopin, a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama: "..."
Lin Cong, also a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, glanced at Ji Tao and said indifferently:
"Let's wait until we've read the script before we say anything."
Ji Tao choked for a moment, instinctively wanting to retort, but remembering the other person's identity, he held back.
The atmosphere in the room became subtle.
Screenwriter Yu Baimei, sitting in the corner, smiled and tried to smooth things over:
"President Ji is also worried about the project's progress, after all, the start date is getting closer every day."
Another screenwriter, Wang Shaoxiong, also said:
"Yes, the progress of this project needs to be updated online in real time, so we definitely need to be careful."
They, along with the last screenwriter Ning Caishen, were the core screenwriters of "Internet Addict's Diary".
However, even though it's called the "core," it was actually something they were forced into.
Ji Tao curled his lip in disdain.
To be honest, he wasn't very satisfied with these three screenwriters either.
If it weren't for Director Ye Daying personally selecting them, Ji Tao would never have let these three people sit at the table.
Thinking about this, his resentment towards Zhang Hua deepened even further.
"Taking advantage of their age, forcing people in here..." Ji Tao thought to himself, a long ash burning out of the cigarette in his hand, teetering on the verge of falling.
At that moment, the door was pushed open.
Zhang Hua walked in, his steps neither hurried nor slow.
Several people around the conference table subconsciously stood up, their movements uneven.
"Teacher Zhang."
"Teacher Zhang is here."
Zhang Hua waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for formalities, and glanced around the room.
Seeing that Ye Daying and Yingda were not there, he knew what was going on. He remained calm and turned to wave towards the door.
"Come in."
The corridor outside the door was quiet for a moment.
Then came a series of light footsteps.
Lin An walked in.
He was wearing a plain black short-sleeved shirt, jeans, and sneakers.
Ji Tao looked him up and down, his gaze scrutinizing him, before quickly looking away.
He was younger than he had imagined.
He was calmer than I had imagined.
This composure made him somewhat uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, when Lin An walked into the conference room, the first thing he saw was this middle-aged, overweight man in a white T-shirt, and he also felt uncomfortable.
The other person's gaze was clearly scrutinizing and impatient; he looked like the kind of guy who would haggle over a few cents at the market.
Lin An's expression remained unchanged, but he had already labeled this person in his mind:
—A troublemaker.
"Teacher Zhang."
He nodded to Zhang Hua, his gaze sweeping over the faces on the long table.
I know Lü Xiaopin.
Lin Cong, I know him.
I don't recognize the remaining three, but they look quite scholarly, so they're probably screenwriters. Hmm, one of them looks familiar; I think I saw him at the audition.
Lü Xiaopin smiled at him and pointed to an empty seat at the end of the long table:
"Sit here."
Lin An didn't stand on ceremony, pulled out a chair and sat down, placing his schoolbag beside his feet.
Ji Tao made no attempt at small talk, stubbed out his cigarette, leaned back, and said in a flat tone:
"Teacher Zhang said you have a script, so take it out."
That's a direct, even somewhat impolite, statement.
Zhang Hua frowned slightly, and Lin Cong also seemed a little irritated.
Lin An didn't react much. He pulled a stack of manuscript papers from his bag, but instead of handing it over, he shook it in his hand.
"It's not a complete script, just the general framework and some dialogue for one episode."
Ji Tao frowned: "Why is it incomplete?"
Lin An said, "I'm afraid you'll take it and run."
Yu Baimei and Wang Shaoxiong exchanged glances, clearly not expecting a young man to dare to say such a thing.
Ning Caishen raised his head and looked at Lin An with interest.
Ji Tao took a deep breath, as if suppressing some kind of emotion that was about to erupt.
"What do you mean?"
"Literal meaning."
Lin An placed the manuscript on the table, pressed it down with his palm, and said slowly:
"I'm just a nobody with no influence or connections. What if someone takes a liking to my script and just takes it? Who can I complain to then?"
He wasn't worried about offending anyone by saying this. Before he came, Zhang Hua had hinted to him that he must do everything he could to fight for his interests, and be tough when necessary, while also promising to cover any potential losses.
Lin An didn't think a professor from Beijing Film Academy would lie to him for no reason. Even if something really went wrong, he could just find another opportunity.
Blind Shaft is much better than this.
Ji Tao was so angry that his face turned pale, and he got up to leave.
Lü Xiaopin spoke up at the right time, in a gentle tone:
"Lin An, Mr. Ji is the representative of Asia Pacific Audio-Visual and the investor in this project. He still has basic professional ethics."
"That's good."
Lin An readily agreed and pushed the manuscript forward:
"Although it's incomplete, it still takes up a third of the entire episode. Teachers can take a look and see if the style suits you."
Ji Tao's face was gloomy, and he didn't move.
Lü Xiaopin reached out first, took the manuscript paper, and quickly browsed through it.
Lin Cong leaned closer, and the two looked at each other side by side.
The only sound in the meeting room was the rustling of papers turning.
Yu Baimei, Wang Shaoxiong, and Ning Caishen exchanged glances and then joined in.
Ji Tao remained seated, arms crossed, face grim, showing no desire to read the script.
He has no expectations for this so-called "potential newcomer" now.
Not only did he have no expectations, but he also secretly vowed that he would do everything in his power to splash dirty water when he got back.
We must ruin this kid's reputation!
Make sure he can never get ahead in the industry!
Just as Ji Tao was racking his brains about how to fabricate Lin An's story, the people sitting around the script exclaimed in surprise.
"Whoa—!"
The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear.
Then came a complaint, clearly expressing dissatisfaction:
"Take your time, I haven't finished reading yet."
Ji Tao recognized Ning Caishen's voice, and a slow, cold smile spread across his lips.
Country bumpkin.
What good stuff can a student in a refresher course write?
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest, his mind already starting to conceive how he would "objectively evaluate" the article when he got back to the company.
"Lack of professional training, and disorganized format."
"The jokes are vulgar and not suitable for broadcast on satellite TV."
"The character development is weak and does not match the overall style of 'Internet Addict's Diary'."
The wording should be strong, but not too obvious.
It would be best to also hint at the "suspicion of connections," so that Zhang Hua would not dare to casually send people to the film crew in the future.
Killing two birds with one stone.
Ji Tao's smile widened even further.
Then, there was another gasp—louder than before, as if someone had been suddenly struck by something, and even their breath caught in their throat.
It's Lü Xiaopin.
Ji Tao frowned and glanced sideways.
Lu Xiaopin sat in the middle of the conference table, leaning slightly forward, one hand supporting himself on the table, the other hand gripping the edge of the manuscript paper, his knuckles turning white from the force.
His eyes were fixed on the paper, motionless, as if nailed there.
What's going on?
Ji Tao couldn't help but peek out, trying to read something from Lü Xiaopin's expression.
His face was expressionless, but his eyes were filled with longing and excitement.
Ji Tao felt inexplicably irritated and was about to say something.
Lin Cong suddenly pulled his hand away, snatched the stack of manuscripts from everyone's hands, and then slammed it shut on the table with a "snap".
"Why--!"
"I haven't finished watching it yet!"
Yu Baimei and Wang Shaoxiong spoke at the same time, their tone clearly urgent.
Ning Caishen didn't speak, but his body had already left the back of the chair, his neck stretched forward, his eyes still following the stack of manuscripts that had been pulled away, full of reluctance.
Lin Cong ignored them.
She raised her head and looked directly at Lin An:
"I'll take your script."
The meeting room fell silent for a moment.
"Five thousand!"