Chapter 325 "The Beneficiary"
"You haven't seen me for so many years, and you suddenly come to me in the middle of the night. You are not here to listen to my complaints, are you?"
"Isn't this the tenth anniversary of our high school graduation? We discussed in the group and decided to drag everyone along..."
"I'm a transfer student, no one will remember me."
"What are you saying? Have you forgotten that we played basketball back then..."
"That wasn't me, I never played... It's okay, I was too inconspicuous at that time. And you, Fang Mu, are too dazzling." "
..."
"Hiss--"
Behind the monitor of the director team, Wu Bai looked at the rivalry between the two actors on the screen and couldn't help but sighed: "Tsk, this play is so good!"
Meng Bai on the side smiled and said, "What you said is right. He was the little prince of art films and was aiming for the top three in Europe. Now he has transformed into making commercial films, which is a complete dimensionality reduction attack."
It has to be said that although Qin Hao himself has a typical Northeastern personality, in acting, his image is really suitable for roles like "Fang Mu" who is calm, delicate, lively inside but cannot be seen on the surface.
"Ah?" Wu Bai was stunned when he heard this. "No, I didn't mean Qin Hao just now. I meant Zhang Luyi, who acted opposite him. His acting is really good. In this segment just now, both of them were very imposing, and it can be said that they were equally matched."
The plot of "City Lights" takes place after the timeline of "Psychological Crime 2".
Green Vine City, which has always been "peaceful and stable", has suddenly seen a number of murders recently. Unlike ordinary criminal cases, the murderer this time is very high-profile.
He calls himself "City Lights" and specifically targets those who have made mistakes but escaped sanctions due to legal defects and other reasons. The method of committing the crime is to kidnap these people first, and then initiate a vote among the citizens to decide whether these people will accept punishment.
Well, it can be regarded as a very classic story mode in criminal investigation suspense dramas.
In the second season of the web drama, Fang Mu graduated from graduate school and was specially recruited by the Green Vine Public Security Bureau, and became a colleague of Tai Wei.
After experiencing many cases such as "Dark River" and "Re-education Field", he is no longer the "genius boy" who carried his inner demons. Instead, he is a mature policeman.
After taking over the "City Light" case, Fang Mu experienced several failed attempts to protect the "victims" and gradually discovered that the purpose of this "City Light" was not for "just sanctions" at all. He was just challenging himself.
Using the clues deliberately left by the other party at the previous crime scenes, he gradually locked his suspicion on his former high school classmate "Jiang Ya".
In fact, his suspicion was not wrong. Jiang Ya was the so-called "City Light".
Similar to Fang Mu, Jiang Ya was also a genius with a very high IQ, but his personality was more withdrawn. However, he has always admired Fang Mu and has been secretly observing him over the years.
It was for this reason that the Q organization, which was very interested in Fang Mu in the "Reformation Field" case, contacted Jiang Ya. Provided him with various logistical support, the purpose was to let him challenge Fang Mu.
Jiang Ya knew that he was just a "touchstone", but he still readily agreed. Immediately afterwards, Lu Teng had another criminal who called himself "City Light" and committed a series of cases.
This character is somewhat similar to Fang Mu in setting, and there are also a lot of rival scenes, so in the selection of actors, naturally, the main choice is to focus on the powerful actors of the Mesozoic era.
Meng Bai and the director team discussed the candidates for a long time, and finally chose Zhang Luyi.
Similar to Qin Hao, this is also a powerful actor with strong acting skills and many classic works, but his popularity and popularity have always been low.
Hearing Wu Bai's sigh, Meng Bai said: "They are all from our Central Academy of Drama, and there are a few who are not powerful."
After saying that, he thought about it and added: "Except that Tang Yan."
The top 4 "Poet Immortals of the Tang Dynasty" of the 85 flowers, two from Beijing Film Academy, one from Central Academy of Drama, and one from Beijing Dance Academy. There may be differences in popularity, but the level of acting can really be said to be the same.
"You are a drama major, and you are embarrassed to get into the acting department every day?" Wu Bai muttered, and then whispered: "Hey, let's discuss something."
"What's the matter?"
"In the future, try to find more powerful actors like this, which will save the crew a lot of energy." Wu Bai said.
"What you said, if you always look for actors with good acting skills, you won't have the opportunity to train them as a director."
"Haha, then I'd rather not have this opportunity."
Meng Bai smiled and continued, "What about Teacher Li, how did she perform this time?"
"Little Li..." Wu Bai touched his chin and pondered for a while, "How should I say, it depends on who I compare her with."
"Compared with herself?"
"Then she has made great progress in the past few years. At least she can handle the opponent's acting."
Hearing Wu Bai's words, Meng Bai was relieved.
Among all the leading actors in "City Lights", Li Qin and Zhao Jinmai are the weakest in acting.
However, Mai Mai is a supporting role, with few roles, and has experience in two web dramas, so there is no problem in completing the role.
So the most worrying thing is Teacher Li.
After so many years of cooperation, Wu Bai and Meng Bai are very familiar with each other, and there is no taboo. Since he, as a director, can approve it, it means there is no problem.
...
Speaking of which, "City Lights" is already Meng Bai's third drama shot in Landao this year.
Although he personally served as the chief producer this time, Meng Bai's workload was actually not as busy as when he was filming "The Wandering Earth".
After more than a dozen projects over the years, Arclight Films has trained a professional production team.
There are dedicated people to take charge of the external liaisons, schedule arrangements, fund mobilization and other tasks required for filming. He only needs to review the final submitted report and then sign it.
So when other people in the crew were busy, he was not so busy. He
even had time to visit other crews.
"Director Ning, long time no see."
In the Oriental Film Metropolis science fiction studio, Meng Bai greeted Ning Hao.
"Didn't Lao Guo say that the filming was finished? Why hasn't Mr. Meng left yet?" Ning Hao asked curiously.
"Oh, there just happened to be another project, also filmed here in Blue Island."
"Is that so." Ning Hao said with emotion: "No wonder Arclight has developed so fast. Your efficiency in this year can match our efficiency in two or three years."
"Well, they are just small-scale productions." Meng Bai waved his hand, "If they were all big productions like Director Ning, no one would be able to handle it without a year or two."
Ning Hao is currently filming the previously mentioned "Crazy Alien".
Compared to "The Wandering Earth", this project is obviously much more impressive.
At least Meng Bai came to visit, and he didn't need to buy lunch for the crew.
"Come, Brother Bo, let me introduce you."
On the set, Ning Hao pulled over a middle-aged man with wild hair, skinny body but full of momentum: "This is Mr. Meng from Arc Light Film and Television who I told you about before."
"I know." The man smiled and looked at Meng Bai: "Hello, Mr. Meng, we are like fellow villagers meeting each other."
"I have wanted to meet Mr. Huang Bo for a long time. Today, thanks to Director Ning, I finally have the opportunity." Meng Bai smiled and shook hands with the other party.
The middle-aged man who spoke Lando dialect was naturally Huang Bo, the leading actor of "Crazy Alien".
Many celebrities in the entertainment industry are from Lando. But the most famous one, besides Fan Qiaoqiao and Huang Xiaoming, is Huang Bo.
Meng Bai is very familiar with Huang Xiaoming now, and Fan Qiaoqiao has met him twice in some ceremonial activities before.
The only one is Huang Bo, he has not had any contact.
This is not surprising, after all, one is mainly in the film industry, and the other is in the online drama industry, so it can be said that there is no chance for them to intersect.
However, it is not that Huang Bo has never heard of Meng Bai. Some time
ago, there was a rumor circulating in the capital circle that Tencent offered 15 billion to acquire Arclight Film and Television, but was rejected.
This news seemed to be groundless, and few people in the industry believed it at first.
After all, whether it is "15 billion to acquire a film and television company that has only been established for a few years" or "someone would actually refuse this", it doesn't sound like a true story.
However, as time goes by, no one on Tencent's side has ever refuted the rumor, and there is not even a private statement. Many people who watched the excitement before finally slowly came to their senses and found that this is actually very likely to be a true story.
A newcomer that has been established for less than four years has actually surpassed a number of old film and television companies.
This is really a bit surprising.
Therefore, in the past two months, many industry insiders who had not paid much attention to the online drama market before have also begun to inquire about Arclight.
As the boss of Arclight, Meng Bai has been hiding behind the scenes, but that is mainly for ordinary audiences outside the circle.
For people in the circle, it is impossible not to hear the news.
In addition, the summer "Wolf Warrior 2" was a big hit, and all the capital involved behind it was pulled out for discussion, and Arclight was no exception.
Then digging deeper, the "dark horse" "Detective Chinatown" in last year's summer, and the big production "The Wandering Earth" of China Film this year also surfaced.
Many people only then discovered that this "small company" that they thought only shot online dramas has quietly participated in many film projects.
And they are all big productions, and the success rate is also frighteningly high.
Many people have slowly begun to adjust their impression of Arclight Film and Television from a company that grew up on the right vent to an emerging head company in the film and television industry.
In conjunction, the influence and popularity of Meng Bai, the boss of Arclight, have also greatly increased.
As an insider, Huang Bo naturally couldn't have not heard of the name of his "little fellow villager".
When he came to Blue Island to shoot a few days ago, he asked Ning Hao if he could get to know him, but he found out that the other party's project had ended.
Unexpectedly, they actually met after just a few days.
While eating, they chatted.
"I heard that Brother Bo has also transformed into a director?" Meng Bai said.
"Yes, I have an idea that I have been thinking about for many years, and I want to give it a try." Huang Bo said, "It took more than half a year to shoot, and it was only wrapped up in July."
"Has the release date been set?"
"It is currently scheduled for next summer, but it also depends on whether there are any blockbusters during the same period." Huang Bo smiled and said, "After all, it is my first time as a director, and the subject matter is relatively niche, so I still have to find a schedule that is not so stressful."
"Haha, Brother Bo, you are too modest. Apart from anything else, just your name alone is worth at least 500 million box office."
"No, no, I really dare not say that." Huang Bo waved his hands, "Just the projects I know now, such as the "Rich Man" shot by Shen Teng and others at the beginning of the year, and Lao Xu's "Dying to Survive", are all scheduled for next summer, and the pressure is very high."
"Well, that's true."
Meng Bai echoed, and at the same time secretly calculated in his heart.
The post-production of "The Wandering Earth" will take at least a year, plus various review processes and theater schedules, it will definitely not be able to catch up with the summer schedule next year, and the National Day schedule is also difficult.
So the most suitable time is the 2019 Spring Festival.
From this point of view, there is no need to compete with the film Huang Bo just mentioned.
But it is not completely without pressure. At least Ning Hao's "Crazy Alien" is also in the Spring Festival.
In fact, the two crews are competitors.
But even so, they have helped a lot.
So Guo Fan has always said that if "The Wandering Earth" is really successful, it is definitely not his own credit for the opening of the domestic science fiction.
Several people ate and talked, mainly Ning Hao and Huang Bo.
Although they have participated in several film projects, Meng Bai and Hu Guang are still newcomers to the film industry.
In contrast, Ning and Huang are "old guns" in this circle, and he happened to listen to a lot of industry gossip and news.
However, Meng Bai didn't come here just to visit today.
Ning Hao mentioned before that they had set up a "Bad Monkey 72 Transformations Film Plan" to support new directors, and several works have been produced.
When they met last time, seeing that Meng Bai was also very interested in this project, Ning Hao said that they could talk about new projects next time.
"The director's name is Shen Ao, he is a semi-newcomer. He has made several short films before and won the short film award at the Spanish Film Festival. He has good ability. This project is his first official feature film."
"Shen Ao?" Meng Bai asked, "Will he be born after 1995?"
Such names with distinct characteristics of the times mostly symbolize a certain historical period.
"Haha, when I first met him, I had the same reaction as you." Ning Hao laughed and said, "He is not that young, he is born in the 1980s."
"That sounds more normal." Meng Bai said, "What is the theme of the project? What's the name?"
"The movie is called "The Beneficiary", which tells a story of insurance fraud."
Meng Bai smacked his lips and said, "This story sounds very consistent with the style of our Arc Light."
Ning Hao was stunned, and then reacted.
Indeed, the theme of "insurance fraud" sounds like a suspense film.
"Not quite the same, this movie is mainly realistic."
"Fiction film?"
"Yes." Ning Hao nodded.
"Is that so..." Meng Bai pondered for a moment, "It sounds quite interesting. Director Ning, please send me the script later."
"Okay." Ning Hao agreed without hesitation, and introduced by the way: "The budget cost of this movie is about 60 million, and we already have 30 million now. If Mr. Meng is interested, you can leave a share of 10 million for Arc Light."
For Arc Light today, an investment of 10 million is really not a big project.
But although it is not big, it is not thrown away in vain.
If this is Ning Hao's project, he will definitely invest without thinking.
But with a newcomer, even though Ning Hao is optimistic about it, it is hard to say.
So Meng Bai did not agree directly on the spot, but just said to take a look at the script first.
This is what should be meant, and Ning Hao naturally won't say much.
Thanks to the big guys "The World is Big" and "Teddy Bear of Miracle Island" for the reward!
(End of this chapter)
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