Chapter 70 New Cooperation
Hou Hongliang didn't expect Meng Bai to have this purpose. He couldn't help laughing when he heard it: "Now the new generation of creators are basically aiming to be directors. There are not many people like you who are interested in behind-the-scenes production."
"It just happened to be a good opportunity." Meng Bai said.
"It just happened to be a good opportunity. This description is well used." Hou Hongliang sighed: "When I was young and just joined Shanying, I actually wanted to be a director. How good is the director? He has the final say on what the crew wants to shoot and how to shoot. Unfortunately, there were too many directors in Shanying at that time, so my teacher came to me and said, why don't you switch to being a producer. Just like that, I became a producer, and I have been doing it for 20 years now."
Meng Bai didn't expect that the other party had such a past, but when he thought about it, it was true. At that time, the "fifth generation directors" were the most popular. Anyone who had something to do with the film and television industry didn't want to be a director.
"Everyone has their own fate." Meng Bai said: "Mr. Hou, you are also successful as a producer."
Hou Hongliang laughed: "That makes sense. Okay, since you call me a senior, I can't let you call me that for nothing. So, after the crew is ready, you can use the title of 'assistant producer', and go and see if you want to know anything."
Meng Bai's eyes lit up, this is a real benefit. Although the title of "assistant producer" does not have any actual production rights, it is the most suitable for him now.
"Thank you, Mr. Hou." Meng Bai said: "Then I wish us a happy cooperation."
"Happy cooperation."
The intention of cooperation was reached, and the subsequent script copyright fees and screenwriter remuneration, etc., would have to wait and discuss slowly later.
Meng Bai proposed that he wanted to observe the crew of the filming of Noon Sunshine, and Hou Hongliang readily agreed. Then he was busy with many things recently and could not accompany him in person, so he finally invited Zhou You to come over and let him, an acquaintance, take him on a tour.
"Don't mention it, this environment is really quaint." Meng Bai looked around the pavilions and houses, and couldn't help but sigh.
Zhou You said: "Xiangshan is mainly a scene for costume dramas and martial arts dramas. We spent half a year to renovate this entire house, and the effect is really good."
"What is the total investment of this drama?" Meng Bai asked.
"At the beginning, it was set at 80 million, and it was increased after the filming started. The total amount is about more than 100 million." Zhou You introduced.
Meng Bai sighed, as expected, costume TV series are indeed a big spender. If it were his urban criminal investigation drama, one hundred million could shoot an entire series.
Zhou You took him to the location of the set, which seemed to be filming at this time, and a circle of people could be seen from a distance.
Meng Bai looked in the middle of the crowd and saw the actor who was performing. He recognized him at a glance, wasn't it the male lead Hu Ge.
"Hu Ge——" Meng Bai sighed.
Zhou You at the side asked curiously: "Why? Do you know him?"
"How can I know him?" Meng Bai shook his head: "I watched a lot of his dramas when I was a kid, especially "The Legend of Sword and Fairy", I liked it very much back then."
"Well, what are you saying? Who didn't have a crush on "Li Xiaoyao" before?"
Meng Bai frowned: "Well, maybe it's because of different preferences, I still like "Zhao Linger" more."
"Fuck, you're leading me into a ditch!"
Meng Bai looked at the other actors again, and found many familiar faces he had seen when he was on the crew of "All Quiet in Peking".
"Is that Senior Brother Wang Kai? And the one next to him looks like Teacher Liu Yijun." Meng Bai said while thinking to himself, I have always heard that Kong Sheng and his gang especially like to use actors they have worked with before, and now it seems that it is true.
If that's the case, the leading actor of his "The Pretender" project will probably be selected from the actors of this current drama.
Just as he was thinking about the casting problem, he suddenly heard Zhou You beside him say in another direction: "Sister Ou, you're here."
"Hey, Xiao Zhou, why are you here?" A female voice came from the side.
Meng Bai turned his head and saw a woman wearing a red palace costume and bright eyeshadow walking over.
The woman walked towards them and also noticed Meng Bai. Before she asked, Zhou You on the side introduced: "Sister Ou, this is my friend, Mr. Meng from Arclight Films."
The woman smiled and took the initiative to reach out to Meng Bai and said: "Hello, Mr. Meng, my name is Wang Ou."
"Hello, Meng Bai."
Meng Bai looked at Wang Ou, who was tall and plump, with bright makeup on her face, looking bright and generous, with affectionate eyebrows and eyes, faintly charming but not coquettish.
A pretty young lady.
After a few simple greetings, Wang Ou learned that Meng Bai was here to discuss project cooperation with Hou Hongliang. He immediately said enthusiastically: "I wonder what kind of drama Mr. Meng's script is about? If there is a suitable role, please give me a chance."
"I'm just a screenwriter. Mr. Hou is mainly responsible for the project, so the choice depends on his opinion." Meng Bai said politely.
"The screenwriter is also the core of a drama. Director Kong and others always respect the opinions of the screenwriter when filming." Wang Ou looked at Meng Bai with a smile on his face and said sincerely: "Mr. Hou has always had a good eye for choosing scripts. Mr. Meng's script must also be a good work. I wish you success in your new drama in advance."
"Thank you for your words."
It was just a chance encounter. There was no way to talk about anything in this occasion. Wang Ou obviously understood this, so he just chatted for a few words and left.
Seeing Meng Bai staring at Wang Ou's back as he left, Zhou You smiled ambiguously and came over to say, "Why, do you need me to get your contact information?"
"Don't use your dirty thoughts to speculate on my purity." Meng Bai retracted his gaze and said calmly, "I was thinking that there seems to be a role in the script that really needs such a bright and elegant actor."
"You're just making excuses. How dare you say you're pure?"
"I can't have a high-class conversation with a vulgar person like you." Meng Bai turned around and said, "Let's go and say hello to Director Kong. Maybe we'll work together soon."
-
Meng Bai only stayed in Xiangshan for one day before flying back to Blue Island.
The filming of "Psychological Crime" is about to begin, but before the official start of the filming, the crew has another important link, which is "script reading".
The so-called "script reading" is a simulated exercise between script creation and formal filming. The main creators and leading actors of the entire crew gathered together to read the script according to the division of labor of the important roles in the play.
Doing so is to help the leading actor understand the role in advance, and to unify the understanding of the script by all the crew members to avoid the theme going off track during the actual shooting.
Strictly speaking, this link should actually be something that every crew should have before shooting. Korean and Japanese dramas have always maintained traditions in this regard.
In the domestic entertainment industry, the crews in the early years also basically had a "reading" link. As for now... I can only say that there are many crews, but few are really useful.
After all, the schedules of big-name actors or directors are tight, and it is difficult to make an appointment, so the "script reading" of many crews is either without the leading actor or the director. Even if they are both, many of them are just a formality, and often end in a day and a half.
When Meng Bai filmed "Soul Ferry" before, he only "read" it for two days. First, the text volume of the unit drama is small, and second, the time is tight, so it was done quickly.
But this time is different. First, the plot and characters of "Psychological Crime" are more complicated and difficult to grasp; second, many of the leading actors are newcomers, and they need such a link to help them understand the characters.
This is why Meng Bai is so anxious to return to Lando. And it's not just him, the rest of the director team, the photography crew, and the main actors like Li Yitong and Zhu Xudan all have to come together.
(End of this chapter)
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