Chapter 82 "Light" and "Darkness"
With eight million in funds, Meng Bai, as a representative, officially joined the B round of financing of Leshi Pictures in the name of "Qiming Venture Capital".
Although it was equivalent to a "family and friends" team, adhering to the principle of "transactions are transactions, and personal relationships are personal relationships", Meng Bai still signed an agreement with everyone, and explained in advance the various investment proportions, contract terms, withdrawal of capital and conversion of shares.
He also specifically told a few people that this investment may not need to be held until the end. If there are other external investors willing to pay a suitable price to eat up everyone's share in the middle, then at that time, it is completely possible to discuss it and cash out in advance.
It can only be said that it is time to invest, but Meng Bai always kept a little vigilance about the development of Leshi.com in his heart.
From contacting Qin Ming, to negotiating publishing, to raising investment funds, Meng Bai ran outside for more than half a month, and finally returned to the crew in mid-June.
"Hmm--"
Sitting on the familiar sofa chair in the production lounge of the dormitory building, Meng Bai stretched with satisfaction.
As expected, the atmosphere of the crew is more suitable for him.
"You are really free, you have been away from the crew for half a month." Wu Bai, who was standing by, said teasingly, seeing him half lying on the chair.
Meng Bai waved his hand lazily: "The crew is set up, the process is set, the funds are in place, and the broadcasting platform is also available. The rest is for everyone to follow the routine. There is no need for me, the producer, to be busy every day."
"I can't control whether you are busy or not, but you, the screenwriter, have to work too." Wu Bai said: "According to the shooting schedule, the last "Portrait Case" will start shooting next week. When can you give me the script for the final episode? I still have to design the shots and locations in advance."
"Hiss--"
When Meng Bai heard Wu Bai talking about the finale, he immediately took a breath of cold air as if he had a toothache, raised his hand and rubbed his eyebrows, looking embarrassed.
Wu Bai looked puzzled: "Why, don't tell me that the crew is about to wrap up, and you haven't finished writing the script
yet?" "I have finished writing it..." Meng Bai stroked his chin and said in embarrassment: "But I wrote too much."
Wu Bai was stunned. What does it mean to write too much?
Meng Bai stood up and took out two scripts from his bag. Each one was not thick, just a few thin pages. After
all, it was only the plot of one episode. He handed over the two scripts: "Take a look first."
Wu Bai took the script and glanced at the cover first. Both of them had the words "Psychological Crimes" dialogue script·Final Chapter" written on them. The only difference was that one had "A" written under the title, and the other had "B".
Does this mean that there are two endings?
Wu Bai frowned. Works with two endings are not uncommon in the history of film and television. Like Hollywood's "Orphan" and "I Am Legend", Hong Kong's "SPL" and "Fallen Angels", including "No Man's Land" directed by Ning Hao, which was released at the end of last year, all released a new ending in addition to the public version.
Generally speaking, the main reason for double endings in film and television works is to pass the censorship. Especially for those Hollywood blockbusters that are distributed globally, in order to take into account the different censorship standards in different places, sometimes three or four different versions of the plot are prepared.
Another reason is that the producers are not sure what kind of ending the audience will like during the creation, so they will shoot two different versions, and then count the audience's preference for the two versions during the preview, and then decide which one to use in the end.
Another reason is that the director or the main creator has private goods. He knows that some of the original ideas are not suitable, but he is uncomfortable if they are not filmed, so he will "secretly" shoot a "private version" and release it after the movie is released.
In this way, it will not delay the main film from making money, nor will it delay one's own desire to express oneself. This is the real "ideals are ideals, business is business".
But the problem is, those are all movies, and we just have a small web drama, do you have to make it so complicated?
But he was not in a hurry, and planned to take a look at the two versions of the script first.
There are a total of four case stories in the first season of "Psychological Crime", and the "Portrait Case" is the last one. The general plot is that after defeating the tragic memories of the "Seventh Portrait Case", the male protagonist "Fang Mu" who has regained his spirits met a "copycat murderer" who is also proficient in psychological crimes. The other party challenged Fang Mu by imitating various world-famous cases and leaving clues.
There are three main characters in this story, the male protagonist "Fang Mu", the murderer "Sun Pu, the university librarian", and Professor Qiao, the graduate tutor of "Fang Mu" and a genius "criminal psychology" expert.
In the ending of version A, Fang Mu found the real murderer, and followed the clues to find Sun Pu with Tai Wei, but unfortunately both of them were attacked and injured. At the last moment, Professor Qiao, who had been kidnapped before, stopped Sun Pu who was going to burn everyone to death, allowing Fang Mu and Tai Wei to escape, and he dragged this "former excellent student" to die in the sea of fire.
This is a "bright" ending. With Professor Qiao's self-sacrifice, Fang Mu finally defeated his inner demons and grew into a true "criminal psychology" expert.
As for the ending of version B, the previous plots are similar, except that Fang Mu discovered in the end that Sun Pu was just a pawn who followed orders, and the real mastermind was actually Professor Qiao.
Because he suffered from Alzheimer's disease, he felt that his life was coming to an end, so at the end of his life, he used Tai Wei and the "cheerleader" who had been pursuing Fang Mu as a bet, using this "explosive" method to force Fang Mu to grow.
Compared with version A, the ending of version B is a bit "dark". At the end, no one can say whether the male protagonist Fang Mu used this to fill the last vacancy or evolved a bigger inner demon.
Looking at the two versions of the ending in hand, Wu Bai also began to struggle.
From the perspective of the audience's emotions, the ending of version A is undoubtedly better. In the depressing and solemn atmosphere of the whole drama, it gives everyone a way to relieve their emotions.
But from the perspective of film and television performance, the ending of version B is undoubtedly more impactful. Although this setting of "the character who is thought to be a positive character is actually the final villain" is a bit common in suspense stories, it is indeed useful.
After hesitating for a while, Wu Bai expressed his thoughts and finally said: "If it were me to choose, I would prefer the ending of version B. And one advantage is that it is convenient for the story of the second season to unfold - if you still need this setting in the second season."
After listening to Wu Bai's advice, Meng Bai's entanglement deepened, because he originally intended the ending of version A.
As the male protagonist, "Fang Mu" experienced the early death of his parents, his girlfriend was beheaded in front of him, his roommate was killed, and his friends were harmed. It can be said that everyone around him has suffered misfortune. In this miserable experience, Meng Bai still hopes to leave him with a warm feeling at the end of the story.
In a sense, he is actually a "happy ending" enthusiast, although he writes suspense stories that are least likely to have a "happy ending".
Seeing his "screenwriter teacher" struggling, Wu Bai reminded him: "According to the progress, we will be able to wrap up next month. No matter which one you choose, decide by next week at the latest."
"Otherwise, let's shoot both, and then see which one is more suitable during post-production?" Meng Bai said.
"You are the producer. As long as you are not afraid of exceeding the budget, I can also shoot ten endings if you want."
"Tsk." Meng Bai pursed his lips and made up his mind: "Shoot both, and make two versions when we produce it later. Anyway, online dramas do not need to be reviewed as finished films. Let's wait until the show starts and see the audience's comments, and then decide which one to use in the end."
Between A and B, Meng Bai decisively chose "wait and see."
(End of this chapter)
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