After exchanging pleasantries, the group got down to business.
"A wuxia drama, 100 episodes, an assassin, and the protagonist living to be over 100 years old—I have to say, Director Lin really knows how to come up with ideas, even more so than my dad. It's full of contradictions! The protagonist can't be a saintly hero, and he has to be an assassin, living to be over 100 and dying peacefully in his old age. It'll be difficult to get approved. And it has to be wuxia! Wuxia dramas are so fast-paced. Who's going to film 100 episodes of martial arts scenes? The Four Great Classical Novels have over a hundred heroes, and they only made about 80 episodes. How are you going to write a 100-episode series about one person?"
Zhang Erdai feels there are too many flaws.
Wang Li, who was being ignored, timidly asked, "Since it can't pass censorship, can we make the protagonist a friendly force? Would that pass censorship?"
Zhang Erdai pondered for a moment, "Friendly assassin? Interesting."
Encouraged by the others, Wang Li continued, "Director Lin has directed so many dramas, he must know that the protagonist must be a righteous and heroic figure. Therefore, the assassin's identity must be that he killed enemy soldiers. So the story background of this martial arts drama can be determined to be from the end of the feudal dynasty to the establishment of the new country. There are warlord wars and the War of Resistance against Japan, and the confrontation between traditional martial arts and modern firearms. There are many points to write about in these 100 episodes."
Zhang Fan's eyes lit up. "So that's what Director Lin meant. He managed to explain the source material for this 100-episode TV series in just a few words. Director Lin is truly admirable. Now that I know, I'll go do my research and write the script. Everyone, I'll be going now."
Lin Xiaoxiao had just finished calculating how much budget was left for filming when she received Zhang Fan's script.
She looked at the thick stack of scripts on her desk, almost as thick as her forearm, and had no desire to even open them. Moreover, if Zhang Fan, the master of revisions, were to revise them as filming progressed, just like before, wouldn't the thickness of the scripts double even more?
Lin Xiaoxiao didn't even dare to think about it; just thinking about it made her eyes water.
"I believe you. I'll leave the script here for now and read it later (yeah right)."
Zhang Fan was very excited, with some tears of emotion in his eyes. "Director Lin, I completely understand your ideas. This was written exactly as you wished. Don't worry."
Lin Xiaoxiao, who had been somewhat relieved, suddenly felt a pang of unease. What was she thinking? How come she didn't know? Could it be that Zhang Fan, the screenwriter, had seen through her plan to swindle 500 million yuan from the M platform?
Lin Xiaoxiao coughed and lowered her voice, "Just know it, don't go around telling everyone."
Zhang Fan was a little embarrassed. "But Director Lin, I didn't really understand it at first. It was Wang Li who told me. Zhang Erdai and the other screenwriters in the company all knew."
Lin Xiaoxiao almost fainted. "You bastard Wang Li! I offered you a well-paying job, and you stabbed me!" she thought. "And Zhang Erdai? She's everywhere! She's like a street thug all the time. No, she has to be kept quiet. Zhang Erdai's father has close ties to the M platform; her father can't find out."
It seems the only option is to send the hostage to the capital.
Upon receiving the job offer, Zhang Erdai couldn't hide his surprise and delight. "Really?! Director Lin, you've finally agreed to take me on?"
While sighing, Zhang Erdai didn't even glance at the contract before signing it, turning to the last page as if afraid that if he hesitated, Lin Xiaoxiao would change her mind.
Lin Xiaoxiao watched Zhang Erdai's quick movements and chuckled, "You're quick on the uptake."
Before Feiyang Entertainment and M Platform and Y Platform can compete on equal footing, we can only keep Zhang Erdai under our noses for now. Presumably, even if Zhang Erdai's father knows something, he'll think twice before telling M Platform.
As soon as Zhang Erdai joined the company, he asked Lin Xiaoxiao to assign him work. Lin Xiaoxiao could only hand over a thick stack of scripts to Zhang Erdai, ostensibly to let this senior editor review and revise them.
After Zhang Erdai and Zhang Fan restrained each other, Lin Xiaoxiao began selecting actors.
Platform M indeed made a big splash; apart from the few artists signed by Platform Y, almost all the well-known artists in the industry came.
Because the entire film crew was from Feiyang Entertainment, there were no people in the industry who accepted bribes or said nice things, and there were no unspoken rules for actors. So, in addition to the first and second-tier actors attracted by the big investment, there were also many small actors who had struggled in the industry without a company backing them and came to try their luck, hoping to be noticed by Director Lin and thus reach the top.
However, this resulted in a huge number of actors signing up for auditions, and she had to watch each actor for three days, even if it was only for ten minutes.
Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't really there to make a serious martial arts drama, not to mention that at first she could take a closer look, but later she felt that all the characters looked the same.
Fortunately, even though Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes were glazed over and she seemed a little sleepy, her expression remained cold, as if she were seriously evaluating each actor in front of her.
Jiang Yun, who was present at the selection event as an investor, was very satisfied. She felt that Lin Xiaoxiao had not lied to her. Xiao He had now been assigned to work next to Jiang Yun, so he was also on the judging panel.
Lin Xiaoxiao could tell from the other person's eyes that he was also sleepy, but because Jiang Yun was beside him, he could only secretly cover his yawns with his hand.
Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly realized that Xiao He's position as heir was not so stable. On the other hand, Jiang Yun, Xiao He's right-hand man, could see her, but every time he would just turn his head to talk to her, he didn't seem like a loyal minister who was devoted to his master. Instead, he seemed like a treacherous minister who had ruined the young emperor.
Thinking of this, Lin Xiaoxiao almost burst out laughing. She quickly suppressed the laughter in her body. She had actually imagined this seemingly kind and amiable Jiang Yun as a treacherous minister who was waiting for the late emperor to die so that he could seize power and endure hardship. She had really been in the film and television industry for too long, and everything she watched was just a TV drama.
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