Chapter 29: I Have A Friend
Funding is saved, not spent.
Yu Wei’s top priority now is to save money, save filming funding.
Even shooting a short film requires manpower and resources that aren’t just talk, and can’t be briefly mentioned.
In the preparation stage, the director team needs to produce the plot for filming and the script with storyboards, where the storyboards are detailed down to each camera shot.
After the camera shot script is finalized, contact the art team for set design. The art teacher will produce effect drawings for the entire scene, as well as props needed on-site, materials for prop use, and a series of other things…
This is just the preparation stage. When formal filming starts, there will be even more preparatory work needed, and expenses will only be greater.
Yu Wei applied for the project as shooting an MV, so the funding received is definitely not much. To achieve the desired effect.
Use good steel on the blade, spend money on details. Production can’t be skimped on, so the only thing left to save on is actors…
Domestic entertainment stars’ actor’s salaries are the highest in the world. A single drama can cost millions or tens of millions, and their acting skills aren’t necessarily that great—purely lying down to earn money.
With prices exploded out like that, the actual figures are definitely more, not less. In many works, actors’ salaries exceed production investment.
They’re aiming for a 37 split of profits. Yu Wei naturally doesn’t dare compare himself to them. He just wants to produce something good.
Actors: free of charge if possible.
This is exactly why he approached Zhang Lingye. Helping a brother shoot something—how could you ask for an actor’s salary?
Besides, Yu Wei isn’t really free of charge. Produce something good, isn’t that way better than those self-destructive flop dramas?
He should even thank us…
No need to say more—Zhang Lingye treats him right. Even before he rose to prominence, Zhang Lingye always treated him as a buddy.
When Yu Wei sang “Heart Wall,” Zhang Lingye was the first to know. If he had ulterior motives, he had plenty of opportunities, but from start to finish, he said nothing.
Doesn’t disdain in the trough, doesn’t fawn in the peak—Yu Wei recognizes this kind of friend.
No huge benefits, but a few roles can still be arranged for him. As for seizing the opportunity, that’s up to him.
Of course, just finding Zhang Lingye alone isn’t enough. Whether it’s the “Sound of Rain” MV or the “Sound Mixer” short film, both need at least four lead actors: three male, one female.
Cough cough, he counts as one, Zhang Lingye as one, another male actor is easy to find—the sound monitoring teacher could even fill in. The problem is where to find the remaining female actor?
The MV lead actress needs to be good-looking, and the short film lead actress is a ruthless role who kills without blinking. Finding a female actor who balances appearance and acting skills is easier said than done.
What’s more, he wants free of charge…
The few female stars Yu Wei knows are Chi Leying and the others, but they’re busy recording a variety show and probably can’t come.
Worth mentioning, he just chatted with Chi Leying this morning. Zhou Mumu’s condition has improved a lot, but then the program team seized the timing for a gimmicky move.
The theme of “HELLO Roommate” episode eight is confirmed as caring for the sick, perfectly connecting to Zhou Mumu’s illness…
This script has gimmicks where needed and warmth where needed. Can only say these people have a keen eye— they see profit opportunities in any situation.
“The program team really got to eat Mu Mu’s blood steamed bun.”
Yu Wei couldn’t afford to sigh. Today, no matter what, he had to introduce the “Sound Mixer” plot, or else even if he wasn’t anxious, Wei Yu would be.
Last time in the book, shadow play scoring hides disasters, cross-field critique turns to vicissitudes. Others don’t get the meaning, you finish singing and I take the stage.
That Wei family lad publicly challenged the movie, giving it a zero-star score. The opponent, poked in the sore spot, flew into a rage and countered: “How dare you critique me?”
With the conflict set, the rest of the plot is simple. The flop team strikes back with “If you’re so good, you do it.” That’s exactly what Wei Yu was waiting for.
“I’ll shoot a ten-minute one that’s better than yours!”
Same old recipe, familiar taste. Entertainment protagonist wants to show off—no one can stop it…
Yu Wei briefly mentioned the story setting of “Sound Mixer,” but didn’t develop the specific story.
Songs are easy—copy two lines of lyrics and others can’t replicate it. But film and TV rely on plot; writing it in detail would be spoilers, right?
Yu Wei has this much savvy. At least before it’s formally registered, the short film content needs to be written vaguely.
“Not even acting it anymore?”
New chapter just posted, and An Shi Le’s private message arrived. Clearly, as a veteran entertainment novel reader, he already saw what he was up to.
“Our Wei Yu is going to be a dual-career artist.”
Qi Luo An was almost laughing in anger. Others might not know, but doesn’t she? Someone else wants to be a dual-career artist.
Yesterday, seeing the new plot of movie scoring made her suspicious. Today, sure enough—this guy really plans to write his own script.
Don’t underestimate the short length of a short film. Small sparrow, full organs. In the film industry, content isn’t proportional to length—the shorter the film, the more it needs refinement.
As long as the plot is good, even a slowly paced watered-down movie can earn reputation. But short films are different—to stand out, you must maximize the limited length.
This is dancing in shackles. She doesn’t know where Yu Wei gets his confidence…
As Yu Wei’s reader, doesn’t he know the level of what he writes?
“Grandmother said, long stories are easy to lay out, short ones hard to hide flaws.”
“Short film scripts are tough to write. You serious?”
As an old failure, Yu Wei naturally knows short pieces are harder than long ones, but the problem is short films are cheap.
Even shooting a short film requires scraping by to save funding and free of charge actors. Shooting a movie might require selling hooks in the book friends’ circle…
Seeing no response from Yu Wei, Qi Luo An thought she’d convinced him, so she pressed the advantage and continued persuading:
“Everything has pros and cons. You only see the ease of writing short films, but what about the cons?”
“Crashed.”
“?”
Yu Wei just wanted to tease her, but the little hater started with a barrage of surprised panda heads, so he hurriedly changed the topic to something else on Qidian.
“Don’t you have connections? Help me scout a female actor.”
From what she said last time, he seems to really have some connections in the entertainment industry. Since he’s going all-in on free of charge, he should ask everyone he can.
“You’re asking me?”
Qi Luo An didn’t expect him to ask this. They don’t even know each other—yet he’s so direct?
“Just asking isn’t illegal.”
Yu Wei felt he’d asked the right person. Normal people would be stunned by this question; who counters with a direct question back?
Qi Luo An fell silent.
Not knowing would be one thing, but the problem is she really knows quite a few…
“Cough cough, what requirements?”
This message carried a lot of information. Asking demands right away—how many female stars does he know to say that?
Yu Wei felt like he’d added someone extraordinary… Surprised as he was, he still stated the requirements.
“No other requirements. Good-looking with acting skills is fine, best if no pay.”
“…”
Is this even human talk? How many in the entertainment industry are good-looking with acting skills—and still no pay? Why not just grab a sack and wait in ambush?
“Fame doesn’t matter, pure newcomers are fine too.”
No choice, buddy has to save face.
Those in domestic entertainment with acting skills and looks—which one’s actor’s salary isn’t seven figures? Free of charge is too unrealistic.
“Well said. How would I know a civilian’s acting skills?”
Qi Luo An was so angry her eyes went black. She viciously grabbed the soft pillow nearby and kneaded it. Is this how you write entertainment novels? Ever shot a film? Just casually ask for actors?
Yu Wei really felt bad continuing to ask. If a reader asked him to write something steamy, he’d feel the same—how could he bring it up? Can he even write it?
“What about a civilian with a family background in the arts?”
Okay, still shameless enough…
“%(&%*(……%￥*&￥#.”
The more Qi Luo An thought, the angrier she got. She simply sat up straight, arms tightly crossed over her chest, lips bitten pale, eyes glaring deadly at the mobile phone—as if piercing the internet to gouge out the person behind the screen.
Pushing his luck, really treating himself like young master? So many demands?
She was increasingly curious what Yu Wei was really up to. How good is the script to dare ask for free of charge…
“Sorry, I was too forward. Forget the person. Let’s talk nicely—don’t drop the book.”
Free of charge failed, but goodwill remains. Hard to find such a die-hard reader—Yu Wei didn’t want to lose the popularity.
Qi Luo An glanced at the new message, then laughed helplessly. At this point, still worrying about your crappy book?
She still kept her head down, but her fingers gently smoothed the wrinkled pillowcase from earlier. The faint smile at her lips was quietly hidden by the stray hairs at her temple.
“I have a friend who fits your requirements.”
Just yesterday, entry into the library for the new book ended. Reality is indeed much crueler than novels—total failure, secretly checked the rankings and data is basically at the bottom…
Unwilling, I flipped through the community. Not many new books have such dismal entry into the library. Sigh.
But everyone rest assured, no matter how bad the data is, I’ll finish this book. You’re all veteran readers and won’t believe the author’s promises—after all, eunuchs say the same before they eunuch. Let me say something sincere.
Actually, before starting this book, I knew it would flop because it’s full of entertainment authors’ self-mockery and self-indulgence—typical nonsense literature. Normal not to read it.
Love reading entertainment novels, wrote some myself, but while writing, I looked back and realized even I couldn’t read my own story. Every time the protagonist shows off, I cringe so hard my toes curl.
If I don’t even like my own story, why expect readers to? So I want to first finish a story I like, a different one.
Results don’t matter. If no one reads, it’s self-entertainment. Step by step.
If there are readers still persisting to here, thank you. I’m grateful because my liked story happened to match your pastime. If you’re about to give up too, I’m sorry.
Hope to become a better self.
