Chapter 1867: Advancing Together

Zhao Fusheng ultimately chose to yield.

He was never the type to stubbornly cling to his own opinions and refuse others' advice. Since his own ideas had flaws, he would gather everyone's input to make them more perfect.

In corporate management, if one couldn't even do this, they wouldn't be a qualified manager.

"When do we start shooting?"

Zhao Fusheng said to Jiang Wen.

The investment issue was a small matter; Zhao Fusheng believed Ye Jing could resolve it in the shortest time.

"What do you think of April Fool's Day?"

Jiang Wen thought for a moment, then suddenly grinned mischievously at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng and Ye Jing were taken aback, then both laughed in unison.

Old Jiang was really too wicked.

They could even imagine that if this news were leaked on April Fool's Day, many people probably wouldn't believe it.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at Jiang Wen with a half-smile; this guy was definitely deliberately messing with the media reporters.

Jiang Wen shrugged: "I didn't say that; you guessed it yourself."

Zhao Fusheng was speechless and too lazy to tease him. This guy was the director; he could arrange things however he wanted.

As long as it didn't delay the film's release, Zhao Fusheng didn't mind Jiang Wen doing anything.

"By the way, do you want to be a producer?"

Jiang Wen suddenly remembered something and said to Zhao Fusheng: "You and Old Ye can be producers together."

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then frowned, sinking into thought.

To be honest, sitting on set watching three Best Actors perform was a particularly enjoyable thing.

But Zhao Fusheng also knew that Old Jiang's directing skills were top-notch, and he liked to wrestle with the script, often changing lines on a whim. So during filming, the set would definitely be chaotic.

Should he go or not?

After all, he was theoretically one of the screenwriters.

To be honest, when it came to scripts, if you strictly applied logical thinking, there was no such thing as a perfect script!

The same went for filmmaking. If you pursued perfection, you'd find various plot holes as you shot.

Most films just followed the script, hoping the audience would overlook the flaws during the fast-paced editing. After all, under rapid cuts, the audience's intelligence would drop with the plot's progression—unless they noticed afterward. But then, who cares?

After all, the audience's money was already in hand!

Zhao Fusheng was actually someone with that mindset.

He wasn't an artist, after all, and didn't have such high aspirations.

But someone like Jiang Wen had a personality that demanded filling every plot hole before moving on.

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng knew that this script actually had major logical issues.

The most obvious one was the disappearance of the Goose County magistrate. In the latter half of the film, Ma Bangde said the appointment letter in his hand was for 'Kangcheng,' claiming he deliberately led Zhang Mazi to the dangerous Goose County instead of the one he was actually appointed to. But earlier, when they went to Goose County to take office, there was a drum corps led by Hua Jie to welcome the magistrate, and Huang Silang also sent people to greet them (even if with ill intent). This showed they were prepared and knew a new magistrate was arriving.

So that was strange. Why was Goose County also waiting for a new magistrate? Where had the original magistrate gone?

Analyzing the script's logic and then overturning it—this was a process of breaking before building.

Old Jiang hadn't noticed this problem yet because he didn't doubt Zhao Fusheng's script that much. But the issue was, once they started shooting on location, he would definitely discover it.

To use clever improvisation to design brilliant scenes without changing the script's overall structure was extremely difficult. Zhao Fusheng admitted he couldn't do it.

So what he gave Jiang Wen was the main plot of 'Bullets' as he remembered it.

As for the details, Jiang Wen figured them out himself.

But even so, Zhao Fusheng couldn't guarantee that Old Jiang wouldn't make changes again on set. And if he did and came to discuss them, what would Zhao Fusheng say?

To be fair, Zhao Fusheng didn't think he could fool Jiang Wen.

With that thought, Zhao Fusheng decisively shook his head: "Forget it. I need to stay home with my wife."

Jiang Wen nodded and didn't press Zhao Fusheng.

He had just mentioned it casually. Since Zhao Fusheng wasn't interested, that was that.

"By the way, about the issue of investors placing actors in the cast."

Zhao Fusheng suddenly remembered something and said to Ye Jing: "You control the costs. Old Jiang is one of us, so he doesn't count. For the rest of the actors, spread the word: anyone who wants to play the game of buying their way into the cast can get lost!"

"..."

Ye Jing and Jiang Wen exchanged glances. They could tell that Zhao Fusheng truly detested the practice of investors placing actors.

"Also, no shady business is allowed on set. If we need actors, go through proper channels and interviews. Anyone who tries to sneak someone in will face my wrath."

Zhao Fusheng then said coldly: "Let me reiterate: our company's films do not allow backdoor deals. If I find out, no matter who it is, they're out of the company!"

He paused, then looked at Ye Jing: "Also tell those companies that want to co-invest: if they push me too far, I'll buy their companies and kick them out of the entertainment industry!"

"I understand."

Seeing how seriously Zhao Fusheng spoke, Ye Jing naturally didn't dare to take it lightly and quickly nodded in agreement.

Jiang Wen also nodded, indicating he remembered Zhao Fusheng's words.

They all knew Zhao Fusheng's temper. He had always abhorred under-the-table dealings. He was straightforward and upright, never engaging in crooked practices.

Otherwise, with his current wealth and status, at the very least, he could have had a wife at home and mistresses outside.

But Zhao Fusheng had absolutely no scandals.

It wasn't that the media didn't want to report them; it was that he simply wasn't interested in any woman other than Fan Baobao.

Even old friends like Jiang Wen and Ye Jing had to admit that Zhao Fusheng was truly beyond reproach.

"But speaking of which, do you think we should add a few female characters?"

Jiang Wen thought for a moment and asked Zhao Fusheng.

In the script Zhao Fusheng gave him, there were only three female roles: the magistrate's wife (the role Miss Liu would play), Hua Jie, and the woman who was taken by force. Apart from that, there wasn't a single female character.

There was no help for it; Zhao Fusheng only remembered these female characters from what he had seen. He wasn't a god and couldn't recall too many details.

"As you wish."

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said to Jiang Wen: "As long as it doesn't affect the overall plot of the film, you can add them yourself."

He now realized that he was lucky he hadn't agreed to go to the set with him. Otherwise, this guy would constantly propose script changes and drive him crazy.

Jiang Wen nodded. Since Zhao Fusheng had no objection, he would naturally modify the script according to his own ideas.

Ye Jing didn't say anything. He knew Jiang Wen's temperament well; this guy had always been like that, liking to change scripts and add scenes.

To be honest, as a director, collaborating with an actor like Jiang Wen was definitely a terrible ordeal. After all, this guy was a top-notch director himself and a Best Actor. Subduing him wasn't easy.

In all of China, aside from a few major directors, no one else could really control him.

As an actor, working under Jiang Wen was also a challenge. After all, when a director acted better than the lead, how would the actor feel?

"I'm leaving now. You two figure out the rest."

Zhao Fusheng stood up and said to Jiang Wen and Ye Jing.

The two nodded. They knew Zhao Fusheng had other things to do and wouldn't linger here long.

At the door, Zhao Fusheng remembered something and stopped, looking at Jiang Wen: "If 'Bullets' starts shooting, what about the crew for 'Wulin'?"

This was a crucial issue, as there was only a little over a month until shooting began.

Jiang Wen smiled: "I've calculated. 'Wulin' has a total of eighty episodes. If we shoot normally, it'll take about four months. According to our plan, we'll shoot a quarter of the script first, see how the audience reacts after it airs. If it's well-received, we'll continue shooting the rest."

"That works."

Zhao Fusheng nodded. Following the seasonal broadcast model, this approach was indeed correct.

"A quarter is a bit too little."

After thinking, Zhao Fusheng said to Jiang Wen: "Shoot thirty episodes and see how the audience responds."

"Thirty?"

Jiang Wen and Ye Jing exchanged a glance, then nodded, agreeing with Zhao Fusheng's opinion.

After all, this was their first time doing something like this, and they weren't very confident either.

Zhao Fusheng left Future Film, checked the time, and found it was almost evening. He had originally planned to visit Future Technology and discuss things with Dong Guoxiang, but on second thought, he decided against it—it was already late.

"Let's go home."

Getting into the car, Zhao Fusheng said to the driver.

The motorcade slowly started and headed toward home.

Standing upstairs, watching Zhao Fusheng's motorcade leave, Jiang Wen and Ye Jing exchanged glances. After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Wen spoke first: "I'll communicate with Feihong about 'Wulin.'"

"Alright."

Ye Jing nodded, then said: "Shoot your scenes first, then come back as soon as possible and set up the crew here. Since we said we'd start shooting on April Fool's Day, we can't delay."

"Don't worry, I have it under control."

Jiang Wen said to Ye Jing.

There was a reason they said this.

'Wulin' was a comedy and a TV series, so it would be faster to shoot than a film. Moreover, both Jiang Wen and Yu Feihong had directing skills, so they could shoot both projects simultaneously. The crew might have to work harder, though.

But if it came to that, they could just pay more.

In this day and age, in the entertainment industry, was there any problem that throwing money at couldn't solve?