In the entertainment industry, I only like making movies.

Chapter 2: Winning Over Xiao Wang

......

"Sniper!"

"Assassination or gunfight themes?"

Looking at the script title, Wang Zhonglei thought of police and gangster films shot in Hong Kong.

Police and gangster films have completely declined since "Infernal Affairs," and they've been stuck on the same old formula over and over again.

Following the trend of Hong Kong films...

Director Fang, you're still young after all!

Wang Zhonglei glanced at Fang Yi, intending to boast a bit and criticize Hong Kong films.

But he noticed that Fang Yi wasn't nervous at all; he was too calm and appeared very composed.

He stopped the urge to boast, opened a piece of paper, and began to read the script.

We still have to put on a show; we can't dampen the enthusiasm of young people.

As for investment?

It's not too late to talk about it after you've read the script.

Across from him, in the spot where Wang Jinghua had just sat, Fang Yi was slumped in the soft sofa, a lit cigarette dangling from his right hand, his gaze calmly fixed on the ashtray on the coffee table.

[Sniper Phone Booth]

This script was the first film project he chose after he traveled through time and thought it through from all angles, taking into account production costs, subject matter appeal, market size, audience acceptance, and his own directing experience.

This is a prime example of a 'high-concept film'.

With a production cost of less than $10 million, it grossed nearly $100 million at the global box office thanks to its excellent word-of-mouth and promotion.

A classic thriller where a small investment yields a huge reward!

In this lifetime, the world has not changed much, except for the lack of certain small details.

For example, after researching global entertainment and film trends, Fang Yi discovered that Hollywood had fewer blockbuster and best-selling films.

The vacant movie slots, occupied by other blockbusters, still achieved remarkable results.

Fang Yi thoroughly searched his memories from his previous life and made a killing in Hollywood.

Due to time constraints, he doesn't have a personal laptop connected to the internet, so he doesn't have many Hollywood scripts lying around.

There are only about ten or twenty films... Among them, "Sniper Phone Booth" is the most suitable for newcomers to shoot.

Also lying in the laptop were more than a dozen scripts for future Chinese-language films.

Having lived two lives, his favorite and most passionate thing is still movies.

The scenario for "Sniper Phone Booth" is simple, and the cost to adapt it to China would be at most three to five million.

Fang Yi wasn't worried at all that Huayi wouldn't invest.

Before 2015, Huayi was one of the most experienced private film and television companies in terms of production.

Despite their capitalist tendencies, Wang and Wang were still quite enthusiastic about developing films before Huayi Brothers went public.

After it goes public...

Fang Yi's only worry was that Hua Yi would kick him aside after reading the script.

Invest in the film, replace it with another experienced director, and only give him the positions of screenwriter and assistant director.

This kind of "crossing the river and then burning the bridge" behavior is nothing new in the entertainment industry.

Fortunately, Fang Yi was no novice; having lived two lives, he was always cautious in his dealings.

Before coming, he made two preparations.

First: After selecting the script, he registered it with the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television Copyright Center in advance, and the copyright of the script was in his hands.

Secondly...

Fang Yi finished his cigarette and waited quietly for Wang Zhonglei.

Wang Zhonglei was completely immersed in the story, his expression shifting between contemplation and amazement.

At this moment, he was completely captivated by the script, and his previous slight disdain for Fang Yi was long gone.

Ten minutes later...

After reading the script, Wang Zhonglei looked up at Fang Yi with an approving expression.

Young man, you're really going all out!

Fang Yi had been waiting for this moment, and he spoke slowly, revealing his second plan.

"Mr. Wang, I personally plan to invest a portion of this project."

Wang Zhonglei's smile vanished, his words of praise cut short as they were about to come out, leaving him feeling as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.

However, Xiao Wang is one of the key figures at Huayi. Although he likes to have fun in his spare time, he is still quite serious about his work.

Xiao Wang quickly adjusted his mindset, a smile playing on his lips: "Director Fang has guts!"

At the same time, he quickly analyzed the script in his mind.

The script features a simple setting and a small budget, but the plot is fast-paced, full of surprising twists and turns, with some scenes being truly brilliant and exceeding the audience's expectations.

Besides its established audience, the suspense genre also attracts many curious viewers, making it a market that is far from niche.

If you just make a good movie and do a good job of promotion, the probability of losing money is negligible.

In a short period of time, Wang Zhonglei had already begun to consider investing.

He thought he would first have his elder brother, Wang Zhongjun, review the proposal before finalizing the project approval.

As for whether or not Fang Yi will direct, we'll discuss that later.

Wang Zhonglei reluctantly placed the A4 paper on the coffee table, then casually asked, "Director Fang, what about the copyright of this script?"

"It's in my possession and has already been registered with the copyright center!"

Fang Yi smiled slightly and, in a friendly tone, extinguished Wang Zhonglei's wild idea.

Young man, you have no sense of martial ethics!

Wang Zhonglei muttered to himself, taking a deep look at Fang Yi, gazing at his excessively young and handsome face.

You little rascal!

So handsome, why become a director?

As his thoughts raced, Wang Zhonglei put on a friendly smile again, picked up his teacup, and raised it slightly.

"Good, Director Fang is very thoughtful. We should hold onto film projects with such promising prospects."

"Don't worry, Director Fang. Once the script passes my review, I'll show it to my brother, then we'll discuss it at the company meeting. It'll be almost certainly approved!"

"As for personal investment, there's no rush; we'll discuss it when the project is approved."

As he spoke, Wang Zhonglei picked up the script again and began to browse through it a second time.

Fang Yi nodded, offered the tea as a gesture of respect, and took a sip.

After sitting for a while, he got up to say goodbye.

"Little Wang is done, now it's just a matter of Big Wang's turn."

"No rush, let the dust settle!"

After leaving the office, Fang Yi was in a good mood and strolled around the company.

Huayi rented eight floors in this office building. Apart from two floors used for administration, the remaining floors housed numerous departments, including film and television production, publicity and distribution, filming equipment, artist management, GG, music, and more.

With over 200 staff members stationed at its headquarters, it can already be considered a large film and television company.

Fang Yi first visited the filming equipment department to tour the filming equipment that the company had purchased or leased.

They say sharpening your axe won't delay your wood-chopping work!

Having a good camera will make filming the "Sniper Phone Booth" scene much easier.

At this point in time, domestic film production is somewhere between two situations.

Film became the mainstream, digital is being explored!

Film shooting demands the highest image quality. Between 2005 and 2008, film remained the mainstream choice, but high-end digital cinema cameras began to challenge its position.

A room where equipment is stored.

Under the guidance of equipment supervisor Wang Song, Fang Yi gazed affectionately at a Panavisense camera.

Panavision: Panaflex Millennium, Platinum

With its exceptional lens lineup and reliable mechanical performance, it has become the top choice for today's world's leading big-budget productions.

"Manager Wang, was this purchased or leased by the company?"

Fang Yi reached out and gently stroked the exquisite black camera in front of him, speaking with the same joy as if gazing at a lover.

"Bought!"

Wang Song smiled smugly, casually picked up a cotton swab from next to the camera, shook it a few times in the air, and then wiped away non-existent dust from the camera's surface.

Fang Yi glanced at Wang Song, who was protecting the baby, and walked towards the other two cameras.

The equipment department maintains and repairs unused equipment every few days, so where does all that dust come from?

Panavisense is good, but it's for big-budget films. In the entire Huayi Brothers, Feng Xiaogang probably uses it the most.

The sniper phone booth doesn't require such top-of-the-line equipment.

Instead, the ARRI and Sony CineAlta series F900/HDW-F900 cameras in front of him were more to his liking.

ARRI: · ARRICAM Studio & Lite (ARRI 535B, 435)

This is another mainstream option that rivals Panavision, and it has a high market share in Europe and domestically.

The ARRICAM system is stable, durable, and has good lens compatibility, making it a popular choice for blockbuster films and attracting many film directors in the industry.

Sony CineAlta series F900/HDW-F900:

Positioned as a high-definition camera, it became the absolute mainstay of low-cost digital cinema at the time through its 24P mode.

Many TV movies and digital movies are shot using it. It can record in 1080/24p format on HDCAM tape and is a key device for the current transition from standard definition television to high definition movies.

"Sony is still lacking."

Fang Yi hovered his hand over the machine, hesitated for a moment, and then said softly, "Thomson-Kusaya Viper is better."

"Director Fang, the Thomson-Kusaya Viper system is too complex and too expensive."

Wang Song walked over and said, "As someone in the know, how could I not understand the preferences of these directors?"

Directors, when it comes to using equipment, always want the best and most expensive.

"Yes, it's too expensive!" Fang Yi smiled helplessly.

After looking around for a while, he handed Wang Song a cigarette in the two-person room and said, "Manager Wang, save me one of Alai and one of Sony!"

"Of course, of course..."

Wang Song immediately patted his chest and assured everyone that he knew exactly what those words meant.

This young director, who recently joined the company, is bound to make some moves soon.

Great news... fantastic news!

No matter what Fang Yi wants to film, as long as his filming equipment department is used, it will be part of their department's revenue.