China Entertainment Mythology 2004

Chapter 7 Reaching Cooperation
"Boss Yang, Uncle Long, Director Tang, Xiying's bottom line is the final cut rights and the quota of an assistant director. The rest can be discussed, but if the conditions of Xiying Studio cannot be met, I am afraid this project will..."

In a five-star hotel in Xijing City, Li Mu saw Yang Shoucheng who had just arrived here, and Cheng Long and director Tang Jili were also there.

"How?" Cheng Long asked.

Li Mu didn't hide it, and said: "I have already communicated with Xiying Film Factory, and we have a preliminary agreement. Xiying Film Factory will participate in the investment and take about half of the final cutting rights. And the final editing rights will be handed over to our editor Liu Xiaowu."

"At the same time, Xiying Films will fight for me as an assistant director, and my script remuneration will be counted as an investment in the film. If Xiying Film Studio cannot meet my requirements, then I will not pull them into the project, nor will I Will sell my script."

Cheng Long and Tang Jili were taken aback after hearing this, they never thought that Li Mu would say such a thing.

It was impossible not to be angry at all, but several people became more curious about Li Mu.

"Which Liu Xiaowu?" Yang Shoucheng asked suddenly.

"It's my uncle. He has worked in Xiying Studio for nearly 20 years, and his professional level is absolutely reliable."

Cheng Long said at this time: "You give me the script first, and after confirming that I am very interested in the script and even say that I want to act in it myself, then you ask your uncle to bring the script to Xiying Studio, and then Tell Xiying Film Studio that this is a project that Cheng Long is very optimistic about, and you can invite Xiying Film Studio to join, but the condition is that Xiying Film Studio will get the final editing rights and hand it over to your uncle."

Li Mu nodded.

Business is business. In the business field, it is normal for you to put forward any conditions. If you think the conditions are unreasonable, just refuse to cooperate.

"At the same time, you also asked yourself to be an assistant director?"

Li Mu continued to nod.

"If everything goes well, you only use one script, and in exchange for an assistant director and an editor with the right to final cut, the right to speak will be better than that of Western Film Studio invested by real money—even Yang and I. The boss has to respect your opinion." Cheng Long continued.

Tang Jili said at this time: "It's really a good plan, but what if we and Xiying Studio disagree?"

Li Mudao: "The probability is not high, because both Uncle Long and Xiying Film Studio are very optimistic about this project at present, and the project that both parties are optimistic about will naturally increase the confidence of both parties in the script."

"At this time, as long as any party still has confidence in the project, after the other party announces its withdrawal, the remaining party will not choose to continue to withdraw, but will first choose to find a new partner who can accept their conditions. Even both parties have the ability to complete the project independently.”

"The only regret is that if it is Uncle Long and Boss Yang who quit in the end, then it will be very difficult for Xiying Film Studio to find another protagonist with such great influence as Uncle Long, and my script is based on Uncle Long. If anyone else plays the role, the final effect will inevitably be greatly compromised."

Cheng Long asked: "What if I, Boss Yang, and Xiying Studio all quit?"

Li Mu was silent for a moment, and said: "Then the project will be shelved, and I will go to sing and write books to make money. When I earn enough money, the project will naturally see the light of day."

This statement is half true and half false. When he earns enough money to make this movie, I am afraid that the original movie will also come out.

What Li Mu said was more like a bluff.

After Li Mu finished speaking, the room fell into a moment of silence.

"Hahaha……"

Yang Shoucheng suddenly broke the silence with a hearty smile.

"It's kind of interesting, you young man is kind of interesting - ambitious, aggressive, and a little trick that's not too serious. But I always think it's not a bad thing for young people to be ambitious, but I listen to Cheng Long I mentioned that you majored in computer science and just graduated this year, so I don't understand, since you are so deliberate to get deeply involved in this project, why did you ask yourself the position of an assistant director?"

"Directors rely on technology. If you don't understand it, you don't understand it. But actors are different. Actors value talent more."

"If you tailor a good role for yourself in the script, and then use the means you have today to get this role, wouldn't it be more profitable for you?"

"Being able to partner with the international superstar Cheng Long when you debut is the real step to reach the sky, but you just want an assistant director. What use is the assistant director to you? Do you feel majestic? I don't think you are this kind of person."

"Do you have a pen and paper?" Li Mu asked suddenly after hearing the words.

"What do you need paper and pen for?" Director Tang Jili asked.

"You will know after reading it." Li Mu said.

Tang Jili got up and found a brand new notebook and a carbon pen. Li Mu picked up the notebook and pen, closed his eyes and thought for a moment, and then began to write and draw on the paper.

Cheng Long and Tang Jili walked behind Li Mu curiously, and their eyes widened when they saw it. It turned out that Li Mu was drawing the storyboard draft of "Taken" on the spot.

Storyboarding is based on the written script. According to the director's own overall conception, the storyline content is divided into different scenes, angles, sound and picture forms, and camera relationships, etc., based on the shot as the basic unit.

That is to say, the storyboard script has a lot more professional things compared to the text script. For example, should this shot be used in close-up, medium-range, or long-range?Should I use a panorama or a close-up of the face?And how to move the mirror?How long should each shot be given?
What should the actions, lines, mise-en-scène, environmental modeling, sound, music, etc. in the camera look like?
Without considerable director skills, it is impossible to draw a qualified storyboard draft.

Li Mu painted very quickly, and soon a piece of paper was filled. He tore off the finished paper and put it on the coffee table, allowing several people to pick it up and watch it. Then he lowered his head and continued to draw the second piece.

Then the third, the fourth, the fifth.

Yang Shoucheng doesn't know much about storyboard scripts, but he can still see that the young man in front of him has directing skills.

Of course, Cheng Long and Tang Jili know more about movies than Yang Shoucheng, so they are very sure that the director Li Mu in front of him can be said to have very profound skills.

Not only does he know how to direct, it can be seen from these scenes that Li Mu should even know how to direct actions.

Cheng Long suddenly felt that it might not be a problem for the young man in front of him to be the direct director of "Taken".

When Li Mu finished drawing the eighth piece of paper, he finally stopped.

"Boss Yang, Uncle Long, Director Tang, it's true that I majored in computer science in college, but my uncle is an editor at Xiying Studio. How to make a movie, and I have seen the storyboard drafts drawn by the directors of Xiying, so I think I know what it is like to be a director, and I also feel that I have the ability to be an assistant director.”

The other three people in the room looked at each other.

In the end, it was Yang Shoucheng who suddenly broke the silence with a hearty smile and said, "It's not that the right to final cut and assistant director can't be handed over to Xiying Studio——to you."

"Thank you Boss Yang for your trust"

"Li Mu, you really impressed me tonight. To be honest, I always thought of you as a child with some talent before tonight. I didn't expect you to be much better than I thought." Cheng Long said.

"Uncle Long, you are too proud."

"The storyboard draft is very professional, and this level is rare in Xiangjiang." Tang Jili said.

"Director Tang is overrated."

The next few people chatted for a while, and then Li Mu said goodbye and left.

(End of this chapter)