I really don't want to make bad movies!

After finishing filming in the suburbs of Baihe Bay, the crew immediately flew to the watchtowers in Guangdong Province.

This is one of the main filming locations for the movie "Let the Bullets Fly".

The production team coordinated with local residents and signed a confidentiality agreement before successfully securing the filming rights for the entire watchtower complex.

Upon arriving at the watchtower, the number of crew members increased significantly, reaching over two hundred.

The main reason is the increase in the number of extras, and a lot of effort was also put into setting up the outdoor sets.

"All actors, come to the director and get your storyboards!"

The assistant director used a megaphone to call the actors.

Xia Ming, the photographer, also received a script.

Today's scene depicts Zhang Mazi rushing to the Feast at Hongmen, with three award-winning actors sharing the stage.

Last night, he designed a storyboard for Jiang Wen and suggested using a fast-cut close-up shot, just like the previous scene where he fell into the water.

However, given Jiang Wen's personality, he would film all the suggestions and ideas, and then choose the one he was satisfied with from dozens of materials.

"Xia! Come and look at this machine."

Zhao Fei greeted Xia Ming.

The dramatic scene at the Feast at Hongmen is the climax of the entire film, and Jiang Wen chose to shoot it using three cameras.

Zhao Fei didn't have time to watch the monitor; he had to personally take control of the console.

"Everyone in position, Scene 1 of the Feast at Hongmen, Action!"

The small room was crammed with lighting technicians, sound engineers, and a bunch of photographers.

Each machine needs to be equipped with a main camera and four auxiliary cameras, making it impossible to move around freely.

After reviewing the footage, Jiang Wen discovered that there would be continuity errors no matter how the filming was done, so he immediately ordered the walls of the studio to be demolished and the studio expanded.

After filming twice, he discovered that several cameras were out of sync.

It is extremely difficult to keep up with the synchronous movement of three cameras and fifteen people filming at the same time.

"Xia, give me some advice!"

Helpless, Jiang Wen could only look at Xia Ming.

Xia Ming suggested, "Let's lay a circular track, connect it with two connectors, and find two people to push the track."

The entire photography team was expanded again, with two additional camera assistants added to the mechanical team and three more focus pullers.

Because they couldn't speak during filming, Xia Ming had to devise a set of hand gestures to ensure that the photographers' movements didn't interfere with each other's.

The camera crew alone spent two days rehearsing their positions.

The actors spent another three days rehearsing their lines.

After going back and forth more than thirty times, Jiang Wen finally achieved the effect he wanted.

Once we got through this climax scene, the rest of the filming became much easier.

When it comes to refining the script, Jiang Wen always calls on Xia Ming and Wei Xiao to discuss it together with the actors.

A result can often be reached in half a day.

As the film crew went on for longer, Xia Ming noticed that more and more people in the crew greeted him every day.

Needless to say, the crew members were all addressed as Brother Ming.

Other staff members who do odd jobs or similar tasks will even nod and greet him when they see him.

On the surface, Xia Ming is the chief cinematographer, but he also serves as the screenwriter, assistant cinematographer, and director of photography.

It's obvious to everyone that not only Director Jiang appreciates him highly, but Zhao Fei and the two Best Actor winners also look at him differently!

It's always good to build relationships beforehand!

During the filming of the scene where Liu Zi eats noodles, Xia Ming helped design Hu Wan's line, "Isn't this bullying an honest person?!", which really made Chen Kun enjoy acting.

The two also added each other as WeChat friends and exchanged a few polite words such as "we will have the opportunity to cooperate in the future".

As filming neared its end, Xia Mingguang had added over a hundred WeChat friends.

As filming continued, Chow Yun-fat was the first actor to wrap up filming.

Before leaving, Chow Yun-fat specifically praised Xia Ming.

"Such versatile talents are very suitable for developing their careers in Hong Kong!"

Hong Kong films emphasize high efficiency; a film can be completed in just ten days to half a month.

In terms of photography, don't worry about focus rails or anything like that; as long as the lens cap is open, it's fine.

A multi-talented person like Xia Ming could save the director so much time and money.

Before Jiang Wen could speak, Zhao Fei interrupted, "This kid's only a freshman. I'll take him to Hong Kong to broaden his horizons after he graduates!"

That was a polite way of putting it, and Chow Yun-fat didn't try to poach any more people. He exchanged a few pleasantries with the crew and then took his team on the bus and left.

"You're going to be a star in the movie industry!"

Xia Ming helped tidy up the film, saying modestly, "It's fortunate that we have Teacher Zhao as our mentor."

Zhao Fei listened with delight and laughed heartily: "I must say, your film 'The Big Hornet' really took a unique approach. If it weren't for Xiao Zhou's strong recommendation, I would have truly missed out on this promising talent!"

"This gives me a new idea. In the future, I can use 'The Great Hornet' as the subject for assessing those photography graduate students and see if they can discover the exquisite shots in it."

The speaker has no intention, the listener has the heart.

Shi Xiangyuan, who was moving equipment nearby, was startled and silently memorized these words.

……

After Chow Yun-fat finished filming, the entire crew continued shooting for another month, finally completing all the scenes.

The amount of film consumed reached an astonishing 450,000 feet!

"Wow, Director Jiang, that's amazing! You didn't go over budget or exceed the deadline this time, completing filming in just three months – it's a miracle!"

At the wrap party, producer Marco raised his glass, his face full of relief.

How tight was the budget for this movie?

Even the producers have to make cameo appearances as actors!

The total budget was 130 million, and 40 million of it was spent on Chow Yun-fat's salary alone.

Fortunately, Jiang Wen had a good relationship with the main actors and used their friendship to lower his salary.

However, the construction of the sets by the engineering team and the long-term rental of the outdoor locations made the producer's heart jump to his throat several times.

"It's alright, we hired a Mr. Wolong before the shoot, otherwise your wallet would have been in deep trouble!" Jiang Wen said, his voice becoming more open and frank after a few glasses of baijiu.

"Mr. Wolong?"

Marco also became interested. During filming, he was involved in post-production publicity and promotion, and was not on set except for key moments.

Jiang Wen drank a cup with him before saying, "It's quite interesting. One of Old Zhao's tutors found an undergraduate student who made a terrible movie that everyone condemned, but it turns out he's a hidden genius. Isn't that ridiculous!"

"This kid's storyboards are incredibly detailed; they saved you at least 100,000 feet of film!"

Marco, forgetting to pick up any food, put down his chopsticks and asked, "Mr. Wolong also deserves credit for completing the filming on time?"

"Of course!" Jiang Wen pouted. "I originally planned to film for four months, but we wrapped up in three months. This kid deserves a lot of credit!"

Getting carried away, Jiang Wen simply shouted loudly towards another table, "Xia! Come here!"

Xia Ming put down his chopsticks and walked to the table of the main creative team.

"Come, let me introduce you. This is our 'Sleeping Dragon,' Xia Ming."

"This is our production manager, Marco."

Marco was surprised by Xia Ming's age, and at the same time, he raised his hand and pressed on Xia Ming's shoulder and neck: "Not bad, you're a promising young man!"

"You flatter me." Xia Ming then offered Marco a toast.

Seeing the two getting along well, Jiang suddenly interjected, "Mr. Wolong is planning to produce a web series, aren't you going to offer some support?"

"A web series?" Marco was taken aback.

Jiang Wen pressed on, "Yes, Xia is planning to co-star in a web series with her classmates as a keepsake."

There was a surplus in the filming budget for "Let the Bullets Fly". According to the contract, the remaining money would be distributed as bonuses to the key figures at the table.

Marco, as the producer, can also recoup some money.

If you calculate it that way, this money was really saved by Xia Ming.

However, as a veteran film producer, Marco actually has a bit of a dislike for web dramas.

Seeing that Jiang Wen was too eager to refuse, he said with a perfunctory attitude, "Okay! I support young people's creations! Here's the deal: I'll personally give you a million yuan in funding. If the web series is profitable, you can return my principal. If it loses money, don't worry about it; just treat it as practice."

For college students to make a web series as a keepsake for each other, spending a million yuan is really overkill.

Marco and Jiang Wen have a close relationship, and Marco knows that Jiang Wen will definitely seek out this young cinematographer when making movies in the future.

He doesn't lack this money; he's just using it as an incentive for talented people.

"Great! Boss Ma is very generous!"

Jiang Wen laughed heartily and gestured for Xia Ming to offer a toast.

Amidst lively laughter and cheers, filming of "Let the Bullets Fly" officially wrapped up.

Xia Ming took one million yuan in angel investment and Zhao Fei's entire photography team with him when he left.