I really don't want to make bad movies!

Early in the morning, Xia Ming arrived at the film and television base next to Beijing Film Studio.

He booked a modern urban scene, which included streets, bars, apartments and other modern landscapes.

There is professional equipment overhead that can simulate the weather, as well as a light canopy for dynamic lighting.

Four hundred thousand a month? That's too cheap!

Zhao Fei and his 15-person photography team arrived shortly after, unloading two ARRI cinema cameras, along with piles of replacement lenses and auxiliary equipment from their vehicle.

Zhao Fei looked around the enormous photography base and asked疑惑地问道, "Why did you rent such a big studio?"

In his memory, Xia Ming only had a filming budget of one million.

The rent alone costs 400,000. After paying the photographer's salary and deducting some miscellaneous expenses from the crew, what else can we shoot?

Xia Ming answered truthfully: "I don't have money to spend on commuting, so choosing this highly integrated base is more convenient."

Next, the actors and costume/prop team entered the set one after another.

Xia Ming also selected several outstanding students from the directing department of the school to serve as production assistants, and the entire film crew was thus set up.

When everyone arrived, the main actors were clearly stunned.

Why are there so many people?!

They all thought it was just a low-budget web series, a joke, but the crew in front of them was at least sixty people!

Moreover, the venue is not just one building in the film studio, but the entire studio!

Then I looked over and saw the director of photography who was adjusting the camera next to me. Wasn't that Professor Zhao Fei from their school?

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't a handheld camera, but a fully equipped cinema camera!

A large group of photographers were busy setting up tracks according to Zhao Fei's instructions, following the script.

The props and art departments were also busy setting up the scene in the room.

"What are you actors standing there for? Come over and rehearse!"

Xia Ming shouted at the five main actors.

"Director Xia, are we sure we didn't go to the wrong film set?"

This was the first time Kong Hoon had ever seen a film crew of this size, and the director was actually his junior from school.

Jiang Xixi blinked and looked around; everything around her was so new and exciting.

Her last film crew was a large hornet's nest, and she's suddenly jumped to such a huge crew; she hasn't even had time to adjust yet.

"Stop talking nonsense. I'll give you an hour to read the script. We'll start filming today from the third segment of episode ten. Memorize your lines."

"Start filming from episode ten?" Li Junlin, who had been holding the script the whole time, looked up when he heard this. "Wouldn't it be simpler to start filming from episode one step by step?"

Xia Ming knew that Li Junlin was very dedicated and liked to study the script, so he patiently explained, "There is one actor who hasn't arrived yet. His schedule is tight, so we'll shoot the later scenes first."

Jiang Xixi, who was also familiar with the script, took off her mask and asked, "Are you an actor from Shaozhuang?"

"Yes." Xia Ming nodded. "He's already on his way and will arrive at the film set in about two hours."

The group looked at each other, wondering who would play the role of Shao Zhuang.

Logically speaking, since the main actors are all newcomers, Shao Zhuang, a supporting actor, should not have any status.

After thinking about it, everyone just assumed that he was a senior who was out taking on acting roles.

"Director Xia~"

Yan Shu moved closer to Xia Ming at some point, and the faint scent of her perfume wafted into Xia Ming's nostrils.

"You didn't say our crew was that amazing, with over sixty people!"

She was dressed rather conservatively today, wearing a white shirt, a gray sweater, a black suit, and a 39cm navy blue plaid skirt that only reached her upper thighs, revealing a pair of long legs covered in thick black fabric.

"The size of the production crew has nothing to do with how well you act. Study the script carefully, and come to me if you don't understand anything."

Xia Ming's tone was cold, even a little fierce.

This isn't about filming giant wasps; he needs to adopt the right attitude and bring out the directorial spirit of Hitchcock.

In his previous life, Hitchcock famously said, "All actors should be treated like livestock."

The language may be a bit rough, but that's the gist of it.

"Of course there are things I don't understand, can you help me take a look?"

Yan Shu took off her suit jacket in front of Xia Ming, took out a hair tie from her pocket, and tied up her long hair so that she could put on makeup later.

Then, she took the script, bent down, and walked to Xia Ming, turning the pages with light movements.

"Hmm...this is it."

Xia Ming followed her gaze downwards and saw a fair hand covering the script.

Jiang Xixi stood expressionless to the side, lightly tapping the script with her finger: "I'll teach you."

Yan Shu tilted her head slightly, pursed her lips, and asked, "Are you the director?"

"Director, the director of photography wants to see you."

Xia Ming looked up as Jiang Xixi spoke and found that Zhao Fei was indeed waving at him.

This film crew wasn't as well-organized as the crew of "Let the Bullets Fly," and Zhao Fei was somewhat overwhelmed leading fifteen cameramen on his own.

"Alright, you main actors can discuss the script first."

Li Junlin raised his hand from the back: "I've read the script seven times, we can exchange ideas."

After he finished speaking, Kong Xun and Zhao Lang immediately moved closer to him, clearly indicating that neither of them had read the script much.

Yan Shu glared at Jiang Xixi and snatched the script back from her hands.

……

"Teacher Zhao, what's wrong?"

Xia Ming ran up to Zhao Fei.

Zhao Fei said helplessly, "You're one to talk. There's no assistant director in the group, and no one is writing the shooting schedule. The different groups are interfering with each other, affecting the progress."

"Also, if you're going to start filming from episode ten, the characters Shao Zhuang and Xiao Bao will be locked in a battle of wits from afar. It would be best to use a few low color temperature surface lights to highlight the depth of the scene."

Xia Ming felt overwhelmed and immediately called Wang Zhengchuan to come and serve as his assistant director, while simultaneously writing out the execution plan.

Fortunately, he studied in Jiang Wen's film crew for a month, and Jiang Wen taught him everything he knew, so he learned real skills.

Otherwise, if you have to manage a crew of more than sixty people right away, you'll not only be overwhelmed, but you'll also inevitably feel a bit powerless at first.

As soon as Wang Zhengchuan heard that he didn't have to attend classes and could take leave to film, he immediately came running over.

Seeing the bustling activity throughout the film set, he was dumbfounded: "Ming-ge, you didn't tell me the film crew was this big?!"

A lead actor earning 3,000 yuan a day, filming a movie of this scale?

Lu Bu riding a dog?!

"Stop talking nonsense and get me a few ARRI S360s."

Just as he finished speaking, Xia Ming, considering the crew's tight budget, changed his mind and said, "Forget it, let's use the Aputure 600D."

"Rent by the day, quick return, money will be transferred to you via WeChat."

Wang Zhengchuan was still in a daze when Xia Ming pushed him out of the base.

Back on set, he distributed the completed execution sheets to each group, and then went back to help Zhao Fei continue adjusting the film projector.

Staff from the photography studio came to coordinate, and he was also responsible for coordinating the equipment across the entire site and discussing insurance matters.

This kind of thing should be discussed by the producer, but their production team doesn't have a producer!

Before filming even started, Xia Ming's WeChat step count had already surpassed 10,000 steps.

The main actors huddled together, occasionally glancing up at the shrewd and charming Xia Ming during breaks in their script discussion, and whispering amongst themselves.

"This is different from what was said in the group chat!"

"But he really did take the picture of the giant wasp, right?"

Apart from Jiang Xixi and Li Junlin, the other three were working with Xia Ming for the first time.

They were all amazed by Xia Ming's superb professional skills.

Let alone students, even some experienced junior directors who have made a few films can't handle so many positions!

Jiang Xixi and Li Junlin had only ever seen Xia Ming's photography skills before; this was the first time they had seen him directing operations on set.

After all, the Big Hornet crew only had five people, so there was no need for scheduling.

In just a few months, Xia Ming became an absolute stranger to them.

Yan Shu crossed her legs, her short skirt just covering her private parts, her eyes sparkling: "Director Xia is so charming."

"Li Junlin," Jiang Xixi suddenly spoke up, "Let's rehearse our lines."

"Huh?" Li Junlin hadn't expected Jiang Xixi to call his name and almost didn't react.

"Okay, come on."

He answered haltingly, then put down the script, quickly got into character, and began rehearsing his lines with Jiang Xixi.

Yan Shu rested her chin on her hand, watching Jiang Xixi with great interest.

"Um, are you Yan Shu? Let's go over the lines," Zhang Xun suggested after reading the script. "You haven't even read the script, how can you manage?"

Yan Shu turned her head, revealing a playful smile: "You and Zhao Lang are a couple."

Zhang Xun scratched his head, feeling helpless, and could only go to find Zhao Lang, while he was also having some doubts.

Just then, Xia Ming's phone rang.

He answered the phone, nodded, and waved to the lead actors: "Another actor has arrived, lead actors, come and assemble!"

The group stood up and walked to Xia Ming's side with the extras.

Outside the filming location, several people were walking towards the film crew.

Xia Ming stepped forward and greeted the man in the lead: "Brother Kun, would you like some time to look at the script?"

The man named Kun waved his hand and laughed, "Your script is so brilliant! I've read it three or four times at home, I know it by heart!"

Brother Kun?

Who is Brother Kun?

The actors racked their brains, but none of them could recall having a classmate with "Kun" in their name.

It wasn't until Xia Ming led the man closer that they could see Kun Ge's face clearly.

"Let me introduce you. This is Chen Kun, an actor from Shaozhuang."

"They are the main actors, and they are all your juniors."

Xia Ming introduced them one by one.

"Hello." Chen Kun nodded and smiled slightly, without making a move to shake hands.

The main actors stood there, almost forgetting to respond.

No?

who? ? ?

Chen Kun is in our group?!

Ah? ? ?