I really don't want to make bad movies!

Xia Ming's revised script is only fifty minutes long.

After deducting the twenty minutes of police interrogation and the fifteen minutes of filming for the second act, only fifteen minutes of the main feature film remained to be shot.

It includes scenes of Jason hand-making a giant wasp robot from parts in a cabin in the woods, a mysterious UFO attacking the town, and the main characters escaping through the woods and communicating with the giant wasp.

Under Xia Ming's guidance, the filming of these scenes went smoothly.

All you need to do is add the special effects of the giant wasp and the UFO in post-production.

"Thank you both for your hard work. You've finished filming your scenes. Just help me record a few more lines later." Xia Ming patted Yang Kai and Li Junlin on the shoulder.

"Isn't there a scene at the police station too?" Li Junlin asked.

Xia Ming waved his hand: "That scene only needs Wang Zhengchuan and Jiang Xixi to act. You've already finished filming your scenes."

Li Junlin picked up the script and flipped through it; indeed, he had no scenes to perform.

He closed the script, nodded to Xia Ming, and asked, "May I take this script home as a souvenir?"

"Of course, whatever you want."

"Xia Ming, you've really impressed me." Li Junlin packed his belongings and came to Xia Ming's side before leaving.

"With your camerawork skills, if you come across a good story, you're sure to get good results in this competition."

Li Junlin put his arm around Xia Ming's shoulder, intending to say something comforting.

But then he remembered that the two were about the same age, and immediately changed his mind.

"If you have any more short films to shoot in the future, and there are suitable roles available, you can contact me first."

Xia Ming nodded perfunctorily, then raised his hand to stop him again: "We agreed that all the meals would be covered, so let me treat you to a meal before you leave."

Li Junlin shook his head and declined. Xia Ming didn't try to stop him. He asked for his payment code and scanned it to send him 150 yuan.

Li Junlin was taken aback: "Didn't you say the pay was one hundred?"

"You haven't eaten, so here's fifty yuan as a meal supplement."

"A meal doesn't cost fifty yuan."

"Shouldn't we have a good meal after filming wraps up?"

Upon hearing this, Li Junlin didn't say much, just smiled, nodded, said thank you, and left with his bag.

"And you, come and get your money," Xia Ming called to Yang Kai.

Yang Kai's expression was not good. He walked to Xia Ming's side, but instead of immediately taking out his phone, he stammered and whispered:

"Director, could we reshoot those shots from Act Two?"

Xia Ming frowned: "You think there's something wrong with the filming?"

No, no.

Yang Kai waved his hands repeatedly: "It's just... I saw that Brother Zhang was very satisfied with your film, and I'm afraid he'll show it to other teachers..."

Xia Ming pondered for a moment and quickly understood what he meant.

"Are you afraid the acting professors will see?"

Yang Kai gave an awkward smile.

He had a problem with Xia Ming before, and his performances were just going through the motions, even showing a hint of disdain.

If his teacher saw this, he would be furious.

"A reshoot is not possible," Xia Ming replied outright.

Yang Kai rubbed his hands together, lowered his head slightly, and tentatively said, "How about I forgo the pay and Director Xia lets me act it out again?"

"You still know I'm a director?"

Xia Ming's attitude was firm.

This guy's acting is like a zombie's; the moment he opens his mouth, he completely diminishes the cinematic language and immersive experience he's created.

With his performance, this movie's rating will definitely not break 4.0.

We absolutely cannot give him a chance to reshoot.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade Xia Ming, Yang Kai could only grit his teeth and curse in his heart that no one would watch this movie before taking his pay and leaving.

"Let's go eat."

Xia Ming turned around and saw Wang Zhengchuan playing on his phone, while Jiang Xixi was looking at a script with a light stick.

Hearing Xia Ming's voice, Jiang Xixi looked up: "Aren't we filming today?"

"Why are you filming so late? Two light sticks aren't enough. Let's go eat first."

Jiang Xixi blinked. Xia Ming had indeed said that all meals would be provided before she joined the crew.

After cleaning up the mess, Wang Zhengchuan excitedly rushed to Xia Ming's side: "Xiao Ming's treating! I want to eat at the Little Peace Restaurant on the back street!"

Jiang Xixi's eyes lit up when she heard about the Little Peace Restaurant.

"Okay, let's eat that one."

Xia Ming put his arm around Wang Zhengchuan's neck and rubbed his shoulders: "Don't you have a senior in the animation department? Help me ask how much it would cost to make a ten-minute robot special effects performance?"

"Are you serious?" Wang Zhengchuan's eyes widened as he turned to look at him. "Our film crew is already in such a dilapidated state, and you still want to spend money on special effects?"

"I really can't tell if you're just trying to be a prank, or if you genuinely want to make a Chinese version of Transformers!"

"If you ask me, I'd say go pick up a couple of cardboard boxes from the back alley, put them on your head, and pretend you're a robot!"

"Hey, that's what you don't understand."

Xia Ming shook his head.

If they really take this to the extreme, using cardboard boxes to disguise themselves as robots, it might actually make people mistake it for a nonsensical parody movie aimed at fans.

There are also many fan-made short videos on Bilibili featuring homemade props, and they have received very good reviews.

However, spending a little money on cheap, eye-searing special effects can actually make people think you're serious.

Emphasizing "special effects blockbuster" and "meticulously crafted over several years" in promotional materials can incite public outrage and lower the rating.

In his previous life, Xia Ming was tricked into going to the cinema by a movie called "Fengshen 2", which was touted as a blockbuster with amazing special effects.

The result was so infuriating by the abstract blue giant that it immediately gave a low score of 3.0.

However, Xia Ming didn't explain the reason to Wang Zhengchuan. Instead, he smiled and whispered in his ear, "Haven't you always had a crush on that senior who studied animation for three years?"

Wang Zhengchuan was shocked. It turned out that his brother was trying to set him up with connections!

"Good brother!"

Xia Ming transferred 500 yuan to him and sent him a design sketch of a giant wasp.

They gave a three-day deadline and repeatedly emphasized that there should be no rushing; they should just do what they could.

Use as many free materials as possible from the special effects material library; the more materials you have, the better.

Although Wang Zhengchuan was puzzled, he still wrote down all the requirements and happily set off to the animation academy to find his senior.

"Alright, let's go eat."

Watching Wang Zhengchuan run away, Xia Ming also slung his bag over his shoulder and walked forward side by side with Jiang Xixi.

It was already late, and the moonlight shone on the yellow earth, revealing only two figures on the sand and stones.

Xia Ming watched as the moonlight shone on Jiang Xixi's lake-blue shirt, outlining her slender figure.

"You might need to get up early tomorrow morning."

Jiang Xixi turned her head: "Is filming starting in the morning?"

"It is filming, but we're going to the photo studio outside the school to shoot the poster."

"poster?"

Jiang Xixi was puzzled.

"Yes, we need a beautiful poster. In the center is the exquisite and flawless Jiang Xixi, and on the side is a cool robot with its mechanical joints showing."

"This poster will be our main means of promoting the movie, and it might be shared in various QQ groups and QQ spaces. Do you mind?"

Jiang Xixi countered, "Do we really have cool robots?"

Xia Ming chuckled: "At least we really have Jiang Xixi."

Jiang Xixi slightly curled the corners of her lips.

"You're the director, you call the shots."

Under the moonlight, the two walked slowly.

Jiang Xixi kicked at the pebbles under her feet, turning her head several times to look at Xia Ming's back, opening her mouth, but never uttering a sound.

Xia Ming, head down, watched another shadow recede into the distance under the moonlight, then turned and asked, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Xixi snapped out of her daze, her face slightly flushed. She jogged a few steps forward and whispered, "It's nothing, I just wanted to say thank you."

"Why are you thanking me?" Xia Ming asked curiously.

Jiang Xixi was a little embarrassed, but since she had already started, she continued, "The school is making a short film, and I took the initiative to find other classmates, but they all thought my acting was terrible."

Xia Ming shifted his gaze elsewhere, silently agreeing with Jiang Xixi's statement.

To be honest, I chose Jiang Xixi because of her popularity and good looks.

But you can't say such hurtful things to outsiders.

Xia Ming considered his words carefully before speaking slowly: "Acting skills can be practiced, but the key is to find your strengths, discover your range of roles, and play suitable characters."

Jiang Xixi nodded thoughtfully. She had learned a lot from Xia Ming all day.

"Director Xia, can I ask you if I have any questions in the future?"

Xia Ming waved his hand dismissively, "Ask away, I'll answer when I have time."

Jiang Xixi silently took out her phone and opened QQ.

She has very few QQ friends; her homepage list isn't even full.

But she still long-pressed Xia Ming's profile picture and clicked "pin to top".