I really don't want to make bad movies!

Two days later, Xia Ming's Green Fruit Short Video account was finally unblocked.

In the past two days, Xia Ming has completed the production of the complete series of "The Swindler" commentary videos according to the script, and set up timed submissions based on the broadcast schedule of the series.

After all, I'll be taking on a directing role in a few days, so I won't have time to make videos.

On the day his account was unblocked, Xia Ming also made up for all the content he owed for the third and fourth episodes of "The Swindler".

However, it missed out on the initial surge in popularity, and its popularity waned considerably.

Thanks to the promotion from iQiyi, the number of views barely surpassed one million.

There's nothing we can do about it.

After all, there are just too many explanations of "Mao Pian" online now!

This kind of script, which features multiple parties engaging in a battle of wits and is more like an ensemble piece, is naturally more suitable for narration, and the popularity of "The Swindler" is enough to attract multiple narrators to participate at the same time.

Besides Xia Ming, Bilibili's "blockbuster commentary" and Yin Fu's "poisonous commentary" have also captured a lot of traffic thanks to their huge fan base.

Xia Ming would like to see a diverse range of opinions, and ideally, top commentators from every video platform would participate in the content creation of "Mao Pian" to bring more viewers to the show.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Yang Xianghua, inquiring about the preparations for the film crew.

Yang Xianghua quickly replied: "It's basically finished. All that's left is some electrical coordination and safety registration. Don't worry."

Xia Ming was still uneasy and pressed on, asking, "[Have the actors been chosen yet? I haven't seen a single lead actor.]"

Generally speaking, casting requires suggestions from the screenwriter, selection by the director, and finally, the production manager's final decision.

However, Yang Xianghua cut off the previous stages and took full control of the casting process.

This clearly involves huge interests.

As the president of the TV drama section of a leading video platform, Yang Xianghua has countless second- and third-tier actors under his command.

These actors all yearn to elevate their status through films, so naturally they flock to Yang Xianghua.

Our female lead is so famous, the male lead naturally can't be outdone.

Director Xia, just focus on polishing the script. I'll give you a surprise in a couple of days!

Xia Ming didn't know who Yang Xianghua had approached; he just hoped that Yang would choose someone who was obedient.

I also chatted with Yang Xianghua about the production team. Apart from the casting information not being revealed, the facilities, equipment, and crew seemed to be quite good.

Although most of them are from web series production teams, they have a lot of work experience.

It's clear that Yang Xianghua really wanted to take the lead in this project, and he handled almost every aspect of it single-handedly.

The advantage of doing it this way is that it is highly integrated and very efficient.

As for the downsides, it's hard to say yet.

With the nascent information about the film crew in hand, Xia Ming approached the director, Luo Hong.

"Are you taking another long leave?"

Luo Hong frowned deeply as she looked at the neatly written leave request.

Film school students are allowed to take long leave to film, but Xia Ming has taken far too many days off.

I took a month off to film "Let the Bullets Fly" and another forty-plus days off to film "The Swindler".

I only attended school for a few days after returning, and now I have to take another month off.

"Have you earned enough credits this semester?" Luo Hong asked, somewhat displeased.

Xia Ming completed his major course, "Director Theory Knowledge," ahead of schedule, but he simply didn't have time to catch up on the other miscellaneous courses.

Seeing that Luo Hong seemed unwilling to budge, Xia Ming could only appeal to her emotions: "Teacher, of course, students at our film academy should focus on practical experience. This is an investment of 80 million. Would you miss this opportunity?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Hong glanced at the crew composition.

Kiwifruit, as the main investor, invested 80 million yuan to help Xia Ming make a domestic science fiction film!

Eighty million?!

While Xia Ming's classmates were still learning theoretical knowledge and exploring the basic framework of filmmaking, Xia Ming was already able to direct a film with an investment of 80 million!

Let alone 80 million, even if a student in school can make a short film with 800,000, it can be considered a big production.

Upon hearing that the production team had invested in the project, Luo Hong looked up at Xia Ming again, and her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

In all his years of coaching, he has never even participated in a film crew with budgets in the tens of millions.

"If you can't get personal leave approved, I'll help you apply for special leave due to health reasons."

Xia Ming smiled and nodded, "Thank you, teacher!"

Luo Hong glanced at the draft of the production team again and casually mentioned, "The actors haven't been cast yet? Since you're the director, could you perhaps give some support to our acting students?"

"Teacher, there's nothing we can do about it; the casting was decided by the producer."

Luo Hong was taken aback, then sighed, "Well, it's a commercial film after all, there's nothing we can do about it."

……

After leaving the teachers' office, Xia Ming received a call from Ye Heng.

"Are you making a new film?" Ye Heng greeted him simply and got straight to the point.

"You've heard?"

"I saw your interview video." Ye Heng's computer was playing clips of Xia Ming's interview. "When I saw you say you were having difficulty raising funds, I immediately contacted iQiyi's senior management and participated in the investment."

Xia Ming was taken aback.

"Thanks to you, I've been promoted to supervisor! I can now allocate ten million in working capital." Ye Heng's tone was clearly excited.

"The company made a lot of money investing in 'The Swindler' before, and now that we heard it's another investment for you, the company has increased the investment to sixteen million!"

"We've already spoken with your producer; all we need to do is insert a five-second product placement shot into the video!"

Xia Ming was stunned again.

Five seconds?!

In a sci-fi movie, insert a five-second clip of a guy recycling used mobile phones?

Xia Ming held his forehead, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Feed? Are you too excited to speak?"

"It's nothing! Without you, I don't know when I'd get a promotion!"

"I know you're busy, I'll hang up now."

Before Xia Ming could speak, Ye Heng hung up the phone.

Looking at the smiley face sent in the chat box, Xia Ming felt a headache coming on.

Yang Xianghua, as the chief producer, wielded too much power, and almost all matters were decided by bypassing him.

Aside from the script and visual effects plans, he knew absolutely nothing about the production team.

"Five seconds..."

Xia Ming rubbed his temples, forcing himself to think positively.

This is a real 16 million, enough to polish more than ten minutes of special effects footage.

With the budget just cut by 20 million, this money is a timely help.

If all else fails, place the scene of GG at the beginning of the film to avoid disrupting the audience's immersion.

……

Jinghai, a villa outside the Sixth Ring Road.

When Yang Xianghua got home, he threw off his suit jacket, slumped on the sofa, and yawned.

"Uncle, did you manage to find me a film crew job?"

Yang Xianghua turned his gaze and saw a young man jumping down the spiral staircase.

This is his nephew, Huang Xu, who graduated from Langbei Media College with a major in Film and Art.

In fact, Huang Xu had graduated for more than three years, but he had been staying at his uncle's house and had never interned in a proper film crew.

In his words, you can't learn anything from ordinary film crews; you have to go to high-caliber ones.

"All done, all done. Satisfied with the production team that invested nearly 100 million?"

Yang Xianghua didn't dote on his nephew; he just couldn't stand his sister's nagging.

This time, he finally had the opportunity to take full control of the production team as a producer, and without hesitation, he put Huang Xu in the team.

"Nearly 100 million?! Really?!" Huang Xu, with the air of someone who professed to love dragons but was terrified at the sight of them, took two steps back in shock upon hearing the scale of the investment.

Yang Xianghua rolled his eyes at him and said irritably, "You'll be the second lead cameraman in the crew. With that experience, you can come to my company as a photography consultant and live comfortably for the rest of your life."

Huang Xu was overjoyed and jumped onto the sofa, taking Yang Xianghua's hand in his: "Uncle, I've never acted in a movie before, can I still be the lead cinematographer?"

Yang Xianghua glared at him and said seriously, "So don't show off or act tough. Just do as the director tells you to do."

Who is the director?

"Xia Ming".

Who is Xia Ming?

Yang Xianghua snorted coldly: "He's a very talented new director. I've heard that his cinematography skills are extremely high. Even the professors in the cinematography department have praised him highly."

"A new director?" Huang Xu's old habit kicked in again. As soon as he heard that the other party was a newcomer, he shrank back with a slightly disdainful expression.

"If it weren't for the new director, would I have had the opportunity to be the executive producer?"

"Don't cause me any trouble. Everyone else in the team is a veteran in the industry. You just need to coast along and gain experience."

Yang Xianghua took a sip of hot water and repeatedly instructed his nephew, "If you can't handle it, let the lead cameraman help you shoot it. He's an old classmate of mine, so he's quite capable."

"Okay, I understand."

Huang Xu pouted, looking unwilling.