I really don't want to make bad movies!

The filming has entered its fifth day.

Ju Jingyi's studio was still not present.

Xia Ming had been calling the phone non-stop, but the only reply he got was that the phone was on its way.

During this time, Xia Ming also went to the headquarters of Kiwi Fruit to find Yang Xianghua and questioned him about why the female lead was so late in arriving.

Yang Xianghua simply said, "They're the investors, so please be more understanding!"

Faced with the double whammy of investors and producers, what can the director say?

Back on set, Xia Ming immediately returned to the scene and began to calculate with the financial statements in hand.

In the script for "Arrival," the female lead's scenes make up 95% of the film; it's fair to say that without her presence, the story simply couldn't be filmed.

In five days, the filming progress barely changed, but more than two million yuan was burned through.

The best solution now is to revise the script and reduce the female lead's screen time.

"You're going to revise the script?" Du Bin, the director of photography, was surprised to see Xia Ming making changes to the script in the director's studio.

Xia Ming didn't even look up, replying, "The female lead hasn't come, so we can't film without making changes."

"How's Wang Yuan doing?"

Remembering the matter of the male lead, Xia Ming looked up and asked.

Du Bin was a little embarrassed. He sat down and sighed, "How should I put it? They're even worse than the actors I've worked with on web dramas before."

He carefully surveyed his surroundings, making sure no one was eavesdropping, before whispering, "I won't comment on his acting skills, since I'm not a professional in that area. But his management director won't allow close-up shots, which is what's giving me the biggest headache."

Xia Ming put down his pen, frowned, and asked, "What do you mean by 'not allowing close-up shots'?"

Du Bin shrugged: "People say Wang Yuan's skin hasn't been in good condition lately, he doesn't look good on camera, and we can't shoot close-ups."

"Snapped!"

Xia Ming threw the script on the table, didn't even put on his coat, and strode into the military tent that had been set up.

As soon as Du Bin saw Xia Ming get up, he immediately took out his phone to send a message.

……

"Hey, Director Xia, you're here! When do we officially start filming? We've rehearsed enough these past few days, haven't we?" Director Guo Hong sat to the side, surrounded by the staff of Wang Yuan's studio.

Despite the freezing weather in December, they were equipped with heaters and foot warmers, using the crew's wiring for heating.

"What does it mean that the director of photography told me we can't do close-ups of faces?" Xia Ming asked bluntly, his tone imposing.

Wang Yuan sat in the team, not daring to speak. Guo Hong immediately stood up and stood in front of Xia Ming: "Director Xia, as you know, the weather in Jinghai is strangely dry. December weather is bad for the skin!"

"Look at Xiao Yuan, her face inevitably has some small blemishes, how could we possibly show that on camera?"

"I've seen 'The Swindlers,' and all the characters in it are incredibly good-looking. You have artistic standards, so you wouldn't want any flaws on the big screen, would you?"

Guo Hong's every word and sentence leaned towards Xia Ming's artistic pursuits, completely ignoring the shortcomings of his own artist.

You're an idol star who smokes and drinks every day and doesn't take care of your skin. Who can you blame for ruining your skin?

Xia Ming took a couple of deep breaths, managing to hold back his anger: "I can understand if your artist isn't in good shape, but to take on a role when they're not in good shape, are you deliberately trying to cause trouble?"

"Oh dear, what are you saying?"

Guo Hong, who has been in the entertainment industry for decades, is a natural liar: "We were perfectly fine when we signed the contract a few days ago! But as soon as I got off the plane, I got sick from the change in environment, and there was nothing I could do about the marks on my face!"

"Director Xia, since this is a sci-fi movie, everyone's here to see the special effects. It won't hurt if the characters stand a little further away!"

"Doesn't the character think? Your character is a scientist, a linguist who shoulders the future of humanity in the face of an alien invasion. How could you not film close-ups and show the character's inner thoughts?"

Guo Hong still had a smile on his face: "Who says medium shots can't show a character's thoughts? I saw the last shot of 'The Truman Show,' and the emotions were very rich!"

Xia Ming was silent for three seconds, not because he was persuaded by Guo Hong, but because he was composing himself.

"Am I the director, or are you the director?"

Seeing that Xia Ming didn't want to argue with him anymore, Guo Hong didn't bother with quoting classical texts and simply laughed, "Director Xia, directors can be replaced at any time. With just one phone call from me, the producer can change the director to Director Li, Director Zhang, or Director Hou."

"Your job is to make a decent film that meets the requirements of the investors and producers."

"If you want to pursue your personal attitude and so-called art, you can always finance your own filming!"

This is the dilemma faced by new directors when encountering popular celebrities.

On the surface, the director is more important than the actor, but in reality, both the director and the actor are working for the producer.

Often it's not that directors lack the ability to direct actors, but rather that actors are unwilling to accept the director's guidance.

Those close-up shots will magnify their flaws infinitely, which is a disaster for traffic stars.

Xia Ming took a deep breath, about to lash out, when Xiao Bai suddenly lifted the tent flap and burst in.

"Director, Ju Jingyi is almost here."

Xia Ming took a deep breath, turned around, and walked out of the tent.

He placed his last hope on the female lead.

After all, this is a script centered around the female lead. If the female lead doesn't underperform, he can still save the production team.

On the horizon, a white Toyota MPV slowly drove up, accompanied by a minibus.

Two cars?

Xia Ming had a bad feeling.

Wang Yuan's studio only brought a few people, and you, Ju Jingyi, want to bring two carloads of people?!

With so many people joining the crew, the cost of food and lodging is going to go up again!

While Xia Ming was pondering, two cars had already stopped outside the film crew's location.

The doors of the MPV and minibus opened one after another, and a large group of people poured out of the vehicles.

They skillfully retrieved tripods, lighting equipment, makeup tables, and other gear from the trunk and luggage compartments, then carried these items into the film set.

Xia Ming was puzzled. What was going on?

He raised his hand to stop those people, but was stopped by a middle-aged woman.

"Hello Director Xia, I'm KIKI, Ju Jingyi's agent."

Xia Ming frowned as he shook her hand: "Hello. Our crew has complete equipment; it's unnecessary for you to bring these."

"Don't worry, we paid for these devices ourselves, so they don't cost the production team any money."

That's not what I meant...

Before Xia Ming could finish speaking, KIKI interrupted him forcefully: "Director Xia, let's talk about the script. I heard you're going to revise it?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Ming finally understood why Ju Jingyi's studio had been absent for the past few days, but suddenly appeared at the film set today.

It turns out that he couldn't sit still after hearing that he was going to revise the script.

"Wasn't your studio in Tokyo before? How come you're suddenly in Keikai?"

KIKI replied with a smile, "Actually, Xiao Ju and I have been in Jinghai, but our studio's teacher, Karina, is in Japan, so we have to wait for her to come back."

What do you mean by saying that you and Ju Jingyi have always been in Jinghai?

Why doesn't Jinghai come to the film crew?

"Who is Ms. Karina?"

"They are our film crew's makeup artists."

"Our production team has a skilled makeup artist..."

KIKI interrupted Xia Ming again, saying coldly, "Director Xia, I hope you understand that our studio is a team, and there's no such thing as anyone being left behind. Besides, our artists have always had Karina in charge of their makeup; no one else's makeup skills meet my standards."

"Let's talk about the script instead."

KIKI and Guo Hong have completely different personalities.

Guo Hong liked to beat around the bush, while KIKI was very assertive and said in an unquestionable tone: "We agreed to invest in the production precisely because we valued the role of the female lead in the script, which you described as saving the world. The female lead's role cannot be reduced by even a fraction."

"We've already made this very clear to Producer Yang. Although you're the director and screenwriter, you can't arbitrarily modify the script without the producer's permission. Do you understand?"

At this moment, Ju Jingyi slowly stepped out of the open door of the MPV.

"Stop talking, KIKI, let's get into the group."

She had long, flowing hair and undeniably striking features. While she didn't possess any particular distinguishing characteristics, she was undeniably beautiful in a simple and direct way.

Seeing Ju Jingyi get out of the car, KIKI immediately put on a smiling face: "Don't catch a cold, put on your coat."

Ju Jingyi smiled and refused the coat offered by his agent. He walked up to Xia Ming and bowed slightly, saying, "Sorry I'm late. Let's start filming now."

After saying that, she walked straight into the film set, followed by a hurried KIKI.

Xia Ming held the script in his hand and took two deep breaths.

This was his last chance for the production team.

If he hadn't used his own name for publicity beforehand, he would have quit and left long ago.

"Director Xia, shall we start filming?"

"Power on!"

Xia Ming led Xiao Bai back into the tent, which was surrounded by hundreds of people from the film crew.

The studios of just two celebrities have nearly forty people.

These popular celebrities' studios are like nannies, following them everywhere they go.

"Script supervisor, start the clapperboard!"

"Page 6, Act 2 of the script, first blocking practice."

Xia Ming cleared the space, leaving a blank area.

At this moment, Guo Hong approached Xia Ming again, indicating that the camera position should not be too close.

Xia Ming glanced at him, then immediately modified the shot, moving Wang Yuan to a corner.

Don't want the camera? Then don't want it anymore!

KIKI also approached Xia Ming, saying that Ju Jingyi should not have overly intimate interactions with Wang Yuan.

"Sis, they're a married couple in the story, right?"

Guo Hong was also unhappy and immediately started arguing with KIKI: "Are you saying that my artist isn't good enough?"

KIKI sneered, "If it were a four-character actor playing opposite me, I might consider it."

Guo Hong raised an eyebrow; this was the most taboo topic among the trio!

Using Yi Yangqianxi's success to criticize the failures of the other two could even be the trigger for a third war!

Seeing that the two were about to start fighting, Xia Ming stepped in to mediate, suggesting that both sides take a step back.

He really doesn't have time to deal with the two celebrities.

After completing the blocking practice and going through one dress rehearsal, Xia Ming glanced at the time and signaled all the actors to go get their makeup done.

A simple dialogue scene took three hours to prepare for the official start of filming.

It was 2 PM. Xia Ming was watching the monitor and making annotations on the script for later use when discussing the scene.

Time ticked by, and by four in the afternoon, Xia Ming had practically turned the script into a sketchbook, but he still hadn't seen Ju Jingyi finish her makeup.

The other extras, with their more elaborate military makeup, their faces covered in thick layers of paint and wearing complex gear, were already on set, ready to go, but there was no news of Ju Jingyi at all.

"Go take a look." Xia Ming gestured for Xiao Bai to go check out Ju Jingyi's private dressing room.

Less than five minutes later, Xiaobai came running back, looking disheveled.

"They won't let me in."

Xia Ming was taken aback: "You're the assistant director, why aren't you allowed in?"

"They said it would leak the privacy of celebrities."

Xia Ming smiled, sat down, and brewed a pot of tea.

At 5 p.m., Ju Jingyi finally finished her makeup and returned to the film set surrounded by admirers.

Xia Ming was stunned, not because the transformation was particularly breathtaking.

Instead, there is absolutely no difference.

Isn't this the same as the previous Korean semi-permanent makeup?

"Director Xia, let's start filming!"

KIKI stood with her arms crossed at the edge of the set, her high-pitched voice exuding the air of a powerful woman.

Xia Ming returned to the set, ready to resume filming, when KIKI suddenly appeared behind him, frowning as she looked at the monitor: "Director Xia, the lighting isn't right."

"This dull lighting has completely ruined Ju Jingyi's makeup. Let's redo it."

Xia Ming pointed to the color grading parameters on the monitor and took out the script: "Sis, this is a sci-fi film with a Cthulhu theme, so the color grading has to be lowered, otherwise the atmosphere of an alien invasion will be completely lost."

KIKI shrugged indifferently and casually said, "I'm not asking you to redo all the lighting, but to provide individual lighting for our artists."

Xia Ming frowned deeply; it turned out that the rumor that Ju Jingyi had received individual lighting in "Chinese Paladin 4" was not unfounded.

"We can't win."

"Can't do it?" KIKI waved directly to her own studio. "Xiao An, teach Director Xia how to do lighting."

To Xia Ming's astonishment, the lighting technician from Ju Jingyi's studio actually took out their own lighting equipment and laid it on the predetermined photography track.

"Sister, what do you mean by this?"

"What do you mean?" KIKI sneered, glancing around at everyone on the set. "What, do you think those random tentacles will attract more box office revenue than my Xiao Ju?"

Xia Ming took a step forward.

"Director, director, let's shoot one take, let's shoot one take!" Cinematographer Du Bin hurriedly came over and pulled Xia Ming back.

Du Bin stood between the two with a forced smile on his face: "Director, all three cameras are running, shall we shoot one take first?"

Xia Ming glanced at him.

Ju Jingyi's studio received news of the script changes and rushed to the set, which is clearly related to the director of photography.

Xia Ming chuckled in relief, sat back in the director's chair, and waved his hand dismissively: "Film it, film it."

Du Bin bowed and scraped to KIKI, then turned to instruct the photography crew: "Shoot according to the new lighting, and pay attention to focus!"

The script supervisor slammed the clapperboard again, and the production team resumed operations.

The simple dialogue scene was finally filmed at 8 p.m.

Neither of the two lead actors had read the script before arriving; they actually memorized their lines on set.

KIKI even claimed that it didn't matter, as they had their own voice actors and only needed to lip-sync during filming.

Xia Ming has given up on communicating with the two stars' agents. He just wants to finish filming quickly, collect his three million yuan salary, and leave.

"Hey Huang Xu, send me the materials."

Xia Ming called out the name of Huang Xu, the second lead photographer.

Huang Xu was very young and didn't say a word during filming. He just did whatever the director said.

Hearing Xia Ming speak, he stammered out his first words: "Director, how about we save one take?"

What does "guarantee one" mean?

Xia Ming frowned and walked up to him.

Huang Xu was sweating profusely, chuckling incessantly: "I... I think the lighting isn't quite right, how about we reshoot?"

KIKI glanced at him upon hearing this: "Young man, watch your words. Are you implying that our professional lighting is the problem?"

"No, it's not—"

Before he could finish speaking, Xia Ming noticed something amiss, pushed him aside, and walked toward the ARRI cinema projector.

Open the storage slot; it was completely empty.

"Oh."

When people are extremely speechless, they can actually laugh out loud.

After working all day, the main camera still didn't have a memory card inserted.

Xia Ming looked at Huang Xu, then turned his gaze to Du Bin.

Finally, he left the set without saying a word.

At first, he thought that as long as the technicians didn't make any mistakes, they could still make a movie that was above average.

But now he realizes he was wrong.

He no longer needs to rack his brains to mark the Pokémon in the crew.

The entire crew was like a Pokémon gym; there wasn't a single human in them!

December in Jinghai is very cold, and the winds on the plains howl loudly.

Xia Ming wasn't even wearing a coat, yet he didn't feel the slightest bit of cold.

He's furious!

I can still vividly recall Yang Xianghua's warm expression when he took on the project.

But when he became the executive producer and the project officially started, he immediately changed his tune.

He was certain that Xia Ming wouldn't run away after taking on his first big-budget film, and he was also confident in Xia Ming's abilities. He planned to use Xia Ming to enter the film industry, make deals with the studio to boost the actors' status, and use popular stars to achieve multiple profit goals.

At first, Xia Ming thought that if the production team got out of control, he would rewrite the script and film "Atlantic Rim 2".

Even if you can't earn a good reputation and resources, at least you can earn some traffic to unlock system milestones, right?

But now, as both the director and screenwriter, he doesn't even have the power to change the script.

This production crew is beyond outrageous.

Xia Ming gave this production team opportunities, many times.

Now that the opportunities have been used up, it's time to settle accounts.

The Arrival crew is a complete disaster, but he won't run away.

It wasn't for the three million salary, nor for my own reputation.

As a filmmaker, he couldn't let these idiots spill into the film industry.

A producer wants a portfolio of projects? Dream on!

Wang Yuan wants to make movies and become a star? Go sit at the same table as your brother Wang Junkai!

If the final film scores 0.1 points higher than "Bureau 849", I'll change my name backwards!

Walking alone in the night on the plain, Xia Ming took out his phone and dialed Huang Xuke's number.

"What's up, Xia? The second creation competition is almost done, it can be launched tomorrow."

"That's not what I'm after, senior. Please help me out."

"What's wrong?" Huang Xuke sat up straight, noticing that Xia Ming's tone was off.

"I want to change the coach."