Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 590 Undisguised Ridicule

"How about it."

Seeing that Wu Chen had closed the script, Ning Hao was the first to ask him questions.

Xu Zheng straightened his back nervously, as if awaiting a verdict.
Wu Chen tapped his fingertips lightly on the script cover, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

To be honest, the script for "Lost in the City" is quite different from the "Lost in Thailand" he remembered. It is more like a mediocre sequel to "Lost on Journey".

Although the story is complete and has its humorous moments, it lacks the disruptive element that could ignite the market.

He thought for a moment, and was about to carefully choose his words when Xu Zheng's phone rang at an inopportune time.

Xu Zheng looked apologetically at Wu Chen and Ning Hao, and was about to hang up when he saw that the caller ID showed screenwriter Yang Qing. After thinking for a moment, he hung up anyway.

But as soon as he put his phone back in his pocket, before he could say anything, the phone rang persistently again.

Ning Hao glanced at it and said, "It must be something urgent. Let's answer it first. It's no trouble."

Seeing this, Xu Zheng had no choice but to take out his phone again and answer the call.

"Brother Zheng, something terrible has happened! We can't accept the script for 'Lost in the City'!"

Yang Qing's anxious voice came through the receiver clearly.

These words not only startled Xu Zheng, but also surprised Wu Chen and Ning Hao who were standing next to him.

"what's the situation?"

Xu Zhengren was dumbfounded.

Damn it, he was still trying to get investment from Starry Night Pictures, and things were about to get results, so why can't we accept the script?
"Liu Guangwei, the CEO of Huaqi Film & Television, is a complete bastard!"

They somehow got hold of our script outline and beat us to the punch by submitting "Lost in Thailand 2" to the bureau!
I received a message from the bureau today saying that the other party's script is highly similar to ours, and we are required to go back and make corrections!

Upon hearing this, Wu Chen and Ning Hao exchanged a glance.

The two weren't too surprised; similar dirty tricks were common in this industry.

Xu Zheng's face instantly turned bright red, and extreme anger made his whole body tremble slightly.

He hung up on Yang Qing and immediately dialed Liu Guangwei's number, but he still suppressed his temper:

"Mr. Liu, I accept that the 'The Stuntman' project was given to you and that the director was changed, but what you're doing now is inappropriate, isn't it?"

In the office of Huaqi Film and Television in Hongshan District, Jiangcheng, Liu Guangwei had his legs crossed on the table, seemingly unconcerned about Xu Zheng's questioning.

"Director Xu, I don't understand what you're saying," he said lazily. "Of course, I would still very much welcome you to star in our 'Lost in Thailand 2.' As for your salary, we'll give you the same amount as the first movie. How about that? It's not unfair to you, is it?"

Hearing the undisguised laughter on the phone, Xu Zheng could no longer hold back and immediately swore.

"Fuck you."

He wanted to curse back then! When filming "Lost in Thailand," Hua Qi said he could handle everything, but during filming, he found out that Hua Qi couldn't handle anything at all!
He was the director, screenwriter, and actor all at the same time, which is how he became a box office hit!
"Hey, that's not right of you to swear."

Liu Guangwei seemed unconcerned, instead chuckling as if mocking Xu Zheng's incompetence.
Ning Hao couldn't stand it any longer and was about to speak when Wu Chen spoke first. His voice wasn't loud, but it was clearly transmitted through the phone.

"Mr. Liu, what you're doing is a bit unfair."

"Who?" Liu Guangwei felt the voice sounded familiar.

"Starry Sky Pictures, Wu Chen".

Upon hearing this name, Liu Guangwei subconsciously lowered his leg, which was propped up on the table, and his gaze sharpened slightly.

Although Huaqi Films isn't even considered a second-tier company in the industry, he must have heard of Wu Chen's name; he's not stupid.

He immediately realized that Xu Zheng was with Wu Chen, and they were talking about "Lost in the City".
Does that mean that Wu Chen has taken a liking to the movie "Lost in Thailand 2" that he has?

Thinking about this, he felt inexplicably excited.

That's a desire for money.

"I'm so sorry, Director Wu, please excuse my poor manners." Liu Guangwei's tone instantly became polite. Wu Chen couldn't help but sigh upon hearing this; most people in this industry are indeed shrewd and capable of such a dramatic change of expression.

"Mr. Liu, the script for 'Lost in Beijing'."

Before Wu Chen could finish speaking, Liu Guangwei interrupted him:

"Director Wu, it's not that I don't respect you."

We were the first to submit the script for "Lost in Thailand 2" to the bureau for registration. Everything has to be done in a first-come, first-served manner, right? That makes sense, doesn't it?

Since the script for "Lost in the City" is so similar to ours, that's his fault. We even have reason to suspect that Xu Zheng and his team plagiarized us.

Wu Chen was somewhat impressed by her ability to speak so fluently.

Xu Zheng's face turned ashen. He was about to speak when Wu Chen waved his hand and said with a faint smile, "Alright, let's go to court then."

"Forehead!"

This sudden change startled Liu Guangwei slightly.

He didn't expect Wu Chen to flip the table so directly, which made him even more convinced of the script's potential.

But he knew very well that there would definitely be unpredictable changes in the lawsuit against Xingchen, after all, his methods were not honorable.

Moreover, it's time-consuming and laborious, and there's no guarantee of winning in the end. Even if you do win, it could be a long time coming.

How can this make money?

"Director Wu, what's wrong with you?"

Wu Chen then chatted with him for a few more minutes, his words seemingly revealing his determination to win the project, but also his reluctance to make a big fuss.

Xu Zheng listened from the side, completely confused, but felt that the notebook was about to be returned.

But Ning Hao sensed something else; he felt that Wu Chen didn't really want to go back to "Lost in Beijing," on the contrary...
“Hey, Director Wu, you said it yourself!” Liu Guangwei astutely seized on a loophole in Wu Chen’s words. “We can discuss the intellectual property rights of the ‘Lost in Journey’ film series again.”

Wu Chen deliberately remained silent for two seconds; these two seconds were an act for Liu Guangwei to see.

He has achieved his goal.

What he really wanted wasn't the script for "Lost in the City," but rather to use this opportunity to resolve the intellectual property risks of all future "Lost in..." films once and for all.

Since we have this opportunity, why not take it?

As for the movie "Lost in Thailand 2"?
Whatever that thing is, nobody cares.

In Huaqi Films, Liu Guangwei hung up the phone with a cheerful smile, unable to suppress the smirk on his face.

He felt he had gotten a great deal.

"Xu Zheng. Heh." He chuckled dismissively, but then, recalling his final conversation with Wu Chen, he muttered to himself, "This Wu Chen is a bit unpredictable."

After thinking for a long time, he sighed and said, "Fine, let's leave it at that!"

At that moment, Wu Chen had already called the legal staff to the office door.

"Draft a document regarding the intellectual property rights agreement for the 'Lost in Thailand' film series."

He gave a long and detailed explanation before returning to his seat.

Xu Zheng was still feeling a bit upset; he knew he couldn't get "Lost in the City" back after all.

“It will be difficult to get it back,” Ning Hao patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, “but Starry Sky Pictures has resolved the copyright issues for the ‘Lost in Journey’ series, so at least you won’t have any more problems when you write similar scripts and collaborate with Starry Sky in the future.”

Just then, Wu Chen spoke up.

“I have a script idea. Here’s what I’ll give you: six months to a year to turn this idea into a completely new script.”

If the script is good enough, Xingchen can submit it for you.

Now that the matter has been resolved, let's leave all the rights and interests of the "Lost in Journey" category to Xingchen.
As for Xu Zheng, use him if he's useful, and replace him if he's not.
(End of this chapter)