This director only directs blockbusters.

After she left, Lao Xu slipped in.

"How did the chat go?"

"I kept it," Yang Ning said. "It might really be a treasure."

"That's great." Old Xu rubbed his hands together. "Oh, right, there's something else."

Fan Binbin's agent just called again to ask if they could sign a contract first so they could arrange his schedule.

"Why rush me?" Yang Ning lit a cigarette. "The contracts will be signed tomorrow."

You should inform all the lead actors that they will sign contracts at the China Film Group conference room tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM.

One rule: Once you sign the contract, you have to go to the production team for intensive training for a month, a closed-door program.

"Training camp? What kind of training?"

"Physical fitness, combat, parkour, and script readings." Yang Ning exhaled a puff of smoke. "I want them to become the characters themselves before filming begins."

Old Xu nodded and took out his notebook to jot it down.

"Also," Yang Ning added, "have Liu Yong get on with the concept design."

I want to see the full preview video of the Battle of the Walls next Monday.

"A rehearsal? That stuff costs a fortune."

"We have to burn it, even if it's burning." Yang Ning flicked the ash from his cigarette. "Otherwise, it'll burn even more after we turn it on."

Yang Ning was the last to leave at 10 p.m.

As the elevator descended, he took out his phone to check the system interface.

Current project progress: 17%

[Main Challenge: Risk of Special Effects Budget Overrun (estimated 18% overrun)]

He stared at the line of red text for a few seconds, then turned off his phone.

The budget overrun was within his expectations.

1.2 million sounds like a lot, but it's not enough to achieve the effect he wants.

Far from enough.

So we have to be frugal, stingy, and stretch every penny. But for areas where we need to spend money, we have to spend it big. If we don't have the money, we'll deal with that later.

The elevator doors opened.

In the lobby, Han Duoduo was still there, sitting on the sofa looking down at her tablet.

"Aren't you leaving yet?" Yang Ning walked over.

Han Duoduo looked up: "I'm waiting for the car. Director Yang, I have another idea."

"explain."

"Regarding the visual representation of lightning powers," she pulled up another simulation.

"According to real electricity, when land-based combustion releases lightning, the surrounding air should produce an ionization effect—that is, a halo."

The intensity and color of this halo can be adjusted according to his emotional state.

She plays animations.

In the scene, "Lu Ran" raises his hand, and electricity gathers in his palm.

As his gaze hardened, the lightning gradually changed from blue to purplish-white, and the surrounding air began to distort, creating a pale purple halo.

"The more intense the emotions, the stronger the ionization, and the more obvious the halo," Han Duoduo said. "This way, the audience can understand his state without any lines."

Yang Ning stared at the animation.

This was indeed a line of thinking he hadn't considered.

"Can you provide specific parameters?" he asked.

"Yes. Give me a week."

"Okay." Yang Ning glanced at his watch. "The car hasn't arrived yet? I'll give you a ride."

"No need, no need, I'll call a taxi later." Han Duoduo waved her hand. "Director Yang, you can go back first."

Yang Ning didn't insist and walked out of the building.

The night breeze is getting cool.

He stood by the roadside and lit a cigarette.

My phone vibrated again as the smoke rose.

It's Xu Qin.

"Yang Ning, Jiang Zhiqiang is coming to Beijing tomorrow. He wants to see you to discuss the distribution."

"What time is it?"

"7 p.m., Wangfujing Hotel."

"OK."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Ning finished his cigarette and stubbed it out.

Looking up at the sky, it was rare to see more stars in the Beijing night sky.

We'll sign the contract tomorrow.

Training camp the day after tomorrow.

I'll see Jiang Zhiqiang the day after tomorrow.

Every day is a tough battle.

But suddenly he felt that this battle was quite enjoyable.

At least in this lifetime, I have a gun.

There are soldiers.

There's still a tiny chance that we can see the light.

He took out his phone and sent a text message to Lao Xu:

"After we sign the contract tomorrow, I'll treat the whole team to dinner tonight. You can choose the location, and the budget is under five thousand."

Old Xu replied instantly: "Alright! I guarantee everyone will be too tired to get out of bed tomorrow!"

Yang Ning smiled.

I put my phone back in my pocket and walked into the night.

…………

On the afternoon of the signing, the China Film Group's conference room was packed like a vegetable market.

A long table was covered with red velvet and a row of contracts were laid out on it.

Wang Lei sat in the main seat, with official seals, ink pads, and a calculator piled in front of him, his glasses reflecting the light.

Yang Ning stood by the window, a cigarette between his fingers, unlit, watching.

Huang Xiaoming was the first to arrive. He wore a white shirt and black suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he bowed to Wang Lei first, then to Yang Ning.

"Director Yang, Director Wang."

Wang Lei pushed a contract over: "Mr. Huang, please take a look at the terms."

Your fee will be paid at market rate, no less, and will be paid in three installments.

The filming period lasted four months, and I was on set the entire time.

The additional terms are on page seven, including physical training and the risks of live-action filming.

Huang Xiaoming flipped through the pages carefully, and his brow twitched when he saw a certain entry.

"Director Wang, what exactly does 'the director has the right to adjust scenes according to filming needs' mean?"

Yang Ning spoke up: "What I mean is, if you act well, I'll add more scenes for you; if you don't, I'll cut them out. Any objections?"

Huang Xiaoming looked up and met Yang Ning's eyes.

two seconds.

"No objections." He bowed his head and signed, the pen tip scratching against the paper.

The second person to come in was Fan Binbin.

She was dressed in all black today, with her hair tied in a high ponytail and no makeup, but her aura was still strong.

Her agent was following behind her, trying to come in, but Lao Xu stopped her at the door.

"Ms. Fan can sign it alone."

The agent wanted to argue, but Fan Binbin waved his hand and said, "Director Xu is right, I'll do it myself."

She sat down, didn't look at the contract, and looked at Yang Ning first: "Director Yang, Lin Xue has a few action scenes, and I'd like to use a stunt double."

Which matches?

"In the scene where they break through the city walls, there's a shot of someone jumping from the third floor. I'm afraid of heights."

Yang Ning walked over and put a cigarette behind his ear: "The scene where you jump off the building will be filmed live. But we'll prepare wires and an air cushion for you."

"I'm scared of wire work too."

"Then overcome it." Yang Ning looked at her. "Lin Xue jumped off a building thirteen times in the script, and she never used a stunt double. If you're playing her, you have to become her."

Fan Binbin pursed her lips.

Fingers rubbed against the edge of the contract.

The meeting room was so quiet you could hear the air conditioner.

"I'll sign," she suddenly said, grabbing a pen and scribbling her name on the last page.

"But I have one condition—you have to watch me jump in person during training."

Yang Ning smiled: "Okay. Don't worry, we'll guarantee your safety. Our only goal is to make a good movie."

The third week of flood season.

She strolled in, threw her backpack on the ground, and pulled up a chair to sit down.

"What about the contract? I'll sign it directly."

Wang Lei was taken aback: "Ms. Zhou, aren't you going to look at the terms and conditions?"

"What are you looking at? Sister Hua has already reviewed it." Zhou Xun took the contract, flipped to the signature page, and signed it.

"Director Yang, I spent half the night thinking about the character Su Man."

I think we could add a small detail to the scene where she sacrifices herself.

She was clutching something in her hand before she died—a spent bullet casing that Chen Meng had given her before.

Yang Ning raised an eyebrow: "It wasn't written in the script."

"I'm improvising," Zhou Xun laughed, "but if you think it's tacky, I won't add it."

"Observe the patient's condition when filming."

"Alright."

After signing the papers, Zhou Xun picked up his bag, stood up, and turned back at the door: "By the way, Director Yang, when does the training camp start? I'm free these days, so I can join the crew early."

"That's definitely possible, the day after tomorrow. Huairou base." Yang Ning smiled. "Of course we support this."

"become."

The actors came in one by one and signed their names one by one.