This director only directs blockbusters.

"That's not the same thing..." Director Zhao retorted hastily.

"It's the same thing." Yang Ning didn't wait for him to finish speaking. "Making movies is a money-burning business, but it's not like burning paper money."

Every penny must be transformed into visuals, sound, and a reason for audiences to buy tickets.

Instead of haggling over two out of these three quotes, why don't you go and see for yourself in person?

Look at the set we built, look at the injuries the actors sustained, look at their hard work and dedication, and see where all that money actually went.

Director Zhao's expression was not good: "Director Yang, I understand you're anxious. But rules are rules."

"Regulations are meant to serve people, not for people to serve regulations," Yang Ning said, turning and leaving.

Old Xu caught up and whispered, "You've completely offended him."

"If you don't offend him, he won't cause trouble?" Yang Ning sneered. "The softer you are with this kind of person, the tougher he becomes."

"And what happened next..."

"Just do what you're supposed to do," Yang Ning said. "He can investigate all he wants, I'll just film what I'm doing."

"If the film is well-made, everything is fine. If it's a disaster, I'll just get out of here without him investigating."

---

At 10 p.m., Yang Ning was still in his office reviewing storyboards.

Jiang Zhiqiang called from Hong Kong.

"Is the audit team still there?" he asked.

"exist."

"Han Shanping told me," Jiang Zhiqiang paused, "Yang Ning, do you know why so many people don't think highly of you?"

"Because I'm young, because I'm arrogant, because I've taken a bite out of their cake."

"Not only that," Jiang Zhiqiang said, "it's because the path you're on is one that no one has walked before."

A sci-fi film costing 1.3 million yuan was made, featuring all real-life sets with enhanced special effects, and the lead actors underwent three months of intensive training.

This is the first time such a gameplay method has been used in the country.

The first time means risk. Everyone's waiting to see you stumble.

Yang Ning remained silent.

"But I'll vote for you," Jiang Zhiqiang said. "Not because I believe you can definitely succeed, but because Chinese films need someone to try new paths. We've been walking the old path for too long, and everyone is tired of it."

The same applies to business; if new paths aren't explored, everyone will ultimately face ruin.

"Thank you, Mr. Jiang."

"No need to thank me." Jiang Zhiqiang smiled. "Making a good film is the best way to thank me."

Also, don't be confrontational with the audit team.

Make up the missing procedures, and as long as it looks presentable, that's fine. The world of martial arts isn't just about fighting and killing; it's about interpersonal relationships and social dynamics.

The phone hangs up.

Yang Ning leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

He mentally rehearsed tomorrow's scene—the climax of the battle at the city wall, where Lu Ran awakens the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, and the situation is extremely critical.

It needs explosions, wire work, and special effects.

There can be no mistakes.

He opened his eyes and accessed the system interface.

Current filming progress: 18%

Fund utilization rate: 22%

Public pressure: High

Team Status: Stable

Turn off.

I got up, turned off the lights, and locked the door.

The corridor was quiet, with only the green light for the emergency exit illuminated.

As I reached the top of the stairs, I heard a sound coming from below.

It was those two young men from the audit team, squatting in the stairwell smoking.

One person said, "Director Zhao is being too serious. They're making a movie, not building infrastructure."

Another said, "What do you know? This is a political task. Yang Ning has been too arrogant lately, and someone higher up wants to put him in a bad position."

"But I think their crew is really working hard. I went to the set during the day and the actors were really rolling around in the mud."

"What's the point of trying? If the film flops, everything is a mistake."

Yang Ning stopped listening and turned to go down the stairs at the other end.

.........

At three in the morning, the lights on set were still on.

Yang Ning squatted beside the city wall model, holding a measuring tape in his hand, measuring the distance between two explosion points.

"It's three centimeters off here." He drew a circle on the steel frame with a marker.

Liu Yong yawned and came closer, his bald head reflecting the light: "So what if it's three centimeters off? The camera can't capture it anyway."

"The angle at which the shards fly when it explodes is wrong." Yang Ning stood up, dusted off his hands, and said, "Re-adjust it."

"Damn it..." Liu Yong scratched his bald head, "This is the fifth time."

"Then let's do it a sixth time."

Just then, the walkie-talkie rang.

"Director Yang, the generator is overheating. Should we stop it?" came the voice of electrician Lao Zhang.

Yang Ning pressed the intercom: "How long can you hold out?"

"Two more hours at most."

"We'll switch to the backup unit in two hours. We can't stop now; the lighting team is testing the lights."

"clear."

Just as he put down the walkie-talkie, Chen Qiming jogged over, covered in sweat: "Director Yang, that ARRI camera is overheating and needs to be cooled down. Otherwise, it won't be able to withstand the long hours of filming tomorrow."

"Wrap it in a damp towel and pat it on."

"It will damage the machine..."

"Then it'll be damaged." Yang Ning looked at him. "Is the machine more important or the lens?"

Chen Qiming opened his mouth, then finally nodded: "I understand."

Fan Binbin emerged from the dressing room, wearing Lin Xue's tattered military uniform, her face already made up with wound makeup. She walked up to Yang Ning: "Director Yang, the prop blood for tomorrow's emergency rescue scene doesn't smell right."

"What's wrong?"

"It's too sweet, like syrup. Real Blood tastes like rust."

Yang Ning looked at Liu Yong.

Liu Yong spread his hands: "Where are we going to find rusty-smelling blood plasma now? It's the middle of the night."

Fan Binbin said, "Give me some brown sugar and soy sauce, I'll mix it myself."

"You know how to adjust it?"

"My grandfather was a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, and he taught me."

Ten minutes later, Fan Binbin squatted in the corner, stirring something in a small bowl. It contained brown sugar, soy sauce, a little food coloring, and iron powder she'd rummaged through the props pile.

Liu Yong leaned closer to smell it, then frowned: "Will this work?"

"Try it." Fan Binbin dabbed some on his finger and smeared it on the back of his hand. It was a dark red color, with just the right consistency. "That's enough for the camera."

Huang Xiaoming also came over, wearing Lu Ran's tactical vest, which was soaked with sweat and stuck to his body.

"Director Yang, I keep getting the rhythm wrong for the third explosion in the parkour scene tomorrow," he said, panting. "Could we go through it again?"

"Now?" Yang Ning glanced at the time. "3:30 a.m."

"Right now," Huang Xiaoming said, his eyes glazing over. "Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep."

Yang Ning nodded: "Old Xu, clear the area! Have the demolition team prepare for the simulation!"

The simulated explosions used small firecrackers; they were loud but didn't produce shrapnel. Huang Xiaoming ran, jumped, and rolled on the model city wall.

The third time, he jumped half a second too early.

"Damn it!" He got up and punched the ground.

"Don't worry." Yang Ning walked over. "It's not your fault. The fuse timing for the third explosion point was set incorrectly."

He beckoned to the demolition team leader: "Retest the fuse. The conduction time from the second to the third fuse was overcalculated by 0.2 seconds."

The demolition team leader checked it with a stopwatch, and it was true.

"Director Yang, how did you know?"

"Huang Xiaoming was right the first two times, but the third time was wrong. Either he suddenly stopped running, or you set it wrong." Yang Ning patted Huang Xiaoming's shoulder. "Go and rest, it's not your fault."

Huang Xiaoming let out a long sigh and slumped to the ground.