This director only directs blockbusters.

Yang Ning walked to the whiteboard and looked at the timeline.

A special effects team of twelve is indeed too small. "The Purple Cloud Era" was able to hold its own because Han Duoduo carried most of the project. But the scale of "Dragon Shield" is too much for one person to handle.

"You have an idea?" he asked.

Han Duoduo nodded: "I have a few classmates in the US, from Stanford, who are now doing special effects in Silicon Valley. Last time I chatted with them, they said they wanted to come back to develop their careers, but they haven't had a suitable opportunity yet."

"What level?"

"They're better than me," Han Duoduo said frankly. "One specializes in fluid simulation, and the other does particle effects. The other worked at Industrial Light & Magic for two years before returning to China and now works at a GG company in Shanghai."

Yang Ning raised an eyebrow: "Industrial Light & Magic?"

"Yes, he went to the US back then with Industrial Light & Magic in mind. He stayed for two years, and came back when his visa expired." Han Duoduo paused. "Director Yang, if we can poach him, our special effects team can take a step up."

Liu Yong chimed in from the side: "I also have a few buddies who worked together at Pearl River Film Studio back in the day. Later, the factory was restructured, and some went to Canada, and some went to New Zealand. I emailed them a few days ago, and two of them replied, saying they wanted to come back and visit."

Yang Ning stared at the densely packed schedule on the whiteboard and remained silent for a few seconds.

"What are their prices now?"

"They're not earning much," Liu Yong said. "They work for others abroad, making a few thousand US dollars a month. If they can come back and have a stable project, they're willing to take a pay cut."

Han Duoduo added, "My classmates would definitely charge higher prices by American standards, but if we go back to China... with our current budget, we can manage if we grit our teeth."

Yang Ning walked to the window, lit a cigarette, and looked at the traffic on the Third Ring Road outside.

"You two," he began, "how long have you been thinking about this?"

"I started thinking about this from the later stages of 'Zi Xiao'," Han Duoduo said. "Back then, I felt we didn't have enough manpower, so I just had to push through. This time, I can't keep pushing through."

Liu Yong nodded: "Making films is getting harder and harder, and the staff has to keep up."

Yang Ning remained silent for a while, recalling those years in his previous life when he was criticized by the audience for his shoddy work due to a lack of manpower. Back then, there was no other way; he had no money or manpower, so he could only tough it out.

It's different now.

"Okay." He turned around. "Expand."

Han Duoduo's eyes lit up immediately.

"But—" Yang Ning raised his hand, "you two are responsible for bringing the person out."

He looked at Han Duoduo: "Your classmates are highly skilled, but they might not understand our procedures when they first arrive. You will mentor them and get them up and running within three months."

He then looked at Liu Yong and said, "Brother Yong, your buddies are experienced, but their technical approaches might be different from ours. You'll be in charge of working things out with them."

"No problem!" Liu Yong slapped his thigh. "I've worked with them before, I know how to handle it."

Han Duoduo nodded: "My classmates are all honest people, they'll be fine with work."

Yang Ning walked back to the whiteboard, picked up a marker, and added a few words after the special effects team: Expand to 25-30 people.

Then another line was drawn, pointing to three months later.

"For the next period of time," he turned to the two of them, "your task is to recruit, train, and integrate the team. You two will set the budget and submit it to Lao Xu for approval. But remember—"

He paused.

"The people we recruit must be better than what we have now. If they're not, we won't hire them."

"Understood!" they both said in unison.

Old Xu came in from outside and saw the scene: "What's going on? Is this a denunciation meeting?"

"We need to expand recruitment," Yang Ning said. "The special effects team needs to be doubled."

Old Xu was taken aback: "What about the budget?"

"You approve it."

"...Should I approve it?" Old Xu scratched his head. "Yangzi, I can't just approve it casually."

"Then let's decide in a meeting." Yang Ning glanced at his watch. "It's five o'clock now. Notify Xu Qin and Wang Lei that the meeting is at six. Let's go over the budget again."

Old Xu took out his phone and started making a call.

Han Duoduo leaned closer to Yang Ning: "Director Yang, have you contacted my classmates yet?"

"Now," Yang Ning said, "you send an email saying—Director Yang Ning's new project needs them. For those willing to come, we can discuss the terms, and travel expenses will be reimbursed."

"Okay!"

Liu Yong also took out his phone: "I need to call my buddies. They're too old to check their emails."

Six o'clock in the evening, in the small conference room of the studio.

Xu Qin, Wang Lei, Lao Xu, Liu Yong, Han Duoduo, and Yang Ning sat around the table.

A budget sheet, densely packed with numbers, was projected onto the wall.

"Let's get to the conclusion first," Yang Ning began. "The special effects team needs to expand, from twelve people to twenty-five or thirty. Han Duoduo, you tell us the requirements."

Han Duoduo stood up and tapped the screen with a laser pointer.

"This is the visual effects analysis for 'Dragon Shield'." She pointed to several lines of data. "With the current team, it would take fourteen months to complete all the visual effects, but we only have seven months for post-production."

The laser pointer has been moved to a different position.

"So we have to add people," she continued, "and they can't be novices, they have to be experienced."

I have four targets, all of whom are Stanford classmates and have worked at American special effects companies. Yong Ge has three, all veterans from the Pearl River Film Studio who later pursued further studies abroad.

Wang Lei frowned: "What's the price for these people?"

Han Duoduo recited a few numbers. Wang Lei frowned even more deeply.

"This is twice as expensive as it is now."

"But it's three times more efficient," Han Duoduo said, "and it can produce effects that we can't do now."

Xu Qin interjected, "Can the budget be squeezed out further?"

Yang Ning shook his head: "The budget can't be changed, but it can be adjusted. Increase the money for special effects, and cut costs on the rest."

"Compress it?" Old Xu asked.

"The actors' salaries have already been set and cannot be changed," Yang Ning said. "We can cut back on filming equipment, location rentals, travel and accommodation expenses."

He looked at Wang Lei: "Director Wang, you're the best at budgeting, so I'll leave this to you. Other departments should squeeze out five million for the special effects team."

Wang Lei pushed up his glasses, didn't say anything, but nodded.

"Then it's settled." Yang Ning made the decision. "Han Duoduo and Liu Yong will be in charge of recruitment, and the budget will be submitted separately. Wang Lei will be responsible for cost reduction in other departments. Xu Qin will oversee the contracts, and Lao Xu will coordinate the progress."

He glanced around: "Is there a problem?"

No one spoke.

Meeting adjourned.

Most of the people had left, but Han Duoduo was still sitting there.

Yang Ning walked over: "What's wrong?"

"Director Yang," she looked up, "my classmates... have a condition."

"explain."

"They want to come, but they don't want to sign long-term contracts," Han Duoduo said. "They want to work on one project first and see how it goes. If the collaboration goes well, then we'll talk about the next step."

Yang Ning thought for a moment.

"Sure," he said, "but there's a condition—you must be with the team the entire time, from the training phase onwards. Not just doing the later stages, but participating throughout the entire process."

Han Duoduo nodded: "They should have no problem with that."