How did I become famous?

Why did you suddenly ask that?

"Well, we're a proper film crew after all, so everything should be done in a more formal way." Liu Mang's small eyes were very serious.

This film was the first step for them to turn their lives around, and he cared about it even more than Fang Bie.

No, actually Fang Bie didn't care at all; after all, his goal was for the movie to flop...

"Okay, I'll call and ask."

............

In the company kitchen, Su Mulin was diligently cooking according to the recipe.

Suddenly the phone rang.

She frowned and didn't intend to answer, but after glancing at the caller ID, she answered the phone anyway.

"What is it?"

Are you busy right now?

Miss Su glanced at the pot of steaming sea bass and said indifferently, "I'm reading a book. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, it's just that you're the producer and executive producer, right? Did you prepare the budget?"

"You're the producer, so the decision is yours."

Are you sure?

"Okay, I still need to read, don't bother me."

After hanging up the phone, Fang Bie looked up and met Liu Mang's expectant gaze.

"How is it?"

"Hmm... since you've raised this question, it means you already have some ideas." Fang Bie took the initiative and said, "Tell me your thoughts."

He's just a moviegoer, what does he know about the ins and outs of filmmaking?

What I know now is information I found online.

However, the information and materials do differ from the actual situation.

Liu Mang didn't think much of it and said, "Actually, I already have a contingency plan here. You can take a look."

He paused for a moment, then added, "But this is just a suggestion; it's okay if you think it's useless."

This film is his last straw for his group to return to the film industry, so he really wants to do it well.

But he also knew that geniuses are usually extremely self-centered, and besides, what he was doing was already a bit too much.

What if one of them thinks, "What, are you trying to sideline me?"

So he only said it was a suggestion.

Fang Bie didn't think much of it; he casually took the booklet from Liu Mang and started flipping through it.

But the more he looked, the more his brows furrowed.

Seeing that his expression was getting increasingly grim, Liu Mang panicked and hurriedly said, "Old Fang, this is just a suggestion. Just take a look and move on. Or if you think the budget is too high, I can lower it further."

Fang raised his head, and after a long while, slowly said, "There is a problem."

Liu Mang's heart skipped a beat, then he took a deep breath: "Tell me, and I'll think of a way to change it."

"Hmm." Fang Bie nodded, then pointed to the booklet and said, "For example, why is a boxed lunch eight yuan?"

"This..." Liu Mang explained, "This is already the lowest grade. Any lower and we'd have to use those boxed meals produced in small workshops without hygiene licenses."

He'd seen those boxed lunches before; they basically had no meat. Even if there was some meat, like braised pork belly that was all fat, the hair on the skin hadn't been cleaned off.

Getting diarrhea from eating this is a minor issue.

He gritted his teeth: "I'll think of another way, see if I can get the store to lower the price again, or maybe we can hire fewer extras or something."

"Huh? That's not what I meant." Fang Bie waved his hand. "I meant, why don't you order a twenty-yuan boxed lunch?"

"Huh?" Liu Mang was stunned.

This seems a little different from what he expected.

"What do you mean, 'What the hell'?" Fang Bie exclaimed indignantly. "Everyone works so hard filming, the extras have it tough too, and you give them an eight-yuan boxed lunch? Have you no shame, Fatty?"

His heart ached so badly he could hardly breathe!

I was going to spend all seven million, okay?! And the budget you gave me was only two million?

What to do with the remaining five million?

Are you waiting for this movie to flop before making another one for Miss Su?

Are you kidding me!

"It's settled then. We'll start with boxed meals at 20 yuan each. If that doesn't work, we'll raise it to 30 yuan. We need to make sure that every boxed meal has meat, an egg, a chicken leg, and some green vegetables so that it's healthy. It would be even better if it also had fruit and yogurt."

"this......"

"What the heck! And tell them, don't rent costumes and props. Those things are never washed properly, they all smell sour! Buy them all new!"

"But......"

"No buts, it's settled then. Let's calculate the approximate budget."

Liu Mang called Zhao Qiumei over, and the two of them calculated: "It's about four million in total."

Fang Bie raised an eyebrow: "Why is there so little?"

"Um, our production crew doesn't need many extras."

"What about the special effects? I remember special effects cost quite a bit of money."

"That doesn't cost much, after all, Lao Fang, you asked me to find amateur players."

In reality, everyone was working with a lot of energy. Special effects artist Pan Xiao came back from a top special effects company in the United States, but he encountered that kind of suppression.

So he didn't ask for any money at all. He even brought his own equipment and software for creating special effects, since there wasn't any high-end software like the one he used in China.

The software was developed by the special effects company itself. He had a good relationship with the boss, so they allowed him to bring back a copy, but they didn't allow him to share it with other people.

The others were similar; for things like costumes, props, and sets, they basically brought their own food to the set. Liu Mang didn't mention this; he only said that the price was low because everyone was an amateur.

"Not enough!" Fang Bie said decisively, "Upgrade! Upgrade them all!"

Liu Mang looked completely bewildered: "How do I get promoted?"

Everyone is using top-of-the-line products in the industry. In order to turn things around this time, everyone has basically brought out all the treasures they've accumulated over the years. How the hell can we upgrade now?

If he gets promoted again, he'll really be aiming for Hollywood level.

But if you really want to go to Hollywood, you don't have enough money.

Furthermore, when it comes to software, even if you have money, people won't sell it to you.

Fang thought for a moment, then said, "Get me the best props and everything! Don't rent costumes, buy them all! Upgrade the equipment! Set the staff salaries to industry standards! Make sure the boxed lunches have three dishes and a soup, plus fruit and yogurt! Make sure the dishes include meat! Also, reimburse all the staff's travel expenses! Oh, and..."

He turned to Zhao Qiumei and asked, "Where are you all living now?"

Zhao Qiumei answered blankly, "The guesthouse in the village three kilometers away."

"Change them! Change them all! We can't let everyone bleed and weep!" Fang Bie waved his hand. "Get them all into hotels! Aim for five-star hotels!"

Liu Mang stammered, "It would be difficult for those hotels to rent that many rooms, and it would be such a waste..."

Fang thought about it for a moment and realized that this was indeed unreliable, and he couldn't fool Miss Su either.

"Then... let's go for three stars each," he said with a smile. "What's the budget for that?"

Liu Mang and the other man did the math again: "We roughly calculated it, and it's around 6.2 to 6.3 million."

Fang then asked, "How much were the lead actors paid?"

"The highest price for Yan Shuangying is 50,000, but Kira Yoshikage said that as long as meals are provided, it's fine. However, we still set it at 30,000."

"Keep 50,000, and give the rest to them and the staff!"

"It's settled then!" Fang Bie made the decision. "After filming is finished, we'll treat everyone to a nice meal with the remaining money."

Liu Mang stared blankly at him, and Zhao Qiumei also stared blankly at him.

Both of their eyes were a little red.

After a long pause, Liu Mang's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly: "Don't worry, Lao Fang! We'll definitely make a good movie for you!"

Fang Bie's smile immediately vanished.

Screw you, take a good picture! What I want is for you to take a good picture!

P.S.: Two chapters in a row! Tomorrow's update schedule will be adjusted, one chapter at 11 AM and one at 2 PM. Hopefully, I can accumulate more chapters for a big release!