I'm really good at this.

Of the money raised so far, Zhang Hong used 800,000 yuan to support the studio's operating costs.

So the rest adds up to 23.5 million.

But this is still far from the predicted budget of 100 million.

Zhang Hong tapped the table: "So the next question is how to cut costs."

Then Lin Muqing sent all the things she had written yesterday to everyone.

"Let's brainstorm and see how to solve this problem."

Luo Jun laughed: "That's easy, Brother Hong, just ask me to be the male lead! The female lead is Xue Ye! We don't ask for much money."

Bai Xueye nodded in agreement.

Money doesn't matter, the main thing is that following Brother Hong will make me famous!

He ended up as the male and female lead in Brother Hong's TV series, how awesome is that!

You know, there are so many actors out there who want to get in touch with Brother Hong and land a major role in his dramas, but unfortunately, they can't get in touch with any of them.

Zhang Hong sized up the two of them and decisively shook his head: "Not really."

First of all, they are now somewhat famous, so it's not appropriate for them to continue being exploited as tools.

And most importantly, neither of them has the right look or demeanor.

Luo Yun is very beautiful, but this kind of role is not suitable for her.

He's better suited to the kind of handsome type, or someone whose appearance is very different from his usual image.

This role is not suitable.

Needless to say, Snow White Night.

He is nearly 1.8 meters tall and has a handsome appearance.

Although her figure is a bit disappointing, but... is this really the same 15 or 16-year-old girl in the drama who is still innocent and naive to the point of being somewhat dependent on others?

She is more suited to playing roles of nobles or young noblemen.

Or some kind of powerful woman like an empress.

If it were any other film, it wouldn't matter, but with this film... Zhang Hong has a bottom line.

"What should we do then?" Lin Chuan switched from black and white back to color. "How about I go for it? I think I have a good talent for acting, and I'm not ugly either."

This sentence has several layers of meaning.

The first layer can continue to act as an undercover agent to strike from within.

The second level involves abandoning the undercover role, focusing on acting seriously, and working hard to earn money so as not to become a rich second-generation heir in the future.

Thirdly, he genuinely believed his acting skills were good...

After all, he's a man dancing on three eggs.

But Zhang Hong directly rejected him: "Achuan, it's not that you can't do it, it's just that if you can do it, then why don't I do it myself? I've acted for a few days, after all."

Lin Muqing's eyes lit up: "Then why don't you do it yourself? You don't even have to pay anyone."

Zhang Hong laughed nonchalantly: "Me? I..."

He originally wanted to say "I can't".

But then I thought...maybe it really is possible?

He also broadened his thinking.

If I could... I might be able to use this method to find even more actors!

And other things can be solved too!

"Okay, let's put this on hold for now." Zhang Hong looked at Miss Lin, "Mu Qing, if I can find the venue, personnel, and explosives for free, how much can the cost be reduced?"

"If the venue, explosives, extras, and all of these can be provided for free..." Lin Mu calculated, "it can be done for under 30 million. If we work hard, it might be possible to get it down to under 25 million, but that's on the premise that the main actors' salaries won't be too high."

Zhang Hong frowned, his brain working frantically.

After a moment's hesitation, he made a decision: "Alright! Let's proceed according to this budget for now! I'll figure out what to do in between!"

He already had an idea.

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

Zhang Hong once again set foot on the soil of the capital.

Sun Zheng was the one who came to pick him up again this time.

With Zhang Hong by their side, the two rushed to the roast duck restaurant.

Of course, not that brand.

When they arrived at the private room, Liu Yishou was indeed already waiting there.

As soon as Zhang Honggang arrived, he was told to have two drinks first: "I didn't drink last time in Sichuan because of something, but today you absolutely have to have a couple of drinks!"

Two items?

One of them is a wine bottle, and this is a real 18-li bottle?

Zhang Hong felt a chill run down his spine and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Uncle Liu, please spare me. I haven't touched a drink in years."

He hasn't drunk alcohol since he bought VW in his previous life.

However, unexpectedly, he didn't die at the restaurant, but rather from driving while fatigued.

"No way, at most we won't drink baijiu." Liu Yishou didn't treat Zhang Hong like an outsider. "Xiao Hong, you have to give your Uncle Liu face, right?"

Zhang Hong could only manage a wry smile.

Although I argue with people online every day, saying that if someone asks me to drink and I don't, it's disrespectful, well, I'll give them face!

But now that things have come to this point, he can't refuse.

Perhaps this is the difference between a keyboard and reality.

Seeing Zhang Hong's tacit agreement, Liu Yishou was overjoyed and bent down to pull a bottle from under the table: "Let's open six bottles first!"

Zhang Hong stared at the glass bottles, dumbfounded: "Uncle Liu, this..."

Liu Yishou winked: "What, fruit beer isn't beer? Although it doesn't contain any alcohol, since the name includes 'beer,' let's just call it beer. And it won't make you drink and drive."

Only then did Zhang Hong feel relieved enough to begin the work.

After a few rounds of drinks and having eaten one duck, the three of them started talking about TV dramas.

"Xiao Hong, your ratings are pretty good. Four episodes have aired so far, and the average rating is almost 7."

Zhang Hong curled his lip: "That won't work either. It's not even a 7. I thought the worst it could be was a 10."

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He read a lot of novels in his previous life.

In the world of entertainment novels, it's not a big deal if your TV show doesn't get a rating of 10 or 20.

Even the worst case scenario should be at least a 10, right?

If you put it in Japan, he knew from reading Japanese entertainment novels in his previous life that a hit drama there is considered a failure if its viewership rating is less than 20%.

Of course, it might also be because the novels he read were from relatively early periods.

However, this also led to his dissatisfaction when he learned about the ratings of "Mobile Suit Gundam".

Consider this: Liu Yishou's "Blood-Stained Youth" had an investment of 100 million yuan and an average viewership rating of 4.7.

My investment in "Mobile Suit Gundam" was ten times that of his, and that doesn't even include marketing and actor salaries. The viewership rating wasn't even ten times higher, let alone less than 7.

This is clearly unacceptable!

However, his uninformed remark deeply hurt the two elderly comrades.

Liu Yishou held the cup in his hand, remaining silent.

He was clearly quite taken aback.

After a long pause, he asked quietly, "Old Sun, do you remember when the last time your ratings exceeded 7?"

Sun Zheng smiled wryly: "Eighteen years ago."

"Yeah, eighteen years ago, before the internet exploded. The last time my ratings were over 7 was sixteen years ago." Liu Yishou put down his cup. "The only time my ratings were over 10 was twenty-three years ago."

He looked at Zhang Hong, expressionless: "Little Hong, when you're eating with us, can you stop showing off? I'm petty, or I might make things difficult for you."

Zhang Hong: "Huh? No way. I thought it would be easy for a newcomer like me to achieve such high ratings with just a few casual shots."

He beamed with joy.

It seems that I, Zhang, am truly talented.

This was stamped by both Director Liu and Director Sun!

Liu Yishou couldn't even finish the fruit beer.

He felt a soreness in his teeth.

Look at this, is this even human language?

"Xiao Hong, my feet are a little itchy. Could you massage them with your face?"

Zhang Hong also realized what was happening and couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly.

But... I feel really good inside.

Indeed, showing off is an innate and indispensable pursuit of humankind.

After clicking his tongue in frustration, Sun Zheng, having regained his composure, asked, "Xiao Hong, can you tell me about the later plot developments of 'Mobile Suit Gundam'?"

This is the mindset of a director.

This profession is just like writing; if you don't strive to improve, you won't just stagnate, you'll regress.

Therefore, when you see a good work, you should try to learn its essence.

They can see for themselves the visuals, special effects, editing, music, pacing, etc., but the plot certainly isn't entirely without merit.

Otherwise, why do so many Hollywood special effects blockbusters flop every year?

Moreover, they were watching it from a director's perspective and didn't care about spoilers.

Zhang Hong thought for a moment and said, "Actually, it's about groundbreaking special effects, and also a sense of pride and empathy."

He began by giving a brief overview of the plot.

In short, in the year 0079 of the Cosmic Era, the World Freedom Alliance launched a war without declaring war against the shared destiny of humanity on Earth.

The commander of the vanguard squad, the masked man piloting the Red Three, is named Xia Ya, the character played by Luo Yun.

In Zhang Hong's character design, he is a prince of the Great Ying Empire.

However, because the colony where Da Ying lived was annexed by the United States when he was young, he went into exile on other colonies.

There, he met Luo Ren, an extraterrestrial Chinese living there.

Yes, that's the lead role played by Wang Chen.

Later, responding to the call of their motherland, overseas Chinese scientists returned to China to serve their country.

That's how Luo Ren's father went back.

Luo Ren parted ways with Xia Ya here.

After that, Char infiltrated the American colony and joined the army under the alias Char.

His ultimate goal was to overthrow the American empire and take revenge.

So a few years later, in the year 79 of the Universal Era.

When they invaded Earth, two former comrades met on a guardian satellite in Earth's orbit.

However, neither of them recognized the other.

Then came the "Archangel," known for its long legs, carrying the "Unicorn" piloted by Luo Ren, as it escaped to Earth.

Meanwhile, the fleet of the World Freedom Alliance pursued and intercepted them.

Then the war escalated, and the American president, in a fit of rage, launched an Australian colony satellite at Earth.

However, due to the Earth Force's desperate resistance outside the atmosphere, the satellite deviated from its orbit and crashed directly into the Australian city on Earth, a city whose name begins with "Sydney".

Later, the "Community of Human Destiny" was defeated because of the new type of weapon, the mobile suit, and the "Tianwen Particle".

The general who commanded the battle was also captured.

Because of limited resources, the World Freedom Alliance wants to force Earth to sign an unequal treaty.

Then the Archangel successfully landed on Earth, and the Unicorn completed the first solo atmospheric breakthrough in the series.

They brought the stable Tianwen particle controller back to the community of shared future for mankind.

Meanwhile, the captured general also escaped back to Earth and delivered a famous speech: "The World Freedom Alliance has no soldiers left to fight!"

The negotiations broke down, and the two sides entered into a tug-of-war.

Meanwhile, the community of shared future for mankind, led by China, also rapidly developed more powerful mass-produced mobile suits to join the battlefield.

A few months later, the World Freedom League was defeated.

The two sides entered into peace.

In the final battle, Luo Ren and Xia Ya recognized each other and then both severely injured the other.

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Char activated the self-destruct system, and both mobile suits disappeared into space.

The two main characters have also disappeared.

This is the main plot of the series.

Zhang Hong analyzed, "It's probably about the sense of identification and pride. On Earth, China is in charge, and their way of doing things is the same as ours. The World Freedom Alliance... those who know, know. And then we won, so naturally everyone feels great."

With its groundbreaking special effects, excellent music, editing, grand scenes, and a decent storyline, Zhang Hong considered the viewership ratings to be normal.

Liu and Sun seemed to be deep in thought.

Indeed, it is a classic TV series.

The so-called "royal way" is to crush everything in a fair and square manner.

Everything about me is better than yours, so naturally I am even stronger.

They need to go back and digest this properly before watching the TV series carefully.

"So, Xiao Hong, what ratings are you satisfied with?"

"Let's say 10," Zhang Hong laughed. "If it can't even reach 10 points in ratings, then wouldn't all the money I spent on this show be wasted? And it even has the added bonus of prime time on CCTV-1."

Liu Yishou and Sun Zheng: "..."

The second-ranked drama in the same period had an average viewership rating of 1.8%, and that was during the climax near the end.

So you're saying you're not satisfied if it's not even 10?

Seeing that the two looked rather unhappy, Zhang Hong said aggrievedly, "I only told you because you asked me. I didn't want to say it at all. It doesn't matter."

Liu Yishou felt a headache coming on.

He was losing control of his urge to hit someone.

Sun Zheng calmed himself down before changing the subject: "Xiao Hong, what did you want to see us about?"

It means that if there's nothing else, you can get lost.

Zhang Hong scratched his cheek.

The next moment, his expression turned serious, and he looked intently at the two directors: "Uncle Liu, Uncle Sun, I need your help!"

PS: Chapter 3, nighttime.

(灬??灬)

I like it, I'm really good at it, I'm really good at it.