Huayu: Returned Overseas Chinese

The casting was tentatively settled based on Yu Li's words. As for whether they could actually get the actors, Chen Jingming wasn't worried. Since Yu Li, as the department head, had given her assurance, the actors would most likely not refuse if their schedules allowed.

After discussing the actors, Wu Bing quickly steered the conversation to the more crucial topic of choosing a director, asking:

"Director Yu, how's the director selection going?"

Upon hearing this question, Yu Li, clutching the script, paced back and forth in her office, her brow slightly furrowed. It wasn't that there were no candidates, but rather that she wanted to choose the most suitable one.

After a long while, Yu Li finally stopped and tentatively spoke to Wu Bing:

"I've thought of two people, listen to them."

Zhang Jiandong, who just finished filming "Don't Talk to Strangers", is good at filming male ensemble scenes. He also has military experience, so he is adept at handling war scenes and his character portrayals are solid.

Jiang Wei, who also participated in the creation of this drama, is known for his steady narrative and precise pacing, and is particularly adept at portraying complex and multifaceted characters. He handles characters like Li Yun, who combines ruggedness, loyalty, and wisdom, with exceptional skill.

Upon hearing this, Wu Bing hesitated for a moment before speaking, "These two are not easy to persuade; they might not be willing to take on our project. I also heard that Jiang Wei just accepted 'Absolute Control,' and his schedule might be too tight. I wonder if that's accurate?"

Yu Li fell silent after hearing this. Both of them were teachers at the school, and going out to act required prior approval. It would be appropriate to obtain Xie Xiaojin's consent first before going to Zhang Jiandong; going there rashly would be presumptuous. Thinking of this, Yu Li picked up the phone on her desk and dialed.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Director Xiaojin, this is Yu Li. I hope I haven't disturbed you?"

"Oh, it's Director Yu. What brings you here today?"

Xie Xiaojin's voice sounds very cheerful.

"Director Xiaojin, it's like this..." Yu Li recounted Chen Jingming's situation. Xie Xiaojin was silent for a moment before speaking:

"Director Yu, I agree in principle, but it mainly depends on whether Director Zhang Jiandong is willing. I can't force him, can I?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Li breathed a sigh of relief: "Director Xiaojin, I just wanted to let you know first. As for Director Zhang Jiandong, I'll go and talk to him."

"Okay, no problem on my end. Once we've reached an agreement, just have him come and report to me." Xie Xiaojin readily agreed. They were all from Beijing Film Academy, and both were department heads; he had to give them that much face.

Yu Li quickly thanked him before hanging up the phone. Looking up, she saw Chen Jingming's delighted expression and softly reminded him:

"Jingming, don't be too happy yet. Director Xiaojin has agreed, but whether or not to accept the offer ultimately depends on Director Zhang Jiandong himself."

Chen Jingming nodded. Zhang Jiandong was the deputy director of the directing department, so Xie Xiaojin naturally couldn't make decisions for him; however, the approval for filming outside the office required Xie Xiaojin's consent. Getting one on board was the first step, and the rest would be easier to discuss.

"Let's go, let's go find Zhang Jiandong right now. There's no time like the present, let's settle this today." Seeing Chen Jingming nod, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Yu Li's eyes—only those who know when to advance and retreat can go further.

Wu Bing and Chen Jingming naturally had no objections, and the two followed Yu Li directly up to the fourth floor. The Management Department's offices were on the third floor, and the Directing Department's offices were just upstairs, a few steps away.

After knocking on the office door and receiving permission, Yu Li led the way in. The people inside were somewhat surprised to see the three enter. The Management Department rarely interacted with the Directing Department; why were they suddenly here?

Zhang Jiandong, as the deputy director, spoke first: "Director Yu, Teacher Wu, what brings you here?"

As for Chen Jingming, Zhang Jiandong didn't know him, but he nodded slightly as a greeting.

"Director Zhang, I have a script here, but I'm having trouble deciding what to do with it. I'd like to ask you for your help." Yu Li said very politely, and then placed the script on the table.

Before coming up, Wu Bing had told Chen Jingming to keep quiet and not to say anything unless asked. Chen Jingming understood Yu Li's intention after hearing her words. Zhang Jiandong, as a representative of academic television directors, didn't have much need for money and valued script quality more—no wonder Yu Li didn't mention that the script had already been approved.

Zhang Jiandong glanced at Yu Li, noticing her earnest expression, then picked up the script, casually flipped through a couple of pages, and then began reading it carefully from the beginning. His page-turning speed was rapid, clearly indicating he was a seasoned veteran of scriptwriting.

About half an hour later, Zhang Jiandong closed the script, looked at Yu Li, and smiled:

"Director Yu, this script is already very mature and ready to be filmed. You gave it to me because you want me to direct it?"

Yu Li immediately smiled: "Yes, Director Zhang. Our management department finally has a student who wants to make TV dramas. As a teacher, we should support them, don't you think?"

"Of course." Zhang Jiandong nodded with a smile, but then changed the subject, "But even if I agreed, it wouldn't matter. Funding for such a large-scale production isn't easy."

"As long as Director Zhang agrees, I'll take care of the funding problem, how about that?" Yu Li's eyes lit up as she quickly said.

Seeing the barely concealed excitement in Yu Li's eyes, Zhang Jiandong leaned back, feeling as if he had fallen into a trap. He tentatively asked:

"Director Yu, don't tell me the funds have already been received? I haven't heard a word about it."

As a well-known director in the television industry, he usually hears about major dramas that are about to be filmed, but this is the first time he has seen this script.

"Haha." Yu Li laughed. "Funding is absolutely no problem, it just depends on whether Director Zhang is willing."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiandong knew he had fallen into a trap; the other party was clearly prepared. He regretted his earlier words, such as "even if I agree," for being too quick to agree. But the script was indeed excellent, and it wasn't something he couldn't refuse. He turned to Chen Jingming and asked with a smile:

"Is this your script? Tell me, why do you want to make a war-themed TV series?"

"Director Zhang, I am an overseas Chinese. I have been listening to my grandfather tell stories from back then since I was a child."

I have always admired the courage, loyalty, sacrifice, and patriotism of our soldiers. Sometimes I really wish I had been born in that era and could have faced the national crisis with our predecessors.

I was immediately captivated by this novel when I first saw it last year, so I bought the rights right away. After more than a dozen revisions by the company's editorial department, the final draft was finally submitted for review.

"It's already been submitted for review?" Zhang Jiandong hadn't heard much else, but he caught this sentence. Chen Jingming nodded:

"It's been approved, and we've obtained the production license."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiandong gave Chen Jingming a deep look. Military dramas are not easy to get approved; the subject matter, content, explosion scenes, props, and other aspects all require strict review before a production license can be obtained. He hadn't expected Chen Jingming to have already gotten it done.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the script, and after a while spoke: "Good lad, you've dug a huge pit for me, Old Zhang. If I don't fall into it, Director Yu will probably report me all the way to the principal."

The atmosphere in the office immediately relaxed after those words. Yu Li smiled but didn't reply. If Zhang Jiandong really didn't want to, she was actually planning to do it—there was a chance to rise in the management department, and it wouldn't be too much to try.

"Have the actors been decided yet?" Zhang Jiandong asked directly when he saw the three of them only smiling and not saying anything.

Yu Li picked up the conversation and recounted the actor choices they had just discussed. Zhang Jiandong quickly matched them in his mind and then said:

"Then let's settle on that. I currently have another drama to produce, which will be a bit later, but I can free up my schedule early next year."

"Okay, thank you very much, Director Zhang!" Chen Jingming immediately expressed his gratitude. For him, scheduling was not an issue at all, and he agreed on the spot.

"Alright, leave the script here with me, I'll take another look. You guys go back first, I still need to go to the editing room," Zhang Jiandong said, standing up.

Yu Li nodded and got up as well. Zhang Jiandong was usually so busy that he was always on the go, so it was quite a coincidence that they happened to run into each other today.