Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

This price exceeded Yang Che's budget. It wasn't that the personnel fees were too high, but rather that the number of people exceeded the budget. There were nearly 60 crew members and eight main and supporting actors. Filming would take a month and a half, and the cost of food and lodging would be considerable. It would cost at least 25 yuan a month for food, lodging, and transportation.

However, Yang Che did not show any unusual expression in front of Ning Hao, because he kept telling them that what he wanted was an industry benchmark for urban romance films, both in terms of plot and visuals.

After seeing Ning Hao off, Yang Che looked at Zeng Jian and Cheng Erlie's equipment list.

The budget they estimated was 570,000, including two Panavisense XL cameras, six Panavisense prime lenses, HDI lamps, tungsten lamps and other lighting equipment, a DAT recorder, shotgun and wireless microphones, tracks, a crane, a Steadicam, a generator, etc.

That's not all. Cheng Er added, "If you want fine grain and high dynamic range, use Kodak Vision 50D film. It has low sensitivity and extremely clear image quality. It costs 1300 per roll."

Yang Che understood; it was more than four times the amount of Lucky film commonly used in domestic films today.

"Is this the best?"

"The best."

"Then we'll use this one."

Zeng Jian and Cheng Er exchanged a glance. Awesome.

Currently, the average film consumption ratio for domestic films is 5:1, meaning that for every minute of film completed, 5 minutes of film are needed.

Hollywood commercial films typically have an 8:1 ratio.

So here's the question: a reel of 35mm film can shoot 4.4 minutes of film, and "My Sassy Girl" is 120 minutes long. How many reels of film would be needed? And how much would it cost?

Okay, so this is a linear equation in one variable: 137 plates, 178100 yuan.

This is already very economical.

There was a director named Jiang whose debut film, "In the Heat of the Sun," had a film ratio of 15:1, setting a record. The film ratio for the Milan photo was 23040:1.

The current version of "Devils on the Doorstep" being edited has a 30:1 ratio of footage to screen size. They really don't treat investors like human beings.

Let's get back to the main topic.

Looking at these lists, Yang Che estimated the amount of film needed and finally mentally calculated a total budget of 167 million.

Okay, it's similar to what I planned back in Longcheng, but this time it's the real deal. Because Ning Hao, Zeng Jian, and Cheng Er aren't really people who've entered this industry, but this has strengthened Yang Che's original resolve: he absolutely won't hire seasoned veterans.

Even so, the actual expenditure will still increase by at least 20% to 30%.

"Yang Che, who are you planning to hire for photography?"

Yang Che glanced at Zeng Jian and saw that the guy was very calm. Well, in this kind of film crew, he was lucky to get a position as a camera assistant, especially since he had to prepare his graduation project when school started in September.

So he smiled and asked in return, "Old Cheng, do you have any recommendations?"

"There's one you can use as a handheld console. His name is Song Xiaofei; he just graduated this year..."

Yang Che nodded: "Then contact him and ask him to bring the things he photographed."

Cheng Er was very happy: "Okay!"

After graduating, Song Xiaofei was assigned to the Beijing Film Studio, but he had no work and just lay around in his dormitory.

Yang Che was quite happy too; he'd actually eaten with Song Xiaofei in his past life...

This guy was going to direct movies like *Cow*, *Killing*, *The Grandmaster*, *Lost in Hong Kong*, and *Breakup Buddies*... Later, he directed *The Saint of Gamblers* (the one with Xiao Shen running around with his sunbathed backside), and the TV series *Snow Blade*...

Yang Che had a strange feeling that the list of people behind his film might be talked about many years from now, and he might be given the title of "talent scout".

Thanks to the current low point for Chinese cinema, thanks to their youth and idleness.

"Old Zeng."

"what?"

Zeng Jian was a little stunned to see Yang Che sitting on the sofa with an air of authority, like a big boss.

"Filming is expected to start in September. We need a lead actor, 6000 yuan. Can you do it?"

Zeng Jian grinned: "Of course I want to do it. Well, usually, directors of photography have their own camera operators and assistants."

Yang Che nodded: "I know that. I'll find a top-notch photographer to be the director of photography. The footage will be absolutely amazing."

Cheng Er asked curiously, "Who is it?"

"Zhao Xiaoding"

Zeng Jian laughed: "Oh, he's good, hehe, I've worked with him before, he's a senior from the class of '87. When is he coming over?"

Okay, I'm from the photography department at Beijing Film Academy.

Now you know why Ning Hao, who has already won the Best Director award at the College Student Film Festival, still went on to study photography at the Beijing Film Academy for two years after completing a junior college diploma. What you study isn't important; getting in is the most important thing.

"Tomorrow, Lao Zeng, go to the copy shop and make 20 copies of this script."

Zeng Jian took the script and asked疑惑地问道, "Brother Che, isn't there a floppy disk?"

Yang Che slapped his forehead. Damn it.

"No, you go do this job."

He then pulled out a huge sum of 3000 yuan: "This is all the cash I have. I'll print as many copies as I can."

Zeng Jian responded, greeted Cheng Er who was sitting quietly to the side, and then left happily.

These days, if you want to make a copy, you first need to find a typist, who charges one yuan per 100 words. Copy shops have such people; after typing, they will save the text to a floppy disk. As for printing, the price is one yuan per A4 sheet of paper.

The script is about 3 words long, and Yang Che wrote more than 90 pages. If it is adjusted to be annotated, it will probably be close to 140 pages.

Looking at the closed door, Yang Che suddenly remembered Zeng Jian's mention of "floppy disks," and instinctively wanted to ask Cheng Er why they didn't use USB drives, but what came out of his mouth was: "Old Cheng, don't go back to Shanghai, how about becoming an executive director?"

If this is truly fabricated, then the USB drive is something that absolutely cannot be revealed until we are certain that this thing has actually been developed.

The wake-up call from yesterday's "Two Smoking Barrels" is still fresh in our minds.

If Netac hasn't invented the USB flash drive yet, then he could find some factories and become a "creative inventor" to earn some extra money. If he has already invented it, then he could just have his mom order a batch, what else can he do?

Unlike Yang Che's wild thoughts, Cheng Er's attention was extremely focused, and her heart was pounding.

After a moment of contemplation, he looked directly at Yang Che and said calmly, "I want to ask you to give me a chance. I want to be the director, not just the executive director. I believe I have the ability to do so."

Upon hearing this, Yang Che snapped out of his reverie and looked at him with a smile, saying, "This script has a complete story structure, and every scene is in my mind. The reason I'm not directing is because I lack experience. To put it bluntly, someone as proud and arrogant as you would be willing to be just a tool?"

Cheng Er's lips twitched: "Every year, more than a hundred directing students graduate in China. If even one of them gets the opportunity to become an executive director three years after graduation, that's extremely lucky. What do I have to be proud of?"

I only offered to direct this film because you had a complete idea for it; otherwise, I wouldn't have had the courage.

"Brother Che, my professional skills are fine, and my control over the footage is also fine. I brought my footage; take a look."

PS: I wrote this chapter on the highway. I went back to my hometown to pay respects to my ancestors, so that's all for today! Tomorrow... I'll continue tomorrow!

No drafts saved! I'm so upset! The big shot even gave me two verified author badges, I guess I'll have to owe them!