Divine Lucky Star-Chapter 157 - Roaring Investors
Chapter 157: Chapter 157 Roaring Investors
Whether it’s good or bad, we absolutely must keep the investors calm!
Wang Hao immediately headed for the production crew’s small meeting room with a squad in tow. As soon as he arrived at the door, he heard a roar coming from inside—
“This drama, you told me I could fund it with three million from the start, it’s a web series, not so expensive!” that voice shouted loudly: “And now, what’s the situation? Not only has the cost doubled, but you’re telling me it’s still not enough! Still not enough! I’ve invested six million now! Just this month alone I’ve made three payments, and we’ve only shot two-thirds of it, do you expect me to pour in more than ten million to complete the shoot?!”
The person was banging on the table, obviously very angry.
“I was just thinking of improving the quality a bit,” Gao Mingxing muttered: “Mr. Li, you also know it’s very common for a film to go over budget…”
“Common my ass!” Mr. Li yelled: “Going over the budget by a million or two is no big deal, but how much have you exceeded?! Just from me, it’s nearly four million over, and that’s just for now! Are you going to pay for the final third of the drama out of your own pocket?! Mr. Wu is already at his wits’ end over there, keep this up and it’s not just you––all of us will be ruined!”
...
Wang Hao: “…”
Damn, Mr. Li is really worked up!
This can’t go on, if we’re not careful, the production crew could really fall apart!
Li Fei, Zheng Yue, and a group of people were anxiously pacing around like ants on a hot pan, all looking to Wang Hao—
“Brother Hao, look, we’re absolutely out of options, it’s all on you now!”
“Yeah, Brother Hao, you’re our production crew’s lucky charm. Whether we can continue shooting all depends on whether you can calm Mr. Li down!”
People were talking at once, leaving Wang Hao feeling overwhelmed in an instant!
But no matter what, the show must go on; if we stop the funding now, all the work we’ve done will be in vain!
“Uh, Director Gao,” Wang Hao gently pushed the door open, grinning: “I’m here, is everything okay?”
“Ah, you’re finally here!” As soon as Gao Mingxing saw Wang Hao, he rushed over like a drowning man clutching at straws, pulling Wang Hao into the room: “Quick, quick, quick, let me introduce you, this is Mr. Li Minghai, our production crew’s investor!”
“Hello Mr. Li,” Wang Hao quickly greeted: “Nice to meet you for the first time.”
“Who are you?” Mr. Li was clearly in a bad mood, looking at Wang Hao with disdain: “How come I have never seen you before?”
“Ah, I’m just an…” assistant from our production crew? That’s not good to say, Wang Hao scratched his head: “an assistant, I think there might be some misunderstanding about our production crew…”
“Assistant?” Mr. Li sized up Wang Hao, then burst into a tirade: “You’re just a nobody! What are you doing barging in here, acting important?! Speaking of which, I’ve got to ask, how much do you earn a month?! How come I have never seen you during my previous visits? Taking my money and not working, and now you come in here, deliberately to provoke me, right?”
Gao Mingxing: “…”
Li Fei: “…”
Onlookers outside: “…”
It’s all over now, the lucky charm was cursed to high heaven the moment he appeared, this time it’s truly hopeless!
Even the main actor, Yang Yunfei from the crowd, covered his forehead: “It’s done for, this is really bad, my first leading role in a drama, I thought it would surely be a hit, if this doesn’t work out…”
Everyone was very frustrated. In fact, the script of this drama was definitely not an issue, but what’s the use of a good script if the investor pulls out?
“Mr. Li, please don’t panic just yet,” Wang Hao said cheerfully: “There’s an issue, but aren’t we supposed to solve it? Yelling at me doesn’t resolve anything, right? Come, have a seat, why not listen to what I have to say first?”
No matter what, Wang Hao’s attitude was still quite good.
Mr. Li was panting heavily for a while before he finally calmed down a bit and plumped down onto a seat.
“Director Gao,” Wang Hao sat down beside Gao Mingxing and then asked, “What exactly is going on? According to the script, it’s all urban scenes, at most with some action sequences. How did it burn through so much money?”
When this was brought up, Gao Mingxing was also quite frustrated, saying, “How would I know? I’m just responsible for shooting the film. I assign what’s needed for each scene, and then the set is arranged, actors prepare, and then we start filming. If a shot isn’t good, we reshoot. That’s how it’s always been done! I didn’t notice anything amiss!”
Listening to Director Gao, this really did seem normal…
“This doesn’t give me much of an idea,” Wang Hao stroked his chin, “Is there anything more specific, like a detailed breakdown of a scene’s assignments? Otherwise, I can’t pinpoint where the problem is.”
“Quit your yapping!” Mr. Li said impatiently from the side, “Just tell me what you’re going to do about it! I’m certainly not going to keep throwing money into this bottomless pit. If you don’t give me a satisfactory answer today, this crew will disband right here, and I’ll have to withdraw my investment!”
Everyone’s heart sank; Mr. Li was laying down the gauntlet!
Today, even if they had to exhaust every last idea, they had to figure things out, or the production would be over!
“Mr. Li, don’t rush, Little Wang is here so everything will definitely be fine,” Gao Mingxing finally felt confident with Wang Hao there; this guy was extraordinarily capable when he wasn’t stepping in crap! Sure enough, after thinking for a while, his eyes suddenly lit up, he slapped his thigh hard, and said, “I’ve got it! I wrote a proposal before, with details for each shot’s set design, scene setting, and so on; it’s all in there. Can you see if that helps?”
Better to have something than nothing, right?
Wang Hao nodded, “Alright, get it for me to look at. I bet the problem is with that part.”
Soon, someone handed over a notebook, and Wang Hao began to read.
At first, he didn’t say much, but the more he read, the more wrong it seemed. Soon, his brows furrowed deeply!
“How is it, how is it?” Director Gao was full of anticipation, “No problems, right?”
Damn, no problems? This is a huge problem! If you keep this up, not even a god could afford it, my dear Director Gao!
“It’s not that there aren’t problems,” Wang Hao took a deep breath, “This is a huge problem! If I were Mr. Li, not to mention negotiating with you, I would immediately withdraw my investment!”
Eh?! The onlookers outside all craned their necks upon hearing Wang Hao’s words!
What the hell? You’re betraying us at the last minute?
“Oh? There really is a problem?” Mr. Li’s eyes brightened as he asked, “Tell me, where exactly is the issue?”
“Director Gao, you need set designs, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but what you’ve written here is no good!” Wang Hao flicked the notebook in his hand, saying, “Look at this scene, the male lead is taking the female lead on a date, and to create a romantic shot, you used a circular track around the lead actors, filming around them. That’s right, isn’t it?”
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“Yes, I’m particularly proud of how that shot came out, the effect was super good,” Gao Mingxing said confused, “Are you saying we should cut costs and not use such techniques? Would the footage even be watchable then?”
Mr. Li, sitting nearby, leaned back on the sofa and huffed, “It’s just one shot, and you want to go to heaven for it? Just settle down! How much did you spend on that sorry shot? Tell me yourself!”
Gao Mingxing immediately wilted at this…
“It cost around… about…” Gao Mingxing thought carefully, “Around forty thousand or so, right… I mean, it needs technical work. I smashed all the tables and chairs in the bar for that shot, laid down the circular tracks, and set up the lighting… Mr. Li, we can’t skimp on the venue cost! Out of that forty thousand, thirty thousand was for remodeling!”
Mr. Li nearly leaped to his feet, “You TM smashed someone’s venue just for one shot?! Why don’t you just fly to the sky?! Wouldn’t carrying the camera around do the trick?! Forty thousand for one shot, how much money do you think I have for you to play around like this?!”
Gao Mingxing was also quite disheartened, “I had no choice, carrying the camera can cause shaky footage, and that picture is just unwatchable, it would make the audience’s eyes go blurry!”
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