In the hotel, Wen Zhiren and Werner, who were waiting boredly, had rarely spoken since last night. It was a bit like waiting for the judgment of fate. You can't resist and can only wait silently.

The two of them have already talked about everything that needs to be said and talked about.

Both of them have thought of everything they should think about and expect.

It seems that if they cannot wait for Wu Long's call, they will fall into the abyss for the rest of their lives and never be able to extricate themselves.

If it were before the two horror films "The Ring" and "The Caller" came out, the two of them would not have been in this situation.

But these two people are majoring in film, and they became friends because they like brutal horror films. It is conceivable that these two people were born to make horror films.

Of course, they haven't found their own path yet. But that doesn't stop them from feeling that those previous horror films, in their eyes, don't have a real horror soul.

Until Wu Long's horror film came out, they seemed to be guided by a light, shining on them to move towards the holy land of horror films.

From then on, they became Wu Long's die-hard fans.

"Beep ring bell——"

The two of them jumped up in fright at the sound of the phone ringing.

"Sadako!"

"'Midnight Ring'!"

The two said in unison.

Then they looked at each other and rushed to the phone to answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Hello, are you Mr. Wen or Mr. Werner?"

"I am Wen Zhiren."

"Hello Mr. Wen, this is Wu Long Studio. Do you have time at 10:30 this morning?"

"Yes, we have time!"

"Please come at 10:30 this morning. Mr. Wu will meet you at this time."

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome."

Putting down the phone, Wen Zhiren and Werner high-fived in celebration.

"yeah!"

"marvelous!"

"This is the best news I've ever heard!"

"Our luck has come!"

"Come over right now!"

"Just wait outside!"

The two immediately packed up, left the hotel and waited outside Wu Long's studio.

The time was approaching, so they went in two minutes early. After waiting for the receptionist to ask for instructions via the intercom, he took them to Wu Long's office.

"Brother Long!"

"Hello, Brother Long!"

The two greeted each other in Chinese that they had practiced many times. They also knew these two simple words.

"Please take a seat."

Wu Long invited the two of them to sit down on the reception sofa. Wu Long personally brought them two cups of tea, making them feel that Wu Long respected them. They were excited and happy, but also a little uneasy.

He quickly stood up and thanked him.

Wu Long, a famous director, actor, and screenwriter, was like a lofty god in front of them.

But now, this man whom they both respected as a god personally served them tea. Compare this with the cold looks they received when they promoted their scripts, recommended themselves to be directors, or applied for related positions.

At this moment, they both secretly vowed to follow Wu Long forever in this life.

Even if Wu Long did not recruit them, they would still regard Wu Long as the person they respect the most in this life.

Because even if Wu Long has never heard of them, he will respect them equally.

Wu Long chatted with the two people and got to know them through the chat. It was not the relationship between the recruiter and the applicant, but it made the two of them feel like friends.

Gradually, the two of them relaxed physically and mentally, and opened their minds. They talked about everything with Wu Long. They shared their opinions on horror movies, and also shared the inspiration and direction that "The Ring" and "The Ghost Call" gave them.

He also showed the script he wrote to Wu Long, hoping that Wu Long would comment on it.

Wu Long carefully read the script they wrote without commenting.

"I won't comment on your script, do you know why?"

Wen Zhiren and Werner shook their heads.

Is it because their script is so bad that it doesn’t deserve Wu Long’s comments?

Probably.

Although they think their scripts are better than the horror movie scripts of Hao Lai Hu, they also admit that compared with Wu Long's "The Ring" and "The Ghost Call", their scripts are indeed much worse.

"Do you know why there are so many good horror movies but not many really good ones?"

"Do you know why my "Midnight Ring" and "Ghost Call" are loved by so many movie fans?"

Wen Zhiren and Werner shook their heads again.

"In fact, movies, like other commodities, must have their own characteristics. The homogeneity of commodities is too serious. If the products produced do not have their own characteristics, they will fall into low-price competition due to homogeneity. Audiences will also

There are too many and I don’t like to read them anymore.”

"For example, why did the pirate movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" I made become so popular and sell so much at the box office? Is it fantasy content? No. In the past, when pirate movies were popular, fantasy content was also added to pirate movies."

"So, if my "Pirates of the Caribbean" wants people to watch it, it can't be the same as previous pirate movies. It must have its own characteristics."

"Many pirate movies are either treasure hunting or revenge, so my "Pirates of the Caribbean" disguised treasure hunting and revenge, used curses as the theme, and gave it an unusual pirate captain. This gave "Pirates of the Caribbean" a

It’s a different perspective than previous pirate movies.”

"The same goes for horror movies."

"My horror films have distinctive characteristics. If I comment on your scripts, they will involuntarily bring my characteristics. And after you listen to my comments, you may unconsciously learn my characteristics. In the end, your horror films

There will be traces of me. In the eyes of others, you are just my tools or my puppets."

"And I feel that if I don't comment on your scripts, you will be less influenced by me. In the process of growing up, you will form your own characteristics and make your own style of horror films. In this way, you can become yourself

The kind of director, actor, and screenwriter you want.”

After listening to Wu Long's explanation, Wen Zhiren and Warner immediately felt Wu Long's magnanimity and greatness. Wu Long was not a selfish person and did not regard them as tools. Wu Long wanted them to grow into individuals with their own characteristics.

people.

Gratitude and emotion, admiration and blind worship appeared in the hearts of Wen Zhiren and Werner.

There is such a big shot who cares about them when they meet for the first time and sincerely talks to them. On the life path of movies, they will no longer have any regrets in this life.

"Thank you Brother Long, we understand."

"We just want to learn from you and form our own unique horror film style."

"Brother Long, let us follow you."

Wu Long shook his head.

"No, follow me and you will be influenced by me."

ah?

Wen Zhiren and Werner were dumbfounded. They were able to be received by Wu Long, and Wu Long had talked to them so much. They thought the matter was settled, so they followed Wu Long and made a living under Wu Long.

As a result, Wu Long did not agree?

"Brother Long, I know that we have little experience and qualifications. Originally, we came here from Haolaihu with only a trace of fantasy. We were even prepared for the worst and would not be able to meet you. But now that we have met, we have not I can learn from you. I wonder if Brother Long can give us some pointers and let us know where we need to improve?"

Wen Zhiren and Werner looked at Wu Long eagerly, wanting to get the answer.

Even if you die, you must die clearly.

"That's right, I want you two to set up a film company in Haolaihu."

"But, Brother Long, we have no money." Werner quickly explained.

"I can invest."

Invest in us? Let us set up a film company?

This turn was so magical that Wen Zhiren and Werner couldn't believe it for a moment.

"It's just a small company that specializes in shooting horror movies or B-level movies. The shooting cycle of horror movies and B-level movies is short and the production cost is low. But as long as the movie is good, the profit is very high."

"In the early stage, I will give you the script and investment and let you shoot it by yourself. In the later stage, when you form your own style, you can write your own script and shoot it, or buy a script and shoot it, I don't care. However, if I don't like the script, I will I don’t know how to invest. If you want to shoot, you need to raise investment yourself.”

After Wen Zhiren and Werner listened to Wu Long's explanation, they quickly figured out why Wu Long did this. Although they opened the film company, it actually still belonged to Wu Long.

In the early stage, Wu Long made money with the help of them. In the later stage, when they grow up, they can make money on their own.

They will definitely be paid for helping Wu Long make movies. By helping Wu Long make movies, they can train themselves and make themselves famous, so that people will be willing to ask him to make movies. If they develop slowly in this way, they will have savings.

The production cost of horror films is low. They can read and write the script and then invest in the filming themselves.

This is a cooperation that benefits both parties.

Wu Long did not hire them to make the film.

It seems like he is using them to make a movie, but in fact he is not using them. Because they are not famous now and have nothing. It can be said that Wu Long used his own script to train them.

In their current situation, no one is willing to ask them to make a movie because they don't have a single successful movie.

Only when the film he shoots can be successfully screened can he be considered a theater film director. If a film is successfully released, no matter what the result is, it at least proves that one can make a movie and the film can be released. This is extremely rich experience and wealth. .

It is equivalent to having a director qualification certificate recognized by the market.

It will play a key role in my future career as a director.

Let them set up a film company, not Wu Long's own film company. This is cooperation.

Wu Long respected them and cooperated with them.

Why not agree to such an opportunity and such a good thing?

"I do."

"Brother Long, thank you, we are willing."

At noon, Wu Long had lunch with them. In the afternoon, the three continued to discuss setting up a film company and how to cooperate in detail.

As a film company that specializes in horror films and B-level films, it is not Wu Long's film company. Wen Zhiren and Werner do not need to cooperate with Wu Long. Such a film company greatly reduces the threat to Haolaihu Blockbuster Film Company.

Let this film company survive in the cracks.

After several days of discussions, the day before Wen Zhiren and Werner were about to leave the imperial capital and return to Haolaihu, they received the first script given by Wu Long.

And, a detailed marketing plan.

"You guys read the script first, but don't read the marketing plan yet. If you have any questions after reading the script, or if you have any opinions about the script, let's discuss it together."

Wen Zhiren and Werner opened the script.

【"Blair Witch"】

[Estimated production cost: US$60,000]

Both of them were shocked at the same time.

etc!

How many zeros?

Did I count it wrong?

Or did I see it wrong?

Or is it a misprint?

Sixty thousand U.S. dollars, after deducting the actors' remuneration, their remuneration, and the remuneration of the stage managers and others. The bulk of it includes the studio, scenery, props, etc. Even renting a camera is a large amount of money.

How to get $60,000?

If it’s really $60,000, that’s too stingy, right?

Wu Long sat across from them, looking at their expressions, feeling secretly happy.

Do you feel very stingy?

Do you think it’s impossible?

No, when I let you make the next film, you will find that it is even more stingy!

Warner couldn't help it. No matter how good the script was, no matter how simple it was, it couldn't be made with $60,000. Even if it could be made, it would still be a movie too bad to watch.

"Brother Long, this production cost 60,000 US dollars. Is it a printing error?"

When Wen Zhiren heard his friend ask this, he quickly supported his friend.

"Yes, Brother Long. The amount of the production cost is missing one zero or two zeros, right?"

The production cost of US$600,000 is barely enough to make a movie.

Under normal circumstances, six hundred dollars can be used to make a movie that can be officially released.

Many low-cost movies worth millions of dollars have box office revenue of 20 to 30 million dollars, and the return on investment is more than 3 or 4.

Movies like this are successful.

But now it's only $60,000. This is really too little.

The two looked at Wu Long, waiting for Wu Long's surprised reaction. As a result, what they saw was Wu Long's smiling face.

"That's right, the production cost is US$60,000. You can look at the script and calculate whether it can be made with US$60,000."

"A truly successful director must learn to use the least amount of money to make a movie with the highest box office. The higher the return on investment, the more valuable the director is."

"The more directors can use the least amount of money to produce films with high return on investment, they will be able to maximize their imagination."

Wen Zhiren and Werner looked at each other silently, getting the same answer from each other's eyes.

Wu Long, are you trying to fool them?

However, given Wu Long's status, there is no need to do this to them.

So, the two of them read the script honestly.

The film tells the story of three film students who disappeared in the jungle near a small town. At that time, they were filming a documentary. The documentary was related to an ancient local legend, which was the "Blair Witch".

Many years later, their backpacks were discovered. The audio tapes and cameras inside recorded the last lives of the three people.

The script is very simple, really simple.

It's strange that it can be complicated with such a small production cost.

After reading the script, Wen Zhiren was really confused. Is this script worse than the one they wrote themselves?

Too bad.

If you give a script like this to a movie company for free, the movie company won't even want it.

Is there a problem with my cognition? Or is this script a test for me by Wu Long?

Warner is also full of doubts. Is this a movie story? Is this a feature film to scare children?

Instead of filming a script like this, it would be better to film a script I wrote myself.

Could it be said that this script is a test?

Test our eyesight and our ability to judge scripts?

At this time, both people recalled Wu Long's words in their minds at the same time.

"If you have any questions after reading the script, or if you have any opinions about the script, let's discuss it together."
Chapter completed!