On the way back, Zhao Ziqiu kept holding the black background Polaroid photo in his hand.
Li Mu first drove the car to the rental house of Wang Yanan and his mother, and then thought of sending them home first, then sending Zhao Ziqiu back to Yanda, and finally back to school with Hu Zhengdao, but Wang Yanan said: "Yanda It's right there, why don't you send Ziqiu back to the dormitory first, and Zhengdao accompany my mother and I upstairs, and after you send Ziqiu back, you two can go back to school together."
Li Mu thought so, and the five of them said goodbye outside the unit door. Li Mu stopped the car and sent Zhao Ziqiu back to Yanda.
Zhao Ziqiu didn't speak much along the way, and Li Mu also felt that the atmosphere was somewhat awkward, so she walked in silence most of the time. It wasn't until she got downstairs from Zhao Ziqiu's dormitory that she turned around, shook the photo in her hand, and said to Li Mu: " Thank you, this is the best gift I have ever received.”
Li Mu was slightly touched. The last time a girl said something similar to him was when he developed the photo of Ginkgo Avenue and gave it to Su Yingxue. Coincidentally, both women said this, and the reasons were the same. It's a photo.
Li Mu said: "As long as you like it, it's getting late, so hurry up."
Zhao Ziqiu nodded and gave up what he wanted to say. He just said in a daze: "Be careful when you drive back on your way back."
The two said goodbye, and Li Mu reunited with Hu Zhengdao and returned to the National People's Congress together.
In the car, Hu Zhengdao said: "Zi Qiu came very early today and hasn't left since."
Li Mu hummed and said nothing. Hu Zhengdao added, "Yanan said she was waiting for you, and I think so."
Li Mu asked him: "That's why you called me and asked me to rent a car and take my aunt around Chang'an Street?"
"Yes." Hu Zhengdao said, "I didn't want to trouble you."
Li Mu said: "This matter is not troublesome. Don't be so outspoken in the future."
Hu Zhengdao said: "Zi Qiu is so kind to you..."
Li Mu was speechless, as if both of them were deliberately trying to lead the conversation.
When Hu Zhengdao saw that Li Mu didn't answer, he said, "It's me who's talking too much. You understand much better than any of us. You must have already planned this kind of thing in your heart."
Li Mu didn't say anything. In fact, he didn't have any plans in mind. Apart from his career, everything else was basically a mess.
…
The next day, Li Mu didn't go anywhere. He chatted with some buddies in the dormitory while waiting for two news. One was whether Chen Kun was willing to join, and the other was Du Wei's sister who was far away in the United States. After watching "Old Man" After writing the script of "Boy", I wonder if I am willing to let Du Wei play the heroine.
Before lunch, Li Mu received a call from Ning Hao. Ning Hao said in a slightly exaggerated voice: "Hello, Boss Li?"
Li Mu hummed and said with a smile: "If you have something to say, say it quickly, if you have any nonsense, say it quickly..."
Before Li Mu finished speaking, Ning Hao jumped in and said, "Well, Chen Kun agreed, and his agency also agreed, and we can sign the contract at any time. I'll ask you for instructions. If there's no problem, I'll sign the contract after lunch." .”
"Isn't he in Shanghai?" Li Mu asked in surprise: "He came back early?"
Ning Hao said: "No, I just go directly to their agency to sign the contract. By the way, after signing the contract, 50% of the remuneration must be paid three days before filming starts."
"No problem." Li Mu said, and then added: "Hurry up and get yourself a mobile phone, get rid of your pager, and save yourself from calling public phones all day long."
Ning Hao smiled and said, "This won't delay things. If I need to call you, just call your mobile phone. If you need to call me, just call me and I will reply to your call within five minutes."
Li Mu said: "Just buy it if you are told. Buy it for about 1,000 yuan and ask me for reimbursement with the invoice."
Ning Hao said: "This is not appropriate..."
Li Mu scolded: "Look at your potential, you don't even dare to ask for a mobile phone if I sponsor it. If I give you millions to make a movie, do you dare to take it?"
Ning Hao became anxious and blurted out: "I'll buy a mobile phone after I sign the contract!"
Li Mu then said with satisfaction: "Come to the National People's Congress to see me in the evening, and we will set a shooting schedule."
Ning Hao asked him: "Is the heroine confirmed?"
Li Mu said: "We should have a letter before evening. It doesn't matter whether we believe it or not. Let's decide first. If it doesn't work, we will change the heroine. I think Wang Luodan, a freshman at your school, is good."
Ning Hao exclaimed: "Brother, where did you meet? I've never heard of you?"
Li Mu said smoothly: "A buddy recommended it, but I still hope that the girl in my heart will play the role."
Ning Hao said: "Okay, let's talk face to face in the evening."
After hanging up the phone, Li Mu started to get a little worried. Du Wei said she would reply to him as soon as possible, but there is still no news. He contacted her once yesterday and she said that the results should be available during the day today. Li Mu looked at the time and saw that It's half past eleven, New York time is half past eleven in the evening. Normal people have gone to bed. It is estimated that it will be suspended again today.
If Du Wei really fails, then Li Mu's second choice is Wang Luodan. In her previous life, this actress should have been admitted to Yenching Film Academy in 2001. Although she filmed several movies between 2004 and 2006, They were all unspectacular supporting roles. It was not until 2007 when she played the second female lead Mi Lai in "Struggle" that she became famous. In Li Mu's eyes, Wang Luodan is a more distinctive actress. Although she is not very beautiful, she is When she first debuted, she did have a youthful aura. Unfortunately, after becoming famous, she took the wrong path and failed to maintain the performance characteristics of "Struggle". In the end, she was replaced by Bai Baihe, which made her fall into a An embarrassing situation that is neither popular nor popular.
Li Mu had never met Wang Luodan in 2001, but he felt that she was more suitable for this role. If Du Wei really couldn't do it, he would have to go to Wang Luodan.
Several buddies in the dormitory had a meal together at an off-campus restaurant. Sun Jian, Hu Zhengdao and Liu Nian all had tutoring classes in the afternoon. Xue Jianfeng and Li Yawei were planning to go to the Internet cafe to play Legends. Li Mu followed and sat in the Internet cafe for a while, absent-mindedly. I entered the LAN CS and passed the time while waiting for news from Du Wei.
Du Wei was also very anxious at the moment.
From the bottom of her heart, she really wanted to take on Li Mu's micro-movie, not only because of Simple Plan and Zhang Kexuan, but also because the plot of this movie moved her, but her sister on the other side of the ocean was not so It seems that she gave an evaluation as soon as she read the script: it was vulgar and unbearable.
Just like what Li Mu was most worried about, Du Wei's sister is an out-and-out literary young man, and a high-class literary youth. Li Mu's route of using dreams and youth to sensationalize her life has long been ruined for her who has been in the United States all year round. Well, she didn’t want her sister to make this kind of movie, or in other words, she didn’t want her sister to be exposed to the film industry at all.
Du Wei knows her sister too well and always likes to deny the public to highlight her own uniqueness. For example, in her eyes, the film classic "Titanic" is a tacky love movie, only "Casablanca" is It is an immortal work in romance films. Even "Titanic" can't be looked down upon. How can one look at Li Mu's 40-minute micro-movie script
But Du Wei wanted to give it a try. She kept saying good things to her sister, trying to get her sister to change her prejudice against "Oldboy", but it didn't seem to have any effect.
Du Wei tried to let her sister listen to the song "Old Boy" first, hoping to touch her through the song first. Unexpectedly, her sister replied on QQ: "You study music, why are you still interested in this kind of pop music?"
Du Wei said: "I originally prefer pop music... Besides, the music of this song is so well written, and the lyrics are also very inspiring..."
But my sister sneered and said, "I only like Etta James in music."
Du Wei was speechless and felt a little regretful. She should have told her sister about this matter if she had known it earlier, so she would have done it first and then reported it. However, she has been accustomed to asking her sister's opinion on everything for so many years. As long as her sister does not allow it, so far, She has never done one so far.
My sister on the other side of the ocean sent her the final message, saying: "Weiwei, it's already one o'clock at night here, and I'm really sleepy. I'm going to sleep first. Don't think about making a movie. Read this with peace of mind. College, if you really want to be an actor in the future, my sister can introduce you to Hollywood. There are many more opportunities here than in China, and I also know many friends who are in the Hollywood film and television industry."
Du Wei complained unhappily. She did not doubt that her sister really knew a few Hollywood friends in the United States, but she knew clearly that Hollywood was not an easy place for Chinese people to hang out. So far, in Hollywood, The only Chinese movie stars who are really famous are Jackie Chan and Jet Li, and they are both action stars. No matter how many other Chinese movies they perform in Hollywood, they are only in fifth-tier supporting roles, and there is no chance of them getting a good chance.
What's more, Du Wei's aesthetics are different from her sister's. Her sister thought "Oldboy" was vulgar, but she felt that this short film was not vulgar at all. On the contrary, it contained a lot of truth.
The song "Old Boy" has already inspired countless people. If the movie is made, I don't know how much it will have an inspirational effect on the masses. Du Wei really doesn't want to miss such a meaningful thing.
After hesitating for an hour, Du Wei picked up the phone and called Li Mu.
Just as Li Mu was dazedly sneaking through the top passage of the warehouse in CS, he was suddenly shot in the head by a policeman who jumped in.
Just when I was depressed, Du Wei called.
Li Mu hurriedly answered the phone and asked, "Xiaowei, how are you?"
Du Wei hesitated for a moment and said, "My sister doesn't agree..."
Li Mu felt extremely disappointed, as if his beloved girl had finally rejected him.
However, Du Wei then said: "Although my sister disagrees, I still want to give it a try!"
Li Mu suddenly became energetic and asked: "Really?"
"Yes!" Du Wei said firmly: "I have decided to act in this micro-movie!" Du Wei's sister would object, which was not beyond Li Mu's expectation. Fortunately, Du Wei made her own decision at the critical moment. Otherwise, Li Mu could only do the next best thing and go to Yanjing Film Academy to find Wang Luodan, who was just a freshman.
Li Mu asked Du Wei: "Why does your sister object?"
Du Wei said without thinking: "She thinks the story is a bit cliché."
After saying that, Du Wei realized that she shouldn't say this, so she hurriedly explained: "My sister wants me to do a good job at my job, and wants me to finish college in peace and quiet."
Li Mu feels a little depressed. Although the elements of youth, nostalgia, and ideals are a bit vulgar, they are down to earth. He only exaggerates youth and ideals, and it is not like those youth movies in the future, which are full of car accidents, terminal illnesses, pregnancy, and going abroad. As for caring so much Is it distinguished between elegance and vulgarity
Li Mu asked Du Wei: "Your sister won't let you act, but you still join in. Isn't it going to be too difficult for you?"
Du Wei said: "Zhizhi has been hiding it from her and her family for now. After the filming, if she sees the finished film, she will only say a few words about me."
As she said that, Du Wei thought of a question: "By the way, part of the scenes in the script were shot in Haizhou. How long will it take to shoot? I go to school every day now, so I'm afraid I won't be able to tell my family if I go to other places to film!"
Li Mu asked her in surprise: "You're already in college and you're still a day student?"
Du Wei hummed and said gloomily: "I originally wanted to live in the dormitory and go home once a week, but my sister told my parents that they must let me study as a day student, saying that she was afraid that I would not adapt to the school's accommodation conditions. I’m also afraid that I will learn bad things after I get out of my parents’ control.”
Li Mu thought for a while and said, "If the filming of the plot in Haizhou goes well, the official shooting should be completed in a few days. I will ask the coordinator to coordinate as much as possible. Then we will go to Haizhou to prepare first, and everything will be ready. If you come over again, then focus on filming all the scenes of you in Haizhou, and then you can go back to Yanjing first."
Du Wei asked: "How long will it take? I'll try to coordinate the time."
Li Mu said: "If it's quick, it will take about three days."
Du Wei said, "Okay, when will the filming take place? I'll ask for leave from the school in advance."
Li Mu smiled and said: "You have no problem, our entire crew is ready, next week at the earliest, next week at the latest, I will notify you as soon as the time is decided."
Du Wei said: "Okay, then I will wait for your news, brother Li Mu."
Li Mu thought of something and said, "By the way, we haven't discussed the salary yet."
Du Wei smiled and asked, "How much money can you give me?"
Li Mu said, "Please make a price."
Du Wei thought for a moment and said, "I don't want money, but brother Li Mu, you have to do something for me."
"you say."
"There is a performance at our school on New Year's Day. I want to sing a song, and I want Brother Kexuan and his band to come and accompany me live."
Li Mu said without hesitation: "I promised you on their behalf!"
Ning Hao bought an ordinary Nokia mobile phone and came to the Renmin University to find Li Mu excitedly. Now Ning Hao is indeed a complete loser. From his appearance to his temperament to his clothes, there is basically no trace of artistic atmosphere. His whole body The state of a person's life is very similar to the taxi driver he guest-starred in "Crazy Racing". He loves to laugh, and sometimes his laughter is a bit scary.
The two of them found a restaurant outside the school. Ning Hao smiled and handed the invoice for the mobile phone to Li Mu, and said: "Brother Mu, you shouldn't have to pay for the mobile phone for me, but I am really in financial difficulty now, otherwise Well, remember it first and then deduct it from my remaining reward later."
Li Mu waved his hand, rounded up the amount on the invoice and gave him the money, saying, "Just think of it as an early bonus. Besides, you are several years older than me. You look more than ten years older than me, so don't call me Mu." Brother, just call me by my name."
Ning Hao said: "This is so inappropriate. I'm not talking about the title, I'm talking about the money. Your movie is destined to lose money. How can I make more progress?"
Li Mu asked him: "Why do you say that my movie will lose money?"
Ning Hao smiled awkwardly: "Isn't this an obvious thing? If you invest two million and can't go to theaters, how can you recover the cost?"
Li Mu smiled and said: "You don't need to worry about it, but this movie will definitely not lose money. You should quickly coordinate the shooting. Let's shoot Haizhou's scenes first and Du Wei's scenes first. After taking pictures of her, I’ll take other pictures.”
"OK." Ning Hao nodded: "The coordination will only take three or two days. I have contacted you about the equipment and everything. Then we can rent a bus and transport the people and equipment there in one go. It’s only a little over ten hours away from home.”
Li Mu said: "Don't rent a bus. Rent a truck and let the equipment go first. All the crew will fly there. The car will not drive all the way back to my home on a high speed. It is more than 1,000 kilometers. It may take more than ten hours. We will be exhausted." It won't take a while to get to the place, so it's better to separate people and equipment."
Ning Hao said: "The air tickets are so expensive, it hurts to do the math."
Li Mu said: "At least it is less worrying than a car, and most importantly, it is safer."
Ning Hao nodded and said no more. When it came to safety, he rented a long-distance bus and the whole crew traveled more than a thousand kilometers in it. He was really worried about any accidents on the road. Chartering a bus seemed to save money. But safety is also very important.
After dinner, Ning Hao went back to do the planning and preparation work overnight. Li Mu called Xu Jiaming and asked him to meet and chat tomorrow. Xu Jiaming also helped him a lot during this time. Li Mu knew in his heart that he wanted to buy shares. Makino Technology is planning to integrate Series B next, and Xu Jiaming is also a good choice. He has a good relationship with Chen Ze, so he can take some appropriate positions on behalf of Chen Ze. Makino Technology is jumping too fast, and there will definitely be someone. If you want to force yourself onto the bus, someone from the official and business fields must come in. It is better to let in the people you are familiar with and have some friendship with first.
However, Li Mu is not going to talk directly to Xu Jiaming about Makino Technology's Series B financing tomorrow. The preliminary preparations for his "Oldboy" micro-movie are almost complete and will start shooting soon. Makino Imaging has a contract with Simple Plan to borrow their fame. It's no problem to get some investment. Xu Jiaming's relationship in this area must be much deeper than mine, so why not let him help get some sponsorship.
Money is a trivial matter, and using Xu Jiaming more is the biggest goal. Favors depend on exchanges. If you use him a few more times, the two of you will become more familiar with each other, and the financing will go smoothly in the future.
Back in the dormitory, Li Mu held a notebook and imitated Jiang Wen's unique storyboarding style, and drew a few deceptive storyboards. Li Mu, who had no painting skills, made the characters in the storyboards look ugly. , Xue Jianfeng accidentally came over and took a look, and was shocked: "Li Mu, what kind of bird are you drawing? It doesn't look like a human or a ghost."
Li Mu said: "This is called art."
Xue Jianfeng curled his lips: "It looks better when printed on paper than what you drew."
…
At noon the next day, Li Mu made an appointment with Xu Jiaming for a meal. During this period, Li Mu often asked Xu Jiaming for a little help. , Li Mu frequently asks him for help, and he should be considering letting Makino Technology cooperate with him at the capital level. Otherwise, with Li Mu's mentality, if he doesn't want to invest in Makino Technology from the bottom of his heart, he will definitely not owe himself any favors.
Besides, Makino Technology has just been split up, and Baidu has converted all its shares into Yiting Technology. As for Makino Technology, Li Mu has enough shares to be sold.
After thinking about this, Xu Jiaming's enthusiasm for Li Mu rose to several levels.
The two sat down at the dinner table and exchanged a few polite words. Then Li Mu got straight to the point and talked about his plan to make a movie. Then he added: "At the moment, apart from the naming rights of Makino Technology, other investment sponsorships have not been decided. I don’t have any business relationships in this area, so I have to ask you for help. Many advertising placement opportunities will be wasted if you don’t find opportunities to sell them.”
Xu Jiaming was slightly surprised by Li Mu's plan to make a movie. He quickly calmed down and asked Li Mu, "What kind of sponsorship are you planning to provide?"
Li Mu said the same thing: "Look, since you are making a movie, you must have clothes. The clothing brand is one. In addition, my movie has a relatively heavy campus scene, and the bicycle brand is also one. There are also drinks and a campus band. Well, the lead singer Zhang Kexuan drank a bottle of drink casually, so this advertisement was embedded; the other is mobile phones, after entering social scenes, the appearance rate of mobile phones is still relatively high; in addition to these, beer is also a good opportunity for implantation."
Xu Jiaming thought for a while and asked him: "What about the car? Does the car need to be implanted?"
Li Mu said: "The male protagonist in the play must drive the cheapest car, so he chose Alto. The male villain's car must be a recognized luxury car. Now there are only three brands, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Forget it Alto, if you can help me get one of these three companies, I will definitely be happy."
Xu Jiaming said: "I have friends at Mercedes-Benz. Let me contact you for a simple plan. I think they will also be interested."
In fact, Xu Jiaming himself didn’t believe what he said. Although Simple Plan is famous, it is not currently attracting the attention of an international first-tier brand like Mercedes-Benz. Therefore, if it is really a business matter, Mercedes-Benz may not even look at such an investment plan, but he will come forward. It's different. Mercedes-Benz spends a lot of money on marketing and promotion every year. With its reputation, it's very easy for them to sponsor hundreds of thousands of dollars to show their appreciation.
Xu Jiaming thought for a while and said: "How about giving my Mingcheng Capital a chance to show its face? Isn't there a talent show in your movie? Why don't my Mingcheng Capital sponsor your talent show? Look at it. how?"
Li Mu smiled and said: "I will leave this position to Makino Technology. Let's wait until next time. When my buddy invests in a big movie, you can come and sponsor it."
(End of chapter)