Chapter 423: The Screenplay
Chapter 423: The Screenplay
Lu Jiaxin and Nie Zan drove to the beach in the evening for a leisurely drive. On their way back, Nie Zan handed her a screenplay, reminding her to get some rest and not stay up too late reading it.
Lu Jiaxin agreed, and as soon as she returned, she eagerly began to read. The screenplay focused less on the female protagonist's family struggles and education and more on her exciting journey after entering the workplace.
The screenwriter had written three cases, and Lu Jiaxin thought they were brilliant. Each case was meaningful and symbolized the growth of the female lead.
She immediately called Yan Yihua. To her surprise, he laughed as soon as he picked up, "Boss, Mr. Nie just told me that you'd be calling, and he asked me to discuss things with you tomorrow. I didn't believe him, but here you are."
Lu Jiaxin hadn't expected Nie Zan to be so thoughtful. She said, "I have these three cases here, and there are some parts I don't quite understand. I was hoping to seek your guidance."
Yan Yihua glanced at his watch and said, "Boss, it's already 11:40 pm. Tomorrow's Sunday, and you don't have classes, so I can come over and explain things to you in detail."
This was a polite refusal, and it made sense. There was no need to inconvenience him at such a late hour when it wasn't urgent.
Lu Jiaxin felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Alright, let's discuss it tomorrow morning then."
The next day, as Lu Jiaxin was having breakfast, Yan Yihua arrived. With a smile, he asked, "Have you eaten? If not, let's eat together."
Yan Yihua didn't stand on ceremony with Lu Jiaxin either and said with a smile, "I had a sandwich and a cup of milk in the car. If there's more, I'd love to join you."
"I have some pasta here. Would you like the chef to make you some seafood pasta?" Lu Jiaxin asked.
Yan Yihua declined the offer, preferring to keep things simple. "Your dumplings and porridge are just fine."
Lu Jiaxin considered his preferences and, seeing his willingness to eat dumplings and porridge, asked the chef to serve another portion. She didn't differentiate between what she ate and what Gu Wenfeng and the others ate.
Yan Yihua found the dumplings average, but the seafood porridge was delicious, and he couldn't help having two bowls. He usually wouldn't have so much porridge, but since it was Sunday and he was off work, he didn't worry about it.
After breakfast, Lu Jiaxin took out the screenplay to discuss with him.
Upon finishing the screenplay, Yan Yihua smiled and asked, "Boss, are you planning to make a movie?"
Lu Jiaxin didn't deny it. "I want your opinion on these three cases from a professional perspective. If there are any issues, they need to be corrected."
When it came to making a workplace drama, she needed input from experts in the field. She didn't want her investment in the movie to result in a poorly crafted story. Even if the film flopped and lost money, the plot had to be logical, and there couldn't be any issues with the professional knowledge presented.
Yan Yihua carefully reviewed the screenplay and found no issues with the legal aspects but pointed out some problems with the narrative expression. He then made modifications based on his suggestions.
As Yan Yihua spoke, Lu Jiaxin recorded his input with a tape recorder. Later, she would send the recording to the screenwriter for revisions.
Yan Yihua smiled and said, "Boss, I think this screenplay is excellent. If you agree, our law firm would be happy to provide professional advice for this movie."
Lu Jiaxin always had a purpose and a plan for her endeavors, which set her apart from impulsive young people. He didn't know her true motive for making the movie, but one thing was certain—she would hire the best director and actors for it. Unlike Nie Jingting, who made decisions based on personal preferences, choosing actors he liked and directors he got along with.
Nie Jingting would be better off taking his money and investing it in movies. Who knows, he might get lucky and earn a little back.
Lu Jiaxin joked, "Is it free?"
Yan Yihua replied without hesitation, "Yes, it's free of charge."
Hongchang Law Firm was well-regarded in Hong Kong, and their willingness to offer their services pro bono for her movie was an opportunity Lu Jiaxin wasn't going to pass up. "Then it's settled," she said.
After his conversation with Lu Jiaxin, Yan Yihua went to speak with his uncle. Although he believed this endeavor would benefit the firm, he felt it was only right to keep his uncle informed.
Offering free professional advice for a movie wasn't a big deal, especially since the client was Lu Jiaxin, from whom they had profited handsomely over the past two years. However, Yan Yihua knew his uncle's temperament, and the fact that he had come to him in person meant that he had an agenda.
Indeed, Yan Yihua had an ulterior motive. He wanted to expand their business into the entertainment industry, as celebrities would make excellent, high-profile clients. Stars often found themselves embroiled in scandals and legal troubles, after all. The only issue was that his uncle disliked the entertainment industry and had little interest in pursuing that direction for the firm. As a result, Yan Yihua's attempts to develop this line of business had been repeatedly thwarted.
Yan Hongchang genuinely disliked the chaos associated with the entertainment industry and had no desire to get involved. However, as the boss, he had to consider the firm's future development. "If you have ideas, go ahead and pursue them," he told his nephew. "Let me know if you need anything."
His own children had taken different paths—one was a photographer traveling the world, and the other had settled down early to raise a family. Only his nephew, Yan Yihua, had followed in his footsteps, and he was both smart and capable. Yan Hongchang intended to pass the reins of the firm to him in the future.
Lu Jiaxin met with the screenwriter, and after a productive discussion, the script underwent another round of revisions to meet her requirements.
With the script finalized, the next step was to find a director. Lu Jiaxin already had someone in mind—the renowned Qi, who had directed many classic Hong Kong dramas and had since ventured into filmmaking. While Qi didn't yet have the level of fame he would attain in later years, Lu Jiaxin trusted his capabilities.
Upon hearing her choice, Nie Zan nodded in agreement. "Leave it to Tian Pengyu. He can negotiate with Mr. Qi."
Tian Pengyu was the general manager of Wanting Film and Television, the company responsible for handling the logistics and backend work for Nie Jingting's films.
"As long as he agrees, we can discuss the remuneration," Lu Jiaxin said.
Nie Zan, aware of her generous nature, smiled and said, "We don't need to offer too much. A 10% to 20% increase from his previous salary should be sufficient. But if the movie does well, we can give him a substantial bonus afterward."
These weren't just empty words—such bonuses would be stipulated in the contract.
When Tian Pengyu approached Director Qi, the latter rejected the offer without hesitation. Everyone knew that Wanting Film and Television was a vanity project of the fourth young master of the Nie family, Nie Jingting. Nie Jingting's films were notoriously terrible, but with his wealth and connections, even his worst movies made it into theaters. Director Qi, however, had his reputation to consider and didn't want to be associated with Nie Jingting.
Noticing the director's immediate refusal, Tian Pengyu smiled and clarified, "Mr. Qi, this movie is being produced by our three young ladies, and the fourth young master isn't involved.
Director Qi asked skeptically, "So, the fourth young master isn't acting in it?"
"That's right," Tian Pengyu confirmed. "And Miss Lu has specified that only suitable actors will be cast as leads."
Hearing this, Director Qi was willing to at least consider the offer. Additionally, Nie Zan was well-respected in Hong Kong, and Lu Jiaxin was known for her generosity. If the script was promising, it was worth discussing further.
(End of Chapter)
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