Chapter 033
In the original theme, plus the scene for infinite reincarnation, this script is innovative and brilliant.
But now the large scale content has been changed into the love story of the male and female protagonist.
The originally excellent theme completely became a bad and cringey love story, which is far from the previous script.
Although Ji Li has only seen a few pages, he can expect that even if such a drama is released, it will be tossed aside for the lack of twist it should've had if it wasn't changed.
Obviously, Yu Fuya didn't think about this kind of unexpected situation either. They were originally aiming at the quality of the script. Now that the filming is about to start, the drama has actually performed this kind of show operation?
Yu Fuya said, “Don't worry, I will contact the producer right away.”
Ji Li nodded, his brows were not relaxed.
Baozi guessed, “Brother Ji, did Teacher Qin Yue make this change of the new script?”
“Impossible.” Ji Li replied decisively. “Since he chose to invest, from Qin Yue's eyes, he must have taken a fancy to the original script. He is so busy, he doesn't have the time to take care of the deletion and modification of the script.”
Lixing Culture is an investor. To put it bluntly, it just spends money in the early stage and makes money in the later stage.
The most important thing is that Ji Li didn't believe that since Qin Yue know that he was playing the male third, he would deliberately let people cut his role.
Baozi quickly changed his words, “Yes, I think it's bad. If Teacher Qin Yue knows about this, he will definitely talk to you.”
Ji Li rubbed his temples, inexplicably feeling a little panicked.
Baozi didn't dare to disturb Ji Li, who was not in the mood and silently opened the script in the mailbox.
He saw the screenwriter's name on the homepage and immediately patted his thigh, “Brother Ji, I probably know what's going on!”
Ji Li looked back, “What do you know?”
Baozi took a deep breath and pointed to the screenwriter's name on the script, “I actually wanted to talk to you when I heard that the male lead became Cai Yishu.”
“There have always been gossips that Cai Yishu has his own scriptwriter, and the exclusive screenwriter responsible for adding scripts to his roles is Wang Yongwei.”
“I was still skeptical about this, so I hesitated to tell you before.” Baozi tapped on the phone screen, “Look at the result, this real hammer came straight away!”
Ji Li asked, “Where did you hear about the scenes he added before?”
“This Cai Yishu has acted as the second male lead of a novel IP drama before. After the broadcast, his role had too many original scenes, and the length is at least half more than that in the book. This matter has also been complained at by fans of the male protagonist.”
“When he starred in a movie last year, he permanently replaced other actors in the group.”
Baozi paused, and continued, “Later, some old drama actors from the same group revealed criticism in an interview. There was a young actor in their group that was added to the drama, and there were parts of the script that was not really needed.”
Cai Yishu is backed by Jincheng Pictures, the owner of that company is rich and wealthy, and every time his artists make bad news, he will immediately spend money to suppress it.
“...The interview video was cut before it was even broadcasted. Although there was no name or surname mentioned, we all secretly guessed that it was Cai Yishu.”
Yu Fuya turned around from the front row and said, “To clarify, this screenwriter named Wang Yongwei was indeed introduced into the group by Cai Yishu. The original screenwriter before are no longer involved in the production of the movie.”
“The producer told me that the script was modified because of creative needs. Other crews often modify the script temporarily.”
“If we have any thoughts or opinions, we can discuss it with the current screenwriter after the shoot.”
When Yu Fuya said the last word, her eyes were already stained with anger, “It's a high-sounding voice, obviously they don't think the role of third male lead is important, and they want to take the opportunity to have Cai Yishu's role more highlighted.”
Baozi curled his eyebrows, “Brother Ji, Sister Yu, what should we do now? Are we going to the start-up ceremony the day after tomorrow?”
“Go.” Ji Li answered without hesitation.
They had signed the filming contract early in the morning. If they didn't attend the opening ceremony temporarily, it would be their unilateral breach of contract.
“According to the original plan, let's advance to the team. You can't mess around just because of an electronic script.” A dim light flashed across Ji Li's eyes.
He is very clear about the role and the role he wants. It is best if you can negotiate a suitable version.
If it doesn't work, then why would it not be possible if he want the other party to delete, modify, and add drama to his own role? What a good script it will become!
“Okay, I'll let the company's legal department make a breach of contract based on this situation later. We will make two preparations to avoid being sued by these wicked people.” Yu Fuya responded.
Ji Li nodded, then remembered something to ask, “You still have to find a way to help me contact the previous screenwriter. The sooner the better, I want to talk to him.”
Baozi quickly responded, “Brother Ji, I'll do it.”
Yu Fuya glanced at the time, temporarily suppressing these bad things, “It's dinner time, I will take you to dinner first. No matter what, don't get hungry for this kind of thing.”
Ji Li smiled at her and nodded obediently.
Yu Fuya said, “What do you want to eat?”
Baozi answered first, “Barbecue! Brother Ji told me yesterday that he wants to eat barbecue!”
Ji Li raised an eyebrow and chuckled, and met Yu Fuya's eyes.
The latter is clear, and happily, “I think it's clear that it's you who wants to eat barbecue, Baozi!”
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Two days later, Shuoyang Town.
The main background of the film was set in a small town in the south, so the crew found a filming location in Lin Province, a small old town surrounded by mountains and rivers, with a good environment and not particularly commercial.
The opening ceremony will be held in the temple at the end of the town.
When Ji Li arrived with the team, except for Cai Yishu, the other leading actors had already arrived.
Wei Lai from the same company saw Yu Fuya behind him, and stepped forward and greeted, “Sister Yu, hello.”
After that, he took the initiative to greet Ji Li in a friendly manner, and he did not have the predecessor of the company at all.
His agent stared at him, but she didn't dare to say anything because of the public surrounding.
This idiot, even if he doesn't care about the role, why is he still taking the initiative to greet the newcomer? Before long, I am afraid that even the position of the company owner will be taken away by the other party!
Ji Li caught a glimpse of the other party's unhappy agent and responded with a smile, “Senior Brother Wei, hello. I am very happy to be able to cooperate with you this time.”
Wei Lai, this person, he had heard Baozi mentioned.
In the past two years when Chaoying’s company has been in the slump, half of the company’s good resources have been invested in Wei Lai.
But no one can say about talents and fate. If so many resources are smashed, the other party is doomed to be tepid.
At the beginning of the year, because of a filming injury, Wei Lai recuperated for four or five months, and his popularity became even worse. In this comeback, he actually matched Cai Yishu, who was a year later than him, and it's no wonder that his agent was so angry.
Yu Fuya looked around and said in a cold tone, “Why hasn't Cai Yishu come yet? Didn't the crew say that it will start at two o'clock in the afternoon?”
Wei Lai’s agent replied, “Sister Yu, Cai Yishu said that a fan came over there, and temporarily said that he would be late. So it was postponed to half an hour later.”
When Yu Fuya raised her eyebrows, her eyes suddenly showed a bit of displeasure.
Because of the deletion of the script, she hadn't seen Cai Yishu before, and her impression of him fell to the bottom.
It is said that the opening ceremony pays attention to the actors of making a good impression on the crew. And with Cai Yishu's postponement of his arrival, it shows how much he is holding the role of the male lead a little more shallow.
Baozi ran back, “Brother Ji, Sister Yu, the crew has arranged a lounge for us, should we sit down first?”
“It is good.”
Each side walked towards the lounge.
“Ah-Lai, can you give a little bit of seniority in front of the newcomer? Seeing how Yu Fuya is with him, it will only be a matter of time till he is packed with good resources from the company.” Wei Lai's agent waited for Ji Li and Yu Fuya to leave before whispering, “If someone wants to grab your job, can you still greet them politely?”
Wei Lai shrugged, with a look of indifferent expression, “What else can I do aside from saying hello? Ignore him? Am I that kind of person?”
“You...” When the agent heard this, she felt agitated in her heart.
“Sister Lisa, you know my situation. Even if Ji Li doesn't appear, the company will switch to other newcomers. I'm already lucky that I can get good resources for the past three years, which is enough.”
“I just feel sorry for you and the other people on the team. If I could get so many resources, I would have become a top-tier player.”
Not only can I make a lot of money, but the team under my hand also pays dividends.
“What kind of nonsense, why are you sorry for us? The work that should be coordinated is great, and the play that you should be acting is not sloppy. We had just encountered some shortcomings.” Lisa encouraged him, “This series is still counted as the second chance, you try to play it well.”
Wei Lai smiled and squeezed Lisa's shoulder flatly.
“Sister, you are not allowed to trouble Ji Li for me. Somehow, I count him as the a younger brother and younger brother of my company. A company must never have a clash between its own artists.”
Lisa glanced at him dumbfoundedly, “I see, there is Sister Yu on his side, what do I dare to do with him?”
Wei Lai nodded at ease after receiving her answer.
He does not have a messy temperament, he can count on a stable play.
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After half an hour, the opening ceremony finally proceeded smoothly.
Cai Yishu dressed up, and finally appeared in front of everyone. His fans stood outside the field, and the flashes had been on since he was on the field.
In order to promote the film, the crew specially invited several media reporters. When everyone saw this, they took out professional equipment to capture the picture of this man.
Standing on the periphery, Baozi couldn't help muttering, “Is this necessary? Wait for the official shooting, and then put on a plain school uniform again. Their team is the most exaggerated."
When he saw Ji Li, he quickly changed his face like a nympho, “Our Brother Ji is so good, and he looks photogenic without makeup, so handsome no matter how you look at it.”
Yu Fuya agreed, showing off in a low voice, “Don't even compare Ji Li, even Wei Lai looks better than him. The artists of our Chaoying Culture are all qualified in appearance.”
Chaoying has always believed in the phrase ‘beauty comes from the inside and not on the outside’, so the superficial features of the artists under its banners are all outrageous.
The opening ceremony went smoothly.
In the final group photo, Ji Li was arranged to the outermost layer of the actor by the scene.
Seeing this scene, Yu Fuya felt a little uncomfortable, “Changing the script and now arranging people like this, how do people in this crew do things?”
Just as she was about to step forward, trying to get a better position for Ji Li, a bitter voice rang.
“Isn't it well arranged? The kind of role, and the kind of seat assigned. Is it that you want us to give Cai Yishu's lead position to you?”
Yu Fuya turned sideways, staring sharply at the incoming person, “Excuse me?”
“Hello, Ms. Yu, I'm Cai Yishu's agent, You Meng.”
The visitor wore a black windbreaker, with a very neat shoulder-length hair, and looked almost the same as Yu Fuya's temperament.
Baozi leaned close to Yu Fuya and whispered, “Sister Yu, during your retiring period, the circle has always claimed that this person is the second you, and I heard that she and Zhu Xusheng have an ambiguous relationship.”
Yu Fuya delicately hooked her lips up, and extended her hand generously, “Hello, Ms. You.”
You Meng's gaze dropped lightly, completely ignoring the hand.
“Ms. Yu, this circle emphasizes survival of the fittest. Three years is enough to eliminate a large number of rookies.”
You Meng paused and added lightly, “Oh, as well as old birds.”
The irony in the words is obvious.
Yu Fuya's right hand was folded into a fist, she caught a glimpse of fans and reporters outside, and put her hand back without moving.
If it were in private, she would have grabbed the woman's hair and started to pull it out of her head.
It's just that, as Ji Li's agent, she must not cause trouble to her celebrities in public.
You Meng's expression showed a faint arrogance when she saw the movements Yu Fuya did.
What fabulous agent in the entertainment industry? In her opinion, it was only a title.
Also, she really doesn’t know how this Yu Fuya seduced Zhu Xusheng back then? She is just so-so.
Yu Fuya was too lazy to fight this self-righteous woman. Seeing that the photo session was over, she walked quickly to Ji Li's side.
“Director Guo, hello, I am Ji Li from Chaoying Culture. I want to talk to you about the script.” Ji Li seized the opportunity and got close to director Guo Minsheng.
Guo Minsheng looked at him twice and asked on the spot, “What do you want to talk about? The movie hasn't started filming yet and you already think there is a problem?”
“Guo, that's not what he meant.” Yu Fuya walked to Ji Li's side and directly counterattacked. “We went for the original script in the first place, but now the script has been changed into a chaotic mess. As a director, don't you know this?”
Yu Fuya's eyes were very sharp, and she had completely taken out the momentum of negotiation.
“He, Ji Li, is the first actor to sign the contract for the entire crew. The contract is clearly written and the crew is obliged to guarantee our interests as the third male lead.”
“Now there are less than 20 scenes in all the scenes...” Yu Fuya handed the script back to the director's hands and sneered, “We have every right to question you and quit filming for this unprofessional crew!”
Naturally, Ji Li didn't want to make a 'resignation', but this was Yu Fuya's deliberate bargaining chip, so he had to silently stare at the director's reaction.
Sure enough, Guo Minsheng's face suddenly tightened, and his eyes flickered for a moment, “How can I put my speech on the first day of filming? If there is a problem with the script, we can discuss it again.”
After so many years of playing in the director’s circle, he finally got a big investment in shooting. He didn't want to go wrong on the first day.
“Well, let me call the screenwriter. You can go to the lounge and have a good chat?” Guo Minsheng shirks responsibility invisibly. The screenwriter is responsible for the script, and he is only responsible for the shooting.
Ji Li has been filming for so many years, and there are countless directors who have collaborated and met.
Now when he looks at Guo Minsheng’s state, his heart feels cold again.
This looks like a director who has no leadership skills and is accustomed to fishing in troubled waters. The gap between him and the top director can be seen with the naked eye.
Ji Li didn't want to waste time, so she could only suppress his mood, “Okay.”
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Five minutes later, in the director's lounge.
The door was pushed open, and Cai Yishu walked in with a bunch of people, with exaggerated brown sunglasses on the bridge of his nose.
He looked around and saw Ji Li and Yu Fuya sitting on the wooden benches, with a slight ridicule at the corners of his mouth and did not say hello.
“Director, I heard that you are looking for Mr. Wang to write the screenplay? He is discussing the plot of the script with me, so I followed over to have a look.”
Seeing this, Guo Minsheng, who was sitting on the main seat of the sofa, got up quickly and said, “Such matter, then would you like to sit with me?”
“How can I be so shameless as to grab the director's position?” Cai Yishu smiled and found a seat opposite to Ji Li, and leaned back lazily.
The screenwriter Wang Yongwei and his agent You Meng sat beside him.
The three of them never looked at Ji Li and Yu Fuya straight from start to finish, and showed their arrogance and contempt vividly.
Ji Li's eyes were dim, and his fingers slightly signaled Yu Fuya to be wait and not to be impatient.
Wang Yongwei put on airs, his voice rose slightly, “Director Guo, I heard that someone has opinions on the script.”
Guo Minsheng hesitated to say something and then turned his attention to Ji Li, “This...”
Ji Li replied, “Screenwriter Wang, I do have some worries.” He looked at the screenwriter and bluntly said, “The number of scenes of the male number three has been cut from 34 to only 12 scenes. There are no highlight scenes, which leads to the futility of the portrayal of the character.”
“As a screenwriter, you have never consulted me and my team from beginning to end.” He handed the new script back to Wang Yongwei's desk, “Please give me a reasonable explanation.”
The young man's questioning is neither overbearing nor humble, and the sudden change of fierce aura is very different from his gentle appearance.
Wang Yongwei slowed down for two seconds and said blatantly, “At first glance, you are an inexperienced rookie actor. Isn't it the first time to shoot a drama series? I will tell you, it is common for the script to be deleted before filming begins.”
“Some actors are almost finished, and they can still receive the script temporarily.” Wang Yongwei flipped through the script on the desktop, perfunctorily, “I hurried to modify and delete before shooting, it's better than if you don't use it, and you have to remake it.”
Yu Fuya could not sit still, and sneered, “Ji Li is making a drama series for the first time, but I have seen more actors and film crews than you have. I have never seen such a cruel deletion method.” She paused and added bluntly, “And for what it's worth, I have never seen such an incompetent screenwriter like you.”
“...You!” Wang Yongwei choked, his expression suddenly becoming ugly.
He has been in the screenwriting circle for nearly ten years, and his previous works have always been criticized by the netizens and they were not optimistic.
Until two years ago, Jincheng Pictures approached him and asked him to be Cai Yishu's exclusive screenwriter. To put it bluntly, it means to appropriately write scripts and add dramas to the other party in the crew.
Cai Yushu is currently the main star of Jincheng Company. Although the film and television works will be scolded for ‘adding scripts’ after they are released, their popularity has also risen steadily under the company's one-channel marketing operation.
Wang Yongwei used the money to do things, and he was able to get a co-writer's signature when the work was released. Friends he knew envied him for his sudden fame and fortune.
In fact, Wang Yongwei took his original script to the film and television company some time ago, but he was still devalued by the other party.
Yu Fuya sees the essence through the phenomenon, and a single sentence pierced the shell of his hypocritical reputation.
Seeing that the screenwriter hadn't reacted, Cai Yishu immediately gave his agent a faint look.
The latter understood, and smiled, “Ms. Yu, that was years ago. What kind of artist have you brought up? What kind of stuff do you bring now?”
In the past, Yu Fuya was a superb agent. But no matter how bad her reputation became, she was still able to raise alented young artists and popular stars.
Now Ji Li is just a small star with just over one million Weibo fans, and at best he has been on hot searches three or four times.
Compared with Cai Yishu's tens of millions of Weibo fans, it's not worth mentioning.
“It's just a third male lead. What's wrong with deleting some of the scenes? Cai Yushu is the male lead of the movie. From now on, we have to take on the box office responsibility. Even if there is a high-profile scene, it should be his.”
“The third male lead role in the original script is only a dozen more than the first male lead role. If this is spread out, I would think you are addicted to the drama.”
Yu Fuya could not wait to rush up to tear the woman's mouth.
Addicted to drama?
It's really shameless to splash dirty water.
Ji Li suppressed the anger in his heart and asked word by word, “So, can this script be changed?”
Cai Yishu chuckled and finally took off his sunglasses slowly, “I forgot to tell you. Before coming here, I discussed the script with Teacher Wang again.”
He smiled pretentiously at under Ji Li's eyes, “Your scenes are not eleven, only nine are left.”
Two years after his debut, he was the first male lead in a movie for the first time, and he must not let other male characters steal the limelight!
The second male lead Wei Lai can't afford to argue with him, as for this slightly popular Ji Li, as long as he deletes his scenes let's see what he uses to attract the fans.
Step back ten thousand steps, as a well-known male character, who would say that he added drama?
“Director Guo, the first scene is about to be filmed, right? I have to hurry up and change my outfit and go to my company first.” Cai Yishu still made a full gesture in front of Guo Minsheng.
Guo Minsheng was comforted by his polite tone and nodded.
He looked at Ji Li on the side, and he didn't know where he was emboldened, and he even put on the directorial airs.
“Either shoot, or leave if you don't want to. Filming is about to start and if you go, see whose reputation will be tarnished when it spreads out?”
After speaking, he followed Cai Yishu and others.
Yu Fuya kicked the foot of the stool fiercely, and took two deep breaths, “What is this crew? This old lady has never suffered this kind of wretchedness since she entered the circle!”
Ji Li rubbed his swollen temples. As soon as he was about to say something, Baozi sneaked in.
The latter saw the same annoying look of the two, and said cautiously, “Brother Ji, I sneaked the original screenwriter into the lounge. Would you like to meet him?”
When Ji Li heard this, a gleam of light finally appeared in his eyes.
The three of them hurried back to their lounge. The person in the room heard the movement and turned around, holding the script vigilantly.
“Brother Ji, this is the original screenwriter Mu Wang.” Since listening to Ji Li's instructions last time, Baozi secretly contacted the original screenwriter.
Ji Li nodded, “Hello Teacher Mu, I am Ji Li, the actor of the third male lead.”
“Don't call me teacher, Mu Wang is just my pen name.”
The latter took off his peaked cap and mask, revealing that young but haggard face, “My real name, Mu Suian.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Ji Li and the others stunned.
Ji Li fell into the complex emotions in his eyes, breathing slightly, “The prototype of the script of the third male lead, is you yourself?”
Mu Suian nodded bitterly.
The script of ‘Time Lobbyist’ was a work he did when he wanted to heal himself when he suffered from severe depression.
When Ji Li heard this, he glanced at his agent and assistant.
Yu Fuya and Baozi understood his eyes, and left the lounge tacitly, leaving their solitary space for them.
Mu Suian held the new version of the script, and when he re-exported it, he caught a hoarse cry, “Mr. Ji, can you help me? Our story is not like this, Ah-Yu and Huaizi are not like this at all!”
When Ji Li heard the nickname in his mouth, he quickly reacted. It should be the ‘first male lead’ and the ‘second male lead’ in the real world.
He took the initiative to pour a cup of warm water for the other party, “I had imagined that there would be a prototype character after reading the script, but I didn't expect it to be your personal experience.”
Mu Suian is only a few years older than Ji Li, but the light of a young man has long disappeared in his eyes.
Ji Li gave him time to adapt and did not rush to ask questions.
After a long while, Mu Suian said palely, “The producer told me that film investment had suddenly followed suit, and said that an anonymous layman like me was not qualified, so I was kicked out of the production team.”
When Ji Li heard this, he almost understood it.
The producer took Mu Suian's excellent script and received investment from Lixing, which strengthened the cast of actors.
They crossed the river and demolished the bridge, drove away the excellent original screenwriter Mu Suian, and acquiesced to the male lead Cai Yishu to take the screenwriter into the group, and turned the good stuff into rubbish.
It's ridiculous.
“Mr. Ji, I know you were the first actor willing to sign, please help me!”
Mu Suian is just a small screenwriter. It is almost impossible to defend rights. The plea in his eyes becomes more and more obvious. “In reality, the five of us have already separated. I really don't want this story to be ruined.”
The perfect ending under infinite reincarnation written in the script was his comfort. The reason why he agreed to make a series was to leave a thought for the goodness of the past.
“I have sought Wang Yongwei's theory, but they directly mocked me and told me to die.”
As a result, this group of people brought even deeper despair. In the past few days, Mu Suian's insomnia was getting worse and worse, and he couldn't stand it anymore.
To be honest, Ji Li originally planned to resign and leave, but now, looking at the reality of ‘Xiang Suian’ and looking at the red eyes of the other party, the sourness in his heart instantly permeated.
As early as when he was studying the script, he had already substituted himself into this role.
Ji Li thought of the arrogant faces of Cai Yishu and others, and his eyes sparked with anger.
A few seconds later, he gave the unrecognizable script to Mu Suian, and solemnly instructed, “You take this script and go to the sea market and find someone.”
“Don't worry, I will let him see you.”
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