Chapter 15

Robert, however, had a tight expression on his face. "The scene where the team member shouts 'Mom' before dying is very touching. How did you come up with that idea?"

"It's not much, I prefer the sniper character."

Chen Tiandu deflected the question, shrugging his shoulders and answering off-topic: "My grandmother and mother are both Christians. Although I am not, I have read the Bible. The sniper is a very unique character. He always prays when aiming at a target, which shows his inner faith. He hopes God will look after him, and he has his own beliefs, which support him throughout. He always makes significant contributions in battle, but in the end, he is blown up by a tank on the roof of an old building. I really like this character, but I still let him die."

"Why?" Toby suddenly asked.

Chen Tiandu was taken aback and said, "I don't know... Maybe because the sniper kills too easily, like mowing grass, even cooler than me. I don't like people who are cooler than me, so I let him die. Haha."

His words seemed arrogant, but upon closer reflection, one could understand his feelings. Killing like mowing grass is only a thin line away from being a murderer. Everyone laughed, influenced by his straightforwardness. This talkative young man was quite genuine, wasn't he?

Robert, unwilling to let it go, continued, "The script still has many flaws, such as the confusion in the use of weapons. The equipment of the U.S. and German armies is often mixed up. I'm glad you didn't write about the Type 38 rifle. Also, the two tanks in the script are T-34s, which are Soviet tanks. They should be Tiger tanks. There's also a scene where the sniper shoots a bullet into the enemy sniper's scope, which seems too sci-fi... There are many other unreasonable parts. So before you arrived, I made some revisions at Mr. Spielberg's request."

Chen Tiandu tapped his fingers on the table and smiled without a word.

The last time, things had already become awkward, and he didn't expect Robert to be so tactless. Everyone's expressions turned stiff.

Just as he was about to speak, Chen Tiandu said, "The script I gave to the director was just a draft and couldn't be used as the final version. In fact, I haven't been idle during this time and have made some revisions to the script. Moreover, the scene where the sniper shoots a bullet into the enemy's gun is not impossible. A similar incident occurred during the Vietnam War."

He then took out his eye-catching phone and waved it in front of the TV, and the unfortunate TV was once again taken over. "Everyone, please look. This is my script."

"Wow! This is a storyboard, and the artwork is excellent."

Steven, being a director himself, couldn't help but be impressed. "Is this the Normandy landing? This is exactly the scene I want. Strange, what are these black lines?"

"They are bullet marks," Chen Tiandu deliberately guided. "In such a big battle, if you only hear gunshots but don't see the bullets, it would feel very dull. So the scene of bullets whizzing past your ears and over your head will be very impressive."

"Very good, excellent, a great idea!" The others were no fools, and even Toby Hawkins, one of the assistant directors, had a keen eye.

"Let me see the next one."

"Sure." Chen Tiandu flipped through the images, showing the sniper showdown, the sacrifice of the soldiers, and other scenes, which made Steven's eyes shine.

Then, with a click, the TV returned to normal.

"Why did it stop? Continue!"

Chen Tiandu rolled his eyes. "That's it. I only took a few photos. The rest of the drawings are in my room. I'm not a military enthusiast and don't know much about weapons from different countries. Maybe the script does have many flaws, which is why Mr. Spielberg asked you, Mr. Robert."

Robert was about to say something but was interrupted by Steven. "Enough, Robert. Today is not a working day. Let's stop here." He then turned to Chen Tiandu and said, "Christmas, let me see your storyboard. Also, you must join my crew. I want to hire you as my assistant director. What do you think?"

Chen Tiandu looked flattered. "So, I can get paid."

"Of course. Now, show me the script."

"Steven, calm down." Ian Bryce held him back. "At least finish this dinner first."

...

After officially joining the crew, Chen Tiandu finally dared to call home and share the good news.

"Christmas, America is different from China. Remember to be kind to others and don't be too assertive. Your grandfather and I will watch your movie. You are my pride."

"Thank you, Grandma. Jet'aime." (French for "I love you," pronounced like "tropical")

"I love you too, darling. Get a girlfriend. European girls are very passionate. If you meet a French girl, don't miss your first love. Their passion will swallow you whole. Of course, you can also end your virginity."

"Oh, Grandma, you... that's a bit embarrassing."

Laughter erupted from the other end.

After receiving congratulations and teasing from his family, he also shared the good news with Kong Yiji.

"What? You actually became an assistant director. The heavens must be blind. That's Spielberg. Even as an assistant director, you'll have a lot of people lining up to invest when you return. Tell me, how much did you sell the script for?" Kong Yiji was envious and jealous.

"The script wasn't much. I didn't haggle, just a million."

"WHAT?!" A shocked shout came from the other end. "A million? Dollars? Brother, big brother, dear brother, I want to follow you. Please take me to America." "A million dollars, American money is so easy to earn," Huang Bo added in surprise.

Chen Tiandu pretended to be calm but was inwardly elated. "It's not much. You guys should focus on building a solid foundation at home. The company now has some starting capital. Find a good script, hire a reliable director, and gather a team. You can start working. Neck has been in the industry for a few years and is quite shrewd. Kong, consult him more often and don't get cheated. Call me if you need anything. That's it."

The work pace in America was very different from China, the most noticeable difference being professionalism and organization.

Chen Tiandu's storyboard impressed Spielberg, and his precise analysis of the story also won the approval of the director's team. He was assigned to participate in many tasks. Every day, there were complex discussions, detailed to every scene. He was very aware and mostly accompanied without saying much. Only when everyone argued to a standstill did he occasionally interject. Then everyone would ponder, and it seemed, apparently, maybe, it was... not bad.

One time might be a coincidence, but as he proposed more and more brilliant ideas, his status in the director's team naturally rose. People began to ask for his opinion from time to time.

It took three months to prepare three thousand sets of World War II uniforms and numerous military props. This was a potential hazard that required professional personnel to monitor 24/7, or it could lead to a major disaster. Originally, they were supposed to shoot in England, but the British Ministry of Defense refused to provide thousands of soldiers as extras according to Spielberg's requirements, so they had to move to Ireland.

So far, the only confirmed role was Captain John Miller, played by the veteran actor Tom Hanks.

Spielberg's annual blockbuster attracted the attention of almost all male actors in Hollywood. Those who believed they met the criteria all signed up. With over five thousand people, it was impossible for the director to interview each one personally.

Therefore, the first, second, and third rounds of auditions were inevitable. Chen Tiandu found it very novel. The first audition was held in a sports field, with thousands of people running together. Those who fell behind after five laps were "sorry."

With so many people, the first round had to eliminate more than half. They continued with physical tests, rock climbing, shooting, and diving, all part of the audition process. For a young man from China, this was truly novel. Surprisingly, many already famous actors were willing to participate in the tests.

...