Chapter 100

ps: Thank you to my dear reader who loves pudding for the generous reward, here's an extra chapter. ≥

The cherry blossoms danced in the wind as Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written inside.

Arriving at the company, Mai Xiaoyu handed Li Xue a set of documents and a video clip.

The documents detailed the audition requirements for all the lead, supporting, and character actors in the movie "I Believe."

The script was finalized last night, with Xiao Ou supporting Mai Xiaoyu's idea of an open-ended conclusion. The audience would be left to imagine their own endings, choosing any character they liked and designing an ending based on their own ideas.

In general, using an open-ended conclusion in films and TV shows is to deepen the audience's impression of the work and to lay the groundwork for potential sequels.

However, the main reason "I Believe" adopted an open-ended conclusion was that a perfect happy ending seemed too unrealistic. It was unlikely that the two underdog protagonists could overcome the villain's oppression and achieve the pinnacle of life—promotion, salary increase, becoming a general manager, CEO, and marrying a rich and beautiful woman—just by singing a song. An open-ended conclusion allowed the audience to imagine freely.

The video showed Mai Xiaoyu performing the Moonwalk, which he had filmed at home that morning. He changed his clothes and only filmed from the neck down to ensure his face wasn't visible, preventing anyone from recognizing him.

Making a movie is really complicated. Actors only need to focus on the script and their roles, striving to pass the auditions to secure their parts. However, the production team has a lot more to handle.

Mai Xiaoyu handed the documents and video to Li Xue to share with the members of the VIP group, so they could reference them and decide which direction to pursue. Mai Xiaoyu planned to go out in the next few days to scout locations. High school, old courtyard houses, talent show stages, barbershops, and other exterior locations needed to be selected before filming began.

In a professional production team, location scouting is usually handled by the production manager or the external liaison producer. However, Mengren didn't have enough staff, let alone a professional production manager or external liaison producer.

Mai Xiaoyu grew up in Yanjing and was familiar with the area. Since he was the main scriptwriter, referencing the content of "Old Boy" from his dreams, he was the most qualified to choose the locations and had to do it himself.

Zhang Xiaoquan knocked on the door and entered, "Mr. Mai, are you available now?"

"What's the matter? Is there a problem with setting up the production team?"

Setting up the production team wasn't a big issue. Zhang Xiaoquan had been in the industry for many years and had already secured several staff members with a few dozen phone calls. They were just waiting for the official start date to join the team.

He came to see Mai Xiaoyu mainly to discuss the director.

With a budget of 1.5 million yuan for the movie, how much could they offer the director?

Three hundred thousand?

Five hundred thousand?

Don't forget that Mengren was being boycotted by Qingtian. With such a low budget, which director would be willing to come?

If they hired a new director who hadn't been tested by the market... it might be better to bring back Xiao Xing from Korea to realize his directorial dream.

Either way, it was unreliable.

"What's your opinion?" Mai Xiaoyu asked.

"Can we offer up to 200,000 yuan? I know some directors from my previous work. A few of them aren't doing well, but they have some experience and have directed a few films and TV shows."

Damn, more than a tenth of the budget, and the total salary for all the actors combined wouldn't even reach this much.

Considering the company's current situation, Mai Xiaoyu gritted his teeth, "At most 150,000 yuan. If that doesn't work, we'll call on Old Xiao."

"150,000... that should be about right. I'll give it a try."

"Do you have any targets in mind?"

While Mai Xiaoyu and Zhang Xiaoquan were discussing the director's salary, Li Xue had already uploaded the list of roles and the video to the VIP group.

Boom!

The VIP group exploded!

Mengren's advertising business was almost completely boycotted, with only one window—Shengshi—providing a few opportunities each month.

The members had experienced a brief period of anxiety, but when the news came that the company decided to produce a movie and that all roles would be selected from within the membership, their anxiety was completely replaced by excitement.

All roles would be chosen from the members, meaning everyone had a chance to be the lead.

The lead role!

Excited, aren't you?

After Li Xue uploaded the list of roles, the members who were chatting in the group instantly disappeared.

Those online excitedly opened the documents, first looking at the lead roles!

Male lead.

Requirements: Good singing skills, around 175 cm tall, average build, no specific appearance requirements, under 25 years old, and those with dance experience are preferred.

Female lead.

Requirements: Pure and sweet appearance, good figure and demeanor, over 160 cm tall, under 25 years old, and those with dance experience are preferred.

Many members met the height, age, and appearance requirements for the lead roles, but having dance experience...

Was the company planning to make a dance movie?

Why else would dance experience be a priority?

In an instant, the group was flooded with messages.

"Xiao Xue, what kind of movie is the company planning to make? Why do both the male and female leads require dance experience?"

"My conditions match the male lead almost perfectly, except I haven't learned to dance. Sob..."

"Xiao Xue, I can do ballroom dancing. Is that okay?"

"I used to dance slow waltzes in the dance hall..."

"Hahaha, the person above is out. The male lead is mine; I've learned street dance!"

"Out, my sister! My goal is the female lead!"

"Xiao Xue, can I still learn dance in time?"

...

More and more members received calls from talent scouts, checked the role list online, and joined the discussion.

The main topics revolved around the lead roles and the requirement for dance experience. The screen scrolled rapidly, blurring Li Xue's vision, and her messages were instantly buried.

After all, except for the priority given to those with dance experience, the other conditions... were they even conditions? So many members met them, and who wouldn't want to be the lead?

Li Xue had no choice but to message everyone in the group: "Regarding the dance experience, please watch the video first."

Video?

Only then did the members realize there was a video!

Everyone clicked on the video, and their reactions were synchronized.

Uh...

Is this dance?

What the heck is this!

Not showing the face, he must be embarrassed.

Hmm?

This is interesting.

These moves are cool.

Ha!

Oh my god, this move is too vulgar.

But why am I a little excited?

Damn!

Am I seeing things? He's... moving backward?

He can walk like that, that's amazing!

This slide step, he's a genius!

"Xiao Xue, what's the name of this dance step?"

"Too cool!"

"Isn't it amazing?"

"Who's dancing, and why can't we see their face?"

"I tried to dance just now and fell three times. Sob, I need comfort."

"Serves you right, you don't do street dance. You deserve to fall."

"Xiao Xue, can I share the video on my space?"

"I want to share it on my Weibo; my followers will definitely increase!"

"Xiao Xue, can I share it?"

The members all requested to share the video. A flash of inspiration struck Li Xue, and she quickly ran into Mai Xiaoyu's office.

"Mr. Mai, the members want to share the Moonwalk video..."

Share it now?

Isn't it a bit too early?

Without music, the effect is poor, and the members' influence is limited.

However, the members' enthusiasm shouldn't be dampened. It could serve as a prelude, and they could release a more impressive version later.

Yes, they could also launch a "people's war," mobilizing them to help with location scouting...

The page turns, and the ads start.

The page turns, and the ads end.