Chapter 53: Filming Begins

After parting ways with Zhao Wu and the others, Chen Qi made his way to the office building of the film city, inquiring about renting locations. For exterior scenes, he could simply find a wilderness, and for office scenes, he could borrow Xu Buyian’s office. However, for certain special plots, such as those set in ancient times, he would have to rent a studio.

He asked about prices and details from the staff there, and promptly booked three days, scheduling to come back and shoot a week later.

By the time he finished all these arrangements, dusk had fallen.

On his way back to his rental apartment, Chen Qi received a phone call from Xu Buyian.

The license for the studio had come through.

“This license arrived just in time!” Chen Qi couldn’t help but marvel.

Without it, he wouldn’t have been able to submit the script for approval under the studio’s name.

“Mr. Xu, I’m preparing to shoot a short drama. Are you interested?” he asked.

“You’re filming something? Great! How much do you need?” Hearing Chen Qi’s plans, Xu Buyian sounded a little excited, not even asking what he intended to shoot, ready to invest immediately.

Hearing this, Chen Qi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He couldn’t fathom how Xu Buyian trusted him so readily.

Should he ask for a bit of investment and make a world-shatteringly terrible film, just to teach him about the harsh realities of the world?

The sort of film so bad you’d be ashamed to mention it to friends or family—so embarrassing it would ruin reputations.

Chen Qi felt it might be necessary.

But not now; perhaps another time.

He didn’t have the heart to trap Xu Buyian so badly on their first collaboration after founding the company.

If it made Xu Buyian wary of him forever, that would be amusing, but not ideal.

“A small production. A total investment of a hundred thousand should be enough,” he said, smiling.

“A hundred thousand?” Xu Buyian was stunned by the low budget. “Why so stingy? If you’re short on money, I have plenty! Maybe not millions, but I can easily put up five or six hundred thousand.”

“It’s not a matter of the money…” Chen Qi was both amused and exasperated. “This drama only needs that much. It’s more of a practice project for me. Why don’t you invest ten thousand? We can co-produce, and it’ll count as advertising for your company, though I’m not sure if it will sell.”

“Alright, I’ll follow your lead.” Xu Buyian had no objections.

Frankly, even if he had to put in the whole hundred thousand, he wouldn’t have minded.

So far, he trusted Chen Qi unconditionally.

“Alright, I’ll draft a contract for you later. Cooperation should look like cooperation.”

“No problem. Is there anything you need me to do?”

“Yes, I’ll send you the script later. Please help me with the project application and approval. I really don’t understand these procedural things.”

“Sure,” Xu Buyian agreed immediately, a hint of anticipation for the script stirring in his heart.

“So where are you finding people and equipment?”

“All settled. I just came back from the film city and found some people there.”

“Oh, good then.” Seeing that Chen Qi had everything in hand, Xu Buyian didn’t ask further.

He, like Zhao Wu and the others, assumed this was just Chen Qi’s practice work—a bit of fun.

With a hundred thousand budget, what could he possibly produce?

After chatting a bit more, Chen Qi asked him for a contact for equipment rental before hanging up.

But he didn’t rush to call the equipment rental owner.

He was clueless about these things and had no idea what equipment to rent.

This was something he needed to consult a professional about, so he’d wait for Zhao Wu to assemble the team.

Back at his apartment, he revised the script and sent it to Xu Buyian, then began pondering the filming.

The next day.

Around ten o’clock, he received a call from Zhao Wu.

The team was assembled.

Hearing this, Chen Qi couldn’t help but smile. Confirming everyone was available, he arranged for them to meet.

After meeting, Chen Qi asked them some professional questions, and once he was sure they could handle their roles, he signed simple half-month contracts with each of them.

As he’d said before, the wages were set at market rates plus twenty percent.

He treated everyone to lunch and assigned styling, costume, and props preparations to Zhao Wu, Bai Xiaoke, and the others, telling them filming would start the next day.

After giving these instructions, he went with the cameraman and lighting technician to choose equipment.

They spent the whole day busy.

Fortunately, by the end of the day, most of the preparations for filming were done.

He called the styling and costume departments, and after confirming they were ready, Chen Qi was finally at ease.

Back at his apartment, he sent the script for the first episode to Bai Xiaoke for him to familiarize himself.

His script was very detailed, specifying how every scene should be performed.

After sending it, he brought up the first episode of “Unexpectedly” in the system and watched it repeatedly, carefully studying Jiaoshou’s performance.

...

The next day.

A little after eight in the morning, Chen Qi, Zhao Wu, Bai Xiaoke, and the others arrived at a wild area in the suburbs with all their equipment.

This was the location Zhao Wu had scouted yesterday.

From the photos Zhao Wu sent, Chen Qi was very satisfied with the place.

“Alright, unload everything and remember to protect the environment. I don’t want to be reported before we finish filming.”

“Hahaha…” Chen Qi’s words made everyone laugh.

“Come on, let’s start with Xiaoke’s makeup and styling.”

“The first scene will be shot right here. Set up the equipment, the two actors should be in these positions. Get them ready.”

“Where are the props? Where’s my sword?”

Chen Qi managed all tasks on site in an orderly fashion.

Perhaps because he paid everyone well, or maybe because none of them had much success in their respective fields, they all cooperated readily, doing exactly as Chen Qi asked.

Plus, Chen Qi himself wasn’t overbearing, so the atmosphere on set was pleasant—everyone chatting and laughing, relaxed and easy-going.

Of course, another important reason was that everyone knew this drama was just Chen Qi’s practice project, so there was no pressure.