Wrapping Up and Signing a Contract

As filming progressed, Wei Jin gradually found his groove. Several cameo scenes were done in a single take.

The actors making those cameos had all been invited by Zhang Jiandong. They had very little screen time, and the demands on their acting were not high.

That day, Zhang Jiandong also made time to visit the set. After watching for a while, he could not help nodding.

"This kid's got something."

During a break, Wei Jin came over to greet his teacher.

"Teacher Zhang, you're here?"

"Mm, I didn't have much to do today, so I came to have a look. By the way, how's filming going?"

Wei Jin glanced at Qin Hao, who was getting himself into the right state nearby, and said,

"I originally wanted to try shooting it all in one continuous take, but that was a little unrealistic. Fortunately, we're making good progress. Mm, Qin Hao is a dedicated actor. We've already shot almost half of it."

"Good grief, you wanted to do it all in one take?"

Zhang Jiandong was deeply shaken by that.

"You're shooting too fast, aren't you? It's only been a few days, and you've already shot half of an awards contender?"

"Mm, mostly because I already have all the shots planned out in my head, and the crew has been working well together."

Wei Jin could hardly tell him he was copying a tiger by following a picture of a cat.

Filming continued. On camera, Qin Hao's face had turned the grayish white of someone starved of oxygen. His hands never stopped moving, and his brain was working at breakneck speed.

Wei Jin could tell that Qin Hao had gotten into character, and that he was in exceptionally good form.

If he could keep performing at this level, perhaps filming could be finished even sooner.

Half an hour later, an exhausted Qin Hao was helped out by the crew. His eyelids drooping, he asked,

"Director, was that scene okay?"

"Very good. Keep it up, and you might even win an award."

"Really? I'd be happy just to get nominated. I need to get some sleep. My head hurts a little..."

"Mm, go ahead."

The film was being shot very quickly. Most of the scenes took place inside the coffin, and the lead actor was truly giving it his all, so little time was wasted.

Zeng Li had not come to 501 for several days. When Wei Jin called, she only said she was spending time with her best friend, Hu Jing.

Wei Jin was wholly focused on his debut film and did not give it much thought, assuming only that Sister Li and Hu Jing were close.

Filming went so smoothly and quickly that Wei Jin found it unreal. Was it about to end already?

His first film was so quick—would he be called a quick shooter?

Only when the entire crew looked at Wei Jin, waiting for him to speak, did he snap out of his daze.

"I hereby announce that Buried Alive has officially wrapped. Thank you all for your hard work during this time."

"Yeah, that's a wrap!"

With Wei Jin's announcement, the three-week shoot for Buried Alive came to a complete end, and the crew erupted in celebration.

Qin Hao walked over to Wei Jin, looking a little awkward.

"Director, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I learned a lot from this film. It was very special."

"Brother Hao, you're too polite. It was a pleasure working with you. Let's work together again when we get the chance."

Wei Jin had a very good impression of Qin Hao as well.

"Director, you can count on me. Just say the word in the future, and I'll be there whenever you call."

Qin Hao thumped his chest as he made the promise.

"Sure, sure. I'll be keeping an eye on the editing and post-production over the next few days. The school's vice dean has already contacted a film selector. Come take a look when the time comes. If it gets selected, you'll have to come with me to Berlin in February."

"No problem. You can call and let me know anytime."

Qin Hao was delighted. If he really got to go to Berlin, it would be a wonderful thing for him.

"Um... Brother Hao, just to be safe, I suggest you talk to a psychologist and make sure you haven't developed any mental health problems."

Wei Jin gave him the reminder.

"Okay, I will. I've been feeling a little off myself."

Qin Hao had spent years rehearsing stage plays and had experienced this sort of thing before.

That evening, Wei Jin booked two tables for a simple wrap banquet.

During the meal, Wei Jin thanked the two teachers for all their help and showed great respect to the senior schoolmates who had come to lend a hand.

Jiang Wei had done a great deal to bring the film's costs down so low, and the senior schoolmates had helped out as friends. Wei Jin owed them for that.

After spending more than twenty days together, the teachers and senior schoolmates also saw Wei Jin in a new light, and they exchanged phone numbers.

As cups and dishes passed back and forth, hosts and guests alike enjoyed themselves.

With life on set at an end for the time being, Wei Jin spent every day overseeing post-production. It was being done at the school for no other reason than to save money.

Zeng Li still had not returned. Wei Jin had already sensed that something was wrong, but for the moment, he could not spare the time to deal with it.

One afternoon, Wei Jin received a call from Huang Bai, inviting him to meet and chat. The two had not seen each other for some time.

Seeing that post-production was going smoothly, Wei Jin was happy to take a break. He put down his work and readily went to meet him.

Since Who Do You Really Love had exploded in popularity after National Day, offers had been pouring in for Huang Bai, and his market value had risen steadily.

By now, he was quoting fifty thousand for a single commercial performance. He had been frantically raking in money lately, singing so much he was almost sick of it.

"Old Wei, I'm a singer with no formal training, and just like that I'm famous. It feels unreal to me."

Huang Bai looked thoroughly pleased with himself.

"Mostly because my song is popular. At best, you're just an extra."

Wei Jin retorted caustically, "Anyone else could sing it and it'd be much the same."

The two had been on good terms since their last drinking session.

"So I wanted to ask what you think. Should I keep being a singer, or stick to my dream?"

Huang Bai explained why he had come. He had been feeling lost lately.

It made sense. At fifty thousand a performance, he had already raked in over a million in just one month. Of course, half of it went to Wei Jin.

"Why can't you have both? Only children make choices. Adults want it all."

Wei Jin analyzed the situation. "But Old Huang, based on your looks alone, you don't really have an advantage on either path."

Huang Bai had actually appeared in many films and television dramas already, but mostly in minor supporting roles that made little splash. Wei Jin felt that he simply had not found the path that suited him yet.

"I know. I don't have the looks, the money, or the connections. All I can do is wait for a benefactor to give me a hand."

Huang Bai put on a fawning smile.

"This... are you latching onto me?"

Wei Jin finally understood why Huang Bai had asked to meet him.

"Come on, what do you mean, latching on? That sounds awful. Giving me a hand, giving me a hand."

Huang Bai had thought it through long ago. Wei Jin was a director who could also write songs. Wasn't he the perfect benefactor to help him develop both careers?

"Don't you have a studio? Sign me, and I'll work my life away for you, brother. If you point east, I won't go west."

The map had unrolled to reveal the dagger. This was also why he had not agreed when a record company had wanted to sign him before.

Wei Jin was stunned by Huang Bai's bold maneuver. He had never thought of changing Huang Bai's fate; the guy was bound to make it big sooner or later.

But Huang Bai's proposal also stirred something in Wei Jin's mind. Leaving everything else aside, there were plenty of ringback tone songs—should he find a tool to sing them?

"Have you really thought this through? Once you sign, you'll have to work for me and let me exploit you."

"I have. It's just working my life away. Even calling it hard work would be disrespectful to the boss."

Seeing Wei Jin soften, Huang Bai began cracking jokes too.

The two discussed a few more details and settled the matter.

The formal signing would have to wait until Wei Jin had set up the studio. After all, it was currently just an empty shell for managing copyrights.

Through his connection with Shen Haobo, an old Beijing hand and tool, Wei Jin rented two offices.

He hired a frustrated, unappreciated agent and assigned him to Huang Bai, then hired a receptionist to answer the phone. Wei Jin Fengliu Studio officially opened its doors.

Signing the contract with Huang Bai went smoothly. Neither of them was the type to haggle over every detail.

Under the management contract, they would split the proceeds thirty-seventy, with Wei Jin taking seventy percent. The contract would last five years, with the split revised once a year.

That was mainly because Wei Jin owned the copyrights to all the songs. At present, Huang Bai was just a tool for singing.

Huang Bai was satisfied with the arrangement. At least he had a long-term meal ticket.

Wei Jin was not stingy either. He gave Huang Bai a few more hit ringback tone songs from his memory.

With that, Wei Jin Fengliu Studio had its first signed artist.

Having dealt with the studio, Wei Jin began preparing to sort out matters at home.