281. Rough Cut, Rough Cut, Rough Cut, Rough Cut

In the evening, while Bai Qiquan was still having dinner, at Lu Ban's house.

"Why bother hiring so many people and paying them so much money?"

Qin Tiantian ate the pan-fried dumplings she had brought back and took a sip of iced cola.

The evening news was playing on the television, and some food bought from the back street of Jiangcheng University was laid out on the table: fried skewers, barbecue, pan-fried buns, porridge, rolled pancakes, wontons, etc.

If Feng Yu saw this, he would definitely complain that Lu Ban eats these greasy street food every day.

But Feng Yu can't see it anyway.

Lu Ban put down his phone. He had just sent a WeChat message to Feng Yu to confirm that the other party was not in Jiangcheng.

Only then did I feel safe and bold enough to pick up a skewer of grilled lamb and take a bite.

The fat sizzles and releases its oil, the aroma of animal fat filling the mouth. The lamb is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, paired with spices, cumin, and chili powder, creating an exotic flavor that spreads throughout the mouth.

This feeling is like the sudden end of a life at home where parents force you to go to bed early, get up early, eat three regular meals a day, and there's no fried chicken, carbonated drinks, barbecue, or various snacks, and the first night you spend alone outside.

"Tasty."

Lu Ban sighed and glanced at Qin Tiantian again.

"I'm doing this to create more jobs for society and address the human resources crisis caused by the current downturn in the film and television industry."

"Damn, don't you know why the film and television industry is experiencing a downturn?"

Qin Tiantian pouted.

"Is it because of me?"

Lu Ban was confused.

"Isn't that right?"

Qin Tiantian was filled with righteous indignation.

"It's all because your movies are so successful. One is fine, but two are high-quality and profitable. Film companies have all realized that they need to improve their production quality so that audiences will buy into it. So now everyone is spending money to hire people."

"Hmm? Shouldn't there be a high demand for jobs then?"

Lu Ban found it strange.

"The people we hire are all skilled, whether they are actors or others. In the past, the industry was big and there was a lot of money, so there were also many layabouts. Now the industry has shrunk, and many layabouts have lost their jobs."

Qin Tiantian suddenly realized that she might be more familiar with the film and television industry than Lu Ban.

After all, she used to be a minor idol, a legitimate artist signed with an entertainment company.

If the project hadn't failed and her contract hadn't restricted her from showing her face in commercial performances, Qin Tiantian wouldn't have had to debut as a virtual streamer using a fake persona.

However, compared to the life of a low-level idol who had to rehearse and perform on stage every day, and was always mindful of his words and actions, and whose life was often forgotten by many, it's quite nice to now have hundreds of thousands of fans and be able to earn several times more income by just relaxing and playing games every day.

But, but!

The film and television industry has become highly competitive due to Lu Ban's influence, and many people are unable to find work. Some minor female celebrities have even started live streaming.

Some are pretty normal, just broadcasting their daily lives and making vlogs, while others are not so normal, posing provocatively and liking to do crooked things.

There are also some who can sing, and they just put on a virtual persona and become virtual streamers, starting with several hours of singing live streams. This puts streamers like Qin Tiantian, whose singing is more for entertainment purposes and whose antics outweigh their performances, in a very passive position.

Some students might ask, "Weren't you a bouncy, down-to-earth idol before? How come you can't sing as well as others?"

In response, Qin Tiantian could only say that if she really sang that well, she wouldn't have been just a minor idol back then; she would have become a huge star by appearing on various singing competition shows long ago.

"Isn't it great that slackers don't have jobs?"

Lu Ban expressed his confusion.

"The industry is inherently a survival of the fittest. In the past, everyone's skills were quite poor, so many people took advantage of the situation to make money. Now that the tide has receded, it's clear who was taking advantage of the situation."

"?"

Qin Tiantian always felt that Lu Ban was giving her a hint.

"Don't overinterpret this. Although you slack off every day, your live streams are only for entertainment, you can't sing well, you're bad at games, you don't have any talents, and you even look like a middle school student, I'm not actually talking about you."

Lu Ban explained.

So you're talking about me, aren't you?

Qin Tiantian jumped up.

"No, no, you are our company's brand ambassador. Just think, when Silent Media's movies are released, everyone will associate the movies with you. With so many people across the country and even the world watching these movies, wouldn't your fan base expand hundreds or thousands of times?"

Lu Ban patiently and persuasively guided him.

"That sounds good. Wait, doesn't your company only make horror movies? Does that mean I'm associated with horror movies? Kids might not even be able to cry when they see me in the future."

Qin Tiantian realized what was happening.

"By the way, I made some clips before, would you like to try them out?"

Lu Ban suddenly said.

"Get lost! I'm not going to be a guinea pig!"

Qin Tiantian immediately refused.

"It's not scary. I've changed my style this time; it's a commercial blockbuster."

Lu Ban spoke as if he were a devil tempting others to fall into depravity.

"I don't want to hear it, I don't want to hear it. By the way, when did you film this? I remember you went to a mental hospital not long ago?"

Qin Tiantian took a sip of fruit yogurt and wiped the white milk stains remaining on the corner of her mouth with a tissue.

"Actually, I traveled to another world and made a movie about my experiences there."

Lu Ban spoke the truth.

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

Qin Tiantian rolled her eyes at Lu Ban.

Although Lu Ban's filming speed was indeed fast, and it was almost impossible to tell that he disappeared for half a year after filming as depicted in those movies and documentaries, Qin Tiantian still had a lot of common sense.

"This time it's not scary at all; it's all at the level of a special effects blockbuster, so don't worry."

Lu Ban tried to persuade him again.

His main purpose was to see if the images of the Demon Tide would create a similar sense of immersive fear for ordinary people. You see, although Lu Ban is arguably the strongest in the world on screen, without exception, it would lack the right feel if it didn't have that immersive and shocking experience.

"I'll look at it after I finish eating. I need to get my shark pillow."

Qin Tiantian reluctantly agreed.

As for why he was hugging the shark-shaped pillow, Lu Ban didn't quite understand. Perhaps it was some kind of special way to gain a sense of security.

The most important thing for a person to live in is a sense of security.

Most human behaviors can be seen as behaviors aimed at gaining a sense of security.

For example, making money, buying a house, getting married, having children, and immersing oneself in a fantasy world to escape reality.

Perhaps Qin Tiantian also has some special fondness for sharks.

After the meal, the two cleaned up their lunchboxes and took advantage of the tail end of the garbage sorting and disposal time to throw away the garbage. Lu Ban accompanied Qin Tiantian to her house to retrieve the shark pillow.

After sitting in the living room for a while, Qin Tiantian saw Lu Ban plug the hard drive into the TV.

I opened a folder called "New Folder 02", which contained several files.

Lu Ban then opened a video file called "Sample Editing".

Turning off a few lights brought the TV screen back on.

*

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