608. Gao Moumou's Tragedy-Colored Script
Gao Moumou came out of the villa to greet Lin Tubo.
Tubo just called to say he's already in a taxi. If there's no traffic, he should arrive in about ten minutes.
So, Gao Moumou took his laptop out to pick up Tubo and also took a walk outside to clear his head—although it was hot outside today, staying in the villa with air conditioning would definitely be much more comfortable.
However, Gao Moumou has had enough of being confined in that small dark room for the past few days.
He now prefers to be outside in the sun rather than stay in the dark little room of the villa to cool off.
Everything for the tribe and freedom!
What's a little heat?
Thinking of this, Gao Moumou found a large tree in front of the villa and sat in its shade to cool off.
While waiting for Tubo, he pondered the 'movie script'.
"Can a combination of fantasy and science fiction worlds really make a good movie? No, why am I worrying about that? Shuhang and his friends are clearly making a movie for their own amusement. So, world-building and such aren't a big problem." Gao Moumou muttered to himself as he jotted down his thoughts in his notebook.
In fact, similar worldviews do exist. They are not necessarily "fantasy heroes". They are simply replacing fantasy heroes with a powerful martial arts system, plus a post-apocalyptic or science fiction world. For example, many superhero movies around the world today have this kind of worldview setting, and there are even more such world settings in anime.
"So, I'll just replace all the high-martial arts systems with immortal systems, and the world-building will be complete. Then... if it were made into a movie, the main plot would simply be about resisting powerful invaders, reforming a corrupt world, or solving a crisis that could lead to the extinction of humanity."
"In that case, let's choose the more intuitive 'Powerful Intruder' mode. This mode is more visually exciting and less tiring to watch than a storyline that involves wits and strength."
As Gao Moumou spoke, he quickly jotted down notes in his notebook.
"Then, regarding the protagonist, hehehe, the protagonist must suffer a lot of misfortunes, and all sorts of tragic elements specific to men are necessary. For example, the first love gets married, but the groom isn't me;"
For example, the second spring dies. Oh wait! This is a fantasy world. In that case, the protagonist's second lover can be set as a ghost. Imagine the protagonist having a long-term relationship with a ghost without knowing it, and then suddenly finding out that his lover is dead. That would be really interesting.
Then the protagonist suffers two heartbreaks, drowning his sorrows in alcohol every day, living a half-dead existence—this is the protagonist's initial image of decadence. But... ghosts aren't allowed in China films now, right? Hmm, no problem, no problem, Song Shuhang's movie isn't even being released. Just entertaining myself."
"Next up is my supporting character. I'll play the role of the protagonist's senior brother, who maliciously challenges the protagonist to duels every time, leaving him battered and bruised each time, finding pleasure in tormenting him. Not bad! However, to avoid Shuhang's protest, my character needs to die in the end. And before dying, I must find a way to clear my name. I can't let it affect my image in Mei Yi's eyes."
"Then, Shuhang also requested that there be many scenes of 'vehicle registration certificates.' In that case, we'll also need to create a spoiled brat, who could become the protagonist's Artifact Spirit or something. This spoiled brat accidentally hits the drunk protagonist with his car, but the protagonist is unharmed while the brat dies. Then, through various coincidences, he becomes the protagonist's Artifact Spirit. That's a good idea."
"The overall tone and atmosphere of the story must be predominantly tragic, tear-jerking. Hahaha, who says that authors who write humorous stories can only write humorous stories? That's the biggest joke!"
In this way, the basic story framework is set.
Then Gao Moumou had a burst of inspiration and quickly wrote the beginning.
The story is set in a parallel future.
Earth has been suddenly attacked by a mysterious force. No one knows what this force is—is it subterranean beings? Aliens? Or a mad, ambitious anti-humanist? Nobody knows.
Under the attack of this powerful and mysterious force, the people of Earth suffered heavy losses and entered an apocalyptic era. If it weren't for a similarly mysterious force protecting Earth, humanity might have been wiped out.
Next, the mysterious force protecting humanity finally revealed its true identity.
They are the legendary cultivators, possessing unparalleled strength; the strongest among them can move mountains and overturn seas, and ride the clouds and mist.
To resist attacks from a mysterious hostile force, cultivators united and began recruiting disciples, emerging from their secluded state to become guardians of the world.
The protagonist is a disciple of a cultivation sect.
"Then, the story will begin with the 'senior brother' toying with and tormenting the protagonist in the martial arts arena, followed by a spectacular fight scene."
"Of course, every time the protagonist is injured, a gentle senior sister will appear to bandage his wounds and softly comfort him. This senior sister is the protagonist's first love."
"Then, we need to create a plot where the senior sister is forced by her parents to marry another man. Just thinking about Song Shuhang having to act out this scene with a crying face makes me feel incredibly satisfied. Even... for the sake of the plot, the senior sister and her husband have to die at the hands of that 'hostile mysterious force' in the end, to motivate the protagonist's desire for revenge." Gao Moumou continued to write furiously in his notebook.
Awesome! Awesome!
As Gao Moumou wrote, he became more and more passionate, wishing he could start filming the movie immediately and then beat Song Shuhang to the ground again and again, leaving him covered in bruises—it was so exciting!
After writing the beginning of the story, Gao Moumou Time Freeze.
The rest of the plot needs to be conceived gradually.
"Next, let's set up the 'fantasy level system' in the story. With a level system, the contrast between the strong and the weak will be more obvious," Gao Moumou pondered.
How should I set it up?
When it comes to the settings of Xianxia (fantasy martial arts) novels, what everyone is familiar with is the set of stages: [Foundation Establishment, Enlightenment, Fusion, Heartbeat, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Out-of-Body, Spirit Division, Body Integration, Void Reaching, Mahayana, Tribulation Transcendence].
However, this whole thing would be too long to make into a movie.
After all, movies aren't TV series; they don't have that much time to describe the realms of cultivation.
"It's decided, three levels: Bronze Immortal, Silver Immortal, and Gold Immortal. As for you telling me this isn't a fantasy novel? Of course, it's fictional! Besides, once you accept this setting, it's surprisingly appealing." Gao Moumou laughed heartily, then wrote down this setting in his notebook.
Gao Moumou failed to notice that while he was setting the three levels of cultivators—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—an old Daoist Old Daoist with white hair was staring wide-eyed at him.
This is too frivolous!
Even if it's a movie, how can the system of cultivation be treated so lightly?