Teletubbies and SpongeBob SquarePants

Victor Jones truly deserved his reputation as a talent who had spent nearly a decade in Hollywood. In less than three days, he had assembled a production crew.

"Everyone, you're all seasoned professionals with at least three years of experience in Hollywood, so I won't waste words. My requirements are simple: the pre-production work must be completed within three weeks."

At Zucker's Los Angeles home, Zucker directly gave the production crew their instructions.

Run Lola Run was only a low-budget film. Its settings were not complicated, mainly a clock shop, a convenience store, and street scenes. For the production crew, these sets truly were not difficult—or rather, they were very simple.

"No problem on my end," the set designer spoke first.

"No problem here either," said the props master.

After that, the others also voiced their agreement. They would definitely complete the pre-production work within three weeks.

"Very good. I don't have many requirements for the sets and props. They just need to be affordable and look good."

For today's discussion, Zucker had put a tremendous amount of thought and effort into it.

He had stayed up for several entire nights.

He had drawn more than twenty pages of character concept art alone. As for the storyboard script, he had prepared hundreds of pages of notes.

After all, Zucker was not even twenty yet.

Youth represented energy and future potential, but it also meant that people were more likely to look down on you!

Zucker was the owner of Wald Pictures, that was true, and he was also the financier paying them, also true. However, all they knew of Zucker was that he had only graduated high school and had no relevant experience in film or television production. Yet he was starting out as a director, and with a theatrical release at that. No matter how low the budget was, it was hard for people to believe in him.

Therefore, no matter how much Zucker prepared, he would never consider it excessive.

What was more, this was Zucker's first time directing as well.

"I'm not directing for the money, really. It's just an obsession left over from my previous life."

"Although Old Man graduated from a directing program in my previous life, my grades were only above average. I never actually shot a film or TV series."

Though Zucker had zero practical experience, he still had some confidence.

Because Run Lola Run had few locations and was easy to shoot.

Most importantly, when Zucker had been in college in his previous life, one of his professors had spent eight class sessions analyzing the film in extreme detail—from the settings, story background, and character personalities to the lighting, dialogue, and more.

Afterward, the professor had assigned a mountain of homework.

Yes, a great deal of homework.

"Fine, I failed several assignments and got scolded five times over them. I copied out punishment passages fifty times. How could I not remember it deeply?" Zucker curled his lip and cursed inwardly.

That was why, despite having zero filming experience, Zucker still dared to give it a try.

Over the following hours, Zucker held a seven-hour discussion with the production crew's key personnel.

That night.

After the production crew left, Zucker continued working.

The short seven-hour discussion had truly benefited him immensely from their wealth of experience. He had also gained a clearer understanding of many things he had not understood before.

"The gap between someone who has made movies and someone who hasn't is no small thing!"

"Run Lola Run is Wald Pictures' first film. It doesn't need to become a massive hit, but it must succeed."

"Looks like I still need to keep working hard!"

Zucker pondered the matter repeatedly. Just then, the doorbell rang.

He got up and opened the door.

The visitor surprised Zucker, yet was also entirely expected.

Charlize Theron!

"Boss, I'm sorry for disturbing you."

"Huh? Why are you here? And you brought a gift." Zucker stepped aside to let Charlize in.

Charlize Theron wore a white dress that day, low-cut and without a bra. She looked both sexy and beautiful, making Zucker swallow hard.

Holy shit!

What was this supposed to mean?

Ma'am, I'm only nineteen!

I'm still a child!

"Charlize, weren't you supposed to be working today? If I remember right, it's only nine in the evening. It's not even quitting time yet." Zucker resisted the temptation and spoke.

"Boss, I'm off today!"

Charlize gave Zucker a seductive look and said coquettishly, "I went shopping late today and happened to pass by here, so I thought I'd come see you. You usually take good care of me, after all. I also brought you pizza—your favorite seafood flavor."

Happened to pass by?

Dropped in on the way?

I usually take good care of you?

You think I'm an idiot? This place is in the suburbs, not downtown. What kind of route would bring you through here? Besides, don't you always call me a vampire behind my back?

Of course, Zucker did not say any of that aloud. He merely grumbled about it in his heart dozens of times.

Let's see how you plan to perform next.

Actually, Zucker did not need to guess to know why she had come today.

She had simply learned that Zucker had acquired a movie company and was about to shoot its first film, so she had come seeking a role.

Over the following moments.

Charlize Theron kept talking about the hardships she had faced after coming from South Africa, how unfortunate her family was, and how grateful she was for the job Zucker had given her. She also repeatedly brought up her dream of acting in films, playing every emotional card she could.

But Zucker did not take the bait at all!

He listened to her while reading the documents in his hand.

Damn it, Boss. I've made myself so clear—why won't you take the hint and give me a role? Charlize grumbled inwardly.

But Zucker's internal thoughts went like this: You think saying a few nice things will get you a role? Is anything really that cheap? Even if I had originally planned to use you to save money, you came to my door on your own. If I don't get anything out of it, wouldn't I be taking a loss?

Zucker was the sort of person who considered it a loss if he left the house without finding money on the ground. He was especially good at taking advantage of an opening!

The rich sampled the saltiness; the poor judged by appearance!

Even if he had never eaten pork, he had surely seen pigs run. In his previous life, Zucker had often watched investors, directors, and producers use roles to impose casting-couch rules. He had never tried it himself.

"Boss, it's getting late. I'll be leaving first."

In the end, Charlize gave Zucker a speechless look before storming off in a huff.

As she reached the door, she shot him another glare, as if saying, Are you trying to put me on the casting couch or not? If you are, then make your hints clearer. I can't figure out your attitude at all.

Well, Zucker had no experience after all!

He did not understand exactly how casting-couch rules were supposed to work!

Ma'am, I'm still a child!

I don't understand. Why don't you teach me?

While preparing Run Lola Run, Zucker also found time to visit a law firm and pay them to devise a tax avoidance plan for him.

That was right—tax avoidance!

Zucker had been reborn for nearly half a year now. Relying on the information provided by the system and his own efforts, he had made nearly thirty million dollars in assets from Netscape and Pixar stock, Toy Story merchandise, and other ventures.

His results had been outstanding!

However, every year from late February to April was the time that gave all American citizens headaches. Taxes had to be paid!

If I don't work out a tax avoidance plan, how much money will I lose? Zucker cursed the American tax authorities in his heart.

"Mr. Wald, please rest assured. Our firm will certainly devise an excellent tax avoidance plan for you as soon as possible," the middle-aged elite lawyer said confidently.

Uh, he was also Chinese American, a second-generation immigrant named Zhang Wei, nicknamed Snake!

"Very good. Oh, and I have one more matter to entrust to you."

"Please go ahead."

"It's nothing major. I just need to register the copyrights for an animated series and an educational series for infants and toddlers."

"What are the specifics? What is the scope of the application? Is it limited to North America, or does it include Europe and Asia as well?"

Besides tax avoidance, Zucker had come today to commission copyright registrations.

The animated series he wanted to register was called SpongeBob SquarePants.

The educational series for infants and toddlers he wanted to register was called Teletubbies.

It had to be said, Zucker was truly crafty.

He had system-provided materials for SpongeBob SquarePants, so registering its copyright was understandable. But where would Zucker get detailed materials for Teletubbies?

Although Zucker did not remember Teletubbies' exact content, he had watched it in his previous life, and more than once.

It did not need to be especially detailed. So long as the registered content included the protagonists' designs, names, central themes, story synopsis, and so on, it was entirely legal under the relevant statutes. In other words, as long as the application could be completed, Teletubbies, this enormously influential work, would belong to the Zucker family from then on!

Actually, Teletubbies was only suitable for children under eight. Yes, it was rather childish, but it made money!

It had sold its rights to dozens of countries. How could it not make money?

"Zucker, you really are one clever little devil!" Zucker praised himself inwardly.