Chapter 1482: New Script

"Who is this?"

Zhao Fusheng asked hesitantly.

He was not the type to pretend to remember someone he didn't; he either knew them or he didn't.

"I'm Ning Hao," the person on the other end of the line quickly introduced himself. "Last time you gave me your number and said if I had any ideas about the script, I could talk to you."

Ning Hao?

Zhao Fusheng paused, then laughed. "So it's Director Ning. I'm at home. If it's convenient for you, why not come over and talk?"

"Sure, sure," Ning Hao nodded repeatedly.

Clearly, he was quite pleased to receive Zhao Fusheng's invitation.

"Tell me, where are you? I'll send someone to pick you up."

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said to Ning Hao.

Ning Hao didn't object, gave his address, and then hung up.

Zhao Fusheng dialed Wu Sijie's phone and instructed him, "Take a couple of people and go pick up Director Ning Hao."

Though a bit surprised, Wu Sijie agreed. After all, to him, Zhao Fusheng's orders were his mission—that was the job of an assistant.

While Wu Sijie went to fetch Ning Hao, Zhao Fusheng pondered at home.

Why would Ning Hao suddenly send him a script? What did he mean?

Could it be that Ye Jing had refused to produce his script, and that's why he thought of coming to him?

But Zhao Fusheng still didn't understand. Logically, since Ning Hao's last film, "Crazy Stone," was a hit, Ye Jing shouldn't have turned him down.

This was actually an unwritten rule in the industry.

For example, if Ning Hao's previous film had flopped, it might not have been easy for him to find investors for his new project. Take John Woo: after "Windtalkers" tanked at MGM, he couldn't make it in Hollywood anymore. Or Johnny Mak: his film "The Black Gold" became a classic and won awards, but with a budget of fifty million Hong Kong dollars and a box office of only ten million, even Tony Leung and Andy Lau couldn't save it, and he simply left the film industry.

But conversely, for a rising director like Ning Hao, whose first commercial film grossed thirty million on a three million investment, his script should, in theory, be in demand.

When Wong Kar-wai first debuted, his first film was "As Tears Go By," which was a box office hit, quickly making him a hot new director in Hong Kong. That's why Deng Guangrong invested thirty million for him to make "Days of Being Wild."

You could say Wong Kar-wai's later habit of playing music and letting actors improvise was pretentious, but you had to admit that after "As Tears Go By" was released, he was indeed the most promising new director in Hong Kong at the time.

In Zhao Fusheng's view, Ning Hao now was almost the same as Wong Kar-wai back then.

If he hadn't already signed with Future Films, Ning Hao would probably have a pile of scripts waiting for him to choose from.

Yet now, this guy wanted to see him and discuss a script, which made Zhao Fusheng feel puzzled.

Of course, Zhao Fusheng didn't call Ye Jing. In his opinion, this was a minor matter. If he could communicate with Ning Hao directly, it would save Ye Jing the trouble.

He didn't wait long. In about an hour, Wu Sijie brought Ning Hao before him.

Ning Hao came alone, without his wife Xing Na.

"Looking pleased with yourself, big director."

As soon as he saw Ning Hao, Zhao Fusheng teased with a smile, "I heard 'Crazy Stone' has been nominated for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards. Our Director Ning might be going to Hong Kong to accept an award."

Hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, Ning Hao's dark face rarely flushed. He quickly shook his head, "Chairman, please don't flatter me. In front of you, I wouldn't dare call myself a big director."

He meant it. This was the man who, with a casual script, was said to have saved Hong Kong cinema.

Ning Hao, as an insider, knew well the craze "Infernal Affairs" had stirred in Hong Kong. It was no exaggeration to say that "Infernal Affairs" completely rewrote the landscape of cop-and-crook films, spawning countless imitations.

"Alright, no need for mutual flattery." Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Ning Hao, "Come, sit down first, and then tell me why you called me."

This was what he was most curious about, and what he hoped Ning Hao would clarify.

After all, if he called for no reason and couldn't give a proper explanation, both Zhao Fusheng and Ning Hao knew his days at Future Films would not be easy.

Ning Hao nodded and took a stack of manuscript paper from his bag.

"What's this?"

Zhao Fusheng was a bit surprised, not understanding Ning Hao's intention.

"A story."

Ning Hao thought for a moment. "I was thinking about this story when I was filming 'Green Grassland,' even earlier than 'Crazy Stone.' I think if this story is made into a film, it will be very interesting."

Huh?

Zhao Fusheng looked puzzled, but he still took the manuscript and began to read.

Simply put, it was a story about a lawyer who only cares about money defending the leader of a poaching gang. Ning Hao certainly had a way with scripts. Although the story wasn't original, the plot and content were quite engaging.

More importantly, Zhao Fusheng found it very familiar.

Holy shit!

This was none other than "No Man's Land"!

As Zhao Fusheng read the script, he started to sweat.

He remembered this film because when he watched it, he was particularly impressed by the sexy pole dance scene and had specifically looked up information about it.

This "No Man's Land" seemed to have been shot in 2009, but due to censorship issues, it wasn't officially released until 2012 or 2013. In its first half-month, it grossed two hundred million at the box office.

In other words, Ning Hao had indeed brought him a treasure.

But the "No Man's Land" Zhao Fusheng had seen seemed a bit different from the script Ning Hao gave him. The content was naturally more fleshed out in the film version; this was probably the first draft.

"Have you shown this draft to Ye Jing?"

Zhao Fusheng was silent for a moment, then asked Ning Hao.

Ning Hao shook his head. "This is the first draft. To be honest, I'm hesitating because according to the company's plan, my next film should be a comedy like 'Crazy Stone.' But I feel that 'No Man's Land' might suit me better."

He paused, firming up his resolve, and said seriously, "I want to make a black allegorical film."

Black allegory?

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then laughed.

Ning Hao, as always, was full of surprises.

Life is like a play.

An excellent actor, whether using the method, the technique, or the representational approach, can always make a character vivid and lifelike.

Similarly, an excellent director, whether making comedies or horror films, can always infuse his movies with humanistic concern and the emotions he wants to express.

Ning Hao was that kind of director.

"You're really putting pressure on me."

After a long while, Zhao Fusheng looked up at Ning Hao with a half-smile.

He wasn't stupid; he quickly realized that this guy had come to see him today most likely because he was worried that after finishing the script for "No Man's Land," the company wouldn't agree to invest.

So he took the initiative to see him, using the pretext of discussing the script to explain his ideas.

In the end, Ning Hao was worried about Ye Jing's side.

"No, no, no," Ning Hao quickly shook his head. "Chairman, I absolutely didn't mean that! I just think this script is really good; it would be a shame not to make it!"

Who says intellectuals are all honest? In fact, the more cultured a person is, the more cunning they are.

It's just that these people are good at hiding their true thoughts, leading others to mistakenly believe that those in the arts are simple and kind-hearted youths.

But in reality, these people are quite clever.

Zhao Fusheng was well aware of Ning Hao's little scheme, but regardless, this was someone he had gone out of his way to recruit, so he had to give him some face.

Moreover, Zhao Fusheng was looking forward to what other surprises Ning Hao might bring him.