Chapter 0771: A Good Script

Life is sometimes like this: you may not have recovered from the joy of the previous moment, yet you are tormented by the sorrow of the next. Because we often cherish what we haven't obtained and forget what we have. There is no right or wrong, no worth or unworthiness, for human nature is just like this.

Zhao Fusheng held the phone, standing at the airport exit, his heart as heavy as a mountain.

Recalling his several encounters with the old man, he suddenly felt that perhaps the old man was truly tired.

Back when he watched Léon: The Professional, Mathilda once asked Léon: "Is life always this hard, or is it just when you're a kid?"

Léon hesitated, then answered the little girl: "Always like this."

The film says that a good will is not good because of what it effects or accomplishes, nor because of its fitness to attain some proposed end; it is good only through its willing, that is, good in itself.

Back then, Zhao Fusheng believed it to be true, but he had not yet understood the contradictions of human nature, did not know how much artifice lies in sincerity, how much baseness in nobility, or how much goodness in evil.

Now, Zhao Fusheng fully understood that pettiness and generosity, resentment and kindness, hatred and love can coexist in the same heart.

And that old man, who had toiled for most of his life, perhaps left with a smile, after all, all the burdens on him had been handed over to Zhao Fusheng. The only regret was probably that he couldn't witness Zhang Qian and the other children getting married and having children.

Shaking his head, after all, with a psychological age of over forty, Zhao Fusheng had seen much of birth, aging, sickness, and death. He was sad, but not to the point of being distraught.

That's probably what life is like; we have to get used to some people leaving, and to some people suddenly appearing in our lives.

Zhao Fusheng was an adult; he understood this truth better than anyone.

In fact, Zhao Fusheng had always known that most of what he excelled at was the ability to grasp and analyze human hearts, accumulated during his wandering in his previous life. To put it bluntly, foresight is not always useful, but judging people by their actions always allowed Zhao Fusheng to stay one step ahead.

Taking a car home, as soon as he entered the door, Zhao Fusheng's phone rang.

"You're finally back. If you hadn't come back, I would have called the police," Dong Chenxi said impatiently over the phone.

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "I texted you as soon as I got off the plane. What, afraid I'd get lost?"

"Cut the crap. Get to the company quickly. There's something I need your help with." Dong Chenxi couldn't be bothered to waste words with Zhao Fusheng; she stated her reason and hung up.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged, sent a text to Fan Baobao telling her that something came up at the company and he needed to go there first, then left home.

Glancing at the Hyundai sedan parked downstairs, Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment but decided not to drive it. After all, he hadn't renewed his driver's license yet, and there was no need to cause extra trouble.

Taking a taxi, Zhao Fusheng soon arrived at Future Advertising.

Greeting the receptionist, he went to Dong Chenxi's office, pushed the door open, and saw Dong Chenxi, Bai Jie, and the deputy director of the planning department studying something.

"Oh, if it isn't our busy man?" Bai Jie looked up and saw Zhao Fusheng, teasing him.

"Director," the deputy director dared not be negligent and quickly greeted Zhao Fusheng. Although he was actually older than Zhao Fusheng, the one who excels comes first. Zhao Fusheng's formidable reputation was well-known; anyone in advertising planning dared not disrespect him.

"Come over and help quickly."

Dong Chenxi was not polite at all; she rolled her eyes at Zhao Fusheng and said.

Zhao Fusheng was helpless. This woman, since breaking up with Wang Zhen, seemed to be developing in the direction of Zheng Yao—her temper growing bigger, throwing herself into work, and when it came to company matters, she was completely ruthless.

Zhao Fusheng was also helpless about this. He wanted to advise her but didn't know where to start, so he just let her be.

Walking over to the sofa and sitting down, Zhao Fusheng asked: "So, what's the matter?"

Dong Chenxi glanced at the deputy director of the planning department, who quickly explained the matter in detail.

Actually, it was simple: a director had submitted a script to Future Advertising, but the subject matter was somewhat sensitive, so the group hesitated to make a decision.

"Not only that, but this person has no previous works; he made a documentary and then a police thriller, and that's it," Bai Jie said slowly.

Clearly, they had little confidence in this director.

Frowning slightly, Zhao Fusheng didn't respond immediately but said: "Give me the script. I'll read it first."

Regardless, the script was most important. As for the director's ability, Zhao Fusheng didn't care much.

A good director's ability has little to do with whether he has produced famous works; as long as he is professional enough, that's fine.

But Zhao Fusheng also understood Dong Chenxi and the others' concerns.

Many people know that filmmaking relies on division of labor, but the question is, what is division of labor?

Some might say that division of labor means leaving professional tasks to professionals—lighting to the lighting crew, editing to the editor.

If that's the understanding, then the person saying this probably doesn't really know the film industry.

In a film, the director is undoubtedly the most important element—yes, even more important than the actors.

You see, a director often takes many years to go from obscurity to fame. Being called a young director at forty is even considered quite accomplished.

The reason is simple: directing requires talent and accumulation. You don't have to be proficient in every aspect of the set, but you can't be ignorant.

Why is it hard for us to make excellent special effects films?

Outsiders always think it's a gap in equipment, but in fact, domestic top special effects companies have more advanced equipment than Hollywood.

So why is that?

Heh, because those directors who claim to make special effects films don't even understand what special effects are.

Zhao Fusheng had even heard people say that some so-called directors don't even understand editing; they are just good at securing sponsorships and especially good at finding money.

Of course, certain big stars who turn to directing after excelling in acting or singing are not included; they are not professionals at all, just lending their names.

Otherwise, that mistress singer who pined for her teacher for ten years and made a film called Future Hookup to cash in on audience nostalgia—tell me, does she understand directing?

Heh, whoever believes that is an idiot.