"Gourmet is the skin, culture is the bone, and humanity is the meat."

That was the summary of Geng Zhi talking to Zhang Ming about the shooting and planning of the food documentary.

"Since this documentary is called "The Kingdom of China on the Bite of the Tongue", its main form of expression is of course food, but if you simply introduce food, the documentary is not deep enough. Food is just one of the external forms of historical inheritance. We can interpret the culture of China through the source of food ingredients, the evolution of food production methods in different regions, and the position of food in Chinese culture to express the family affection and homesickness of Chinese people.

"Through the expression of emotions, it arouses emotional resonance among the audience, and thus pays attention to the cultural inheritance essence of food...

"Director Zhang is good at teasing emotions in his photography works. I think you are the best director of this documentary."

After hearing Geng Zhi's last words, Zhang Ming smiled and said, "You said this, as if I were a playboy." However, he was quite moved by meeting his soulmate.

After he was released from prison, no one was willing to ask him to film. He could only make a living by photography. He did integrate his emotions into photography, and gradually learned how to let more people understand the emotions they want to express through his works.

After years of precipitation in photography, Zhang Ming has long been no longer the arrogant director who was highly regarded by himself. He has learned to put himself on the same level as ordinary people, learn to understand the aesthetics of ordinary people, and incorporate this understanding into his own artistic aesthetic understanding.

Doing so will make "professional" people think that his works are vulgar, but they will resonate with ordinary people more.

Geng Zhi had already made it clear, and he also understood Geng Zhi's intention to invite him to be a documentary director.

He thought for a while and asked, "What exactly do you need to do?" He was going to make a movie in June, so the production cycle of this documentary was very tight. He didn't have much time to think about how to make it.

Since Geng Zhi has what understandings he has, he should have already had a general plan in his mind.

Geng Zhi did "have" the plan.

"I think we don't need to focus on introducing some kind of food. We can summarize the food through real stories of characters, such as the collection of ancient times to modern inheritance, the growing staple food, the artificial transformation of ingredients, the blending of taste, etc., and select the most popular and representative food elements. We don't even need to tell the audience how delicious the food is. Focus on introducing the culture represented by these foods, the evolution process in time and space, the feelings they represent, and the inheritance of Chinese history."

Zhang Ming understood what he meant: "You are right. Every kind of food is actually a kind of homesickness. People from other places may not feel that it is good after eating it. If food is used to make it to unify family affection and homesickness, and to interpret happiness through the number of foods, it should be more moving to the audience."

He paused and said, "If we want to achieve this effect, then we need to shoot stories from ordinary people. This will resonate more with the audience."

Geng Zhi smiled and said, "I think so too." In fact, the success of "Bite of the Tongue" is precisely because it tells the true stories of ordinary people. "We need to be able to collect these story materials through the Internet, find some representative characters, and shoot their stories about food. These stories must be true."

He paused and said, "In addition, when we shoot, each episode can be divided into one unit. Each unit can connect several stories through fragmented editing. By telling the different evolutions of food in time and space through stories that do not pass through regional stories."

Zhang Ming asked him for a few pieces of paper, then wrote it on it, and asked Geng Zhi if he forgot something, and discussed it with Geng Zhi if he had any inspiration.

The two talked in Geng Zhi's office for a morning.

Zhang Ming carefully put away more than a dozen pieces of paper and said, "This documentary involves a lot of fields. If you really want to shoot it, we need to ask some experts in history, food, etc. In addition, I can't make this documentary planning alone."

Geng Zhi smiled and said, "You can talk to Li Qi. Dingyun should also invest in this project. You can ask Dingyun to arrange some staff to help you."

This is one of the main reasons why Zhang Ming accepted this task: Geng Zhi was willing to delegate power and let him go to do it.

He smiled and said, "I'll think about what I need to add when I go back. I'll have a conversation with Mr. Li in a few days."

Geng Zhi nodded and said, "It's good. But you can take time to read the script of "Infernal Affairs". See if there is any place that needs to be modified, and it's easy to ask the screenwriter to talk about how to modify it."

Although he made a lot of suggestions on "The Bite of the Tongue", Geng Zhi only made general suggestions, and the specific details must be formulated by Zhang Ming. After it is produced, this documentary will become Zhang Ming's work.

Zhang Ming stood up and was about to leave, but he suddenly thought of a question he forgot to ask: "Mr. Geng, how much does it cost to invest in this documentary?"

"You make the best plan first, and then we will make a budget."

What does this mean is that there is no upper limit on the production fee?

This documentary does not require a salary, and it mainly costs labor and equipment. The cost is not high. Of course, documentaries usually don’t have much income. It is good to be able to guarantee a capital, and making documentaries is usually just to seek fame.

Geng Zhi gave Zhang Ming the whole morning, and in the afternoon he made an appointment with another director, Liu Hua.

With the box office of "Racing Car", Liu Hua became famous. But Liu Hua did not dare to be content. He knew best who the biggest credit for "Racing Car" was.

The script of the movie was written by Geng Zhi, the actor was found by Geng Zhi, the producer of the movie was Geng Zhi, and the editing of the movie was mainly done by Geng Zhi. He has the title of a director, but he is actually an executive director. The executive director is actually no different from the status of the deputy director.

The popularity of "Racing" gave him great fame, but he knew how these fame came about.

Geng Zhi asked him to come to Geng this time, and he came with expectations.

Geng Zhi did not disappoint him. Geng Zhi asked him to sit down and took out a budget and a contract, saying: "Director Liu, this time I invited you to shoot "Crazy Stone" for Geng. This is the budget for the movie, with a production budget of 23 million, of which the pay budget is 3 million. Your personal pay is 50,000 plus 6% of the production box office share. The initial promotion cost of the movie is 17 million. The movie is planned to be released during the summer vacation. If you have no objection and sign a contract, the movie can be ready to start filming at any time."

Liu Hua simply looked at the rights and obligations terms of both parties to the contract and signed it directly.

After signing, he said: "Mr. Geng, I have agreed on the right candidates for the film production team, most of whom are from "Crazy Racing". However, there are still several roles that have not found a suitable actor yet."

Geng Zhi smiled and said, "I only arrange the roles of Geng's artists. The actors of other roles can be recommended by you. In addition, have you chosen the actors of Big Thieves Mike?"

"I haven't chosen yet. But I'm looking for it."

"Since I haven't found it yet, I'll ask Zhou Chuan first to see if he can make a guest appearance." Zhou Chuan's pay is very high. But if you make a guest appearance, you won't pay for a few days. Just give 1% of the box office.

Liu Hua was simply ecstatic about Geng Zhi's decision. Zhou Chuan is now one of the most popular male actors in China. With his joining, the box office can increase by 10 or 20 million.

"If Zhou Chuan can participate in the performance, it is of course the most suitable!" He wanted to grow a third hand and raise it up to express his agreement with Geng Zhi's decision.

Geng Zhi planned to completely delegate power to the other party for this movie: "I will still be the producer of the movie. However, the movie will be filmed in other places. Therefore, the main work of the crew is mainly about you."

Liu Hua has a 6% box office dividend for the movie, and with the high box office and high reputation of "Racing", the box office prospects of this movie are good. He believes that Liu Hua will not do anything to share the box office results.

As for this movie, Geng Zhi was not intended to make a lot of money. So he stingyly gave Geng's actors a 50,000 yuan in salary, but also generously took out a 15% box office share as part of their salary. As for how much they can get, it depends on whether their performance is successful enough.
Chapter completed!