Afternoon.
Having finished lunch, Li Mu did not return to the hotel, but instead went straight back to his workstation under the large tent to rest. Wang Hao smiled sheepishly and obsequiously handed Li Mu a heavy military-style overcoat.
"Brother, it's getting cold. Put on some clothes," Wang Hao said, flashing a wide grin.
Li Mu looked at him, took the overcoat, draped it over his shoulders, slumped across his desk, and dozed off.
As for why he hadn't immediately taken him on, it was because he wanted to temper the fellow's temperament.
If a person obtains something too easily, they are unlikely to cherish it—this was something Li Mu wanted to avoid.
Li Mu might not be offering charcoal in the middle of a snowstorm, but he at least needed to keep this fellow thinking gratefully of him every day.
Mulling this over, and fueled by the alcohol, he quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
When he opened his eyes again, it was already afternoon.
The weather today was somewhat overcast. Li Mu looked up and saw that the crew members were already busy at work, with Wang Hao coordinating things nearby.
Li Mu tossed off the military overcoat, went to wash his face, and began inspecting the production set in high spirits.
Wang Hao trotted eagerly behind him, wearing a ingratiating expression.
"Brother, to think a minor matter like this would bring you out personally. You should've just left it to me," Wang Hao said flatteringly.
Li Mu beckoned to him. "Accompany me around the entire crew this afternoon. I need to put names to faces."
"You got it." Wang Hao beamed briskly, immediately falling in step beside Li Mu as he accompanied him to inspect the outer perimeters of the production set. "Our job is to handle the food, housing, and transportation for these actors, and coordinate personnel from top to bottom."
Wang Hao appeared extremely enthusiastic, introducing things as they walked.
"You're Third Brother's assistant. Given your rank, all these extras, bit parts, and minor speaking roles fall under your jurisdiction. As for the crew members, the little shrimps in each department also have to take orders from you."
"Of course, we can't boss around the department heads and deputy heads."
Li Mu nodded, stopping in front of a soundstage. "By the way, how many people did you say are in our crew right now?"
"Just the extras, bit parts, and minor roles under your command number three or four hundred, not even counting the behind-the-scenes staff. If you count everyone, there are probably over a thousand people," Wang Hao replied expertly.
Over a thousand people?
And filming hadn't even started yet.
Once filming actually began, wouldn't the headcount be even more staggering?
Li Mu clicked his tongue and turned to look at Wang Hao. Seeing that Wang Hao still wore that obsequious smile, Li Mu couldn't help finding it a bit amusing. "With you acting like this, I really aren't used to it. Just go back to how you were before."
Wang Hao's face turned green instantly, and he repeatedly protested that he wouldn't dare.
Li Mu burst into hearty laughter and strode further ahead to inspect the set.
Wang Hao wiped the sweat from his brow and trotted eagerly after him.
That day, accompanied by Wang Hao, Li Mu made a full tour of the entire production set, meeting the minor heads of the lighting, props, art design, and visual effects departments one by one.
It was enough to barely get acquainted.
Everyone now knew that Third Brother had a new assistant.
Very young, and very easygoing.
That evening, feeling thoroughly exhausted, Li Mu returned to his hotel room and collapsed onto the bed.
Now Li Mu finally understood why Jiang Wen had made him work as a floor manager.
This guy was basically a mini-director.
No wonder Third Brother was doing so exceptionally well for himself.
He had learned from Wang Hao that Third Brother didn't just work as a floor manager; he was also the biggest talent broker in the Capital. Whenever directors needed actors, they came to him.
The commissions he took from extras and the production crew every year earned him more than an average minor director.
And frankly, ordinary people couldn't make that kind of money.
Just as Li Mu was lying down to rest, his phone suddenly rang.
It was a message from Third Brother.
"Your share, I'll settle with you monthly."
A wide smile spread across Li Mu's face as he replied, "Thanks, Third Brother."
After replying to Third Brother, Li Mu felt completely refreshed. In a few swift motions, he stripped off his clothes and slipped into a bathtub filled with steaming hot water.
...
For the next three or four days straight, Li Mu took Wang Hao around the production set.
In the span of just three or four days, Li Mu managed to memorize the names of everyone. He had to admit, a young brain had much better memory than an older one.
On this particular morning, Li Mu walked to his workstation as usual.
"Morning, Brother Mu."
"Morning, Assistant Li."
"Good morning, Teacher Li Mu."
"Teacher Li Mu is looking extra handsome today."
Crew members enthusiastically greeted Li Mu one after another.
Li Mu smiled and waved back. "Morning, morning to you all."
With that, Li Mu came to his workstation and sat down.
Wang Hao was already standing by Li Mu's desk holding a clipboard. Seeing Li Mu approach, he immediately placed it neatly on the table. "Brother Mu, this is our work schedule for today. Please take a look."
"Two box-lunch deliveries, camera rentals, assisting the art department with location dressing, recruiting fifty extras..." Li Mu scanned the list ten lines at a glance, growing increasingly satisfied with Wang Hao's performance. "Not bad, you're starting to look more and more like an assistant director."
Growing more familiar with Li Mu, Wang Hao seized the opportunity to flatter him. "Well, that makes you the director, Brother Mu."
Li Mu chuckled. As for making movies, he actually did have that idea.
After pondering it these past few days, he felt that being an actor was nowhere near as satisfying as being a director—not to mention having to put yourself out there, you didn't even make as much money as a director.
As for inspiration? Couldn't you just "copy" it directly?
No, call it drawing inspiration.
Even someone like Lu Chuan could make movies, so why couldn't he?
Oh, right, Lu Chuan had a father.
Well, he had a godfather himself.
Li Mu made up his mind: once he successfully stole a few trade secrets from Jiang Wen here, he would go out and make his own films.
"Haozi, if I ever actually direct a movie one day, I'll definitely bring you along." Li Mu laughed as he painted a grand picture of the future for Wang Hao. Wang Hao chuckled along, though the expression on his face showed he didn't take the matter seriously in the slightest.
A rookie making a movie?
That was just child's play!
Knowing that Wang Hao didn't believe him, Li Mu didn't press the issue further and instead brought up what Wang Hao cared about most: "There are only a few days left before filming starts, and once it does, everyone's going to be busy. So today happens to be a good evening when everyone's free to rest.
Go round up Old Zhao from the camera crew, Sister Xiaomei from the art department, and a few folks from lighting and special effects. We're all going out for a meal together tonight."
Wang Hao's eyes lit up as he cast a tentative glance at Li Mu.
Li Mu smiled and nodded, signaling him to set his mind at ease.
Wang Hao's face flushed red with excitement. Managing a choked "Got it," he walked out of the tent with watery eyes.
Evening.
At a Sichuan restaurant not far from the production set.
Li Mu, Wang Hao, and five or six minor crew department heads sat around a round table laden with fine dishes and delicacies.
Since Ma San was busy accompanying the big shots, Li Mu hadn't wanted to disturb him and only invited these few minor department heads.
"Well, well, Teacher Li Mu is going to bleed a major fortune today," joked the only young woman among them with a smile.
"Sister Xiaomei, please stop poking fun at me. Any more of that and I'm leaving," Li Mu said, making a motion to stand up.
"Alright, alright, stop chattering and dig in," the oldest middle-aged man chuckled, stepping in to smooth things over.
"Wait a moment," Li Mu said, waving a hand to stop him. He pulled Wang Hao up with him. "To tell you the truth, tonight's dinner was arranged for Wang Hao. From now on, the floor manager duties for your camera and props departments will be handed over to Wang Hao to manage."
"Wang Hao, keep up the good work!"
With reddened eyes, Wang Hao looked at Li Mu with gratitude.
The few department heads looked at each other in blank dismay. After a brief pause, two of them smiled and said, "Then in the future, we'll have to trouble Brother Wang to look out for us."
Wang Hao waved his hands and shook his head, putting on an outwardly modest display.
Yet through his demeanor, Li Mu faintly caught a hint of pride and complacency.
That night, Wang Hao drank a lot.
In the end, Li Mu had to call a cab to send the thoroughly intoxicated Wang Hao back to his residence.