Investment Cashback, Billionaire God [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 14 Short Drama Filming

Chapter 14 Short Drama Filming

In the photo, Tong Qinglu wore a plain-colored long dress made of Ayal silk, fully hand-embroidered. She lowered her gaze slightly, holding a long sword with intricate patterns in her hand.

The howling wind lifted her dress, causing the layered skirt to flutter and sway in the breeze.

She stood intently on the roof of an exquisite ancient-style building, with a mountain spring waterfall flowing backwards behind her, the rushing water surging from the foot of the mountain to its peak.

The character occupied only a small portion of the frame, while behind her the world was vast and misty clouds drifted. The large plain-colored skirt fluttered, making her appear truly like the Crimson Pearl Fairy from a celestial realm.

The costume Tong Qinglu wore was specially purchased at a high price from a renowned embroidery master, while the sword in her hand was a unique masterpiece handcrafted by an artisan, replicated one-to-one from an ancient thousand-year-old sword, with dense ancient inscriptions carved all over the blade.

Whether it was the costumes, props, or scenes, every detail was meticulously crafted to the extreme. The entire still radiated the power of money.

Not to mention ordinary TV dramas, this quality could even surpass many so-called big-budget films.

After all, when it came to costumes, props, and sets, you get what you pay for. Unlike the common money laundering practices in the film industry, Fang Zhuo’s investments were real money poured into costumes, props, and sets.

Sure enough, as soon as the still was released, it immediately reversed the previous trend of widespread ridicule.

[??? Is this CG compositing? Damn, don’t tell me it’s a real scene?]

[The goddess is so beautiful! Goddess, I’ll follow you forever! This dress looks so similar to the one I saw last month at the textile museum, it’s so gorgeous and exquisite too]

[That dress is the exact same exhibit. Sister Tong’s sword was also forged live by a million-follower content creator in the forging section, taking over six months on and off.

If I’m not mistaken, the feather-shaped hair accessory on sister’s head should be a velvet flower? There are only a few dozen people left in the entire Star Federation who master velvet flower craftsmanship. Such a large accessory must cost at least 100,000+]

[Those who claimed this drama had less than a million in investment, come take a look. Just this set of styling costs more than a million already. Is it so hard to admit that others are truly rich? ^^ Brother Fang did well, keep pouring resources into my girl like this]

[Although I still don’t quite understand what a short drama is, this production cost definitely exceeds many S+ platform dramas. Can it air soon? I want to see the final product]

[Saying something scary, I’m really starting to suspect that Zhang Kaigang in the director credit might be the one I know…]

[Hahahaha that’s dreaming too big. Teacher Kaigang would never take on short dramas]

[So easily fooled by just one picture? With technology so advanced nowadays, photoshopping a picture is simple. I could do it too]

[They won’t believe it until they see the coffin. Since everyone’s waiting for the premiere, I’ll wait too. I want to see who’ll be crying after the drama airs]

The afternoon-long uproar of accusations and doubts was completely dispelled by this single still. Although there were still a handful of dissenting comments, the negative trending topics were completely transformed into positive trending topics, with the square filled with various forms of lavish praise.

The public’s anticipation for the short drama was raised to its peak. Even anti-fans were waiting to see what the final product would look like. With just one photo, it achieved the promotional effect that other dramas take half a year of teasers to accomplish.
The uproar on StarNet raged fiercely, yet it had no impact whatsoever on the filming efficiency of the entire crew offline.

Unlike the anxiety and panic during the last song release, this time everyone knew the boss could easily turn negative public opinion into positive hype. The crew’s morale remained stable from start to finish.

Tong Qinglu’s account received dozens of private messages in one afternoon from companies trying to poach her, but she had grown almost immune to malicious comments. She even joked with her assistant while pointing at the messages.

Zhang Kaigang scheduled over ten scenes just for the first day. The team filmed from noon until past 10 p.m.

Like other TV dramas, they shot out of sequence rather than following the actual plot timeline. The final night scene happened to be the grand reunion between mother and son.

This segment was the most crucial paywall moment in the entire Short Drama. Fang Zhuo arrived punctually at the set just after 9 p.m. to observe the filming of this pivotal scene.

In the script, Ling Che’s son’s barrier was set up on a steep mountain peak. The female lead lay collapsed on the small plaza before the gate, kicked in the chest by a drunken guard.

Tong Qinglu changed into a goose-yellow costume. With her large, round eyes, she effortlessly portrayed the innocent charm of a fifteen-year-old girl.

As the camera slowly zoomed in, her expression showed not just delicate vulnerability but also a resilient pride.

Fang Zhuo and Zhang Kaigang sat side by side before the monitor one watching expressionlessly with crossed arms, the other drinking water with detached calm.

Unlike the crew’s casual interest in the plot, they focused on how the actors interpreted the script, recognizing this as the key to capturing the audience.

The original script provided by the system felt somewhat stifling. The opening lines easily made onlookers view Ling Che as a submissive victim who didn’t fight back.

But Tong Qinglu’s performance offered her own interpretation even after losing all her powers and returning to her underdeveloped fifteen-year-old body, she desperately resisted the guard’s blows.

Her stubbornly cold and proud demeanor made it seem as if her soul truly contained that arrogant female cultivator accustomed to others’ flattery.

Vomited blood soaked through the goose-yellow garments, yet she stubbornly crawled inch by inch toward the gate, trying to awaken her son.

Just then, the door creaked open.

Through countless vicissitudes, the once tiny boy had transformed into a white-haired, white-bearded elder.

With one glance at her child, large teardrops welled up at the corners of Tong Qinglu’s eyes.

Her first reaction wasn’t even the joy of potential vindication, but overwhelming, intricate longing and heartache for her son.

This performance transcended the script entirely, perfectly capturing a mother’s genuine reaction upon reuniting with her child after a millennium.

Not just for a Short Drama this scene could have been lifted straight into a theatrical film without seeming out of place.

Inspired by her performance, the elderly actor playing Ling Che’s son also shed tears, trembling as he cried out, “Mother.”

Fang Zhuo leaned back in relief.

With this pivotal moment handled so well, he could practically sit back and watch the money roll in.

As abundant spiritual power flowed into her body, soothing her injuries like warm water, the faint frown between Tong Qinglu’s delicate eyebrows finally relaxed.

She cradled her son’s face, gently tracing every wrinkle with her fingers:

“Lingling has grown up, let Mother take a good look at you…”

Xi Liling, now the foremost figure in the Immortal Sect, curled up in his mother’s embrace like a childish toddler. After crying for a long while, he finally reacted: “Mother, who hurt you just now?”

With a single glance from Tong Qinglu, the drunken gatekeepers who had assaulted people without distinguishing right from wrong were already trembling like sieves, kneeling in unison

These servants had merely discovered an outer sect disciple outside the barrier and impulsively kicked them without even asking any questions before beating them up.

Moreover, they had been drinking in groups while on patrol duty. According to the rules, they should be demoted to the outer sect, reduced to the lowest-ranking disciples only fit for dirty and heavy labor.

Instead of sending them to the outer sect, Xi Liling furiously expelled them from the sect, forbidding them from ever setting foot in the Sword Sect’s mountain gates again.

This was actually already a severe punishment. The female lead’s footsteps paused before the men, whose drunkenness had long been scared away as they begged her repeatedly for mercy.

Unlike the dragging and inexplicably sanctimonious TV dramas, short drama protagonists believe in pure satisfaction.

The setup could drag on for dozens of episodes, but when the reversal and comeuppance arrive, it must make the audience feel thoroughly gratified.

Having been beaten, the female lead would never forgive. Her guiding principle was pure retaliatory justice.

Slap! Three powerful blows infused with spiritual energy landed on the servants’ faces.

Freshly replenished with spiritual energy transferred from Lingling, she was now bursting with strength.

The men immediately cried out in pain, spitting large mouthfuls of blood. The agony made them unable to even straighten their backs.

“Expelling you from the sect punishes your negligence of duty and abuse of private punishment that’s the Sword Sect’s rule.”

“These three slaps repay you for attacking without asking questions that’s my own rule.”

Tong Qinglu slightly raised her chin, her expression carrying the seriousness of one who clearly distinguishes right from wrong.

“Cut!” Zhang Kaigang personally called the scene, giving them a thumbs up.

Actually, when he saw the cast before filming began, Zhang Kaigang had been quite worried while the script didn’t require great acting skills, bringing in an idol who’d never acted before seemed rather reckless.

But after today’s shooting, he now regarded Tong Qinglu, who came from an idol background, with completely new eyes. He couldn’t help but move closer to Fang Zhuo and ask curiously:

“How did you discover her? Was it really like they say online you found her while shopping at a mall?”

Fang Zhuo placed his index finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture. “Secret.”

Zhang Kaigang sighed with admiration. “Your eye for talent is sharper than many professional casting directors. I never expected she could act this well… If she maintains this form, Tong Qinglu could definitely break into the second tier.”

“Ah, what a pity though. If she had become popular three years earlier, her acting opportunities would be much broader now.”

If only.

Not only had Tong Qinglu been suppressed for seven consecutive years, she’d nearly been taken for plastic surgery that would have ruined her looks a far cry from her original destiny.

But since Fang Zhuo had pulled her out of the mud, he would never let his investment fall back into the dirt.

The agent who had shown him around Star 45 that day was also watching from the sidelines while snacking on melon seeds. He could faintly hear the girls chatting.

“So this is what short dramas are all about completely different from those old TV series. This is so addictive. I’ve been camping out here all day, just waiting for the female lead to reclaim her identity and put others in their place.”

“When will that villain who crushed her fingers in the outer sector finally get written off? I was furious when they filmed that scene.”

“Just come back tomorrow. Maybe they’ll shoot that part tomorrow morning.”

“I originally planned to watch it on the platform after release, but I genuinely can’t wait a single day. Right now, I just want to see the female lead slap them back.”

The production assistant was cleaning up sunflower seed shells and preparing to follow the crew out of the filming site when she unexpectedly spotted a spaceship’s trajectory streaking across the pitch-black night sky.

Regular flight routes had long been suspended at this hour who would be coming to Star 45 now?

Rubbing her eyes in confusion, she watched the distant light vanish in the next second, leaving only a faint white trail behind.

How strange.

Inside the rented stealth spaceship, the man pressed the accelerator on the control panel, urging himself to go even faster.

[Yu You, when will you arrive?]

[Make sure to document their filming location thoroughly, understood? It’d be best if you carefully photograph the props stored backstage too.]

The man called Yu You was a professional paparazzo. Unlike freelancers, he regularly took commercial assignments from major entertainment companies, helping them secretly photograph scandals of rival firms.

Among them, Ruan Zihan hired him most frequently, yet the targets he was ordered to photograph sometimes weren’t even D-list celebrities. Yu You truly didn’t understand why these obscure stars needed 24/7 surveillance.

But it’s all about making money no shame in that. He couldn’t be bothered to question his employer’s motives.

Celebrities all have their psychological quirks. Maybe Mr. Ruan just has a fetish for peeping into minor stars’ privacy.

Nothing particularly strange about that.

The expensive stealth spaceship he was piloting had naturally been rented by his employer too. Scratching his head in puzzlement, he wondered how this Giant Entertainment company had managed to offend Mr. Ruan.

It was already midnight when he reached the docking port the perfect time for sneaking in to take covert shots.

Equipping his gear and crouching low, Yu You studied the docking port map carefully. This being his first time on Star 45, he finally identified a location labeled “Short Drama Great-Grandmother Filming Base” and quickly sneaked toward it.

Sure enough, there was a sign at the base entrance. Concealing himself behind bushes, he could see the place was still brightly lit with shadowy figures moving about, interspersed with the director’s voice giving scene instructions.

[Brother Ruan, they seem to still be filming. I’ll record the footage for you directly later.]

Author’s note:
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