Chapter 30: The Production Wraps

November 25, 2014. Yanjing was shrouded in a layer of grey mist, and the temperature had plummeted from the sweltering heat of the first day of filming into the biting chill of early winter.

The Huairou Film and Television Base, located in the mountainous region north of Yanjing, was even colder than the city center, with the actual wind chill hovering between -4°C and 7°C. The crew members were bundled up in down jackets, scarves, and gloves, their breath vanishing instantly into the frigid air. The cold wind whipped dead leaves across the set, and the makeshift canopy of plastic sheeting rattled noisily in the gusts.

Meng Ziyi, wrapped tightly in her down jacket, teeth chattering, asked, "Director, could we... ah-choo... wait until the sun is a bit higher?"

Jiang Ye looked up at the sky. The winter sun was pale and sickly, casting a harsh light on the artificial cherry blossom trees, making the plastic petals glint with cheap fluorescent powder. He rubbed his frozen fingers together and said, "If we wait any longer, we’ll lose the light. All departments, prepare!"

The script supervisor, shivering, clapped the clapperboard: "Scene 387 of 'The Crown Princess's Promotion,' Action!"

The wind machine roared to life, instantly whipping Meng Ziyi’s long hair and robes into a frenzy. Ou Hao approached, playing his part with deep affection as scripted, but suddenly broke into laughter: "Sorry, Director, her hair just whipped me in the face..."

A burst of laughter erupted on set.

"One more take!" Jiang Ye shouted at the top of his lungs. "Turn down the wind machine! Meng Ziyi, close your eyes, count to three, then open them!"

The third take was finally a success. When Jiang Ye yelled "Wrap," there was a moment of silence on set, followed by an explosion of cheers. The props team tossed plastic petals into the air, and the production assistants hugged each other, crying and laughing.

Jiang Ye stood by the monitor, looking at these people he had spent nearly two months with day and night. They wore pilled sweaters and sported dark circles under their eyes from lack of sleep. This was likely the shabbiest crew in the country, yet they had managed to film the most insane project.

"Quiet!" He raised his megaphone, his voice raspy. "I know you’ve all been waiting for this moment for a long time."

The crowd gradually quieted down, dozens of eyes fixed on him. Jiang Ye suddenly felt a tightness in his throat.

"These past two months..." He paused. "We used expired makeup, wore ninety-nine-yuan costumes from Taobao, and our boxed lunches never had more than one meat dish."

Sporadic laughter rippled through the crowd.

"But..." Jiang Ye raised his voice. "We filmed a show others wouldn't dare to make! The wind machine was our special effects, plastic sheets were our sets, and your talent was real!"

He saw the assistant director, Zhang Ming, secretly wiping his eyes, and the script supervisor biting her lip.

"For tonight's wrap party, I've booked..." Jiang Ye paused deliberately, "...that street-side food stall at the corner!"

"Boo!" Everyone jeered, but they were all smiling.

"However!" Jiang Ye pulled a crumpled stack of papers from his pocket. "This is a letter of intent from Penguin. If our view count hits a hundred million..." He scanned the crowd. "I promise that for the next project, I will make sure everyone here..." He drew out the tone, watching their expectant faces. "...gets two chicken drumsticks in their boxed lunch!"

Amidst the laughter and banter, Jiang Ye was tossed into the air by the crew. Looking up at the clear blue sky, he suddenly remembered that the first day of filming had been just as beautiful.

...

Night fell, and the plastic tent of the food stall was filled with steam. Jiang Ye held a beer, going from table to table to toast his crew. He had specifically swapped his director's vest for a crew T-shirt, just like everyone else.

"Old Li," he sat at the lighting crew's table and poured a glass of white spirit for the lighting director. "You really worked hard this time. My uncle told me you’re a veteran at Guangxian; you could have been on the crew for 'Mojin: The Lost Legend'."

Old Li rubbed his glass with calloused fingers. "Eh, work is work, no matter where it is."

"It’s different," Jiang Ye clinked his glass against his. "The soft lighting you achieved with just desk lamps has more texture than professional gear. When the final cut is out, I’d like to invite you to give a lecture on lighting at the Beijing Film Academy."

Old Li's eyes lit up, then he shook his head. "My methods are unconventional..."

"Unconventional is what makes them precious," Jiang Ye smiled. "Didn't Director Zhang Yimou start by washing photos? Think about it. For the next project, I want to try using natural light and shadow, and I’ll need a master like you behind the camera."

Moving to the makeup crew's table, a few girls were fighting over the last piece of beef. Jiang Ye handed his canvas bag to the head of the department, Linda. "Linda, our budget was limited this time. Your team had it the hardest."

Linda opened the bag and found a lipstick—the exact shade she had mentioned in passing during an outdoor shoot last month.

"I’ve already told the producer about the next project," Jiang Ye said, his voice quiet but clear. "The makeup budget will be raised to industry standards. You won't have to pay for your own foundation anymore."

The production assistants were already tipsy. Jiang Ye joined them with a bottle, punishing himself with a drink first. "About moving the dolly tracks this time, that was my oversight."

"Director, don't say that..."

"Let me finish," Jiang Ye waved a hand. "I’ve already negotiated a long-term partnership with an equipment rental company. If you guys are willing to keep working with me, every production assistant on our team will have a walkie-talkie from now on. No more shouting until you’re hoarse."

The screenwriter, Xiao Xia, was slumped over the table, tipsy. Jiang Ye helped her straighten up. "Senior, the lines you rewrote for the Crown Princess's rant—your literary talent is truly profound."

Xiao Xia smiled, dazed.

"I fought for it with the producer," Jiang Ye said, packing up her laptop. "Your name will be listed as the second screenwriter. As soon as the copyright fees come in, you’ll be the first to get paid."

Finally, he stood in front of the table and tapped the hotpot.

"Everyone, these past two months..."

The noisy food stall grew quiet, save for the bubbling of the hotpot.

"I know our funding was tight, and some of you reached into your own pockets to buy materials." Jiang Ye’s gaze swept over every face. "I keep that sentiment in my heart."

He raised his glass. "I can't promise to make everyone rich overnight. But as long as I, Jiang Ye, have a meal to eat, I will never let the brothers and sisters here go hungry."

A sniffle came from a corner.

Everyone clinked their glasses together, alcohol splashing into the boiling hotpot, sending up a cloud of steam. Jiang Ye downed his drink in one go.

His company had just started; to keep people, all he could offer for now was emotional value and a vision for the future...

When the wrap party ended, it was nearly midnight. The streetlights cast orange halos in the winter night. Most of the crew had already left. Only the table of actresses remained, their clear laughter ringing out, exceptionally bright in the cold air.

"Old Jiang!" Ou Hao threw an arm around Jiang Ye’s neck, reeking of alcohol, and whispered, "See that? Teacher Meng changed into a knit dress, and those girls from the acting department even swapped their earrings for sparkly ones."

He nudged Jiang Ye’s shoulder with a wink. "Don't be in such a rush to go edit the footage. Let's keep the party going!"

Jiang Ye followed his gaze. Meng Ziyi was leaning over, helping a senior arrange her scarf. Her form-fitting beige knit dress accentuated her slender waist, and a pearl hair clip in her hair shimmered under the lights. The girls from the acting department had reapplied their makeup at some point and were glancing toward them from time to time, chatting and laughing.

It was obvious they were waiting for them...