Tan Min had no other choice. As a local, attending the film festival had its advantages. It was close to home, and it gave him some special privileges.
Usually, he still had some fame in the local area, and there were people who were willing to invest in some of his films. However, in the past, he had only filmed documentaries about the ocean. Now, he wanted to film a movie and wanted to get investors. Unfortunately, 11 out of 10 directors who were active in the film festival were looking for investors, and the extra one was a newcomer.
It was even harder to get investors for someone like Tan Min, who had switched to directing in the middle of his career. He didn't want people's impression of him to remain in marine documentaries.
He had been busy for a few days without much success. He couldn't squeeze into some events, so he could only hang around the periphery. He had come to buy a few sea slugs for his kid, but he hadn't expected to bump into Fang Zhao.
There had been too much news about Fang Zhao recently. Tan Min knew that Fang Zhao was rich, and he knew that some actors invested in films when they weren't acting, so he had rushed over.
"Invest in a movie?" Fang Zhao hadn't expected to hear such a question.
He didn't plan on acting, but investing in a movie wasn't out of the question.
Tan Min was delighted that Fang Zhao hadn't rejected him immediately. He put on a warm smile and said, "If you have time, how about we chat at the cafe over there? I've already written the script! "
Seeing Tan Min like this, Ren Hong also chimed in. "How about this, Fang Zhao? You've been walking around the venue for quite a while. Why don't you guys go over there and have some tea, chat, and rest. I'll send the results over to you when they're out."
"Sure." Fang Zhao nodded.
Tan Min also knew the people at the cafe. They had reserved a small, clean room for Fang Zhao and recommended some local specialties and snacks.
Fang Zhao ordered a cup of tea. He wasn't in a hurry to read Tan Min's script. Instead, he asked Tan Min a few questions.
"Why did you want to be a director?"
Tan Min had calmed down after drinking half a glass of iced lemonade. He paused when he heard Fang Zhao's question and said, "The Corale Archipelago has a strong film and art scene. People here like to film. I used to be a diver and worked with the research institute. Sometimes, when they needed to collect samples, we went over to help out when the machines were difficult to operate. Our equipment was up to par, and we had been to the deep sea a few times, so we knew the ocean pretty well."
Tan Min was in a good mood when he talked about what he had seen and felt when he worked in shallow or deep waters as a diver. His previous nervousness and apprehension had faded quite a bit.
"At first, I just tried to shoot some videos about the ocean and make them into specials. Later, I won an award, which also aroused my interest in this industry and opened a new door in my life. I want to shoot more movies about the ocean so that when people look up at the starry sky, they can also look at the ocean on this planet."
Tan Min's voice was tinged with excitement. "I heard from a director who came here to participate in the film festival that 'curiosity and the power of the phenomenon lead to stories.' The ocean is a magical place, and it gives me a lot of inspiration. I am going to the inland Huangzhou directing advanced course. I have also suggested to a few students who live inland that when they feel that they lack inspiration, they should go to the aquarium. There might be something they need there. "
"Now there are a lot of deep-sea creatures on display in the larger aquariums. Those deep-sea creatures have been growing in places that people can't notice. They look weird and constantly challenge people's imagination. I feel that they have this kind of growth mentality. 'Since no one else can see them, I'll just grow wherever I want.' And every person who enters the deep-sea creature exhibition for the first time will probably sigh and say, 'Wow! They can actually grow like this! '"
As he spoke, Tan Min started laughing heartily.
Fang Zhao also smiled. He knew that there were many strange creatures in the ocean. Coupled with the environment of the Period of Destruction, they might have become even stranger now. Hearing Tan Min say this, he also decided to visit the aquarium when he had the time.
Tan Min continued, "If you want to see monsters, you don't have to go to an alien planet. You can also see them on Earth. There are all kinds of 'monsters' in the ocean. As long as you pay attention and observe, you will eventually find them. The Corale Archipelago is surrounded by the ocean, and this is the third largest aquarium in Huangzhou. After I became a diver, I rarely went to aquariums because I was in contact with the ocean almost every day. But after I became a director, every year I would take my children to various aquariums to expand their knowledge. The fish in the ocean aren't just what they look like on their dinner plates. As long as one's imagination is limitless, so is the future. Especially in our line of work, we have to expand our imagination. "
After giving a brief account of his career experience and insights, Tan Min changed the subject and asked Fang Zhao, "Have you heard the story of the mermaid?"
Fang Zhao nodded lightly. "Yes."
"I'm very interested in this. I've also searched for many video resources about mermaids, even some preserved films from the Old Era. I've seen the mythological love stories and the biochemical versions of the amazing stories filmed by our predecessors. Of course, there are too many of them, and I have no intention of following the trend. I've never seen a mermaid, but I've raised sea slugs! I've raised them for many years! If I can't film mermaids, I'll film sea slugs! "Tan Min was so excited that he even slapped the table.
Fang Zhao's eyebrows twitched. He knew that Tan Min was getting to the point.
Sure enough, Tan Min's expression turned serious as he said, "Actually, I want to make a movie about sea slugs, and it will also include some environmental issues. Humans and nature need to coexist harmoniously. Too many things were destroyed during the 100 years of the Period of Destruction. It took 500 years for us to recover. Humans have to cherish it, don't they? "
Fang Zhao nodded again. Tan Min wasn't wrong. No one could understand this better than people like them who had personally experienced disaster and destruction. Thinking about the oceans seen during the Period of Destruction, and then looking at the azure seas and clear skies of today, it was a rare sight.
Seeing that Fang Zhao was listening, Tan Min spoke even more energetically. Looks like there's hope for this deal!
"The story I'm going to film is a script I wrote myself. It took me five or six years to sort out."
Tan Min wasn't worried about the contents of the script being leaked. Given Fang Zhao's current halo, he wouldn't do something that would damage his reputation.
"Let me say this first: this is all fiction. Don't take it seriously. Let me explain it simply …" Tan Min added, worried that Fang Zhao would be frightened by the contents of the script.
Hearing Tan Min's words piqued Fang Zhao's interest.
"This story takes place in a small coastal city. The protagonist goes out to sea to fish with his family and catches a sea slug. This sea slug doesn't look special, but it's slightly different from others of the same species. He doesn't pay much attention to it. Seeing that it's still alive, he keeps it as a pet. Until one day, he realizes that the buds of a few potted plants in his house are gone. "
Fang Zhao's hand, which was holding the glass, froze.
Tan Min continued, "He looks around but can't find them. He doesn't pay much attention to them, either. He guesses that maybe a neighbor or relative's kid plucked them when he comes over to play. He feels it's a pity. Later, when the protagonist comes back from the sea, he discovers that all the tender leaves in the potted plants are gone! "
Fang Zhao tapped his finger against the glass soundlessly.
Tan Min continued, "The protagonist is puzzled. He asks his family and confirms that no one else has entered the room while he was out at sea. After some thought, he installs cameras in all four corners of the room!"
Fang Zhao: "…"
Tan Min's face flushed with excitement as he got to the crux of the story. "When the protagonist comes back from the sea again, he discovers that even the older leaves in the potted plants are gone. His heart trembles and he plays the footage. Then, he sees that the sea slug that he had fished up from the sea had actually opened its cover and crawled out while he was out at sea! Hahahaha, was he shocked? "
Fang Zhao: "…"
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