50: Xingzai's script and new journey

Upon receiving the text message from Zhou Xingxing, Lin Da's heart was restless for a long time. He put down the script for the chronicles of the great ming dynasty and eagerly opened the document titled "salted fish turn over battle plan".

Under the light, Lin Da carefully read the first draft of the script that Zhou Xingxing had poured countless efforts into.

Compared to the somewhat rough story outline from before, this first draft of the script was undoubtedly much richer. The characters' dialogues were more vivid and interesting, and the plot twists were more unexpected. Every line was filled with Zhou Xingxing's wild imagination and unique 'mo lei tau' comedic style.

The protagonist of the story, Xing Zai, was still that ordinary delivery guy who gained the superpower to communicate with animals after an accident. But his interactions with the animals were no longer simple acts of helping and being helped; instead, they were filled with various hilarious misunderstandings and absurd 'transactions'.

For example, in order to extract information from a stray cat that held important clues, Xing Zai had to agree to help it pursue the aloof Persian cat in the neighboring pet store, which resulted in a series of chaotic 'cat and dog battles'.

Another example: to persuade a stubborn guard dog to let him enter a certain important location, he had to imitate various animal sounds and even perform a comical 'rain dance', a scene that was quite 'eye-scorching' at times.

The script also incorporated a good deal of satire and mockery of real society. For instance, the self-important performance artist was eventually treated as a mobile toilet by a flock of 'art-savvy' pigeons; the mercenary pet smuggler was ultimately foiled by a parrot that 'could call the police'.

Lin Da would burst into laughter at times while reading, and at other times he would fall into deep thought.

He could clearly see the passion and talent Zhou Xingxing had poured into this script. Although some details and narrative pacing still seemed a bit immature, the unique comedic spirit and compassion for ordinary people were qualities that many seasoned screenwriters found hard to achieve.

"This kid really has what it takes to be a director," Lin Da muttered, his eyes filled with relief and pride.

He picked up his phone and dialed Zhou Xingxing's number.

"Lin Da! How is it? The script I wrote, is it... is it okay?" Zhou Xingxing's voice on the other end was full of anticipation and nervousness.

"Xing Zai," Lin Da's tone carried undisguised admiration, "Your script isn't just okay, it's excellent! Especially the scenes between Xing Zai and that husky 'Erha', they're simply strokes of genius! I can already imagine how hilarious it will be when filmed!"

"Hehe, really? Lin Da!" Receiving Lin Da's affirmation, Zhou Xingxing was so excited his voice trembled slightly. "I knew you would understand what I was thinking!"

"However," Lin Da's tone shifted, becoming serious, "there are a few places I think could be polished further."

"Lin Da, please tell me! I'm all ears!" Zhou Xingxing immediately acted like an eager student seeking guidance.

"First, regarding the protagonist Xing Zai's superpower setting," Lin Da said, "While communicating with animals is interesting, if that's all there is, it might seem a bit thin. You could consider adding some limitations or unexpected side effects to his ability, which would create more dramatic conflict and comedic moments."

"Secondly, the portrayal of the villain. Currently, the image of this pet smuggler is a bit one-dimensional. You could try to give him some deeper motivations or some absurd 'weaknesses' to make him seem more like a living person, rather than just a simple symbol."

"Also, there's the overall narrative pacing. Some parts of the setup are a bit drawn out and could be more concise. The conflict in the climax could also be more concentrated, allowing the comedic moments to explode more intensely and last longer."

Lin Da, combining his past life experiences and his deep understanding of comedy films, analyzed the script for Zhou Xingxing, point by point, sentence by sentence. Every suggestion he made went straight to the heart of the matter, enlightening Zhou Xingxing, who nodded repeatedly.

The two of them discussed the script's details over the phone, back and forth, for over two hours without realizing it.

Zhou Xingxing felt he had benefited immensely, and his admiration for Lin Da deepened. He knew that with such a 'master' who was both a teacher and a friend guiding him, his path as a director would surely be much smoother.

"Lin Da, thank you so much!" Zhou Xingxing said sincerely, "Hearing you say all this, I feel like my script can be elevated by several levels!"

"Xing Zai, your talent is undeniable. I believe that as long as you put your heart into refining it, this "salted fish turn over battle plan" will definitely become an excellent comedy film," Lin Da encouraged.

"Mm! Lin Da, I will definitely work hard!" Zhou Xingxing nodded heavily, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Da's mood also became exceptionally pleasant. Seeing his good brother constantly progressing on the path of his dreams was also a great happiness for him.

Just then, his phone vibrated again.

It was a text message from Producer Qin Ya:

"Teacher Lin Da, congratulations! Your outstanding performance in the chronicles of the great ming dynasty has garnered widespread attention in the industry. We just received notification that one of the most influential film festivals in the country – the Golden Tripod Award – has officially extended an invitation to you to attend the awards ceremony as a special guest next month in Shanghai!"

Golden Tripod Award? Special guest?

Lin Da's pupils constricted sharply, a trace of incredible surprise flashing in his eyes.

The Golden Tripod Award, that was one of the highest honors in the domestic film industry! To be invited to such a grand ceremony was a great honor and affirmation for any actor!

He hadn't expected to receive such an honor simply by virtue of his role as Wei Zhongxian in the chronicles of the great ming dynasty, which hadn't even fully aired yet!

It seemed that his path as a 'golden supporting actor' in Beijing was becoming wider and brighter!

And a new storm was about to quietly unfold in Shanghai, that bustling city known as the 'Oriental Magic City'.

A confident smile appeared on Lin Da's lips.

For the new journey, he was ready!