130: Chapter 130: Filming Wrapped Up? The End Credits Show is the Real Deal!

Three months later.

With the conclusion of the final explosion scene, "police story 2025" officially wrapped filming.

At the wrap party, Su Zhe got his wish and packed up the remaining half of the roasted suckling pig and two unopened bottles of red wine, returning to the company feeling quite satisfied.

However, for Director Chen Long, the agony had only just begun.

Post-production editing room.

The air was thick with the heavy smell of smoke and coffee.

Director Chen, sporting two massive dark circles under his eyes, stared at the dozens of screens in front of him, his hair ruffled into a bird's nest.

"Difficult, it's just too difficult."

The editing director, Old Zhang, held a thermos and looked at Director Chen with a face full of sympathy, saying, "Director, this movie... the style is a bit fragmented.

Look at the main footage; the Chan Ka-kui played by Su Zhe is the definition of heroic and fearless, a blood-and-iron tough guy.

Jumping off buildings, clinging to cars, fighting ten people at once—it's like he's possessed by a God of War. He's so handsome it makes people's legs weak.

But..."

Old Zhang pointed to a nearby folder of discarded footage and continued, "Look at these bloopers. Is this even the same person?"

Director Chen clicked on a video file.

On the screen was that classic "Furniture God of War" alleyway fight scene.

In the main footage, Su Zhe swung the ladder with such vigor and style that he looked incredibly cool.

But in the bloopers...

"Ah!"

Su Zhe let out a blood-curdling scream.

Because the ladder folded too quickly, it pinched his finger.

He spun in circles from the pain, shaking his hand, his features contorted into a meme, while shouting, "Work injury! This counts as a work injury! I must get an extra chicken leg for this!"

Director Chen covered his face.

"If this gets out, his tough guy image will be completely ruined."

Old Zhang clicked on another one.

It was the scene where he jumped off the building in the mall.

In the main footage, Su Zhe leaped into the air and slid down the light pole like a hero sacrificing himself, sparks flying everywhere—it was tragic and shocking.

In the bloopers...

Su Zhe had just crawled out of the ball pit, and the first thing he did wasn't check for injuries, but stick his butt out to check his jeans.

The camera gave a close-up.

The crotch was ripped.

Revealing the red long johns he specifically wore underneath to ward off bad luck.

Su Zhe faced the camera and shouted in despair, "Director! Reimbursement! These pants cost over a hundred bucks!"

"Pfft..."

Old Zhang couldn't help himself and spat out his water laughing.

"Director, this part is too funny. I can't bear to delete it."

Director Chen clutched his hair in agony. "I can't bear to either! But this is a serious police action film. We're aiming for awards and trying to establish Su Zhe as a benchmark for tough guys!

If we let the audience see him wearing red long johns, trying to reason with the villains for five hundred bucks, or clutching a washbasin while devouring braised pork on set...

Will our movie even be watchable?

The audience will be completely pulled out of the experience!"

Just as the two were agonizing over it...

The door to the editing room was pushed open.

Su Zhe walked in.

He was wearing a simple T-shirt and carrying two cups of milk tea, bought with a Meituan coupon—buy one, get the second half price.

"Oh, everyone's here?

Director Chen, how's the editing going?

When can the final payment be settled?"

Seeing the man himself arrive, Director Chen sighed and pointed at the screen. "Su Zhe, see for yourself.

Your main footage and the bloopers are like the difference between the 'Expectation' and 'Reality' of online shopping.

I'm thinking about whether to completely destroy these outtakes and funny clips so they don't leak out and ruin your image."

Su Zhe leaned in to take a look.

He happened to see the shot of himself holding that 30cm large rice basin, squatting on the curb, fighting over a bone with a stray dog.

"Tsk."

Su Zhe took a sip of milk tea. "How authentic. This is what life is really like."

Director Chen glared. "Authentic my ass! You're a star! You're a tough guy! You need to maintain an air of mystery!"

"Director, you're out of touch."

Su Zhe found a chair, sat down, crossed his legs, and continued, "Today's audiences don't like gods who are high and mighty.

They like people with flesh and blood.

Even people with flaws and who are funny."

He pointed to the screen showing him in red long johns. "Look at this.

When the audience sees this scene, will they think I'm unprofessional?

No.

They'll think: 'Holy crap, this guy is really giving it his all, he kept acting even when his pants ripped. And he actually wears red long johns just like my dad, he's so down-to-earth!'

What do you call this?

This is called—Gap Moe."

Director Chen muttered thoughtfully, "There's some truth to that... but putting it in the main film definitely won't work."

"Who said anything about putting it in the main film?"

Su Zhe looked at Director Chen like he was an idiot. "Put it at the end! As a post-credit scene!

Look, according to current market rates, to film a dedicated post-credit scene, you'd have to rebuild sets, hire actors, and write a script. It would cost at least several hundred thousand, right?"

Director Chen nodded. "About that."

"But!"

Su Zhe slapped the table. "If you edit these bloopers together, set them to some upbeat music, and play them in a scroll next to the credits.

Not only will it not cost a single cent!

It'll also make the audience reluctant to leave; they'll have to finish watching the credits!

It increases the movie's runtime, showcases the hard work and joy of the crew, and helps me establish a 'professional yet goofy' persona.

Four birds with one stone!

Most importantly..."

Su Zhe leaned closer to Director Chen and lowered his voice, delivering the most lethal blow: "This is free footage, Director.

It's free; it'd be a waste not to use it.

That budget of several hundred thousand saved from the post-credit scene... could it perhaps..."

Su Zhe rubbed his fingers together.

"...be given as a small token of appreciation for the creative fee?"

Director Chen: "..."

Old Zhang: "..."

Director Chen took a deep breath.

He looked at Su Zhe.

Suddenly, he felt that this suggestion... was simply genius!

Su Zhe hummed to himself: Why were Uncle Long's movies so popular back then?

Besides the hard-hitting action in the main film, those authentic, injury-prone, and funny NG shots at the end were the indispensable soul of the movie!

They told the audience: these dangerous stunts are real, and the actors are putting their lives on the line.

And as for him...

Although he was putting his life on the line to save money, the effect was the same!

"Good!"

Director Chen slapped his thigh. "Let's do it! Old Zhang, find all the bloopers.

Su Zhe pinching his hand, Su Zhe ripping his pants, Su Zhe fighting for a lunch box, and even that video of me screaming when Su Zhe was giving me a massage... I want them all!

We're going to edit the most joyful and authentic end credits!"

Su Zhe nodded with satisfaction and said, "That's more like it. Now about that creative fee..."

"There is no creative fee!" Director Chen was in a great mood and started playing rogue. "But when the box office dividends come in, I can apply to the investors for a big red envelope for you!"

Su Zhe curled his lip. "Painting big cakes again. Fine, even a mosquito's leg is still meat."

He stood up, preparing to leave.

Reaching the door, he remembered something and turned back to ask, "By the way, Director.

The discarded film in the editing room... do you sell it as scrap?

If not, can you give it to me?

I know an old man who collects scrap; his prices are fair."

Director Chen: "..."

"Get out!"