Turn It Into a Series

"Turn it into a franchise?" Liao Chengping's eyes widened. "I am well aware of franchise films; American cinema is particularly fond of this approach, spanning decades with numerous benefits. I naturally understand that, but those are blockbuster commercial films, generally built upon the foundation of bestselling manga, books, or games as part of a complete industrial chain. I don't think this film possesses that kind of potential."

"Whether it has the potential to become a franchise will be known once the first film is released; the key is for us to have that kind of ambition," Lin Qihua said with a smile, carefully organizing his thoughts. "If we stick strictly to the current plot, it would naturally be a bit difficult. We can consider adding more characters and richer storylines to give the audience higher expectations. As long as the first installment succeeds, the second one will follow naturally."

Liao Chengping fell into deep thought, feeling somewhat tempted. Creating a film franchise meant birthing a series of classics, leaving a heavy and colorful stroke in cinematic history. For a director to claim they lacked such ambition was impossible. The risk lay in the possibility that the first film might fail due to poorly arranged plotting, leading to some blame from the company, though it was not something he couldn't bear.

Certain things are like Pandora's box; once opened, they can never be suppressed again. At this moment, Liao Chengping was experiencing precisely that. Lin Qihua's suggestion made him endlessly anticipate what it would feel like to successfully helm a franchise, and he couldn't help but let his mind wander. What kind of magnificent spectacle would that be?

Glancing at Zhang Zilin beside him, who wore a bewildered expression, he sighed inwardly. Lin Qihua was truly good to this younger sister of his. To secure her future, he had put an immense amount of thought into proposing such a captivating concept. Once this plan was put into motion, Zhang Zilin would undoubtedly be one of the primary beneficiaries, her future shining brightly.

"Tell me, what good suggestions do you have?" Liao Chengping finally yielded to the desire in his heart and asked.

"First of all, we need a general conception of the plot, including a rough blueprint for the future sequels," Lin Qihua smiled. "In the past, I once read a manga whose plot I found very interesting. It shares some similarities with this story, but it is much more dramatic. Furthermore, the male leads aren't just two—there are four. Four flower boys with distinct personalities. One is the typical wealthy young master: domineering, fiercely loyal to his likes and dislikes, highly possessive, yet at the same time an eternal boy at heart who is persistent in romance, daring and resolute, and prone to jealousy."

"The second is a free-spirited boy who lives entirely within his own dreamy world. Sometimes caring, sometimes indifferent, his personality is unpredictable. He suffered from autism in his childhood, making him a melancholic young man."

"The third is the best of the four at sweet-talking girls. To him, the shelf life of every woman is only a week; his girlfriends are constantly changing, and the type of girl he likes seems to be simply any girl."

"The fourth boy is also a standard playboy, with a personality and work style leaning toward the American style, occasionally impulsive. He often wears athletic clothing and is a considerate, attentive person who values the code of friendship."

"Four boys, each with unique characteristics, are the influential figures of this academy, living carefree lives until the arrival of the female protagonist."

"Two more characters than my original setup, yet it instantly adds so much appeal. Such flower boys will undoubtedly make girls scream; they will always find the type they like. Under these circumstances, aside from the female lead and second female lead, we can design several female supporting characters with different styles. The plot instantly becomes much richer."

"Indeed." Lin Qihua gave him a thumbs-up. If he himself was speaking based on a reference, then Liao Chengping was using his rich experience to keenly discover the advantages of this setup. In Lin Qihua's mind at this moment, there was the description of a classic television drama that had surfaced after he read the script. Its plot was impeccably designed and comprehensive, possessing every element required for a hit; you could say it was bound to succeed. What would it look like if the plot elements were dismantled and performed in the format of a movie? Lin Qihua held very high expectations.

"The female protagonist is likewise an ordinary girl from a ordinary family," Lin Qihua continued. "Entering this flashy circle all at once will naturally lead to all sorts of conflicts and comical stories. Later on, she even offends the four influential figures known as 'F4,' leading to various stories of confrontation. The female protagonist's tenacity like wild grass and a temperament different from other wealthy, privileged girls deeply attract the attention of all four. From confrontation to recognition, cooperation, and finally romance, a web of intertwined loves and hatreds unfolds."

"This is the story I read. It has many similarities with your script, and I feel that in my version, the personalities of the main characters are more prominent, especially the female protagonist. Standing out vividly among a group of wealthy girls, she is like Cinderella, allowing female audiences a strong sense of self-insertion. We all know that in the entertainment market, girls are the demographic most worth striving to capture. Secure them, and you secure the other half—the males—and our influence naturally rises."

"This is simply wonderful." Liao Chengping's eyes lit up. "Didn't I say your talent is extraordinary? I already have the conception for the first film in mind. Heavens, I can't wait! Do you mind if I borrow your space here?"

"Of course not." Lin Qihua smiled and led him to his study, equipped with various devices where he would stay alone while creating. It was perfectly suited for Liao Chengping's needs at the moment.

"Let's do this together. I think you can provide a lot of good suggestions." Liao Chengping asked Lin Qihua to stay as well. "I have many ideas to discuss with you."

"No problem." Lin Qihua agreed, and the two stayed in the room, beginning to discuss the specific details of the script. Liao Chengping even offered to explain how to write a screenplay to Lin Qihua, though fortunately, Lin Qihua grasped it quickly, saving them both any trouble.

Lin Qihua's inspiration flowed like a spring, and he continuously described the fragments appearing in his mind according to his own understanding for Liao Chengping to reference and incorporate into the script.

As a movie, it naturally couldn't drag out the plot and develop slowly like a television series. Within two hours, not only must the characters be introduced, but the plot must also rapidly escalate into a climax. All sorts of comical bits, conflicts and struggles with the four boys, tit-for-tat confrontations and counterattacks against the wealthy girls, and so forth, needed to be properly arranged to ensure smooth plot progression with eye-catching developments appearing frequently. Finally, the circumstances of their burgeoning romantic feelings needed to be clearly explained, leading to a relative resolution—especially a temporary conclusion for the romance to wrap up this installment while laying certain foreshadowing hooks for the next. This differed from ordinary films, something Lin Qihua naturally wouldn't have been able to handle alone. Fortunately, Liao Chengping was experienced; once a door in his mind was opened, he was able to rapidly flesh these elements out. Combined with the pre-existing script, their progress was extremely fast, and by evening, it was basically all finished.

"This is the first time I've ever been in such a state." Liao Chengping stretched and smiled with satisfaction. "It's truly magical; I'm already considering the plot for the subsequent franchise films, and the first one is still an unknown quantity. Haha."

"I think it won't disappoint you." Lin Qihua gave him an admiring thumbs-up. "The basic elements are all here; as long as we choose the right actors, maintain strict standards, and make a large investment in set design, there'll definitely be no problem."

"I think so too," Liao Chengping emotion fully remarked. "I originally thought that if you just gave some advice and agreed to write a song, it would already be a huge surprise. I never expected you to hand me a massive gift package directly. Thank you so much."

Lin Qihua waved his hand. "I just happened to think of this manga on the spur of the moment. The main credit goes to you for having the ability to turn my wild imagination into reality. The truly impressive one is you."

"Alright, let's stop mutual flattery. So, do you have any thoughts on the theme song?"

"I have a few," Lin Qihua tapped his head. "When you're mostly done filming, it will definitely come out. You can go ahead and start shooting with peace of mind."

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"You're welcome. Thanks to you, I've learned a lot today and had my eyes opened. So this is how a script is created."

"Haha, I hope we have the opportunity to collaborate again in the future. Whether you act or direct, you'll definitely reach the highest level."

"Let's hope so."

The two walked out of the study talking and laughing. The sky had already grown dim, and the mother and three girls had already prepared a table of dishes, waiting for them.

"Older brother, Director Liao." Little Clueless's eyes lit up. "You're finally out! Hurry up and come over to eat."

"Then I'll intrude." Liao Chengping was in a great mood and laughed heartily.

"You are most welcome."

"Is your creation finished?" Little Clueless asked.

"Naturally. Thanks to your older brother, this time our movie is bound to be a blockbuster whether it wants to be or not," Liao Chengping said with absolute confidence. "You're definitely going to explode in popularity."

"Then I'll take the director's auspicious words, and I ask you to guide her well." Lin Qihua picked up a piece of food and placed it in Little Clueless's bowl. "She's scatterbrained about everything and prone to making mistakes. Please forgive her if she offends you."

"Haha, you're too polite," Liao Chengping laughed heartily. "I understand her personality. In fact, when shooting, people like this get even more immersed. You need to have faith in her."

Little Clueless bared her teeth and brandished her claws in protest against Lin Qihua.