Chapter 208: Nailing the Screenwriter

Simply making movies to launder money can only clean a few bucks!

Putting a film on the theatrical circuit and using box‑office revenue to launder money is the fastest way.

Moreover, once a film hits the circuit it gains fame, and the tapes produced can sell even more!

Jingkun used to make movies, churning out a heap of shoddy productions, making Category‑III films as bad as those low‑budget movies from Yinghuaguo, and that's how many tapes they could sell!

"Rewrite these scripts for me—make them of quality, with depth, with style, understand?"

"The plot must be twisty, unexpected, thought‑provoking—got it?"

"Mo Ge, I can't! These scripts are the ones I've been thinking about for a long time!"

"Xian Shihui is basically a second‑rate hack; all his skill lies in shooting sex scenes. When Chen Mo asks him to write a proper film script, he truly can't."

"Seeing his demeanor, Chen Mo also knows some strong‑men are impossible to force."

"Fine, from now on you just stick to directing; I'll leave the script‑writing to someone else."

"Chen Mo suddenly thought of a suitable talent for screenwriter."

"Qin Huilian."

"She's been working at that video shop, has watched countless movies, so her knowledge of film plots is definitely substantial."

"Just by cobbling together the various movie set‑pieces stored in her mind, she could piece together a whole film."

"Having her write the script should be fitting."

"The only problem is he's already promised Liu Piaopiao a role in the film company and to make her the female lead."

"If Qin Huilian becomes the screenwriter, both women would be his; could that cause a conflict?"

"If the two end up fighting, who should he side with?"

"Never mind, we'll deal with later matters later!"

"Just two women—can he really not handle that?"

"Chen Mo stopped day‑dreaming and pointed at Liu Piaopiao beside him: 'This is Liu Piaopiao; from now on she'll be an actor in our company.'"

"Xian Shihui had long noticed Liu Piaopiao standing behind Chen Mo."

"Although he'd been shooting Category‑III films for years, this was the first time he'd seen such a beautiful woman."

"Upon hearing Chen Mo's introduction, his eyes began to scan Liu Piaopiao up and down."

"'Miss Liu, you're so beautiful and well‑shaped; any film you act in will look great.'"

"Seeing Xian Shihui act like that, Chen Mo frowned and said, 'If you don't want those eyes any more, I can dig them out for you.'"

"'She's my woman and also the manager of this film company. From now on any script she shoots must first be submitted to me for approval before filming.'"

"'Understood, understood!' Xian Shihui nodded, smiling flattery, a cold sweat breaking out on his back."

"He now wished he could slap himself."

"A woman this gorgeous hanging around the boss can't possibly be an ordinary actress!"

"'Piaopiao, you've been on a crew before, so you know some basics. If anything's unclear, ask Xian Shihui; the crew's workings are all pretty much the same.'"

"'When the script is ready, you can be the female lead.'"

"'Thanks, Mo Ge!' Liu Piaopiao happily planted a kiss on Chen Mo's face."

"'Mo Ge, when I was doing background roles on set, I met a male actor. Can I introduce him as an actor?'"

"'Male actor?' Chen Mo frowned."

"'He's someone I met while filming, also a background actor.' Liu Piaopiao thought Chen Mo had misunderstood, and hurriedly explained."

"'I just saw he was serious, so I wanted to help him out. If you disagree, that's fine.'"

"Chen Mo glanced at the loyalty meter above Liu Piaopiao's head—hmm, it hadn't dropped."

"'I'm not saying I disagree. If you're willing, sign him in.'"

"As long as Liu Piaopiao doesn't give him a cuckold's hat, signing him as an actor is no big deal!"

"Anyway, besides a few female Category‑III actresses, Jingkun's film company has hardly any proper male actors."

"In the past, male actors were directly supplied by Jingkun's little brothers."

"After settling Liu Piaopiao in the film company, that night Chen Mo didn't go back with her; he went to Qin Huilian's apartment."

"Late at night, after a fierce battle had ended."

"Chen Mo stroked Qin Huilian's back and asked, 'Chin, interested in becoming a film screenwriter, writing scripts?'"

"'Huh? Writing scripts?' Qin Huilian didn't understand why Chen Mo suddenly asked her that."

"'Yes, writing scripts. I just opened a film company, planning to make movies.'"

"'Only the screenwriters in the company are terrible; the scripts they write are unreadable.'"

"'I think you've watched so many movies and you're so quiet; you should be quite suitable for writing scripts. Interested in giving it a try?'"

"'But I've never written one!' Qin Huilian objected a bit."

"Chen Mo kept urging, 'Never written before isn't a problem; anyway your current job is idle and boring, doing it or not doesn't matter.'"

"'Just try it! What if you have a talent for this?'"

"'Imagine later watching a movie in a theater that's based on a script you wrote—how would that feel?'"

"Qin Huilian was stirred a little by Chen Mo's words."

"'Then I'll try?'"

"Seeing Qin Huilian's interest, Chen Mo encouraged, 'Give it a try, I think you can.'"

"'But what kind of script should I write?'"

"The beginning is always hard; Qin Huilian has never been in the screenwriting field, so even with all the movies she's seen, the first script isn't that easy to write."

"Chen Mo thought for a moment; the level of the people in his film company is just about that."

"Big productions needing special effects—martial‑arts films, ghost films, etc. —are definitely out of reach.

Shooting a low‑budget modern film might still be barely doable.

"How about this: you adapt some murder cases that were in the newspapers into a film. If you need detailed information, you can also go to the police station to check the case files."

"That way you have a prototype to reference, the script will be easier to write, and after it's filmed, more people will watch the movie."

"But can I actually look at the police station's case files?"

"No problem." Chen Mo said from the hallway, "Just say you're a screenwriter for our company, preparing to adapt the murder case into a film. That way it can raise the safety awareness of Gangdao citizens, showcase the Gangdao police, and promote Gangdao's public security."

"If you say that, the police station will definitely be willing to cooperate."

Just kidding, the head of the Xijiulong Police Headquarters is Huang Bingyao.

With Chen Mo's and Huang Bingyao's connection, give a heads‑up in advance, let Qin Huilian go see the already‑closed case files, it's nothing at all!

The explanation Chen Mo gave Qin Huilian was just a surface reason.

If it weren't for his relationship with Huang Bingyao being unsuitable to reveal, even this reason wouldn't be needed.

After hearing Chen Mo's explanation, Qin Huilian smiled and nodded.

"Got it. Then tomorrow I'll first look through old newspapers to see which case is suitable for adaptation into a film."

Chen Mo also gave Qin Huilian a reassurance: "Don't worry, as long as you can write the script, good or bad, I'll help you turn it into a film!"

For a murder‑case themed film, as long as it's adapted from the case itself, the plot won't be too bad.

Moreover, if you don't use any big‑name actors, a budget of only a few hundred thousand is enough.

With that amount of money, Chen Mo can afford it.

Besides, Chen Mo's expectations for his first film aren't high; the profit doesn't matter, as long as it can get onto the theatrical circuit.

As long as it reaches the theatrical circuit, he can launder money through box‑office receipts, and his basic purpose for making the film is fulfilled.