Chapter 64: Custom-Made Invitation
Translator: BeetleBarker Editor: Tennesh
Fang Zhao brought his pile of commorative portraits and left the cetery, heading to his new ho—the top floor penthouse he had bought from the elderly musician Xue Jing.
After moving in, the renovations had been completed quickly. Fang Zhao had only added a few newly bought pieces of furniture and did not change much else. After all, most of his ti was spent in the office.
He left all the other commorative portraits at ho and only brought the "Martyr Fang Zhao" series back to the office, distributing a set to each mber of his staff. One set contained six styles.
"Boss, what is this?" Ying Futian was a little dumbstruck when he received the portraits. He did not really have any interest regarding commorative portraits. Contrary to him, his parents liked them a lot, and every year, they would buy a few martyr portraits from the Period of Destruction to stick outside their doors. Sotis they would even stick them outside the individual rooms in their house. He did not know whether they did so because of custom or if they believed in the blessings of the martyrs.
"I know who this is!" Wan Yue exclaid. She imdiately recognized the person upon seeing the scarred face.
"Who is it?" Zu Wen and the others looked over.
Glancing at Fang Zhao, Wan Yue said, "Big Zhao, what made you buy portraits of your nasake now?" In the past, Fang Zhao had showed no interest toward commorative portraits.
"Nasake?" Zu Wen exclaid. "Don’t tell this set belongs to the person ntioned in historical records?" They all knew the famous characters of the Period of Destruction and had discussed them in history classes. If this person had not passed away so early, Yanzhou would have had a different na.
However, people nad after martyrs were very common. From primary school all the way to graduating from university and the start of a working life, one would et many such people. On this subject, most people would find it surprising, but as it went on, people beca indifferent toward it. Even if they had heard that the Virtual Idol project would be handed over to a new guy nad Fang Zhao, it would not have rang many bells.
"Oh, so it is him." Zu Wen glanced at the portraits in his hands. "Back in secondary school, we had a test with him as the exam question."
"Yeah. I rember seeing students complaining on the ssage boards about the question of who the two statues standing guard outside the main hall of the Cetery for Martyrs were. Most people could not even answer. So only managed to guess Wu Yan—after all, we are in Yanzhou, so General Wu Yan is pretty familiar to us. As for the other one, many were left dumbstruck," Pang Pusong said as he examined the portraits he’d received.
"We never ever got this question wrong." Zeng Huang laughed as he snuck a glance at Wan Yue. Wan Yue was smiling too. This sort of question was like free marks for them. Ever since they’d learnt about a martyr by the na of Fang Zhao, it’d stuck to their mory forever.
The rest of the staff were thinking that their boss was really great. Just before the morial holidays, he’d given out military postings, and now he was handing out commorative portraits of his nasake martyr. Was the mind of an artist really that special?
Rembering sothing, Zu Wen said, " Hey, Boss, let’s say you beco popular and famous. Do you reckon that you will be invited to act as Fang Zhao during the Period of Destruction? Hehe, you could start practicing your acting first!"
Fang Zhao did not reply, he just gave Zu Wen a dazed look.
Zu Wen caught the look Fang Zhao shot him and felt that what he’d said was absurd. How could a situation like that happen?
The others thought this to be laughable too. Fang Zhao was a composer. When the composer behind the "Period of Destruction" series was revealed, he would beco a fad composer, highly reputed within the music industry. This was certain. After all, the previous three movents were the best proof. Yet Fang Zhao was not an actor.
Besides, shooting a film based on an actual person during the Period of Destruction required the approval of the global film association, as well as the martyr’s descendants. The entertainnt industry during the early years of the New Era was a ss. Many accounts of the history of the Period of Destruction were distorted, be it through film, music, or virtual idols. These capitalized on the martyrs to attract the attention of viewers. After so vehent opposition by descendants of martyrs, the entire world set up a restriction to stop this madness. Any films related to actual persons during that period would require a thorough audit as well as approval from the descendants of the concerning martyr.
As the restrictions were widespread, whenever each continent did a film based on actual characters, they would only select one or a few important people who’d had a great impact from that period. This was due to the fact that, if too many characters were lined up, the approval process would be much more troubleso and complicated. Hence, since the restriction set by the global film association up until this mont, there had not been a film made about commander Fang Zhao of the Period of Destruction.
Little did Zu Wen know, Fang Zhao’s expression did not an that it was impossible. Rather, he was thinking, I am still . Do I even need to act?
"Eh? Co to think of it, didn’t the global film association intend to shoot a film regarding many important characters from the Period of Destruction? Has it been done yet?" Rodney asked, rembering a piece of news he had read during his university days.
"It has been shelved. Apparently for quite so ti. They tried to reboot it a few tis, but it was never successful. I have no idea why," Song Miao replied, as she generally paid more attention to the entertainnt industry. "However, in recent years, it has been brought up much more frequently. I reckon there is hope for this program yet."
"If they do start it, it is going to be a revolutionary, groundbreaking blockbuster," said Zu Wen.
The other nodded their heads in agreent. If such a program was really announced, the big investors would surely be the influential families of every continent, such as the Renaults of Leizhou and the Wu Family of Yanzhou. After all, it was their ancestors that would be portrayed in the film, and they were all famous founding characters of the New Era. The casting would, of course, be way more stringent, the main characters would definitely be played by global ga stars. Even the A-listers in Silver Wing dia could only hope to achieve a bit-part role in this sort of film.
That would be a really impressive film program. They was no way they had the capability to participate, so they could only stay here and discuss it like losers.
"Anyway, no matter how big the program, it still can’t do without accompanying music." Song Miao turned to Fang Zhao. "Boss, work hard. Who knows, when the ti cos, you might contest for the rights to the soundtrack. There won’t be only just one soundtrack for such a big program, and it will not only be from just one company. On that note, when the ti cos, we will fight with you."
Even though she said all that, Song Miao was not too optimistic for Fang Zhao. From what she understood, for such a production, the soundtrack would normally be sourced from experienced and established studios or from reputable master composers in the music scene. Given Fang Zhao’s age and influence, the odds of him being picked were not high. Maybe in another hundred years he would stand a good chance, but by then, the production would have already been completed.
Fang Zhao seed deep in thought, as if he had taken Song Miao’s words seriously. Zu Wen was thinking of changing the topic to sothing more realistic to raise their spirits when Fang Zhao’s bracelet rang. Soone was calling.
"Director Duan?" Fang Zhao answered.
"Co up for a while," Duan Quanji said. "Alone." With that, she ended the call.
"Director Duan wants to enquire about the progress of the fourth movent again?"
"Most likely, given the importance Director Duan places on this series. Or she might just have questions pertaining to the project." Zu Wen and the others continued to discuss.
However, Fang Zhao felt that it was not related to the fourth movent. He had submitted a progress report to Duan Quanji yesterday. It was unlikely that she would ask again so soon.
"I shall head up first."
The others went back to their individual stations to continue working while Fang Zhao rode the escalator to Duan Quanji’s top floor office. Entering, he noticed that, aside from Duan Quanji and her four assistants and secretaries, there were two other strangers. As Fang Zhao walked in, the two strangers watched him. The one of a similar age eyed him with obvious apprehension, whereas the more senior of the two seed to be sizing him up. His expression showed neither suspicion nor contempt. He was purely examining Fang Zhao,
The two n were neither extravagantly dressed nor wearing any luxurious ornants. At first glance, they just seed like any normal technicians. However, emblazoned on their chests was an emblem of a fiery red bird in the shape of an ‘S.’
That tiny emblem was more than enough to make anyone take notice. It was the best proof of their identities.
They were from Fiery Bird.
"Fiery Bird." The undisputed number one gaming company in the world.
"Sit." Duan Qianji pointed to a seat. Following that, she faced the two n and said, "This here is the creator of the first three movents of the ’Period of Destruction,’ Fang Zhao." She then turned to face Fang Zhao and introduced the two n. "These are the departnt heads of Fiery Bird’s sound effects departnt, You Chuan and Mr. Bi Fu."
"Deputy departnt head. Deputy." You Chuan waved his hands, not thinking that there was anything awkward about adding the word "deputy".
After which, he turned to Fang Zhao and smiled. "The mbers of our departnt enjoyed the three movents of the ’Period of Destruction’ series very much. We are all eagerly anticipating the release of the fourth movent. As for the purpose of our visit, it has nothing to do with the endorsent. We are just in charge of sound effects and related stuff. This ti, we ca with an invitation for Mr. Fang."
"Invitation?" Fang Zhao repeated.
"Yes. We wish to request Mr. Fang compose a piece."
"A custom-made one?"
"Thats right. Accompanying soundtrack for a portion of a two-minute animation in ’Battle of the Century.’ To be honest, we had already prepared four pieces of music and were going to choose one out of the four. However..." At this point, You Chuan examined Fang Zhao once more. "After hearing the three movents of ’The Period of Destruction,’ our departnt head found three of the previously prepared pieces to be unsatisfactory. It wasn’t that they were no good, just that, in line with the ga itself, they did not seem to blend well, as if they were lacking a little sothing. Therefore, we have already approached 18 soundtrack composers and studios across the 12 continents to request a custom-made composition. As for Mr. Zhao, this is our last stop, and we were tasked to personally hand over the request by our departnt head."
"I am number 19?" Fang Zhao asked.
"Yes."
Fang Zhao remained silent.
Fiery Bird had requested 19 compositions and promised to purchase the rights to all 19. However, for the ga, Fiery Bird would only pick the one they were most satisfied with.
It was really... inhumane.
Reviews
All reviews (0)