Chapter 10: Storyboards Are Complete, Do You Have Time Tonight?

Chapter 10: Storyboards Completed, Are You Free Tonight?

Although Qin Feng couldn’t draw, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to collaborating with the art department. Together with them, he discussed and made corrections. Eventually, he even moved his workstation over there. No one questioned him anymore; instead, they all held him in great respect.

In the afternoon, he received a call—Dr. Jack Orna, the paleontologist, had arrived. Qin Feng went out to greet the doctor and bring him inside. Dr. Orna was visibly excited, rubbing his hands together as he spoke enthusiastically.

“Mr. Qin, I’ve already read your script. As someone who studies dinosaurs every day, I absolutely adore this story! Some of the creative ideas, like resurrecting dinosaurs, are simply brilliant! And Nubla Island—if it really existed, how wonderful that would be! I even suspect you might be a fellow researcher, someone who’s studied dinosaurs for years.”

Qin Feng shook his head with a smile. “You flatter me, Doctor. I’m certainly not a paleontologist—I’m just a filmmaker.”

He introduced Dr. Orna to Kennedy and Spielberg. After handshakes and pleasantries, Spielberg said, “Dr. Orna, you should come work with me first. I have a team handling mechanical props and post-production effects, and they’re in urgent need of a dinosaur expert.”

“No problem, Mr. Spielberg,” Orna replied.

Spielberg then turned to Qin Feng. “Qin, how’s your progress?”

“So far, so good. We met yesterday, and if all goes well, both the storyboards and previews will be finished ahead of schedule.”

“Oh? That’s fantastic!” Spielberg’s eyes sparkled with joy. “Qin, this is wonderful news! You really nailed the pre-production work!”

After leaving the office, Qin Feng returned to the art department. The artists had already divided the tasks and arranged the completed storyboards in sequence. These didn’t need to be too detailed—just rough sketches showing the main structure.

Qin Feng reviewed each one carefully on his computer, marking them as he went along. Day after day passed like this.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had slipped by. When the last storyboard was completed, the task was finally coming to an end. At the same time, the animation previews were nearly finished.

That day, Qin Feng and Os went to see the director together. When Spielberg opened his computer and looked at the storyboards and previews, he was deeply impressed. The coherent sequences clearly laid out every shot that needed filming. This preparation would save a great deal of time later on.

“Qin! Os! You two are amazing!” Spielberg exclaimed. “Haha! I’m feeling very confident about making this film now! Look at these storyboards—some shots are exactly as I had imagined when I first read the script. Absolutely fantastic!”

Os smiled. “This is all thanks to Mr. Qin narrating the storyboard scenes to us in advance. That’s how we finished so quickly.”

“Really?” Spielberg looked at Qin Feng in surprise. “Narrated them? I didn’t expect that. You truly have the makings of a director—I’m admiring you more and more, Qin!”

“Thank you, director! But this wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s hard work. The art department staff have really been putting in a lot of effort lately.”

“I can imagine.” Spielberg stared at the screen. “There are just a few minor adjustments we need to make. Once that’s done, send it back to me, and I’ll forward it on. Especially the animation previews—they’re crucial for our collaboration with Industrial Light & Magic.”

“Understood, director.”

The revisions were simple and quickly made by Os and the others. This meant the work on the storyboards and animation previews could now be considered complete. Qin Feng let out a sigh of relief. His efforts had not been in vain.

He moved his workstation back to its original spot, sitting beside the screenwriter David Keip, who was busy with other projects.

Qin Feng checked his phone and searched for news back home. The buzz around the film he directed had completely died down. No one mentioned it anymore. Perhaps... forgetting is the best kind of memory.

He called his parents, told them about his work in America, and reassured them not to worry.

“Yes, Mom, I know... I’m doing fine here.”

“I’ll come home for the New Year, or you can come visit me in America.”

“What? Set me up with someone during the New Year? No thanks…”

“All right, all right, I got it. I have some things to do, so I’ll hang up now. Bye-bye.”

Matchmaking... how boring... His career hadn’t even really started yet.

He looked at his phone again and thought of Scarlett. Ever since meeting her, she lingered in his thoughts, but work kept him too busy, occupying his mind.

He wondered what she was up to now. Still in Los Angeles?

Would it be too sudden to contact a star like her?

After some thought, he decided to send her a message first.

He found Scarlett’s number, typed out a text, and hit send.

“Hello, this is Qin Feng. What have you been busy with lately?”

At the same time, Scarlett had just left the studio and returned to the makeup room. Her scenes today were light, and she felt relaxed.

Her phone chimed.

Picking it up, she saw a message from Qin Feng.

Wow! That Qin Feng finally remembered me?

She approached the vanity, looked at her reflection—young, beautiful, perfectly shaped. A smile tugged at her lips.

She picked up the phone again and tapped out a reply.

“Not much, I’ve been on set a lot lately, big director.”

“Ding!”

Qin Feng was staring at the ceiling, lost in thought, when the message arrived. He quickly grabbed his phone.

Ha! She’s still on set, so she must still be in Los Angeles. Perfect!

He found a quiet spot and called Scarlett.

“Uh... hello?”

Her voice came through, with some background noise.

“Hi, Director Qin, how are you?”

“Miss Scarlett, don’t call me that—I’m not a fully-fledged director yet.”

“Hehe... you’re still very humble. What made you think of contacting me today?”

“Uh... I want to invite you out for Chinese food tonight. Would you like to join me?”

“Chinese food? Great! I love Chinese food!”

Scarlett sounded delighted.

Qin Feng exhaled in relief, leaned against the wall, and spoke softly.

“All right, I’ll send you the address later. Come at seven—I’ll be waiting.”

“Okay, bye, see you later!”

“See you!”

Qin Feng ended the call. After talking with Scarlett, his mood brightened completely. Even the people at the company seemed adorable.

He sent her the restaurant address, smiled, and returned to his workstation.

Meanwhile...

“Ding!”

Scarlett received the message and looked over the restaurant address. Her fingers traced the screen, and the image of that long-haired, handsome Asian man appeared in her mind. Instantly, her mood lifted.

She checked her reflection once more and pursed her lips.

“Oh dear, I’d better touch up my makeup!”

Just then, the makeup room door opened.

A man stood at the entrance—strongly built, with short dark brown hair, a stubbled beard, and eyes sharp with keen intelligence.

“Miss Scarlett, I was wondering... would you like to have dinner with me?”

(End of Chapter)