Chapter 3: Meeting the Producer—I Want to Be a Director

Chapter 3: Meeting the Producer—I Want to Be the Director

The next day.

Outside the headquarters of Universal Pictures.

The company’s logo was a globe with the word “Universal” emblazoned across the center.

Qin Feng wore a sleek black suit, looking exceptionally dignified and poised, a briefcase in hand.

A tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed female assistant was already waiting at the entrance. She glanced at her watch, then at the approaching young Asian man, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.

“Hello, are you Qin Feng?” she asked.

“Yes, that’s me,” Qin Feng replied with a polite smile.

She quickly extended her hand. “I’m Yali, assistant to Manager Kennedy.”

Qin Feng shook her hand.

“Please follow me,” Yali said, leading the way.

Qin Feng followed silently, observing.

Universal Pictures truly deserved its status as one of the top eight film studios in America. The headquarters was grand and imposing, with a spacious steel-structured lobby on the first floor.

Soon, they arrived at the office of Kathleen Kennedy.

Kennedy looked equally surprised as he regarded the handsome young Asian man before him. “Please, have a seat, Mr. Qin Feng. You’re the one I spoke with on the phone yesterday.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Qin Feng nodded with a smile.

Kennedy had his assistant pour coffee, then called over David Koepp.

“Mr. Qin,” Kennedy began, “is the Jurassic script you sent yesterday your own work?”

“Yes, I wrote it all that day and sent it to you as soon as I finished.”

“What?!” Kennedy and Koepp were both taken aback.

All written in one day?

Such an extraordinary, thrilling sci-fi script completed in a single day?

That was incredible.

They exchanged glances.

Qin Feng smiled. “Is something wrong, Manager Kennedy, Mr. Koepp? Don’t you believe me?”

“It’s unbelievable!” Koepp hurriedly said. “I’ve been a screenwriter for twenty years, and I’ve never completed a script in just one day.”

Kennedy curiously asked, “Mr. Qin, have you finished the rest of the story?”

“Everything’s done,” Qin Feng answered, pulling two stacks of printed pages from his briefcase and handing them over.

“Alright, please wait here. We need to review it.”

Kennedy and Koepp began reading the script.

The main characters and their family were constantly fleeing through the park as ferocious carnivorous dinosaurs like the T-Rex and Velociraptor appeared one after another.

The story concluded with the protagonists escaping the perilous Jurassic Park by helicopter, but the dinosaurs on the island remained alive and the danger unresolved—clearly leaving a setup for future developments.

Qin Feng sipped his coffee slowly, carefully watching their expressions as they read.

After ten minutes, they finished.

Kennedy, still absorbed, finally spoke. “Mr. Qin, let’s talk about cooperation. Frankly, this script is brilliant. Universal Pictures is ready to invest.”

“Thank you for your confidence,” Qin Feng replied.

“What are your thoughts? Are you leaning toward an outright buyout or a revenue share?”

“For a buyout, we would pay you $1.2 million upfront.”

“For revenue sharing, we would advance $100,000 now, and after release, you would receive five percent of the company’s net profits—note, net profits.”

Qin Feng was familiar with some of the Writers Guild of America’s standards. This offer was genuinely generous.

Koepp said beside him, “Qin Feng, believe me, as a screenwriter myself, $1.2 million is an astronomical sum at this stage.”

Qin Feng smiled. Though the buyout price was substantial, this film had reached an incredibly high level in its previous life.

Global box office exceeded one billion dollars.

Of course, I want the revenue share.

Only a fool would accept the buyout.

Seeing Qin Feng remain silent, Kennedy added, “Mr. Qin, the buyout is a good offer if you urgently need the money…”

Qin Feng smiled. “Manager Kennedy, I have a request I hope you’ll consider.”

“Oh, please go ahead.”

“I choose revenue sharing because I sense the box office will be very high.”

“Also, my request is, could I direct this film?”

“I personally love this script. Although I wrote it in a day, I have been conceptualizing it for many years. Furthermore, I am already a film director in China.”

Kennedy and Koepp were stunned!

“What? Mr. Qin, you want to direct?”

“Did I hear that correctly? You’re also a director?”

This young man’s ambitions were truly vast!

Koepp stared at him. “Mr. Qin, may I ask what films you have directed in China?”

“Well…” Qin Feng scratched his head, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“To be honest, so far I’ve only directed one completed film, and it was a failure.”

“Uh… I have directed movies, but none have been very successful.”

Kennedy said, “Mr. Qin, our directors here undergo strict vetting and assignments. Not every newcomer gets to helm a major project.”

“I hope you understand. Sometimes new directors need to start with experimental or niche films; it’s a process.”

The conversation momentarily stalled.

Ringtone…

At that moment, Qin Feng’s phone rang.

“No problem, take the call. I’ll get myself some coffee,” Kennedy said, standing up.

Qin Feng answered.

The voice on the other end was loud enough for both Kennedy and Koepp to hear.

“Hello! Mr. Qin Feng, this is Arthur Fu, project manager at Warner Bros.”

“Oh, hello.”

Kennedy slowed his pace.

“We’ve received your script. Do you have time now? I’d like to come by and talk in person.”

“Uh… now? Sorry, I’m a bit busy. I’ll get back to you when I’m free.”

“That’s unfortunate. Take your time; I’ll wait for your call. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

Qin Feng hung up, smiling awkwardly.

Koepp pondered, “How many companies have you submitted your script to, Mr. Qin?”

Qin Feng was candid. “Three: you, Warner Bros., and Fox.”

“Not bad—major studios all. You must have great confidence in your work!”

Just as Qin Feng was about to speak, the phone rang again.

He looked down and saw an unknown number.

He declined the call and set his phone to silent.

“Sorry, I’m not answering anymore.”

Kennedy returned with coffee, looking at him sincerely. “Mr. Qin, I know your script is excellent. There’s no problem with a revenue-sharing contract.”

“As for directing… we really can’t accept it. I’m sure other studios wouldn’t let a newcomer direct this film either.”

“After all, a sci-fi movie of this scale isn’t a small investment.”

Qin Feng rubbed his nose.

It seemed that directing a film independently in Hollywood was indeed not easy.

“Alright then… Manager Kennedy.”

“However, I do have one idea…”

“Don’t worry, it’s a compromise.”

(End of chapter)