443 Getting Benefits (2/2)

”How's that, Famous? You still don't want to have an understudy?” He squatted, looking squarely in Famous's eyes.

Famous was silent. It was wondering all sorts of things. What would its angel—the angel who had liked children and animals, who had traveled all over Africa and devoted herself to philanthropy, who, before she died, was still concerned about the hungry children—decide to do? It made its decision.

”I want the understudies,” it said succinctly. ”But I will not let them put themselves in danger for me.”

Zhang Zian realized that it wanted the director to buy the dogs, but did not want to put the dogs in any danger. It would fight for the chance to do the dangerous stunts in front of camera. Buying those dogs was just a way to keep them alive.

”OK, I got it, but do you know what you're doing, Famous?” He watched it with concern. ”You should know that not all dangers can be avoided. For example, it's like if you could predict that the Earth would explode in five seconds, you still couldn't change it. You understand?” He feared that it had too much confidence in itself and considered itself capable of escaping all danger. However, after all, Famous was not Galaxy.

”I see. I do not regret it,” Famous stated firmly.

Zhang Zian nodded and didn't add anything more. He had always felt that Famous was very mature, like an adult who usually remained composed and was occasionally passionate, but who rarely lost his mind due to their impulsiveness.

When he entered the studio, he found Feng Xuan. Carrying a thermos, Feng Xuan commanded the set designers to set up the props and sets to be used in today's shooting. He corrected them occasionally until the set designers' work was identical to what he saw in his imagination.

”Director Feng, do you have some time? I want to tell you something,” Zhang Zian greeted him.

Feng Xuan told him to wait for a moment. After telling the set designers to continue working themselves, saying that he would come back to check later, Feng Xuan waved to Zhang Zian, and the two of them went to a secluded corner.

”Is this about the understudies?” Feng Xuan's guess was accurate. ”I went back home to consider it yesterday. I also discussed with my wife a bit. If you and Famous insist on not using understudies…”

Before going to bed last night, Feng Xuan wore pajamas and leaned on the head of his bed. As usual, he told his wife about the shooting for that day; what funny things had occurred, and who had made what mistakes, and the like. When he told her about the lunchbox guy who gave a lunchbox full of dog droppings to Nie Yuan, his wife laughed so hard that she was almost convulsing on the bed. And when he talked about Famous and Zhang Zian, who did not seem to want an understudy, his wife seriously thought for a while. She also disapproved of using an understudy. Clearly, the performance level of those dogs was nowhere close to Famous's, and dogs were not humans. Human understudies understood the risks they would face, and they took on those risks based on their own discretion in exchange for compensation. But the stand-in dogs would be very poor.

Convinced by his wife, Feng Xuan intended to listen to Zhang Zian that day. If Zhang Zian still insisted on not using understudies, then Feng Xuan wouldn't force him. The 1986 version of Journey to the West had become a classic even though three different actors had played Monk Xuanzang. If Famous was injured and exited the film midway, he would come up with another solution.

”No!” Zhang Zian quickly interrupted him, ”I also thought about it, and I've decided it's better to have understudies! Not only for Famous, but also for Red Dragon, Prince and the other important supporting roles, it would be best if each of them could have one or two understudies!”

Feng Xuan looked at him, speechless. Overnight, their stances seemed to have been completely reversed.

”Are you sure?” Feng Xuan asked, puzzled. Although the funding for the crew was tight, it was only relatively limited compared to other crews. He had a sufficient budget to buy a few dogs, but was doubtful about Zhang Zian's sudden change in attitude…

”I'm sure.” Zhang Zian nodded. ”Director Feng, inform me if you plan to go to the police dog training base, I will accompany you to pick out the dogs!” His thought was, since everyone could benefit from buying dogs from the police dog training base, why should he waste this opportunity? This was a movie about dogs, why not take some dogs from the base to the crew and help them survive?