After hanging up the phone, Xiao He indeed found the script that Liu Rulan had mentioned in his email.
"Time-Traveling Standoff?"
Xiao He opened the script and glanced at the synopsis at the beginning.
Well, although Ho Kam-nin seems rather unreliable as a director, the script he found is actually quite good.
This script mainly tells the story of a crucial historical crossroads in the process of human technological advancement. At that time, humanity stood at the most critical historical crossroads.
One path is to invest in external machinery, or mechs, and use them to fight against the vastness and dangers of the universe.
The other path is to focus on internal mechanics, or human-machine interfaces, and to transform one's body into a cyborg, thereby gaining a longer lifespan and greater abilities, achieving a kind of mechanical ascension.
Undoubtedly, at this crucial historical juncture, humanity chose the latter and gradually moved towards an extreme.
After all, the power brought by mechs is ultimately external; it cannot change the weak human body, nor can it allow humans to resist the vastness of the universe and the long interstellar journey for a long time. However, the latter can allow humans to exist for a longer time in another form and use power permanently.
However, the final result was the endless cyber plague. Humanity's technology had sown the seeds of its own destruction, and coupled with humanity's inherent greed rooted in its "underlying logic," they ultimately met their demise.
It was only at this time that humanity realized how big a mistake their extreme choice had been.
The mechanical ascension only involves the physical body, but it cannot contain their own soul.
What makes humans human is that human thought itself is unfathomable and irreplaceable.
They forcibly merge their minds and bodies with mechanical data, and the end result is that they are controlled by the data.
Can a person at this point still be called a human being?
So at this final juncture, humanity made a last-ditch effort, using a time machine to travel back in time with their original mecha technology, hoping to change the course of history and make humanity more inclined towards high-tech mechas rather than human mechanical modifications.
But just as they were trying to change the past, the self-aware cybervirus sensed the danger and immediately followed the time travel back in time, sowing the seeds of "human modification" into the past...
The above is actually just the background story of the movie script.
The actual story took place at that important point in time several hundred years ago.
At this time, human technology was flourishing, with mechs and human-machine interfaces both developing to a certain extent. Technology had not yet reached extremes, and human life was thriving.
However, this month, several scientists from the mecha faction died mysteriously, and the traces at the scene were very strange, attracting the attention of various countries.
Thus, the protagonist, a special forces soldier, is sent to protect important scientific researchers in his country, who will also be the last important scientist in history to unlock the mecha-related technology tree.
The villain, without a doubt, is a "cyborg killer" who traveled through time and space.
In an unexpected turn of events, the protagonist acquires a mecha from the future, gaining the ability to fight against the villains. Thus, a fierce battle ensues, with the mecha battling against the human machine.
The plot isn't particularly complex. Although it's set in a high-tech era a century in the future, filled with mechs and advanced equipment, it doesn't delve into much scientific knowledge. It mostly uses existing science fiction templates and doesn't add many complex technical terms, so it's not truly hardcore science fiction.
Many of the highlights are in the mecha battles and mechanical transformations. It's a pretty exciting, classic storyline where justice will ultimately triumph over evil. At most, it also explores some of humanity's current speculations and opinions on the future development of high technology and AI applications.
It's clear that what He Jinnian wanted to film was a pure sci-fi action blockbuster, with mechanical aesthetics and violent clashes between cold metal.
After reading the entire script, the main elements are: cyberpunk, mecha battles, and violent aesthetics...
Although he was past the age of daydreaming, Xiao He still found it very interesting.
Even if Liu Rulan hadn't asked beforehand, Xiao He felt that he would still have chosen the villain role after watching the plot.
Because—human-machine interaction is just so incredibly cool!
No one can resist such a cool, stylish, and aloof mechanical body!
Although the protagonist pilots a mecha, and the mecha design in the script is very cool, tall, powerful, and imposing, in actual filming, the mecha is clumsy, heavy, and very large, making it impossible for it to move flexibly. Therefore, it will most likely have to rely on special effects in post-production.
The villains are different. In the early stages, they are still humanoid, just like ordinary people, without any difference. But when it comes to fighting, their arms, legs, and other parts can instantly transform into mechanized forms. When they unleash their ultimate move in the finale, their entire body is covered in mechanized forms, killing anyone who gets in their way and even gods, and they almost tore the protagonist and his mecha to pieces.
What else is there to say?
Xiao He really wanted to slam his bank card on He Jinnian's desk, urging him to hurry up while he did so, because he needed to join the crew right now!
Slap! Slap the super villain!
Shoot! Shoot the mechanized ascent!
Shoot! Shoot the coolest, most stylish, and awesome shots!
Isn't it just money and people?
Here, here, it's all yours!
Today's main theme is spending money to live a carefree life and to show off!
As for whether the movie quality will be poor?
Xiao He no longer cared.
Who didn't dream of making tokusatsu films when they were young?
Now he's gone straight to the top, skipping over tokusatsu films and fulfilling his high school dream of showing off – it's incredibly exciting! Besides, life is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Being able to act cool and stylish in a movie, have it filmed and spread, and go on a killing spree, racking up points – what more can he say?
Xiao He immediately called Liu Rulan to urge her: "I've read the script, and I'm going to play the villain. Nobody can take it from me. You need to make things clear with Director He."
Liu Rulan: "...Wasn't he Teacher He just now? How did he become Director He now?"
Xiao He coughed lightly, then said somewhat embarrassedly, "I just wanted to urge him on. He's been dragging his feet for so long. When is the crew going to start filming? I feel like I've rested enough and can join the crew anytime."
Liu Rulan was speechless: "You're quite enthusiastic, aren't you?"
"Just wait, don't be too hasty. You'll be busy for a while. Next month you'll start preparing to promote 'Cangyue Jie' and 'Zhufeng Lu,' which I heard is already in the review process and will be released soon. You have a lot to do."
Besides, although the crew says filming is about to start, there are still many props and personnel to prepare. Once they start preparing, it's hard to say how long it will take. She's letting this brat rest for a while because she's worried he'll get too tired and end up in the hospital.
Good heavens, now they're even clamoring for work to start immediately.
Liu Rulan is truly something else.
Being young is great!
