Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 117 I am the new generation!
The host Chen Bing walked up to the podium and tried the microphone.

"Please keep quiet and turn off your cell phones. The opening ceremony will begin soon."

He is the head teacher of the 2000 undergraduate class of Beijing Film Academy. He has the long hair of a classical Italian handsome man and is also Zhang Huijun's personal host.

"Well! Dear leaders, professors, and dear students, good morning!"

There was a burst of applause, and everyone was wondering how long it would take to get into the real action and see how long it would take for the young director Lu Kuan.

The opening ceremony is like a meeting, with leaders and scholars taking turns to perform. Those who understand will understand.

Soon Chen Bing gave them a surprise.

"According to Principal Zhang's arrangement, today's opening ceremony for the Beijing Film Academy Class of 2002 will be held in a different format."

"First of all, please enjoy the award-winning film, Whiplash, by Lu Kuan, a 2002 freshman from our directing department!"

Before he could continue his introduction, there was a burst of applause from the audience!
Great! The students really enjoyed this very un-Chinese opening ceremony!
To some extent, Beijing Film Academy is an elite university, which can be seen from the single-digit number of admissions to the directing department each year.

At the same time, the professional qualities and business level of each student are relatively high, and there are very few people who just want to get by here.

The era of seniors like Zhang Yimou is too far away from them, so how did this freshman achieve the peak as soon as he debuted?

Everyone was looking forward to getting straight to the point, after all, they all came here for Lukuan.

The movie will start soon.

The reactions of the students and guests on site were similar to those of the audience in Venice.

They initially thought Feng Yuanzheng was a strict teacher, but unexpectedly he was a fascist-style paranoid.

But when he said, "There is no more harmful evaluation than the word 'not bad'," everyone thought that although he was a bit extreme, it was ultimately for the good of the students.

This impression was quickly shattered by the plot in which he attempted to destroy Jay Chou. What a pervert!

It wasn't until the two of them worked together after the fight that they successfully brought the performance to a perfect end in the concert hall.

Everyone felt lost and shocked.

The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.

Obviously, ninety-nine percent of the people in this auditorium today are experts.

Students from the acting department saw from Feng Yuanzheng what voice, stage presence, and explosive power were.

Students from the photography department saw the scene arrangement from the mid-shot, over-the-shoulder shot, and the trajectory arrangement of the large crane in the movie.

Students in the lighting department saw the language of lighting from the endless overexposure, white space, and skull lights.

Anyway, just watch! Learn one thing and keep silent!

Liu Yifei sat with her classmates today and enjoyed everyone's constant compliments during the movie screening.

How come these people are so good at talking!
Zhu Yawen and Luo Jin never repeat themselves in their praise of her. They should really record it and let Lu Kuan listen to it carefully.

And there is the lovely Jiang Yiyan next to her, the two of them seem to have become best friends who can talk about anything.

She was a little regretful about taking on so many roles. It would be nice to just grow up happily in college. At least she could improve her acting skills as much as that bastard said.

Fortunately, the little girl did not say this to anyone, otherwise she would have been drowned in envy and jealousy.

You don’t know how blessed you are when you are in the midst of blessings!
Especially Jiang Yiyan, she has made up her mind to get to know Director Lu Kuan through Liu Yifei.

She thought she was no worse than anyone else. If Concubine Liu Yi could do it, why couldn't she?
All I lack is an opportunity!

The applause lasted for several minutes before it stopped, and Chen Bing had to signal the students to be quiet again.

"For the second item of the conference, we invite outstanding student representative Lu Kuan to speak and interact with the guests and classmates present today."

Lu Kuan was sitting on the far left of the second row. Upon hearing this, he looked up and compared it with Chen Bing's introduction.

"President of the Peking Film Academy, Mr. Zhang Huijun!"

"Famous director, Mr. Zhang Yimou!"

"Mr. Jiang Zhiqiang, President of Hong Kong Anle Films!"

"Ms. Dai Jinghua, Deputy Director and Doctoral Supervisor of the Institute of Comparative Cultures at Yanda University!"

"Vice President of the Institute of Film and Television of Institutions of Higher Learning, Mr. Huang Shixian!"

"Director of the Chairman's Office of China Film Group, Mr. Gao Chengsheng!"

"Polyberna Co., Ltd., Mr. Yu Dong!"

"Our school alumnus, the famous director, Mr. Lu Chuan!"

Yu Dong and Gao Chengsheng came to watch the film on behalf of Bona and China Film respectively, and were invited by Lu Kuan.

As for the rest, well-known alumni, university professors, and industry managers have all gathered together. They are going to hold a three-way trial against Boss Lu!
Why is there a weird thing mixed in?
Here we come! Taro!
How come my face didn’t swell up in Venice?
Lu Chuan was also complaining in his heart. He had originally agreed to let Zhang Huijun come to support the situation, but he had no idea that there would be this Lu Kuan incident.

Today's opening ceremony is more like a commendation meeting held by Zhang Huijun for Lu Kuan!

Principal Zhang was sitting on the podium and laughing. This was what he thought.

The Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy has become very popular due to Zhao Wei and Xu Jinglei, and the number of candidates taking the art exam this year has exceeded 4000.

Lu Kuan showed extraordinary strength in the four art exams and won the Golden Lion title with a stunning performance, becoming the second director of the Beijing Film Academy to receive this honor after Zhang Yimou.

In his later life, Chief Jia won the second place in "The Good Man of Three Gorges" in 2006. It seems that he will be the third place in this life.

He aims to make today's unique opening ceremony a model of excellence in learning at Beijing Film Academy and to create a democratic and open atmosphere for academic exchange.

This is also a political achievement!

Another thing is to set an example for all the freshmen at Beijing Film Academy.

For the next four years, your role models are right here, all you have to do is follow their example and work hard!

Boss Lu walked up to the podium and bowed.

"Dear teachers and dear classmates, I am very honored to be here and speak as a representative of the freshmen."

He did not use the formatted manuscript written by Sun Wenwen.

"President Zhang specially organized a very innovative opening ceremony today, which allowed us all to see the pragmatism, efficiency and enthusiasm of the people at Beijing Film Academy."

"Therefore, I will not elaborate too much today and leave the remaining time for exchanges with scholars, professors, senior directors and students. Please feel free to ask questions."

This move quickly won cheers from the students.

"it is good!"

“Good job, guide!”

The students wanted to know how he became a Golden Lion Award-winning director and how he made his films.

The success theory of this era has become very popular. A film like "Harvard Girl Liu Yiting" can even create a nationwide chicken soup storm.

Looking back years later, it's nothing more than a hypocritical marketing scam. If Mr. Lu wanted to, he could have written a movie called "Golden Lion Award Boy Lu Kuan", at least everyone in the film and television industry would have a copy.

The audience immediately erupted in eager shouts from students: "Over here! Over here!"

The honorable one is above all else, so the microphone was given to the guest who asked the question first.

First up is Huang Shixian, who hits the target with his first move.

"Xiaolu, congratulations on winning the award. But I won't be happy for you, because from this movie, I see commercial elements all over the screen."

"After the revelry, there's a mess, an inexplicable emptiness, and a fleeting feeling. I still hope that talented young directors like you will focus on exploring the audiovisual language of film and create masterpieces with unique connotations."

Tian Zhuangzhuang frowned and glanced at Zhang Huijun, who was sitting a few seats away. The latter had a calm expression.

Where is this?
Today's exchange event is an opportunity for everyone to speak freely and showcase the style of China's top film schools.

He also wanted to see how powerful this road was.

Is this movie a flash in the pan or a result of accumulated effort?

Boss Lu picked up the microphone with a smile. He had seen many old scholars like him in his previous life.

Huang Shixian once trained sixth-generation directors such as Jia Kechang and Wang Xiaoshuai.

Like all filmmakers of that era, he felt that there was a natural disconnect between art films and commercial films.

Later, he delivered a speech entitled "Reflections on the Post-Blockbuster Phenomenon" at a national film forum.

A large number of works such as "Lust, Caution", "Red Cliff" and "The Warlords" were specially approved.

"Hello, Professor Huang. I'm sorry, I have reservations about your opinion!"

The whole place was in an uproar!

Huang Shixian sits on the right side of Zhang Huijun. In other words, his status in the industry is very high.

Moreover, there was nothing extreme in the proposal, so why did Lu Kuan not even show a little humility?

Can you be so arrogant just because you won the Golden Lion Award?
Professor Huang's face looked unhappy. In fact, he really wanted to criticize him with spit flying all over his face.

But considering that he is still a freshman and has just received honors, it is not appropriate to give him a lecture.

How can you be so tactless?
Concubine Liu Yi was also confused in the audience. She was the one who understood Lu Kuan better now.

Although this person is very lustful, he also has a bad temper!
But he is a very realistic person and would never engage in such meaningless arguments.

For example, he kicked Edison Chen angrily on the set to help himself out of the predicament and also to take the initiative to accuse him of molestation.

At the wrap-up party, he attacked Cheng Jingfei and his mother, threatened to cut his own scenes, and finally got an extra 10 points of shares.

In Venice, he used Jiang Wen's matter to provoke Lu Chuan because...

Well, it’s probably just because Lu Chuan is a bad mouth.

The most appropriate response for Lu Kuan at this time should be to humbly accept the advice, and then just do what he should do.

Because the dispute between art films and commercial films cannot be considered an equal proposition in this era, commercial films are no match at all in academic debates.

It was not until the release of "Hero" by Director Zhang, who is here today, that the film market saw the economic value of commercial films, and commercial film directors began to emerge like mushrooms after a rain.

99% of the debut works of young directors in this era are art films, and they are willing to sell everything they have to make them.

For example, Ning Hao, who had been led astray by Lu Kuan, spent all his money to make his first literary film "Incense".

But after all, he is planning to work in the film industry, and his personal fortune is closely related to the direction of the industry.

The bigger the domestic film industry pie is, the higher the economic value of commercial films will be, and the more investors they will attract.

Only more investment and a good creative environment can produce better works, which in turn attract audiences to the cinema. This is a virtuous circle.

Why is Lu Kuan so determined to win awards overseas and switch from exports to domestic sales?

Because it was at this awkward time point in 2002, the domestic film industry was still in the darkness before dawn.

Except for a few top directors, no one dares to say that their movies can make a profit or even make a profit simply by relying on theaters.

Therefore, when Professor Huang, who holds the banner of art films high, sneered at his "Whiplash", Lu Kuan had to stand up and fight back.

He wants to become the leader of Chinese commercial films of this era. This is an honor and a title.

When future directors and investors mention who was the first to create a commercial film, they will think of him!

To use an inappropriate analogy, in other academic fields, this is the founder of a school of thought.

Boss Lu would naturally not miss such an opportunity to gain both fame and fortune.

Today, when "Hero" has not yet been released, Lu Kuan will stand on the stage of Beijing Film Academy and sing the praises of commercial films. He will go down in history as a leading figure in the trend of the film era.

No matter you are the fifth or sixth generation, I have a broad path and I am the new generation!
"What Professor Huang just said is, in the final analysis, the difference between art films and commercial films. I would also like to take this opportunity to share my own understanding of this."

Lin Yutang once gave a vivid description of the Chinese people: "The Chinese even want to be a pig, as comfortable as a real pig. They don't envy the collars of Western dogs, nor do they envy their efficiency and materialism. All they want is to be left alone in peace and quiet, without dogs disturbing them."

All the guests in the first row frowned at the same time, not quite understanding Lu Kuan's crude quote.

What pigs and dogs.

"This 'pig' can be used to describe some domestic directors in recent years. They are most tired of talking about commercial and box office, so they disdain commercial films and only focus on their own artistic fields."

There was an uproar in the audience, and Huang Shixian, Lu Chuan and others could hardly hold back from interrupting him.

Tian Zhuangzhuang shook her head imperceptibly at Lu Kuan, but it turned out to be like a blind man winking at someone.

The latter continues to express his own thoughts, regardless of how his words will be demonized in tomorrow's newspapers, blogs and Tianya.

"Movies are both an art and a commodity. The two are not contradictory, but we need to find a balance between them."

"Two years ago, Director Feng's 'Big Shot' could have beaten three Hollywood blockbusters released at the same time."

"Director Zhang's 'Hero' will be released in December this year. I can even boldly predict that this big-budget commercial film will achieve brilliant box office results!"

Lu Chuan secretly complained in his heart, what a wolf from Zhongshan, he becomes arrogant when he succeeds!

Today, let's see how you die! How dare you shamelessly touch on such a high-pressure topic?

Do you think you are better than Xie Jin?
Boss Lu still looked righteous.

"Some classmates and teachers might say I'm too materialistic and don't look like an artist. What I want to say is that people who only care about art will eventually be killed by art!"

"what!"

"How can you say that!"

"What is this nonsense!"

(End of this chapter)