Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 120 Slander, you slander me
The early spring at the Film Academy is still a bit chilly, but it cannot stop the wave of heat sweeping across the entire campus.

The dormitory door creaked open, and Park Song-il returned with breakfast.

"Brother Chen, there are a lot of paparazzi outside the school gate. Luckily you have a car now, otherwise it would be difficult for you to get out."

Xiang Zhuo walked in with two envelopes in his hand and placed them on Wu Chen's desk, sighing, "Hey, there are two more. If I remember correctly, they seem to be given to you by the senior sister from the School of Photography and the senior sister from the Department of Management.

She looks good, but not as pretty as the acting department's senior sister."

Wu Chen smiled helplessly and pushed the envelope to the corner of the table: "It's okay, it will be fine in a few days."

In the past two days, the news in the entire film industry has been almost all focused on "Now You See Me", and as a director, he has naturally been pushed to the forefront.

Back in Hollywood, Jason Blum and Michael Burns had already left for home early in the morning.

Han Sanping usually stays at the China Film Group Corporation. Some reporters can't find him there, so they can only try to find opportunities and breaking points by blocking the entrance of the Beijing Film Academy.

The phone suddenly rang. It was Zhang Jiqing.

Wu Chen picked up the phone and whispered, "Teacher Zhang?"

"Teacher Liu and I have sorted out the rehearsal schedule, which is currently divided into three phases."

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Jiqing's voice was still clear and rigorous, "The first phase is the first six months, mainly focusing on Kunqu opera, accounting for 70%, and performance as a supplementary 30%.

The second phase is a year in between, with Kunqu opera and acting each accounting for half. The final phase is the six months before filming, during which we conduct targeted training based on the script, with acting accounting for 70%.

She paused, then continued, "Also, we plan to schedule one day a week for a 'Kunqu Opera Performance Experiment' starting from the second month. Teacher Liu will send you a detailed schedule later."

"Okay, thank you, Teacher Zhang."

Wu Chen agreed seriously. He had no objection to this training process. In this field, one should still respect the expertise of experts.

After hanging up the phone, he hesitated for a moment and sent the general content to Liu Yifei first.

After a while, a reply popped up on the phone screen: "Got it. Do you want to go to the cafeteria for lunch together?"

Wu Chen smiled and quickly replied, "No, if I go to the cafeteria with you, I'll be like a giant panda and always be stared at."

In less than three seconds, Liu Yifei's replies flooded the screen like a machine gun: "Slander! Fallacy! Distortion of facts! I'm sternly warning you!"

She was sitting in the acting class of Beijing Film Academy, with an indignant look on her face and her puffed-up little mouth like a bullied bun.

"What's wrong, Xixi?" Zhou Yang poked his head out from the side and asked curiously.

"Look!" Liu Yifei pointed at her phone angrily. "Wu Chen said that going to the cafeteria with us was like a giant panda. It's obvious that he's been so popular these past few days that everyone is looking at him. This is a blatant slander!"

Zhou Yang couldn't help but chuckle, "I support you on this point. I heard that Director Wu was walking around campus these past few days, and many girls passed notes to him in person."

"Really?" Liu Yifei looked up suddenly, a hint of vigilance in her eyes.

"It must be true." Wang Jia came over and added, "You don't know how crazy everyone is right now. Director Wu is the 'living face' of our school.

Director, Berlin Silver Bear Award, $50 million production, who wouldn't be tempted?

Liu Yifei narrowed her eyes and immediately typed quickly on the keyboard: "I heard that you received a lot of small notes these past two days? Are you very happy?"

Wu Chen looked down and saw that there were indeed several pink or blue origami envelopes in the corner of the table, which had not been opened yet.

He replied speechlessly: "Slander, pure slander. I warn you, don't slander me."

"Hmph," Liu Yifei snorted, and asked with a smile, "Can you let me see it too? I want to know what they wrote. I'm curious."

"?" Wu Chen was speechless. "Go cool off over there. I haven't even seen it, so how can I show it to you?"

"Ah, you really collected a lot!"

"."

Jiang Yiyan, who was not far away, secretly watched this lively scene, and a hint of jealousy unconsciously appeared in her eyes.

She knew that in the acting department, the only people who could really have a good relationship with Wu Chen were probably Zhou Yang, Liu Yifei, and Dong Xuan.

Wu Chen's contact information is the hardest to find in the circle, because not many people know it. Many big-name first-line actors in the circle have to go through layers of inquiries and relaying if they want to contact him.

She sighed softly. Yin Li was out of luck, but she didn't feel sorry for him.

Although Yin Li has a lot of experience, his connections are average, and the house they lived in before was a rental house next to the Beijing Film Academy.

Originally, she met Yang Tao, another influential photographer and producer in the circle, through "Summer with You". However, just when they were getting started, Yin Li came over and had a fight with Yang Tao, which completely ruined her plan to curry favor with him.

Fortunately, the news was not spread widely, and only people in the circle heard about it. At this time, she could only admit it and keep a low profile for a while.

"It would be great if I could get in touch with Wu Chen." Jiang Yiyan looked at the three people not far away, then suppressed the jealousy in her heart, put on a smile and walked over.

"Xixi, Yangyang, what is the monitor talking about?"

Hearing the source of the sound, Zhou Yang frowned inadvertently.

Just after the afternoon, Wu Chen received the news that Ning Hao had returned to the capital.

The filming of "Stone" was completed in a very low-key manner, so low-key that there was not even any media coverage.

After a quick tidying up, he drove away from Beijing Film Academy.

The media reporters at the school gate were confused and realized it later, but they got another important piece of information: Wu Chen's license plate number.

Wu Chen drove through the city traffic and headed all the way to China Film's post-production base - the old factory area in Beitaipingzhuang.

This area has a long history, and the mottled red brick walls of the factory reveal the accumulation of time in the sunset.

Although this place does not have the glamour of a modern studio, it has carried the passion and dreams of generations of filmmakers. Before the China Film Digital Production Base was built, it was still the most important base for China Film's post-production.

When you walk into the editing building in the factory, the air in the corridor is filled with the smell of film.

When I opened the door, I heard a lively discussion in the room.

Ning Hao, Zhang Qiang, and Chen Guowei were gathered around a post-production monitor, repeatedly confirming a certain scene with the technical team. Scripts, notebooks, and a messy pile of shooting records lay spread out on the table. Xing Aina was sitting on the sofa by the window, teacup in hand. Seeing Wu Chen enter, she immediately stood up and greeted him with a smile.

Speaking of which, she felt a little dazed when watching the news these days. It was hard for her to imagine that the junior fellow students she met in the mutton hotpot box were now in charge of Hollywood A-level productions.

"Then sister." Wu Chen nodded. Before he sat down, Ning Hao and the others noticed his arrival.

"Thank you for your hard work, brother."

Ning Hao took off his headphones and came forward, his tone revealing a hint of fatigue and a hint of emotion, "This is the longest film I've ever shot. I calculated that it took a full three months."

With this five million in funding, the pressure is much greater than in the first and second parts. My shoulders are weighed down by expectations, and I’m afraid of messing it up.

"Director Ning, this is called meticulous craftsmanship." Zhang Qiang smiled and patted Ning Hao's shoulder. "I've watched it several times on the set, and it feels very good."

He changed the subject and suddenly laughed:
"Boss Han just sent me a message saying that the wrap was too low-key, without even a ceremony, so we have to make up for it - a welcoming ceremony;
Since everyone is here today and the actors are all here, how about tonight? Mr. Han can come too."

"Then let's make up for it tonight. China Film has money." Wu Chen responded immediately. Seeing this, Ning Hao also notified Huang Bo and others who had just returned.

Huang Bo and the others who were gathered together at this time were yawning out of boredom. When they heard Ning Hao's voice on the phone, they suddenly became more alert.

"Damn, there's a wrap party tonight." Huang Bo suddenly shouted.

"So what? It's not like I haven't eaten yet." Guo Tao pouted. "I'm worried about what to do after I finish this movie. There hasn't been any news recently. I wonder if we have to stop working again."

Liu Hua wasn't in much better shape, with a worried look on his face.

Huang Bo poked the two of them, "Don't you want to hear who's coming? Director Wu is coming too, so just be content. You know all the famous actors in the industry are eager to meet him. It's already good enough that we can have dinner together. Let's just make some face. And they say that Mr. Han from China Film Group is coming tonight too."

"Why didn't you say so earlier? It's indeed different." Guo Tao immediately became much more excited. Isn't this how opportunities come about?

At least now there is nothing wrong with being familiar to others, at least you can brag about it when you want.

"Tidy up first to avoid being rude!" Liu Hua said lightly, glancing at his hairstyle in the mirror.

Huang Bo took out his phone and said, "I'll call Xu Zheng and ask him if he wants to come with me."

In the evening, Wu Chen clearly felt that Huang Bo, Guo Tao, and Liu Hua were much more restrained at the wrap-up banquet.

Wu Chen smiled, but there was nothing he could do. Instead, he asked Han Sanping, "Boss Han, do you still remember what you promised?"

"Huh?" Han Sanping was stunned.

"When 'Stone' is released, we need to approve more publicity and promotion expenses, at least double it." Wu Chen happily touched lips with Ning Hao and Han Sanping.

Ning Hao looked at Wu Chen gratefully. It was naturally inconvenient for him to speak about this matter, but he was afraid that Han Sanping would forget it.

"Hey, let's talk about this." Han Sanping waved his hands and said unhappily, "It's just a small matter of a few million. Would I break my promise?

Later, I will hold a press conference for Stone, and then I will find some resources to have the crew appear on TV shows to build up the buzz before the release."

When Han Sanping said this, everyone in the crew looked happy.

Promotion and marketing is actually a recognition of a movie. Only when the publicity and marketing are willing to spend money can the movie have the possibility of becoming a hit.

Holding press conferences and appearing on TV shows are rare opportunities for actors to show their faces, especially for people like Huang Bo, where it is extremely rare.

Ning Hao and the crew stood up and toasted Wu Chen and Han Sanping one by one.

Zhang Qiang looked at Wu Chen in surprise. It was obvious that Han Sanping's attitude towards Wu Chen had changed greatly compared to before.

As a producer, he is very aware of this change. Young directors, who previously had to be treated with caution, now seem to be truly placed at the core of resources.

After dinner, Wu Chen asked Chen Guowei to wait for him, and then talked about "Black Peony" with Han Sanping.

"Two years of preparation?"

With the success of Now You See Me, Han Sanping wasn't in a rush about Black Peony. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and said, "It's up to you. By the way, how much of the share can China Film get?"

Wu Chen had already calculated it and said, "The estimated production cost is 25 million, so 25% is enough!"

Han Sanping was stunned and puzzled: "Xingchen Films took 75% of the market share?"

"That's not the case. I only want 60%." Wu Chen smiled. "I've already discussed this with Wang Changtian from Guangguang. He's currently building a distribution team. Guangguang will also participate in the domestic distribution of Black Peony. I'll pay the cost price."

"Wang Changtian." Han Sanping frowned slightly, seemingly not having a deep impression of him. But after Wu Chen's words, his impression of him became more profound, and he said with some approval, "He is willing to give."

He had originally planned to introduce Bona Film Group to the market, but now it seems unnecessary. China Film Group is already struggling, so Bona Film Group should just wait and see.

"By the way, Mr. Han, please assign an extra producer to the project. It would be best if he is experienced and seasoned." Wu Chen chuckled.

Han Sanping was stunned. Didn't all three companies do it together?

But then I thought, Guangguang is not in the film industry, and Wu Chen's Xingchen Pictures is just starting out. It seems that China Film Group has the most suitable person.

Han Sanping was both angry and amused, and said helplessly:

"Okay, Zhang Qiang, just continue working on this project. I'll send someone over later. Two years is enough time for you to train someone."

"Producer Zhang, it's a pleasure to work with you again." When Wu Chen turned around to take Chen Guowei with him, he smiled and shook hands with Zhang Qiang again.

Zhang Qiang was stunned for a moment, not understanding what was going on. After talking with Han Sanping, he suddenly understood and a look of joy appeared on his face.

As a producer of China Film, he has many projects, and he is not even short of them. However, there are only a few high-quality projects every year. Wu Chen's project is definitely the best one now, which is definitely a great joy for him.

"What kind of person is Chen Guowei?" Han Sanping asked casually with his eyes closed.

"He's a nice guy, with the spirit of an academic producer, without the habits cultivated by commercial production companies. He's a new recruit, but he's very malleable."

Zhang Qiang concluded and then expressed his guess: "I personally feel that Director Wu is a producer who wants this kind of academic production style, not something that is too complicated."

"Ok!"

(End of this chapter)