Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 4 What is the most important thing in making a movie?
“The film uses misaligned shots and asymmetrical compositions to heighten the viewer’s sense of unease. Especially in scenes like dark corridors and dilapidated rooms, the camera often uses oblique angles to create a visual sense of tilt and instability.”

"The teacher often uses quiet shots and abrupt cuts in this film to enhance the horror atmosphere.

Many scenes use static shots, staying on a certain detail or character's face for a long time, which draws the audience's attention and creates a sense of oppression;

Then, a sudden shot change or 'jump' cut breaks the silence, creating a shock and startle effect."

"."

Throughout the entire film, Wu Chen almost completely deconstructed the film's lens language and photography techniques, and even explained the coordination between the film's sound effects, background music and photography.

At the beginning, Park Song-il was able to analyze a few things, but later he simply picked up a notebook from the pile of miscellaneous items and began to take notes attentively.

Mu Deyuan nodded repeatedly.

He didn't expect that Wu Chen could deconstruct the film's photography art and shooting techniques so clearly after just watching it once.

"If I don't let him try, I'm afraid it will harm him."

Mu Deyuan sighed inwardly, this was the first time he had seen someone with such outstanding talent in all these years.

And this is also the last undergraduate class he teaches.

"Pity!"

At this moment, Wu Chen was sighing about the movie "The Haunted Mansion".

Although the picture quality is a bit poor and the costumes and props are a bit simple, the screenwriter and director are indeed very capable and turn adversity into magic.

Although the 12 minutes deleted later eliminated some avant-garde lines and images, it still became the pinnacle of mainland horror movies.

You should know that since "Hero", Chinese films have ushered in a booming development, with various types of films flourishing, but only horror films have stagnated due to strict supervision and lack of creativity.

The "domestic horror films" shot in later generations are almost of lower quality than the previous ones, and their Douban scores have repeatedly set low records. The only thing worth mentioning is the promotional posters.

"Take out your script, let me take a look."

Mu Deyuan did not hesitate and said.

When Wu Chen heard this, he quickly handed the document aside to Mu Deyuan.

"The Dark Side?" After Mu Deyuan took it, he first glanced at the name on the cover, then opened it and started reading.

All three of them were silent.

Just at this moment, a low "grunt" broke the silence.

Park Song-il's stomach was rumbling loudly.

"That's it! I forgot to line up." Park Song-il was trying to act nonchalant, but hunger brought him back to reality. "I don't think there's anything delicious left in the cafeteria today. I guess we'll have to go out and buy something to eat."

At this moment, Mu Deyuan suddenly closed the script and said, "I'm really hungry too. Let's go eat."

"Teacher, isn't this too expensive?" Wu Chen said this, but he stood up without any hesitation.

"You still care about this?" Mu Deyuan said with a smile.

"I do care. If you take us to eat abalone, shark's fin, or bird's nest, then..."

Wu Chen paused deliberately, then said with a grin, "Then we really haven't eaten it, right, Songri!"

"Can my salary support you eating like this?"

Mu Deyuan cursed with a smile, then packed up the projector and other things, and went out with Wu Chen and Pu Songri.

The wind was freezing cold as the three of them walked out of the teachers' dormitory building and turned to an old hot pot restaurant on the corner of the street.

The store is not big. There is an old wooden sign hanging above the store with the words "Old Beijing Mutton Hotpot" written on it. Although the handwriting is a bit mottled, everyone passing by can smell the familiar aroma of mutton.

This is also the favorite mutton hotpot restaurant for Beijing Film Academy students.

"Hello, teacher!" "Hello, Director Mu!"

"."

Apparently, many students from Beijing Film Academy also came out to have a bite to eat.

The doorbell rang, and as the three of them entered, they were hit by the heat.

The air in the restaurant is filled with the aroma of mutton, spices and an enticing spicy taste that whets your appetite.

"Is the private room still available?" Mu Deyuan said directly, looking like a regular customer.

"Yes, one just became available." The proprietress came over warmly and smiled as she invited the three of them into a relatively independent private room.

The box is not big, and some old black-and-white photos are hung on the old wooden walls. Some of the photos are alley scenes in the style of the Qing Dynasty, and some are the styles of the capital in the 1950s and 1960s. It feels as if time has been stagnant here for a long time.

The hot pot on the table has been boiled and is emitting steam.

"Come on, don't be polite." Mu Deyuan said, hung his coat on the chair next to him, and started eating.

Wu Chen was really not polite. He put the mutton roll into the hot pot, picked up a piece of mutton bone used for making soup, and took a bite. "We really can't get such authentic flavor over there!"

"Hmm, delicious!" Park Song-il silently became the eater.

"By the way, Wu Chen, last time I heard you say that your family runs a factory?" Mu Deyuan suddenly asked.

Wu Chen was also stunned for a moment, then reacted, "Yes, I opened a small factory in Foshan, Guangzhou, doing leather shoes business."

"Brother Chen, you are a rich second generation!" Park Songri joked.

"Come on, you're still a rich second-generation, a factory second-generation, but let me tell you, even in our small factory, during the summer vacation, I had to work there. I was the hardest-working employee, even more useful than the donkey in the production team!"

"Hahaha!"

With Wu Chen's lively atmosphere, everyone started laughing.

"I just took a look at the beginning of the script. I haven't finished it yet, but based on the beginning, it's pretty good!"

When Wu Chen heard Mu Deyuan talking about the script, he listened attentively.

"But do you two know what's the most important thing about making a movie?"

"Uh, it should be money." Park Songri said doubtfully.

After hearing Park Song-il's answer, Mu Deyuan turned his gaze to Wu Chen.

Wu Chen was silent for a moment, then gently put down his chopsticks, raised his head, looked around, and said slowly, "It's 'true'."

"Really?" Mu Deyuan seemed a little surprised. He didn't expect Wu Chen to give such an answer.

"Yes, it's true." Wu Chen said firmly, "No matter what type of film you're making, whether it's a big-budget commercial or a niche art film, the most important thing is that it's real.

Real emotions, real performances, real characters, and a real world. Only when the audience can feel that truth can the film have soul and move people."

Wu Chen paused, as if pondering a deeper meaning, and continued, "Money is indeed important, but it is only a tool. Ultimately, it allows the film to be made and conveys the desired content. Content is the core of the film."

Mu Deyuan was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly, "That's quite philosophical. Film is indeed the art of storytelling, but without true emotion, no matter how good the script or how much money you have, you can't create a work that moves people."

Park Song-il frowned in confusion: "Brother Chen, then when making a movie, do we have to make it 'real'?"

Wu Chen smiled and said, "Yes, 'real' means making the audience believe from the bottom of their hearts that everything that happens in the movie is real.

Look at those classic works. Which one doesn't have a real emotional collision? Which one doesn't make you empathize through real portrayal? "

Mu Deyuan nodded, then burst out laughing. "So, you've been targeting me the whole time, and haven't even considered the money?"

(End of this chapter)