Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 67 You Failed It (There will be another chapter later)
In the early morning of October 20, on the campus of the Chinese Academy of Drama, the morning mist condensed into beads and hung on the tips of ginkgo leaves. The copper bells under the gray eaves swayed gently in the wind, shattering the autumn sunshine.

Hu Jing wrapped herself tightly in a beige windbreaker and walked across the golden ground. The dead leaves rustled under the soles of her Martin boots, and she was holding a bag of fruit in her hand.

"Senior Sister Hu Jing!" The schoolgirl who ran towards them raised the prop folding fan in her hand. Hu Jing suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, "Is Teacher Chang in the office?"

"I'm watching the rehearsal of Thunderstorm!" The schoolgirl pointed in the direction of the theater. Hu Jing thanked her and turned into the corridor lined with faded posters.

In the theater, Chang Li stood in the audience with her arms folded across her chest, her eyes behind her glasses as sharp as a knife.

Hu Jing pushed the door open and walked in. Her eyes lit up as she waved, "Come here." She turned back and reminded him, "Rehearse well, don't be lazy!"

The students nodded in response, but there were murmurs in the audience.

"I'm so envious. I heard that Senior Sister Hu Jing's salary got a big raise after she starred in 'The Dark Side'. I guess it will go up even more after the film is released in China."

"After all, it won Best Picture. The scariest thing is Wu Chen from Beijing Film Academy. Why can't our school leave? Do you think my senior sister will follow Wu Chen to act in Hollywood?"

"impossible."

"."

After Chang Li left, the rehearsal continued as usual, but whispers continued.

"You came back just like that, and you bought some fruits. Why? Do you know I like to eat them?" Chang Li smiled, but she didn't hesitate and took it.

"I have to thank the teacher for recommending such a good crew." Hu Jing laughed heartily. It was a wise decision to participate in the show.

"My recommendation is a recommendation, and your acting is your ability." Chang Li adjusted her glasses lightly and couldn't help but sigh, "The result is indeed beyond my expectations. You have chosen the right path. If you work hard, you may catch up with them."

Of course Hu Jing knew who Chang Li was talking about.

In level 96, some are fast and some are slow, and the gap is extremely serious.

"But I feel sorry for Zeng Li. Why can't her luck get better?" Chang Li sighed, with regret flashing in her eyes.

The highly trained actresses at the Central Academy of Drama are currently near the bottom of the same level.

"It's a pity for the big pear. It was just a little bit short at the beginning."

"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. Wu Chen, please keep in touch. Don't cut off contact." Just as Chang Li finished speaking, Hu Jing's phone vibrated. She picked it up and saw that it was a message from Wu Chen.

"The release date for 'Dark Side' has been set: November 30th." Hu Jing said softly, with a flash of surprise in her eyes: "So soon?

"What a courage! He's so young and yet he dares to take the lead in the Lunar New Year box office."

A strange look flashed in Chang Li's eyes.

She knows best who will be in this year's Lunar New Year box office. "A World Without Thieves" directed by Feng Xiaogang will be released on December 9, and Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu" will be released on December 23.

With such a lineup, almost no director would specifically choose to release the film in December.

At the same time, in the Beijing Film Academy dormitory, sunlight pierced through the gaps in the curtains. Wu Chen leaned against the table, put down the phone that had just sent a text message, and chuckled.

He didn't expect that Gao Chengsheng would call him early in the morning after dinner last night and give him two schedule options:
One is scheduled for mid-November, leaving most of the month for promotion.

One is scheduled to be released at the end of November, heading into the Lunar New Year holiday season.

From now on, the popularity of "Dark Side" may be greatly reduced.

November has always been a slow month for movies. Although there is less competition, box office sales are difficult to increase, especially in 2004 when the market was far from mature.

Wu Chen chose November 30th without hesitation to kick off the New Year celebrations.

Gao Chengsheng was silent for a moment on the other end of the phone and only replied with "OK".

The work assigned by the leader last night naturally needed to be completed immediately, as this would demonstrate their importance. A date like the release date had to be set before subsequent preparations could be made. In Han Sanping's office in the China Film Building, the sun shone brightly outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Gao Chengsheng stood at his desk and whispered, "Boss Han, Wu Chen has set the release date for November 30th."

Han Sanping narrowed his eyes upon hearing this and put down his pen:

"The end of November? It's been ages since we've seen young people make an appearance in the Lunar New Year box office. That's it, let's find a time to announce it and see the reaction."

He paused, then smiled and said, "Let's make an appointment with Wu Chen again and hold a press conference at the China Film Group before the premiere. If a newcomer dares to take on this schedule, we have to build some momentum for him."

"I understand!" Gao Chengsheng nodded, with a strange look in his eyes.

Among the new directors he met, only Wu Chen could get Han Sanping's attention. Even Han Sanping's cheap junior brother Lu Xun didn't seem to receive such treatment.

A director who can be favored by Hollywood.
He also wanted to see how good it was.

In the following days, Wu Chen felt a little more relaxed, and Wu Chen Light and Shadow Workshop was officially upgraded to Xingchen Pictures.

"The combination of the starry sky and light and shadow symbolizes that movies illuminate dreams." Xiang Zhuo watched Wu Chen write a simple introduction to the company, stroking his chin and commenting.

"Stop whining and get out of here." Wu Chen waved him away. He glanced around the room and saw that Park Song-il was not there. He asked curiously, "Where's Song-il? He's not here this early in the morning."

Xiang Zhuo shrugged. "He went to the hospital and said he wanted to ask someone something. He didn't go into detail."

The three were whispering when Park Song-il pushed the door open and came in, sitting down seriously as if nothing had happened.

Wu Chen and his companions came forward:
"Matsuhi, what's wrong?"

"Yeah, why go to the hospital? If you have something to say, just tell me."

Park Song-il looked a little uneasy and waved his hand, saying, "It's okay, don't worry about it."

"Are you really okay?" Wu Chen took a look. "You don't look like it at all. Tell me, we're all brothers. If you have any problems, we can all help you."

Xiang Zhuo and Chu Tianshu echoed: "Yes, say it!"

Park Song-il was somewhat moved by this, and after a moment of hesitation, he managed to utter:
"Actually, I went to ask how long the surgery would take for my skin to grow too long. My dad told me to get the surgery done before winter break, saying the technology at the Beijing hospital is better so I can go home and recuperate during the break."

Xiang Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief: "Hey, is that all? I thought it was a big deal!"

He patted Chu Tianshu's shoulder and was about to leave, but Wu Chen sighed and shook his head: "I'm ashamed for Song Ri."

Chu Tianshu was stunned: "Brother Chen, it's just a minor operation, why are you sighing?"

"Yeah, what's there to be ashamed of?" Xiang Zhuo was puzzled and turned to look at Park Songri, "Songri, are you ashamed?"

"It's okay." Park Song-il shook his head in confusion.

Wu Chen's eyes were full of teasing, and his tone was full of regret:

"Aren't you ashamed?
Do you know why it is so long?

Because he thought that your future self could grow that long, but you didn’t, you didn’t achieve it, you failed it, and now you want to cut it off.”

"Pfft! Damn, Brother Chen!" Xiang Zhuo and Chu Tianshu burst into laughter and slammed the table with joy.

Park Songri was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and chased after Wu Chen: "Brother Chen, I'm going to fight you!"

The dormitory was full of laughter and noise.

During this leisure time, Wu Chen called the CCB credit manager once to inquire about the loan, because Jason Blum was urging him to go to Hollywood to take care of the trivial matters.

"It's going to be the end of October." Wu Chen's eyes narrowed. There was no big problem with the time. Then he opened the email, and on it was the information about the suitable male lead sent by Jason Blum.

Only Christian Bale is missing.
(End of this chapter)