It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 6: Students Giving Lessons to Their Teacher? Listening on Their Knees?
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have successfully submitted the script for "Gone Girl" to the Film Bureau for review and simultaneously secured funding for the project, including finalizing an investor for the script.]

[Tier B Talent: David Fincher's Techniques in Using Light and Color, already issued.]

As soon as the call with Wang Zhonglei ended, Lü Rui received a system reward notification.

Brother Tongzi is quite reliable in this regard.

However, he doesn't have time to study the rewards right now; he needs to finalize the relevant contracts first.

50 is a small amount of money for Huayi, but it is not a small amount for Lü Rui.

The allocation of shares, contract signing, and subsequent publicity and promotion all need to be clearly defined.

In short, everything must be clearly stated in black and white; we can't afford to create a mess.

So, with the remote assistance of Jiang Wen and Han Sanping, Lü Rui finally completed all the relevant procedures for the investment within a week.

He himself owns 20%, which includes the director's and screenwriter's salaries.

China Film Group had the most, at a staggering 40%!

Jiang Wen followed closely behind, also at 20%.

As for the Beijing Film Academy and Huayi Brothers, since each only invested 50 yuan, their respective shares were 10%.

"Hey? 20% of the copyright and box office revenue."

When Lü Rui returned to the "Don't Talk to Strangers" production team, he was overjoyed when he saw the notes on the contract.

In today's Chinese film industry, which new director can earn such an excellent salary?

Even Lu Chuan, when filming "Looking for a Gun," only received a fixed salary of 40 yuan, with the rest going into production.

This information was revealed by Jiang Wen by chance.

In comparison, the treatment Lü Rui is receiving now is practically top-tier for a new director!
However, the greater the gains, the greater the pressure!
The investment has been finalized, but the production team and actors are still nowhere to be found, which is also of utmost importance.

At the same time, new tasks were also issued by the system.

[Please complete the setup and casting for the film "Gone Girl," and successfully hold the opening ceremony.]

Lü Rui realized that this system was designed to propel him forward at breakneck speed on his path to becoming a director.

Rewards will be issued upon completion of each stage of the task.

This time, the system's rewards are even more generous than before!
[A-level talent: David Fincher's non-linear narrative and pacing techniques.]

"What a slutty reward! It's even slutty than a vixen's!"

Lu Rui muttered something to himself, then parked the motorcycle he had borrowed from Zhao Peng against the wall and looked up at the "Don't Talk to Strangers" film crew in front of him.

Next, he prepared to continue begging for alms... oh, no! It should be called fleecing.

Having already taken advantage of Jiang Wen, Han Sanping, the Beijing Film Academy, and Wang Zhonglei, it's time to start by taking advantage of their own teachers.

As a teacher, shouldn't I support my students who want to make movies?

However, to Lü Rui's surprise, as soon as he entered the film set, he saw Jiang Wei and Zhang Jiandong arguing incessantly.

Meanwhile, Zhao Peng, along with Feng Yuanzheng, Mei Ting, Wang Xuebing, and Wang Jinsong, all looked helpless and unsure how to offer any advice.

Zhang Jiandong held the script in his hand, somewhat agitated: "I think this domestic violence scene must be lit with a cold, overhead light!"

You see, although An Jiahe's character is outwardly a well-dressed doctor, as soon as the top light shines on his face, sculpting his features sharply and casting shadows around his eyes, his hypocrisy and sinister nature immediately come to the fore. This way, the audience can feel his terror even through the screen!

As he spoke, he gestured above his head, as if a beam of light was truly shining down upon him.

But Jiang Wei shook his head repeatedly, his eyes behind his glasses revealing his stubbornness: "I don't think it will work. Side lighting will better highlight the sense of conflict!"
Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Mei Xiangnan's terrified face, while An Jiahe's shadow enveloped her, completely engulfing her with a large patch of darkness. This vividly portrayed the vulnerability and despair of women in marital violence, hinting at the irreconcilable conflicts within the marriage.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiandong slowly shook his head: "It still won't work. The side lighting is too bland! The lighting you're using doesn't highlight An Jiahe's inner distortion at all. Only by combining cold light with top light, like a spotlight during a trial, can we completely expose the darkness beneath his sanctimonious facade!"

"You're deliberately creating a terrifying atmosphere!" Jiang Wei's face flushed red. "The crises and secrets in a marriage are subtle and ever-present. The slow movement of the sidelight and the gradual coverage of the room with light and shadow are what make violence slowly erode the relationship like a malignant tumor!" The two argued back and forth, their faces turning red.

The actors around them looked at each other, unsure how to resolve the conflict between the two.

After all, they're just actors; what do they know about directing techniques?

Lu Rui listened intently from the side, recalling the techniques of using light and color by David Fincher that the system rewarded him with, when suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him!

He strode forward and said, "Teacher Jiang, Teacher Zhang, please stop arguing. I have an idea that might incorporate all the advantages you mentioned."

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on him.

Jiang Wei and Zhang Jiandong both turned their heads and looked at him with suspicion.

In the crowd, Zhao Peng saw his buddy suddenly return and a smile appeared on his face.

But soon, that smile turned into deep surprise!

Because at this moment, Lü Rui actually snatched the script from Zhang Jiandong's hands and explained while gesturing: "We can first use side backlighting to outline An Jiahe's silhouette, making him appear as if he were a shadow enveloping the room."

This kind of lighting makes him look extremely oppressive, just as Teacher Jiang said, it conveys the invisible threat within the marriage.

As he spoke, he pointed to the text in the script describing Mei Xiangnan's location, "At the same time, we can use a cool-toned softbox to light Mei Xiangnan's head from above. The light doesn't need to be too strong, just a light layer will do."

This way, her face would be softly illuminated, while An Jiahe would remain hidden in the shadows, creating a strong contrast between light and dark.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei's eyes lit up. After thinking about it carefully, he found it quite reasonable!
"But……"

Just as Zhang Jiandong was about to raise a new question, he was interrupted again by Lü Rui.

"It's not over yet. Next, we can place a few small, dark red lamps in the corner of the room and block them with blinds so that the light shines through the gaps, creating streaks of blood-red light and shadow that occasionally sweep across An Jiahe's face."

Red symbolizes violence and danger, and this flickering light hints at his inner madness and reveals the bloody secrets hidden within this marriage.

After saying that, Lü Rui simply picked up paper and pen from the side and drew a complete storyboard using blue, gray, black, and red pens!
David Fincher's masterful use of light and color, along with his suspenseful and thrilling sketches, are perfectly combined in this moment.

The scene was completely silent. The actors stared blankly at Lü Rui as he talked and drew, feeling that the scene before them was unreal!

A young student is actually giving lessons to two teachers?

Hallucinating?
At this moment, Jiang Wei looked at the storyboard in Lü Rui's hand and suddenly clapped his hands excitedly: "Brilliant! This combination of light and shadow perfectly showcases the characters' psychology and marital crisis."

Zhang Jiandong, standing next to him, blinked, his doubts completely gone.

"Judging from the presentation of the storyboard, this plan is undoubtedly better."

As he spoke, a hint of amazement appeared on his face. "I never expected you to have this kind of ability. No wonder Jiang Wen and Han Sanping would support you in making movies."

Jiang Wen?

Han Sanping?
Upon hearing these two names, the actors who had gathered around were suddenly taken aback.

It’s so well-known!

Should we support him in making movies?

This kid...

Before anyone could react, Lu Rui chuckled and added, "Oh right, I forgot to tell you, the investment for my movie has been finalized. Huayi Brothers is very optimistic about my project and has offered to cover the funding gap."

boom! ! !
The scene erupted in cheers!
What's going on? Huayi also invested? Just who is this kid?
Everyone was puzzled, but Jiang Wei and Zhang Jiandong exchanged a glance, unable to hide their astonishment.

At this moment, the two of them had only one question in their minds: Did the capital circles in Beijing take a liking to their student?

Unlike these seasoned veterans of the film and television industry, Zhao Peng in the crowd had only one thought:
"Brother Rui! Please, please teach a course! How exactly did you go from a poor student to a rising director surrounded by capital? I'll listen on my knees, okay?"

(End of this chapter)