Chinese entertainment director starts with filmmaking

With Zhang Hua's help, Gu Qing easily arrived at Fu Dalong's residence.

While the other person was looking at the script, Gu Qing took another look at the layout of the room.

It wasn't that he had any bad habits, it was just that the room was too small, and he could see most of it in one glance.

The rented room, about 50 square meters, has few electrical appliances; books take up most of the space.

According to him, he spends more time here than at home every day.

The reason for having fewer electrical appliances is to prevent fires.

I heard that he was very picky about the roles he accepted, and he wouldn't take any roles that didn't meet his standards. As a result, he became so poor that he had to deliver food and was known as the "Food Delivery King".

Judging from this, he is indeed an extraordinary person.

"Director Gu, your script is really well written."

After a long while, Fu Dalong finally put down the script in his hand.

To be honest, it's very well written, but he doesn't quite understand it.

"Actually, I personally don't really like science fiction scripts."

Gu Qing didn't say anything, just silently drank her water. Usually, when someone says something like that, there's going to be a twist later.

"However, this role is very challenging for me."

"It's hard to imagine that a short film could have such a rich range of emotional changes."

"Director Gu, please explain the plot to me properly, otherwise I won't even understand how to act."

Fu Dalong debuted as a child star, studied traditional opera, and acted mostly in movies, but he was most interested in stage plays.

"Don't rush into that. Do you have any idea about parallel universes or anything like that?"

At this point, both parties have confirmed their cooperation.

"I've seen quite a few films when I was analyzing movies at the Beijing Film Academy, so I have some understanding of them."

"That's fine, this short film is enough."

Gu Qing clapped his hands, and said with a hint of joy.

Sometimes, it's not just about deceiving the audience, but also about deceiving the actors.

In the following time, Gu Qing explained the story plot to Fu Dalong, referring to the script.

In this situation, the director usually leads a group of main creators in a script reading, but since he's the only actor in the entire crew, it doesn't matter where he reads the script.

When Zeng Li arrived at the rented room around noon, he saw the two still discussing the plot.

"Old Fu, you... who is this?"

"Let me introduce you. This is Gu Qing. He asked me to film a short film."

Seeing his girlfriend's confused look, Fu Dalong enthusiastically introduced them to each other.

"Hello Ms. Zeng Li, I have seen your film 'The Barber,' and you acted very well."

Gu Qing greeted him politely. He knew Zeng Li; she was one of the eight beauties of the Central Academy of Drama. He didn't know how good her acting was, but in terms of appearance, she was indeed very beautiful.

"Director? Someone's asked you to make a movie again. Didn't you say you'd keep me company?"

Zeng Li said somewhat unhappily.

"Sorry, Pear, it's just a short film, it should be finished in about a week."

Fu Dalong said apologetically that before this year, he hadn't received many offers to act.

But the film "The Dog" earned him the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor, and since then he has been offered many film contracts. Just recently, he finished filming a movie.

I wanted to spend more time with my girlfriend, but Gu Qing's script is just too amazing.

"Gentlemen, it's getting late. How about I treat you to lunch?"

Seeing this, Gu Qing sensed something was amiss and immediately changed the subject.

"Director Gu, you're too kind. Let us treat you."

Zeng Li, holding Fu Dalong's arm, also spoke enthusiastically.

Although I'm a little upset, I know now is not the time.

After making excuses for a while, Gu Qing finally had no choice but to go with the two to a Shandong cuisine restaurant they frequented.

"Director Gu, please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."

Fu Dalong, accompanied by Zeng Li, also raised his glass in a toast.

"No, I personally prefer to find these small restaurants in Beijing; that's where the flavors are truly authentic."

Gu Qing was very pleased and returned the favor in kind.

The lead actors have been found, so filming should begin in the next couple of days.

The production of short films is different from that of feature films. In fact, the script doesn't even need to be submitted for review. Of course, it's best not to do anything that makes fun of others, otherwise, even if you win an award, they'll still make things difficult for you.

Three days passed in a flash, and the crew officially started filming in a newly renovated bathroom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, before today, many people were skeptical of our project, but I didn't believe it. Who says that those who do still photography can't make movies?"

"Let's all work together to show them what's what and open their eyes to the world!"

Gu Qing raised her hand, joining the others in cheering them on.

"come on!"

The people in the room echoed each other, as they were all from the same circle and had naturally heard some rumors.

A guy who dared to try making a movie about GG is so presumptuous, he's not afraid of being laughed at.

The filming crew didn't care much, but they were worried about the director's morale being affected. However, the other party's performance today clearly made them think more highly of him.

Fu Dalong, however, didn't seem to mind. For him, playing the role in the script well was the most important thing.

"The first scene, the first phase of 'The Dilemma,' is now beginning!"

The script supervisor wielded the sledgehammer, and everyone else got down to work.

Gu Qing personally operated the camera, thus controlling the quality of the short film.

The story begins with a series of urgent phone rings. Fu Dalong plays an urban white-collar worker who is frantically washing red paint off his clothes in the bathroom.

Soon, when he opens the toilet stall and closes the door, he will be trapped in an endless time loop.

The short film has limited length, and understanding the timeline and designing a complete time loop is a brain-teasing task.

It's perfectly normal that Ning Hao and Fu Dalong couldn't understand it. To be honest, even Gu Qing had to put a lot of effort into translating it when he decided to copy the short film.

The original film had a touch of Greek philosophy; the name on the cleaner's name tag was Janus, the Roman god of time, symbolizing beginning and end, past and future.

In foreign time-loop movies, there is often a concept of a god of time, also known as the Grim Reaper. Things that are difficult to define logically are usually categorized under the Grim Reaper, such as the gun that appears at the end of the movie.

Gu Qing didn't think too much about it; all she needed to do was for the bathroom light to flash after the cleaner left.

This is also one of the threads that runs through the entire short film, representing the emergence of parallel universes.

Furthermore, the line, "You're a rotten person!", is also a key. Spoken by the cleaner, it foreshadows the beginning of the story, while the protagonist's final soliloquy, his determination to make a change, foreshadows the end of the story.

"Director, why do I get the feeling that the theme of your short film is about persuading people to do good?"

Fu Dalong sat on a lounge chair, looking at the script in his hand, and said jokingly.

A script is, to some extent, an extension of the screenwriter's ideas, or what people generally call personal interpretations. Of course, a director's shooting style is also, to some extent, a personal interpretation.

Just like Jiang Wen, this guy leaves too much room for interpretation, letting the audience guess.

This is also his directing style. You could say that people either love him to death or they really don't like him.

"That's part of the idea, since movies are meant to be seen and disseminated."

Gu Qing took a sip of water and laughed out loud.

All scripts can be said to serve art, and the changes in the characters' personalities can be said to be plot twists.