Reshaping the landscape of the Chinese entertainment industry

As He Ye walked out of the library, he was still thinking about what he had just talked about with Yu Feihong.

He never expected to run into Yu Feihong today.

As for his suggestion to adapt the story, consider it a favor he's doing her in advance.

Whether she adopts it or not is her business.

Friendships definitely require giving first, then reciprocation and gradual deepening.

If you want to sit at home and wait for others to come to you, unless you yourself are money, how is that possible?

When He Ye entered the dormitory building, he happened to run into Du Jie coming downstairs.

"Hey! Where have you been? Teacher Mu is looking for you!"

Archives.

"The Archives?" Du Jie's eyes widened. "You actually went to the Archives?"

"Of course! I'm a student, where else would I go but the archives?"

Du Jie looked him up and down, his face full of disbelief: "You must have gone to pick up girls."

"Stop 'drinking' my foot." He Ye slapped him. "What does Teacher Mu want with me?"

"I don't know. I need you to go to his office."

"Okay, take these things back for me. I'm going to the office now."

After handing the things in his hand to Du Jie, He turned around and walked towards the teaching building.

Du Jie is a friend He Ye met at school during this time, and also his roommate.

Actually, this guy is quite capable, but he works behind the scenes and isn't a director, so he's not well-known.

However, if you've seen the works he's directed and photographed, you'll know his true worth.

The Detective Chinatown series, Border Town, No Man's Land, Green Grassland, Crazy Stone, Crazy Racer, The Breakup Guru...

He was in charge of all the photography.

Actually, you can tell from the dates of these works that he initially hung out with Ning Hao, the village chief of Huayu Newbie Village.

I filmed "Green Grassland" with Ning Hao during my university years.

He also wanted to bring it under his command.

After all, cinematography is crucial for making a good film, and having someone you know well gives you peace of mind.

……

When He Ye arrived, Mu Deyuan's office light was still on.

When He Ye knocked and entered, Mu Deyuan was sitting behind his desk smoking, with a pile of documents spread out on the desk.

"Teacher, you wanted to see me?"

"Hmm." Mu Deyuan stubbed out his cigarette. "Have you heard anything from your dad about submitting the script for review?"

"Not yet, it will probably take some time."

"So what are your plans next?"

"Spend time in the archives, read books, and wait for news."

Mu Deyuan glanced at him: "That's all?"

"And..." He paused, "I ran into Yu Feihong at the archives today."

"Yu Feihong?" Mu Deyuan raised an eyebrow. "What's she doing at school?"

"I'm doing research; it looks like I'm preparing to switch careers and make movies."

"Making a movie?" Mu Deyuan's interest was piqued. "What kind of movie would a star actress like her make?"

"Adapted from the novel, 'Ginkgo, Ginkgo'."

Mu Deyuan thought for a moment and shook his head: "Never heard of it."

"It's a niche novel, about a love story between a human and a ghost." He didn't intend to tell Mu Deyuan about these things in detail. "I chatted with her for a while and gave her some suggestions for adaptation."

Mu Deyuan looked at him: "You're giving Yu Feihong advice?"

"Um."

"Did she hear that?"

"I heard it."

"and then?"

Then she thanked me.

He Ye completely killed the conversation. Mu Deyuan was silent for a few seconds before saying, "You little rascal, you must have other ideas, right? You've got some nerve."

"You have to be bold to make movies," He Ye chuckled.

Mu Deyuan didn't respond to that question, but instead took a piece of paper from the drawer and handed it to him.

"Since you're going to make a movie, you'll need to assemble the crew yourself. Here are some contact details for trustworthy and capable people I recommend. Of course, that's all I can help you with; you'll have to negotiate the rest yourself."

He took the paper and glanced at it.

Several names and phone numbers were written on it.

"You're all experts! Thank you, teacher!"

"I thought you wouldn't dare to go?"

"Don't dare? What am I afraid of?" He folded the paper and put it in his pocket. "It's just pulling people, I'll go."

"Don't embarrass me."

"Teacher, don't worry, when have I ever embarrassed you?"

Mu Deyuan snorted: "Alright, get lost."

"Alright."

……

Based on the list provided by Mu Deyuan, He also called each of them to schedule a time.

Several people are currently on set, so if we want to talk, we'll have to wait for He Ye to go to the set.

Some are easier to schedule, such as Ma Ming and Zhang Jing, one is the executive director and the other is the stage manager.

Furthermore, the film crew they are currently in charge of is about to wrap up filming, and there's not much else to do. Mu Deyuan had also given them advance notice, so when He invited them, they all readily agreed.

As for the others, such as the lighting technician and the sound engineer, they will have to wait a few more days as their crews return to Beijing to finish up.

He can just go directly there when the time comes.

So, taking advantage of the free time he still had, He also planned to complete some coursework and see if there was a chance to completely capture Yu Feihong.

The next morning, he went to the archives again.

I found a seat by the window, opened "The Science of Color in Film" in front of me, and started writing and drawing in my notebook with a pen in my hand.

After talking with Yu Feihong yesterday, he had new ideas for adapting "Ginkgo, Ginkgo".

The dual narrative structure forms the framework, but it lacks sufficient flesh and blood.

He thought for a moment and wrote down a few keywords on a piece of paper.

Previous life: chaotic times, destiny, obsession.

This life: city, dream, searching.

Then a line was drawn between the two words, and the word "ginkgo" was written on the line.

Ginkgo is a link connecting two times and spaces.

In their past lives, they met, fell in love, and were separated by death under a ginkgo tree.

In this life, she dreams, searches, and finally remembers under the ginkgo tree.

The male protagonist waited under the ginkgo tree for fifty years.

……

"What should I write?"

A voice came from above.

He looked up and saw Yu Feihong standing in front of him, holding a cup of coffee and looking down at what he had written.

"Just jotting things down." He closed his notebook.

"Stop hiding it, I saw everything." Yu Feihong sat down opposite him. "You said yesterday you'd go back and think about it some more, what did you figure out?"

He thought for a moment, then opened his notebook and pointed to those keywords.

"Senior, do you remember what I said yesterday about the core of 'Ginkgo, Ginkgo'?"

"wait."

"No, or not entirely. I went back and thought about it yesterday, and there are still some regrets."

Yu Feihong was taken aback.

"In their past life, the male protagonist died, leaving the female protagonist alone. That's a regret."

"The female lead forgot the male lead, and the male lead watched her get married and have children, but he couldn't show up. That's a pity."

"In this life, the female protagonist desperately tries to find everything she has lost, but only has fleeting memories and recollections. In the end, she returns to the starting point, which is even more regrettable."

"After watching the movie, viewers may not necessarily cry their eyes out, but they will feel a tightness in their chest. They will think, 'If only... things would have been different?'"

"And this 'what if' is what regret is."

Yu Feihong pondered what He Ye had said and finally nodded in agreement: "Your understanding... is indeed deeper than I thought."

"It's not that I'm too advanced, it's just that my senior hasn't thought of it yet."

He leaned back lazily in his chair: "The story of 'Ginkgo, Ginkgo' is on the surface about emotions, but it can also be seen as the cruelty of time."

Time changes everything. It turns girls into old women, boys into skeletons, love into memories, and memories into nothingness.

"The only thing that remains unchanged is that ginkgo tree."

"It stands there, watching generation after generation come and go, watching love happen and fade away, watching regrets accumulate and dissipate."

"So, I think the real 'protagonist' is neither the male lead nor the female lead, but the ginkgo tree."

Yu Feihong's eyes lit up, and his voice tightened slightly: "From your angle..."

"I never thought of that."

"Because you're an actor, you think about people. I'm a photographer, so I think about things." He smiled. "Different perspectives lead to different views."

Yu Feihong pressed further, "If we film it according to your idea, what should the final shot be?"

He already had a plan in mind for all of this: "Ginkgo leaves fall, landing on the stone table, in the teacup, and on the ground."

"The camera slowly zooms out, and the outline of the ginkgo tree gradually blurs in the twilight."

Then the screen went black.

"No subtitles, no narration, nothing at all."

"Let the audience process it themselves."

Yu Feihong revealed a knowing smile: "He Ye, you..."

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," she shook her head, "It's just that you don't seem eighteen."

"Many people say that."

"So, are you precocious, or a genius?"

"None of that." After putting on a show, He Ye opened the book again, appearing very calm. "I just read a lot, think a lot, and it's just making movies. Don't think of it as something so difficult."

Upon hearing this, Yu Feihong said nothing more.

He also followed He Ye's example, took out a book from his bag, opened it, and began to read.

The two sat facing each other, each reading a book, occasionally exchanging a few words; the atmosphere was quiet and harmonious.

The sunlight outside the window moved from east to west, and the light and shadow moved slowly across the tabletop.

Around noon, Yu Feihong closed his book and stood up.

"I'll treat you to dinner," she said.

He also looked up: "Why?"

"Thank you for everything we talked about yesterday," Yu Feihong said, "and for everything we talked about today."

"No need to ask, it's no trouble at all."

"That won't do. I don't like owing favors."

He thought for a moment, closed the book, and stood up.

"Okay, then let's eat in the cafeteria."

"The cafeteria?" Yu Feihong was taken aback. "I'm treating you to a meal, and you're going to eat at the cafeteria?"

"The food in the cafeteria is cheap and delicious." He also stuffed the book into his bag. "Senior, if you want to treat me to something nice, wait until my movie is finished filming, released, and my grades are good, then you can treat me."

Yu Feihong seemed to have come to know a different He Ye once again.

"You're a really honest person."

"It's alright."

The two walked out of the library side by side.

Yu Feihong, walking beside He Ye, suddenly asked, "When will you be filming your movie?"

"Once the script is approved, the crew will be assembled and filming will begin."

"Approximately how long?"

"If things go smoothly, it can be turned on by the end of the year; if not, it will have to wait until after the Spring Festival."

"So fast?"

"Yes, time waits for no one." He paused for a moment, then extended his invitation, "Senior, if you're interested, you can come and check out my film crew."

"have a look?"

"Well, didn't you want to be a director? Come to the film crew and learn from them, experience it firsthand. It's much faster than reading books."

She looked at He Ye: "Are you serious?"

"certainly."

"Okay, I'll go."

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