Entertainment from Divorce

On a chilly spring afternoon, the sunlight in the CEO's office on the eighth floor of Brilliant Entertainment was exceptionally gentle.

Tan Yue had just finished signing the last document when his gaze fell on the well-worn copy of "The Three-Body Problem" on the corner of the table.

"Chen Ye." Tan Yue pressed the intercom, his voice steady.

"Mr. Tan, you wanted to see me?" Chen Ye appeared at the door quickly.

"Clear my schedule for the day after tomorrow." Tan Yue looked up, her tone serious and unquestionable. "I want to visit the film and television base for 'The Three-Body Problem'."

Chen Ye was taken aback for a moment, then quickly realized what he meant and nodded hurriedly: "Okay, Mr. Tan. I'll go and coordinate to postpone the meeting and document processing the day after tomorrow."

She knew that "The Three-Body Problem" was the company's top priority this year. Although Tan Yue received progress reports from Lu Chuan every now and then, this was the first time she had personally visited the set.

"Also, have Lao Liu prepare the car in advance. We don't need to make a fuss; just the two of us will go," Tan Yue added.

"Understood." Chen Ye replied and withdrew.

Tan Yue picked up the book "The Three-Body Problem" again, his fingertips brushing over the label "Red Coast Base".

Lu Chuan's reports were always detailed and optimistic, saying that the filming progress was faster than expected, the actors were in excellent condition, and the special effects team had already completed the initial cut.

However, as a rare hard science fiction drama in China, "The Three-Body Problem" carries too many expectations.

This is not only a key step for the company to expand into the science fiction field, but is also seen by the industry as a touchstone for testing the production level of hard science fiction dramas in China.

He had to go to the set in person to experience the most authentic filming atmosphere before he could truly feel at ease.

Moreover, the company has indeed been much less busy lately.

Taking a day to visit the set is entirely feasible.

Three days later, at dawn, the sky was just beginning to lighten and the thin fog had not yet dissipated.

At the entrance of Ruishan Residential Area, driver Lao Liu had already parked his black minivan on the roadside, the body of which was spotless.

He had worked with Tan Yue for many years and was known for his composure and reliability. Knowing the importance of this set visit, he arrived half an hour early.

Tan Yue wore a dark gray windbreaker, paired with casual pants and comfortable sneakers. Shedding the formal attire of a CEO, she exuded a more capable and casual vibe.

He helped Chen Ziyu, who had just seen him to the door, and gently instructed her, "I'm going to check on the base today, and I probably won't be back until tonight. You should rest well at home and not overwork yourself."

"Go ahead and don't worry, I'll take good care of myself and the baby." Chen Ziyu smiled and straightened his collar. "Give my regards to Director Lu and Teacher Ma. I heard the sets for 'The Three-Body Problem' were built incredibly realistically, tell me about it when you get back."

"Okay." Tan Yue placed a light kiss on her forehead, then turned and got into the car.

The car slowly drove away from the residential area and merged into the morning rush hour traffic.

Old Liu skillfully avoided congested roads and drove towards the film and television base on the outskirts of the city.

Tan Yue leaned back in the back seat, not closing his eyes to rest, but instead opened his phone and looked at the latest report that Lu Chuan had sent last night.

"Tomorrow's filming schedule: core scenes at the Red Coast Base, Ye Wenjie reveals some information about the Trisolaran civilization to Yang Weining, starring Liu Feng and Sha Sha, set in the Red Coast Base control center."

He swiped his finger across the screen, and the scene of the Red Coast Base appeared in his mind.

The desolate Gobi Desert, towering radar antennas, and a control center steeped in history intertwine cold instruments with passionate human hearts.

In his report, Lu Chuan mentioned that in order to recreate the Red Coast Base in the original work, the art team spent three months building the scene. They collected hundreds of old electronic devices for the control center alone, striving to make every detail fit the style of the 1970s.

"Mr. Tan, we'll be at the base in about an hour." Old Liu's voice broke the silence in the car.

Tan Yue nodded and looked out the window.

The car had already left the city, and the buildings on both sides of the road gradually thinned out, replaced by vast stretches of farmland and distant mountains.

The mist gradually dissipated, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a warm golden glow on the earth.

At 10 a.m., the car finally arrived at the film and television base located on the outskirts of the city.

At the entrance of the base, there was a sign that read "The Three-Body Problem filming crew is on site. No visitors allowed." Several staff members in work uniforms stood guard at the entrance, looking serious.

Upon seeing Tan Yue's car, one of the staff members immediately came forward; it was Xiao Zhou, Lu Chuan's assistant who had been sent in advance to pick him up.

"Mr. Tan, you've finally arrived! Director Lu specifically asked me to wait for you here." Xiao Zhou quickly walked to the car and respectfully opened the door.

Tan Yue got out of the car, stretched, and moved his body, which had been sitting for a long time.

The base was bustling with activity. In the distance, a huge set was being built, and several actors in military uniforms were hurrying by. Their costumes had a vintage feel, instantly transporting people back to the 1970s.

"Is Director Lu busy right now?" Tan Yue asked.

"They're filming scenes in the control center right now. They heard you were almost there, so they asked me to pick you up first. He'll come over after he finishes this take," Xiao Zhou explained as he led the way.

"We are now going to the core filming area of ​​the Red Coast Base. The scenes are all recreated 1:1 from the original work. You will definitely be pleasantly surprised."

Following Xiao Zhou through several stone-paved paths, an area surrounded by barbed wire appeared ahead. Inside stood a huge radar antenna model, tens of meters high, with its metal support gleaming coldly in the sunlight, creating a striking visual impact.

Below the antenna is a two-story brick-red building, which is the control center of the Red Coast Base.

"Mr. Tan, look, that's the Red Coast Base we built." Xiao Zhou pointed to the building, his tone filled with pride.

"In order to recreate the details of the radar antenna, the art team consulted a lot of information and also consulted experts in related fields. It took more than a month just to build this antenna."

Tan Yue approached to take a closer look, his gaze falling on the details of the antenna.

The welding marks on the metal bracket, the oxidized texture of the surface, and even the serial numbers on it are all made extremely realistically, showing no signs of perfunctory work.

He nodded, feeling a greater appreciation for the art team's professionalism.

As soon as they reached the entrance of the control center, they heard Lu Chuan's voice from inside, tinged with sternness: "Tone down the emotions here. Ye Wenjie is suppressing her feelings right now. Her trust in Yang Weining is limited. When revealing information, you should be hesitant and cautious, rather than bluntly confiding in her."

“Okay, Director Lu, I’ll adjust it again.” A female voice responded; it was Sha Sha, who played Ye Wenjie.

Tan Yue didn't go in to disturb them, but stood to the side of the door and looked inside through the crack.

The interior of the control center is even more stunning.

Huge red banners hung on the walls.

Old-fashioned oscilloscopes, signal receivers, and tape recorders are neatly arranged on the control panel, with indicator lights flashing a faint green light. The air is filled with a faint smell of machine oil, perfectly recreating the research environment of the 1970s.

Liu Feng, dressed in military uniform, sat at the control panel, his character Yang Weining diligently recording data. His profile was sharp, his eyes focused, perfectly capturing the character's meticulousness and composure. Behind him stood Sha Sha, wearing blue overalls, her hair tied in a simple ponytail, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"All departments, get ready, one more take!" Lu Chuan's voice rang out.

With a "snap" of the clapperboard, filming officially began.

"Wei Ning, have you ever considered that other civilizations might exist in the universe?" Sasha's voice was low, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.
More than ten minutes later.

"Cut! Perfect!" Lu Chuan shouted excitedly, "That take is good! Teacher Shasha, Teacher Liu, your performance was fantastic!"

Tan Yue stood at the door and couldn't help but applaud.

Hearing the applause, the people inside turned around and saw Tan Yue, all showing expressions of surprise.

"President Tan!" Lu Chuan walked over quickly, his face showing surprise and a hint of nervousness. "Why are you here? Why didn't you tell me beforehand? I could have picked you up in person."

"I hope I won't disturb your filming." Tan Yue smiled as he walked into the control center. "I just came to take a look, and I didn't expect to catch such a wonderful take."

Liu Feng also came over, smiling as he shook hands with Tan Yue: "President Tan, you are a rare guest. The company has been so busy lately, yet you still took the time to come and visit us."

“The Three-Body Problem is a key project for the company, so I had to come and take a look.” Tan Yue shook Liu Feng’s hand and said sincerely, “Professor Liu, your performance just now was outstanding. You portrayed Yang Weining’s composure and rigor perfectly.”

"Mr. Tan, you flatter me." Liu Feng smiled modestly. "It's mainly because the script is well-written and Director Lu's guidance is excellent. I was just doing my job."

Sasha also came forward to greet them, and Tan Yue also praised her acting skills.

Lu Chuan enthusiastically pulled Tan Yue along, introducing the details of the control center scene.

"Mr. Tan, look at these instruments. They are all old items that we found at the flea market. Some of them are still working properly. In order to help the actors get into character, we also hired experienced technicians to train them and teach them how to operate these instruments."

Tan Yue carefully examined the instruments on the control panel, then gently touched the old-fashioned oscilloscope. The cool touch made him feel as if he had truly traveled back to that era.

"You put a lot of effort into this." He sincerely praised, "Details determine success or failure. It is this kind of attitude that can satisfy the fans."

For the rest of the time, Tan Yue stayed on set and quietly watched the subsequent filming.

Lu Chuan's directing style is rigorous and meticulous, with extremely high requirements for the composition, lighting, actors' expressions and movements in every shot.

Tan Yue sat in the chair next to the monitor, watching Lu Chuan's busy figure, and nodded to himself.

Although Lu Chuan is a new director, his professionalism and dedication are in no way inferior to those of senior directors in the industry.

From the preparation to the filming of "The Three-Body Problem," Lu Chuan's efforts are evident to all, and such a director is worthy of trust.

During the meeting, Tan Yue also had a chat with the head of the special effects team.

The person in charge showed him a rough cut of the "Three-Body Civilization Holographic Projection". Although the final rendering has not yet been completed, the general effect can already be seen.

Against the backdrop of the deep universe, the Trisolaran planet slowly rotates, and traces of civilization emerge on its surface, creating a sense of science fiction and mystery.

"Mr. Tan, we have consulted a large number of science fiction films and documents to ensure that the presentation of the Three-Body civilization is both consistent with the description in the original work and can bring a visual impact to the audience." The person in charge said firmly, "We will continue to optimize the details to strive to present the best effect."

"Very good." Tan Yue nodded. "Special effects are key for science fiction dramas. You need to put more effort into them and not be afraid of trouble. If you need any support from the company, please let us know."

Before we knew it, it was evening.

As the sun sets, its golden rays fall upon the radar antennas of the Red Coast Base, giving the cold metal a warm sheen.

Lu Chuan arranged dinner and wanted Tan Yue to stay at the base for the night, but Tan Yue declined.

"I still have some things to take care of at the company, so I'll head back tonight," Tan Yue said. "But before I leave, I'd like to say a few words to everyone in the crew."

Lu Chuan immediately gathered all the crew members, including actors, directors, cinematographers, art directors, and special effects artists. They stood neatly in the open space in front of the control center, looking at Tan Yue.

Tan Yue walked to the front of the crowd, his gaze slowly sweeping over each person, his tone sincere and forceful.

"I was pleasantly surprised and deeply moved to visit the set today. I witnessed everyone's professionalism, dedication, and reverence for the work, and I saw the effort you all put into 'The Three-Body Problem'."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "The Three-Body Problem is not an ordinary TV series; it carries the expectations of many people."

"This is an attempt and a challenge for hard science fiction dramas in China. I know that it is not easy to film such a drama and there will be many difficulties and setbacks, but from everything I have seen today, you have the ability to overcome these difficulties and produce an excellent work."

"The company will be your strongest support. No matter what problems you encounter, whether it is funding, technology or resources, the company will fully support you."

Tan Yue raised his voice a few decibels: "I hope everyone can continue to maintain their current state, stay true to their original aspirations, strive for excellence, and make 'The Three-Body Problem' a classic that can stand the test of time, so that the whole world can see the strength of our Chinese science fiction dramas!"

As soon as he finished speaking, enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from the audience.

The crew members all wore excited expressions. Tan Yue's words were like a shot in the arm, further strengthening their confidence.

"Thank you, Mr. Tan! We will definitely live up to your expectations!" Lu Chuan exclaimed excitedly, his voice choked with emotion.

"We will definitely work hard!" everyone responded in unison, their voices echoing throughout the entire film and television base.

Seeing everyone's enthusiasm, Tan Yue smiled with satisfaction.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Tan Yue got into the car.

Old Liu started the car and slowly drove away from the film and television base.

Through the car window, Tan Yue saw the crew members still standing there, waving goodbye to the car.

He waved his hand, his heart filled with emotion.

As the car drove onto the road back, the sky gradually darkened, and the city lights shone in the distance.

Tan Yue leaned back in the back seat, closed his eyes, and the scenes he had seen on set during the day kept flashing through his mind.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Lu Chuan.

"Today's filming was fantastic, everyone worked so hard. Please feel free to contact me if you need anything in the future. I look forward to the final product of 'The Three-Body Problem'."

Lu Chuan quickly replied: "Thank you for your encouragement and support, Mr. Tan! We will do our best to live up to your trust!"

As the car entered the city, traffic gradually became denser.

Tan Yue gazed at the fleeting night view outside the window, his heart filled with hope. (End of Chapter)