Huayu started as a substitute director

Chapter 316 Irresistible Sympathy
Fang Hong paced on the stage while recounting his initial entrepreneurial experiences and mentality, recreating what happened at that time half-truthfully.

Those things happened several years ago, but the students in the audience are still fascinated by them.

It’s just because when the principal was talking about his own experiences, he would occasionally mix in some principles of life, such as what to do when you are anxious and what to do when you are in pain.

"So at that time I worked very hard every day, from the set to the lighting, from the camera to the actors' performances, I had to think over and over again whether the filming was bad or if there was something wrong with it.

To be honest, that period was very difficult, but when the movie was released and earned over 100 million yuan at the box office, I was excited. I felt that my efforts were not in vain and were seen by others.

I remember very clearly that 1.3 million was the box office of my first movie. Although this box office is not worth mentioning now, it is the moment that left the deepest impression on me. "

Fang Hong paused when he said this, and some people in the audience looked touched to varying degrees.

They knew the answer, but when they listened to the principal's explanation, they still felt touched.

“That experience seems so small to me now that it is not worth mentioning, but please remember that many small changes started from that moment.

No one knows which point in the curve of life will play a turning point, but when you press hard on that point, future experience will tell you that your judgment at that time was correct. "

Fang Hong spoke passionately and the audience listened attentively, looking at the man on the stage with admiration.

"This experience is just like when Tang Monk went to the West to film 1400 years ago. Can you imagine how he felt when he came back?

Tang Seng was not sent out by the emperor. He ran away secretly with a great mission and religious enthusiasm, and there was a possibility that he would not be able to come back at that time.

Can you imagine the excitement and joy he felt when he looked at Chang'an City from afar when he came back? What kind of feeling was that?

He sat in Ci'en Temple, with the leaves of the ginkgo trees falling and the morning bells and evening drums ringing, and he was preaching to his disciples there. Do you know what a heroic feeling he had in his heart? "

At that time, just like now, Fang Hong was also giving a speech, but his mood was not so heroic.

"But classmates, I often wonder, why do I make money? What is the purpose of success?
Why did Tang Seng go to the West to film? He had to climb mountains and wade through rivers, encounter demons and monsters, and there was no high-speed rail, and it was unsafe. Wouldn't it be better to stay in Chang'an, where there are many flowers and brocade? Why go so far? Can you understand this sense of mission?"

Some people at the scene subconsciously shook their heads, unable to understand.

"I remembered a sentence that people often ask: Why do I live? Just like you would ask yourself, why do you study?

Bertrand Russell said: "Three passions, simple but overwhelming, have governed my life: the thirst for knowledge, the search for love, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind."

"Clap clap clap!"

The auditorium was filled with warm and passionate applause. Some people clapped so hard that they wished their palms would turn red.

Some people even shed tears, obviously very excited; at this moment they felt that reading was meaningful.

Even the teachers behind couldn't help but applaud.

It seemed as if Fang Hong's spirit was sublimated at this moment!

Just as Fang Honglao said, he would do his best to make ordinary people who follow him rich. This is the sense of mission he has always pursued and the motivation for him to make money.

Uncontrollable compassion for suffering!
He had been poor and suffered, and he knew how terrible poverty and suffering were.

The applause lasted for a long time. Fang Hong stopped talking here. Next was the question-and-answer session, and the students were free to ask any questions.

However, most of the students at the scene needed to calm down, and their emotions were somewhat agitated.

After a long while, a pretty girl picked up the microphone and stood up: "Hello, senior, my name is Sun Yi, and I am a freshman now."

After she finished speaking, she bent down and said nervously, "You have been in the entertainment industry for so long and have been so successful. I want to ask you, what is the entertainment industry like? What advice do you have for students like us who have just been admitted to Beijing Film Academy?"

Many people who have just entered Beijing Film Academy will feel confused for a while, just because they have heard that the entertainment industry is dirty and full of unspoken rules.

Mysterious, desirable, and fearful.

"The entertainment industry, to put it bluntly, is just a circle. It is made up of circles of all sizes. They are closed, selfish, and backward."

Fang Hong's words made many people change their expressions. The principal was really bold.

But he is in such a high position, who can do anything to him?

“I’ll tell you a story and you’ll understand. There was a boss who wanted to improve his social status after he became rich, so he thought of investing in film and television dramas.

The producer was of course happy to hear this, since he had money, so he asked the boss what his request was. The boss said, "I want to play the leading actor and have some fun."

The director was dumbfounded when he heard this, and said, "Brother, this is an idol drama, and the hero and heroine are both young and beautiful college students. How can you look like this?"
This boss is old enough to give birth to a college student."

Hearing this, the students in the audience smiled softly.

"The producer was smart, so he discussed with the director and asked the screenwriter to add a subplot for him, letting him play the role of the big brother who madly pursues the heroine. Is that okay?
The director thought about it, how could such a gangster appear in an idol drama? The producer tried to persuade the director with money. "Haha!" There was laughter again.

I don’t know what’s so funny about it, it’s a very sad story, and a destruction of film and television culture.

Fang Hong continued, "Don't laugh, the real problem is yet to come. As soon as the boss joined the crew, he fell in love with the heroine in the play because she was a college student who had just graduated from the drama academy. She was very pretty. The boss got into the role and fell in love with the heroine.

So the boss asked the director to add more scenes, saying that for the money I invested, there must be a kissing scene with the heroine, and if not, he would withdraw his investment.

The director refused directly, showing great courage. But right after he hung up the phone, there was an extra sum of money in his bank card. When he saw the amount, he immediately agreed to add the emotional scene. "

At this time, the people in the audience stopped laughing, because the female college student was representing them and had no say.

"That wasn't the end of it. Not long after, the boss made a new request, asking for a passionate scene with the heroine, that is, a sex scene.

The director invited the producer out for a drink that night and said that the play could not be filmed. The producer drunkenly said, "Brother, stop shouting about art."

'The heroine is art, she is my woman. ' said the director.

After Fang Hong finished his last sentence, the whole audience was in an uproar and looked at each other in confusion.

When I first heard it, I thought the boss was an evil force, very bad, and had destroyed the film and television culture, but the last sentence made me feel that the entertainment industry is really a mess.

Apparently the director also had an affair with the leading actress.

Although I don’t know how this story ends, it reflects the truest view of the entertainment industry.

The sponsor makes random demands, the screenwriter changes the script, and the director uses unspoken rules.

“You asked me what advice I could give you. I can only say that as long as you are not so utilitarian, you will have no problem making a living in this industry. After all, you are a professional, so it is okay to play a small role. In the future, content will be king.

But if you want to climb up and become a famous star, you have to pay a price. Even after paying the price, you may not get what you want.

It’s hard to climb up in this circle, you have to step on many people to get there, but it’s easy to quit, it’s up to you, no one can stop you.”

Fang Hong stopped talking here.

Sun Yi's pretty face flushed slightly, and she bowed to Fang Hong and said, "Thank you, senior."

Other students who had just entered the school were also thoughtful. Of course, most of them knew what this circle was like.

In fact, most people at Beijing Film Academy are not famous and they all play various small supporting roles, such as Sun Yi.

He later acted in many movies and TV shows. Although the roles were inconspicuous and he couldn't even be found in the cast list, he found someone outside the circle, got married, had children, and is living a good life.

"Senior, as far as we know, although you are successful, you started out by plagiarizing. How do you explain that?" A student from the Department of Literature stood up and started to attack.

"You are from the literature department, so you should know that all literary routines have been exhausted in the four great classics. Any article you write now can be re-skinned to find similar routines in the four great classics. Can I say that you are plagiarizing?" Fang Hong argued.

"It's different. Yours is too obviously plagiarized." said the student.

"When I was suing Giddens, my lawyer took his novel and compared it plot by plot and character by character. The similarity was less than 20%. Can you say it was plagiarism?"

Giddens made a lot of changes to the movie himself, and Fang Hong made many more changes based on his own work, so many of the plots are completely unrecognizable.

Fang Hong continued, "I also went to college and had the experience of chasing girls ignorantly. I just made a movie of the love I imagined for everyone to watch. If everyone agrees that is what they imagine love to be like, it means that most people's love is that simple and that's how it is.

Just like abortion, my company has made three films about abortion, and the plots are all similar, all about being hurt by a boy, and having an abortion due to an unexpected pregnancy. Can you say this is plagiarism?"

His repeated sophistry left the literature student speechless.

A student turned to look at him and said, "You are fine, why are you discussing this kind of issue with the principal?"
The student sat down, and another student from the directing department stood up: "I want to ask the president, as far as I know, you have also made a lot of bad movies that cater to the market. I want to ask, you are so rich, why do you still make bad movies? What's the point of that to you? Why don't you make some art films to meet the spiritual needs of the audience."

This question stunned everyone present. It was a denial of the principal's current achievements and believed that there was no point in him making commercial films.

College students are indeed very motivated and good at raising questions.

Fang Hong did not interrupt the man, but listened quietly with a normal expression and spoke.

"First of all, I have money, which I earned through hard work. I don't owe it to anyone. Secondly, it is my freedom to make whatever I want to shoot. Making commercial films can also entertain the public and make them laugh. It doesn't mean that making art films is meaningful. Tell me what is meaningful?"

Fang Hong first stated his position. Everything he had today was earned through hard work. He did not steal or rob, and he had no obligation to do so.

Then he said: "Why do audiences like to watch commercial films? Because they can relieve stress. Life is already hard, and audiences just want to relax, enjoy the visual impact, and feel happy. Isn't this meaningful enough?"

(End of this chapter)