Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 125 Teacher, the answer is wrong, strict Zhang Jiqing
If Wu Chen is now very successful in North America, who is the one who feels the most uncomfortable?
It is undoubtedly Feng Xiaogang.

"Night Banquet" has not been doing well these days, but fortunately Huayi has bought a lot of media, and positive coverage is finally slowly increasing.

Moreover, Zhang Ziyi received an invitation from the Oscar Organizing Committee to serve as a judge for the next Academy Awards.

The other party also took this opportunity to promote it in the industry and also saved some face for "The Banquet";
This made Feng Xiaogang and Huayi feel much more comfortable, and they promoted "Night Banquet" vigorously at various forums and programs at the Shanghai Film Festival.

Feng Xiaogang's idea was very simple. He wanted to at least let the country know that there was not only Wu Chen's $50 million production, but also the costume drama "Night Banquet" was no less impressive.

Feng Xiaogang, with his legs crossed, listened to Cheng Long's speech at the forum "The Impact of Chinese Kung Fu Movies on the World" and sighed:
“I don’t know why, but nowadays when Chinese cinema talks about the impact of kung fu films on the world, it seems like they have to mention me and ask me to talk about it.

I really regret not being able to work with Director Wu. I think that when people abroad talk about Chinese films in the future, they won’t just refer to kung fu and ancient martial arts films. But this is progress for Chinese films and Chinese filmmakers.”

After Cheng Long finished his speech, Feng Xiaogang couldn't help but put down his crossed legs, fearing that the media reporters would cause trouble again.

In late June, Wu Chen officially finalized the cast of Now You See Me.

The actor was eventually chosen as James McAvoy, who has solid acting skills, a clean image, and a sense of mystery, which fits the magician's character in the film.
The heroine is played by Scarlett Johansson, whose slightly cold temperament complements the character's charm and decisiveness;
Jack Wilder and Merritt McKinney, two of the Four Horsemen, are played by Dave Franco and Woody Harrelson respectively.

Wu Chen finally decided to cast Mark Ruffalo for the role of FBI agent Dylan Rhodes, with a salary of $120 million, who was steady and experienced. The other female role was given to Jessica Biel, who was to serve as a vase.

After calculating the salaries, including Bradley played by Morgan Freeman, the leading actor's salary reached more than 13 million.

It has both potential new stars, popular actors, and veteran supporting actors. It has a typical A-level commercial film lineup structure with a strong market orientation.

At this point, this film, hailed as Hollywood's "most anticipated magic crime blockbuster of the year," is ready to go.

The subsequent complex tasks such as production process, actor schedule coordination, shooting scheduling, etc. are naturally handled by Lionsgate and Blumhouse Pictures.

After completing the audition and casting, Wu Chen finally put down the heavy burden on his shoulders and took a flight back to China.

At this time, the final exams of Beijing Film Academy have ended. Although there are still many people coming and going on campus, it is less lively than before.

Wu Chen walked straight into the familiar teaching building, paused at the door of the director of the photography department's office, and knocked.

"Come in." Mu Deyuan responded without raising his head.

As soon as Wu Chen pushed the door open, he saw Mu Deyuan wearing glasses and correcting the theory test paper stroke by stroke. There were answer sheets spread out in front of him, and he was making marks with a red pen, looking quite focused.

Wu Chen walked forward, took a look at the test paper spread out on the table, and couldn't help but chuckle, "Teacher, it should be okay if I don't write it, right?"

"What?" Mu Deyuan raised his head and glanced at him. "If you don't want to write, then don't write. If you want to write, I have a test paper here. Fill one out?"

"Then I'll save as much as I can." Wu Chen sat aside, his eyes scanning the questions on the paper, and suddenly raised an eyebrow, "Huh? Teacher, there's something wrong with this question."

"Which way?"

"Regarding the essay question 'The evolution of Hollywood photography styles from the late 20th century to the early 21st century,' your standard answer was 'A documentary style based on stable framing and natural lighting became mainstream.' But that doesn't seem right to me."

Wu Chen flipped through the book and said, "According to the thinking of the new generation of American DPs (Directors of Photography), they should emphasize the hybrid application of digital imaging and color grading aesthetics;

For example, in Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan used an IMAX film mix.”

Mu Deyuan was stunned: "Huh?" "Really, teacher, why don't you check the information? This direction is a hot trend in the internal lectures of several large studios in Los Angeles." Wu Chen said with a smile.

"Get out, don't disturb me while I'm grading papers." Mu Deyuan waved his hand with amusement, pretending to be disgusted.

As soon as Wu Chen left, Mu Deyuan crossed out the standard answer and wrote it again.

He opened his computer again and checked the teaching materials on the Internet. He couldn't help but sigh: "This kid is teaching me. But the teaching materials really need to be revised now. Film technology has developed too fast in recent years."

Wu Chen returned to the dormitory, which was empty.

Park Songri and Chu Tianshu had already returned home, and only Xiang Zhuo remained in the dormitory, at the sink. He was now one of the producers of "Black Peony" and was afraid that someone would look for him after he returned, so he had no intention of going back.

"Brother Chen!" Xiang Zhuo poked his head out when he heard the voice. "The training for 'Black Peony' has already begun."

"Yeah!" Wu Chen nodded. Xiang Zhuo had told him about this a few days ago. After discussing it with several producers, they rented a place opposite the old teachers' dormitory of Beijing Film Academy. They hired people to renovate it, and it can be used for shooting some scenes later, killing two birds with one stone.

Wu Chen nodded and said, "I'll go and take a look." Then he walked out quickly.

The place was chosen specifically, only ten minutes' walk away.

As soon as I walked up to the door and before I pushed it open, I heard a stern teaching voice from inside, clear and distinct:
"Your steps are too light. Be more steady. Do you hear me clearly?"

"Teacher, I heard it clearly!"

Inside the house, Liu Yifei, wearing a low ponytail, a black and white training suit, and holding a folding fan, was practicing the basic postures of Kunqu Opera.

This training process was customized by Zhang Jiqing himself - first practice breathing, then posture, and then start singing, step by step, without any slacking off.

Liu Yifei was half-squatting and turning around at this moment, with her body straight and upright. When she heard the sound of the door being pushed open, her eyes couldn't help but drift towards the door.

Wu Chen pushed the door open and came in. Their eyes met, and her eyes lit up instantly.

"Snapped!"

"Who distracted you?" Zhang Jiqing frowned and slapped the floor with his long fan. "We're still practicing. Let's take a break first."

"I'm sorry, teacher." Liu Yifei lowered her head and adjusted her posture again, her voice sounding a little shy but serious.

Wu Chen didn't say anything either, just nodded beside him.

Teachers have their own methods when teaching.

Even he could only watch from the sidelines and could not interfere.

He stood in the corner of the training room, watching the familiar girl concentrating on flipping her fan and lightly stepping. She seemed to be getting better. He couldn't help but smile and lowered his voice:
"Teacher Zhang, after more than a week of training, how do you feel?"

"Her figure is like a rough jade, which can withstand being carved. The most valuable thing is that this girl has a tenacity in her bones. Not bad."

Zhang Jiqing nodded with satisfaction.

(End of this chapter)