In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

October 6, Hong Kong Island.

The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, but the streets of Central were already bustling with traffic. As usual, the newsstand owner, Old Chen, laid out the various newspapers that had just been delivered to his stall.

He habitually glanced at the headlines on the front page first, then suddenly his hand froze in mid-air.

The front page of the Hong Kong Island Economic Daily featured a striking line of large black text:

"ATV changes hands! Mysterious mainland tycoon acquires 67% stake in Qiu's company for HK$1.6 billion!"

Old Chen's eyes widened, and he quickly picked up the newspaper to examine it closely.

The subtitle reads: "Qiming Capital's Yang Hongwen takes control; could this change the landscape of Hong Kong television?"

The report details the acquisition: Qiming Capital officially signed an agreement with the Chiu Te-ken family to acquire 67% of the shares of Asia Television Limited for HK$1.63 billion, becoming the controlling shareholder of ATV.

The legal procedures for this transaction were completed yesterday.

The report mentioned that the buyer, Yang Hongwen, is from mainland China and had no prior experience in the media industry, but he owns multiple companies in mainland China and is financially powerful. The acquisition was a cash payment, a swift and efficient process that beat out several local tycoons, including Lim Por-yen of Lai Sun Group.

"This is going to be interesting," Old Chen muttered to himself, quickly placing the newspaper in the most prominent position.

Almost simultaneously, several mainstream media outlets on Hong Kong Island broadcast the news in their morning news programs.

In the morning news broadcast on TVB, the anchor announced in a professional tone: "This station has learned that the controlling stake in Asia Television has officially changed hands. Mainland capital Qiming Venture Partners has acquired 67% of ATV's shares from the Chiu Te-ken family for over HK$1.6 billion..."

The camera then switched to show the exterior of the ATV building, along with some archival footage.

"It is understood that the new shareholder, Mr. Yang Hongwen, is a mainland entrepreneur whose businesses cover multiple fields including education, publishing, and investment. Following this acquisition, he will become the new chairman of ATV's board of directors. Industry insiders are watching closely to see if the entry of mainland capital will bring new development ideas and resources to ATV..."

On the financial channel of Radio Television Hong Kong, a guest commentator is analyzing: "There are several noteworthy points about this acquisition. First, the cash transaction indicates that the buyer has ample funds; second, the buyer has a mainland background, which is unprecedented in the Hong Kong media industry..."

This news became a hot topic of conversation during breakfast, in streets and alleys, and in tea restaurants.

"Mainlanders bought ATV? Is it true?"

"It's been in the newspapers, it can't be fake. 1.63 billion, that's a huge sum!"

"Yang Hongwen... I've never heard of that name before. A reclusive tycoon from mainland China?"

"ATV's ratings have been poor for the past few years. I wonder if the new owner can make it work."

"Will the entry of mainland capital turn ATV into a mainland television station?"

Amid the discussions, there was curiosity, doubt, and anticipation.

The Hong Kong media circle was also greatly shaken.

Reporters from major newspapers scrambled to contact Qiming Capital or Yang Hongwen himself, hoping to secure an exclusive interview.

Qiming Capital only issued a brief written statement confirming the acquisition and stating that "ATV will maintain the basic stability of its existing operating team and will announce its development plan in due course." They declined to comment on the interview request.

This low-key and mysterious attitude, on the contrary, aroused the media's interest even more.

In the following days, there were more and more reports about Yang Hongwen and Qiming Capital, and reporters used their various skills to dig out a lot of fragmented information.

Reports indicate that Yang Hongwen was originally a professor at a university in mainland China. After venturing into business, he ventured into fields such as educational publishing and art training. In recent years, he has begun diversified investments, and his financial strength is unfathomable.

A financial reporter's investigation revealed that Qiming Capital, although registered in Hong Kong for a short time, has strong financial resources and has made several low-key but precise moves in the Hong Kong stock market in the past six months.

Entertainment reporters also discovered that Yang Hongwen's son, Yang Guangming, is the same young actor who recently won the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival and is currently studying at the Beijing Film Academy.

As this information is pieced together, a family image gradually emerges: a "mainland professor who transformed into a business tycoon, whose son is a Venice Film Festival Best Actor," adding to the story's legendary quality.

Within the Hong Kong television industry, the reaction was more complex.

TVB executives held an emergency meeting to discuss the potential impact of this change. ATV, TVB's long-time rival, has declined in recent years but remains one of only two free-to-air television stations on Hong Kong Island. Whether the new owner's takeover will alter the competitive landscape remains to be seen.

Within ATV, from management to ordinary employees, there was a sense of unease.

Rumors of the acquisition had circulated within the company before the official announcement, but it wasn't until the news broke that everyone truly felt the impending change. Would the new boss implement sweeping reforms? Would there be layoffs? Would the program's direction be adjusted? These questions weighed heavily on everyone's mind.

Fortunately, in the first week after the acquisition, Yang Hongwen conveyed the idea of ​​"maintaining stability and gradually optimizing" through the management team, and promised that the positions and benefits of existing employees would remain unchanged for the time being, which reassured many people a little.

However, amidst this clamor, the mainstream media in mainland China remained unusually quiet.

At that time in China, although reform and opening up had deepened, cross-regional capital operations in the media sector, especially the acquisition of important media outlets in Hong Kong, remained a sensitive topic. Official media chose to observe cautiously and did not provide extensive coverage.

However, not reporting on it doesn't mean we're not paying attention.

Within the relevant departments, this acquisition report from Hong Kong Island has already been placed on the desks of many leaders.

A businessman with a mainland background has acquired Hong Kong Island's second-largest television station. Is there a deeper motive behind this? Is the source of the acquisition funds compliant with regulations? What will be the future direction of ATV's programming content? These are all questions that require close observation.

Of course, these kinds of concerns and considerations are something that Akira, far away in Kyoto, cannot feel for the time being.

……

In October, Kyoto is already filled with the colors of autumn.

Yang Ming's life has gotten back on track. She travels between school and home every day, and her routine is regular and fulfilling.

He attended most of his acting classes on time, taking each course seriously, from vocal music and diction to physical expression and acting theory. Despite already having the aura of a Venice Film Festival Best Actor winner, he never put on airs in class, giving his all during practice and remaining humble and polite to his teachers.

The initial sense of distance between the students gradually melted away as they spent more time together.

Everyone discovered that this "genius actor" was actually very easy to get along with. If they asked him questions, he would always answer them patiently. During group rehearsals, he cooperated well and never stole the spotlight. When they occasionally ate and chatted together, he was humorous and witty, without any haughty attitude.

Jiang Qinqin, Jin Qiaoqiao, Chen Shasha, and several other girls became much more natural with Yang Guangming. During breaks, they would often gather together to discuss performance clips or chat about recent movies.

The boys were more casual. Fu Dalong, Chu Xingyi, and a few others would occasionally play basketball with Yang Guangming or go to see a movie off-campus.

The directing program offers relatively flexible courses. Xie Fei faithfully fulfilled his promise and tailored a learning plan specifically for Yang Guangming.

There are two regular professional classes every week, held in Xie Fei's office or the school's small screening room. The two sit facing each other, sharing everything from film history to directing theory, from classic film analysis to creative practice. Xie Fei imparts his knowledge without reservation, and Yang Guangming eagerly learns.

From film aesthetics to the current state of the industry, from creative insights to life lessons, Yang Guangming benefited greatly from such high-quality exchanges.

In addition to classroom learning, Xie Fei assigned Yang Guangming a large number of film viewing and analysis tasks, requiring him to submit film analysis notes and viewing reports regularly. Yang Guangming completed these tasks meticulously, with detailed and insightful notes that often contained unique perspectives, which greatly pleased Xie Fei.

"Your learning ability and comprehension are better than any graduate student I've ever supervised." After one class, Xie Fei couldn't help but exclaim, "It seems that deciding to specially recruit you was the best decision I ever made."

Yang Guangming smiled modestly: "It's because the teacher taught well."

Amidst her busy studies, Yang Guangming has taken on a new role in her life—assistant Huang Bo.

After the National Day holiday, Huang Bo finished dealing with his family matters and officially started his job.

Duan Yunfeng spent a few days familiarizing him with the work process, explaining everything from scheduling and coordination to external communication and daily life details.

Huang Bo learned very quickly. He was naturally clever and had been working in society for many years. He was very good at reading people and handling miscellaneous matters. With Duan Yunfeng's careful guidance, he quickly got into the swing of things.

October 10th, Monday.

At 7:30 a.m. sharp, Huang Bo appeared at the villa entrance.

When Yang Guangming came downstairs, he saw Huang Bo already waiting in the living room, holding a folder in his hand.

"Good morning, Guangming," Huang Bo greeted with a smile, his attitude respectful but not obsequious.

"Good morning." Yang Guangming nodded. "Have you eaten?"

"I've already eaten. Here's today's schedule, please take a look." Huang Bo handed over the folder.

Yang Guangming took the book and flipped through it as he walked toward the restaurant. He had two acting classes in the morning, and Professor Xie Fei had arranged a film analysis session in the small screening room in the afternoon. He was supposed to be free in the evening, but Jiang Wen called to say there was a dinner party and asked if he wanted to attend.

"Who were at Director Jiang's dinner party?" Yang Guangming sat down at the table.

"Director Jiang didn't specify, only saying it was a few friends in the industry, just for a chat." Huang Bo stood to the side. "If you're going, what do I need to prepare?"

Yang Guangming thought for a moment and said, "Go ahead. Director Jiang's gathering should be full of interesting people. No need for special preparations, just arrange a normal car."

“Okay. Then at seven o’clock tonight, Brother Duan will drive, and I'll go with you.” Huang Bo quickly wrote it down.

"How does it feel to be officially with me today? Are you adjusting well?" Yang Guangming asked, taking a sip of milk.

"I'm adapting quite well," Huang Bo said sincerely. "Brother Duan taught me very thoroughly, and things on your side aren't too complicated. It's just that I need some time to get familiar with the connections in the industry."

"No rush, take your time." Yang Guangming smiled. "You used to work in nightclubs and bars, so you have experience in dealing with people, which is great. I don't have much to do here; I mainly study, with occasional social interactions. You just need to help me manage my time and take care of the miscellaneous tasks."

"Understood, don't worry." Huang Bo nodded.

After breakfast, Huang Bo had already prepared the car. The black Mercedes-Benz drove out of the villa area and headed towards the North Electric Power Company.

In the car, Huang Bo handed a newspaper summary to Yang Guangming: "Today's Hong Kong Island Economic Daily has follow-up reports on ATV's acquisition."

Yang Guangming took the summary and flipped through it. The report mainly analyzed the possible future direction of ATV and the challenges faced by the new shareholder, Yang Hongwen; the content was relatively objective.

"The reaction on Hong Kong Island must be pretty big, right?" Yang Guangming asked casually.

“It’s quite a big deal,” Huang Bo said with emotion. “I talked to Brother Duan yesterday, and he said that the newspapers and TV in Hong Kong have been reporting on this matter these past few days. The chairman is under a lot of pressure, and many media outlets want to interview him.”

“It’s normal.” Yang Guangming closed the newspaper. “Acquiring ATV is such a big deal, it’s bound to attract attention. My dad can handle it.”

The car drove into the Beijing Film Academy campus.

This morning's dialogue class was held in the rehearsal hall on the third floor of the performance building. When the sun came out, most of the students were already there, doing vocal warm-up exercises.

"Good morning, Guangming!" Jin Qiaoqiao waved and greeted him.

"Good morning," Yang Guangming replied with a smile, and walked to his seat.

The dialogue coach was a female professor in her fifties, surnamed Zhou, known for her strictness. The bell rang, and Professor Zhou entered the rehearsal hall on time. She looked around, her gaze lingering briefly on Yang Guangming before she nodded.

"Today we'll continue practicing excerpts from the play 'Thunderstorm,'" Teacher Zhou said, getting straight to the point. "Last time we analyzed the characteristics of Zhou Puyuan's lines. Today, we'll practice in pairs, rehearsing the lines on the spot. I want to hear your handling of the rhythm, emphasis, and emotions in the lines."

The students quickly formed groups. Yang Guangming and Jiang Qinqin formed a group to practice a dialogue between Zhou Puyuan and Fanyi.

The two walked to the center of the rehearsal hall and stood facing each other.

Jiang Qinqin was a little nervous. Despite her solid professional skills, she still felt pressured acting opposite Yang Guangming.

Yang Guangming could see her nervousness and said in a low voice, "Relax, just treat it like a regular practice."

Jiang Qinqin nodded, took a deep breath, and got into character.

"Let's begin," said Teacher Zhou.

Yang Guangming's demeanor changed instantly. He straightened his back slightly, raised his chin slightly, and his eyes became complicated and repressed. At this moment, he had transformed into Zhou Puyuan—the patriarch of a feudal family, authoritative, stubborn, and full of inner contradictions.

"You haven't looked well these past few days." His voice was deep, filled with concern, yet also carrying an undeniable authority.

Jiang Qinqin, who plays Fan Yi, has a stubborn yet sorrowful look in her eyes: "I'm fine."

Did you take your medicine on time?

"have eaten."

The simple dialogue, when performed by the two actors, is full of tension.

Yang Guangming's delivery of lines is extremely precise. Every pause and every emphasis is just right, showing both Zhou Puyuan's concern and his paternalistic style of trying to control everything.

Jiang Qinqin gradually improved, portraying Fan Yi's suppressed rebellion and pain in a clear and nuanced way.

The rehearsal hall quieted down as the students watched intently.

Teacher Zhou crossed her arms, her face expressionless, but a hint of approval flashed in her eyes.

The clip ends, and Yang Guangming and Jiang Qinqin return to their normal state and walk back to their original positions.

"Not bad." Teacher Zhou rarely gave such praise. "Yang Guangming, your lines are very solid and you have a deep understanding of the character. Jiang Qinqin, you are in better shape today than last time, but you can be bolder. You need to show the flame in Fanyi's heart a little more."

The two nodded in acceptance.

Next, the other groups took turns practicing. Teacher Zhou gave feedback to each group, her words sharp and to the point, but everyone was used to it.

After two lessons on dialogue, many students felt they had benefited greatly.

During the break, Jin Qiaoqiao approached Yang Guangming and asked curiously, "Guangming, how did you practice your lines? It feels like you become the character the moment you start speaking."

"Practice more." Yang Guangming smiled. "I'm used to copying down the lines, reading them repeatedly, and analyzing the subtext and psychology behind each sentence. Also, observe people in real life more. People with different personalities and in different situations speak in different ways."

"No wonder," Jin Qiaoqiao said thoughtfully. "I have a lot to learn from you." "Let's learn from each other."

The afternoon film analysis class was held in the small screening room of the directing department.

When the sun was shining brightly, Xie Fei was already there, setting up the projection equipment.

"Teacher, let me do it." Yang Guangming walked over.

"No need, it'll be ready soon." Xie Fei waved his hand and pointed to the chair next to him. "Sit down. Today we're going to watch 'Bicycle Thieves'."

"Bicycle Thieves" is a representative work of Italian Neorealism. Yang Guangming had seen it many times in his previous life, but this was the first time he had watched it in its entirety in this life.

The screening began, and the master and apprentice watched quietly.

The film tells the story of an unemployed worker in post-World War II Rome who finally finds a job putting up posters, but the job requires a bicycle, which has been stolen. He and his son search all over Rome for the bicycle, and in desperation, they decide to steal it themselves.

Black and white images, documentary style, simple yet profound.

After the film ended, Xie Fei turned off the projector and turned on the lights.

"Tell me your thoughts." Xie Fei lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair.

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Guangming slowly spoke: "The essence of neorealism is fully embodied in this film. It features non-professional actors, is filmed on location, and focuses on the survival struggles of ordinary people. The story is simple, but its emotional power is immense."

He paused for a moment, then continued, “What touched me most was the change in the father-son relationship. From the father’s authoritative image in front of his son at the beginning, to his gradual collapse in the face of reality, to the father in the son’s eyes going from a hero to an ordinary person, and finally back to a father—that complex emotion is very real.”

Xie Fei nodded: "That's a good analysis. So, how do you think director De Sica managed to make such a simple story so powerfully moving?"

“Details.” Yang Guangming said without hesitation, “Every detail can withstand scrutiny. The father’s anxiety after losing his car, the hope and despair during the search, the portrait of the equally impoverished lower class, and the presentation of the urban space of Rome—these details accumulate to form the film’s profound sense of realism.”

“There’s also the language of the camera,” he added. “The extensive use of tracking shots and long takes makes the audience feel as if they are walking with the father and son on the streets of Rome, experiencing it firsthand.”

Xie Fei smiled with satisfaction: "It seems your film analysis efforts over the past few days haven't been in vain. Being able to see these things means you've already mastered the basics."

He flicked his cigarette ash, then changed the subject: "No matter how much theory you learn, it ultimately comes down to practice. Guangming, have you ever thought about when you'll start making your own films?"

Yang Guangming's heart stirred; he knew the time had come.

“Teacher, I’m actually already preparing,” he said.

"Oh?" Xie Fei raised an eyebrow. "Tell me about it."

Yang Guangming took a thick folder out of his schoolbag and handed it to Xie Fei.

"This is a script and storyboard that I've been working on for a while. I want to make it into my first feature film."

Xie Fei took the folder; the cover had four words written on it: "A Farewell".

He didn't open it immediately, but looked at Yang Guangming with a serious expression: "Have you thought this through? Making a feature film is no joke; it requires a lot of energy, time, and money."

“I’ve made up my mind.” Yang Guangming’s gaze was firm. “I’ve revised the script many times and I feel it’s quite mature now. As for funding, I’m prepared. The budget of four million RMB should be enough. As for time and energy, I will manage it reasonably to ensure it doesn’t affect my studies.”

Xie Fei then opened the script and began to read it carefully.

The small screening room fell silent, with only the sound of pages turning.

The sun shines brightly and quietly.

He knew the significance of this script—the original film had won the Berlin Golden Bear and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and its profound analysis of human nature and delicate portrayal of moral dilemmas had the power to transcend culture and time.

He put a lot of effort into the localization and adaptation, transplanting the story's background to a Chinese city in the 1990s, and localizing the characters and details, but keeping the core conflict and spirit unchanged.

Half an hour later, Xie Fei looked up, his eyes filled with undisguised surprise and admiration.

"This script... you wrote it yourself?" His voice was a little tense.

"Yes. Please give me your feedback, teacher."

Xie Fei took a deep breath, put down the script, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Yang Guangming with a complicated expression.

“Guangming, do you know that I have taught many students and read many scripts? But your script... is very profound, and it doesn’t seem like something a seventeen-year-old could write.”

He tapped his finger on the script cover: "The story structure is rigorous, the characters are well-developed, the conflicts are cleverly set up, and the exploration of moral dilemmas is particularly profound. This script would be a masterpiece even if shown to a seasoned screenwriter."

Yang Guangming breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Xie Fei had passed this test.

"Teacher, you flatter me. I just felt that this story was powerful and wanted to make it into a film."

Xie Fei picked up the script again, flipped through a few more pages, and asked, "You said the budget is four million, is funding not a problem?"

“No problem, my family supports me,” Yang Guangming said confidently.

Xie Fei nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "Since funding isn't an issue and the script is so good, I have no reason not to support you. However, as a student, if you want to independently shoot a feature film, you still need to be affiliated with a film studio and go through the formal project approval process. I can help you with that."

He thought for a moment and said, "Han Sanping has just been transferred to the Beijing Film Studio as its director, and he's looking to make some progress. He should be interested in your script."

"Then I'll trouble you to make an introduction, teacher," Yang Guangming said sincerely.

"What trouble? Of course, a teacher should support a student's good work." Xie Fei waved his hand. "Okay, I'll contact Director Han in the next couple of days and schedule a meeting. You can refine the script and prepare the relevant materials."

"Okay, thank you, teacher."

It was already evening when I left the school.

Huang Bo and others waited at the door. When Yang Guangming came out, they went to greet him.

"Guangming, Director Jiang called. The dinner is scheduled for 7:30 at the Wangfu Hotel."

"Okay, let's go straight there." Yang Guangming got into the car.

The car drove towards the city center. As the sun set, the streets of Kyoto were bathed in a golden glow.

Yang Guangming leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest. His conversation with Xie Fei today went smoothly; the film project had taken its first substantial step. Next, he needed to meet with Han Sanping.

Yang Guangming has his own assessment of this future "leader" of Chinese cinema. He believes Han Sanping has vision, drive, and understands both art and the market; securing his support would greatly facilitate the project's progress.

At this stage, the qualifications for private capital to produce films have not yet been liberalized, and they must be affiliated with film studios, which is more troublesome in terms of procedures, but there is no other way.

However, he doesn't need to rely entirely on film studios, and the collaboration between the two parties isn't too difficult. He can easily afford the four million budget on his own; seeking cooperation with film studios is mainly for the legality of the project's approval and subsequent distribution channels.

……

Over the next few days, Yang Guangming attended classes while further refining the script.

Xie Fei received news quickly. On Friday afternoon, October 15th, Xie Fei called Yang Guangming and said that he had arranged to meet Han Sanping at the Beijing Film Studio the following Monday morning.

"Director Han read the script and was very interested. He agreed to meet with you when he has time." Xie Fei's words revealed his joy. "Prepare well; this is a good opportunity."

"Understood, thank you, teacher."

Over the weekend, Yang Guangming barely left the house, spending most of his time in his study preparing materials. Script, storyboard, budget, shooting schedule, creative team ideas... he prepared a detailed plan.

Huang Bo also busied himself with printing, organizing, and binding.

On Monday morning, Yang Guangming deliberately wore a more formal outfit—a light gray shirt, dark trousers, and a casual suit jacket, which was both youthful and dignified.

At 9:30, Yang Guangming met up with teacher Xie Fei.

"Are you nervous?" Xie Fei asked in the car.

Yang Guangming wasn't nervous at all, but he still said, "A little, but mostly I'm looking forward to it."

Xie Fei smiled: "Don't be nervous. Although Director Han is a leader, he is essentially a filmmaker who understands film. Your script is solid and the plan is perfect. He is very optimistic about this project."

The Beijing Film Studio, located in Beitaipingzhuang, is an old Soviet-style building. As the car entered the studio area, Yang Guangming curiously surveyed the surroundings. This place has produced countless classic films and is one of the most important centers of Chinese cinema.

Han Sanping's office is on the second floor.

After the secretary announced his arrival, Xie Fei led Yang Guangming inside.

The office was small and simply furnished. Bookshelves were piled high with books and videotapes, and movie posters hung on the walls. Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man with a square face and a capable demeanor.

It was Han Sanping.

"Director Han, I've brought Yang Guangming over to you," Xie Fei introduced.

"Hello, Director Han," Yang Guangming greeted him first.

Han Sanping stood up, shook hands with the two men, lingered on Yang Guangming for a few seconds, and said with a smile, "I've heard of you before. Top scorer in the college entrance examination, Venice Film Festival Best Actor, and now you're going to be a director. Young man, you're remarkable."

"Director Han, you flatter me," Yang Guangming said humbly.

"Sit down, please sit down." Han Sanping gestured for the two to sit on the sofa, and his secretary brought out tea.

After a few pleasantries, Han Sanping got down to business: "Director Xie showed me the script, and I read it overnight. Guangming, it's hard to believe that someone so young could write such a profound script. Geniuses are truly different!"

"You flatter me. It's mainly because the teacher taught me so well." Yang Guangming was very satisfied with his genius persona. He could attribute many things to his genius, and no one would investigate further.

Han Sanping tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the sofa: "The script is indeed very good. The structure is rigorous, the characters are vivid, and the conflicts are profound. In particular, the exploration of moral dilemmas is powerful, neither avoiding nor simplifying them."

He looked at Yang Guangming: "You want to make this film? What's the budget? How long will the shooting period be?"

Yang Guangming handed over the prepared proposal: "The budget is four million RMB, the shooting period is expected to be two months, post-production is expected to be two months, and the total period is four to five months."

Han Sanping took the plan and carefully reviewed it.

Yang Guangming waited quietly. He could sense that Han Sanping was watching very attentively, pausing from time to time at certain details.

The office was quiet, with only the sound of pages turning.

Xie Fei picked up his teacup and sipped slowly, his expression calm, but there was a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

After a long silence, Han Sanping put down the plan.

"The proposal is very professional, not like something a novice would do." He looked at Yang Guangming. "A budget of four million is more than enough for a film with such a realistic subject matter. Did you raise the funds yourself?"

"Yes, my family is supportive, so funding isn't a problem," Yang Guangming said confidently.

Han Sanping pondered for a moment and said, "Guangming, I have high hopes for your script. You're a genius, the top scorer in the national college entrance examination, and I believe you can do a good job. Logically speaking, as a student of the Beijing Film Academy and this is your first time directing a feature film, the film studio should provide strong support. But as you know, the studio's funds are not plentiful right now..."

He paused, then changed the subject: "However, your project does have potential. How about this, Beijing Film Studio can participate as a producer, investing 400,000 yuan for a 10% stake, while also providing support in terms of equipment and personnel. The studio will assist with the entire process of project initiation, approval, and distribution. What do you think?"

Yang Guangming originally only hoped that the film studio could lend its name to the production and assist in the project's approval. Unexpectedly, Han Sanping directly promised to invest 400,000 yuan. Although the percentage was not high, it showed his attitude.

"Thank you, Director Han!" Yang Guangming stood up and said sincerely, "With the support of Beijing Film Studio, I have even more confidence."

"Sit down and talk," Han Sanping waved his hand. "I also value talent. Chinese cinema needs fresh blood and good works. Your script has the potential to win awards. If you make it well, it might even go international."

He looked at Xie Fei: "Director Xie, your student is remarkable. At seventeen, he has such vision and depth; his future is limitless."

Xie Fei smiled: "Yes, that's why I, as a teacher, have to give it my full support."

"I'll have the factory expedite the project approval process," Han Sanping said to Yang Guangming. "You can start assembling your team now. Be careful in selecting the core creative personnel, such as the assistant director, cinematographer, and art director. If you need anything from the factory, feel free to contact me."

"Okay, thank you, Director Han." Yang Guangming thanked him again.

It was noon when I came out of the Beijing Film Studio.

Yang Guangming and Xie Fei found a small restaurant nearby for a meal.

Xie Fei was in a good mood. "Director Han is a man of vision and courage. The fact that he made the decision so quickly and is willing to invest part of the money shows that he really thinks highly of your project."

"Thanks to the teacher's introduction."

"I'm just a middleman; the key is your script," Xie Fei said seriously. "Guangming, the project is basically approved now. The real challenge is yet to come. Filmmaking is a complex undertaking; you have to consider every aspect. You're the director, and this is your first time directing, so the pressure will definitely be immense. You need to be mentally prepared."

“I understand,” Yang Guangming nodded. “I will take it one step at a time.”

"Does the creative team have any ideas yet?" Xie Fei asked.

"I have some initial ideas." Yang Guangming had plans for the morning. "I'd like to ask Mr. Gu Changwei for photography. His image style is delicate and suitable for this film. As for art direction, I'd like to ask Mr. Huo Tingxiao. He has a very good grasp of art direction for realistic subjects."

“They are indeed a good match.” Xie Fei nodded. “If you need my help, just say so.”

"If I need anything, I certainly won't be polite to the teacher."

After dinner, Xie Fei returned to school, while Yang Guangming had Huang Bo drive him home. (End of Chapter)