Huayu: Are you even sitting up straight? You're going to be the director?

Chapter 1: If Lu Chuan can film it, why can't I?
"Have you heard? Senior Brother Lu Chuan's new movie project has been approved, and they're starting to cast actors now."

Do you think actors can be recruited by the Beijing Film Academy?

"Among our graduating class, only Sister Mi has a chance. What chance do the others have? All the big directors are going to the Central Academy of Drama to find actors!"

"Damn, don't even mention it, it hurts my heart to think about it! Who was the guy who started this whole thing, casting directors from the Beijing Film Academy for actors from the Central Academy of Drama? We're really in a terrible situation."

"I heard that Senior Brother Lu revised this script many times, all for the 70th anniversary of Nanjing next year. It's really not easy."

With such a big director directing, I wonder who will ultimately get the role. I'm so envious!

"It seems this script narrowly escaped death. It was rejected many times, but it was only approved after I met with someone at ZNH. I also heard from classmates at the Central Academy of Drama that the script was shown to the goddess Gao Yuanyuan, and there are rumors that there are even scenes of nudity in it."

Everyone around was stunned when he said that!

Many people's eyes lit up!
The focus shifted instantly.

"Did Gao Yuanyuan appear completely nude in the photos?"

"You're dreaming. Even if I had it, would I show it to you?"

"I'm saying, you bunch of grown men talking about these things in class, doesn't that really count as sexual harassment?"

Amidst the cacophony around him, Cao Zhong felt that the last speaker sounded somewhat familiar—a high-pitched, shrill voice, as if floating on his throat, with a hint of sarcasm.

"I was just joking, Honey. You can't just label us like that just because you were the '2006 Newcomer King'! That's slander."

"Be careful this gets back to Gao Yuanyuan. She's a senior, and you'll all be in deep trouble!"

The sound continued to bombard Cao Zhong's ears. He finally opened his eyes, but looked completely bewildered. The person in front of him seemed to be Yang Mi.

She just doesn't look quite like the Yang Mi I remember. Her skin is a bit darker, with a hint of red, and she's thin and petite with a slightly square chin.

Her fair skin was completely different from the one Cao Zhong remembered.

Then, turning to look at the other people, some I recognized and some I didn't. There seemed to be a woman named Shanshan, and the other one with the long face was the actress who had hung out with Jia Ling in my past life.

"Nephew, did you not wake up properly this morning?"

Yang Mi nudged Cao Zhong's shoulder.

“I accepted your request to come back and act in ‘Beijingers’ with you. If you don’t perform well and cause me to fail my acting exam, I’ll really strangle you.”

His eyes were sleepy.

Everything happening in front of me was too bizarre, and my mind was a complete mess.

Cao Zhong was caught off guard.

When all the memories had been gathered, Cao Zhong was somewhat bewildered.

"Is this rebirth? Or time travel? I can't tell, I can't tell at all!"

In his previous life, Cao Zhong did consider taking the art exam when he took the college entrance exam, because he had excellent photography skills, his family owned a photography studio in Shandong Province, and he had also learned a very good foundation in fine arts before the college entrance exam.

However, due to his family's intervention, he did not participate in the art exam and was eventually admitted to East China Petroleum University, where he studied a terrible math major. Upon graduation, his monthly salary was only a thousand or so yuan, and it dragged on until it reached his thirties.

Later, after making a little money writing novels, I stepped out of my comfort zone and entered the entertainment industry, where I helped draw storyboards.

To catch up with the schedule, he made tremendous efforts, analyzing and recording countless films, both domestic and international, frame by frame.

Before he even got in, people in the entertainment industry said he'd made a fortune.

Once they got inside, they could only film twelve-episode TV series.

By his forties, he had accomplished nothing.

In this life, he is still Cao Zhong, the home he remembers is still the same home, and his parents are still the same parents. The only difference is that this time his parents allow him to take the art exam, and he passes it.

He is currently a sophomore in the first semester of his sophomore year at the Beijing Film Academy, in the 2005 class of the Acting Department.

They are in class now, about to start their lesson, "Film and Television Performance Training" by teacher Li Hao.

But actually, this course isn't the most important. By the next semester, the school isn't focusing on course credits anymore. As long as you pass the exam, there are no participation credits. The most important thing is the one-act play that must be completed before January.

Yang Mi also returned for this drama.

The play "Beijingers" that Yang Mi just mentioned is a one-act play chosen by several classmates in this class. It is a three-act play by Mr. Cao Yu.

The story revolves around the decline of a large feudal family in Beiping (Beijing), showcasing the collapse of the feudal system through the tragedies of three generations.

Yang Mi will be playing the role of Su Fang, who is considered a second-generation character.

Cao Zhong will be playing a character named Zeng Ting, who is a third-generation descendant.

In terms of kinship, she is my aunt.

This is also why Yang Mi called Cao Zhong her nephew just now.

To be honest, Cao Zhong felt a little numb, but he couldn't help feeling pleasantly surprised.

"Could this be considered an opportunity given to me by heaven?"

In my past life, one wrong step led to another.

After changing careers, Cao Zhong discovered that he really loved those lights and shadows, those narratives, those dreams, and leaving his own mark.

But because of the different choices, the results are naturally very different.

After briefly reflecting on his past life's efforts to re-enter the entertainment industry, Cao Zhong suddenly stood up. He suddenly realized that his memory was exceptionally good! Those films from his past life seemed to be engraved in his mind!
"Um?!"

Cao Zhong clenched his fist suddenly.

Why does it feel like she could switch careers? If she doesn't become a director, who would she be letting down?
Scriptwriting, storyboarding, cinematography—aren't you proficient in all of them?

Even though he graduated with a degree in mathematics, he could easily calculate the cost of a straw hat when doing accounting for the production crew!
Not to mention that he clearly knows the future development of the times: Bitcoin, ByteDance, miHoYo, Pop Mart, betting on the Chinese national football team to lose... there are too many ways to make money!
Thinking of this, Cao Zhong was overjoyed.

……

"You scared me! I thought you were going to beat me up if I called you 'nephew'."

"Hey Lao Cao, is something wrong with you? You were both confused and laughing just now."

Yang Mi shuddered and patted her flat chest with one hand.

Cao Zhong glanced at her. At this moment, Yang Mi was not the same as Da Mi Mi. She was probably able to accelerate at the airport.

"Look again, and I'll gouge your eyes out!"

Yang Mi also saw Cao Zhong's gaze, clenched her fists, and said fiercely.

After all, she was a 20-year-old young woman who had been in the entertainment industry for so long, and she clearly saw the look in Cao Zhong's eyes just now.

One glance at Brother Ding!
"I might be somewhat interested if you were talking about Gao Yuanyuan, but you, save your breath."

Cao Zhong's reply infuriated Yang Mi.

But he acted as if nothing had happened and continued to ask questions.

"I was a little dazed just now, but I overheard you guys saying that someone's movie project has been approved?"

"Brother Lu Chuan!"

“Lu Chuan? What movie is he in?” Cao Zhong frowned, racking his brains, but couldn’t recall what movie Lu Chuan had made in 2006.

"I don't know the specific name, but it seems to be about Jinling," Yang Mi said.

"Next year is the 70th anniversary of Nanjing, and many directors, including Director Lu, Director Zhang Yimou, Director Tang Jili, as well as many directors from the United States and Germany, are applying for this opportunity, even willing to make co-productions with us. Senior Brother Lu's project is the first to be approved. It is an honor for our Beijing Film Academy."

Zhang Xiaofei added, recalling the long-faced man next to Jia Ling.

Cao Zhong's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

"Nanjing, Nanjing!"?
It seems like only this movie can do it. Cao Zhong knows all of Lu Taro's movies like the back of his hand, having seen them all and remembering them vividly.

In his past life, he knew this movie was released in 2009, but it was already in the works in 2006? He just heard them say that the script was revised countless times?

Cao Zhongren was numb.

After dozens of revisions,
This is all you've come up with?

It's all tilted to the side, like it's gone to grandma's house!

This was the first time Cao Zhong had known that there were so many stories behind "Nanjing, Nanjing!"

Zhang Yimou and Tang Jili were also involved?

"The Flowers of War"? Isn't that a 2011 movie?
Cao Zhong has absolutely no recollection of Tang Jili's films.

However, he was quick-witted and waited until Cao Zhong had reacted before glancing at Zhang Xiaofei.

"The first project to be successfully approved, the honor of Beijing Film Academy? 'Nanjing, Nanjing!'?"

Cao Zhong didn't know how these words were put together.
A man as pure as a blank sheet of paper, he is a teacher and a virgin.

If you put this into any genre of movie—martial arts, detective, science fiction, idol, romance—this is the template for the male lead.

But the kind of movie that Lu Chuan wants to make is the only one that won't do!

Because invaders cannot be simple and naive! Nor do they deserve to be simple and naive.

Using such words to describe invaders is a desecration of language!
Cao Zhong fell silent.

But the people in front of him were all nodding.

The face matched this time.

Yang Mi nodded, Yuan Shanshan nodded, and Jiao Junyan looked on with envy.

He watched as his classmates nodded in agreement with what Zhang Xiaofei was saying.

Cao Zhong was very unhappy.

Having been reborn, he couldn't bear not to torture Lu Chuan a little!

What a waste of my life!

But the movie hasn't been made yet, so how can they torture people?

Cao Zhong felt very frustrated.

Suddenly, Cao Zhong had a sudden realization.

Although we can't interrogate Lu Chuan's films or write reviews to criticize him now, there are other ways.

People say you're an honor to the Beijing Film Academy because you've brought glory to the academy by making this kind of film.

But Cao Zhong knew that the movie wouldn't be released for another three years.

So, whatever praise you receive, just turn it into praise for me, right?
It's Nanjing's 70th anniversary.

This commemorative film—you can make it, but I can't?

Not only will I take pictures, I'll take pictures while stepping on your face.

Cao Zhong instantly knew what he needed to do next!
(End of this chapter)