Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 229, Section 227: Inspiration

On the night of July 1, 1999, the lingering summer heat in Beijing gradually dissipated in the evening breeze.

After finishing a day of intense filming, the crew of "Flying Colors" returned to the hotel where the crew was staying, dragging his almost broken body.

Working more than 14 hours a day for half a month straight left even a young woman as energetic and determined as her feeling deeply exhausted.

She threw herself onto the not-so-soft single bed in the room, stared at the monotonous ceiling light, and spaced out for a few minutes.

You can't lie down, because if you do, you'll never be able to get up again.

She sat up abruptly, shook her head, and forced herself to wake up.

Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out a thick stack of books and notes—final exam review materials for first-year students majoring in acting at the Beijing Film Academy.

Filming "Flying Colors" consumed all her energy, but her school's final exams were not postponed because of it.

As a freshman, she must pass the basic courses. If she fails, not only will she lose face, but Mr. Wang may also think that she is not working hard enough and is restless.

"Sigh..." Fan Xiaopang sighed, rubbed his throbbing temples, and opened his notes on "Introduction to Art".

The dense handwriting and abstract theoretical concepts made her feel dizzy.

During the day on set, she is Wang Xiaojia, a high school student struggling to pass the exam; at night back in the hotel, she transforms back into Fan Xiaopang, a college student anxious about final exams.

This frequent switching of identities left her feeling mentally exhausted.

Under the lamplight, she forced herself to stay alert, muttering to herself the difficult definitions and theoretical schools of thought.

The pen tip moved unconsciously across the draft paper, leaving behind messy lines.

She didn't know how much time had passed when her eyes started to sting. She looked up at the clock in the room, and the hour hand was pointing to 7:50 p.m.

A thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

Tonight at 8 PM! CCTV Movie Channel!
The patriotic TV movie "Red Flag," directed by Director Wang, will premiere tonight!

This matter had already spread within the company, and it was said to be a gift for National Day, as well as an important appearance of the "major market rescue plan" on television, which was of extraordinary significance.

Although she was filming Mr. Wang's own movie, she was still very curious about another work that Mr. Wang personally directed, especially since she heard that this movie, "Red Flag," was made with great care and that it was released for free instead of commercial screening.

She immediately put down her pen, practically lunged at the bedside table, grabbed the TV remote, and turned it on.

The old CRT television made a soft "humming" sound, the screen lit up, and after a flash of static, the logo of the CCTV Movie Channel appeared. It was currently playing a program preview; there were still a few minutes until 8:00 PM.

Fan Xiaopang adjusted his posture, leaned against the headboard, and kept his eyes fixed on the screen.

A subtle mix of anticipation, learning, and even a touch of pride welled up in her heart.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou... in countless families across China, many people have, intentionally or unintentionally, tuned their televisions to CCTV Movie Channel.

Among them were movie fans who learned about the broadcast information in advance through newspaper program schedules; government officials who watched the show organized by their work units and wanted to savor it more after returning home; older generations who had a preference for patriotic themes; and ordinary viewers who were attracted by keywords such as "free," "tribute," and "Wang Sheng's new work."

In the residential area of ​​Beijing Film Studio, in Wang Sheng's home.

Wang Sheng's parents, Wang Baoguo and Zhang Xiulan, had been waiting in front of the television for a long time.

"It's starting! It's starting!" As the opening music began, Zhang Xiulan excitedly patted Wang Baoguo's arm.

Although Wang Baoguo outwardly maintained the composure of a family head, his slightly forward-leaning posture and focused gaze betrayed his inner turmoil.

In a traditional Western-style house in Shanghai.

Zhu Yongde rarely left work on time and went home. After dinner, he inexplicably asked his family to tune the TV to the Yangshi Movie Channel.

He wanted to see what kind of trouble Wang Sheng, the young man who evoked such mixed feelings in him, would cause this time.

Will it continue the success of "30 Days" and "The Pursuit of Happyness", or will it fail to adapt to this kind of mainstream theme?
In western Hunan, in a small town that had only recently been connected to cable television, director Huo Jianqi rose to fame after the success of "Postmen in the Mountains."

When the neighbors and villagers heard that his new film, which he co-directed, was being broadcast on CCTV, they all gathered in front of the town's only large color TV.

In the hotel room, Fan Xiaopang held his breath and concentrated.

On the television screen, there were no dazzling special effects or familiar celebrity faces. The scene began with the autumn of 1949 in Beiping, a city in a state of disrepair yet rife with undercurrents of tension.

The interweaving of black-and-white historical footage with meticulously recreated color scenes instantly transports viewers back to that moment that determined the fate of the nation.

The camera focuses on an engineer named Lin Heng, who wears glasses, an outdated old long gown, and has a stubborn personality with an almost obsessive rigor in his approach to technology.

When he received the task of designing and producing an automatic flag-raising device for the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China, the pressure of feeling both a great responsibility and facing numerous difficulties was conveyed through the screen.

Finding suitable metal materials to block the ball, solving the problem of unstable power supply in the square, persuading and uniting a group of craftsmen from different backgrounds within a limited time... one seemingly impossible challenge after another followed.

The film's pace is not fast, but its narrative is steady and its details are solid, vividly portraying the hardships, wisdom and sincerity of those small individuals behind the grand historical events.

As Fan Xiaopang looked at the materials, he forgot his fatigue and the pile of troublesome study materials on his bedside table.

Although she didn't have formal training in directing, as an actress, she could feel the "meticulousness" of this film.

The visual quality, the use of light and shadow, and the restraint and subtlety of the actors' performances all exude a "cinematic feel" that is different from ordinary TV movies.

Especially in several key scenes, such as Lin Heng racking his brains in the workshop late at night, staring at the blueprints and the rudimentary materials, the fine sweat on his forehead clearly visible under the light; or the group of craftsmen who gathered temporarily, arguing heatedly over debugging a component, but then showing a simple and satisfied smile after succeeding... these details are full of power.

"So this is how patriotic films can be made..." Fan Xiaopang thought to himself in amazement.

There were no empty slogans or deliberate attempts to evoke emotion; the stories were based on real events and well-developed characters to move people.

As the film reaches its climax, on the eve of the founding ceremony, the flag-raising device suddenly malfunctions. Lin Heng and his companions race against time to troubleshoot and repair it at the last minute, creating a tense atmosphere that makes one's palms sweat.

As dawn broke, the five-star red flag was raised smoothly to the strains of "The March of the Volunteers." The camera panned across the jubilant crowd in front of Tiananmen Square, and then across Lin Heng and others in a corner, exhausted but with tears in their eyes...

Fan Xiaopang realized that he had sat up straight without even noticing, and his nose felt a little sore.

She subconsciously glanced around the empty room, as if she could feel that at this very moment, in countless similar rooms, millions of viewers were just like her, captivated by the story on the screen.

At Wang Sheng's house, Zhang Xiulan had already wiped her eyes several times with a handkerchief. Wang Baoguo remained silent for a long time, then took a deep drag on his cigarette, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, and muttered, "This kid... took really good pictures."

In Shanghai, Zhu Yongde leaned back on the sofa, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He had to admit that Wang Sheng, that kid, was indeed something special.

For a film with such a strong patriotic theme to achieve this level of quality and emotional depth, it not only fulfills its mission but also attracts audiences, striking a perfect balance between commercial appeal and patriotic themes.

In a small town in western Hunan, people gathered in front of their television sets, expressing their admiration and pride.

As the end credits of "Red Flag" slowly rose, the majestic and heartfelt background music resonated in every household.

Fan Xiaopang turned off the TV, and the room suddenly became quiet, with only the faint sounds of the city night noise coming from outside the window.

She sat on the edge of the bed, motionless for a long time.

The faces of those nameless heroes in "Red Flag" still flashed through my mind, as did Lin Heng's eyes, which were full of faith and perseverance.

Comparing the character Wang Xiaojia that I am playing, one is a historical mission concerning national dignity, and the other is a life-changing reversal concerning personal destiny. They seem to be worlds apart, but at their core, they seem to have something in common - that is, the spirit of not giving up, not believing in fate, and fighting with all one's might for a goal!

A surge of inexplicable enthusiasm and a clear sense of purpose dispelled the fatigue she had accumulated over the days and the anxiety she felt in the face of academic pressure.

She picked up her "Introduction to Art" notebook again, her gaze hardening.

Wang Xiaojia was able to go from being a bottom-of-the-class student to a top university. Those predecessors were able to make the red flag fly high under such difficult conditions. How could Fan Xiaopang not even be able to handle a final exam?
Having chosen this path, and having received an opportunity that others could only dream of, she must live up to this good fortune, live up to Mr. Wang's trust, and, most importantly, live up to herself!

She took a deep breath and buried herself in her book again.

(End of this chapter)