Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 313, Section 311: Inspecting the Northeast

In September, the summer heat gradually subsides in China, and the sky is high and the clouds are light.

As universities across the country gradually reopen, the streets of Beijing are filled with young faces dragging suitcases, their expressions a mix of naivety and anticipation.

However, all of this has little to do with Wang Sheng.

He spent several days in Beijing overseeing the post-production of "The Proposal," and the rough cut basically met his expectations.

The chemistry between Li Bingbing and Wang Zhiwen was unexpectedly good. They perfectly portrayed the subtle feelings between adult men and women, which were a mix of probing, calculation, and irresistible attraction.

After explaining the direction of the retouching and initial music selection, Wang Sheng handed over the follow-up work to the post-production team led by executive director Wu Yiyi.

His next major plan is to travel north.

On September 6, a flight that took off from Beijing landed at Shenyang Taoxian Airport.

Wang Sheng, accompanied by his chief assistant Li Tingting and a group of entourage, arrived at this important northeastern city, known as the "eldest son of the Republic," in a small entourage.

The purpose of this trip was clear: first, to inspect the construction progress of the "Northeast Film and Television Cultural Tourism Base"; second, to learn about the filming of the long-form TV series "Crossing the Guandong"; and third, to take a look at the two "China Film Grand Cinemas" in Shenyang that are currently under renovation.

At the foot of the aircraft steps, a deputy director of the Arts and Literature Division of the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department, relevant officials from the Shenyang Municipal Government Office, and leaders from the Qipanshan Development Zone Management Committee were already waiting. The entourage wasn't particularly large, but it was of sufficient importance, demonstrating the local government's attention to Wang Sheng and the capital and projects behind him.

"President Wang, welcome, welcome! You must be tired from your journey!" The deputy director of the publicity department, who was in charge, warmly greeted him and shook hands.

"You're too kind, leaders. We're the ones who have bothered you." Wang Sheng greeted everyone with a polite smile, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

After exchanging pleasantries, the convoy did not enter the city center, but instead drove directly to the Qipanshan International Scenic Tourism Development Zone in the northeast of Shenyang.

On the bus, the accompanying development zone leader acted as a guide, pointing to the receding fields and emerging mountains outside the window: "President Wang, you see, this area is our core planning area. According to the agreement and planning drawings, the land leveling and basic pipeline network of the three main areas of the first phase project—'Immigrant Village,' 'Forest and Snowfield,' and 'Old Fengtian Street'—have all been completed. The main buildings are being constructed during the golden period before winter..."

Wang Sheng looked out the window, his gaze calm.

The choice of Qipanshan was made after careful consideration.

This location is conveniently situated near the city center, boasts a beautiful ecological environment with mountains and water, making it ideal for creating scenes depicting different seasons and landscapes. Moreover, land prices are relatively affordable, and there is strong policy support.

More importantly, Shenyang and even the entire Liaoning province have long yearned for high-quality projects that can boost tourism and enhance the province's cultural image.

Approximately forty minutes later, the convoy arrived at the project site.

Looking around, the once somewhat barren land is now a bustling construction site.

Tower cranes stand tall, scaffolding is densely packed, and workers are busy like ants.

The sounds of tamping earth, the roar of the mixer, and the clanging of metal mingled together.

In Wang Sheng's and others' plan, this film and television city was by no means just a few imitation ancient buildings.

It aims to recreate the typical settlement patterns formed during the migration of people from within the Great Wall to Northeast China from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China.

From simple dugouts and shacks to gradually taking shape villages of adobe houses with immigrant characteristics, and then to commercial streets with Fengtian characteristics, the aim is to be as close as possible to historical authenticity in terms of architectural style, street scale, and material texture.

Surrounded by a group of officials and project leaders, Wang Sheng, wearing a white safety helmet, went deep into the construction site for inspection.

“President Wang, this is the ‘Immigrant Village’ area. Look at the rammed earth technique used in the walls. We specially invited an old craftsman from Shandong Province to provide guidance, striving to create that sense of weathering and vicissitude.” The project’s chief engineer explained in detail from the side.

Wang Sheng reached out and touched the newly rammed earth wall, feeling its rough yet solid texture, and nodded: "Details are key. Every brick, every tile, every door, and every window must withstand the test of close-up shots. We're not making disposable sets; we're creating a real set that can be used repeatedly and is durable."

"Understood! Mr. Wang, please rest assured that all the timber is genuine, and the bricks and tiles are custom-made according to traditional techniques. Chairman Han Sanping also emphasized this point during his last inspection." The project manager quickly assured him.

Wang Sheng then inquired about the project schedule, material reserves, and winter construction plans, and the other party answered them one by one, clearly showing their great concern for the project.

After leaving the "immigrant village", we drove to the filming location of the TV series "Crossing the Guandong" not far away.

The film crew is shooting a major scene in the "Old Fengtian Street" area.

This street is the most completed part of the first phase of the film and television city project. The bluestone road is paved smoothly and has a sense of history. The signs of shops, taverns, inns and pharmacies on both sides sway slightly in the autumn wind. Although the interior is still unfinished, the exterior has basically presented the urban style of the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.

Director Huo Jianqi was sitting behind the monitor, completely focused.

He was wearing a slightly worn jacket, his brow furrowed, clearly dissatisfied with some detail.

"Cut!" Huo Jianqi shouted to stop, picked up the walkie-talkie, "Props team, the third signboard from the right, yes, the one with 'Fulong Silk Shop,' the color is too new, age it! Immediately! And extras, don't walk too fast, you're out here to make a living, not to go to a market!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority and a meticulous attention to detail.

Wang Sheng did not immediately step forward to disturb them, but stood on the periphery and watched quietly.

He chose Huo Jianqi to direct "Crossing the Guandong" because he valued Huo's accurate capture of the spirit of the times and his unique aesthetic style.

The picturesque rural scenery and delicate, subtle emotional expression in "Postmen in the Mountains" prove that Huo Jianqi has the ability to perfectly combine grand historical narratives with individual destinies and regional customs. "Crossing the Guandong" requires not only a magnificent epic of migration, but also the joys and sorrows of countless individuals in the torrent of the times, and a calm yet powerful narrative tone. Huo Jianqi is undoubtedly the best choice for this role.

After a while, Huo Jianqi noticed Wang Sheng and his group and quickly got up to greet them.

"Mr. Wang, you've arrived." Huo Jianqi shook hands with Wang Sheng, his face showing the weariness and focus typical of someone in the creative process.

"Director Huo, thank you for your hard work. How's the progress?" Wang Sheng asked.

"It's alright, but we always want to refine the details a bit more." Huo Jianqi sighed, then his eyes lit up again. "However, the scenery here really helped a lot. Being in it makes it easy for the actors to find their footing. It's much better than piecing things together in a film studio."

Wang Sheng nodded, his gaze sweeping across the film set.

He saw Li Youbin (who plays the male lead Zhu Kaishan) and Sarina (who plays Wen Ta Niang), the main actors, wearing tattered cotton-padded coats and with "frostbite makeup" on their faces, resting and rehearsing their lines on the side.

The atmosphere on set was serious and focused.

“No rush, slow and steady wins the race. ‘Crossing the Guandong’ is a crucial step in building our ‘serious drama’ brand, and quality is our top priority.” Wang Sheng patted Huo Jianqi on the shoulder. “If you need any support, just ask the company.”

"I'm relieved to hear you say that, Mr. Wang," Huo Jianqi said gratefully.

He knew that without the full support and trust of the production company, it would be difficult for a director to fully realize his artistic ambitions for such a large-scale TV series.

After spending about an hour on set and watching the filming of two scenes, Wang Sheng was quite satisfied with the overall state of the crew and the quality of the production.

Huo Jianqi's use of light and shadow and his control of scene arrangement are indeed unique. He delicately weaves the hardships and hopes of venturing into Northeast China, as well as the affection and struggles of his family, into the lens.

After leaving the film studio, Wang Sheng listened to a detailed report from the Liaoning branch and the production department of the film crew regarding the budget, timeline, and subsequent publicity plans in the conference room of his hotel.

The following day, September 7, Wang Sheng, accompanied by local officials, inspected two "China Film Grand Cinemas" that were under renovation in Shenyang.

The first one is located in Zhongjie, one of the most bustling commercial districts in Shenyang.

The cinema was located on the top floor of a newly built commercial complex, occupying an entire floor and planned to have eight theaters, including a giant screen theater with nearly 400 seats (by the standards at the time).

Workers are currently installing interior partitions, installing seating, and testing equipment.

Wang Sheng carefully examined the cinema's visibility and acoustic design, and inquired about the fire safety inspection and equipment procurement.

Zhongjie, as the traditional commercial center of Shenyang, has a dense flow of people and strong purchasing power, making it an excellent location for a multi-screen cinema.

The second one is located in the rapidly developing Taiyuan Street commercial district of Heping District.

The area is surrounded by universities and has a high concentration of young consumers.

The cinema is relatively small, with six theaters planned, but the design is more fashionable and avant-garde.

Wang Sheng paid special attention to the comfort of the VIP lounge and the planning of the supporting service area.

He instructed the accompanying cinema manager: "In the future, the competition in the film market, besides film sources, will be about experience and service. We want audiences to feel that coming here to watch a movie is an enjoyment, not just watching a show."

Both cinema managers stated that, based on the current progress, the renovations and equipment testing will be completed by mid-October, and there will be no problem with them officially opening to the public in late October.

Liaoning Province has machinery factories that produce film equipment, so dispatching can be done very quickly.

Wang Sheng urged that construction safety and quality be guaranteed to ensure a successful opening.

The two-day itinerary was compact and efficient.

Wang Sheng's trip to Liaoning Province not only allowed him to gain firsthand knowledge of the progress of core projects, but also, through close contact with local officials at all levels, further solidified Shengying Media's strategic layout and political-business relations in Northeast China, as well as "China Film Shengshi Cinema Line".

Liaoning Provincial Television's "Liaoning News" and several local media outlets in Shenyang reported on Wang Sheng's inspection activities.

In the footage, Wang Sheng appears young, composed, and sharp-eyed. He speaks calmly with officials and demonstrates professional expertise when inspecting projects.

These reports, in turn, reinforced his image as a "leading figure in the Chinese film industry" in the public eye.

On the evening of September 9th, Wang Sheng declined the farewell banquet offered by the local authorities and took the last flight to Chuncheng, Jilin Province.

On September 10th, he inspected the China Film Grand Cinema in Changchun.

On September 11, I had a long talk with officials from relevant departments in Jilin Province, the director of Changchun Film Studio, and others about the future development of the cultural industry. Basically, it was all just empty talk.

On September 12, he visited Heilongjiang Province and inspected the China Film Grand Cinema in Harbin.

On September 13th, I had another long discussion with officials from relevant departments in Heilongjiang Province, the director of the Heilongjiang Film Studio, and others about the future development of the cultural industry...

(End of this chapter)