Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 57: I still prefer your rebellious side.
After leaving Han Sanping's office and greeting his assistant, Wang Sheng did not stop. He turned and went to the art creation office in the same building, which is called "Art Office" for short.

During the planned economy era, this was one of the true heartlands of the Beijing Film Studio. The approval, planning, artistic oversight, and even the life-or-death decision on scripts for all film projects in the studio had to be discussed by the Art Committee, and ultimately approved by this office and its head.

Although the market has become more open now and external investment has poured in, the Arts Office is still the core department of the Beijing Film Studio. When a script is submitted for review, it has to go through this department.

In addition to the above functions, the Arts Office also has several production teams. Each team is centered around a director. When there is a project, the director or assistant director will make a list of preferred actors based on the requirements of the script and the roles, and then contact the actors or their respective units through the Arts Office.

This was also Wang Sheng's purpose in coming to the art office.

The current director of the Arts Office is Shi Dongming, a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy. He has participated in the planning of films such as "Be There or Be Square" and is a proper academic filmmaker. He later served as the vice president and director of China Film Group.

At this moment, Shi Dongming is sitting behind his desk, reviewing a first draft of a script.

"Director Shi, are you busy?" Wang Sheng walked into the Arts Office, stepped over to Shi Dongming's workstation, and asked in a familiar tone.

Shi Dongming looked up and saw that it was Wang Sheng. His face immediately lit up with a smile. He put down his pen and stood up: "Oh, President Wang! What brings you here? Please have a seat."

As he greeted them, he subconsciously reached for the cigarette pack on the table.

Although Wang Sheng doesn't smoke, he was prepared. He took a few quick steps, pulled out an unopened pack of "Hua Zi" cigarettes from his pocket, deftly tore it open, popped out a cigarette, and handed the whole pack over: "Director Shi, have one."

"Oh, this is a good cigarette."

Shi Dongming smiled and took the lighter, lit it with the one Wang Sheng offered, took a deep drag, and exhaled the smoke, making the atmosphere even more harmonious.

Wang Sheng got straight to the point: "Director Shi, I'm here today because I need your help with something."

"Hey, why are you talking about trouble between us? If you, Mr. Wang, ask, I, Old Shi, will do it without hesitation." Shi Dongming spoke very eloquently. He had a nephew who worked at Shengying Media and earned a much higher salary and bonuses than he did at the factory, so he naturally had a very good impression of Wang Sheng.

"That's it."

Wang Sheng explained, "I've come up with a script and need to contact a few actors. I'd like to ask the Arts Office, on behalf of the factory, to inquire with Zhao Benshan, Guo Da, and Mr. Gong Hanlin to see if they are interested and available."

Upon hearing that this was serious business, Shi Dongming's expression became more earnest: "Zhao Benshan, Guo Da, Gong Hanlin... these are all big names. Did you bring the scripts? What kind?"

He subconsciously thought that the arts office needed to evaluate the project first.

Wang Sheng smiled and said, "It's just an outline right now, called 'Harmony Brings Prosperity,' a lively and festive family comedy. I plan to write the script myself."

"You made this up yourself?" Shi Dongming was slightly surprised, but quickly regained his composure.

Things are different now; Wang Sheng is certainly qualified to organize his own games.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay, no problem. It'll be easier to talk to them if the factory makes the contact. I'll have someone call and ask right away."

Shi Dongming glanced at a corner of the office and called out, "Xiao Han!"

"director."

A young woman stood up.

Shi Dongming instructed, "In the name of our Arts Office, contact the workplaces or relevant contacts of teachers Zhao Benshan, Guo Da, and Gong Hanlin. Tell them that there is a project in the factory, and the director and producer is Comrade Wang Sheng from Shengying Media. We would like to inquire whether they have any intention to cooperate and their availability. Be polite!"

"Okay, Director Shi, General Manager Wang." Xiao Han noted down the instructions and went to make the calls.

Shi Dongming turned back and asked curiously, "President Wang, what about the directors and assistant directors?"

"Director, I'm planning to give it a try myself."

Wang Sheng plans to become the first director of a Lunar New Year drama in mainland China, and then the first director of a Lunar New Year film in mainland China.

Wang Sheng: "The assistant director and other staff will definitely be drawn from the factory first, so as not to let the benefits go to outsiders."

Wang Sheng originally studied photography, so it's not surprising that he switched to directing.

Shi Dongming didn't doubt Wang Sheng's abilities. If he couldn't, he could work in middle school. Becoming a director wasn't difficult; the main thing was whether he had the opportunity.

He nodded and said, "Then I'll help you find a suitable deputy?"

"Sure, thank you for your support, Director Shi."

Wang Sheng didn't refuse; it's just a matter of courtesy.

Having achieved his goal, Wang Sheng chatted with Shi Dongming for a few more minutes about other recent projects at the factory before getting up to take his leave.

After leaving the arts office, Wang Sheng glanced at his watch; it was a little past four in the afternoon.

The summer sun was still blazing, casting long shadows on the floor through the corridor windows.

He took out his Nokia 2110, flipped to the contacts, and pressed the call button.

The phone rang a few times before being answered, and Li Xiaoran's lazy yet sweet voice came through: "Hello? Mr. Wang? You finally remembered me?"

"What are you doing?"

"What else can I do but read the script?" Li Xiaoran's voice carried an exaggerated sense of sorrow: "Just those few lines, I've read them over and over again, I'm almost sick of them. I am Murong Bai, the female disciple of Sima Xiao, the leader of the Tianyou Gang. I was killed by my master for trying to assassinate Yan Zhi."

She mimicked the tone of someone being executed.

Wang Sheng chuckled: "Isn't filming not starting until next month? What's the rush? I have something important to ask you: are you free tomorrow or the day after?"

"Yes, yes!" Li Xiaoran's voice instantly perked up: "What, Mr. Wang wants to visit me? Where are we going?"

She thought it was a date for just the two of them.

“I’ll take you out for some fresh air,” Wang Sheng paused, “and bring along my relative’s daughter. She’s bored at home during her vacation, so I promised to take her to the zoo or somewhere else.”

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Immediately, Li Xiaoran's voice lowered noticeably, carrying a hint of barely perceptible sourness: "Oh, so I was just an afterthought? You asked me out for the first time, and now you have to bring a 'third wheel'?"

Wang Sheng: "To tell you the truth, she's actually Director Han's daughter. If you can get along well with her... um? I don't need to spell it out, do I?"

what? !

Li Xiaoran quickly tried to cover it up, saying, "Oh, I was wrong, I was wrong, I just... I just said it offhand. Go, go, go! Of course I'll go! When? Where do we meet?"

His tone became positive again, even a little too positive.

Ah, women~

"Tomorrow morning, we'll discuss the exact time and place later. Just keep it a secret," Wang Sheng said.

"Okay! Oh, right..."

Li Xiaoran's voice suddenly lowered, taking on a sticky, seductive tone as she said, "Are you coming over tonight? You haven't seen the Somersault Cloud do its somersaults yet."

Wang Sheng: "..."

He subconsciously rubbed his lower back, inwardly marveling: the physical recovery ability of these dance students is truly absurd...

Damn it, I just grabbed it on a whim.

I'm only nineteen, what am I afraid of? Just do it!
Wang Sheng withdrew his hand: "Just wait to serve the emperor in bed."

"Okay, I'll cook then."

"Can you cook?"

Wang Sheng asked suspiciously.

He had watched Li Xiaoran's variety show, where she couldn't distinguish between light and dark soy sauce, didn't know how much salt to add, and needed multiple people to help her, earning her the nickname "voice-controlled cook".

"..."

Li Xiaoran really didn't know how to refute it.

She has been learning to dance since she was a child, and she has cooked very few times in her life.

Wang Sheng: "Let's go out to eat. It'll be 5:30. Wait for me at the entrance of Beijing Film Studio."

"Okay, I love you, I love you, mwah mwah mwah..."

(End of this chapter)