Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 68, Section 67: Huo Jianqi
Tuesday, July 30, 1996.

The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the conference room in the Beijing Film Studio's administration building, illuminating the old-fashioned wooden tables and chairs, while fine dust particles floated in the air.

The ceiling fan spun slowly overhead, trying to dispel the sweltering heat of Beijing's summer.

The "Harmony in the Family Brings Prosperity in All Things" meeting will be held here.

Wang Sheng pushed open the heavy wooden door of the conference room. There were already seven or eight people sitting inside, talking in twos and threes in low voices, surrounded by smoke—ashtrays were standard equipment in conference rooms these days.

Upon seeing Wang Sheng enter, everyone lowered their voices and focused their attention on the young "project leader."

Curiosity, scrutiny, and even a hint of barely perceptible suspicion intertwined silently in the air.

"Mr. Wang, you're here early!"

Director Shi Dongming stood up with a smile to greet him. He seemed to be in good spirits today and took the initiative to introduce Wang Sheng: "Come, let me introduce you all. This is Wang Sheng, the general manager of Shengying Media and the person in charge of our 'Harmony Brings Prosperity' project."

"Hello everyone, I am Wang Sheng. Thank you all for coming today." Wang Sheng smiled, his attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, and his gaze swept steadily over everyone present, shaking hands with each of those who stood up.

Shi Dongming introduced them one by one: "This is cinematographer Zhao Xiaojun, a veteran in the factory, with rich experience in camera work... This is lighting technician Qian Weiguo, his skills are beyond question... Art director Yu Lan, she has a very meticulous grasp of the scenes... This is production manager Zhou Wei, responsible for the daily coordination and logistical support of the crew, he is very attentive..."

Wang Sheng listened attentively, shook hands with each teacher who was introduced, exchanged brief greetings, and noted down their names and positions.

These are all technical backbones within the Beijing Film Studio system, with rich experience, and are the cornerstone of the project's smooth execution.

Finally, Shi Dongming led Wang Sheng to a man who looked to be in his thirties, with a gentle and refined demeanor and wearing glasses, sitting by the window. His tone became particularly solemn: "Mr. Wang, this is a strong ally I specially invited for you, Huo Jianqi, Director Huo."

Although Director Huo is young, he has a solid foundation, unique ideas, and has participated in several films before, so he has a very good artistic sense.

This time, he'll be your assistant director, helping you manage the set and coordinate the production, so you can focus more on the director's overall vision and the actors' performances.

Wang Sheng was shocked.

He was indeed pleasantly surprised.

Huo Jianqi!
This is the director who later won numerous awards for works such as "Postmen in the Mountains" and "Warm Spring," and is known for his beautiful visuals and delicate emotions.

He just finished filming his debut film "The Winner" last year. Although it didn't do well at the box office, he is already recognized as a promising talent within the studio, with profound artistic cultivation.

Shi Dongming's decision to appoint such a rising star as his assistant, a "newcomer," demonstrates the factory's high regard for the project and for Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng immediately reached out and grasped Huo Jianqi's hands tightly: "Director Huo! I've heard so much about you! Director Shi, this is really... what can I say! It's such a waste of your talents to have you assist me in making this TV series. I'm both grateful and humbled!"

Huo Jianqi stood up with a smile. He was very tall and had a humble attitude. He pushed up his glasses and said, "President Wang, you are too kind. This is a project at the factory, and it was a task personally assigned by Director Shi. I will definitely do my best. It's not a waste of my talents. We should learn from each other and work together to make a good film."

Shi Dongming chuckled and patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder: "Shengzi, don't feel pressured. Jianqi is one of us, reliable and hardworking. You two complement each other perfectly—one is quick-witted and understands the market, the other understands art and has experience. With this team, I'm sure this play will be a success!"

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone sat down again.

At the oval conference table, Wang Sheng naturally sat in the head seat, with Shi Dongming and Huo Jianqi on either side, and the heads of other departments sitting in order.

Wang Sheng cleared his throat, and the meeting room immediately fell silent.

In front of him lay the script of "Harmony Brings Prosperity" and a brand-new notebook.

"First of all, I would like to thank Director Shi again for building such a strong team for our project, and also thank Director Huo and all the teachers for joining us despite their busy schedules." Wang Sheng's opening remarks were concise and powerful: "Time is tight and the task is heavy, so let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point." He picked up the script and began to explain the project's positioning and overall requirements to the entire core team.

"Our show, 'Harmony Brings Prosperity,' has a very clear positioning: it's a 'family comedy.' The goal is to air during the Spring Festival so that people can enjoy it, have a good time, and feel the warmth of family and the festive atmosphere of the New Year. Therefore, the overall tone should be cheerful and warm, and the comedic effect should be natural and relatable. It shouldn't be overly funny, but rather make people smile knowingly."

He looked at photographer Zhao Xiaojun and lighting technician Qian Weiguo: "Master Zhao, Master Qian, in terms of image style, I require rich colors and soft lighting to create a warm and cozy family atmosphere."

Use fixed camera positions more often, keep them steady, and use fewer flashy moving shots. We're telling a story, not conducting a visual experiment.

For indoor scenes, especially those set in a "home," the lighting should be bright and airy, creating a sense of real life, not like a stage play.

Zhao Xiaojun and Qian Weiguo listened attentively, nodding occasionally. Zhao Xiaojun added, "Understood, Director Wang. We will scout locations in advance and design camera positions and lighting based on the actual environment to ensure the quality of the footage."

Wang Sheng then turned to art director Yu Lan: "Director Sun, the art direction is key. The story is set in a northern city family in the mid-1990s, so the props and furnishings must be realistic and down-to-earth."

The old man's house should have some old things to show its age and the traces of life; the son-in-law's house should be decorated to reflect his good economic conditions, but it should not be too ostentatious.

Especially the details associated with the identity of 'Grandma Yu,' such as ill-fitting old clothes and a slightly comical headscarf, need to be exaggerated yet believable.

Yu Lan took out her notebook and quickly took notes. She looked up and said, "Director Wang, don't worry. I will study the script carefully, do a good job of character analysis and environment setting diagrams, and ensure that every scene conforms to the character's identity and the needs of the plot."

Then, Wang Sheng said to production manager Zhou Wei, "Director Zhou, I'll leave the production work to you. The filming period is tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-September and is expected to be completed within three weeks."

You need to produce a detailed shooting schedule and budget list as soon as possible.

Personnel scheduling, site coordination, food, accommodation, transportation, and material support – all these complex tasks are entrusted to you.

In particular, we need to communicate and confirm the actors' schedules in advance with Mr. Zhao Benshan, Mr. Guo Da, and Ms. Song Dandan to ensure a smooth filming process.

Zhou Wei, experienced and composed, nodded: "Director Wang, I've already started. The first draft of the budget and schedule will be ready this week. I will personally oversee the actor coordination to ensure everything goes smoothly."

Finally, Wang Sheng looked at Huo Jianqi beside him, his tone shifting to one of consultation and respect: "Director Huo, you are an expert in on-site execution and actor performances, so we will have to rely on you more."

I will grasp the overall direction and rhythm, but I need your help in controlling the specific scene arrangement, camera transitions, and subtle adjustments to the actors' performances, especially when acting alongside veteran actors like Mr. Zhao, Mr. Guo, and Mr. Song, to ensure the performances are just right, both natural and comedic.

Huo Jianqi listened quietly as Wang Sheng methodically arranged the various tasks, his gaze gradually shifting from initial curiosity and observation to focus and approval.

He might have had doubts about whether this young "boss" really understood filmmaking, but at this moment, Wang Sheng's clear thinking, precise grasp of the requirements of each department, and clear conception of the overall style of the project made him seem more like a confident and mature producer and director than a novice.

Upon hearing Wang Sheng's words, Huo Jianqi responded sincerely, "Mr. Wang, you are too modest. Your positioning of the project and the requirements of each department are very clear and professional, and I already have a good understanding of it. Rest assured, I will do my best to cooperate with you on-site and help you implement your ideas in every shot. As for the actors' performances, we can study and discuss them together to strive for the best results."

Wang Sheng felt reassured by Huo Jianqi's sincerity and professionalism. He concluded, "Okay, let's proceed in this direction. I will finalize and distribute the script this week. Please all teachers, according to today's arrangements, begin preliminary preparations as soon as possible. Next week, we'll try to hold another preliminary preparation meeting to refine the storyboard and shooting plan. Meeting adjourned!"

As the meeting ended, everyone stood up, and the sounds of chairs being moved and conversations filling the conference room.

The heads of each department stepped forward to shake hands with Wang Sheng and Huo Jianqi again, exchanging specific details. The atmosphere was noticeably warmer and more relaxed than at the beginning of the meeting.

While packing up his notebook, Huo Jianqi whispered to Wang Sheng, "Mr. Wang, your arrangements just now were very thoughtful and your thinking was very clear. It seems that I, as the assistant director, can learn a lot from you."

Wang Sheng smiled and said, "Director Huo, let's learn from each other. You're a professional, and there are many things I still need to learn from you. Let's work together to make this first film a success!"

(End of this chapter)