I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

Chapter 96 Lu Yang and "Brotherhood of Blades"

The Beijing Film Academy's standard screening room is located just north of the main building; it's a separate gray brick and stone building.

Inside are tiered stands, which can seat about three hundred people.

The seats are all made of burgundy velvet, and over the years, the armrests have been worn down by generations of students, giving them a strong sense of age.

A huge white screen hangs directly in front of you, and rows of old-fashioned projection lights hang overhead.

This place is absolutely a hall of fame in the hearts of Beijing Film Academy students.

Many classic films premiered here, and top domestic film figures often come here to give lectures and exchange ideas.

Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, and Jia Zhangke all stood in this hall, facing a full house of students, and shared their film dreams.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

The screening room was already full.

The students standing in the back row were so crowded that there was hardly enough room for them to stand.

Even the aisles were crammed with folding chairs, and some people were even sitting directly on the steps.

"Luckily we arrived early," Jiang Peiyao patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief, "otherwise there wouldn't have been any seats left."

She wore a beige knit sweater with dark blue jeans, her hair loosely tied in a ponytail, revealing a cute round face.

She was a freshman in the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy in 2012. Only three weeks into the semester, she was full of curiosity about everything on campus.

"Yeah," Song Yiren nodded, standing next to Jiang Peiyao. She was half a head shorter than Jiang Peiyao, with bangs and a baby face, looking like a high school student who hadn't grown up. "Senior Lu is quite popular. I see more students from our acting department than those from the directing department."

"Isn't everyone trying to get noticed by Senior Lu?"

Jiang Peiyao tilted her head and lowered her voice, "If he takes a liking to me, and I get a role in a suitable movie next time, then I'll become a movie star."

"Movie actors—" Song Yiren blinked. "I heard that movie directors don't like to use TV drama actors."

"That's why it's an opportunity."

"Lu Xuechang's first film, 'Blind Cinema,' won a major award at the Busan International Film Festival, and his second film, 'RV Adventure,' was also nominated for a Busan Film Festival film. A director of this caliber will definitely become the top art film director in China in the future. If you don't latch onto his coattails now, you won't be able to later."

As the two were talking, someone else came over and asked for a seat.

"Excuse me, this room is taken," Jiang Peiyao said sternly. "Didn't you see the magazine we left here?"

"Just sit down for a bit, are you saving a seat for someone else?"

"No way!" Jiang Peiyao glared. "She went to the bathroom and is coming back right away!"

The classmate left dejectedly.

Song Yiren chuckled to himself, "Your roommate clearly went to the cafeteria to buy sausages, not to the bathroom—"

"A white lie is necessary to reserve a seat!"

"But why isn't Sun Yi here yet?!"

Just then, another voice came from the side.

"Junior, is this seat taken?"

Come again?

So annoying!

Jiang Peiyao looked up angrily, "Didn't you see the magazine? You—"

"you----"

She was completely stunned.

There was a boy standing in front of me, wearing a black casual suit with a white T-shirt underneath, and a mask that covered half of his face.

But the eyes that were exposed seemed to be filled with starlight.

"Jiang—Jiang Chen, senior—"

Jiang Chen put his index finger to his lips: "Shh—"

"Is this seat alright?"

Jiang Peiyao's face flushed red instantly.

"Ah—nobody's here—" she stammered, "Senior, please sit down—"

She hurriedly picked up the magazine "Film Art," then suddenly remembered something, pulled a napkin from her bag, and vigorously wiped her face on the empty seat—

"Wipe it clean—it's all clean now—please sit down, senior—"

Song Yiren, standing to the side, stared wide-eyed, completely dumbfounded.

My sisters really want to go!

Jiang Chen smiled slightly. "Thank you, junior."

The lights went out.

A slight commotion arose in the screening room, then silence fell.

The screen lights up, and the opening credits appear.

RV Adventure

Director: Lu Yang; Starring: Xiong Naijin, Lian Kai, Ma Yuan. This is a road comedy that blends dark humor with satire of reality.

Lian Kai plays Xu Chaoyang, the male lead, who is the founder of a perfume empire. He is handsome, rich, and a complete scumbag with a messy romantic history.

A leukemia test result shattered his glamorous life in an instant. His only hope for a bone marrow transplant was to find his possible biological child.

So, he drove a campervan, took his unlucky male secretary (played by Ma Yuan), and was forced to embark on an absurd journey to find his 16 ex-girlfriends and create babies.

Xiong Naijin plays Liu Tong, a rebellious rock girl who sings in a bar and is struggling financially.

At the start of the journey, she threatened Xu Chaoyang with a knife and forced him to get into his RV.

A scumbag trying to redeem himself, a naive and inexperienced secretary, and a rebellious rock 'n' roll girl—these three form a peculiar trio, embarking on an embarrassing journey filled with mishaps.

They drove through cities and wilderness, encountering mostly ex-girlfriends whom Xu Chaoyang had wronged along the way.

There's a powerful businesswoman who's become a business rival, a decisive and efficient policewoman, and a Latin dance instructor who's being hunted by the underworld while leading them—

Every encounter is a chaotic farce, but also a repayment for past wrongs.

The film is fast-paced and has an absurd plot, full of awkward coincidences and raw humor, yet amidst the laughter and satire, it also encapsulates adults' reflections on relationships, responsibilities, and self-reconciliation.

In the end, this absurd journey finally came to a close.

After experiencing a series of trials with his exes, Xu Chaoyang shed his impetuousness, and this former scumbag seemed to understand the meaning of responsibility in his predicament.

During this unique experience, Liu Tong also let go of her stubbornness and regained the courage to move forward.

The three stood beside the RV, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun.

"Thank you for walking this path with me," Xu Chaoyang said softly.

"Thank you too, for helping me regain the courage to move forward," Liu Tong replied with a smile, her brows relaxed.

The RV started and drove off into the distance.

The screen dims, and the subtitles appear.

Next came the discussion session, where the students from Beijing Film Academy went all out, asking all sorts of questions.

Some people asked about the cinematography style, some asked about the choice of soundtrack, some asked if Xiong Naijin actually learned guitar to play the rock girl, and some asked if the film would be released in theaters and when.

Lu Yang answered each question calmly and unhurriedly, occasionally cracking a joke.

He had taught at the school for a period of time and was very experienced in answering these kinds of questions.

The sharing session ended, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

Lu Yang stood at the door and said goodbye to several school leaders.

Jiang Chen walked over and extended his hand: "Senior, I'm Jiang Chen."

"I know," Lu Yang said, grasping the hand. "It's very popular lately."

"Whether it's popular or not isn't important," Jiang Chen smiled. "What's important is that I want to treat you to a coffee, senior. The Blue Mountain coffee shop near the back gate of the school is pretty good."

Lu Yang was stunned for a moment.

He had other things to do today, but this young man in front of him is arguably the most popular young actor in the Chinese entertainment industry right now, without a doubt!

Having more friends means having more options, and since they're alumni, I should give them this much face.

"Okay," he nodded.

Blue Mountain Cafe.

Hidden in the alley behind the Beijing Film Academy is a printing shop and a spicy hot pot restaurant.

The shop is small, with seven or eight tables, and the walls are covered with graffiti and signatures from students of the Beijing Film Academy.

"Junior," Lu Yang spoke first, "just say what's on your mind. I have to go back to the editing room this afternoon."

Jiang Chen put down his cup and got straight to the point: "Senior, I heard you wrote a script. Are you planning to make a martial arts film?"

Lu Yang's expression was rather unpleasant.

This is almost becoming a joke in the industry.

He completed the first draft of this book in 2010, but after two and a half years of searching, he still couldn't find an investor.

The market for period martial arts films is cooling down, with investors generally rejecting them outright as soon as they hear they're in the martial arts genre.

Moreover, he is a new director, and his previous work, "Blind Cinema," was an art film without commercial backing.

Many friends advised him to change it to a modern film, such as the Imperial Guards becoming urban management officers.

He refused and stubbornly resisted.

We're now stuck in a vicious cycle —

Without investment, we can't cast actors.

Without actors, they can't get investment.

They're currently working hard to get Zhang Zhen, not because of his good looks, but mainly because of his fame.

Using his fame as an endorsement can attract investment.

But Zhang Zhen's agent said he would "think about it," and that they had been thinking about it for almost half a year.

"What, you want to invest?"

"No—I'd like to recommend myself, but I don't know if I have the chance?"

I definitely won't invest.

The first "Brotherhood of Blades" only grossed over 90 million yuan, less than 100 million yuan.

With an investment of 3000 million, and the revenue sharing with the cinemas, it's barely breaking even, and the cycle is long.

The most important thing is the film's reputation.

He had seen it in his previous life, and its Douban rating was consistently above 7.5. Ten years later, when he watched it again, the comments were still full of praise such as "a conscientious martial arts film", "a masterpiece of action scenes", and "a good movie that was let down by the box office".

It's not the kind of blockbuster that's popular, but it will stand the test of time and become a classic in the memories of a generation.

If he can get this role, it will be a real boost to his career.

He needs an opportunity to enter the film industry.

No matter how many TV dramas you act in, in the eyes of people in the film industry, you're just a "TV actor".

To break into the film industry, you need to have a standout film.

Films like "Brotherhood of Blades" are precisely the best stepping stones.

But ultimately, there's another reason—

Boys all have a martial arts dream in their hearts.

Who didn't, as a child, drape a bed sheet over themselves as a cape, brandish a tree branch as a sword, and wildly gesture "Ha! Ha! Ha!" in the yard?

Who hasn't fantasized about being Linghu Chong after reading "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," with a long sword and a pot of wine, roaming freely in the martial world?

Who hasn't secretly dreamed in bed late at night that one day they could wear a costume, ride a warhorse, and fight a real, exhilarating martial arts drama in front of the camera?

Jiang Chen also has it.

He didn't have the chance in his past life, but in this life, he definitely wants to try. Lu Yang looked at him for a while.

There's nothing wrong with the appearance.

Jiang Chen has a tall and slender figure with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. When he puts on period costume, he definitely has the look of a member of the Imperial Guard.

Moreover, he is currently very popular and generates a lot of buzz, so if his casting is officially announced, it will at least guarantee him attention in the early stages.

but----

"Junior," Lu Yang put down his coffee cup, his tone direct, "since we're all on the same side of the school, I might as well be frank with you."

"Even if you invest money in me, I won't take it. The male lead can't give it to you."

"Because making movies isn't done like that."

"Brotherhood of Blades is a martial arts film, not an idol drama. Shen Lian is an assassin, with blood on his hands and a knife in his heart. He doesn't need to be handsome, he needs to be ruthless. Your current image is that of a period drama heartthrob, a popular celebrity. Fans like your smile, your gentleness, and your deep affection."

"But Shen Lian didn't laugh. Shen Lian killed people, Shen Lian betrayed his brothers, and Shen Lian ended up sitting alone in the rain, covered in blood."

"You can't act."

Jiang Chen didn't say anything.

Lu Yang thought he was angry, or that he was going to explain himself.

Jiang Chen simply picked up his coffee, took a sip, and then put the cup down.

"Senior, what if I could help you attract investors?"

"Junior, making movies isn't about taking all the money from investors! Never mind, you'll understand later."

He stood up and picked up his coat: "Thank you for the coffee—"

Jiang Chen didn't move.

He sat in the chair, watching Lu Yang's back, and said only one sentence.

"What if I could secure investments from Wanda and China Film Group?"

Lu Yang's steps froze on the spot.

He slowly turned around, his eyes wide open, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

"What did you say?"

"Wanda," Jiang Chen repeated, "China Film Group, let's have both invest!"

"Do you want this money? Could the male lead give it to me?"

"Jiang Chen, you're really something! Forget the male lead, I'd call you 'Dad'!"

Jiang Chen:

'

The two then chatted for over an hour.

The more they talked, the more alarmed Lu Yang became.

Jiang Chen said that his neighbor's aunt's second maternal aunt's cousin's grandmaster was a legitimate successor of Mantis Boxing.

He has been practicing with them since he was a child.

He wielded all kinds of weapons, including swords, spears, and clubs, with great skill and flair.

To make sure he didn't believe me, I even showed him a video of a sword dance from the variety show "Happy Camp" on my phone. His initial movements were steady, his sword draw swift and powerful, and his flips and thrusts were incredibly graceful.

We also chatted about his insights on film dubbing—

Anyway, he was completely stunned.

He couldn't resist any longer, so he took the script out of his bag and handed it to Jiang Chen: "You—you take a look?"

I never expected this guy's understanding of the character to be so amazing!

"Director Lu, this script is fantastic!"

What kind of person is Shen Lian?

"He wasn't a chivalrous hero, he was just an ordinary person struggling in the mud. He wanted to get promoted, to make money, and to protect his brothers, but in the end, he couldn't protect anything."

"With every choice he made, he thought he was making the right one, but after each choice, he found himself to be wrong again. This is not a story of a bad person turning into a good person; it is a story of how a good person made one wrong thing after another."

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

"Director Lu, with the ending you wrote, Shen Lian sits alone in the rain. Viewers won't feel he's great; they'll feel he's miserable. But that misery is the truth about how ordinary people live!"

Lu Yang's face flushed red.

He spent two years writing "Brotherhood of Blades," visiting 37 investment companies and being rejected 37 times.

Everyone told him, "Martial arts films are dead," "Nobody watches period dramas," and "You're too idealistic."

Only him!

He understands me!

He understands me!

He suddenly felt that he might be going crazy.

They're actually seriously considering whether to cast Jiang Chen as the male lead, even if he can't attract enough investment.

But then I thought—

This guy understands scripts, music, and martial arts!

She understands him very well!

Besides being a popular celebrity, it seems that...

There aren't any major drawbacks, are there?

"Find some time to take me to meet the people from Wanda. You'll arrange things with China Film Group."

"Before that, write down your thoughts on sitting alone in the rainy night as a short biography of 3,000 words and send it to my email."

Jiang Chen laughed: "Alright!"