Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: You're a Director, But You're a Casanova?

"I'll sign."

Upon seeing that the contract was in Nortel's format, Zhang Songwen didn't even bother to read the terms carefully, fearing that this windfall would slip away.

The cast is complete, but without top-notch historical background to back it up, this kind of hardcore, meticulously researched dialogue film would be a joke.

3 p.m., inside a teahouse.

Niu Yuehua, with the halo of being the top scorer in the Beijing Film Academy and the winner of the Berlin Golden Bear, successfully arranged to meet with Director Li of the Academic Affairs Office of Peking University and Director Wang of the Academic Affairs Office of Tsinghua University under the guise of cross-university cooperation to promote Chinese culture.

"It is an honor for the two directors to grace us with their presence." Niu Yuehua tactfully poured them some fine tea leaves he had picked from Tianzhuangzhuang, while secretly casting a spell that silently amplified desire and enveloped the private room.

"Director Xiao Niu, why are you contacting the academic affairs offices of both our schools when you're not filming at the Beijing Film Academy?" Director Li took a sip of tea and frowned slightly.

"My two directors, it's like this."

"I'm preparing a masterpiece that's destined to go down in film history, 'Peng Zu,'" Niu Yuehua began explaining his concept.

"The male protagonist has lived for nearly 5000 years and witnessed the rise and fall of Chinese civilization. Now he is hiding in modern society, working as a professor in the history department of China's top university." Niu Yuehua secretly cast the bait.

"If the movie is released, it will definitely cause a national sensation."

"So here's the question: which university did Peng Zu, a living fossil who had seen through 5000 years of history, ultimately choose to attend and which one did he consider the most prestigious?"

Driven by amplified desires, the two directors' competitive spirit was instantly ignited. This is no ordinary movie; it's a free test to declare to the entire nation which university truly represents the orthodoxy of Chinese culture.

Director Li from Peking University slammed his hand on the table. "Is there even a question? Peng Zu represents the orthodoxy of Chinese culture and the pinnacle of humanistic spirit."

"If he's going to go into seclusion, it will definitely be in the history department at Peking University. Only Peking University deserves to be a living fossil."

Director Wang from Tsinghua University sneered, "Ridiculous! Peng Zu lived for 4000 years, definitely because he was pragmatic and truth-seeking. Our Tsinghua University has a rigorous and pragmatic academic style, so he must be one of our Tsinghua people."

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Niu Yuehua sighed, feigning difficulty.

"But, Directors, the dialogue in the movie needs to be supported by rigorous and meticulous historical details, such as what bronze ware Peng Zu used in the Shang Dynasty, and what kind of wine he drank with Li Bai."

"My film crew is just a bunch of poor students. What if there are flaws in the final product? Wouldn't that tarnish the reputation of the school Peng Zu chose?"

"What kind of problem is this?" Director Li from Peking University immediately became anxious, took out his phone, and said, "I'll contact the senior professors in the history department right away, and send all the first and second-year doctoral students in the history department to do the historical research for your lines for free."

"We've even researched what chamber pots looked like in the Shang Dynasty, so that Peng Zu in the movie is a student at Peking University."

Director Wang from Tsinghua University was not to be outdone. "We'll lend you all our newly hired postdoctoral fellows, plus a set of original, rare historical materials from Tsinghua University's collection, free of charge. Peng Zu must be from Tsinghua University."

Niu Yuehua was secretly delighted to see the two school directors, whose combined age was nearly 100, arguing heatedly over a fictional character.

But he still appeared gloomy and dejected.

"The two directors are just too enthusiastic," Niu Yuehua said, hesitatingly.

"Actually, besides historical films, I have another movie, but I don't know if I should talk about it..."

The atmosphere in the private room had been brought to its peak by Niu Yuehua.

"What other films are there? Tell me quickly." Director Wang from Tsinghua University was now preoccupied with how to outdo Peking University.

Niu Yuehua pushed the outline of "The Night the Comet Came" to the center of the table.

"Besides this hardcore historical film, I also plan to shoot a hardcore science fiction film as well."

"This involves Schrödinger's cat, quantum interference, and the overlap of multidimensional parallel universes."

"This is a purely physics-based film where every choice the protagonists make creates new parallel worlds..."

Before he could finish speaking, Director Wang from Tsinghua University became anxious.

"Quantum interference. We know how to do that! When it comes to science, who dares to challenge Tsinghua University?"

"I'll assemble a national-level research team in quantum mechanics for you, and they'll do the physical logic deduction for your storyline for free."

Director Li from Peking University got angry. "Bullshit! The spacetime topology of parallel universes must be overseen by our Department of Physics at Peking University. We absolutely will not allow Tsinghua University to mislead students and disgrace Chinese science fiction in this movie."

Seeing that both sides were about to pull out their phones to call for reinforcements, Niu Yuehua, the master of maintaining balance, finally decided to close the net.

"Please calm down, both of you are leading figures in the field. Since both schools are willing to share their expertise, in order to avoid damaging the relationship, I have decided that the school where the protagonist teaches in the movie will be fictionalized as Jinghua University."

The two men's expressions changed, and just as they were about to speak, Niu Yuehua threw out his trump card.

"However, in the joint acknowledgments at the beginning and end of both films, I will include your esteemed university's logo, which will take up the entire screen."

"And it also notes that the film's chief historical advisory team consists of the Department of History at Peking University and Tsinghua University, and the film's chief quantum physics advisor consists of the Department of Physics at Tsinghua University and Peking University."

"Imagine, when these two movies are released, the whole country will see that the advisory teams behind these two masterpieces are the top two in the country. Isn't that 100 times more prestigious than simply announcing your names?"

Director Li and Director Wang exchanged a glance. Neither of them had come out on top, but neither of them had lost to their arch-rival.

Moreover, and most importantly, they didn't spend a penny and got endorsements from two hardcore dramas by Golden Bear award-winning directors for free.

The two university presidents: You guys came all this way for nothing, and even lost so much money? Do Tsinghua and Peking University still need to give up?

"Okay, it's settled then. The data and the advisory team will be ready tomorrow."

So, under the influence of the magic, the two left satisfied with the initialed joint statement.

……

The tea leaves he got for free from Lao Tian allowed him to access China's top think tank of arts and sciences for free.

If you were to hire someone, it would cost over a million, right? You'd need a team of that caliber, like the Big Pants, to personally handle it.

Now that the makeshift crew is set up, what do we do with the supporting actors...?

After all, we told Grandma Cui that we should use students from Beijing Film Academy, and even if we didn't use students from Beijing Film Academy, we couldn't use students from Central Academy of Drama.

Tong Yao and Tang Yan, these two free laborers, can only work as production assistants, serving tea and water, for the time being.

I suggest calling Teacher Cui to ask; he's sure to have some reliable and promising young talents willing to make guest appearances for free.

"Hello, is this Teacher Cui?"

"I'm Little Calf!"

"The production team is all set, so let's start filming this weekend. It won't interfere with your classes."

"Yes, there's another problem. I'm not often at school, so I don't know which classmates have good acting skills. I'd appreciate it if you could recommend a few reliable ones."

"Yes, yes, just bring it over then. I trust you completely!"

"Acting skills come first, looks are secondary. I don't do that 'selecting concubines' thing!"

……

On Friday night, Niu Yuehua drove his van to the entrance of Beijing Film Academy to pick someone up.

Besides Lao Tian, ​​who would frown at the sight of the bread truck, Lao Xie, who seemed indifferent, and Zhang Songwen, who was reserved, there were also a few students chatting together with their backs to each other, and Teacher Cui.

I'm so excited! Which senior will end up on my ship?

Senior Dong Xuan seems to be quite nice. What year was she in?

Wang Luodan is also good; she has good acting skills and a pretty face.

Holy crap! It's Yao Chen!

Niu Yuehua's face instantly turned even darker than Lao Tian's.