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

In early September, the lingering summer heat in Beijing remained fierce.

Huang Bo has finally returned from the set of "Migrant Workers".

"Oh my god, the last time I came to the school was the last time."

As Huang Bo walked toward the playground, he could occasionally hear people around him whispering and staring at him.

"That person is so ugly, they probably aren't from our school, right?"

"Shh, don't talk nonsense, that's from our school."

"Liu Yuehua, a sophomore majoring in directing, actually managed to win the Berlin Golden Bear with such an ugly person. It seems I have to listen to Director Liu's speech today."

Huang Bo's face stiffened. He pretended not to have heard anything and quietly walked away.

No, even if I'm ugly, does the fact that the film won the Golden Bear have nothing to do with me?

I really hate this world that judges people by their looks.

The playground was a sea of ​​camouflage uniforms as the freshmen military training mobilization meeting for the Class of 03 was underway. Zhu Yawen, Luo Jin, and a few others from Class of 02 were still whispering to each other, their eyes filled with barely concealed excitement.

Huang Bo, who had just arrived not far away, searched for a long time but couldn't find anyone he recognized, so he could only squat down alone in the shade of a tree.

Liu Yuehua, dressed in a black casual suit, walked slowly towards the podium, surrounded by school leaders like stars around the moon.

Freshmen who have just entered university all consider themselves the chosen ones, capable of easily defeating three gold medalists and kicking an Oscar.

The second-year students have already experienced the harsh realities of society, yet they are still complacent about getting a director's assistant position in a gay porn film.

Liu Yuehua, a sophomore, had just won two major awards at the Venice Film Festival and even earned $200 million in foreign exchange for the country with his film "Peng Zu".

With commendation from relevant departments, he is now a benchmark for cultural export in the entire Chinese film industry, and even the dean has to treat him with utmost respect when discussing the future of the industry.

"Students, today we are honored to have your outstanding senior, Liu Yuehua, the internationally renowned director who has just won glory for our country, to give you the first lesson of the new semester."

The school leaders' voices cracked with excitement, and thunderous applause erupted across the playground.

Liu Yuehua walked to the microphone, waved his hand, and the entire audience fell silent instantly.

Thousands of eyes were filled with a pilgrimage-like fervor.

Looking at these still-childish faces, Liu Yuehua didn't try to brainwash them like he had in Berlin.

He knew that too many people were watching him today, and some old fogies were secretly looking for his weaknesses with a magnifying glass. He couldn't show the same aggressiveness as in Berlin, but he would use a grander approach to leave his mark on this group of future pillars of Chinese cinema.

"Dear juniors, the dean just praised me as an internationally renowned director who has brought honor to our country. I am truly unworthy of such praise."

Liu Yuehua's gentle voice carried steadily to every corner of the playground.

"I'm standing here today not to talk to you about any profound art theories (because I haven't taken many classes), nor do I want to talk about my experiences in Venice (because I didn't spend any money to go shopping). What I want to talk to you about is what kind of Chinese film market you will face in the next 10 or 20 years."

The students in the audience were intrigued, and the school leaders also listened intently.

"I know that many of you have a burning desire to become sixth or seventh generation directors, to make those profound underground films that expose the suffering of humanity, and then to gain fame in Europe."

"But in my opinion, the era of trying to please Western judges by showing our poverty and backwardness is over."

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

In 2003, the public opinion environment was such that those who knew, knew; and the arts and culture circles, in particular, always knew.

These words instantly stung the hearts of many young, middle-aged, and elderly people who still harbored artistic dreams.

"With our accession to the WTO, China's economy is taking off in all aspects."

"You must have foresight." Niu Yuehua emphasized, his eyes gleaming with a light that seemed to see through the times.

"In the next 10 to 20 years, the box office revenue in mainland China will grow exponentially."

"The box office miracles of hundreds of millions, billions, tens of billions, or even tens of billions will be born in our generation. We no longer need to cater to Western tastes."

"On the contrary, Hollywood capital will line up to buy our scripts. They want to see our Chinese stories and hear our Chinese voices."

This is a fact, a future prospect, and, more importantly, political correctness.

Even if some leaders had their own ulterior motives, they didn't dare to show it on their faces.

The young students were somewhat skeptical, but under the influence of Liu Yuehua's amplified desires, they became restless.

Liu Yuehua did not use social Darwinism to intimidate them, even though he knew that 99% of the people on the playground would not become famous in the future.

However, he still put forward a grand narrative of the rise of a great power that conformed to the mainstream ideology of the upper class.

He painted a glittering picture for these confused freshmen, telling them that if they followed his path, they could not only earn money while maintaining their dignity, but also bring glory to the country.

So, put away your self-pitying, bourgeois sentimentality.

"Go and study Hollywood's industrial system, and learn how to tell a Chinese story that can resonate with audiences worldwide."

"When you master how to use the magic of light and shadow to create tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in value."

"You are not only pursuing your own future, but also building the strongest bulwark for the export of Chinese culture!"

"My Yixing Media is always open to ambitious, professional, and courageous individuals who dare to brave the challenges of the times!"

"I'll be waiting for you on the way!"

The speech has ended.

Then, deafening cheers erupted on the playground.

The boys were so excited their faces turned red, as if they themselves could beat the bear in Berlin and pick the leaf in Cannes the next moment.

The girls exchanged glances, their feelings for each other growing.

Huang Bo squatted under the tree, a fire burning in his eyes.

"Director Liu's speaking skills are even better than they were in Berlin."

The school leaders breathed a sigh of relief and applauded enthusiastically.

I thought Tian Zhuangzhuang's apprentice would say something unrealistic, but this speech was perfect. It was both forward-thinking and full of positive energy, and it would definitely make the front page.

Amid applause, Liu Yuehua smiled and stepped down from the stage, knowingly declining the leaders' invitation to lunch, and headed towards the school gate.

……

On a crisp autumn night, the concert was so lively that the enthusiasm of tens of thousands of audience members nearly brought the venue to a standstill.

On stage is Zhou Jielun, who is famous all over the country. This is the BJ station for Zhou Jielun's tour concert.

In the very heart of the VIP area directly in front of the stage, Liu Yuehua was yawning.

On the left sits Liu Yifei, in a white dress, with an ethereal air. On the right sits Tang Yan, wearing a black tight-fitting tank top, with a cool and tall figure.

Amidst the frenzied screams of tens of thousands of people around them, their small group of three seemed to be in another dimension.

"Brother Yuehua, there are so many people!"

Liu Yifei felt a sense of awe at the scene of tens of thousands of people in a frenzy.

Liu Yuehua felt like he was seeing Zhou Xun's meme.

"This is the ultimate form of the combination of capital and traffic."

Liu Yuehua came to his senses.

"Those people in the stands are consuming emotions, while we're sitting here to manipulate emotions."

"Sisi, Tang Yan, remember this feeling tonight."

"It won't be long before the big screen gives you an even crazier feeling than this."