I really don't want to make bad movies!

Xia Ming quickly packed his luggage and followed Jiang Wen and the others to the north gate of the school.

Several young students were already standing there, surrounding a beige minibus, which looked like the film crew's bus.

Xie Fei and Jiang Wen exchanged pleasantries all the way until they arrived in front of the MPV.

"You really don't need me to help with the actors' affairs?" Xie Fei asked Jiang Wen before parting, shaking his hand.

Jiang Wen waved his hand confidently: "No need! I've already thought it through. I'll write a heartfelt letter to both lead actors, and I don't believe they won't come."

Xie Fei laughed heartily: "Alright, you and the photography crew go scouting locations! Contact us if you need any help."

"Thank you so much, Teacher Xie!" Jiang Wen clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute. "No rush, the props team's truck is still on its way. Let's chat a little longer!"

While waiting for the bus, the bigwigs exchanged pleasantries, while Xia Ming pulled his suitcase toward the minibus next to them.

He never expected that using Hitchcock's camera techniques in "The Big Hornet" would give him the opportunity to become one of the cinematographers in Jiang Wen's film crew.

Unlike a photography assistant, a photographer can communicate directly with the director of photography.

He can even participate in the film's shot design, as long as the suggestions are reasonable.

If you can showcase your technical skills, you might be able to expand your network.

In the extremely closed-off film industry, connections are incredibly important.

"You're Xia Ming?"

Xia Ming lifted his suitcase and moved it into the luggage compartment next to the minibus. When he turned his head, he saw a boy with a buzz cut standing in front of him.

"It's me, what's wrong?"

The short-haired man made no attempt to hide the contempt on his face as he leaned against the minibus and whispered, "Director Jiang has high aspirations; your arrival has lowered the standards of the entire crew."

The boy's name is Shi Xiangyuan, and he is a first-year graduate student in the Photography Department of Jinghai Film and Television Academy.

After hearing Jiang Wen and Zhao Fei's praise for "The Big Hornet", he immediately found the original film and watched it again.

However, after quickly watching the original film, I still couldn't see anything particularly outstanding about it.

It's still shit!

But does he dare say that Jiang Wen and Zhao Fei are blind?

It's ridiculous that I, a first-year graduate student, can only be a camera assistant while Xia Ming, a first-year undergraduate, is the main cameraman!

"I've seen plenty of these young masters who bring their own funding to join the crew. They rely on their high level of cinematography skills and having someone to back them up, so they shamelessly try to gain experience."

Shi Xiangyuan complained to his classmates, which drew a chorus of agreement.

Xia Ming shook his head helplessly, but he wasn't annoyed. He walked to the car door and prepared to get in.

There's nothing I can do about it; my first film was "The Big Hornet."

Since you're profiting from illicit traffic, you should be open to criticism and not try to have your cake and eat it too.

"Everyone in the film crew, come here!"

Just as they were about to get on the bus, they heard Zhao Fei shout.

The film crew consisted of only five people at the time, including Xia Ming, the main cameraman, and four assistant cameramen.

"Teacher Zhao, what can I do for you?"

Zhao Fei smiled at the group and said, "I was just chatting with Elder Xie, and he has high expectations for you, the future pillars of Beijing Film Studio."

"Since the props team's vehicle hasn't arrived yet, I'd like to take this opportunity to give you a few pointers."

The students were overjoyed. They had been chatting happily and were now ready to teach him the Burning Technique.

Xie Fei criticized Zhao Fei for exaggerating, then turned to the students with a smile and waved, "It's not really guidance, I just wanted to share some experience with you while Lao Zhao and I are both here!"

Everyone present was overjoyed.

One is a professor in the photography department, and the other is a professor in the directing department.

These are all seasoned veterans with real achievements and substantial works. How can it not be exciting to pass on our experience to them?

This is why everyone is desperate to get into Jiang Wen's film crew!

"Since everyone is about to leave school, let's film a scene of saying goodbye!"

Zhao Fei gazed at the imposing entrance of the Beijing Film Studio, pondering for a moment: "The protagonist leaves the school, filled with reluctance. How would you approach filming this simple theme?"

As he spoke, he instructed his assistant to retrieve a camera from the MPV, then faced the crowd: "Who wants to volunteer?"

"I'll do it!"

Shi Xiangyuan raised his hand and took the camera from Zhao Fei without saying a word: "Who will be the lead actor?"

Zhao Fei chuckled and patted Jiang Wen on the shoulder: "The Best Actor is right here!"

Jiang Wen didn't refuse. He stepped forward confidently, his back to the school gate, and laughed loudly, "Tell me, what pose do you want me to strike?"

Shi Xiangyuan was a little nervous, being watched by several big shots, and with a classmate of considerable skill beside him eager to try.

He took a few deep breaths and kept thinking about the composition in his mind.

Looking at Jiang Wenshi, he felt a little embarrassed to speak.

As a first-year graduate student, am I being presumptuous by giving Jiang Wen advice?

"Speak freely! I'll listen to whatever you say!"

Shi Xiangyuan took a deep breath and said his idea: "Since the protagonist is leaving the school, let's set the camera to the left front of the school gate."

"The protagonist comes out of the school gate and stops in the middle of the frame. At this moment, the composition is preserved, and the character turns back to look at the signboard above the gate. Then, a close-up of the face is shown to show the emotion."

"The final shot is a reverse shot, with the school gate as the main perspective, showing the protagonist gradually moving away towards the main road, looking back at the school every few steps, but he can only walk away."

Professors Zhao Fei and Xie Fei listened attentively, both showing expressions of satisfaction.

"The idea is pretty good, let's get started!"

Upon hearing the professor's praise, Shi Xiangyuan couldn't hide his joy and unconsciously glanced back at Xia Ming a few times.

"Director Jiang, please start walking from the guardhouse, stop at this leaf, and gaze at the plaque."

Shi Xiangyuan fixed the camera position with a tripod, found the right angle, and gave Jiang Wen an OK sign.

Jiang Wen didn't hesitate either, quickly getting into character. His expression resembled that of a recent college graduate, walking slowly out of the campus with a mix of excitement and melancholy.

Upon reaching the designated stopping point, he stopped, looked up at the plaque with eyes full of emotion, and revealed a relieved smile as if he had seen the end of a story.

Shi Xiangyuan shouted "OK!" and walked up to Jiang Wen with his camera to start taking close-up shots.

Jiang Wen improvised a line on the spot, and then Shi Xiangyuan fixed the camera in front of the guardhouse to film the scene of Jiang Wen gradually walking away.

Once the entire segment was filmed, he breathed a long sigh of relief and handed the camera back to Zhao Fei.

"I'm sorry you had to see this, Teacher Zhao."

Zhao Fei praised him, saying, "To be able to plan the shots in such a short time, Lao Xu really made the right recommendation!"

Shi Xiangyuan grinned happily. Old Xu was his mentor and the one who introduced him to Jiang Wen's film crew.

"Could you please take a look and suggest some improvements to this section?"

Zhao Fei opened the video clip and watched it with Xie Fei.

After a moment, they all gave their opinions.

Zhao Fei: "The idea is good, but stopping here in the middle, your composition doesn't have a clear direction. It just shows the figure doing a simple action, without any sense of story."

Xie Fei: "The way the emotions were evoked was too deliberate, and there was a clear intention to make the actors express reluctance in front of the camera."

Shi Xiangyuan's smile froze instantly, and he quickly bowed, saying, "It was my oversight!"

Zhao Fei smiled faintly and patted him on the shoulder: "To be able to make a reasonable shot plan in such a short time is already very good. You truly deserve to be a student of our Beijing Film Academy's Cinematography Department!"

After receiving the commendation, Shi Xiangyuan retreated back into the student crowd, pondering the two professors' evaluations of him.

Several other photography students also started discussing with him how to shoot that scene better.

"Old Jiang, hasn't the car arrived yet?"

Jiang Wen glanced at his phone and shook his head: "Jinghai is so congested!"

Zhao Fei and Xie Fei exchanged a glance, then waved to the photography crew: "Hey you, Xia Ming, what do you think you would do if you were in that situation?"

Looking at Jiang Wen and Zhao Fei, whose smiles held a deeper meaning, Xia Ming couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Good heavens, so that's why they made the dumplings—for this dish of vinegar.