Huayu: I was immediately ensnared by Jing Tian as soon as I entered the industry.

Background: Paul Zhang is a smooth-living man who is tricked into going to the United States by an agent in order to breathe fresh air.

He thought he could buy a big villa by washing dishes, but when he arrived, he found that reality was cruel. The local Chinese restaurants preferred Mexicans who worked like their lives depended on it.

In order to survive, he had to join the Foreign Legion in Iraq, where he was responsible for transportation work. He could obtain a U.S. green card after serving for five years.

During an oil theft operation, he was kidnapped and woke up to find himself buried alive in a coffin in the desert.

All I had was a cell phone, a lighter, a knife, a glow stick, and a half-empty bottle of liquor...

Wang Xuan closed his notebook and rubbed his sore arm. The accident he wrote about was adapted from the movie "Buried".

With only two million yuan in hand, it's simply not enough to make a traditional film.

After much thought, I decided to adapt this film. All that's needed throughout is a few coffins, and there's no better script.

The protagonist contacted official agencies such as the FBI and insurance companies, but was met with indifference and various excuses.

The insurance company's finances are well aware that spending a lot of manpower and resources to rescue an insignificant person is simply a waste of time and energy.

Instead of wasting this time, it would be better to rescue more kittens and puppies.

In the end, the male protagonist suffocates and dies after being buried by sand.

Wang Xuan adapted the film to a local context, revealing Runren's living conditions in the United States and exposing the hypocrisy of American insurance companies.

Before Wang Xuan was reborn, he listened to Lao A's live broadcast, which revealed the living conditions of the lower classes in the United States.

People living in the United States are at the very bottom of the social ladder, with most of them homeless and relying on welfare to survive.

It took me two days to roughly complete the script I had "created".

Wang Xuan didn't plan to change his name; he would just use "Buried Alive."

···

Wang Xuan took the printed script and went directly to his teacher for help.

Wang Chunzi, a 33-year-old associate professor, was stunned when she saw the script handed to her by Wang Xuan and learned that he was going to invest in it. She even doubted that she had heard correctly.

"Teacher, don't make that face. Let's look at the script first."

"Yes, let's look at the script first."

Wang Chunzi took a sip of water to calm herself down. She was also shocked. What kind of good story could a freshman write? She just glanced at it and left.

She made up her mind and opened the script, which was only a dozen pages long.

I intended to just glance at it and move on, but I was drawn in by the content.

She finished reading it in about ten minutes.

Wang Chunzi took a sip of water. This time, she really wanted to calm down. She had never thought about how else she could tell the story, completing the whole thing in the coffin.

As for the metaphors in the script, she certainly saw them too. These days, if an art film doesn't have some deeper meaning, it can't be considered a good story.

"This is a good script. The story is very intense, with conflict and emotion."

"Yes, I want to film it and try my luck at winning awards abroad," Wang Xuan said honestly.

Before long, Wang Chunzi led him to the faculty office area of ​​the directing and cinematography departments.

When they heard that a freshman had written his own script and had the funds to invest in filming, a group of teachers' eyes lit up.

It's important to understand that the most difficult hurdle in the directing industry is securing investment. No matter how good the theory is, it's all just empty talk without practical experience.

But as professors, they still had to maintain a certain air about them, sitting calmly in their seats and blowing on the tea leaves floating on their teacups.

"Nine out of ten movie investments result in losses, so you need to be prepared for that."

"After all, he is a teacher," someone solemnly advised.

"My student's script is quite good. The budget isn't high. If it can win an award abroad, it won't be a loss," Wang Chunzi chimed in.

Now, a group of professors became interested. A manuscript that could be praised as good by an associate professor must have something special about it.

"Let me see the script." An old professor with a full head of white hair and obvious wrinkles around his eyes reached out his hand.

"This is Professor Tian Zhuangzhuang," Wang Chunzi introduced to Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan immediately became solemn and handed over the script with both hands.

This person has an impressive background. His father was the first director of Beijing Film Studio, and his mother was a national first-class actress and the director of the Children's Film Studio. He is a true second-generation director and the leading figure of the fifth generation of directors.

Whether Chen Kaige calls him "Big Brother" or not is unclear. Given his arrogant personality, having won the Palme d'Or, the highest honor for art films, he probably already considers himself the number one.

But Zhang Yimou would definitely call Tian Zhuangzhuang "brother".

When Zhang Yimou was assigned a job after graduation, Tian Zhuangzhuang had to ask his family for help so that Zhang could stay in Beijing.

Although the relationship ultimately didn't work out and he was exiled to Guangxi, he often took trains for days and nights to visit Zhang Yimou, showing his deep affection for him.

"Small in scope but big in vision, on the surface it's about survival in a confined space, but in reality it criticizes war and exposes the indifference of the system. It's a very meaningful book."

Tian Zhuangzhuang closed the script, gave this evaluation, then looked up at Wang Xuan and began recommending directors to him:

"Among my master's students, there is one who has excellent grades in all areas. I asked him to help you."

The professors, who were initially eager to participate, became too embarrassed to say they wanted to get involved themselves when they heard that Tian Zhuangzhuang had arranged for his students to direct the film.

Don't underestimate the appeal of a project with a good script and ample funding to filmmakers.

"Thank you, Professor Tian," Wang Xuan said gratefully. With Professor Tian's protection, there would be far fewer obstacles.

···

The next day, Wang Xuan met Lu Yang, who was tall and thin and seemed a bit introverted. He kept rubbing his hands together when he saw Wang Xuan.

"Senior Lu, this is the script. I'll leave the submission to you for review."

As for photography and lighting, there's no need to explain them at all. As a university that teaches all positions in the film and television industry, Beijing Film Academy has no shortage of professionals in these fields.

"Okay, leave it to me."

Lu Yang was a little excited. Before coming, his teacher had told him that this was a good script and had the potential to win an award if filmed well.

In addition, he will graduate with his master's degree this year. If he has experience directing films, regardless of the results, it will help him attract investment in the future.

Wang Xuan had a brief chat with Lu Yang before handing over the production team's preparations to him.

They didn't even bother looking for filming locations. These days, only a few movies are made each year, and the studios at Beijing Film Studio are all empty.

The main focus is on props; different shaped coffins are needed to deal with various emergencies.

Before leaving, Lu Yang asked curiously, "Junior Wang, are you playing the male lead yourself?"

"Of course, senior, don't you believe in my acting skills?"

"No." Lu Yang certainly wouldn't say that someone as young as you couldn't handle the role, but since Wang Xuan provided the script and investment, he could only express it tactfully:

"This role is quite demanding to film, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."

"I believe I can do it."

Wang Xuan understood Lu Yang's concerns. If you come across a good script, of course you want to work with actors of the caliber of Best Actor.