Sometimes Wu Chi almost forgets how he got into this it’s definitely not because I love this kind of bullshit.
At that time, it was just to make a living——
His family was well-off when he was a child, and his family had a computer when he was in primary school. So, he was exposed to computers very early, just when he was in junior high school, the school held a computer training class, and he started learning editing by accident.
By the time he was in college, he had already accumulated a lot of basic knowledge in this area. He started taking jobs outside with a senior student. It can be said that he lived a comfortable life at a young age. After graduating from college, he entered this industry naturally. He did not sign a contract with any company. He opened a studio with his senior student and took jobs outside. In this way, he gradually entered the film and television industry.
If there is a difference between professional and non-professional actors in acting, this is even more true for technical areas like editing.
For Wu Chi, this background actually means that he is not taking a conventional path. And an unconventional path means that he is actually not compatible with the mainstream of this industry.
The circle of technical workers is smaller than many people imagine.
Especially since they themselves are in a disadvantaged position in the film and television industry that is not often seen, it is even more advantageous for them to form a group.
People like Wu Chi who work alone on their own were naturally excluded.
Therefore, any good opportunities and resources that might help his work and career are unlikely to come to him.
Just as his apprentice Li Chao said, their daily job is to stay in a small, cramped editing room and edit a large amount of material.
As each TV station and video platform has its own dedicated editing staff, the work they are able to take on is basically of lower quality.
If he continued to do this for the rest of his life, he would certainly be able to live a good life with a skill in hand. With his qualifications, he would have his own network of contacts even if he worked alone. He might not make big money, but he would not worry about making small money.
However, in this life, people definitely want to jump to higher places.
He also tried to write scripts and strived to be an assistant director, but this idea was like a student dreaming of becoming an actor, singer, or writer. Their only channel was to submit their work to a public mailbox where they didn't know if anyone would read it, and then wait for a reply with anticipation.
With each passing day, the feeling of anticipation decreases a little and the feeling of disappointment increases a little.
Forget it, forget it… These two words frequently appeared in what he said to himself.
What's the point of all this trouble?
But that's how life is. You may say forget it, but when an opportunity arises, it's impossible not to give it a try. As long as you live, you will keep trying.
-
"Lu, Mr. Lu."
Wu Chi and Li Chao came to Shihuo Company and met Chen Ziyan and Lu Yanhe.
Lu Yanhe has rarely been called Mr. Lu by anyone.
This voice of Mr. Lu startled Lu Yanhe.
Chen Ziyan also smiled.
"Teacher Wu, please take a seat."
The last time Wu Chi and Li Chao saw Lu Yanhe was in the corridor outside their editing room. At that time, they more or less felt like they were at home, and they were mostly surprised to see Lu Yanhe.
But this time, their identities were completely changed and they were in an unfamiliar environment. In particular, they knew very well that this meeting was also an "assessment" and "interview" in a sense, so they were much more nervous than the previous time they met Lu Yanhe.
The conversation was mainly between Chen Ziyan and Wu Chi, and it was basically just question and answer. Wu Chi was visibly uneasy at the beginning, but then he slowly relaxed.
Lu Yanhe was mainly listening.
Chen Ziyan talked to Wu Chi for about forty minutes about his experience as an editor, and also talked about the story of "Oh, My Sea".
"We actually quite like this script, but it does have some structural problems." Chen Ziyan said with a smile, "Do you accept changes to your script?"
The reason I ask this question is that many screenwriters (especially those who are new to the industry) really don't like others giving them feedback on their scripts, let alone making changes based on other people's opinions.
Wu Chi immediately said, "Of course."
"Has the Jump Up Theater contacted you?" Chen Ziyan asked.
Wu Chi was stunned, shook his head and said, "Not yet, will they contact us?"
Wu Chi turned his head and glanced at Li Chao.
Li Chao also shook his head, indicating that he had not received any call from anyone.
Chen Ziyan said, "We are quite interested in the script of "Oh, My Sea". We had a good chat with you today, so I want to see the film you directed first. Someone from the Jump Up Theater should contact you later. If the film is well received, we at Linghe are willing to fund you to make this film."
Wu Chi and Li Chao were both stunned and froze on the spot.
What Chen Ziyan said was not just one piece of good news, it was two pieces of good news.
When they first signed up for the Jump Up Theatre director recruitment, they never dared to think that they would be successful.
There must be many directors interested in this, as this is a real money filming opportunity, and it is also a theater promoted jointly by Yuehutai and Northern Lights Video platforms.
How could editors like them, who have never been a director and rarely even go to the film set, be noticed?
As a result, now——
Not only does he have the opportunity to be the director of Jump Up Theater, but he can also get investment to shoot the movie script he wrote?
This feeling is really like being hit by money while walking on the road.
Wu Chi swore that when he walked into the Shihuo building today, he had no idea that he would win the lottery jackpot of life more than an hour later.
-
At this moment, Li Zhibai also felt that he had really won the jackpot.
The preparation process for the TV version of "True Crime Record of 19 Years" had taken him several years to digest. After finally waiting for the filming to start, something happened to the director on the first day.
At the opening ceremony, his wife rushed to the media, holding up a poster of her husband naked in bed with another woman, and tearfully accused and insulted him.
The scene was a mess.
The only thing more outrageous than these melodramas is real life.
The crew still tried to pull her to the other side first to prevent the situation from getting any worse.
But the director's wife was also very combative. When the first man's fingers touched her, she felt as if she was being insulted. She screamed loudly and cursed the crew for touching her.
This process took only a few minutes, but Li Zhibai had a feeling that time was stagnant and seemed to be extending infinitely.
As one of the producers of this drama, and also the leading actor, and an investor——
This was the first time that Li Zhibai felt so exhausted in a film and television project. Sorry, it was the first time that he felt so exhausted before a film and television project even started. However, at this moment, looking at a group of media whose eyes were red with excitement, Li Zhibai felt for the first time that he was really too young.
You think you have encountered the highest mountain in your life, but in fact, it is just because all you have encountered before were small hills. After climbing over this mountain, congratulations, a higher mountain is waiting for you.
"..."
-
Headache, disillusionment, and hope that a sudden flood will wash away all the absurdity in front of me.
This is what Li Zhibai thought.
The opening ceremony was a complete mess and could not continue.
The first scene that was supposed to be filmed could not be shot because of this.
Jiang Jun noticed Li Zhibai's powerless and patted him on the shoulder.
"If there's anything you need me to do, tell me."
Li Zhibai nodded and said, "Teacher Jiang, you should go back and rest first. We won't be able to shoot today."
Jiang Jun nodded.
The crew was in a state of chaos, so they disbanded on the spot and went back home.
The more serious situation is yet to come.
This matter is on the hot search.
Everyone knew about the director's problems and was criticizing him.
Lighthouse Video, the investor and producer of the drama, is also in a state of panic.
The director himself went to deal with his wife's issues.
Li Zhibai locked himself in the room, staring blankly.
About half an hour later, Lin Suyang arrived.
"Zhi Bai, it's me." Lin Suyang knocked on the door and said through the door, "I'm coming in."
Li Zhibai did not answer.
Lin Suyang opened the door and went in.
Fortunately, the door was not locked from the inside.
Lin Suyang saw Li Zhibai lying on the sofa, staring at the ceiling of the room with his eyes wide open, in a daze, like a walking corpse.
Lin Suyang's first reaction was to laugh with great joy.
"Are you still gloating over other people's misfortune?" Li Zhibai said dimly.
"It's rare to see you as depressed as a frost-bitten eggplant." Lin Suyang said, "Usually I see you complaining about everything."
Li Zhibai said nothing.
"The situation is quite difficult now. We probably need to replace people. The crew can't stop working. Everyone has joined the crew and is spending money every day." Lin Suyang patted his shoulder and said, "Get up. The sooner you solve the problem, the sooner you can feel at ease." Li Zhibai: "How can this problem be solved?"
"It's not about how it can be solved, but how it should be solved. You are the producer, and you have single-handedly brought this project to life. Now that the director has problems, there are only two choices: keep him or change him." Lin Suyang said, "With his wife causing such a problem, if we keep him, it means that this matter will always accompany our drama, and it will be a constant problem. But if we change him, we will have to find a temporary director to take over and save the situation. How difficult is it and what are the options? This requires a trade-off. What to do is the best choice that can be made at the moment."
Li Zhibai sighed.
"Don't sigh, cheer up, and be courageous." Lin Suyang said, "Lighthouse Video is the investor. Now that something like this has happened, they still have a third option."
"What choice?"
"Withdraw investment and stop losses in time." Lin Suyang said, "So, if the crew is not restored to normal operation as soon as possible, it is hard to say what the attitude of Lighthouse Video will be."
Li Zhibai: "Okay."
"Call the main people in charge of the crew, and call the producer arranged by Dengta Video to have a meeting together." Lin Suyang said, "Sort out the list of directors with vacancies in their schedules, evaluate the feasibility and risks of different plans, stabilize the morale of the crew, and don't let the crew panic. If everyone runs away, even if you find a director, there will be no one to shoot for you."
Li Zhibai stood up.
Lin Suyang's words gave him a boost of enthusiasm.
Li Zhibai never thought that one day he would end up relying on this drug.
-
When Lu Yanhe heard what happened at the opening ceremony of the TV series "Nineteen Years of Crime", he was stunned.
There is a kind of feeling of astonishment and helplessness that makes one feel shocked by the absurdity of this world even though one has already accepted it.
Lu Yanhe asked Li Zhibai about the situation in the group of three.
Li Zhibai: Now we have a consensus that the director must be replaced, but who to replace is a problem, which is a headache. We held a meeting and discussed it. We still have to start shooting normally in the next few days and cannot stop. The production budget is tight, so the assistant director will take over first, and Lighthouse Video will urgently find other directors.
Lu Yanhe: This drama has such an unfortunate fate.
Li Zhibai: I feel like I have to bear all the bad things.
Lu Yanhe: Not really, not really, don’t think like that, the more you think about it, the harder it will be to figure it out.
Li Zhibai: I am really convinced.
Lu Yanhe: Can I be an assistant director?
Li Zhibai: We have to do it no matter how hard it is. We have to shoot this way and we can’t stop. There is no way to pursue quality at this time. Finishing the filming is the first lifeline.
Lu Yanhe: Don’t give up on yourself. You’ve spent so much effort in polishing the script. You will definitely regret it if you just shoot it badly. Try your best to do it well. I’ll come to your place tomorrow.
Li Zhibai: What are you doing here? Aren’t you busy recording the show?
Lu Yanhe: I will finish recording tonight and leave for Malaysia the day after tomorrow, so I will have tomorrow free.
Li Zhibai: Don’t go through all the trouble of making this trip. Just take a good rest.
Lu Yanhe: Let me take a look. At least there is a producer’s name on it.
He was worried.
If one really wanted to say what Li Zhibai's shortcomings were, in Lu Yanhe's eyes, the real shortcoming was that he had very little patience and became easily impatient.
When seeing this news, Lu Yanhe's first reaction was that Li Zhibai must be furious.
He didn't even have to ask.
It seems okay now. At least Li Zhibai can still explain the situation rationally in the group.
After putting down his phone, Lu Yanhe sighed.
Director Chen Lingling, who was sitting next to him, heard the sigh and asked, "What's wrong with you? Why are you sighing suddenly?"
Lu Yanhe talked about what happened on the set of "Nineteen Years".
Chen Lingling immediately revealed an expression of disgust - it was directed at the director who had cheated on his wife and was caught red-handed by her.
"This crew is in chaos," said Chen Lingling.
Lu Yanhe suddenly had an idea and asked, "Director, do you know any directors who can come to the rescue?"
Chen Lingling: "Your drama has already started filming, who dares to save the show at this time?"
Lu Yanhe: "Alas."
This is also true.
Rescue is like putting out a fire. If you fail to do it well, you will get burned.
Moreover, when shooting a work, a lot of preparation has to be done in the early stages, from scratch, through discussions, arguments, and adjustments, before finally reaching a consensus.
Taking over in the middle is like forcing someone to do something before they are ready. As a creator, you have no time and space to "create". You can only use the ready-made materials to build a model in a very short time.
In short, you go from being an architect to being an engineer.
Basically no good director, especially an already famous one, would take over under such circumstances.
Chen Lingling said: "Under such circumstances, no one would take the job unless the director is desperate for an opportunity."
She thought of something. "Come to think of it, isn't there a young man named Liu Manbo who directed the short film for our program? He was in charge of filming the group with Chen Bige and Cheng Hai. I think it was pretty good. He was pretty steady."
After Chen Lingling's reminder, Lu Yanhe also remembered the director named Liu Manbo.
He is only 28 years old, very young. He has worked as a photographer and an assistant director. He was signed by the "The Birth of the Actors" program team and was responsible for directing the PK short film between the mentors and the qualified actors.
He is a director who doesn't seem to have any style at first glance, but the pictures he shoots are very pleasing.
Chen Lingling specifically pointed it out at that time.
"You are a director who knows composition and light very well. You must have good photography skills."
Liu Manbo smiled and said, "You have a sharp eye. I studied photography in college."
However, because the protagonists of this show are actors.
The director of the short film came on stage, introduced himself, chatted briefly and then left.
Lu Yanhe immediately asked Wang Biao to look for Liu Manbo's information and some of his previous short films, and also to inquire about his future schedule.
In fact, one of the important reasons why a young director like Liu Manbo came to "The Birth of an Actor" to be a short film director is to let the industry see him and get the opportunity to direct a feature film.
For someone like him, even if the short films he produced were of high quality, because he had no experience in directing feature films, in the eyes of investors and platforms, he would not be as good as a feature film director who made three bad films in one go.
Talent is far from enough to support a large crew and the filming of a large-scale drama.
At 11 o'clock in the evening, Lu Yanhe finished recording "The Birth of an Actor" and returned to the lounge. Wang Biao told him that Liu Manbo was there.
"Right here, what does that mean?" Lu Yanhe asked puzzledly.
Wang Biao said: "He heard from the program crew that you asked them for his information and the short films he had shot before, so he rushed over and said that if you have any questions, he can answer them in person."
Lu Yanhe was stunned.
He had just finished recording a whole day's show and was feeling a little sleepy.
But at this time he was awakened again.
Just because he mentioned that he wanted to see his information, Liu Manbo rushed over in case Lu Yanhe had any questions.
Lu Yanhe's subconscious reaction was: This is too exaggerated, there is no need to be like this.
However, after he came to his senses, he was moved again.
How far can a person go for a potential opportunity?
Lu Yanhe said, "Can you ask him if he wants to have a midnight snack together later?"
Wang Biao immediately responded and said yes.
-
Lu Yanhe himself is a very hard-working person.
Even now, he no longer needs to work so hard or be so tired, but he has never slacked off.
Therefore, he has always admired people who work hard.
As a person, you can achieve success through your talent.
However, if you are a person with limited talent but are very hardworking and diligent, even if you don't do that well, Lu Yanhe will definitely be very tolerant towards this person.
Why was Wang Biao able to become his first assistant at such a young age and now his executive agent?
It is true that Wang Biao is smart and eager to learn, but more importantly, he takes this job very seriously and cares about it. He wants to do it well almost day and night.
Therefore, Wang Biao couldn't speak at the beginning, offended people, was a troublemaker, or when facing Wan Qingqing and Song Jiang, he was like a hedgehog, full of defense and thorns. Lu Yanhe never thought that "Wang Biao is too young and energetic, and needs more experience."
Lu Yanhe is a person who practices what he preaches. He believes that everyone has flaws and shortcomings, and that no one is perfect, so he really uses this standard to look at everyone.
This time, he had the same feeling when he met Liu Manbo.
When Lu Yanhe met someone who tried so hard to seize an opportunity, he wanted to do his best to give him a chance. (End of this chapter)
