novellhall Chapter 59 Completed Film
Chapter 59 Completed Film
The sweltering heat of midsummer gradually dissipated with a refreshing autumn rain in August.
The lights were still on in a rented post-production studio at the film academy.
The editing work has been going on for almost a month.
Zhang Lei practically lived in his studio, his eyes bloodshot and his beard unshaven, but his spirits were unusually high.
He and the editor he hired repeatedly deliberated on the selection of each shot and the tempo of each segment.
Chen Nianbei would come over whenever he had free time. He was not only the lead actor and producer, but also the person who understood the core of the story best. His opinions were often insightful.
Rough cut, fine cut, sound design, music demos, color grading... a vast amount of material was ultimately condensed into a complete story.
When the final version of the film was played in its entirety on the monitor for the first time, the small screening room was packed with the core creative team.
A hundred minutes of light and shadow interplay.
The opening scene depicts the chaotic daily life of Shi Fen and Shi Miao, their shock and loneliness after making a wish, Shi Miao's clumsy struggle to cope with life and recall fragments of memories after losing her brother, her breakdown and regret after finally understanding the truth about family, and the hopeful and tearful ending...
The humor is natural, the tearful moments are restrained yet powerful, and the fantasy setting cleverly serves the emotions without feeling abrupt at all.
The screening ended, and the lights came on. The theater was silent for a moment, then, someone started clapping, and the applause grew louder and louder.
Zhang Lei wiped his face hard, only to realize that he had been crying uncontrollably.
Chen Nianbei sat next to him without saying a word, but patted his shoulder hard, her eyes also getting a little hot.
This film, which embodies everyone's hard work, dreams, and trust, is presented in its entirety for the first time.
It may still be a bit raw, and there are parts where the budget is tight, but the sincere emotions and solid narrative are enough to move everyone present.
"Lei Zi, Nian Bei, it's done!"
Wang Hao was the first to jump up, his eyes red-rimmed, and shouted, "Awesome! Absolutely awesome! I laughed and cried at the same time!"
Liu Haochun sat quietly in the corner, watching her reflection on the screen—a reflection that was sometimes stubborn and sometimes vulnerable—her feelings complex and indescribable. This wasn't just a movie; it felt like a significant leap forward in her life. Zhou Yiran was also excitedly discussing it with the person next to her.
Next, we'll show it to Zhang Lei's uncle, that high-ranking executive at Enlight Media.
After receiving a text message from his nephew saying, "The final cut is out, please review it, uncle," he made a point of setting aside an afternoon.
The screening was arranged in a small screening room inside the Enlight Media Center. In addition to Zhang Lei's uncle, there were also two colleagues from the project evaluation department that he brought with him.
The atmosphere was far more tense than when the crew watched the film together. Zhang Lei's palms were sweating, while Chen Nianbei sat calmly to the side, watching the screen light up again with a composed gaze.
During the screening, Zhang Lei's uncle and his colleagues watched intently, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones and taking notes in their notebooks.
There was no laughter, no tears, only professional, calm observation.
The end credits roll, and the lights come on.
Uncle Zhang Lei took off his glasses, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and looked at his nephew, who was so nervous he could hardly sit still, and the young man next to him.
"I watched the movie."
He spoke, his voice steady, "First of all, the level of completion is very high."
For a debut film by a new director, it's quite impressive that it tells a complete story clearly, builds up emotions effectively, and maintains a generally satisfactory pace.
Zhang Lei felt a little relieved.
"The script has a very good foundation, the exploration of the sibling relationship is a highlight, and the fantasy setting is used quite cleverly without becoming a gimmick."
The uncle continued his comments, his gaze sweeping over Chen Nianbei, "The actors' performances were generally good, especially the two young leads. The girl is very spirited, and her eyes are expressive."
Chen Nianbei's performance perfectly embodies the core character of the older brother, demonstrating excellent layering. He not only portrays the comedic aspects but also the deep affection and sense of responsibility that follow, significantly enhancing the film's overall quality.
This is a very high compliment.
Chen Nianbei nodded slightly: "Thank you."
"but,"
As his uncle changed the subject, Zhang Lei's heart jumped again.
"There are also problems. Some transitions are a bit abrupt, and the emotional impact of the background music in a few places could be refined and not overdone. Most importantly,"
He looked at Zhang Lei and said, "The camera work in some scenes could be a bit bolder. Right now it's too 'conventional' and lacks impact."
The color grading in post-production could also help to unify the style; currently, the color tones in some sections are a bit too jarring.
He was talking about very specific technical and artistic issues, and he hit the nail on the head.
Zhang Lei nodded quickly and took notes rapidly.
Overall,
The uncle concluded, "This is a work with both obvious strengths and weaknesses, but its strengths are very prominent."
It is emotionally genuine, has a clear genre, and possesses distinct commercial selling points and points of resonance with the audience.
As a low-budget film, it has the potential to become a dark horse in the market.
He paused for a moment, then said, "If you agree, Enlight Media's distribution department can get involved and start developing a preliminary publicity and distribution plan, focusing on word-of-mouth and emotional marketing."
This means that the film has not only gained the approval of investors, but will also receive distribution support from top-tier domestic film companies!
This is a dream opportunity for a new film.
Zhang Lei was so excited he could hardly speak, and could only nod repeatedly.
Chen Nianbei also showed a genuine smile and extended her hand:
Thank you for your recognition and support. We will implement the specific revisions as soon as possible.
"Okay, looking forward to the final revised version."
The uncle shook hands with Chen Nianbei, his eyes filled with admiration.
"Young man, you have ideas and the ability to execute them, not bad."
Leaving the Guangxian Building, the evening breeze brushed against his face, and Zhang Lei finally felt he had found his voice again:
"Nianbei! We...we really did it! Enlight Media will help us with the distribution!"
"It was everyone who did it."
Looking at the magnificent sunset on the horizon, Chen Nianbei felt a surge of accomplishment.
Next, we will make final revisions based on the feedback and initiate the review process.
Submitting a film for review is the process by which the State Film Administration examines the content of the film. It is an essential step for a film to obtain a "Film Public Screening License" and be able to enter theaters.
This process is fraught with uncertainty, especially for a new team like theirs with no prior experience.
Chen Nianbei and Zhang Lei submitted a thick stack of materials, including the final revised version of the film, the complete script, the list of main creators, the investment agreement, and copyright certificates, as required.
Then came the long wait.
During the waiting period, Zhang Lei was so anxious that he couldn't eat or sleep, constantly refreshing the Film Bureau's official website to check the progress.
Chen Nianbei was relatively calm. He knew that the film's content was wholesome and positive, its core values were sound, and it had a high probability of passing censorship.
He used this time to go back to school to catch up on the courses he had missed, and at the same time began to prepare for the audition for "Nirvana in Fire".
The days passed by in a mix of anxiety and anticipation.
Finally, on an ordinary afternoon in late September, Zhang Lei received a text message from the Film Bureau, indicating that the project status had been updated.
With trembling hands, he opened the official website and entered the query code.
Screen refresh.
Project Title: Take My Brother Away
Current status: [Approved]
Approval opinion: Approved in principle.
Please modify the opening and closing credits format according to the feedback, and then obtain the "Film Public Screening License".
"Passed! Nianbei! Passed!!"
Zhang Lei's roar almost lifted the dormitory roof. He grabbed Chen Nianbei next to him, laughing and crying at the same time.
Chen Nianbei was a little breathless from being squeezed by him, but a relieved and bright smile also appeared on her face.
The last heavy weight on my heart has finally been lifted.
The "Film Public Screening License," commonly known as the "Dragon Seal," is the official permit that allows a film to be shown on the big screen and reach millions of viewers.
The sunlight outside the window was perfect, casting bright spots of light on the dormitory floor through the glass.
The journey of "Take My Brother Away" has crossed the most important threshold.