novellhall Chapter 9: 23 Things Happened in Hengdian
Chapter 9: 23 Things Happened in Hengdian
Hengdian.
In a small private room of a home-style restaurant.
Li Hua carried an ice-cold beer and filled the glass in front of Wei Yi to the brim.
"Come on, junior brother, make yourself at home, I'll have another one!"
He tilted his head back and gulped down most of the glass, then let out a burp that smelled of alcohol.
"Honestly, junior brother, I really envy you."
"Before even officially starting freshman year, without attending a single class, I plunged straight into Director Zhang's film crew, serving as both casting director and location scouting assistant. This kind of treatment is unique among all freshmen at the Beijing Film Academy, no, in the entire industry!"
Right now.
We've been eating for almost half an hour.
The two can be said to have become very familiar with each other.
Li Hua had drunk a bit too much and was slightly drunk. He started by saying:
"Junior brother, to be honest, I actually come from a family with a long history in the film and television industry. My grandfather worked at CCTV, although his position wasn't high. My grandmother used to teach at the Beijing Film Academy, and my parents now work at Beijing Television. I became Zhang Yimou's assistant director at the age of thirty-two, although I was only responsible for odd jobs. In our circle, I feel like I'm actually quite a big shot!"
"You flatter me, senior," Wei Yi replied with a smile. "You're not just a nobody, you're already incredibly powerful!"
Damn it.
No wonder he became Zhang Yimou's assistant director at such a young age.
So he's a second-generation actor!
"But... compared to you, I'm nothing!"
Li Hua shook his head and refilled his wine glass.
"My grandma said that our school is treating you like a precious gem now. The dean and department head have been calling Director Zhang one after another, and Vice Dean Xie and Director Tian have repeatedly told me that I must take good care of you. This is really something."
Wei Yi smiled, raised his glass to clink with his, and took a sip of wine.
Although you are a brilliant second-generation director or filmmaker.
But I'm an even more awesome first-generation cheater!
Li Hua waved his hand and added, "Don't overthink it. I'm just envious, not jealous at all."
"Why? Because you've really made Beijing Film Academy proud!"
"A perfect score on the college entrance exam, the only science student in the country, turned down Tsinghua and Peking Universities and chose Beijing Film Academy instead. Do you know how much this news caused in the industry and alumni groups? Everyone was as excited as if they'd been injected with adrenaline!"
He slammed his hand on the table, and all that straightforward, decisive spirit typical of people from the capital city came out:
"Back when I drank with those bastards from the Central Academy of Drama and the Shanghai Theatre Academy, they always put us down at the Beijing Film Academy, saying our academic performance was terrible, the lowest among the three top schools. Now? I'm much more assertive! If they dare say another word, I can just retort—'Our school has a perfect scorer in the college entrance exam, do you have one?' Haha, one sentence should shut them up!"
Wei Yi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Li Hua poured himself another glass of wine, leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said earnestly, "Junior brother, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart."
"I really envy you! With the school's emphasis on you, you can actually be fearless in any production crew, whether it's this one or any other in the industry. You can walk sideways without any problem."
"Why? The influence of Beijing Film Academy is all over the film and television industry in the country. It's no exaggeration to say that it controls half of the industry! Take Director Zhang's crew for example, more than a third of the behind-the-scenes team are graduates of Beijing Film Academy or have studied there. They're all your seniors!"
Wei Yi paused slightly as he held the wine glass.
This is the fundamental reason why he gave up the Central Academy of Drama and the Shanghai Theatre Academy and was determined to choose the Beijing Film Academy.
no doubt.
The Beijing Film Academy has the strongest overall strength in the film and television industry.
They truly represent half of the domestic film and television industry!
His current identity is somewhat like that of a top-tier sect prodigy in a cultivation novel, who is going out to hone his skills.
So, in that case...
It seems that the "sand sculpture" concept in the sand sculpture system has some merit.
The two chatted over the food about the rules of the film crew and interesting stories in the industry, and the meal didn't end until late at night.
Early the next morning.
Wei Yi woke up in the standard hotel room arranged by the film crew.
Outside the window is the street scene of Hengdian, where some early-rising film crew vehicles are already coming and going.
He quickly washed up, picked up the Nokia flip phone on the table, and dialed Li Hua's number.
The phone was answered after only two rings.
Li Hua's authentic old-fashioned accent immediately came through the receiver: "Hey? Junior brother, you're awake?"
"Good morning, senior." Wei Yi smiled. "Let me ask, what's the work schedule for today?"
"Hey, no work today!"
Li Hua's voice was loud and clear: "Director Zhang and Zhang Weiping went to the airport early this morning to pick up Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li to sign the contract. It'll probably be a long day."
"I might need to run errands or do some odd jobs. You can just rest at the hotel, or go out and explore Hengdian. If anything urgent happens, I'll call you. If you need anything, call me anytime; I'll be there right away, no questions asked!"
"Okay, I understand, senior."
After hanging up the phone, Wei Yi figured he had nothing better to do.
He simply changed into a clean white T-shirt and went out for a stroll around Hengdian.
At that time, Hengdian did not yet have the later internet celebrity atmosphere, but it was still bustling with people.
Everywhere you look, there's the genuine, down-to-earth atmosphere of a film set.
The Ming and Qing Palace Gardens were completed only a few years ago, and their red walls and yellow tiles are particularly eye-catching in the morning light.
Film crews carrying camera equipment can be seen everywhere on the street, and groups of extras squat by the roadside waiting for work.
The music store at the alley entrance was playing the latest popular songs, and the entrances to the Qin Palace and the Qingming Riverside Scene were bustling with actors and staff rushing from one performance to another.
Wei Yi strolled around leisurely all morning, and when it was almost noon and the sun was at its zenith, he turned into a clean-looking home-style restaurant on the side of the road.
I had just ordered and sat down for less than two minutes when a group of people at the next table...
A woman who looked to be around forty years old and had a gentle demeanor suddenly walked over and spoke with a smile.
"Excuse me, are you Wei Yi?"
Wei Yi paused for a moment, looked up at the other person, and nodded: "Yes, that's me. And you are?"
"Hello, hello, my name is Xu Xiaodan, and I am a teacher in the Performance Department of Taipei Film Academy."
The woman smiled and extended her hand. "I saw your photo at the school's admissions conference. I recognized you immediately."
She turned to the side and pointed to a few young people at the table behind her:
"These are all students from the 03 class of the Performance Department of our school. They are all top students in their classes. I brought them here to Hengdian to intern at the film crew and broaden their horizons."
Several young people immediately stood up, their faces full of curiosity, and came over to greet him, "Hello, junior brother."
Wei Yi quickly stood up and greeted everyone, and Xu Xiaodan took the opportunity to suggest sharing a table to eat together.
Wei Yi didn't refuse, and the group gathered around the table.
During the conversation, Wei Yi learned that these senior students had gotten their extra roles in various film crews in Hengdian thanks to the school's resources.
Most of them were guest appearances with only a few lines, but this was actually considered a very good opportunity among their peers.
The 03 undergraduate and vocational classes of the Performing Arts Department had nearly a hundred students in total.
There are probably no more than ten people who get the opportunity here.
even so.
But it's already an extremely rare opportunity in this industry.
It has to be a regular army.
They were far ahead of those who used unorthodox methods from the very beginning.
When they heard that Wei Yi had not only been granted special permission by the principal to skip military training, but had also been directly assigned by the school to work as an intern director on Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower," their eyes widened in disbelief, their faces filled with undisguised envy.
"You don't need to be envious."
Xu Xiaodan was, after all, someone who could be a homeroom teacher, and she could at least sense the students' emotions.
Xu Xiaodan said with a smile, "If you were also top scorers in the college entrance examination, you could achieve the same result."
The Beijing Film Academy students: "..."
That's what I meant.
If they got a perfect score on the college entrance exam, they'd be crazy to come to Beijing Film Academy.
Even if they were crazy to want to study at Beijing Film Academy.
Their parents at home will definitely give them a good beating to bring them to their senses!
Thinking about it that way...
The students from the 03 class of the Performance Department at Taipei Film Academy don't seem to envy Wei Yi as much anymore.
On the contrary, I felt a little sympathy—
A perfect score on the college entrance exam—a talent that attracts top universities like Tsinghua and Peking University.
I came to Beijing Film Academy to study directing.
Isn't this fucking ridiculous?
"Clang~ Clang clang~ Clang"
The pleasant and familiar Nokia ringtone rang out at that moment.
It's Wei Yi's phone.
Seeing that it was Li Hua calling, Wei Yi smiled apologetically at Xu Xiaodan and the senior students from the performing arts department before answering the call.
"Hey? Senior brother, is something wrong?"
"Oh, oh, Director Zhang Li is looking for me? I'm having dinner outside with our school's teacher, Xu Xiaodan, and a few other senior students."
"Okay, okay, I'll be right there."
After saying that, he hung up the phone and said to Xu Xiaodan apologetically:
"Professor Xu, and a few other senior students. Please continue eating. I have something to attend to and must leave now."
Xu Xiaodan asked with concern, "Is there something you need to do? Did Director Zhang ask you to come over?"
Shaking his head, Wei Yi thought for a moment, and then said:
"It's Director Zhang, but not Director Zhang Yimou. It's Director Zhang Li, who's also from our school."
"Okay, then you can go ahead and get busy."
Xu Xiaodan said to her school's precious child with understanding.
"Okay, goodbye teacher. See you next time, senior brothers and sisters!"
A group of teachers and students from the 03 class of the Performance Department at Taipei Film Academy watched Wei Yi leave.
Sudden.
After his figure completely disappeared.
A female student from the 03 undergraduate class of the Performance Department at Beijing Film Academy spoke:
"Hey? Professor Xu, the director Zhang Li that Wei mentioned earlier... could it be the same Zhang Li you were going to take us to meet this afternoon?"
"It should be." Xu Xiaodan nodded.
I just don't know why Director Zhang Li suddenly contacted Wei Yi.