Huayu: From an ordinary person to a happy director

Chapter 5 Finishing

The next day, just as Shi Lei had expected, Zhang Songwen performed much better. If there was no problem with Zhang Songwen, Zhou Xun would be even finer. The two of them just looked at each other without saying a word or having any close contact. Even four meters apart, they could give people the feeling that they were in love.

The subsequent filming went exceptionally smoothly. Since he had the original film for reference and knew what effect he wanted to achieve, he didn't need to worry about storyboards like other art film directors, so the filming progressed quite quickly.

Half a month later, the crew finished filming.

The total shooting time was one and a half months before the filming was completed.

It is July 7th now. If you work hard, you can catch this year's Venice Film Festival.

After calculating the funds, there are still 600,000 yuan left, which is more than enough for post-production work such as editing, dubbing, music, color grading, etc.

In order to win over the hearts of the people, Shi Lei waved his hand and invited the crew to have a meal at the restaurant that night.

"I wish Director Shi's film wins a big award and makes a lot of money. I hope he can help us students in the future."

"If there's a play in the future, please call me. My pay is low." Zhang Songwen was the first to speak in congratulations.

Other students also spoke up, and even the props, stage staff, lighting staff and others extended their warm congratulations. There were too few directors who had unlimited lunch boxes.

"Okay, thank you for your good wishes. Let's have a good meal and drink tonight." Shi Lei was also very happy. The most difficult part of his debut work was finally completed.

"I've done it, you can do whatever you want." Zhang Songwen raised his glass and drank it all.

……

Two days later, Shi Lei devoted all his energy to the editing room of Qingying Studio.

I edited the film together with Ning Hao and several editors from Qingying Studio.

When filming, Shi Lei knew what kind of shots he wanted, so the editing was extremely smooth.

……

On July 7, the film was completed.

Ning Hao looked at Shi Lei, wanting to say something but stopping himself, and then kept silent. Shi Lei made two versions, and he could guess what he was going to do, but he didn't have a close relationship with Shi Lei, so it was difficult to persuade him.

He was also afraid of losing his investment.

Shi Lei looked at Ning Hao's expression and knew what he wanted to say.

"Winning an award is the most important thing. Whether or not it can be shown in the country is not that important."

The current domestic film market is hard to describe. In the entire film industry, only Zhang Yimou and Feng Dapao can guarantee that a movie will make money.

Even if his movie wins awards and boosts box office, he can't say that it will be a big hit at the domestic box office.

Therefore, whether this film can make a profit depends on the sales of overseas copyrights.

The selling price depends on whether the film can win an award at the Venice Film Festival.

"Well...you can make your own decision."

Shi Lei patted Ning Hao's shoulder and said nothing.

He picked up the film he was going to receive the award and walked towards Director Hua Shihong's office.

He knew very little about the Venice Film Festival and could only ask for help.

"Please come in." Hua Shihong said.

"Director, I have finished my film and would like to ask you for a favor and send it to the Venice Film Festival for entry." Shi Lei went straight to the point.

"Huh? The film is ready? So quickly?" Hua Shihong was a little surprised, and then said: "Editing is also very important. Some movies are shot very well, but the editing is a mess. The same material can be edited into different films."

"Director, I understand all of this. In fact, I had already thought about which shots I wanted when I was filming, so the editing was very fast." Shi Lei explained immediately.

"If I'm not mistaken, it only took you fifteen days to edit. Is this the speed at which you edit art films?"

Shi Lei shook his head slightly and said, "I'm not an artist, so I won't be so entangled."

"Director, let's go to the viewing room and you can give us some suggestions for revisions." "Okay, I'll take a look at the finished film first."

In the viewing room, after a round of watching movies, Hua Shihong frowned and said directly: "Your movie actually succeeded in escaping prison."

"The mainland is not Hong Kong Island. This won't pass muster!"

"The scene where the director successfully escapes from prison is the sublimation scene. Without it, he wouldn't have won the award!" Shi Lei explained.

If possible, he would also like to change it, but after the prison break, the male and female protagonists fall in love at the second male lead's house while avoiding the second male lead. This plot would be very explosive even in the future, let alone in 02.

"You...ah...do you know the possible consequences of doing this?"

Hua Shihong sighed. If he remembered correctly, Shi Lei's approved script did not have this part at all. It was normal to change the script during filming, but you were not asked to change it in a direction that would not pass the review!
"Director, I know." Shi Lei nodded seriously.

Movies that have not passed the review are called underground movies. Not only can they not be released, but the director may also be banned for several years.

But as long as he can win awards, it’s no problem to be banned for a few years. He can be a producer himself and find a helper director and still make movies.

Of course he didn't want to go this far.

"Okay, as long as you know it." Hua Shihong said helplessly.

"Director, do you have any suggestions for this film?" Shi Lei asked.

"Yes, change the prison break to serving sentence, are you willing?" Hua Shihong looked at Shi Lei and said with a smile.

"Uh, Director, do you have any other suggestions?" Shi Lei avoided answering.

Breaking out of prison to find someone to date, or finding someone to date after serving your sentence, of course, breaking out of prison is more touching!
It is impossible to change it.

“Although I have different opinions on the others, they are not necessarily better than the original film, so I won’t say more.”

This is an art film, he can only raise some very obvious questions, and other ambiguous questions are impossible to say.

Whether they win the award or not, it will not be good for the relationship between the two parties.

“What about the Venice Film Festival?”

"I'll send it for you." Hua Shihong agreed.

"Thank you, Director." Shi Lei said gratefully.

If an ordinary person sends it, it is not certain whether anyone will read it. But it is different for Hua Shihong, the director of the directing department of Beijing Film Academy. He represents Beijing Film Academy.

After solving the delivery problem, Shi Lei finally breathed a sigh of relief and invited Zhang Songwen to have a meal at KFC.

In his previous life, he ate KFC for the first time when he was in college. Before college, KFC was a high-consumption place in his eyes and he didn’t dare to go in. Even the first time he went to KFC was treated by his roommate. It was then that he saw the true face of KFC.

After working, KFC is a good place to spend money. Eating hotpot may cause overspending, but eating KFC will not. Moreover, the fried chicken, honey chicken, hamburgers, French fries... are all very delicious.

Shi Lei was showing off a crispy chicken when his flip phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and answered, "Hello, who is this?"

"It's me." A pleasant female voice came from the receiver.

"Yang Mi? What's the matter?" Shi Lei suddenly became alert.

He usually studies at the Beijing Film Academy, and goes to the crew to study during holidays. As an undergraduate student in the directing department of the Beijing Film Academy, no crew will refuse as long as he pays for it himself.

Of course, although it is self-funded, the crew will still provide boxed lunches.

And as long as he doesn't ask for money, he will have a lot more freedom in the crew and can learn more.

He and Yang Mi met on the set of "The Mansion Gate". At that time, one of them was doing odd jobs and the other was a supporting actor.

Yes, Yang Mi will also play a supporting role. After all, as long as he is there, he can build relationships.

Moreover, people like Yang Mi who have participated in TV dramas and movies would be euphemistically called guest appearances.

(End of this chapter)