Global Film Emperor

Chapter 34 Taking students to film a movie?
"East. East, huh?"

Lu Ze came from the east. He wandered around but couldn't find anyone. Then, upon closer inspection, he saw Liu Le sitting next to a group of young men and women for some unknown reason.

"Brother Le."

Liu Le's strange laughter made the group of students around him laugh as well. Lu Ze was a little confused, wondering what kind of tantrum Liu Le had today.

"I'm sitting right here. You've been wandering around for ages and haven't seen me? Are you treating me like I'm invisible? Fine, today you're the one leading them around. There are no girls, only boys. You'll take them to the play later."

"Ah, okay."

Lu Ze was initially taken aback, as it was the first time he had ever encountered a group of academic prodigies running around on the "battlefield".

He was worried. What if they got hurt, or even worse, something bad happened and they got blown up? He, Lu Ze, couldn't bear that responsibility. Besides, even if they were acting students, they were just a bunch of students who hadn't graduated yet. They were probably just rookies who had only practiced in school. This team was indeed harder to manage than those extras.

But then he thought about it again, and glanced at the scene. The teacher was right there. If the teacher wasn't afraid, why should he be? Besides, Liu Le dared to bring a group of students to film a movie, so he must have gotten the director's permission. The students did have the means to experience life. Even if it didn't work out, the criticism wouldn't reach Lu Ze's ears. If the director wanted to scold them, he would scold the students. He would just be a little tired from running around and wouldn't bear any responsibility. So he nodded and agreed.

"Okay, the guys who run with me must listen to me. There will be explosives on the set. If you run around aimlessly, you'll either not get in the shot, or you might get really blown up. Just be careful."

Lu Ze's words didn't frighten them at all; on the contrary, they were quite excited. They were all greenhorns who didn't know how powerful explosives were. If they really exploded, their legs could be blown off.

That's about it. Lu Ze isn't a teacher, so he has no obligation to teach these students how to get by on set. He just sat down next to Liu Le and lit a cigarette.

"Brother, how long have you been doing this?"

A man in his thirties sat down next to Liu Le, smiled, and greeted Lu Ze.

"Me? Would you like one? No, I don't smoke. Good habit, good habit. I've only been doing this for a little over two years, not long at all."

After lighting a cigarette for Liu Le and lighting one for himself, he squinted and thought for a moment. He had come to Hengdian in July 2014, so that's two years and two months.

"Could you tell my students about your experiences on set? They're only sophomores, and this is only their second day doing this job. Do you have any stories to share?"

"What's there to talk about? Is it like talking about how a dead person lies comfortably?"

Lu Ze mentally scoffed, but didn't show it, and began to ponder with a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"Actually, it's nothing. You get paid and leave after the scene, but if you get yelled at, you keep going until you're done being yelled at. That's just how it is for extras. There's not much to say. Just be clear about your place in the crew. Don't complain, don't hold grudges. You're not exactly lucky, but you won't suffer any great losses either."

This was far more boring than the story Liu Le shared with them, and few of the students listened. Perhaps they were still full of ambition and thought they could become an overnight sensation.

However, the teacher nodded. He had been through it all and understood. In fact, this sentence was much more useful than the stories of how big stars became famous that Liu Le told.

Most people won't stand out from the crowd like those big stars, including his students. They are young and energetic, with a sharp edge, but the sharpness that hasn't hit a wall is called a newborn calf not afraid of a tiger. But if you still have that sharpness after hitting a wall, then you are a real genius.

"Remember this sentence, it will be useful to you in your future work. When your career is just starting out, think about this sentence more often, and find your place in the right direction. It will always benefit you."

"Understood, Teacher Wu."

They gave lukewarm answers, perhaps feeling that as an academically trained future star destined not to start from small roles, they shouldn't be listening to the life insights of a mere extra.

Lu Ze glanced at Liu Le and saw a strange smile on his face, a smile directed at him.

After thinking about it, I understood. These students weren't really interested in listening to my heartfelt words; they just wanted to find pleasure in imagining themselves in the stories of other celebrities' rise to fame. Liu Le saw through it all. "You want to hear about celebrities becoming famous? Then I'll tell you stories of celebrities becoming famous, let you all be proud, let you all think you're capable. That kind of mentality will definitely ruin you. Maybe after your beautiful dreams shatter, you'll never be able to get back up."

But what does it matter to Liu Le if he can't get up? If he falls and gets smashed to pieces, it's not Liu Le's son, so why would he care? Lu Ze has now discovered that Liu Le is not only shrewd, but also ruthless.

"Lu'er, didn't you go to the audition the other day? How did it go?"

"Nothing's settled yet, we'll just have to wait for news. We'll only know if we're capable then."

Few people knew that Lu Ze went to audition, except for Liu Le, who was told by Lu Ze himself, but Liu Le didn't know which production team Lu Ze went to.

Hearing Lu Ze say that, Liu Le didn't ask any further questions. Just then, a group of students were chasing after him, telling him stories of how big stars became famous. He had sunflower seeds in his pocket, and he was eating them while telling the story with a smile.

At noon, several students went to buy water and brought back a bottle for the teacher, Liu Le, and Lu Ze. In the students' minds, buying a bottle of water was probably a way of showing goodwill.

Around 2 PM, the midday temperature in autumn wasn't too low. Liu Le glanced at his watch, then left with a group of students who were going to film a war scene and Lu Ze, leaving behind the teacher and a group of girls who were going to film a period drama as maids.

After Liu Le dropped the person off at the film set, he left. Lu Ze led the group to change into their costumes. It was the same familiar routine: a group of students frowned as they put on their clothes.

Good afternoon, Director Wang!

Lu Ze knew this director. Although he had never worked for him before, Lu Ze had been working with other film crews and was always next to theirs, so they were acquaintances.

"Huh? No, other people climb the ladder as they act, but you're going downhill. Now you're a small-time extra? Stop talking nonsense. Change your clothes. I'm filming a scene tomorrow, it'll take seven or eight days. You can come with me, but don't show your face in this scene."

The director just happens to need a role tomorrow. He submitted it to the union a couple of days ago, but hasn't heard back yet. Luckily, he saw Lu Ze, so Director Wang didn't bother considering anyone else and just decided to let Lu Ze take the part.

"Director Wang, this...this really won't do. I can't do this job. You know what the extras do today, right? I can't take the blame."

Lu Ze was someone he couldn't afford to offend. He had promised to take a group of students to experience life, but at the last minute he abandoned them and ran away for a little money. The teacher had plenty of ways to deal with him, so he really didn't dare to do that.

After a moment's thought, Director Wang didn't say anything more. He took Lu Ze's cigarette, lit it, and waved his hand, saying, "Let the pyrotechnician take you for a run first. Be careful."

"Director Wang, I'll be going now. From now on, if you have another film, just ask me for it, and I'll do it for you even if it's free! I'm sorry."

After that, the pyrotechnician led Lu Ze and his group of students through the scene, explaining who was "blown up" in which place, who was "shot" to death in which place, and how Lu Ze died. Everything was arranged, and he gave the director a hand gesture.

"Hey everyone, don't run around like that. Did you hear what they said? Run off-camera and wait for the director to yell at you. Don't embarrass your teacher."

After stretching their muscles, Lu Ze led the extras to prepare, his eyes fixed on the clapperboard as they got ready.

Just as the students were feeling tense and excited, the director gave the order.

"Scene 5, Scene 6 in Hengdian, begin!"

"."

Thanks to Basketball Fat Cat, Book Friend 15114090449153, Listening to the Wind and Loving Old Friends, Thunderstorm and Lightning, Human Race Rise V is really good, and Instant Flight for their generous donations.

I did exaggerate; five or six chapters is impossible. I already did my best with chapters three and four. Sorry for the late update!

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(End of this chapter)