Abstract Art Award Winner

As Zhou Le left the theater, he felt a sense of relief.

Although Chen Daoming didn't say much, his recognition and willingness to support him gave him a clearer understanding of the matter of becoming a director of the Film Association.

This is not simply about fame and fortune, but also about a responsibility and recognition within the industry.

It requires caution, but there's no need to be overly timid.

Seeing that it was still early, he asked Su Yingxia to drive to the Directors Guild's office.

Compared to the theater, the Directors Guild seems to have a more grassroots atmosphere, since it is indeed a social organization, but the decor here is obviously better.

The membership application process went smoothly, and the receptionist directed him to an office.

The person in charge of receiving the materials was a young woman who looked quite capable.

"Hello, are you here to apply for membership?" The young woman looked up with a professional smile, but she was clearly taken aback when she saw Zhou Le's face.

Zhou Le also felt that the other person looked familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where. He handed over the form: "Yes, hello, I'm here to submit the form and related materials."

The young woman took the form and looked at Zhou Le carefully for a couple more moments before finally asking tentatively, "Um... Mr. Zhou, do you remember me? About three or four years ago, you came to audition for Wu Jing's Wolf Warrior movie. I was the one who registered and guided you back then..."

After being reminded by her, Zhou Le's memory instantly became clear!
That was when he auditioned for a role in one of Wu Jing's early film projects, and was later successfully selected.

But he had some impression of the cold yet enthusiastic staff member at the time.

"Oh! I remember now!" Zhou Le laughed. "It's you! What a coincidence! What are you doing at the Directors Guild? I remember you were at Brother Jing's company back then, right?"

Seeing that Zhou Le still remembered her, the girl was obviously very happy and became more talkative: "Yes, yes, what a coincidence! Teacher Zhou, you have such a good memory. Later... sigh, my family wasn't very supportive of me constantly running around on set, they felt it was unstable, so they asked me to take the civil service exam."

"After failing the exam twice and feeling disheartened, I happened to see that the Directors Guild was recruiting. I applied on a whim, and to my surprise, I got the job. I'm quite happy here now; the work is stable, I'm exposed to industry-related matters, and my superiors value me."

“That’s definitely a good idea, just stay here!” Zhou Le was genuinely happy. “It’s really not easy to transfer from a film crew to a unit like this, which shows you’re very capable.”

"Teacher Zhou, please don't praise me too much," the girl smiled shyly. "Compared to you, what am I? When you came to audition, I felt that you were very serious and your temperament was different from all the others. It's only been a few years, and you've become so popular, making one movie after another. Now you're even going to join the Directors Guild. Speaking of which, I'm still in your fan club!" Her tone was full of admiration and respect.

"I was lucky, and I met a lot of helpful people," Zhou Le said modestly, then naturally asked, "By the way, what's your name, Miss?"

"My surname is Lin, Lin Wei."

“Lin Wei, a good name.” Zhou Le nodded, glanced at the time, and gestured to Su Yingxia beside him.

Su Yingxia immediately understood and left.

Zhou Le continued chatting with Lin Wei for a while, asking about the Directors Guild's daily activities and atmosphere.

Lin Wei introduced herself to the best of her knowledge, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

A short while later, Su Yingxia returned, carrying more than a dozen cups of milk tea and some delicate snacks.

Zhou Le smiled and said to the staff in the office, "Teachers, you've all worked hard. Here's some afternoon tea, please have a taste and don't be shy."

This unexpected benefit surprised the other people in the office, who all expressed their gratitude.

Although people often drink milk tea here, there aren't many top-tier celebrities like Zhou Le; the rest are mostly directors whose names I don't know.

Lin Wei was flattered: "Teacher Zhou, you're too kind!"

"Of course, I might need to trouble everyone more in the future," Zhou Le said with a smile. "Teacher Lin, then I'll leave my form to you. If there's anything that needs to be added or if there's any progress, just contact me on WeChat anytime." He naturally asked to add me on WeChat.

Lin Wei quickly took out her phone: "Okay, okay, Teacher Zhou, don't worry, I will follow up on the process. I will let you know on WeChat if there is any news. I will definitely not bother you normally."

After exchanging a few pleasantries on WeChat, Zhou Le got up to say goodbye.

Before leaving, he casually asked, "By the way, is Director Zhang Yimou coming today?"

Lin Wei shook her head: "Director Zhang rarely comes here unless there is an important meeting or review. He has too many things to do, and he usually won't come here to work unless there is something particularly important."

Zhou Le expressed his understanding and then left the Directors Guild.

Zhou Le was in a good mood after accomplishing two important tasks in one morning.

After a quick bite to eat in the car, we headed straight to the airport and flew to Chengdu, Sichuan.

The initial training base for "Octagonal Cage" was located in Chengdu.

The film tells the story of a young fighter from the lower class, with a large portion of the film taking place in the Liangshan region of Sichuan. As a result, the main actors needed to undergo intensive and high-intensity combat training in advance in order to present the most authentic and impactful performance on camera.

After getting off the plane, Zhou Le went straight to the car.

Wang Baoqiang originally intended to have lunch together, but Zhou Le said he would just eat at the airport and start training immediately, since time was tight.

When I arrived at the training base, Wang Baoqiang was already there.

He was wearing a sports vest and shorts, and was covered in sweat, so he had obviously been training for a while.

Upon seeing Zhou Le, he immediately greeted him with a smile, speaking in accented Mandarin: "Brother Le! You're here! You must have had a long journey!"

"Brother Baoqiang, you've really gone all out with this training? You're really pushing yourself!" Zhou Le looked at Wang Baoqiang, who was covered in sweat, and shook his hand.

“There’s no other way. I have to work harder on the film I directed myself. And when it comes to fighting, the camera won’t lie if you don’t put in the hard work.” Wang Baoqiang wiped his sweat. “Come on, I’ll take you to meet the coaching team. They’re all professionals. The action director this time is from the Donnie Yen’s team. Yuen Woo-ping and Tung Wai have both been his teachers.”

The training hall was filled with the mixed smell of sweat and disinfectant, and the sounds of punches and coaching commands came from the ring.

The coach that Wang Baoqiang introduced to Zhou Le was surnamed Zhuang. He was a dark-skinned man with sharp eyes and a lean physique.

Upon meeting, Zhou Le discovered that he recognized the other person.

The other party used to be the action director for Crazy Alien.

It's easier to talk to someone you know.

"Hello, Teacher Zhou." Zhuang Yuanzhang didn't say much, but his handshake was firm. "Director Baoqiang has already told me about your situation. We have a tight schedule and a heavy workload, so let's start from the basics and catch up with the progress as soon as possible."

After changing into training clothes and warming up, the hellish training began.

First, there's the fighting stance and basic footwork. Zhuang Yuanzhang strictly requires: "Feet apart, shoulder-width apart or slightly wider, weight on the balls of your feet, heels slightly raised, knees slightly bent, chest slightly tucked in, abdomen drawn in, chin slightly tucked, hands clenched into fists and raised to protect your head and cheeks... Yes, just like that, hold it! Feel the elasticity of your body!"

Zhou Le imitated him, adjusting his center of gravity.

It may seem simple, but maintaining this state of readiness for an extended period requires significant core and leg strength.

"Move! Slide! Forward, backward, sideways... Pay attention to the rhythm! Don't move in the same direction! Keep your stance!" the opponent kept correcting.

Then comes the basic practice of straight punches, hook punches, and uppercuts.

Air shooting, shooting at hand targets.

"Power originates from the feet, is transmitted through the waist and hips, and explodes in the fist! It's not the power of the arms! It's the power of the whole body!"

"Rhythm! Breathing! Exhale when you hit!" "Combination! Left straight followed by right hook! Keep up! Speed!"

Zhou Le learns very quickly. He has excellent physical fitness, strong core strength, and good coordination. He can perform many movements well after watching them a few times, and he gradually finds the right feeling for exerting force.

The fist struck the thick hand target held by the coach, making a dull "bang! bang!" sound.

Wang Baoqiang was also busy training hard, and his movements had a wild, indomitable spirit.

In contrast, Wang Baoqiang's kung fu skills seem to have some formal training.

Putting aside everything else, he's at least an insider.

During a training break, the two slumped down by the ring, gulping down electrolyte water, sweating profusely.

"How are you, Brother Le? Can you still handle it?" Wang Baoqiang asked, panting.

"It's alright," Zhou Le wiped his face. "It's more tiring than I imagined, especially for my heart and lungs, but it's quite exhilarating. I didn't pay much attention last time, but I could feel it this time. Teacher Zhuang is really amazing."

"Of course, I paid a lot of money to hire him." Wang Baoqiang said with some pride, "The action scenes are the core of our play, so they have to be real. We also need to learn ground techniques, which are even more physically demanding. Joint locks and grappling techniques look simple, but they're incredibly difficult to learn."

"Looks like I'm going to have to work my ass off," Zhou Le said with a smile, but his eyes were full of anticipation.

“Yes!” Wang Baoqiang said firmly, “We have to live up to those real young fighters and the audience. By the way,” he seemed to remember something, “Speaking of the movie, I have some ideas about the theme song and promotional song, let’s talk about it.”

Zhou Le sat up straighter: "Go on."

Wang Baoqiang: "I currently have two promotional songs planned. One is 'Dear Child,' and I want to collaborate with Liu Ruoying. Her voice is very suitable for the part of the movie that shows care for children. The other is 'Men Don't Cry, It's Not a Crime,' and I'd like to... try to get Andy Lau to collaborate with me. The inspirational and liberating feeling of this song is also very fitting."

Zhou Le nodded: "Both are classics, and the direction is good. What do you need me to do?"

Wang Baoqiang looked at him and said, "My idea is for us to each collaborate on one of these two promotional songs. You pick one, and I'll negotiate the other one."

Zhou Le laughed without much hesitation: "Brother Baoqiang, you decide. I'll follow you. I'll do whatever you tell me. I'm not picky about jobs. It would be an honor for me to work with Teacher Liu Ruoying or Mr. Andy Lau."

Hearing this, Wang Baoqiang was pleased, but he still said sincerely, "Le'er, please don't say that! If it weren't for your involvement in this movie, bringing so much attention and traffic, many things definitely wouldn't have gone so smoothly. You came to help me, so I should be thanking you!"

After some polite back and forth, Wang Baoqiang finally made the decision: "In that case, 'Dearest Child' requires more delicate emotional expression, so you will work with Liu Ruoying. As for 'Men Cry, It's Not a Crime,' I'll see if we can get Hua Ge to help us."

"Okay, I'll do as you say," Zhou Le readily agreed.

“However,” Wang Baoqiang frowned again, “we have the promotional song, but I’m still missing a theme song that’s more powerful, wilder, and more representative of fighting itself and the spirit of never giving up. It can’t be too soft; it has to be a bit more energetic and spirited!”

Upon hearing this, a name and a musical style flashed through Zhou Le's mind.

He immediately took out his phone: "Now that you mention it, I've remembered someone who's perfect for the job. I'll call and see if he's interested and available."

The call was answered after only a few rings, and a highly recognizable voice with a Sichuan-Chongqing accent came from the other end: "Hello? Teacher Zhou! What made you think of calling me?"

"What are you busy with, GAI?" Zhou Le asked with a smile.

"Does Brother Le have any instructions on setting up some new stuff in the shed?"

"I wouldn't dare to give you instructions, but I have a collaboration opportunity with you. I have a movie here, directed by Wang Baoqiang, about fighting, and we need a wild, passionate, and energetic theme song. As soon as I heard the requirements, I immediately thought of you. Your style is just right! Are you interested?"

"A fight movie? Directed by Wang Baoqiang? Brother Le, you're here too?" GAI's voice clearly showed interest. "Great! This kind of subject matter is awesome! When can we talk about it?"

"What a coincidence, Baoqiang and I are training in Chengdu right now. Would it be convenient for you to have dinner together tonight and we can talk in detail?"

"Okay! Send me your location, I'll be there right away!"

That evening, the three met in a private room at an authentic Sichuan restaurant.

GAI still had that江湖气气 (a kind of chivalrous spirit), but he treated Wang Baoqiang and Zhou Le with great respect.

"Director Baoqiang, I've heard so much about you! I've seen your 'Soldiers Sortie' and 'Mr. Tree,' they're really great!"

"GAI, you're too kind. I often listen to your songs!" Wang Baoqiang said with a smile, shaking hands.

Zhou Le introduced from the side: "Brother GAI, I think the street-smart and adventurous spirit in his music is a perfect match for the temperament of those fighting teenagers in our movie."

After a few drinks, the conversation turned to music and movies, and the atmosphere became even more lively.

After listening to Wang Baoqiang's explanation of the film's theme and core ideas, GAI slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "No problem! I'm totally in love with this theme! It has to be explosive! It has to be ruthless! It has to capture that spirit of looking up at the sky even when you're stuck in the mud, clenching your fists, and refusing to accept your fate! Leave it to me!"

Wang Baoqiang was overjoyed: "That's wonderful! With your words, half the weight on my heart has been lifted! As for the expenses..."

GAI readily agreed: "Director Baoqiang, with Brother Le involved and it being a good project, the fee is negotiable! The key is to produce something of high quality!"

The three hit it off immediately and quickly reached a cooperation agreement, agreeing to communicate as soon as GAI made a sample.

After dinner and seeing GAI off, Zhou Le and Wang Baoqiang returned to their respective residences to rest.

Zhou Le had just returned to his hotel room when his phone rang. He saw it was Tian Xiwei.

"Brother Le! I heard you're in Chengdu?" Tian Xiwei's clear and lively voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Yes, I came here to train with Brother Baoqiang to prepare for my next film. How did you know?"

"I'm going back to my hometown to rest for a few days. I saw someone on WeChat Moments who thinks they saw you. How's training going? Are you free tonight? I'd like to come over and hang out!"

Zhou Le thought about his packed training schedule for tomorrow and said helplessly, "I'm afraid I won't be free tomorrow, but I'm free tonight."

Tian Xiwei immediately said she would be there right away.

"Send me your location quickly. These past few days of training have been a perfect opportunity for me to see how weak you look."

Just as I hung up on Tian Xiwei, before I could even put my phone down, another call came in.

It seems the telegram shows Wang Junkai.

"Hey, Le-ge!" Wang Junkai's voice sounded very enthusiastic. "I heard from the staff that you were in Chengdu? How come you didn't even tell me you were coming? That's so inconsiderate! So, are you free tomorrow? I just finished an event in Chengdu, how about we hang out? Or tonight is fine too."

Zhou Le sighed, wondering what was going on today, that everyone had come to visit at once.

"Xiao Kai, what a coincidence! I'm here for closed-door training this time, with a really heavy workload. I've been training from morning till night, so I really don't have time. Next time, next time for sure! When you go back to Beijing, or when I go to Chongqing, we can get together properly, how about it?"

Although Wang Junkai was a little disappointed, he knew Zhou Le was a hard worker: "Alright then, Le-ge, take care of yourself! Don't overdo it. It's a deal then, see you next time!"

"No problem, let's meet again next time."

After dealing with two invitations, Zhou Le let out a long sigh of relief and threw himself onto the bed.

The muscle soreness from training started to come in waves, but I felt very fulfilled.

What made him even more fulfilled was that Xiaotian would be arriving soon.

After not seeing each other for so long, I actually miss them quite a bit. (End of Chapter)