I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 254, Buried Alive

Graduation play, for example.

For most people, the performance ends with a stage play; at least that's the tradition.
A class's graduation play, or the making of a movie or television production—that's the kind of thing.
There has never been one.

Never!
When the Central Academy of Drama received this news, they had only one reaction.

At this moment, Liu Tianchi murmured.

"The Beijing Film Academy has gone mad. The Beijing Film Academy has really gone mad, actually supporting students to make their own TV production. They've really lost their minds."

My first reaction was that this colleague had gone mad.

But I want to do something big before I retire.

The kind of person who is very likely to ruin their reputation in their later years.

Li Xuan's performance over the years has indeed been remarkable. From the perspective of growth, this guy is indeed a little prodigy.

Their speed was almost identical to that of the class of '96.

Graduating at the same level is a foregone conclusion; the standard is exceptionally high.
But it's precisely because of this high standard.

That doesn't mean he can control the current situation.

As a director and screenwriter, I directed a group of students' graduation play.

This behavior is more than enough.

radical.

Everyone says their principal is a radical, but they never expected that he would be so conservative in front of Wang Fengsheng.

Students at the Central Academy of Drama were also discussing this matter, and everyone was talking about how crazy this alumnus from the Beijing Film Academy was, and how those students actually agreed.

But some people appreciate it.

A young man.

If you're not arrogant, are you even a teenager?

That's the spirit you have to have.

at this time.

At Zhang Guoli's home.

"This person is really arrogant, inciting his classmates to mess around with him."

"If your son had the influence and the ability to do this, would you support me?"

"Of course I will!"

"Then see, isn't this a double standard?"

"Can that be the same!"

At this moment, Zhang Guoli and Wang Gang were chatting, these two veteran actors from the Beijing entertainment circle were discussing recent events.

This matter cannot be kept secret. In the industry, it's impossible to keep a film crew, especially one as large as the Beijing Film Academy, one of the top performing arts schools in China, a secret.

However, from the perspective of the industry...

It's basically no different from watching a madman.

A mad producer, an arrogant director, and a bunch of immature kids—the kind of work they can produce is probably more like a disaster.

This was just a ridiculous farce.

A foolish act fueled by inflated ambition and arrogance.

But Zhang Guoli had a different attitude, if this person were to be his own son.

That would definitely be a source of great pride.
After all, if it were his own son who had this level of influence, he would be overjoyed.

That must be something to be very proud of.

Unfortunately, this is something that happens to other people's children!
That feeling is definitely different.
"So, it's all about perspective. I think that for a young person to have this level of influence is something to be proud of, and it's a testament to their excellence." Wang Gang sighed slightly at this point. "The fact that he can gain the 'trust' of his classmates... Don't underestimate today's young people. They're all adults and know the consequences of their actions. Li Xuan's ability to rally them is a kind of influence, a combination of personal charisma and talent."

Therefore, regardless of whether it succeeds or not, Wang Gang greatly admires Li Xuan for this project, "The Young Students".

They had the courage to write the script and the influence to take on the whole thing.

That's really impressive.
Courage, wisdom, and talent—for a young person, these qualities are absolutely outstanding. However, the fact that the president of the Beijing Film Academy participated in this nonsense makes it seem like a rather malicious prank.

The same thing, from two different perspectives, can lead to two completely different results and directions.

Overall, I was just watching the show with amusement.

Because nobody believes it.

A person can direct a great play without any experience.

"Have you heard about the Beijing Film Academy incident?"

"Of course I've heard about it. It's pretty well-known in the industry, since Wang Fengsheng was involved in all this nonsense."

"Of course. This is the industry's assessment."

"Then, Mr. Han, isn't this your assessment?"

“I don’t think this is completely nonsense. You can say he’s a gambler, but you can’t say it’s without reason. The underlying reasons and logic are at least convincing to me. If I were in the same position, I might also consider supporting Li Xuan’s cause.”

At this moment, Han Ping smiled slightly and talked about the matter with great interest.

There's a lot of news in the entertainment industry every day, but Han Ping isn't really interested in gossip. However, gossip takes up 80% of the pages.

This is also the impression most people have of the entertainment industry.

That's pretty tacky.

Serious news is too boring; it's nothing more than works by the Beijing entertainment circle, constantly expanding their influence, and nothing more than the achievements of directors, their disciples, and their descendants.

It has a kind of dullness.

After all, he knew that some so-called emerging directors might be hiding behind their fathers' names. Who knows?
Perhaps it's because they're father and son; it's quite reasonable that their works are 90% similar. Probably.

And amidst all this boring news, Li Xuan emerged.

Li Xuan, who wants to do something crazy with the Beijing Film Academy.

He always manages to appear before people in a completely new way.

For example, this time, he is going to organize the whole class's graduation play, which is not an opera or a drama, not by Shakespeare or Lao She or Lu Xun, but an original script and an original director.

Beijing Film Academy will serve as the producer and distributor.

A very pure Beijing Film Academy lineage.

"Li Xuan's ambitions are quite grand."

"Actually, I think his reasons for becoming a director are the same as mine," Jiang Wen said calmly, reflecting on his own opportunity and reasons for becoming a director.

It's probably because the market at that time could no longer satisfy his insatiable desire for expression.

The script is not good enough.

That no longer satisfies him.

“I knew from the beginning that he and I were the same kind of people, and I also knew that he would inevitably reach this point, because as our threshold increases step by step, we become dissatisfied with the scripts and roles we film. We are no longer satisfied with the same plots and roles, and we will only demand something higher. When the market does not have this, then we will create it ourselves.”

Han Ping neither confirmed nor denied this.

Jiang Wen definitely understands.

When Li Xuan was just an ordinary extra, Jiang Wen had already taken a liking to the young man.

Because of the similar background color.

It allows him to understand the other person's soul.

Being able to understand what the other person wants and desires.

Jiang Wen is still an actor at heart. His scripts serve his desire for expression, his own desire to express himself as an actor.

"Because there are no good scripts on the market, I have to do the planning myself. What an arrogant statement."

Han Ping felt that this was very arrogant.

But it's also quite reasonable.

This is the inevitable arrogance of a genius.

He's an actor at heart.

Whether it's directing, producing, or screenwriting, these are all means, not ends.

But only geniuses can understand geniuses, especially the oddballs among these geniuses.

As a result, Han Ping did not think badly of "The Young Students".

Jiang Wen, on the other hand, was more optimistic.

He was cautiously optimistic about Li Xuan's works.

The first work is bound to be somewhat immature and lacking, but the quality of a debut work is a matter of 0 to 1.

There are always some difficulties.

Especially considering that this team consists entirely of students, it's hard to say what kind of results they can achieve.

At this moment.

Li Xuan didn't seem to care much about the uproar outside.

"I won't come."

At this moment, Liu Yifei was looking at Li Xuan, not because she didn't want to, but because she made the decision after reading the script.

Wanting to get closer to someone you admire doesn't mean simply moving closer.

Rather, it is restraint.

When I realized that the subject matter and the role were not suitable for me, I didn't keep trying to fit in.

Liu Yifei was both amused and exasperated. If it were herself a year ago, she would definitely have rushed forward without hesitation, her blood boiling with excitement.

But it's just not suitable. This is related to her education in America. Although she has returned to China and adapted to local customs, she still can't escape the influence of the place she grew up in.

She knew she couldn't fully immerse herself in the situation, and it was precisely because she knew she couldn't do it well that she chose to remain silent and not respond.

"I understand."

Li Xuan paused for a moment and then said, "Everyone's living environment is different, and the sense of identification they bring is also different. I understand that."

At this moment.

Liu Yifei smiled brightly.

That feeling of being understood.

That's really good.

There is a kind of unspoken understanding, a tacit connection between them, where they can understand each other's thoughts.

She enjoyed this tacit understanding.

This tacit understanding, where people can comprehend each other without the need for language.

"If you have a suitable role for me, Brother Li, please let me know!"

"That's for sure."

“You’ve matured and stopped fooling around with those young guys, which is a good thing.”

Liu Lili greatly admired her daughter's choice.

I didn't participate in this crazy project.

In her opinion, these students were simply insane.

It wasn't that she didn't think Li Xuan was impressive; on the contrary, she felt that the talent and effort this young man had put in to reach his current level and achievements were beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

The exceptionally talented class of '96 became the 'stars'.

After graduation, Li Xuan will most likely be a prodigy of their caliber.

But the idea of ​​him leading the whole class in a graduation play this time is a pipe dream, even if it lands smoothly.

Liu Yifei's expression at this moment was very strange.

She didn't agree because she felt she couldn't play the role well; on the contrary, she quite wanted to act in it. But she also knew what an important opportunity this project was for Brother Li and for everyone in the class.

This is restraint.

"Mom, do you also think that Brother Li isn't good enough?"

“You have no idea how much stuff a project requires.” Liu Lili paused and said, “It’s a very complex, systematic project. How can so many young people handle it?”

Despite the help from the Beijing Film Academy, she felt it was still somewhat unrealistic.

"I'm saying, what if, what if this play actually landed smoothly?"

Although it's unlikely, Liu Yifei has already asked.

Liu Lili also said.

If it can be launched smoothly without any major issues, and even generate positive revenue and viewership.

So, Li Xuan.

He will be the strongest graduate in the history of Beijing Film Academy.

The initial arrangements for "The Young Students" are underway.

I'll play the 'lead role' myself.

Luo Jin and Zhu Yawen play Xiao Zisheng and Cai Sen respectively.

The three characters represent the Three Friends of Xiangjiang.

Playing historical figures isn't harder the older the era, but rather the more recent the era!

Because of that sense of vibrancy and life.

It's too close.

This can be considered a biographical work.

These three people all share a common identity.

That is, those who bring about national change.

That's for the future, of course.

We were young students.

It is the era of youth.

They were young, and many things were different for them, which may not be the same as what later generations think.

At this moment, Zhu Yawen was looking at the script.

"They've set us up with a really tough challenge right off the bat."

I have confidence in you.

Both Luo Jin and Zhu Yawen will be leading men who can stand on their own in the later stages of the series; they are both talented actors who are pursuing a career as actors.

Their potential is undeniable.

This is also why Li Xuan was able to entrust those two "youngsters" to them with peace of mind.

It is inherently a youthful spirit.

Mastering these young characters makes things much easier.

However, they also need time to find information and refine the characters, and Li Xuan will be filming other projects next, such as "Buried Alive".

This time, my graduation project is not just "The Young Students".

There's also the movie "Buried".

This movie is quite simple and very easy to make. Just hire a few voice actors, a film crew, a props crew, and you're done.

He was the only actor in the role.

Meanwhile, something interesting happened on Ning Hao and Huang Bo's side: filming for "Crazy Stone" had already begun.
The male lead is Huang Bo.

It was an anomaly for the school as well.

It can be said that Li Xuan's progress over the years has been astonishing, his rocket-like speed is incredibly impressive.

Then Huang Bo really misjudged him.

The reason he was chosen to be in the acting program was because of Li Xuan. If it weren't for Li Xuan, this guy would have been relegated to the voice acting department.

Unexpectedly, this person turned out to be a "weakling".

At this time, they were among the best in terms of resources, from "Migrant Workers" to "Stone".

A true comeback and rise.

Pushing beyond limits.

A comeback and rise.

This year's Beijing Film Academy is both highly talked about and legendary.

As the person who introduced him to Andy Lau, and who even used his own "freedom" as collateral, Li Xuan was entitled to the same share of the profits as the director.

That is, five percent.

Even close brothers need to keep clear accounts.

They should own half of the copyright, since the script for this movie was something the two of them discussed and agreed upon—at least that's what Ning Hao thought.

The next path is obvious.

Go film "Buried Alive".

Then I went to the Busan International Film Festival, and afterwards I watched "The Young Pioneers".

"So you're making your own films now, what about invitations for external projects?"

"Let's keep going. My scripts aren't unlimited, just like the supply of good scripts and good roles isn't unlimited either."

Li Xuan paused for a moment when faced with Wei Ming's question.

"Of course, if a good company gives me a script to act in, I won't refuse."

Wei Ming understood it very well.

"That will only be possible once your work proves it, when you truly possess the dual labels of actor and director."

We neither praise nor criticize Li Xuan's decision; we offer neither boundless confidence nor flattery, only a calm analysis.

He's becoming more and more like a talent agent, a top-notch agent, which gives Li Xuan not too many worries.

"That is indeed the case."

From a director's perspective, I'm still a novice.

Oh no, the same goes for actors; Li Xuan is very clear about that.

It's funny to say.

The titles "Four Little Fresh Meat" and "Four Little Flowers" are just empty boasts. Compared to real big stars and big names, they're nothing more than children playing around. They change every year, and every year there are new faces but no sign of the old ones.

Those real superstars,

Compared to those true evergreen trees, I am still too young.

As an actor now, you can say that you are above the class of '96, but are there not others above the class of '96?

Of course there are.

There are also people weighing them down, making it hard for them to breathe.

Just like those historical dramas that few young people dare to touch, which always dominate the charts, young actors wouldn't dare to take on the main roles in these dramas.

Even if they get into a major production, they'll only be supporting characters.

Even being a supporting character is a kind of honor. When this sense of honor arises, one has already implicitly acknowledged that one is in a lower position.

Li Xuan was very clear-headed. Although he was lagging behind those young actors, he certainly couldn't use them as his anchor point. His anchor point as an actor should be the level of 'influence' of Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow, or the level of 'acting skills' of Tony Leung and Chen Daoming, or even higher.

A true 'superstar' is someone who combines influence and acting skills.

These all require a sufficient supply of scripts and works to cultivate. No big star is created without being nurtured by a series of works. Without enough excellent works to cultivate, it's just a castle in the air. Take, for example, some young actors and actresses in the post-capital era. They have no works to speak of, but their status is top-tier or even super-top-tier. They have a ton of awards to speak of, and their salaries are exorbitant. Yet, their wallets are empty. They are nothing more than cold-blooded money-laundering machines for capital.

Both the roles of director and actor require a steady stream of works to build a solid foundation.
At this time, in Hong Kong, at Focus Entertainment, Andy Lau assigned a small art film crew that he had previously worked with on "Love You Like a Dream" to Li Xuan.

The crew isn't too expensive, and they excel at making low-budget films.

When the small team heard that this time, everyone from the lead actor to the supporting actors was just one person, they all showed strange expressions.

At this moment, Liu Weiqiang asked strangely.

"A film made by one person, this isn't some kind of performance art, is it?"

"Actually, you all know him, right? He's Lau Kin-ming from 'Infernal Affairs'."

It dawned on me!

They've long since been incorporated into Universe Entertainment, and most of the people here have worked on "Infernal Affairs."

This time, Liu Weiqiang brought his own crew. Although it was a cheap crew, it was still his own crew, and some people were curious about the crew that Andy Lau had personally come to ask for.

"You even asked the production team for him, and you also asked for the 'best' one," Liu Weiqiang quipped.

Although this group of people has never shot a commercial blockbuster, they are skilled at art films. They specialize in lighting and angles and are very good at creating 'stages with few people'.

Putting aside the unbelievable fact that one person made the entire movie, this production team is indeed the best.

"Hmm, since it's a bet, we have to make sure the other side accepts the defeat wholeheartedly." Liu Dehua smiled slightly: "If we invite you, then even if we lose in the end, we'll accept it wholeheartedly, right?"

It's clear that Andy Lau really wants Li Xuan.

want to.

want to.

want to.

It was obvious to everyone that they wanted to take Li Xuan's body and soul into Yingyi Entertainment.

Liu Weiqiang was quite interested in this.

They didn't say anything more.

"Since you put it that way, then I'll go take a look too. Of course, I won't be credited; I'll just go and see what's going on. It's his first time directing, so I'll just go and observe."

"So you have some free time?"

Liu Dehua was somewhat surprised.

With the "Infernal Affairs" series, Lau Wai-keung won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director, making him a true top-tier director. After the "Infernal Affairs" trilogy, there was also "Initial D," which solidified his position and made him a pillar of the Hong Kong directing circle.

"Well, filming for 'Daisy,' a collaboration with Peninsula Film Festival, isn't starting anytime soon. It might have to wait until after the Busan International Film Festival. I've definitely been quite bored lately."

Liu Weiqiang said, "It just so happens that I'm also a photographer by profession, so it's only natural for me to offer some pointers."

Andy Lau seemed to be deep in thought. As a top-tier director, his time is as precious as gold, so there must be a reason for doing this.
After much pleading and cajoling, Liu Weiqiang figured it was probably out of 'guilt'.

Lau Kin-ming's iconic character and immersive portrayal in "Infernal Affairs 1" even influenced him and the scripts of the next two generations.

However, due to reasons attributable to the investors, the next two generations did not invite him to act, causing him to miss out on the honor of "Infernal Affairs".

Liu Weiqiang is a very meticulous person and felt that he still felt somewhat sorry for Li Xuan in this matter.

If given the chance to make up for this guilt, this time, his debut work serves as guidance from the 'observer'.

This can be considered as making up for my guilt.

At this moment, Liu Dehua said.

"That's none of your business, it's a problem with the company. Capital has indeed lowered the artistic ceiling of 'Infernal Affairs,' which is exactly what the investors are doing."

The upper limit of a work lies in the combined impact of actors, directors, screenwriters, and other aspects.
Liu Weiqiang must have some resentment about not being able to achieve 'perfection'.

"Anyway, I'll go take a look." Liu Weiqiang paused, "Although, I don't really think that the work of someone like him would be interesting."

One actor, and the audience watches a movie that lasts for more than an hour, almost two hours.

That would be so boring.

(End of this chapter)