Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 10 Chinese Father

On Monday, December 15, 2003, the weather in Beijing was so cold that it could freeze people into popsicles.

The window glass was covered with frost that looked like ice cracks, and the old cast iron radiator made a hollow humming sound, but it couldn't dispel the bone-chilling cold in the room.

"Brother Chen, Songri, get up, it's time for class. Today, Lao Mu is going to talk about the lighting and photography for the Scottish locations of Braveheart. If you're late, you'll have to clean the lenses for three weeks!"

Xiang Zhuo stood in the middle of the dormitory and saw two people still sleeping soundly under the quilts on the bed. He patted the quilt without any hesitation, waking up Wu Chen and Pu Songri.

"It's okay. We both have to do hard labor in the acting department. Their rehearsal won't start until after 9 o'clock at the earliest!" Wu Chen yawned, turned around and continued to sleep.

"Damn it, you two are such bastards! Why didn't you bring Tianshu and me along with you for this kind of benefit?"

"Yes, Brother Chen, we want to go too!"

The two of them cursed and packed up their things to go to class.

"I want to, but it takes two people. Old Mu personally ordered it. There's nothing I can do!" Wu Chen explained in a muffled voice, his voice muffled from under the quilt, as if he was speaking through three layers of cotton-padded jacket.

"Got it. Remember to set the alarm clock and don't fall asleep later."

The creaking sound of the rusty door hinges cut through the morning mist. Before Chu Tianshu closed the door, he did not forget to give some instructions, and Wu Chen could vaguely hear the sound of the door closing.

The dormitory was silent for a moment, and suddenly Park Songri's voice broke the tranquility.

"Brother Chen, did we remember the time wrong? It seems that the labor service starts on Tuesday!" Park Songri said uncertainly.

The next second, Wu Chen jumped up from the bed.

"Damn, why didn't you say so earlier!"

"Uh, I got confused too." Park Song-il scratched the back of his head, his chubby face suddenly cleared up, his eyes full of panic.

He is no match for Wu Chen. If he really misses class, Mu Deyuan will definitely scold him.

So, as Wu Chen was shocked, the fat boy Park Song-il showed a flexibility he had never had before.

One minute is more than enough to wash up.

"Damn, did you wash it clean like this? Is this brushing your teeth or drinking paint?" Wu Chen said, and a piece of foam from the corner of his mouth fell onto the sink.

"It's better than drinking Lao Mu's spit! Why bother with so much at this time? Brother Chen, hurry up, you're fine, but I'm going to lose some skin."

Park Song-il put on his down jacket while urging him, and his fat body squeezed the zipper of his clothes so hard that it trembled.

Seeing this, Wu Chen had no choice but to speed up. After spitting out a mouthful of water, he quickly wet the towel and wiped it gently, making it clean.

This face is red from the cold.

The two of them rushed out of the dormitory in a hurry. The moment they went out, they couldn't help but pull their clothes inside, crossed their hands, and ran quickly towards the teaching building.

"Damn it, why should I suffer with you? At worst, I can just skip Lao Mu's class." Wu Chen was also cursing at this moment.

"Brother Chen, are we brothers?"

"Alright, alright, hurry up." Wu Chen was retorted by Park Songri's words.

In front of the teaching building, three guys from the directing department were walking slowly, blocking the way of Wu Chen and Park Songri.

Fortunately, there was still enough time, so the two could only follow behind and eavesdrop on the three pretentious people mumbling.

"I heard that the crew of Zhang Yimou's film 'House of Flying Daggers' was ambushed by the media. Have you heard about this?"

"I've heard about it a while ago, but I'm more interested in Feng Xiaogang's 'Cell Phone.' It's premiering tomorrow in Beijing, and it's like an all-star New Year's celebration that's being shown in places like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Shancheng. His New Year films have always been primarily for audiences here, but this time it seems he's going for a big one. I wonder if people in the south will pay any attention to him!"

"Don't just focus on these trivial domestic events all the time. Do you know Peter Jackson? His 'Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' has been released worldwide. We are future great directors, too. We need to pay attention to the major events in the international film industry!"

"Don't you feel uncomfortable if you don't act cool for a day?"

"."

Wu Chen and Park Song-il followed behind, nearly bursting out laughing until their stomachs ached. The director was still lingering around the corner in the hallway, but the two of them, seizing their moment, turned in at a swift pace and headed straight for their own classroom.

Mu Deyuan was already on the podium. He glanced at the two of them and then began to organize some of the content for his upcoming class.

Chu Tianshu and Xiang Zhuo looked at the two of them in confusion.

"Ahem, I remembered the wrong time." Wu Chen explained awkwardly.

Suddenly, both of them couldn't help but burst into laughter.

All eyes were focused on them at once. There were only a few people in the class to begin with, and with Mu Deyuan included, there were only eleven of them. The noise was like a small firecracker, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Tianshu, Xiangzhuo, what funny things did you two say? How about coming up on stage and telling everyone about it so they can have some fun?"

Mu Deyuan didn't even raise his head, and his tone was extremely relaxed, but Chu Tianshu and Xiang Zhuo completely shut up, lowered their heads, and dared not breathe.

"Two cowards, I'll go up there if it's me."

"Brother Chen, you are awesome, you go ahead!" Xiang Zhuo muttered softly with his head down.

"Okay, today we're going to talk about the lighting and cinematography for the Scottish locations of Braveheart. After I finish, each of you in the third and fourth classes will have at least five minutes to analyze the scene. Come up on stage!"

As soon as Mu Deyuan made the announcement, nine bitter faces turned towards Wu Chen.

"What are you looking at Wu Chen for?" Mu Deyuan asked angrily, "Can he even help you analyze the situation? When you go to the crew in the future, do you still have to carry Wu Chen around to help you?"

"Hahaha!"

Mu Deyuan's words immediately dispelled the depressing atmosphere, and everyone couldn't help laughing.

"Okay, focus on the class!" Mudeyuan saw that his goal had been achieved, and he quickly began to enter the teaching state.

Mu Deyuan's class lasted for four consecutive periods.

Just as the first class was about to end, Wu Chen clearly felt the cell phone in his trouser pocket vibrate.

"Huh?" Wu Chen took out his Motorola in confusion and pressed a button. The blue screen backlight reflected a text message preview: "ICBC reminder. 52,300 yuan has been deposited!"

Park Song-il came over and took a quick look, his breath condensing into a white mist in the air. "Damn it! Brother Chen, are you taking private work?"

Before he finished speaking, the phone rang.

Wu Chen quickly answered the call, then stood up and walked towards the corridor.

"dad!"

"Xiaochen, did you receive the money? I was planning to transfer it the day before yesterday, but your mom and I forgot about it and the bank is closed on weekends.
I heard from your mom that you want to make a movie. Your dad doesn’t understand about movies, but a man cannot be without money in his pocket, especially since you want to do something now.

The school can help you a little, you can draw on your father's life experience, but if you really want to be a director, you'll have to pay for it yourself.

This is your first film, and sometimes it means more than the big movies that come after it. Don't feel pressured, just work hard."

"Over there at the factory"

“Don’t worry, I’m not stupid if I don’t use the factory’s working capital. This is the foundation of our family’s survival.

I'm using the money I saved for you to be my wife. I thought that when you graduate, you'll still be so young and it will be hard for you to make money quickly. This money is for you to have a base. If you need it now, you can use it. Just don't spend it recklessly."

"Dad!" Wu Chen's eyes were slightly red and his throat was tight, and he couldn't help but shout.

"Okay, you should go to class now. I still need to go buy some leather. Oh, and when you have free time, give your mom a call, okay?"

"Yeah!" Wu Chen nodded. Seeing that the other party was about to hang up, he quickly added, "Dad, smoke less. It's bad for your health!"

"Hey, I got it!"

"."

(End of this chapter)