Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 205: Blame the censors if the film is bad, blame your colleagues if the censors fail.

At the Beijing Film Academy, early winter has arrived, and the office of the photography department is filled with cheerful laughter.

"No way, Lao Mu, Lu Xun really went directly to Professor Jiang in the directing department?" Li Wei clicked his tongue in surprise. "That can't be right, it's not a big deal, is it?"

Mu Deyuan suppressed a laugh and shook his head:
"Don't even mention it. We just chatted for a bit, and Professor Jiang conveyed Lu Xun's meaning, saying that Wu Chen was making a mountain out of a molehill, not only bringing in emotions but also trying to interfere with the bureau's review process."

"These titles are quite heavy."

Upon hearing this, everyone sighed and laughed.

"Get ready, the two departments have a meeting this afternoon," Mu Deyuan said with a faint smile as he stood up.

"Seriously? This even warrants a meeting?"

"It was Professor Jiang who suggested that we try to mediate as much as possible and sit down and talk it over."

"What about our department?"

"The senior professors from our department will also be there; they'll all go and listen."

"Alright, this is going to be interesting. I heard that the older generation used to argue fiercely in meetings, and they could even curse without using a single swear word. We should learn from that."

Meanwhile, Wu Chen also received a call from Jiang Wen.

"How about it? I'm pretty efficient at my job, aren't I?"

Jiang Wen chuckled, "But you'd better be careful. Lu Xun is really good at finding parents. That's how he tricked me back then!"

"Speaking of which, Director Jiang, can you ask you something?" Wu Chen was also curious about the incident between Jiang Wen and Lu Xun back then, and then asked:
"People outside say you bullied them back then and even stole the director of 'The Missing Gun' from them."

"Director Wu, what you said is unreasonable." Jiang Wenzheng corrected himself when the matter was brought up:

"Take a look at this, you see, I was the one who helped him find the money."

I think I played the lead role for him.

Even the producer is still me. Do you think this counts as me bullying him?
If this counts as bullying, I reckon anyone would be happy to be bullied by me, Director Wu, don't you think?"

Wu Chen pondered for a moment: "So you stole the director's position?"

"Damn it, how can you call it robbery when it's something intellectuals do?"

Jiang Wen was unhappy; how could he have stolen the director's position?

The controversy surrounding the script based on the Nanjing theme is only known within the industry; not many people are aware of it.

Some rational producers simply don't want to get involved in such sensitive topics, as they can cause a lot of trouble.

Meanwhile, both sides in the joint meeting room of the photography and directing departments seemed very calm, with no sense of tension at all, and instead started chatting casually.

Mu Deyuan and Tian Zhuangzhuang's group couldn't get seats in the center, and watched the elderly people calmly drink tea.

"Old Mu, why haven't we started yet?" Li Wei whispered to Mu Deyuan.

"They're having a test of endurance, seeing who can hold out the longest!"

As soon as Mu Deyuan finished speaking, Jiang Shixiong couldn't help but speak, after all, he was her student:

"The directing department and the cinematography department are essentially one family, and should present a unified front to the outside world."

Putting aside the issue of escalating the situation, Wu Chen's actions were certainly inappropriate. Furthermore, his collaboration with Jiang Wen to suppress a fellow student was rather unacceptable and set a bad example!

"Old Jiang, you're wrong about that."

How many years has it been since Lu Xun graduated?
As for Wu Chen, he's a legitimate student. According to Article 5 of Chapter 3 of the school regulations, student participation in industry practice and providing professional feedback falls under the category of 'teaching practice innovation,' which is Beijing Film Academy's teaching policy. What's wrong with that?"

Just as Mu Deyuan was still pondering whether this school rule existed, another senior professor from the photography department added fuel to the fire:

"You're exaggerating. Besides, Lu Xun's own script didn't pass the review, so instead of reflecting on the content issues, he blames the people who gave him feedback."

Old Jiang, you've taught directors your whole life, you should know what it means to "blame the censors if the film is bad, and blame your colleagues if it doesn't pass censorship." What does that mean?
Even during our most difficult times, we didn't do this. If you really have the guts, go straight to the police station and yell at them.

"."

Wu Chen only found out about this the next day.

"It's nothing. Just focus on making your movie. These things are minor and don't need to worry about them too much," Mu Deyuan said with a faint smile.

"Hehe, I understand, thank you, teacher." Wu Chen smiled. Mu Deyuan smiled in response.

December arrived quickly, and "Nanjing! Nanjing!" was still under script review. Wu Chen also learned from industry insiders that Lu Tianming had begun to tirelessly pull strings.

Filming for "Black Peony" is still in full swing.

"Mom, you need to make your lines more emotionally intense and nuanced."

Liu Yifei cheerfully explained the plot details they were about to film to Liu Xiaoli.

"I know, and now you're lecturing me." Liu Xiaoli glared at Liu Yifei upon hearing this, then turned to Liu Tianchi and asked, "Teacher Liu, is this okay?"

"It's great, Sister Liu. You don't need to be nervous. Your physique is impeccable. Just add a little more silence and pressure to your lines."

In Xu Jing's character setting, she never speaks loudly, yet she possesses a stern belief that 'rules are truth'.

She regarded 'rules' as the core of the family's survival, using daily, meticulous, repetitive, and ubiquitous discipline to gradually mold Xu Wei into the person she imagined. This was also one of the triggers for Xu Wei's madness.

Liu Tianchi told Liu Xiaoli with a smile.

Liu Yifei gently approached Wu Chen's side and asked, "Do you think Mom can act well?"

Wu Chen chuckled and replied, "If you acted well, Auntie will definitely act well too."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei immediately pouted and said, "I've been practicing for a year and a half, isn't it normal that I can act well?"

"Auntie has been a mother for nearly twenty years, so it's normal for her to act well, isn't it?"

Wu Chen asked back and winked at Liu Yifei.

"This is different. Acting is acting."

"Actually, it's the same; life imitates art!"

"Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore. All you do is annoy me. You'll see how wrong you are after work today," Liu Yifei said angrily as she walked forward, giving Wu Chen a big shove of her back.

The segment currently being filmed is a reprimand by Xu Wei's mother, Xu Jing.

The story unfolds slowly with Wu Chen's shout of "Action!"

"The sheets must be pulled smooth, without a single wrinkle. Someone who can't even make a bed properly is bound to be a phony actor."

inside the lens.

The carved wooden door closed silently, and the house was quiet.

In the hall, the celadon lamp cast a pale golden glow. In the old black and white photograph, the mother's face in her youth gazed quietly at the room, her eyes cold and dignified, as if even the air itself was still in its discipline.

Xu Wei opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

The lights inside the room flowed quietly, but her mother, Xu Jing, stood before her like a jade sculpture, showing neither joy nor sorrow.

"I tested the water temperature for you tonight. Soak for fifteen minutes, then practice your movements. Don't shrink back."

Liu Xiaoli's portrayal of Xu Jing is calm yet leaves no room for argument.

Xu Wei lowered her head, like a flower bud whose branches had been pruned, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

"I understand."

Xu Jing nodded, as if examining a piece of porcelain, her gaze calm yet with a hint of gentleness hidden deep within her eyes.

This is a contradiction, a mixture of Xu Jing's obsession with the traditions of her Kunqu Opera family and a mother's tenderness towards her daughter.

Liu Xiaoli performed this part very smoothly.

Wu Chen was amazed; he had to admit that such an arrangement was indeed very effective.

"Get some rest. Tomorrow, iron that Qingmei opera costume again, and the day after tomorrow, I'll see you sing 'The Stroll in the Garden' again."

The door slowly closed.

Xu Wei stood under the corridor light, her fingers cold, her back straight, as if she were hidden in an invisible jade box.
"Click, perfect, that part is done."

(End of this chapter)