Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 297 The Aggrieved Performing Arts Department: Experiment Failure

The Beijing Film Academy acted swiftly.

That afternoon, Zhang Huijun convened a meeting with the heads of various departments and colleges to discuss and announce that the "Mars Rescue" project would be included in the school's social practice project cooperation.

"I talked with Wu Chen this morning. The relevant departments can select some outstanding students to participate in the project's social practice. This is a rare opportunity." Zhang Huijun's voice was full of excitement.

At this moment, the heads of various departments in the conference room were filled with anticipation and excitement.

Although the school makes a point of finding graduates from its directing program every year to conduct relevant social practice, after all, this is the only way to cultivate real talent, this Sino-US co-production of science fiction is a first even for the Beijing Film Academy.

"Wu Chen's care for his junior brothers and sisters is truly exceptional; the Management Department must give him our full support!" The head of the Management Department said with a smile, making his stance clear, as if afraid of being left out.

"It's fine if you don't support us, we can take all the spots from the art department," the head of the art department joked, a smile on his face.

"You guys are really good at plotting! Director Mu is right here, why don't you just ask him to take all the spots from the photography department!"

"Hahaha"

Upon hearing this, Mu Deyuan simply smiled faintly and did not rush to reply.

They can cut spots from any department, but absolutely not from the photography department, since Wu Chen himself came from the photography department, and everyone knows that.

"The performing arts department."

"If the acting department gets involved, it means they want a role, which isn't appropriate and would put Wu Chen in a difficult position."

"Yes, it's not really suitable, but we can try harder during the global casting call!"

Inside the meeting room, the speech by Chen Yi, the dean of the School of Performing Arts, was quickly overshadowed, while the atmosphere in other departments was lively and harmonious, with discussions rising and falling.

After the meeting, the news spread like wildfire across the campus, causing a stir among students from all departments.

Social practice involving international projects like "The Martian," even if it's just a quick visit and writing an observation report, can become a significant part of your resume after graduation.

For a time, the topic was being discussed everywhere—in the corridors, tea rooms, libraries, and student groups across various departments.

The Beijing Film Academy was also busy; the next day, they submitted the initial draft of the plan to the Education Bureau and also submitted an application for the registration of the social practice project.

The news spread rapidly within university circles.

"Recruitment will be troublesome again next year."

"At the meeting in a few days, Zhang Huijun will be showing off again."

For a time, leaders from several universities in the industry saw this and were anxious, finally leaving behind a sour sigh.

While it was still early morning in China, and Beijing was shrouded in a hazy night, the closing ceremony of the 64th Venice Film Festival was proceeding as scheduled overseas.

As dawn broke, major portal websites quickly refreshed their homepage headlines:

When I woke up early in the morning, all the news on major portal websites was about Li An capturing the Golden Lion.

[Lust, Caution Wins Award, Chinese Director Achieves Three-Peat!]

[Li An wins another Golden Lion Award, adding another 'new member' to the Double Golden Lion Club!]

[Jiang Wen's "The Sun Did Not Rise as Usual."] The news headline was prominently displayed on the homepage, instantly generating a surge in popularity, with the comment section buzzing with excitement.

Li An won the Golden Lion with "Lust, Caution", becoming a new member of the "double Golden Lion club" among Chinese directors, while Jiang Wen's "The Sun Also Rises" failed to win. The media also took the opportunity to criticize him, digging up all of Jiang Wen's previous boasts.

"Hehe, one's already gone, another one won't be far behind." Lu Xun stared at the news, feeling indescribably pleased.

Several recent events have made him feel exceptionally happy. First, "The Martian" was questioned by experts, and now Jiang Wen has also suffered a setback in Venice, which makes him feel extremely pleased.

At this moment, Wu Chen received a call from Jiang Wen, who had already returned to China and had obviously left Venice early, knowing there would be no prize.

"Would you like to come to the premiere in a few days and help me see if my film 'The Sun' has the makings of a Golden Lion?" Jiang Wen was still resentful and very unhappy that Zhang Yi hadn't won him an award.

Wu Chen chuckled: "I can't go. Paramount has set a casting date, and it just happens to clash with it."

"Fine."

Jiang Wen sighed, put down the phone, and looked at Yang Shoucheng of Yinghuang:
"Mr. Yang, there's nothing we can do. He won't come. I think you shouldn't try any more methods. With Wu Chen's personality, even if you give him money, you might not be able to get your artists to star in his movies. Just go through the normal channels."

"It seems that Director Wu has never used actors from Hong Kong before. The boss also wants Director Wu to get in touch with actors from Hong Kong," Huo Wenxi explained with a smile.

Jiang frowned upon hearing this, realizing it was indeed true. Wu Chen had directed several films without ever using a single Hong Kong actor.

At this moment, Liu Yifei was holding Dongdong and teasing Xixi, while a black cat and a white cat were having a great time playing on the sofa.

She turned around, smiled, and asked, "Junior brother, was that Director Jiang's phone call just now?"

"Mm!" Wu Chen nodded, a smile playing on his lips.

"That's strange, why didn't Director Jiang win an award? He was so confident before he went to the competition." Even Liu Yifei remembered Jiang Wen's boastful words from a while ago. Wu Chen couldn't help but laugh out loud when he heard this.
"This guy is too cocky."

"Let's go see Ning Hao and check on the script's progress. I have to go to Hollywood in a couple of days and won't have time to keep an eye on the script."

Before he finished speaking, he reached out and pulled Liu Yifei, who stumbled and fell into Wu Chen's arms.

The two kittens immediately stopped playing on the sofa, their round eyes widening as they stared curiously at the two people.

Liu Yifei's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked up at Wu Chen with a grin: "Couldn't you have been a little gentler? By the way, junior brother, I saw a test today."

Wu Chen was slightly taken aback: "What test?"

Liu Yifei blinked and smiled sweetly, "Some people say that if you want to know if someone loves you, you only need to look into their eyes for twenty seconds and see if they kiss you."

Wu Chen couldn't resist and leaned in close, his nose almost touching Liu Yifei's in an instant, his eyes filled with amusement: "It doesn't need twenty seconds, even one second is too long."

Just then, a fair and delicate hand covered his face. Liu Yifei pouted slightly: "No, I want to try for twenty seconds."

Wu Chen raised an eyebrow, reached out and grabbed the hand that was blocking her face, gently stroking it with his fingertips.

"It itches, don't blink."

Their breaths were almost mingling, and the two kittens on the sofa tilted their heads curiously, watching.
"See? I knew it wouldn't even take twenty seconds."

"It's all your fault for not keeping to the time; the experiment failed," Liu Yifei said coquettishly, patting Wu Chen's shoulder, her red lips glistening with moisture.

(End of this chapter)