Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 421 Big figures decide the course of the battle, but ordinary people rush towards their destiny.

In early March, the weather in Beijing finally shed the harsh winter chill, and spring seemed about to burst through the thin veil of clouds.

The announcement of the cast for Ning Hao's new film "No Man's Land" immediately sparked jokes and banter among netizens.

"Xu Zheng and Huang Bo are here again."

"The same old three dishes!"

"I already know who Ning Hao is going to choose, it's just too hard to guess!"

"Thankfully, it's just the same two old issues this time, so it's not too serious a recurrence."

Various jokes flooded the screen, and even Liu Yifei couldn't help but burst into laughter in the villa.

"Then my sister said she couldn't bear to watch anymore." She smiled and put her arm around Wu Chen's arm, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

"That's normal. It's convenient for familiar people to use, the communication cost is low, and filming will be faster."

"Oh, right," Liu Yifei looked up with a smile and blinked, "Liangying came from Chongqing this evening. She's starting her own company, so she's finally a little free. We're planning to have dinner and karaoke tonight. Are you coming with me?"

Wu Chen looked down at Liu Yifei's charming expression, smiled playfully, and deliberately asked, "Are you blinking like that because you want me to go, or not?"

Liu Yifei playfully slapped him, then gently nestled into his arms: "Of course I want you to come with me!"

"Unfortunately, I have to go to Huairou this afternoon; I have an appointment with someone."

Liu Yifei pouted, then gently kissed Wu Chen on the cheek: "Okay, then remember to pick me up tonight."

In the afternoon, the media had been waiting for a long time outside the Huairou training base.

The crew of "The Founding of a Republic" has been filming here recently, attracting many big names in the industry, making it an ideal source of news material for reporters.

As soon as Wu Chen's car appeared at the entrance of the base, it immediately caused a stir among the reporters.

"Director Wu, are you here to visit the set today?"

"Director Wu, how's the new film going? Can you share some information?"

Facing the camera, Wu Chen simply smiled and waved, politely saying, "Yes, I'm here to visit the set. I'll let everyone know about the progress of the new film when the time is right."

After saying that, he entered the film set under the guidance of the crew.

Han Sanping sat calmly in front of the monitor, while Huang Jianxin directed the crew on set; the atmosphere was very busy.

Tang Guoqiang and other actors were intently studying their lines on the side.

Because many people visited the set during this period, the actors didn't pay much attention when Wu Chen arrived.

Huang Shengyi, however, stared thoughtfully at Wu Chen's retreating figure. She had some ideas, since casting for Wu Chen's new film hadn't started yet. If she could take this opportunity to become more familiar with him, perhaps she would have a chance.

Seeing that Wu Chen pulled up a chair and sat directly next to Han Sanping, she didn't feel comfortable taking the initiative to start a conversation.

After sitting down, Wu Chen smiled and said to Han Sanping, "Chairman Han, you've chosen quite a unique place to discuss business."

Han Sanping turned his head and smiled: "Director Ming was also coming to visit the set and see how our film is being shot, so I decided to invite the two of you to come together. It's a win-win situation."

"That works." Wu Chen nodded, then asked, "Is the parade scene confirmed?"

"The military parade at Xiyuan Airport is scheduled for May. You should prepare accordingly."

As the two were talking, another commotion broke out outside the base. Ming Zhenjiang entered, accompanied by a ground crew member.

As soon as the director of the August First Film Studio arrived, the reporters' discussions immediately heated up again:
"Why is the director of the August First Film Studio here too?"

"That's normal..."

"What's normal? The August First Film Studio didn't participate in the production of 'The Founding of a Republic'."

While everyone on set was still wondering what was going on, Ming Zhenjiang had already entered the filming location. Wu Chen stood up, stepped forward, shook hands with him, and said politely, "Director Ming, it's been a long time."

Ming Zhenjiang laughed heartily: "Director Wu, I knew we would have to work together sooner or later."

Seeing this, Han Sanping followed the two into the private director's studio and then spoke:
"By the way, Director Ming, we'll have to ask you to handle the 1500 soldiers needed for the military parade scene at Xiyuan Airport in May for the movie 'The Founding of a Republic'."

Ming Zhenjiang waved his hand: "Don't worry, Chairman Han, the approval procedures have been in progress for a long time. You won't be left out."

Although the August First Film Studio did not officially participate in the production of this film, it consistently provided the green light for any arrangements involving the military or other relevant parties.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ming Zhenjiang turned to Wu Chen and asked earnestly, "By the way, Director Wu, what kind of anti-Japanese war story are you planning to make for this film?"

“I plan to approach this from the perspective of the messenger,” Wu Chen said calmly.

Han Sanping and Ming Zhenjiang were slightly taken aback upon hearing this. Both of them had originally thought that a director of Wu Chen's stature would choose a grand historical event, a panoramic view of a battle, or an important figure to make a war film. They did not expect that he would focus on the most ordinary messenger.

Seeing their confusion, Wu Chen slowly explained:
"Big men decide the course of the battle, but small men face their fate."

There were many classic battles and many heroic figures during the War of Resistance Against Japan, but even more heroes emerged from the lowest ranks of the soldiers.

Messengers are like that; they may never appear in the spotlight of history, but they are the ones who truly experience the horrors of war.

They traversed enemy-occupied territory and ruins, and even faced with the corpses of civilians scattered everywhere, they had no time to grieve. They could only keep running, with the determination to die, just to deliver a piece of intelligence. After completing their mission, they left silently, just as they had come, and no one remembered who they were.
"I hope to use these ordinary people to reflect the suffering of the entire nation during the War of Resistance Against Japan. Through the running of one or two individuals, I want the audience to feel the lives of millions hanging by a thread, and to truly understand the cruelty of war and the difficulty of the struggle. This is what I really want to express."

Upon hearing this, Ming Zhenjiang and Han Sanping exchanged a glance.

It must be said that mainstream narratives have long leaned towards grand narratives, and such an angle and direction is indeed rare.

"Chairman Han, Director Wu's narrative style of using small details to illustrate larger themes reminds me of a classic film," Ming Zhenjiang suddenly remarked.

"Oh, Director Ming, you mean Xie Lao's book, 'Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain'?"

"Back then, Xie Lao created the pinnacle of domestic war films by focusing on the daily life, family, and emotions of ordinary soldiers like Liang Sanxi in the Sino-Vietnamese War. However, few people dared to use this filming technique afterward."

Ming Zhenjiang then looked away and turned to Wu Chen: "Director Wu, so you're looking for a veteran messenger who participated in the War of Resistance against Japan, right?"

"Yes, especially the veterans from the base areas in Northeast China, Central Hebei, Southern Shandong, and Taihang Mountains, and there are still archived materials."

"It is indeed quite difficult. There are relatively few story archives for soldiers below the mid-level, so we still need to find the people involved."

Ming Zhenjiang pondered for a moment, then nodded solemnly: "Bayi will do its best to help you make contact, but there is indeed very little information on these low-ranking soldiers, so it may take some effort to find the people involved."

"Then I'll have to trouble Director Ming."

Wu Chen reached out and shook hands with Ming Zhenjiang again.

“No trouble at all. As long as you’re willing to film it, our August First Film Studio will give you our full support,” Ming Zhenjiang said with a smile. “The only thing we’re worried about is that no one will be willing to film it.”

After reaching an agreement, Han Sanping led the two of them, smiling, towards the filming location.

The crew was now ready, and Huang Jianxin was on set directing operations with great efficiency. All departments were working seamlessly together, and filming was proceeding smoothly.
(End of this chapter)