Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 541 I Want to Write and Direct My Own!

Before the lights in the auditorium came on, the lingering echoes of the end credits still resonated in people's hearts.

The veterans sitting in the first row remained seated for a long time, their hands trembling, yet they still gripped their canes tightly.

"That's how we ran back then. Gunshots were right behind our ears, our legs went weak, and we died in the snow. Not many of us made it to the end."

"The names of our brothers were not left behind. If they really weren't, then today we're erecting a monument for them."

As they spoke, the young audience members beside them reddened their eyes and their breathing became heavy.

The applause gradually subsided, and people in the auditorium began to move around.

Supported by their relatives and volunteers, the veterans slowly walked toward the exit.

Tears still clung to his face, but his expression remained defiant, as if he were still holding his head high in that war-torn era.

"You are still young and have a long career ahead of you. You can make more films like this in the future. Words and images are ultimately two different carriers of thought, and they are different in terms of influence."

"Boss, I will try my best."

"Boss, Director Wu has many good ideas, but we can't be too narrow-minded. The domestic science fiction field also needs Director Wu to shine."

Ming Zhenjiang chuckled and responded from the side.

"Haha, you know, I didn't lock him out of this area. Alright, we should go now."

It has to be said that with Han Sanping and Ming Zhenjiang around, Wu Chen's life became much easier.
The two men's linguistic skills had been honed to perfection in certain situations.

Chen Sicheng, sitting in the back row, was already getting impatient, his palms sweating.

Zhang Yi brought Wu Chen over only after Wu Chen had some free time.

"Director Wu, when we were filming '1939,' didn't you say that if we had a suitable script, we could recommend it to Starry Night Pictures?" Zhang Yi rubbed his hands together, half-joking and half-serious.

Wu Chen turned to Chen Sicheng and asked succinctly, "Did you bring the notebook?"

Chen Sicheng felt a pang of anxiety, and Wu Chen immediately understood.

"How about this, bring the script to Xingchen Pictures tomorrow."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Sicheng's heart nearly jumped out of his chest, and his voice trembled with excitement: "Thank you, Director Wu! Thank you, Director Wu!"

After Wu Chen turned and left, Zhang Yi patted Chen Sicheng on the shoulder and chuckled in a low voice, "See? I told you I wasn't lying to you."

Chen Sicheng nodded, his excitement barely contained: "It's done! You and Baoqiang deserve a lot of credit."

The corridor after the event was already teeming with people.

After the audience left, the reporters couldn't contain themselves any longer and surged toward the exit like a tide.

Some people jogged along with cameras on their backs, while others simply sat on the steps and frantically typed on their laptops.

In less than half an hour, the first batch of articles had been featured on the portal's homepage.
[At the premiere of "1939," audience members shed tears at the Military Museum!]

[Wu Chen's new work makes a stunning debut, recreating the years of the Anti-Japanese United Army in a single take!]

[Minutes of applause followed, and a veteran, with tears in his eyes, shouted, "Remember them!"]

A few minutes later, the Weibo topic list was refreshed, with "#1939Premiere#" and "#MilitaryMuseumTearjerker#" rushing into the top trending topics.

In the comments section, many audience members who attended the premiere shared their genuine feelings:
"My palms were sweaty the moment Huang Xiaoshan ran out."

"It wasn't a feeling of excitement, but rather a feeling of suffocation. I cried until my makeup was ruined."

"The moment Huang Xiaoshan ran out, I burst into tears."

The theater managers exchanged opinions as they walked.

What's the premiere date for "Ip Man 2"?

"It seems like it will be in a couple of days, until the film '1939' is released!"

"Thankfully, the producers of 'Ip Man 2' weren't so foolish as to postpone the release!"

"People aren't stupid. We should respect Wu Chen's film. Otherwise, if it gets sucked up in the first week, the investors won't even be able to cry for help."

"."

Everyone laughed upon hearing this.

The next morning, the wind in the capital was still slightly cool.

The headlines on portal websites were still about last night's premiere of "1939," but the long articles from film critics only began to emerge after breakfast. Articles from film critics poured into various forums and newspaper columns.

The text was forwarded online, and a series of replies in forum posts pushed #1939Premiere# to a higher position.

The film continues to trend on Weibo, and anticipation for its release on the 23rd is soaring.

At the same time, in the office of Xingchen Film Industry in Huixin Building.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, reflecting off the glass curtain wall and illuminating a stack of documents on the conference table with a white glow.

Chen Sicheng and Zhang Yi came together, but the former seemed nervous, while Zhang Yi appeared much more at ease.

"Don't be nervous, things are already halfway done."

For most directors, meeting with investors means they've already won half the battle.

The two pushed open the door and entered. Wu Chen was leaning back in his chair, with the preparation plan for "Ex Machina" scattered on the table.

Seeing the two enter, he raised his hand in greeting.

"Make yourself at home, please have a seat!"

"Director Wu, this is the TV drama script I wrote, 'Love Story in Beijing,' and I want to write and direct it myself!"

Chen Sicheng hurriedly handed over the script.

Wu Chen nodded and took the script. The moment he opened it, the conference room fell silent, with only the soft rustling of pages.

Chen Sicheng's eyes were fixed on Wu Chen's hand, and each page turn felt like a rollercoaster ride, making his breath catch in his throat.

A thin layer of sweat involuntarily appeared on his forehead.
The air didn't start to flow again until Wu Chen closed the script.

Chen Sicheng didn't dare to speak directly, but Zhang Yi broke the silence: "Director Wu, how is it? It should be alright, right?"

Wu Chen looked up, smiled, and asked in return, "You've seen Zhang Yi, right? What do you think?"

This question completely baffled Zhang Yi. After a moment of confusion, he replied with a hint of uncertainty, "It should be alright."

"If it works, it works; if it doesn't, it doesn't. What do you mean by 'should be okay'?"

Wu Chen laughed and scolded, then looked at Chen Sicheng and said, "The notebook is not bad!"

It must be said that Chen Sicheng is talented.

As soon as those two words were spoken, Chen Sicheng's shoulders relaxed instantly, and the excitement welling up in his eyes was almost impossible to conceal.

But before he could fully breathe a sigh of relief, Wu Chen's next words made his expression change drastically.

"However, Xingchen Pictures does not have a TV series production team at the moment. Xiaoma Benteng is currently working on two TV series at the same time and cannot spare the time."

This "however" was like a bucket of cold water poured over one's head.

Chen Sicheng's heart tightened suddenly, and he almost fell from the height of hope into an ice cave.

He knew that everything was difficult at the beginning, and the initial hurdle was the script, but the current predicament lay with the investors.

Without investors, this script would be nothing but a few pieces of waste paper.

He instinctively pressed on, his voice tinged with urgency: "Director Wu, then...then Starry Sky Pictures can't invest?"

Wu Chen shook his head calmly: "That's not what I meant. I'll contact another investor to produce it."

He thought of the things he had discussed with Wang Jianlin before and decided to hand them over to Wanda to handle, which could be seen as paving the way for Xingchen's future.

Moreover, according to the agreement, Xingchen's share of the investment must not be reduced by a single penny, and the other party should even thank them.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi and Chen Sicheng both subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, followed by an indescribable surge of excitement.

After leaving Starry Night Pictures, Chen Sicheng was still a little dazed.

"How about it? How should I thank you, buddy?" Zhang Yi raised his head, looking like he was asking for credit.

"Let's invite Baoqiang tonight, it's on me!" Chen Sicheng said generously, patting Zhang Yi on the shoulder. "I'll give you a role in the TV series, no audition needed!"

"Damn, I'm not going to audition. Do you know what movie I acted in? The Golden Bear in '1939'."

"I know, I know, you son of a bitch! I made a Golden Bear film about you, and you've been nagging me about it ever since you got back. Anyone who didn't know better would think you had the Golden Bear trophy."

"."

(End of this chapter)