It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 155 Teacher, Mentor, and Roughneck; The East Is Red! The Sun Rises! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
In the study, Tian Zhuangzhuang followed Lü Rui's gaze and glanced at the picture frames on the wall, a mischievous smile suddenly appearing on her lips:

"What? You've got your eye on this? If you want it, I'll apply to the headquarters later and see if I can get you one to hang up too?"

Upon hearing this, Lü Rui quickly waved his hand: "Oh, please don't, Director Tian, ​​don't joke like that, my shoulders are weak, I can't take it..."

He was secretly astonished!
A ten-year ban on directing! Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.

However, for Tian Zhuangzhuang, hanging this thing on the wall became a badge of honor and glory.

You should know that this picture on his wall is a one-of-a-kind piece, unique in the entire Chinese entertainment industry, and extremely valuable!
Lu Rui had previously heard that when Jiang Wen saw Tian Zhuangzhuang's document, he went to the General Administration to try and get a copy to frame at home, but was scolded and sent away.

Whether it's true or not is still unknown, but considering Jiang Wen's personality, it's quite possible that he would do such a thing.

"If I have the chance to see him again, I can ask him."

Lu Rui silently noted this down in his mind, then looked away and took out the script from his bag: "Director Tian, ​​this is the script I told you about on the phone. I would like to ask you to review it."

Tian Zhuangzhuang reached out and took it, but didn't rush to open it. His gaze lingered on the cover for a moment.

"Dying to Survive? That's an interesting title."

Lu Rui smiled but didn't say anything.

In the previous scripts, he mostly used the translated Chinese names.

However, the name "Dallas Buyers Club" was clearly not suitable for use in China, so he simply borrowed the name "Dying to Survive".

"Is this another script for award ceremonies?" Tian Zhuangzhuang remarked as she turned the pages. "The Beijing Film Academy has produced so many directors, but most of them are good at telling stories, but their story writing skills are terrible."

Famous directors like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige aren't actually that good at screenwriting, unlike you, who can both direct and write. It's truly rare..."

"You are ridiculous."

"No need to be modest. You've won so many awards, that's a testament to your ability. I've also seen 'Taken.' Although I don't particularly like this genre, I can still tell it's better than the script for 'The Promise' that I read before..."

Before Tian Zhuangzhuang could finish speaking, his gaze was suddenly drawn to the words in the script.

For a moment, only the soft rustling of turning pages filled the study.

The script is quite long; he definitely won't be able to finish reading it in a short time.

Lü Rui simply took out his laptop from his bag and started surfing the internet.

If you want to be in the film and television industry, you have to make sure you don't miss any key information, and surfing is actually a good way to collect useful information.

The most talked-about shows right now, besides "The Myth" which just had its premiere, are "Bright Sword" which has already been released online!

This drama, produced by Hairun, was not initially well-received when it was first released.

The subject matter is rather hard-hitting, and the protagonist, Li Yunlong, is not a "positive character" in the traditional sense. He is full of swear words and always likes to "disobey orders".

But who would have thought that it would become a hit just a few days after it started airing!
The ratings soared, sweeping across the prime time slots of major TV stations!

Especially the down-to-earth lines in the show, such as "Second Battalion Commander, where the hell is your Italian cannon?", "When two armies meet on a narrow road, the brave will win", and "There's no reason to spit out what you've already eaten", instantly established the spirit of "showing the sword" against the Japanese devils.

Furthermore, Li Yunlong's character, who is bold in love and hate, has a bit of a "bandit" spirit but is also loyal and righteous, has attracted countless fans.

From elderly people to students, everyone can chat about the plot.

As the buzz grew, Ruishijie's first TV series, "Crossing the Guandong," also garnered considerable attention.

In addition, Huang Shengyi's side has been holding press conferences, and the topic of trying to force Xinghui to terminate its contract through public opinion has also become a hot topic.

This "Stephen Chow Girl" seems to have used all the acting skills she learned from "Kung Fu Hustle" at the press conference, crying pitifully every time she faced the camera.

However, because she breached the contract first, and given Stephen Chow's extremely high popularity among the general public, her behavior was not actually advantageous among her fans.

However, many media outlets were supporting her, and there were also many who enjoyed watching the drama unfold and kicking her when she was down, putting Star Shine in a very passive position.

While browsing the news, Lü Rui also replied to a few emails.

It mainly comes from Hollywood.

The promotion and distribution of "I Am Legend" is proceeding as planned and is yielding good results.

"Taken" is also preparing for its North American release, and its promotional video has garnered much praise.

It's important to understand that slow-paced action films like "Heat" are already outdated in today's Hollywood market.

While the gunfight scenes in these films were once imitated by many robbers, they gradually fell out of the mainstream market due to their slow overall pace.

In contrast, fast-paced action films like "Taken," where "nothing can stand in your way," are particularly popular.

The most representative example at present is Michael Bay.

The nickname "Explosive Bay" was already evident, as he contributed many thrilling scenes in "The Island," which was released this year.

The fast pace of "Taken" perfectly suits the tastes of North American audiences, so its box office performance should be quite good.

In addition, the marketing and distribution of "Paranormal Activity" went very smoothly.

The second phase of promotion is nearing its end, and communication with cinemas is ongoing.

Once the hype reaches its peak and becomes deeply intertwined with the film, a formal screening will be held to secure more screenings and a larger number of theaters showing the film.

...

In the blink of an eye, more than half an hour had passed.

Tian Zhuangzhuang stopped turning the pages, looked up at Lü Rui with a serious expression: "This script... will probably have a lot of trouble getting approved."

"I know, that's why I came to ask you for help."

Lu Rui put away his laptop and approached the desk.

"You've really given me a tough challenge!" Tian Zhuangzhuang frowned, tapping lightly on the script with her fingertips, but her tone couldn't hide her admiration. "It seems I wasn't wrong to praise you before; this script is really well written."

Self-redemption, and finding self-meaning in redeeming others—the core is strong, and the emotions are poignant… No wonder it's called "Dying to Survive." This kind of spirit is something Chen Kaige could never have conceived in his entire life.

Lu Rui raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not reply.

He was unclear about the specific relationships among the fifth-generation directors. Tian Zhuangzhuang could make fun of others, but it was better for him, as a "junior," to remain silent.

After Tian Zhuangzhuang finished rambling, he slammed his hand on the table and said, "How about this, you keep a copy of this script with me, and I'll go talk to Xie Xiaojing to see how to arrange things."

"Our Nortel Film Academy has some influence in the industry, so we can always find a solution."

Students rarely come to him for help. If he, as their supervisor, doesn't put in any effort, what kind of supervisor is he?
Lu Rui quickly thanked him, "Thank you so much. Also, I plan to talk to China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group. It's always safer to have more help from different parties."

“This idea is sound!” Tian Zhuangzhuang agreed. “You’re different from us. Your achievements in commercial films speak for themselves, and you’ve already amassed a large following of supporters.”

With the assistance of state-owned enterprises like China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group, things are indeed much easier, and we can avoid some detours.

He paused, then added, "But don't get your hopes up too high. The subject matter is there, and there's still a lot of work to be done."

"I know." Lü Rui nodded, fully aware of the situation.

National conditions, imported drugs, smuggling... these are all "taboos" on their own, let alone when they are mixed together.

If he didn't have enough allies who were capable of handling things, and if he didn't have some confidence of his own, he definitely wouldn't have bothered with this project.

After saying goodbye and leaving, Lü Rui didn't rest; he went to China Film Group.

Even though Han Sanping was extremely busy lately, he still managed to find time to meet with him.

Upon seeing the script, he instinctively asked, "Several hundred million?"

Lu Rui's lips twitched: "It's an award-contending film."

"Oh." The light in Han Sanping's eyes dimmed slightly, but quickly brightened again.

A film that wins awards is also a good choice. If it can win a major award, it will be a political achievement for him, and he will have more confidence when the leadership changes.

"You want me to help submit it for review? No problem, just leave the script here, I'll arrange for someone to send it over..."

"Why don't you take a look first? The content is rather unusual." Lü Rui thought it would be better to give him a heads-up first.

"Oh?"

Seeing Lü Rui's serious expression, Han Sanping also became interested.

He took the script, glanced at the title "Dying to Survive," raised an eyebrow, and casually flipped through it. At first, his expression was relatively calm, his fingers slowly turning the pages.

But the further he looked, the more his brows furrowed, his breathing became heavy, and his fingertips even left faint marks on the pages!
Upon reaching the middle section, he abruptly slammed the script shut, looked up at Lü Rui, and exclaimed in disbelief, "You kid, this... this is really daring to write!"

The Chinese version of "Dallas Buyers Club" incorporates the local plot of "Dying to Survive," avoiding the pitfalls of directly challenging the legal provisions on imported drugs, only lightly touching on the edge.

He didn't follow the original film's example, having the protagonist confront or even sue the drug administration; that would be suicidal.

His adaptation merely uses the character's words to raise a few questions about the predicament of reality, and then stops there.

But in Han Sanping's opinion, even just this much, this book was enough to scare the old guys who were reviewing it half to death!

"Have you thought about this? If this film is really shot like this, we'll have to be prepared for a long battle."

“I know.” Lü Rui was prepared.

Han Sanping continued flipping through the pages and saw that the protagonist was initially sentenced to prison but was later released on bail due to illness, which finally put him at ease.

"I can try to submit it for you, but don't get your hopes up too high. You know the situation in our country..."

"I also asked the Beijing Film Academy for help," Lü Rui emphasized.

"Oh?" Han Sanping's eyes darted around as he analyzed, "Beijing Film Academy can indeed be of help, as can Ren Zhonglun. I suggest you bring that brute along too. He's daring, even if it violates... cough cough."

Pretending not to have heard those somewhat inappropriate words, Lü Rui tentatively asked, "President Han, didn't you say before that the department would be taking special care of me? What exactly does that mean?"

"Hey? You're a director with 3 million yuan in box office revenue, so why are you bringing up that old trick of taking advantage of every passing goose and leaving only the skin of every beast?" Han Sanping said, both amused and exasperated.

Lü Rui shrugged: "I'm not familiar with departments like health and justice, so I have to rely on the propaganda department for help. What? Are they just talking nonsense?"

"Of course not!" Han Sanping defended, waving his hand. "Alright, you go ahead and get busy. I need to talk to Director Tong."

He certainly can't handle this himself; it depends on what the leaders think.

"Okay, thank you for your trouble. I'll be going now." Lü Rui stood up to leave.

Han Sanping shouted after his retreating figure, "Don't forget to find more people. Talk to all the national-level officials. The more people who speak up for you, the higher the chance of the script passing the review."

"Row."

Now that he had begun to exert his efforts, Lü Rui naturally wouldn't sit idly by and wait for news.

The next morning, he bought a plane ticket and headed straight to Shanghai.

Compared to China Film Group, Shanghai Film Group is much more luxurious, even the style of its office buildings is completely different.

China Film Group carries the steady and dignified air of an old-fashioned state-owned enterprise, while Shanghai Film Group exudes a touch of Shanghai-style refinement and modernity. The glass curtain wall sparkles in the sunlight, making it look very impressive.

Because prior arrangements had been made, as soon as Lü Rui entered the lobby, Ren Zhonglun's secretary greeted him: "Director Lü, President Ren is waiting for you upstairs and specifically instructed me to come down and meet you."

"Okay, please."

Lü Rui followed her to Ren Zhonglun's office on the top floor.

It's worth noting that Ren Zhonglun is now the head of Shanghai Film Group, while Han Sanping is currently the second-in-command at China Film Group.

Judging from their official positions alone, the two are actually quite different.

However, in terms of the discourse power within the film system, China Film Group still holds more sway, while Shanghai Film Group, due to its "regional attributes," is more like the second son in a large family who only provides money but not power.

As they ascended, the elevator doors opened, and Lü Rui saw Ren Zhonglun already waiting outside.

Before he could speak, Ren Zhonglun stepped forward, smiling and extending his hand: "Director Lü, it's an honor to have you here! I'm so sorry for not welcoming you sooner!"

Lu Rui quickly stepped forward to shake hands: "President Ren, you're too kind. It's too much of an honor for me to wait for you personally."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two went into the office.

Ren Zhonglun is always decisive in his work. He had just sat down and taken a sip of tea when he changed the subject: "Director Lü made a special trip, surely it wasn't just to catch up, right? Please feel free to speak your mind."

Lü Rui didn't beat around the bush, simply explaining his purpose and then handing over the pre-copied script.

Ren Zhonglun took the script and flipped through it page by page, his brows sometimes relaxing and sometimes furrowing as he gradually fell into deep thought.

He sensed obvious difficulties between the lines of the script in his hand!

The subject matter is sensitive, the review process is fraught with hurdles, and the trouble is obviously extraordinary...

But at the same time, he also sensed a rare opportunity.

Located in Shanghai, far from the core of the Beijing metropolitan area, Shanghai Film Group has been unable to get involved in many major projects in recent years, and has mostly had to rely on cooperation with Hong Kong and Taiwan teams to maintain its reputation.

He had been eagerly anticipating going north to develop his career.

The reason we went to great lengths to connect with Ruishijie was to break this situation.

However, compared to China Film Group, which has been with Ruishijie since the beginning, he boarded the ship too late, and his seat is not very secure.

Now that Lü Rui has personally come to him for help, he instantly sees an opportunity to solidify his position.

If this favor can be sold smoothly, will Shanghai Film Group be able to participate in any future projects of Ruishijie?
With this thought in mind, Ren Zhonglun closed the script, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Director Lü, wait for me, let me call and ask about the situation first."

Without hesitation, he picked up his phone and started dialing.

Lu Rui sipped his tea and waited quietly.

From the occasional use of terms like "this round" and "that round" from Ren Zhonglun's mouth, it's clear that he's contacting the relevant department heads.

In the evening, he took Lü Rui to a special drinking party.

Aside from the two of them, everyone else sitting at the table was a high-ranking official from Shanghai's market supervision and management, health and medical, and judicial departments...

It was only then that Lü Rui realized that Ren Zhonglun was still enjoying the treatment of a department-level official, something he hadn't noticed before.

During the dinner, he briefly mentioned the situation of "Dying to Survive," and the others spoke frankly and offered many constructive suggestions.

On the way back to the hotel, Ren Zhonglun patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, I'll definitely help you to the end. I have connections in those departments..."

"Thank you very much, Brother Ren!"

Lu Rui returned the thanks, his heart filled with emotion.

He finally understood why Han Sanping called Ren Zhonglun a "brute".

Putting everything else aside, the fact that he wanted to get the Shanghai entertainment circle to endorse "Dying to Survive" and said he would take responsibility for any consequences is enough to show that he is really "reckless"!
The "rough" in "a hero from humble beginnings"!

……

After leaving the Shanghai Film Studio, Lü Rui learned that the crew of "The Sun Also Rises" was filming on location at the Beidaying Grassland in Xundian, Kunming.

The two places weren't far apart, so after thinking about it, he decided to visit the set on the way.

However, to his surprise, as soon as he approached the perimeter of the film set, he heard a booming sound coming from afar.

Under the fiery red sky, whether it was dawn or dusk, the railway tracks stretched across the open grassland.

A green train is slowly approaching, its steam rising into a hazy white mist that fills the entire sky!
Suddenly, the train came to a slow stop, the carriage door was pushed open, and Zhou Yun jumped down from it.

She was wearing a grayish-blue dress, her hair loosely tied with a red ribbon. She stumbled when she landed, but didn't stop, and ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction from the train.

She ran fast and fast, as if chasing something, or as if fleeing from something.

His face showed a mixture of confusion and excitement, and he was still shouting something intermittently, but the sound was torn apart by the wind and became indistinct.

The train remained stationary, like a silent bystander.

Her running seemed to have no end; there was only the sound of the wind whistling past her ears and the soft rustling of grass against her trouser legs. It carried an inexplicable stubbornness and madness that made one's heart tighten inexplicably.

The whole scene is absurd yet full of tension, with an indescribable madness and poetry floating in the air.

She ran as fast as she could!

Suddenly, the east turned red, the sun rose, and the cries of children burst forth!
"Alyosha! Don't be afraid! The train has stopped up there, and when he smiles, it will be dawn!"

Lu Rui felt a chill run down his spine as he read this, and instinctively gripped his bag tightly, afraid that someone would snatch the script for "Dying to Survive"...

(End of this chapter)