The only sun in Huayu

On the Gobi Desert in Karamay, the sky is high and the clouds are light, but the wind and sand are slightly strong.

The production team held a brief opening ceremony.

There was no extravagance; it remained consistent with Shen Shandeng's style.

After everyone offered incense and prayed for blessings, he took the lead in shouting that slightly strange but customary slogan.

"The Machine Soul is delighted!"

"The Machine Soul is delighted!"

The entire crew echoed in agreement.

The sound echoed across the vast Gobi Desert, carrying a peculiar sense of ritual and determination.

The red cloth covering the camera was lifted, officially announcing the start of filming for "No Man's Land".

however.

Shortly after the crew began their intense filming, a shocking piece of news came from across the ocean.

Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy.

The global financial crisis tsunami has officially begun, inevitably impacting every corner of the world.

This era is one where the economic problems of the United States are a global issue.

Even the crew of "No Man's Land," which had just started filming in the desolate northwest desert, and Wang Zhongjun, who was far away in Beijing and full of ambition to push Huayi to go public, could not escape it.

Of course, Shen Shandeng has always been steady and methodical, so the impact has been minimal.

Focus on filming.

In September, the sun in the Gobi Desert of Northwest China is still scorching hot during the day, making the ground feel like it's burning.

As soon as evening falls, the temperature drops sharply, and the wind whips up sand that hits your face, bringing a distinct chill.

The crew of "No Man's Land" continued filming in an orderly manner despite the extreme temperature difference between day and night.

Having directed "The Eunuch" and "Lost in Thailand," Shen Shandeng is already adept at managing film crews.

To improve efficiency and develop the team, he divided the production crew into three groups: A, B, and C.

He personally oversaw the filming of the most important scenes for Team A. Teams B and C were handled by trusted assistant directors, who were responsible for some of the simpler or supplementary shots.

The crew is still in the adjustment period, and Shen Shandeng is not in a hurry.

He started by shooting the simplest car scenes and environmental shots, working on them little by little with great patience.

During breaks in filming, Shen Shandeng liked to chat with the main cast and crew, not only about the script and the characters, but also about all sorts of random things.

Xu Zheng had worked with him before and they were already quite familiar with each other, so they joked around.

This was Huang Bo's first collaboration, but he had extremely high emotional intelligence. He never let the atmosphere become awkward, and he could also throw in a few dry jokes from time to time to lighten the mood.

Yan Danchen is a veteran actress who has worked on many film crews. In addition, as a fellow alumnus of Beijing Film Academy, she spoke with Shen Shandeng much more naturally, chatting and laughing together.

When everyone talked about their impressions of XJ, their reactions were surprisingly consistent.

One issue is dryness; chapped lips are a common problem.

Another aspect is "vastness." The world is vast, stretching as far as the eye can see, which can evoke a sense of uncertainty.

The staff sent by the local publicity department, seeing the harmonious atmosphere on set and the clear filming schedule, felt even more reassured about Shen Shandeng.

They knew that this young, great director wasn't the kind of person who would nitpick and magnify the darker side of things.

The photos produced have both quality and style.

They were also envious of the promotional effect that "Lost in Thailand" brought to the filming cities; it was practically a city postcard.

The staff enthusiastically introduced the situation in Karamay, especially the grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of the city's establishment that had just been held not long ago.

"Director Shen, don't be fooled by how desolate this place is now. More than fifty years ago, this place truly lived up to the meaning of its name, 'Karamay,' meaning 'no grass, no water, not even birds fly.'"

With a touch of pride, the staff member explained, "But ever since the discovery of oil, generations of people have responded to the call, coming from all directions—Shanghai, Shandong, and Northeast China—to this Gobi Desert, and they've managed to build a city!"

“This is a city of immigrants, and it has an indomitable spirit in its bones.” Shen Shandeng listened, nodding from time to time.

The commercial success of "Lost in Thailand" is just one of many benefits, making him a hot commodity across the country.

No matter where the filming location is, there are basically no obstacles.

Shen Shandeng understood the other party's thoughts, and he was also very interested.

I learned about these things during my previous field research trips, and I am still deeply moved every time I hear them.

After filming wrapped, the crew would occasionally return to the city for rest and recuperation.

Standing on the banks of the Karamay River, which flows through the city, I looked at the brightly lit night view on both sides.

The citizens of all ages, young, old, old, and old, strolling, dancing, and playing in the square, all wore expressions of peace and contentment.

This contrasts sharply with the extreme desolation and struggle for life at the filming location during the day.

To understand the future, you must know history.

This contrast stirred something within Shen Shandeng.

He took out his notebook and quickly jotted down a few keywords.

"Industry", "Construction", "Black Oil", "Cities Rising from the Ground", "Immigrants", "Wasteland and Civilization"
A few simple words have generated a powerful tension.

Shen Shandeng felt that the city itself was like an epic, full of stories.

Beyond grand goals such as building a film system and vying for discourse power, Shen Shandeng's attitude towards film is increasingly closer to discovering pure fun and interest.

It's almost the end of September.

The sandstorms in the Gobi Desert were even stronger, but the filming of "No Man's Land" went more smoothly.

Just as everything was proceeding as planned, several uninvited guests arrived at the film crew, led by the brothers Wang Zhongjun and Wang Zhonglei.

Compared to their previous high spirits at the Hundred Flowers Awards, the two CEOs were noticeably more low-key now, even showing signs of fatigue.

The financial crisis tsunami truly swept in, forcing Huayi Brothers' meticulously planned IPO to be suspended indefinitely, which was undoubtedly a heavy blow to them.

Wang Zhongjun's visit was ostensibly to visit the set, but in reality, he came to "seek help."

However, Wang Zhongjun was a man of principle. When he met Shen Shandeng, he didn't bring up the important business first, but instead walked around the filming location.

Seeing Shen Shandeng covered in dust but with sharp eyes, he sincerely praised him, "Director Shen, I truly admire you! Giving up a comfortable life in Beijing to come to this Gobi Desert to hone your craft, that's the true attitude towards art!"

Shen Shandeng smiled and invited them to sit down in the makeshift director's tent.

While sipping hot tea, the conversation naturally turned to the financial crisis.

Wang Zhongjun sighed: "The Americans are really irresponsible this time! With Lehman Brothers' collapse, there's been a chain reaction, and the global market is in turmoil. The Asia-Pacific stock markets have plummeted terribly. Our listing plan, sigh."

Wang Zhonglei echoed this sentiment, his tone filled with anxiety.

After complaining about the overall environment, Wang Zhongjun finally got to the point, his tone somewhat earnest.

"I'm in a bit of a bind this time. The IPO suspension has affected market confidence, and we need some positive news to boost it. Do you think you could lend me a hand?"

He knew that asking for an investment share directly was unrealistic, so he settled for second best: "Let's talk about Bao Qiang. Do you think we can include him in the sequel to 'Lost in Thailand'? We can discuss the salary, and we don't need an investment share. We'll just list him as a producer, consider it a friendly appearance, and ride the wave of popularity."

Shen Shandeng held his teacup and shook his head.

Wang Zhongjun got a little anxious: "Did Zhonglei say something wrong before? I'll make him apologize to you!"

As he spoke, he gave Wang Zhonglei a wink.

Wang Zhonglei was unwilling, but dared not show it. He quickly raised his glass and said, "Director Shen, I'll punish myself with a drink! I was blind to your greatness before, you are so magnanimous!"

Outside the tent.

Yan Danchen, who happened to be there looking for Shen Shandeng to exchange lines, vaguely overheard the conversation inside.

Seeing Wang Zhonglei offer a drink and apologize, I was deeply shaken! (End of Chapter)