1979: The child's mother is a celestial being.

Chapter 113 Director Yang Jie: I want this actress! (Please subscribe!)

Nortel.

Amateur performance class.

As everyone is about to graduate, but most students have not yet decided on their post-graduation plans, many people are feeling somewhat uncertain.

However, college students during this period, even those who were "adults" in the process, still had employers who wanted them, unlike college graduates in later generations who faced unemployment upon graduation.

Everyone wanted to stay in the capital and didn't want to be assigned to other places, so many people were still 'waiting'.

Early this morning, a rumor spread throughout the school that Director Chen Fusheng would be coming to the school later to recruit some interns on behalf of his film crew, and all the classes were in an uproar.

Since their undergraduate class still has a year before graduation, they are not in a particular hurry.

However, their amateur performance class was imminent, and they all wanted to seize this rare, even life-changing, opportunity.

Even the teachers couldn't teach anymore, so they simply joined in the students' discussions.

"Teacher Li, what time will Comrade Fusheng and the others arrive?"

"I'm not entirely sure of the exact time. Principal Cheng answered the phone and said that Comrade Fusheng and his team would be coming today to recruit a few students for internships on the film set. He asked our class teacher to inform you. If you're interested, raise your hands so I can take a count."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the students raised their hands in unison.

Seeing this, Teacher Li nodded as if she had expected it: "Alright, put them all down."

"Teacher Li, how many students will Director Chen Fusheng be selecting from our school?"

"It's hard to say."

"Is it just about casting actors?"

"Of course not. There are many positions in a film crew, not just actors. Students from every major have opportunities."

"If I'm selected, will it solve my employment problem?"

"Oh right, I need to emphasize this to you all. The internship opportunity provided by Comrade Fusheng is just an internship. There is no job placement guarantee after the internship, so please think it over carefully." Teacher Li paused, glanced at several students in the class who already had companies willing to accept them, and added, "Especially those students who already have good prospects."

Meanwhile, Chen Fusheng, with his wife in tow, and director Yang Jie on a bicycle, had arrived at the gate of the Beijing Film Academy.

"This is the Beijing Film Academy."

"Yes, this is Beijing Film Academy."

This was Liu Xiaoli's first time here. For her, who had never attended university, university was something that held a halo of prestige.

Chen Fusheng parked his car at the school gate, waited for Director Yang Jie for a while, and then the three of them registered at the gatehouse before being led into China's top art school by the gatekeeper.

Yes, that's right. At that time, the Beijing Film Academy was indeed much stronger than the Central Academy of Drama next door and the Shanghai Theatre Academy, which had risen to prominence later, because of the one-on-one support from the Beijing Film Studio and the preferential treatment of national resources.

It's no exaggeration to say that it's currently the top art school in China.

……

As soon as Chen Fusheng and his two companions arrived at the administration building, Principal Cheng Ying, along with many school leaders and teachers, came downstairs to greet them.

"Haha, Director Chen, welcome back to the Beijing Film Academy. And who is this lady?"

"...This is my wife, Liu Xiaoli."

Chen Fusheng then introduced, "And this is Director Yang Jie from CCTV."

"Is this Comrade Liu Xiaoli's first time visiting our Beijing Film Academy? Welcome!"

"Thank you, Principal Cheng."

Cheng Ying then turned to Director Yang Jie: "Of course I know Director Yang Jie, but we haven't seen each other for many years."

"It's been many years since we last met. The last time I saw you, you were a big director at the Beijing Film Studio. Now, you're the principal of the Beijing Film Academy." Director Yang Jie said with some emotion, "Time really flies. Senior Cheng Ying, how have you been lately?"

"Oh dear, this isn't good. As people get older, all sorts of old ailments start to appear..."

Realizing that what he had said was inappropriate, Principal Cheng waved his hand apologetically and said, "Never mind, let's not talk about this. Welcome to Beijing Film Academy again. Let's not stand here and chat. Please come upstairs with us for a cup of tea."

Meanwhile, curious heads were crowding the windows of every classroom; if it weren't for class time, they would have rushed out long ago.

Who is that young and beautiful woman next to Comrade Fusheng?

"His lover."

"how do you know?"

"I am Han Sanping."

"Oh, you do know."

"What about the other one?"

"Director Yang Jie from CCTV."

"..."

Administration building, conference room.

As soon as Chen Fusheng sat down, a school leader brought up the topic of their currently showing movie, "The Tuner."

"I heard that China Film Group sold 431 copies of 'Andhadhun'. Is that true, Comrade Fusheng?"

"The 431 copies are from last week. I saw the report at the bureau yesterday, which said that more than 20 copies were added this week from Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. So now 'The Tuner' has sold more than 450 copies."

"Your movie is really popular. When I went to the cinema last weekend to buy tickets, I had to queue up. If you go too late, there are no tickets left for the day."

"Everyone has the weekend off, so they probably all want to watch a movie to relax on this day."

"Haha, that might be true, but it also shows that your movie is very popular."

Another teacher joined the conversation: "I think 'Andhadhun' was also shown in Hong Kong, right? How was it there?"

"I don't know the data for this week yet, but as of last Friday, 'Andhadhun' has grossed over HK$1400 million in Hong Kong."

"Wow, that's amazing."

"I think this deserves applause."

"Yeah!"

After chatting about various topics for about ten or twenty minutes, they finally got to the main topic of their visit.

"Comrade Fusheng, how many interns do you plan to recruit this time?" "Let's see."

"And what about Director Yang Jie?" the career guidance director then asked.

"I just came here with Director Chen to join in the fun."

“That won’t do. You’ve already come all this way, so we should at least give the children some hope.”

"Alright, alright, I'll take a look first."

Seeing that the time was right, Principal Cheng Ying suggested:
"I bet our students are getting impatient too. Director Yang Jie, Comrade Fusheng, and Comrade Liu Xiaoli, why don't we go down and meet with the students?"

"Yes, but Principal Cheng, I have a question."

"Well, you say?"

"Are we just going to pick students directly from the classes like this? I don't think that's a good idea."

"So, Comrade Fusheng, what do you mean?"

“I feel there are too many people in the class, making it difficult to see each person’s strengths. So I’d like to suggest that we have a classroom where interested students can come in for interviews. That would be fairer than us just picking people after a quick glance.”

"Of course, no problem. Actually, some teachers have mentioned this plan before, but we were afraid of taking up your time. We have done a survey and the students are quite willing to intern in the crew of the drama 'Comrade Fusheng'. So if we conduct interviews, there will be quite a few students applying."

"It's okay. We chose to come in the morning because we planned to spend the whole day getting this done."

"Alright, since Comrade Fusheng has said so, let's make the arrangements now."

"Okay, thank you for your help."

"No, no, no, it's you who have worked hard."

……

Before the interview began, Chen Fusheng even recruited Han Sanping.

"No, you're just having an interview, why do you have to bring me along? I need to study."

"You're studying so hard, are you going to take the postgraduate entrance exam?"

"Then we won't take the exam."

"Why are you still talking so much nonsense even though I'm not testing you? When are you coming back?"

"I've only been here for a few months, and there's still a lot I haven't learned. At least let me systematically go through the basic theoretical knowledge first."

"Can you finish the course by the end of the year?"

I'll try my best.

"I don't care, you have to come back next year."

"What?"

Chen Fusheng lowered his voice and said, "Director Chen will retire next year."

"Director Chen is retiring? Does that mean Director Shi is..." Han Sanping pointed upwards with his finger.

"Yes, the organization has already spoken with Director Shi, and Director Shi has also talked to me about the possibility of a major reform for our film foreign exchange earnings working group next year, so you'd better come back before the reform."

"Okay, then I'll go back at the end of the year." After making this decision solemnly, Han Sanping thanked Chen Fusheng again.

"What are you two crickets chattering about? Is it something we can't hear?"

"I asked Lao Han about the promising talents at Beijing Film Academy beforehand. I definitely can't tell Director Yang Jie, what if you try to snatch them from me?"

Chen Fusheng deflected the topic with jokes, and soon the first student came in, and they began the interview process.

"..."

"Good morning, teachers. I am Zhang Yimou from the Photography Department."

Director Yang Jie looked at this somewhat mature-looking classmate and asked curiously, "Zhang Yimou, how old are you?"

"I was born in 50, and I'm 31 years old this year."

"How did you get into the Beijing Film Academy's photography program at your age? I remember there's an age limit for that program, right? Of course, I'm just curious, you can choose not to answer."

"Teacher, I can answer your question. I am indeed over the age limit. The reason I was still able to go to school is not because I have any connections. It's just because I love photography. Before the start of the Beijing Film Academy in 78, I sent my work to Leader Huang of the Ministry of Culture. After he saw it, he felt that I had talent, so he made a special approval for me to be admitted."

This was the first time Chen Fusheng had heard this story from Zhang Yimou. After hearing it, he couldn't help but think to himself: Indeed, no one's success is accidental!

……

"next."

"Hello, teachers. I am Guo Jing."

"Guo Jing, are you married?"

"Uh, no."

"Do you know Huang Rong?"

Who is Huang Rong?

"It's okay, let's skip this topic."

……

"Hello teachers, I am Zhu Lin from the acting training class. Before coming to Beijing Film Academy, I was a dancer in the Beijing Communications Corps Art Troupe. After being discharged from the army in 75, I worked in the medical field. In 80, I was fortunate enough to star in my first film, 'The Traitor,' directed by Zhang Qichang of Beijing Film Studio. I played an educated youth in it."

After Zhu Lin left, Chen Fusheng was about to call the next person in when a voice suddenly rang out in the room: "I want this Zhu Lin, Director Chen, don't try to take her from me."

Chen Fusheng was taken aback, then smiled meaningfully: "Director Yang Jie, do you want Zhu Lin to star in your 'Journey to the West'?"

"Yes, I feel that her temperament and image are very suitable for playing the Queen of the Women's Kingdom. What do you think, Director Chen?"

"I haven't researched it, so I don't know."

"Hehe, so you've only been studying your lover's Chang'e, haven't you?"

Chen Fusheng just smiled and didn't reply.

(End of this chapter)