Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 8, Section 08: They're all buddies

The afternoon sun was slightly setting in the west, but the light was still plentiful.

After Wang Sheng led everyone to lunch, the three Jinbei vans were started up again.

The personnel and equipment were rented for a day, so we couldn't waste them; we used them to shoot templates.

The so-called "template shooting" refers to pre-shooting high-quality scene footage for the three tiers of wedding services planned by Wang Sheng.

These materials can be used as sample footage for clients to choose from, which can greatly improve post-production efficiency and create a "cinematic" feel.

……

The church's exterior, the park's ancient pavilions, and a rather "modern" tree-lined road.

Thanks to the high image quality of Betacam SP and the monkey's increasingly skilled lighting techniques, coupled with Wang Sheng's composition and camera movement ideas borrowed from later generations, the shooting efficiency was quite high.

Wang Sheng personally filmed the scene, Chen Liang operated another camera, while Xu Ling was busy changing clothes and giving simple styling to Wang Sheng and Chen Liang, Da Liu, and others who were temporarily brought in to make up the numbers. She and Li Xiaoran played the roles of "bride and groom" in different situations.

Although it's just a back view, side view, or distant view, the professional equipment and film studio background result in a visual quality that is completely different from ordinary wedding videos.

The setting sun draped the ancient capital in a warm golden veil.

Wang Sheng directed the team to quickly shoot the last set of backlit shots. Looking at the silhouettes of the "newlyweds" walking hand in hand, outlined by a golden halo in the lens, he shouted "Cut!" with satisfaction.

"knock off!"

Wang Sheng's voice was tired, but even more so, it was filled with excitement.

The team, exhausted, loaded the heavy equipment onto the truck.

Wang Sheng specially arranged for the car to take a detour and drop Li Xiaoran off at the Oriental Song and Dance Troupe's dormitory building.

"Thank you for your hard work today, Ms. Li. We'll contact you once the final cut is ready," Wang Sheng said as he got out of the car.

Li Xiaoran also looked tired, but her eyes were bright: "It's nothing, Director Wang. I learned a lot today, and I'm really looking forward to the final film."

She paused, nodded slightly, and turned to go upstairs.

When the three Jinbei vans drove back to the Beijing Film Studio, it was right at the studio's closing time.

The crowds pouring out of the administration building and various workshops looked at the dusty vans and Wang Sheng, Chen Liang, and others who jumped out of the vans, looking tired but excited, as well as the conspicuous professional equipment on the vans, with different expressions on their faces.

"Hey, isn't this Old Wang's from the transportation workshop? Is your head all better? What are you up to now?" A man dressed in a blue Zhongshan suit, who looked like a cadre, muttered to his companion.

"I heard they started some kind of wedding planning company, making wedding videos. What a joke! People from the Beijing Film Studio doing this? It's beneath them!" someone nearby chimed in, their tone laced with disdain.

"Who says otherwise! But Director Han is so supportive, lending equipment and giving money. Humph, I don't know what kind of luck he had, what kind of flattery he got from Director Han..."

Several employees who were clearly office workers and closer to management whispered among themselves, their gazes toward Wang Sheng and his colleagues filled with scrutiny, jealousy, and even a hint of hostility.

The reforms Han Sanping has implemented in recent years have affected the interests of many people. Wang Sheng, a "pilot" whose work was approved and supported by Han Sanping, naturally became the target of some people's private venting of dissatisfaction.

However, when they passed by the technical departments, such as the photography workshop, art workshop, and set design workshop, they encountered a completely different scene.

"Xiao Sheng, Liangzi, wrapped up work?" An elderly photographer with gray hair greeted him with a smile. He was Monkey's uncle, a veteran at the studio, and in charge of the equipment room. "I heard you went on location today? How was it? Did Betacam work well?"

"Uncle Li, it's alright, quite easy to use!" Wang Sheng replied with a smile.

"Keep it up! It's a good thing for young people to have some drive!" Another lighting technician patted Monkey on the shoulder: "It's better than sitting idle in the factory!"

"Brother Sheng, let me know if you need a hand to move anything sometime!" a young man about the same age as Wang Sheng called out. He was the son of Master Chen from the set design workshop, and he hadn't found a proper job yet.

The technical staff and their children showed a noticeably friendly and even supportive attitude towards Wang Sheng and others.

Most of them rely on their skills for a living and are relatively simple-minded; poor factory performance directly affects their income. Families with unemployed children are especially eager to see Wang Sheng succeed, hoping he can set a good example and help their children if they need manpower in the future.

The Beijing Film Studio only resumed large-scale production and replenished its workforce in the mid-to-late 1970s. Now, the studio's core members, who are in their forties, have children of similar age to Wang Sheng, making this expectation particularly widespread and genuine.

Wang Sheng agreed with each of them, knowing in his heart that his matter had become a kind of weather vane in the factory.

With everyone working together, they carefully returned the valuable equipment to the warehouse, and the props and costumes were also returned to their respective workshops.

……

Afterwards, everyone returned to Shengying Media's office, where Wang Sheng asked Chen Yu to take out the cash that had been prepared beforehand.

"Director Zhang, Master Li, thank you both for your hard work today." Wang Sheng handed two envelopes to the assistant director and the professional cinematographer who had come to help: "This is a little something for your hard work, please don't think it's too little."

The two men accepted the fairly thick envelope with smiles on their faces: "Director Wang, you're too kind. Please let us know if you need any help in the future."

Although they were factory workers, no one would complain about having more opportunities to earn extra money.

Then, he paid Xu Ling and the three young men who came to help move things and do odd jobs their daily wages.

Xu Ling took the money and smiled brightly, saying, "Shengzi, if you ever get a good job like this again, don't forget your older sister!"

The three laborers, who had initially thought they were there to work for free, were overjoyed when they received their daily wages. They thanked them repeatedly and said they were ready to be at their service at any time.

As for Wang Sheng, Chen Liang, Houzi, Da Liu, and Xiao Bing, these "formal employees" of the company, they all have a guaranteed monthly salary of one thousand yuan.

For big jobs like today's location shooting, extra "work points" will be recorded, which will be converted into bonuses depending on the position, settled at the end of the month, and the more you work, the more you earn.

This is a rule set by Wang Sheng, which can both control costs and motivate everyone.

After seeing the outsiders off, Wang Sheng and the others finally relaxed, so exhausted they almost collapsed.

The camera that combines recording and shooting is really heavy, weighing a full seven kilograms. It's tiring to carry around even once.

……

When I got home, my mother, Zhang Xiulan, had already prepared dinner.

A simple stir-fried vegetable dish, shredded potatoes, and a small dish of cured meat.

"I heard you've been running around all day? How was it?" Zhang Xiulan asked, serving her son rice while noticing the weariness on Wang Sheng's face.

"It's alright, we've filmed everything we needed to," Wang Sheng mumbled, picking at his food.

"Oh, you, why didn't you try for a good factory job? Why did you have to suffer like this? What if you ruin your health..." Wang's mother started nagging again, her tone full of contradictions. She was worried that her son would be unambitious, but she also genuinely felt sorry for him working so hard. "That 50,000 yuan, you have to spend it carefully..."

Wang Baoguo took a sip of his porridge and interrupted, "The child should be doing serious work. What are you nagging about? Eat."

Wang Sheng listened to his mother's nagging but didn't say much, just ate his meal in silence.

……

Silent all night.

The next morning, Wang Sheng brought all the Betacam SP videotapes he had shot the day before to the editing workshop at Beijing Film Studio.

In 1996, videotape editing was far less convenient than the later digital non-linear editing.

Betacam SP uses component analog signals, and editing requires a professional editing machine.

It typically consists of a player for playing source tapes, a recorder for recording master tapes, and an editing controller.

The editing process is linear and physical. The editor needs to first find the in and out points of the shot to be used on the playback machine, and find the in point of the insertion position on the master tape on the recording machine. Then, the editor controls the two machines to pre-roll and play synchronously through the editing controller. At the precise moment, the recording machine starts recording and copies the signal from the playback machine to the master tape.

The order of this process cannot be changed at will. Once the recording is completed, it is difficult to modify the middle part unless you start from the beginning.

……

Wang Sheng walked into the cutting workshop, where a unique smell filled the air—a mixture of old-fashioned machine heat dissipation, film dust, and a faint whiff of desiccant.

The workshop was quiet, with only the low hum of the machines and the occasional hissing sound of a tape rewinding rapidly.

Several experienced technicians, wearing reading glasses, were intently focused on the screen of the editing controller, skillfully manipulating the search panel with their hands.

Wang Sheng knew that directly contacting the experienced editor on duty might not be efficient, and the amount of editing he needed would be considerable, potentially requiring repeated revisions.

His gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the director's office at the far end of the workshop.

After knocking on the door and receiving permission, Wang Sheng pushed the door open and went in.

Director Sun of the shearing workshop was a middle-aged man in his fifties with his hair neatly combed. He was wearing glasses and reading a newspaper.

"Director Sun, hello, I'm Wang Baoguo's son from the transportation workshop. I'm sorry to bother you for a moment." Wang Sheng put on a polite smile and gently placed the "Jinqiao" cigarettes, carefully wrapped in newspaper, on the corner of his desk.

These cigarettes aren't the most expensive, at 12 yuan a pack, but they're still presentable "business cigarettes." The key is that there's a generous amount; you can give away a whole carton.

Director Sun lifted his eyelids from above his reading glasses, glanced at the newspaper bundle, then looked at Wang Sheng: "Oh, it's you, kid..."

“It’s me, it’s me, Director Sun, you have a good memory.” Wang Sheng quickly replied, “My name is Wang Sheng. I have some work I’d like to trouble your workshop with, I’d like to borrow the knitting machine.”

"Oh? Private work?" Director Sun put down his newspaper, his tone indifferent.

The factory equipment is not open to the public in principle, but people take on private jobs to supplement their income. As long as it's not excessive, everyone tacitly understands this.

"It's a pilot project supported by the factory, and Director Han approved it."

Wang Sheng then brought up Han Sanping and explained in detail: "I shot an advertisement and some footage, and I want to edit it. Time is tight, and I'm worried that my lack of experience might delay the machine, so I'd like to ask a master for help and guidance."

Upon hearing "Director Han nodded," Director Sun's expression softened somewhat.

He weighed the pack of cigarettes in his hand, then looked at Wang Sheng: "The equipment is fine, but we'll have to calculate the wear and tear and electricity costs by the hour. As for manpower..."

Director Sun hesitated for a moment, then called out, "Xiao Ma! Come here for a second!"

Soon, a bright-looking young worker, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, jogged in: "Director, you wanted to see me?"

"This is Wang Sheng. He has some editing work to do. Use the No. 3 editing machine to help him with it. Charge him accordingly, understand?" Director Sun instructed.

"Yes, Director!" The young man named Xiao Ma readily agreed, giving Wang Sheng a curious look.

Wang Sheng was overjoyed and quickly thanked Director Sun: "Thank you so much, Director Sun! Don't worry, I know the rules!"

Then he turned to Master Ma and said, "Master Ma, thank you for your help!"

As soon as he left the director's office, Wang Sheng took out an unopened box of "Jinqiao" cigarettes from his pocket and stuffed it into Xiao Ma's hand: "Master Ma, this is a small token of my appreciation. You've worked so hard today."

Xiao Ma hesitated for a moment, then declined, "This...it's not appropriate, the director has already given instructions..."

"Of course, of course, there's a lot of work, and I might have to work overtime." Wang Sheng insisted on handing it over, lowering his voice: "There will be a bonus after it's all done, I can't let you work for nothing."

Xiao Ma, cigarette in hand, smiled more genuinely and patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder: "You're a true friend! Okay, I'll take care of it! Come on, unit number three is free!"

Arriving at the No. 3 fabrication machine, Xiao Ma started it up and chatted with Wang Sheng: "Hey buddy, you said you're from the Wang family of the transport company? Your name sounds familiar."

"I think my dad might have mentioned it," Wang Sheng replied, marking his precious tapes as he did so.

"No..." Xiao Ma thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "I remember now! Aren't you really close friends with Chen Liang, that kid from Chen Datou's family in the set design workshop?"

“Yes, Liangzi is my childhood friend!” Wang Sheng nodded.

"Hey! What a coincidence!" Xiao Ma laughed: "Chen Liang's mother is my second aunt! We're relatives! I've heard my second aunt mention before that Liangzi has a very capable brother named Wang Sheng, who's quick-witted. Looks like it's you!"

Wang Sheng smiled, and the relationship immediately became much closer: "So it's Brother Ma! Liangzi has mentioned to me many times that he has a cousin who is a skilled technician in the shearing workshop. I'm so glad to meet him today!"

"What kind of technical expert are you? Just trying to make a living."

Xiao Ma spoke modestly, but his face beamed: "Alright, we're brothers, no need to be so polite. Give me the tape, tell me how you want it cut, and I'll do it for you, I'll make sure it's crystal clear!"

When relationships are closer, work efficiency increases exponentially.

Wang Sheng explained the concept of the advertisement and the necessary rhythm to Xiao Ma, who quickly understood the intention.

“Okay! A 15-second ad, right? Let’s find the entry and exit points for the footage first… Don’t worry, I know this stuff!” Xiao Ma skillfully inserted the footage tape into the player, holding the search disc, his eyes fixed on the monitor, quickly searching for the “I do” and the most beautiful “veil kiss” shots that Wang Sheng had described.

"Wow, this girl is really pretty... The lighting is great too... Okay, this shot feels right!" Xiao Ma commented while operating the camera: "In point right here... Out point... Alright! Recorder ready..."

The two machines simultaneously pre-wound and played back the code with a slight clicking sound.

Xiao Ma was completely focused and pressed the record button at the precise moment, perfectly copying the footage from the player onto the master tape.

"Look, how's the effect?" Xiao Ma showed the playback to Wang Sheng.

On the monitor, in the backlight of dawn, the veil is hazy, the kiss is beautiful, and the emotions are full.

Wang Sheng nodded in satisfaction: "Great! Brother Ma, that's the feeling!"

Next, they edited other footage—church backgrounds, strolls along tree-lined paths, pavilions and terraces—into different blank tapes according to different themes and styles, as a future "template" material library.

Xiao Ma's skills are proficient, and the operation is smooth, which saves a lot of time.

……

After a busy morning, I've completed about 50% of the work.

At noon, Wang Sheng asked Chen Liang to specially pack some food from a restaurant and deliver it to him.

They were served delicious food, and Chen Liang, as a mutual friend and relative, chatted with them, further strengthening their relationship.

From the conversation, Wang Sheng learned that Xiao Ma had been transferred from the Children's Film Studio last year to take his mother's place at the Beijing Film Studio. Because he had been working at the Children's Film Studio, he wasn't very familiar with the Beijing Film Studio.

There are currently six film studios in Beijing, and the Children's Film Studio is one of them.

……

evening.

After completing all the editing work, Wang Sheng not only paid the stipulated equipment usage fee, but also gave Xiao Ma an envelope containing fifty yuan as a reward for his hard work.

"Brother, you're too kind!" Xiao Ma said, holding the envelope, a little embarrassed.

"Brother Ma, it's nothing. I would have been completely lost without your help today. I'll definitely need your help again in the future!" Wang Sheng said sincerely.

"No problem! If you ever need any work, just come to machine number three and I'll get it done quickly and well!" Xiao Ma patted his chest and promised. After spending the day together and with "money" paving the way, the two had become inseparable buddies...

(End of this chapter)