Huayu: Serious director, who's eavesdropping on your thoughts?

The entrance to the film crew's studio, which is usually deserted, was suddenly surrounded by dozens of reporters from various media outlets, with a row of cameras and microphones set up.

Some people were even climbing ladders to peek inside.

Before Lao Zhang could even run away, he was cornered by sharp-eyed reporters.

"Director Zhang! Director Zhang!"

Dozens of microphones were shoved directly into his face.

"There are reliable sources saying that the female lead in the new film only has a vocational school diploma and hasn't even received a single day of acting training. Is this true?"

"Someone revealed that the female lead used to be a logistics staff member on set. Director Zhao is using a handyman instead of a professionally trained actor. Is he just abandoning his post and not even bothering to pretend anymore?"

"Director Zhang, Director Zhao previously held a nationwide audition with 10,000 participants, but he didn't like anyone and claimed he had to find the most beautiful woman in the world. In the end, after all that searching, he only picked a country bumpkin who husks corn?"

"Is this Director Zhao's unique understanding of art, or is he contradicting himself in public?"

"Director Zhang, Director Zhang."

"The female lead's surname is also Zhao. Is she related to Director Zhao?"

Old Zhang was sweating profusely from the questions and awkwardly used his thermos to cover his face. He finally managed to squeeze through the gate with the help of the security guard.

"They've gone mad...they've all gone mad..."

He trembled, took out his phone, and then everything went black again.

On various entertainment forums, posts about "Zhao Huaiyuan's new film's female lead is actually a handyman" and "The biggest joke of the year! Zhao Huaiyuan's 10,000-person audition ends in failure, and a 5 million yuan investment produces a handyman?" are popping up one after another.

In the comments section, netizens' doubts were overwhelming.

"I took my pants off, and this is what you show me? What happened to the stunning beauty you promised?"

"They were so enthusiastic before, always saying this wasn't good enough and that wasn't good enough. I thought they'd finally choose some celestial beauty, but this is all they did?"

"Contradictory statements, a slap in the face! This so-called genius director's CPU must have burned out; he's a creative deadbeat. The whole thing was just a charade to grab attention!"

"It's over...it's all over..." Old Zhang leaned against the iron gate, wanting to cry.

Zhao Huaiyuan walked over.

"Lock the gates. From now on, the film crew will be under complete lockdown, and all media visits are strictly prohibited!"

His gaze swept over Zhao Liying, who seemed somewhat bewildered by the shouts outside, and then he gave the order:

"Also, inform the entire crew that no one is allowed to discuss the news on set, nor are they allowed to bring newspapers in. Anyone who dares to gossip on set and affects the filming will be fired immediately."

This day is February 29th.

There are still two weeks until the premiere of "Hero", and a full sixty-four days until the Spring Festival film season.

"Attention all departments, continue."

"Section B, Scene 3, get ready."

..

Filming continued for the next week.

Although Zhao Huaiyuan cut off the internal information sources, the voices outside the wall were simply too loud.

Every morning, when Lao Zhang passes by the door, he always sees a group of reporters shouting sarcastic remarks.

"Director Zhang, stop hiding it. Let the woman who peeled the corn show her face."

"I heard you guys are still filming? Is there any point in filming anymore? Are you just trying to scam funding?"

The newspaper headlines became increasingly sensational each day, escalating from initial questions about the female lead to questions about China Film Group's decision-making mechanisms.

In Southern Weekly, a critic wrote an article directly criticizing this attention-seeking behavior as a blatant provocation against the entire film industry.

People on the film crew began to feel uneasy.

Even the stagehands started sighing all day long.

Zhao Liying, who was at the center of this public opinion storm, was inexplicably pushed into the eye of the storm, and in fact she had no idea what had happened.

However, she could feel the strange looks from the people around her.

She became more cautious.

I dared not speak loudly, nor dared to eat an extra bite of my boxed lunch.

They were afraid of doing something wrong.

Even during breaks, she only dared to shrink into a corner and memorize her lines.

She felt like a sinner, dragging these respectable people from the big city down with her and making them suffer the same fate.

She didn't know what had happened.

She could only do her best to do what she could.

..

December 8th, the eleventh day of the lockdown.

The insults began to subside.

After all, it takes physical strength to beat a drowning dog.

When Zhao Huaiyuan's crew acted like a dead pig that wasn't afraid of boiling water.

No matter how much criticism they receive from the outside world, they remain silent.

The media's initial excitement gradually faded.

During this period.

Some media outlets, in reviewing the upcoming Lunar New Year film season, wrote dismissively:

"...As for that much-discussed China Film Group's new talent support program? Oh, I heard it's still filming, but nobody cares anymore."

Zhao Liying remained silent on set that day.

She was unaware that the outside world had demoted her from being a public enemy to a boring joke.

All she knew was to listen to the director; whatever the director said, she did.

..

December 14th, the seventeenth day of the lockdown.

This day was originally just an ordinary winter day.

But for Yanjing City and even the entire Chinese entertainment industry, this day belonged exclusively to that man.

The epic film "Hero," directed by Zhang Yimou, held its global premiere at the auditorium.

3 PM.

As usual, Lao Zhang, wearing a hat and mask, was fully armed and ready to face those difficult reporters at the door.

however.

When he opened the iron gate a crack, he froze.

The entrance was empty.

There were no cameras or microphones, no sarcastic questions, and even the usually annoying reporter Xiao Wang from the Hong Kong Economic Journal was nowhere to be seen.

All that remained on the ground were some crushed cigarette butts and discarded newspapers that had been blown about by the wind.

Where are they?

Old Zhang looked somewhat bewildered. He walked out the door and looked around.

The old man guarding the gate was shoveling snow when he saw Old Zhang come out, and he smiled.

"Don't bother looking for Director Zhang, they've all run away! I heard that Director Zhang chartered a plane to bring Li Lianjie and Tony Leung here, and as soon as these reporters heard there were red envelopes to be won, they ran faster than rabbits."

Half an hour later.

Old Zhang went to a nearby newsstand and bought a stack of newspapers for that day.

Front page headline:

Heroes Arrive!

The Era of Blockbuster Cinemas in Chinese Films Has Begun!

Tickets are being resold for as much as 800 yuan, and the auditorium is ablaze with star power!

Dozens of pages were filled with reports about the movie "Hero".

Various topics were discussed, creating a huge uproar that never stopped from beginning to end.

As for Zhao Huaiyuan, and the controversy surrounding the female lead who works odd jobs?

Nobody cared.

Old Zhang turned all the newspapers upside down, leaving no corner unchecked, and finally found a line of small print in the cracks of a third-rate gossip tabloid.

It says all by itself:

"Also: Zhao Huaiyuan's new film is suspected to still be in production, and its future is uncertain."

A few words, that's all.

At that moment, as Old Zhang squatted on the curb by the roadside, he suddenly felt an emptiness in his heart.

What happened?

Two weeks ago, he was so worried about the overwhelming insults that he couldn't sleep at all, but now, he actually misses those insults.

Yes.

Although spittle is dirty, at least it's still warm, which means that someone is still paying attention to you.

Now, however, they are completely ignored.

The greatest attack is never verbal attacks, but being completely ignored. You don't even have the right to be cursed by me!

December 20th, the 12rd day of the lockdown.

With the nationwide release of "Hero," this feeling of being forgotten reached its peak.

Not surprisingly.

The box office of "Hero" exploded!

The film grossed over 100 million yuan in its opening week, breaking various records one after another.

On the streets and alleys, during leisure time, everyone talks about only one topic every day—"Hero"!

Even the van driver who delivers lunches to the film crew every day has recently changed the subject whenever he sees Lao Zhang:

"Hey, Director Zhang, can I ask you for a favor? You're a leader at China Film Group, and 'Hero' is one of our own films. Could you help me get a couple of tickets?"

Tickets are too expensive, and they're incredibly hard to get.

My wife keeps nagging me to watch that movie, saying that's what a real movie is... Sigh, what can I do? Anyway, nobody's watching this show, so it won't make a difference if we watch it a little longer. Could you please make an exception for us?"

This atmosphere gradually began to spread throughout the film crew.

The staff no longer need to worry about being scolded, because nobody cares about them at all.

They began to worry about one thing, and then fell into another terrible self-doubt.

Will anyone even watch this movie after it's made?

If nobody's watching, what's the point of filming this now? Isn't this just a pointless exercise?

Zhao Huaiyuan, on the other hand, did what he was supposed to do from beginning to end, as if he were an anomaly.

The more noisy the outside world was, the calmer he became.

He seemed to live in a vacuum, starting work at six o'clock every day without fail and finishing at dawn.

He would still argue with Lao Cao for ages over the angle of a light, and he would still spend an entire day working on a single transition shot in Volume B.

"Don't look, don't listen, don't think."

These are the words he's spoken most often on set these past few days.

January 1, 2003, New Year's Day.

The outside world remains as vibrant and bustling as ever.

Before the hype surrounding "Hero" had died down, Michelle Yeoh's "The Touch" began its promotional campaign, and Andy Lau's "Cat and Mouse" also started its massive promotional campaign.

The atmosphere of fierce competition during the Spring Festival film season is getting stronger.

Meanwhile, Zhao Huaiyuan's film crew quietly reached the end in this forgotten corner.

January 8th, the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.

There are 23 days left until the Spring Festival film season.

This day.

At 3 p.m., the final shot was captured on film.

Zhao Huaiyuan took off his headphones and stood up from behind the monitor.

He looked around the studio where they had spent more than forty days, and seeing the exhausted staff members, he let out a soft sigh.

"Click!"

"Filming wrapped! Thank you all."

After Zhao Huaiyuan finished speaking, there was a brief silence in the room.

There were no cheers, no hat-throwing, and no champagne and flowers as is usually the case when filming wraps up.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, they let out a long, weary sigh.

Sparse applause broke out, not enthusiastic, but conveying a sense of relief that they had finally made it through.

Old Zhang rubbed his hands together, leaned closer to Zhao Huaiyuan, and asked in a low voice:

"Huaiyuan, according to the rules, how about we book a few tables at a nearby restaurant tonight? It's the wrap party, after all, a chance for everyone to get together?"

Zhao Huaiyuan raised his head and glanced around.

Upon hearing the words "wrap party," no one showed excitement. Instead, some people quietly glanced at their watches, while others lowered their heads to pack their things.

Yes, for a movie destined to be cannon fodder, this meal was actually quite pointless.

"I'm not eating anymore."

"Everyone has worked hard for the past month or so, so I won't take up any more of your time."

"Old Zhang, save the money you would have spent on the banquet and give each person an extra 200 yuan red envelope. We'll settle the remaining balance here and now."

"Everyone, now that you've received your money, hurry home."

These words caused a stir in the previously lifeless crowd.

"Thank you, director!"

"The director is so generous!"

This time, the applause was much louder and more sincere than the applause at the wrap party.

The crowd began to disperse, and people lined up to receive their money.

Some people were packing up their equipment, others were packing their luggage, and everyone was quietly discussing which day's train tickets to buy and what gifts to bring home for their children this year.

No one was discussing the future of this movie.

Nobody was optimistic about it.

Nobody cares.

This is just a job for them; once the project is finished, they will be even.

Half an hour later, at the entrance of the dressing room.

After washing off her stage makeup, Zhao Liying transformed back into the rosy-cheeked country girl.

"Director, I'm leaving."

Zhao Liying looked at Zhao Huaiyuan, her big eyes sparkling, "Thank you for treating me to a meal and even paying me. I... I know my acting might not have been good, please don't be upset."

"You acted very well."

Zhao Huaiyuan smiled, reached out, and gently turned up the collar of her dress, his eyes showing a rare tenderness.

"Better than those people on TV."

Zhao Liying smiled shyly, revealing a row of white teeth, with her two little tiger teeth being particularly cute.

She clearly didn't take those words seriously, thinking the director was just being kind and comforting her.

"Then I'm leaving!"

She waved and walked outside, but after taking a couple of steps, she seemed to remember something and stopped.

She glanced back at the empty studio and the young director standing in the shadows.

"Director, um..." She hesitated for a moment, but still said it.

"If... I mean if no one watches this movie in the future and it doesn't make money... don't be sad."

"My harvest was good this year. I'll send you a bag of fresh corn after spring. You can cook it; it'll be delicious!"

After saying that, she didn't wait for Zhao Huaiyuan's reply and plunged into the wind and snow outside.

The small figure quickly disappeared into the twilight, like a drop of water flowing into the ocean, never to be found again.

The studio doors were wide open, and a cold wind howled in, stirring up the trash on the ground.

The huge venue was quickly emptied.

Only Zhao Huaiyuan and Ning Hao remained. The two of them packed the boxes of film master tapes into a dehumidifying box and sealed them.

This is the culmination of more than two months of hard work, the sleepless nights and hardships endured by hundreds of people.

Others can just pack up and leave, but they can't.

It was more than an hour later when I finished all of this.

The two locked the door but did not go straight home.

Perhaps it was a pent-up anger with nowhere to vent, or perhaps it was a desire to take one last look at the place where they had once fought.

The two climbed over the snow-covered fence and, as if possessed, ascended to the terrace of a tower on the neighboring European-style castle.

The terrain here is extremely high, offering a wide and unobstructed view.

When the two reached the top of the tower

It had gotten completely dark.

The wind was biting cold.

Looking out, the World Park beneath my feet was utterly desolate, a scene of utter decay.

Looking across the park, you can vaguely see huge neon signs lit up on the CBD buildings in the distance.

Above is the magnificent poster for "Hero," shining brightly in the dark night, receiving the city's adoration.

As the executive assistant director who participated in the entire filming process and saw the sample footage, Ning Hao actually knew the quality of their film better than the rest of the crew.

But that's precisely why he felt frustrated.

Over the past two months, he has witnessed firsthand how this director, who is even younger than himself, has accomplished a task that he considered impossible.

He admired Zhao Huaiyuan's talent, and even more so, he revered his composure in the face of being treated like a fire poker by the whole world when he clearly held a sharp sword.

Ning Hao gave a wry smile and patted the railing.

"I don't understand why everyone is saying we're cannon fodder, as if this Spring Festival film season is destined to be bleak for us."

"More than sixty days ago, we embarked on our journey from a nationwide selection process involving tens of thousands of people. How spirited we were!"

Tens of thousands of people signed up for the audition, and countless media outlets flocked to the scene. It truly had the perfect timing; the vibrant energy and the flourishing of all things are still vivid in my mind.

At this point, Ning Hao turned his head and looked at Zhao Huaiyuan beside him, his eyes filled with resentment.

"In just forty days, has this place really become our burial ground?"

The wind seemed to be getting stronger.

"Huaiyuan, it seems like everyone has forgotten about us. Do you think we... really still have a chance?"

Zhao Huaiyuan took out a cigarette and offered one to Ning Hao.

Snapped.

The lighter clicked once, and the small flame danced from side to side in the strong wind.

Zhao Huaiyuan shielded his eyes from the wind with his hand before he could barely light the cigarette.

He took a deep breath, raised his head, and his gaze pierced through the howling, biting wind, heading straight into the darkness.

He looked at the arrogant "Hero" poster, exhaled a puff of smoke, and laughed.

"It's good to forget, because thunder is loudest only in the quietest of times."