This director only directs blockbusters.

Seeing so many letters proves that this campaign was worthwhile.

But what surprised Yang Ning the most was the letter from the Hong Kong Film Workers Union.

"To Director Yang Ning: We are delighted to hear of your crew's dedication and professionalism during filming, which our Hong Kong colleagues deeply admire. Please feel free to contact us if you require any assistance. We wish you a successful filming and great box office success."

The document bears the joint seal of seven or eight organizations, including the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild, the Screenwriters' Guild, and the Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers.

"That's giving them a lot of face," Old Xu clicked his tongue in amazement.

Yang Ning carefully put the letter away: "Reply. Reply to every single one. Thank you for your support, we will work even harder."

"So many, can we possibly process them all?"

"We have to go back even if we can't," Yang Ning said. "They put in the effort, so we have to put in the effort too."

---

The cafeteria was noisy at lunchtime, and several of the main actors gathered around a table with their trays.

Huang Xiaoming shoveled rice into his mouth and suddenly laughed: "My mom called me first thing this morning. Before I was even fully awake, she blurted out, 'Son, is that you in the newspaper rolling in the mud?'"

Zhou Xun picked up a piece of eggplant, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "So what do you say?"

"I said, 'Yeah, your son isn't going for the domineering CEO route anymore, he's switched to a realistic style now.'" Huang Xiaoming chuckled as he said this. "Then my mom said, 'That's good, at least he's doing something serious now.'"

Fan Binbin sipped her soup, not replying. Her phone vibrated several times on the table.

Zhou Xun nudged her with his elbow: "GG's here again?"

"Hmm." Fan Binbin turned off the screen. "My agent said that two more sports brands want to work with me, and they want something with a 'training documentary' feel to it."

"Let's take it," Huang Xiaoming said. "What a great opportunity."

"I turned it down." Fan Binbin put down his spoon. "Filming is filming. Taking on these roles just doesn't feel right."

Zhou Xun nodded, pulled a magazine from her backpack, and placed it on the table. It was "Film and Television Circle," and her interview was folded at the corner.

"Look at this," she pointed to a passage, "how much she praised me?"

It's all about being "untouched by worldly affairs" and "naturally gifted"...

I threw up after rock climbing yesterday. If they find out, I wonder if they'll still write that "I'm not human..."

Huang Xiaoming leaned over to take a look and burst out laughing.

Fan Binbin also smiled slightly.

"Hey, I have an idea," Zhou Xun said, closing the magazine with a serious expression. "For tomorrow's training, I'm planning to do something more realistic and train in a tank top."

Let them sweat it out, and let them see that even someone as 'untouched by worldly affairs' as me has become a muscular woman.

"What ethereal aura? A character is cultivated, not something that floats out of thin air."

Huang Xiaoming gave a thumbs up: "That's ruthless. Should I add something too? Or maybe I should go shirtless?"

Zhou Xun rolled her eyes at him: "You were just showing off your muscles, what does that have to do with the role?"

"How can it not matter? Su Man can practice, but Lu Ran can't?" Huang Xiaoming protested.

Just then, Yang Ning walked by carrying a plate and casually asked, "What are you talking about? It's so lively!"

Zhou Xun looked up, half-jokingly and half-seriously: "Director Yang, I'm planning to work out shirtless tomorrow so they can film some real scenes. What do you think?"

Yang Ning sat down next to her, narrowed his eyes, and smiled mischievously: "Tough-chested, huh? Then I'll have to keep an eye on things myself."

Zhou Xun grabbed a peanut and threw it at him: "What are you thinking! Vest! It's a vest!"

Huang Xiaoming and Fan Binbin couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Yang Ning caught the peanut, threw it into his mouth, chewed it, and said, "Okay, vest it is."

But please be careful, we're a legitimate film crew, so keep things in line with the content and don't let the media write things distorted.

During the afternoon training session, the two photographers noticed a significant difference in the actors' demeanor.

Before, it was "I am training," now it's "I am being recorded training."

But no one is performing.

Instead, they worked even harder.

Huang Xiaoming climbed the rope net, but when he reached the top, he ran out of strength, his hand slipped, and he was left hanging in mid-air.

The photographer zoomed in.

His face was contorted with bulging veins, his teeth clenched tightly, and he stubbornly climbed up inch by inch.

When I came down, my palms were covered in blisters.

Fan Binbin was practicing martial arts when her sparring partner accidentally punched her in the cheekbone.

She staggered two steps but didn't fall.

He waved his hand to indicate that he would continue.

In the footage, her left cheek swelled up rapidly, but her eyes became even more fierce.

Zhou Xun hung on the climbing wall for ten minutes, but finally ran out of strength and let go, falling down.

The safety rope held her, making her sway in mid-air.

She didn't yell to stop, just hung there, panting, then shouted down, "Pull me up, and do it again!"

The photographer pointed the lens at her sweaty face and trembling arms.

It's real, brutal, but powerful.

---

At 7 p.m., Yang Ning received a call from Han Shanping.

"I've seen the data." Han Shanping's voice was tinged with laughter. "The CEO from Sina just called me and said that your special page's traffic broke their entertainment channel's record."

"As expected," Yang Ning said.

"Don't get cocky." Han Shanping paused, "But you did a good job. Jiang Zhiqiang also called, saying that the Hong Kong media are reprinting your reports."

"Good thing."

"It's definitely a good thing," Han Shanping said, unusually direct. "But the pressure is also greater. Everyone's watching now, and if the film doesn't turn out well, the consequences will be worse than anyone else's."

"I know."

"Good to know," Han Shanping said. "There's an industry exchange meeting next week, organized by the broadcasting department. Get ready, you'll speak for ten minutes."

"I?"

"Yes, you," Han Shanping said. "Now you're a representative of young directors, so you need to come out and make your mark."

Yang Ning remained silent for two seconds.

"OK."

"Prepare your script carefully, and don't say anything inappropriate," Han Shanping instructed. "But don't be too official either; the audience now prefers your 'authentic' tone."

"clear."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Ning walked to the window.

The training ground was still lit up even after nightfall.

Several actors are still practicing extra.

The rise in reputation is both a good thing and a source of pressure.

Now everyone knows that there is a young director named Yang Ning who is making a very dedicated film.

Success! He was deified.

Defeat means utter ruin.

But he wasn't scared. On the contrary, he was a little excited. Because he had a cheat code in this game.

A knocking sound rang out on the door.

Fan Binbin stood outside, holding an ice pack on her face.

"Director Yang, can we talk?"

"Come in."

She came in, didn't sit down, but leaned against the table.

"How's your face?" Yang Ning asked.

"It's a little swollen, but it's okay." Fan Binbin put down the ice pack. "I just wanted to ask... do you think we're doing well enough right now?"

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is..." she carefully chose her words, "audiences are praising our hard work and authenticity right now. But ultimately, what matters in a film is the finished product, not the process. If the finished product doesn't match the process..."

"Then let the finished product be worthy of it," Yang Ning interrupted her.

Fan Binbin looked at him.

"I know what you're worried about," Yang Ning said. "I'm afraid that if we praise you too much now, you'll fall too hard later."

"right."

"Then don't give yourself a chance to fall." Yang Ning stood up and walked over to her.

"Film every shot to its fullest potential, and act every scene to the very core of your being."

When audiences walk into the cinema, they find that what they expected was only one-tenth of what we achieved.

Fan Binbin's eyes lit up.

"Can you do it?" she asked.

"Absolutely! Even if you don't believe me, you have to believe in your own hard work. You have to believe that all that sweat wasn't shed in vain," Yang Ning said firmly.

Fan Binbin smiled, but her eyes were firm.

I believe you.

She turned to leave, but turned back at the door.

"Director Yang."

"Um?"

"Do you remember my room?" she said. "I won't lock the door tonight."

…………

After finishing work that evening, Yang Ning returned to his office and remembered the phone call from Third Master Han, who asked him to prepare a speech for the industry exchange meeting. He sat down, turned on his computer, and created a new document.

Before I could even think of a title, there was a knock on the door.

Fan Binbin, Huang Xiaoming, and Zhou Xun squeezed together at the doorway.

"Director Yang," Huang Xiaoming said on behalf of the company, "we have an idea."

"Just say what you think."

"That exchange meeting," Fan Binbin continued, "could you not just talk about it alone? We'd like to go together."

We don't need to go on stage; we can just sit down there. If anyone wants to know what the actors think, we can say a few words too.

Zhou Xun added, "So that people won't keep saying that actors are just puppets of directors."

Yang Ning looked at their three tired but eager faces and smiled.

"Okay," he said. "Then you'd better think carefully about what to say. Don't stutter when the camera's on you."

"You don't know us at all. You can rest assured," Huang Xiaoming patted his chest. "You know, we're notorious for being all show and no substance. We've been through far too many of these kinds of things."

"I don't. I earn my living through my own abilities," Zhou Xun retorted with a smile.

Everyone laughed.

Outside the window, the main lights in the training field were gradually turned off, leaving only a few corridor lights on, outlining the quiet contours of the equipment.

But something brighter seems to have ignited within these young actors, silent yet intense.