This director only directs blockbusters.

It's that photography student who's got a knack for playing with lights in a weird way.

"Chen Lei?" Yang Ning was stunned. "Why are you here?"

? "

Chen Lei scratched his head, a little embarrassed: "I...I heard they're hiring here. Can I do odd jobs? Lighting assistant is fine too."

Someone inside laughed. Li Xue frowned: "Classmate, this is a formal project team."

"I know." Chen Lei straightened his back. "I've worked with Director Yang before. I was in charge of the lighting for his sample footage."

Yang Ning looked at him.

I remember that day in the ruins, Chen Lei running back and forth with a light meter. Although he was stubborn, he was a genius.

"You've graduated?" Yang Ning asked.

"Not yet, I'm a senior. But the school has agreed to an internship," Chen Lei said. "Director Yang, I don't need money, just meals. I just want to go along and film."

Yang Ning remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he said, "Go find a table and sit down. The camera crew, you come with us."

Chen Lei's eyes lit up immediately: "Thank you, Director Yang!"

He found an empty table in a corner, put down his bag, and sat down so abruptly that the chair creaked.

Li Xue looked at Yang Ning, her eyes saying, "You're being ridiculous."

Yang Ning ignored her.

"continue."

After I finished introducing myself, it was already 10:30.

Yang Ning asked Lao Xu to distribute the project schedule.

"Over the next three months, we need to complete the following tasks." Yang Ning stood in front of the whiteboard and wrote with a pen:

"I. Final draft of the script (within fifteen days)."

"II. Conceptual Design Drawings (within 30 days)"

"III. Special effects preview video (within 45 days)."

IV. Selection of Lead Actors (within sixty days)

"V. Location scouting for all scenes completed (within ninety days)."

He turned around: "Time is tight and the task is heavy. Each department should submit its personnel list and needs to Lao Xu by 5 p.m. today. I need to see a detailed work plan by 9 a.m. tomorrow."

Wang Lei raised his hand: "Director Yang, the budget approval process needs to be clarified. Expenditures exceeding 50,000 yuan require my signature."

"Okay," Yang Ning said, "but the purchase list must first be confirmed by Liu Yong for technical specifications."

Liu Yong nodded: "Right, don't fucking buy things randomly. It's a waste of money and time if you buy things you won't use."

Li Xue also raised her hand: "I need to participate in every discussion about script revisions."

"Okay," Yang Ning said, "but the discussion should be led by the scriptwriting team. You're giving suggestions, not revising the script."

Li Xue's expression wasn't very good, but she didn't refute it.

"Any more questions?" Yang Ning asked.

No one spoke.

"Meeting adjourned. Lao Xu, Liu Yong, Chen Lei, please stay behind."

The others left one after another.

Wang Lei walked to the door, glanced back at Yang Ning, and looked at her with a complicated expression.

Li Xue was the last to leave, her high heels clicking loudly on the floor tiles.

The door closed.

There were only four of them left in the room.

Liu Yong plopped down, propping his feet up on the table: "Damn, these guys are all up to something."

Old Xu lit a cigarette: "That's normal. With a project this big, who wouldn't want to put their own people in? There are all sorts of birds in a big forest. Yangzi, who are you planning to use as the director of photography?"

Yang Ning didn't answer directly, but looked at Chen Lei: "What do you think?"

Chen Lei was stunned: "Me? I...I don't understand these things."

"Tell me," Yang Ning said, "that day in the ruins, why did you choose that angle for the beam of light you shone?"

Chen Lei thought for a moment: "Because ruins are a symbol of despair, but people must have a glimmer of hope."

Oblique lighting can outline contours, making actors stand out from their environment.

Add to that the texture of dust, and you get a sense of breathability.

"Have you seen Blade Runner?" Yang Ning asked.

"I've seen it! Ridley Scott's film! I tried to emulate his lighting—dirty, wet, layered..."

"If I asked you to direct the camera, would you dare?" Yang Ning interrupted him.

Chen Lei stared, dumbfounded.

Liu Yong and Lao Xu were also stunned.

"Yang Zi, you're kidding, right?" Old Xu said. "He's only a senior in college!"

"So what if you're a senior?" Yang Ning looked at Chen Lei. "What I need isn't seniority, but the courage to take risks."

The cinematography of this film has to be new, dirty, and destructive.

Those veteran photographers are too steady; steadiness equals mediocrity.

Chen Lei's hands were shaking.

"Can...can I do it?" His voice was weak.

"I'm asking you whether you dare or not." Yang Ning stared at him.

The room was silent for a few seconds.

Chen Lei gritted his teeth: "I dare!"

"Okay." Yang Ning patted him on the shoulder. "Cinematography director, you can take over for now."

The two teachers arrived this afternoon; you'll come with me to meet them.

"Huh? I'm seeing him again?"

"Show them. Let them know this position is taken."

Liu Yong laughed: "Awesome. That was a ruthless move."

Old Xu frowned: "Those two are seasoned veterans, do you really think they'll submit?"

"If you're not convinced, then keep it to yourself," Yang Ning said. "Technical skills will speak for themselves."

Chen Lei, bring all the footage you've shot this afternoon. Let them see what a new sensory experience is all about.

Chen Lei nodded emphatically, his eyes a little red.

"Brother Yong," Yang Ning turned to Liu Yong, "you're in charge of the concept design."

But I have one request—no ethereal, murderous aura. The apocalypse is forged through struggle, not painted.

"Understood." Liu Yong rubbed his hands together. "I found a few artists, all of them are involved in underground comics. Their hands are dirty, but they're ruthless."

"Old Xu," Yang Ning said finally.

"You keep an eye on the progress. I need to see the completion status of each department before I leave work every day."

Anyone who drags the team down will receive a warning the first time, and be replaced the second time.

"clear."

"Also," Yang Ning lowered his voice, "keep an eye on Wang Lei and Li Xue."

You don't need to deliberately find out who they met each day or what phone calls they made, but you should keep track of it.

Old Xu and Liu Yong exchanged a glance and nodded.

At noon, several people ate boxed lunches in the office.

Yang Ning ate while looking at the system interface.

The special effects upgrade ticket from the newbie gift pack is still glowing in my inventory.

[Special Effects Upgrade Coupon: Allows you to select one movie for a comprehensive special effects upgrade, achieving the ideal visual effect in your mind. Effective immediately upon use.]

He stared at it for a while, then closed the interface.

This card should be saved for the most crucial moment.

Let's use conventional methods for now.

The two photographers arrived at 2 PM.

The first to arrive was Old Zhao from the Beijing Film Studio, a man in his fifties who had directed many patriotic blockbusters. He paused for a moment upon entering and seeing a room full of young people.

"Director Yang?" He looked at Yang Ning.

"Teacher Zhao, please sit down." Yang Ning stood up and shook hands.

Old Zhao sat down and glanced at Chen Lei sitting next to him: "And this is?"

"Chen Lei, acting supervisor for the photography team," Yang Ning said.

Old Zhao frowned: "Agent?"

"Yes. Let's take a look at Teacher Zhao's work first," Yang Ning suggested.

Old Zhao brought a stack of stills from the show and a demo tape.

What's shown are all well-organized, grand scenes with precise lighting and classic compositions.

"Teacher Zhao has a profound foundation," Yang Ning said after reading it.

"But I have a question—if I want a scene where the protagonist crawls through ruins, the camera is close to the ground, crawling alongside him."

The camera needs to be shaky, have a sense of breathing, and even have dust on the lens. How would you handle that?

Old Zhao was taken aback: "This...this doesn't seem to be in accordance with regulations. A dirty lens will affect the image quality."

"What I want is dirt," Yang Ning said.

Old Zhang paused for a moment: "Director Yang, film is art, it can't be too capricious. The audience will get dizzy watching it."

"If the audience wants to be comfortable, they might as well go home and watch TV." Yang Ning smiled. "Thank you for making the trip, Teacher Zhao."

Old Zhao looked rather grim, and got up to leave.

The second one is Lao Chen, recommended by Shanghai Film Studio. He is 45 years old and has acted in many urban dramas.

What we're presenting is a demo of a romance film, with soft lighting and smooth camera work.