Bro, you handle the camera work, I'll take care of the female lead.

The next day has arrived in the blink of an eye.

Although yesterday's farce was stopped by the school leaders, it still caused quite a stir in the Beijing Film Academy circle.

The main problem is that the combination of Chen Fei and Guo Fan is too bizarre.

A freshman majoring in performing arts.

A first-year graduate student majoring in law at the undergraduate level and management at the graduate level.

They actually managed to get the school's film support fund.

This has led many teachers and students to question the two individuals.

This also made Chen Fei and Guo Fan celebrities among the new students of Beijing Film Academy.

morning.

In the cafeteria.

After finishing their breakfast, Chen Fei, Guo Fan, and Zhang Ruoyun headed to a corner of the restaurant to prepare for their meal.

Guo Kai had already left home.

Go ahead and talk to the film and television company about signing a contract.

The three of them had just sat down.

Zhang Ruoyun gestured wildly: "You have no idea how lively the campus network was yesterday. It was full of people cursing those bastards in the directing department."

"If the school leaders hadn't shut down the forum, I don't know how those bastards in the directing department would have gotten themselves into this mess."

Chen Fei chuckled and reminded him, "You'd better watch your mouth, or someone might come after you."

"I'm afraid of them?!" Zhang Ruoyun said with a look of disdain.

Guo Fan took a bite of a large meat bun: "Praising the powerful and belittling the weak is a perfectly normal thing anywhere. There's no need to waste time on it. I'd rather spend that time working on the script."

Zhang Ruoyun smiled and gave Guo Fan a thumbs up: "Brother Fan has such a broad perspective."

Chen Fei laughed and said, "Alright, let's eat. After we finish eating, I still need to go to Teacher Wang's office."

"I'll go with you," Guo Fan said, looking up.

"No need. You should communicate more with the cinematographer on set. The director is the soul of the crew, and the cinematographer is the eyes and hands of the crew." Chen Fei shook his head and refused.

"Hmm, that works too."

Guo Fan nodded slightly.

...

10:00 AM.

Wang Chunzi's office.

Wang Chunzi was working on documents at her desk when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

dong dong dong.

"Please come in!"

Wang Chunzi called out without looking up.

The office door was pushed open from the outside, and Chen Fei walked in with a smile on his face.

"Teacher Wang."

When Wang Chunzi saw the person who came, she laughed and joked, "Now you know why I didn't apply for the film support fund for you, right?! You see, it's better if we don't get the support fund, because if we do, a whole bunch of troubles will come."

Chen Fei, ever the social butterfly, pulled up a chair and sat opposite Wang Chunzi: "There's nothing I can do; only the mediocre are not envied."

As the saying goes, those in the same trade are enemies.

The resources at Beijing Film Academy are limited; if he takes more, others will definitely take less.

As long as Chen Fei and Guo Fan keep moving forward, the obstacles they encounter will only become greater and greater.

Wang Chunzi's smile widened, and she nodded repeatedly in praise, saying, "It's best that you have this kind of mindset. I thought the online opinions would have some impact on you, but it seems I was overthinking it."

After saying that, he asked with concern, "Is the preparation for starting filming the short film complete?"

"Everything's ready. Now that we have an extra 200,000 yuan, the crew is much more financially secure." Chen Fei nodded with a smile.

The film support fund and the money Chen Fei borrowed are different.

This money doesn't count towards any share; it's purely free for the production team.

Of course, this money will ultimately come from the director. The 8.3% film tax that must be deducted from each theatrical film is the main source of the film support fund.

Wang Chunzi smiled and encouraged him, "Then work hard and show those people from the directing department that we acting students can not only be good actors, but also good producers!"

Chen Fei replied earnestly, "Understood."

He finished speaking and was about to get up and leave.

Wang Chunzi suddenly called out to Chen Fei: "Several film and television companies came to the school to sign students today. Huayi Brothers, Rongxinda, Enlight Media, and Tangren Film and Television are all here. You can go and take a look if you're interested."

Chen Fei laughed and shook his head, saying, "I think I'd better pass. I don't want to sign a contract of servitude."

He's already planning to open his own studio, so who would bother sucking up to these film and television companies? Even if he were to collaborate with a film and television company, it would be an equal partnership, not a contract of servitude.

Wang Chunzi shook her head with a helpless smile and waved for Chen Fei to leave.

...

downstairs.

Warm sunlight streamed down from the dome, a gentle breeze swept across the slightly yellowing treetops, and a faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms filled the air.

Chen Fei felt a sense of relief as he walked out of Wang Chunzi's office.

The film support fund has arrived!

He's one step closer to his goal!

With that thought in mind, Chen Fei walked briskly toward the studio.

...

the other side.

Office of the Head of the Directing Department.

Tian Zhuangzhuang, the head of the Directing Department, and Mu Deyuan, the head of the Cinematography Department, sat down face to face and drank tea.

Both of them are alumni of the Beijing Film Academy's Class of '78, and are old friends of Chen Kaige, Zhang Yimou, Gu Changwei, and Principal Zhang Huijun.

We spent most of our time working together after graduation.

One is a photography department, and the other is a directing department.

Although they were constantly vying for power, their relationship remained very good.

Taking a small sip of tea, Mu Deyuan smiled and looked at Tian Zhuangzhuang accusingly: "Old man, you did this on purpose, didn't you? I don't care if you get resources for your directing department, but what's the meaning of approving a grant for Guo Fan in the management department? Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?!"

"I didn't favor anyone this time," Tian Zhuangzhuang, his face covered in stubble, shook his head.

"You mean our photography department is inferior to the management department?!" Mu Deyuan was taken aback and asked in return.

Tian Zhuangzhuang laughed: "I didn't say that."

"I know that Shen Ao and Lü Xing are both promising talents, so I won't say more."

Guo Fan studied law in college, and after graduation he only worked at a TV station for two years. He has absolutely no experience in making movies. Giving him 200,000 yuan is just throwing money down the drain! Mu Deyuan was heartbroken.

Tian Zhuangzhuang didn't waste any words.

They produced the project proposal for "Old Boys".

"Take a look."

"What is this?!" Mu Deyuan asked curiously.

Tian Zhuangzhuang replied in a deep voice: "Guo Fan's film support fund application form."

Mu Deyuan curiously opened it.

However, I still don't have much hope.

How good can a script and shooting schedule written by a student be?!

At most, it's just copying bits and pieces from here and there. If you can eventually use the camera to connect the story completely, then thank goodness.

As for the specific color grading, costumes, props, and the aesthetics of the shots, Mu Deyuan had absolutely no expectations.

However, his thoughts only lasted for five minutes.

He changed his mind after skimming through the "Old Boys" project proposal.

"Midlife crisis" and "nostalgia for youth".

A montage-like contrast technique.

A clear shooting schedule.

The storyboard is so detailed it's almost breathtaking.

Although this short film is less than forty minutes long, the preparation work done is even better than that of many theatrical films!

"This was made by that student?!" Mu Deyuan exclaimed in surprise.

Tian Zhuangzhuang nodded solemnly.

"Then I have nothing to say. Wait, the screenwriter and producer are actually freshmen?!" Mu Deyuan was both surprised and amazed.

Tian Zhuangzhuang suddenly laughed: "These students in the directing department are too pampered. It's time to put some pressure on them."