Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

The camera operator Song Xiaofei, assistant cameraman Cao Yu, and Zeng Jian all agreed with Yang Che's evaluation of Zhao Xiaoding and expressed their full support for Zhao Xiaoding in doing a good job with the camera crew.

Hmm... They're all future stars. Cao Yu was brought in by Wu Shixian; they were partners during their school days, both from the class of '97.

He is Yao Dazui's second husband. Oh, he just divorced Yao Dazui not long ago. Oops, it was officially announced in March 2026 that they had been divorced for many years.

Wu Shixian also found Wang Danrong, who had a buzz cut, wore frameless glasses, was very thin, and had sunken cheeks, but spoke with a strong voice.

"Hello everyone, my name is Wang Danrong. I graduated from the Recording Department of Beijing Film Academy in 93. After graduation, I have been working at Beijing Film Studio, which is now called China Film Group. I am currently working on the set of Feng Xiaogang's 'Endless', but it is almost finished and will not affect our crew's work."

Yang Che added, "Brother Wang was the recording director for 'Endless Love' and will also be fully responsible for the recording work of 'My Sassy Girl'."

Those unaware of the inside story suddenly realized, "Wow, what a genius!"

Recording isn't just about grabbing a shotgun microphone on set; it also includes post-production dubbing, sound effects, and so on.

As Yang Che said, Wang Danrong would take charge of the recording work, but Yang Che also asked Cheng Er to find two students from the Beijing Film Academy to be recording assistants, the purpose of which was to cultivate his own team.

One is named Zhao Nan, and the other is named Ma Niu. They are a woman and a man and they will be coming in August.

"Hello everyone, my name is Lin Mu, and I am the executive art director for 'My Sassy Girl'. I'm very happy to work with you all."

Lin Mu speaks with a smile, and he has a very humorous personality. His eyebrows are the most striking feature, though they're just two basic horizontal lines...

This guy graduated from the Fine Arts Department of Beijing Film Academy this year, but he has already worked as the executive art director of a film. During his university years, he worked with Zhao Xiaoding as a PG artist and also worked with Ning Hao on a music video.

Zhao Xiaoding and Ning Hao both recommended Lin Mu, and Yang Che also liked this guy very much and they got along very well.

He said he was the executive art director, but he was actually the film's art director.

However, after communicating with Yang Che, Lin Mu refused to take on the title of art director, since he really only needed to carry out what Yang Che asked for.

Most importantly, the art director has to manage the art, costume, and makeup departments, and Yang Che has very specific requirements for these. Therefore, Lin Mu only said that he was learning from Brother Che and thanked Brother Che for giving him the opportunity.

The art director's job is to design all visible elements within the shot, including set construction, costume design, and set decoration. They need to coordinate with departments such as lighting, photography, special effects, costumes, props, and editing to build the overall visual style of the work.

An extremely important position.

There are seven people left in the art group, who are set designers. They are all students from the Art Department of Beijing Film Academy. Each of them is given 500 yuan for food and lodging, which is quite good. None of them came today.

Yang Che met two of them, one named Lu Wei and the other Hao Yi, both of whom were quite nice.

Beijing Film Academy is great! Being a college student is great!

The next lighting technician was Dong Dabao, a colleague of Zhao Xiaoding for many years. He had an honest appearance, but his eyes were full of shrewdness. He came from Yanling, Henan Province, the same Yanling that produces 80% of the country's lighting technicians.

There was another one from Yanling, whom Yang Che picked up by the roadside, but he didn't intend to say anything.

Yang Che gestured with his chin toward the wall: "Everyone in this room needs to introduce themselves. Jianwei, stand up."

A short-haired man, about 1.7 meters tall, wearing a yellow short-sleeved shirt, stood up somewhat awkwardly: "Hello everyone, my name is Xing Jianwei, I'm from Xuchang, Henan Province, I'm sixteen years old, and I work as an extra at the Beijing Film Studio. Brother Che made me a production assistant."

He has a heavy Henan accent. This kid is clever but also very reliable; he does whatever he's told to do.

There was another person in a similar situation, also "picked up" by Yang Che, who also had a heavy accent. At this moment, he seemed to be pretending to be calm.

"Hello everyone, my name is Wang Baoqiang. I'm from Xingtai, Hebei Province. I'm seventeen years old this year. I also work as an extra at the Beijing Film Studio. Brother Che has also let me work as a production assistant and a guest actor."

After the two introduced themselves, people gave them friendly looks, but also glanced at Yang Che with some confusion.

Yang Che smiled outwardly, and he was also secretly pleased.

Xing Jianwei, I have seen this person's interview. Although he came out relatively late, he is the originator of "Lantern Master".

As for Baoqiang, it was really a coincidence. He ran into him during his morning run the day before yesterday, and then he came over after being told what happened. Yang Che even felt like he had a collecting habit.

"Hello everyone, my name is Qin Lan. I am a producer's assistant and will also play a convenience store clerk in 'My Sassy Girl.' I hope to get your help in the work ahead."

She has a lovely voice, is quite good-looking, and has a sweet smile.

Yes, it's that future electronic music Dora.

20-year-old Qin Lan hasn't fully matured yet. Her face is still a bit chubby, not a V-shaped face but an oval face, just with a narrower jawline. Her future V-shaped face will be achieved through jaw reduction surgery.

My skin has gotten a bit darker because I've been outdoors a lot lately, which makes me look rather plain.

However, her features are delicate and three-dimensional, very pleasing to the eye, especially her eyes, which are large and bright, with narrow double eyelids but a very expressive gaze. Her nose bridge is high and straight, with a rounded tip. Her willow-leaf shaped lips are thin at the top and thick at the bottom, with a distinct M-shaped outline, and the corners of her mouth are naturally slightly upturned, making her look like she's always smiling—a classic sweet girl.

Qin Lan was to Yang Che's left, so she was naturally the last to introduce herself.

Yang Che looked around, and the group of hot-blooded men finally shifted their attention away from Qin Lan.

"Today, the 'My Sassy Girl' crew has been officially established... Let's not applaud. Most of us are not yet at the age for formalism; it feels very out of place."

"Ha ha."

"Slap slap slap"

"Giggle giggle"

"..."

Yang Che glanced at Qin Lan, who was laughing heartily, and wondered if it was really that funny.