Back to 17, My Brother is the Cult Leader

"The box office has already reached nearly 30 million in just one week?"

Director Feng, with a cigar in his mouth, leaned back in his chair and gave a cold laugh.

"We have to thank the country we built for that."

The Spring Festival has just ended, and "The Dream Factory" has just concluded with a box office of 3600 million yuan.

It became the first truly meaningful Lunar New Year film in mainland China.

However, before he could recover from the joy of victory,

A comedy film called "Lost in Thailand" emerged as a dark horse during the Spring Festival travel rush, with its box office revenue approaching 30 million yuan in its first week of release.

"I watched that movie, what was it?"

Feng Dafei flicked his cigarette ash, his tone clearly disdainful.

"How dare a mere kid claim to have created something new from a notebook he cobbled together?"

Let me tell you, without 'The Dream Factory' drawing audiences back to theaters, who would have watched his film if it had been released last year?

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly sharp:

"These young people always think that they are destined for great things, but what is the truth?"

They're just standing on the shoulders of us old folks.

We're here to clear the land; they're here to harvest the fruit.

When asked for his opinion on screenwriter Fang Yuan, director Feng simply waved his hand:

"Not worth mentioning. What does a freshman who writes novels know about a movie script?"

The reason his notebook could sell for money was simply because it benefited from the Spring Festival and caught the Spring Festival travel rush.

When it comes to the pacing of comedy and the nuances of dialogue, they're nowhere near as good as us.

"Look at that line from the movie 'The Dream Factory,' 'Even the landlord's family has no surplus grain,' everyone is saying it now."

What about his movie? How many lines can you still remember the day after watching it?

Feng Xiaogang became more and more excited as he spoke.

"These days, audiences just want to have some fun; they'll eat whatever you give them."

But in terms of the solidity of the script and its contribution to Chinese comedy literature, Fang Yuan ranks far below the 38th tier.

A reporter reminded director Feng that Fang Yuan had stated that he highly approved of "The Dream Factory" for pioneering the path of comedy.

Director Feng got even angrier: "Agree? Then I have even more to say."

Is this the level of writing he produced? Then he really hasn't learned anything useful.

Screenwriting isn't just about writing a few plot holes; you need to understand structure, characters, and the concepts of introduction, development, climax, and conclusion.

Finally, he stubbed out his cigar and said meaningfully:

"I advise these young people not to forget their own name just because they've had a couple of bites of a full meal."

In the film industry, box office figures aren't the deciding factor.

"It's not too late for him to give interviews after he's written the second and third books and established himself in this industry."

He stood up and patted the reporter on the shoulder:

"Go back and write it carefully, and say that I said those words."

I'm not afraid of offending people; that's just how I am. If I see something I don't like, I'll say something.

Fang Yuan returned to school after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

There's nothing much to do at home, so I might as well go back early and finish writing.

Wang Jinghua made a special trip to see him.

Looking at the article in the Beijing Evening News titled "Director Feng Slams: 'Lost in Thailand' Gains My Support, the Novice Screenwriter is Not Worth Mentioning," I felt a surge of emotion.

Fang Yuan smiled.

It's like I'd just fallen asleep when someone brought me a pillow.

I was just wondering what to write, and here it is!

Follow Director Feng's path and leave him with nowhere to go.

Wang Jinghua was a little worried.

"It's okay, just tell him when you go out. I agree with what he said."

First of all, I am indeed a young man, only 19 years old this year.

Besides, I'm only a freshman, and there's definitely a lot I need to learn.

I will have a second and a third comedy novel and screenplay.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, Fang Yuan went to bed early.

On the other side of the world, the lights are still on.

Location: Berlin Cinematheque

Date: February 22, 1998, at the end of the awards ceremony

The host on stage announced the winner of the "Silver Bear Award for Outstanding Achievement".

In the audience: Among the creative team of the film "Coherence", Ellie sat in the front row looking slightly nervous.

The host then introduces the award presenter – Mr. Gérard Colbio, a member of this year's jury.

He walked up to the microphone, holding a card with comments written on it, and read them aloud in English with a French accent:

"Distinguished guests, the annual Silver Bear Award for Outstanding Achievement is usually awarded to performance, photography, or music."

But tonight, the jury unanimously decided to award it to something even rarer and more elusive—a script.

This film uses a light bulb, a living room, and the dialogue of eight actors.

They constructed a maze more complex than the universe itself.

It proves to us that in the art of film, imagination is the most expensive special effect.

This script not only requires the audience to think, but also requires them to participate in the thinking process.

It broke through the fourth wall.

Let every viewer become the ninth character in the drama who is searching for "that better version of themselves".

The jury believed that the script's excellence lay in:

It uses a minimalist filming style to achieve an extreme challenge to narrative structure.

It is a film about "possibilities".

Its very existence is the best proof of the infinite possibilities of independent films.

The winner is—"The Night the Comet Came," screenplay by Fang Yuan.

(Applause erupted throughout the hall, interspersed with some surprised whispers—)

This is a rare instance of the Berlin Film Festival awarding a major prize to a film with virtually no budget and no stars.

The camera cuts to Ellie.

She was stunned for a moment, as if she couldn't believe her ears.

"Ahhhhh!"

She stood up abruptly, and the movement was so sudden that she almost knocked over the water glass in front of her.

Instead of walking gracefully onto the stage like other award winners, she practically sprinted onto it.

The high heels clicked rapidly on the steps.

Her hands trembled slightly as she received the heavy Silver Bear trophy from Colbio.

She took a deep breath, walked to the microphone, and her lips moved a few times, as if she couldn't speak for a moment.

"Oh my god... I'm so sorry... I, I had prepared a very calm speech, but..."

(She glanced down at the trophy, then looked up at the audience, her eyes reddening.)

"Fang Yuan, if you're watching the live stream in your dorm right now—"

Oh, that's unlikely, you're probably still sleeping.

(Laughter erupts from the audience)

Keep in mind that Fang Yuan is only 19 years old and still a freshman in college.

I had just helped him get royalties for his novel when he gave me this script.

When I saw this script, I felt like I had met a genius.

Today, Berlin has proven my feelings right.

(She paused, her voice trembling slightly.)

"When we were filming this movie, there was no green screen, no special effects, just a living room and eight people scaring each other. I remember one day we filmed for 14 hours straight."

We spent five days and $70,000 making a film to submit for awards.

We've all gone mad.

But now we've succeeded.

(She raised the trophy, facing the audience, her voice becoming firm.)

"I want to say to our director and actors, this trophy belongs to Fang Yuan, and it also belongs to you!"

I want to say to my friends sitting in the living room: Keep going crazy.

Because sometimes, when a comet passes by, the world doesn't end; it just becomes more wondrous.

(Finally, she turned to the judges' panel and bowed deeply.)

"Thank you Berlin, thank you for the 'outstanding achievement'—"

This award means to us that "even without an answer, the question itself deserves to be seen." Thank you!

(The entire audience rises to their feet and applauds. Ellie wipes her eyes amidst the applause and walks off the stage carrying the silver bear.)