Who says Beijing Film Academy has no great directors? (2002)

Unexpectedly, as soon as I arrived at the dormitory, Liu Yifei sent me a urgent text message.

Sisi: "Idiot! What did you do? Why is Zhou Yang asking me for your QQ number?! (Knife emoji)"

Chen Yan chuckled. This girl from Northeast China was too honest. She didn't realize that he was politely refusing her, and she actually went to Liu Yifei to ask for his contact information.

Free as the Wind: "Oh? Only one person is looking for you?"

Sisi: "Distraught/Expression, ahhh! Isn't one enough? How many women have you messed with outside?!"

Chen Yan genuinely thought Miss Liu was incredibly cute.

But considering that Jiang Yiyan didn't go to see Liu Yifei, she guessed that their relationship was a bit strange.

That's understandable. Zhou Yifeng said Jiang Yiyan was the most beautiful girl at Beijing Film Academy, so that must have been the consensus before Liu Yifei arrived.

It would be a miracle if Jiang Yiyan could calmly accept the sudden arrival of a younger and prettier girl at school.

Only a straightforward and easygoing girl from Northeast China like Zhou Yang wouldn't have any ulterior motives.

Zhou Yangchong was the first to ask for contact information.

"I went to the cafeteria for lunch today, and I was ordering when the two of them came up to me and asked for my contact information. I told them I didn't have my phone with me and asked if they knew you, and to ask them to come find you."

"You know, I had my phone with me at the time. *gets hammered/emoji*"

Sisi: "Hmph, who's the other person then?"

Chen Yan thought for a moment, realizing he couldn't just say her name directly, otherwise it would seem like he already knew her and had ulterior motives.

After thinking for a moment, I added a modifier before it.

"My roommate said her name is Jiang Yiyan, but I don't know her."

Sisi: "Oh, her."

Sisi: "When are you coming to see me? Mom's here today."

Chen Yan laughed. Why did this girl start changing the subject as soon as Jiang Yiyan was mentioned?

Chen Yan followed her lead and didn't continue the previous topic.

Free and Easy: "Coming right away, just wait."

Chen Yan packed up and headed straight to the set of "The Story of a Noble Family".

When he arrived at the destination, the staff greeted him.

Chen Yan nodded to each of them, then headed straight for the main stage, where Liu Yifei, sporting a small perm, was rehearsing her lines.

Chen Yan greeted the assistant director, then pulled up a stool and sat down next to him, quietly watching Liu Yifei rehearse.

After finishing a scene, Liu Yifei's face was flushed and full of energy. Actually, she had seen Chen Yan during rehearsals, but she couldn't run away halfway through. Everyone was working hard, so how could she slack off?

If she was delayed even a little, the whole crew would have to stay with her, so Liu Yifei could only force herself not to look in Chen Yan's direction.

After the show, I wanted to say hello, but my mother called me over again.

Liu's mother handed her daughter a coat, saying, "Put this on, it's getting a bit cold."

"Aunt Liu."

Hearing the voice, Liu's mother looked over and said, "It's Xiao Chen."

Chen Yan is handsome and about the same age as her daughter, so he was actually one of the people Liu's mother focused on guarding against on set.

My daughter is still young and beautiful, so all these boys have some crush on her, so I have to keep a close eye on her.

Liu's mother asked tentatively, "Are you here to see Xixi? Xixi has a performance today, maybe..."

Chen Yan interrupted Liu's mother directly, saying, "Aunt Liu, I came here today specifically to see you."

Liu Xiaoli was surprised for a moment. He was looking for her? What could a boy like him want?

Chen Yan deliberately spoke vaguely, "I don't know if Aunt Liu has time, but let's go out and find a place to talk. Actually, it's about Qianqian."

Liu Xiaoli glanced at her daughter and then agreed.

"All right."

Then she turned to her daughter and said, "Xixi, don't wander around on set. Mom will be back soon."

"Oh." Liu Yifei was very unhappy. Why wasn't she taken along?

She had been frantically giving Chen Yan meaningful glances, hoping that if she were there, she could at least help smooth things over, since her mother wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Inside a relatively private coffee shop outside the film set.

Chen Yan called the waiter over, "Aunt Liu, would you like something to drink?"

Liu Xiaoli said to the waiter very elegantly, "I'll just have a glass of juice."

Chen Yan deftly ordered himself another cup of coffee.

After the waiter left, Chen Yan took out the battle-tested, invincible script from his bag and handed it to Liu Xiaoli.

"Aunt Liu, take a look at this."

Liu Xiaoli was somewhat surprised. Of course she recognized it as a script, but was Chen Yan really starting his film and television career at such a young age?

She always thought Chen Yan was just an ordinary person working on the film set.

Chen Yan casually said, "This is the script I wrote. The production cost is 700 million. I want to invite Yi Fei to play the female lead in my drama."

Liu Xiaoli was startled.

700?

She looked at Chen Yan in surprise, utterly incredulous. Was this boy really 20? He could casually utter a single sentence that sounded like a production worth millions.

"The film's funding is all in place. Changchun Film Studio is responsible for project approval and distribution, and we've secured 120 million yuan in investment from GG. I will invest the remaining amount myself, and I will play the male lead. I plan to invite some talented actors to play the supporting roles."

Chen Yan didn't mention anything irrelevant. To put it bluntly, Liu Xiaoli is a practical person, but there's nothing wrong with being practical; it's just that she lacks foresight.

So instead of talking to her about dreams and aspirations, it's better to just lay out the conditions and let her weigh them.

With these conditions in mind, Liu Xiaoli carefully read the script.

Chen Yan knew that at this stage, proposing that Liu Yifei star in his movie was the most likely option. If Liu Yifei were to star in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," Liu Xiaoli might not even bother with his small-scale film.

However, the resources available to Liu Yifei right now are all TV dramas, while she herself can secure a leading role in a movie.

Liu Xiaoli became more and more engrossed in the watch, and her body relaxed very naturally. When the waiter brought the drinks, Chen Yan waved to her, indicating that she should order quietly.

The other party was very accommodating; they left the items and left.

Time passed by, and Liu Xiaoli occasionally smiled, but when she saw what was happening behind her, she showed a reluctant expression.

After a long silence, Liu Xiaoli reluctantly put down the script: "Xiao Chen, are you going to direct this movie?"

Chen Yan felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. Curiosity was good; she was just afraid that after reading the script, the girl would leave without asking any questions.

Chen Yan didn't beat around the bush and replied readily, "Yes, but my mentor will be the producer. My teacher, Qiao Liang, is a PhD in Film Studies from the Beijing Film Academy, and his TV series won the Feitian Award. I will also invite some experienced assistant directors to help me manage the production. I hope my directorial debut will have a perfect start."

The worst thing you can do on this issue is to stammer or hesitate; otherwise, people will definitely doubt your directing skills.

As expected, Liu Xiaoli hesitated for a moment before continuing to ask, "When will filming begin? How many months will the shooting period be? Because Xixi may have some other plans later."

Chen Yan smiled and said, "Filming will begin in the middle of the month, and the shooting period will be about two months."

"Filming should be finished by mid-November."

Liu Xiaoli took a sip of her drink, pondering whether she should give up her role as Wang Yuyan in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" and switch to making movies.

Because his old friend had mentioned wanting to start a company for Xixi, Tian Long Ba Bu was the first stepping stone.

But not long after, Liu Xiaoli had an idea in her mind: to make movies, she had to make movies. Her daughter was so beautiful, she was born to act on the big screen.

"Can I meet your advisor? Sisi is also going back to Beijing Film Academy."

Chen Yan thought to himself, "They still don't trust me and want to see someone more capable."

I guess I'll have to go back and ask someone knowledgeable about this to see if it's even possible to agree to it.

"Sure, we can sign the contract at the school. I also need to find a few supporting actors at the Beijing Film Academy." Chen Yan had no objections.

Liu Xiaoli smiled then, but in her heart she placed Chen Yan on a higher level. This boy was not one of those reckless little devils. His words just now were poised and generous. From the moment she sat down until now, he had been speaking neither servile nor arrogant, and his reasoning was clear.

He was not intimidated at all. Facing his classmate's mother, he immediately demonstrated his abilities, without trying to curry favor or curry favor. He was very straightforward.

As the two left the coffee shop, Chen Yan also sensed the change in Liu Xiaoli's attitude towards him.

Now it's not appropriate for me to go back to Liu Yifei. I've already shown my interest in Liu Yifei in front of her mother, so going back would be like revealing my true intentions.

Chen Yan spoke first, "Then I'll head back now, Auntie. I have some things to take care of at school. See you at school tomorrow."

Liu Xiaoli seemed to breathe a sigh of relief: "Okay."

On his way back, Chen Yan sent Liu Yifei a message: "80% done, remember to play dumb."