Huayu: The Big Players Behind the Scenes

After dealing with the professors, Zhuang Huai'an followed Wang Hongwei to his office.

The master and apprentice sat on opposite sides. Thinking of the somewhat strange silence earlier, he couldn't help but ask.

"Master, what did Dean Zhang mean just now?"

Wang Hongwei paused slightly while brewing tea, glanced at his apprentice, and sighed, "What could it mean? Are you still struggling with the matter of letting you stay at the university for graduate studies?"

"Didn't you already handle this for me? Why are you still hesitant, Director Zhang?"

"Well, it's a long story."

Old Wang put down the tea set and handed him a cigarette, saying somewhat dejectedly, "My disciple, why don't you take it easy for the next couple of years and stop trying to win awards? I'm already feeling the pressure."

Goodness, Zhuang Huai'an laughed at these words. "Teacher, what are you saying? I didn't organize those award ceremonies. How could you expect to win an award just by going?"

Wang Hongwei rolled his eyes at him and said irritably, "Isn't it your family's business? Think about it yourself, from your debut until now, you've never come back empty-handed from any award you've participated in."

Although you haven't achieved a grand slam in the three major awards, you've won two Silver Bears at the Berlin International Film Festival, and you've also won the Golden Horse Award. The Hong Kong Film Awards require Hong Kong actors to participate, but I estimate your film "Detachment" could also win. You've been preventing your school from submitting your work for the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards in mainland China, otherwise you could have won those too.

Now it's even more impressive—the first Oscar for a Chinese person! With all these achievements, how could Dean Zhang not be tempted?

Old Wang rambled on and on, but Zhuang Huai'an only caught two words in his rambling: Beijing Film Academy still wanted to mooch off him for a few more years.

"Dear teacher, it's not that I'm unwilling, but I really don't have time to pursue graduate studies."

Facing his own teacher, Zhuang Huai'an spoke frankly, "To be honest with you, you know that I got my undergraduate degree by buying it, but I don't care about that."

But graduate students are different. They're high-level talents in the entertainment industry, after all. Rather than letting a nobody like me get in, it's better to give the opportunity to others. Who knows, they might cultivate a second me."

"A second you?" Wang Hongwei chuckled. "If another Wang Zhiyong or Sun Hao emerged, Professor Tian would be overjoyed. What nonsense are you thinking?"

Tsk, Zhuang Huai'an clicked his tongue in amazement. Unbeknownst to him, his own Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Chick had become so prestigious.

Since his good student was unwilling, Wang Hongwei naturally wouldn't force him on behalf of the school.

After leaving Zhuang Huai'an, who else would specifically thank me, Wang Hongwei, by name at the Oscars?

"However..."

Zhuang Huai'an's eyes darted around, and with a mischievous grin, he urged Wang Hongwei, "Why don't you mention it to the school? Since they can't bear to part with me, why not just give me an honorary professorship or something?"

"Do you think the school didn't consider this?" Old Wang sighed.

"Huh?" Zhuang Huai'an was a little dumbfounded. "No, Dean Zhang is serious?"

"I think I've really thought about it, but I don't dare to do it."

Wang Hongwei explained, "Although Beijing Film Academy is only an art school, it is still a top-tier institution in China. No matter how high your current achievements are, your degree is still only a bachelor's degree, which is not even enough to qualify you as a lecturer. Beijing Film Academy would be too embarrassed to only give you a teaching assistant position."

Dean Zhang wouldn't dare set this precedent; otherwise, given his relationship with Zhang Yimou, he would have already invited Zhang Yimou to be a visiting professor.

Zhuang Huai'an secretly curled his lip. Tch, in the end, it's just that Zhang Huijun isn't bold enough.

The daughter of a famous writer skipped teaching assistantship and became a teacher right after graduating last year. She was able to continue her studies through graduate and doctoral programs thanks to connections at the university. In the end, her aura of privilege was shattered when her thesis was found to be fraudulent.

The master and apprentice chatted for a few minutes, then Zhuang Huai'an offered him another cigarette, drank a cup of tea, and left.

I walked through the Beijing Film Studio's residential building and strolled for more than twenty minutes to reach Company 91.

Instead of rushing back to his office, Zhuang Huai'an first surveyed his territory.

Today, 91 Company is full of talented people, with a total of five departments.

The film and television production department has the largest number of employees and is the core of the company. The members are all veterans. It is further divided into various post-production teams, with Zhong Lifang as the director.

Despite being the last to establish an animation department, it has the second largest number of employees. It is mainly responsible for the drawing design and layout of "Kung Fu Panda". The director is also a senior from the animation department of Beijing Film Academy, Suda, the mother of "Big Ear Tutu" in the original Trails series.

The music department is no longer Wang Zhengliang. Last year, during graduation season, Du Hua recruited a large number of outstanding students from music colleges such as the Central Conservatory of Music. In addition to producing music albums, these students are also responsible for film and television scores. Phoenix Legend and Zhang Liangying were also assigned to this department.

The artist department director is Du Hua, and the members are still the same old ones: the company's top male artist Yan Kuan, top female artist Dong Xuan, Hu Ge and Yuan Hong, two good buddies, Guo Jinfei who is currently filming "The Deer and the Cauldron", and Wan Qian who has just become popular.

Dong Xuan, who had just transitioned into a film actress because of "Love Like a Bouquet", was pulled into the "Happy Seven Fairies" crew by Wang Zhiyong. Hu Ge was also on the same set as the male lead, and Yuan Hong played Yu Ri's cousin. He was always the second male lead.

Dong Xuan wasn't unhappy. The artists at 91 Company all had a great attitude. Whether it was a movie or a TV series, whether they were the lead or a supporting actor, they would be ready to go whenever the company needed them. This attitude was also the main reason why Zhuang Huai'an chose to sign them—they were sensible and didn't cause trouble.

The directing team is directly under Zhuang Huai'an, and the members are Wolong and Fengchu Wang Zhiyong and Sun Hao, the three heroes of the vocational college class Zhang Songwen, Zhou Yiwei and Lin Jiachuan. The three heroes of the vocational college class belong to Mengduo of 91 Company and can go wherever they want.

What 91 Company currently lacks most is a top-notch cinematographer, but such big shots only sign film contracts and are unlikely to work for someone else permanently.

The same applies to martial arts instruction teams like Cao Long's.

There's no need to worry about that. With Zhuang Huai'an's reputation, let alone Gu Changwei, the top photographer in mainland China and a senior at the Beijing Film Academy, even Zhang Huijun... cough, even Mu Deyuan, the head of the photography department at the Beijing Film Academy, would come over if he asked and had the time.

What does it mean to be a "saintly son of Beijing Film Academy and an internationally renowned director"?

Noodles!

After inspecting all three buildings of Company 91 and finding that the employees were working hard, Zhuang Huai'an was very satisfied and relieved... He went back to his office to slack off.

"If you can't lead a team, you'll just work yourself to death."

There is another very important matter that needs to be considered right now.

Tickets to the main competition at next year's Berlin International Film Festival

Zhuang Huai'an himself definitely won't participate, and he doesn't even plan to go to Berlin for the next few years. Since they won't give him the Golden Bear, going would be a waste of time.

We need to choose a decent film to send over, provided that the production company is willing to hand over the overseas rights to Zhuang Huai'an. This requires finding a suitable collaborator who values ​​face and doesn't care about money.

After pondering for a long time, Zhuang Huai'an's eyes lit up.

I've chosen you, my king and queen!

Judging by the timeline, the two Wangs are currently consolidating resources and will establish Huayi Brothers Media Film and Television Company by the end of this year.

The company had only been established for a month or two when one of its films was shortlisted for the main competition at the Berlin Film Festival. Could the two Wangs resist such temptation?

It's important to understand that while Huayi Brothers has Feng Xiaogang on their side, their awards...

It's 0!

But we can't rush this; we have to set a trap and let them come to us on their own.

But who can we turn to?

Zhuang Huai'an fell into deep thought.

...

at night,

Zhuang Huai'an ultimately declined the invitations from the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Hong Kong Film Awards.

The reason is simple: if "Detachment" is to be nominated for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards, he can't possibly be a judge.

Secondly, the film "The Martian" invited experts from the China National Space Administration for guidance. However, the experts' time was limited, and the filmmakers needed to coordinate with them at any time.

Faced with such a compelling reason, how could Boss Yang dare to say anything more?

Zhuang Huai'an actually found Boss Yang to be a rather interesting person.

If you call him stupid, he knows about developing his career in the north; if you call him shrewd, he can't even figure out his own position. He has a lot of problems of his own, yet he still wants to act as a persuader for others.

Tsk, that inexplicable confidence... Hong Kong certainly has its own way of saying that.