I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

He created a miracle.

Maybe this time too?

Suddenly, the employees' enthusiasm returned.

If we can really achieve this goal.

No, let alone that goal, just winning any award would make me a figure in film history.

Many people who dedicate themselves to the film industry have a desire to make a film that will go down in history and be included in textbooks, but due to the pressure of life and the hardships of the industry, they can only waste their time at home.

Now, they must consider whether this is their only chance in this lifetime.

Honestly, the temptation is quite strong.

"Wait a minute, boss, the film festival is in May, so we need to submit the film by the end of March at the very least. It's already halfway through February, isn't the timeframe a bit tight?"

Even art films take a long time to shoot. In fact, it is precisely because they are art films that the acting skills required of the actors are even higher. Every glance is full of emotion.

Casting, script finalization, filming, post-production—a little over a month is simply not enough time.

It's impossible that Lu Ban went somewhere and filmed a new movie during this month-long holiday when everyone was on vacation, right?

Everyone looked at each other, then turned to look at Lu Ban.

No way?

"Let me show you some clips first, so you can get a feel for the tone."

Lu Ban didn't hide anything.

He led everyone to the screening room and then pulled up a short clip of scenery and people from the island that he had randomly selected earlier.

In the darkness, Bai Qiquan saw the screen suddenly light up.

The spring breeze seemed to overflow from the screen as it rushed towards us.

He saw the cherry blossoms falling.

Chapter 369 Warmth, Healing, Growth

The clips are short, just some pictures of the sea, cherry blossoms, spring, and pedestrians.

There's no cinematic language, no plot, just pure visuals.

But it was this scene that made Bai Qiquan, who was in the middle of winter, feel the warmth of spring.

He found it hard to imagine that such an effect could be achieved solely through visuals.

I can truly empathize with them.

This light, this water, these flowers—no amount of filters can compare. This is the purest form of spring.

What does it mean to feel like you're bathed in a spring breeze?

However, what Bai Qiquan found a bit strange was that the local customs and culture depicted in this segment didn't seem like those in China, but rather like those in foreign countries, Southeast Asia, or island nations.

At first, when Lu Ban mentioned art films, Bai Qiquan thought it was the kind about urban life. He hadn't figured out how to connect it with the previous movies to become part of the Silent Universe. But now that a backward seaside village has appeared, he understands some of Lu Ban's ideas, but not all of them.

"Director Lu, isn't this background a bit strange? Isn't this supposed to be a period drama?"

Someone raised the question that Bai Qiquan had thought of.

Domestically produced films are mostly set in modern cities or ancient historical fantasy films; very few depict the landscapes of other countries.

If the alternate world setting of "The Tide of Magic" was used to meet the needs of Hollywood and global release, then now, in order to win awards at the three major film festivals, Lu Ban should have chosen a domestic setting.

Chinese films have also won these awards. Most of the award-winning films depict the backward state of China in the last century, or they portray the tragedies of the times and have a humanistic touch, or they depict the loss of goals among young people in modern society.

This is one of the reasons why some domestic viewers feel that the judges at these film festivals are biased.

Although those films were excellent enough, there was always a sense that they relied on portraying poverty and hardship to win the judges' favor.

"There's nothing wrong with making movies with foreign backgrounds, as long as the artistic conception is right."

Lu Ban didn't find it strange.

A director doesn't necessarily have to limit himself to filming his own hometown.

There was a film that won several Oscars before. It was directed by an American or European director, who cast several Chinese actresses to film a story about an island nation. The entire film was in English.

An internationally renowned director should be able to handle all styles from all regions.

"Boss, is all the filming for this movie finished?"

Someone asked.

"Correct."

Lu Ban glanced at the employees in the screening room.

"Our main focus in this film is warmth, growth, and healing. We hope that the audience can feel love and hope from the film."

He explained.

"?"

The employees at Silent Media were a bit lost.

From any perspective, Lu Ban's works have nothing to do with "warmth," "growth," or "healing," let alone "love and hope."

Did he suffer some kind of shock?

"Boss, are you sure?"

The employees voiced their doubts.

Is there a problem?

Lu Ban asked back, as if it were only natural.

"Isn't this a bit of a leap?"

Bai Qiquan muttered subconsciously.

Lu Ban's films may have some conventional plots, but the powerful special effects can make the audience feel like they are there. You could say that when filming a bowl of noodles, others can only show the meat flakes and oil on the soup, but Lu Ban can make the audience feel as if they can smell the aroma of the noodles. This is Lu Ban's greatest weapon as a director.

But now, art films need to be heartwarming, healing, and touching, and this kind of gentle subject matter is simply not suitable for Lu Ban!

Although the clips Lu Ban showed them did indeed evoke a sense of spring and had a certain charm, it was completely different from being healing!

As they left the screening room, the employees of Silent Media fell into deep thought.

Aside from the carefree Qin Tiantian who had already started making numerous assignments, the others checked their computers for a while, and several small work groups began to buzz with messages.

[Beaver]: Do you guys think the boss suffered some kind of shock, like a breakup? He's actually giving up on horror movies and going to make art films instead?

[Xiaobai]: I understand. Everyone has ambitions. The boss has already achieved his goals in terms of box office revenue. The rest is about reputation. If "The Tide of Magic" wins an Oscar and his new movie wins a major award at a film festival, he will have achieved great success and be fulfilled.

[Maruko]: But the clip just now did have a certain charm. Putting everything else aside, the visuals and atmosphere were definitely top-notch.

[Lemon]: I have a guess, which may not be correct, but could it be that the boss felt that his previous movies were very successful, so he wanted to try a transformation and breakthrough?

[Beaver]: You mean the boss has gotten arrogant?

[Lemon]: I wouldn't dare say that, but there have been directors in history who can make both commercial and art films. Maybe the boss is the chosen one.

[Hudi]: Speaking of which, I just looked up the words "heal," "love," and "hope," but I didn't find any other meanings that I didn't know.

【beaver】:……

【noob】:……

【ball】:……

[Lemon]: We'll know when we see the original film. We're not like those viewers who have to wait until the movie is released to see the complete film. No matter how powerful the boss is, can he magically turn all those heartwarming and healing scenes into a horror movie that scares people to death?

The group members all agreed that this made a lot of sense.

In the afternoon, Lu Ban uploaded the original video to the server and made a preliminary schedule and assigned tasks.

Upon receiving the original film, the first thing everyone did was watch all the clips with complete focus.

Because there was a lot of content, and everyone read it very carefully, many people stayed in the office until after 9 p.m. instead of going home.

Bai Qiquan watched very attentively, speeding up the playback to double the speed, intending to watch all the segments.

People around him gradually couldn't hold on any longer and went home.

Bai Qiquan is still persisting.

The second day, the third day, and the weekend.

On the morning of the sixth day, Bai Qiquan finally finished watching all the original videos that Lu Ban had uploaded to the server.

Although there was no editing, the general outline of the story is still discernible.

Bai Qiquan saw almost nothing that would harm anyone's spirit or be terrifying or grotesque. Even the battle with the bandaged man felt like something out of a blockbuster movie.

Perhaps it was only when the filth on Changfeng Island appeared that he felt dizzy and it took him half an hour to recover.

But the rest of the film is indeed as Lu Ban said: heartwarming, healing, and about growth, with a touch of girlish sentiment and the sadness of parting. After watching it, Bai Qiquan could only shout that Amber is my wife.

"Could it be that Director Lu has really changed his mind?"

Bai Qiquan was skeptical.

On the other side...

At Lu Ban's home, he turned on his computer.

There are still some original films on the computer.

The original footage of Amber's final moments.

Lu Ban will handle this part personally.

Chapter 370 He got arrogant

Lu Ban wasn't some kind of devil, after all.

These scenes are shocking even when viewed in their original form.

Because here, not only are the things Lu Ban saw there, but also the entire process, from the moment Amber stepped into the Divine Child Pavilion, all presented to Lu Ban in the clearest angle.