Chapter 524: Stealing Your Spotlight (120k-word update!)

Sometimes, the technique of storytelling is more important than the story itself.

This was a profound realization Lu Yan He had after becoming a screenwriter.

Looking back at many films he once loved, or even those hailed by many as masterpieces, they actually achieve their unexpected effects through a misalignment of perspective or missing pieces of a puzzle.

Liu Zhiyin's face turned pale.

"You really scared me."

"A nightmarish turn of events," Qin Zhi also said. "I can't even imagine such a scene."

"Indeed, it's too terrifying."

"Mm," Lu Yan He nodded. "I'm just looking at it from a screenwriting perspective; I feel this is a point that can continue to develop. The mother-son relationship, and naturally, there is still a father—if the killer were a stranger, or even a neighbor, it wouldn't really cause the shock based on emotional logic. I've always felt that for a story to have a good twist, it must be both unexpected and reasonable. In such a relationship, the father's appearance is a matter of course, but the father killing the mother is unexpected."

"Moreover, the father-son relationship can also solve the disparity I mentioned earlier between a strange adult killer and an underage child. If there's a huge disparity, even if I try my best to make the process logical and reasonable, based on their own perceptions, the audience will still feel that a child being able to fight a vicious adult for so long and finally escaping is just a movie, not reality."

Lu Yan He said, "But if this relationship is placed between father and son, it's not surprising at all. A tiger won't eat its own cubs—this is everyone's natural understanding of a father-son relationship. On one hand, the father might want to kill his son to silence him, but on the other, he can't bring himself to do it, which gives me the space for the child to struggle—and the audience won't feel it's a 'golden finger' (plot armor). Later in the film, we can explore why the father killed the mother—oh, wait, actually, we could add a premise: the father didn't know his child was at home! The child was supposed to be at school, or somewhere else, but because of an accident, he stayed home and played hide-and-seek with his mother, and the mother didn't tell the father the child was home."

"In this way, the film can expand on another element: the father cleans up all the traces and pretends nothing happened," Lu Yan He said. "I have to hide it from him, not let him find out that I saw him kill my mother."

"Damn," Qin Zhi looked at Lu Yan He in shock.

"But there's also a problem to solve: why do I choose to pretend I didn't see anything instead of exposing the truth immediately?" Lu Yan He said. "Otherwise, the logic doesn't hold up. I could choose to call the police, tell a teacher, or use various other methods."

He fell into deep thought.

Li Zhibai said: "Add a scene where he goes to report it, but the police think he's playing a prank?"

"That's too cliché, there are too many tropes like that," Lu Yan He said. "Better to add a scene where he is indeed preparing to call the police or find help, for example—I've got it! He sneaks out, wanting to go to a neighbor's house to borrow a phone to call his grandparents, or wanting to tell them what happened. But just before he speaks, his father sees him through the window, so he appears in time and brings him back home. In this situation, he is forced to pretend he knows nothing."

"But isn't that too strange?" Yan Liang raised his own question. "Although it's normal to be scared after seeing one's mother killed by one's father, how would he know to pretend he didn't see anything? A child who plays hide-and-seek with his mother should be around seven or eight years old; at that age, I don't think he could think so comprehensively that his first reaction would be to call the police?"

"It doesn't necessarily have to be calling the police; it could be finding his grandparents," Lu Yan He said. "Add another premise: his father has a history of domestic violence, often beating him and his mother, so he has feared and loathed his father since he was small. Every time his father beat his mother, he would sneak to the neighbor's house to call his grandparents. We could even place this scene at the beginning of the movie, and his later actions would have a logical foundation."

"Doing it this way can indeed serve as a certain explanation."

"I'm impressed, Yan He, you actually thought of so many things in such a short time; no wonder you write scripts so fast."

"This isn't even fully mature yet; I don't even know what kind of ending the story should have," Lu Yan He said with a wave of his hand. "But this is a good mental exercise."

Xiao Yun was shocked throughout the whole process.

She had probably never seen the process of how a story is deduced.

The process is actually a process of disenchantment. Most of the time, what everyone sees is the polished finished product, so once they encounter something they like, they use all sorts of language to praise and compliment it. However, in reality, many works are not that good at the beginning, and can even be described as rotten. After the audience sees how terrible the amazing works in their eyes were at the start, that feeling is just like discovering that immortals also ascended from being human—they don't seem so divine anymore.

But for some people, knowing this process, especially knowing it was so terrible at the start, makes them admire the work and the creator even more.

Being able to turn something from ordinary, average, or even trash into a soul-stirring creation is like seeing a beggar ascend to become an immortal; this isn't just the inspirational story of a carp leaping over the dragon gate, this is an extraordinary evolution.

"I suddenly feel that it's no wonder Yan He picks scripts with such accuracy," Xiao Yun said, hugging Su Xiao and sighing. "He truly understands scripts, but I can't; I only ever receive a script, finish reading it, and feel whether it's good or not, but I always only have one feeling and can't analyze the 'why' of it."

Peng Zhixing said: "Actually, actors themselves are mainly based on feeling; they don't necessarily have to be able to analyze it completely. I also know some actors who, when you listen to them analyze a character, you really feel they are a particularly awesome actor, with distinct layers and rigorous logic, but as soon as they act, they reveal their flaws. Their theoretical knowledge is solid, but their practical level is terrible."

"Who are you talking about?" Xiao Yun immediately asked with sparkling eyes.

Peng Zhixing threw a cushion at her directly.

Everyone laughed out loud.

Qin Zhi raised his hand and asked: "Are there any other lateral thinking puzzles? I still want to play."

"I have one," Song Lin Xin immediately raised her hand.

Lu Yan He stood up. "You guys play first, I'm going to the restroom."

He smiled and went to the restroom, entering the only place in the house without cameras, and the smile on his face slowly faded.

Just a moment ago, he hadn't been prepared, but as if guided by a divine force, he had said those words.

He knew that someone would definitely see it, and if that person saw it, they probably wouldn't sleep well, right?

He took out his phone and sent a message to Chen Ziyan: Sister Ziyan, are you free to come over tomorrow? I have something to tell you in person; perhaps I've caused trouble again.

Chen Ziyan replied instantly:...

Lu Yan He: Don't worry, it won't cause a disaster immediately.

Chen Ziyan: Are you sending me a teaser?

Lu Yan He: No, it's not a teaser; the trouble is already caused, but it won't be seen by anyone immediately, tomorrow.

Chen Ziyan: How does this make me sleep tonight?

The next day, Chen Ziyan came over early in the morning, and she and Lu Yan He went to a breakfast shop near the filming location to eat.

Lu Yan He asked the production team to temporarily stop filming him.

When Chen Ziyan learned what he had said in front of the camera last night, her face changed.

—I discovered that the person who killed my mother was actually my father.

To others, this was just a lateral thinking game, and this sentence was just one possibility Lu Yan He proposed for continuing the story.

However, to some people, this was a hint, a subtle pointer.

Chen Ziyan didn't expect that in Lu Yan He's heart, this matter had always been hidden, and he had never let it go.

When they knew who that person might be, they actually put everything aside for the time being.

Because neither of them had thought clearly about how to face this matter.

Lu Yan He suddenly said such a sentence at this time—

And he knew very clearly what he was doing.

"He will definitely hear what you said," Chen Ziyan said. "He will also overthink it and wonder if you are hinting at something. Perhaps he will take the initiative to contact you. Yan He, actually, this matter has been paused for a long time. With the achievements and status you have now, I believe those people wouldn't dare to do anything to you anymore. It is foreseeable that in the coming time, if you don't uncover this matter, perhaps it will become a past event, a secret, and pass away forever. Have you thought seriously about whether you want to uncover this?"

Lu Yan He said: "I don't know, Sister Ziyan. If I think it through, I will tell you what I'm going to do."

"Last night—" Lu Yan He paused before saying, "Last night, such a thought suddenly popped into my mind, and I just wanted to see what he would think if he saw me say that. I thought I really didn't care about him—"

Lu Yan He thought that, in fact, this was the original owner's business; as a transmigrator, he actually had no emotional connection to that person.

But for some reason, perhaps he really had substituted himself into Lu Yan He, or rather, he had completely and fully accepted his existence as Lu Yan He, so, unknowingly, Chen Pinhe was no longer just a simple symbol to him, but had also become something like a psychological illness.

Especially as he experienced things over the past few years, while he was forging an increasingly powerful heart, he also slowly dared to release his stress reactions.

Before that, he had always been cautious, meeting changes with constancy.

Therefore, last night, when Lu Yan He discovered that a retaliatory psychology of "why should he be allowed to hide behind the scenes so safely" suddenly sprouted in his heart, he didn't feel strange at all.

Chen Ziyan said: "So, to put it bluntly, you just wanted to test his attitude?"

Lu Yan He shook his head. "Not really, I didn't think that much; I just wanted to... provoke him a little."

Chen Ziyan was silent for a long time before saying: "Then have you thought about how he will respond?"

"There won't be any response, right?" Lu Yan He said. "He might not even know yet that I've guessed it was him."

Chen Ziyan: "Then doing this is undoubtedly making it clear."

"Sister Ziyan, then do you think I can make it clear?" Lu Yan He asked.

"You can do whatever you want now," Chen Ziyan said bluntly. "However, you must think clearly; don't act blindly."

Lu Yan He: "Then last night... was I acting a bit blindly?"

"That doesn't count as anything; except for those who know the inside story, no one will overthink it," Chen Ziyan said. "In itself, what you said was under the guise of making up a story."

Lu Yan He nodded.

"But if he comes to find you later, for example—I'm just saying for example—if he wants to come and confess the truth to you, acknowledge you as his son, or if he continues to be a jerk and plays dead, without any movement, you have to think clearly about how you will respond to his various possible reactions," Chen Ziyan said. "You already have enough capital to move however you want, but no matter what, you must plan before you act."

Lu Yan He nodded thoughtfully.

After chatting with Chen Ziyan, Lu Yan He packed some breakfast to take back.

Mainly steamed dumplings and corn, things that keep well.

When he returned, only Yan Liang was up in the house, and he wasn't in the house either, but had gone for a morning run.

After hearing the cameraman say this, Lu Yan He put the things down and went upstairs to knock on Li Zhibai's door, waking him up.

"Yan Liang has already gone for a morning run; aren't you going?"

In the pitch-black room, Li Zhibai mumbled: "Not going."

"Didn't you agree to persist in exercising?"

Li Zhibai played dead, silent.

Lu Yan He was actually doing it on purpose too.

The show needed material, and some interaction between the artists was the best material.

And the material of him pushing Li Zhibai—was definitely one of the best materials.

This was the awareness of being an artist—Chen Ziyan had reminded him several times: when recording a variety show, either don't record it, or if you do, don't put on airs, especially for a slow-life variety show like "Young Days."

Never start acting pretentious in front of the camera just because you are now a Best Actor or a big star.

Lu Yan He understood Chen Ziyan's meaning very well and also agreed with this point.

Either don't record, or if you do, of course, you have to cooperate with the production team to give some reactions and material; otherwise, why invite you here?

Lu Yan He knew that if he really followed his usual living habits, the camera might not be able to capture much usable material in a day, because there really wasn't any show effect.

He wasn't Li Zhibai; just saying a word or making a reaction was a natural effect.

A master of show effects.

For example, him playing dead and not responding now.

This was different from Lu Yan He deliberately calling him to go running; Li Zhibai's reaction was instinctive, and it was definitely without thought, but it was naturally good material.

Lu Yan He could already imagine how the show's post-production would edit this segment.

"You actually got up so early?"

Peng Zhixing walked over from the other end of the hallway in slippers, his hair messy and uncombed—

Hmm, based on Lu Yan He's understanding of him, this was also something he deliberately didn't tidy up, walking out with such an image specifically for the camera to film.

Peng Zhixing was quite a fastidious person. If it weren't for the show, he probably wouldn't appear in public so sloppily when living with so many people.

"Young Days" had been recorded for four years, and everyone had become increasingly familiar with each other, knowing what state to present on the show and how to strike a balance between reality and the show.

Lu Yan He said: "Bought breakfast for you guys, it's downstairs."

"So virtuous," Peng Zhixing nodded. "Then I can be lazy this morning."

"No, didn't buy much, only bought steamed dumplings and corn, bought for those who want to lose weight; I want to eat scallion oil noodles," Lu Yan He said to Peng Zhixing with a grin. "Please, Brother Zhixing."

Scallion oil noodles were Peng Zhixing's specialty.

On this show, everyone loved the scallion oil noodles he made.

Generally, everyone's breakfast was made by Peng Zhixing, and among the breakfasts, what everyone loved most was the scallion oil noodles.

"Then you call everyone up; once the noodles are cooked, they must be eaten immediately."

"Okay, I'll call them immediately," Lu Yan He immediately took on this task.

Lu Yan He's way of waking everyone up was also quite unique.

He found everyone's black history videos online, then opened the bedroom door, stood at the entrance, found a megaphone, clicked on the video, and played it.

Screams rose one after another.

The director's team laughed until they were convulsing.

Lu Yan He's behavior was full of memes; even screenwriters couldn't write this.

A group of people with sleepy eyes and drooping eyelids went downstairs and slumped on the sofa.

Basically, none of them had a good image.

"Lu Yan He, when did you become so wicked?" Song Lin Xin asked weakly.

"Yeah, if Li Zhibai did this, it would be fine, but you doing this kind of thing really surprised me," Qin Zhi also said.

Li Zhibai fed a sound and said dissatisfiedly: "I have never been so wicked."

Yan Liang: "All learned from you."

"That's also the student surpassing the master," Li Zhibai scoffed. "Don't know how long he's been saving those videos on his phone."

"You should ask me how long I will continue to save them," Lu Yan He smiled. "The answer is forever."

Li Zhibai: "Damn."

Xiao Yun sighed, "A perfectly good Lu Yan He, and he ended up becoming Li Zhibai."

"What the hell does that have to do with me?" Li Zhibai was dissatisfied.

"Surpassing the master, you said it yourself, he is because of you," Xiao Yun said.

Li Zhibai: "Your grandpa."

Everyone's cursing finally stopped amidst the fragrance of scallion oil.

"Brushed your teeth? Washed your face?" Peng Zhixing's inquiry came from the kitchen side. "Scallion oil noodles will be ready soon, hurry up."

A group of people scattered like birds and beasts.

Lu Yan He very actively went to the kitchen to bring his own portion of scallion oil noodles.

"Brother Zhixing, look, they are all a group of people who are not active in eating and have ideological problems. Only I am the true love for your scallion oil noodles."

"Pull the other one, you just love to eat, and even while eating you have to step on us," Li Zhibai was the first to finish washing up and come down, complaining. "Just like this, they actually still think you learned it from me? I don't do the stepping-on-others thing."

Lu Yan He: "That's true, after all, in your heart, you are already the most handsome, most awesome, and best man in the world; no one can compare to you."

Li Zhibai: "..."

Peng Zhixing's mouth was filled with a smile as he brought Li Zhibai's portion over. "Eat quickly, stop talking, you were noisy early in the morning and made my ears hurt."

Lu Yan He was also surprised; he had originally thought his mood would be low because of suddenly remembering Chen Pinhe, and he would fall into a bad mood for a long time, but he didn't expect that he had overestimated Chen Pinhe's influence on him and underestimated his own emotional adjustment ability now.

Or rather, the show "Young Days" also allowed him to adjust his emotions in time. This was something he hadn't anticipated before.

This season of "Young Days" was still divided into several stages for recording.

Everyone was really too busy; with so many popular stars, it was difficult to take out such a long time to stay together without doing other work in between.

This was also quite good.

Because in this way, they weren't meeting once a year; in fact, such recordings would be distributed over the three months from August to October.

The first stage of recording was only four days.

Having finally gathered, they would have to separate again after four days.

Actually, it was quite good; if they stayed together for too long, they might get tired of seeing each other. Separating again shortly after reuniting at least made everyone look forward to the next recording.

Lu Yan He hadn't even had time to return to Ziyuanqiao after coming out of the show when he received a call from Chen Ziyan.

Chen Ziyan said that the Venice International Film Festival had invited him as a guest to hold a special screening event for his works in Venice.

Lu Yan He looked blank. "What?"

Chen Ziyan said: "Simply put, they hope you can show up at the Venice Film Festival—you are one of the most popular movie stars, and they want to get you over there to add star power to the film festival, but you don't have any works shortlisted, so they want to use such an event to formally invite you over."

Lu Yan He was shocked.

"Isn't this too exaggerated?"

"Not exaggerated; in terms of the depth of works, you are no worse than others," Chen Ziyan said. "The only problem now is that at that time, the recording of the third stage of 'Young Days' was already scheduled. We have already signed a contract with the production team."

Lu Yan He thought for a while and said: "How about forget it, although having such a special screening event for my works makes me quite proud."

"This is a good thing for your career; this is a great honor," Chen Ziyan said. "Top international film festivals rarely hold special sessions for a filmmaker. To be honest, I think the controversy caused by them holding this special session for you won't be small; after all, you are still so young and your seniority is not deep. Generally, those who hold such personal work special screenings or retrospectives are basically world-famous big shots, and compared to them, you are indeed still a bit lacking. However, screw it; it's not like you are deliberately trying to freeload; it's them who are seriously wanting to do it for you. The more this is the case, the more it actually shows your uniqueness, which is of great benefit to you opening up further popularity in the international film scene."

Lu Yan He thought for a while. "Actually, I am tempted too."

"Then I'll go and communicate with Li Zhenzhen; this is indeed a rare opportunity for you, we'll ask the production team for leave," Chen Ziyan said.

Lu Yan He sighed.

"I previously said categorically that I would definitely finish recording this season without missing a single episode this year."

Hearing this, Chen Ziyan was silent for a moment and said: "Perhaps we can think of a way to let you go to Venice and record the show at the same time."

"Ah?" Lu Yan He was a bit surprised.

Chen Ziyan: "It depends on whether the production team is willing to make a big move and add to the budget."

"These artists in 'Young Days' have basically become popular. Previously on the show, they were all showing their ordinary sides in private; if this time they can go to Venice together, they can focus in a concentrated and real way on their sides as popular stars."

Chen Ziyan said categorically to Li Zhenzhen: "The show has been broadcast for so many seasons, it's time to find another new explosive point to make this show form explosive influence, right? What could be more attractive than eight artists participating in the Venice International Film Festival together, revealing the content of the artists in front of and behind the scenes at top-level activities?"

Li Zhenzhen was very confused and also very stunned.

"Will the Venice International Film Festival agree to let us record the show?"

"I'll go and negotiate," Chen Ziyan said. "Of course, I know that deciding temporarily to move the third stage to Venice to film will definitely have many difficulties and troubles, especially the production budget will definitely have to be added; this point depends on you, but the communication with the film festival, including what activities the artists participate in, etc., you can make plans, make schedules, and I will help you realize them."

Li Zhenzhen didn't hesitate for long; her eyes lit up immediately, and she nodded somewhat excitedly.

"Okay!"

How could the show "Young Days" be short of production budget! Besides, for such a theme, among so many variety shows in the country, up to now, no show has been able to film it.

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Chen Ziyan was also a person who did what she said, and immediately went to contact the Venice International Film Festival.

"Yan He is very grateful for the idea you proposed, and also thanks you for your recognition of him, but Yan He has previously signed a contract with one of China's hottest shows, and during that time, he needs to cooperate with the recording of that show, and there is a conflict in time."

"However, I have communicated with the production team, and they are willing to bring the show to Venice to film. The eight stars of this show are now all the most popular stars in China and even Asia."

When Chen Ziyan exaggerated, she was also at the level of daring to say anything.

"Like Li Zhibai, who is one of the most popular male stars in China, he is also the male lead of the next movie by Liu Bige, the director of 'Late Spring'; Yan Liang is the male lead of 'Gold Rush,' which was recently a global hit on HP, and is also the lead actor of 'Friends,' you must know him. I won't introduce the others one by one, but they are all the most popular stars in China. If they come to participate in the Venice International Film Festival together, I think it will definitely make the Venice International Film Festival gain the greatest attention and popularity in China in the past ten years."

"If you are willing to authorize the production team to film at the film festival and coordinate some things for us, Yan He will definitely be very willing to come to Venice and hold a special screening event for his works here," Chen Ziyan said. "In fact, these young stars, they will all be big shots in Chinese cinema in the future; if they can be connected with Venice so early, I think their feelings for Venice will definitely be different."

Thus, before the fifth season of "Young Days" even started broadcasting, a piece of news suddenly spread, saying that this year's fifth season might go to Venice to record, filming the real star activity content of the stars on the show in real scenes.

This news ignited a new round of expectations for everyone for this show.

But for people in the film circle, this year's Venice International Film Festival had no Chinese films shortlisted, which made them all a bit depressed.

After all, in recent years, Chinese films have gained a lot at international film festivals, and everyone felt that such momentum would continue.

The zero shortlisted works gave them a heavy blow.

Who knew that shortly after, the Venice International Film Festival officially announced: This year's Venice International Film Festival will hold a screening event for the works of actor/screenwriter Lu Yan He, and the specific works to be screened will be determined jointly by Venice International Film Festival Artistic Director Bikarochi and Lu Yan He.

And just as Chen Ziyan said, this news caused a certain controversy worldwide.

Holding a special screening event for Lu Yan He's personal works?

Someone asked a question directly at the press conference, raising a question to Bikarochi.

Bikarochi said: "We invited Lu Yan He to hold this special screening event because he is the new star with the most eye-catching achievements in the film industry in recent years. Even on a global scale, there is no other young person who has produced so many masterpieces within a few short years like him. 'Late Spring,' 'Sanshan,' 'Road to Glory,' 'Rouge'... his acting resume is very brilliant. The Venice International Film Festival is the film festival with the longest history, but we always hope that more fresh blood will flow into our film industry, and Lu Yan He is the most eye-catching fresh blood among them. Is there any problem with us holding a screening event for his works?"

Bikarochi's words blocked the reporter's mouth.

However, the mouth at the scene was blocked, but some people's mouths could not be blocked.

For example, Japanese film critic Nagayama Kazu said that the Venice International Film Festival was doing this in the situation of zero Chinese films shortlisted, in order to continue to maintain the film festival's attention in China, a method thought of; for a top-level film festival to do such a thing without class for a little attention, it was too low.

Then, the film festival didn't indulge him, and directly canceled Nagayama Kazu's pass to the Venice International Film Festival on the grounds of "not welcoming film critics full of prejudice." He would not be able to enter any officially organized activities, including the premiere of every film.

Nagayama Kazu was so angry that he scolded the Venice International Film Festival for being narrow-minded on his social platform.

Of course, basically no one paid attention to him.

When Lu Yan He chose his own works, he was a bit worried.

Because he really didn't have many works.

Especially movies, basically just those few, and apart from that, just one "Lost on Journey," a film very unsuitable for screening at a film festival.

After thinking about it, Lu Yan He communicated with Bikarochi: "Can I add two drama series? Edit a relatively complete segment from them and do a special screening?"

Bikarochi was very surprised, thinking Lu Yan He was talking about "Squid Game"; after all, the drama he wrote was indeed very popular.

In fact, holding a screening event for drama series at a film festival was not a strange thing; as long as you were a big director or a big star, everything was possible.

What Lu Yan He was talking about was not "Squid Game," but "Golden Age" and "Silent River."

Lu Yan He said: "'Golden Age' was the first drama I acted in, and it has a different meaning to me, and the character I played in this drama actually has very few scenes, but has a very complete plot line. I hope to edit this part separately as a special screening version, which is also a meaningful version."

Bikarochi hesitated slightly before agreeing.

After all, it was a screening of Lu Yan He's works, and his debut work had special significance in every aspect, and it also fit the theme of this screening event.

"'Silent River,' I don't know if Maxine will agree to authorize it to be screened at the film festival."

For the drama "Golden Age," Lu Yan He was very confident that Director Luo Yuzhong would definitely agree.

But the copyright of "Silent River" was in Maxine's hands, and they might not necessarily agree.

Bikarochi said: "If you think 'Silent River' is very worth putting into this film list, I can help you communicate and negotiate with Maxine's people together."

As the Artistic Director of the Venice International Film Festival, he of course had a deep relationship with Maxine.

Lu Yan He thought for a while and said: "No need, Mr. Bikarochi, I'll communicate it myself; if they don't want to agree, then forget it, five works are enough."

"I hope you will film more movies in the future and bring your movie works to Venice more often," Bikarochi said. "I heard that your first work as a director, 'Love Letter,' is preparing to go to the Hexi Film Festival?"

"Yes," Lu Yan He said. "Its style is not very suitable for Venice; it is more suitable for Hexi."

"Okay," Bikarochi's tone was a bit disappointed. "I hope you will take the initiative to contact me for your next drama."

Lu Yan He: "I will, Mr. Bikarochi."

Next movie?

Lu Yan He smiled.

His next movie was a spy war film by Director Liu Bige.

He didn't know yet what Liu Bige wanted to film it into; if it was commercial-oriented, then he estimated that even if he took the initiative to contact Bikarochi, Bikarochi would only be willing to put it in the exhibition unit.

These artistic directors of film festivals, when asking you for films, always put their posture very low, as if as long as you are willing to give, they will definitely have the best treatment to treat these films.

But if the film didn't meet their expectations, then sorry, you have to make way for other films.

Lu Yan He knew this point very well, so he wouldn't have unrealistic fantasies—for example, because he was the lead, they would open a back door and let this film enter the main competition unit.

Actually, there was really no need.

If the film quality wasn't good and you still insisted on entering the main competition unit, that was looking for scolding.

And being scolded by ten thousand people together.

When Lu Yan He went to communicate with Luo Yuzhong about wanting to customize a special screening version of "Golden Age," Luo Yuzhong agreed immediately.

"Oh, good thing, taking this drama to show up on the international stage," Luo Yuzhong said with a smile.

Lu Yan He said: "This is the first time I've held a special screening of my personal works, and 'Golden Age' is the most special existence for me."

Luo Yuzhong nodded.

"Your performance in it is presentable, not embarrassing," he said. "I will carefully watch the material that wasn't broadcast and edit a version for you. When do you need it?"

"Must be ready by September 2nd at the latest," Lu Yan He said.

Luo Yuzhong nodded. "Okay, enough, you have to come over and dub it again then, oh, right, you also have to call Jiang Yuqian back."

"I'll go talk to Sister Yuqian," Lu Yan He smiled. "Teacher, then are you free in early September? If you are free, help me stand on the stage, and I'll also ask Sister Yuqian. The drama 'Golden Age' has a very different meaning to me; you are the first director to guide me in acting, and Sister Yuqian is the first actor to act opposite me. If you can come together, I will be very happy."

Luo Yuzhong said: "I'm a TV drama director, what kind of excitement am I going to join at a film festival."

"Then I'm even taking clips of TV dramas to screen," Lu Yan He said. "Teacher, accompany me."

Luo Yuzhong clicked his tongue. "We'll see."

And Jiang Yuqian, who was busy and finally had her career rejuvenated and wouldn't let go of any opportunity, after receiving Lu Yan He's call, immediately said: "Then even if there's no time, there must be time; I will try my best to adjust it and see if I can adjust the time."

Now there was definitely no time; Jiang Yuqian was too popular. After one role rejuvenated her career, her team directly borrowed the wind to do everything solidly, making Jiang Yuqian the biggest beneficiary of the dividends of the drama "Squid Game."

And this was an appearance at the Venice International Film Festival—

For such an activity level, Jiang Yuqian agreed immediately because of her personal friendship with Lu Yan He, and her team was also willing.

Finally, Huang Kai heard the news and called.

"Damn, 'Golden Age' is having a special screening, and you don't look for me, right?"

Lu Yan He smiled and said: "You didn't appear when I appeared, and there were no shots of you."

Huang Kai: "Then don't you take 'Rouge' up for screening?"

"Of course there is 'Rouge,' but I can't call the actors of every drama over," Lu Yan He said.

Where is there such a large budget.

So many star artists going to Venice costs money.

Lu Yan He was prepared to pay for the travel expenses of Luo Yuzhong and Jiang Yuqian himself; no one else was paying the bill.

Huang Kai said: "Anyway, I was going to go, count me in; otherwise, that session of 'Rouge' will be just you alone, how lonely."

"I have the whole team of 'Young Days,' it won't be lonely—" Lu Yan He refuted him first before asking, "Brother Kai, do you have work to go to Venice this time?"

"Mm, an endorsement brand has an activity there," Huang Kai said. "I was going to go myself."

"Then okay, then there's one more person to help me stand on the stage."

Huang Kai smiled. "'Golden Age' you must also count me in! Even if there are no shots of me in the screened version, I must appear."

Lu Yan He: "You are so annoying, there are no shots of you and you still want to come and steal my spotlight."

"Stealing your spotlight is exactly what I'm doing."

Lu Yan He smiled.

On this side, besides the Venice matter, Lu Yan He had another thing in full swing, which was the show "The Birth of an Actor."

Lu Yan He was not responsible for the production and coordination of the show; after he wrote the planning proposal for the whole show, he just had to shake people.

Lu Yan He went to find Chen Bige and Shang Yongzhou for the first time. Chen Bige was quite surprised after knowing he wanted to do such a show, but she was quite interested in the form and theme of this show.

Being a mentor?

This was a very novel experience.

Chen Bige also didn't feel at all that she was unqualified to be this mentor.

However, Shang Yongzhou was a bit hesitant, and even a bit resistant.

It wasn't anything else; he felt that sitting in the mentor's seat and commenting on other people's acting—

Was very awkward.

It wasn't strange for Shang Yongzhou to have such thoughts.

Lu Yan He had also anticipated it long ago; Shang Yongzhou was just this kind of personality.

But Lu Yan He had also prepared his rhetoric long ago.

"Senior Brother, you have always been acting in movies, but not every audience likes to watch movies; there are many audiences who like to watch TV dramas. This show will also have some places for you to perform, and many audiences can see your performance through this show," Lu Yan He said. "This can let more people see you acting."

Movie actors indeed had such a shortcoming—

Even if in the contempt chain, movie actors had a higher status, in reality, in terms of audience range, the range of TV drama actors was larger.

This was an indisputable fact.

Look at our four big actresses; no matter how international, how famous, what grand slam, what big star Ms. Zhang is, in terms of national popularity, even her fans wouldn't make a fuss about this aspect.

No way, movie actors were naturally lacking in national popularity—no matter how popular a movie was, it still required money to go to the cinema to watch, and the coverage was ultimately limited.

Unlike Little Swallow's "My Fair Princess," the national popularity was thick enough to eat for thirty years.

Of course, this wasn't comparing them, but stating such an objective fact.

Lu Yan He said to Shang Yongzhou: "Senior Brother, you are a very good actor, and I think this is a good platform, a platform for everyone to hear your understanding of acting and see your level of acting. Another thing, you are the backbone among male actors; this acting-type show facing actors in the industry, if you don't come, who can sit in that seat? If you don't come to sit, I don't even have the face to continue doing this show."

Shang Yongzhou: "..."

"Why don't you be a mentor yourself?"

"What kind of mentor am I?" Lu Yan He said. "Only you can do it; if you are a mentor, those famous actors will dare to come and be willing to accept evaluation; only if you speak will they be convinced."

Lu Yan He ground Shang Yongzhou for three days and finally ground him into agreeing.

Shang Yongzhou: "You are also quite annoying."

Lu Yan He was shameless. "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

For the last mentor, Lu Yan He thought for a long time, whether to continue to choose an actor or choose a director.

After thinking about it, Lu Yan He decided he still had to ask his teacher to come out.

As a result, his teacher said directly: "No time, after returning from Venice, I have two dramas in preparation on hand, both preparing to start filming next year, absolutely no time."

This time was not suitable, and Lu Yan He couldn't force people, so he gave up the grinding effort and immediately went to contact Director Chen Lingling.

"Director, Maxine is too much," Lu Yan He complained as soon as he came up. "I originally wanted to take 'Silent River' as one of the films for my work screening in Venice, but they refused to authorize it."

Chen Lingling: "You want me to go and talk to them?"

"No need for that," Lu Yan He shook his head immediately. "I'm just very angry, because this drama is clearly a very representative drama."

Chen Lingling: "It's not as representative as you say."

Chen Lingling was still that Chen Lingling who spoke the truth and often made people not know how to answer.

"Sigh, Director, why don't you come and help me do another representative thing?" Lu Yan He said. "Only if you come can I be at ease."

Chen Lingling asked: "What thing? You wrote a good script and want me to direct it?"

"How could that be, I haven't even written the script for the second season of 'Silent River' yet," Lu Yan He smiled. "I want to do a show and want to invite you to be a mentor; why don't you see when you are free, and I'll treat you to a meal? We'll talk in person?"

Chen Lingling: "No interest, go find someone else."

Hung up directly.

No matter how popular or high-status a star Lu Yan He was now, in front of this director Chen Lingling with a strange personality who didn't buy other people's accounts, he only had the treatment of being hung up on.

Lu Yan He didn't expect that he would be hit by two nails in a row from the two TV drama directors he trusted most.

A bit depressed.

Should he find Director Wang Zhong?

It wasn't that Lu Yan He looked down on Wang Zhong—joke, the Best Director of the Xitu'er Film Festival, who would dare to look down on him.

But he really wasn't the kind of director who was good at training actors to act.

He was the kind of director who would spend a lot of effort in finding actors, and once found, you would figure it out yourself.

Lu Yan He filmed "Sanshan," and later Wang Zhong filmed "Rouge," both were this situation.

Like "The Birth of an Actor," a show where technicality was placed on the table, Lu Yan He felt Wang Zhong might not be suitable.

The most critical thing was that Shang Yongzhou and Chen Bige had agreed to come, so the remaining person definitely couldn't be weaker than them; otherwise, the mentors would be unbalanced.

The disagreement of opinions between mentors was also a major highlight of the show.

If the difference was huge, who would dare to disagree? The whole process would be "I especially agree with XXX's opinion," which was boring.

Lu Yan He thought about it and counted all the directors and actors he had cooperated with, and didn't find any others who could be on par with Chen Bige and Shang Yongzhou.

Lu Yan He closed his eyes, thought for five minutes, and then dialed the phone of Huangcheng, the producer who had long-term cooperation with Chen Lingling, with a full face of smiles.

As soon as the phone was connected, Lu Yan He immediately wailed.

"Brother Cheng, you have to help me!"

Huangcheng was so scared that his phone almost fell out of his hand.

He: "You speak properly; do you want to scare me into a heart attack by doing this? What can I help you with, and is there anything I can help you with?"

Lu Yan He said categorically: "Yes! Director Lingling refused me! Brother Huang, only you can persuade her to change her mind."

Continue to recommend the old book "I Became a Scandal Heroine Overnight," from 7 first subscriptions to over 1000 average subscriptions. ===== CHAPTER 525 =====