Chapter 33: Variety Show Debut

On December 7th, the group hurried to Changsha to participate in that evening's recording of the program *Happy Camp*, which was also a rather important part of the publicity plan.

In this day and age, domestic variety shows are basically still a desert, and everyone lacks much experience, all belonging to the category of crossing the river by feeling the stones.

However, since *Happy Camp* began airing in '97, it has cultivated a batch of loyal viewers; there is no other reason, it is simply that there are too few forms of entertainment.

When Wei Jin brought the several main creators to the Mango TV building, He Laoshi had already come to greet them.

"Director Wei, hello, thank you for your hard work, and welcome to Changsha."

He Laoshi is very methodical in how he conducts himself and does things; he speaks in a soft, gentle voice, yet he can always make you hear clearly. Even though he was clearly greeting Wei Jin, he was always able to look after the others, which felt very comfortable.

"Yifei, long time no see, you're still just as beautiful."

This is not Liu Yifei's first time coming to *Happy Camp*, so she and He Laoshi can be considered old acquaintances.

The roadshow during this period has really worn the young girl out. Liu Xiaoli has been accompanying her the whole time; when she first heard that she had to ask for over ten days of leave, Zhang the Bearded Man was furious, but later, upon seeing the film's box office, that change in attitude was nothing short of silky smooth.

Therefore, although the roadshow is tiring, Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli are both suffering and happy.

"Hello, He Laoshi, I am a loyal fan of your program."

Wei Jin was not telling a lie; in his past life, this was basically the variety show he watched for the longest time.

"That's great, you can give us some suggestions later. Come, please, this way."

He Laoshi ushered everyone into the studio backstage to take their seats and exchanged pleasantries with the several main creators one by one.

"Director Wei, you all take a look at the script first. If there is anything inconvenient to answer, just bring it up."

Any variety show, from the moment of its birth, has a script; it is impossible to let you improvise at will, one can only say that some programs have fewer restrictions.

As an indoor entertainment and game variety show, *Happy Camp* also has segments similar to interviews, so He Laoshi handed the script to the several guests in advance.

"I don't have any problems here. If you few have anything you don't know how to say later, just look at me. Also, don't be nervous; this is a pre-recorded show, and any issues will be edited out in post-production."

Wei Jin browsed through it briefly, then spoke to the several main creators.

In fact, variety shows are all pre-recorded to facilitate post-production processing; this episode of Wei Jin and his team's program will air this Saturday.

As for the originally recorded program, it will be aired subsequently; the *Those Years* crew has cut in line this time, and for this, Wei Jin and the China Film Group side did quite a bit of coordination work.

Soon, a staff member came over to signal that the recording was about to begin, so the few of them went to the backstage to prepare.

"Hello everyone, we are the 'Happy Family'."

After a bout of awkward dancing by the three hosts, the classic opening line followed.

"Lala, Weijia, there is a very popular movie recently, do you know about it?"

As a veteran of the program, He Laoshi went straight to the topic as soon as he spoke.

"I know, I know, *Those Years, We Were Chasing After That Girl*, right? I even went to watch it on the day it was released; it's really quite good."

Xie La answered eagerly, like a monkey.

"Yes, this is a film adapted from the novel and song of the same name, and it has also caused a movie-watching frenzy these past few days. Next, let us invite the director and the cast of the *Those Years* crew, welcome!"

The audience off-stage gave a very supportive round of applause.

Wei Jin led the few of them quickly onto the stage; adding the three hosts, there were 9 people in total, and standing on the stage, it felt a bit crowded.

"Hello everyone, we are the *Those Years* crew, I am Wei Jin, the film's director."

"Hello everyone, I am Liu Yifei, and I play Zhang Shiyi in the film."

"Hello everyone, I am Qiao Zhenyu, and I play Wei Liang in the film."

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The main creators introduced themselves one after another, and then took their seats under the enthusiastic greeting of the hosts.

"Director Wei, I heard that you are still in university?"

Li Weijia was seeing Wei Jin for the first time, and with a bit of curiosity, he asked the question from the script.

"Yes, I'm a junior this year."

"Wow, that's truly impressive, to be shooting a movie while only a junior, and to make it so brilliant on your first try."

Li Weijia exclaimed somewhat exaggeratedly, doing quite well in mobilizing the audience's atmosphere. "Jiajia, you're behind the times. This isn't Wei Jin's first time shooting a movie. Earlier this year, Wei Jin's debut film even won a Berlin Silver Bear."

He Laoshi acted as the straight man at the right time, and then explained the weight of a Berlin Silver Bear Director, which drew a gasp from the audience. In fact, apart from those in the industry, the vast majority of ordinary people do not care about film festivals or Silver Bear Directors, so the popular science in this episode can be considered as making a name for Wei Jin.

"Then Director Wei, why did you think of shooting *Those Years*?"

Xie La was not to be outdone, and spoke up to shift the topic to the film.

"Everyone's youth has regrets. This kind of regret might be something you seek but cannot obtain, but this kind of regret is not necessarily painful. I want to tell everyone through the film that our youth is all the same, all having regrets and incompleteness, but please cherish the beauty in your memories."

Wei Jin had long since prepared these answers, and his response was silky smooth.

"So, does that mean Director Wei, your youth also has regrets? Did you pursue any girls during your puberty?"

He Laoshi is very good at grasping points that attract the audience; everyone has a heart for gossip.

"Uh, if I say it was always the girls pursuing me, would you believe it?"

"Hahaha, Director Wei, you are too narcissistic."

Not only the hosts, but even the several actors followed suit and laughed, and the audience off-stage was even more exaggerated.

Seeing that several questions in a row were centered on Wei Jin, in order not to neglect the other guests, He Laoshi took the initiative to speak: "Everyone, can you tell us about some interesting things during the filming?"

"Sure, you don't know, don't look at how happy and laughing Director Wei is now, he was very strict during filming, and even scolded Yifei until she cried."

The camera cut to Qiao Zhenyu, and he hurriedly answered.

"Ah? Is he that fierce? Yifei, is that so?"

The three hosts were a bit surprised; after all, Wei Jin looks harmless to humans and animals right now.

"It's true, but it's also my own fault for always failing to get into character, which delayed the crew for several days."

Liu Yifei felt a bit embarrassed; after all, it counted as her own awkward moment.

Subsequently, the other actors also began to share some interesting things during the filming, which was quite novel for the audience who had never been on a film set.

"Hu Jing, how did you get this role?"

"Let me answer this question. It's mainly because Sister Jing's temperament in real life fits it better. Try to recall, is there that kind of girl around you who has a boisterous temperament and is also a bit funny?"

Wei Jin answered this question for Hu Jing; he couldn't exactly say it was out of respect for Ceng Li.

"Hmph, are you saying that I don't seem like a woman?"

Hu Jing pretended to be angry. As the program recording progressed, everyone was not as nervous as they were at the beginning, and they all knew how to take the initiative to perform when the camera was on them.

"Zhen Yu, what about you? How were you chosen?"

"I don't know either. After the audition, the director team notified me to join the cast."

"It's mainly because he's handsome. I saw Zhen Yu's performance in *Snow Goddess Dragon*, and it was truly stunning."

Wei Jin spoke up to explain, which also drew screams from the female audience off-stage; after all, he really was very handsome.

"Congzai, what about you? I heard that Wei Jin took the initiative to find you?"

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Lin Zicong couldn't answer either; even now, he still didn't understand why Wei Jin had sought him out.

"I feel that in our youth, there is always a friend around us who comes with a sense of humor. You all recall, isn't that right? Then look at Congzai, doesn't he come with a sense of humor?"

Wei Jin saw that Lin Zicong was a bit uncomfortable and helped him speak up.

The several hosts and the audience off-stage were also recalling, and it seemed that was indeed the case.

"Then Jiayin, what about you?"

"I also asked the director this question, and he said I carry a sense of bad luck."

As soon as Lei Datou's words came out, the stage and the audience were filled with joy.

Afterwards, the group started playing games again. With laughter and chatter, the recording was finally finished. Wei Jin and the others politely declined He Laoshi's invitation for a late-night snack. After exchanging phone numbers, Wei Jin and his group set off for the next stop of the roadshow. A newbie author writing a book for the first time, begging for collections, follows, reading updates, and recommendations. Thank you everyone. Today is the first round of recommendations, please help me out, thank you.

(End of this chapter)