Chapter 5: Crowdfunding

Old Jia was strange, not knowing what Wu Yuchen meant.

Others also crowded around.

"This is..."

Flipping open the script, they saw that on Wu Yuchen's script, every line of dialogue corresponded to a specific time mark, accurate to the second!

And the final time length was only 11 minutes!

Wu Yuchen said loudly:

"When writing the script, all the images were already in my mind. I don't need 30 minutes; I only need 11 minutes!

I also don't need 10 days; I only need 3 days of shooting time!"

Old Jia's heart shook; compared to Wu Yuchen, his preparation was really too far behind!

He had only brought out a first draft of the script, while this person's lines were already accurate to the second!

Was this the attitude one should have toward making films?

Everyone was happy upon hearing this; right, reducing from 30 minutes to 11 minutes, and from 10 days to 3 days, the cost was estimated to only need 30,000!

Although 30,000 was also a lot of money, compared to the initial 90,000 or 100,000, it was much easier to accept!

Taking advantage of everyone's enthusiasm rising again,

Wu Yuchen continued to boost morale:

"And we have unique advantages!

We have unparalleled love for film, have exuberant passion, and have vigorous creative desire!

As long as we can shoot, I won't take a single cent for script fees or wages!"

Hearing Wu Yuchen's words, a short-haired girl directly responded:

"I study sound recording; I can be the sound engineer. Don't even worry about meals; I'll solve it myself!"

"I study art..."

"I study photography..."

Watching these classmates being so enthusiastic, Wu Yuchen showed a satisfied smile.

This was also the reason he ran here: he could directly build a complete crew.

Then Wu Yuchen raised his hand, and everyone quieted down, unknowingly having defaulted him to be the core figure:

"Our second advantage!

Who are we?

We are students of the Beijing Film Academy!

Everyone has relevant backgrounds to some extent.

We can dig and utilize the resources around us to the greatest extent!

First, I can solve the 16mm camera; I can borrow it for free!"

It was the short-haired girl from just now: "Our department has recording equipment; I'll think of a way with the department head."

Toward such an active worker, Wu Yuchen naturally held the greatest goodwill: "Senior sister..."

"Don't call me senior sister; my name is Qi Jing," the short-haired girl smiled.

Wu Yuchen felt that this Qi Jing's personality didn't quite match her name; she had a vigorous and resolute feeling in her speech and actions.

"Senior sister Qi Jing, then I'll leave the recording equipment to you!"

"Haha, don't worry; even if I have to make a scene, I'll get it for you!"

Then Wu Yuchen said again:

"Then the shooting equipment can basically be solved. As for post-production, I'll learn from Senior sister Qi and make a scene in the department.

If there's really no way, we'll all think of a way together."

Everyone was happy; sure enough, there were always more solutions than difficulties!

In this way, they could save a lot of money, and it seemed more and more reliable!

As for who would be the director now, everyone had no more questions.

Wu Yuchen, who had been setting the pace the whole time, had already been defaulted to be the director!

Wu Yuchen observed everyone in the classroom; their enthusiasm had been reignited, and it was even higher than before!

Wu Yuchen secretly thought the timing was about right; the hearts of the people could be used!

"Everyone, contribute money if you have money, and contribute effort if you have effort; I believe our film will definitely be done well!"

After saying this, Wu Yuchen took a handful of money out of his pocket and placed it on the table; the big ones were one hundred, and the small ones were 5 yuan.

Then he showed a sincere smile:

"Don't mind it, everyone; this is the lucky money and pocket money I've saved since I was a child, totaling 1,325 yuan."

That's right, Wu Yuchen's lucky money for these nearly 18 years didn't add up to as much as a child's in later generations.

It wasn't that his family was poor, but the era was what it was.

It was only 1995; in the 80s, lucky money was two or three yuan for small ones and ten or twenty for big ones. It was only in the last two years that the economy developed rapidly that lucky money rose with the tide, and hundred-yuan bills appeared.

When the big guys saw this freshman who had just entered school take out his bottom-of-the-box lucky money, they were also quite touched.

After all, they basically all had part-time jobs to earn money in university, while Wu Yuchen was a pure newbie!

This was love for film!

The senior sister named Qi Jing just now was the first to shout:

"I have 1,200 here!"

Wu Yuchen hurriedly recorded it in his notebook: Qi Jing, 1,200.

"I only have 700 here," a boy felt he didn't contribute much money and scratched his head.

"Thank you for your support, senior; the film being shot couldn't be done without your contribution!" Wu Yuchen still had a warm smile on his face and thanked him sincerely, making the boy feel warm in his heart.

"I'll contribute 600."

"I have 1,500 here."

Watching the classmates around him start to participate actively and enthusiastically in crowdfunding, the atmosphere became more and more heated, and everyone was infected, including Jia Zhangke.

Jia Zhangke's talent might not compare to others, but when it came to enthusiasm for film, Old Jia's life was not weaker than anyone's!

Old Jia got carried away and directly shouted: "I'll contribute 4,000!"

This shout of his attracted the attention of everyone in the room; after all, 4,000 really wasn't a small amount for students.

Wu Yuchen also turned his head to look at Old Jia and asked with a hint of a reminder:

"Senior, will this affect your life? How about a little less?"

Jia Zhangke smiled and waved his hand: "Although I'm not considered very wealthy, I now have a stable income every month, much richer than you freshmen who just entered school.

With more money, our film has more hope. Money can be earned again if it's gone—just work two or three months more—but if we can't shoot it this time, I think everyone won't have the face to discuss film together in the future!"

Wu Yuchen was actually quite impressed with Old Jia after hearing this; in his past life, he was shooting his own film *Xiao Shan Going Home*, so paying four or five thousand out of his own pocket was a given.

But now that it had changed to shooting his *Bus 44*, Old Jia was still willing to pay so much, which showed that his enthusiasm for film was truly full!

Later generations' impression of art film directors like Jia Zhangke was—"miserable," feeling that their films always lost money, and even if they won awards, no one cared, and after years of miserable operation, they might not even be able to afford a house.

If you thought of Old Jia this way, you would be completely wrong!

Counting Old Jia's resume:

The first crowdfunded *Xiao Shan Going Home*, with a cost of less than 30,000 yuan, earned 50,000 in prize money.

*Xiao Wu*, with an investment of only 300,000, earned nearly 5 million through overseas distribution and authorized screenings;

*Still Life*, with an investment of 6 million, sold for over 40 million overseas because of the Golden Lion Award halo.

And relied on *Still Life* to win the Golden Lion Award at the 2006 Venice Film Festival.

Old Jia once said in an interview that he didn't have a single film that lost money.

Yes, not a single one lost money! This was damn more awesome than Old Mouzi! ===== CHAPTER 6 =====