Chapter 5: Crowdfunding

Lao Jia was puzzled, not understanding what Wu Yuchen meant.

Many others also gathered around.

“This is…”

Opening the script, he saw that on Wu Yuchen’s script, every line of dialogue had precise time annotations, down to the second!

And the final runtime was only eleven minutes!

Wu Yuchen spoke loudly:

“When writing the script, every scene was already in my mind. I don’t need thirty minutes—only eleven!”

“I don’t need ten days—only three days of shooting!”

Lao Jia’s heart trembled; compared to Wu Yuchen, his own preparation was utterly inadequate!

He had only brought a rough draft, but this guy’s dialogue was already timed to the second!

So this was the proper attitude toward making a film?

Hearing this, everyone brightened—yes, cutting from thirty minutes to eleven, from ten days to three, the cost might drop to just thirty thousand!

Though thirty thousand was still a lot, compared to the original ninety or one hundred thousand, it was far more acceptable!

Seizing the renewed enthusiasm,

Wu Yuchen continued to rally them:

“And we have a unique advantage!

We have unparalleled passion for film, boundless energy, and fierce creative desire!

If we can shoot, I won’t take a single cent for script fees or salaries!”

Hearing Wu Yuchen’s words, a short-haired girl immediately responded:

“I’m studying sound recording—I can be the sound engineer, and I don’t even need meals; I’ll handle it myself!”

“I’m studying fine arts…”

“I’m studying cinematography…”

Watching these classmates eagerly step forward, Wu Yuchen smiled with satisfaction.

This was why he came here—to directly assemble a complete crew.

Then Wu Yuchen raised his hand, and everyone fell silent; unconsciously, they had already accepted him as the core figure:

“Our second advantage!

Who are we?

We are students of Jingying!

All of us have some relevant background.

We can maximize and leverage every resource around us!

First, I can secure a 16mm camera—free of charge!”

It was the same short-haired girl: “We have recorders in our department—I’ll go talk to the head of the department.”

Wu Yuchen naturally held the utmost goodwill toward such an eager worker: “Senior sister…”

“Don’t call me senior sister—I’m Qi Jing,” the short-haired girl laughed.

Wu Yuchen thought Qi Jing’s personality didn’t match her name—she moved and spoke with decisive energy.

“Senior sister Qi Jing, I’m counting on you for the sound equipment!”

“Haha, don’t worry—I’ll riot if I have to to get it for you!”

Then Wu Yuchen added:

“With shooting equipment mostly sorted, for post-production, I’ll follow Senior Sister Qi’s example and cause a ruckus back in our department.

If we really can’t get it, we’ll figure something out together.”

Everyone cheered—sure enough, there’s always a way around every obstacle!

This way, we save even more money—it’s starting to seem more and more feasible!

As for who should be director, no one had any doubts anymore.

Wu Yuchen, who had led the pace throughout, was already accepted as the director!

Wu Yuchen observed the classroom; everyone’s enthusiasm had surged again—even higher than before!

Wu Yuchen thought the timing was right—their hearts were ready.

“Everyone who has money, contribute money; everyone who has strength, contribute strength—I believe our film will succeed!”

Saying this, Wu Yuchen pulled a handful of cash from his pocket and laid it on the table—bills of one hundred, and as small as five yuan.

Then he offered a sincere smile:

“Don’t think badly of me—this is all the lucky money and pocket money I’ve saved since childhood, totaling one thousand three hundred and twenty-five yuan.”

Indeed, Wu Yuchen’s nearly eighteen years of lucky money added up to less than what a child today earns in a year.

It wasn’t that his family was poor—it was just the times.

It was only 1995; in the 1980s, lucky money was two or three yuan, maybe ten or twenty at most. Only in the past two years, with rapid economic growth, had hundred-yuan bills started appearing.

Seeing this freshman student who had just entered school lay out his life savings, everyone was deeply moved.

After all, most of them had part-time jobs in college, but Wu Yuchen was a pure newcomer!

This was true passion for film!

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

“I’ve got twelve hundred!”

Wu Yuchen quickly wrote it down: Qi Jing, 1200.

“I only have seven hundred,” a boy said, scratching his head, feeling his contribution was small.

“Thank you, senior brother, for your support—our film couldn’t happen without you!” Wu Yuchen kept his warm smile, sincerely thanking him, making the boy feel warm inside.

“I’ll contribute six hundred.”

“I’ve got fifteen hundred.”

Watching classmates enthusiastically participate in the crowdfunding, the atmosphere grew more intense, infecting everyone—including Jia Zhangke.

Jia Zhangke might not have as much talent as others, but when it came to passion for film, Lao Jia had never been inferior to anyone!

Lao Jia, fired up, bellowed: “I’ll put in four thousand!”

His shout instantly drew every eye in the room—four thousand was no small sum for students.

Wu Yuchen turned to look at Lao Jia, gently asking:

“Senior brother, will this affect your daily life? Shouldn’t you contribute less?”

Jia Zhangke waved his hand with a smile: “I’m not rich, but I have a steady monthly income—I’m far better off than you freshers.

More money means more hope for our film. Money can always be earned again—just work two or three more months. But if we don’t shoot this time, I doubt any of us will ever have the face to discuss film together again!”

Hearing this, Wu Yuchen genuinely admired Lao Jia; in his past life, he had funded his own film, *Little Mountain Returns*, spending four or five thousand without hesitation.

But now, switching to his *Car 44*, Lao Jia was still willing to contribute so much—clearly, his passion for film was genuine!

In later generations, people viewed directors like Jia Zhangke as “miserable”—thinking they always lost money, won awards but got no attention, and struggled for years without even buying a house.

To think of Lao Jia that way would be a grave mistake!

Look at Lao Jia’s record:

His first crowdfunding film, *Little Mountain Returns*, cost under thirty thousand and earned fifty thousand in prizes.

*Xiao Wu*, funded with only three hundred thousand, earned nearly five million through overseas distribution and screenings;

*Still Life*, funded at six million, sold for over forty million overseas thanks to its Golden Lion win.

He won the Golden Lion at the 2006 Venice Film Festival for *Still Life*.

Lao Jia once said in an interview: “I’ve never made a film that lost money.”

Yes—not one single film lost money! That’s even more impressive than Lao Mouzi!