Chapter 11: Social Mixer, Invitation

Director Chen stood up to speak; he was indeed very tall. Compared to Director Zhang, the latter looked like a farmer, while the former looked like a cultured man from the city.

His words were flowery and full of confidence; he was truly a man who could write poetry. He seemed to have some thoughts about not being the first one to speak.

Director Feng was eloquent, and his speech before the leaders was smooth and impeccable.

Lin Nan didn't listen closely to what the older generation of directors were saying; he couldn't stand it anymore.

Young people couldn't stand this kind of meeting; it felt very awkward to listen to.

"Lin Nan, right? How do you young directors see it?"

This is the end of me.

Lin Nan stood up, feeling a bit nervous. He had just complained in his heart and was immediately called upon.

"I, I agree with Director Zhang's view. Whether it's Hollywood or Europe, the film industry has been ahead of us for so long that the gap between us is enormous.

Facing the influx of European and American films, it will cause a huge impact on our current film and television industry; calling it a devastating flood is no exaggeration..."

Lin Nan's mind went blank, but his mouth didn't stop. After he finished, he didn't remember what he had said, but it shouldn't have been off-topic.

"Please sit."

Lin Nan didn't pay attention to how the meeting proceeded afterward; his head was buzzing. The people in the front rows were all looking back at him, with all kinds of gazes and expressions.

They were listening, but looking at Lin Nan's eyes, many were indifferent, as if saying: What does a young person know? Just lucky, that's all.

After the meeting, Director Zhang did say a few words to Lin Nan. Upon learning that Lin Nan was from the Northwest, he looked very kind, saying he had been there back in the day, encouraging Lin Nan to study hard, and looking forward to his new work.

The Xiyingchang, it had cultivated a large number of film talents; just the directors alone spanned several generations and numbered nearly a hundred, not to mention film writers, screenwriters, and a large number of famous actors, though its glory was fading.

But it could not be denied that this was a mountain of its own.

Director Gu hurried past Lin Nan and left in a car. He also came from the Xiyingchang; it was said he had taken time off from his film crew to come back for the meeting, as he was filming "Peacock."

The director's wife taking her child to storm the set and slapping the lead actress—I don't know when that is, but it should be soon, right?

The Shanghai Film Studio moved quickly and sent people to the school. Lin Nan signed the contract, and a large sum of money appeared in the company's account.

Fortunately, Lin Nan had previously asked school teachers to find him two accountants, both from state-owned enterprises, so he wasn't caught in a scramble.

Calling his father, Lin Nan said he had made money. The old man laughed loudly and refused Lin Nan's idea of sending him money.

"If you want, buy the land next door for me; I want to open a bigger restaurant." This was what his father said after hesitating for a long time. It was clear he really wanted to open a big restaurant, which was also the wish of Lin Nan's grandfather.

"You wait for me to come back." Lin Nan held back his tears. In his previous life, after making money opening a restaurant in Hengdian, his father had spent all day thinking about returning to his hometown. He was a man attached to his native land, and it was Lin Nan who had always disagreed.

Lin Nan took leave and went back. When he left, his account was short two million. The storefronts on both sides, each over 150 square meters, cost over 1.3 million for the 300-plus square meters.

Lin Nan rounded up the amount and left it all to his old father. "Hire some people, don't always do it yourself. Think more about me; I'm not married yet, and you still have to help me raise my kids."

"Get lost. I haven't even found a girl yet. I know, I'll be careful."

On the train, Lin Nan watched the fields receding rapidly, feeling inexplicably more at ease. "I won't be a fool in this life."

When he returned to school, he was drafted by the Acting Department again.

Teased by Zhu Yawen as: "Returning to the mother's home."

The school was going to have an art exchange with the place next door; everyone was in the same circle, so communicating occasionally was good.

Lin Nan was now a face of the students at school.

He just felt it was unreasonable. The Film Academy had about twenty people in an undergraduate class, while the place next door actually had Class One, Class Two, and Class Three. Especially the 02 grade, the number of people was actually three times that of the Film Academy.

A large base had its advantages; Lin Nan saw many more familiar faces than when he first entered the Film Academy.

Oh my, did Lin Nan see International Zhang? No, it's Little International Zhang. She really looks like her.

The famous "Monday Meeting" and "One-Finger Zen" of later generations, Zhang Bo, who played King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Ying Ji.

Such long legs! Tang...

While Lin Nan was stunned, he was pulled by Zhu Yawen. "What are you staring at? Let's go."

"This is the Drama Academy, don't embarrass yourself. You're a 30-million-box-office director and male lead, after all," Zhou Yang scolded while walking on the side.

"I should have come to the Drama Academy," Lin Nan was dazzled looking left and right.

"Guo Zhenni"? "Consort Cao"?

Coming here for a social mixer, that's what Lin Nan and the others thought, and it felt pretty good.

In terms of actors, one has to admit that this side is of higher quality. The Film Academy's advantages lie in directing and cinematography.

"Hello, Director Lin, I am Tang Yan from the 02 grade of the Acting Department..."

It was that long-legged Zixuan from just now.

"Director Lin Nan, I am Bai..."

Along the way, Lin Nan passively met many people, all very enthusiastic, including some from higher grades.

"I really shouldn't have walked with you," Zhu Yawen said sarcastically.

Lin Nan was holding his phone, still saving numbers. "Changing majors was indeed a wise choice."

"Show-off."

The rules here were much stricter than at his own school; almost none of the freshmen had been on a film set, except for those who were child stars.

This time, for the Acting Department exchange, Lin Nan was the most special one because he was a recently popular new director and a film company boss.

And it was said that one movie made a lot of money; young, rich, and talented.

"Look at how well the students at the Drama Academy speak," back at school, Lin Nan and Zhou Yang were bickering.

"Yes, yes, it sounds nice. Why did you change majors? Wouldn't it have been better to just transfer schools?"

"Fine, big sister, you're mighty. I won't say anything."

Lin Nan looked at Lao Zhu. "What are you thinking about again?"

"That woman who took the initiative to greet you just now, her temperament is really good. Tang something, was it?"

Zhu Yawen asked Lin Nan.

"Tang Yan," Lin Nan said, looking at Lao Zhu. Brother, you wouldn't want to do something to wrong Luo Jin, would you! But it is indeed exciting, isn't it?

While Lin Nan was muttering in his heart, he heard Zhu Yawen say, "Too bad she's too tall, not suitable for me."

Lin Nan agreed with that; her legs were indeed too long, and straight too.

The college entrance exams were happening these days; in three months, Lin Nan would have new juniors.

He was in Berlin during the art exams this year. He had originally said he would go to watch the fun as an experienced person, but he missed it.

The hottest news in the film circle recently was that the "Kung Fu" crew was looking for actors.

The lead was undoubtedly Zhou Xingchi; there was no comedy king greater than him.

This news swept through the film circle like a typhoon. Countless actors and stars were trying to get in, but this game was too high-end. Lin Nan told his classmates that they had to have self-awareness.

Lin Nan was also sour in his heart, but he couldn't reach that level. Even if one got a supporting role in a Zhou Xingchi movie, it would be enough for a third-tier actor to live off for a lifetime.

It was said that Lu Chuan, a senior who had already graduated from the school, had returned to school to pull some strings and get sponsorship to film "Kekexili." This film was indeed excellent; I hope your character is as good as this film.

This reminded Lin Nan that there were still many benefits to be borrowed from the school, and he could do the same in the future.

Li Yang called to say that "Blind Shaft" was preparing to enter the Golden Horse Awards, and Lin Nan might need to go with them. After all, Lin Nan was now a new blockbuster director in the film circle, endorsed by a 30-million-box-office film.

A 30-million box office was actually already the champion of domestic film box office for the first half of the year. Lin Nan couldn't believe it himself; because of this title, he was now a hot commodity.

Although "Cell Phone" would break this record at the end of the year, it didn't stop Lin Nan from holding the record for half a year.

"Okay, if I'm free at the end of the year," Lin Nan could only say that much.

"Why, planning to start a new film?"

"No, but I can't say for sure. If I stand you up, wouldn't it be my fault? Haha."

"You kid, then it's settled."

Lin Nan put down his phone. Golden Horse! I wonder if there will be any surprises with this Best New Performer award.

Suddenly, Lin Nan realized, Golden Horse? I have a movie too.

Just as this thought popped into Lin Nan's mind, the phone rang again. He picked it up and saw it was from the Shanghai Film Studio.

He had a guess in his heart.

"Hello."

Sure enough, the Shanghai Film Studio had received an invitation. The Golden Horse Awards had issued an invitation to Lin Nan and the "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" crew through the Shanghai Film Studio. This call was about that.

Agree, definitely have to agree. The Golden Horse Awards hadn't cooled down yet at this time.

The Shanghai Film Studio said they would cover all expenses. Lin Nan should notify the main crew members, and they would be responsible for the itinerary based on the final number of people. They would also send a team to go with them.

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" wasn't released there. At the time, Lin Nan hadn't thought about it and only chose the mainland. The exports for Hong Kong and Taiwan were all sold through the Shanghai Film Studio. He didn't expect to receive an invitation even with that.

There was still half a year left; he didn't expect them to start collecting films so early.

First, he went to find the teachers of the Directing Department to explain the situation, and then he went to find the school leaders. After all, the main crew members at the time were all from the school.

Going to the Golden Horse Awards, you can't notify one and not the other. Since the Shanghai Film Studio was covering everything, it was better to have more people go, just treat it as a trip.

Many wanted to go, but not many could make a decision in advance. In the end, inexplicably, only four people were left; the others had more or less found things to do.

Lighting and cinematography people were never short of film crews; the Film Academy was very strong in this regard.

Teacher Zhou was very happy that four of her students would attend this year's Golden Horse Awards. Well, although one of them had defected to the Directing Department.

She just hoped they could win at least one award, which would also be an advantage for her future professional title evaluation.

"Don't be so excited, there's still half a year," Lin Nan reminded Zhou Yang.

"Can you die if you don't speak?"

Penguin had been out for three years. Lin Nan had registered as soon as he woke up; it was a seven-digit number.

He hadn't added many people; they were all classmates from the Film Academy. He took a notebook and prepared to start adding people. This was the number he got from the mixer not long ago; even the notebook was swiped from there.

He took the notebook he had just bought not long ago out of his bag, an ASUS S200N released last year that cost over ten thousand yuan.

Those bastards were always borrowing it to watch movies; he didn't know if they had accidentally damaged it.

"You changed your major, why didn't you tell me?"

"Why didn't you reply to my messages?"

"Do you want me to call you?"

"You had better contact me yourself; Zhou Yang said you went to the Xijuxue Academy."

"Hmph."

"I'm angry."