Huayu: I Have a Doraemon

Chapter 23 Taking the Initiative

The atmosphere in the office tensed slightly.

Ye Daying broke the silence first, speaking slowly and deliberately:

"I've read the script. The framework for the first four episodes is fine, but the details still need polishing."

Lü Xiaopin nodded quickly: "It's already being revised."

"If we're going to make changes, we need to make the right ones."

Ye Daying looked at Lü Xiaopin and said calmly, "You need to be aware that this time it will be filmed and broadcast simultaneously."

Lü Xiaopin nodded bitterly, understanding that this meant he had to produce results, otherwise the entire project would be canceled.

He had no intention of complaining.

In this day and age, for a new director to get such an opportunity is a blessing that many of their peers would rather die for.

Seeing that he had no objection, Ye Daying softened her tone and continued:

"I've checked the budget per episode for you. It's a level lower than 'The Idle Ma Dajie,' but it's enough. The soundstage has been booked, set construction will begin at the end of the month, and filming will start in the middle of next month."

Lu Xiaopin wrote everything down, not daring to miss a single detail.

The office was silent for a few seconds.

Yingda picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and slowly said:

"What about the actors? How's the casting going?"

Although the selection process will be conducted live in a studio, the general direction must be determined in advance.

Lu Xiaopin took a deep breath, pulled a stack of documents from his briefcase, and handed them over with both hands.

"These are the few who have been shortlisted so far. Lin Cong and I went through the preliminary selection together, and they basically fit the role requirements."

Yingda took the documents, but instead of opening them immediately, he placed them on the table and tapped them lightly twice with his index finger.

"Is there anything that has impressed you the most?"

Lü Xiaopin nodded slightly:

"That's exactly what I was about to tell you. I went to the Beijing Film Academy a couple of days ago to scout for students and met a freshman..."

He gave a brief account of what happened that day.

From the boy in the black short-sleeved shirt chasing and beating a bald doctor at the school gate, to being dragged into the audition by two girls, and then to that inexplicable and whimsical character design.

Lin Cong, who was standing to the side, had closed his notebook at some point, a slight smile playing on his lips, occasionally adding a few words of agreement:

"He is indeed a very interesting kid. He is quite bold and dares to speak his mind and think big."

After listening to everything, Yingda raised an eyebrow and said:

"From what you're saying, you think highly of him?"

Lu Xiaopin carefully chose her words: "I wouldn't say I'm optimistic about it, but I just think it has a lot of potential."

"Is he a freshman in the literature department?"

"Yes, but it's just a refresher course."

Yingda raised an eyebrow slightly but remained silent.

Ye Daying scoffed, his tone dismissive:

"A refresher course? No portfolio, they probably don't even know the basic script format, right?"

Lü Xiaopin opened her mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed the words back.

These days, the reputation of students in continuing education programs is indeed polarized, with quite a few simply spending money to gain prestige.

"We'll find out what it's like once we take it out for a spin."

Lin Cong interjected, "Anyway, there's still more than half a month left, let him give it a try."

She looked at Yingda: "Write if you can, leave if you can't. It won't delay anything."

Ye Daying's lips moved, clearly indicating her disagreement.

Yingda thought about it for a moment, and decided it wasn't a big deal, so he said:

"Then let him submit his work as an example. If it's good, we'll film an episode, but without credit, and the fee will be 300."

Lin Cong frowned slightly, but didn't say anything.

She was ultimately just a collaborating director and it wasn't appropriate for her to offer her opinion on this kind of matter.

……

……

Beijing Film Academy, main teaching building.

"...In 1905, Ren Jingfeng's 'Fengtai Photo Studio' filmed 'Dingjun Mountain.' This is widely recognized as the first film in Chinese film history..."

On the podium, the elderly professor with gray hair slammed his fist on the blackboard.

Lin An sat in the last row of the lecture hall, his elbows resting on the table and his chin supported by his hands.

My eyelids are drooping.

"...While the historical development of film follows its own unique patterns, however..."

The old professor's voice echoed in the empty classroom.

Lin An nodded sharply, almost hitting his head on the table.

He blinked, trying to focus his attention back on the podium.

The blackboard was already densely covered with writing, ranging from "Dingjun Mountain 1905" all the way to "Left-wing Film Movement".

"...That's a general overview of film history. Lin An! You summarize it!"

The moment he heard his name, Lin An's deep-rooted high school motivations were instantly activated, and he jumped up.

When he saw the professor's blank, old face behind the podium, he knew it was all over.

"This is the third time."

The professor calmly said, "If you continue sleeping, I will have to ask you to leave."

"Yes." Lin An sat down dejectedly.

On the podium, the professor continued to recount film history, attempting to help students understand the meaning and value of film while also predicting its future development.

The students below listened with rapt attention, several of them writing furiously, afraid of missing a single word.

Lin An really wanted to fit into this environment, but as a transmigrator who already knew the "standard answer," all he wanted to do was shout:

—Li Zaigan is a god or demon!

Indeed, the thing more unpleasant than eating shit in this world is eating shit, and yet you still have to say it tastes good.

He felt he needed to take a closer look at the timetable, as these general education courses were not very meaningful to him.

The bell rang, the old professor closed his lecture notes, and walked out of the classroom at a leisurely pace.

Lin An slumped onto the table, let out a long sigh, and felt that his future was hopeless.

"Didn't you sleep well last night?" the short-haired boy next to him asked with a smile.

Lin An turned his head and glanced at him.

The boy's name was Su Xiao. He was from Northeast China, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wore black-rimmed glasses, and spoke with a strong Northeastern accent.

It is said that he was sent by a local TV station for further training and was quite popular in the class.

"I didn't sleep at all," Lin An said miserably.

Su Xiao looked puzzled: "Why?"

He knew that Lin An was a high school graduate and didn't think the other party had any other trivial matters.

Lin An waved his hand, indicating he didn't want to discuss the topic.

"You can't do it this way."

Su Xiao said earnestly, "Although the refresher course doesn't emphasize theory that much, you'll still use this content when writing film reviews. You'll need..."

"Brother Su," Lin An interrupted him.

"Um?"

"Are you an undercover agent sent by my mother?"

Su Xiao was taken aback, then laughed and scolded, "Get lost."

He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out and put it in his mouth, then remembered that he couldn't smoke in the classroom, so he awkwardly put it back.

"Smoking is bad," Lin An reminded him.

Su Xiao chuckled self-deprecatingly: "I've quit three or four times already. Every time I say it's the last one, but I end up buying it again after just a couple of days."

He sighed to himself, "That's probably why I'm stuck in this limbo, not quite good enough for anything."

Lin An glanced at him but didn't reply.

"I need to work hard."

Su Xiao sighed, "The competition in this industry is fierce; we can't waste our time."

I kindly reminded you, and you turned around and mocked me? Lin An cursed inwardly, thinking that good people never get rewarded.

He muttered to himself, "I don't want to waste my time, but I don't have many opportunities."

Su Xiao looked at him in surprise: "Are you serious?"

Lin An looked up, puzzled, and asked, "From what you're saying, there are a lot of opportunities lately?"

Su Xiao asked with a strange expression, "Do you know where this is?"

Lin An said blankly, "Beijing Film Academy."

Su Xiao paused for a second, then slowly said, "Don't you know that graduates of the Beijing Film Academy are required to submit film and television works?"

Lin An blinked, then belatedly realized:

"You mean... I can write screenplays for college students?"

Su Xiao shrugged and said, "Otherwise, why do you think I came here?"

Lin An thought to himself, "They're just rich and stupid."