Rhapsody of Entertainment Rebirth

The shooting of "Incense" has been started for more than half a month. Ning Hao kept looking through today's shooting materials in a guest house in a county on the outskirts of Beijing.

His previous shooting plan was too optimistic. It was the first time for him and his shooting team to shoot film movies. Their lack of experience made them panic at first.

It took more than ten days to get used to it, a lot of film was wasted, and the progress was nearly half slower than planned.

We need to speed up the progress. The Chinese New Year is coming in about ten days. It’s not realistic to finish filming "Incense" before the year.

Shanhe is coming to visit the class tomorrow, and Ning Hao feels a little guilty and uneasy about the results of his work!

Shanhe got up early the next day. The end of the exam made him feel relaxed. After washing up, he went downstairs and had a delicious breakfast of fried dough sticks, steamed buns and soy milk.

After going home and packing up his things, Shanhe walked out of the community with his backpack on his back.

Before he could wave for a taxi, a black Santana at the intersection honked its horn. Shanhe turned around and saw Qu Ling sitting in the driver's seat waving to him.

Shanhe stepped forward quickly, "Aunt Qu, where did you get the car?"

"Get in the car. You're going to visit a class in a suburban county. It's inconvenient without transportation. I've pushed things aside today. Let's go with you. I'll pick up Xing Aina later." Qu Ling said to Shanhe while starting the car.

Shanhe threw his bag into the back seat and fastened his seat belt, "It's great that you're here, Aunt Qu. I'm still wondering how to get back after visiting the class!"

"It's time for you to learn to drive. I just bought this car. It's a second-hand car. Deng Xiaolong found it for me. You can drive it from now on. Chuhe will set up a branch in Beijing next year and exchange it for you." Qu Ling said.

Shanhe smiled coquettishly, "I'm similar to my mother. It will take me a while to learn to drive."

Hearing this, Qu Ling turned and glanced at Shanhe, and burst out laughing, "Your mother has given up. It seems that we have to give you a driver. Why can't you mother and son learn such a simple thing?"

"I'll try again. Isn't my dad a quick learner? Maybe if their genetics are neutralized, I guess he just learns slowly." Shanhe insisted.

After the two picked up Xing Aina nearby, the car drove towards Ning Hao's filming location.

"Sister Na, is the revision of "Under the Zhengyang Gate" going well?" Shanhe turned to Xing Aina in the back seat and asked.

Xing Aina replied with a smile: "It went very smoothly. I have planned thirty-six episodes of the entire TV series. I have completed the scripts for the first twenty episodes and will be finished early next year."

"Xiao Na, you are really efficient. The workload of a TV series script is no less than writing a novel." Qu Ling responded while driving.

"It's okay, not particularly fast. The main reason is that Shan He's original work was written so smoothly that I don't have to make too many changes when adapting it. I will still have to communicate with Director Deng Xiaolong and there will probably be changes," Xing Aina replied.

"Xiao Na, I have to say sorry to you two this time. Things have changed. I made a mistake on Ning Hao's side." Qu Ling looked at Xing Aina in the rear mirror.

"Aunt Qu, don't say that. I've already told Ning Hao. He has no objection. He just said that he took it for granted. The filming progress was not as smooth as planned. They are too inexperienced. A mature team can Let them learn, it's not too late to be happy!" Xing Aina responded.

"That's good!"

The three of them got off the bus at the entrance of the supermarket, bought a lot of cooked food and snacks, and then arrived at the filming location in a suburban county of Beijing smoothly.

When the three of them arrived at the crew, the crew was filming the scene of a monk riding a bicycle carrying a prostitute. Shanhe stood aside and watched the crew's filming.

Ning Hao's crew is very small, with only a dozen people in total, and they work well together. Several actors are also unfamiliar faces, but their performances are not bad.

Ning Hao did not sit in the director's chair and examine the camera like a normal director, but stood at the forefront of shooting with the cameraman.

"Stuck! This scene is over. Each department is preparing for the next one. Li Qiang performed well and is in a stable state. We have to speed up the progress!" Ning Hao shouted loudly.

The recorder on the side patted Ning Hao and said, "Old Ning, Shanhe is here, and so is your wife."

Ning Hao raised his head and looked around, and at a glance he saw the mountains and rivers waving to him.

Ning Hao waved to Shanhe, "Everyone, take a rest for a while. Our investor Shanhe came to visit us. Let's see what delicious food he brought us?"

A dozen or twenty young people suddenly focused their attention on Shanhe.

Shanhe smiled and hugged everyone, "Hello everyone, I am a freshman in the directing department at Level 0, and I am our junior. I am here to learn from my senior brothers and sisters. The snacks and cooked food I brought for everyone are all in the car. Senior Brother Ning , you can find someone to move it down."

There was a burst of cheers and applause. After Ning Hao greeted Qu Ling, he talked for a few words with his girlfriend and then walked towards Shanhe.

Shanhe was signing autographs to several girls in the crew.

"Shanhe, you have book fans everywhere you go. The crew heard yesterday that you were coming to visit the class, and they were all very excited!" Ning Hao teased Shanhe with a smile.

After Shanhe returned the pen to the girls, he said to Ning Hao: "Let's go for a walk. I want to talk to you."

"Okay, you wait a moment." After Ning Hao explained to the field notes beside him, he and Shanhe walked towards the river.

Shanhe took out a pack of chewing gum from his pocket and handed it to Ning Hao, "I heard from Sister Na that your shooting progress is much slower than planned?"

Ning Hao took the chewing gum, opened the package and stuffed it into his mouth, "It's a lot slower. It's the first time I've shot film by myself. The team and I are not familiar with it. It took about ten days to get used to it. It will be smoother next time."

"Don't be in a hurry. Work slowly and carefully. Brother, the movie has been produced. How do you plan to promote it, participate in film festivals, and sell the film abroad?" Shanhe asked.

Ning Hao was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "It seems that this is the only way for a small investment like ours. Without fame and publicity resources, no one will watch it even if it is released!"

Shanhe turned to look at Ning Hao, "Brother, to be honest, no one would watch an experimental film like "Incense" even if Jiang Wen acted in it. It's too niche!"

Ning Hao touched his head and smiled, "Shanhe, what you said is right, but it's too direct. You are an investor."

"I'm investing in you, Ning Hao! It's not this movie. I've always wanted to ask you what you think of the sixth-generation directors. Can you tell me?" Shanhe asked directly.

Hearing this, Ning Hao stopped and lowered his head and thought for a while, "I studied photography first and then directing. I am not that persistent in art films. Of course, all directors want to control the film according to their own will and pursue art. It’s an art student’s dream, but I don’t reject commercial films. I understand that I can’t support myself through art, nor can I support movies.”

Shanhe nodded, looked at Ning Hao and said: "We have similar ideas. In fact, you and Zhang Yimou have something in common. They both started to contact movies through photography. Zhang Yimou is currently filming "Hero" and has announced an investment of 30 million US dollars. , a little bit unreal, but half of it is definitely over the top. Do you think that as a director who has climbed to the top in the field of art films, why would he take such a big risk to make a thankless commercial film? Have you considered it? ?”

Ning Hao was a little confused for a moment. Zhang Yimou was too far away from him. It was hard to say whether he would have another movie. He could only think about what Zhang Yimou was thinking!

"Shanhe, what you said is too far-reaching. I am just a new director. As you can see, I have to work very hard to control a crew of more than twenty people. How can I think so far-reaching!"

Shanhe smiled, "Brother, I'm not showing off my popularity with you, I just want to tell you that without the support of commercial films, the Chinese film industry will be finished, and all practitioners will suffer. I I’ve been to Hollywood, and their film industry is much scarier than I imagined!”

Ning Hao looked at Shanhe in confusion, "Shanhe, what do you mean?"

"Brother, I am not pretentious and have a high style. From my position, this is what I see. I want to do something. This is also my responsibility. I think this should also be your responsibility and everyone's responsibility. !" Shanhe said solemnly.

Ning Hao looked at Shan He and pondered for a while, "Shan He, I'd better stay down to earth and finish filming "Incense" before talking about it. I will consider your words!"

"You may think my words are too pragmatic. I don't want you to give up "Incense", I just want to chat with you. I have to find some like-minded people. Aunt Qu has established a film and television company. Brother, I hope we can have a long-term Cooperation, don’t mind the accident of "Under the Zhengyang Gate" this time, I will still support you in your next movie!" Shan He said to Ning Hao sincerely.

Ning Hao waved his hand and responded: "Shanhe, this shooting experience of "Incense" has made me sober up a lot. I am still too young. I am really happy to join Deng Xiaolong's crew and get your support. I'm happier, but then again, Shanhe, do you think so highly of me?"

"Of course, I think your future achievements will be no lower than Feng Xiaogang's now!" Shanhe replied affirmatively.

Ning Hao smiled and said to Shanhe: "You really think highly of me. Are you so sure that I will make commercial films in the future?"

"Wise directors will do this. Of course it would be better if it can be appreciated by both refined and popular people!" Shanhe replied with the same smile.

"Shanhe, if "Incense" can make a profit, I will talk to you about the future. Now I don't have the qualifications and confidence. Thank you for your attention. I will try my best to turn your words into reality." Ning Hao solemnly said to Shanhe said.

"Okay, I'm looking forward to it."

The two looked at each other and smiled, and both remembered the agreement.

"Let's go back. Aunt Qu, the publisher of "Incense" will also help. I can find connections at the film festival in Country M." Shanhe Diao turned to Ning Hao and said.

"That's great. I originally only wanted to participate in film festivals across Asia. With film sales channels in Europe and the United States, my hope of recovering the cost is much greater." Ning Hao responded excitedly.

Amid Ning Hao's constant questioning, the two returned to the set.

Half an hour later, the crew resumed filming, and Shanhe joined the crew as a non-staff assistant to the director.

The sun has gone down, the daytime shooting is over, the temperature is getting colder and colder, the crew is still not disbanded, and there are still a few night scenes to be shot.

Everyone was eating half-cooled lunch boxes in the open air while discussing the precautions for the night show.

Filming is so hard!

"Xiaohe, it's time for us to return to the capital." Qu Ling reminded Shanhedao at the side.

Shan He swallowed the tasteless Chinese cabbage and said, "Aunt Qu, when I finish eating, this food is really not that good!"

"Shanhe, the crew's meals are budgeted. This is pretty good, with two meat dishes and one vegetarian meal. The crews my senior and I used to have were much worse than this!" Ning Hao replied to Shanhe while chewing rice.

"It's so cold, don't freeze anyone. Aunt Qu, I'll give you 10,000 yuan personally, plus some food expenses for the logistics. I'll have a bowl of hot soup and ginger tea, okay?" Shan He said to Qu Ling.

"Okay, I'll explain it, but you have to pay for it yourself, it won't go out of the company's account."

"I'll forward it to you tomorrow." Shanhe finished eating the lunch and turned to Ning Hao and said, "Brother, I'm going back first, and I'll come back to study with you later. You have to pay attention to your health, the weather is getting colder."

"I want to thank you on behalf of the crew. Ten thousand yuan is not a small amount of money. We have a lot of money."

Shan He patted Ning Hao's arm and said, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone. I'll take my leave now. We'll get back together when the filming is finished!"

With about twenty people seeing them off, the three of them got into the car and set off for the capital.

"I didn't expect that making a movie would be so hard. After standing there for a day, I almost turned into a popsicle!" Qu Ling sighed.

Xing Aina rubbed her hands in the back seat and responded: "Aunt Qu, their conditions are pretty good. Last time I and Ning Hao filmed a movie about rural areas in the northwest. That place had nothing to offer, let alone what we brought today. The cooked food here is not even meaty. After staying there for more than a month, my eyes almost turned green. When I returned to the capital, I ate pork belly for a week and gained more than ten kilograms!"

"It is indeed not easy to make movies in China. There are too few people who dare to invest and there are not enough funds. How can the conditions be better?" Shanhe also replied.

Qu Ling sighed, "I went to Hollywood twice and took a look at the current situation of domestic movies. If you don't change, it will probably be difficult for Chinese movies!"