Chapter 7 Avant-garde Films
"Boy, if you buy me a cigarette today, I will take you to meet the idol you told me about today."

Jiang Wen held a cigarette in his mouth, raised his left hand and pointed his thumb at Ge You behind him and said.

"Thank you, Brother Jiang. Hello, Teacher Ge. It's not convenient to talk to you on the set today. I'm a fan of yours!"

Chen An excitedly grabbed Uncle Ge's hand and said.

"You are so good, calling me brother and teacher, making me a generation lower than you for nothing."

Jiang Wen interrupted the two of them, patted Chen An and squeezed into the room.

I found a table, put the wine and food on the table, and sat on a nearby chair:

"Besides, I'm more than a generation older than you. I'm lucky enough that I didn't ask you to call me uncle. Now that you've asked me to call you brother, I'm your brother."

Uncle Ge who followed in also found a chair and sat down: "I wish he called me younger and called me uncle."

"That's true. You're still the same as you were ten years ago. Hahahaha."

Chen An at the door closed the door and walked in.

He took out three cups from the plastic bag that Jiang Wen brought and poured wine into them.

After drinking some wine, Jiang Wen started to talk to Uncle Ge about what Chen An said today. As expected of a great director, he described it vividly with his gestures and movements.

"Is it true?" Uncle Ge asked curiously after hearing it.

Chen An nodded and took a bite of peanuts and swallowed them.

After receiving Chen An's recognition, Uncle Ge nodded in admiration: "Young man, you have a good brain and are smart. I wish you can be selected today."

After saying that, he toasted Chen An with a sip of wine.

Chen An immediately returned the toast, and said, a little drunk, "Thank you very much. I don't know what Boss Lin did with the remaining film."

"What's the matter? Do you have any other ideas?" Jiang Wen, who was sitting next to him, understood what he meant.

"A little bit. Boss Lin wanted to promote his clothing brand, but he got cheated this time. If he could be shortlisted..."

"It would be great if it could sell for some money. I guess I could even ask him to make a feature film."

Chen An nodded and answered him.

"Are you in such a hurry? You still want to shoot? You want to be a director so much? Why don't you apply for the directing department?"

Hearing Jiang Wen's question, Chen An suddenly felt an impulse in his DNA and said:

"Can you pass the exam?"

"Besides, who doesn't know that all directors at Beijing Film Academy graduated from the photography department?"

"Who would take the directing exam?"

Halfway through his speech, Chen An reacted and suddenly stopped talking.

"Hahaha, well said. Everyone knows that all the directors at Beijing Film Academy graduated from the photography department."

"But don't tell Brother Kai that. He graduated from the directing department."

Jiang Wen couldn't stop laughing, and Uncle Ge was reminding him from behind.

After drinking more, Jiang Wen put his arm around Chen An's shoulder and asked:

"Brother, you said you wanted to find that Boss Lin to make a feature film again. What do you plan to make?"

Chen An did not hide it:
"It's a pioneering film. I've been working on the script recently. The domestic box office market is not very good, so I want to try to win an award abroad."

After saying that, he added: "It would be best if it were the top three."

"You're so arrogant. You're talking about the Big Three right away. Do you think they're yours?"

Jiang Wen was a little confused and thought that this young man was really bold.

Chen An didn't care: "I'm just thinking about it. No one has stipulated that I shouldn't even think about it."

"That's true. I'm sure I'll think positively."

When he woke up the next day, Chen An felt his throat was so dry that it was about to smoke.

I picked up the water I had drawn yesterday on the table and gulped it down, and then I felt a lot better.

Chen An didn't know when the other two would return, so he had cleared up everything on the table.

Chen An also prepared to wash up and start today's work.

It was a bit tiring, but after all, he learned something and earned money, so Chen An had nothing to complain about.

There is no breakfast in the hotel, but there will be a unified breakfast when we go to the crew.

Of course, if you have money you can find your own food.

Obviously Chen An has no money.

We have already headed to the river today, and there are still a few scenes that have not been filmed.

I also need to change my clothes, they should be different from yesterday.

When Chen An arrived at the place, he saw several leading actors having breakfast.

I went up to say hello but didn't chat much, after all, it was working hours.

Everyone was preparing and putting on makeup.

Chen An also needs to lay out the props after dinner, after all, that's what he does.

This time, a group of people stood neatly in a row on the opposite stone bank, a group of people with words on their heads.

Standing in a row, the camera is filming here.

As the days passed, the scenes along the Yellow River were basically filmed, and now the scenes have moved on to those in the Qin Palace.

Chen An and the other person don’t usually chat with each other, and they rarely chat in the theater.

Chen An also often saw Jiang Wen and the director arguing about the script.

The more I watch this play, the more I smell the hint of ginger.

Sometimes at night, Jiang Wen would come over to drink and chat or look for Chen An.

Uncle Ge, however, only came here once or twice.

Chen An also studied with peace of mind in this large crew and learned a lot of practical shooting techniques that were not taught in school.

I gradually felt more confident.

Although I had the images of the movie in my mind, I didn’t quite understand how to shoot it at first.

Moreover, most of the conversations between Chen An and Jiang Wen were about filming.

Jiang Wen did not hide anything and gave a lot of instructions.

Chen An also learned, thinking to himself that if he had any questions he didn't know, he would find an opportunity to ask.

Time passed by unknowingly, and more than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

The crew's filming was approaching dusk and was about to be finished.

At this time, Chen An received the long-awaited call.

I called the crew directly because I didn’t have a fancy phone.

"Hello~"

Chen An took the call from the crew and spoke to the person on the other end of the phone.

"Director Chen An, right?"

"Correct!"

"We are from the Beijing Film Studio. Since you don't have a phone, the staff of the Venice Film Festival called you to inform you that you have been shortlisted for the 52nd Horizon Unit. We hope you can go to the Beijing Film Studio as soon as possible to participate in the Venice Film Festival."

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as possible."

Then Chen An hung up the phone, and his right hand holding the phone was shaking slightly.

Although he thought about being shortlisted, Chen An still felt like he was dreaming.

The first short film I shot was shortlisted for the Venice Film Festival. Even though it was just a short film, it was something I never dared to imagine in my previous life.

Chen An smoked a cigarette to calm down, then picked up the phone and called Boss Lin:

"Hey~Boss Lin, where are you?"

"you are?"

"I'm Chen An, the one who helped you shoot the short film. Our short film was shortlisted for the Venice International Film Festival. You'd better bring someone who can speak English and preferably Italian with you to go abroad with me. If it wins an award, it should be able to sell for some money."

"Venice Film Festival? The Venice in Italy? When do we leave?"

"Yes, that's right. You go to BJ first, and I'll contact you then. That's it. I'm hanging up now."

"no problem."

After hanging up the phone, Chen An returned the phone to the stage manager.

I found a place and smoked two cigarettes before I calmed down.

The filming of the crew is coming to an end. I'm just a handyman, so it shouldn't be a problem for me to ask for a leave.

If it really doesn't work out, there's no problem with Chen An returning some of the money.

After thinking about it, Chen An walked towards the director.

When he arrived, Chen An saw Jiang Wen and the director gathered together.

Look at the footage I just shot and see if it works.

There were no storyboards in those days, so the only person who could see what was being shot first was the photographer.

So they need to see if the footage they just shot is up to par.

Several main and supporting actors sat together reading scripts or chatting.

Chen An went straight to the director and said, "Director Zhou, I need to ask for leave from you."

Before Zhou Xiaowen could reply, Jiang Wen looked up and asked, "What's the matter?"

"The short film I told you about last time was shortlisted for this year's Venice Film Festival. The Beijing Film Studio just called me and asked me to go to Venice with them."

Chen An also spoke directly and explained the matter.

"Awesome, bro. You actually made it into the list." Upon hearing the answer, Jiang Wen slapped the table and spoke.

Director Zhou also said, "Well, since we're almost done shooting, go get the money now and I'll give you some travel expenses so you can leave earlier."

"Thank you, Director. I'll be there right away."

Chen An quickly thanked Director Zhou for his generosity.

Jiang Wen also stood up, hooked his arm around Chen An's neck and said, "Okay, I went to Venice last year, so don't embarrass your brother Jiang, at least come back with a Best Short Film award."

"Hehe, if they are willing to give it to you, I will definitely get it back for you." Chen An replied happily.

(End of this chapter)