novelraw Chapter 28 Opening Ceremony
Chapter 28 Opening Ceremony
November 29, 2011, Beijing, the fifth day of the eleventh lunar month, Tuesday, the weather is cloudy turning partly cloudy.
Suitable activities: praying for blessings, starting work, and traveling.
On a makeshift stage set up on an open space in the Huairou Film and Television Base, a bright red banner fluttered in the cold wind—the Joint Art Exchange Activity of Three Schools and the Launch Ceremony of "Twelve Citizens".
Lin Yu originally intended to hold a small opening ceremony as a token gesture; if it weren't for industry norms, he would have even skipped the opening ceremony altogether.
Unfortunately, Principal Zhang did not adopt his opinion.
"Lin Yu, this is not just a simple opening ceremony, but also the first joint exchange among the three schools," Principal Zhang said on the phone. "What would it look like if this joint exchange activity were held quietly and without fanfare?"
And that's how we ended up in this situation.
Lin Yu stood shivering in the cold wind, wrapped in a coat, and felt a chill run down his spine as he watched the continuous stream of people coming in.
Many of the celebrities who came to the event were secretly glancing in his direction. It wasn't that Lin Yu's handsomeness was particularly eye-catching, although that was certainly part of the reason.
The main reason was that Han Sanping had been standing by his side the whole time.
"How was it? Did Uncle put on a grand opening ceremony for you?" Han Sanping also put on a coat, underneath which was his signature black Tang suit.
Lin Yu really wondered if his closet was full of these things.
Today's opening ceremony was not only the result of the efforts of the three schools, but also Han Sanping's extensive invitation to his friends.
He stayed by Lin Yu's side all day because he was genuinely afraid that some clueless celebrity might take advantage of Lin Yu's youth and cause some unnecessary trouble.
The speed at which "12 Citizens" was reviewed really surprised him.
Having worked in the film and television industry for so many years, what kind of situation hasn't he seen?
But I've never seen a script enter the public notice period on the same day it was submitted for review, and then the filming permit was issued and the people from China Film Group were notified to pick it up the same night the public notice period ended.
What does this tell us?
This proves I made the right choice!
Today, Han Sanping is determined to protect Lin Yu and will not allow anyone to hinder his path to progress!
"Can you make it indoors next time? It's so damn cold here." Lin Yu sniffed; he had been standing in the cold wind for almost an hour.
The studio did have a rest room for the main cast and crew, but seeing the actors he had brought shivering in the cold wind, he felt embarrassed to go in and warm up himself.
"Don't these female celebrities feel cold?" Lin Yu looked at the women in the audience, some showing off their shoulders, others their legs. He felt cold just looking at them.
"Celebrities, of course, need to maintain their composure," Han Sanping laughed from the side.
At this moment, Wang Yanyang jogged over to inform them, "Chairman Han, Brother Lin, it's time to begin."
Lin Yu arranged for all three of her roommates to work on the film set. Wang Yanyang became a production assistant, while the other two were responsible for on-site coordination.
If this movie didn't really need any extras, Lin Yu would have liked to give them roles.
"Hurry up, don't let them get too cold." Lin Yu rubbed his hands together and prepared to walk onto the stage.
Wang Yanyang grabbed her arm and said, "Don't rush, there are still leaders to speak. You'll go on stage later."
Lin Yu was taken aback: "The leader is giving a speech? Who's giving the speech?"
"Principal Zhang will speak first." Wang Yanyang was very familiar with the whole process. "Then it's Chairman Han, the leaders from the Central Academy of Drama, the leaders from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, followed by the executive producer, Dean Wang Jinsong, then the artistic director, Director Tian Zhuangzhuang, and finally you."
Lin Yu felt terrible upon hearing this list.
He looked at Wang Yanyang with difficulty: "Wait, why am I involved? Nobody told me there was this part to be done today."
"Oh, you don't need to give a speech. You just go up and say 'Good luck with the start of filming,' and that's it," Wang Yanyang replied nonchalantly.
Watching Principal Zhang, looking radiant on stage, pick up the microphone, Lin Yu felt a deep sense of regret.
He shouldn't have agreed to turn this film into some kind of joint activity between the three schools.
Principal Zhang's voice resonated throughout the hall through the speakers: "Distinguished guests, teachers, and students, good morning..."
Lin Yu listened from below the stage, but he really couldn't muster any enthusiasm.
He had no idea how the actors and celebrities sitting in the back could dress so "lightly" and still maintain a smile, even nodding in agreement at the right time and clapping at the right moment.
So you've used up all your acting skills on this?
The speeches on stage proceeded quickly, perhaps because they also felt it was a bit "freezing" today.
Lin Yu noticed that none of these people mentioned him in their speeches; they all talked about how rare this event was, and about Dean Wang and Teacher Tian's contributions to the film.
This is to protect him.
Principal Zhang and the others had already discussed it: they needed to both increase the film's popularity and protect Lin Yu.
The opening ceremony emphasized the joint activities of the three schools as much as possible, minimizing the director's presence.
If the final product is unsatisfactory, then producer Wang Jinsong and art director Tian Zhuangzhuang should step in. If the final product receives good reviews, then the director should be promoted.
Anyway, there are all kinds of photos, so you can promote it however you want.
As for those tabloid entertainment outlets hoping to create a big story, they weren't even allowed in. The media outlets that were allowed in today were basically all paid a "fee," and they knew what to say and what not to say.
Finally, Tian Zhuangzhuang finished speaking.
Sitting next to Lin Yu, Wang Yanyang tugged at his sleeve: "You're done speaking, get ready to go on stage."
Lin Yu looked up and heard the host on stage say, "Okay, thank you Director Tian for your wonderful speech. Now, please welcome the director to the stage to jointly unveil the start of filming."
Lin Yu took a deep breath and quickened his pace to walk onto the stage.
Wang Jinsong and Tian Zhuangzhuang were already standing on either side of the red cloth, placing their hands on it. Lin Yu was guided to the center and also placed his hand on the red cloth.
The host held the microphone to his mouth.
Lin Yu was still a little stunned. Wasn't it agreed that there would be no speech segment?
Fortunately, he noticed that the host was holding a cue card in his other hand, which read: "Unveil the cloth, shout 'Good luck on set!'"
He breathed a sigh of relief.
He exchanged a glance with Wang Jinsong and Tian Zhuangzhuang, and the three of them exerted force at the same time.
The red cloth was suddenly ripped off, revealing a brand-new camera underneath.
Lin Yu took a deep breath and shouted with all his might:
"Good luck with your startup!"
A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.
The flashes of light went off one after another, clicking incessantly.
Lin Yu stood on the stage, looking at the sea of people below, feeling a little excited.
"What are you standing there for?" Tian Zhuangzhuang tugged at Lin Yu's sleeve. "It's time to go down."
Lin Yu then came to his senses and followed the two teachers off the stage.
Han Sanping came up and patted Lin Yu on the shoulder: "Not bad, very energetic."
Hearing this, Lin Yu became even more suspicious of Uncle Han's background. "You're also a member of the Japanese Navy, right?"
"You don't need to participate in the media interviews later," Han Sanping continued. "Dean Wang and Director Tian will handle it. We'll do an interview after the final cut is released."
Lin Yu nodded and took the hot water that Wang Yanyang handed him.
My first work in my life has officially begun.