Huayu: This director specializes in promoting young actresses.

Chapter 1 My Childhood Sweetheart is Oda

Parallel universes!!!

In the office of the Directing Department of Beijing Film Academy in November 2014.

Lin Feng stood in front of the desk, watching his teacher flip through the script he handed him, his brows occasionally furrowing slightly before quickly relaxing, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

Finally, Jiang Wei put down the last page of the script, looked up at him, his eyes behind his glasses filled with emotion. He picked up the thermos on the table, unscrewed it, took a sip of hot water, and then said, "Everyone's saying you're a genius, and it turns out you really are."

He replied modestly, "Teacher Jiang, you flatter me. I was just writing something casually."

"You can write something like this just by writing casually?" Jiang Wei put down his cup and tapped the script cover lightly with his finger. "Take My Brother Away, the title itself is quite interesting. The way you portrayed the brother and sister in your story, their bickering yet affectionate relationship, is so realistic, like something I've personally experienced."

He picked up the script and flipped through two more pages: "The characters are believable, and you've captured the details perfectly. Your observation skills are impressive, Raymond Lam."

He chuckled and shrugged. "Maybe it's because I've seen so many before, so I thought I'd write down those interesting moments."

Jiang Wei nodded and then asked, "Planning to film it yourself?"

"Yes, I have that idea," he paused before replying, "I'd like to try turning it into a movie."

"What about funding?" Jiang Wei asked casually, knowing that the biggest worry for students making films was money.

"It's almost ready," he said, adding that when it came to funding, he had to thank the football season in July.

Jiang Wei was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled: "You little rascal, you really don't play by the rules. Fine, you've got guts."

"Your script is well-written and worth working on." Jiang Wei picked up the script, glanced at the title again, and said, "Take my brother away quickly, that's interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product. Do you have any needs? The school will help you as much as possible."

Seeing this, he took the opportunity to speak, his tone more earnest than before: "Teacher Jiang, actually, besides having you look at the script, there's something else I'd like to ask you for help with."

Jiang Wei looked up at him and put down the thermos in his hand: "Just say what you need to say, why are you being so polite with me?"

"I want to make this movie. I have enough funding, but as you know, professional camera equipment and lighting sets are not only expensive to rent on the market, but the models are also varied. Our school's equipment warehouse has complete equipment and is well maintained. If we can go through the process of applying through the school, it will definitely save a lot of trouble."

"Another issue is personnel. I'd like to find some students from the school to lend a hand. Senior students from the photography and sound recording departments have experience, and I can learn from them. It's also faster to get them to work out than hiring an external team."

He paused for a moment, then said, "These all require the school's help."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei laughed and pointed at him, saying, "You rascal, you're quite honest."

"I was afraid of making a mistake." He had suffered a lot because of his "unorthodox" identity in his previous life, so when he was reborn in early 14, he chose to enter the Beijing Film Academy.

Jiang Wei stroked the script cover, pondered for a moment, and said, "Your idea is correct. The school encourages students to engage in practical activities, and the quality of your script is there, so applying for support is reasonable. As for the equipment, I'll talk to the equipment warehouse for you and go through the approval process according to regulations. As long as it doesn't conflict with other important projects, there shouldn't be any major problems."

"As for personnel," he continued, "I can help you make an introduction, but let me make it clear beforehand that you have to lead the team yourself, and you have to take responsibility for any problems that arise. The school can provide a platform, but it can't do everything for you."

He nodded quickly: "Don't worry, I can definitely manage the team! I just need a reason to get everyone together, but the actual work still depends on ourselves. With the school's reputation backing me up, I feel more confident."

"Good to know." Jiang Wei picked up a pen and wrote a line on the title page of the script, "This is Teacher Wang's phone number in the equipment room. Contact him first, mention my name, and have him make a list of equipment for you."

"Thank you, Teacher Jiang! Thank you so much!" She took the script.

"What are you thanking me for? The fact that you produced something is a credit to the school." Jiang Wei waved his hand. "Don't be too happy yet. The equipment is borrowed; you'll have to pay for any damage. People are here to learn; don't treat them like free labor. I don't need to explain these things, do I?"

"Understood, understood!" he quickly replied. "I will definitely cherish the equipment and show the utmost respect to my classmates. Let's all work together to make a great film!"

Looking at him, Jiang Wei couldn't help but laugh. This kid might actually cause some trouble.

"Alright, get back to work." Jiang Wei waved his hand. "Let me know if there's any progress, don't keep this old man waiting too long."

"Hey! I promise I won't keep you waiting!" He took the script and left. When he reached the corner of the corridor, he couldn't help but clench his fist and shout in his heart, "It's done!"

After the equipment and team were basically settled, his focus shifted to casting. He already had a vague image of Shi Miao, the younger sister in "Take My Brother Away," in his mind.

The day I returned to the mountain city, the plane landed in the evening, and the familiar aroma of hot pot filled the air. Pushing open the door, my mother, Wang Hui, had already set the table, and my father, Lin Jianguo, was sitting on the sofa watching the news. Seeing me come in, his eyes lit up: "Why did you suddenly come back? Didn't you say you were busy at school?"

After changing his shoes, he went to the dining table, picked up an orange, and started peeling it: "I had something to do when I got back, so I just wanted to let you know."

During the meal, he briefly mentioned that he was going to make a movie and needed to find an actress, and mentioned that he wanted to try Tian Xiwei from his hometown of Tongliang.

The mother paused for a moment: "Is it Weiwei from the Tian family? I saw her last year during the Spring Festival, she's grown into a really beautiful young woman."

"It's her, I think she's perfect."

The father put down his chopsticks: "You want her to act in a movie? This is no small matter; we need to discuss it with her parents. It's the weekend tomorrow, so why don't we go back to Tongliang? We can meet up for a meal and clear things up."

He had the same idea, and nodded quickly: "That's great."

The next morning, my father drove the family to Tongliang. The county town had changed a lot; the roads were wider and there were more new buildings.

The restaurant we arranged to meet was located at the entrance of the old street; it was a family-style restaurant that had been open for over ten years. When we followed our parents into the private room, Tian Xiwei and her family had already arrived.

"Brother Jianguo, Sister Hui!" Tian Xiwei's father stood up to greet them, and her mother also came forward with a smile, "We've been waiting for you, please have a seat."

The two families greeted each other familiarly, catching up on each other's lives and chatting about their children, creating a very warm atmosphere.

Tian Xiwei's eyes lit up when she saw him. She walked up to him and opened her arms wide, saying confidently, "Brother Feng!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she gave him a tight hug.

"Oh, how old are you and you're still acting like a child?" Mother Tian said with a smile, but her eyes were full of doting affection.

Tian Xi loosened her grip slightly and stuck out her tongue: "It's been a long time since I've seen Brother Feng. You only stayed for a short while last Chinese New Year before you left."

He smiled and ruffled her hair: "It's been quite a while, you're getting taller and taller."

"Of course!" She looked up, a little proud. "I'm already in my second year of high school, Feng-ge, you're the one who's been gone since you went to the main city. My mom always talks about you."

"I'm back now," he replied with a smile.

The two elders laughed as they watched the children interact. Mr. Tian opened a bottle of wine and poured some for Mr. Lin: "The children are all grown up now. Let's not just chat; let's get down to business. Lin Feng, you said on the phone earlier that you wanted Weiwei to act in a movie?"

The conversation finally turned to business, and the atmosphere in the private room quieted down a bit as everyone's attention focused on Lin Feng.

He smiled, meeting everyone's gaze, then turned to Tian Xiwei, his tone warm with a hint of reminiscence: "Yes, I want Weiwei to give it a try. Do you remember when we were little? You always followed me around with a toy microphone, saying you wanted to be a big star and play the leading lady when you grew up."

Tian Xi was slightly taken aback, then blushed a little and scratched her head shyly: "Brother, why are you bringing this up again?" It was inevitable that she would feel a little embarrassed to say something she said when she was a child in public, but she couldn't hide a hint of expectation in her eyes.

"Why can't I mention it?" He looked at both sets of parents and explained seriously, "The movie I'm going to make this time is called 'Take My Brother Away,' which tells the story of a brother and sister. The sister is clever but a little temperamental, and she and her brother are always bickering, but she actually cares about him a lot. I think Weiwei's personality is very similar to the character."

He briefly described the amusing daily interactions between the brother and sister in the script, such as fighting over snacks, hiding homework, and playing little pranks behind their backs.

As they talked, Lin's mother laughed first: "Isn't this exactly what you two did when you were little? Lin Feng always liked to hide Weiwei's candy, and Weiwei would hide his comic books under the bed when he wasn't looking."

Mother Tian nodded in agreement, her eyes full of smiles as she looked at Tian Xiwei: "That's right. Back then, the two children would chase each other around the yard every day. Either he would make her cry, or she would complain about him. Thinking about it now, it was like a skit."

Listening to this, Mr. Tian raised his glass and clinked it against Mr. Lin's: "So, this role really is tailor-made for Weiwei?"

"I think so," Lin's mother said confidently. "Weiwei's energy is so vibrant and real; she'll definitely be fine playing this role. Besides, the filming period won't be too long, so it won't interfere with her studies too much."

The father chimed in, "It's good that the kids have ideas. Xiaofeng learned this at school, so he knows what he's doing. Besides, the story is quite good, and the sibling relationship is heartwarming. There's nothing wrong with letting Weiwei give it a try."

The two families were already familiar with each other and had no barriers between them. After Lin Feng explained the situation clearly, they felt that this character was indeed very similar to the way the children interacted when they were young, so there was nothing to worry about.

Tian's mother looked at her daughter, her eyes asking, "Weiwei, do you want to give it a try?"

Tian Xi looked at Lin Feng, then at her parents, and nodded vigorously: "Yes! I definitely want to act in the story that Brother Feng wrote!" The joke from her childhood suddenly had the possibility of coming true, and she was already overjoyed.

Seeing that his daughter was willing, Mr. Tian relented: "Alright, since the children are willing, we parents support them. Lin Feng, then I'll leave Weiwei in your care. She doesn't have much experience, so please give her some guidance."

"Don't worry, Uncle, I will definitely take good care of her." He quickly agreed, feeling a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.

With that settled, the atmosphere in the private room became more relaxed. Tian Xiwei leaned closer to him and whispered, "Brother, can I really play the female lead? Do I need to audition or something?"

"Of course it's true." He patted her shoulder with a smile. "No need for an audition, I've already decided on you. I'll give you the script later, so you can familiarize yourself with the lines. Feel free to ask me anything you don't understand."

"Okay!" Tian Xi nodded vigorously, her smile as bright as the sunshine outside the window.