The director starts by learning from the abilities of renowned directors.

Chapter 75 Tears in My Eyes

Chedun Film and Television City.

After a month and a half of filming, we finally filmed Shen Qing's favorite scene today. There were six people, but only two passes, so they drew lots to decide who would get one, and took a group photo before parting ways.

"Attention all departments!"

"Filming in progress!"

"Recording started!"

"Scene 56, Shot 1, First take."

"Snapped!"

The stage manager slams the clapperboard and exits.

"Three, two, one, action!" the assistant director shouted.

After reading it, Hou Yong put the pass back on the table and said, "With this pass, I can leave Nanjing, right?"

Qin Hailu asked, "What if we run into Japanese people?"

"This has the seal of a high-ranking official on it, the Japanese wouldn't dare to mess around with it." Shen Qing said as he picked up the pass and inspected it. "The photo isn't stuck on properly, it can be replaced with anyone's, and then we can use ink to fix the seal."

The two passes bear photos of Su Liuchang and Lin Yuxiu respectively. Shen Qing plays Su Liuchang. He says the photos aren't glued on properly and that someone else could use his, which actually means that Su Liuchang is prepared to give up his chance to live.

When faced with a life-or-death decision, it's like talking about a very ordinary little thing. The calmer the lines and the more subdued the performance, the more moving the emotions it conveys.

Qin Hailu took the pass and checked if the photo was properly attached. Hou Yong took the pass from his wife and put it back on the table, saying, "It belongs to whoever it belongs to." He then said to Shen Qing, "You two should leave early."

Shen Qing said, "What will you do if we leave?"

Hou Yong said, "Just keep hiding like this. Isn't this how it was before? Just pretend the two of you never came."

Qin Hailu picked up the pass and said, "Hey, do you guys think we could make a few more of these like this? Then all of us could go, right?"

Qin Hailu's lines reveal that Hou Yong's earlier statement about continuing to hide actually meant he was mentally preparing for death.

Everyone knew that continuing to hide would almost certainly lead to their demise, but they still insisted that Su Liuchang and Lin Yuxiu take the passes and leave. The passes should belong to whoever they belonged to; this was Lao Jin's very simple moral principle.

Meanwhile, Qin Hailu's attempt to duplicate the passes instantly made the scene more realistic. Old Jin and his wife weren't alone; they also had a daughter and a younger son. The wife, played by Qin Hailu, could die with her husband, but as a mother, she couldn't ignore her children.

Su Liuchang was willing to give up his own chance of survival, but not Lin Yuxiu's. So, while everyone was passing the buck, Shen Qing said, "Alright, Yuxiu, go. I'll take this one. Your family can choose one person."

Hou Yong lowered his head slightly. Accepting the proposal meant letting someone else die in place of his family, but refusing it meant that none of his family of four might survive: "No, I can't, I can't."

Refusing would disrupt his rhythm, and he was struggling internally. Qin Hailu looked at Hou Yong, without saying a word. Whether her husband accepted the proposal or not, she would listen to him. She was also a kind person to the core. With just one look, Qin Hailu showed that deep down, the character actually hoped that her husband would accept the proposal, not for herself, but for the sake of the children.

"Alright, alright," Yuan Quan suggested. "We've been through thick and thin together, let's draw lots to decide."

"Click!"

Shen Qing went over to watch the playback and then announced that the shot was done.

Each group urgently prepared for the filming of the next scene. Shen Qing and the other lead actors sat together and talked about the next scene.

"The next shot is about drawing lots. Hou Yong, what should your character, Lao Jin, be thinking if he didn't draw a lot? If you had drawn a lot, you would have given it to your wife and daughter without hesitation. Since you didn't draw a lot, it means that your wife and daughter have a better chance of drawing a lot. Hai Lu, you didn't draw a lot either. Your mentality is similar to Hou Yong's, but there's an extra layer. At least you can die together with your husband, so it's not too bad. And your daughter's hope is a little stronger."

Shen Qing looked at Zhang Zifeng and said, "Zifeng, you drew it. Be happy, but keep it within limits. The atmosphere in the next scene is still quite oppressive. Hailu, after you draw it, Zifeng, hug your daughter. If one member of the family can get out, it's already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune."

"Yuan Quan, the camera will give you a close-up. You have to smile from the bottom of your heart. You should be genuinely happy that the little girl can go out. Hou Yong, you feel guilty right now because the opportunity originally belonged to Su Liuchang and Lin Yuxiu. Yuan Quan didn't draw the slip, but she was at peace with herself. Then it was me. I drew the slip and handed it out. Yuan Quan, you asked me what I was doing, but actually, we both smiled knowingly at each other and understood each other's thoughts."

Before long, all groups were ready.

"Scene 56, Shot 2, First take."

"Three, two, one, go!"

……

The first shot of the afternoon was a group photo, which required a 20-second exposure, during which everyone sang a familiar Nanjing city gate ballad.

"The city gate, the city gate, how tall is it? Thirty-six zhang tall. Riding a dappled horse, carrying a knife, you walk through the city gate and trip. Do you want an orange or a banana?"

It was a very calm scene, but many of the crew members on set, especially the assistant director behind the monitor and the cinematographer behind the camera, had tears welling up in their eyes.

The next scene involved filming everyone taking a group photo against the backdrop of the beautiful landscape of their motherland.

The Forbidden City in Beiping.

Tianjin Quanyechang.

Willows swaying in the breeze at West Lake.

The City God Temple in Shanghai.

Yellow Crane Tower.

Great Wall.

As one background painting after another was pulled down, emotions accumulated layer by layer, reaching their peak at the Great Wall.

Our beautiful land cannot be trampled upon at will. The sons and daughters of China will never give up an inch of it!

At this moment, not only the assistant director and cameraman, but many more people, perhaps the vast majority, had tears in their eyes. The significance of the War of Resistance Against Japan became incredibly tangible at this moment.

……

Time flies, and it's already mid-February. Filming for "Nanjing Photo Studio" is nearing its end.

"Mr. Shen, the contract with Zhang Zifeng has been signed."

Chen Zhixi reported to Shen Qing.

Shen Qing nodded and said, "Take good care of her. In the future, most of the films and TV series in our company that require a little girl will use her."

"Whether you bring one or two artists, it's the same as bringing one or two. Why don't we sign a few more artists with our company?"

"Sign up any promising talents you see. By the way, Zhao Liying, the one who plays the nurse. When she terminates her contract with Huayi Brothers, sign her. I have high hopes for her. In the future, whenever the company needs a girl-next-door type of role, we'll mostly use her."

"This girl has a lot of tenacity, and I have high hopes for her."

"I'm grooming her to be a top-tier talent."

"Understood."

On February 18, filming for "Nanjing Photo Studio" officially wrapped up, while "Nanjing! Nanjing!", which started filming on September 18 last year, still has at least three more months to go before wrapping up.

A few days later, Shen Qing was summoned to China Film Group to discuss the release date of "Little Lolita's Kung Fu Uncle".

"Scheduling for the summer movie season is tough!"

Han Sanping got straight to the point.

Previously, President Han had asked Shen Qing what release date she wanted, and Shen Qing had also discussed it with the American distributor Legendary Pictures. The final reply to President Han was that it would be released during the summer season.

The problem is that a super movie with an investment of $8000 million is going to be released this year, which has been split into two parts, and will occupy the summer and Lunar New Year movie seasons respectively.

In other words, even if Shen Qing avoids the summer season, she will still have to compete with the sequel of this film during the Lunar New Year season, especially since there is another film, "If You Are the One," also scheduled for release during the Lunar New Year season.

This refers to John Woo's films "Red Cliff I" and "Red Cliff II".

China Film Group invested 1.07 million yuan in this film and acquired the permanent mainland rights to the series. President Han had already hinted that "Red Cliff" would gross at least 5 million yuan at the box office.

So, which movie does President Han prefer?

Of course, it's Red Cliff!

China Film Group owns the permanent mainland rights to "Red Cliff," while the permanent mainland rights to "Little Lolita's Kung Fu Uncle" belong to Shen Qing. Wanda sold 4000% of the rights for 2 million yuan, and the rest belong to Shen Qing.

It's not that Shen Qing is unwilling to invest; the problem is that the Greater China copyright was obtained through Shen Qing's film salary, so no investment is needed.

Ultimately, China Film Group owns the permanent copyright to "Red Cliff," but only the distribution rights to "Little Lolita's Kung Fu Uncle."