novellhall Chapter 269 Using student assignments to win awards? [5000]
Chapter 269 Using student assignments to win awards? [5000]
Chapter 268 Using student assignments to win awards? [5000] (Seeking monthly votes)
Chen Xun has been attending classes as usual recently.
Lee So-yeon didn't come to audit the class anymore; I don't know where she went.
Thursday afternoon classes are over.
Just as Chen Xun finished packing his things, Li Suyan rushed into the classroom carrying a thick folder.
"Oppa! Help!"
She slammed the folder on the podium, panting. The folder cover had the words "Last Roll of Film" handwritten on it.
Below is a line of smaller print: "Li Suyan's Graduation Project Script, Fifth Draft".
Chen Xun glanced at the students who hadn't all left the classroom and lowered his voice: "Are you sure you want to say this here?"
"I can't wait!"
Lee So-yeon had dark circles under her eyes: "The final script is due to be submitted to the judging committee next Monday. I stayed up for three nights and revised it to the fifth draft, but it still doesn't feel right."
The last few students looked over curiously, and Li Suyan realized the occasion was inappropriate. She quickly picked up her folder and said, "Shall we talk in a coffee shop?"
In the student café downstairs at the drama academy, the two found a corner seat.
Li Suyan ordered two Americanos and then pushed the folder in front of Chen Xun.
"Look, please."
She clasped her hands together and said, "I know you've been very busy lately, this is my last chance."
Chen Xun opened the folder.
The script was in a standard format, with the cover indicating the genre: short film, 30 minutes, black and white cinematography, and an estimated budget of $8.
For a student project, this is already considered a large-scale production.
He spent twenty minutes quickly browsing through it.
The story is actually quite interesting.
Mr. Lee, a Korean immigrant who ran a video rental store in Los Angeles in the 1990s, is facing the fate of his store closing down.
The last customer was an elderly man suffering from Alzheimer's disease who always rented the same movie but forgot it every time he watched it.
On the eve of closing his shop, Old Li decided to play one last roll of film for this old man.
"Great idea."
Chen Xun closed the script and looked at Li Suyan: "Immigrant story, cinematic sentiment, the theme of Alzheimer's memory —"
If these elements are combined and filmed well, it certainly has the potential to win awards.
Lee So-yeon's eyes lit up: "Really?"
"But that's also where the problem lies."
Chen Xun paused for a moment: "You're trying to say too much!"
"The identity struggles of immigrants, the tragic struggle of small shops against chain stores, the philosophical significance of film as a carrier of memory, the warmth of Alzheimer's disease —"
"A 30-minute short film can't cover so many topics, so the result is that each point is only touched upon, and none of them are explained in detail."
[Narrative pacing control +15]
A golden attribute orb fell from his body.
Lee So-yeon's smile froze on her face.
"For example."
Chen Xun turned to the middle page: "The phone call scene between Lao Li and his daughter, you want to show the generation gap between him and the second-generation immigrant children, that's fine."
"But the dialogue is written too orthodoxly. Every sentence is about how I am an immigrant and how hard I am. The audience will feel that you are preaching instead of telling a story."
He took a sip of coffee and continued, "And then there's that old man with Alzheimer's."
"You've written him too much as a symbol, like a walking prop."
Why does he always rent the same movie?
"What did that movie mean to him?"
"You failed to explain these important points."
"The audience will only see him as a patient, and won't empathize with him."
Lee So-yeon bit her lip, her fingers unconsciously picking at the cup sleeve of her coffee cup.
Seeing her like this, Chen Xun softened his tone: "I'm not saying this to discourage you."
"Your script has a good framework and a solid core idea. If it were just a USC graduation project, it would definitely get an excellent grade."
"But if you're thinking about the possibility of becoming a huge hit and winning an award, then you have to use a higher standard."
"Then—what should we do?"
Lee So-yeon was clearly not satisfied with just being rated as excellent at school.
"Have surgery."
Chen Xun took out a red pen from his backpack: "A script is like the human body. Some parts are healthy, some parts have grown fat, and some parts need to be strengthened."
"What we need to do is remove excess fat and strengthen the core."
97
He turned to the first page: "First, determine the main storyline."
"What exactly is your film trying to say?"
"Did Old Li's shop go out of business?"
"Is it a friendship between him and the old man?"
"Or is film a metaphor for memory?"
Lee So-yeon thought for a moment and said, "What I want to say is that in an era where everything is destined to disappear, some things can still be remembered."
"good!"
Chen Xun wrote on the paper: "Then let's take this as the core."
"All plot points must serve this theme."
"Immigrant status can be retained, but it should not be a separate section. It should be integrated into daily details. For example, Old Li's habit of wiping the film three times before showing a movie can reflect the caution and appreciation that comes with his immigrant status."
He flipped through the pages quickly, his red pen tracing lines on the paper: "Delete the car chase scene between the second and third acts. The short film doesn't need this kind of commercial film plot. The old man's son comes to the store to find him, and the two of them talking is enough."
"But for this scene, I wanted to show the cityscape of Los Angeles—"
"Use establishing shots!"
Chen Xun: "After Lao Li closed his shop, he walked on the empty street, the shop signs going out one by one, which was more powerful than chasing cars."
[Emotional Layer Construction +12]
Another golden attribute orb has dropped.
After absorbing the two attribute orbs, Chen Xun felt that his understanding of the script was becoming clearer.
Moreover, the downward trend of "Leading the Trend" on his panel has stabilized, and it has even risen.
We're currently stuck at 86% of the progress.
You're only 14% away from advancing to the next level.
If "The Ancient One" hadn't been taken down, the progress of "Leading the Trend" would definitely have been upgraded directly.
Right now, we can only accumulate little by little.
"I've seen your character in the movie, and it's a good one."
He circled it in red: "This could develop into a key plot point; the old man might have confused Old Li with a movie character from his memory —"
"This confusion is exactly what we mean. In the world of film, we are all each other's audience and actors."
Lee So-yeon's eyes widened: "I just wrote this down casually—"
"The best ideas often come from spontaneous moments."
At this moment, several directions for developing this idea automatically appeared in Chen Xun's mind, which was clearly due to the effect of [Emotional Layer Construction].
Over the next two hours, the number of people in the coffee shop changed several times.
Chen Xun used a red pen and sticky notes to disassemble and reassemble the script.
Lee So-yeon frantically took notes on the side, occasionally offering rebuttals.
"Why does Old Li insist on keeping the shop open? Nostalgia alone isn't enough."
Chen Xun wrote in the blank space: "You can add a detail: the last thing his wife did together before she passed away was to watch a movie in this store."
"So this shop is not just a business, it's a safe deposit box of memories."
"And what about the old man? Why does he always rent the same movie?"
"That movie was probably the one he watched on his first date with his first love when he was young."
Chen Xun's mind raced: "Now that his first love is gone, he's almost forgotten everything, but this movie is the last anchor point of his memories."
"So the two of them are actually saving each other—"
Li Suyan murmured, "Old Li is also facing his own loss by helping the elderly."
Bingo!
Chen Xun nodded: "That's dramatic tension."
As soon as he finished speaking, another golden attribute orb dropped:
[Character Motivation Logic +18]
Chen Xun felt as if his thoughts had been sharpened with a filter.
Now, when he looks at each character, he can keenly sense the psychological logic behind their actions.
As darkness fell outside the window, the lights in the coffee shop automatically turned on.
Chen Xun looked at the script, which had been completely altered, while Li Suyan's notebook was filled with new ideas.
"Now the skeleton is correct!"
"But the dialogue needs to be rewritten to be more relatable. Old Li is a video store owner, not a philosophy professor. He should speak directly, frankly, and with a touch of dry humor."
The newly acquired [character motivation logic] gave him an instant inspiration: "For example, when an old man asks him why he hasn't closed the shop yet, he can point to the wall full of videotapes and say, 'These old friends have been with me for twenty years, and I can't let them die without anyone present.'"
He paused, then added, "This kind of dialogue is much more powerful than the artsy, sentimental style of movies that are just carriers of memory, and it suits the character perfectly—"
"An immigrant who has struggled in Los Angeles for half his life doesn't speak too pretentiously."
Lee So-yeon quickly jotted it down, then looked up with a hint of hesitation in her eyes: "Oppa—if we revise it to this standard, I might not be able to film it well."
Why?
"The budget is insufficient!"
She honestly confessed: "Black and white photography is expensive to begin with. If you want to add those exquisite establishing shots and details as you suggested, it will cost more than $8."
"And actors! I need an experienced actor who can play Old Li, and an actor who can play an elderly person with Alzheimer's disease. Students can't afford actors of that caliber."
Chen Xun remained silent for a few seconds.
He looked out the window at the USC campus, where the streetlights were already on.
In the distance, classrooms in the drama academy building still had lights on.
I guess it's some film crew rehearsing all night.
"I can help you find actors."
"I know a few veteran actors who should be willing to perform in student productions for low prices or even for free."
Lee So-yeon's eyes widened: "Really?"
"real!"
Chen Xun turned back and said, "As for the budget—you revise the script, and I can invest a portion of it. Anyway, the profits from 'Ancient One' just arrived, so I have some spare cash."
"No, no!"
Lee So-yeon shook her head violently: "That's too much, I can't—"
"It's not free; consider it an investment on my part!"
Chen Xun interrupted her: "If this film really becomes a huge hit and wins awards as you say, I want a share of the profits. If it loses money, I'll consider it my support for my junior's dream."
He paused, his eyes becoming serious: "Besides, it's been a long time since I've played such a pure role. Blockbuster movies like 'The Ancient One' are a different approach, but these kinds of small stories are the foundation of acting."
Lee So-yeon stared at him for several seconds, then suddenly realized something: "Oppa—you wouldn't be thinking—"
"The character Lao Li has about 15 minutes of screen time in the 30-minute short film."
Chen Xun said calmly, "If I were to act, the filming period could be reduced to within two weeks, which would be perfect for when I'm teaching."
""
Lee So-yeon opened her mouth, as if to say something, but finally nodded emphatically: "Okay!"
She was naturally delighted to have Chen Xun join her.
Three o'clock in the morning, in the living room of Lee So-yeon's apartment.
She stared at the seventh draft of the script that she had just finished revising on the screen, her fingers hesitating between the delete and save keys.
There were a dozen or so crumpled pieces of paper scattered on the coffee table.
That was her handwritten scene outline.
Next to it were three empty cans of Red Bull and a sandwich that had only been bitten once and had gone hard.
Ever since Chen Xun said he wanted to join, Li Suyan felt immense pressure.
I've been staying up late every night lately revising the script based on Chen Xun's suggestions.
On the screen, the script software displays the latest version of "The Last Roll of Film".
Following Chen Xun's suggestion, she condensed the original bloated 90 pages to 48 pages.
It just meets the ideal length for a 30-minute short film.
Those scenes that were meant to showcase the director's talent but actually slowed down the pace were completely cut.
Now each game has a specific function.
The key is to either advance the plot, develop the characters, or strengthen the theme.
Lee So-yeon rubbed her sore eyes and read the last scene again:
Scene 38: Interior videotape shop - Old Li (Chen Xun) and an old man (to be determined) sit in front of a small TV in front of the counter.
The screen was playing the final clip of that old movie.
The old man watched intently, his eyes reflecting slightly in the dim light.
The movie ended, and the screen went static. Old Li got up to turn off the VCR.
The old man suddenly spoke: "I think I remember this."
Old Li turned to look at him.
The old man pointed to the TV screen, then to Old Li: "You—are in the movie."
Old Li was stunned.
A few seconds later, he said softly, "Maybe we've all been in some movie."
The old man thought for a moment and nodded: "That movie is very good."
Old Li laughed: "Yes, it looks great."
He turned off the TV.
The shop was plunged into darkness, with only the light from the streetlights outside filtering in through the windows.
(The End)
Lee So-yeon stared at the text for a long time before clicking save.
She opened her email, dragged the script attachment into it, and filled in Chen Xun's address as the recipient.
Her hand trembled slightly when she clicked send.
This version is a completely different story from the original version.
The original version tried to say too much but ended up saying nothing clearly. This story focuses on only one thing.
Two people who are about to lose everything fight against oblivion in a shop that is about to close down, using an old movie.
When the email notification popped up, Li Suyan slumped onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
"Hopefully I'll pass—"
She murmured to herself.
Chen Xun saw Li Suyan's script early the next morning.
He readily invited Lee So-yeon to meet Professor Anderson together.
Because in his view, the script was already very well-developed.
Lee So-yeon placed the printed sixth draft of the script on the table, her hands clasped nervously together.
Chen Xun sat beside him, while Professor Anderson put on his reading glasses and turned the pages one by one.
The only sound in the office was the rustling of papers.
Fifteen minutes later, Anderson took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"The script is good!"
Lee So-yeon breathed a sigh of relief.
"But if this script were to be filmed, the budget would be at least $15."
Anderson looked at Chen Xun, "8 isn't even enough to cover the cost of the film."
"Shoot with a digital camera, then adjust to black and white in post-production."
Chen Xun said, "The picture quality of ARRIAlea is good enough now. Renting one and a lens set will cost about 12,000 yuan for two weeks. I've already negotiated the venue. The owner of the old video store in Koreatown is a fan of mine and agreed to let us use it for free."
Anderson raised an eyebrow: "Where are the actors?"
"I'll play Lao Li; my salary will be deducted from my investment."
"An elderly person with Alzheimer's disease sought out James Cromwell."
"He's the old butler from 'The Artist.' He retired last year and moved to Pasadena to retire. He read the script, said he liked it, and symbolically gave me a friend's price of one thousand dollars."
Chen Xun recounted all the preparations he had made.
Lee So-yeon listened in stunned silence.
She never imagined that Chen Xun had done so much work behind her back.
"Where are the others?"
Anderson continued, "Cinematographer, art director, sound engineer, editor—"
"I contacted the photographer, Rodrigo Prieto."
Chen Xun continued, "He just finished filming 'Silence' and had some free time. When he heard that it was a student film I was in, he agreed to come and direct for three days, and send his apprentice to the set for the rest of the time."
"The art team was hired from the 'Whiplash' team. They happened to be working on two projects at the same time, and the package price was 25,000 yuan."
"The sound engineer is a USC alumnus who just graduated and wants to build up his portfolio. All he needs is meals and editing."
He paused for a moment: "I'm still in talks about editing. I'd like to find the team from 'Birdman,' but they're fully booked right now."
Anderson stared at Chen Xun for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "You're not helping your juniors film their graduation projects, you've assembled an award-winning team."
"If you're going to shoot, then shoot it properly!"
Chen Xun shrugged: "Anyway, I have plenty of time now."
The panel suddenly appeared in front of him:
Project Name: The Last Roll of Film
[Current Stage: Final Script]
[Performance Rating: C (Not yet filmed)]
[Director Satisfaction Rating: B— (Director lacks experience but has decent creativity)]
Team Collaboration: D (Team not yet formed)
[Audience Expectations: E (Anonymous Student Work)]
Overall Rating: D+
[Comment: A well-structured script, but extremely high execution risk. Student director + temporary team = high probability of failure]
Chen Xun looked at the D+ and wasn't surprised.
The script stage is inherently unlikely to be high-quality.
"OK!"
Professor Anderson finally nodded: "The script is approved, but Lee So-yeon, I have to remind you, this team configuration is beyond your scope as a student director."
-
"Chen Xun was able to invite these people because of his connections, but once you get to the set, you're the director, and you have to be able to keep things under control. If problems arise during filming about whose opinion to follow, the film will be ruined."
Lee So-yeon took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed: "I understand, Professor, I will be prepared!"
"Then go and prepare."
Anderson handed the script back to her: "Submit the final version to the judging committee next Monday."
"If it passes, you'll have five months: two weeks for filming, three months for post-production, and one month to submit it to the film festival."
As she left the office, Lee So-yeon's hands, still trembling, clutched the script.
"Oppa—Rodrigo Prieto? He's the cinematographer for the Mexican trio!"
"So I'm only coming for three days."
Chen Xun frankly said, "The rest of the time we have to rely on his apprentices, but three days is enough, as the key scenes are all filmed during those three days."
He glanced at the panel; the rating hadn't changed yet.
The team hasn't even been formed yet.
For the next week, Chen Xun entered a dual-track mode of attending classes during the day and preparing at night.
On Monday, the script passed the review committee and was officially approved as a project.
Li Suyan received $3 in initial funding from the college.
This is already the maximum support for a student's work.
Chen Xun took Li Suyan to meet Rodrigo Prieto.
The meeting took place at a café in Santa Monica. The photographer, known for films like "Lust, Caution" and "The Wolf of Wall Street," was wearing a floral shirt and looked more like a surfing instructor.
"I've read the script, and I like it."
Prieto, speaking with a slight Mexican accent, said, "Black and white images, film quality—but you really want to shoot digitally?"
"I don't have enough budget to buy film."
Chen Xun said directly.
"Then we need to work on the lighting."
Prieto pulled his iPad out of his bag and showed several reference images: "A video store in the 90s should have warm, slightly dim lighting. I would use lots of practical light sources: table lamps, neon signs, and television glows."
"Your art department needs to cooperate; the lights in the shop must be real, functional prop lights, not just decorations."
Li Suyan quickly wrote it down.
"I'll design the lighting and shadow structure of the main scene and the camera movement for the key scenes in three days."
Prieto frankly stated, "My apprentice will handle the rest of the scenes. I will review the footage remotely, but only if the director understands the emotions required for each scene. I'm not here to film pretty pictures; I'm here to help you tell the story."
"I see!"
Li Suyan nodded vigorously.