Nobody knows movies better than me

Chapter 45 Is he really a genius?

Apart from Fan Wei, all the other actors were working with Zhang Jun for the first time.

Therefore, everyone is very curious about Zhang Jun's working conditions on set and how he films.

Ning Hao was particularly curious. He carefully observed Zhang Jun's directing techniques on set and found that Zhang Jun was very mature.

He still remembers how clueless he was when he first directed a student film. He had no idea what he was going to do and only shouted "start filming" after someone reminded him.

However, when Ning Hao thought about the more than 40 million yuan box office of "Little Miss Sunshine", he felt that although Zhang Jun was young, he must be quite capable to have achieved such success.

"Could he really be a genius?" Ning Hao was filled with doubt.

This question wasn't just on Ning Hao's mind; the lead actors Chen Kun, Gao Yuanyuan, Wang Xueqi, Sun Li, and others also shared the same doubts.

Fan Bingbing was the only one who didn't ask, because she had already asked Zhang Jun.

"Zhang Jun, your directing skills are so amazing, how did you manage to do it?"

Zhang Jun's reply was: "Actually, let me tell you, the men in our Zhang family can time travel. I traveled to the future to learn directing skills and then came back."

Fan Bingbing couldn't help but laugh when she saw Zhang Jun's serious expression.

"Hahaha, the way you tell jokes with such a serious expression is hilarious."

Zhang Jun helplessly shrugged: "I'm telling the truth. There's nothing I can do if you don't believe me!"

"Okay, okay, I believe you. So, future person, can you tell me what will happen tomorrow?" Fan Pangbing cooperated with Zhang Jun's acting.

"How would I know? All I know is that we have a lot of filming to do tomorrow," Zhang Jun replied.

Fan Pangbing looked like she knew it all along; she never believed in time travel anyway. Zhang Jun was just teasing her, but she was willing to play along.

Zhang Jun's impressive directing skills prove only one thing: he is a genius.

What Fan Pangbing didn't know was that some things were often said in a joking manner.

For example, you might jokingly say you like someone because you're afraid of being rejected. The other person will think you're joking and won't take it seriously, but it's actually true.

What Zhang Jun said was true, but no one would believe that someone could actually time travel. Even Zhang Jun wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't experienced it himself.

If we're talking about who in the crew is the most hardworking, the most willing to ask questions, and whose work ethic is truly admirable, then Guo Fan is the one.

Guo Fan's decision to resign from Travel Channel to become Zhang Jun's assistant director fulfilled his dream of entering the film industry.

He was incredibly excited when he first arrived at the film set. The dream of becoming a director, which he had developed when he watched Terminator 2 at the age of fifteen, was now incredibly close to becoming a reality.

Guo Fan believed that after a period of training, he would one day sit in Zhang Jun's chair.

Coincidentally, Zhang Jun thought so too.

Therefore, when Guo Fan boldly asked Zhang Jun for advice for the first time, Zhang Jun did not refuse as Guo Fan had imagined, but answered patiently.

"Film is an art of audiovisual language; what you see and hear, what you perceive visually and what you perceive aurally, is equally important."

Zhang Jun routinely answers Guo Fan's questions: "Before making a movie, you need to figure out exactly what kind of story you want to show the audience."

What is the tone of the story? Is it heartwarming? Action-packed? Grand?

Each director has a different style, which leads to different productions of the same script by different directors.

If you want to pursue a career in directing, you need to project a strong image that indicates you excel at a particular genre.

Guo Fan said thoughtfully, "It's like how you, as the director, are labeled as a heartwarming family comedy."

Zhang Jun smiled slightly: "Actually, I wanted to give the outside world more labels, but unfortunately the investors are hesitant. Otherwise, we should be filming an ancient action movie right now."

There were many more conversations like this, and Guo Fan asked very detailed questions and even took notes.

Any questions that arise will be noted down in a notebook, and then asked Zhang Jun for advice.

Ning Hao noticed that Guo Fan, the assistant director, was highly valued by Zhang Jun, as if he was seriously grooming him.

Zhang Jun explained, "He has the potential to become a good director in the future. He is a meticulous person and has a strong learning ability."

I was simply offering him some assistance within my capabilities, which also served to expand the influence of our amateur group.

Zhang Jun wasn't forming cliques; he was simply being criticized for being an amateur.

Recently, some voices, seemingly out of nowhere, from many so-called cultural figures, have criticized Zhang Jun as an outsider in the film industry.

These people say that Zhang Jun is neglecting his studies, as a student of Tsinghua University is actually making movies.

Is this your field? You've already come here? Go back to your astronomy studies!

Of course, as cultured people, they wouldn't use words like "get lost."

Although the insult was euphemistic, the meaning was the same.

The entire crew was aware of what was happening outside.

Chen Kun considered himself a good friend of Zhang Jun and immediately expressed his righteous indignation, stating that he would sue these unscrupulous cultural figures in front of the media.

However, Zhang Jun stopped him, saying, "Forget it, let them talk. It's not like they'll lose anything."

Gao Yuanyuan asked Zhang Jun worriedly, "Director, aren't you angry?"

"Angry? Of course I'm angry, but being angry is useless. They're clearly taking advantage of your youth and hot temper, hoping you'll stand up and argue with them."

I really want to stand up and argue with them, but now's not the time. Our movie isn't in its promotional period yet!

Although Zhang Jun spoke angrily, his smiling face showed no sign of anger.

Zhang Jun didn't think there was any need to be angry. He knew without a second thought that Lu Chuan must have complained to his father, so his father took action to avenge his son.

It's like in a fantasy novel where the protagonist defeats the villain's son, and then the villain's father appears to avenge his son.

People who work in the cultural field, regardless of whether they are cultured or not, generally share one characteristic: arrogance and pettiness.

Lu Chuan's pettiness was probably inherited from his father, and his father became even more petty when he heard that his son had been wronged, and used his connections to criticize Zhang Jun.

At a recent industry conference of the Drama Association held in Beijing, many media outlets were present. Lu Chuan's father's friend steered the conversation toward Zhang Jun.

"A lot of big things have happened in the film industry recently. Many people who are not in this industry have come in and made a movie that was a big hit. This is very strange."

Films should be made by people who understand art and visuals. Every year, so many students graduate from our directing department and are waiting for their chance. There are also many young directors who have won awards abroad but can't even get funding.

Investors should pay more attention to these people and not focus on laymen.

Although no names were mentioned, everyone present knew who they were talking about—none other than that young man from Tsinghua University who was still in the spotlight!

Subsequently, Lu Chuan's father contacted several friends in newspapers to report on the matter. Today, one writer stood up to criticize, and tomorrow, another well-known screenwriter stood up to criticize.

In other words, Lu Chuan's father doesn't yet know how to utilize the internet. Otherwise, by guiding online public opinion and writing a few negative reviews of "Little Miss Sunshine," he could easily set the tone for the discussion.

Even so, public opinion on the internet is still very unfavorable to Zhang Jun.

Because so many cultural figures took the lead in criticizing him, some netizens were influenced and began to consider whether Zhang Jun had real talent, and doubts began to spread.