367. All the Elements Are in Place

Since the employees are still on holiday, Lu Ban is only making preliminary plans and will officially start construction after the New Year.

He has been looking at many award-winning works during this period to draw inspiration.

Having made so many movies, Lu Ban still knows how to cater to people's tastes.

He briefly summarized some commonalities among the award-winning films.

For example, many movies deal with the topic of growing up, but not in the ordinary sense of growing up by reading, eating, drinking, and growing up. Instead, they depict growth that is tinged with pain and deviates from the normal path.

Many films bear the distinct mark of a particular era, reflecting the changes of a larger time through the depiction of characters within a small context.

Some films focus on special groups of people, depicting their lives, joys, sorrows, and everything in between.

Many movies don't have a complete ending, or everyone suffers a terrible fate at the end, leaving a sense of regret and delivering a punch to the heart.

There are also some experimental films that have won awards through special shooting techniques, photography skills, or content.

In terms that most people can understand, commercial films are like steamed buns and fried dough sticks, soy milk and steamed bread, rice and noodles—most people like them and enjoy them.

These art films, experimental works, and art forms are like fermented mung bean juice: some people love them to death, while others avoid them at all costs.

For more than 90% of these movies, many people wouldn't want to watch them just by seeing the title.

As for the remaining viewers who can press the play button, no more than 30% can watch the whole thing without falling asleep.

Even fewer people would find it enjoyable after watching it.

While those blockbuster films are criticized as worthless, these films are instead hailed as masterpieces.

When someone complains that they don't understand it or that it's not good, enthusiasts will retort, "Don't you understand the value of being an artsy youth?"

Lu Ban didn't quite understand.

But he has great respect for these films.

Because if we judge the quality of a film solely by its box office and commercial success, then many niche films, art films, and experimental films would never be made, and the techniques, skills, and cinematic language developed during their production would remain unknown to the public, which in turn would lead to increasingly boring commercial films.

Just like breakfast, if you eat too many steamed buns and fried dough sticks, it's not a bad idea to try soy milk once in a while.

He quite likes drinking soy milk.

Lu Ban felt that "Spring No War" had a pretty good foundation as an art film.

It depicts growth, reflects the times, features special groups, and has an imperfect ending.

The elements come together.

Having confirmed this, Lu Ban then checked the review schedule.

These film festivals hold their reviews around the summer holidays, and the latest submission deadline is May. This time, Lu Ban really doesn't have much time.

Fortunately, he doesn't need to worry about box office numbers or complicated promotions; he just needs to make a good movie.

To be honest, from this perspective alone, Lu Ban felt that the difficulty level was actually lower.

Previously, whether it was videos or movies, a larger audience and more viewers were needed, so he did not include any restricted scenes or plots.

But this time, he doesn't need that many audience members; as long as the judges are satisfied, that's enough.

That means you can completely let yourself go.

In just three days, before New Year's Eve, Lu Ban had already completed the drawing of all the storyboards.

The story's theme and background are the same, mainly focusing on Lu Ban and Amber's journey, experiences, and growth, forming a structure similar to a road movie.

What do you think of this place? Should we use the first option or the second?

Lu Ban pointed to a storyboard draft on the screen and asked.

"Woof!"

Laika made a sound, but it was unclear whether it was a compliment or a rejection.

Lu Ban glanced at the Gray Fog to the side.

The Gray Fog has been swirling since it started, without any change.

What do you think?

He glanced again at the Lan Lan Lu doll under the bed and the hair beside it.

The Lan Lan Lu doll shrank back, its hair Motionless.

"I'm in a difficult position because none of you are offering any suggestions."

Lu Ban scratched his head.

Finally, he decided to ask his Air Friend.

"I feel like this is too direct for the audience. Will they be able to accept it?"

Lu Ban looked at the air around him.

After a moment, he nodded.

"You said it yourself, so I'll go with this plan."

Lu Ban continued to check and organize the storyboards.

Lunar New Year's eve.

Qin Tiantian did not return to her hometown this year. As a qualified receptionist at Silent Media, she chose to stay in Jiangcheng for the Spring Festival.

At Lu Ban's home.

A cloud of smoke billowed up, fogging up the living room windows.

Lu Ban wiped the glass in the mirror, making it clean, but soon a thin layer of fog covered it again.

The TV was playing a special program before the Spring Festival Gala started. Outside, the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers, children playing and laughing could be heard from time to time, and occasionally the clattering of pots and pans could be heard, creating a strong festive atmosphere.

Laika was curled up on the mat on the floor, dozing off.

A cloud of Gray Fog swept past the mirror and then disappeared into the air conditioner.

Three people were busy in the kitchen.

Feng Yu took charge of the cooking. Holding the fish in one hand, she used the other hand to pour hot oil evenly over the fish, which had been scored, causing the fish meat to shrink and fixing the shape of the whole fish.

Qin Tiantian was washing vegetables in front of the sink. Because she was not tall enough, it was tiring to stand, so she put a cardboard box under her.

Lu Ban was cheering for the two of them.

It's not that he doesn't know how to cook, it's just that Lu Ban usually cooks for his own consumption, so he doesn't care much about the presentation, and the taste is barely acceptable.

In comparison, it's obvious who should be cooking: Feng Yu, who has traveled extensively and mastered various culinary skills, and Qin Tiantian, who comes from a food-loving province in Southwest China.

The three of them worked from noon until the afternoon, and finally managed to put on a sumptuous meal before the Spring Festival Gala started.

A whole table full of dishes: poached chicken, squirrel fish, Dongpo pork knuckle, stir-fried squid flowers, steamed pork with rice flour, salted duck, and some stir-fries and cold dishes.

Why are there so many bowls?

Qin Tiantian glanced at Lu Ban, who was carrying the bowl over.

Goodness, they took eight sets of bowls and chopsticks and arranged them in a circle.

"With so many people, there must be that many sets of bowls and chopsticks."

Lu Ban responded as a matter of course.

"You're saying weird things again."

Qin Tiantian didn't dwell on it. She felt that the world was full of things that she just couldn't understand, so she might as well just drink and sleep.

Following Lu Ban brings good food, money, computer games, and happiness; everything else is trivial.

"Never mind, let's eat together."

Qin Tiantian picked up her bowl and chopsticks, watching the newly opened gala while picking up some food.

"This is delicious, you should eat more."

She immediately saw Lu Ban pick up a piece of poached chicken and put it into an empty bowl.

"?"

Qin Tiantian glanced at Feng Yu.

Feng Yu ate normally, and sometimes picked up a little food and put it into the empty bowls.

Qin Tiantian turned her gaze back to the bowl containing the poached chicken and suddenly realized that the chicken had disappeared from the bowl.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing this, Lu Ban asked.

"No, this is delicious. This is a specialty dish from my hometown, it's incredibly delicious."

As Qin Tiantian spoke, she picked up a piece of Dongpo pork knuckle and put it into the bowl of poached chicken.

Just then, the host's voice came from the TV. Qin Tiantian turned her head to look, and when she turned back, she found that the piece of meat was gone.

"!"

The tuft of hair on her head seemed about to stand up but then stopped.

But then I glanced at Lu Ban and Feng Yu.

The two of them acted perfectly normally, just like a group of people eating together.

Qin Tiantian swallowed.

They decided to pretend they hadn't noticed anything.

*

Bonus chapter for the third monthly pass in October (2/3)

By the way, although this book mentions some mental illnesses, these are purely fictional and humorous for the sake of the plot. If you encounter someone with a mental illness in real life, please treat them well and show them more care.