madnovel Chapter 122 In the old factory building, Chen Yan filmed a scene.
Chapter 122 In the old factory building, Chen Yan filmed a scene.
Over the factory's loudspeaker, a distorted electronic voice played with a hint of laughter.
"Director Chen, the first scene is called 'Dummy People, Real Account'."
Under the spotlight, Ma Zhiyuan trembled, his lips taped shut, and could only utter desperate sobs.
Chen Yan didn't look at him.
His gaze swept over the steel beams overhead and then landed on four inconspicuous corners on the ground.
"Wu Gang".
"exist."
Wu Gang's voice came from the darkness.
"Power outage."
Chen Yan gave the order.
The electronic voice on the radio paused for a second, then let out a sneer.
"Director Chen, did you think the scene would stop just because the power went out?"
"I've prepared a backup power supply for you."
"I know."
Chen Yan said.
"I just want your camera to see things more clearly."
The words fell.
A loud "crack" sounded.
The entire factory was plunged into darkness.
The spotlight went out.
Three seconds later.
Red emergency lights illuminated the four corners.
The dim red light outlined the factory buildings.
At the four corners where the steel beams meet, four things with faint red dots were also visible in the light.
Hidden camera.
There was silence on the radio.
Chen Yan took out a small handheld camera from the inside pocket of his coat.
He pressed the record button, and the camera focused on the nearest hidden camera.
"Sony's HVR-Z1C has poor distortion control at the wide-angle end."
Chen Yan's voice echoed in the empty factory.
"You're still using the oldest wireless radio equipment, which has an effective range of no more than fifty meters and is easily interfered with."
"The production crew phased out this kind of equipment ten years ago."
He turned the camera and aimed it at another spot.
"When filming hostages, the light should come down from a 45-degree angle to the side and rear, and be filtered with a softbox."
"Your overhead lighting will make the shadows on people's faces look ugly, and there will be no dramatic tension."
"Unprofessional."
All that could be heard on the radio was the crackling of electricity.
The electronic sound disappeared.
"Bang!"
A small iron gate on the west side of the factory was kicked open.
Wu Gang dragged two men dressed in black security uniforms in as he walked in.
He threw the two of them on the ground.
A folded map fell out of one of the men's arms.
Chen Yan walked over, picked up the map, and unfolded it.
The map above is marked with red and blue lines, detailing the routes and timelines for all copies of "Thunder" from Beijing to the seven major ticket-selling cities across the country.
It was accurate down to the license plate number of each transport vehicle.
This is a real transport map.
Chen-Yan pointed the map at his camera lens and recorded for a few seconds.
Then, he walked up to Ma Zhiyuan, who was trembling uncontrollably, and tore off the tape from his mouth.
"Speak."
Ma Zhiyuan gasped for breath, looking at Chen Yan with a terrified expression, then at the two security guards on the ground.
"I don't know... I don't know anything!"
"They arrested me and forced me..."
Chen Yan interrupted him.
Where is Liang Qinian?
"I don't know!"
Ma Zhiyuan shouted, "He's been moved! Just before you arrived!"
He left you a message.
Chen Yan's tone was flat, not questioning.
Ma Zhiyuan's body stiffened.
"explain."
Chen Yan pointed the camera at his face.
Ma Zhiyuan looked at the camera, his lips trembling.
"He...he said..."
He said the eighth person did not die.
He also said…
Ma Zhiyuan lowered his voice to a minimum.
"Red cross, not just one person."
……
At the same time, BJ.
The opening ceremony of the new cinema chain brand "Yanying".
The flashbulbs went off everywhere.
Su Wan stood on the stage, with a huge LED screen behind her displaying posters for "Thunder".
She was dressed in a sharp black suit and didn't waste any words.
"As of 10 a.m. today, the total number of screenings of 'Thunder' nationwide has exceeded 45%."
"The three core cinemas in Beijing are 100% full."
The press section below the stage erupted in commotion.
Wang Jianguo, from Xingmei Cinemas, sat in the first row, looking at the young girl on stage with a complicated expression.
Su Wan pressed the remote control in her hand.
The screen switched to a live stream of Lin Qingqiu giving a speech at the entrance of a vocational school.
There was no venue, and no microphone.
She stood on the side of the road, with cars and pedestrians coming and going behind her.
The students spontaneously formed a circle and listened quietly.
"They said I was exploiting suffering."
Lin Qingqiu's voice came through the live streaming equipment, clear and powerful.
"This scar on my leg is not a sign of suffering, but a medal."
At the press conference, Lin Shufen sat in a corner, and Shao Wan next to her spoke in a low voice.
"This girl is starting to resemble Chen Yan more and more."
Lin Shufen did not speak.
She looked at Su Wan on the stage, then at Lin Qingqiu on the screen.
She suddenly realized that what Chen Yan wanted was never just a company or a few cinemas.
He wanted to establish an order.
A publishing order that belongs to him, independent of the old forces.
On stage, Su Wan announced one last thing.
"Starting today, Yan Cinema Circuit will officially establish the 'New Director Midnight Section'."
"We will set aside a special fund from a portion of the box office revenue of 'Thunder' to support talented young directors who lack resources."
"Applications are now being accepted for the first phase of the support program."
The audience erupted in uproar.
Use the box office success of a commercial blockbuster to support art films that don't make money.
This is going against the rules of the entire industry.
Lin Shufen stubbed out her cigarette.
She realized that Chen Yan was not seeking revenge.
He is using the Palme d'Or and box office success to crown himself.
……
Tianjin, old factory buildings.
Chen Yan turned off the camera.
He looked at Ma Zhiyuan on the ground.
"The address left by Liang Qinian."
Ma Zhiyuan pulled a rusty key out of his pocket.
"Red Flag Photo Studio..."
His voice trembled.
"Underground... an underground darkroom."
Chen Yan took the keys and turned to leave.
Wu Gang dealt with the two security guards and followed.
"Brother Yan, what should we do with this old bastard?"
"He'll have someone handle it."
Chen Yan opened the car door.
Fifteen minutes later.
The Passat was parked in front of the Hongqi Photo Studio.
Chen Yan pushed open the creaking wooden door.
The photo studio was completely empty.
He walked straight toward the hidden door leading to the basement.
Insert the key into the lock and turn it.
The door opened.
A pungent odor, a mixture of musty and chemical smells, hit me.
The stairwell leading to the underground was pitch black.
Wu Gang turned on his phone's flashlight, and the beam of light shone downwards.
At the end of the stairs was a tightly closed iron door.
There was no lock on the door.
Only in the very center hung a black picture frame.
The beam of light illuminated the picture frame.
It was a faded black and white portrait.
The girl in the photo has two braids and a shy smile.
She is Liang Qinian's younger sister, Liang Ruo.
The eighth person to die under the ruins of the clock tower twenty years ago.
(End of this chapter...)