msmithbooks Chapter 127 This graduation project is finally submitted!
Chapter 127 This graduation project is finally submitted!
Studio C, Chasing Light Film Studio, suburbs of Jinghai City.
A huge green screen surrounds the area, which has been set up to resemble the surface of Mars.
Red gravel covered the ground, and futuristic-looking architectural models were carefully placed in specific locations.
The air was thick with tension, not only from the scorching lights simulating the Martian environment, but also from the extremely tense atmosphere of the shoot.
"Cut! Zhang Ye, your eyes look wrong!"
Gu Nan stood behind the monitor, script rolled up in his hand, his brows furrowed.
"Asuka is still a greenhorn. His first reaction to seeing the monster on Mars wasn't just surprise, but also a kind of 'finally it's my turn' excitement and subconscious fear! You were just spacing out! Try again!"
Standing in the center of the field, Zhang Ye was wearing the special protective suit that the Super Victory Team used to survive on Mars.
Zhang Ye was covered in sweat because of the weight of the protective suit.
However, even after hearing the director's reprimand, he showed no dissatisfaction. Instead, he slapped his cheeks hard and responded loudly:
"Yes, director! One more take!"
Chen Bo was checking the upcoming explosion points with the production assistant, while Su Zhe sat on a rest chair with a script in his hand, his eyes fixed on Zhang Ye on set, as if he saw his own shadow in this newcomer when he was filming "Ultraman Tiga".
The entire production crew was like a giant, precisely operating machine, and Gu Nan was the sole operator.
He now wields absolute authority on set.
From the groundbreaking debut of "Ultraman Tiga" to the legendary status of "Ultraman Seven: Project Origin," the name Gu Nan in today's Chinese film and television industry represents not only popularity and quality, but also the gateway that countless investors are eager to enter with their checks in hand.
Just then, Gu Nan's cell phone suddenly rang.
In such situations, only a very small number of people dare to keep their phones on and still be able to get through.
Gu Nan frowned, took out his phone and looked at it. His originally serious expression instantly turned a bit strange.
Caller ID: Teacher Li Guoqiang.
That was the teacher he respected most at the Jinghai Drama Academy.
"Hey? Teacher Li, what's wrong?"
Gu Nan answered the phone, his tone softening slightly.
From the other end of the phone came Li Guoqiang's loud voice, somewhat helpless yet tinged with mockery: "Director Gu, Boss Gu, do you still remember what your identity is?"
"identity?"
Gu Nan was stunned for a moment.
Director? Screenwriter? Or... the chairman of Light Chaser Animation Studios?
"You haven't really forgotten, have you? Boss Gu! You're a student! A senior in college who hasn't graduated yet!"
Li Guoqiang was so angry he almost laughed on the other end of the phone. "Hey kid, have you gone crazy from making movies?"
Next week is the graduation project exhibition and final defense for the graduating seniors of Jinghai Drama Academy! The whole class is missing just a few of you! Xia Youwei, Chen Bo, Su Zhe, Zhang Zhao, Wang Kai, are you all planning to forgo your diplomas for the sake of "aliens saving humanity"?
Gu Nan's hand holding the phone froze in mid-air, as if he had been struck by a "freezing ray".
If this matter isn't brought up, he'll have truly forgotten about it.
Filming has been going on for almost a year. He went from being a student who was ridiculed for making suits to making rapid progress and building the Kingdom of Light in this parallel world of special effects desert.
He was used to directing film crews of hundreds of people, used to chatting and laughing with TV station directors, and used to looking at strings of zeros on financial statements.
But subconsciously, he had completely forgotten about the fact that he hadn't graduated yet.
When the first episode of "Ultraman Tiga" was filmed, it was ostensibly a "graduation project".
As a result, this graduation project went on for over fifty episodes, followed by Seven OV, and now even Dyna has started filming. This "assignment" is really a bit beyond the scope of the project.
"Ahem, well... Teacher Li, what are you saying? How could that be?"
Gu Nan immediately switched to a fawning tone, his change of expression as swift as a Sichuan opera performance, "We'll get ready right away and head back to school! Our graduation project... we've already prepared for it, we've just been 'refining' it."
After hanging up the phone, Gu Nan looked around at the busy film set and suddenly felt an extremely absurd sense of displacement.
He turned around, looked at Chen Bo, Su Zhe, and Zhang Zhao who were adjusting the equipment not far away, and clapped his hands: "Brothers, let's stop for a bit."
Everyone looked over in confusion.
"We need to go back to school."
Gu Nan scratched his head, his expression somewhat subtle. "Go defend your thesis and get your diploma."
A deathly silence fell over the room, followed by a suppressed burst of laughter.
Who would have thought that these big shots, who were just discussing how to blow up a Mars base and how to construct a universe worldview, would be worried about whether they would have to delay graduation because they skipped too many classes?
……
Three days later, at the Jinghai Drama Academy.
As one of the top art schools in China, its graduation season is always a focus of attention in the entertainment industry.
Countless talent agencies and casting directors flock to the graduation exhibition, hoping to discover the next rising star.
But this year's atmosphere is clearly somewhat unusual.
From the school gate onwards, bright red banners were unfurled loudly—[Warmly welcome our outstanding graduate Gu Nan's team back to school to participate in the graduation exhibition].
Although the banner's content was very official, the font size was so large it looked like it was plastered on passersby's faces.
Even the security guard at the gate had changed into a brand new uniform, standing ramrod straight.
A low-profile black minivan slowly drove into the campus and stopped in front of the main teaching building of the Film Academy.
The car door opened, and Chen Bo was the first to get out.
Although producer Chen is still quite well-off, his well-tailored bespoke suit and expensive watch have completely shed his former slovenly air.
Next up was Su Zhe.
He was wearing sunglasses and a mask, but that couldn't hide his aura as a national idol.
As soon as they landed, the younger students watching from a distance let out a series of suppressed screams.
"It's Daigo! The living Ultraman Tiga!"
"Holy crap, Professor Su is even more handsome in person than on TV!"
Subsequently, Xia Youwei and Zhang Zhao also got off the bus one after another.
Finally, Gu Nan, dressed in a simple casual shirt and sneakers, slowly emerged.
"Oh, Gu Nan! Welcome home! Welcome home!"
Before Gu Nan could even stand up straight, an elderly man with gray hair but a vigorous spirit strode up to him and tightly grasped Gu Nan's hands.
It was Dean Wang from the Film Academy, followed by a group of department heads and professors. Teacher Li Guoqiang could only stand to the side and behind, looking at his "troublesome" student with a complicated expression.
"Dean Wang, you're too kind. You flatter me."
Gu Nan quickly bowed slightly, "I just came back to hand in my homework, how could I trouble you to come out and pick me up in person?"
"Oh! Of course! Of course!"
Dean Wang's face crinkled with laughter as he exclaimed, "You're now the star of our Jinghai Drama Academy! 'Ultraman Tiga' pioneered the domestic special effects genre, and 'Seven' elevated special effects to an art form! I even used your works as examples at the Federation of Literary and Art Circles meeting just the other day!"
The students around him, who hadn't yet graduated, looked at Gu Nan, who was surrounded by the dean and leaders like a star, and their envy was practically overflowing.
We're all senior students, and while we're worrying about how to find a job and how to pass our thesis defense, they've already had the dean come out to greet us.
Is this the difference?
Regarding the setup for this graduation project exhibition…
Dean Wang asked tentatively.
"Oh, don't worry, Dean."
Gu Nan waved his hand, and Chen Bo, who was next to him, immediately understood and handed over a document. "This time, in addition to the thesis defense, we also want to make some contributions to our alma mater."
Chasing Light Pictures covered all the setup costs for this graduation exhibition.
In addition, we have prepared a 500-square-meter independent exhibition hall specifically to showcase our "learning achievements" over the past few years.
All-inclusive booth setup costs.
A 500-square-meter independent exhibition hall.
This is called "money power".
Dean Wang's smile widened, and he nodded repeatedly, "Good! Good! It's rare to see young people who don't forget their roots!"
……
Graduation Project Exhibition Center.
This was originally the school's indoor gymnasium, but it has now been transformed into an exhibition area for various majors.
Some displays featured posters for short films, while others displayed models of stage plays.
But deep inside the exhibition hall, in the most central area, the huge exhibition hall shrouded in black curtains is the focus of everyone's attention today.
Upon entering the exhibition hall, the first thing that catches the eye is two imposing 1:1 life-size Ultraman models in the center.
On the left is the composite form of Ultraman Tiga, his streamlined body in red, purple, and silver gleaming under the spotlight, striking a classic battle stance; on the right is the red Seven, his sharply defined armor exuding power, the head crest gleaming coldly.
These are not cheaply made foam products, but rather made of movie-grade fiberglass. Every detail perfectly replicates the texture of the suit, making it seem as if it will come to life at any moment.
"Holy crap! This...this is the real Ultraman!"
"So cool! I want to take a picture with Ultraman Tiga!"
Countless students, teachers, and even media reporters who had sneaked in from outside the school crowded into this exhibition hall, with the sound of camera shutters clicking incessantly.
In the exquisite glass display case in front of the model, two "sacred objects" that drive fans crazy lie quietly.
On the left is Ultraman Tiga's transformation device—the Spark Lens, also known as the Spark Prism.
It is not a plastic toy, but is made of a special crystal material. Under the light, it shimmers with a warm, jade-like luster, exuding a sense of sacredness.
On the right is Seven's Ultra Glasses.
The simple red frame is full of retro beauty, and a delicate leather storage box is thoughtfully placed next to it.
"This light stick...it looks like there's light flowing inside it."
"To be honest, film-quality props are just different."
But what's even more impressive is the deeper exhibition area further inside.
This area has been transformed into a miniature battlefield, showcasing classic vehicles and monsters from the series.
Several extremely detailed fighter jet models were suspended in mid-air.
Those were the Victory Team's Victory Swallow No. 1 and No. 2, their weathered camouflage on the wings making them look like they had been through many battles.
Above them is the Ultra Guard's Ultra Eagle 1, the first legendary fighter jet in Ultra Guard that can separate and combine, with every rivet and every jet nozzle meticulously crafted down to the millimeter.
On the ground are lifelike statues of monsters.
"Look at that! It's King Joe!"
A girl wearing glasses pointed at one of the statues and exclaimed in surprise.
That's King Joe, the space robot with metallic armor. It's raising its mechanical arm as if it's about to smash the ground, and you can feel the oppressive feeling even through the model.
"And that one! The Metron alien!"
The boy next to me pointed to a unique scene in the corner.
There, a classic scene from "Seven" was recreated—a room bathed in the setting sun, with an old coffee table and two cushions.
The Metaron alien was sitting cross-legged in front of the coffee table, and opposite it was an empty chair, as if inviting the audience to sit down and discuss the situation in the universe.
"That's incredible... the details are simply unbeatable."
An elderly professor with slightly graying hair pushed up his glasses, looked at the airplane models, and sighed.
"I've taught prop making for thirty years, and I've never seen such a detailed model. Even a miniature exhibition of top-tier special effects blockbusters wouldn't be this impressive."
"Yes, Senior Gu Nan and his team really treat tokusatsu as art."
"Look how exquisite these props are. The Sparkler, the Ultra Glasses, the Flying Swallow... these are not just props, but also a testament to their sincerity."
The entire exhibition hall felt less like a graduation project and more like a pilgrimage to "light and dreams".
Standing at the back of the crowd, Gu Nan listened to the discussions of his juniors and teachers. He didn't feel too proud; instead, he felt a sense of relief.
In this parallel world, he not only moved the suit, but also successfully conveyed the charm of Ultraman to the audience here.
In the very center of the exhibition hall, a montage video was playing.
In the image, Seven stands on the beach at sunset, his back view lonely yet resolute.
Behind him, countless people looked up in awe.
Below the video is a message written by Gu Nan himself:
[Dedicated to all those who, in this imperfect world, still choose to believe in the light.]
……
Two o'clock in the afternoon, in the defense room.
This was probably the most bizarre defense in the history of the Jinghai Drama Academy.
Typically, during the defense, students stand nervously on the stage while teachers, with serious expressions, nitpick and ask questions, leaving the students sweating profusely.
But today, the situation is completely reversed.
Gu Nan sat relaxed in the chair at the defense table.
Meanwhile, the professors in the audience, including Li Guoqiang, were all holding notebooks and looking eager to learn. If you didn't look at the seating arrangement, you would think that Gu Nan was giving a lecture to the professors.
"Um...Gu Nan."
A highly experienced professor of film aesthetics cleared his throat and asked the first question.
"Regarding the cinematic language you used in 'Ultraman Seven,' especially the scene in the ending where Seven separates from the team members in the ruins, how did you handle the contradictory feeling of 'both the departure of divinity and the return of humanity'?"
Gu Nan smiled and picked up the microphone: "It's actually very simple. Seven is not only a hero, he is also an observer. In the series Seven, I have always tried to blur the line between 'hero' and 'outcast'."
Kazemori represents the hope of a new generation of humanity, a pure and unpolluted will. Seven returning his body to Kazemori is a way of passing on the torch. His return to the Land of Light to be punished for the sin of 'violating the laws of the universe' is itself a self-sacrifice made for the greater good.
The professor frantically scribbled notes in his notebook, nodding as he wrote: "Profound, so profound. This kind of tragic hero portrayal is indeed far more sophisticated than simply fighting monsters."
"Ahem, I also have a question."
Another female screenwriting teacher raised her hand, like a curious student, "In the episode 'The Day the Fruit Ripens,' you arranged for Mizuno, a member of the team, to fall in love with a dentist disguised as an alien, only for her to die in Mizuno's arms in the end. Was this plot arrangement intended to emphasize the tragedy of 'the inability of different races to understand each other'?"
Not entirely.
Gu Nan shook his head. "Actually, that was for contrast. Although they were of different races, and although the ending was tragic, at that moment, their feelings were real."
"What I'm trying to say is that even in the dark jungle of the universe, love remains the only universal language that can transcend species. Although it hurts, it is precisely because of the pain that it proves its existence."
"Good! Well said!"
Li Guoqiang couldn't help but lead the applause.
What was supposed to be a serious defense session turned into an "Ultraman Art Seminar".
The teachers asked questions enthusiastically, ranging from lighting techniques to script structure, from special effects technology to marketing.
Gu Nan was also very open with his knowledge, combining his experience with Tsuburaya Productions from his previous life with his own practical experience in this world, and put forward many theories that were extremely advanced for this era.
Examples include "a narrative rhythm that combines episodic episodes with the main storyline", "the development of the entire industry chain for tokusatsu-related products", and "using political metaphors to enhance the depth of the work".
The teachers in the audience were stunned, and some of the younger teachers even secretly took out their recording pens.
Finally, when Gu Nan finished explaining some of the creative concepts behind the upcoming "Ultraman Dyna," such as "returning from Tiga's 'divinity' to Dyna's 'passion and growth,'" the bell rang to signal the end of the defense.
The entire audience rose to their feet and erupted in applause.
Dean Wang personally walked onto the stage, holding the red graduation certificate in his hand, his smile brighter than anyone else's.
"Gu Nan, and Xia Youwei, Chen Bo, Su Zhe, and Zhang Zhao," Dean Wang said, looking at his proud students. "This year's graduation projects are not only perfect scores for you, but also the pride of our Jinghai Drama Academy. You deserve these diplomas!"
The moment Gu Nan received his graduation certificate, the "absurdity" in his heart finally settled and turned into a faint sense of relief.
Having lived two lives, I've finally finished university.
As I stepped out of the teaching building, the setting sun was just right.
Golden sunlight spilled onto the campus lawn, gilding everything with a warm golden hue.
It's like the light that illuminates the darkness in the finale of Ultraman Tiga, and like the white sunset flower in Seven.
"Old Gu, you've got your diploma, what's next?"
Chen Bo tucked the certificate under his arm, loosened his tie, and looked relieved.
Su Zhe took off his mask, took a deep breath of fresh air, and looked at the sky: "Yeah, it feels like we've completed a phase of our mission."
Xia Youwei stood beside Gu Nan, a gentle breeze ruffling her long hair. She smiled at Gu Nan, her eyes full of anticipation.
Gu Nan gently placed the red graduation certificate into his pocket, turned around, and gazed into the distance—the direction of the film and television base, and also the direction of the future.
There, there's a hot-blooded idiot named Asuka waiting to go to Mars to chase his dreams.
Gu Nan's lips curled into a confident and fervent smile, and he waved his hand dismissively:
"What else can we do?"
"Back on set! Let's get back to work!"