Chapter 472
In a residential area in Shanghai.
Zhang Hongyu, sitting in front of the projection screen, was joining the audience in enthusiastically applauding the performance that had just concluded. However, Liu Jia, sitting on the carpet behind him, had a completely different reaction.
Liu Jia stared at the finished performance on the big screen, followed by the intermission introductions by Ji Wenbo. He was still a little puzzled. His boss was actually on CCTV? He knew when his master broke the news, his mouth dropped open, nearly agape in shock.
This isn't just being on CCTV; this is directing CCTV! Becoming a CCTV director is something that anyone in the industry would be envious of. If Liu Jia were like that, he'd have to walk sideways like a crab.
"Brother, how can you be so sure that this stage was directed by the boss?" Liu Jia felt his master's throat was about to smoke from shouting, and without saying a word, he quickly picked up the teapot beside him, poured him a glass of water and handed it to him.
Honestly, he was incredibly curious. Liu Jia had originally planned to take advantage of the holiday to go out for a stroll, but unexpectedly, his master mysteriously stopped him just as he was about to leave. He said he wanted to give him homework for the month, and then they would watch CCTV's Mid-Autumn Festival Gala live.
From the perspective of their photographers and assistants, CCTV's filming techniques, regardless of the genre, were enough for them to learn for a lifetime. As the apprentice, Liu Jia knew exactly what his master was planning. Without waiting for instructions, he busied himself in the living room, preparing to follow his master through the entire show.
Apart from anything else, Liu Jia had indeed learned something from all these years of study. Furthermore, he had only just completed the assignment his master had given him the previous month, and the sudden improvement in the skills of CCTV photographers had given him a keen sense of difference.
This difference was also evident during the "Watercolor Painting" performance, and reached its peak during NINE STAR's medley. In other words, many photographers have finally gotten the hang of it.
But Liu Jia also understood that in addition to the photographer's improved skills, the stage presented to him was the hidden BOSS in strength.
As Zhang Hongyu's longtime assistant, Liu Jia naturally has deep feelings for the members. Unlike other "arrogant" artists whose tempers change drastically when they get angry, NINE STAR's Liu Jia showed absolute kindness from the moment they first met.
So Liu Jia initially thought that his master was so excited because he was supporting the members' first joint performance. Then, the next second, he heard his master send three 60-second voice messages to his boss's communication account.
But this seemed not enough to express Zhang Hongyu's excitement. After sending the voice message and hearing the applause coming from the scene on the screen, he joined in without any hesitation.
As a bystander tonight, Liu Jia felt that if the master tied a red cloth on his head and held up a light board with the word "Zhou" or "Xiao" written on it, he would look no different from the fanatical fans he had met offline in the past.
"Hahahaha," Zhang Hongyu laughed. He shook his head happily and smiled at Liu Jia half-seriously, saying, "Your brother has friends all over the country. What can escape my eyes?"
In fact, the news that Zhou Xiao was working at CCTV was leaked to Zhang Hongyu by someone he knew. However, that person wasn't from the station, but the makeup artist who was doing the makeup for the dancers performing at the gala.
CCTV had hired foreign talent, and the rumor was abuzz in their circles. But because the station was so tight-lipped, the rumors only surfaced yesterday. While the source was a bit convoluted, it was definitely information obtained through connections.
Zhang Hongyu's friend heard the news from a stylist in the dressing room while he and his colleagues were applying makeup to another group of people. It seemed the troupe's principal dancer had fallen ill and had to leave, sparking a discussion of regret among the station staff. Amidst this lament, word spread that the new young assistant director, whose surname was Zhou, had arrived.
Gossip spreads very quickly. When Zhang Hongyu saw the word "Zhou", a name that seemed outrageous but perfectly fit the name popped up in his mind.
Recalling the time when Sister Zhou went to Beijing, which almost coincided with the rehearsal of CCTV's Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, Zhang Hongyu felt that this person must be his boss.
If you want to learn from the experience, Zhang Hongyu also watched Zhou Xiao's camping stage for NINE STAR many times.
He had worked with CCTV, was on a business trip to Beijing, and his departure time matched the rehearsal time. He was young and his last name was Zhou... When these pieces of information came together, someone who thought he was the Chinese version of Sherlock Holmes Zhang was very sure.
"Why didn't the boss tell us?" Liu Jia wondered. Just as he was about to say something else, there was a "bang" and his head was hit hard by someone the next moment.
Zhang Hongyu withdrew his hand, which was a little sore from playing, and rolled his eyes at him. "This must be because they signed a confidentiality agreement with the station!"
Because of this, Zhang Hongyu kept silent after guessing that Zhou Xiao was the new director hired by CCTV. It was because he saw that Liu Jia was about to go out and would miss the party that he stopped him.
"Brother, do you think we can one day be as good as Teacher Zhou?" Liu Jia had truly realized it. Anyone who had watched the live broadcast tonight could sense the difference in style between the two CCTV directors. While he couldn't imagine their abilities right now, his boss was one of them after all!
"Brother," Zhang Hongyu said quietly, "Why do you think I took you to your sister Zhou as soon as my contract ended?"
Liu Jia chuckled, pointed at the large screen that had already entered the advertisement, and changed the subject, asking, "Brother, is there any other stage that the boss is responsible for next? Apart from anything else, I really think it looks great!"
…
If the dance "Watercolor Painting" sparked netizens' curiosity and love for traditional Chinese classical dance, then the two stages performed by NINE STAR together completely ignited the online heat.
This unprecedented level of popularity, even the agencies who had previously anticipated the popularity, did not expect netizens to discuss this medley stage so much. Seeing the netizens' voices, even they began to wonder if this stage was the work of CCTV's new director.
From the live broadcast room of CCTV platform, to the blog and forums that are most likely to ferment public opinion in a short period of time, and finally to various short video platforms. In the comment area of each stage, there is always a highly praised comment that far exceeds the other comments.
"I beg all agencies to hold on to this director!"
——【Entertainment Forum】——
[Topic] Anyone can say that today's stage director and NINE STAR went in both directions!
[Main Post] I'm a student broadcast director. Every time I see fans scolding the director for randomly cutting shots, my heart starts to skip a beat. But! Until one time, after watching a show with my senior, I went home and searched the forum to find all the comments scolding my senior.
I just realized one thing, it's not that the director is not good, it's that the strength of your group is too weak [laughing sadly] Of course, before today, I have to tell you the truth, the level of stage cutting in China is really far inferior to that in foreign countries.
1L OP
The stage design and choreography are fixed, so please understand why some groups have so many repetitive close-ups that it's almost nauseating. If you cut to the full view, your brothers' dance performance will be so bad that you'll think you could just throw a bunch of rice at a bunch of chickens and they'll perform better, more in unison, and with more "team spirit"...
64L
CCTV has made incredible progress this time around. I'm dying to know which big shot they hired! After discussing this with a friend, we both agreed that the scene with Shui Mo and Xiao Jiu must have been shot by a new director! The camera language is amazing!
143L
My fan group is going crazy! I don't know if the director of "Watercolor Painting" and NINE STAR is the same person, but I believe everyone can feel the meaning of "1+1>3" from the enthusiasm, right?
222L
The director is really good, and the most important point is that he knows what we, the audience, want to see!
Not only is the camerawork meticulous, but the timing is also incredibly precise. Speaking of which, try randomly capturing a few screenshots from the stage. I'm not exaggerating; there's literally not a single ugly screenshot. Will this become the most amazing NINE STAR video? It feels pretty much the same as Ji Shaojia's "Heartbeat"!
365L
Reply to 222L: It’s better not to bring me along at this time…
I was originally going to joke that the director might be a NINE STAR fan, but he really brought out the best in everyone on stage. But even the lead actor in "Ink and Brush" Yan Qingyi was photographed stunningly. It feels like this director knows how to photograph anyone!!!
412L
Wasn't there a rumor a while ago about a new music show? I think the production team, if you're still snooping on the forums, stop bragging about inviting top stars. Could you please poach this director first? He'll guarantee you a lifetime of prosperity.
…
There have been inexplicable speculations about the director on the Internet. Some say that CCTV hired him from Korea at a high salary, some say that he will be the next director of the station, and there are even more outrageous remarks that make people laugh.
While the outside world was buzzing with activity, Zhou Xiao, the center of the incident, remained completely at ease in the director's room, watching Director Yang's operations. Of course, a big part of the reason for this was that she hadn't even had time to check her phone after the palm cut.
When Zhou Xiao first took on the assistant director position, he was eager to learn. Just like now, watching Director Yang diligently directing from the console, Zhou Xiao knew he still had a lot to learn.
After such a long shoot, occasionally changing roles can be considered a change of pace for Zhou Xiao. More importantly, after getting to grips with the stage, this experience will be reflected in Zhou Xiao's cameramanship.
While Zhou Xiao focused his attention on the director's desk, Shang Xia, who was sitting in the corner, watching the livestream comments on her phone, was practically bursting with joy. She was delighted by both Zhou Xiao's impressive control and the flawless success of NINE STAR's first joint performance.
Who would understand? This kind of happiness, almost like a double burden, was the first time Shang Xia had felt it so directly. Don't say it, this is really cool!
If you can turn livestream comments into a platform for discussion, you'll understand how terrifying it is. Normally, livestream comments are basically worthless, filled with a bunch of kids desperately posting their own names. And you can't stop them; if you do, they'll just keep posting even more.
Shang Xia smiled as she watched the occasional name comments pop up in online discussions. This was something that would have been virtually impossible before. But what she didn't know was that these comments were relatively minor compared to those on other platforms.
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