“The black mansion's ghost?” Pu Songri was stunned for a moment, then couldn't suppress his voice, “Isn't this the horror movie we discussed a few days ago?”
“Right! And then…?”
Wu Chen said indifferently, it was just a horror movie, he had seen the abridged version before his rebirth.
“Uh…” Pu Songri, with a mix of curiosity and fear, said, “Chen Ge, why don't I go queue first, and you talk to the teacher?”
“Come together, who knows, maybe one day you'll have to film ghosts.”
Wu Chen smiled, pinching Pu Songri's neck, which was wrapped in a scarf, and pushing him forward.
“We can't film ghosts now, they won't pass censorship…” Pu Songri mumbled, but he didn't back down, walking forward with Wu Chen, following Mu Deyuan.
Although Mu Deyuan didn't turn around to look at their actions, he heard some of their voices and couldn't help but smile slightly.
Both were extremely talented young men, and the only two in the first-year cinematography class he felt would have a future.
However, the relationship between Wu Chen and Pu Songri also reminded him of his former classmates, Zhang Yimou and Hou Yong; they used to be like this too…
A cold wind howled and swept past, and all three couldn't help but pull at their sleeves, frowning slightly, clearly feeling a bit cold.
The classroom wasn't far, and footsteps echoed in the corridor. Occasionally, classmates passed by them, glancing up from time to time, until Mu Deyuan led the way and pushed open an iron door to the teachers' dormitory building, then stopped.
It was an old campus after all; this door had endured countless years of wind and sun, its surface showing slight rust, and it made a faint “creak” when pushed open.
Behind the door was a narrow hallway, with some cluttered items stacked on both sides: dilapidated iron bunk beds, a small kitchen partitioned with wooden boards, and a few yellowed posters pasted on the walls.
The edges of the poster paper were already curled, and the faded images appeared blurry in the dim light, but one could vaguely make out those once popular movies—Shaolin Temple, The Herdsman, Red Sorghum, and The Swordsman in Double Flag Town…
“Chen Ge, Chen Ge, look, there’s also a poster here for A Better Tomorrow, a classic representative work of 1980s Hong Kong cinema…” Pu Songri pulled Wu Chen, pointing at the foremost poster, excitedly.
“Saw it, saw it.”
Wu Chen yawned. For people from Guangfu, they were already tired of these Hong Kong movies; he couldn't count how many times he had seen them, and he wasn't particularly interested in Chow Yun-fat.
“Chow Yun-fat was so handsome back then. I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to be his film crew's cinematographer…”
Pu Songri's mind was full of fantasies at this moment.
Wu Chen smiled wryly upon hearing this, but he didn't step forward to say anything encouraging or discouraging.
A youthful dream is most precious only on the day it comes true.
Wu Chen glanced around, then in the middle of these posters, he also saw a unique poster, which was for The black mansion's ghost.
“Teacher, you even have a horror movie poster here. Weren't you scared when you slept at night before?”
“I filmed all the movies, what am I afraid of?” Mu Deyuan's lips curved into a slight smile, “Don't mind it, this place is very old, even the floor is worn smooth.”
Wu Chen nodded gently, his gaze sweeping around.
This was a place that wasn't well-maintained, already used by Mu Deyuan to store miscellaneous items, but it exuded a unique sense of history and human touch.
There was no modern air conditioning equipment in the dormitory, only a few old electric fans and worn-out radiators.
Some old video equipment was stacked in the corner; Wu Chen guessed they might have been used by Mu Deyuan when he filmed movies in his youth.
Pu Songri shifted his feet uncomfortably, his fingertips nervously rubbing the cuff of his down jacket, yet he was also full of curiosity, following Wu Chen as he wandered around.
Mu Deyuan turned, took a dusty key from a pile of clutter, and deftly inserted it into the lock.
“All right, let's go in. We'll have a good look at this movie.”
Mu Deyuan pushed open the door. Behind it was a dimly lit screening room, with yellowing lights and the smell of old film reels in the air.
The video projector in the corner looked quite old, but it still exuded a special texture. The floor was covered with a thick carpet, which made a slight “creak” when stepped on.
Mu Deyuan skillfully walked to the equipment and easily operated the projector.
The projector emitted a low “humming” sound, and the image on the screen gradually lit up.
Although Wu Chen had long heard about The black mansion's ghost and had seen the abridged version in his previous life, the original version of this movie still held great appeal for him.
It was just that the immersive environment was a bit too much.
Pu Songri stood still, feeling somewhat uneasy, unconsciously wiping his face with his hand, fine beads of sweat already seeping from his forehead.
“Teacher, it's so dark in here, is that okay?” Pu Songri asked in a low voice, his voice trembling slightly, clearly showing his nervousness.
“Don't worry, no one will disturb us.” Mu Deyuan's tone was calm but held a hint of meaning: “A little dark is the most suitable atmosphere for this film.”
Wu Chen had already found two wooden chairs, blew on them casually, pretending to clean off the dust, then handed one to Mu Deyuan and one to Pu Songri.
“…” Mu Deyuan looked at Wu Chen's actions speechlessly, “Couldn't you just use some old newspaper to wipe them?”
“A little dirt never hurt anyone! No dirt, no disease!” Wu Chen said carelessly, pulling over another chair, performing the same action. After placing the documents he held aside, he sat down.
To see more clearly, Wu Chen even leaned a little closer, his gaze fixed on the screen.
“Don't be afraid, it's all fake. The director who made this movie is right here, what's there to be afraid of?” Wu Chen gently patted Pu Songri, signaling him to relax a bit.
Pu Songri nodded, but still seemed a bit uneasy. After all, a person's reputation precedes them, and The black mansion's ghost becoming the childhood nightmare of countless people certainly had its unique qualities.
As the projector hummed, the opening scene of the movie gradually appeared. Under the subtle shadows, Wu Chen stared intently.
The movie began with the eerie architecture of the black mansion, the dim yellow lights, and those chilling images, instantly making the atmosphere in the screening room heavy.
Pu Songri initially widened his eyes, and gradually, his expression became tense. He unconsciously gripped the cuffs of his down jacket, and his legs quietly curled up.
“Cough,” Pu Songri coughed softly, trying to hide his inner uneasiness, “I really can't watch it…”
“Are you silly? Did the teacher call us here to watch a movie?” Wu Chen pointed at the screen in front of them, “This is for us to analyze the shots. Learn well…”
“How do you think this terrifying atmosphere is created?”
“Uh!”
Interrupted by Wu Chen, Pu Songri felt that the scene in front of him didn't seem as terrifying as he had imagined. His heart rate gradually slowed down, and he scratched his head, “They probably used light and shadow contrast here to create a terrifying atmosphere, but as for the specifics, I'm not good with words, I can't explain it. Chen Ge, why don't you do it…”
“Here, the strong contrast between light and dark is used to create a sense of oppression and mystery.
The use of dark tones fills the screen with a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere, often making the audience feel a subtle fear while watching.
For example, the night scenes and haunted house scenes in the film often use low light sources and side lighting, and the actors' facial expressions are indistinct in the shadows, enhancing the suspense and mystery.
The film often uses long takes and sudden transitions to create sudden tension. When a terrifying plot occurs, the camera gradually zooms in, drawing the audience into the character's inner world, making them feel suffocated…”
After Wu Chen finished speaking, he turned to Mu Deyuan, “Teacher, was our analysis correct?”
“Continue…”