to deep

"you sure?"

In the office of the dean of the American Academy of Drama, Kestner looked at the application for leave of absence in front of him, and looked up at Shen Qiao in front of him.

"I've made up my mind, teacher." Shen Qiao said seriously, "I want to play that role."

"You can't act in Zheng's movies just because you want to." Kestner turned his pen around, "You can apply after you get the role."

"I will definitely get him." Shen Qiao said, "Even if I don't get it, I will stay in Beijing. You asked me a few days ago what I would do in the future. This is my decision."

He is going to Beijing to be with Zhao Wenyan. He wants to make his movies, meet his friends, and live his life.As for the possible difficulties on this road, he didn't think about it now, nor did he care about it.

"Are you sure?" Kestner still did not give up persuading, he kept tapping the paper in front of him with a pen, his expression calm, "Mr. You don’t get that kind of opportunity when you go to China to make a custom movie.”

"You said that only in China can I find the script that suits me best." Shen Qiao said, "Opportunities can make a person, but so can a work."

"What will you do if I don't approve your application?"

"You will approve." Shen Qiao smiled, eyebrows and eyes curved, "I am willing, and it is also good for me. You will definitely agree."

The two were silent for a moment, Kestner suddenly smiled and said, "You are always so smart, Joe, I can't help but like you more every day." He sighed helplessly, picked up a pen and signed the leave slip He said, "Then it's settled. You must get this role. This movie is your final exam in your junior year. I will decide whether to give you an A+ or not based on your performance."

"You will definitely give it." Shen Qiao said.

"Then I'll wait for your good news." After signing, Kestner handed the document to Shen Qiao, "I wanted to tell you another thing today, but I didn't expect you to come to me first?"

"What's the matter?" Shen Qiao asked curiously.

Kestner smiled and took out a sheet of paper from the drawer: "Look for yourself."

Shen Qiao took it, and saw Kestner's beautiful curly body. He hurriedly read a few lines, and said in disbelief, "You want to resign?"

"Yes." Kestner still smiled, "I have accepted a new movie, and the script is great."

"Then you..."

"I will continue to make movies and pursue the pinnacle of being an actor again and again. That is my dream." Kestner sighed softly, "Do you still remember the question I asked you when you came to the academy for an interview? Joe, I always remember your answer."

......

"Very good, Hobbs." Three years ago, Kestner sat up straight, his eyes were full of admiration, but his tone was extremely calm, even a little cold, "I must admit that you are the most talented person I have ever seen. Kid, but I don't know if you know one of the college rules: We don't admit Asians."

"I know, that's why I didn't go to the admissions office to sign up, but came to you." The young man opposite him didn't change his expression, and even raised his head slightly, "As an Asian, I have no choice, so I can only be the first one."

......

"When I came to Hollywood in 1985 and acted in the film "Dirty People", everyone thought that I would be the Oscar winner in the second year, but their ideas were shattered in the Dolby Theater." Kestner said lightly , his lines are excellent, and when an actor has reached his level, he can already be called "the unity of human and drama". He himself is the most complicated character, but what he faces is not the audience, but his favorite student." After the Oscar nominations were announced that year, there were a lot of critics criticizing my acting skills. I remember those words, too much force, real performance, too deep into the play... everything, I know my level, I don't care about those comments, but they ruined my Jack."

Jack Farke, Kestner's character in "Dirty People," suddenly suffered a lot of negatives after the mid-term of "Dirty People", which had a great early awards season, and eventually lost that year's Oscar.

Shen Qiao had also watched "Dirty People" after being exposed to movies. After being amazed for the first time, he went to listen to other people's comments. He was surprised to hear so many criticisms. The most important object of attack was Kestner's acting skills.

Words are scary.With preconceived impressions, the original small flaws are magnified wantonly, and the second time he watched "Dirty People", Kestner's unparalleled acting skills also seemed to have something wrong.And this is not just his feeling, there are definitely not a few Oscar judges who had this idea that year.

"That year's Best Actor was Joseph Amman, he was Jewish." Kestner said quietly, "Racism is a cancer of art, but it is a customary standard in Hollywood. I don't know how to adapt to all this, so I'm in New York."

He came to New York, became the dean of the American Academy of Drama, devoted his energy to Broadway, immersed in acting day after day: Hollywood treated him unfairly, but he would not give up his dream and persistence because of this.

"I can be criticized because I have not yet achieved perfection. Instead of giving up on myself, it is better to improve myself." Kestner said, "As a German, if I want to win an Oscar, I can only be the first. "

His tone was calm and restrained, and the subtle unwillingness was still revealed from his slightly trembling fingers—even though the years had soaked up a gentle appearance on him, he was still that rebellious and proud German in his bones.

"You will." Shen Qiao smiled, "I must watch you from the audience that day. You are my pride, my teacher."

"Thank you." Kestner patted Shen Qiao on the shoulder, "But Joe, I believe that one day, you will not be proud of being my student, but I will be proud of being your teacher."

Graduation is on June 6th.

The news of the resignation of the dean has been circulated among the students a few days earlier, and the new dean will be held by Provost Colin Barack.Kestner had a very high prestige in the college. In addition to fresh graduates, there were also many junior students at the entrance of the graduation hall, waiting to hear the dean's final graduation speech.

Shen Qiao got the few seats for the lower grades, and sat in the first row as a student representative to listen to Kestner's speech.

"...I hope that when you enter the industry you work in tomorrow, don't forget what I want you to remember today: We are directors, actors, screenwriters, cinematographers, lighting engineers, production designers, our responsibility It is to defend culture and belief through art, not to create dross and become an accomplice of ignorance."

"Your beliefs, in addition to your majors, should also have your home country, our world. Griffith made "The Birth of a Nation", but he was never a great director. I hope my students Being Stanislavsky, still being a Bryant (1), and what you should promote, I'm sure you all know."

The audience applauded thunderously, and Kestner bowed deeply and began to issue graduation certificates to the students.

When it was Zhao Wenyan's turn, Kestner stared at the young man in a bachelor's uniform, and suddenly asked, "Do you like your luck in Venice?"

"I like it." Zhao Wenyan took the certificate, "You are right, luck is also a kind of strength. But I still believe that talent is the most important thing."

"You have both luck and talent, and so does Joe." Kestner stared at him, "I believe you will be the pride of the academy, and the whole world will be impressed by you. I hope that day will come sooner."

"It won't be too late." Zhao Wenyan smiled.

Shen Qiao was waiting in the dormitory.He booked a plane ticket for tomorrow, and he can stay in the dormitory for another night.

The last time Shen Qiao read the script, he didn't mention the movie again. He guessed that he might not be interested in the role. Although he was disappointed, he didn't care too much: they still have many opportunities in the future, so there is no need to care too much about this time.

It's just that I'm still sad when I think that I will gather less and leave more.

He didn't have much to bring back, a few clothes, some notes and practice works from the past two years, and valuable photographic equipment and films had already been shipped back to China.To his surprise, Shen Qiao just helped him pack his things the whole time, without any sadness of parting on his face, and even a bit of secret joy.

After they finished packing, he felt that he should say his long-planned farewell to Shen Qiao: "Shen Qiao, I..."

"Let me talk first!" Shen Qiao immediately made a gag gesture, turned her back and took out something from the drawer, "Look."

A passport and an air ticket, the same flight as the one he booked.

He stood there in shock, not knowing what to say for a moment: the plot was so unreal, yet so real, that the great shock and frenzied joy made him unable to continue thinking:

Shen Qiao waved her hand in front of his eyes, smiling brows and eyes: "Yes, I will go to China with you."

(1) The American film released in 1915 was the first full-length epic film and created a number of film technologies that were widely used in later generations. However, it was criticized for praising the Ku Klux Klan that discriminates against blacks.

(2) The two dramatists, Stanislavsky is the author of "An Actor's Self-cultivation", he believes in method performance art, and believes that actors should devote themselves to art and even sacrifice their lives, but Bryant believes that art should It is used to educate, and for this reason, it is willing to weaken the artistic value of the performance itself.The meaning of the dean is that students should not neglect their responsibilities while pursuing art.