noveldepot Chapter 9: A Powerful School Behind Us
Chapter 9: A Powerful School Behind Us
Monday, July 31, Los Angeles International Airport.
During the security check, the staff glanced at him a few more times; he was a 21-year-old Asian man.
He had a business class ticket, but was dressed simply in jeans and a T-shirt, carrying a slightly worn laptop bag.
"Going to China?" the security officer asked casually.
"Go home," Jiang Yu said, his voice filled with complex emotions.
As the plane took off, he watched the city of Los Angeles gradually shrink and thought back to the day he landed nine months earlier.
He was 21 years old then, with $100,000 in his pocket and memories of being 40.
Now he's 22, with $44 million in his pocket and the whole of Hollywood in his mind.
My seatmate was an elderly overseas Chinese man who had returned to Beijing to visit relatives. Seeing that he looked young, he struck up a conversation and asked, "Young man, are you going to study in Beijing?"
"Let's go home," Jiang Yu said.
"Does your accent sound like someone from Hubei?"
"From Daye."
"What a great place!" the elderly overseas Chinese exclaimed with interest. "I have a friend who works at the Daye Steel Plant... Oh, it should be called New Yegang now, right?"
Jiang Yu nodded with a smile, but in his heart he thought: His father started his business in building materials and had a lot of business dealings with Daye Steel Plant.
In this life, the parents are unaware that their son has taken a completely different path.
Twelve hours later, the plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport.
In August in Beijing, the heatwave shimmered and distorted the air on the tarmac.
As Jiang Yu walked out of the terminal, looking at the familiar Chinese characters on the signs, the bustling crowds, and the long line of yellow modern taxis, he felt as if he had been transported to another world.
Nine months ago, he set off from here as an exchange student filled with trepidation about the future.
Nine months later, he returned with $44 million in his pocket, two companies under his name, and a 20% stake in a Hollywood project.
He didn't tell anyone.
..........
Tuesday, August 1st, Communication University of China.
The campus was quiet during the summer vacation, with only a few students staying on campus under the shade of the plane trees.
The white teaching building housing the School of Animation and Digital Arts was newly built in 2002. As one of the first students in the school, Jiang Yu spent three years here.
The dean's office was on the third floor, and the door was ajar.
Just as Jiang Yu was about to knock on the door, Dean Huang's voice came from inside: "...Yes, reconsider that project. Don't force it if the budget isn't enough..."
He waited a while until the phone call ended before knocking on the door.
"Please come in." Dean Huang's voice carried a unique gentleness.
When I pushed the door open, Dean Huang was looking at a teaching plan. When he looked up and saw Jiang Yu, his eyes lit up.
"Jiang Yu? When did you get back?"
"I just landed yesterday." Jiang Yu sat down opposite him; he had sat in that same spot a year ago when he first came to interview for the government-sponsored program.
The office furnishings remained almost unchanged: books covered the walls, green plants adorned the windowsill, and the asparagus fern on the corner of the desk had grown even more lushly.
"I thought you were having so much fun in America that you didn't want to leave."
Dean Huang smiled and stood up to pour water from the porcelain cup with the college logo. "How's your year at USC? Has it been corrupted by capitalism?"
"It's corroded." Jiang Yu said seriously, "Now I have to add milk to my coffee but no sugar, and I have to order double beef burgers without pickles."
Dean Huang laughed heartily: "That's definitely corrosion! But judging from your energy and spirit, you've been corroded quite healthily."
After listening, Dean Huang took off his glasses and silently wiped the lenses.
"Jiang Yu," he put his glasses back on, "how was your year at USC? Did you learn anything truly valuable?"
"I've learned something," Jiang Yu said, taking the water glass with both hands. "I've also seen the gap much more clearly now."
Dean Huang sat back in his chair, leaning forward slightly: "Tell me more about it."
Jiang Yu gave a brief 20-minute report on his experience in Los Angeles.
Of course, the overly sensational details such as stocks, sports betting, and forty-four million US dollars have been omitted.
He only focused on reporting three things briefly.
I co-founded a special effects company, Light & Shadow Digital, with my classmates. It now has more than 20 employees!
They landed a special effects contract for a Hollywood movie, "Taken," with a budget of thirty million US dollars!
A film investment company, Light Chaser Pictures, was established, contributing its special effects technology from the aforementioned projects as equity, holding a 20% stake!
After listening, Dean Huang remained silent for a long time.
The only sounds in the office were the hum of the old air conditioner and the distant chirping of cicadas outside the window.
"Jiang Yu," Dean Huang began slowly, tapping his fingers on the table, "do you know what the situation is like in China right now?"
"I know a little," Jiang Yu said. "Last year, the national box office was 26 billion RMB, which is less than the global box office of a single Hollywood blockbuster. The special effects industry is just starting out, and most of it is outsourced to GG and TV series."
"It's not that it's just starting out, it's that there's almost no established industrial system," Dean Huang corrected. "Apart from the China Film Digital Base which has some basic equipment, there isn't a single company in China that can independently complete film-level special effects. All so-called blockbusters either go to Hong Kong, go to South Korea, or directly hire Hollywood teams."
He paused, took off his glasses and wiped them: "Now you're telling me that you, a 22-year-old student, have started a company in Los Angeles and are going to be involved in a 30 million dollar Hollywood production?"
Jiang Yu was prepared.
He took out the English investment agreement for "Taken" from his bag, turned to the key page concerning the rights and interests of all parties, and pushed it in front of Dean Huang.
The cover of the agreement features four logos: Fox Searchlight, Moonlight Pictures, M6 Films, and Light Chaser Pictures.
The terms and conditions clearly state that Light Chaser Animation will contribute its special effects production and technology as equity, holding a 20% stake in the project, corresponding to an investment of US$600 million, without assuming any obligation to contribute cash.
The signature area contains the signatures of representatives from four parties: Moonlight Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, M6 Films, and Jiang Yu's English signature and official seal.
Dean Huang put his glasses back on and carefully flipped through the pages one by one.
This is not a student assignment, not a simulation project, but a legally binding Hollywood production contract.
"These companies..." Dean Huang's voice was a little hoarse, "Have you dealt with them directly?"
"They're all partners," Jiang Yu explained calmly. "The young owner of Moonlight Pictures is my classmate from USC. Fox Searchlight is their partner. M6 Films is a French company that has a long-term partnership with the director."
Dean Huang took off his glasses and rubbed his temples.
"Last time you emailed me saying you'd started a company, I thought it was just a student studio taking on small jobs," he said with a wry smile. "I didn't expect it to be this level."
"So I want to come back and do something." Jiang Yu leaned forward, his tone sincere. "Dean, the most important thing I learned in Hollywood is that technological gaps can be closed, but industrialization systems are hard to achieve quickly. What we lack is not talent; China has the world's smartest and most hardworking engineers. What we lack are systematic processes, project management experience, and the ability to scale up creative ideas."
"What do you want to do?"
"We'll take a two-step approach," Jiang Yu had already planned. "First, we'll continue to build our expertise in Hollywood. We'll use 'Taken' to prove our technical capabilities and establish a reputation in the industry. Second, we'll simultaneously expand our presence in China. The reason I came back this time is to establish a content and talent base in Beijing, to start training a team and setting up processes."
Dean Huang's eyes lit up: "Specific plans?"
"First, I need a space," Jiang Yu said. "I'd like to find an office space near the school, not too big, around 200 square meters. Second, I need a team. I want to recruit my first batch of employees from the Communication University of China, either recent graduates or senior interns."
"What are the hiring standards?"
"It's not limited to visual effects professionals," Jiang Yu stated clearly. "What I need are people who understand content, technology, and management. Special effects are not just a technical skill; they are a combination of art and science. We need people with a director's mindset, people who understand the production process, and people who understand the psychology of the audience."
He paused for a moment, then said, "Actually, I've already set my sights on someone."
"Who?"
"The director who graduated this year is named Yang Siwei."
Jiang Yu said, "She was in the same year as me, both of us enrolled in 2002. I've seen her graduation project, 'The End of Summer.' Although the production was a bit rough, the narrative structure was very complete, and the cinematography was thoughtful. More importantly, she worked as a production assistant on a film set, and I heard she's now working as an artist manager, so she has practical project management experience."
Dean Huang recalled: "Yang Siwei... isn't she the girl with short hair, quite tall, and very straightforward? Her advisor is Professor Li Yan."
"Yes." Jiang Yu nodded. "You know her?"
"I remember." Dean Huang thought for a moment. "Her work won an award of excellence at last year's graduation exhibition. I'll help you contact Professor Li. But Jiang Yu, have you thought this through? Building a team in China involves practical issues such as salary, personnel management, and career development."
"That's why I've come to you," Jiang Yu said sincerely. "Dean, I'm not back to show off. I genuinely want to build a bridge, bring back Hollywood's industrial experience, combine it with China's cultural context, and cultivate our own team. I can't do this alone; I need the school's support."
Dean Huang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the quiet campus outside.
The August sun was scorching, and the playground was deserted, with only flags fluttering in the breeze.
"Jiang Yu, do you know why our academy was named the 'Academy of Animation and Digital Arts' when it was founded in 2001?"
With his back to Jiang Yu, he said, "Because back then, the Ministry of Culture believed that digital technology would profoundly change the entire content industry. Five years have passed, and most of the students we train are still doing outsourcing and low-value-added labor."
He turned around, his eyes resolute: "If you truly want to change this situation, the college will fully support you. Facilities, policies, talent recommendations... whatever the college can do, we'll help you."
Jiang Yu also stood up: "Thank you, Dean."