The Best Director

Chapter 3 Perhaps This Is an Opportunity?

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Damn it, what kind of joke is this!? Wang Yang grabbed his hair in confusion. He got hit by a car and then his head was filled with future movies? Oh, what was God thinking? He muttered, “Does He know I like movies, so He let me watch them in advance? Maybe it’s a kind of gift? As compensation for expelling me?”

Well, regardless, this gift is really awesome, exactly to his taste! He watched over a decade’s worth of classic movies in one go. Oh yeah, just thinking about it was exciting, totally exhilarating! Wang Yang threw a combo of excited punches, his previous little worries quickly forgotten.

So, let’s see what treasures there are… Wang Yang leaned back comfortably in his chair, browsed the future movies in his mind, there were all types of movies in the room – hilarious comedies, thrilling horror films, moving romantic love stories, visually groundbreaking sci-fi… Wang Yang was like a starved man facing a table full of delicious food, taking a bite here, a bite there, until he finally didn’t know what to feast on.

And whenever he wanted to know the box office and other information about these movies, the information would appear in his mind, including actors’ profiles and so on.

But when Wang Yang wildly imagined knowing other futures, like the winning numbers for the next American lottery; or who would be the next President of the United States after lecher Bill Clinton stepped down; or whether Michael Jordan could once again complete the feat of a three-peat this year? He wanted to know, but his brain had no response.

Only information about movies, and some TV series, was abundant in his mind.

However, that was already enough for Wang Yang to be completely absorbed, so much so that he didn’t even notice the audience leaving. He actually forgot the time too; the big screen kept playing the next movie. Since the cinema was deserted during the daytime, no staff came to usher him out.

Huh, “Avatar”? It’s James Cameron again! Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me, a global box office of 2.78 billion US Dollars! This world is crazy! Wang Yang couldn’t help but exclaim, many people thought that “Titanic” was the limit, who would know that ten years later James Cameron would create another miracle?

Damn, what a madman! While Wang Yang admired him, a surge of emotion rose in him, and he felt a strong desire inside. He wanted to be someone like that! To make movies that would drive the whole world wild!

But the reality now was a mess.

He was expelled from the University of Southern California, and the records said that he was expelled for racism. Would any other school take him? Don’t count on it; look for a job? Still marked with the stain of racism, even if he was lucky enough to get a job as a clapper loader, hoping to go from that to a director was less likely than jumping from an extra to an Oscar-winning actor.

Suddenly, Wang Yang’s heart skipped a beat. God’s gift… perhaps this was his chance?! If he brought one of those future classic movies to the screen ahead of time, could he possibly achieve the same success? But compared to slinking back to San Francisco with nothing, at least there was a chance, right?

But then came the problem again. Although Wang Yang was confident he could make a good movie, funding a movie required millions or even billions of dollars. Who would believe in an 18-year-old, not yet 19, who was just expelled from the University of Southern California for being a “defective” student, and invest millions or billions for him to shoot a film? Are you crazy, or is the investor crazy? Dream on!

OK… So he couldn’t become a director, then what about writing a surefire hit screenplay to see if he could catch the eye of any company? Wang Yang immediately shook his head in self-mockery and dismissed the idea.

Because no matter how well that screenplay was written, only he knew if it would be a big hit. And a film company receives countless scripts in a year, too many to even read, let alone those from well-known directors and screenwriters, along with packaged sales from talent agencies. It was as if the production plans for the year were already full to the brim.

Even if his script as a newcomer caught their attention, it would have to wait its turn, potentially dragging on for three to five years. Three to five years? Forget it, he would have been dragged back to San Francisco by his parents by then!

Besides, the scripts he sent to the movie companies were likely never even glanced at before being thrown into the trash can. Because of his age, his resume, and most importantly, his name, Young-Wang.

This name revealed some information: he was Asian; he was of Chinese descent. In this land that preaches equality, a lot of racial discrimination doesn’t happen openly but rather quietly occurs behind the scenes, Asians, including Black people, suffer from discrimination, based on their names.

For example, when names obviously belonging to Asians or Black people are put up against white names in job applications, even if the resume content is completely identical except for the names, or even if the white resume is slightly worse, the company would invariably keep the white resume. Thus, many Black families, for the sake of their children’s futures, do not give them typical Black names, opting instead for mainstream American white names. It’s a helpless situation, but it’s the truth.

Sighing helplessly, Wang Yang rubbed his brow, momentarily pulling himself away from the images in his mind. He looked up and saw that “Titanic” was playing on the big screen. Glancing at his watch, he realized that several hours had gone by, the previous “City of Angels” had long ended, maybe another movie had played, and now it was “Titanic.”

He had actually watched several movies with one ticket, quite the “defective” student. Wang Yang chuckled, as the big screen was showing the sinking ship segment. He couldn’t help but get absorbed in it. When would he be able to make a movie like this? He needed an opportunity.

“Rose, listen to me, listen… winning this ticket was the best thing that ever happened to me… it brought me to you… and I’m thankful for that, Rose… I’m thankful.” Jack, immersed in the icy water, looked at Rose lovingly, trembling as he said, “I also have… another wish… you must promise me, you have to go on living… no… you can’t give up… no matter what… happens, no matter how… hard it is… promise me quickly, Rose… promise me, you’ll do it…”

“…I promise…” Rose began to sob uncontrollably. “I will… I will do it…” Jack’s voice gradually became weaker. Crying, Rose replied, “I will do it, Jack… I will do it…”

At that moment, the most touching part of “Titanic” arrived, and the entire theater suddenly filled with soft sobs. Although Wang Yang had seen it several times, he couldn’t control the tumult in his heart, overwhelmed by a surge of indescribable emotion.

A girl sitting next to him was also sobbing ceaselessly. Although it was too dark in the theater to see clearly, the girl’s profile seemed quite beautiful. Wang Yang, taking on the manner of a “gentleman,” took a pack of tissues out of his pocket and handed them to her, softly saying, “Perhaps you need this.”

“Thank you,” the girl took a tissue, wiped her eyes, and gave Wang Yang a smile.

“You’re welcome,” Wang Yang smiled back.

“Huh?” Suddenly, the girl gave him a glance and furrowed her brows as if she was trying to remember something. She leaned closer, looked at Wang Yang carefully for a few moments, and hesitantly said with uncertainty, “I’m sorry…you, oh, are you Yang?”

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