Chapter 3 - Lu Chen, the scriptwriter favored by the gods!

Chapter 3 Lu Chen, the scriptwriter favored by the gods!

“Countryside!”

Chen Sicheng shouted loudly.

He then turned the scroll over.

On it were two large ancient-style brush characters—”Countryside!”

The audience below immediately burst into an uproar!

“Countryside? So it’s a rural-themed script!”

“Of course, rural stories, rural love, you can’t escape those themes.”

“Yeah, rural development could work too.”

“Great, I’ve never been to the countryside! I’m finished!”

Listening to the murmurs of the other contestants, Lu Chen’s mind started to wander, thinking about rural-themed films and TV shows.

Uncle Benshan’s ‘Country Love’ came to mind. ‘Ordinary World’ could be another one.

In recent years, Zhao Liying’s ‘Happiness to the Fullest’ also fits. There were quite a few dramas in this genre.

It just depended on which one fitted best…

“Alright! Mr. Chen has announced the theme for this round–’Countryside!’

Clearly, this is a rural-themed creation!

As for the kind of story to write, it’s up to each of you to think creatively!

I believe you all can come up with some truly eye-catching stories!

After all, you’re all very talented and outstanding!

Now, I officially declare that the 4th Annual [Divine Pen] Youth Scriptwriting Contest Top 32 Qualifying Round has officially begun!!

Contestants, you have 10 minutes to prepare.

Please hurry and head to your individual writing rooms.

The competition will start soon!”

With that, staff members began guiding the contestants out of the large room and towards their individual writing rooms.

Lu Chen glanced at his number.

—48.

A very ‘lucky’ number…

After leaving the large room,

He quickly found his writing room with the help of the staff. The room wasn’t small, about 20 square meters. The setup was simple. There was a reclining chair, a computer desk with a laptop, and three of the four walls had large whiteboards for contestants to jot down their ideas and notes. On the remaining wall, there was a projector screen!

The projector was connected to the laptop, making it easier for the contestant to view the contents. It also served the purpose of showing the judges and online viewers what was happening.

In the corner, there was a high-definition camera, monitoring every move the contestant made in the room. Notably, beside the lounge chair, the coffee table had water, alcohol, cigarettes, and a variety of snacks!

Lu Chen, surprised, couldn’t help but appreciate the show’s thoughtful setup! It was very considerate!

After all, scriptwriters, especially men, tend to like smoking or drinking to stimulate their creativity. It was clear the production team had taken these habits into account. Even though it was being broadcast live, they didn’t avoid these bad habits.

Lu Chen himself smoked, and the production team’s arrangement was just perfect for him. He opened the pack of cigarettes and sat down on the lounge chair, leisurely lighting one. He then casually opened the system panel, ready to choose a script…

Meanwhile, in the program’s live broadcast, thanks to the tremendous influence of the [Divine Pen Contest], the number of viewers online had reached an astonishing 220 million+!

In the comment section, various messages and bullet chats flooded in like snowflakes.

【Cigarettes and alcohol all provided? Is this even allowed in a live broadcast?】

【Most scriptwriters are heavy smokers, if they can’t smoke, they won’t even be able to write a word.】

【It’s a professional trait, I understand.】

【I hope this round produces some great scripts, the recent real-life dramas and movies have really been lackluster!】

【This contest feels like it’s here to save the film and TV industry, whatever topics are lacking in the industry, they’re asking for them here!】

【Don’t get your hopes up too high, the contestants this year are pretty average, it’s going to be similar to last year.】

【No way, last year was awful, the worst year ever.】

【Yeah, they adapted over twenty dramas, but only one truly became a hit, the rest were mediocre. I heard the investors lost a ton of money!】

【Apart from the first year, the rest have been disappointing, this year doesn’t look any different!】

【The first year was amazing, so many classic dramas like ‘The Way of Heaven’ and ‘The Unlicensed Criminal.’ They had four or five masterpieces, the quality was excellent.】

【That year was like a battle of gods! Even in the preliminary rounds, the competition was fierce. By the time of the national competition, all 64 contestants were big names, and even now, they’re still the pillars of the domestic screenwriting world. It’s unforgettable!】

【Teacher Shu Ping was from that batch!】

【Yes, he stopped at the Top 4, and the winner was Hai Yan! He wrote ‘Never Close Your Eyes’ and ‘Five-Star Hotel,’ which made him a huge star!】

【’Never Close Your Eyes’ was the gold medal winner that year! It swept all major domestic film and TV awards, turning Louis from an unknown actor into a top-tier star!】

【Actually, the second year was pretty good too, they had three big hits! But the third year really didn’t do well.】

【Sometimes history is quite mysterious, the most brilliant people always come out in groups, never one by one.】

【I hope this year at least produces two hit dramas, or the prestige of this contest will really drop sharply!】

【It’s hard, this year’s contestants are pretty average, I haven’t seen anyone stand out yet.】

【Just being a little better than last year would be fine! After all, the judges this year are terrifying, with Liu Heping, Shu Ping, and Yan Geling on the panel! If it’s too bad, the judges will be embarrassed.】

【As far as judges go, this year’s lineup is absolutely the best ever! No one can compare!】

【Agreed!】

【Agreed +1!】

The live chat was buzzing with discussion.

…

On the other side, in the judges’ room, as Liu Heping and the others took their seats, their live feed was also shared to the broadcast, immediately causing a stir among the viewers.

Xiao Sa glanced at the time, there were still about three to four minutes before the competition began. He decided to interview the judges.

“Teachers, the competition is about to start. I’d like to ask, are there any contestants you’re particularly excited about?

Can you share your thoughts? Mr. Chen, would you like to start?”

Chen Sicheng adjusted his earpiece and smiled.

“Personally, I’m most interested in No. 8, No. 11, and No. 27. Their preliminary works were bold and imaginative, especially No. 27, who is skilled in writing female-centric stories, and has already gained some recognition in the industry!

She has collaborated on several big female-led projects, and her skills are exceptional! She also understands the market! So, I’m most hopeful for her.”

“Mr. Chen’s analysis is very thorough, even considering the commercial value,” Xiao Sa said and laughed.

“Of course, film and TV shows are products, so market value is crucial.”

Xiao Sa nodded.

“What about Teacher Shu Ping?”

“I’m particularly optimistic about No. 19, No. 22, No. 33, No. 36, No. 61, and No. 64. I’ve looked at their resumes, and they’re all top-tier students in the field of real-life topics, so they have a natural advantage in creating realistic stories.”

“It seems like Teacher Shu Ping has quite a few contestants in mind. Teacher Yan, what about you?”

“I actually believe in all of them, after all, these contestants have made it through the fierce selection process. They all have potential. Moreover, creating real-life topics is something every scriptwriter must master!

Even someone as accomplished as Mr. Liu, his first script was a historical drama, ‘Beiping Without War.’

I won’t even mention myself, most of my works are realistic dramas. So, I believe they all start from the same level!

In this competition, I think it will be a sudden burst of inspiration that will determine who moves ahead. Whoever comes up with the best idea will have the highest chance of advancing!” Yan Geling said.

Yan Geling’s words caused the other judges to nod in agreement.

Xiao Sa smiled and nodded.

“Teacher Yan’s comments are very insightful. I’m sure the contestants will be greatly encouraged hearing that.”

“Mr. Liu, what do you think? Which contestants are you most hopeful for?”

The three judges all turned their attention to Liu Heping, eagerly awaiting the first scriptwriting titan’s response.

Liu Heping pursed his lips, paused for a moment, and then slowly said, “I agree with Teacher Yan’s point. At this stage, it’s really about who can have that brilliant idea.

But if you insist on me picking someone…

I have my eye on one contestant.”

“Who?”

“No. 48.”

“48? Just one contestant, Mr. Liu?”

Liu Heping nodded.