Chapter 66

To the sound of light and cheerful music, countless television screens first displayed the opening scene of "Chase-Dream-League (CDL)," not an animation, but with a grand and exquisite font design, followed by the main video footage:

In the backyard, the camera gently panned, showing a cute little girl and a cute puppy playing together. Her laughter, like the tinkling of a wind chime, instantly made people feel warm and amused.

The vibrant lighting and colors, reminiscent of a midsummer day, gave a refreshing and comfortable feeling, adding a touch of warmth to the Christmas season.

This was the power of the two most heartwarming species on the planet working together. Unless one was psychologically twisted or blind, everyone watching would think, "How cute!" The quality of "cute" is like sugar; when used just right, it equals joy and affection.

Why has Disney been so successful? Because it is the company that best knows how to sell cuteness.

Now, with just a few opening shots, this short film has already become a strong new rival to Disney. So cute! The audience's patience and interest were skyrocketing.

"Ha ha, Bella, you little fool! Did you forget what I taught you?..."

The opening scene continued, with Anna and Bella dancing joyfully. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the screen, two lines of appropriately sized white text appeared: Story-by-Vigor-Yeah (Writer: Ye Wei), Produced-by-Vigor-Yeah (Producer: Ye Wei), Directed-by-Vigor-Yeah (Director: Ye Wei).

Then, the names of the two lead actors appeared: AnnaSophia Robb (Anna Robb), Bella Robb (Bella Robb).

"Oh, it's quite professional, did you guys do this... Ye Wei, what an interesting name, YEAH, baby, YEAH!"

"Darum, is that an Asian surname?"

"He's Chinese, we call him VI. Stop talking, let's watch the film!"

This name appeared on television screens around the world, and young people were excited, shouting "VIY! CDL! VIY! CDL!" regardless of the strange looks from those around them.

"Hey, did you know? It was made by a 15-year-old middle school student! Surprised? Ha ha ha!"

"This is professional digital photography, professional, professional! Everything is professional!"

"Really... 15 years old?"

"15 years and 308 days! Shocked, Earth!"

Already... many people were shocked. Those who initially thought "Dance of the Angels" was just at the level of a child's DV project were increasingly speechless as they watched more.

No one knew how it happened, but it did! In just a few dozen seconds, from the cinematography, the camera work... every aspect of the scene composition! It was clear that this was a professional production. Regardless of the story and pacing, the technical aspects were absolutely professional, with not even a hint of amateurism.

"Oh my God..." Wang Ying's old face was full of surprise. He rarely exclaimed like Americans, but this time, he couldn't help it... just look at what he saw!

The use of lighting and color in this scene, the atmosphere, gave him a sense of sudden clarity. Since taking the director's role in "It's All Daisy's Fault," he had been thinking about how to handle the story, what style, what atmosphere, the chemistry between the lively and sunny "Opal" and the mischievous and adorable "Wen-Daisy"...

He had never figured it out, which was one of the reasons the casting process had taken so long.

But suddenly, someone gave him the answer, such a beautiful answer!

And, was this little girl really AnnaSophia Robb? Look at her performance, how could it be the same Anna who always overacted!

"Hey, you haven't brushed your teeth yet!" On the screen, Anna laughed and dodged Bella's licks, then picked her up and kissed her. This action, that radiant smile, completely conveyed the deep bond between her and the puppy, as if one could see their growth in an instant.

AnnaSophia's performance was so credible, real, excellent, and cute! She was a movie actress now, her talent blooming like the rising sun!

"No wonder... really, wow..." Wang Ying couldn't help but marvel, naturally speaking in Cantonese. No wonder Albert had gone crazy, shouting about a genius high school student and the need to reconsider the lead role, because... Albert was right, this was a genius's performance!

In just under a minute, the actors and director were outstanding beyond belief!

They were so confident, so elegant, so bold in telling the world: Look, there's a genius here, yes, it's me!

With 9 minutes left, would there be even greater surprises? What kind of story structure is this? It seems to be a three-act structure? A 10-minute three-act structure, truly fearless like a young bull! Good!

Wang Ying was too excited and said to his wife, "Can you believe it? This is the work of a Chinese high school student!"

"Ah!?" Miao Qian was stunned, momentarily worried that her husband might have suddenly developed dementia.

The students at the University of Southern California were also stunned, no one was laughing anymore.

If the opening scene was great, the best part wasn't the kiss between Anna and Bella, but the following long shot, like "Singin' in the Rain," where Anna and Bella hopped and skipped from the backyard to the front yard, performing a clumsy yet joyful dance.

Those familiar with film movement knew that a long shot was no accident!

These precise movements, the exact spatial sense, the fluid dance steps, and the touching music, all of these were carefully designed by the director!

A long shot is the director's performance! Ordinary viewers might not even notice, but those studying film knew... how impressive...

Ye Wei? A middle school student?

Kill me! Except for the crew members, the college students were gaping like fools, the louder they had laughed before, the wider their mouths were now.

"Is this a joke, right? This Ye can't be a high school student, right?"

"Are you guys in cahoots with UCLA to fool us?"

"No, it's not a joke, it's all true."

"Damn! Impossible..."

"Can't handle it? What about the third act?" Darum said mysteriously, and Pete, Pareira, and Helley King also wore strange smiles.

This is just the beginning of the first act, friends!

In Las Vegas, in the presidential suite, the atmosphere was somewhat uncertain.

Ye Wei was very nervous, glancing at Willis from time to time, but after a minute, the big man's expression hadn't changed, still looking as if he had suppressed his anger, with no change in his facial lines or even a blink.

But at least Willis didn't angrily say, "I've seen enough, it's just a pile of garbage, get out," he should be able to see that "Dance of the Angels" was professional...

Lamo had already seen it, so she wasn't surprised, but Laru couldn't hold back her praise, "Wow, VI, you really did it! Did you really shoot this?" Without waiting for Ye Wei to answer, Lamo confirmed, "He did, I visited the set."

And the young Bery, not understanding the professional level for a middle school student, just found it interesting, "Bella is so cute! What kind of dog is it? I want one too!"

"Um, it's very cute, young man, what kind of dog is it?" Demi Moore asked, ready to buy one for her daughter.

You can't buy one. Ye Wei smiled and answered, "Bella is a mix of a Maltese and a Poodle, she's Anna's own pet, they have great chemistry."

"Where can we buy one?" Bery was immediately unhappy, "Can we buy Bella?"

This was a difficult question to answer. Just as Ye Wei was about to joke around, Willis suddenly shushed loudly, almost angrily, "No talking, finish watching the short film first!"

Everyone was stunned. Lamo gave a lazy smile and a praising glance to Ye Wei: You're impressive, the old man is engrossed, he likes your short film, ha ha!

"..." Ye Wei suppressed the sudden excitement, maintaining his calm, constantly reminding himself: Not yet, not yet successful, don't get too excited, continue!

Willis was indeed engrossed. As the film played a cheerful and clear flute sound, the screen showed a series of quick shots, skillfully capturing Anna putting on and taking off her dance shoes, the changes in the shoe cabinet, and then the back view of Anna and Bella running out the door.

This series of shots never showed the front of the girl and the dog, but their hands, feet, and back views combined with the flute sound to create a joyful atmosphere, a sense of childlike purity and whimsy, making people... smile.

His previous film "Return to Innocence" actually needed this feeling, but unfortunately, director Joe D'Este didn't do it well, resulting in mediocre performance.

But now, this kid actually shot it! Was it luck, or something else?

Many questions arose in his mind, but Willis gradually stopped thinking about them, fully engrossed in the short film itself.

And Ye Wei saw that the tough face finally showed a change, a smile! A smile more precious than the Mona Lisa!

Lamo also noticed and quietly said, "Lily, your 'ordinary alumnus' is really surprising, you were right to appreciate and help him, very right..."

In New York, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Lily had already been smiling, her eyes like stars, with a touch of coquettishness. Ye Wei had done it, incredibly done it! Shot a professional and appealing short film!

She once thought he was arrogant, immature, unrealistic, impossible... moved by him, she decided to believe in him and support his dream, but the doubts and worries had all blown away. Now, her heart was filled with only emotion, joy, a bit of admiration, a bit of pride!

This is amazing!

"Lily, your friend really did a great job..." Simon, who had been teasing her, was still in shock, unable to believe the professional level.

"Is Ye Wei a college student?" Jolie was amazed but also a bit worried. Clearly, VI Ye was a boy, and looking at Lily, he was likely her boyfriend, but a college student seemed...

Phil Collins also became tense, "Lily?"

"I told you, he's also a Harvard-Westlake student, a year ahead of me, and we're just ordinary friends..." Lily shrugged slightly, her smile growing sweeter, then suddenly exclaimed, "Shh, don't talk, you made me miss a few shots..."

At this moment, on the screen, Bella leaped over Anna's bent back, agile and perfect, earning praise and joy from the audience.

"Thank you, Bella, say thank you!"

Lily noticed the faces of Lev and others among the extras, finding it amusing that Ye Wei hadn't appeared as an extra himself.

Nicholas exclaimed, "Bella is so amazing, wow, she's so obedient, wow!"

Meanwhile, in several different cities across the United States, excited voices rang out, "That's me, that's me, Lev Popple, see? I was standing at the back, ha ha, I helped on the set that day!"

"Hehe, I saw myself, the position Ye gave me was really good."

"Didn't expect I looked good on camera, I did a good job..."

"I want to learn film photography..."

And in front of the rows of TVs for sale in the malls, more and more tourists and viewers gathered, drawn by the cute little girl and the puppy, stopping to watch, not wanting to leave.

"Which movie is this? Does anyone know?"

"Who is this little girl? I don't recognize her."

Many people asked these two questions, as they couldn't stay for an hour or two to watch it, but if they knew the name, they could buy the DVD later.

"Guys, I know the most, it's not a movie, it's a 10-minute short film, shot by my alumnus VIY! It's called 'Dance of the Angels'!!"

This sentence, with such a proud tone, echoed in many places around the world...

Pride, a common feeling among many.

Ye Haogen and Gu Qiao were proud of their son, Dodo was happy for her brother, Toto was excited by the images on TV, wagging his tail and barking, as if greeting his good friend Bella.

Headmaster Hednart was proud of his student, Harvard-Westlake had produced another director, and compared to all the other students who later became directors, Ye Wei was like a Ferrari, while the others were bicycles.

Janet and David were proud of their daughter, and they appreciated and were grateful to Ye Wei. With this short film on Anna's resume, she wouldn't have to worry about finding her screen debut. As Mrs. Juen said, "In a few days, it will be our