The beginning of all things is difficult, but even individuals with a will as strong as steel must still have the material assurance of food to sustain themselves.
The restaurant has introduced a buffet for the drama crew, with meals served punctually. Additionally, there are options for fitness meals.
In the dining area, Song Chunuan, Lu Cheng, Zhong Shao, and Yu Cheng are seated in a row.
Lu Cheng sneakily takes a piece of pepper and salt beef from Zhong Shao's meal box and casually asks, "Shao, are you taking on this project because I am the director?"
Zhong Shao glances at Lu Cheng and retorts, "You could stand to be a bit less self-absorbed."
Lu Cheng responds, "No way, a director without self-confidence can't produce good films."
Zhong Shao remarks, "No wonder it took you over a decade to direct a film for me." Lu Cheng is left speechless, realising he has fallen into Zhong Shao's trap again.
He jokingly pats his chest, "Have I never handed you my script in all these years? Can you say such words without any guilt?"
Zhong Shao finishes his meal, sets down his chopsticks, tidies up his plate, wipes his mouth with a napkin, and elegantly leaves the restaurant.
Lu Cheng is left pondering, feeling a stab in his heart. As an award-winning international film director, he wonders why he can't receive a little respect.
Upon Zhong Shao's leave, the curiosity among the crowd reached its peak.
The interaction between Lu Cheng and Zhong Shao seemed to suggest a long acquaintanceship, yet no one had heard of any connection between the two within the circle. None of the actors involved in this project had previously collaborated with Lu Cheng, only hearing rumours about the director's dual personas - sharp and strict at work, as they had already experienced that morning. As for their relationship in private... now, perhaps, might be a good opportunity?
Lu Cheng paused mid-meal, noticing more than half of the actors staring at him intently, including the scriptwriter Song Chunuan, who joined the team with financial backing.
"What's the matter?" Lu Cheng scanned the room, his eyes filled with understanding. "Curious about my relationship with Zhong Shao?"
"Director, your words could be misconstrued in the dialogue," Song Chunuan said with a smile. Ever since Song Chunuan and Fu Qiao got married, the banter between Song Ling and Fu Qiao had reached a new level, making her more articulate with her words.
Lu Cheng could easily deduce the type of thoughts circulating in the minds of authors who could use Song Ling and Fu Qiao as prototypes, so he played along, "What other relationship could it be, except the one you all are thinking of?"
Before he could finish his sentence, Yu Cheng choked on the soup in his throat. Witnessing this, Lu Cheng looked shocked yet sincere, "Yu Cheng, no need to be so surprised. You should know that Zhong Shao is your senior, as am I."
Yu Cheng regained his composure, saying, "He is actually my arts senior."
Lu Cheng replied, "Fair enough."
You are all disciples under Prof. Wang's guidance, quite remarkable!
With a worldly expression, Lu Cheng opened up, "We share a deep bond like no other."
The statement is indeed accurate.
In terms of seniority, Lu Cheng was two years ahead of Zhong Shao. During his time in the Directing Department at the Royal Film Academy, Lu Cheng stood out as a prominent figure for his daring attitude towards writing and filming, as well as his masterful use of cinematic language. When Zhong Shao just begun his studies, Lu Cheng was already a senior. By the time started his fourth year, Lu Cheng had not only completed the script and storyboard for his graduation project but had also assembled a filming team and identified the most suitable cast members in his mind. Directly approaching Zhong Shao, Lu Cheng handed him the script without beating around the bush, explaining his intentions clearly.
At that time, Zhong Shao had already won the most prestigious Best Actor award in a national film project category. However, Lu Cheng was unaware of this fact at the time, while Zhong Shao, on the other hand, had heard of Lu Cheng's fame and had seen some of his short films.
Upon receiving the script, Zhong Shao immediately began reading it and accepted the offer after finishing it.
Shortly after, they officially entered the filming stage. Lu Cheng's graduation piece, B&DD, featured Zhong Shao portraying a patient suffering from drug dependence due to manic depression, enduring both physical and mental torment.
Countless pills were consumed, and countless pills were discarded.
Inside the hospital ward, he struggled painfully, while outside, voices were bustling, and derogatory words about the illness flooded his ears in a vicious cycle that he couldn't escape. Physically and mentally, he experienced a tumultuous rollercoaster, feeling like he was submerged in the depths of a heavy sea, occasionally gasping for air through a fish's mouth, glimpsing light but unable to touch it.
Despite no one knowing, he still harboured love and yearning for this world, feeling lost yet fighting desperately. From enduring the agony alone to seeking calm in treatment, the condition fluctuated, the physical obstacles and severe withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing medication, the continuous emotional breakdowns with no respite during heightened emotions, and the relentless creativity during those times.
He contemplated giving up but persisted unwaveringly.
The short film left an open ending for audiences to believe and imagine.
In the end, he left these words:
"Bipolar disorder is not equivalent to mental illness, and medication dependence is not the same as addiction."
He explained the film's title - B&DD, Bipolar and Drug Dependence, in this way.
This script was carefully crafted by him, but during filming, he endured great agony. He experienced bouts of irritability, not because the actors or cinematographers failed to deliver the desired emotions and visuals, but because he deeply realized during the filming process that this project was not just about making his graduation piece but also about overcoming his own psychological barriers.
At the age of fifteen, Lu Cheng developed sleep disorders for unknown reasons. Although he sought treatment, he was only temporarily cured. He gradually became dependent on sedatives, starting from half a pill to one, two, three... Until now, he needs alcohol and a certain medication to barely fall asleep. If the medication dosage falls below a certain level or type, he plunges into a state of anxiety.
Half of the scenes in the short film were shot in the hospital with the permission of the hospital authorities.
As the filming progressed, Lu Cheng's emotions began to show signs of anxiety, eventually triggering his manic state.
On set, no one knew the exact trigger point. Lu Cheng, in a frenzied state, impulsively rushed towards the director's monitor, then shifted his focus to a nearby camera. If it weren't for Zhong Shao's quick reaction to intercept Lu Cheng, they wouldn't have been able to explain the situation to the staff in the materials room. Zhong Shao firmly restrained Lu Cheng's hands behind his back.
Despite several sleepless nights, Lu Cheng suddenly broke free from the restraints, charging towards the wall and repeatedly hitting it with his body and head. Zhong Shao and several staff members rushed in to control him, while someone immediately contacted the hospital administrator.
The new hospital area was only a kilometre away from the old inpatient department. The hospital administrator, along with a general practitioner, a deputy chief of the psychology department, and two paramedics, arrived at the filming location.
Inside Lu Cheng's black backpack, the doctor found various types of sedatives - such as Zopiclone, Lorazepam, Oxazepam, and Clonazepam – which were prescribed to Lu Cheng during his hospital visits.
Following the deputy chief's instructions, a temporary rest area was set up in the ward to administer a muscle relaxant injection to Lu Cheng. The filming was paused, and apart from Zhong Shao, all other cast and crew members were individually checked for sharp or valuable items before leaving.
The sedatives quickly took effect, calming Lu Cheng down as he sat on the floor, exhausted and lost in thought. Zhong Shao approached Lu Cheng, squatting beside him for a while before asking, "How long has it been?"
Lu Cheng weakly smiled and replied, "Insomnia, a bit of anxiety, can't help it."
Zhong Shao gazed at Lu Cheng and inquired softly, "How many days without sleep?" Lu Cheng surrendered, "Three days."
He compulsively refrained from reaching for the drugs, three days... had come to an end.
Zhong Shao, with a tone of questioning, remarked, "Drug dependence?"
Lu Cheng did not shake his head.
In private, Zhong Shao and Lu Cheng had a detailed conversation in the lounge. Following his exit from the lounge, Lu Cheng suspended his graduation project and applied for a one-year leave of absence from the school. During that entire year, he resided in the psychiatric ward of the Seventh Mental Health Centre, undergoing systematic treatment for bipolar disorder and substance abuse. On the day of his discharge, as he walked out of Building Four of the inpatient department, Zhong Shao, dressed modestly and wearing a mask and sunglasses, welcomed him home with a brotherly hug.
The "B&DD" project was placed back on the agenda, with Zhong Shao still as his sole male lead. Lu Cheng eventually completed the filming, but instead of submitting it as his graduation short film, he uploaded a different short film. If Zhong Shao had not asked him in the lounge that day whether he still wanted to make films, Lu Cheng believed that self-destruction was inevitable.
B&DD became Lu Cheng's private collection, a hurdle he crossed, directing a young actor for the first time.
It is undeniable that their bond with Zhong Shao was profound, as he truly saved him!