Starting from a Fake University
Chapter 556 - 336 Attending the NTS Awards Gala (Seeking Subscription)_1

Chapter 556: Chapter 336 Attending the NTS Awards Gala (Seeking Subscription)_1

November 5, around 5:30 in the afternoon.

Yancheng, Shangri-La Hotel.

In the lounge area of the hotel’s first floor, Director Zhu Youzhao of the Film and Television Academy at Mist City Arts and Science University is waiting with two students, Tang Yuanhua and Shen Ling. They are waiting for Principal Ding and Secretary Wen Ruohan to join them, before proceeding to the NTS Television Station building.

"Do you think our Film and Television Academy’s ’A Bite of Xia Country’ could win an award?"

In the lounge area, Tang Yuanhua, sounding rather excited, asked his classmate Shen Ling.

Both Tang Yuanhua and Shen Ling are among the finest students in the Film and Television Academy. They each led a team to produce two episodes of ’A Bite of Xia Country’.

"Don’t they notify us in advance about the award?"

Shen Ling curiously asked.

"Not really, the winners of the NTS Awards are announced during the NTS Gala tonight," Tang Yuanhua, who had slightly more knowledge, shook his head and answered.

’A Bite of Xia Country’ produced by Mist City Arts and Science University has been nominated for the NTS Golden Award for Documentaries. Whether it can win the award or not will have to wait until the NTS Gala tonight.

As the Principal of Mist City Arts and Science University and the Chief Planner of ’A Bite of Xia Country’, Ding Yue was invited by NTS to attend the Gala.

The people Ding Yue brought with him from Mist City can all attend the Gala. However, there are only two seats in the first row of the nominated area. The rest will have to sit in the back row of the audience area.

"Looking at the past winners of the NTS Documentary Golden Award, each year it’s a different theme. There hasn’t been one about food yet, so I believe we have a good chance,"

Director Zhu Youzhao from the Film and Television Academy confidently said to the two students.

In order to create ’A Bite of Xia Country’, Director Zhu has invested immense effort. When one of the filming teams was trapped in a small mountain town due to a natural disaster, Zhu was on the frontline leading the Blue Sky Rescue Team to find them.

"Since Director Zhu said so, I guess I should start preparing to receive the award,"

Tang Yuanhua rubbed his hands, speaking excitedly.

But Shen Ling gave Tang Yuanhua a glance, saying, "Dream on, if there’s an award ceremony, it will be Principal Ding who goes up."

"Yes, yes, yes, it should indeed be Principal Ding who receives the award," Tang Yuanhua scratched his head, speaking awkwardly.

All teachers and students that took part in creating ’A Bite of Xia Country’ know that Principal Ding played a decisive role in the production, even the idea was proposed by him. Furthermore, the whole project was funded by Principal Ding. Therefore, everyone affectionately referred to him as the Chief Planner of ’A Bite of Xia Country’. Even Director Zhu would not dare to take credit from Principal Ding.

"According to the plan, Principal Ding and I will sit at the front, and you guys will sit at the back. If our ’A Bite of Xia Country’ does indeed win, make sure to clap vigorously, understood?"

Although Director Zhu’s words were formulaic, they were still logical.

"Absolutely!" Tang Yuanhua exclaimed excitedly.

At this point, Ding Yue and Wen Ruohan got out of the elevator and arrived in the hotel lobby.

"Principal Ding, where are Director Zhu and the others," Wen Ruohan looked around and quickly spotted Director Zhu Youzhao, Tang Yuanhua, and Shen Ling.

"Call them over, we need to head to the NTS Television Station building," Ding Yue gave a slight nod to Wen Ruohan and responded.

Ding Yue had just received a call from Director Liu Mei from NTS, informing him that they could head over to the station now. Although the live broadcast would not start until 8 PM, all participants need to arrive in advance.

Because of this, Ding Yue led his team from Mist City Arts and Science University to dine earlier at about 5 o’clock in the restaurant of the Shangri-La Hotel. They would leave the hotel right after to head towards the NTS Television Station building.

"Director Zhu."

Wen Ruohan shouted in Director Zhu’s direction after arriving at the lounge area.

"Eh, they’ve arrived," Director Zhu saw Wen Ruohan coming over and said to Tang Yuanhua and Shen Ling, "Let’s go."

Everyone boarded the hotel’s car at the entrance of the Shangri-La Hotel and headed for the NTS Television Station building.

This was Tang Yuanhua’s first visit to Yancheng, a metropolis. As a first-time visitor, they stayed at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel and even had a car pick them up to take them to the NTS Television Station building.

The experience was extraordinary, but it must have been expensive.

Fortunately, Tang Yuanhua came with Principal Ding to Yancheng and all expenses were covered by the university. He couldn’t help but admire Principal Ding’s wealth.

To ordinary people, Principal Ding is undoubtedly a wealthy man.

But Ding Yue was very clear about his financial status, he wasn’t wealthy. He was so "poor" that he couldn’t even afford to build a commercial building for his Feiyue Group.

Of course, being too "poor" to build a skyscraper worth several billion didn’t stop Ding Yue from staying in a luxury hotel costing several thousand yuan per night when on a business trip.

The NTS Television Station building was particularly lively tonight.

Other than the Golden Award for Documentaries, the NTS Gala also announced awards for various categories such as best TV drama, best actor/actress, and best supporting actor/actress, making it a hotly anticipated event.

Television dramas that win NTS Awards are usually phenomenal hits over the past year that have also complied with the NTS Awards regulations.

NTS Gala Awards are typically granted to series, meaning films have little relevance to tonight’s NTS Gala.

Because major film awards in Xia Country are recognized separately at an annual gala.

However, the animated film "Super Combat Team" by Mist City Arts and Science University, whether nominated for film or animation awards, will not be possible this year and will have to wait for the event to be held in 2022.

"Director Jiang, it seems your TV drama this year has a high chance of winning the NTS Gold Award!"

"Director Wang, you’re too kind, the series you scripted is the real front-runner."

"Isn’t that Director Liu?"

"Hello, Director Zhang."

Outside the awards ceremony at NTS Television Station, well-known domestic TV drama directors greeted each other and began to exchange compliments.

These powerful TV drama directors and renowned screenwriters are experts in often reciprocating praises.

However, their shared purpose of coming to the NTS Television Station is the same – they all hope their work will win the "NTS Gold Award"!

The so-called "NTS Gold Award" is the Best TV Drama Gold Award at the annual NTS Gala. There is only one, but several have been nominated.

Directors like Jiang and Liu are among the directors and producers nominated for the NTS Gold Award.

Besides, many famous actors are all gathered here, ready to unveil the winner of this year’s best actress or supporting actress at the NTS Gala.

Only Ding Yue, who came to the NTS Television Station, felt somewhat out of place.

Because "A Bite of Xia Country" by Mist City Arts and Science University, nominated by Ding Yue, is up for the Documentary Gold Award. The documentary category is evidently less touted than the best drama series at the NTS Gala.

Inside the lounge, Director Liu Mei of NTS’s Channel One came over to give Ding Yue a few hurried instructions before heading off to attend to other matters.

The reason "A Bite of Xia Country" from Mist City Arts and Science University can be nominated for the NTS Documentary Gold Award is due to Director Liu Mei’s help.

However, Director Liu Mei holds a certain status at NTS and since this NTS Gala is hosted by their Channel One, she will be very busy tonight.

Ding Yue understood this.

It’s now seven in the evening, one hour away from the official live broadcast of the NTS Gala starting at eight.

NTS staff members are bustling inside and outside the event area as it’s a live broadcast, and all units need to be prepared.

The guest team, program team, production team, and judging team all need to be coordinated. But after all, this is NTS Television Station; they should have this well in hand.

"Principal Ding, look, isn’t that actor Liu Yujin?" Tang Yuanhua, seeing some famous actors in the lounge, excitedly said to Principal Ding.

"Tang Yuanhua, you really don’t need to get this excited. Once you graduate from our Mist City Arts and Science University, you might be able to invite Liu Yujin to act in your series."

Ding Yue faintly smiled and said to an overly excited Tang Yuanhua.

"Huh?"

Tang Yuanhua was slightly taken aback.

Principal Ding made it sound so easy, but Tang Yuanhua felt it was tougher than an uphill task. Being a director and inviting a young talented actor like Liu Yujin to act in my drama?

Wow!

Only Principal Ding could have such ideas, I wouldn’t dare to even dream of it.

To think that actors like Liu Yujin only act in serious plays and are only invited by renowned directors.

"So, don’t plan to be a director after graduation?" smile, Ding Yue asked again.

"I do!"

Tang Yuanhua nodded his head firmly. At the film and television academy of Mist City Arts and Science University, Tang Yuanhua was learning about directing.

"A Bite of Xia Country" was the first time Tang Yuanhua led a school team to produce a work on his own.

However, in the future, Tang Yuanhua hopes to produce top-rated series or even excellent films.

If a director can progress from a documentary director to a TV series director, and then further to a film director, that would be a great success.

"Since you want it, then you need to strive for it. You should set an ambitious goal. Today we said maybe in the future you can invite Liu Yujin to star in your directed TV series, so in the future, we should strive towards this goal, right?"

Ding Yue gave Tang Yuanhua a simple pep talk.

To his surprise, Tang Yuanhua was greatly motivated by Principal Ding. He felt an intense heat in his heart, and sensed that he needed to work even harder in the future.

To live up to Principal Ding’s high expectations!