Everyone's expression told them the produced video was not up to par.
Yao Qiang coughed and spoke first, "Xiao Gao, what's the problem?"
"Actually, there aren't any major issues..."
Gao Fei replayed the video, "It's just that the song starts playing right at the beginning, which feels a bit awkward!"
Everyone looked puzzled.
Isn't a video just pictures and music?
Could there be some new trick they were missing?
Seeing their lack of understanding, Gao Fei had the team member responsible for editing re-edit the video, guiding them as he stood nearby.
"The beginning is about the new recruits' training. Don't add music here, put in the original sound of the squad leaders' speeches!"
The editor operated quickly, and the opening of the video was immediately completed.
"Start inserting music from here..."
After frame-by-frame guidance, it took nearly two hours for the promotional video to be initially completed.
Having finished directing, Gao Fei, parched, drank some water and sat down to select record footage that could be publicly released.
Meanwhile, Yao Qiang and the others waited for the video to be synthesized and then began watching it from the beginning.
The first second of the opening was footage of the Peking University new recruits on their first day of training.
The original sound was the speeches of the squad leaders from each class!
"When you put on a uniform, you become a soldier..."
"In the military, a soldier's primary duty is to obey orders..."
"Every minute of training today means one less drop of blood shed on the battlefield..."
"All present, prepare for a three-kilometer light march..."
"All present, prepare for push-ups..."
For ten seconds, it was the squad leaders' speeches.
The next second, footage of the new recruits training, sweating profusely, appeared, and the music finally began.
"Where is the world full of flowers? If it truly exists, I will definitely go..."
The singing accompanied the new recruits' training, perfectly synchronized.
As it approached the climax, the music slowly faded, and the screen showed the new recruits carrying heavy packs for a five-kilometer march.
"New recruit, can you still persevere?"
"I can!"
"If you want to give up, you can put down your pack and go home now!"
"I won't!"
The new recruit shouted two words, gritted his teeth, and ran forward again.
At the same time, the climax of the song caught up.
"Run forward, facing cold stares and ridicule, how can you feel the vastness of life without experiencing hardships...
Keep running, with the pride of a child..."
Gao Fei's voice, cracking with emotion, paired with the new recruits gritting their teeth and pushing towards the final kilometer, greatly elevated both the song and the video!
After the climax, the video moved into its second segment, which was also the second part of the song.
The music wasn't paused but lowered in volume to provide background accompaniment.
The footage showed the new recruits inside a vehicle before a military exercise.
No one spoke in the video, only the sound of breathing could be heard. Everyone had camouflage paint on their faces, their expressions a mix of confusion and bewilderment...
Until the political instructor appeared and rallied the new recruits before the military exercise, the music also stopped.
"Do you have the confidence to win this battle?"
"Yes!"
"Do you have the confidence to achieve military merit in this exercise?"
"Yes!"
"Good, then beat the Blue Army's dog heads until they don't recognize their own mothers. I believe you can do it!
Distribute ammunition, depart!" (Expletives censored!)
"Yes!"
Motivated by the political instructor, over a hundred new recruits were filled with fighting spirit.
They all orderly boarded the trucks, which sped towards the exercise ground, and the song began again.
"Run forward, facing cold stares and ridicule, how can you feel the vastness of life without experiencing hardships? Fate cannot make us kneel and beg for mercy, even if blood stains our embrace... (Song)"
Flames erupted, and smoke billowed from explosions as the song simultaneously reached its climax, igniting the entire video.
The footage of new recruits with camouflage paint engaged in firefights in the forest made the entire video even more exhilarating.
As the song faded out, the intense fighting in the forest became the final scene of the video.
The screen went black, and the video ended.
"To be honest, after watching the promotional video directed by Xiao Gao, paired with his new song, I have goosebumps all over!"
"Don't talk about you, me too. It's the first time I've seen such a rousing promotional video!"
"From the training, to the political instructor's speech, and then to the live exercise battlefield engaging the Blue Army in gunfire, I feel like I want to go back to the recruit camp!"
Everyone who watched the video couldn't help but marvel at the brilliance of the new promotional film.
Yao Qiang glanced at Gao Fei, who was selecting record footage, and walked over, "You plan to edit the record footage into the later part of the video?"
"Yes!"
"Although this footage has been promised by the higher-ups to be released, won't showing it at the end affect recruitment?"
Yao Qiang had watched the publicly releasable record footage on the computer countless times when he was in the special forces.
Moreover, he had participated in some of the record footage, so he knew how realistic it was.
If it were shown, he worried that the unreleased, authentic record segments might affect this round of recruitment.
Gao Fei, however, dismissed his concern and stated earnestly, "Brother Yao, trust me, if any young person watches this record footage, they will want to join the army!"
"Tell me your thoughts!"
Gao Fei looked at the record footage on the computer.
It reminded him of the painful memories from his past life, when the border was harassed, and soldiers swore to defend the country, not yielding an inch of territory or letting foreign enemies advance.
After watching the news reports that day, he vividly remembered how everyone, both in real life and online, was filled with righteous indignation, hating the foreign invaders who encroached on their land.
That day, the silhouette standing before thousands of soldiers became an unforgettable hero in everyone's hearts.
Noticing Gao Fei's eyes reddening as he watched the record video, Yao Qiang sighed and patted his shoulder.
"Xiao Fei..."
"Brother Yao, I just want the world to know that the peaceful lives of us Chinese citizens did not come easily.
That we are able to live in a country without war or foreign invasion is not by chance.
It is because some people have left their homes and are carrying the burden for us!"
Yao Qiang, standing still, paused, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, "Let's do it your way."
"Okay!"
...
An hour later.
The production team was heavy with a somber and oppressive atmosphere.
Watching the promotional video on the computer, everyone clenched their fists, their eyes red.
Several female officers in the team bit their lips, their eyes teary.
"Xiao Gao, are you sure you want to send this to the headquarters' review team?" Yao Qiang asked, finally breaking the heavy silence.
Gao Fei was about to nod when he waved his hand, "Wait a moment. Brother Yao, bring the microphone and let's go back to the company with me!"
Major Yao didn't ask any further questions, picked up the microphone, and followed him back to the company.
After a while.
The two returned, and the editor, following Gao Fei's instructions, took the recording from the microphone and added it to the end of the promotional video.
With the production complete, the video was quickly uploaded to the headquarters' review team.
...
Seven PM.
Headquarters Review Office.
When the entire staff of the review office returned from a meeting, they happened to see an email from the Kyoto Military Region.
The civilian staff responsible for checking emails immediately stepped forward to report, "Elder Lu, the promotional video from the Kyoto Military Region has been uploaded and is awaiting your review."
"Download and save the video first, let me make a few phone calls!"
"Yes, Elder Lu!"
It was Lu Yuanjun who had initially approved Gao Fei's promotional idea.
Later, after returning to headquarters for a meeting, he mentioned the promotional video and had some disagreements with certain individuals.
Now that the promotional video was produced, Lu Yuanjun directly contacted the leaders with whom he had differing opinions.
Ten minutes later.
Various leaders and cadres, led by the head of the propaganda department, gathered at the review team.
Among them was Lin You, who had not agreed with the idea.
Once everyone was seated, the promotional video officially began playing.