Welcome to the dream academy

It looks similar to universities in the capital's western Haidian district, a nondescript dull-gray cluster of 10 buildings.

Do not be fooled by appearances, though. This is the Beijing Film Academy, where the next movie director with the flourish of Zhang Yimou, or a Chinese actress with the doe eyes of Zhao Wei, could graduate and take the silver screen by storm.

Entering the school on a Friday afternoon in autumn, it is difficult to appreciate this is one of the largest and most influential institutes for film and television production in Asia.