A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 582 The advent of the classic

There were too many Hollywood studios in the early 20th century, just like there were countless car companies.

The subsequent major Hollywood film companies were either not established, or were not much different from other small film companies, such as MGM and Universal Pictures, which were established earlier.

——It can be regarded as the barbaric growth or the great waves of the movie.

Li Yu can only say about the film industry that he has never seen a pig run away, but he has eaten pork (not many people have seen a pig run away now, I feel like this sentence should really be said the other way around in the future.)

He followed Senat to the studio and watched with interest:

There are three side-by-side exterior photography studios in the studio, and the three crews shot their own scenes in their own locations.

The environment was very noisy during the filming process. After all, it is a silent film, so there is no need to record, and the actors do not need to say things like "12345678, 12345, 123" to the camera.

Due to the short length of the film and the limited number of scenes, many movies may be able to shoot all the scenes in one day.

After filming, the director shuffled the order of the film and used montage editing techniques. The montage at this time definitely didn't have as many tricks as it did later. The method was similar to shooting a video with a mobile phone and then importing it into the most basic editing software to edit it casually.

But the director can make the film produce comical effects through editing.

Senat pointed to a young man in front of him and said, "He is Chaplin, and he is talking to Director Mabel about the new film."

This kind of person belongs to the old world, and his mouth seems to be greased.

Senat said: "It just so happens that the new film lacks some jokes, how about you play a clown?"

After arriving at the office, Senat first introduced Chaplin: "This is the world-renowned great scientist Li Yu. I want to see you by name."

Chaplin didn't know what kind of clown he should play, but he immediately realized that this was an opportunity given by his boss to show his true skills, and maybe he could even get into the leading role.

Currently, filmmaking is very casual, with basically no script. The development of many plots depends entirely on the director's whims and acting. If there is no good idea after thinking hard, a clown performance will be added to amuse the audience.

Chaplin said: "This style of winning the audience's favor with rough scenes and actions is too chaotic. As a result, the personality of the film and the actors are completely buried in the excitement."

Chaplin said: "I'm just a newbie in movies."

Li Yu looked over and saw that it was a female director.

Li Yu said: "Movies have only been developing for a few years now, and there are not many actors with humor and dramatic skills. As long as you find your characteristics, you will definitely shine."

Li Yu joked: "I said I have a bit of an eye for talent scouts, do you believe it?"

Chaplin was speechless for a moment, but he knew that the female director was related to the top executives of the film company, so he could only leave in anger.

Then he called Chaplin over: "Let's go to the office."

Chaplin was greatly surprised: "Mr. Li Yu, my God! Why would you want to see a small character like me?"

The young Chaplin looked quite handsome, which was different from the image he had seen in movies before.

The female director said: "Movies are of course different from acting. And we don't need a script at all. When we think of a funny story, we let the story develop naturally and form a scene in the end. This is the main structure of comedy."

The female director turned around and came to Senat angrily: "This British guy doesn't understand movies at all and is difficult to discipline. I don't want him to participate in the next film."

Chaplin said: "I also wanted to find the characteristics, rather than just acting randomly."

Senat actually wanted to reprimand Chaplin, because this was already the second director who had objections to him, but for the sake of "finance owner" Li Yu, he could only say casually: "I will work with him." Let’s talk about it carefully.”

The female director heard his dissatisfaction and said angrily: "British, please put away your arrogance! I am the director here, and you can do whatever I ask you to do. You only made one movie, don't think you are I really understand the movie.”

Chaplin was arguing with the female director: "If you go by what you said, then movies and troupe acting are completely different. Theater troupe plays are often completed in one go, while movies are more like patchwork."

Senat applauded: "Mr. Li Yu said it very well. I feel that you not only have the vision of a talent scout, but also have profound artistic skills."

"Can you let me think about it?" Chaplin asked.

"You have to hurry up," Senat said. "The shooting of the new film will start soon."

Li Yu suddenly said: "I have some ideas. In view of Mr. Chaplin's thin figure, can I create some contrast, such as particularly fat leather shoes..."

After just half a sentence, Chaplin stood up suddenly: "I thought of it! I will go to the dressing room now. Please wait for a moment."

Five or six minutes later, Chaplin appeared in front of the two of them, wearing a pair of baggy trousers, a pair of big leather shoes, a bowler hat on his head, and a civilized stick in his hand.

He deliberately made everything he wore inappropriate: his tight shirt, bulging trousers, small top hat, big leather shoes, and he swayed from side to side like a duck when he walked.

"How about it?" Chaplin asked, "By the way, plus this walking posture."

Chaplin took a few steps with his Chinese zodiac sign.

Senat said happily: "It's interesting. What kind of character is this?"

Chaplin said: "This is a tramp, an unfortunate but face-loving tramp. When I see this outfit in the full-length mirror, I always feel that he has been living in my heart, as if I have seen him before."

Chaplin's life was very difficult when he was young. In just a few minutes, he seemed to have touched the personality characteristics of the tramp, and the image of the tramp came alive in his heart.

Senat asked again: "What is your age?"

Chaplin twirled the civilized stick in a circle, then suddenly picked up a mustache and put it under his nose, "This should make him look a little older and a little funny, without blocking or affecting the expression on his face."

"Great!" said Senat, "a character with a great sense of story."

Li Yuze said: "I think this image is not just a clown, but can also be extended. In addition to being a tramp, it can also be a gentleman, a poet, and a dreamer. The character can be multi-faceted. He sometimes feels lonely, But I always want to live a romantic life and do adventurous things.”

Chaplin was shocked and said: "Mr. Li Yu, you are so close to my thoughts, as if you can peek into my heart. I also think that this image can become a scientist, a musician, a duke, or any other person." character. However, he can only pick up cigarette butts on the ground, or snatch candy from children when he is very hungry. This creates a sharp contrast and forms a sense of humor. If he sees the opportunity, he dares to kick the lady in the butt. Feet, that’s what they do when they look down on him, offend him, and he’s very angry!”

Chaplin became more and more energetic as he spoke, as if he had already integrated into the character, talking and gesticulating, and performed for more than 10 minutes.

Senat was very satisfied. He didn't expect that Chaplin would come up with such a good idea. It was indeed the right thing to keep this British man with stage drama skills. He was very happy: "You can go on stage now! You can still play it." What kind of tricks are coming out." Chaplin said: "Director Mabel doesn't seem to like me very much."

Senat said: "Don't worry about the performance, and Mr. Li Yu will be your guarantee."

Several people then came to the studio. Chaplin also wanted to try a new role, but he didn't fully know what the plot of the new film was.

All he knew was that it was a story about a dispute between a wife, her husband, and her lover, which took place in a hotel lounge, and that his character was interspersed with it for amusement.

Chaplin immediately used his imagination to design himself as a tramp just looking for a place to sleep. He pretended to be a very tired guest and entered the lounge. He staggered in and stumbled on his wife's feet. When he got up, he turned around and raised his hat to apologize.

Then when he turned around and continued walking, he tripped over the spittoon again, so he turned around and raised his hat politely to show gentlemanly demeanor, but it was just a spittoon.

The people behind the camera started laughing. After hearing this, other actors and crew members came over to watch the new guy filming. Everyone laughed while watching.

Chaplin continued to act in one breath. Years of accumulation of life in the lower class and artistic talent allowed him to quickly find the feeling of a tramp. This character not only comes alive in his heart, but also lives in front of people through performance.

After filming for more than two hours, the filming of several other films stopped, and almost all the factory staff gathered at the venue.

Anyway, noise is not prohibited in silent films, so everyone was made to laugh.

Chaplin was more than half successful in making the people on the scene laugh. His performance was recognized; no actor had ever made people laugh so much before.

Chaplin's interlude shot was very long. After calculating, the photographer asked Senat: "Sir, a total of 23 meters of film were shot. Do you want to keep them all?"

In most previous silent comedies, it was generally difficult for a shot to exceed 3 meters, and 23 meters definitely broke the record.

Senat was obviously a little undecided. He didn't know what the effect would be if such a long shot was shown.

Li Yu interjected: "Since it can make people laugh, what does it matter if it is longer or shorter?"

Senat finally made up his mind: "Okay, then put them all in."

The editing of the film was put together very quickly, and within a few days, the original version of the film was available.

Senat invited Li Yu and the cast and crew to watch the film.

Although Chaplin is still a supporting actor in this film, those who have watched Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao's "Protagonist and Supporting Actor" will definitely understand that supporting actors can also steal the show.

After watching it, Li Yu said to Chaplin: "It's so successful. I feel that I can use this image as the protagonist to shoot a complete film, and the effect will be better."

Chaplin said: "It's a pity that I can't say what I say here, and I don't have the right to become a director. But when the contract expires, I will definitely find a relatively free film company. It is best not to have too many restrictions."

Chaplin's artistic concept is obviously a step beyond this film company.

It's just that the roles of movie actors are relatively fixed nowadays. Whichever role they play in one film will be the same role in another.

If you want to perform at a high level, you have to continue artistic processing and creation, and you can't stick to the previous form.

Li Yu said: "Then I have to make a reservation to become your fan."

Chaplin smiled and said: "I have become a fan of your books. Of course, I am talking about Star Wars, not those difficult mathematics and physics books."

Li Yu said: "In fact, with a scientist with a distinctive personality as the protagonist, there can be very interesting story development."

Chaplin shook his head: "First of all, you must at least understand science in order to find jokes. This is difficult for almost all directors; secondly, science is so rigorous that it is difficult to make a comedy."

At present, society as a whole still respects science too much, and it is almost impossible to joke about it. There's no way "The Big Bang Theory" could have come out in advance.

The key point is that current movies are limited by the technology itself and their expressive power is limited.

Li Yu said: "It seems that even science fiction films will have to wait a long time to come out."

Chaplin said: "Of course it is impossible to film such a grand scene in a science fiction film, but it is good to read the novel. By the way, I also like whether Mr. Li Yu will continue to write Star Wars in the future."

Li Yu said: "I will probably not write Star Wars anymore, but I will probably write another sci-fi thriller in a while."

Chaplin said: "Looking forward to it very much!"

Before leaving Los Angeles, Li Yu and Chaplin had a meal.

Chaplin became famous very early. In a few months at most, he would become famous and become a first-class comedian.

Comedy is something that requires talent. Some people are born to be funny, but their daily lives may be completely different from what they see on the screen.

Chaplin's current income is already quite high, with a weekly salary of US$200, making him considered a high-income earner in the United States.

When he left the film company more than half a year later, his income was even more terrifying, reaching more than 1200 US dollars per week!

You must know that the film industry at this time has just started, not to mention that he will make several sensational and best-selling films in the future.

The two became friends since then. Many years later, when Chaplin told reporters about this incident, he said with emotion: "Mr. Li Yu is a young and promising scientist with a very high artistic vision. This makes me believe more and more, Perhaps to some extent, science and art are connected. From that time on, I liked to make friends with people in the scientific community. For example, in 1931, I met Mr. Einstein. This is also something worth remembering. .”

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Li Yu bought a lot of movie copies and took them back to let domestic filmmakers learn from them.

Film is an art with some technical content, and this art form is quite expressive. If used properly, it can even be used as a form of cultural enlightenment in the future. Li Yu has always been optimistic about it.

——It is said that the Soviet Union later even used movies as a propaganda tool, and for a long time, the strength of Soviet movies was not weak at all.

During the Republic of China, Chinese people naturally also liked movies. In any case, there were definitely more people watching movies than reading books. If human blood steamed buns could be filmed earlier, I can’t imagine the shocking effect.

(End of this chapter)