Acting school started in 1998

Chapter 329 Teacher Li’s performance guidance

"good, very good!"

Lou Ye held the walkie-talkie in his hand and sat in the small dark room staring at the monitor screen. He watched the playback again, scratching his head a little.The improvised actor from the local drama troupe was obviously inexperienced and seemed very nervous. After seven or eight takes, there was still no sign of relief.

He is not a director who is good at telling actors what to do, so he tries to use mature actors.It’s just that this role had very few roles, and he was cast after just a few lines, so he found a young actor from a local drama troupe.It looked pretty good during the audition, but it didn't work when facing the camera, especially with Zhang Ziyi.

"Uh...please ask Li Tang to help guide me."

Although the on-site executive director can also tell the actors about the scene, he is more interested in analyzing the characters and letting the actors feel and then perform them.Li Tang was different. His method was very rough. He just acted it out himself and just followed it.This method has been fully practiced on Nakamura Hiroshi and has proven to be simple and effective.

The executive director was eager for the director to speak. He was directing on the scene and felt helpless when the actors were not up to date. He had long wanted to ask Li Tang for help, but as an executive director he was not qualified to direct Li Tang to do things, and he did not dare to speak.

When the director finally spoke, he quickly ran to the rest area and saw Li Tang talking to Zhang Ziyi who had just finished filming. He didn't dare to disturb him until Li Tang noticed his presence and turned around and asked: "Director Wang, Is there something wrong?"

The executive director's surname is Wang. He graduated from Nortel's directing department in 94. He is one year ahead of Cheng Er and can be regarded as Lou Ye's younger brother.In fact, Nortel's Directing Department does not recruit students every year. For example, after the resumption of the college entrance examination, it recruited a class of undergraduates. Director Chen, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Li Shaohong, Peng Xiaolian, etc. all graduated from that class.Then it was not until 85 that the second undergraduate class was recruited. Xianglou Ye, Wang Xiaoshuai, Lu Xuechang, Wang Rui, etc. were students of that class.Then there are Level 87 and Level 91. It wasn’t until the beginning of Director Wang’s class that undergraduate candidates were recruited every year.

The main reason is that the directing profession has high requirements and insufficient teaching staff. Later, many directing department graduates joined the teaching staff. For example, Wang Rui, who was currently in a lawsuit with Zhang Dabeard, stayed at the school and became a teacher.

In addition, after going through a special era, the professional gap of directing is very severe.There are also many similar training courses for cadres interspersed in between.Some are really for charging, while some are just for a diploma.

Then in order to generate income, a so-called evening college class for directing was launched. The fat white man Yu Qian who plays the prefect in "Li Wei Becomes an Official" graduated from this kind of college class.

But the really powerful ones are those who have graduated from full-time undergraduate courses.It’s just that after the 90s, on the one hand, the old gang of 78-level directors are still at their peak, and the so-called sixth generation directors represented by 85-level directors are on the rise. In addition, the domestic movie box office market is declining. From the 90s to now, except for a few For example, Cheng Er, Lu Chuan, and Wu Shixian have all made a name for themselves in the director field, but others seem to have little opportunity. They can only shoot commercials, music videos, or work as assistant directors.

Director Wang falls into this category, but he is quite lucky. As a well-established Shanghai Film Studio director, he has the opportunity to become Lou Ye's executive director.

Moreover, as the director of Shanghai Film Studio, he knew very well how Cheng Er got ahead. It was not because Li Tang fell in love with his script and contributed money and effort that Cheng Er reached the pinnacle of his life in one fell swoop.

Director Wang is very envious. After all, film is a luxurious art. In addition to his own talent, he also needs the help of noble people or a strong background.For example, Lu Chuan had a good father who not only helped him finalize the script, found investment from Huayi Brothers, but also invited many big names such as Jiang Wen and Ning Jing to join him, which established his new status in the country in one fell swoop. The identity of a well-known director.

As for Wu Shixian, he is an American and an international student.Treating foreign guests consistently friendly, it goes smoothly.

Therefore, Cheng Er is lucky because he met Li Tang, a noble man.And he also heard that Zhang Baibai entered the film field and also received help from Li Tang.

It is precisely because of the above that he has special respect for Li Tang, and he may also want to get help from Li Tang one day.Although it seems that the goal is still far away, it is still good to have the opportunity to form a good relationship.

Facing Li Tang's question, Director Wang quickly showed an eight-toothed smile and said in a humble tone: "Teacher Li, if it is convenient for you, the director would like to ask you to help guide the actors."

Hearing these words, Li Tang couldn't help but look at Zhang Ziyi.That's right, Zhang Ziyi was just complaining to him about the unreliability of his opponent's actor.

Before Li Tang could speak, Zhang Ziyi stood up first and said with a smile: "Teacher Li, let's join hands first!"

"Row!"

Li Tang had no choice but to stand up. This was not the first time that the two of them had joined hands. In the previous scenes where she and Nakamura Hiroshi had problems, it was Li Tang who was responsible for the demonstration and guidance.In Zhang Ziyi's words, acting with him was particularly enjoyable.

Li Tang also figured it out. Xiao Zhang was a real experientialist, slow to get started but extremely explosive.To be honest, most people may not be able to handle her scenes.

The scene is an old street in the city. The buildings on both sides are from the Puppet Manchukuo period and are full of Japanese style.Because it was old and unable to demolish and renovate, it became increasingly desolate.The arrival of the crew made the place lively again. The extras wearing various Republican costumes and Japanese ronin costumes were squatting on the street to rest and chat. The crew was busy non-stop.

This word is the most accurate word to describe the crew's on-site shooting.When the director comes up with a new idea, the entire crew often has to move. The camera positions, lighting, props, makeup, costumes, including the actors' performances must be adjusted accordingly, keeping hundreds of people busy.

A small bungalow facing the street is the home of Ding Hui, played by Zhang Ziyi, with two rooms inside and one outside, with a Japanese-style sliding door in the middle.She has a brother who is tall, wears glasses, and looks very elegant.

At this time, he was mumbling something in the room where the filming took place. There were three peers beside him, ranging in height, short, fat, and thin. They were all classmates of his brother in the movie, and they were engaged in the underground anti-Japanese and national salvation movement.

They are all young actors from a local repertory troupe.In fact, since the late 90s, drama troupes in various places have gradually declined.There are many reasons. The popularization of televisions is one of them. After all, people prefer to watch free TV series instead of spending money to watch movies in theaters.

Lack of originality and insufficient innovation are another aspect.For example, the Shanghai Drama Center where Li Tang works has relied on classic dramas such as "Shang Yang", "Under the Red Flag", "The Crow and the Sparrow", and "Mayor Chen Yi" for a long time. .

But after entering the 90s, I obviously felt that I couldn't keep up, so I created "The Lady Left Behind" which reflected the national trend based on current realistic themes, and "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" which was adapted from the novel of the same name written by Huang Anyi, a classmate of the famous writer Lin Weimin. The trendy drama "The Color of Stocks" directed and acted by Baldhead received great acclaim and also created a lot of economic value for the drama center.

In fact, truth-telling drama is still a niche art in the final analysis. It is a kind of urban culture, not a mass consumer product.Because Shanghai and Beijing have a large urban population base and a relatively high proportion of petty bourgeoisie and cultural people, the drama center and the Beijing People's Art Center have been able to endure for a long time.

But compared to local areas, in the past there were drama troupes in every province, every city, and even every county. However, with the development of the times, drama troupes are gradually being eliminated.

If nothing else, let’s just say that the Beijing drifters in the cultural circles all over the capital are all from some drama troupe.The local drama troupe is in the same situation. They are basically in a state of starvation. The capable people who used to be the leading actors have all left.Those who went to Xiahai and those who drifted northward were left with only the old, weak, sick and disabled.The few young actors in front of me are all the young actors in the repertory troupe. The original audition was to select the role of the brother who has a relatively important role from among the four of them, and the rest are walk-ons.

Seeing the executive director pushing the door open and coming in, especially with Li Tang following behind him, the eyes of the actor who had just been wandering around mumbling words suddenly lit up and he hurriedly came forward: "Director Wang! Teacher Li! Sister Ziyi!"

Now the title of Teacher Li is definitely well-deserved for Li Tang.

These young actors from the local repertory troupe have a very upright attitude. They went to the scene to study according to the script every day when there was no drama in the past few days. They witnessed with their own eyes how Li Tang guided Nakamura Hyung.

They cherish this opportunity very much. For actors from local repertory troupes like them, being able to star in Lou Ye's movie, or even starring opposite the big star Zhang Ziyi, is like a piece of cake in the world.

Although their roles may make the audience unable to remember who they are after watching the movie, but from the perspective of an ordinary actor, this is a qualification.If you go to the set for an audition next time, if you show off your qualifications, it shouldn't be a problem to find a suitable supporting role.This is equivalent to giving you a stepping stone into the film and television industry.If you are lucky enough to have big stars Zhang Ziyi and Li Tang remember you, maybe there will be a bright road ahead for you.

Director Wang walked in without being verbose and said directly to the young actor: "The director asked Mr. Li to guide your performance. You must study hard."

The young actor hurriedly said: "Thank you, director!"

Then he turned to Li Tang and said, "Thank you, Teacher Li!"

Li Tang nodded, turned back to Zhang Ziyi and said, "Ziyi, let's get started."

"no problem!"

After Zhang Ziyi finished speaking, she took the initiative to retreat outside the house.

The other three extras immediately took their places, and their faces were filled with excitement at the thought of acting with Teacher Li Tang.

There are very few lines in the script of "Purple Butterfly", and there is only eye contact between Zhang Ziyi as Ding Hui and her brother.

The elder brother is engaged in the anti-Japanese and national salvation movement, while the younger sister secretly falls in love with the Japanese.So whenever I see my brother and his classmates in a meeting, printing anti-Japanese leaflets, my sister's eyes are complicated, worried, ashamed, and even more reluctant to speak.

It should be said that Zhang Ziyi's performance is very accurate, especially her big, pure eyes, which are like a piece of white paper, and various emotions are like various paints, forming a gorgeous picture.

The young actor who plays the brother is not saying that his acting skills are not up to par.In local drama troupes like theirs, there are very few graduates from Shanghai Opera, Chinese Opera or Nortel majors. Most of them are students in the classes run by the drama troupe itself.It's a bit like an apprentice's interest, learning and practicing at the same time, and slowly growing up.Don't look at this kind of student class. In the 90s and [-]s, many big stars came out of the student class.

Although his acting skills are good, he obviously couldn't handle the scene opposite Zhang Ziyi. The reason is that Xiao Zhang has a star aura and aura that is too strong, which makes the young actors timid before acting and even dare not look at each other.

But Li Tang's demonstration was much easier, because in his eyes, his sister was just a little girl, just like he usually saw Xiao Xiao.His eyes were always soft and doting, and he also added some body language.For example, Zhang Ziyi walked up to him, looked down at the thick stack of anti-Japanese leaflets in his hand, and then looked up at him with complicated eyes, trembling lips, and opened her mouth but stopped talking.

He knew something might be wrong with his sister, but work was urgent, so he could only free up one hand, rub Xiao Zhang's head, and give her a gentle smile, as if to tell her to wait until he comes back.

It was just when he walked out that he was assassinated by the Japanese. It turned out that the anti-Japanese activities he had been engaged in had already been known to the Japanese.Xiao Zhang, who was in the room, saw this scene and was about to run out to save his brother when he was grabbed by one of his classmates.

Xiao Zhang, who entered the scene, was very strong and almost broke free. Fortunately, the actor who had been filming several times before knew what he was doing and held on tightly.The other two classmates rushed forward to fight with the Japanese.But he didn't expect that the Japanese had explosives tied to their waists, and with a final "bang", blood and flesh flew everywhere.

When the smoke dissipated, the terrified face of classmate Zhang was revealed. Looking at Li Tang lying in a pool of blood, he finally let out a shrill scream!
Of course, Li Tang's demonstration in this scene was not for the young actors to simply imitate, but to break down the eye contact between himself and Xiao Zhang in the scene just now, the psychological activities of the characters, the emotions used, etc. Explained to the young actors one by one.

If he is worried about not being able to catch Zhang Ziyi's performance and does not dare to look at her, then it is very simple. He does not need to look at her and just uses substitute emotions to convey the character's emotions from his eyes.Then let the photographer give him a close-up shot of his eyes.

But some of the little moves that Li Tang just added in the scene opposite Zhang Ziyi can be imitated.It's just that this young actor is still timid and doesn't dare to touch Zhang Ziyi's head. Instead, he touches his shoulders. Naturally, the effect is greatly reduced. This makes Lou Ye very unhappy. You can't even try to copy the gourd?

Zhang Ziyi was also very unhappy and asked him to touch his head boldly.As the leading little girl in the country, she takes her performance very seriously.

Fortunately, after taking two more shots, I finally heard the director shout.

It should be said that with Li Tang's performance guidance, the filming process of the crew was obviously much faster. It only took ten days to complete the filming in Fushun, and then the crew went non-stop to Changchun and Leoning Binhai in the next province. Shot in the city of Dalyan.If nothing else happens, the filming in Northeast China will definitely be completed before the end of the month.

There were not many filming scenes in these two places, and after many times of guidance from Li Tang, the small-timer Zhong Cunheng gradually got the hang of it, adapted to Lou Ye's style, and slowly began to perform creatively.

So Li Tang naturally no longer has to follow him, otherwise he would always be hand-in-hand to feed him, so Nakamura Hiroshi's salary of US$15 would be given to him directly.

　Sorry, I typed this chapter in a bit of a rush today, so I’m a little short on words!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)