Era: Beginning from the Modu Translation Studio

Chapter 421 A grand general mobilization

What is said is always better than what is sung.

I thought the play could be completed smoothly in one night, but it was not until the next morning that it finally took shape.

"The students performed well this morning,"

At No. 34 Qianliang Hutong, Chief Director Wang Fulin looked at everyone and announced:
“Now, let me announce some of the cast members.

The actor who plays Gu Weijun is Chen Daoming, a third-year student at the Central Academy of Drama;
Comrade Li Xuejian, who played Comrade Li Dazhao, from the Air Force Art Troupe;
The actor who plays General He is Wang Xueqi from the Air Force Art Troupe..."

Just when Wang Fulin announced the list of actors, Jiang Shan happened to be standing next to Li Xuejian and Wang Xueqi.

In addition to Pu Cunxin, two of the three extras from the Air Force Political Department actually showed up at this time.

It seems that the call from the CCTV director is really like an arrow piercing the clouds.

At this moment, Jiangshan slowly looked at the green and bright starlight in the second courtyard.

I wonder how these people will feel when they see this "National Day tribute" film again after 10 or 20 years.

However, there is one thing Jiangshan can be sure of.

When that time comes, the people will definitely regard this short film as a treasure.

Just like watching the "Founding of a Nation Trilogy" myself, while receiving education and training, I could also try my best to find familiar faces in the audience...

……

In the afternoon, we went to the Taoranting Swimming Pool in Yanjing.

If it weren’t for Chen Peisi’s constant nagging beside her.

Jiangshan really couldn't believe that this swimming pool with a mushroom fountain, five diving platforms and three standard swimming pools was actually a product of the 5s.

"The largest swimming pool in Yanjing,"

Since Xie Yuan came here, he has basically never left Jiangshan: "Listen to the name, everyone else is a swimming pool, but this one is called a swimming pool."

Jiang Shan: “Why?”

Chen Peisi and Xie Yuan said in unison: "Big!"

"..." Jiang Shan looked into the distance and said, "It is big enough."

Just as the two of them, accompanying Jiangshan, a worker who came to Beijing to work, were looking into the distance foolishly.

Chief Director Wang Fulin's voice rang out again:

"That year, young university students in Yanjing City took to the streets, shouting loudly and setting off a vigorous May Fourth Patriotic Movement.

Today, we, the literary and art workers, must also unite.

Do your best to show the heroic deeds of our revolutionary predecessors to the people one by one..."

After spending some time together, everyone realized that the short film they were participating in shooting was a National Day tribute film of great historical significance.

Just as CCTV's call for action says, this is a passionate feast that every promising young person should actively participate in.

At this moment, after listening to the director's pre-battle instructions, the actors and students on the scene were already excited.

After the order to change clothes was given.

Jumping up and down, rushing left and right, hats and shoes flying everywhere...

The female comrades holding the clothes turned around and ran straight to the locker room.

The next scene to be filmed is called "Women's Fire Bridge".

This bridge, known as the greatest bridge, has inspired awe in many soldiers in the midst of war.

1947, on the eve of the Battle of Menglianggu.

In order to completely annihilate the 74th Division, one of the five main forces of the enemy, the Huaye Theater has already formed a siege against it.

But only one team encountered obstacles on the bank of the Wen River about ten kilometers north of Menglianggu.

The original bridge over the Wen River had been destroyed by the enemy.

The nearby villages had already been sent to the battlefield or evacuated.

Only the Women's Rescue Association, which stayed behind waiting for orders, learned of this emergency.

In order not to affect the encirclement progress of the large force, the 32 female comrades immediately decided:

Use your body to build a "fire bridge" for the liberation fighters.

Although the military situation was extremely urgent, when more than a thousand soldiers saw this scene, they were still stunned.

32 Yimeng women comrades, in groups of four, carried a door panel on their shoulders.

Without hesitation, they jumped into the icy river, forming a human bridge that seemed fragile but was extremely stable.

The soldiers who couldn't bear to step on it insisted on crossing the river by themselves.

But the women insisted: There are more important things waiting for you to accomplish. At the critical moment, time means victory!
In this way, more than 1000 soldiers successfully crossed the Wen River.

Not a single bullet was soaked in water, and not a single soldier's clothes or socks were wet.

Not long after that, a head-on battle with the enemy began...

"Today, nothing to say,"

Assistant Director Ren Dahui already had the aura of a patriarch: "This is definitely the home court for all of our female classmates. You have worked hard..."

"that……"

As soon as the other party finished speaking, Jiang Shan asked again: "Is that classmate a core member of the Women's Association?"

"I'm Director Jiang," Zhu Lin raised her hand, "I'm the director of the Women's Rescue Association."

Jiangshan took a look at the "King" who was wearing a dark green headscarf with small flowers and had a pale and thin face.

"After entering the water, you must first pay attention to safety," Jiang Shan walked over and said, "Everyone, please be careful. If you have any questions, just shout loudly."

It's just a small part of the show, so don't let anything go wrong.

"okay."

"You can rest assured."

After hearing Jiangshan's words, the female student, who had not taken it seriously, jumped into the swimming pool in the diving area with a laugh.

The current climate is just right for filming this scene.

With the help of several male classmates and crew members, groups of four female students quickly carried the wooden boards.

Perhaps due to the buoyancy, the girls now really did not realize how difficult life was for the women at that time.

It was not until Wang Fulin gave an order that more than 20 male comrades in military uniforms and carrying guns stepped onto the wooden board.

The sudden pain pressed them into the water with their teeth grimacing.

After adjusting the position several times.

Seeing that he still couldn't succeed, the deputy general manager Jiangshan simply took action himself.

"Do you have any women's clothing left?" Jiang Shan looked at the stage manager: "Find me a set."

"Why, are you going to dress up as a woman?" Chen Peisi got excited for a second: "Stage Manager, find me one too."

"Wrapping a headscarf probably won't be a big problem,"

After Jiang Shan finished speaking, he turned and looked towards the swimming pool:
"Everyone, please pay attention. The skinny girls, please come up first. We will take your turn when we take close-up shots later."

"That's a good idea,"

Wang Fulin, who had been having a headache, had an idea after Jiang Shan reminded him:
"Male students, please note that those who are too tall should not go up the bridge. People of moderate build should go up instead."

At this moment, Jiangshan, wearing a coarse cloth flowered jacket, was ready to go into the water.

When everyone saw his heroic devotion to art, Chen Kaige, who was too big, immediately started to take off his military uniform:
"Give me a set of women's clothing too. When we men go down to carry the bridge, the burden on the women will be lighter."

"Count me in, too," Zhang Yimou raised his hand. "I'm pretty, so I should have no problem playing a lesbian."

"You are pretty?" Zhang Tielin said unconvincedly, "Let me do it."

Somehow, just after the deputy director Jiang Shan jumped into the water first.

The male comrades at the scene rushed to put on flowered headscarves.

Jiang Wen grabbed a small mirror and said to the makeup artist while looking at himself: "Comrade, please help me put on some more black."

At this moment, Ren Dahui happened to pass by and said, "Okay, you are already a qualified old woman."

"And over there," Ren Dahui raised his hand and pointed at Chen Kaige: "That student, pay attention, don't show your ears."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yimou and Zhang Tielin, who were standing by, quickly stuffed their exposed ears into their headscarves.

By the swimming pool, Li Qinqin, Zhu Lin, Shen Danping, who were sitting on the shore waiting for the filming to start...covered their mouths and smiled as they looked at Jiang Shan and Chen Peisi, who were also sitting on the shore, wearing women's clothes but not forgetting to smoke.

"Jiangshan," Chen Peisi blew out a string of thin cigarettes, "Look how you made them laugh."

Jiang Shan turned to look at Chen Peisi and said, "Quickly close your big ears. Didn't you hear what Dahui is shouting over there?"

"I'm just doing this to make it easier for you to talk."

Just as Chen Peisi was about to take action, Jiang Shan suddenly stopped her: "Sisi, come here and take a photo for the two of us."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yuan, who had already put on makeup, quickly shouted, "Wait, take me with you."

Then, Jiang Wen, Zhang Guangbei, Zhao Baogang, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, and Zhang Tielin all ran over wearing flowered jackets.

The moment Yu Sigui raised his camera, everyone gathered around Jiangshan.

……

Just like that, a spectacular "Fire Bridge" plot was successfully completed with the help of a group of gentlemen.

After this play, all the comrades present understood how difficult life was for women comrades at that time.

"Not everyone can be a hero,"

At this moment, Wang Fulin stood beside Jiang Shan again: "I feel more and more that our scene is very meaningful."

"It's meaningful for sure,"

Jiang Shan put on his own Dacron shirt: "The key is to make the masses love to watch it and watch it again and again."

“So,” Wang Fulin said with a smile, “you came up with this way of shooting.”

Jiang Shan smiled: "How about it, Director Wang? It's quite interesting, isn't it?"

"I think it's interesting,"

Wang Fulin raised his hand and pointed at the students gathered not far away: "Didn't you see that their teachers are here?"

Although Jiangshan repeatedly emphasized that there was no need to be so detailed, the students only needed to present a scene.

But Ma Jingwu, director of the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy, still came to the scene out of concern.

Artists of this era are apparently more dedicated than one might imagine.

Even if it is only a moment of a few seconds in the camera, Teacher Ma will still give the students some guidance.

"We have to catch up," Jiang Shan checked the time, "Students from Yanjing Normal University should be almost ready."

"Let's go," Wang Fulin waved his hand, "Everyone, pay attention..."

……

Next shooting location: Yenching Normal University.

After a lot of effort on the road, the huge crew finally moved to the campus of the Normal University.

The predecessor of Yenching Normal University is actually the historically famous Fu Jen Catholic University.

This campus was once known as an isolated island upholding national dignity in troubled times.

Even when Peking fell, they were the only ones who adhered to the "three no's" principle: not using Japanese textbooks, not hanging Japanese flags, and not taking Japanese classes.

It is for this reason that it was later praised by students as the last piece of pure land in the occupied area.

Of course, Jiang Shan and Wang Fulin chose to shoot here.

This is mainly because the campus of Fu Jen Catholic University is filled with old buildings in the Republic of China style that combine Chinese and Western styles.

At this time, a large number of students from the Normal University, under the command of their teachers and assistant director Magach, had changed into the May 4th-style student uniforms provided by the Beijing Film Studio.

Sitting on the steps nearby, Li Xuejian, Xu Yajun, and Chen Baoguo were thinking about their lines...

As soon as he saw Wang Fulin and Jiang Shan's large group, he quickly put away the lines in his hand.

"How are you, Fulin, Xiaojiang?"

Zhou Yeming, who was present at the scene, came over with the president of the Normal University and asked, "Is the filming over there finished?"

"It went pretty smoothly," Jiang Shan said, "Fortunately it didn't affect our work here."

"You guys are all right," Wang Fulin looked around, "Why do I see that everyone is almost ready?"

"We have completed several rounds of positioning. We can start by filming the parade."

Assistant Director Magaqi looked calm: "The students have even changed their costumes."

"That……"

Wang Fulin asked Jiang Shan: "Shall we shoot this part first?"

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away,"

After saying that, Jiang Shan quickly turned around and said, "New students... change your clothes quickly."

Everyone participated in this May Fourth drama.

Even the 12-year-old Cai Guoqing wore a school hat and mixed in the parade.

The 30-meter-long banner was worked on overnight by several veteran comrades.

It was placed at the front by one of the parade groups.

After the order was given.

Students from all walks of life in the Normal University campus stood up holding banners, shouting and distributing leaflets.

"Give us back Qingdao and defend our sovereignty!"

"Defend our sovereignty and return Qingdao to us!"

"My fellow countrymen, the great powers betrayed us in Paris..."

"They betrayed China and 400 million Chinese people!"

"How could the Beiyang government tolerate such blatant humiliation..."

“When the country is in trouble, every citizen has a responsibility!”

"Today, we will repay blood with blood..."

"No matter who it is, if they dare to destroy my country or exterminate my race, we will fight them to the death!"

"Fight to the bitter end—"

At this moment, Jiangshan and Wang Fulin were each guarding a camera.

One was responsible for photographing the parade.

One of them turned the camera towards the student representatives who were shouting loudly in the parade.

One set of shots, over and over again.

No one complained or had any grumbles.

Everything seemed just as the principal had told them before:
[Whether in the past or now, we should always maintain our passion and uphold our beliefs...]

For the final take, director Wang Fulin had already set up the camera on the rooftop of a teaching building.

Standing with him were Director Zhou Yeming, Normal University President Wang Zikun, and Mr. Qi Gong, who was helping the Normal University compile a collection of historical essays.

"Our actions today are a harbinger of China's bright future..."

At this moment, Comrade Li Dazhao, played by Li Xuejian, appeared on stage in a rickshaw:
“So today, we feel extremely honored and privileged to be able to personally experience this unprecedented revolution…”

On an exclusive walkway among the crowd, Jiangshan was carrying a camera and filming along the way.

Looking at the May Fourth Movement being reenacted before their eyes, all the students, actors... seemed to have walked into history.

"This Jiangshan," Qi Gong, who was lying on the rooftop fence, was already shocked by the scene in front of him: "How can it be arranged so realistically?"

"Who are you talking about?" Principal Wang and he looked at the scene downstairs in surprise: "Who is Jiang Shan?"

"Look," Qi Gong pointed downwards with a smile, "See? That's the handsome young man carrying the machine."

……

Ten days later, CCTV's National Day tribute film was released as scheduled.

At this time, Jiang Shan and Wang Fulin had also arrived safely in Qingdao.

"Give me back Qingdao,"

The moment he landed, Wang Fulin recalled a line he had said not long ago: "Give me back my sovereignty."

Jiang Shan, who was standing shoulder to shoulder with him, also laughed at this moment: "Happy birthday, motherland!"

(End of this chapter)