The literary era since 1979

August 5, Yanjing.

Accompanied by the sound of the whistle, the green train slowly stopped at the train station.

It was the first time for Xu Ke and Shi Nansheng to visit Beijing. Even though the platform was crowded with people, they still found it extremely novel.

When Wu Yigong led them out of the station, they saw Fang Yan and Gong Xing waiting at the exit for a long time.

"Old Wu!"

"Director Xu, Ms. Shi!"

The two groups came together and greeted each other enthusiastically.

Xu Ke said: "After parting in Hong Kong, I finally see Teacher Fang again."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Fang Yan took the initiative to introduce the two parties, "This is my lover, Gong Xing."

Like Xu Ke, Shi Nansheng couldn't help but take a few more glances at Gong Xing, who was recommended as "Auntie Thirteen". He looked her up and down. She had no makeup on, long hair draped over her shoulders, and looked dignified and elegant. The most noticeable thing about her was her pair of lively and reserved big eyes, which were full of affection.

Indeed, she deserves to be called "China's Yamaguchi Momoe" by Shanghai Film Studio and even the national film industry.

"Hello."

Seeing Gong Xing's open and confident look, Fang Yan said, "I have arranged everything. Let's go to the hotel first."

Afterwards, he asked Xu Ke, Shi Nansheng and others to put all the luggage into the taxi. He had booked these taxis for the whole day.

"I'll take one with Mr. Wu and Director Xu."

Fangyan asked Gong Xing, Shi Nansheng, and the secretary who came with Wu Yigong to take another car.

These words were exactly what Xu Ke and Wu Yigong were thinking.

On the way to the Yanjing Hotel, they talked about the filming of the movie "Huang Feihong" in the private space of the car.

"Teacher Fang, we have no objection to the cooperation model of co-production, but we still have some differences on investment."

Xu Ke told the truth.

Fang Yan sat in the passenger seat, half turned around and asked, "What are the main areas of disagreement?"

Wu Yigong pointed out bluntly that the problem lies with the film and television base.

Xu Ke and the Golden Princess behind him hope to build a studio in Hong Kong to shoot the film like other Hong Kong films, while the Shanghai Film Studio plans to build a film and television base in Chedun, especially after visiting the Qin Palace and other buildings built by the Xi'an Film Studio specifically for the movie "Da Qin".

"Director Xu, it was actually me who proposed to Mr. Wu and Shanghai Film Studio to build a film and television base in Shanghai."

Fang Yan stared at Xu Ke.

Xu Ke was not surprised, as Wu Yigong had already informed him when they were negotiating cooperation with Shanghai Film Studio.

"Teacher Fang, I have no objection whether we shoot in Hong Kong or in the mainland. The key is that I have to have a reason to convince Boss Lei."

"The reason is simple, because Hong Kong simply doesn't have the right scenery for Once Upon a Time in China."

Fang Yan knew very well that Lei Juekun was the boss behind Princess Jin, so he had to give him a reason that he couldn't refuse.

Xu Ke was startled. "Teacher Fang, can you be more specific?"

"Director Xu must have watched countless movies, and I think he has also seen quite a few Hong Kong martial arts films."

The dialect directly points out that most of the martial arts films in Hong Kong these days are set indoors, without even a single large scene.

The shots are almost all medium panoramic shots, with no long shots or aerial shots, because a long shot would only reveal a small village.

After all, Hong Kong is just a tiny place. It cannot have as many mountains, rivers, scenic spots and historical sites as the mainland.

Therefore, early Hong Kong martial arts films all had a petty air, either about the joy of revenge or the struggle between good and evil.

"That's quite true."

Wu Yigong smiled with satisfaction, "If the movie wants to capture the style of Huang Feihong, a great master, and the spirit of a great hero who serves his country and his people, it must have scenery that matches this kind of spirit! Such scenery cannot be found in Hong Kong, only in the mainland!"

Xu Ke thought it made a lot of sense and was speechless for a moment. "Director Xu, the film we are going to shoot, Once Upon a Time in China, is very different from the martial arts films that have been shot in Hong Kong before!"

Fang Yan said: "It is also different from the Shaolin Temple that we filmed in the mainland before. We want to shoot a brand new kind of martial arts film!"

Xu Ke and Wu Yigong looked at each other and said, "A brand new martial arts film?"

Fang Yan said: "That's right! A new-style martial arts film that is different from the traditional ones! A mainland martial arts film that is different from Hong Kong films!"

Xu Ke asked: "Teacher Fang, may I ask what is new about your 'new'?"

"Martial arts is a form of personal heroism, and each type of martial arts film and martial arts star has distinct personal heroic characteristics."

Fangyan pointed out his fingers and gave examples one by one.

Shaw Brothers films like "36 Chambers of Shaolin" focus on hard-hitting martial arts action.

Later in Golden Harvest, Bruce Lee adopted a realistic and fierce fighting style, while Jackie Chan combined kung fu comedy with juggling stunts.

Therefore, the martial arts design of "Huang Feihong" cannot follow the first three routes, otherwise it would be just a clumsy imitation and have no novelty.

"Listening to your words is worth ten years of reading!"

Xu Ke was enlightened, but soon asked in distress: "Teacher Fang, what should the martial arts style of our movie be like?"

"The martial arts films in Hong Kong are made up of martial artists. In the mainland, there are no martial artists, but martial arts athletes."

Fang Yan said: "They receive orthodox martial arts training. Their movements are soft yet strong, and each move is as beautiful as a dance. So is it possible to combine martial arts, dance and fighting skills, so that it has both power and beauty, and then combine it with fast editing..."

Xu Ke frowned, still unsure whether to understand or not.

"For example, Foshan Shadowless Kick."

Fang Yan said: "In the novel, Huang Feihong kicks three times, but in the movie, I have to kick seven or eight times in the air, or even more."

"what?!"

The two people sitting in the back driver's seat were startled. Seven or eight feet? Is that still a human?
Even if it's a movie, it should at least talk about science. Newton's coffin is about to burst!

Wu Yigong coughed and said, "Yanzi, the earth has an attraction, how is it possible for someone to kick seven or eight times in the air?"

"Yes, Mr. Fang."

Xu Ke had a look of disbelief on his face, as he generally thought that walking with two feet was something a human could do.

Even someone as strong as Bruce Lee could only kick three times in the air, so he also had a nickname, "Lee Three Kicks".

“This is not reality, this is filming a movie.”

Fang Yan said: "Movies are dreams. Audiences watch martial arts movies for the martial arts dream and the kung fu dream. The audience has long been tired of seeing two kicks in the air. If it's three kicks, maybe they will get excited. If it's four or five kicks, the audience will raise their hands. If it's six or seven kicks, it's beyond imagination, and the audience will applaud. Do you think this is the feeling?"

"I've never made a martial arts film, so I can't say for sure." Wu Yigong turned his head and said, "Director Xu, what do you think?"

Xu Ke savored it carefully for a while, and there were vague signs that the window paper was about to be broken.

"The first new thing about our new-style martial arts film is the concept, which is the patriotic sentiment and the spirit of the hero under the grand narrative."

Fang Yan said: "The second new thing is the fighting style. The movements are realistic but elegant and graceful, and the imagination is unconstrained but not illusory. The most important thing is that the fighting must be exciting, beautiful, and have a unique style. As for the third new thing, it is the framing..."

In his mind, Xu Ke connected martial arts and dance, and the picture seemed really beautiful!
The key point is that this has never happened in Hong Kong films before!
Suddenly, I seemed to have grasped the essence of the new-style martial arts, and felt as if my soul had entered my body.

"Director Xu, now you should understand why I am determined to build a film and television base in Shanghai, right?"

Fang Yan smiled and turned around, looking at the central rearview mirror, looking at Xu Ke's reflection in the rearview mirror.

"I understand, Mr. Fang."

Xu Ke smiled knowingly and said, "This new-style martial arts movie you're talking about can indeed only be made in the mainland."

Fangyan patted his thigh lightly: "Hong Kong martial arts films have their own characteristics, and our mainland martial arts films also have their own style!" (End of this chapter)