I’m a Director, I’m Not Bad

  Chapter 343 341. Argument

  From the Olympic Games to the present, although it is difficult to talk about getting along day and night, Xu Xin thinks that he understands Director Zhang's various habitual little moves.

  For example, if he frowns, he is thinking.

  For example, if he puts his hands on the back of his head in a daze, he is making a choice.

   Another example is him wiping his face.

   That means helplessness.

  When encountering something that is "impossible for manpower", he will be like this.

  In connection with what he just said...

  Xu Xin thought for a while and said:

   "Three Shots..."

  Zhang Yimou waved his hand:

"let it go."

   "..."

  Hearing this, Xu Xin was stunned for two or three seconds before he could react.

  Director Zhang, is this... giving up treatment?

  ? ? ?

   But he didn't want to mention it, and Xu Xin couldn't say anything.

  Simply changed the topic of children and chatted there.

   Such as the full moon wine, such as the difference between how the children used to take it and how the children take it now.

   After chatting for about twenty minutes, Zhang Mo came back with Gu Xiaobai, A Mei, and Yin Lichuan.

  Seeing Xu Xin, Zhang Mo said hello.

   "Here we come."

   "Hey, Sister Mo, some teachers."

   After everyone was polite, Yin Lichuan took out two scripts from his bag.

  Xu Xin took it and glanced at the title of "The Love of the Hawthorn Tree", and then directly turned to the first page.

   "1, country road, day, outside.

  A bus drove along the country road towards the countryside, and the voices of neat students reciting quotations came from the bus. "

   "2, station, day, outside

  The bus stopped at the county station, and the buildings here are all in the style of the 1970s. The students got off the bus one after another.

  A large number of gates, Captain Zhang of the village production team leading the team held a piece of red paper, on which was written "Welcome to the Educational Practice Group of the No. 8 Middle School of the City"..."

  Xu Xin is watching a little bit, and Zhang Yimou is also watching a little bit.

   Others, including Zhang Mo, didn't say a word, but also held the script in their hands.

   On the one hand, it is to check if there is anything wrong. On the other hand, these people have more or less worked with Director Zhang and know the habits of Director Zhang.

  Director Zhang is in the kind of working state where he reads while reading, and then asks questions when he feels something is wrong.

  He asks, you answer.

  If the concept can’t convince him, and he can’t convince you, then everyone starts discussing how to change it.

  Although this scene... Director Zhang said, it is the young director Xu who will be filming, and he will act as a producer or director in the film.

  But still no one dared to take it lightly and thought that Director Zhang just watched and didn't speak.

  Even in terms of Xu Xin's respect for Director Zhang, the lead in this drama...is probably still Director Zhang.

   Except for Zhang Mo, everyone thought so.

But…

   Accompanied by a time of nearly 2 hours... Zhang Yimou did not say a word.

   Never said a word from the beginning to the end.

  Although occasionally he seemed to want to say something, but he didn't speak every time.

   Instead, Yin Lichuan and the others didn't know what to do.

  Your old man wants to say...you should open your mouth.

   Panting so much all the time makes others feel very mysterious.

   Unfortunately, Zhang Yimou just didn't speak.

  Until Xu Xin put down the script and narrowed his eyes.

  He lit a cigarette.

  Amidst the smog, the story of the whole script began to overlap from the mind.

  First is the skeleton of the whole story line, followed by various fragmented plots. After all the same are linked in the mind, the main storyline of the whole story has been grasped clearly.

   Several screenwriters abandoned many things and characters in the original work according to their own requirements.

   Only Captain Zhang’s family, the third child, the situation of Jing Qiu’s family and Jing Qiu’s classmates are kept.

  The rest of the things are left clean.

  For example, in the original novel, Wan Changsheng, Zhang Yi, etc., after abandoning all expressions of lust, the love between Jing Qiu and the third child has indeed achieved a pure effect.

   But the conflict in the whole story has been weakened a lot.

   This also seems to be a disease of scar literature.

   It seems that after that turbulent era, writing a story based on this literary phenomenon seems like an ordinary trivial matter.

  The whole script looks like a love process of an ignorant girl.

   It's just that other people's love is mostly a breakup, but the love between Jing Qiu and the third child has become a separation between heaven and man forever.

  The death of the third child, in the original book, seems to be commemorating that era.

  Xu Xin guessed... even if this story is true and has a prototype. But after writing it, Amy wanted to endow it with a layer of reflective attributes, reflecting the sorrow of that era.

  Even if this story is true.

   And when he was reading, it was as if he was in that era without knowing it.

  But the current script, after he took the initiative to eliminate those things, seems to look back after he has passed through that era. From the perspective of today's people, the whole era is kind of... confused.

  Let’s use this word first.

  So, its story line began to be weakened infinitely.

   Give a very vivid example.

   It’s like a peanut wrapped in scarred literature.

   At first glance, it looks very plump, but after peeling off the shell, it turns out that although the inside is not hollow, the peanut kernels are quite small.

   After thinking for a while, he opened his eyes and looked at Zhang Yimou immediately:

   "How are you feeling?"

   "How do you feel?"

  Zhang Yimou asked back.

  Then, Xu Xin's answer made others agree:

   "The shell is thick and the fruit is small. After stripping off the sense of age, there is nothing left."

   Hit the nail on the head.

   Upon hearing this, Zhang Yimou also nodded:

   "Then what do you think? Do you want to add it back?"

"don't want."

   "..."

   "..."

   "..."

   Several screenwriters subconsciously widened their eyes.

   Still don't want it?

  ...Still stubborn?

   But Zhang Yimou didn't seem surprised, but continued to ask:

   "What do you think?"

   "I want to add an element."

  Xu Xin thought for a while and said:

   "A kind of... that can bring others an element that seems to transcend morality and etiquette and provide pleasure, but it happens to be reasonable."

   Then he looked directly at several screenwriters who frowned at the same time after hearing his words.

"It's like this, teachers. I am very satisfied with the main line of the script, but I believe everyone can see it. It seems that after the struggle in the background of the times is gone, we can all feel that Jingqiu and the third child This kind of pure love does not seem so touching. So, here I want to add an element. That is the bottom line of that era, and the relationship between men and women who repeatedly jumped above the bottom line."

   "..."

  Yin Lichuan frowned slightly.

   thought for a while, and said:

   "Director Xu, can you be more specific?"

   "The specifics are very simple. In fact, to put it bluntly, it is a rebellion against pure morality."

   "..."

   "..."

   "..."

  The three screenwriters frowned again.

   But Zhang Yimou's eyes lit up.

   "In the current script, the love between the third child and Jing Qiu is too peaceful... At least for me, it doesn't resonate with me."

  Xu Xin lit another cigarette for himself, leaned on the sofa, and said while thinking:

   "It's... the audience of the film, I say that, can you understand?"

  After he finished speaking, he also knew that what he said was a bit cloudy.

  Then went on to explain:

"Let's just talk about myself. I haven't experienced that era. But I know that in that era, it was nothing more than four words of caution in words and deeds. These four words can sum up many things. But, like those who never There will always be green grass growing in the cracks between the stone slabs. What I want is this kind of desire that transcends morality in the environment of this big stone slab. And this desire was born from the people including me. Including all those who have not experienced that era, the pleasure under the stereotype of that era."

   After he finished speaking, Zhang Yimou summarized the meaning for him:

   "Xiao Xu means that what these two people do must have a secret pleasure beyond the limitations of the age."

   Speaking of this, he paused again before continuing:

   "But don't mix it with **** or lust."

"right!"

  Xu Xin nodded vigorously, feeling the old man's profound knowledge in his heart, and said:

"To me, this story is more like the...puppy love phenomenon in junior high school. The school doesn't allow it, and the teacher strictly prohibits it. Anyone who is found out, that is to invite the parents...I don't know if my analogy is appropriate. But This is the starting point for my interpretation of the script~

  Teachers won’t allow it, parents won’t let it, and even the society prohibits students from having puppy love. But that didn't stop me from secretly holding other girls' hands after school, or kissing other female classmates in the small alley behind the school! "

   "..."

   "..."

   "..."

   "..."

   Now, Zhang Yimou is among the speechless people.

  You are really good at learning.

  But Xu Xin's thoughts at this moment have been completely cleared up with the words.

   On the contrary, the thoughts are completely alive:

"That's the feeling. Jingqiu's definition is first of all Sanliwan. In her, I want to see something between the charm of a mature woman and the... pure and mixed characteristics. When others see her, the first thing they feel It's just beautiful..."

  Zhang Yimou frowned again.

  But Xu Xin continued to talk;

"She must have the stereotype of that era. For example, what kind of khaki pants, what kind of rubber shoes, or...she has big breasts, so she has low self-esteem, and walks with her **** in her mouth. But no matter what, She is an image that can be secretly called Three Mile Bay, and every man who meets her will be fascinated by it."

  Zhang Yimou's frown became tighter and tighter.

"However, I want a clean scene for this scene. Her charming is an attribute, an attractive trait. It is something she is born with and cannot be changed. But the more charming she is, the purer she is, the more lustful she is. , I want her to be cleaner. This is above all a moral pleasure."

   "Very flattering... very lustful... and pure love?"

   Gu Xiaobai seemed to want to say something.

  But Xu Xin waved his hand:

"No, what I'm talking about is my understanding of Jingqiu's character design. But the plot of the story also starts from this point. Puppy love... well, that's the way of thinking. Teachers, don't worry about the image of the actors, just follow my way of thinking Let's go. That era is a school. And Jingqiu, whether it is family composition or... that school, is a metaphor of that era.

  In this metaphor, what she and the third child do must have a step-by-step transcendence process. It is necessary to accumulate the sense of moral rebellion in everyone's heart little by little like building a house... Do I understand this way of thinking? "

  Ami thought for a while, and asked tentatively:

"In other words, it's like puppy love. The two of you must maintain a kind of restraint during the daytime, or in certain occasions. But in restraint, it's like passing a note in class and going home together after school. Duan Lu, and the diary full of missing each other after returning home?"

"Snapped!"

  The moment Xu Xin heard this, he slapped the table:

   "That's right. That's how it feels. And when no one is around, the two of them will have that kind of sweetness that no one else can see."

   “…but clean.”

   "Yes! A frown and a smile, a look at each other, a hand in hand, or just a walk together..."

  Xu Xin nodded vigorously:

   "Just follow this idea. This story...is too pale. I need to create such an emotional atmosphere to bring the audience into it."

  He explained clearly enough.

  The three screenwriters looked at each other...

  The director said so, so what else can I do?

  Continue to change?

   But let's not say...

   This angle of entry is really strange and appropriate.

  In that era, it was like a school where puppy love was forbidden.

   And Jing Qiu’s goal of staying in school and the expectations of her family are not like parents expecting their children to be admitted to key middle schools?

   And then... If the parents know that the daughter who placed the hope of changing the fate of the whole family has been run away by a "poor student" who doesn't know where, then it's no wonder they don't fry the pot.

  Thinking about it this way...

Eh?

  It seems that this is the truth...

  Although I don’t know what the script will look like in the end…

   But who let others be the director.

  The director provided ideas, so let’s follow his request.

but…

   As Yin Lichuan, who has worked with Zhang Yimou for the longest time, after thinking about it, he still asked Zhang Yimou:

   "Director Zhang, what do you think?"

   "..."

  Zhang Yimou broke away from the mood of frowning and thinking.

  After hearing this, he looked at Xu Xin, then at Yin Lichuan...

   "Let's follow this train of thought first."

"OK."

   Seeing that he had already said that, Yin Lichuan stopped talking.

   But he didn't leave either.

Instead, the three of them just started discussing some details in the original book. They chatted for a whole afternoon with Xu Xin as the on-site checker. After having a general idea, they took dinner at Zhang Yimou's house before taking a bunch of Notepad with thoughts left.

  Xu Xin originally planned to come, but Zhang Yimou glanced at the nanny who wanted to do the dishes after a few people had eaten, and waved to Zhang Mo and him:

   "Let's go to the study and talk."

  …

  The study of Zhang Yimou's family is also very large.

   occupies the entire second floor.

   Obviously, both he and Zhang Mo stayed on the third floor, including the guest room.

  In this huge study, Xu Xin saw many "good things".

  For example, various film reels, awards, and even photos with some people, as well as various information files, books, etc.

   There are even a few... don't know why.

   It’s quite lifelike.

  The few times Xu Xin came here, he basically stayed in the lobby on the first floor.

   This is really the first time I entered this study.

  I feel quite curious.

  Look east and west.

  Zhang Yimou didn't stop him, even if he asked something, he would answer it in detail.

  For example, who sent this painting, what kind of film was that pile of thick materials used for shooting, etc.

   Xu Xin didn't sit down again until the teapot on the tea table in the study boiled.

   "Casting for this movie, the image of Jing Qiu, what kind of image do you want?"

  Xu Xin understood as soon as he heard this.

  So he asked:

   "What do you think?"

  Zhang Yimou nodded, holding the teacup for Xu Xin with a clip, poured out the tea for warming the cup, and said:

   "Are you planning to find someone according to the original image?"

"right."

  Xu Xin nodded:

"Looking for the image of San Mile Bay... But I guess it will be difficult. I worry that actors who are too young don't have the acting skills and natural charm. I also worry that those who have the acting skills are getting older, even with makeup. It can't make up for it."

  After he finished speaking, he asked another question:

   "What do you mean?"

  Actually, his request for the role has already been stated in the afternoon.

  He didn't believe that Director Zhang didn't hear clearly.

  The reason for asking this question now... Intuition tells me that it should be that Director Zhang also has an image of Jing Qiu in his heart, and it conflicts with himself.

as expected.

   "I think it would be better to find an actor with a more natural and simple sense."

   "Like?"

  He was curious about who Director Zhang's "ideal person" was.

  But the other party shook his head directly:

"not yet."

   "..."

  Xu Xin was a little ridiculous.

  Co-author Your old man is not sure about it?

but…

   "Even, I'm thinking about whether to look for it among the students. No plastic surgery, no stereotyped acting skills, what I want is that kind of unpolished simplicity."

   “…amateur????”

  Xu Xin was dumbfounded.

  Especially when seeing the old man nodding...

  He subconsciously glanced at Zhang Mo.

Well.

good.

  This sister is also confused.

   It seems that he is on his side.

but…

   "For amateurs, what about acting skills?"

   "Acting skills can be adjusted slowly. But at least it must conform to the aesthetics and simplicity of that era."

"this…"

  Xu Xin realized one thing more clearly.

  The old man... is obviously resonating with his own experience.

  In his experience, at that time, the students in the 17th and 18th years had plain faces.

   Maybe the dress is rustic.

  Thinking of this, he said:

   "Just the one with two braids, floral clothes, and an army green schoolbag... that?"

"right."

  Zhang Yimou nodded:

   "The kind you can tell when you look at her, she is from this era."

   "What about the aesthetics? What about the lens?"

   "Simpleness is beauty."

   "..."

  Hearing this, Xu Xin shook his head directly:

   "I think your point of view is wrong."

   "..."

  Zhang Mo was speechless.

  But Xu Xin immediately changed his words:

"It's not that your point of view is wrong. It should be said that your entry point has naturally taken on the symbols that should have at that time. So, what you want is...for example, when a person of your age walks into a movie theater and sees At the first glance of this girl, you can find the resonance of the era you experienced at that time. Or to put it more simply, through her face, appearance, clothing, dress, and the scenery in the camera... Pull people back to that time In memory?"

"Well. Because it is a kind of imprint of the age. What it needs is not expression, nor does it mean that we can summarize it... the specific time of July 3 and July 4 in the original work. This time may be indicated at the beginning. But it can be gradually blurred later. Because it is this person who directly bears the imprint itself..."

  Before Zhang Yimou finished speaking, Xu Xin said directly:

   "But that's your Love in the Hawthorn Tree."

   "..."

  He was taken aback.

   I heard Xu Xin continue to say:

"Or to put it more intuitively, that is "The Love of the Hawthorn Tree" that belongs to the memory of your generation. In terms of handling this aspect, you chose to return to the original memory. Remember the symbols of the times, messages, and even the appearance of everyone in their prime, to construct the lens and style of "The Love of the Hawthorn Tree" in your own work. This is where you resonate~"

   Hit the nail on the head...or rather mercilessly, he spoke his mind.

  Because the discussion at this moment is not a dispute between students and tutors.

   It's two directors, arguing about creative ideas.

   Although it is not clear whether it will produce that kind of "I persuade you" result.

   But at least Xu Xin will not and cannot compromise.

  Because he is the director, the authority of the play, and the final interpreter.

  What he needs to do is to be responsible for his own works and his own ideas.

   Just like what Director Zhang said to him now, it is also his own idea.

   There is no distinction between what is advanced and what is advanced, and there is no distinction between high and low.

  It's just a debate about the concept of pure artistic creation.

   "Frankly, in terms of literariness."

   "Patter..."

  Choosing to light a cigarette for courage, Xu Xin said:

"The book "The Love of the Hawthorn Tree", in terms of language skills and literary creation level... I don't know how high it is in your mind. But what you want me to say... Amy's writing skills are not as good as some contemporary mature books. As far as writers are concerned...it's actually worse.

  Even, the discussion of the time transition in this book often gives me a sense of déjà vu that a hammer is in the east and a mallet in the west. So, that is, you let me see. Otherwise... Regardless of whether I am interested in the subject matter or not, as far as its text structure is concerned... it is actually very ordinary. "

  Hearing this, Zhang Yimou did not deny it.

  Because what Xu Xin said is the truth.

  Amy's writing skills are indeed average.

  Compared to her writing skills, the kind of emotion brewed between the lines is what makes this book outstanding.

"On this point, it will first raise my reading threshold. But...Although you are the beginning of my relationship with this script, since you have chosen me as the director to direct this film, I must stand on my side From the perspective, let the things contained in this story tend to... my creative concept. And in terms of my creative concept, I am not just filming this story for your generation."

   There is no resistance in a hurry.

   There is no merciless denial either.

  In the debate on artistic concepts, Xu Xin chose to speak bluntly:

"The first is acting. Unless you let me see an acting genius, she has a simple face without training or tempering, and she can use acting to interpret the Jingqiu in my heart... Otherwise I will still get it according to my choice...I want to find one...the "Three Mile Bay" in my heart."

   And for Xu Xin's resistance, is Zhang Yimou angry?

   Not really.

   On the contrary, he was quite lucky that his daughter was sitting next to him.

  Because my daughter can learn the most valuable qualities of a director from this young man she is optimistic about.

   That is the confidence and persistence in one's own creative ideas.

   It is true that if the film fails, this kind of self-confidence and persistence may be a muddled account of bullshit.

  But... a director with his own persistence and self-confidence may fail a hundred times.

  But as long as he is recognized by the audience once, he will be remembered by the audience who recognized him.

  But if the director doesn’t even have this kind of persistence and self-confidence, he keeps compromising for fame, money, status, etc.

   To use the most appropriate sentence to describe it, it is called: All living beings are not worthy of heroes.

  He is not afraid of his daughter making mistakes.

   I'm just afraid that she's going to be so confused that she doesn't know anything.

   Completely lost in this big dye vat.

   At that time, with the name of "tiger father and dog son", it will end hastily, and it will be swept into the garbage dump with the label of "unusable".

  So, as a father, he felt that Xu Xin had taught his daughter a very good lesson at this moment.

   But the class belongs to the class. As a director, he also has to choose to argue with the "opposite" director:

"You have to consider the overall rhythm of a movie. An actor's face is like a part of the whole movie. You classify an actor who is classified as a modern beauty in terms of image temperament and the roles she was good at in the past. Suddenly Throw her into the 1970s. The audience will definitely come with inherent cognition and look at it with a prejudiced look. Don’t deny this point?”

   "Well... that's true."

  Xu Xin nodded:

"But you have also forgotten... the audience of this film. Or the most important audience in the current film industry is not actually those who have the same memory as you, people of that era. Even if some of them were born in the 1970s , but as an active and optional art, the audience buys tickets for nothing more than one, the director, and two, a certain actor or a certain star..."

   "But this kind of literary film..."

   "I don't think it's a literary film."

   Still shaking his head, still firm.

  Xu Xin smiled and said:

"Have you forgotten? I told you before when we were talking about what kind of movies I want to make in the future. I said that no matter what kind of art films or commercial films, I only make films that I am interested in. Although I also understand what it means to be in the world Involuntary meaning. But at the end of the day...I'm only going to shoot if I'm interested.

  Of course, I may encounter other things in the future that will impact my thoughts.

  But from the beginning to the end, the movies that I can take seriously must be the movies that I am interested in. As for my film, I want people to recognize it artistically. But at the same time, while being recognized, I also hope to get enough brilliant results at the box office. If you don't have desires, you can just do it, I have money, and I don't expect movies to make money. Based on this premise, can't I be more demanding? "

   Zhang Yimou rolled his eyes after hearing this:

   "You call it high demand? Isn't high box office also making money?"

  Xu Xin chuckled:

   "Movies make money, what does it matter if I have money...?"

   "..."

   "..."

  The father and daughter were speechless for a moment after listening to such strong and unreasonable words.

  But now, when it comes to this, Zhang Yimou also knows...Xiao Xu wants to take the road that countless people want to go, but it is difficult for anyone to walk.

   That is to achieve a perfect balance between artistry and commerciality.

  Thinking of this, a trace of reason and regret flashed in his eyes.

   It should be because not only Xiao Xu, but even he is also striving to pursue this path.

Regrettably…

  It's too difficult.

   Shaking his head slightly, he said:

   "Well then, walk on two legs, you find the right actor, and I'll help you find the one who meets my requirements. You are the director, and when the time comes... you will judge."

  Xu Xin was delighted at once:

"hey-hey."

   Then nodded vigorously:

"Um!"

  As for Zhang Mo, who watched the conversation between the two, after hearing his father's decision...

   There is only a very vague idea in my heart.

  Did you...dote on him too...

  (end of this chapter)