1990: Starting from Baojia Street

Zhou Yan vaguely remembered that among the students in the 96 Acting Department, Mei Ting was the only one who dropped out early to make a movie.

Now that Mei Ting is not filming, Zhang Ziyi was found by Chen Kaige first. I wonder if this has changed.

After they chatted for a while, Zhou Yan personally took Chen Kaige and Zhang Ziyi to the room they used specifically for auditions.

After arriving in the room, Zhou Yan asked, "Are you going to let her audition like this? Should she change her clothes and put on makeup?"

Chen Kaige rubbed his hands and said, "It would definitely be good to change clothes and put on makeup, but I don't know if it's convenient for you..."

Zhou Yan rolled his eyes, "Makeup is fine, but clothes are hard to get. We don't have costumes from that era here... but we do have a few from the Qing Dynasty."

Those Qing Dynasty clothes were left over from "Tai Chi Master" and are now kept in the costume storage workshop of the TV drama department.

"Then don't change your clothes. Ask Manager Hong and the others to help you put on your makeup."

Chen Kaige was quite familiar with Zhou Yan's team, and he even knew the head manager Hong.

Although Hong Xin is now the director of the film department's makeup workshop, Zhou Yan still usually calls her "Hong Guantou".

Zhou Yan's studio is now divided into three major departments: the music department, the film department, and the TV series department.

Some of the original small departments, such as the Music Engineering Department, have been renamed the Music Engineering Workshop.

At the same level are makeup, costume, set and other workshops, which are somewhat similar to the organizational structure of a film studio.

However, compared to a film studio, a studio has far fewer departments, a typical one being the script department.

The studio does not have a department called the Script Department. All the films that the directors in the directing department want to shoot are basically scripts that the directors get themselves.

The principle their studio is currently following is that whoever wants to make a movie can find the script themselves.

Of course, sometimes people from outside would submit scripts, but the studio did not have a special department to review and screen these scripts. The directors in the film department assigned the tasks themselves.

Anyone among Huo Jianqi and his friends who has time can go to the place where scripts are specially delivered and look for the scripts to read.

If they think a script is good, they can stay and read it again.

If you feel it is not good, you can make a mark on the file tape to express your dissatisfaction and write down your own opinions.

If there are two unsatisfactory marks, the script will be returned.

If someone submits a script and the directors don't have time to read it, it will be returned directly after the three-month period is up.

This is a very crude process, and whether or not you can select a good script is entirely a matter of luck. It is very normal for some good scripts to be overlooked.

But for the time being, this method is the most suitable for their studio, and everyone thinks it is good.

Huo Jianqi and his colleagues would also take the initiative to read scripts when they had time. Their only complaint was that the scripts had not been screened thoroughly, the quality was uneven, and some scripts were so poorly written that they were unbearable to read.

Chen Kaige needed help, and Zhou Yan did not refuse. He nodded and said, "I'll ask Manager Hong to come and take a look, but I have to tell you that makeup takes a long time and may delay your lunch. Do you want to wait until after lunch?"

"Let it melt first, and then eat when it's time. It won't affect you if you continue after dinner."

"It won't affect anything else, except for the lunch break of Captain Hong and his team."

Chen Kaige smiled and said, "Thank you for your help, Manager Hong and his team. It's Chinese New Year soon, so I'll arrange some New Year's goods for their workshop."

……

Zhou Yan called Hong Xin over. She looked Zhang Ziyi up and down, checked with Chen Kaige about the requirements, and then said, "It will probably take more than three hours."

This time was a little beyond Chen Kaige's expectations. He frowned and said, "Captain Hong, can you be simpler?"

Hong Xin said with a smile, "Of course it's OK to make it simpler. The simplest one can be made for you in less than ten minutes, but the effect cannot be guaranteed. Your time will not be wasted, and you will definitely see the effect."

Hearing what Hong Xin said, Chen Kaige nodded, "Then I'll trouble Manager Hong. I'll arrange some New Year goods for your workshop later."

Hong Xin said with a smile, "Director Zhou has already arranged all the New Year's gifts for us. Director Chen, please don't be polite. It's just a makeup. You guys go and have a rest. You can come back in three hours."

Originally, Chen Kaige wanted to stay and watch, but after hearing what Hong Xin said, he went back to his office with Zhou Yan.

At noon, they had lunch with Gong Li and her husband in the cafeteria. While eating, Gong Li looked around in the cafeteria box and couldn't help but exclaimed, "Your cafeteria looks simple from the outside, but it's full of surprises. Even the turntables on the tables are electric. It's so advanced."

“It’s just a simple renovation, it’s not high-end.”

"This is already good."

Since it was a rare occasion for them to meet, Zhou Yan and Chen Kaige naturally had to have a drink with Gong Li.

Gong Li was also in a good mood for drinking, and Zhou Yan didn't need to persuade her at all. She kept raising her glass.

She has a good alcohol tolerance and drinks very heartily, and will also take the initiative to persuade others to drink.

Drinking is a culture in Shandong Province. Many local people, even if they can't drink much, can still say a few words when they pick up a glass of wine.

Huang Hexiang didn't seem to be used to drinking Moutai. His brows were frowned every time he raised his glass. Zhou Yan saw him frowning and just laughed, but didn't say anything about changing his red wine.

After three rounds of drinks, Chen Kaige suddenly asked Gong Li with a smile, "Have you been in touch with Director Zhang recently?"

When Zhou Yan heard Chen Kaige say this, he frowned.

Chen Kaige is a decent person most of the time, but there are always times when he seems like he is sick.

This is not the first time something like this has happened. When filming "Farewell My Concubine", after shooting the scene where Juxian jumped off the building, Chen Kaige took two cups, poured white wine into them, and insisted on drinking a cup of wine with Gong Li.

Gong Li wanted to refuse such a request on the spot, but Chen Kaige simply grabbed Gong Li's arm and insisted that she drink it.

In the end, Gong Li didn't want to embarrass Chen Kaige in public, so she drank from the same cup with him.

The reason why Chen Kaige insisted on having a drink with Gong Li was naturally because of Zhang Yimou.

At that time, Gong Li ran directly from the crew of "Qiu Ju Goes to Court" to the crew of "Farewell My Concubine", and everyone knew the relationship between Gong Li and Zhang Yimou. Chen Kaige drank from the same cup with Gong Li as if he had snatched Zhang Yimou's wife.

The incident was very dishonest, and many people in the crew privately said that Chen Kaige was petty. The affair between Gong Li and Zhang Yimou was known to people not only in the circle but also outside the circle.

When Chen Kaige mentioned Zhang Yimou at this time, it was natural that Gong Li would be embarrassed.

What Gong Li thought at this time was secondary. She was just afraid that Huang Hexiang would think too much after hearing it. Which man would want to hear this? Even if he had known these things for a long time.

Sure enough, after Chen Kaige said this, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Zhou Yan immediately said, "I contacted Director Zhang a few days ago. He just finished filming "If You Are the One", and it seems that it will be released in April or May."

"Oh, I saw it on the news. I wonder how his new movie is."

"You still have the mind to care about others now, so just worry about your own new movie. You asked Zhang Ziyi to come for an audition. What are you going to do if the audition results are good?" Zhou Yan said with a hint of sarcasm, and turned the topic to Zhang Ziyi.

He also wanted to know how Chen Kaige managed to trick Zhang Ziyi into coming over.

Chen Kaige said with a smile, "That's easy. I can just tell their teacher later, right?"

"Do you think their teachers will give you this face?" Zhou Yan said, looking at Gong Li again, "Sister Li is from the Central Academy of Drama, she knows the situation of the school very well."

Gong Li nodded and said, "Well, the school is very strict now. Students in the first and second grades basically have no way to go out to film."

She said that basically, it was because their school only stipulated the time for going out, but did not explicitly prohibit filming.

If students are just out filming but it won't take too long, the school will turn a blind eye and won't intervene.

If the filming only takes a few days, students can use their vacation time to complete it.

However, if you spend more time away from home than the school allows during a semester, you will have to drop out.

Chen Kaige said indifferently, "If the school disagrees, then let her choose and let her decide."

Zhou Yan and Gong Li rolled their eyes almost at the same time.

Chen Kaige's words sounded high-sounding, but Zhou Yan and Gong Li knew that he was just putting the blame on Zhang Ziyi.

In the eyes of Zhou Yan and Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi is just a young girl who is not very worldly-wise and she is not even an adult yet.

A seventeen-year-old female student has to face the most important decision in her life, which is of course very stressful for her.

Moreover, Zhou Yan and Gong Li both believed that Zhang Ziyi had no way of resisting the temptation of Chen Kaige.

For these students, being able to film a movie directed by a great director like Chen Kaige is like a dream.

The reason they go to the Central Academy of Drama is that they hope to become actors, act in movies directed by big directors, become best actors and actresses, and win numerous awards.

At this moment, the internationally renowned director Chen Kaige ran up to them, threw an extremely rare opportunity in front of them, and told them that as long as they got this opportunity, they would not have to study hard for several years and then enter the society to work hard, but could directly become a household name in one step.

Let me ask, how many people can remain calm?
But can Zhou Yan say that Chen Kaige did something unkind?
It doesn't seem to work, after all, he still gave young people opportunities.

Zhou Yan thought for a moment and said, "I'm curious, why did you choose Zhang Ziyi? Have you seen her performance?"

"Of course, wasn't it the dance last night?"

"You know the performance I'm talking about isn't dancing. Have you seen her perform anything before?"

"No." Chen Kaige shook his head. "So, we have an audition today. The reason why I chose her is probably because she gave me a good impression at first sight. Her looks are very suitable for being on camera in a movie, don't you think?"

"Her head is very small." Gong Li immediately hit the key point.

Chen Kaige nodded again, "Yes, her head is very narrow. In fact, among the girls who danced with her last night, two were prettier than her, but I believe she is definitely more photogenic. As for acting skills... don't you think that as long as the director trains well, the actors won't have any acting problems?"

Zhou Yan was not surprised at all to hear Chen Kaige say this, because Chen Kaige has always been so conceited.

A good director can indeed make an actor shine. On the one hand, the director has done a good job of adaptation when casting, and the fit between the actor and the role must be very high.

This is very important and is also the basis. You can't find an ordinary girl to play a peerless beauty, nor can you find a short person to play a mighty and majestic general. This is the limitation of appearance.

If the actor and the role are well matched, then the actor's performance is already half successful. Once the match is achieved, the director can indeed make the actor perform better by adjusting the details.

But these are just icing on the cake.

If an actor has poor acting skills, no amount of coaching by the director can make him shine.

Zhou Yan shook his head and didn't want to talk about it, but Gong Li was concerned. "Zhang Ziyi is just a student now. She doesn't have good subjective judgment. She won't understand that what she needs most now is to learn and hone her acting skills. You can shoot a movie anytime, but if the golden time for learning is gone, you will never get it back in your lifetime."

She is right. For most people, after leaving school, even if they still have the ability and mentality to learn actively, it is difficult for them to return to the learning state they were in school.

Not to mention, most people have no intention to study after leaving school.

How could Chen Kaige not know this? But these were not very important to him. What he wanted was to get Zhang Ziyi to come over and make a movie for him.

What he values ​​now is "The Emperor and the Assassin".

As for what will happen to Zhang Ziyi in the future, he actually doesn't really care.

"For most people, opportunities are fleeting. Maybe after filming 'The Emperor and the Assassin', she can learn more than she learned in school. Moreover, I will explain the pros and cons to her clearly," said Chen Kaige.

Gong Li disagrees with Chen Kaige's words. She believes that although opportunities are fleeting, one must first have the ability to seize them.

But she didn't want to have an argument with Chen Kaige about this matter, so she pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "She will have an interview after putting on makeup. Shall we go and see her together?"

Chen Kaige nodded and said, "Of course no problem, you are most welcome, you can also help me check it."

"Okay, then let's go see how my junior sister performs this afternoon." Gong Li nodded and picked up the teacup. "Since we have something to do this afternoon, don't drink too much at noon. Director Chen, after this cup, let's drink three more and then we'll be done."

When Zhou Yan heard this, his eyelids couldn't help but twitch.

This is a cup of 1 liang 5. After drinking this cup, they will have drunk four times as much. If they drink three more cups, it will be seven cups, which is more than a jin of wine. (End of this chapter)