Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 764 I Will Be the Producer
Two days later in the morning, Jia Zhangke rushed to Xijing and knocked on the door of Fang Minghua's house.

The weather was nice today, so Fang Minghua invited Jia Zhangke to sit in the yard and drink tea.

"Come, try it. This is West Lake Mingqian tea. It tastes good." Fang Minghua personally poured a cup for Jia Zhangke.

The color looked really good, clear and emerald green. Jia Zhangke quickly picked it up and took a sip - unfortunately he couldn't tell whether it was good or not.

For him, drinking tea is not as good as drinking wine.

Of course, in front of this man who was ten years older than him and had already been a famous writer at home and abroad, Jia Zhangke couldn't say that he didn't like tea but liked wine. He pretended to taste it and applauded.

Fang Minghua smiled slightly and said nothing.

"Teacher Minghua, your yard reminds me of the yard in my hometown. There are also trees and flowers planted in it, but it's not just our family that lives here. Instead, it's several families that live here. It's a big compound." Jia Zhangke said as he looked around the yard while holding a teacup.

"The traditional dwellings in your Jin Province should be similar to those in Guanzhong, right?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Our Fenyang courtyards are similar to yours, but not so square. They are usually rectangular. In the countryside, just like your Guanzhong, the houses are half-covered."

The two chatted about residential buildings, and Jia Zhangke, who had been a little reserved just now, relaxed a lot. Fang Minghua discovered that Jia Zhangke, who looked a little dull, was actually quite talkative.

"Speaking of residential houses, the Pingyao Ancient City in your Shanxi Province and the Qiao Family Courtyard are both good. I would like to visit them when I have time," said Fang Minghua.

"We also have well-preserved courtyards in Fenyang, like the Wei Family Courtyard, which is located in Dongshe Village, Jicun Town in our county. It is a building from the Republic of China period. It was built by Wei Guangnian, a representative figure of Shanxi merchants, in imitation of the Shanxi Provincial Guild Hall in Tianjin. It is a residence that has been preserved quite well." Jia Zhangke added.

"Really? I haven't heard of it yet. I'll go and take a look when I have time." Fang Minghua immediately became interested.

"welcome."

The two chatted for a while and then got down to business.

"Zhang Ke, I've read your script. It's pretty good overall, but I'm worried about one issue." Fang Minghua picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said slowly.

"What's the problem?" Jia Zhangke asked hurriedly.

"Some of the plots in the script defame the government's image. I am worried that after the film is made, it may not pass the censorship and cannot be released to the public."

"Teacher Minghua, is it that serious? I am just reflecting the reality. This kind of situation is everywhere in reality. I am not exaggerating at all." Jia Zhangke explained.

"You're right, but if it's made into a movie, it will have a greater impact. What will the film review department think? In the future, when facing the general audience, or even film colleagues, can you guarantee that some people will not report it to the relevant departments after watching it? If it is taken to an exhibition, will they say that your film will affect the country's normal foreign cultural exchanges?"

"Ah? This?" Jia Zhangke was stunned.

He didn't expect that making a movie would involve so many things!
I just wanted to make a movie I like, telling an ordinary story, how could it be against the law?!

Can I just not release it in China?

The ruthlessness hidden in Jia Zhangke's bones was aroused, and just as he was about to express his opinion, he heard Fang Minghua speak.

"Zhang Ke, don't follow the example of some directors who always like to take films that cannot pass the censorship review to be screened or exhibited abroad, and even take pride in this."

Fang Minghua's tone became a little serious: "If you want to make a film on this land, you have to abide by the rules of the game - you can find ways to use the rules, but you must never blatantly break them. Unless you want to be like Zhang Yuan, who made four banned films in a row and called himself an underground director."

Jia Zhangke was silent. Of course he knew Zhang Yuan, he was his senior.

He made four movies in a row, including "Mom", "Yanjing Bastards", "Son" and "East Palace, West Palace", and all of them were banned! Even Zhang Yuan himself is now banned and is not allowed to direct movies.

Of course, he didn't want to learn from Zhang Yuan. At heart, Jia Zhangke was still a relatively traditional man.

"Then I'll change the script." Jia Zhangke compromised.

"How about this, you just shoot according to the script first, and I'll be the producer of this film?" Fang Minghua said.

"You are a producer?!" Jia Zhangke widened his eyes.

Although Fang Minghua has close ties with the film and television industry, several of his novels have been made into movies or TV series and received wide acclaim, and his wife is the president of the largest private film and television company in the country, but he himself has never really been involved in the film and television industry. This is the first time!
"What? You're not welcome? I also wanted to come to your Fenyang to drink some authentic Fenjiu and see the Wei family compound." Fang Minghua smiled.

"Welcome, welcome!" Jia Zhangke was overjoyed.

Having the great writer Minghua as the producer of the film is also a major promotional highlight for this film.

Having made the decision, Jia Zhangke told Fang Minghua in detail about his ideas for the filming of the film. He said that when he went home for the Spring Festival, he had taken a few people to wander around Fenyang County and had chosen a shooting location.

"Do you have any written record of these situations?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Yes, yes." Jia Zhangke hurriedly took out a piece of information from his yellow shoulder bag and handed it to Fang Minghua.

Fang Minghua looked at it for a while and said to him, "Go to Shengshi Film and Television Company and give these things directly to their President Song, who is also my wife. She will arrange for someone to discuss it with you in detail and sign a contract. I will call her later to tell her about our discussion."

"Thank you, Teacher Minghua. I'll be there right away." Jia Zhangke couldn't wait any longer.

"Okay, I wish us a smooth cooperation." Fang Minghua stretched out his right hand, and Jia Zhangke quickly shook it.

After Jia Zhangke left, Fang Minghua went back to the living room, picked up the landline phone and dialed Song Tangtang's cell phone number.

On the phone, Fang Minghua told his wife about his conversation with Jia Zhangke.

"Oh Minghua, you actually want to be a producer? I can't believe it." Song Tangtang was a little surprised.

"Haha, I'm just a figurehead. I'm just a hands-off boss. Jia Zhangke is still in charge of everything." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"I understand. Do you want to increase the popularity of this film?" Song Tangtang said on the other end of the phone.

"We have discussed that some of the plots in the script are quite sensitive. I am worried that it will not pass the censorship. I am also worried that someone will take advantage of Jia Zhangke's youth and report him. I am here to support Jia Zhangke!"

"Of course, I also want to go to Shanxi Province to hang out and relax. Doesn't the song say, 'Shanxi has beautiful scenery,'" Fang Minghua said with a smile.

Jia Zhangke quickly signed an investment contract with Shengshi Film and Television. After returning to Yanjing, he immediately began to plan the actors and crew, and rushed to his hometown Fenyang after the May Day holiday.

At this time, Fang Minghua also set off from Xijing with a travel bag.

(End of this chapter)