Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 771 Film Submission
Fang Minghua certainly understood what Director Zhao was sighing about.

In the 1990s, Yan Dian suddenly emerged as a rising star. A large number of young directors including Zhang Yuan, Wang Xiaoshuai, Lou Ye, and Lu Xuechang began to be active in the domestic film scene, making one film after another.

In the past, senior directors tried their best and regarded winning foreign awards as a great honor, but for them it is simply commonplace, and winning an award for each film is as easy as drinking water and eating.

But the leaders of the Film Bureau did not feel much pride, but rather had a huge headache, because it was this group of people who turned the rules of Chinese films upside down!
Although they have repeatedly used the imperial sword to ban one movie after another, the leaders are also under great pressure.

Now Fang Minghua heard Director Zhao sigh and smiled and said: "Director Zhao, I remember 14 years ago, the old director of Guangxi Film Studio, Wei Bi Da, went to Yanjing and had a big fight with the leaders of the Film Bureau in order to get "One and Eight" and "Yellow Earth" to be released."

"Haha. You also know about this? Did you hear it from Zhang Yimou?" Director Zhao also laughed and said:

"I was just an ordinary cadre at the time, and I was also present. It was the first time I saw a director of a film studio so powerful that he embarrassed our leader on the spot."

"In the end, the movie was released, and as a result, the domestic film industry produced outstanding directors like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige," said Fang Minghua.

"Yes. After the film was released, Chinese films entered their golden age." Director Zhao also sighed.

Fang Minghua didn't continue talking.

His meaning was already very clear. As Director Zhao within the system, he didn't believe that he couldn't hear the hidden meaning.

Sure enough, Director Zhao smiled and said, "Chairman Fang, it seems that you are very fond of Xiao Jia. So let's do this. Bring the copy over and we will follow the procedure."

"Xiao Jia, go move the boxes." Fang Minghua said, and gave him the car keys.

Soon Jia Zhangke brought in boxes from outside, registered and filled out forms according to the process, and finally waited for the results.

"Director Zhao, Xiao Jia and I will leave first. If you have any news, just call me directly. I'll be waiting for you in Yanjing." Fang Minghua stood up and the two shook hands and said goodbye.

"Haha, Chairman Fang, you must wait until the result? Okay, I will report to the leader and arrange the review of this film as soon as possible." Director Zhao said.

The two left the Film Bureau. Fang Minghua sent Jia Zhangke back to the gate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and was about to leave.

"Teacher Minghua." Jia Zhangke got out of the car and looked at Fang Minghua, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself.

"Don't be anxious, just wait patiently." Fang Minghua said, slowly started the car, and soon disappeared in the busy traffic.

Fang Minghua does have to wait for the review results.

However, I didn't spend a single day bored and idle in Yanjing. I visited Song Tangtang's grandparents, met up with Shi Tiesheng, Sun Lizhe and others, as well as Yu Hua and Liu Zhenyun. Since I was in Yanjing, I went to stay with friends. Of course, I couldn't forget to stroll around the Siheyuan. Anyway, these are the things to do in Yanjing.

According to regulations, the review results of a film must be reported to the review unit within one month: passed the review, returned for revision and re-review, or failed the review.

Just twelve days later, at noon, Fang Minghua was taking a nap in the hotel when suddenly the cell phone on the bedside table rang. He picked up the phone and pressed the answer button.

"Which one?"

"I'm Zhao Haisheng from the Film Bureau."

"Hello, Director Zhao, is there any result?" Fang Minghua asked immediately.

"Yes, the film has passed the review. You are in Yanjing? Then please come with Xiao Jia to get the approval documents. We don't have to send them back to Xijing."

"Okay, thank you. I'll come get it right away." After Fang Minghua hung up the phone, he called Jia Zhangke's pager.

At this time, Jia Zhangke was at Lou Ye's home in the Old Summer Palace, wearing a vest and drinking beer.

Jia Zhangke had never met Lou Ye in school. When Lou Ye graduated from Yandian University in great style, Jia Zhangke was still struggling to get into the school.

But after Jia Zhangke entered Yanfang Film Academy, especially when he filmed "Xiaoshan Goes Home" in his sophomore year, which won the Best Feature Film Award in the Short Film Competition Unit of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, his talent as a director gradually began to emerge.

At this time, Lou Ye started to gain fame after filming "Weekend Lovers", and both of them were from Yandian, so they gradually began to know each other.

And Wang Xiaoshuai. Now Wang Xiaoshuai is also at Lou Ye's house.

The three of them were all single, drinking beer and chatting in the house. The pager on Jia Zhangke's waist vibrated. He took it out and saw that it was Fang Minghua's cell phone number. His heart was shocked and he stood up suddenly from his chair.

"Lou Ye, is there a phone nearby? I'll call you back."

"Turn right when you go out. There is a small shop on the north side of the intersection. There is a public phone there." Lou Ye answered lazily.

Jia Zhangke ran out immediately, walked to the intersection under the scorching sun, found a small shop and dialed the number.

"Teacher Minghua, I'm Jia Zhangke, are you looking for me?"

"Yes, I just received a call from Director Zhao, the film has passed the censorship, are you in school? I'll come over to pick you up and go to the Film Bureau together."

"Oh, that's great! Teacher Minghua, I'm not at school now. I'm at a friend's house in Yuanmingyuan. I'll rush to the State Administration of Film and Television soon. How about we meet at the entrance of the alley east of the administration?" Jia Zhangke sounded excited on the other end of the phone.

"Okay, I'll wait for you at the entrance of the alley."

hang up the phone.

Fang Minghua washed her face, put on her clothes and went out.

Jia Zhangke trotted back to Lou Ye's house, picked up the short-sleeved shirt on the back of the chair, and said to the two of them, "Brother, I don't want to drink anymore. I have to go back quickly."

"What's the matter? Did your girlfriend call you?" Wang Xiaoshuai asked with a smile.

"No, it was Teacher Minghua. He just called me and told me that my movie has passed the review! He asked me to go to the Film Bureau now to get the approval document." Jia Zhangke replied excitedly.

"What? Your film has passed the review?!" Wang Xiaoshuai was shocked and couldn't help but yelled:

"How could your movie pass the censorship?! Holy shit! Then why was my movie 'Extreme Cold' banned? It's totally unfair!"

Jia Zhangke chuckled twice and said nothing.

Before the film was submitted for review, Jia Zhangke privately found a screening room in Yandian College and asked Wang Xiaoshuai and Lou Ye to watch the film.

The two concluded that it was a good film and would definitely win a big prize at a film festival if it was sent abroad, but it would definitely not pass the film censorship.

I didn’t expect that I passed!
"Brother, don't you forget who is the producer of this film review of mine? It's Minghua! Is he just doing it for free?!" Jia Zhangke was a little proud.

"Okay, Zhang Ke, go quickly." At this time, Lou Ye spoke up: "But you have to treat us."

"No problem. Once I get the dragon mark back, I'll treat you right away! A big treat! Let's go!"

After leaving Lou Ye's house, Jia Zhangke was a little anxious, so he simply hailed a taxi and headed straight for Dongsi Hutong.

Half an hour later, when he arrived at the entrance of the alley, he saw the black Audi parked on the side.

When Qian got off the car, he hurried over to Fang Minghua who was sitting in the car and said, "I'm sorry, Teacher Minghua, I came a long way from the Old Summer Palace. I kept you waiting for a long time."

"It's okay, let's go." After Fang Minghua got off the car, the two of them walked deeper into the alley together.

When Jia Zhangke met Director Zhao at the State Administration of Film, he naturally wanted to express his gratitude. Director Zhao did not say much. He picked up the landline on his desk and made a call, then asked Jia Zhangke to go to the office to get the approval documents.

Only Director Zhao and Fang Minghua were left in the office.

"Chairman Fang, Xiao Jia is not here now, so I have something to tell you," said Director Zhao.

(End of this chapter)