A widower's entertainment

Chapter 233 [Movie Script] (Subscribe)
Beijing, Xinghua Hutong.

Compared to Taiwan's Hou Hsiao-hsien's previous Palme d'Or, this mainland award-winning master Zhang Guoshi has undoubtedly attracted more attention.

The movie "Red Sorghum" won the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival. It should be noted that this is a domestic film and it is also the first time that an Asian film has won a major award at the West Berlin International Film Festival.

In fact, the situation of "Red Sorghum" participating in the Berlin Film Festival is similar to that of Zhang Guoshi's previous performance in "Old Well", in which he was also given the task at a critical moment.

You should know that Chen Aige's "King of Children" was originally the representative of China to participate in the 38th Berlin Film Festival, but it was temporarily withdrawn and changed to Cannes Film Festival. "Red Sorghum" was the substitute to enter the Berlin Film Festival. But it was this substitute that Zhang Guoshi won the Golden Bear Award in one fell swoop.

The Beijing film circle is discussing this matter, which naturally also brought the attention to Mo Yang, the author of the original novel of the film, "Red Sorghum".

Obviously, when a film adapted from a literary work wins a major film award, it is also a promotion for the original work and the author. Just like when Hou Xiaoxian's "The Devotion of Suspect X" won the Cannes Palme d'Or, it also made the original novel by author Lin Youcheng suddenly become popular.

"Red Sorghum" was originally published in the "People's Literature" magazine. As the editor of "People's Literature" magazine, Zhang Wei naturally knew that Master Zhang had adapted and filmed this movie, but he did not expect that the movie would actually win an award abroad.

"I didn't expect that his film Red Sorghum would win an award abroad, and it was the Golden Bear Award. This is really amazing!"

When Lin Youcheng heard what Zhang Wei said, he smiled. This was only the first film of Master Zhang on his way to becoming an international film master. Isn't it amazing that he won the Golden Bear Award for his first feature film?

“I wonder if Ah Cheng’s adapted version of “The King of Children” will also win an award?”

In fact, Chen Ai'ge's "The King of Children" was shortlisted for the main competition unit of the Cannes Film Festival, but it is obvious that now is not the time for Chen Ai'ge to win an award.

"Youcheng, now our Yanjing Film Studio wants you to write the script."

Cheng Zhigu, the director of Yanjing Film Studio, looked at Lin Youcheng and said, "We really want to cooperate with you."

The director of Yanjing Film Studio was also brought here by Zhang Wei. In fact, he wanted to find Lin Youcheng to write the script because of the great writer and the latest winner of the Golden Rooster Award for Best Screenplay.

Lin Youcheng knew what Cheng Zhigu was talking about. In fact, many film studios and TV stations had approached Lin Youcheng before. Not to mention Lin Youcheng's novels, Lin Youcheng's screenwriting skills alone made many people want to cooperate with him, and the price they offered was not low at all.

Zhang Wei also smiled and said, "Youcheng, your screenwriting skills are obvious to all."

"If I really accept this scriptwriting job, I'm afraid it will take even longer for you to get my manuscript delivered, right?"

When Zhang Wei heard Lin Youcheng's words, his eyes lit up and he immediately asked, "Are you planning to write a new manuscript?"

Obviously, from Zhang Wei's point of view, he still hopes to see Lin Youcheng's new manuscript, but he doesn't know when Lin Youcheng will write a new novel after finishing "The Time Traveler's Wife".

Zhang Wei did not urge Lin Youcheng to write a new novel. After all, he knew very well that Lin Youcheng had always been passionate about creation and was always considered a prolific writer in the literary circle.

Lin Youcheng smiled and shook his head, looked at Cheng Zhigu, and said, "My novel "The Time Traveler's Wife" may not be suitable for adaptation into a movie now."

Lin Youcheng is well aware that current film technology, especially the immature special effects, are not suitable for making science fiction films, even a romantic science fiction film like "The Time Traveler's Wife".

"We know this, and we also want to see if you have any new scripts. Spy movies like The Sound of Wind are very good, very shocking, and have touched countless audiences!"

Lin Youcheng couldn't help but laugh when he heard Cheng Zhigu's words. How many spy movies like "The Sound of Wind" are there? "And your "War Meridian" is also quite touching."

Lin Youcheng nodded.

"Sister, it's my turn!"

Lin Zhaole's voice came from the courtyard, where his brothers and sisters were playing hopscotch.

When Lin Youcheng heard the voice, he looked into the yard and saw his brothers and sisters having a lot of fun. Thinking of the movie script that Cheng Zhigu mentioned, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but think of another movie theme.

"Director Cheng, besides spy war themes, have you ever considered other film themes?"

When Cheng Zhigu heard what Lin Youcheng said, he immediately asked, "What's the subject?"

"Family."

"Family love?"

Lin Youcheng nodded. He remembered a movie recently released in Taiwan called "Mom, Love Me Again". However, this movie which caused a tear-jerking craze in the mainland was not popular in Taiwan at the moment. It was hastily taken off the screen after a few days of release. It was not until two years later when it was released in the mainland that it caused a sensation.

Thinking of this tear-jerking film about family affection, Lin Youcheng glanced at Zhang Wei, then at Cheng Zhigu, the director of the Yanjing Film Studio next to him, and couldn't help saying, "If you really want to impress the audience, it doesn't have to be a war film, it can also be a family film."

"A family film?"

Obviously, Lin Youcheng's words naturally made Zhang Wei and Cheng Zhigu very curious, and they were waiting for Lin Youcheng's next words.

"Compared to war-themed films, the cost of shooting family films is much lower."

When Cheng Zhigu heard what Lin Youcheng said, he nodded and agreed very much. Compared with the shooting cost of war films, family films would naturally be simpler, as long as the plot of the film did not have particularly complex and grand scenes.

In fact, it is not that there have never been movies about family themes in China, such as "Look at This Family" shot by Yanjing Film Studio before. But Cheng Zhigu actually knows that this movie is also about love. After all, the movie tells the story of Jiaying, the daughter of Lao Hu, the workshop director of the woolen mill, who is a locomotive operator in the workshop. She falls in love with Yu Lin, a repairman in the workshop, and the two study technological innovation together. In addition, the son Jiaqi is an actor in the art troupe and falls in love with Lin Xiaohong, a salesperson at Xinhua Bookstore.

By the way, this movie also won Liu Xiaoqing the Best Supporting Actress award at the Hundred Flowers Awards.

Cheng Zhi looked at Lin Youcheng and asked, "Youcheng, do you have any ideas?"

Zhang Wei was also very curious and wondered what Lin Youcheng's inspiration was.

Lin Youcheng didn't keep the secret. He looked outside the door, at the children playing in the yard, and said with a smile, "I just thought of a story."

“A story about brothers and sisters.”

(End of this chapter)