A widower's entertainment

Chapter 362 [Actress and Female Director] (Please Subscribe)
Whether Li Shaohong could reach an agreement with Jiang Wen was unknown to Lin Youcheng, as this matter ultimately had to be resolved by Li Shaohong herself. Currently, like director Li Shaohong, many directors wanted to collaborate with Lin Youcheng. Compared to established directors, those aspiring directors from film academies naturally preferred to work with the renowned screenwriter Lin Youcheng, even if not now, hoping to collaborate with him someday.

Just as Li Shaohong came to inquire about the film rights to "The Reader," Cheng Zhigu, the director of Yanjing Film Studio, also came to inquire about the film rights to another novel by Lin Youcheng.

Cheng Zhigu and Lin Youcheng were old acquaintances. At that time, Cheng Zhigu even asked Lin Youcheng to write an original film script called "My Brothers and Sisters". In fact, this was the first time Lin Youcheng had written an original film script, not an adaptation of a novel.

"Youcheng, I've come here to discuss the film adaptation of your novel 'If Love Has a Destiny,' and I'd also like to invite you to be the screenwriter."

Clearly, although "If Love Has a Destiny" does not reach the same depth of human nature as "The Reader" and "Atonement," it is undoubtedly a very moving love story. Otherwise, why would readers have kept sending letters to Comrade Lin Youcheng after "If Love Has a Destiny" was published?

This is similar to films like "Under the Hawthorn Tree" and "My Brothers and Sisters." Even if they aren't made with the same artistic ambition as "Atonement" by some directors aiming for awards at the three major film festivals, film studios still produce such films. And to some extent, if a talented director were to adapt and remake "The Classic," it wouldn't be impossible for them to compete at the three major film festivals.

Lin Youcheng naturally had no objection to Yanjing Film Studio's plan to adapt and film "If Love Has a Destiny".

"Sure, but Director Cheng, you really have to make sure you film this story well."

"Of course, don't worry, we will definitely do our best to adapt your novel into a good film."

Seeing that Lin Youcheng agreed without hesitation, Cheng Zhigu nodded repeatedly, promising to do a good job filming the story. However, thinking of the price Lin Youcheng had paid for the copyright to a Hollywood company in the United States, he couldn't help but say somewhat embarrassedly, "It's just that the copyright fee here is probably not as good as that of the Hollywood company."

Seeing Cheng Zhigu's somewhat embarrassed and awkward expression, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but smile and said, "It's alright."

He knew, of course, that the Beijing Film Studio wouldn't give him a million dollars in royalties like Paramount Pictures did.

Cheng Zhigu also knew that Lin Youcheng and the American company could never pay the copyright fees they wanted. Even the 100,000 yuan offered by director Hou Xiaoxian from Taiwan would be difficult to obtain, since the domestic royalty system had not yet been reformed.

"Thank you so much, it's a success."

Many people now want to discuss novel adaptations and film scripts with Lin Youcheng. Cheng Zhigu is well aware that Lin Youcheng agreed so readily because of their relationship, and he is naturally very grateful.

"By the way, Shao Hong should have contacted you too, right?"

"She did ask me about the film rights to 'The Reader,' but I had already promised Jiang Wen, so she needs to talk to Jiang Wen herself."

Cheng Zhigu nodded upon hearing Lin Youcheng's words and then asked, "What suggestions do you have for the actors in 'If Love Has a Destiny'?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Youcheng thought for a moment and couldn't help but say, "The female lead in this movie can play two roles, and the two male leads can be played by different actors."

"The female lead plays two roles?"

Cheng Zhigu was somewhat surprised to hear Lin Youcheng's words. This was very similar to Lin Youcheng's previous film, "Love Letter." However, after careful consideration, he thought it was a good idea. After all, it was a love story between two generations. Song Qingyue and Lin Xi were mother and daughter. If the same actress played them, it would make the whole story more coherent. But the two boys were different, which would leave the suspense until the end and would not cause the plot to become too confusing.

"Youcheng, who do you think would be suitable to play these two roles?"

Lin Youcheng thought about it carefully. In the previous film "Love Letter" directed by Chen Aige, Gong Xue played two roles and performed very well. In fact, it all comes down to the actors' age and temperament being suitable. The female lead in the other timeline version was 21 years old when she starred in "If Love Has a Destiny." For actresses of that age in China...

"How about that actress, Yu Feihong?"

When Cheng Zhi heard Lin Youcheng mention Yu Feihong, he thought for a moment and knew which actress it was. After all, there was a movie starring this actress that was released last year. Although she was young, she had acted in several movies.

In 1979, at the age of 8, Yu Feihong starred in the feature film "Bamboo," becoming a child star. Later, in 1987, at the age of 15, Yu Feihong starred in the film "The Murderer and the Coward." Last year, she also starred in the drama film "Special Zone Working Girl." It is clear that Cheng Zhigu also knows this very young actress.

Lin Youcheng felt that Yu Feihong was quite suitable to star in the movie "If Love Has a Destiny" now. She should still be a junior at the Beijing Film Academy. Later, this "Fairy of the Skies" became a teacher at the Beijing Film Academy. This actress later directed and produced a movie called "Love Comes Again," which is also about a love story across two generations. It tells the story of Ajiu and Aming in their past lives, who could not be together because of the hatred between their families, but they could not escape the fate of being killed. Ajiu and Aming died together in the final revenge killing, under a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree. Before dying, Ajiu promised Aming that they would meet again in the next life.

Of course, *Love Comes Again* isn't purely a realistic story; it's more imbued with mythological elements, featuring ghosts and a Chinese version of the classic tale of love between a human and a ghost. In the film, Ah Ming transforms into a lovelorn ghost who deeply loved the orphan girl Ah Jiu in his past life. However, due to a conflict between their families, they were separated by death. After his death, Ah Ming's spirit remains, waiting for his reincarnated lover under a ginkgo tree for 50 years. Every day, Ah Ming, as a ghost, engages in a conversation with Ah Jiu under the ginkgo tree, reliving all their past life memories until midnight when the tea grows cold.

"I'm just offering a suggestion."

"clear."

Cheng Zhigu nodded. Although he didn't know why Lin Youcheng had noticed this actress, he didn't think too much about it. He would naturally consider Lin Youcheng's opinion. Moreover, he felt that Lin Youcheng's mention of this actress clearly meant that he thought she was suitable. In Cheng Zhigu's opinion, at least this young actress's age was very suitable for the female lead in "If Love Has a Destiny," because the entire love story was about first love in youth.

Clearly, Yu Feihong was unaware that she, the actress, had been recommended by author Lin Youcheng to play the female lead in the novel "If Love Has a Destiny." If she had known, she would have been overjoyed. After all, she was currently only playing supporting roles. Being recommended by Lin Youcheng to play the female lead would have made her incredibly excited. Regardless of whether she was chosen or not, she would be extremely grateful.

Of course, Lin Youcheng didn't really care. After all, he was just making a recommendation. The final decision on who would play the female lead rested with the Beijing Film Studio. However, it was clear that Lin Youcheng, as the author and screenwriter, wielded considerable influence. It was similar to Lin Youcheng's recommendation of Li Xuejian for the role of Yu Zecheng in "Lurking"—while Li Xuejian's acting was excellent, Lin Youcheng's recommendation also played a significant role.

To be honest, Lin Youcheng had another actress in mind whom he wanted to recommend, but that actress was from Taiwan. In his opinion, she had a similar temperament to Xie Shuhua. The Taiwanese actress was Ye Quanzhen. Although she might be filming in Hong Kong now, it wouldn't be very appropriate to go to her.

In fact, besides these two, there would naturally be other suitable candidates, but it all depends on how Yanjing Film Studio chooses. Lin Youcheng is just making recommendations.

Just as Lin Youcheng was chatting with Cheng Zhigu, Lin Zhaomei walked in. Song Ma had washed some fruit, and Lin Zhaomei brought it over, greeting Cheng Zhigu with a smile.

Hello, Uncle Cheng.

Cheng Zhigu saw Lin Zhaomei carrying a plate of washed fruit and couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Zhaomei, why didn't you go to the children's acting training class that the children's film studio held before?"

Lin Zhaomei was a minor actress who had acted in a few films, so such an acting training class would have been perfect for her, but she declined at the time.

Lin Zhaomei smiled and said, "I want to be a director in the future."

Upon hearing Lin Zhaomei's words, Cheng Zhigu raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of laughter, and said, "Good, being a director is good, you can do it! Uncle Cheng supports you, then you must study hard and try to get into the directing department of Beijing Film Academy later."

"I will!"

Lin Zhaomei smiled and nodded.

Cheng Zhi watched as Lin Zhaomei put down the fruit and left. He couldn't help but think that it was a pity that Lin Zhaomei didn't act. He couldn't help but say, "Zhaomei, you're actually quite good at acting."

Cheng Zhigu was quite satisfied with Lin Zhaomei's performance in the film "War Meridian", not to mention her excellent performance in the later film "My Brothers and Sisters". He was also surprised that Lin Zhaomei had such a firm idea of ​​becoming a director and did not attend acting training classes.

"It's good that she wants to be a director; directors have more say."

Compared to acting, Lin Youcheng, as a father, would naturally support Lin Zhaomei's decision to become a director. Of course, these are all Lin Zhaomei's choices, and as her father, he naturally hopes to protect and support Lin Zhaomei's path so that she can have a better future.

Cheng Zhigu nodded when he heard Lin Youcheng’s very direct words. In the world of film, directors do have more say than actors. Of course, in his opinion, the most important thing is Lin Zhaomei’s ideas. The most important thing for a director is to have his own ideas.

"If Zhao Mei really becomes a director, it would be wonderful to have you, her father, writing scripts for her."

Nowadays, screenwriter Lin Youcheng is someone that every director wants to work with, but no matter who comes to Lin Youcheng to discuss relationships or collaborations, they can never compare to his daughter, Lin Zhaomei.

Upon hearing Cheng Zhigu's words, Lin Youcheng nodded directly, naturally wanting to support Lin Zhaomei, and said, "Of course."

"If you succeed, you'll have to nurture her well; there aren't many female directors in China."

There were very few female directors in the entire directing class of Yenching Film Academy in 78, and there are very few female directors in China. Even Li Shaohong stopped making films due to family reasons and only started making movies later.

Cheng Zhigu felt that if Lin Zhaomei really became a director, it would definitely be a good thing. China doesn't lack actresses, but it lacks female directors.

Of course, this was just Cheng Zhigu's idea.

As Cheng Zhigu chatted with Lin Youcheng, he said, "Speaking of which, nowadays children are all being trained from a young age, and they are all very dedicated. You don't know, I heard that last year, a child acting training class was held by the children's film studio, and some parents even sent their four-year-old children there. They were admitted despite being underage, and the key thing is that this little actor was actually selected by the 'Tang Minghuang' crew and apparently played a princess."

Lin Youcheng couldn't help but laugh when he heard Cheng Zhigu's words. He knew that the four-year-old actor Cheng Zhigu was talking about was the future very popular actress Yang 300. She was sent to an acting training class at the age of four, and her parents were indeed very dedicated.

Compared to him, he really is not as good as a father.

Lin Youcheng wondered if he should take Lin Zhaomei to audit classes at the film academy, or take her to film sets for on-the-spot learning. He thought it might be better to take her to Taiwan to see how Hou Xiaoxian, a director who won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, makes films, or to have her intern with Chen Aige on the set of "Farewell My Concubine." However, he also wondered if having her work as a child laborer would be too much of a stretch, since Lin Zhaomei had already learned on set before. Nevertheless, he decided to ask for Lin Zhaomei's opinion.

Perhaps we could buy Lin Zhaomei some books related to filmmaking.

Lin Youcheng thought this might be simpler. Also, could we replace the camera Lin Zhaomei used to take pictures with a DV camcorder so that she could film some everyday stories and record life in the 1990s?
Lin Youcheng thought to himself, but of course, the most important thing was Lin Zhaomei's own opinion. Even if Lin Zhaomei read those books related to filmmaking, it didn't matter.

After all, Lin Youcheng, as a father, did not insist that Lin Zhaomei become a director. Whether she is an actress or a female director, he, as a father, supports his daughter's path.

(End of this chapter)