African Nationhood

Liu Yinhuan smiled and replied, "The chairman is really flattering. We don't know much about movies, so we still have to listen to you."

Shi Jintang smiled, "Let's go in and talk."

Liu Yinhuan and Cao Xiong led Chairman Shi into the art center and then to the large conference room on the third floor.

Chairman Shi took his seat, followed by Liu Yinhuan, his wife, Cao Xiong and others.

Shi Jintang took out a stack of printing paper from his bag and handed it to Liu Yinhuan, "This is the script I wrote. Please read it."

Liu Yinhuan and others quickly spread out and read quickly one by one.

This script is a mixture of two films: "Road Angel" and "Song Girl".

The background of the story takes place in the Shanghai Concession. Two sisters fled to the Shanghai Concession and lived in an alley where poor people gathered.

They are alone, helpless and living in poverty.

Xiao Hong is born with a good voice, and she often sings with Xiao Chen, a drummer in the alley, and they develop a mutual affection for each other.

Sister Xiaoyun was forced to fall into prostitution due to the pressure of life. She suffered all kinds of humiliation but was encouraged to endure in order to make money.

One time, Xiao Yun was beaten to death by the unscrupulous client when she asked for the money.

The death of her sister was a heavy blow to Xiaohong. She was determined to rely on her singing voice to fight, make money, and get rid of poverty.

She ignored Xiao Chen's advice and insisted on singing at Paramount.

In Shanghai at night, with the feasting and feasting, Xiaohong's life has also undergone significant changes. She has become beautiful and exquisite, and is very popular among celebrities.

Celebrity tycoon Boss Lu wanted to marry Xiao Hong as his concubine. Suddenly, Mrs. Lu majestically barged in, made a scene in the song and dance hall, and scolded Boss Lu in public.

Xiaohong woke up as if from a dream. She was so ashamed that she ran out.

Xiaohong disappeared, and people thought she committed suicide.

In fact, she did not die, but she went to Nanhua.

Five years later, she became famous in Nanhua.

But she lives a lonely life and misses her lover.

She returned to the magical city to reunite with her first love, Xiao Chen, but eventually fell ill at the wedding due to overwork.

……

The entire movie has a typical "three-act" structure:
In the first scene, the two sisters first arrived in the magic city until Xiaoyun died.

The second scene is when Xiaohong goes to Paramount to sing, until she disappears.

The third act is that Xiaohong achieves great success in Nanhua, and then returns to Shanghai to find her lover, marry and die.

……

Films around the world during this period were still in their infancy, and films were gradually changing from realistic slices of life to films with plots.

For example, "The Train Arrives at the Station", "The Factory Opens" and "Baby's Lunch" in 1897 to "The Great Train Robbery" in 1903.

Although the storyline appears in the high-quality films at this time, it is incomplete and very short.

Hollywood was just an ordinary valley at this point in time, and not many filmmakers gathered there.

By 1909, Hollywood was truly a gathering place for filmmakers and gradually developed into the center of American filmmaking.

……

What Shi Jintang wants to shoot is a long-running drama film. The film must have exaggerated and humorous actions, and it must also have a main line of returning to nature.

As for the humor part, there is one scene that features contrasting comedy.

For example, in the film, the barber shop where the guy who had his head shaved was about to close down, Xiao Chen came up with an idea, and they went to the streets together playing trumpets and drums to attract customers.

But on the surface it is lively and lively, but in reality it is deserted.

Finally, a customer was brought in, who was also their landlord, but several people shaved his head into a mangy head. The landlord was so angry that he smashed the barber shop.

There are a lot of humorous plots designed here (this part in "Road Angel" is quite funny).

Later, there is Xiao Chen doing magic tricks for Xiao Hong, which is the main action comedy. The scene where Xiao Chen and the others were performing a drama with curtains as the curtain, and the scene where Lao Wang and the others were sitting in a row and being knocked on the head by Xiao Chen was also a funny part.

In addition to being funny, there are also several singing scenes.

Shi Jintang pieced together five sections, "Song of the End of the World", "Rose Rose I Love You", "Little Enemies", "Song of the Four Seasons" and "Night in Shanghai".

These songs are interspersed throughout the film, thereby highlighting the changes in the protagonist Xiaohong's mentality.

When she first arrived in the Magic City, she was innocent and sang "Song of the End of the World" and "Song of the Four Seasons".

After arriving at Paramount, they sang "Shanghai at Night", "Little Enemies", and "Rose Rose I Love You".

When I returned to the Magic City, I sang "Song of the Four Seasons" and "Song of the End of the World" to regain my true heart, forming a closed loop.

……

During the filming of the entire movie, a large number of subtitles were used to explain the time and character identities, and at the same time to advance the plot conflicts.

The real highlight of this movie is guiding consumer trends.

While Xiao Hong was singing at Paramount, her makeup and clothing had to be matched with several outfits, and each outfit had to be shot in close-up to become a trend setter.

These all require careful design and the preparation of the entire film takes a lot of time.

Shi Jintang is the most short of time, so when he came here today, he needed to break down the entire shooting and hand it over to the team headed by Liu Yinhuan.

Things like action design, costume matching, and soundtrack are very complicated and need to be prepared in advance.

……

As for the filming of the movie, this is because a lot of material needs to be shot in the early stage of the movie and real scenes need to be built. For example, in the lanes of the Magic City when you first arrive, there are no real scenes in Nanhua.

Shi Jintang plans to build a film and television base through filming movies and become the "Hengdian" of Nanhua.

If you make a movie and add some physical scenes, a large film and television base will gradually be formed.

190 kilometers northwest of Randburg (now Johannesburg), it is still a wasteland. Later generations built a resort called "Sun City" (a relatively famous resort in South Africa).

Shi Jintang plans to place the film base there and directly name it "Bai Yujing", which means "City of Dreams".

As for the real scene of Paramount, you can find it. For example, you can shoot at Li Jinhu’s entertainment center.

……

Liu Yinhuan finished reading the script and looked at Chairman Shi, "We don't see any good in Chairman Shi's script, but what are the rules for making a movie?"

"This movie is divided into several parts. The first is the soundtrack. I have already written the lyrics. You just need to arrange for someone to compose the music."

Liu Yinhuan nodded, "That's no problem."

"The second is the clothing design and overall makeup matching. This must lead the trend and make people feel beautiful at first sight. You can communicate with the designers and hairdressers in the clothing factory to design it carefully."

The chairman of the committee has given instructions. If they follow the instructions, they will definitely do a good job.

"Okay, Chairman."

"The third one is the action design. I have designed several scenes in the script. You need to rehearse them in advance to maximize the humorous effect.

Our movies are for most people to watch. This action is the most touching. As long as it makes people laugh, it is considered a success. "

Liu Yinhuan and her husband Cao Xiong looked at each other and replied with a smile: "Okay, Chairman, we will design this according to your instructions."

Having said that, it’s time to look at the heroine.

"The heroine I envisioned is a heroine who can not only show the innocence and innocence of a girl, but also show that she has gone through many trials and tribulations to wash away her beauty and maintain her original intention."

Liu Yinhuan was a little confused about Chairman Shi's request, "How about Chairman, I call them in and you can take a look?"

Shi Jintang still agreed with Liu Yinhuan's suggestion, "Yeah."

Wenya stood up and walked quickly to the door: "Girls, come here."

Not long after, a group of tall, fair-faced young girls filed in. Chairman Shi immediately sat up straight and took a closer look. (End of chapter)