The literary era since 1979

Chapter 179: Under the Bridge

The next day, Xi'an Film Studio.

A sample of "A Bite of China" was playing in the screening room inside the factory. Gong Xing, Zhang Yu, Zhao Jing and others sat in the back row early.

As far as the eye can see, the audience arrives one after another.

Bayi Film Studio, Beijing Film Studio, Shanghai Film Studio, Changchun Film Studio, Guilin Film Studio, Emei Film Studio...

Heads and directors from film studios across the country came, as did leaders from the Film Bureau and local cultural departments.

Even Hong Kong actors such as Xia Meng were present.

"Mr. Wang and Teacher Fang are there!"

Zhang Yu secretly pointed his finger towards the front row.

Gong Xing followed her gaze and saw Fang Yan accompanying Xia Yan, interacting with people from major film studios.

"That's Director Wang Yang from the Beijing Film Studio."

"That seems to be Deputy Director Teng of the Emei Factory, right?"

"Deputy Director Teng?"

"That's Director Teng Jinxian."

"........."

"Which factory is greeting Teacher Fang now?"

In response to questions from Zhang Yu and Zhao Jing, Gong Xing said that these were Wei Bi Da and Guo Bao Chang from the Guixi Factory.

"This is the Guixi Factory that invited Sister Gong Xing to audition."

Zhang Yu suddenly understood and asked about the result of the audition.

Gong Xing shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Although I haven't received any notification yet, I'm sure there's no hope."

Zhao Jing rolled her eyes at Zhang Yu in annoyance and tried to comfort her, saying that maybe she had passed the audition, but the result had not been announced yet.

"Don't give me hope. This isn't our first audition."

Gong Xing knew it well and said, "Whether it is a success or a failure, it would not take so long without notifying the auditioning actors. I guess maybe the Guixi Film Studio wanted to take my feelings into consideration and delayed it until now."

"Sister Gong Xi, I..."

Zhang Yu realized that he had asked the wrong question.

Originally, Gong Xing was replaced because of his failed audition for "Qiu Jin", and he was depressed, so he went to other film studios for auditions.

What she received instead was a series of blows. However, at last night’s awards ceremony, Li Xiuming was crowned the double Best Actress.

"It's in the past, don't mention it again."

Gong Xing smiled and said, "It took me a long time to recover."

"Are you slowing down?"

The guilt in Zhang Yu's heart disappeared a little.

"Yes, I've recovered now. I can't keep being stubborn with myself, right?" Gong Xing said, "Just like what Teacher Fang said, all kinds of feelings are part of life. The ups and downs are what make up life."

After hearing this, Zhang Yu and Zhao Jing were stunned at first, and then stood in awe. This was the "Steel Stone" they knew!
After a while, the screening room darkened and images from "A Bite of China" appeared on the screen.

As the opening music sounded, Zhao Zhongxiang spoke about the "cured meat" in his mellow and magnetic voice.

“This is the taste of salt, the taste of mountains, the taste of wind, the taste of sunshine, the taste of time, and the taste of human feelings.”

"When I was far away from home, I had preserved meat for my three meals a day."

“The wind, light, clouds and rain of my hometown seem to linger around me and never disappear.”

"........."

The entire sample is not long, only about 7 minutes, and is simply divided into two parts.

One is the process of making bacon, and the other is the dishes made with bacon.

However, even though this is such a short film, Fang Yan, Wang Zengqi, Situ Zhaodun, Shi Fangyu and others watched it three times.

The first time is for fun, the second time is for tips, and the third time is for problems. After finishing, take a 15-minute break.

The audience can go to the meeting room next door to discuss their impressions and experiences for a while, and when the time is up, the symposium will officially begin.

"Teacher Xiao Fang, what do you think?"

This question is not only what Situ Zhaodun wants to ask, but also what project leaders such as Shi Fangyu want to ask.

“There aren’t any major issues overall.”

Fangyan changed the subject and pointed out two flaws.

The first is the text, and although I feel very honored to have copied my own prose throughout the whole article, it is obvious that sometimes the pictures and text do not match, which destroys the atmosphere that I have worked so hard to create.

"In this regard, Xiao Fang and I rushed out a manuscript last night. Although it is only a first draft, it should be more suitable for presentation on A Bite of China than the previous content."

Wang Zengqi gave Fangyan a look.

Fangyan understood and took out a stack of manuscript paper from his bag.

Shi Fangyu and others took it and began to pass it around.

Situ Zhaodun said solemnly that the script is the basis of a play, and the same applies to documentaries. In the creation and review of the copy, he will have to rely more on Wang Zengqi and the dialect in the future.

"There is no shirking the responsibility!"

Fangyan said this in a decisive tone, and then went on to point out the second flaw, which was the composition. Although a fixed-focus lens was used to capture close-ups and slow motion of food cooking, it still looked a little rough in some places.

"After all, this is the first time that we have broken away from the traditional documentary filming concepts and techniques and used so many subjective lenses."

"Once is new, twice is familiar."

Situ Zhaodun talked about the difficulty of filming. In order to capture vivid images, the camera must be placed next to the food that is fried, steamed or stewed. During the cooking process, it is easy to be splashed with oil, so the position has to be adjusted many times.

The composition is also inevitably destroyed.

"How about some empty shots to transition?"

Fangyan pondered for a moment and then spoke out.

Empty shots are indispensable in food documentaries, such as Li Ziqi's "Ancient Fragrance and Ancient Food", in which empty shots come in handy.

"That's a good idea, we can give it a try!"

Situ Zhaodun's eyes lit up.

After everyone discussed for a while, Xia Yan then used his dialect to contact Xia Meng and other Hong Kong filmmakers, and they got to know each other.

Xia Meng was known as the "Princess of Great Wall Films". She was very popular in the 79s and s and was the "Audrey Hepburn" of the East. Unfortunately, with the decline of left-wing film companies such as Great Wall, Phoenix, and New Union, she also retired from the film industry. It was not until the National Congress of Literature and Art that Xia Yan, Shen Yanbing and others hoped that she would return to the film industry to strengthen the power of left-wing films in Hong Kong.

So, Blue Bird Film Company was founded.

The first film he produced was called "To the Wrath of the Sea".

The director is Ann Hui, the assistant director is Stanley Kwan, and the actors are Andy Lau and Lam Chi-sheung, the "Iron Lung Singing King" who sang "A Man Should Be Self-reliant" and "Dare to Love, Dare to Act".

Oh open!

Hearing about this team, the dialect is surprising.

…………

"Teacher Fang and Teacher Xia are together."

"Mr. Wu, Director Bai and the others are also there."

Zhang Yu stood not far away, reporting the on-site situation to Gong Xing and Zhao Jing beside her like a game announcer.

"Xiaoyu, pay attention to the occasion and your image."

Gong Xing reminded softly.

Zhang Yu asked: "Should we go over and have a listen?"

"That's not good. The symposium is about to start."

Zhao Jing looked towards the door and saw people coming in one after another.

“It hasn’t even started yet.”

Zhang Yu gave a sly smile, "Don't you want to hear what they are talking about?"

Gong Xing glanced at Fang Yan who was speaking, but finally couldn't help himself and moved to the outermost part of the crowd with Zhang Yu and the others.

"Yesterday, Mr. Xia mentioned to me the speeches you gave in Youth Literature..."

"Do you mind reprinting it in Hong Kong newspapers so that readers in Hong Kong can read it?"

Hearing Xia Meng's request, Zhang Yu blinked.

"Teacher Fang's speech? Is it about the "I Have a Chinese Dream"? "

"Not only that, there are also "This prosperous age is as you wish" and "What do we rely on for national confidence?"

Gong Xing told it all like he knew it all.

My eyes were fixed on Fangyan all the time, and I saw that he readily agreed. If it could be published, he could use it.

At this time, China and Britain had already begun negotiations.

Just as the two sisters were fascinated by what they saw and heard, Zhao Jing patted them gently:

"Almost everyone has arrived. We should go back now."

"Ok."

Zhang Yu nodded reluctantly.

Gong Xing was also somewhat reluctant to leave and looked back.

At this time, Fang Yan was walking side by side with Wu Yigong, Bai Chen and others, talking as they walked.

Bai Chen said with emotion: "I have benefited a lot from communicating with a group of talented people today!"

Fangyan laughed and said, "You are too modest. If you associate with a virtuous person, then he must be a great man."

Bai Chenle said: "Just now, the mention of "I Have a Chinese Dream" reminded me of a script I have on hand."

"Are you talking about your movie Under the Bridge?"

When Wu Yigong opened his mouth, Fang Yan raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, that's it!"

Bai Chen slowly explained the causes and consequences of the creation of the script, "This story starts in the 80s..."

At that time, there was a popular argument in society that the young people of this era were "a generation without hope."

He firmly opposed this statement. Coincidentally, "Youth Literature" launched a great discussion about life and published the content of Fangyan's speech, which made him more determined to make a film that showcases the spiritual outlook of contemporary youth.

My home happened to be very close to the Sanguantang Bridge, so I went to the old residential area under the bridge to collect materials and inspiration for the script.

After getting acquainted with the unemployed educated youth and self-employed individuals there, I discovered that these young people possessed many valuable qualities.

After talking about the experience of creation, he said categorically:

“I can say with certainty that today’s youth are definitely not the ‘Lost Generation’!”

"I share the same view as Mr. Fang. Chinese youth have great potential and great hope!"

"The more you say that, the more I look forward to this movie."

Fang Yan said, "I wonder when the filming will start?"

Bai Chen replied that the script of "Under the Bridge" was completed as early as the end of March last year.

Fangyan asked: "Then why not film it?"

Wu Yigong said the factory plans to prepare for this project in the second half of the year.

"The casting is a big problem, especially the female lead."

Bai Chen simply stated his requirements for the heroine.

"You have so many talented people in Shanghai Film Studio, so you won't have any trouble finding the right person. For example, Comrade Gong Xing, the comrades from the Guixi Film Studio who were traveling with me all spoke highly of her."

Fangyan thought that Gong Xing had reached the peak of his career in his previous life with "Under the Bridge", so he went with the flow.

"Gong Xing..."

Bai Chen and Wu Yigong were greatly surprised and looked at each other.

Fang Yan said: "When we were chatting on the train, I heard Director Wei say that she seemed to have starred in the movie "Midnight"."

"Yes, the name originally assigned to Xiaoxiang was 'Zhu Guiying'."

Wu Yigong said: "But in order to break through herself, she took the initiative to volunteer to play the villain 'Feng Meiqing'."

"This role is not easy to play."

Fangyan praised her a few words seemingly casually.

The prophet gave gold water!
Gong Xing must answer it!
(End of this chapter)