The literary era since 1979

Chapter 204 The Fifth Generation's Pioneering Work

Zhang Guangnian arranged a special car for Fangyan, and safely sent him and his books to Nanluoguxiang.

As soon as he got home, Fangyan immediately moved the complete set of "Zizhi Tongjian" to his own large Huanghuali frame.

As for the bicycle left at the Humanities Society, I got up early, went to the parking lot to pick it up, and rode it leisurely to work.

Stop at the mail room and call Li Cunbao.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries. Li Cunbao thought Fangyan would blame him for handing the manuscript to Kunlun, and said with guilt:
"Yanzi, I'm sorry. I didn't expect Kunlun to contact our army. The leader asked me to hand over the manuscript..."

"Let's publish the manuscript in Kunlun."

"what?"

"Are you surprised?"

Fang Yan said, "Our editorial department has already discussed this. You are a military writer and you will have to publish in military literary journals in the future. We cannot let the relationship become strained because of a manuscript."

"Iwako!"

The more he said this, the more he felt bad. "How about you scold me?"

Fang Yan smiled and said, "This is the first time I've heard such a request. Do you really want me to call you ungrateful?"

"In fact, if you scold me a few times, I will feel better."

Li Cunbao smiled awkwardly on the phone.

Fang Yan said: "You are a writer in the army, I can understand."

"Yako, I, I don't know what to say."

Li Cunbao's tone was full of excitement. "Thank you, thank you, and thank you to the editorial staff for your understanding!"

"There's a line in The Three Heroes and Five Gallants, 'The rules of business, even if the deal fails, the righteousness remains.'"

Fang Yan said, "It's the same for us. We have a long way to go and there will be plenty of opportunities to be commissioned in the future."

After chatting for a while and hanging up the phone, Uncle Dong saw him walking out and asked, "Teacher Fang, are you going out again?"

"A few friends are coming from western Guangxi today."

Fangyan rode his Phoenix bicycle straight to the barbecue season by the Shichahai Lake.

When Guo Baochang and Zhang Yimou arrived, they immediately asked the waiter to bring the meat roasted in the kitchen to the table.

"Let's not have a violent meal this time. Let's have a gentle one and chat while we eat."

"That's no problem."

Guo Baochang gave the five people a wink.

Zhang Junzhao, Zhang Yimou and others immediately understood and hurriedly took out scripts, photos and other materials from their bags.

"Teacher Fang, these are the photos we took when we were scouting in Xiangxi."

"This is the storyboard script we came up with. Please give it a thumbs up."

"........."

Seeing how nervous they were, Fangyan put down his chopsticks.

When the youth film crew was established, Wei Bi Da was the team leader, Guo Bao Chang was the deputy team leader, and he was the consultant.

They have a great say in their final results, which is no less than the power of life and death. If it does not meet their wishes, then according to the military order issued previously, they will have to sit on the bench for ten years and will never be allowed to mention independent filming again.

However, he and Guo Baochang were obviously not wrong about them.

The homework was done very carefully, with the director having his own explanation, the art department having his own understanding, and the photography having its own composition.

Fangyan said nothing and flipped through the photos.

In the lofty and deep mountains of western Hunan, the rural postal route winds through mountains, rivers and villages, green mountains, green trees, green moss and muddy paths...

"Director Guo told us that you wanted to use colors and images to express emotions in this film."

Zhang Yimou said that the five of them did not fully understand.

Fangyan picked up a photo and asked, "What is the main color of the scenery you see here?"

"green."

Huo Jianqi didn't even think about it.

Zhang Junzhao, Zhang Yimou and others also nodded in agreement.

Fang Yan asked, "What kind of feeling does it give you?"

Zhang Junzhao pondered for a moment and said: "The mountains, rivers and fields here give people a sense of tranquility, simplicity and isolation."

Fangyan asked: "What about the postal route?"

Huo Jianqi said: "The green mountains and clear waters are like a paradise, as if it is independent of the mountains. This postal route is the only passage connecting the mountains and the outside world. However, for the postman, it will be a lonely and difficult road."

Zhang Yimou said: "Because the main color here is turquoise, which is a cool color, it has this visual feeling."

"Yes, this is what Teacher Fang and I are going to talk about!"

Guo Baochang said: "Colors not only have a sense of hot and cold, but also a sense of lightness and heaviness, softness and hardness, distance and nearness, as well as a sense of magnificence and simplicity. Through visual contrast, a psychological opposition is formed, which is completely different from the current film aesthetics..."

Fang Yan watched everyone fall into deep thought and took a sip of Arctic Ocean.

Color, like light and shadow, is also part of the language of film.

For example, "Hello! Mr. Tree" uses strong color contrast to make the movie look magical and realistic, with romance and sadness intertwined.

Then, another question was raised: "Father's love is often silent, so try to avoid expressing it directly in the lines. If you use colors to express 'father's love', how should you do it?"

"Father's love is like a green mountain, heavy, quiet and deep."

Zhang Yimou said that if he were to shoot the film himself, he would use warm colors such as orange and yellow.

For example, the father and son standing on the green hills are illuminated by the golden glow, using the contrast of cold and warm tones to enhance the visual psychological suggestion. "In the same way, can we use cold and warm tones to show the whole process of the relationship between father and son from confrontation to reconciliation?"

Fang Yan said: "The solution to the estrangement is hidden in the invisible."

"You're right!"

Zhang Yimou's eyes lit up instantly, "Use pictures and colors to express emotions, and use tonal styles to portray characters..."

When Huo Jianqi and others heard this, they seemed to understand something.

Guo Baochang and Fang Yan smiled at each other and said in a low voice, "Teacher Fang, it seems that they have all become more enlightened and improved."

"I think the movie can be let them shoot, what do you think, Director Guo?" Fangyan raised the Arctic Ocean.

"Director Wei and I are very relieved to let them shoot it."

Guo Baochang also picked up the Arctic Ocean and touched it gently.

The glass bottle made a crisp sound, and Fangyan looked at Zhang Yimou who had a sudden realization.

In the previous life, "One and Eight", the photography is one of the biggest highlights of this movie.

Zhang Yimou is absolutely impeccable in terms of color, light, shadow and composition, but he is unable to tell a good story. This is not just Zhang Yimou's problem, but also a common problem for the fifth generation of directors.

This disease needs to be cured!
………………

During the meal, Zhang Yimou and the other four gradually understood the desired effect of the film through explanation in dialect.

In terms of lens language, image processing, and shooting techniques, it seems out of place compared to the current mainstream film aesthetics.

It can even be said that it is a heinous act that goes against the will of Heaven!

Guo Baochang listened to the whole story from beginning to end and felt that the entire youth filming crew was simply a "rebel group" that broke the rules.

"Teacher Fang, if you want to take photos of the green rice fields, you should probably start shooting now. If you're late, you won't be able to shoot anymore."

"Yes, it's too late. The rice is about to be ripe. If you want to take pictures of this green rice field again, you'll probably have to wait until next year."

"I think it can wait. It is rare to see such an integration of emotions into the colors and images of the landscape in Chinese films!"

"More than that, this will definitely be groundbreaking!"

"I agree with Yimou. It's worth waiting any longer for such a breakthrough!"

"When will the late rice in southern Hunan be harvested..."

Everyone was talking, and Fangyan tapped the table lightly.

All of a sudden, everyone's eyes were focused on him.

“Breakthroughs are breakthroughs, but in the final analysis, the most important bottom line cannot be broken, and that is to tell a good story!”

“You can’t destroy the narrative for the sake of imagery!”

The unofficial historical story of "Zhu Yuanzhang beheading 95 painters" was told slowly in dialect.

"Teacher Fang, why do you want to behead?"

Zhang Yimou asked: "Aren't they good enough?"

"It's not bad, but they only care about the handsomeness, and don't look like Zhu Yuanzhang." Fang Yan looked left and right, "Do you understand what I mean?"

Guo Baochang added, "Any technique ultimately serves the content!"

Zhang Junzhao, Zhang Yimou and others nodded and began to talk about the second shooting plan which assumed to be in summer and autumn.

The more we talked, the more excited we became, until we even talked about casting.

The Dong girl was undoubtedly Gong Xing, and the mother of the rural postman was "Madame Rong", Li Mingqi.

"This father should be thinner, shorter, and stricter." Fang Yan said, "It would be best if he could combine the three characteristics of being reserved and resolute, thin and dry, and having a cold face but a warm heart."

"Teacher Fang, who do you think my father should choose?"

As soon as Guo Baochang said this, Zhang Yimou and the others all looked at Fang Yan.

Fangyan was flipping through the actor audition list and immediately set his sights on the photo of "Wei Zongwan". Isn't this "Sima Yi"!

Everyone had no objection to the choice of the father, but they were troubled by the choice of the protagonist.

"How about Zhang Fengyi? He played Xiangzi in "Camel Xiangzi" very well!"

"No, no, even though this rural postman failed the college entrance examination, he is still a 'scholar' after all, so he must be handsome and smart."

"Yes, Xiangzi is honest and upright, while the rural postman is honest and upright with a hint of rebelliousness and spirituality. The images do not match."

"What about Tang Guoqiang?"

"Fresh boy? No, no, no."

Faced with their pickyness, Fangyan proposed a person who was not on the list.

"This 'Chen Daoming', he is now in the People's Art Theatre."

“Will this affect the rehearsal of Shang Yang?”

Guo Baochang said with some concern.

"Fortunately, he doesn't have many scenes, and the summer rehearsals are coming to an end." Fang Yan waved his hand.

"That's great!"

Zhang Junzhao was very excited. "Why don't we go tomorrow?"

As soon as these words were spoken, they were immediately agreed by Zhang Yimou and others.

Looking at their excited expressions, Fangyan smiled faintly.

In the previous life, "One and Eight" was the pioneering work of the fifth generation.

In this life, textbooks have to write like this, "That Mountain, That Man, That Dog" is the pioneering work of the fifth generation!
(End of this chapter)