The literary era since 1979

"In addition to the introduction of the TV series "The Great Song Dynasty Judge", there is another matter I want to discuss with you."

Fangyan looked left and right, "How is the preparation for "I Love My Family" going?"

Su Ya said that Wang Shuo and Liang Zuo had written the script up to episode 20, and originally wanted to start filming after finishing episode 35. However, considering that the Television Art Center currently has no dramas to shoot, it would not be a big deal if the studio was empty, so they planned to start filming now.

"That's right, let's write while shooting."

Zheng Xiaolong said, "If the word of mouth and ratings are average, we can treat it as a transitional product for the second part of "The Great Song Dynasty Judge" and shoot it into a medium-length TV series of 20 to 25 episodes. If the ratings are good, we can finish shooting all 35 episodes. What do you think, Mr. Fang?"

"It's great that you think this way!"

The production of sitcoms that speak dialects mostly adopts the mode of writing while shooting.

"But right now we have another problem with sitcoms."

Su Ya asked, "Do we really want to invite the audience to the studio to watch the performance of "I Love My Family" live?"

"Of course, each episode of a sitcom is actually a small drama. Just like a drama, language is the main body of a sitcom and an important means of attracting audiences and creating jokes. The laughter of the audience on the scene is also a part of the sitcom."

Dialects carefully explain the characteristics of sitcoms.

Early indoor sitcoms would invite ordinary people as audiences and record their laughter on the spot.

It was definitely not like later generations, where pre-recorded canned laughter was inserted into the parts where "the audience should laugh" to liven up the atmosphere.

"But if we do this, there will be huge risks and challenges for both filming and performance."

Zheng Xiaolong, Zhao Baogang and others were worried.

"Didn't I say that situation comedies cannot be treated in the same way as previous TV dramas. They should be treated like dramas, skits, and crosstalk. Having a live audience is certainly a great test for directors and actors, but it is not without some benefits."

Fangyan explained seriously.

To attract audiences to a sitcom, it means that once filming starts, it should be done in one go without any pauses.

Only by performing continuously, from the introduction to the development and then to the punchline, can the audience laugh from the bottom of their hearts. From the audience's laughter, we can quickly judge whether this episode is funny or not, and whether the audience likes to watch it, so as to make timely adjustments.

"Teacher Fang's words are not without reason."

Lu Xiaowei nodded and agreed: "The relationship between the audience and the creator is like a rising tide that lifts all boats, just like crosstalk, drama, and sketches. The louder the audience laughs, the better the actors perform, the harder they perform, and the better the filming results."

Everyone whispered and discussed, and finally reached a consensus and supported Fangyan's proposal.

"So where can we find so many audiences?"

Su Ya said in embarrassment: "Even if we count our own family members, we may not be able to gather a hundred people, right?"

Feng Xiaogang suggested: "Why not find some old residents in the hutongs? They are humorous and free, so they are the most suitable candidates?"

“We can find some old residents, but it would be better to find more college students.”

According to Fang Yan, many of the jokes in "I Love My Family" are difficult to understand without a certain level of education, and college students are undoubtedly the best choice.

“College students!?”

One by one, you look at me and I look at you.

Fangyan said that each shooting requires about 150 audiences. At that time, the crew can arrange a producer to go to the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, Communication University and other universities to find student unions to contact the audience, under the pretext of familiarizing themselves with the novel form of TV program, sitcom.

On the day of the actual filming, a minibus was sent to wait at the campus gate to pick up the students.

Sometimes when there were school exams and we couldn't get enough people together, we could also go to the filming locations at the time, such as the cafeterias and playgrounds of the Workers' Movement College and the Broadcasting College to capture the audience. Of course, this was just a stopgap measure to deal with the problem of insufficient audience in the early stages.

After the TV series "I Love My Family" became famous, the producers no longer had to worry about the audience.

Before each filming, there would be long queues of audiences outside the studio, and some might even use connections to get in through the back door and beg to be in the audience.

After everyone discussed it, there were no extra objections, and then it was time to screen and confirm the main creative team.

Fangyan looked through the cast list of "I Love My Family" and found that the cast was not much different from the previous life, except that the little actor who played Jia Yuanyuan had changed.

"This time, Bao Gang will be the director, and Su Ya will be the assistant director and the resident screenwriter, who will be responsible for modifying and adjusting the script at any time."

Zheng Xiaolong looked around and pointed out the names on the list one by one.

Feng Xiaogang scratched his ears and cheeks, impatiently, his eyes constantly moving around Zheng Xiaolong, Su Ya and others.

After the list was read out, Lu Xiaowei cast a questioning look, "Does anyone have any different opinions on this list?"

"Cough cough."

Zhao Baogang coughed lightly, "I think Comrade Feng Xiaogang has participated in the production of many TV series in recent years, such as "Plain Clothes Police" and "The Judge Advocate of the Song Dynasty". It would be a waste of talent for him to continue working as an art designer. How about being a photographer for "I Love My Family"?"

Fang Yan raised his eyebrows, and then heard Su Ya say in a voice that only the two of them could hear:
"Wang Shuo, who wrote the script for I Love My Family, has been saying a lot of good things about Feng Xiaogang recently."

"Teacher Fang, Su Ya, what do you think of Bao Gang's proposal?"

Zheng Xiaolong said in a serious tone.

Feng Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat and he looked at Fang Yan eagerly, his eyes full of pleading and expectation.

"Art design can indeed develop in the direction of photographer. Since you all recognize his ability, it means he is quite capable."

Fangyan couldn't help but feel sympathy for him when he saw how pitiful and precarious he looked.

Seeing Mr. Fang's attitude, Su Ya, Zheng Xiaolong and others also supported Feng Xiaogang to be the photographer of "I Love My Family".

"Thank you everyone! Thank you Teacher Fang!"

Feng Xiaogang was so excited that he almost jumped up, and his voice trembled slightly when he spoke.

The transition from art designer to photographer is equivalent to the transition from photographer to director, which is almost an insurmountable chasm.

When I thought of this, I felt happy. I couldn't be Mr. Fang's lackey, but being Mr. Fang's lackey, Wang Shuo's lackey, would still bring me great benefits. As long as I worked diligently for a few more years as a photographer, I would be able to make the leap from photographer to director like Zhao Baogang! I would truly achieve a big turnaround in my life!
After he bowed and clasped his hands in thanks, Fang Yan gave him a fake hand:
"Okay, it's almost time. I should go to the Sanlian Bookstore Group to report on my work."

…………

Yanjing, Joint Publishing Group. Fang Yan came to the general manager's office and met with Shen Changwen to report on the situation of Joint Publishing Group in Hong Kong in the past few months.

As for information such as the author of "Ghost Blows Out the Light", no one is mentioned, and the focus is that the Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company has turned losses into profits for two quarters. If the current development trend continues, the debts accumulated by the Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company can be fully repaid within two years.

"It is indeed a wise move to arrange for you and Comrade Xiuyu to go to Xiangjiang!"

Shen Changwen browsed through various statistical tables related to the Joint Publishing Company of Hong Kong, and the smile on his face grew wider and wider.

"The key is that Hong Kong Joint Publishing has a good foundation. From the leaders to the employees, they are all diligent and have solid business capabilities."

Fang Yan said: "As long as adjustments are made in business strategies and management policies, there will be immediate results."

"Don't be so modest. If it were really that simple, the predicament of Hong Kong Joint Publishing would not have dragged on until now."

Shen Changwen shook his head and laughed, "Besides, reform is not that easy. The reform in Yanjing has not been going smoothly."

Fang Yan was asked if he could obtain the mainland publishing authorization for "Ghost Blows Out the Light" for Yanjing Sanlian Bookstore.

After all, if the Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company was able to make a comeback with "Ghost Blows Out the Light", why can't the Yanjing branch do the same?
Shen Changwen had a nice idea, but it was soon poured with a basin of cold water. He heard the euphemistic persuasion in the dialect beside him:
"Ghost Blows Out the Light cannot be published in the mainland at present, right?"

"It contains elements such as yin and yang, the five elements, feng shui, tomb robbing, geomancy and metaphysics, which could easily be labeled as 'feudal superstition' if not handled properly."

"It would be fine if it was just published in Story Club, but if Sanlian Bookstore publishes it, it might backfire!"

"Ah, Teacher Fang is really thoughtful. My thoughts just now were indeed a bit hasty..."

"Mr. Shen is also anxious to find a way out for Yanjing Sanlian Bookstore. It is completely understandable. I can understand it."

Fang Yan smiled and said that in fact, Hong Kong Joint Publishing did not rely solely on "Ghost Blows Out the Light" to achieve a reversal of the situation, but also put efforts into suspense and mystery novels, Japanese comics, and romance novels, and also planned to launch a "fantasy novel publishing plan" in the second half of the year.

Shen Changwen was stunned. "What is a 'fantasy novel'?"

"Well, Western fantasy novels incorporate elements of Western mythology, magic, alchemy, and so on, just like The Lord of the Rings."

Fang Yan said: "And our Eastern fantasy is a fantasy novel based on metaphysics. The 'metaphysics' here includes metaphysics, feng shui, numerology, internal and external alchemy, ancient mythology and other knowledge. For example, the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" is an ancient Chinese book of strange stories. The legends of Kuafu chasing the sun and Nuwa repairing the sky can be regarded as the prototype of fantasy novels..."

Hearing this, Shen Changwen seemed to have opened the door to a new world.

"Is it like Huanzhu Louzhu's The Legend of the Swordsman in Shu Mountain?"

"'Swordsman of Shu Mountain' can be classified as an oriental fantasy novel, but more strictly speaking, it can be considered a cultivation novel."

Fangyan smiled. In fact, the concept of "fantasy novel" was first proposed by Huang Zuqi, also known as Huang Yi.

It first appeared in Huang Yi's "Moon Demon", and there was such a passage in the preface:

"A new genre that combines metaphysics, science and literature has been born. It is based on fantasy and goes further and freer than the previous two. Moreover, because it is not bound by scientific basis, it has more room for imagination..."

"I wonder if Mr. Fang has any new works on this oriental fantasy, or any ideas?"

Shen Changwen almost asked him to help Yanjing Sanlian Bookstore write an oriental fantasy novel.

Fang Yan said: "Judging from the current situation, the focus of the Sanlian Bookstore in Yanjing should not be on oriental fantasy."

Shen Changwen asked, "What is that? Suspenseful reasoning?"

"It's a martial arts novel."

The dialect came out without a second thought. Although martial arts novels had declined in Hong Kong, they were extremely active in mainland China in the 1980s and 1990s.

If Yanjing Sanlian Bookstore could obtain the exclusive mainland publishing rights for the novels of Jin Yong and others, why would it worry about not being able to turn losses into profits?

"Okay! That's a great idea!"

Shen Changwen clapped his hands and cheered, "Why didn't I think of that?" But soon he looked embarrassed and said, "But if Jin Yong doesn't want to..."

"I have some friendship with Jin Yong and his team. Comrade Xiuyu and I can go forward and represent the Sanlian Bookstore headquarters to discuss the authorization matter."

Fangyan gave a meaningful smile.

"really?!"

After getting the definite answer, Shen Changwen was overjoyed. He held his hand tightly, shaking it and expressing his gratitude.

"Mr. Shen, you are too polite. After all, I am now a member of the Sanlian Bookstore Group. It is my job to give advice to the group."

Fangyan smiled.

Shen Changwen said excitedly that in fact, if Fang Yan had not just taken office as the editor-in-chief of Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company at the beginning of the year, based on his abilities and achievements, he would have been transferred to the headquarters immediately to serve as editor-in-chief and manage the domestic business of Joint Publishing Company with him.

"Let Mr. Shen shoulder this responsibility for a while longer."

Fangyan laughed, and then left the Sanlian Bookstore headquarters after Shen Changwen thanked him and said goodbye to him.

As soon as I got home, I lay on the rattan chair, and from time to time I thought about "Eastern Fantasy" in my mind. I was thinking about what I should write if I were to write. Works like "Fights Break Sphere", "God's Tomb" and "The Great Ruler" were obviously too advanced and obviously not in line with the current situation in the literary and art circles.

Fantasy and cultivation novels such as "Zhu Xian", "A Mortal's Journey to Immortality" and "The Mysterious Journey" are indeed good choices.

Just as I was thinking hard, the night gradually darkened.

"Look at me, I forget the time while thinking. Forget it, I won't cook at home today, let's go out for dinner."

Fang Yan slapped his forehead, as if he remembered something important. He walked straight into the main hall and called Jiang Wen.

Jiang Wen was very surprised when he first received Fang Yan's call.

I never expected that he would return to Yanjing from Hong Kong and specifically ask me out for dinner.

"No problem, Mr. Fang. Just tell me where you are and I'll be there right away."

"Then let's have some fried tripe today."

Fangyan gave the name and address of the restaurant, then hung up the phone. He looked straight up at the starry sky and stretched out his hands as if to pick stars.

I can pick the sun, moon and stars with my hands. There is no one like me in the world! (End of this chapter)