The literary era since 1979

When Shi Tiesheng heard the ideas for the film adaptation of "The Intouchables", his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Your change is good, but will Coppola really like the story I wrote?"

"How could I not like it!"

The dialect made him feel at ease and assured him that Francis Coppola would definitely like "The Intouchables".

Shi Tiesheng breathed a sigh of relief, but he was still full of concerns.

After all, due to my physical disability, I had almost no chance to travel abroad, let alone across provinces, so I knew very little about American society, culture, and environment. What's more, the book was about the pure and touching friendship between blacks and whites that transcended race, culture, and prejudice.

When he thought of this, a helpless look appeared on his face. "I'm afraid I can't help you much when writing the script."

"You can't say that."

Fangyan smiled and consoled him for a while, "We have been working hard these days. It would be best if we could finish the outline and first draft of The Intouchables before the Cannes Film Festival. Then we can translate it and bring it to France so that Francis can have a good look at it in person!"

"Row!"

Shi Tiesheng was very excited and eager to try.

Yu Hua, Wang Shuo, Lu Haiyan and others all looked at them with envy, and they all fantasized that one day their novels would be picked up by big Hollywood directors or movie moguls like Fang Yan and Shi Tiesheng. It was not only for fame, but also for money, because that was US dollars!
"You guys should work harder, too."

Fangyan looked around and began to make promises, promising that if the novel was suitable, he would recommend it to Hollywood if there was a chance.

"Thank you, Teacher Fang."

Although the crowd had not seen the real cake, they seemed to smell the fragrance of the cake, and they all exclaimed "It smells so good".

Fangyan then mentioned the internal preview of "Farewell My Concubine" and asked them to be sure to attend on time.

Chen Ximi, Zhong Acheng and others readily agreed, but Yu Hua, with his head down, seemed to be lost in thought.

Wang Shuo nudged him gently with his elbow, "What are you thinking about!"

Yu Hua came back to his senses in an instant, and noticed that Fang Yan and others were staring at him, so he immediately explained:
"I was wondering if there would be any conflict in time with the 'New Realistic Fiction' seminar we are going to attend next week?"

After these words were spoken, everyone looked at each other in confusion, hesitant.

"New Realistic Fiction Seminar?"

Fangyan was very surprised and only found out after asking.

Ever since TV series such as "Desire" and "I Love My Family" popularized the concept of "new realism", not only have TV stations paid close attention to and studied it, but criticism and discussion about "new realism" has also gradually become popular in the literary world, and it is unprecedented.

Some literary critics regard this creative tendency as a "return" to traditional realism.

Some theorists simply attribute neo-realism to "post-realism", "modern realism" and "new novel school".

Some writers regarded it as a new derivative type of realism, and thus created a series of novels imitating "Desire".

"Later, Zhongshan held a 'New Realism Novel Exhibition' before People's Literature, soliciting submissions from all over the country."

Yu Hua recounted the whole story while searching his desk over and over again.

He pulled out a last issue of "Zhongshan" from a pile of books, and then handed the magazine directly to Fangyan.

Fangyan flipped through it with great interest and saw that the "Foreword" of this issue of "Zhongshan" directly stated:
"To put it simply, it is different from the realism that has existed in history, and it is also different from the modernist 'avant-garde' literature. It is a brand-new literary tendency first advocated by our famous writer Fang Yan during the low point of Chinese realistic literary creation in recent years."

"According to what Fangyan said at the 'Desire' TV Series Symposium', the creative method of new realist novels still takes realism as its main feature."

“But we pay special attention to restoring the original form of real life, facing reality and life directly…”

"However, I think that although from the perspective of the overall literary spirit, the new realist novel is still classified as realism, it undoubtedly has a new openness and inclusiveness, and is good at absorbing and learning from the artistic strengths of various schools of modernism."

"Obviously, following 'illusionary realism', dialects have once again been inclusive and created a new literary creation phenomenon." "The creative phenomenon of new realism is different from the artistic style of realist or modernist works."

After flipping through the pages, I soon discovered editorial comments published in the name of "Mystery World".

"New realism is neither thrilling nor lingering in its narrative, but is all about struggling in the daily trivialities of the original ecology. The characters are neither noble nor vulgar in personality, neither great good nor great evil in morality, and neither mean nor extraordinary in behavior. They are a group of ordinary people between good and evil. The emergence of such characters represents the end of the 'era of literary deification'."

"Ordinary people and ordinary things have become the protagonists of literature, which suits the literary tastes of the general public and also conforms to the needs of the times!"

"This one is..."

Fangyan spread the magazine in front of everyone.

"During that time, Mr. Fang, you were not in Hong Kong, so Zhongshan found us and pestered us for the manuscript of the new realism novel." Wang Shuo shrugged and said, "But you know, this manuscript can't be written casually. In the end, we were really pestered and wrote a commentary article on you and "new realism" to Zhongshan in the name of the editorial department."

Yu Hua nodded and said that they agreed to participate in this new realism novel seminar only because the editor-in-chief of Zhongshan visited him three times.

Wang Shuo said weakly: "Teacher Fang, since you are back in Beijing, how about this meeting..."

"I won't steal your limelight."

Fang Yan waved his hand and said, "But I have to say this beforehand. After all, you are going there in the name of the editorial department. Please don't embarrass us."

"Don't worry, Teacher Fang!"

Yu Hua, Wang Shuo and others smiled at each other.

In the past, they sat in the audience and witnessed with their own eyes the dialects being performed in public at seminars. This time it is finally their turn!
Just as everyone was discussing what kind of speech they should make to shock everyone, Shi Tiesheng adjusted his glasses and whispered:

"Then I won't join them in this fun. I'd rather watch the movie Farewell My Concubine than attend the New Realism Novel Seminar."

"Okay, I'll pick you up then."

Fangyan nodded.

"And I!"

Chen Ximi's tone was urgent.

Seeing Fangyan looking at them meaningfully, Shi Tiesheng pretended to cough and changed the subject:

"By the way, provincial TV stations in Jinxi and Ludong want us to write a TV drama script. We have already turned it down several times."

"If we keep pushing this forward, I'm afraid it won't work."

"Yeah, I think so too. I'm just afraid that instead of forming a bond, we might end up making enemies."

“Do you have any requirements for the script?”

"Their requirements are very simple, as long as the script is similar to "Desire"."

"Oh, this request is really 'simple'."

Fangyan couldn't help but shake his head.

"Thanks to your "The World's No. 1 Restaurant", we were able to cope with CCTV."

Shi Tiesheng said: "But it will be difficult for other TV stations."

Difficult?

Fangyan raised his eyebrows, but did not overturn the table like a crow. Instead, he touched his chin and said, "Don't worry, I'll think of a way." (End of this chapter)