Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 89 [Beijing Film Studio Watches Movies, Qiu Fusheng Asks for Cooperation]

Yantai, Shandong Province.

In a house, Yu Chenghui was holding a long sword and practicing his own mantis sword technique in the yard.

A long sword flew up and down in his hand, coming and going freely, with graceful and agile movements, which made several men around him gasp in amazement.

When Chenghui put away his sword and stood up, someone beside him praised him, "Teacher Yu, your mantis sword technique is so amazing. If it were during the Republic of China, you would probably have been called the Sword Immortal."

"I don't deserve the title of Sword Immortal, I just have some experience."

Yu Chenghui smiled. He still had self-knowledge. He believed that the swordsman from the Republic of China could have such a great reputation, so he must have real talent.

Not to mention that the society of the Republic of China was chaotic in itself, and robbery and looting happened from time to time. If you didn't have some skills, how could you be called a sword immortal?
After Yu Chenghui sheathed his sword, he looked up and asked, "Why are you here, Director Zhang?"

Director Zhang is the director of the Shandong Province Wushu Research Office. He usually works in Jinan. He suddenly came to Yantai to find Yu Chenghui, which was a bit unexpected.

"Someone is looking for you to film."

"Looking for me to film? Why didn't you contact me?"

"You are so obsessed with sword training that your family doesn't even have any contact information. How can others find you?"

Director Zhang said helplessly, "It's a film crew from Hong Kong Island, but the director is Li Yishu."

"Li Yishu?" Yu Chenghui was slightly startled, thought for a moment and asked, "Is it the young director who won an award abroad last year?"

"Yes, that's him."

Director Zhang nodded and said, "Director Li knows that Teacher Yu is a master of swordsmanship, so he specially asked someone to find you to be the martial arts instructor of the crew, and by the way, invite you to play the second male lead in the play."

Well, judging from the screen time alone, Chakravartin is indeed the second male lead.

"By the way." Before Chenghui could say anything, Director Zhang said, "I heard that this play seems to have a huge investment, and the leading actress is Gong Li."

"Gong Li~"

When Yu Chenghui heard that it was her, he knew that the film must be good. After thinking for a while, he nodded and agreed: "Okay, I haven't made many movies in the past few years. Now I'm staying at home anyway. It's a good opportunity to go to the crew to see how my sword skills perform."

Although Yu Chenghui would occasionally exchange martial arts moves with members of the Shandong Province Wushu Team, he would usually just go through the motions. In other words, he would just practice some routines.

He felt that the two-handed sword manual he compiled and the mantis sword technique he created could be used in actual combat, but the martial arts team had clear regulations prohibiting private sparring, let alone allowing Yu Chenghui to spar with others in private.

A few years ago, when Yu Chenghui was fighting with someone in a sword duel, he struck his opponent with one sword and sent him to the hospital in an emergency. That was with an unsharpened sword. If it had been a sharpened sword, it would probably have cut off his aorta.

Since that time, Yu Chenghui no longer competed in real martial arts with others. He could only practice his moves in advance when filming to satisfy his craving for martial arts.

"Okay, since you agreed, let's go to Yanjing. Here is the contact information of that Supervisor Xu."

Director Zhang also took out a piece of paper and handed it to the other party, which contained Xu Lu's contact information.

the other side.

In the practice room of the Wushu Department of the Physical Education University.

Zhao Wenzhuo, who is only 20 years old this year, is doing aerobics in front of a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror.

Aerobics is not bodybuilding, it is a sport that we often see on TV.

It means that aerobics athletes perform various difficult bodybuilding moves on the floor, such as supporting the ground with their hands and feet suspended in the air, and swinging their bodies solely by the strength of their hands.

However, this sport was very popular in the 1980s and 1990s, just like everyone is learning aerobics today.

This is not the reason why square dancing is so popular more than 20 years later.

It’s just because these old men and women used to dance behind the aerobics programs on TV when they were young.

At this moment, the coach ran in excitedly and shouted, "Zhao Wenzhuo!"

"What's wrong, coach?" Zhao Wenzhuo got up from the ground and looked at the inexplicably excited coach. He was still confused.

"This is incredible! This is incredible! Someone wants you to make a movie!"

"Ah? Ask me to make a movie?"

Zhao Wenzhuo was surprised and asked, "Who asked me to make a movie?"

“Does Director Lee Ye-seo know?”

"do not know."

Zhao Wenzhuo shook his head.

"Well, well, you probably don't like to watch art films. You know Gong Li, right?"

The coach was not surprised to see that he didn't know the other party.

After all, he didn't know who director Li Yishu was at first, and he had to ask someone before he found out who it was.

Zhao Wenzhuo nodded: "Of course I know Gong Li, she's a big star, could it be that the film crew that invited me to act in the movie wants her to be the heroine?"

"Yes, the leading actress is Gong Li, and they want you to play the leading male role."

"real or fake?"

"Of course it's true. Why would I lie to you about this? Besides, they've already asked you to audition at the Yanjing Film Studio in a few days. As long as your image is okay, the leading male role will be yours!"

The coach grabbed Zhao Wenzhuo's arm and said excitedly, "Didn't you always say that you like Li Lianjie? If this movie is successful, you might become the second Li Lianjie in the future!"

"The second Li Lianjie~"

Zhao Wenzhuo's eyes showed excitement.

At this moment, students in the martial arts department of the sports school generally regard Li Lianjie as their idol.

It’s just because he went from being a martial arts champion to a well-known kung fu superstar in the country.

This morning, in the small projection room of the Yanjing Film Studio.

Li Yishu, Gong Li, Xu Lu, Li Bihua, and several leaders of the Beijing Film Studio were all concentrating on watching "Farewell My Concubine" playing on the screen.

Even though this movie is a rough cut, the music and dubbing have already been arranged. Apart from the lack of the dragon logo, it is a complete film.

"Teacher Zhang, this paragraph needs to be revised and shortened."

"Also in this segment, Zhang Guorong's singing part is a little less."

"..."

Today’s film production is somewhat different from later digital films. At that time, film was still used and needed to be edited frame by frame.

Instead of editing directly on the computer like later digital movies.

This kind of manual editing is bound to have some mistakes, so multiple edits are necessary.

After a movie is over, Li Yishu spends almost the entire time discussing with the editor, Mr. Zhang, about what content to cut out next.

Xu Lu said excitedly: "Director Li, you shot it so well! It captured exactly the feeling I wanted!"

"Sister Xu, you are too kind. The film was so well made, all thanks to the crew."

Li Yishu laughed heartily.

The movie was not much different from what he remembered, except that some shots were too complicated and about three minutes of plot needed to be cut out, but there were basically no major problems.

Cheng Zhigu, the current director of Beijing Film Studio, also said with emotion after watching the film: "Director Li, your film is really wonderful. I think it will definitely win an award if it is taken to a film festival in Europe."

Hearing this, Xu Xu said with a smile: "Director Cheng, you are right. Our film is going to participate in the Cannes Film Festival next year. We will have to trouble the Beijing Film Studio to help us apply for it."

"Haha, no problem."

Cheng Zhigu smiled heartily, then said with some doubt: "Director Li, President Xu, why don't you consider signing up for Venice? It's definitely in time now."

In his opinion, Lee Yi-su has won the Golden Lion Award, and now she has registered for the Venice Film Festival in September. Even if she can win an award, she will definitely have no problem entering the main competition unit.

Li Yishu smiled and said, "Director Cheng, our film is still best suited for Cannes, and I only won the Golden Lion Award once last year, so I guess it's unlikely to be given to me this year."

Hearing this, Cheng Zhigu seemed to understand something and nodded: "Director Li is right, but it's a pity that such a good movie will have to wait until next year to be released."

"Haha, good food is never too late."

Xu Lu smiled and said, "Director Cheng, although Farewell My Concubine will not be released until next year after the Cannes Film Festival, our next collaboration, Rain of Swords, can be finished and released sooner."

Xu Suo is very optimistic about the movie "Sword Rain".

Even though Lee Yi-su has no experience in filming martial arts films, she is optimistic about it.

It's just like how he was determined to invite Brother Chen Kai to shoot the film. Xu Suo is a man of persistence in his bones.

Once you have decided on a person, it is almost impossible to change your mind. The reason why Lee Ye-su got the opportunity to direct "Farewell My Concubine" was actually thanks to his film being shortlisted in Venice and then winning an award.

Moreover, "Farewell My Concubine" directed by Li Yishu is really to Xu Su's taste. She believes that Director Li will be able to shoot a unique martial arts masterpiece.

Hearing Xu Lu talking about "Sword Rain", Cheng Zhigu said, "Director Li, if the crew needs any cooperation next, please tell us at the Beijing Film Studio as soon as possible. We can help coordinate with both the logistics staff and the actors."

"Thank you very much, Director Cheng." Li Yishu thanked with a smile.

Several people chatted for a while.

As the director of the Beijing Film Studio, Cheng Zhigu certainly couldn't stay long. After chatting for a few words, he left in a hurry with his people.

After everyone left, Xu Suo said, "Director Li, Yu Chenghui has agreed to act in the film and will probably arrive tomorrow. I have also contacted Zhao Wenzhuo and he will come to the crew for an interview in a few days."

Li Yishu nodded and said, "Well, let's get it done as soon as possible. Gong Li has to attend the Venice Film Festival in September, so we'd better finish shooting before the end of August."

"I'm not in a hurry. I'll only be in Venice for a few days anyway."

Gong Li smiled and said, "You don't have to hurry up and film my scenes."

"It's not about rushing to shoot or not rushing to shoot."

Li Yishu shook her head and said, "I hope this movie can be released as soon as possible. Mr. Qiu contacted me last night and wanted to work with me on a film. I owed him a favor in Venice before, and I must repay him this time."

Hearing that Li Yishu was going to work with Qiu Fusheng again, Gong Li was surprised and asked, "Do you have enough time?"

"It's definitely in time."

Li Yishu smiled and said, "We will start shooting for "Sword Rain" in early June and wrap up before the end of August. When the editing is done, I will definitely not follow the same process as for "Farewell My Concubine". It will be no problem for us to make another movie before Cannes next year."

Actors and directors are different. Actors can act in different scenes, but directors cannot. They have to plan the entire crew and coordinate the actors' shooting plans as well as post-production. It can be said that the director basically has to follow through until a movie is completely completed.

"Isn't it too much? Director Zhang may not make a movie in a year." Gong Li frowned, as if she was worried about whether Li Yishu's health would be able to handle it.

Li Yishu smiled cheerfully, "Don't worry, Sister Gong Li, I'm in good health."

Xu Lu, who was standing next to him, also smiled and said, "Ali, you don't know that it's very common for directors in Hong Kong and Taiwan to shoot four or five movies a year. Besides, Director Li has opened his own company and is working with others. He doesn't need to do any preparation for the crew, so it won't be very tiring."

"Yes." Li Yishu nodded in agreement.

He saw this point clearly, that he didn't need to worry about preparing the crew, so he thought about working with others instead of producing the film alone.

At the beginning of last year, when filming "That Mountain, That Man, That Dog", Li Yishu actually didn't have to suffer much. Although he was the one who did the preparatory work, the work of finding people was handed over to his father Li Jian. He had worked at Emei Film Studio for nearly 20 years and knew a lot of people, uncles and aunts, and basically they would give him face to help.

Gong Li asked, "What type of film are you going to work on with Mr. Qiu?"

"It's hard to say. It depends on what type of film Mr. Qiu wants to make."

Li Yishu shook her head. Qiu Fusheng said yesterday that he would take time out to come to Yanjing in the next few days and would discuss it in detail with Li Yishu then.

　Please subscribe guys!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)