Rebirth: I'm filming extra scenes on the set

Chapter 113 This might be a pretty good movie

After having supper, Chen Cheng received the script sent by Prince Jie.

Just look at the name: "Secret".

Chen Cheng had some impression of this film.

In memory.

This is Jay Chou's first film that he directed, acted in, and wrote.

However, the box office was average at the time of its release, and the reviews were terrible, with a lot of people giving it a score of 6.5.

But the drama is.

Ten years later, people found that the film's rating had increased from 6.5 to 7.9.

It can be seen from this that this movie is not that bad.

even.

Not bad at all.

Some people in later generations still think that this drama is quite classic.

Just like South Korea.

In 2015, this drama was released in South Korea and instantly made it into the top ten box office list in South Korea that week.

But this is not the end.

Maybe he also saw the potential of this drama.

South Korea actually chose to remake this movie.

From this point of view.

It doesn't seem reasonable to say that this movie is bad.

"Let's read the script first."

Didn't think much about it.

Chen Cheng read the script carefully.

The script tells the story of Ye Xianglun, a high school student with outstanding musical talent, who lives with his father.

Once, he was attracted by a piece of piano music at school. Ye Xianglun followed the guidance of the piano sound and walked into an old piano room.

And he found the very pretty and elegant Lu Xiaoyu in the piano room.

Although the two didn't talk much, they fell in love with each other at first sight.

after that.

As the two got to know each other, they fell in love.

When Ye Xianglun asked about the piano piece she played at that time, Lu Xiaoyu said that it was a secret that could not be told.

Although the two were in love, Lu Xiaoyu was very strange.

Sometimes Ye Xianglun could see Lu Xiaoyu at school, and sometimes he didn't see her for several days.

once.

Finally meeting Lu Xiaoyu, Ye Xianglun asked Lu Xiaoyu to meet him in the piano room.

But the person who came earlier was another girl who liked Ye Xianglun.

Ye Xianglun thought it was Lu Xiaoyu, so he closed his eyes and asked for a kiss from the girl.

As a result, this scene was seen by Lu Xiaoyu who arrived later. From then on, Lu Xiaoyu disappeared from Ye Xianglun's life.

A few years later, Ye Xianglun is about to graduate.

Lu Xiaoyu appeared again.

When Ye Xianglun saw Lu Xiaoyu again, he chased after Lu Xiaoyu frantically and made an appointment with him to meet in the classroom.

But when Ye Xianglun came to the classroom again, Lu Xiaoyu was missing again due to a misunderstanding.

What's even more amazing is.

When Ye Xianglun asked his classmates, they all said that they had never seen Lu Xiaoyu.

original.

Lu Xiaoyu is not from this world.

She is from 20 years ago.

In other words.

Lu Xiaoyu met Ye Xianglun again after traveling 20 years into the future.

but.

When Lu Xiaoyu told this to her mother, friends, and even teachers, no one believed her.

And her classmates all thought she was mentally ill.

Until Ye Xianglun understood what had happened.

He came to the piano room again and played the piano piece that Lu Xiaoyu had played that year.

As time kept turning on his fingertips, Ye Xianglun traveled back to 20 years ago.

But at this time, Lu Xiaoyu did not know Ye Xianglun.

However, Ye Xianglun was not distressed, but started pursuing Lu Xiaoyu again 20 years ago.

At last.

Ye Xianglun also became a classmate of Lu Xiaoyu, and took a graduation photo with Lu Xiaoyu 20 years ago.

The story ends here.

to be frank.

This story might still be good ten years later.

But in 2006, this was really a bit ahead of its time.

Not only is it a little ahead of its time, but the audience may also find it difficult to understand.

After all, this story involves time travel and the theory of parallel time and space.

At this time, this theory is still unclear to most people in China.

Not to mention, this is set in a campus romance drama.

……

"Brother Cheng, how is it, have you read the script?"

The next day, Prince Jie called Chen Cheng anxiously.

Chen Cheng had just finished his breakfast when he said, "Jie Lun, you are too impatient."

"It's urgent. How about my script?"

“The script is OK.”

This is the truth.

From the perspective of someone like Chen Cheng who has experienced this, the script is indeed good.

It is not only innovative, but also has a campus atmosphere.

"Great, Makoto, you must come and help me."

Prince Jie was a little excited.

Chen Cheng asked Prince Jie to calm down and said, "The script is good, but I think if we film it like this, the audience may not understand it."

"can't read?"

"Don't you think it's a bit ahead of the times to get the audience to accept time travel and parallel universes?"

"Have it?"

Prince Jie thought for a moment and said, "I think it's pretty good."

Chen Cheng had a headache.

How do you say this?

For people in this circle, perhaps everyone can understand this script.

But the script is filmed for ordinary audiences, not for industry insiders, let alone professionals.

It’s useless even if industry insiders and professionals can understand it. They are just a very small group and don’t contribute much to the box office.

Only when ordinary audiences can understand it can the movie be a box office success.

"Jie Lun, I suggest that you put this script aside for 10 years before filming it. I can assure you that in 10 years, your script may become a hit."

This is not Chen Cheng's trick.

But Jay Chou shook his head: "10 years is too long. After 10 years, I guess our story won't be innovative anymore."

"That's true. We can shoot now, but the script needs to be revised."

"How to change?"

“The parallel universe and time travel must be explained before the film is made. It cannot be too blunt and let the audience guess. In addition, some of the allusions and metaphors in the play must be made clearer so that the audience can realize that there may be a reversal, rather than thinking about it after watching the film. In fact, some of them cannot be remembered after watching the film.”

This is a mistake that many filmmakers make.

In the field of writing, this is called literary youth.

Many people prefer more beautiful expressions and don’t like straightforward ones.

Although it certainly works.

But it is too beautiful and too hazy, which makes it difficult for people to understand it.

Being a hipster is a disease and needs to be cured.

Rather than that.

It would be better to be more straightforward.

Even if it’s not direct, the audience should be given more hints during filming, rather than constantly digging like in a detective drama.

"Brother Cheng, so you agree to help me?"

"Uh……"

"Hahaha, I knew you would help me, Makoto. No problem, as long as you come and help me shoot. The script can be changed, but of course, it can't be changed beyond recognition. The essence of the story has to remain the same as the original."

"alright."

After thinking about it, Chen Cheng agreed.

Although this film was criticized in the past, it still has great potential.

If you make some modifications yourself and then make it suit the public's tastes, it will be quite exciting.

Furthermore.

This kind of campus love story drama is still relatively new at this time.

Once there are some breakthroughs, you can really give it a try.

"When will you come to my place?"

"So urgent?"

"I've even chosen the leading actress. Uh... Brother Cheng, I have something to tell you. Can I be the director and you only be the assistant director? Of course, when we actually start filming, you'll still be the chief director and I'll listen to you, but I'll still be listed as the director and you can only be the assistant director." "No problem."

Chen Cheng agreed without thinking too much.

first.

This was originally Prince Jay's film.

He provides the money, the effort, the script, and everything...all he has to do is go and shoot it.

Secondly.

He wrote, directed and acted in the film himself, which was also a point to attract audiences in external publicity.

Furthermore.

Chen Cheng also understood Prince Jie’s yearning to be a director at this moment.

At the same time, Prince Jie asked me to come and shoot, saying that he was helping, but this also meant that Prince Jie respected me.

It's not that he couldn't ask some other well-known directors to help him make this film well.

As for myself.

It is not necessary to put the director’s name on it.

……

A week later, Chen Cheng went to Formosa.

Although Chen Cheng was the chief director, he had discussed it with Prince Jie before coming.

He is only responsible for filming and not for anything else.

Therefore, Chen Cheng does not need to be responsible for many behind-the-scenes work.

Chen Cheng did not even participate in the selection of roles.

The main reason for not participating is that this drama is a relatively authentic Taiwan drama.

Chen Cheng is not familiar with the actors from Taiwan.

Also.

Chen Cheng took a look and found that in addition to Prince Jie, the producers also included several other companies from Taiwan.

Although as the chief director, I still have some power.

But this time Chen Cheng was just filming a movie, so he didn't care about anything, and all three parties were happy.

However, although Chen Cheng was not responsible for the behind-the-scenes and actor-related work.

But as producers, they won't do anything rash.

As investors, they want to make this film well more than anyone else.

So the overall choice of actors in the film "Secret" is still acceptable.

Especially the heroine Gui Lunmei, her smile can really melt others.

At the same time, some other actors also have the flavor of campus students.

This is more in line with the script.

"Brother Cheng, this is Tamkang Middle School where I studied when I was young."

Taking Chen Cheng with him, Prince Jie asked Chen Cheng to familiarize himself with the environment first.

Tamkang High School is Prince Jie’s alma mater and also the filming location of this movie.

More than 90% of the plot of this movie was shot here.

The reason why I chose here.

In addition to Prince Jie's feelings for his alma mater, the more important thing is that the scenery of Tamkang High School is indeed nice.

A series of buildings of Tamkang High School can also be found in the script.

"Wow, Jellen."

Just when I was about to introduce the school to Chen Cheng,

Someone recognized Jay Chou.

All of a sudden.

Many fans came to ask Jay Chou for his autograph.

Jay Chou was a little hesitant, but Chen Cheng waved his hand at him and said, "Just sign autographs. I'll walk around for a bit."

no way.

Prince Jie’s popularity is not exaggerated.

Not only now.

And in the future too.

Octagonal tower, coconut grove, red brick building, campus corridor, playground, stone benches...

Various scenes on campus came into Chen Cheng's sight.

At the same time, he was also conceiving each shot of the film in his mind.

More than an hour later, Prince Jie found Chen Cheng.

"Sorry, there were so many fans just now. Come on, I'll introduce them to you."

"No, I've already finished reading it."

Patting the storyboards he had drawn, Chen Cheng smiled and said, "I can see that you really participated in the writing of the script."

Previously, Chen Cheng thought that Jay Chou's self-filmed, self-written and self-directed work was more of a gimmick.

But look at it now.

at least.

There are gimmicks here, but Jay Chou really put a lot of thought into this drama.

but.

Sometimes you can’t make a good movie just by putting in the effort.

Whether a movie is good or not is not decided by the filmmakers, but by the audience.

and so.

When taking over the film "Secret", Chen Cheng had already set the tone.

Keep the original style of the film and try to make it as straightforward as possible so that the audience can understand it.

then.

for this.

In the following filming, Chen Cheng introduced the most important prop in this film, the piano score, at the very beginning.

In the script, this piano score is also a prop for the heroine to travel back 20 years, and for the hero to travel back 20 years.

It’s just that the original script mentioned this piano score too late and too subtly.

and so.

Chen Cheng asked to hand over the piano score as soon as possible.

and.

Chen Cheng also used the lecturer's mouth to tell the secret of time travel hidden in this piano score.

The secret is simple, it is written in this music score:

[Play "Secret" in the old piano room. When you play the fast rhythm, you will travel back in time. After you go back, only the person you see first can see you. ]

The advantage of this is that it is simple and clear.

As soon as the audience arrives, they will know that this is a hint for you.

Later, when the heroine appears and does all kinds of inexplicable things, the audience can understand it.

Simultaneously.

It is also to make everyone understand the principles of parallel time and space more clearly.

Chen Cheng also asked the male protagonist to explain the theory of parallel time and space to everyone during a music class.

This theory is a bit mysterious.

Just like when you are listening to music, there may be someone exactly like you listening to music in another time and space.

But you may be completely consistent when you first start out.

but.

People in two parallel time and space will also change in another time and space due to certain things.

This explanation has a very big advantage.

That is.

Because of the understanding of the theory of parallel time and space, the audience can understand the series of metaphors that follow immediately.

For example, when the hero returns to the heroine's old house to look for her, a strange shadow keeps watching him.

Many people in later generations have speculated who this shadow was.

Some people say this is the heroine's mother.

But in fact, this is the heroine after middle age.

But at this time you may say, didn’t the heroine commit suicide?

According to a parallel universe in the story, this was indeed suicide.

but.

According to the parallel time and space theory explained by Chen Cheng, the heroine did not commit suicide in another time and space.

Ok.

In fact.

This script turned out to be more complicated than I had imagined.

The real meaning of the script might be that both the male and female protagonists might die.

And this death also has a series of metaphors.

For example, when the male protagonist played the piano, he did not press the last key, there was only a drop of blood, which shows that the male protagonist did not go back to the past.

As for why the male protagonist in the movie went back 20 years, it was just his dream.

Chen Cheng doesn't care about that.

Whether the audience can understand it is their business. Chen Cheng hopes to let everyone see the first and more simple story.

It's like Life of Pi.

How many layers you can understand is up to you.

But first of all, you have to make the audience feel that this is a good story.

Even though he finished reading the story, he did not understand the various metaphors that followed.

This is enough.

(End of this chapter)