I was just thinking about taking the arts exam and you said I've been playing supporting roles

Chapter 85 Script reading, start loud!
In the afternoon, in a large venue temporarily rented in Zigui County.

More than thirty security personnel stood outside the door to prevent media reporters from taking pictures or entering.

Inside the door, all the main creative staff of "Under the Hawthorn Tree", including the photography team, recording team, director team... about sixty or seventy people, sat there together, waiting for the script reading to begin.

The so-called script reading, also often called a script reading meeting or script study, is a very important part of the film and television drama or drama production process, and usually occurs before the formal shooting or performance.

This process mainly involves core creative team members such as directors, screenwriters, and actors, who get together to comprehensively sort out and interpret the script.

The process usually takes 5-10 hours, depending on the length of the script reading.

"Okay, is everyone here?"

Zhang Yimou was sitting in the middle and asked Xu Qiaolong, the crew coordinator next to him. Xu Qiaolong glanced at everyone present.

The entire shooting arrangement of "Under the Hawthorn Tree" was basically carried out by his team. Except for the two main actors, he has basically met everyone else.

"Yeah, all set!"

Xu Qiaolong roughly counted the heads and spoke to Zhang Yimou.

"Okay, then each group should introduce themselves to each other!"

"As usual, the actors first!"

Zhang Yimou looked at the row where Chen Jin was sitting.

The entire script reading is a huge circle, with everyone sitting in a circle and a large open space in the middle. During the reading, it is possible that the director will ask the actors to perform a preliminary performance and the screenwriter will talk about his ideas.

"Hello everyone, I'm Chen Jin, playing the role of the third brother!"

Male lead Chen Jin spoke first.

It was the first time for many people in the audience to see what the male lead looked like, and many were already whispering.

Zhang Yimou and Pu Lun both told Chen Jin about the script reading process.

In fact, it is very simple. Just take the existing script, use the scenes in the script as units, and have the actors get into the mood of the performance, read the lines from beginning to end, and then rehearse it again.

After each reading, the actors will first ask questions about the characters, events, or the entire story in the script, some of which they do not quite understand. At this time, the screenwriter will explain and answer them.

In this process, the director will also have a more complete understanding of the story.

Of course, some great actors will also put forward their opinions and suggestions on the text based on their understanding and performance perspectives, and the screenwriters will also modify the content of the script based on the actors' characteristics and performance habits.

This is very important content, because many of the scripts in the previous stages were written by one person, and at the script stage, many things were written based on imagination and were not necessarily the most accurate.

Actors have their own intuition. They think about how the character should act and speak, and they modify and improve the script based on their intuition.

The actor's own characteristics and performance methods are very important to the final presentation.

Excellent actors will further process the script based on their understanding and grasp of the character, making the character more three-dimensional and vivid, and at the same time more in line with the actor's own performance habits, which will make the final presentation better.

Therefore, the importance of script reading is self-evident.

This will make the final presentation of a film or TV work more perfect. It's all about collective wisdom and effort. With so many people gathered together, it's definitely that three cobblers are better than Zhuge Liang, not to mention dozens of cobblers.

The work will become a classic or... a basis for defense through such reading and discussion.

It all depends on what a director is attracted to during the reading.

The advantages are fine, but if the disadvantages are taken as advantages, then it’s a bad movie warning.

However, Zhang Yimou is a famous director after all. What he does more in the reading is to let everyone in the crew get to know each other, and then let the actors understand the screenwriter and his adaptations and performance needs of the script.

"Zhu Yanmanzi, plays Jingqiu!"

"Jiang Ruijia, plays Wei Hong!"

"Xi Meijuan, Jingqiu's mother!"

"Lü Liping..."

"Li Xuejian..."

"..."

As the actors introduced themselves one by one, Chen Jin was actually a little shocked. Zhu Yanmanzi next to her also had a tense face, because the lineup of supporting actors was so strong.

There is no need to talk about Li Xuejian, he is a veteran among veteran actors and definitely has the potential to be a movie emperor.

The two characters, Song Jiang and Secretary Jiao, are enough to make them gods.

Xi Meijuan and Lü Liping are both well-deserved film queens; the former is an artist, while the latter is a traitor.

In addition to these three, there is also Teacher Sarina, the mother in "The World" and the winner of multiple Best Actress awards.

There are also many child stars.

These are the main characters of "Under the Hawthorn Tree". In fact, there are not many characters in this movie, which is already very few. 80% of the scenes are played by Lao San played by Chen Jin and Jingqiu played by Zhu Yanmanzi.

After the actors were introduced, the next was the screenwriter team. The original author Amy was not there, so the screenwriters were Yin Lichuan, Gu Xiaobai and Amei!
These three screenwriters are all very strong.

Chen Jin could only sigh that what kind of general you have, what kind of soldiers you will have.

Even though "Under the Hawthorn Tree" has a low investment and average cast, every member of the crew is top-notch.

These three screenwriters will all be big names in the screenwriting circle in the future.

In the future, Yin Lichuan wrote and directed a film called "Decision to Run Away", and the script written by Amei was called "So Long, My Son", and she won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards at the Berlin Film Festival.

The last one, Gu Xiaobai, is actually the most famous. He was originally a well-known film critic in the circle. He was spotted by Zhang Yimou and joined his team. In the future, he adapted "Day and Night" and "Crowd Mountain and Sea", which won the Best Director Award in Venice!
Chen Jin had seen information about these screenwriters in his own film library.

The trailer that pops up when you are experiencing a movie will have a list of the director, leading actors, screenwriters and other cast and crew. However, the movie you are experiencing will be appropriately optimized based on the original work.

For example, Jingqiu in "Under the Hawthorn Tree" is not Zhou Dongyu, but may be the prototype of Xiong Yin.

I can only say that the system is yyds!

After introducing everyone present, Chen Jin remembered the main people, such as the producer, photographer, and script supervisor...whom he might have to deal with in the future.

But everyone recognized him.

"Okay, now you all know each other?"

After Zhang Yimou finished speaking, he didn't waste any more words and started reading in a formal manner.

In front of each person was a freshly printed script of "Under the Hawthorn Tree", with paper and pen next to it, obviously to record some key points in the upcoming reading.

Except for Chen Jin and Zhu Yanmanzi, almost everyone present had gone through this kind of pre-shooting reading meeting, so they seemed very experienced.

After Zhang Yimou finished speaking, a dubbing teacher acted as the narrator and read it with deep emotion.

“This is a true story of a humanitarian crisis.”

"In the early 70s, in response to the leader's call to 'open schools', schools across the country sent teachers and students to study in rural areas."

"bus station!"

"Take your luggage!"

Cheng Taishen, a famous Chinese opera actor who played the teacher, suddenly spoke up and looked at Li Xuejian at the side: "Captain Zhang!"

As soon as this line came out, Chen Jin felt the other party's skills.

Zhu Yanmanzi next to him was obviously extremely nervous.

Just by listening, one can feel how much weight this sentence carries, and Li Xuejian's hoarse voice seems to have been substituted into that era: "Hello, are you here?"

At this time, Teacher Li was already in the middle stage of nasopharyngeal cancer, but his lines were very dialogue-oriented, unlike in the future. As his condition worsened, after chemotherapy and surgery, his vocal cords and other parts were damaged, and he needed to watch subtitles to understand them.

But even so, his words are still powerful and resounding; with his performance and voice, he can bring out the unique charm of the character. This is his foundation and strength.

A group of actors read the lines according to the script.

Sometimes we will coordinate the performance and voice, but the most challenging thing about group reading is an actor's dialogue level.

Finally, it was Jingqiu's turn to speak.

The script begins with a conversation between Captain Zhang and the teacher.

From them, the students learned that there was a hawthorn tree at the entrance of the village which was called the "hero tree".

During the raging Anti-Japanese War, this tree witnessed countless revolutionary martyrs who heroically sacrificed their lives for the motherland and the people.

It was also because of this that the hero's blood watered the hawthorn tree, which originally had white flowers, and its flowers turned increasingly red, until eventually, they completely bloomed red.

This is the origin of the title of the book "Under the Hawthorn Tree".

"Thank you Captain!"

"Auntie!"

"Hey~~"

Fortunately, Jingqiu's lines were very simple at the beginning, but even with these few simple words, the more capable people present could hear that Zhu Yanmanzi's lines were very weak.

There is no change in rhythm or ups and downs in breathing.

There are some differences between filming and normal conversation.

The biggest difference between the effect of performance and real-life conversation lies in the tone and clarity.

You have to make sure that the audience can hear clearly what you are saying. Face-to-face conversations in real life do not require high standards, but the requirements for movies are to satisfy the general public.

So the lines must be accurate.

"Find a dialogue teacher and give him intensive training!"

Zhang Yimou said to the assistant director Li Shuang beside him.

This is the significance of reading the script together, to find out the shortcomings of the actors and make special attacks on them.

Soon, the first reading session ended.

Zhang Yimou began to summarize, and the screenwriter began to talk a lot and point out the problems, and a heated discussion broke out on the scene.

The atmosphere was quite heated.

Chen Jin was the protagonist of the second scene. He had no role in the first scene, so he couldn't get a word in at all.

Zhu Yanmanzi looked at Chen Jin, his forehead covered with sweat, he was under too much pressure.

This thing is much more difficult than the art exam.

In the art exam, you will face several examiners, and this includes facing the entire crew, as well as many teachers who are already movie stars.

The key is that sometimes everyone's eyes are focused on you.

Many newcomers can’t bear it.

So for them, script reading is just an experience and a formality. No one will criticize them, but it will just allow the director to magnify their shortcomings.

Finally, after nearly 10 minutes of review, the first round was successfully passed.

All the actors knew how to act, some parts of the script were modified, Zhang Yimou also had a concept of the shooting, and the photographer knew the shooting requirements of some scenes...all the groups present were clear about their tasks.

"Second round, begin!"

Zhang Yimou glanced at Chen Jin. The second scene would be in the exploration team.

Jingqiu: "Where is your third father?"

Child Star: "Exploration Team!"

“It would be great if there was an accordion and music, and the singing of the exploration team members!”

Editor Amei suddenly spoke.

"Yeah, sure!"

"Chen Jin, did you bring your accordion?"

Zhang Yimou suddenly spoke to Chen Jin, and Chen Jin nodded.

"Pull it!"

"Want to sing?"

Chen Jin suddenly asked back, and at this time many people present raised their heads and looked at the leading actor who had no fame at all.

"What song?"

Zhang Yimou was stunned by Chen Jin's question.

"The Hawthorn Tree, the Soviet version of The Hawthorn Tree, the translated version!"

“I play the accordion and sing at the same time!”

Zhang Yimou: “…”

Everyone present: "..."

"Come!"

Zhang Yimou showed his signature smile: "Show us your skills!"

"it is good!"

Chen Jin picked up the accordion at her feet and was instantly immersed in the movie "Under the Hawthorn Tree".

The whole feeling of the person was suddenly possessed by the third brother.

Zi~~ Lala~~~
A melodious and unique accordion melody sounded, and Chen Jin's newly upgraded lines and voice were completely sung out of his mouth at this moment.

"Walk under the tree, the breeze blows non-stop~~"

"Under the dense hawthorn tree, the wind ruffled the hair of the young spinner and the blacksmith..."

"..."

The ups and downs of the singing skills and the Soviet singing style of the 70s instantly resounded throughout the reading area.

swish swish—

All the people sitting there, the photography team, the sound recording team, the directing team, and especially the music team, everyone raised their heads instantly and looked straight at Chen Jin.

Obviously, his singing voice brought us back to the 70s.

You have to know that the way of singing in that era is different from that of modern times.

But this guy Chen Jin sang in the same translated singing style that Lao Mouzi remembered, with the same voice tone as many Soviet songs.

"..."

Zhu Yanmanzi looked at Chen Jin, who was smiling and singing beside him, and felt as if his heart was struck hard.

There is both the complexity of Chen Jin's role as the third brother, and a huge gap between him and Chen Jin!
We are both newcomers, why is there such a big gap? !

　There should be one more chapter!!!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)