Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 89: Three Thousand Worlds Revealed in a Small Space
Wu Chen walked out of the photography department building. The cold morning wind blew in his face, making his cheeks red, and the white air he exhaled scattered into clumps in the wind.

He wrapped his coat tightly and stepped on the thin snow on the playground. The squeaking sound was like stepping to the beat. The fire in his heart burned even more brightly, and he immediately called Hu Jing.

In a small apartment in Beijing, Hu Jing was feeling smug because she had been promised the role of the heroine in "The Harem of the Qing Dynasty". The ringing of the phone broke the joyful atmosphere.

Hu Jing picked it up, her beautiful eyes smiling, and quickly answered the call: "Director Wu!"

"Sister Jing, do me a favor!"

Wu Chen's voice came from the phone.

"Okay, tell me!"

Hu Jing agreed without any hesitation.

Since Wu Chen called me for help, it must be something I can help with. I don't think it's a big deal.

"Please help me make an appointment with Professor Chang Li and Professor Liu Xinglin. I heard they designed the stage for the Kunqu opera 'The Peony Pavilion' and have some knowledge of this area. I'd like to learn from them."

"Yes, the teacher has done this before. Although she specializes in Peking Opera stylized performances, she also has some knowledge of Kunqu Opera.

Of course, they will definitely not refuse you. Teachers love teaching people the most."

Hu Jing patted her chest, her tone full of confidence: "Don't worry, just leave it to me."

After saying that, she held the phone and prepared to dial Chang Li's number.

But just as she pressed her finger, she paused, a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, and she muttered softly:
"Forget it, I'd better go there in person. It's nothing serious anyway, and I can't explain it over the phone."

She stood up, grabbed her coat, wrapped the thick fur collar around her neck, put on a scarf, opened the door and walked towards the Central Academy of Drama.

When Wu Chen returned to the dormitory, he threw his coat away, fell on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

Outside the teaching building of the Central Academy of Drama, the snow has not yet melted.

Hu Jing pushed open the door of Chang Li's office.

Chang Li was sitting at the table, a pen in hand, with a pile of handouts spread out on the table. She looked up at Hu Jing and was stunned for a moment: "Xiao Jing? Why are you here?"

Hu Jing closed the door with a smile and rubbed her red, frozen hands: "Teacher, I came to ask you for a favor!"

She pulled a chair over and sat down, her scarf still hanging around her neck, her tone a little anxious, "Director Wu Chen asked me to invite you and Teacher Liu Xinglin. He wants to learn some Kunqu Opera from you two, especially "The Peony Pavilion."

"Wu Chen?" Chang Li put down her pen, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "Isn't he making movies? What does this have to do with Kunqu Opera?"

Chang Li narrowed her eyes, as if she was wondering what was going on.

"I don't know either." Hu Jing shook her head.

"Interesting." Chang Li expressed her strong interest. "Mu Deyuan has been muttering about how good his beloved disciple's comprehension is. This time I can see for myself."

"Old Liu and I did work on and research the stage for The Peony Pavilion. Not many people know about it, so I guess Mu Deyuan told them. Wait a minute, I'll talk to Professor Liu Xinglin."

Chang Li stood up and pushed the door open.

In the performance room, Liu Xinglin was tidying up the prop table. Seeing Chang Li rushing in, he couldn't help but wonder:
"Mr. Chang, what's the hurry?"

"It's about Wu Chen." Chang Li explained the whole story and looked at him. "What do you think?"

"It's hard to guess, but it's most likely related to his new film," Liu Xinglin said calmly. "But we have to help. Wu Chen has a good relationship with the Central Academy of Drama, and we can't ruin it."

Chang Li nodded: "That's what I meant."

A moment later, Hu Jing heard the door creak. Chang Li pushed the door open and sat back in her chair. "When will he come?"

"Director Wu said that you two can decide the time, and he's fine with it."

"Okay, let him come at nine tomorrow morning."

"Okay, thank you, teacher!" Hu Jing was happy and smiled with squinted eyes.

The next morning, around eight o'clock, the air was as cold as ice.

Wu Chen wrapped himself in his coat and headed straight for the Central Academy of Drama.

On the campus of the Central Academy of Drama, students, wrapped in thick cotton coats, walked in groups of two or three to the teaching building. Their footprints on the snow were a mess, like an abstract painting. As Wu Chen entered the school gate, several passing students saw him, their eyes flashing with surprise, and whispered to each other:
"Isn't that Wu Chen?"

"Yeah, what's he doing here? Isn't he trying to pick up girls?"

"Not really. I haven't heard that he likes anyone in our academy. I guess he's here to choose someone."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at Wu Chen with some excitement.

Wu Chen vaguely heard what she heard, chuckled and shook his head, then hurried straight to Chang Li's office.

After knocking on the door twice, he pushed it open and went in. The room was well heated, and it seemed like two completely different worlds inside and outside.

Chang Li sat at the table with a cup of tea in her hand. Next to her sat a man in his early fifties, tall and thin, with very little hair left. He wore glasses and held a book of opera handbooks in his hand. It was Liu Xinglin.

"Teacher Chang, Teacher Liu!" Wu Chen greeted them cheerfully, "Thank you for troubling me, teachers!"

Chang Li smiled faintly: "Sit down first, this is not a big deal!"

"Sister Hu Jing told you yesterday, I'm here to learn the basics of Kunqu Opera from you two, especially The Peony Pavilion."

Wu Chen chuckled, pulled over a chair and sat down, "Teachers, I just want to lay a foundation.

I recently watched some Kunqu Opera and found it very interesting, especially "The Peony Pavilion". I would like to learn more about it.

I may have to visit Kunqu opera masters like Mr. Zhang and Mr. Cai later. If I don’t know anything about them, it will be embarrassing.”

As soon as Wu Chen said this, Chang Li and Liu Xinglin's eyes met, and a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes.

"Mr. Zhang Jiqing and Mr. Cai Zhengren?" Chang Li confirmed again.

Wu Chen nodded slightly: "Yes, but it hasn't been confirmed yet."

Chang Li's heart was shaken, and her mind was in turmoil.

What exactly is Wu Chen going to do?
This doubt filled Chang Li's mind, but Wu Chen didn't say it clearly, so she didn't dare to ask.

"How about this? Let Professor Liu Xinglin explain the stage first. After he's finished, I'll talk to you about Kunqu Opera's body movements, singing styles, and artistic conception, as well as the soul of The Peony Pavilion: 'love' and 'dreams.'"

Liu Xinglin nodded and handed the opera handout to Wu Chen: "This is the handout I made when I designed the stage for The Peony Pavilion."

Then he slowly stood up, walked to the window, and pointed at the snow outside:
"The Kunqu stage, within a small space, displays the myriad worlds.

The design pays great attention to artistic conception. For example, in the "Garden Tour" scene in "The Peony Pavilion", the beauty of the entire garden can be displayed with just a table and a folding fan.

Every step and every turn of the actors is carefully choreographed, following the unique rules of opera. This is completely different from the language of film shots."

Wu Chen pondered, "So, although Kunqu Opera's stage is simple, its expression is extremely refined?"

"Not bad." Liu Xinglin's eyes flashed with approval, "For example, the stage of The Peony Pavilion won't realistically show the garden like in movies and TV shows, but will use blank spaces and movements to convey the artistic conception.

In Du Liniang's garden tour, the actors use their bodies to 'sketch' the garden, and the audience 'completes' this picture in their minds. This is the charm of stage art."

Chang Li then took over the conversation: "This is due to the difference in performance.

Kunqu Opera emphasizes singing, reciting, acting and fighting. Each role has a fixed routine, such as the use of "water sleeves" to represent different emotional changes.

Take Du Liniang as an example, the trembling of her sleeves is a sign of her heart beating;
A gentle touch brings a sense of melancholy;

If you suddenly pull it back, your heart will be in turmoil."

Wu Chen was immersed in the two people's explanation, taking notes from time to time.

The original plan was to teach for one day, but Chang Li and Liu Xinglin found that Wu Chen could ask many different questions based on their stories, and they were often very profound, which led to the class being extended by one day.

Two days later, Wu Chen felt that his mind was filled with too many things and his notes were full.

At this time, Zhang Huijun's call came as promised:

"Wu Chen, I have already contacted Mr. Zhang and Mr. Cai. Mr. Zhang will be free after tomorrow, and Mr. Cai will be free before the New Year."

(End of this chapter)