1979: The child's mother is a celestial being.

Chapter 25 Serious Comedy
"what is this?"

The next morning, as soon as Han Sanping arrived at the film set, Chen Fusheng handed him a notebook, leaving him completely baffled.

"Didn't you ask me to change the male lead's character design? Look, is this a good change?"

"No, when did you change it?" Han Sanping took the notebook, but instead of looking at it, he asked curiously.

"Last night, I woke up in the middle of the night after drinking and couldn't sleep, and I happened to have a bit of inspiration." Chen Fusheng told the truth, and naturally there was no need for him to lie about such a thing.

After listening, Han Sanping gave Chen Fusheng a thumbs up, then looked down at the newly revised script.

"The only educated person in the village?"

Han Sanping really didn't expect Chen Fusheng to give Niu Er the label of "farmer".

He continued reading:

"Although Niu Er is the only educated person in the village, he is timid, cowardly, and insecure at heart because of his peasant background. He is even a little selfish. However, he also has his merits, namely his kindness and his unwavering determination, like an ox that cannot be pulled back once it has made up its mind!"

"It was with this stubbornness that Niu Er was able to get into the town's middle school. Of course, when he returned to the village, the villagers liked to tease him, saying that he was a bookworm who had made his brain stupid from studying. But Niu Er didn't like to argue with them because he had been used to being teased since he was a child. Moreover, compared to his classmates in the town, he could sense that the villagers didn't have any ill intentions."

"After the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, the school was closed, and Niu Er could not find a job in the town, so he was forced to return to the countryside."

The following plot overlaps with the first version's storyline: he falls in love with Jiu'er, a feisty widow in the village. One day, before their retreat, the Eighth Route Army entrusts a dairy cow, crucial for the wounded's nutrition, to the villagers of Stone Village, leaving the instruction, "As long as the cow lives, the cow lives." However, most villagers are reluctant to take on this thankless task. Finally, the village elders hold a meeting and decide to entrust this glorious mission to Niu Er…

As those who have read the original novel know, Niu Er, played by Huang Bo, has a rather quirky personality, which injects an absurd element into the film's heavy and serious tone, making it more lighthearted for the audience. This can be considered one of the film's major selling points.

However, with this change in Chen Fusheng, the character's personality has completely changed. This means that when he interprets the role of Niu Er, he can no longer draw on Huang Bo's acting style. Does this mean that the film will lose a major selling point?

actually not!

First of all, even if Chen Fusheng doesn't change his character's personality, he still won't be able to create the unique comedic effect that Huang Bo has.

On the contrary, there may be cases of trying to imitate something exactly but ending up with a flawed result.

Secondly, although Chen Fusheng changed his character design and personality, he did not change his core essence.

That's the comedic element.

The difference lies in the fact that Huang Bo has his own unique comedic talent, while Chen Fusheng is undoubtedly a bit lacking in this aspect, after all, he is not a professional comedian.

However, he boasted that he could achieve the same effect through his acting skills and experience.

"Sure, although you made significant changes to the character of Niu Er, it didn't affect the plot development or leave any loopholes. I don't think there's any problem."

After reading Chen Fusheng's revised script, Han Sanping first made a comment, and then raised a question that had arisen in his mind while reading the script:
"However, I have a question."

"you say?"

Chen Fusheng was not surprised that Han Sanping had problems.

“I saw your rather quirky and absurd comedic performance during the audition yesterday afternoon, which I thought was a major highlight for the film. However, your character has changed now, and given your current persona, you probably can't perform like you did yesterday. So does that mean the comedic elements have been reduced?”

"will not!"

Chen Fusheng shook his head directly.

At the same time, seeing that Han Sanping's question hit the nail on the head, it was clear that Han Sanping recognized his directing skills. He then didn't keep them in suspense and explained his ideas.

"Actually, the quirky performance style I did yesterday doesn't really suit me. I'm better at serious comedy!"

This was the first time Han Sanping had heard of this term, and he didn't quite understand it. A series of question marks flashed in his eyes.

"To put it simply, it's a serious kind of comedy!" Chen Fusheng explained further.

However, after explaining, Han Sanping still seemed rather confused. After thinking for a moment, Chen Fusheng took the script back from him, opened a scene that required the main character to provide humor, and after a little preparation, he performed a short segment on the spot.

When Chen Fusheng was building up his emotions, he actually referenced Zhang Yi's acting style in "The Chaser".

—There's no slapstick humor or deliberate attempt to make the audience laugh, but the stark contrast between the serious performance and the comedic core creates a dark comedic effect.

After witnessing Chen Fusheng's performance firsthand, Han Sanping nodded repeatedly in approval, exclaiming, "So this is what serious comedy is all about!"

Now he had no objections to Chen Fusheng's revised script, but he was a little curious as to why Chen Fusheng, a film enthusiast, knew so much.

"Brother Fusheng, to be honest, have you studied acting, or do you have any elders in your family who work in the acting field?"

"There are no elders in my family who are actors, but does self-studying acting count as having studied it?" Chen Fusheng asked rhetorically.

"So how did you come to know about serious comedy as a performance style?" Han Sanping said, "Before this, I had never even heard of it."

"As far as I know, Lao Han, you didn't graduate from an art school, did you?"

"Haha, it seems I still have a lot to learn."

Han Sanping, caught off guard, smiled awkwardly and stopped pressing the topic of serious comedy, instead taking the opportunity to invite her to continue:

"Since you love acting so much, Fusheng, why don't you give up being a teacher and join our Emei Film Studio?"

"Why did you become a lobbyist out of nowhere, Lao Han?" Chen Fusheng said this because on the day he arrived at Emei Film Studio, the factory leaders arranged a welcome banquet for him, and at that time, a leader tried to recruit him.

Of course, he didn't agree.

I never expected Han Sanping to bring up this old matter again.

"I truly believe it's a real shame that a film talent like you, Fusheng, isn't developing within the film industry," Han Sanping said sincerely.

"Let's talk about that later. Right now, our priority is to make a good film," Chen Fusheng said.

The fact that he didn't directly refuse actually reveals a lot.

Han Sanping wanted to persuade him further, but at that moment the assistant director suddenly walked in and said, "Director Han, the cow you requested has been found."

Upon hearing this, both Han Sanping and Chen Fusheng's eyes lit up.

"Let's go and see together."

"it is good!"

(End of this chapter)