Chapter 589 587. "The Piano of Steel"
Movie thing?
Xu Xin became interested.
The reason why he has a deep memory of Zhang Meng is because he has watched the "Blessed Ears".
To be precise, it is the first half of "Blessed Ears".
As a Northwesterner, he actually doesn't have any deep feelings for the railway.
Although Shenmu also has a train station, that line is a small station going to Inner Mongolia, and he is not from Shenmu County. Even if his family started to transport coal by train after his family became prosperous, he has never been there much.
So, for the series of encounters of the protagonist played by Fan Wei in the movie "Ear", he can't reach the point of empathy.
To put it bluntly, in his eyes, what he was looking for in that movie was not the so-called "memory", but artistry.
What he saw was the director's camera sense.
But he didn't know much about the overall rhythm and background of the movie.
This is also the geographical defect of directors of his generation, or a symbol of the times.
So I only watched half of the movie, and the deepest part of the plot is what is "News broadcast is wine, one bottle for news inside the fruit, one bottle for news outside the fruit."
But he still likes the rhythm of the overall movie.
The kind of people in their twilight years refuse to accept old age but have to grow old. But this person is a "loser" who has worked in the railway all his life and cannot adapt to society. The feeling is vividly reflected.
In the second half, he seemed to be called by his sister to warm the bed... or what.
Anyway, I haven't finished watching it.
But the overall rhythm is still very mature.
It is a movie that can make people calm down and watch.
A director who can derive this kind of rhythm may not have a keen sense of the camera, nor do he have any overly exaggerated skills. But he still likes that kind of solid basic skills.
So nodded:
"Tell me... where is he now?"
"Waiting for us in a chicken stand shop in Tiexi..."
"..."
Xu Xin's mouth twitched.
Now I understand why Shen Xiaoyang wants to drag himself to eat chicken racks.
However, he was indeed tired.
He had a drink at noon today, which made his spirit a little sluggish.
Can…
Recalling Shen Xiaoyang's enthusiasm all day today, he slapped his thigh:
"Then let's go there quickly, don't make people wait too long."
Shen Xiaoyang looked happy.
…
Shen Xiaoyang drove the car himself, pulling Xu Xin and Su Meng to an unknown place.
Xu Xin was sitting in the co-pilot, chatting with Shen Xiaoyang:
"Director Zhang came to me... What exactly is it?"
"It's about the movie. He actually didn't know that Director Xu was coming. I didn't tell him either... He sent me a message when we were watching the show. He said it was about watching the news. You went to Liu Laogen. I want to get to know you about the movie... We have a very good relationship, and we know his temper. He is a very responsible person, and he doesn't like to trouble others. If he can solve it by himself, he certainly won't Open your mouth. But as long as you open your mouth, you really have nothing to do...so..."
"Understood."
Xu Xin nodded:
"Then go and have a look. By the way, where shall we go?"
"Qunle Hotel."
“…this time?”
Xu Xin glanced at the time.
It's early ten o'clock.
Shen Xiaoyang said with a smile:
"His house closes late, so there are a lot of wines for chicken racks at night. So they work until the early hours of the morning."
Following his description, Xu Xin thought that Qunle Restaurant must be a big restaurant like Lu Mingchun.
Unexpectedly... Cayenne came all the way to a family building that looked very old and old.
"Where is this...?"
"Over there."
Shen Xiaoyang pointed to a lighted place far away on the street.
Xu Xin took a look... and found that the store seemed to be converted from the first floor of a residential building.
"Bistro?"
"Yes, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the taste."
Now, Xu Xin is really curious.
Follow Shen Xiaoyang all the way to the lighted place, and then saw the words "Qunle Hotel".
Shen Xiaoyang opened the door himself:
"Director Xu, please."
"Haha, let's go~"
As soon as Xu Xin entered the room, he immediately smelled the smell of smoke and a strange fragrance.
An older lady with her head crossed stood up from behind the bar:
"Three people?"
"Pack 1."
After Shen Xiaoyang finished speaking, he didn't need the eldest sister to lead him, he directly bypassed a few tables of diners, and pushed open the door of the box that was converted from a bedroom.
Then Xu Xin saw a man in his early thirties standing up wearing a baseball cap.
Look at Shen Xiaoyang first, then Xu Xin, then stand up and take off your hat.
"hello."
Shen Xiaoyang greeted with a smile, then stepped aside:
"Director Xu, he is Zhang Meng."
Hearing this, Xu Xin smiled and stretched out his hand:
"Director Zhang, hello. I've been waiting for a long time."
"Hey, Director Xu, good luck meeting you!"
Without further ado, Zhang Meng took a step forward and held Xu Xin's hand with both hands.
Zhang Meng has a slightly fat body, with a dangerous hairline, and wearing glasses... This look looks a bit rough.
But the smile is very enthusiastic.
After greeting each other, they quickly handed over the menu:
"Director Xu, take a look at what we eat..."
"The guest is up to the owner. I don't understand anything. Director Zhang and Brother Yang are fine."
Hearing this, Shen Xiaoyang simply took over the responsibility of ordering food, and left the space for chatting to the two of them.
And Xu Xin didn't have ink marks either.
In fact, although he doesn't dislike the so-called bureaucratic clichés, he usually racks his brains to chat with him.
He prefers to cut to the chase when it comes to ping or bot.
Whether this meal can be solid or not depends on what Zhang Meng is looking for.
So, he asked with a smile while holding a teacup:
"When I came here, I heard from Brother Yang that Director Zhang wanted to ask me about the movie? What's the matter?"
While talking, he smelled the tea in the cup.
Jasmine, the smell is quite fragrant.
Zhang Meng was a little taken aback.
It seems that Xu Xin did not expect to be so direct.
subconsciously glanced at Shen Xiaoyang.
Shen Xiaoyang was writing the menu without looking up at all.
Seeing this, he thought for a while and said:
"It's like this... Director Xu, I just finished filming a movie called "The Piano of Steel". It is a movie starring Wang Qianyuan and Qin Hailu."
Wang Qianyuan, Qin Hailu...
Hearing these two names, the former actor Xu Xin didn't have much impression, but Qin Hailu must have known him.
The protagonist of the most popular drama "Red Rose White Rose" in the past two years.
In my impression, her "Durian Fluttering" is also good.
But he doesn't like the movie theme very much.
I always feel that there are a lot of Hong Kong people’s prejudice against mainlanders.
But... In all honesty, these two are not very famous at the film festival.
Appeal is equal to 0.
But he didn't show it. After all, it is impossible for him to have any joy or dislike for two people who have never met before.
Just nodding:
"Well, then what? Is the film already finished?"
"The filming has been finished... and it was sent to the Tokyo Film Festival."
"That's fine."
Xu Xin was more like a compliment than a compliment.
After all, the Tokyo Film Festival has not released the shortlist for this session yet.
"The Hawthorn Tree" was invited by Li Pingdong and entered as a surprise film recommended by the judges this year, but it was not eligible to participate in the award competition.
Submitting for review does not mean being shortlisted.
This is the essential difference.
However, he was even more curious...
The film is submitted for review, indicating that the filming has been completed.
After the filming is over, why do you still ask yourself?
At first, he thought that the other party wanted to attract investment.
But now it doesn't look like it is.
And Zhang Meng nodded:
"That's right... it's... all done."
"Um."
Xu Xin continued to listen.
But the other party got stuck.
made him speechless...
Looking at the other party’s hesitation to speak, he thought for a while, and picked up the teacup with a smile:
"It's okay, Director Zhang. You know the relationship between me and Brother Yang. His friends are my friends. If you have any difficulties, just talk about it."
Shen Xiaoyang finally got the chance to speak at this time, he quickly raised his head and said:
"Yes, just say what you have to say."
After finishing speaking, he got up and sent the menu outside the house.
After Zhang Meng heard this, he took a deep breath...
"Hoo... Director Xu."
"Um."
“I don’t have money to distribute.”
"Well…"
Listening to this reason, Xu Xin looked at his face that was turning red visibly with the naked eye, and thought that this man had a thin skin.
But my heart is at ease.
He was actually quite scared, quite afraid that the other party would suddenly say something like "This film has not passed the review".
Then he must be thinking as far as he goes, so he can roll as far as he can.
Because he is a director who really has a headache and works against the censors.
It's the same as "Jiabiangou".
But now listen to the reason...
Isn’t it just money.
On the contrary, it was easy to solve.
Then asked:
"Which company voted for this film? How much? Director Zhang didn't keep distribution fees?"
"Liaoying."
"Well…"
Liaoying...it's really not a big film studio.
Compared with the old sixth, Liao Ying can almost be said to be the younger brother among younger brothers.
There are not many works that can be sold.
There is basically no sense of existence in the history of Chinese film.
It’s not that it has never been brilliant, it’s just that its glorious 1980s was the era when Xiying Studio overshadowed the sky with one hand.
The dazzling brilliance of Xiying Film Studio shines on the earth, and all film studios are eclipsed.
But it is indeed a regular state-owned film studio.
Hearing this investor, Xu Xin felt more at ease.
Regardless of the size of the state-owned factory, the grasp of the context of the work must be very clear. As long as they invest, it shows that this work will not have anything out of the ordinary.
So nodded:
"Well, how much did you invest?"
"Well…"
After understanding what Zhang Meng meant to find him, Xu Xin didn't directly agree.
In fact, publishing this kind of thing is just a matter of his words.
No matter what kind of film it is, as long as you open your mouth in the factory, it can definitely be released.
As for the theaters, other theaters are not mentioned.
Wanda himself said that the film will definitely be shown in theaters.
For him, it was so easy that it couldn't be easier.
The ecology of the film and television industry is like this.
As a director, he is like no one in terms of distribution and theaters.
But for some directors, whether it is to attract people to invest or find a reliable company to distribute, they have to ask their grandpa to sue their grandma in order to attract those publishers and investors.
As for going to theaters, let alone.
Every year, there are so many movies across the country waiting in line to compete with Hollywood for the market, and they have to compete with their domestic counterparts in a mess.
Why do you come up with a movie with little fame and no charismatic actors?
Although I don't deny that movies depend on the content to determine everything, but this is the current atmosphere in theaters.
Compared with the content, everyone pays more attention to which star participates in your movie, and whether the star has appeal.
But this situation did not exist in front of Xu Xin.
Zhang Meng's request was just a matter of one sentence to him.
provided that…
"Where is the film? Did you bring it?"
"Bring it, bring it!"
Hearing this, Zhang Meng quickly picked up the briefcase from the chair next to him, and took out a USB flash drive, a CD, and a thick set of materials.
"This is the electronic version, VCD, as well as the movie footage, the script...all here."
Obviously, he came prepared.
And Xu Xin took those materials first.
He didn't rush to read the script, but wanted to see Zhang Meng's storyboard.
Then a picture...several human silhouettes standing on the top of the mountain, and a picture of a towering chimney in the middle comes into view.
"..."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
In all honesty, it's ugly.
is really ugly.
The sub-shots he draws with his toes are better than Zhang Meng.
But such things as sub-cameras also vary from person to person.
To be more realistic, it only needs to be "understood by the director".
After flipping through a few pages, he picked up the script.
Act 1:
A group of people sang "Tricycle Cars" on top of an old man's funeral.
I just sang a few lines, but was interrupted by others. I thought the song was too heavy, and I was afraid that the old man would walk slowly, so I wanted to change it to a more cheerful one.
The foreman nodded and bowed, and led the band class to change to a cheerful song with a flattering face.
(Background: Industrial cooling tower)
Act 2: …
…
No one spoke in the private room. Xu Xin took his eyes away from the script until several plates of chicken racks were served and smelled the aroma.
He hasn't finished reading the script, but he understands the overall direction of the story.
The protagonist of the story, Chen Jialin, wants to build a piano for his daughter Xiaoyuan.
The whole story revolves around this core theme.
but…
"Is the script a little empty? I see that many of your stories don't use dialogue lines, and there is no background or anything... Which screenwriter made this?"
He put down the script and asked his first doubt.
"I wrote and directed it myself."
Zhang Meng said quickly.
Xu Xin understood.
I see…
The book I wrote, the basic direction of the story, what happened, and the environment in which it should be filmed, obviously I have a good idea.
That's why the whole script seems so "hasty".
However, he still likes this kind of traditional script that revolves around a story theme.
When I was in school, Mr. Yu said one of the core ideas of script creation, that is: words with substance, words in order, words with reason, and words with emotion.
Every shot in the movie must have a meaning.
In other words, the director must understand the meaning of each shot in his work.
Although he also accepts that some very abstract concepts are given to the film.
But I still like this old-fashioned script style in my heart.
If the abstract things are not used well, they can easily become artificial.
So he closed the script and said:
"Then I'll take the movie back tonight to see? Let's see how the quality is. If the distribution works, there must be no problem in the factory, but everything still depends on the movie. If there is no problem with the movie, after I go back this time, I just want to go back In the factory, Director Zhang can go to the factory with me when the time comes, how about it?"
Zhang Meng looked happy, and nodded quickly:
"Okay okay, no problem!"
As he spoke, he tentatively asked:
"Then... Director Xu, the distribution of Xiying Studio, the general ratio is..."
"Just like other companies, it depends on the cost of publicity and distribution. You can measure it yourself. But what I can guarantee you here is that as long as there is no problem with the movie and the factory accepts the distribution job, I will guarantee that you will be able to participate in the film. Wanda Cinemas."
At first glance, these words are nonsense. After all, the distribution company has taken over your job, so how could you not be able to go to the cinema.
But that's really the case.
There are countless distribution companies in the film and television industry.
Most of the so-called distribution is actually selling to some online platforms.
It was okay before, and small companies can still rely on the disc market to maintain. But now with the rise of the Internet, they can only transfer to the website for distribution.
The distribution companies that are really related to theater chains are companies with a certain size.
And these companies are also divided into grades.
It depends on how strong the theater relationship is, or the quality of the film.
…
As long as the publicity is in place, if the five million yuan is a blockbuster, then a large sum of money will be credited, but it will be lying down and making money.
Film is such a profitable industry.
Seeing Zhang Meng's joyful expression, Xu Xin was rather curious:
"Doesn't Liaoying have its own publisher?"
"Yes...but no right to speak."
Zhang Meng shook his head slightly:
"Don't talk about Liaoying now, the Changchun factory is almost unsustainable. After all... not all factories have you like Xiying..."
He even praised Xu Xin.
Xu Xin smiled, and Shen Xiaoyang saw that the two had reached an agreement, so he quickly improved the atmosphere:
"Director Xu, let's move our chopsticks? This chicken rack won't taste good if it's cold."
"Well, good. Come, come, chat while eating...I'll try it."
He picked up a piece of... a chicken rack that should be the leg meat.
I don’t know how to make the chicken rack, it’s black.
He leaned close to his nose and smelled it, and a smell of vinegar rushed into his nasal cavity.
"...sweet and sour?"
He took a bite.
After smashing it for a while...turning her head and pouted at Su Meng:
"Mengmeng, I want a few bottles of beer. This thing is good!"
"Ha ha ha ha…"
Shen Xiaoyang laughed when he heard this.
Obviously, Xu Xin's satisfaction made him look good.
So Su Meng didn't use it at all, and got up and walked to the door:
"Sister, take two beers!"
…
Not to mention, the taste of the chicken rack is really good.
It is not the kind of thing that can be served with food.
The meat itself has been removed. As a product of Shenyang's economic downturn and the increase in laid-off workers, it is like the city...or the lonely history of Tiexi District, with a very chronological mark, becoming It is the taste that permeates the soul of every Shenyang person.
For Xu Xin, this kind of sweet and sour taste has no meat, but it needs a little bit of fine work to pick out the taste in the cracks in the bones...
It's perfect for drinking.
Not to mention the meat slices, eggplant sticks, Japanese tofu and other dishes in this store are all good.
I got very drunk at noon, and in the evening I used a few bottles of beer to moisten my body, and it was quite comfortable to drink some rejuvenating wine.
It was almost 12 o'clock after a late-night snack. There was a pile of chicken skeletons on the table, and Xu Xin, whose mouth was full of oil, re-served the cayenne.
The driver changed to Su Meng.
Xu Xin and Zhang Meng left their contact numbers, and left with a USB flash drive and a CD.
All the way back to the villa, he didn't agree. Although he drank a few bottles of beer, Shen Xiaoyang, who had nothing to do, drove away by himself and insisted on letting Su Meng see him off.
After Su Meng left, he returned to the villa and put the CD into the DVD player under the TV.
Soon, a very symmetrical picture appeared on the screen.
Wang Qianyuan and another girl are standing in a steel factory shed as a split shot, and the scene of the conversation comes into view.
He nodded slightly.
It's not bad, this shot... I feel that it has improved a lot from "Blessed with Big Ears".
He lit a cigarette.
…
After 12:30, Su Meng took a taxi back after sending Shen Xiaoyang home.
After entering the room, looking at Xu Xin who was sitting on the sofa watching a movie, she said:
"Brother Xu, I'm back."
"Well, sent it back?"
"Send it back, and the car is parked."
"good."
Xu Xin responded, and continued to stare at the TV intently.
Finally, in the early 1 o'clock, he finished reading.
After reading it, he unconsciously thought of a phrase in an English book he started to read recently.
"agreeable melancholy"
Delightful sadness.
"Is it a sign of the times for workers...?"
He looked at the movie staff list and muttered to himself.
After thinking for a while, he turned off the TV, quit the DVD, and then went straight back to the bedroom with his notebook.
Sitting at the table, he rediscovered the online play resource of "Blessed Ears" and started watching it.
Perhaps because of the alcohol, he wasn't sleepy.
After watching "Blessed Ears", it was already 3 o'clock.
Then, he plugged in the USB flash drive given by Zhang Meng, and spent more than half an hour watching "The Piano" again by occasionally fast-forwarding.
The style progress is obvious.
A film is like an onion.
It can withstand peeling off layer by layer.
Surface is a story about building a piano for a little girl.
The second layer is a reflection of... these workers who are the blood in the body of the eldest son of the Republic, after adapting to the times... the confusion and desire to return.
The core of this aspect is similar to "Blessed Ears".
As for the third level, he somewhat wanted to express some problems at the class level.
It happened to be well received.
Give everyone room for their own imagination, but not too much through their own subjective consciousness to influence the sense of reading, affect the emotions of others...
At three o'clock in the morning, he sat in front of the computer, watching various scenes in the film that used split shots to express opposites...
Lighted a cigarette.
After finishing one cigarette, he picked up his phone, which was running out of battery, and sent messages to Zhang Meng and Qi Lei respectively.
Meng Zhang:
"Director Zhang, the film is not bad. I'm going back to Yanjing tomorrow. See you in Xi'an the day after tomorrow?"
Qi Lei:
"Brother Qi, there is a good movie! "Blessed Ears" is directed by the director, starring Wang Qianyuan and Qin Hailu. You can understand the situation of these three people. If you can absorb it, you can't go wrong! I will go back to Xi'an the day after tomorrow. Send it to the cloud for you to take a look!"
After posting, he directly compressed "The Piano of Steel" in the USB flash drive into a file, took a vague name of "GDQ", and started uploading to the network drive.
It took a long time to upload, and he didn't wait stupidly.
After taking a shower, I lay down on the bed and fell asleep.
(end of this chapter)