1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 391 Give Young People a Chance

The temperature in New York has been rising since the beginning of May.

Lin Weimin has been concentrating on the creation of "The Kite Runner" recently, writing in English, which made Mr. Lin's efficiency drop a lot, and I am a little sorry for the nickname of Quick Gunner.

In addition to writing every day, he occasionally strolls in Central Park and goes to bookstores in the Upper West Side to purchase books.

In less than half a month, books were piled all over the apartment.

Arthur Miller was stunned when he saw such a scene, "Lin, how many books did you buy?"

"I haven't counted it, it must be hundreds of books! There are so many second-hand book resources here in New York, it would be a pity not to buy them."

Arthur Miller said with a smile: "If I knew you had a habit of collecting second-hand books, I could mail you some!"

"It's not a hobby, it's just happy to see Liexin. If you buy it back, you can even give it to a friend. It's not a waste of money!"

In the era when there was no online shopping, buying books all depended on bookstores, which was not easy.

The two chatted for a while, and Lin Weimin handed the finished manuscript to Arthur Miller.

When the script of "The Horseman" was first created, it adopted the classical "three unities" structure, dividing the script into upper and lower parts, a total of eight acts, with the break between Bayin and Battelle as the midpoint.

Now creating "The Kite Runner", Lin Weimin still follows this creative law, and the script for the first four acts was handed over to Arthur Miller.

Arthur Miller flipped through the script and sighed: "Lin, I really admire your creative efficiency."

It has only been ten days since Lin Weimin wrote "The Kite Runner", and half of the script has been written, so the whole script took only 20 days.

Arthur Miller took six weeks to create "Death of a Salesman", which was an astonishing speed, but it was not enough for Lin Weimin.

Arthur Miller didn't know that Lin Weimin's speed could be even faster if he used his mother tongue Chinese to create.

The two discussed for a long time about the newly released script. Lin Weimin used English to create, and there were many places that could not fully fit the American culture. He had to strengthen communication with Arthur Miller. Only the two reached an agreement on creative ideas and intentions. Consistent, the subsequent polish will become a bonus item, otherwise it will easily backfire.

When the two were communicating, Inge Moras habitually took out his camera to take pictures.

"Mrs. Miller, if you keep shooting like this, your film may not be enough!"

After discussing with Arthur Miller, Lin Weimin smiled and said something to Inger Moras.

Inge Moras smiled at him, "I learned a lesson from that night deeply. Not only did I bring my camera with me, but I even prepared several rolls of film."

Both Arthur Miller and Lin Weimin laughed.

Arthur Miller said: "Let's go, Lin, let's have a meal together."

It's already past six o'clock in the afternoon, and it's time for lunch.

"Okay!" Lin Weimin got up and tidied up.

Several people came to the Green Garden Lounge, which is not only a place for Manhattanites to drink, but also a place for everyone to eat.

Being in the midst of greenery, eating has become a pleasant thing.

Arthur Miller and his wife chatted about the free performances that Central Park will soon open the summer stage, and there is still one month to enter the summer in New York. With the support of the New York City Government, Central Park will hold a series of performances , including music, dance, talk shows, movies.

"It will definitely be very lively by then!" Lin Weimin said looking at the scenery outside.

Arthur Miller also had a somewhat proud look, "This is probably the most charming place in this Big Apple city. Some people may think it is full of copper smell, but art can always be accommodated here .”

Lin Weimin agrees with this sentence, at least in the Upper West Side, the artistic atmosphere is indeed very strong.

After eating, it was already past nine o'clock in the evening. They chatted all the way out of Central Park, and Arthur Miller and his wife left.

When Lin Weimin returned to the apartment, Haili, the white girl at the front desk, stopped him.

"Mr. Lin, there was an international call to your room just now. This is the way to call back." Haili handed out a note.

"Thank you!"

Lin Weimin returned to the apartment with the note, and called back the number on the note. After waiting for a long time for the transfer, the call was finally answered.

"Hello! Teacher Lin?" A familiar voice came from the phone, it was Zhang Yimou.

"Yimou, why did you think of calling me?" Lin Weimin asked.

On the phone, Zhang Yimou's voice was a little anxious and helpless.

"Mr. Lin, the factory doesn't agree with me changing careers as a director!"

"why?"

Hearing this question, Zhang Yimou's voice was full of sorrow, "There is no reason. The factory said that you are a photographer and do the work of a photographer honestly. What kind of director are you?"

From Zhang Yimou's retelling, Lin Weimin could hear the shock of this simple sentence.

Can't be a director after being a photographer?

In future generations, everyone will scoff when they hear it.But at this moment, it is the general psychology of most people.

The screw spirit is a word that has been widely educated for decades, and it has been baked into the minds and hearts of many people.

The studio may not have any dissatisfaction with Zhang Yimou, but simply proceeded from a simple concept and disapproved of Zhang Yimou as a director.

You are a photographer, what kind of director are you?
A very simple sentence can weigh on Zhang Yimou, but it is like a mountain.

Zhang Yimou complained to Lin Weimin on the phone again, not only the factory raised objections to his idea of ​​changing careers to become a director, but also his relatives, friends, and colleagues around him were not optimistic about his decision.

This is what makes Zhang Yimou feel the most uncomfortable. It seems that his life is doomed.

"Ms. Lin, can I not be a director if I become a photographer? Who is not born to be a director?" Zhang Yimou's tone was full of resentment and dissatisfaction.

Lin Weimin reassured: "Of course you can be a director. The study of Yanying, the tempering of the studio and the crew, these are the confidence for you to be a director."

"But why don't they agree? It seems that I want to be a director, as if I have done something outrageous!"

"We Chinese are conservative at heart. In addition to decades of collective education, everyone is full of vigilance for the pursuit of individuality, so if you want to break the rules, you must pay more courage and more resolute actions than others .”

Lin Weimin's persuasion made Zhang Yimou feel better.

He thought of the expensive long-distance phone bill, and dared not confide in his emotions, but expressed his thoughts for help.

"Mr. Lin, can you find a way to help me?" Zhang Yimou's tone was pleading.

When writing the script of "Red Sorghum", Lin Weimin once promised Zhang Yimou that he would provide help if necessary.

Lin Weimin joked on the phone: "Ganqing is here to collect debts!"

"Mr. Lin, I didn't mean that..." Zhang Yimou hastily explained on the phone.

"I know, I know." Lin Weimin interrupted Zhang Yimou's explanation, and said with a smile, "I am optimistic about your career change as a director. I have already considered this situation before. How about it, let me make a phone call to confirm. , and see if I can help you solve the problem. Don’t leave the phone, I’ll call you when I have the result. "

Zhang Yimou finally heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this, and said, "Okay, I'll wait for your news."
-
At the NN City Telecom Bureau, Zhang Yimou had just put down the phone when he heard the staff shouting.

"Telephone booth No. 2, pay another 30 yuan!"

Zhang Yimou's face trembled, he just paid a deposit of 50 yuan!
Distressed, he took out three more cards of Da Tuan from his pocket and handed them to the staff, and they paid 80 yuan for a phone call!

Zhang Yimou began to regret the few complaints he had made on the phone for not controlling his emotions just now.

It's too expensive, let alone cost 40 yuan more.

You can't be so willful in the future!

"Comrade, I may have to answer the phone later..."

Before Zhang Yimou could finish speaking, he was pointed out by the staff, "Go there and wait, I have a call for you!"

"Okay, thank you!"

Zhang Yimou sat on the seat not far from the phone booth, keeping his eyes on the phone booth.

Since returning to the factory in April, he has been communicating with the factory about becoming a director and filming "Red Sorghum".

It's a pity that no one supports him, whether it's the leaders in the factory, or the family members and colleagues around him.

There was another thing that made him even more aggrieved, which Zhang Yimou didn't say.

It's fine if the factory leaders don't support his idea of ​​being a director, and let him help Cheng Kaige's crew who are busy with the movie "The Great Parade".

This made Zhang Yimou even more uncomfortable.

We are all classmates, Cheng Kaige became a director right after graduation, Zhang Yimou is not jealous.

But I have also made a few films, and my performance is not bad. Why is it so difficult for me to be a director?

During this period of time, Zhang Yimou had nowhere to express his inner distress and worries. After holding back for more than half a month, he really had no choice. Thinking of what Lin Weimin said before, he thought of calling him for help. Unexpectedly, Teacher Lin He even went abroad.

Zhang Yimou got Teacher Lin's contact information abroad, and he hesitated for two days just considering whether to make this call.

International calls are so expensive!

20 yuan for 1 minute, a few minutes of phone calls, and a month's salary. If you can't find Mr. Lin, or Mr. Lin can't help you, then he will be at a loss!

But it's not a solution to wait all the time, and the factory will not change because of waiting so hard.

After thinking about it, Zhang Yimou became ruthless and came to the telecom bureau.

Now, the phone call is over, and Mr. Lin has agreed to help, so it's up to Mr. Lin.

Zhang Yimou looked at the phone booth, but couldn't help but let go of his thoughts.

Can I be the director?
-
"That's right! You know Yimou, he's very talented in movies!"

"He is a generalist, just being a photographer is a waste!"

"Didn't I arrange this matter? Mo Yan was the one who contacted Yimou, so we can't ignore it?"

"That's right. You have worked with Yimou before. What a reliable person. Give young people a chance."

"Okay, okay, that's it, I'll let him contact you."

"Oh, thank you so much! My brother Tianming, I will treat you to dinner when I return home!"

Lin Weimin hung up the phone again. The call just now was to Wu Tianming, the director of Xiying Film Studio.

In later generations, Zhang Yimou was able to grow from an ordinary photographer to an actor and a director because of Wu Tianming's appreciation.

This time Zhang Yimou came to Lin Weimin, the first person he thought of who could help Zhang Yimou was Wu Tianming.

It's useless for Lin Weimin to spend a lot of words, Wu Tianming admired Zhang Yimou very much, after chatting for a while, Wu Tianming agreed to Lin Weimin's help Zhang Yimou.
-
At the NN City Telecom Bureau, the phone rang in a hurry.

Zhang Yimou stood up instinctively for a moment. There were very few incoming calls in the phone booth, and almost all of them were outgoing calls. His eyes were fixed on the staff who answered the calls.

The staff member raised his head after saying a few words, his eyes scanned the hall, and finally locked on himself.

The two looked at each other, "Hey, is it you? It's Zhang Yimou, right? Your phone number."

"Yes yes yes!" Zhang Yimou trotted to the phone booth and answered the phone.

"Hey, Yimou!"

"Ms. Lin, it's me."

"I just communicated with Director Wu that West Film Studio intends to invest in your "Red Sorghum". You should go to Xi'an with the script as soon as possible and let Director Wu have a look."

Zhang Yimou was overjoyed by what Lin Weimin said. He was so excited that he shouted, "Mr. Lin, thank you so much!"

"Okay, don't get excited. Director Wu also needs to read the script first, and he also needs to take the school test to test you. You have to be prepared." Lin Weimin urged.

"No problem! No problem! As long as it allows me to shoot "Red Sorghum", no matter how I take the test!"

Zhang Yimou got carried away with excitement, and said again: "Mr. Lin, thank you so much this time. Without you, I really don't know what to do!"

"Okay, don't say that. Director Wu was also very optimistic about you. This time I just mentioned it, and he immediately became interested. It proves that your previous cooperation with others has attracted people's attention."

Listening to Lin Weimin's voice on the phone, Zhang Yimou's eyes became moist uncontrollably.

Mr. Lin is always so modest, obviously he is responsible for everything, but he is always so modest.

(End of this chapter)