Back to 80: My literary life

Chapter 209 Zhang Yimou wants to make a movie

At this time, Wu Tianmin looked at Fang Minghua with a smile: "Minghua, your article "The Sun Also Rises" seems to have not been made into a movie yet?"

"The director doesn't like stream-of-consciousness novels very much." Fang Minghua replied: "What? Brother Wu, are you interested?"

"Yes, I want to try."

Damn it, Wu Tianmin wants to make this movie?

Then there will be no chance of ginger pattern in the future?

"Minghua, what's wrong?" Wu Tianmin asked with concern.

"No, it's nothing. If you like it, take it." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

It was originally shot by a fifth-generation director, but now it is shot by a fourth-generation director. Let’s see who shoots it better?

Both of them were naturally very happy to get the novel they wanted. They picked up the wine glasses and had another small climax.

At this time, Zhang Yimou stood up, picked up the glass and said: "First of all, I would like to toast Director Wu. Without his help, "Yellow Earth" filmed by my classmates and I would probably have died. This glass represents my relationship with My classmate Chen Kaige pays tribute to you."

After speaking, he respectfully picked up Wu Tianmin's wine glass and handed it to him.

Wu Tianmin took the glass and said with a smile: "It's all trivial matters. It's not easy for us who make movies, so we should help each other out."

"What's going on?" Jia Pingwa suddenly became interested after hearing this.

Zhang Yimou talked about the process.

It turns out that last year Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige came to Qin Province to select locations for "Yellow Earth". Chen Kaige was the director and Zhang Yimou was the photographer. At that time, they had just graduated from the film school and were assigned to the Guizhou factory. They had very little money and their car was broken down during the filming. Someone introduced them to Wu Tianmin, who was also filming in Suide.

Wu Tianmin was filming the movie "Life" there. When they saw Zhang Yimou, they were particularly enthusiastic and generous. They said, "It's not easy for young people. Just call a car and drive back to Qinbei." They even provided gasoline for them.

"Kaige and I were very touched at the time. This was also the first movie we made together. To this day, Chen Kaige still thinks about how good you are."

"So that's it. Zhang Yimou, how about you toast Director Wu with a drink? At least three!" Jia Pingwa interjected with a smile.

"Yes, at least three drinks!"

So under the cheers of the crowd, Wu Tianmin drank three glasses of toast from Zhang Yimou, and Zhang Yimou himself also drank three glasses with him.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Yimou toasted Yan Xueshu with another glass of wine, and then said to the others: "I would also like to toast the three great writers, and I will do it first as a token of respect." After that, he drank all the wine in his glass.

"Hey Photographer Zhang, you can't even have one drink, you need three!" Jia Pingwa said with a smile, holding a cigarette in her hand.

Three glasses is three glasses. Zhang Yimou gritted his teeth and drank two more glasses. Jia Pingwa picked up the last glass and drank it with a smile.

With Jia Pingwa's beginning, Lu Yao and Fang Minghua had no choice but to follow the same example. Zhang Yimou drank 13 glasses of wine in one go, and his face turned red.

He continued: "Three writers. Although I am just a photographer, to be honest, I am also very interested in the work of directing. When I was studying at Yandian, I not only studied photography but also took self-directed courses."

Having said this, Zhang Yimou looked at Jia Pingwa and asked in a respectful tone: "Chairman Jia, I really like the novel "Twelfth and First Moon" written by you, can I make it into a movie?"

Jia Pingwa didn't expect that this photographer would actually shoot her own novel.

This novel is considered my favorite work, and it was also shortlisted for the novella award this year.

It is about retired teacher Han Xuanzi, who is far superior to Wang Cai, an ordinary villager who was born in poverty and has a humble status, in terms of knowledge, fame, and family financial strength.

However, Wang Cai followed the development trend of the times and actively participated in economic changes. He embarked on the road of entrepreneurship step by step without difficulties. Although Han Xuanzi tried every means to plot against Wang Cai and tried his best to hinder Wang Cai's development, it was he himself who was ultimately besieged on all sides. Moreover, this process of replacing the old with the new only lasted for one month from the twelfth lunar month to the first lunar month.

After the novel was published, it was highly praised by the outside world. It uses the personality shaping of the small people at the bottom to explore the various issues of morality, ethics, and human relations that will inevitably be involved in economic changes. Shows the depth and maturity of the idea.

Now I feel a bit reluctant to let an unknown person take the photo. What's more, this person is a photographer and not a serious director!

Jia Pingwa then smiled and said: "Sorry, Photographer Zhang, I don't want to adapt this novel into a movie yet."

Zhang Yimou was a little embarrassed.

Was rejected outright!

The scene suddenly became awkward.

When Wu Tianmin saw this, he immediately smoothed things over, picked up his glass and laughed: "Chairman Jia said that this novel cannot be filmed. There must be his reasons! This is normal. Minghua, you don't have a suitable novel?"

Fang Minghua said with a smile: "I just wrote those few books. I guess Photographer Zhang won't be interested in science fiction. What do you mean by the other books?" After saying this, Fang Minghua looked at Zhang Yimou.

Zhang Yimou hesitated before saying: "Editor Fang, several of the novels you have written have been adapted into movies. I'm afraid I won't be able to make stream-of-consciousness novels like "Roadside Picnic" and "The Legend of Wukong". "Enter Guandong" is a full-length novel." I think the novel is more suitable to be adapted into a TV series. In fact, my favorite is "Into the Dust" but it has already been filmed by Director Wu. How about I try "Donkey Gets Water"?"

Zhang Yimou actually wants to make a fantasy comedy?

Fang Minghua was stunned.

I really can’t imagine what he would look like in the photo?

Wu Tianmin felt that it was a bit unreliable.

Don't look at the comedy written in that novel. The characters are very lovable and exaggerated, but if the comedy is not done well, it will be a "crazy drama"!

Comedies are sometimes more difficult to shoot than dramas.

"Yimou, forget about that novel. It's not easy to shoot." Wu Tianmin directly refused on Fang Minghua's behalf.

Zhang Yimou was a little disappointed, but he nodded, smiled and sat down.

But everyone could see the bitterness in his smile.

"Photographer Zhang, I'm going to write a novel about a rural teacher." At this time, Fang Minghua suddenly said.

Seeing everyone's slightly surprised looks, Fang Minghua explained: "This time it's not science fiction, it's a serious realism theme. If Photographer Zhang is interested, he can take pictures at that time."

"Thank you, thank you." Zhang Yimou was overjoyed.

Which book written by Fang Minghua is not a masterpiece?

Rural teachers must write about rural affairs, which is what they like and are good at.

"Editor Fang, I'll toast you with another drink! I'll do it first!" Zhang Yimou picked up the wine glass again.

"You have to follow the rules that Brother Jia said, three cups!" Fang Minghua also said with a smile.

After the banquet, Fang Minghua and Lu Yao rode their bicycles north together.

"Minghua, why do you think of writing about teacher again?" Lu Yao asked while riding.

"Brother Lu, you and I accompanied Tie Sheng to Qinbei. Is a teacher like Li Yuanfu worth writing about?" Fang Minghua asked rhetorically.

"That's right, it's really not easy to teach in that difficult environment."

"Yes, there are more than tens of thousands of teachers like Li Yuanfu in our country, especially in the northwest. Some people say it is not popular when writing science fiction, so I will just write a serious one. And the photographer named Zhang He is indeed a talent, and Brother Wu is very optimistic about him."

"You think so too?"

"Yes, I am a person who has a good eye for others."

(End of this chapter)