I’m a Director, I’m Not Bad

  Chapter 555 553. A ladle of water in the Buddha's view, thirty-six thousand insects

  The food in Venice is mostly seafood.

  At least this is the first time for Xu Xin to see someone selling fried skewers in a cafe...

  A bucket of fried seafood, a piece of bread and a cup of concentrated, is a simple breakfast.

   Everyone welcomed the extra foreign face in the team. After all, everyone's work content is different in Venice this time.

  For West Film Studio, they need to collect various evaluations of the film, select materials that can be used for domestic promotion, and sell the film at a good price abroad. For Director Xu, the most important thing is the movie.

   This is an annual feast for filmmakers. There are so many excellent works here. As a colleague, it is only natural for Director Xu to want to catch all the movies in one go.

  So as long as the itinerary arranged by the factory is not delayed, the director Xu is Mondo.

  Where it is cool, stay there.

  After eating a meal of fried seafood and drinking another cup of bitter concentrate, after coming out, Su Meng began to communicate with the people at Southern Weekly about the location of the interview.

  The weather in Venice today is very good, the weather is clear and sunny.

  The climate is also very comfortable.

  When Su Meng asked Xu Xin if it was okay to have an interview in a hotel... He was always afraid of society, but he refused.

  He wants to take a boat...

  Because those punting buddies look especially interesting.

  And when learning the text "Water City of Venice" in the text, it is said that they do not have vehicles, and the boat is their means of transportation.

  He wants to experience...

  After talking about this idea to Su Meng, Southern Weekly was a little embarrassed.

  Because they are going to be videotaped.

   On the boat, the camera will be very shaken.

  Finally, the two sides communicated for a while, and finally complied with Ai Qing’s words:

   "I know there is a coffee shop by the river, not far from the famous Venice scenic spot, the Aalto Bridge. It is very suitable for interviews, and the owner is my uncle, so I can ask him to provide an interview venue."

   You see, it's easy to have local people.

   After finally agreeing to meet at the Rialto Bridge, Xu Xin called Liu Yifei:

   "Doo...Hello?"

   "Where are you?"

   "I'm walking back... I think I'm entering the city."

   "Okay, then we will wait for you at the hotel entrance, and we have to accept an interview."

"OK."

   Liu Yifei hung up the phone.

   And Liu Xiaoli on the side also raised her head from the documents translated by Zhong Changyou in her hand:

   "Xu Xin?"

"Um."

  Liu Yifei responded:

   "Wait for me at the hotel, we're going to be interviewed later. Mom, are you tired? If not... come with me?"

"…okay."

  Liu Xiaoli nodded, and finally stopped looking at these compliments to her daughter.

   Instead, he set his sights on Venice outside the window.

  Actually, she hasn't heard this sentence for a long, long time.

   is the phrase "with me" from the daughter's mouth.

  In the past, she was afraid that her daughter would learn badly, be bullied, or be immature, so she wished she could always be by her side.

  Protect her, care about her, take care of her.

  But I don't know when, the relationship between mother and daughter has quietly changed.

  She wanted to keep her daughter by her side more and more, but her daughter always wanted to run away from her.

  I don’t want to tell myself anything, and I always want to keep any schedule from myself.

  Now think about it... From the beginning of "Sculpture of God" to the stage before joining Mimi Company, the mother and daughter quarreled, had a cold war, and met as if they were enemies...

  Liu Xiaoli couldn't imagine how she got here.

  Mingming felt nothing at the time, thinking that her daughter just didn’t grow up. But thinking about it now... In fact, the problems during that time seemed to be bigger than my own.

  Since my daughter joined Mimi's company, in all honesty, her coffee position hasn't improved much, and she even joined Mimi's work for two years.

  But...after she left her world, her daughter gave her a different feeling.

  The mother and daughter on the phone are more concerned about each other's cold and warm, and after meeting, they are as warm and dependent as they were when they were children.

  My daughter was liberated, like a bird flying high.

   And she was also liberated. After discovering that her daughter didn't need her, she also had her own freedom.

  Even... at some point, she suddenly found herself concerned about her daughter's love affairs.

  I used to avoid contact with the opposite **** like a snake and a scorpion, but now I am very eager.

  Thinking of this, she couldn't help asking:

   "Is it true that there are no boys chasing you?... You are old enough, you can think about it."

   "..."

  The corner of Liu Yifei's mouth twitched.

   "Mom... You were the one who didn't let me fall in love at first, but now you are the one who urges me to fall in love?"

   "..."

   Liu Xiaoli did not respond to these words.

  Because she didn't know why she had such an idea.

But…

"I'm not urging you, but...you are so beautiful, so it's normal for someone to chase you? Look at Xiao Xu and Mimi, how cute those two children are~ Let me tell you, women get married earlier and give birth earlier. My child, my figure is recovering very quickly. Look at me, I was already old when I gave birth to you, but my colleague in the group before, your Aunt Chen, she gave birth early, and now she looks younger."

   "Mom, you are not old, I don't know how many people like you."

   "Don't avoid the important and take the light, Mimi didn't say that you are forbidden to fall in love..."

   "Gee, I don't want to be in a relationship right now either."

   "You can try it, look at Xiao Xu and..."

   "Oops!!"

  Liu Yifei was a little speechless.

   "Can you stop using Xu Xin as an example..."

  She paused:

   "Those who don't know think you have a crush on Xu Xin!"

   "If you can find someone like Xiao Xu, I won't worry about you for the rest of my life!"

  Hearing this, Liu Xiaoli was even more speechless.

  Facts have proved...Xiao Xu is really a good boy who is hard to find even with a lantern.

  Don't talk about family background, just talk about this ability...

  Look, what do the people in Venice praise him for?

  How excellent is this ability?

  And... the most important thing is the character of this child.

  The entertainment industry is so chaotic.

   But look at other people, apart from work, it is family, and I haven't heard any bad news since my debut.

  This kind of child who is capable, can make parents feel at ease, and can also make the other half and parents feel at ease... let alone holding a lantern, it is a child who can't find the sun...

   Say something wrong.

  Why can't I take advantage of my daughter.

  Thinking of this, looking at the daughter who started pretending to be an ostrich again...

  She inevitably sighed again:

"well…"

   And Liu Yifei didn't say a word, and his eyes under the sunglasses were also dazed.

   Looking out the window, it was empty.

  …

   "Aunt Liu~"

   "Hey, Xiao Xu~"

   "Hahaha~"

  Xu Xin greeted Liu Xiaoli with a smile.

  In fairness, he agrees with that sentence on the Internet.

  The beauty called Liu Yifei is inherited from her mother.

   Indeed true.

  A fifty-year-old person still looks like a thirty-forty-year-old.

  Whether it is temperament or appearance, beauty is somewhat contrary to common sense.

   It's been a long time since I saw her, but after Liu Yifei joined Shuangwei, she fulfilled that agreement and never had any thoughts of interfering with her daughter's career, so Xu Xin's impression of her slowly returned to the average line.

   Unexpectedly, Liu Xiaoli nodded suddenly when she looked at him:

   "He's getting more and more handsome."

"Well…"

  Xu Xin was stunned for a moment, then nodded with a smile:

   "That's for sure, otherwise, if you stand beside your daughter and Lin Gou, you won't be killed in seconds?"

   "Just say it, what are you doing with me~"

  Lin Juxin was speechless.

"Ha ha ha ha…"

  While talking and joking, Xu Xin asked Ai Qing to lead the way to the small pier where there are boats gathered, right?

  Everyone will go to the Rialto Bridge by boat.

   "Have you read all the reviews?"

  Walking side by side with Liu Yifei, Xu Xin asked.

   "Look...hehe."

  She couldn't help laughing too.

  Obviously, the approval of the audience and the high score of the film made everyone feel relaxed.

   While laughing, she also said:

   "There are a lot of compliments on you. It shouldn't be a problem to get the silver lion... Ah, bah bah bah, I'm sorry, I'm talking nonsense, I'm talking nonsense!"

  She quickly shook her head:

   "If you are hot, you will die! If you are hot, you will die!"

   "..."

   "..."

   "..."

  Have you ever seen the fairy sister acting like a baby?

no.

  Hey, I saw you today.

  Xu Xin, Lin Gou, and even Liu Xiaoli were speechless when they saw their daughter suddenly having a convulsion.

  Xu Xin is really dumbfounded:

   "As for what? So superstitious? Can't you be more confident? Didn't I tell that reporter yesterday? Everyone in the main competition unit has a chance, why can't it be us..."

   "Beep!"

   Liu Yifei's finger touched Xu Xin's lips directly.

   But they didn't touch each other, but they got very close.

   "Shut up, don't talk nonsense, and apologize to God quickly! Children's words are unscrupulous, and the wind blows away!"

   “…I don’t believe in God.”

   "He is a local god, why don't you show some face?"

   "Oh~ that's right. How do you draw the cross? First the head, and then how do you draw?"

  The two of them chatted there as if no one else was around.

  Lin Juxin interrupted from time to time.

   But Liu Xiaoli's expression gradually became weird.

  Cissy's performance...

  While thinking about it, she glanced at the corner of her daughter's mouth full of playful smiles...

  After much deliberation, she chose to trust her daughter.

   Probably because I was thinking too much.

  …

"I've never been on this kind of boat before. Don't believe me. Think about it. I grew up in Shenmu. Although there is no shortage of water in our house, we don't have the extravagance to build an artificial lake for you. I've never sat in a boat that you mentioned that can go by pedaling. I want to try it, but Yang Mi said it was too childish, and she never let me sit in it..."

  Sitting on the boat in the waterway of Venice, everyone felt relaxed while enjoying the exotic scenery, while comparing it with the domestic duck boat.

   "It's tiring to kick that thing. Lao Xu, believe me, you and Da Mi will sit on it once at most and you won't want to sit on it again. Do you know what to do?"

   It means that I have known Lin Gou for a long time, otherwise Xu Xin might not understand the Northeast dialect that he exposed from time to time.

   "Why?"

   "Because you pedaled the boat by yourself, Da Mina is so virtuous, you must think of a way to be lazy. Then you will be able to experience what it means to have cramps in your calves after pedaling."

   "...experienced."

   "From what Lin Gou saw, he had a lot of love affairs when he was a child."

   "Isn't that necessary? Our buddy has been liked by girls since he was a child..."

"Ha ha ha ha…"

  The topic of the two leading actors and the director on the boat never stopped.

  From the duck boat, to the buildings here, and then Ai Qing joined in, and began to popularize the anecdotes of Venice, big and small.

  The journey of more than 20 minutes makes people even forget the purpose of coming to Venice.

   Purely with a tourist mentality to appreciate the customs of the city.

   Soon, after getting off the car beside the Rialto Bridge, Xu Xin glanced at the overcrowded Millennium Bridge...

  It was built in 1173... Maybe this thing has the same principle as Zhaozhou Bridge?

   I'll have to check it out later.

   While pondering, everyone came to the cafe opened by Ai Qing's uncle.

  Her uncle's name is Alonso, and Lin Gou's first reaction when he heard the name was to ask if he could play football.

   After Ai Qing chatted with her uncle for a while, she quickly got permission.

   Even helped clear out a table area by the river by himself, leaving only a few chairs.

   Then start preparing the coffee and meals for the reception.

  In less than five or six minutes, Wang Minmin arrived with his people.

   "Director Xu."

   "Reporter Wang, hello."

   It's been several years of friendship. Although he is not as familiar with his wife, he is not a stranger.

   "Congratulations, "The Hawthorn" has received rave reviews."

  Looking at Xu Xin who was wearing a microphone with the help of the staff, Wang Minmin said with a smile.

   "Haha, thank you. The domestic propaganda will bother you."

   "Isn't that what it should be."

   The greetings were polite, the camera was set up, and the four sat down.

  The camera set up here has attracted the attention of many tourists.

   But fortunately, compared with these Asian faces, the Millennium Bridge is more attractive.

  In addition, Xu Xin turned his back on them, so the pressure of social fear is not so great for the time being, which is quite natural.

  Wang Minmin, who is no longer the Xiaobai at the beginning, is also confident in his hands.

  This time I can make you crooked, I will take your surname!

   "Welcome to the three members of "The Love of the Hawthorn Tree" to accept our interview with "Southern Weekly". Welcome~"

   One sentence indicates the beginning of the interview.

"Thanks."

  The three thanked in unison.

   "Before the interview gets to the point, I have a question. Regarding the evaluation of "The Hawthorn", have you read it?"

  The three looked at each other.

  Finally, Xu Xin spoke:

   "Look."

"Currently it is the sixth place in the main competition unit, only 0.1 points away from the fifth place "Black Swan", which is hailed as a strong Oscar contender, and the recognition of many film critics and audiences. To be honest, even us reporters feel that I'm happy... I don't know what the three of you are thinking right now?"

"Well…"

  Xu Xin looked at the two of them again, and seeing that they were both waiting for him to speak, he smiled and said:

"My idea is actually relatively simple. Last night, before the movie was released, my idea was a bit similar...the exam results are issued. Anyway, the papers have been handed in, the teacher has finished grading, and I have worked hard. But whether the grades are good or bad, my heart No idea. And after the movie was released, that is, the report card has been sent out, and after seeing that the test is not bad... My current thoughts are actually not on this movie."

   "Oh? What does Director Xu most want to do now?"

   "Watch a movie, then hang out and play."

   "..."

  Wang Minmin's mouth twitched...

   But looking at Xu Xin's calm face, it didn't look like he was joking.

   Then Xu Xin continued to say:

"Director Li, director Li Pingdong, isn't he working as the director of photography in the film adaptation of Haruki Murakami's "Norwegian Wood"? It happened to be "The Hawthorn Tree" when it ended yesterday. But I haven't watched it yet... There are other movies, wait for today The interview schedule for the day was over, so I went to watch a movie. Look... over there is our translator Ai Qing, a native of Venice. She said at noon that she would take us to a farmhouse in Venice..."

   "Poof..."

  Liu Yifei couldn't hold back, and burst out laughing.

  Lin Xixin is also happy:

   "I don't know if Venice has a good harvest..."

   "Hahahahaha..."

  The three of them laughed.

  Wang Minmin's complexion became "ugly".

   Here we go again, huh?

   Watch me turn around!

  So, she looked at Liu Yifei:

   "Liu Yifei, what about you? What is your mentality now?"

   "It's the same as him. We plan to go to the movies together, and then try... Dafeng... Puff... Haha..."

   "Hahahahahahaha..."

   "..."

   "..."

   "..."

no.

  These three evildoers are messing with my mind and destroying my Dao heart.

  I have to hold on to the altar.

   A little clarity can never be broken!

   "I'm talking about movies and the fact that you're being recognized for your acting."

   "Well..."

  Finally, the fairy sister who became more formal thought about it and said:

"Actually, the example Xu Xin gave is very appropriate. Before the movie was screened yesterday, we were all anxious candidates. But after the results were announced, whether it was awards or recognition, it was all about "The Hawthorn Tree". As an actor, what I need is to prepare for the next work."

   Speaking of this, she paused, and her tone became a little more determined:

   "I hope that after the movie is released, what everyone sees is Jingqiu. And when my next movie is released, what everyone sees is a brand new story."

  Wang Minmin's eyes lit up, and she keenly grasped the meaning of her words:

   "You mean to hide the person "Liu Yifei"?"

"right."

  Liu Yifei nodded:

   "I hope the world will forget me, and just remember the characters on the screen."

   Immediately, Wang Minmin grasped the first breaking point of this interview.

   After several years of silence, Liu Yifei's mentality seems to be completely different from before.

   Had a really weird...but somehow a good thing.

   "Then... can I understand that you are ready to look forward no matter whether this drama wins an award or not?"

   "I am already moving forward."

  Although she noticed that the topic was turning towards her, she still wanted to take this opportunity to express her point of view.

  After correcting Wang Minmin's statement, she continued:

   "The filming of "The Hawthorn Tree" was completed in June. After June, I have already started to move forward. So, for me, it is actually a thing of the past.

I'm looking for the next work, the next one... like "The Hawthorn", the one that allows me to complete everything that the character needs in an isolated place, and make myself into the character's appearance .

  However, it doesn't mean that I don't value "The Hawthorn Tree" any more. This drama is the painstaking effort of all of us, and I definitely hope that it can be recognized. Because...it's really a great story. "

  Before she finished speaking, Xu Xin added a sentence for her:

"These two points do not conflict. The career path of an actor is a process of continuous improvement, whether it is her, or Lin Gou...ahem, Lin Xunxin, or me as a director. What we present must be satisfying. The requirements in the current story. But the completion of a story already represents the end. Whether Liu Yifei or Lin Xunxin, they all have to embark on a new journey again. Is that what you mean?"

  Liu Yifei and Lin Juxin nodded at the same time, expressing their agreement:

   "Yes, that's what it means."

  When Wang Minmin saw him speak, he focused the topic on him again:

"What about you? I heard what Liu Yifei said. You are actually filming this movie...or in other words, you have gained a lot from the whole process from the start of the project to the completion to the present. What about Director Xu? What is your gain?"

"…ah?"

  Xu Xin was stunned.

  What...what the hell?

reward?

  What did you gain?

  He felt that Wang Minmin didn't understand what he meant.

  I also feel that I don’t understand what the other party means...

  Why do we have to use the word harvest to describe it? It's not a monster upgrade...

  How much experience can you get by making a movie, and then use these experiences to exchange for some god-level attributes...

  Even if he has gained something, it cannot be described in words.

  The director's creative method is to interpret the story of the script based on his own cognition.

  It does not have a set of fixed procedures.

  From "Secret" to "The Wind" to this "Hawthorn Tree".

  Not to mention Xu Xin himself, even outsiders can tell that this is Xu Xin's style.

   Or his cognition of the world.

  And all the fragment extensions are also based on inspiration and aesthetic perspectives.

   But you ask him to tell you what level of inspiration he is now, and what level of aesthetics he has cultivated... How can he answer it for you?

  So, after thinking about it...

   "There is really a harvest."

  Suddenly, he thought of something and nodded vigorously:

  “If I say the biggest takeaway from this movie, for me, it’s understanding that Italian pizza doesn’t include pineapples.”

   "..."

   "..."

   "..."

   This answer confused Wang Minmin again.

what?

   Under her bewildered eyes, Xu Xin said:

   "Reporter Wang, did you know that Italian pizza doesn't include pineapples."

   "..."

   "..."

  In the speechless eyes of Liu Yifei and Lin Juxin, Xu Xin suddenly said this.

  Wang Minmin was even more confused.

   Then I heard Xu Xin say:

   "In other words, I understand what is called cultural independence and cultural inclusiveness."

   "...?"

  Looking at her staring eyes, Xu Xin shrugged:

   "Well, we came over last night..."

  After he recounted what happened at the stall in front of the University of Venice, he continued:

"Maybe it's the director's occupational disease. When I watch something, I think more. To be honest, although I was selected for the Venice Film Festival, I am very happy. But after I came here, I was in the car and looked at the factory. The information that the person handed me... is the works of this competition, looking at the works of those directors, the resumes of the actors, etc., I feel very guilty."

   Sitting up a little bit, he said seriously:

   "Don't mention anything else, I said "The Hawthorn" is no worse than "Black Swan", do you think I'm crazy?"

   "..."

  Wang Minmin seemed to understand what he meant, thought for a while, and said:

   ""Black Swan" has a lot of momentum, and has even been a hot candidate for the best actress at this year's Venice Film Festival."

   "That's right, so, while I'm happy with The Hawthorn in my heart, I'm not really cocky enough to think that Black Swan is anything like what I've made.

   This is what I thought at the time.

   To put it bluntly, I am not confident enough, or it may be because Hollywood is the pinnacle of the industry in film history, and its name makes any director have to maintain awe and pressure. Before I came here, I really didn't think about it...including now, I didn't think I would hit Hollywood, I didn't have this idea at all. "

   "..."

  Wang Minmin didn't say a word.

  Because she knew that Xu Xin hadn't finished speaking.

  “But at the owner of the food stall, after seeing him very seriously tell me that he would give me an authentic Italian Margherita pizza, I immediately understood the truth.

   You see, pizza is Italian, right? Native Italians don’t add pineapple or any bells and whistles. Just flatbread, tomato sauce, basil, olive oil and cheese. This is their food culture that has been passed down to the present day.

   And pizza has gone to other places, whether it is in the United States or in other countries, it has been improved according to the taste of the local people, and it has become a more... international food.

  Even I thought pizza with pineapple was a common thing at first.

  But I saw the persistence of the stall owner.

   also understood the persistence of the Italians. It turns out that pizza doesn't need to add pineapple or those weird things, and it's also very delicious. "

   As he spoke, he made a movement of grabbing the air with both hands:

"And you move the pizza to the movie? The pizza sold in Italy in a year is definitely not as many as Pizza Hut in China. Pizza has gone from here to the world. There are so many improved versions, but Italians still insist on the most traditional pizza. How. Why? I think it's at the root of their culture.

  We put this root culture on the film, let’s not discuss the origin of the film, we simply divide it by language and culture, we belong to the Chinese film market, right?

  Foreign films and Hollywood blockbusters were brought in, and we saw advanced industrial culture and works of art.

   But we are not Hollywood, we are Chinese films.

  Hollywood movies are really great, but what we make are Chinese movies.

  So, from this matter, the point that really inspires me is this. "

  Although at first glance, the big guy thought it was ridiculous when he said "Pizza doesn't put pineapple".

But as Xu Xin slowly explained why he gave this example, and helped everyone present to nest into the director's perspective a little bit, what he wanted to say...or words, examples, and ideas in his thoughts, It became clear little by little.

   And his explanation became more and more straightforward:

   “Hollywood, Pizza Hut. Pizza with pineapple, durian, anything weird, it’s delicious.

   But the traditional pizza that the Italians insist on is not bad either.

   This is a cultural issue.

  Pizza with pineapple, that is cultural inclusiveness.

  The Italians insist on the traditional Margherita pizza, which is the independence of culture.

  You have to ask me what I learned in the movie "The Hawthorn Tree"... Even if I learned it, I can't tell you clearly. Because the job of director is not a product of industry, it is a very idealistic personal perspective.

  Everyone looks at things from different perspectives, some can empathize with others, but others are completely different.

  My improvement cannot be described in a quantitative way.

  And what I want to express when I tell you today is that I learned the independence of culture at this food stall.

   It doesn't really matter whether "The Hawthorn" wins an award. The important thing is that I shoot Chinese-language movies.

   To fight against the outside world, we must first settle down inside.

  For me, it doesn’t really matter whether I can win awards at foreign film festivals or what kind of achievements I can achieve.

  The most important thing is that I understand that Chinese films are the root of our cultural independence!

  It taught me not to go blindly with Hollywood, or to win international awards, to make some movies that do not conform to our own three views, but can cater to certain values.

  What we make are Chinese-language films, and what we contribute to the world film industry is also the art of Chinese-language films.

  What I want you to see is our culture, our actors, our movie themes, and...our humanistic spirit.

   This is the most essential thing that promotes the prosperity and colorfulness of world film culture.

  Italians are still adhering to the tradition when pizza with pineapple has gone global.

   This is not conservative, but respect for one's own culture.

   I think… at least personally, my films should be as well.

  I was born in Chinese films, so I should be rooted here. Present our culture to the world, not follow the crowd.

I think…"

   Speaking of this, amidst the silence of everyone, he nodded firmly:

   "This is my greatest achievement."

   "..."

   "..."

   "..."

   There was silence.

  Let’s not talk about Wang Minmin, even the cameraman, the radio, assistants including Su Meng, and Liu Xiaoli who was listening beside her...

  Everyone was silenced by the meaning of Xu Xin's words.

  As Wang Minmin, who felt the most intuitively, she knew that Xu Xin was right.

   Moreover, this answer is really the most sober, straightforward, and profound speech she has ever heard in her career.

  After these words came out, she knew...

  No matter what happened in the subsequent interview today, it was just a foil to this deafening summary of cultural roots.

   is destined to be the icing on the cake.

  In all honesty, these words are really worth a thousand dollars to those domestic filmmakers!

   It is an inspiration that can make everyone see the sun!

   Just this passage alone made her interview worthwhile today!

But…

  While this recognition appeared in her heart, she couldn't help showing a strange look in her eyes.

   Crooked building...

   Or the **** are you crooked.

  How did you raise the topic to this level from a piece of pizza?

   Be good.

   In other words, the soul of a movie is really the director.

  You people...

  It's really different from others.

  (end of this chapter)