Chapter 541 540 "Raise the Red Lantern"
Oh, this is the filming of "Raise the Red Lantern".
Fang Minghua sighed in his heart, but the expression on his face did not change.
He looked at it, returned the magazine to Zhang Yimou, and said:
"I reviewed this novel when I was the editor-in-chief. It is a very excellent work."
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"Yes, I have a lot of ideas after reading it." Zhang Yimou took over the words: "I am here today to ask you to do two things."
"You say."
"Can you do it? Help me contact this author named Su Tong. I heard from President Bai that you are very familiar with him. Can you help me adapt it into a script? The script you wrote is very suitable to my liking. "
Fang Minghua. Already guessing that Zhang Yimou came to him for this matter, he readily agreed.
"No problem, I will contact Su Tong right away. As for when do you want the script?"
"Of course, the sooner the better."
Fang Minghua pondered for a moment and said, "Well, the novel I have will be finished next week, so I will write the script for you in about a week. That’s enough.”
If someone says to write one script a week, Zhang Yimou will be very doubtful about the quality of the script.
But when it came out of Fang Minghua’s mouth, it was different.
“Thank you.” Zhang Yimou said quickly.
"We are all friends, why are you so polite?" Fang Minghua said, took out a small notebook from the drawer and found Su Tong's phone number.
Nanjing, Hongwu North Road.
Su Tong lit a cigarette and looked at the sycamore tree outside the window in a daze.
There are so many plane trees in Nanjing that they are all over the streets.
He has now resigned as editor of "Zhongshan" magazine and has become a professional writer for the Jiangsu Provincial Writers Association, living a very free life.
He just came back from Yanjing a few days ago.
At the end of the year before last, he was invited to participate in the third Youth Entrepreneurship Conference held in Yanjing and met a group of literary friends. After the conference, he was not in a hurry to return to Nanjing; I stayed for a few days and visited teachers from Yan Normal University and some of my friends.
I met Wang Shuo and Ma Weidu through friends and joined their so-called Haima Studio.
Although most of the people in the creative studio are writers, such as Wang Shuo, Mo Yan, Liu Zhenyun, etc. whom I know, it is not about literature, but more of a chat.
Yanjing people are called "Kan", and they can talk about a TV drama script while talking.
As a southerner, Su Tong was not used to this method. Of course, he joined to earn some royalties - if he "talked" about a script and sold it, everyone would share some money.
After returning from the last gathering in Yanjing, Su Tong decided to quit.
Why did Haima Studio become a small group and got into trouble with Fang Minghua?
He doesn't want this.
There is another very important reason.
The "Stories of the Editorial Department" that several people talked about last time was quite good. I have been an editor myself and I understand it. It describes the joys, sorrows, sorrows and joys of the editors, which is very interesting.
The script I read this time is called "Loving You Without Negotiation".
The rough content of the script is that Zhou Hua, a young actor from the theater, suddenly suffered from nephritis when he was about to marry Fang Bo. The wedding was postponed and his career was interrupted. During the treatment process, she met the taxi driver Gao Qiang, and was attracted to him, which triggered a series of stories.
After hearing the summary of this story, Su Tong felt that it was too bloody.
He couldn't figure out why Wang Shuo came up with such a theme?
Of course, except for him and Mo Yan, everyone here is either from Yanjing or works in Yanjing, and Mo Yan is now studying at Yanjing Normal University, so he is the only outsider.
It’s hard to say anything when people speak softly.
But he can quit.
Before leaving, he went to Yan Normal University to talk to Mo Yan and expressed his thoughts. Mo Yan also felt that it was not interesting and wanted to quit, but was ridiculed by his dormitory roommate Yu Hua. "I've told you before, we and Wang Shuo are not the same people! The things they do are not popular, but I despise them!"
"They are fighting Minghua, I think they are a little worse!"
Back in Nanjing, he has resumed his peaceful life. He is now composing a short story:
"My Cotton" "My Homeland" is about a young man who escaped from famine and left his flooded hometown. His hometown grew cotton for a living, and the floods turned the cotton fields into a body of water, so he escaped from famine.
At this moment, the phone on the TV cabinet rang, and he returned to the living room and picked up the phone.
"Su Tong, I am Minghua."
"Teacher Minghua, hello." Su Tong had always been very polite to Fang Minghua, not as casual as Yu Hua.
"There is such a thing. Zhang Yimou, the director who made "Red Sorghum", fell in love with the article "Wives and Concubines" you wrote and wanted to make it into a movie, so I want to talk to you about purchasing it. Are you willing to adapt it into a film and television rights?"
"Yes!" Su Tong was overjoyed.
Of course it is a great joy to be adapted into a movie by Zhang Yimou, who is currently in the limelight!
Not to mention getting a copyright fee, more importantly, you can expand the influence of your works through movies.
Simply kill two birds with one stone!
“Since you agree, then Zhang Yimou is going to make a special trip to Nanjing to discuss the copyright matter with you in person.”
“Okay, I’m usually at home, and I’ll tell you my address. "
"Wait a minute, I'll take a piece of paper and write it down."
After the phone call, Fang Minghua handed the note with the address to Zhang Yimou.
"He agreed. You go and discuss it in detail with him. This is his home address."
"Okay, thank you. I will leave for Nanjing in two days."
The two of them went to Nanjing again. After chatting for a while, Zhang Yimou was about to say goodbye and leave. Fang Minghua suddenly asked casually: "Yimou, is this movie going to be invested by Xiying Film Studio?"
Unexpectedly, Zhang Yimou shook his head: "I don't plan to find the studio. , even if you ask, Director Liu probably won’t agree.”
“Why?” Fang Minghua was a little surprised.
Historically, "Raise the Red Lantern" was not invested by West Film Studio?
He really doesn’t know this yet.
Zhang Yimou sighed and told the whole story.
It turns out that the problem also lies in the last movie he made, "Ju Dou".
Because the scale of the film was too large, it failed to pass the review by the superior department, and it could not be staged in China without being issued a dragon label.
Although it has achieved considerable box office records overseas, the main leaders of Xi Film Studio were scolded by superior department leaders for this matter, which made Director Liu of Xi Film Studio very unhappy.
This will affect your career.
So Director Liu heard that Zhang Yimou was going to make this kind of story that reflected the ethics of feudal society, and he said on the spot:
"I don't care if you film it, but I don't want Xi Film Studio to invest in it." Share the money!”
The implication is that it is not the work of our West Film Studio, and whether it is good or bad has nothing to do with me.
Zhang Yimou is also adamant:
You have the final say whether to pay or not, but I have the final say whether to film or not!
After hearing this, Fang Minghua said oh, and then spoke.
"In this case, when my wife comes back, I will ask her if she is willing to invest in Shengshi Film and Television?"
"Great, Mr. Song and I will be filming "The Ordinary World" It was a pleasure to cooperate," Zhang Yimou said quickly.
Of course it was enjoyable.
You went over budget on the TV series, but my wife immediately increased the investment without saying a word. She also said that as long as a good film can be made, we can invest as much as needed!
It’s hard to find a boss like this with a lantern, right?
(End of this chapter)