Chapter 754 It’s hard to find young Chinese actors
“Not yet.” Wu Tianmin put down his chopsticks and looked at Fang Minghua:
“You also know that adult actors are easy to find but young actors are difficult to find. Especially for this movie, which has a ten-year-old child as the protagonist, it requires not one but several, and it takes time to find the right one.”
“Actually, the main difficulty lies in the role of Ruifang. It is even more difficult for a Chinese girl." Zhang Yimou took over and continued:
"The US intends to adjust the script and replace the Chinese girl with an English and American girl, so that it will be less difficult."
"Yes, Mr. Michael Barnason discussed this issue with me in private." Wu Tianmin picked up the chopsticks and said while picking up the meat: "But I didn't let go. Are you going to change the script before you find it?!"
Fang Minghua knows that the filmmaking mechanism in Hollywood is different from that in mainland China. It adopts a producer-centered system. The producer has great power and has control over the film over the director.
The producer controls the entire production process: arranging the budget for funds, negotiating and signing contracts with the creative staff, approving the production budget, and supervising the completion of the production of the film, the final profit distribution after sales, etc., but the director has Secondly location.
“After we sign the contract with the American side tomorrow, we will immediately start preparations for the filming, and we will definitely discuss this issue.” Wu Tianmin finally said.
It was almost seven o'clock after finishing the hot pot. Originally, everyone wanted to go shopping again, but Wu Tianmin was worried about the train back to Burbank, so he urged everyone to go back quickly.
"Why are you so anxious? You have to stay here for several months anyway, so you have time to hang out!"
The next morning, the two parties held a brief signing ceremony in the conference room on the 16th floor of the Warner Bros. headquarters building. , Tony, the vice president of Warner Bros. Pictures, and Wu Tianmin, the deputy general manager of Shengshi Film and Television, respectively signed their names on the contract on behalf of both parties, and warm applause broke out in the conference room.
Fang Minghua was also invited to attend the signing ceremony as the screenwriter of this film.
After the brief signing ceremony, the next step is to get into the specific work of shooting, which mainly involves discussions between the producers and directors of both parties, as well as Fang Minghua, who mainly involves some explanations and explanations about the script.
Of course there is also a Chinese translator.
"This movie involves many magical world scenes, including schools, castles, etc. We decided to use the following three methods to solve the problem." The speaker was producer Michael Barnason, a man wearing glasses and wearing slightly curly black hair. A middle-aged man with hair.
“The first is to use miniature models, and the use of architectural principles and illusions can completely achieve our goals.”
“The second is to use Computer Graphics, or CG for short, which has been widely used in Hollywood. "
Michael Barnathan said, looking at the three Chinese people.
These things have become commonplace in Hollywood, mainly for Chinese colleagues.
Wu Tianmin knew English, and the translation was mainly for Zhang Yimou. Both of them listened carefully.
“The third is live shooting, which is the most commonly used method. Gothic-style buildings like those described in the script can also be found in the real world, such as Gloucester Cathedral and Durham Cathedral in England. It is a better shooting location. Of course, we will further confirm according to the script, not only to ensure authenticity but also to consider the shooting cost."
Both Zhang Yimou and Wu Tianmin nodded frequently.
As a film with a strong European and American style, these preliminary preparations are mainly done by the American side.
"The specific model and post-production CG are produced by the team's professionals. We only need to test the production effect. Okay, gentlemen, let's discuss a more urgent matter now, which is to choose the appropriate Actor," Michael Barnathan said at last. "Everyone, I recommend a suitable young actor who can play the role of Harry Potter. His name is Haley Joel Osment," Spielberg said immediately.
"Haley Joel Osment? Is he the actor who played Forrest Gump as a child in the movie "Forrest Gump"?" Michael Banathan asked.
"Yes, that's him. His performance in the film is eye-catching. This is his information."
After speaking, he took out several pieces of information from his briefcase and distributed them. To everyone.
Fang Minghua took it and saw that it was all in English:
Haley Joel Osment was born on April 10, 1988 in Los Angeles, California, USA. In 1992, he played the great-grandson of Edward Asner in the TV series "Thunder Alley". In 1994, he participated in his first film "Forrest Gump" and won the Young Star Award for Best Performance and the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Film Category under the age of ten for this film."
In According to the information, Spielberg rated him as: average Child actors all rely on being well-behaved to please the audience, but Haley Joel Osment does not rely on his feelings for the character and his sincerity.
It seems to be highly rated.
“Now, the focus is still on the role of Ruifang in the script. Spielberg continued: "Chinese child actors are hard to find. As far as I know, there are none in the United States." "
"There is no need to have child actors. You can also let little girls of this age group with acting talent audition. I have used this method in several domestic films. "Zhang Yimou, who had been silent until now, spoke.
Naturally, he was still speaking in Chinese, and the translator next to him immediately translated it into English.
Spielberg glanced at this somewhat silent middle-aged man.
Although he looked down upon his Chinese counterparts, this man was an exception.
He had to give some respect to this unattractive man who looked like the legendary Chinese Terracotta Warriors.
He is the best director in China, and he won the grand prize easily!
"Mr. Zhang, don't forget, this is in the United States. How can there be any suitable Chinese girls with acting talent?!" Spielberg deliberately emphasized the word "Chinese".
“We can go back to China to look for him!” Zhang Yimou said.
“OK, I don’t deny that there is such a girl in your country, but does she know English? Can she deeply understand this script with a strong British and American style and the role of Ruifang? Also, and the rest Communication among several actors is also a big problem.”
Zhang Yimou was silent. This is indeed a problem.
It’s okay for adults, just a child.
"Let's do this, Mr. Michael Barnason and Spielberg." Wu Tianmin spoke. He spoke English very fluently but his pronunciation was a bit awkward: "You are searching in the United States. Aren't we going back to China for the Spring Festival soon? We will also go back to search. , try to meet the script requirements as much as possible."
"OK! We will also advertise for qualified young actors to audition, but I remind Mr. Wu and Mr. Zhang that the time is limited if you look for them in February. If we don’t find a suitable Chinese girl, we will modify the script and replace the role of Ruifang with an English and American girl!
Michael Barnason finally said
(End of this chapter)