Chapter 676 Journey to the East
"The changes here are quite big. I came here a few years ago and it almost changed."
After leaving Beijing International Airport and getting into the car arranged by Lao Tian to pick him up, little Gilbert looked at the changes on both sides of the street and sighed.
It was obviously the first time for Ivanka to come to China, and she curiously looked at this country and city that seemed strange to her.
"Little Gilbert, did you come to China early?" Ivanka asked.
"Yes," little Gilbert nodded and said, "In 1994, I came to China for the first time. Compared with now, there have been earth-shaking changes.
I remember that in 1994, I saw young girls on the streets of Beijing. They were generally dressed very conservatively and were not very fashion-conscious.
In other words, their fashion has not kept up with the international trend.
But look now, the girls on both sides of the street are bold, enthusiastic, lively, and exquisitely dressed. This proves that this country is becoming more open and inclusive.
You know, a place that doesn’t have enough to eat will not pursue fashion. ”
A diplomat who came to pick up little Gilbert said with a smile: "Beijing is an international metropolis. We have also arranged your itinerary in the past few days. Minister Tian also invited you to climb the Badaling Great Wall together."
"Really?" Little Gilbert raised his eyebrows and said, "Then I'm looking forward to it, especially the roast duck and hot-boiled mutton, which I haven't eaten in a long time.
But there is one thing that I firmly refuse. ”
The diplomat asked: "What is it?"
"Bean juice, I never want to drink this thing again."
The diplomat was stunned for a moment, then laughed. It can be known from Douzhi that little Gilbert at least knows the city of Beijing, which is much better than the average foreigner.
No wonder Minister Tian said that little Gilbert is a China expert. This is true!
In fact, after getting off the plane, little Gilbert immediately received flower baskets from the children, as well as live video reports from CCTV reporters.
The car took little Gilbert and his entourage to the Capital Hotel to rest, and we would discuss all the serious business the next day.
After flying across the Pacific Ocean to the capital, and with jet lag, little Gilbert also felt a little tired. After briefly handling some emails with Ivanka, I fell asleep.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, little Gilbert met Minister Tian.
In a conference room of the Beijing Hotel, the two sides held talks, and TV reporters reported simultaneously.
Lao Tian first welcomed little Gilbert to China and said that China has always remembered little Gilbert's help to China and was an international friend.
Little Gilbert said that he was very happy to see his old friends. Secondly, he had not been here for several years and was surprised by the great changes that had taken place in the capital.
Little Gilbert said that he admired the people of this land who are using their hard work and wisdom to build the country, and wished success for the Olympic Games next year.
Afterwards, Lao Tian officially awarded Gilbert a letter of appointment as an Olympic art consultant. Little Gilbert gave a gift, an experimental short film he shot when he was a student at the University of Southern California.
In fact, what I originally wanted to give was the zodiac sheep head that came from Prince Charles, but that one was too high-profile, so I handed it over privately.
In the syndicated news that night, Little Gilbert was given a full two minutes and thirteen seconds of coverage, which was full of cards.
At this time, China's Internet development was also quite good. The rapid popularity of Internet cafes made everyone able to access the Internet. The fact that little Gilbert came to China immediately became a hot event on the Chinese Internet.
For these Chinese movie fans, whether there is an opportunity to get in touch with little Gilbert is a question. But this time little Gilbert is not here to promote his work, but to do something big.
On the third day, a meeting of the Olympic preparatory group was held. As an artistic consultant, Little Gilbert attended the meeting and also met Zhang, the director of the Olympic opening ceremony.
Throughout the meeting, little Gilbert did not speak much, mainly listening and speaking.
Of course, he is a consultant after all. The leader of the preparatory group asked little Gilbert to say a few words: "Mr. Landrini, if you have any ideas, you can put them forward and you can speak freely."
Little Gilbert did not refuse and said directly: "I have listened to some of everyone's suggestions and plans, and they are all good. I don't know much about other aspects, after all, I am not an expert.
But I think the two points that the Olympic Games must first display are image and sportsmanship. ”
The team leader was interested: "Please tell me in detail and give valuable advice to our preparatory team."
"Then I'm not welcome," said little Gilbert: "You must also know that for more than a hundred years, Western society has always had a prejudice against this place.
I have met many friends who know that I have been here, and they will ask me, are the people here still dressed in rags? Are you sallow and thin? Is it a backward primitive social form?
When I told them that it was not the case and that this was actually a modern country with good development, their general reaction was disbelief.
Therefore, the Olympic Games is a very important platform. It is a good opportunity to show China’s business card to the world. ”
After taking a sip of water, little Gilbert said: "Everyone knows the origin of the Olympic Games, so I won't go into details. What I want to talk about is the spirit of sports.
This is very important. Your predecessors have a saying that the body is the capital of revolution. He also wrote articles about sports and encouraged everyone to keep fit.
So, the Olympics is a good opportunity.
Not to mention adults, at least children should receive physical education, keep fit, and go to basketball courts and football fields more often. It should not be limited to the classroom, but never feel the sunshine on the playground. ”
If this was said by an insider, he would be considered ignorant and even criticized. But little Gilbert said this, although it was a bit exaggerated, but there was nothing wrong with it.
After all, little Gilbert was invited here and he is an international friend. If you are not happy even if I give you some advice, how will others view you?
The leader of the preparatory team accepted it humbly. Whether it can be done is another matter.
After the big meeting, little Gilbert chatted with the National Preceptor Zhang again.
As long as this opening ceremony is successful, national teacher Zhang will become the first person in the Chinese film director world. To be honest, the national teacher Zhang Meimei is still very online, but his story-telling ability is really weak.
Without a good script, the movies made by Guoshi seem to be just like that.
But there is no denying his influence in the Chinese film industry, and the same goes for choosing him to be the director of the Olympic opening ceremony.
Regarding the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, little Gilbert’s suggestion is: “I think we should try our best to reflect Chinese characteristic culture. For example, Chinese characters and Hanfu.
You can also incorporate some local art. I know that many places in China have their own local art, which can be reasonably arranged into the opening ceremony.
At the same time, it should also reflect the inclusiveness and openness of the Olympic Games and invite some international superstars. If you need Michael Jackson, I can contact him. ”
Michael Jackson owes himself a lot of favors, and it is not difficult to invite him to appear on the Olympic stage.
Imagine when Michael Jackson appeared singing "Healtheworld" or "Wearetheworld", this scene would be exciting enough.
(End of chapter)