Chinese Entertainment 2017: Starting from the Top Writers

Chapter 353 The boy's first exposure at Beijing Film Academy
"Okay, now that we've finished greeting each other, let's get down to business."

"Since Teacher Xu asked me to talk to you about the audio-visual language of movies today, I will use the example of the teenager I just filmed as an example, and combine my actual application to tell you what the audio-visual language of movies is."

Lin Li stood at the podium, looking at the expectant faces inside and outside the classroom with a smile, and began to get to the point.

After Xu Haofeng asked the question, he calmed down and thought that this was also a good opportunity to promote the teenager. Just treat it as a warm-up. He couldn't be tricked in vain.

As soon as Lin Li finished speaking, there was a burst of noisy discussions at the scene. Xu Haofeng also raised his eyebrows and glanced at Lin Li thoughtfully.

This teacher Nanxun really won't suffer any loss!
"Did I hear correctly? Teacher Nanxun wants to talk to us about youth?"

"But is it okay to spoil the plot in advance like this?"

"Probably not. We were just talking about some ideas during the shoot."

"I'm so looking forward to it! Today's class is really worth it!"

There was a lot of discussion in the classroom, and many people subconsciously sat up straight and stared at Lin Li on the stage intently.

"Don't get excited yet. I will give you a detailed analysis of the audio-visual language used in the film Better Days."

"I hope everyone will keep quiet while I explain. If you have any questions, please wait until I finish talking before asking them, okay?"

Lin Li held up the microphone and looked at the students in the audience and made a request. His voice was clear and gentle, but it gave people a sense of irresistibility.

"Ok!"

There was another unanimous response.

"Thank you."

Lin Li's eyebrows curved slightly, and he thanked him in a gentle voice.

"Regarding the boy, I believe many of you have read the original novel. I will not elaborate on his background story."

"Today I will talk about what kind of audio-visual language I used to express it in this film, and how I achieved it."

“First of all, the audio-visual language I use is realistic.”

Lin Li's clear voice echoed clearly throughout the classroom through the microphone and the loudspeaker. When hearing his last sentence, both Xu Haofeng and the students inside and outside the classroom showed expressions of curiosity or thought.

Lin Li looked at the reactions on the scene, the corners of his lips curved deeper, and he continued to speak.

“If emotional reality is the inner experience, then the reality of expression is the external form that strengthens the inner experience. I use audio-visual language to properly complete this realistic expression.”

"For example, I used a lot of close-up shots in the film, which account for a large proportion of the film. From the performance point of view, because the environment is weakened, close-ups are usually used to amplify the character's expression and inner feelings. However, the accumulation of a large number of close-ups will make the viewer feel visually depressed and dull."

“I believe that after the film is released, many viewers will feel that it is dull and depressing.”

"The reason for this is not only because of the social issues reflected in the subject matter, but also because I used a lot of close-up shots in the audio-visual performance, using depressing expressions to match the depressing subject matter, which led to everyone having similar feelings after watching it."

"Also, I used handheld photography during the filming process, which is similar to the shooting technique of documentaries. It has a strong sense of presence and gives the viewer a feeling of shaking from time to time, similar to a voyeuristic angle."

“I also spent a lot of time thinking about the color tone.”

"For example, when I photographed Chen Nian on campus or in other places, the tones I used were always colder, especially against the blue and white uniforms on campus, which made even the faces of people look pale."

“When I photographed Chen Nian and Xiao Bei together, I always used warmer tones.”

"The incandescent light in Xiaobei's house emits yellow light, the orange light from the lamp opposite shines through the goldfish bowl onto his face when he is looking at the goldfish, and the warm-colored streets at the end of the film."

"Most of the plots in our film take place at night. From the perspective of the screen, there are mostly shadows and dark areas, giving people a depressing feeling like a haze."

"My approach to color grading is to lower the exposure and slightly compress the dark shadows."

“When the male and female protagonists are in the same frame, warm colors are dominant, with highlights in yellow and shadows in blue-green, creating a gloomy atmosphere.”

“Separate the colors and add color to the highlights and shadows separately.”

“Thus, the bright but depressing campus and the marginal but warm dark corners of society became the main narrative space of the film, giving the film a sense of reality from the inside out, from emotion to performance.”

"These are my thoughts on the audio-visual language used in the film Youth. I have finished. You can digest them and then ask questions."

Lin Li's clear and steady voice echoed in the classroom. He paced back and forth on the podium with one hand in his pocket and the other holding the microphone, looking relaxed and at ease.

What he said enlightened many students from the directing and photography departments. They wrote and drew on their notebooks and nodded continuously.

The students from the Performance Department and other departments seemed to understand but not quite. They just felt that what Lin Li said was very professional and a little profound. In short, he seemed very impressive.

Zhou Ye and Zhang Jingyi both stared at Lin Li on the stage with the same sparkling eyes, their pupils twinkled with stars, their faces flushed slightly, their expressions became soft and relaxed, and their breathing became slightly rapid.

When Lin Li's eyes occasionally swept over them, his heart seemed to skip a beat.

The boys in the classroom clearly felt that the girls' eyes around them were lighting up, glowing.

When Lin Li announced the end of his speech, warm applause broke out inside and outside the classroom, which lasted for a long time. Lin Li, with a faint smile on his face, glanced at the excited students of Beijing Film Academy on the stage and nodded slightly in response.

When his eyes swept to Zhang Jingyi's little face on the windowsill, his gaze paused, and then he showed her a happy smile from the bottom of his heart, and the expression on his face softened.

Zhang Jingyi was stunned for a moment, then she came to her senses and immediately responded with an even brighter smile, with the corners of her mouth wide open, her smile bright and generous.

Lin Li recalled an evaluation of her by the media of the original time and space, saying that she was the only one among the 95 flowers who looked particularly beautiful when she opened her mouth wide and laughed.

He felt that the media's evaluation was absolutely correct. Not only was she bright, but she also had a kind of cuteness and innocence, which was very beautiful.

Ok?
Zhou Ye, who had been observing Lin Li's movements, noticed Lin Li's action, followed his gaze, and saw Zhang Jingyi's smiling face at a glance!
The smile on Zhou Ye's face faded, and a layer of frost instantly covered his face, as if he was keeping strangers away.

It's her again, why is she everywhere!
Zhou Ye felt that his mood was not good again. Originally, Lin Li came to Beijing Film Academy because she said she missed him.

As a result, the surprise that belonged to her alone turned into a surprise for everyone. This was nothing in itself, as she also liked to see Lin Li's high-spirited and radiant look.

But the prerequisite is that Zhang Jingyi does not appear!
Zhou Ye was not worried that the girls in the classroom would pose any threat to her, but Lin Li treated Zhang Jingyi differently.

Moreover, she met Lin Li earlier than herself!
"Teacher Nanxun, they say seeing is believing. Today, I, Old Xu, have learned a lot."

"To be honest, although I haven't seen the finished film yet, your description has already filled me with anticipation for your new work."

"Also, your description of the color tone gave me an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Perhaps you borrowed some of the ideas of director Zhang Yimou?"

Xu Zhifeng looked a little excited, staring at Lin Li in front of him with shining eyes. He first expressed his admiration, and then asked Lin Li questions.

"When we hold the premiere of Young You, we will definitely send an invitation to Teacher Xu. As for the color, yes, we did borrow some ideas from Director Zhang."

Lin Li raised his eyebrows and smiled at Xu Haofeng, saying without any hesitation.

When it comes to color and tone, no one in China can match Zhang Yimou, and the title of color master is not just for nothing.

He did borrow some of his use of colors, but of course it was more of his own understanding, and he made adjustments based on the overall atmosphere of the film.

"Okay, okay, I will definitely go there in person to watch it. I am looking forward to it."

There was undisguised excitement in Xu Haofeng's words.

"no problem."

Lin Li smiled and assured him.

Then he turned to face the students and raised the microphone with curiosity.

"Haven't you finished digesting it yet? Don't you have any questions?"

Hundreds of students inside and outside the classroom looked at each other and fell into a brief silence. No one spoke.

"Um... Teacher Nanxun, I want to ask a question."

After about a minute of silence, a boy wearing silver-rimmed glasses who was very close to the podium stood up and raised his hand shyly.

"Please speak up, classmate. Don't be shy. We are not dating."

Lin Li smiled gently and gestured to the boy with his hands spread out.

"Thank you, Mr. Nanxun. This is what I mean. I am a student in the 16 directing department. After listening to your analysis of the use of audio-visual language in the film Youth, I began to doubt myself."

"I believe that the reason why everyone was silent just now is the same. It's because they feel that what they have learned seems too superficial and they can't fully understand what you mean. So even if they want to ask questions, they don't know how to start."

"In short, we understand what you said when you take them apart separately, but it is difficult for us to understand when you put them together like you did."

"I think this is due to our lack of practical experience. We should be able to slowly connect what you said, so I want to ask you another question."

The boy was a little shy at first, but then his voice became more and more fluent, and he was probably a top student.

"What's the problem? Please tell me."

Lin Li was also somewhat curious about what he wanted to ask.

"That's right. What I want to ask Mr. Nanxun is, in your opinion, what is the most important core of a movie?"

The boy's expression was still shy, but his question was not polite at all, which made Lin Li raise his eyebrows subconsciously.

This issue has always been a hotly debated and controversial topic in the film industry.

It also involves some issues of directors' shooting styles and concepts. Domestic directors have often argued openly or covertly about this issue.

The people present were all students of Beijing Film Academy. They knew the significance of this question and looked at Lin Li with curiosity, expecting his answer.

Amidst everyone's anticipation, Lin Li slowly raised the microphone.

(End of this chapter)