New Age Artists

Chapter 190 Theme of Red Cliff: A great power has no right to surrender (33)

When writing the script for "Red Cliff", Shen Santong did not look for any so-called big-name screenwriter.

His requirements for the plot of "Red Cliff" were in line with historical facts.

That is to say, it is based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

For the original part, I didn’t mess around with it myself, but used "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

The best screenwriter is Luo Guanzhong, the author of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

What Shen Santong wants to do is to give a modern interpretation of the history of the Battle of Chibi.

Therefore, the screenwriter team of "Red Cliff" are basically born in the 80s.

A number of experts serve as an advisory team to provide consulting assistance on the history, economy, culture, and life of the Three Kingdoms period.

Even though he was born in the 80s, perhaps because of his liberal arts major, Shen Santong was still not satisfied with the historical perspective of the first draft of the script.

Shen Santong gave lectures to the screenwriter team.

"China's history can be described as a 'little girl who can be dressed up by anyone', written by the victors, and this statement is correct in a literal sense."

"But if it is used in a derogatory sense to deconstruct Chinese history, then it is a big mistake."

"I have said before that my views on the formation of our history and culture are both universal and specific."

“The premise is truth.”

"Our history is 'little girls who can be dressed up by anyone', first of all little girls."

"For example, the evaluation of 'Wang Anshi's Reform' was extremely negative before the end of the Qing Dynasty."

"But in the late Qing Dynasty, in order to reform, some people believed that negative changes were better than no changes, so the significance of "Wang Anshi's Reforms" was elevated."

"Now, in the service of reform and opening up, because of practical needs, we also maintain a high evaluation of Wang Anshi's Reform."

Shen Santong concluded: "Different periods have different views on 'Wang Anshi's Reforms'."

"But what remains unchanged is the fact that 'Wang Anshi's reforms' took place."

"It is 'Wang Anshi's Reform', not 'Zhang Anshi' or 'Li Anshi'; it is 'reform', not 'fixing the law'; it is 'reform', not 'changing people'."

The screenwriters present laughed.

Shen Santong didn't laugh, and continued: "Let me give you a few more examples for you to understand."

"Find out hundreds of thousands of words of works by those philosophers, scientists, and writers of the Renaissance."

“How did these words survive?”

"A civilization leaves traces. Look at our archaeological sites in various places, and you will find details of their life, reproduction and war."

"Are those works authentic?"

Shen Santong gave another example: "The Renaissance is a long time ago, let's talk about something more recent."

“Is the United States number one in technology?”

"Many people think so, but in fact the US's own education is very bad. It just attracts talents from all over the world."

“Why is it that when we talk about the United States, we think of it as high-tech?”

"Because it is the head of the West, all honors in the West belong to it first."

"In fact, the countries along the Mediterranean coast were the main contributors to the origin of modern science."

“Italy has more legitimacy in its technological claims than the United States, but because it is not strong now, it has lost part of that concept.”

"Da Mao has also made many contributions to modern science, including chemistry, mathematics, and the periodic table."

"But Da Mao is a pariah in Western circles, so honor has nothing to do with it."

"Like the International Space Station, the main body is made of Russian materials, and the United States only made some accessories."

"But from all kinds of reports, academics, and film and television works, you would think that the United States is the biggest contributor."

“We should have even the claims of modern science.”

"Our accumulated culture, astronomy, agriculture, and all kinds of knowledge were stolen by missionaries. They were the first pot of gold for their research."

"But we have even less say than Italy and Russia under the system shaped by the United States today."

“So, we don’t have any claims about technology.”

Some screenwriters frowned.

Some people disagreed and turned their pens.

Shen Santong saw this and continued, "Let's talk about a more recent example. In our own history, how many people on the Korean Peninsula understand that the victory was won by relying on the human wave tactic?"

"Numbers are useless in the face of machine guns! But some people have shaped this concept."

"This war has been forgotten in the United States, and it is not mentioned on any public platform."

Shen Santong continued: "In the history of the past 20 years, the United States defeated the Soviet Union. Who can remember now? The United States was also shaky at that time and the situation was very bad." "In the confrontation with the Soviet Union, the United States had many embarrassing moments. Now this part of history has been revised."

"George Kennan's long telegram was written after the United States won the war. Later, he looked through the past documents and exaggerated the long telegram."

"In fact, George Kennan retired from diplomacy in 53, and his long telegram has little influence on real history."

“But the United States wants to find endorsements and fight for credit for its own victory.”

"In fact, the victory was very embarrassing, or even it could be said that the United States did not win, because its own national strength was damaged."

"In order to survive, the Anza community had to make peace with the Jews."

"In short, this part of history has been revised. It is no longer history, but has become a kind of fiction."

"This is still good, like the founding history of the United States, which has become a myth."

Shen Santong got to the point: "I say that Chinese history is a 'little girl who can be dressed up by anyone' because we acknowledge the fact that it is a 'little girl', but she is dressed differently in different periods."

"But she is still a 'little girl', and that fact won't change."

"As for the history of other countries, facts will be modified as needed, or even fabricated."

"'Young girl' can be changed to an old woman, a young woman, and some can even change gender."

"And she changed from a little girl to a kitten or a puppy, changing species."

"Or it turns into an airplane or a train, from life to matter."

Shen Santong talked about Red Cliff: "What I said is to explain that we made Red Cliff to serve the current needs."

"Another theme of Red Cliff that I want to emphasize is the specific tone of the movie."

“I summed it up in twelve words: be strong, win, and make the rules.”

"I want to reflect this tone in Red Cliff, which is also the mentality that I think citizens of a great country should have."

"A great power has no right to surrender!"

"Not to mention the big countries, any force that has the ability to compete for the world has no right to surrender!"

“When you encounter something, don’t try to avoid it. Be excited. Think of it as an opportunity. You can fight, win, and then make rules that are beneficial to you.”

“The first part of Red Cliff focuses on the preparations for the battle of Red Cliff, focusing on Shu Han, Zhao Yun and Zhuge Liang.”

"Shu Han is the weakest among the three forces, but I want to give this spirit to the Shu Han team. When you have the ability to compete for the world, willingness is no longer important."

"I don't want the Zhou Yu in the novel, I want the Zhou Yu in real history!"

"I want him to be smart and magnanimous, and to destroy the enemy's sails and masts in the midst of laughter and conversation. It is precisely because he is a hero that Zhuge Liang can be more brilliant."

“Zhuge Liang didn’t just see the outcome of the Battle of Red Cliff, he also saw what happened after that.”

"Seeing that Dongwu would divert Cao Cao's attention, giving their Shu Han team time to develop."

"Seeing that Dongwu's subordinates were arrogant because of their victory, they were in danger of victory."

"Remember! Be strong, win, and make the rules. This is the natural way of thinking for citizens of a great country, and it should be taken for granted."

"Not just Shu Han, but also Cao Wei and Dong Wu. Each team should do their best to use all their strength for the sake of the world."

“It’s just that the position and the strength, and the team configuration, that’s why there are different performances.”

“At the same time, as a movie, this concept must be embedded in the minds of the audience.”

"A great power has no right to surrender. After we won on the Korean Peninsula, it was not us who couldn't let go, but the United States."

Shen Santong said this with a cold grin: "Let's see if there is any relevant information at the public level in the United States. There is none in newspapers, media, movies, or TV series."

"They haven't let go of the defeat, and they haven't forgotten it!"

"Then we ourselves must never forget it!"

"I forgot, my head was cut off, and then people changed history."

"This is the tone of Red Cliff. If I were to put it more simply, it can be summed up in three words: fighting is awesome!"

“Fighting is awesome!”

“Fighting is fun!”

"Fighting for your own benefit is fun. Fighting itself is fun! Fighting doesn't need to be meaningful. Fighting itself is meaningful."

Shen Santong was very dissatisfied with the first draft as it did not give him the feeling he wanted.

When forming the screenwriter team, he had already taken into account possible problems, so he did not look for so-called big names.

Keep the team as young as possible.

But even among those born in the 80s, there are some people who cannot accept his historical views.

(End of this chapter)