1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 204: The Sancha Lane Robbery

"Come in, come in!"

Jiang Xian invited Lin Xinghan and others in, and made tea in a few guest-handled mugs.

"It's not easy for you to make TV series. Last year, CCTV filmed the TV series There Is a Young Man. I am an old friend of Zhang Jie, the author of the novel. I have heard about how difficult it was to film that TV series."

The entire film "There is a Youth" was made with only a few hundred yuan. The director of this TV show, Cai Xiaoqing, is one of the several great directors in Lin Xinghan's hands. She also filmed "Wasted Years", "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Princess Wencheng".
Lin Xinghan was somewhat moved by what he heard, but also looked embarrassed, “I’m not afraid of you making fun of me, but even though we are in the TV drama business, we actually didn’t even know what a TV drama was before.

Last year, our radio and television delegation visited the BBC in the UK. They did a great job with their TV series. BBC TV series are not only broadcast in the UK, but also distributed all over the world. It was through this study that we learned what TV series and TV series are.

So when I came back this year, the leaders were determined to establish the brand of Chinese TV series and were determined to develop the TV series industry.”

Jiang Xian picked up a chair and sat down. "Please tell me your request first. What are your ideas?"

Lin Xinghan said sincerely, "Let me be clear with you first. We don't have much funding to approve, so we're still planning to shoot a single episode and try to shoot on location. This way, not only will the cost be low, but 'A Young Man' has already taken this path, and we have their shooting experience to guide us."

A single-episode TV series, also called a "three-part film," is equivalent to a short story in a novel and a one-act play in a drama.

The cost is relatively low because there are usually only one to three episodes, the plot is compact, there are not many characters, there is no nonsense, the main line is pushed throughout, and the narrative is single-threaded. For example, the later British TV series "Sherlock Holmes" is a typical single-episode TV series, with three episodes in one season.

"Besides being a stand-alone drama, what other ideas do you have?"

"I'll show you a few movies you can watch. You should know that last year, the old man visited the United States and signed a lot of cultural exchange agreements. This year, CCTV introduced a movie called "The Man from Atlantis", which received very good response from the society."

"I've seen this." Jiang Xian said.

"The Man from Atlantis" is broadcast on CCTV every Thursday at 8 pm, the prime time. It is an American science fiction film that tells the story of mutants coming to the city to save people from crisis and fighting alien monsters. It is a bit similar to Aquaman. In short, it had a huge impact in China after it was broadcast. "Mike glasses", also known as frog glasses, immediately became a fashion among Chinese youth.

"In the past few days, our station has introduced another movie called "Garrison's Gorillas", but the ideology of this movie is too distorted and it is likely to breed social instability. The higher-ups have called for a halt to the show and stopped broadcasting it.

A while ago, a director in our unit wrote a script called "Eighteen Years in the Enemy Camp", which is a movie script based on "Mountain Flowers". It tells a heroic story of carrying out intelligence work behind enemy lines. I think it's pretty good."

Lin Xinghan talked about several scripts in a rambling manner, and Jiang Xian roughly understood what he wanted.

The main theme is politically correct, mixed with some reflection and scars, and it also breaks the artistic standardization of model operas and the subject matter is not outdated.

Finally, it has to be a single-episode drama, which can be filmed on location, with short content, a single narrative thread, and a plot that sticks closely to the main storyline, and can be finished in three episodes.

"I roughly know it. Let me think about it first." Jiang Xian said calmly.

Lin Xinghan also knew that he was asking for too much, and added: "Comrade Jiang Xian, this is just a simple idea of ​​mine. Please try to write in a certain direction. As long as the quality is good enough, we will definitely not let you suffer."

"Okay, I understand." Jiang Xian sent them to the stairs and turned back into the house.

Walked around twice.

What to write?

You definitely can't write about revolutionary themes. Even if you write something brilliant, it can't be as good as the eight model operas. Moreover, many of the characters in those revolutionary dramas of later generations are still alive now. If you dare to film them recklessly, you will be slapped in the face.

Historical costumes are even more difficult to shoot. The costumes alone are enough to make the crew suffer a lot. How can they prepare enough? Just like Wang Fulin’s "Eighteen Years in the Enemy Camp" this year, you can't see the full view of the protagonist, only medium and close-up shots. Why?
No clothes.

The crew borrowed military uniforms from everywhere, and finally borrowed a top but not pants, so they could only shoot medium and close-ups during filming, so that the audience could only see the upper body and not the pants.

There was another scene with eight bandits. Since there were only two pairs of trousers, they had to put the bandits wearing trousers in the foreground to block the other six people without trousers in the background.

It brings tears to my eyes to talk about these shabby conditions.

“You have to be able to shoot on location.”

If real scenes are to be used, the historical background has actually been determined, which is the few years after the reform and opening up.

The scope was narrowed down a lot in an instant. Jiang Xian took out a piece of manuscript paper and listed the TV series that were suitable for this background as follows:
"The Volleyball Girl", a Japanese drama about sports competition, caused a sensation after being introduced in the 80s.

"Blood Ties" is a Japanese drama introduced in the 80s. It is a love story about hospital substitution, incurable diseases and desperate love.

"Stars Know My Heart", a Taiwanese drama, is about family and children.

"Plain Clothes Police". Cross it out. The subject matter is sensitive and it is easy to be retaliated later.

"Blood Romance", the troublemakers, love. Cross it out, the subject matter is sensitive, the value orientation is incorrect, and the scenes are too grand.

Jiang Xian wrote one line at a time. He was not good at family and love themes. This kind of dialogue was too difficult to write and hard to grasp.

As for "The Volleyball Girl", this drama is quite good, it is the best in volleyball themes, but it is not easy to shoot because the shooting of this drama is similar to "Basketball Fire", both of which are science fiction sports and stunts.

When this drama was broadcast in China, it caused a sensation but also ruined the Chinese women's volleyball team. Fans from all over the country wrote to Lang Ping, asking her: Why don't you learn Junko Kodo's special move "Thunderbolt from a Blue Sky"? Are you getting too proud of yourself?

Lang Ping was helpless and didn't know how to explain it to the simple people.

Jiang Xian quickly made lines on a page of manuscript paper.

Among the densely packed horizontal lines, only one drama finally survived

——"The Sancha Lane Robbery", anti-espionage criminal investigation.

"Who is carrying the watermelon? And it's a black one." Zhu Lin pushed open the door, bent her legs and changed into slippers, looking at the table in surprise.

"It's still the same group of people from CCTV yesterday." Jiang Xian filled the pen with ink. There was a stack of manuscripts filled with words on the table.

It was the movie "The Robbery in Sancha Lane".

This TV series tells the story of the post-reform and opening up period. It has a single-thread narrative, with one thing leading to another, and the entire process is about tracking down the murderer. Jiang Xian just happened to write it into three episodes.

"Have you agreed to write a TV series for them?" Zhu Lin sat down next to him and took a look at the script:
It was a gloomy day, with a cold wind blowing on the streets and few people around.

Zhong Qin, wearing a gray bank uniform and carrying a dark red canvas briefcase, walked out of the savings bank door and turned into the dim and narrow Sancha Alley.

Not far away, a black muzzle of a gun protruded.

[Gunshot]
Zhongqin (falls to the ground in pain)

[Loud sound of hammering steel plates in the factory]
In the car, the middle-aged man Lei Xun (his face changed and he frowned): "Stop the car."

[Brakes squeak]
A truck drove past the car.

Not far away, Li Luan, who was panting and running towards the car, gestured and said, "Someone was shot! The money was also stolen!"

Lei Xun looked calm: "Where is the person who was shot?"

Li Luan: "It's in the alley ahead."

(Runs over)
[Footsteps, panting, groaning]
Lei Xun (squatting and checking Zhong Qin's wound): "Send her to the hospital for emergency treatment. Call the Criminal Investigation Team of the Public Security Bureau."

[The car carrying the glockenspiel speeds away]
Lei Xun (investigating the scene, squatting to pick up something), it's a bullet shell.

"Ok?"

Zhu Lin had never seen this before. The opening scene was a "bang" that was very eye-catching. She continued watching with great interest.

At that time, ideology had not yet reached the level of later generations. The first shot was the shooting of a savings bank clerk, which attracted a lot of attention, just as much as the first shot of climbing a mountain in "The Bad Kids" that people in later generations saw.

The criminal investigation team came over quickly, and Lei Xun introduced the basic situation to the female captain of the criminal investigation team, Gong Ping. It turned out that Zhong Qin was going to deliver cash to the branch, and the savings bank car was late. She did not listen to the dissuasion of her colleague Li Lu'an, violated the rules, and planned to take the bus directly. As a result, something happened. Zhong Qin not only lost her life, but also lost a huge sum of 30,000 yuan from the savings bank.

It seemed like an accident, but it was premeditated.

On the Criminal Investigation Team side, Gong Ping was curious about the identity of the old man Lei Xun. It turned out that Lei Xun was the "Return of the Dragon King". He was the new director who reported to the Criminal Investigation Team, and he was also the old director from more than ten years ago.

Well, isn’t this the time for reflection?

There are so many social problems that they have to be solved by the old veterans who were removed from office more than ten years ago.

The next step is to solve the case. Lei Xun believes that this is definitely not a coincidence and is full of conspiracy, so he first finds three suspects.

The logic of this drama is actually a bit far-fetched, but that's how all criminal investigations are. You can't figure it out too carefully, but the layers of reversals still look quite interesting, and it's wrapped in scars and reflections, which is exactly what the public likes to watch right now.

Jiang Xian only wrote one episode. Zhu Lin was excited when she saw a mother and daughter providing clues to the criminal investigation team, saying that they met a "scarred man" on the bus, and the criminal investigation team drew a portrait of this "scarred man".

Who is this "scarred man"? I turned the page again, but it was gone.

"Oh, you're so annoying."

Zhu Lin lightly kicked Jiang Xian who was sitting next to her eating watermelon, "Why haven't you finished writing yet?"

Jiang Xian looked innocent, "Can you blame me if I write slowly? I didn't ask you to read it."

"What's behind? What's behind? Who is the murderer?" Zhu Lin frowned, bit her thin lips, and looked unsatisfied.

It is normal for her to have such a reaction. In a sense, the only difference between a single-episode drama and a TV series is the length. At the end of each episode of a single-episode drama, there should be a hook like a TV series to hook the audience.

Jiang Xian also wrote "The Sancha Lane Robbery" in this way. In the first episode, three suspects were written, and then the climax of the portrait of the "scarred man" was introduced at the end of this episode. Which one of the suspects is the "scarred man"?

The audience is about to see it.

Hey, it's gone for this episode.

After watching this, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep well all night, because when I lift up the quilt, I’ll see people with scars all over them.

Of course, this kind of subsequent development of the plot has become common in later generations and has become a fixed routine. The "scarred man" is naturally not any of the three suspects.

Jiang Xian ate watermelon and briefly told Zhu Lin the subsequent plot.

In his plan, in the second episode, the female criminal investigation team leader Gong Ping and Lei Xun eliminated the possibility of three suspects committing the crime one by one. At this time, Lei Xun came up with a new conclusion: there is a fourth person who knows about the case!

The audience's expectations were instantly raised again.

Under the command of Lei Xun, the criminal investigation team has conducted an investigation and found a new suspect, Zhu Yunxia.

Next, the criminal investigation team fought a battle of wits and courage with Zhu Yunxia and tested each other. They also heard that Zhu Yunxia was a good girl when she was young, but after a lot of buzzing, she picked up many bad habits and is still single now in her thirties.

You see, this is another reflection.

On the other side, the "scarred man" was also found. It was Guo Ziyu, who had an affair with Zhu Yunxia. The two realized that they were exposed and drank wine together. Zhu Yunxia died of poisoning. Guo Ziyu hurried to get the stolen money, but was arrested.

Both suspects were brought to justice.

The case seems to be over here, but there are still many strange things. The criminal investigation team cannot find the stolen money, and Guo Ziyu also insists that Zhu Yunxia committed suicide.

Lei Xun thought about it and felt that things were not simple. He suddenly remembered that night when he asked the driver to stop the car, a truck sped away.

Gong Ping quickly thought of a suspect who had been overlooked.

"Director, could it be him?"

Lei Xun nodded seriously.

"This cunning guy deceived us on the first day."

If you want to know what happened next, please listen to the next chapter.

Zhu Lin spit the watermelon seeds into the palm of her hand. The seeds of the black watermelon are red.

"Who is it? You writers really know how to keep people in suspense."

Zhu Lin felt both anxious and excited when she heard this story.

Jiang Xian pursed his lips, and His Majesty reached out and took the watermelon seeds from his mouth.

"Don't be anxious." Jiang Xian said.

What is the climax of a crime drama?
Everyone thought that the murderer had been arrested, but there were still clues that were missed, and the real murderer was someone else. At this time, their scalps went numb and adrenaline was secreted rapidly.

When Jiang Xian talked about the third episode and the final judgment, he unraveled the robbery from the perspective of the last murderer behind the scenes and presented the robbery in reverse. Zhu Lin was so excited that she clenched her hands unconsciously.

"So that's it!"

She quickly went over the entire plot in her mind and was shocked. "It's really well written. Your drama will definitely be a hit!"

Jiang Xian was greatly pleased with the praise from His Majesty, and she almost shouted herself hoarse that night.

In the next few days, Jiang Xian focused on the script of "The Sancha Lane Robbery".

There are only three episodes in total, and the film script was quickly produced.

Lin Xinghan took it and looked at it, and couldn't help but applaud.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!"

He slapped his thighs until they turned red, and praised: "As expected of a great writer, what he wrote is so wonderful!"

Lin Xinghan was really pleased with the show.

This script is not only full of ups and downs, but also full of main themes. The key is that it is easy to film!

You don’t even need to look for a place to shoot, just find a few alleys in Beijing and shoot.

"Comrade Jiang Xian, CCTV has decided to accept your script. The theme is very correct."

After Lin Xinghan read it a few more times, he gave Jiang Xian the green light, "As for the remuneration for TV series, we have just started and there are no clear regulations.
We are willing to give you 100 yuan per episode. "

"That's a bit low." Jiang Xian frowned.

Lin Xinghan immediately broke out in a sweat, but there was nothing he could do. At most, the TV series he watched could only give him a hundred yuan for one episode.

".This." Lin Xinghan quickly thought of a way to see if there was any bargaining chip that could impress Jiang Xian.

Just as he was thinking about it, Jiang Xian suddenly spoke.

"Teacher Lin, let's do this."

He showed a kind look on his face, "I would like to ask you to do me another favor."

Lin Xinghan hesitated for a moment, "You speak first."

Jiang Xian then told him about his plan to shoot a documentary on "Chinese Literature".

Now the filming of the documentary has been planned, but broadcasting is a problem. According to Jiang Xian's plan, if this film can be made, it will definitely not be broadcast in theaters, but on TV stations. The best TV station is undoubtedly CCTV.

"."

Lin Xinghan sighed secretly, as expected, the most expensive things in the world are those that are free.

"I'll try to help you with this matter."

Lin Xinghan later became the chief producer of the Television Drama Production Center. CCTV later implemented the producer system, with a total of three producers: Wang Fulin, Yang Jie and him.

With Lin Xinghan's help, this shouldn't be difficult. CCTV is not so sacred and unattainable. If it's well filmed, it will be broadcast naturally.

That's how NBA was broadcast. A videotape was sent to CCTV, and they thought it was so good that they broadcast it directly.

So Jiang Xian didn't really make it too difficult for him. He just took 300 yuan as a royalty, which he regarded as a way of paying farewell to Lin Xinghan with the script.

At that time, there was almost no TV drama in the country, so he started from this unformed TV drama production center.

As for the future three giants, he would first take Lin Xinghan, and then gradually plan for Wang Fulin and Yang Jie.

I don’t know what Zheng Xiaolong is doing.

(besides.)

(End of this chapter)