Exciting 1979!

Chapter 177 Special Talent Wei Jiefang (Guaranteed 2 Updates)
"Oh, I'm from the director training class." Li Baotian, who looked like an old man, said to Wu Tianming.

The correct name should be the director cadre training class. At that time, Li Baotian was already the deputy director of the art troupe in his hometown.

Wu Tianming felt very sorry that he was a director despite his distinctive looks. But who says that directors can’t act?
"Are you interested in acting?" Wu Tianming asked again. Although this guy was not good-looking, Old Wu felt a strong vitality from him.

"Actually, I used to be an actor," Li Baotian asked as soon as he explained, "What do you do?"

Wu Tianming introduced himself, and Li Baotian looked at Wei Ming again: "So you are the Wei Ming who writes novels?"

"Yes, it's me."

"Nice to meet you. I've read all your novels. So which play are you looking for actors for?"

"Erniu."

"Then I'll play Niu Er," Li Baotian pondered for a moment, "I think I can give it a try."

Wu Tianming left him the address of the Beijing Film Studio Guesthouse and asked him to go there within three days. He and Wei Ming wanted to take another look.

Later, with the help of teachers from the Central Academy of Drama, they found a young man from Northeast China named Du Yuan. He was not good-looking and even Jia Ling looked down on him.

He also met with several actresses. After all, he had to prepare for Liu Xiaoqing's rejection. She is very popular now and has received many film offers. Wei Ming has the impression that she will also be filming a very famous movie "Wilderness" this year.

However, the class of 80 has not yet enrolled, and none of the actresses from class of 78 caught Director Wu’s eye.

I heard from the teachers at the Central Academy of Drama that they will be holding the 80-level art exam next month, and by then, students from the 80-level including Jiang Wen, Lü Liping, and Yue Hong will be stepping onto the stage.

After leaving the Central Academy of Drama, the two had a meal at a state-owned restaurant in the alley. Wei Ming looked at the surrounding courtyard houses and thought that it would be convenient for casting if he bought a courtyard here.

After dinner, the two went to the Film Academy again.

Wei Ming had connections at the Film Academy, and A'long and A'mou were both his friends, so they personally took them to the Acting Department of 78.

On the way, Wu Tianming's eyes were always on Zhang Yimou.

"Why, do you want him to play Niu Er?" Wei Ming asked with a smile.

Wu Tianming shook his head: "This guy looks too old."

Wei Ming smiled even more happily: "The standard appearance of the Terracotta Warriors. Lao Zhang's photography skills are also top-notch, and his homework is always the best in the class. Let him show you his work later."

Zhang Yimou was waiting for this sentence. He looked at Wei Ming gratefully.

Although he is only a sophomore now, he has to plan for the future as early as possible. He does not have the background of Zhuang Zhuang, Kai Ge and others. If he can't stay in Yanjing, then returning to Xi'an is the best choice.

Wei Ming asked Wu Tianming again: "When do you plan to start filming?"

If it happens to be summer vacation, Zhang Yimou can actually go to the crew for an internship. I believe he would be willing to do so even if he is not paid.

Wu Tianming: "Apart from the actors, what we are most worried about now is actually the cows."

"What happened to the cow?"

Wu Tianming: "The cow is the real leading actress. She has a lot of scenes, and many of them need to show spirituality. Animals and children consume the most film when making a movie. We haven't found a particularly obedient cow yet, so we are thinking about raising a cow from childhood."

This is indeed a problem. Although computer special effects could be used during the original filming, it is not so easy to make animal scenes look realistic now.

Wei Ming said: "It takes at least two years for a dairy cow to be able to produce milk from a young age until it becomes pregnant and gives birth."

"Yes, so it's still uncertain when the filming will start. I really want to start filming this year."

Wei Ming suddenly thought of a possibility, but he had already arrived at the acting class, so he decided to wait and see.

"I'm coming!"

Xie Yuan was staring at the door, and when he saw someone coming, he immediately shouted in the class. Then everyone recited their lines or acted with each other, performing very hard.

They already knew that a crew would come to select actors today, and it was a movie adapted from Wei Ming's original novel "Er Niu". Director Wu Tianming also had representative works such as "Trembling of Life", so it was definitely a good opportunity.

When Wei Ming came in, Fang Shu and Liu Jia, who had met him once before, looked at each other and felt that he looked familiar, as if they had seen him in school.

In terms of student popularity, the Class of 78 of Beijing Film Academy is much better than the Class of 78 of Central Academy of Drama, except that they are all too handsome, with the exception of Xie Yuan who looks rather funny.

Wu Tianming spotted Zhou Lijing in the crowd at first sight. This young man's appearance was exactly in line with the aesthetic standards of men in this era. He was particularly strong and resolute. Unfortunately, his image was not suitable for the role of Erniu.

The young man named Zhang Fengyi is quite rough and honest, but he lacks a sense of humor. He can be considered as a backup. I heard that he has played the leading role in a movie, and it was a movie produced by Hong Kong Phoenix Company. Such experience is also a plus.

Wu Tianming's gaze stopped on Zhang Tielin's expectant face again, pretty boy.

Wu Tianming communicated with these students, mainly to understand their understanding of the countryside.

If they were all city people, he would definitely take some time to let them experience life. Niu Er is a very typical and extreme rural bachelor.

In the end, the competition for the male lead was between Li Xingjian, Li Baotian, Du Yuan, and Zhang Fengyi, and Li Xingjian was the only one they had never seen before.

However, when Wei Ming sent Wu Tianming back to the Beijing Film Studio, Li Xingjian was already waiting for him outside Director Wu's room.

When Wu Tianming met him in person, he felt that he did not have the terrifying aura of the 101 students. He was not very tall, not a typical Shandong guy, and looked amiable and harmless.

Wei Ming asked Lao Wu to audition first, as it was almost time to get off work, so he had to go see Director Wang. On the way to see Director Wang, Wei Ming saw Chen Qiang again.

"Xiao Wei, please stay. I have contacted Liu Xiaoqing today."

"Oh, what did she say?"

Chen Qiang smiled and said, "She asked if Wei Ming invited her personally. I said yes, and she said you have to give her face, but she has a very important film contract in August, so she won't have much time left for "Er Niu", nor will she have time to experience life alone. She is currently filming in Sichuan and Chongqing, and will take time to go to the farm to experience life."

Qing Nai is really good at dealing with people. Wei Ming nodded and said, "Then I will tell Director Wu later. He is the director and he will make the decision. Thank you, Teacher Chen."

Afterwards, Wei Ming met with director Wang Yang and talked about "Heroes Emerge Young".

Wang Yang said happily: "Xia Meng called me back and said she was interested and was going to take some time to come to the Beijing Film Studio to have a chat."

Since they were willing to fly to Yanjing, the matter was at least half done, and Wei Ming breathed a sigh of relief.

Now he attaches great importance to this co-production, and hopes that when it is released in Hong Kong in the future, he, as the original author and screenwriter, will have the opportunity to visit Hong Kong and talk to his grandfather face to face.

When I went down from the office building and passed the guesthouse, Wu Tianming and Li Xingjian had already come down from the building.

Wu Tianming said to Wei Ming: "Xiao Li is leaving, and he had to wait for you to come out and say hello."

Wei Ming shook hands with Li Xingjian and said some words of mutual respect.

As soon as he left, Wei Ming asked Lao Wu, "How does it feel to try it?"

"I didn't have an audition, I just had a brief chat. Next I'm going to borrow a makeup artist from a sister company and make them a farmer to see the effect," Wu Tianming asked, "Will you come then?"

Wei Ming thought about it and shook his head: "I feel a little bad for always asking for leave these days, so forget it."

Even if he doesn't ask for leave, he often does his own work at his workstation, but it's better than not being there at all.

Wu Tianming felt a little regretful, and Wei Ming said, "But maybe I can help with the cow matter."

"How can I help?" Wu Tianming became excited.

Wei Ming: "It's simple. Find a good animal trainer."

"Animal trainer? Do you know such a talent?"

Wei Ming smiled slightly: "I do know him. I'll write you the address and you can visit him yourself."

When Wu Tianming saw the address Wei Ming left, he touched his bald head and said, "This seems to be your hometown, right?"

Wu Tianming had read Wei Ming's essays and was deeply impressed by the name "Gouzitun".

Some time ago, a newspaper disclosed that Wei Ming once gave books to his readers. The books had his private seal on them, which had the four big characters "Gouzi Wei Ming" engraved on them.

Wei Ming chuckled: "Yes, my hometown is in this village, and the person you are looking for is called Wei Jiefang."

"Your father?"

"Yes, my dad."

Old Wei does have some talent in training animals. For example, the small dog he borrowed from somewhere else during the Chinese New Year was as obedient and well-behaved as the one he raised himself. And Wei Ming's younger brother Wei Gangdan was also impressed by Old Wei the first time he met him.

Because it involves animal actors, Wei Ming feels that Lao Wei might be able to help. At least the donkeys and cows in the team are very obedient. They squat when Lao Wei tells them to squat and stand up when he tells them to stand up.

After listening to Wei Ming's stories about his father, Director Wu Tianming was amazed. He shook Wei Ming's hand and said, "Your father is exactly the talent we need. We must invite him to join my team!"

"It depends on his schedule. He is now the principal of our village primary school and is fully committed to the education of the children."

Old Wu said, "Why don't you come back with me and try to persuade him in person?"

Wei Ming: "I don't have time. I won't reply."

If he really had time, he would rather go to Shanghai to watch Xizi filming and take a look at Sister Xue.

~
Gong Xing didn't expect that he would receive a package from Wei Ming as soon as he returned to Shanghai and started filming at the Shanghai Film Studio. It was also seen by Sister Xiaoyan and Xizi.

The two even encouraged themselves to take it apart and have a look.

Gong Xing had no choice but to execute him in public. Fortunately, there was nothing too outrageous inside the bag, just a set of drawings and a bag of snacks.

I didn't expect that he still remembered his mother's workplace, and this time he asked me to help submit the article.

Sister Xue will definitely help with this, but my mother doesn’t have much say in the workplace, so I don’t know if she can help.

After finishing the filming that day, Gong Xing took Xizi and the manuscript back home. This was Director Xie's instruction, so that they could continue to deepen the mother-son relationship.

Lv Xiaoyan said goodbye to them with a smile.
……

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(End of this chapter)