I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 229, Yu Hua, the Happy Alien

At this time, in Beiping (Beijing), the news that the classic novel "To Live" was going to be adapted into a TV series was already circulating everywhere. This work, which had only been written not long ago, was already considered a treasure for middle school students, especially for depressed young literary enthusiasts.

Even Zhang Yimou noticed the start of filming for this second-tier production.

Because he was the one who adapted the first film and television version of "To Live".

"Oh, it actually passed the review."

Zhang Mouzi looked at the news of the start of filming in the newspaper and was somewhat surprised.

In 1994, Ge You won the Cannes Best Actor award for his role as Fugui in the film "To Live".

In terms of artistic purity, he reached the pinnacle in this role.

An international film star, the Cannes Palme d'Or winner—a lifetime of glory.

Zhang Yimou still remembers that when he was at the Cannes International Film Festival, as a person of Asian descent with yellow skin, the feeling was truly wonderful.

Standing on the most prestigious stage.

They enjoy the highest praise and glory in the arts.

The novel *To Live* was created specifically for awards.

Works created for the artistic expression of actors.

Ge You clearly stated at the time that the happiest time for him during the filming of "To Live" was actually when he was filming.

That feeling of sinking into despair with the character.

It was truly wonderful beyond words.

Especially since he was someone who lived through that era.

The sense of immersion is absolutely amazing.

"I remember when we were filming this, you and Gong Li were so immersed in your roles that you kept crying. I remember it very clearly, it was a real tearjerker."

Zhang Mouzi looked at Ge You beside him and smiled.

At this moment, Ge Guangtou's mouth was still twitching: "You still remember what happened 10 years ago?"

"How come I don't remember anything from 10 years ago? Do you think I'm senile?"

Zhang Mouzi was speechless.

"Indeed, I still remember Yu Hua's despicable face back then."

Ge Guangtou especially remembers it.

Yu Hua, who was giving guidance at the time, had not known the original author before.

I've always felt that he must be a melancholic and profound man. To be able to write such stories, one must know how many stories he has in his heart, how much sorrow he is immersed in, and how much pain and depression he experiences.

A man who can write this kind of story.

As a result, right after I met him, I found out something.

This guy.

Surprisingly, he's an optimist.

Still the optimistic type.

His brushstrokes are completely different from those in his works.

This is a bit abstract.
This matter is actually quite baffling. After learning about Yu Hua's true personality, it's impossible to connect him with Fu Gui.

It's incredibly abstract.

"I remember you and Gong Li crying while Yu Hua laughed. The more you cried and the more melancholy you became, the louder and more cheerful Yu Hua laughed. I think his motivation for writing this novel was probably to make readers melancholy."

Zhang Mouzi also thought of Yu Hua's true colors and came to this conclusion very realistically.

He did not create out of empathy.

It's because I want to see you create works that resonate with your emotions.

"I think when the TV series 'To Live' airs, Yu Hua will be laughing nonstop again."

"That's not necessarily true. This TV series 'To Live' is definitely not as good as our movie version."

Zhang Mouzi does acknowledge this point.

"To Live" is a work he made during the peak of his artistic pursuits, and it exudes an artistic atmosphere from beginning to end.
He doesn't think anyone could have filmed it better.

I don't think anyone could have acted better.

Judging from the casting choices, this TV version of "To Live" seems to prioritize ratings over artistic expression, which is a classic case of penny-wise and pound-foolish. The strongest point of Yu Hua's work is its artistic expression.

However, Zhang Yimou will still watch the TV series after it airs, even if he doesn't have high expectations for it.

Rather, "To Live" is truly an excellent original work.

On the other side of Beiping.

The news of the start of filming for "To Live" also spread quietly.

Yu Hua and Mo Yan were playing football at that moment. Although they were not young, they still maintained the habit of playing football occasionally.

After all, their opponent was also an old hand.

"You kicked the ball in my face again, you did it on purpose, didn't you?"

"How could I have done it on purpose? Hahahaha!"

Shi Tiesheng, who was standing next to him with a hand shoved into his face, looked furious. "You really don't treat me like a human being."

Shi Tiesheng in a wheelchair: You don't treat me like a patient, you don't even treat me like a human being!

Yu Hua always had that sly smile on his face.

It was infuriating to watch, and Mo Yan, standing next to him, was speechless.

Please, have some decency.

Yu Hua just laughed heartily as usual, but he didn't continue to tease Shi Tiesheng. Instead, he came up, wiped his sweat, and said...

I'm going to the Northwest in a while.

Why go to the Northwest?

"My TV is being filmed; they're making a TV series version of 'To Live'."

Shi Tiesheng and Mo Yan suddenly realized.

No wonder he was in such a good mood. It wasn't because of the financial gains from the adaptation; Yu Hua wasn't short of money at the time. When his work reached the Cannes stage, it was already destined to be a world-class work.

The reason for laughing so heartily.

He probably felt that a new batch of viewers and actors were now "suffering".

After all, "To Live" is known for its powerful impact.

It's a bit of a torment for both the audience and the actors and creative team.

As for Yu Hua's creative pleasure, it's probably, well, a bit inhumane.

"It's an adapted TV series, but don't get your hopes up too high. After all, your work is being adapted by Zhang Yimou."

Mo Yan, who was standing next to him, said.

Zhang Yimou is the number one person in China today. In the film industry, he is undoubtedly the leader and the pillar of the third generation of directors. The actors he has worked with are Ge You and Gong Li, both of whom have won numerous Best Actor and Best Actress awards.

We certainly can't have the same expectations.

Yu Hua certainly understood, and didn't think that the TV series version of "To Live" could compare to the film version.

"However, movies can only torture the audience for two hours, while TV series can torture them for almost a month!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Yu Hua's hearty laughter still sounds as irritating as ever!

The TV series adaptation of "To Live" was filmed in two locations: Northwest China and Hengdian World Studios, each showcasing different landscapes. Filming began in Hengdian and later moved to Northwest China.

At this time, director Zhu Zhengwen was already making arrangements on set.

Some actors have already arrived and received their scripts. Liu Mintao, who plays Chen Jiazhen, is a top student from the Central Academy of Drama and has a very charming older sister vibe.

This is also the casting choice that director Zhu Zhengwen is most satisfied with among all these castings.

She is absolutely beautiful. Her portrayal of Nie Xiaoqian in "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" proves that her looks and temperament are top-notch. She also possesses the maternal qualities and aura of a mature woman, making her the perfect choice to play Chen Jiazhen.

However, Chen Jiazhen did not deny the difficulty of this role.

It lies in the change from age 20 to 60.

The hardships of life have left their mark on this woman.

That's the most difficult part of this role.

The suffering left behind by those years.

How to express oneself without seeming artificial.

This is where the difficulty of this role lies; it's really not easy to play it well.

The pressure is quite high.

For her, this was a test of her acting skills.

From his wealthy mother Wen Yujuan to his wealthy father Li Ding, and his son Geng Shengkai, almost all of them were graduates of the Central Academy of Drama.

Actors who graduated from the Central Academy of Drama all share a common understanding.

At the same level, in terms of pure acting skills, it is one level higher than Beijing Film Academy and two levels higher than Shanghai Theatre Academy.

Beijing Film Academy produces stars.

Actors from the Central Academy of Drama.

The Shanghai Theatre Academy produces idols.

"You know, this production is clearly meant for actors, so why did you cast a minor star from the Beijing Film Academy?" Geng Shengkai, who plays Chunsheng, teased from the side. He was quite happy, as he had initially heard that the role was not for him, but it still ended up in his hands.

Liu Mintao neither confirmed nor denied this, referring to the "celebrity class" and the "actor class."

The teaching strategies of the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy are different.

The Central Academy of Drama has even stricter requirements for graduation acting skills.

That's undeniable. Compared to their artistic value, celebrities have higher commercial value; it's just that their development focuses are different.

One focuses more on art, the other focuses more on commerce.

The Shanghai Theatre Academy takes this to the extreme of commercialism; they basically only care about your appearance, and everything else can be discussed later.
It is now obvious to the naked eye that what producers want is 'ratings' rather than artistic value.

Moreover, even if ratings are the priority, the minor celebrity they hired might not be reliable. He's a "celebrity student," but there's no proven ability to draw viewers in, so it's uncertain how much he can boost the ratings for "To Live."

Moreover, Li Xuan's popularity lies more in projects and works by young people, and it's uncertain how much appeal he has for "To Live".
All I can say is that the producer's ambition is evident—but the producer still doesn't understand the target audience for the "To Live" project. In the end, it might not be as successful as Chen Chuang, a supporting actor with profound acting skills.

If they were to choose a celebrity, I heard that Jiang Wen and Wang Zhiwen were initially selected, but they couldn't be invited for various reasons. In the end, the role was given to Li Xuan, a rising star from the Beijing Film Academy, a leading actor, and a celebrity student, who 'picked up' the spot.

When Li Xuan arrived at the film crew, the "strange smell" felt by everyone in the crew became even stronger.

Handsome and young.

Compared to him, even the young and beautiful Jia Zhen looked like an 'older sister'.
At this point, Fengxia and the others' acting style became even stranger—"Holy crap, this is my dad!"

What a young dad! He must be only in his early twenties!
Zhu Zhengwen looked at Li Xuan with a strange expression. The young man was really handsome and had a very upright appearance, which gave him a bit of a 'celebrity' vibe.

As expected of someone from the Beijing Film Academy, Chen Chuang's appearance is quite unusual.

"Hello everyone, my name is Li Xuan. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."

At this moment, Li Xuan chuckled happily. This bright and cheerful smile made Zhu Zhengwen feel a little mischievous. He was quite sunny, cheerful, and optimistic.

I wonder if they'll still be able to laugh after making "To Live," a film specifically targeting the optimist demographic.
Some people even felt depressed while reading the script. The female lead, Liu Mintao, said more than once that the original author, Yu Hua, was really inhuman. How could he write such a book? What kind of mentality did he have when creating this work? What kind of pressure did he bear during the creation process?

Many people don't know this, but Zhu Zhengwen does: Yu Hua creates with joy in his heart.

The actors' depression, on the contrary, became his source of happiness.

The production team even hired a doctor specializing in treating depression to be on standby on set. Seriously, for some production teams, this is already a necessity.

After all, there was a legendary actor.

He ended his life by jumping off a building because of depression.

Especially for art-house film crews, the damage to the actors' mental state is only deeper.

For the sake of the actors' physical and mental well-being.

Especially this kind of subject matter.

A doctor should still accompany them.

However, Zhu Zhengwen, looking at the cheerful Li Xuan, couldn't help but think maliciously, "You probably really have no idea what's going to happen next."
“If a living production crew were to cast him as Fugui, I would still have some concerns, after all, it is a work by the famous Yu Hua.”

“When we first suggested he play Chunsheng, you didn’t feel anything at all. Now that it’s your turn to play Fugui, you’re all hesitant and timid.”

"How can that be the same? Chunsheng's life has been so smooth, while Fugui'er's life has been the embodiment of bad luck."

At this moment.

Wang Jinsong's expression was full of worry.

It's because I feel sorry for my students, who can't handle that kind of mental state. I heard that Ge You cried a lot when he was filming. Although there might be a marketing element to this, it also shows that this work can indeed make the actors' mental state quite bad.

Because living is a work of art that is fucking amazing.

A work that evokes sadness.

Wang Fengsheng was at a loss for words, both amused and exasperated.

Your doting attitude is too obvious, and he's not as fragile as you think.

His ability to withstand the pressure from capital and get to where he is today is already outstanding.

He hadn't seen many people with that level of resilience.

If an ordinary person heard that capital was targeting him, he would be terrified, if not utterly horrified, at least wet his pants.

Let him act in "To Live".

It should be manageable.

However, if he wants to move forward in his leading role, he needs to win awards, as awards are the most genuine proof of his acting skills.

Your award is good.

That proves that your acting skills are up to par, which determines your depth.

Furthermore, the viewership ratings you receive as the lead actor, and your ability to maintain those ratings, determine your salary and the breadth of your fame.

Some people are deep, but their breadth is too narrow. They spend their whole lives trying to become a movie star, but in the end, they remain unknown. Yes, even if you win a TV award or a movie award, you may still end up unknown. This is perfectly normal.

Developing on two legs is impossible if one leg is missing; neither can progress properly.

I want to become a star.

These two legs are indispensable.

Li Xuan's potential certainly extends far beyond that of an "actor".

His potential is to become a "big star".

They are the kind of backbone that can win Best Actor awards and achieve both critical and commercial success.

Moreover, Wang Fengsheng also considered Li Xuan's future plans. The path he was taking required that one must be strong oneself to succeed.

It needs to be very hard.

So he doesn't just have to film "Living".

It also needs to be paired with commercial films.

For example, "The Return of the Condor Heroes" is actually quite good and is a typical example of a commercially oriented work.

A work with good breadth and depth.

A masterpiece by Jin Yong.

If possible, it would be really great to play Yang Guo. It's a pity that Li Xuan was blacklisted by the Beijing entertainment circle. Moreover, the actor who played Yang Guo is also exceptionally talented, being Huang Xiaoming, one of the "Three Musketeers".

Both ability and image are factors that Li Xuan has to consider to rise to power.

From any perspective, this role is not going to Li Xuan.

Advancing to the position of protagonist is also cruel.

It's not entirely "safe".

Qiao Ling'er, the reincarnation of Buddha who was very popular in the sequel to Journey to the West, is now nowhere to be found. Back then, he was a famous child prodigy in the industry.

All I can say is how cruel this industry is.

That's true too.

Traveling against the current, retreating if not advancing.

It was fraught with difficulties and obstacles.

Li Xuan chose the most difficult path; he wanted to forge his own way.

He wants to start his own company.

I make my own films and television programs.

The support I, as the principal, can give him is to help him become a big star.

Let him pursue the path of a big star, give him enough influence, and make him unafraid of the suppression of resources.

This was the last bit of support that being a teacher could give him.

I recently found a project called "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang", which can be considered a project that is comparable to "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

One is Jin Yong, and the other is Gu Long.

These are the pinnacle of martial arts fiction from the old era.

These two projects are also benchmarks.

However, all of these things need to be discussed, and it remains to be seen how well the negotiations will go.

"Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. I always felt that Li Xuan had an unusual maturity, and he had a very clear understanding of himself and his future path."

Wang Jinsong was somewhat emotional at this moment.

This is probably what he admires most about Li Xuan: that extraordinary maturity.

And his attitude towards capital is so firm.

"Yes, sometimes he gives me the feeling that he sees through the nature of capital in the industry and doesn't give them any chance at all. It's as if he knew all along that they weren't the kind of people who could rise first and then help those who follow. After rising first, they would only eat up the last bit and leave nothing behind."

Wang Fengsheng thought to himself.

Since the facts have proven it.

Capital within the industry.

After rising to power, all I really want is for you to be a good dog.

I'll only give you a small bone if I get to eat the meat.

In fact, Li Xuan seemed to be ahead of his time, as if he knew about this matter a long time ago.

It's as if we really experienced an era when capital held absolute power.

We have experienced an era of being poisoned by capitalism and where bad money drives out good.

That's why it can be seen so clearly.

(End of this chapter)