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

Chapter 276, "Living" that defies the odds!
"I have confidence in 'The Young Pioneers' and I am not affected by the attacks on this work at all."

Whether it's Zhu Yawen or Luo Jin.

In fact, no one will be deterred by others' attacks on "The Young Pioneers".

It's something that didn't happen, and it has no meaning.

After all, at this moment, both Luo Jin and Zhu Yawen had finished filming "The Young Students".

The aesthetic sense of a prospective actor.

If you can't distinguish between good and bad works, then you've wasted your life as an actor.

Those who work in the arts must first understand how to distinguish between good and bad art.

But what if it's a verbal attack on our boss?

Don't blame me for physically attacking you.

This is the bottom line.

These are the bottom lines that belong exclusively to Luo Jin and Zhu Yawen.

"The Young Students"

It has now reached the stage of review and issuance.

"It's alright. When our show airs, we'll soar to new heights together." Zhu Yawen grinned. "As for now, let's watch you soar to new heights first!"

"Yes, yes, the second biggest topic of discussion on our campus network right now is how high you can fly."

Luo Jin paused for a moment before speaking.

"How high can Huang Xiaoming be raised?"

The buzz surrounding "The Banquet" is just too great.

Huang Xiaoming is promoting "The Banquet," a film that Huayi Brothers is fully committed to promoting; there's nothing hidden in it.
The power of big capital—it's truly amazing.

In Luo Jin's words, even people in his hometown who don't watch movies know about "Curse of the Golden Flower".

Wait, why isn't it "The Banquet"?
Because the promotional poster for "Curse of the Golden Flower" was just too white.

It's so irresistible that you can't help but glance in that direction.

I just can't help it at all!
In any case, this year's movie theaters are dominated by Zhang Yimou and Ma Xiaogang.

They're the ones in the Chinese film industry.
This year is their home turf.

You can't get into other companies, you can't even get a little bit in.

They represent the biggest and most 'top'.

Returning to Huang Xiaoming, it's basically safe to say that Li Xuan's role as a lower-tier Huang Xiaoming is 80% set.

This is a calculated move to manipulate public opinion.

Even if Li Xuan's performance in "To Live" is not outstanding, the stronger his popularity and performance in this round, the more likely he is to surpass Huang Xiaoming.

Compared to The Return of the Condor Heroes, The Legend of Chu Liuxiang is at a huge disadvantage.

"The eldest is much better than Huang Xiaoming!" Zhu Yawen scoffed. "I believe the audience's eyes are discerning."

"Sigh, capitalism."

Luo Jin felt the same way, but with the hype from capital and the works he participated in, Huang Xiaoming objectively had a huge advantage.

This advantage is so great it's unimaginable.

Li Xuan chuckled.

Am I underqualified?

Capital has no say.

My opinion doesn't count.

Only what the audience says counts.

At this time, the TV series "To Live" was being produced.

They've started to exert their efforts as well.

With an average viewership rating of 8, it showed no sign of dropping even after such a long run.

Even the mentality of a bystander.

Everything has changed.

At that moment, Xu Xiang was reading "To Live" at Wang Fengsheng's home.

My mindset has changed somewhat.

The plot has now reached its final, most intense phase.

In the early years, he lost all his family fortune, his father died, and he was conscripted into the army. He was lucky enough to return, but after liberation, Long Er was executed. It seems that his life was already somewhat fortunate.

It's a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

But his luck seems to have come to an end.

Famine has arrived.

Jiazhen's father died in the snow, and Jiazhen also contracted rickets, losing her ability to work and becoming paralyzed in bed.

The son also died in his hospital bed after giving a blood transfusion to an important person.

miserable.

If his first half of life was tragic, then his second half was truly miserable.

In the film version, the emotions and tragedy of the aftermath are exaggerated to the extreme. It is precisely because of the dramatic portrayal of the tragedy that the film won the Cannes Film Festival award. That is the ultimate ability to create such emotional impact.

It's full, really full.

And the TV series version of "To Live".

It seems that the expression of this plot is even more bland.

On Fugui's face, there was only numbness.

A restrained expression of pain.

There wasn't much heaviness on his face.

I'm numb.

But it was a bland numbness, without any particularly dramatic emotional expression.

This kind of pain is too bland.

If we put ourselves in that situation...

If I were a viewer...

How could I bear such suffering, but Fugui endured it.

Under such painful pressure, he chose to live.

The high-ranking official whom the son saved was Chunsheng.

Back then on the battlefield, if Fugui hadn't given him that cake, Chunsheng would have died on the battlefield.

His own son died because of the blood transfusion.

In the end, during the reckoning, Chunsheng hanged himself out of guilt; he could have chosen not to.

He was tormented for most of his life by the shame he felt towards Fugui.

Perhaps death would be better.

This is the ultimate irony and pain.

At this moment, Wang Fengsheng and Xu Xiang suddenly realized something.

The production team of this TV series.

It seems like he really understands, and understands very well.

I know what it means to be alive.

I also know what the pain of living is.

Those scenes that inflict pain on the protagonist were not restrained at all; they were all included and inflicted.

But Fugui is still alive.

Until this point.

No one laughed at him.

Who said it was a low-budget movie version?

At least for Xu Xiang at this moment.

They dare to say that.

It is definitely not some low-budget movie version.

Absolutely not.

Although Zhang Yimou would definitely not try to ride this wave of popularity.

Even Ge You found it a bit annoying.

The public discussion surrounding this work largely revolves around his relationship with the film adaptation.
"Please don't try to elevate yourself by using this work, okay? I don't think it has any connection to our movie version, but if you say it's based on our live-action version, then it is indeed a 1:1 replica."

After watching the first two episodes, Ge You stopped watching the show. The acting was even worse, the script was poorly understood, and it was just parroting others' ideas. For him, there was no point in continuing to watch it.

It's meaningless and will only make him feel bored from the inside out.

When interviewed, he only spoke in riddles and veiled meanings.

There's nothing much to say.

It's just a TV drama version that's riding the wave of popularity.

Boring and meaningless.

It's better to watch the movie version.

Of course, this interview was produced by Huayi Brothers, which can also be seen as a way to generate buzz for Zhang Yimou.

You can piggyback on movies to promote your TV series.

Then my movie can actually piggyback on your TV series.

If you roughly imitate my work, then I'll use you to elevate myself and serve as a foil for my "Curse of the Golden Flower".

That's how it has always been.

At this moment, Zhang Yimou was sitting leisurely at home. The live release of the film was not even a minor episode for him. He didn't even care about riding the wave of popularity. After all, he was the number one director in China.

"I wonder who will come out on top between the two of us this time."

"This time, the film market is our battlefield. This year, next year, and in the future, very few people can compete with us in this market anymore."

Zhang Mouzi felt a little lonely looking at Ma Xiaogang.

There's a sense of loneliness in a master.

There are no rivals left in China.

Add to that the directors from Hong Kong, and it's barely enough to fill a gap in your teeth. Sometimes Zhang Yimou also thinks about this.

Why bother trying to improve?

I'm still number one even if I don't work hard or make any progress.

Despite my best efforts to improve, I'm still in the same position.

The skill gap is too large.
I'm afraid that if I improve too much, the audience won't understand my work.

Art, wait for your people.

Um.
I'll wait for you guys. Anyway, I'm always number one. Only Ma Xiaogang has a chance to be somewhat comparable to me.

This time, it's "Curse of the City" and "The Banquet".

It was a fairly evenly matched struggle.

Only with a select few can he feel the sense of a battle where the opponents are evenly matched.

"Our movie should be released soon, so let's just leave it at that. Let's not get bogged down in our work."

Ma Xiaogang looked at Zhang Yimou and laughed, "Aren't you interested in that film, 'To Live'?"

"Isn't it just a remake of my movie?"

To be honest, Zhang Yimou found it quite boring.

But I also felt it was only natural. After all, they were doing it my way.
It is "correct".

If he deviates from the "correct" path.

That's wrong.

Filming in the wrong way is a recipe for disaster.

Then it's even less worth paying attention to.

For him, this was not arrogance, but a matter of course, a matter of course that came from his own self-confidence and strength.
Ma Kuzi understood this 'arrogance'.

Indeed, it is only natural that, standing at the very top, one is theoretically entitled to look down on anyone in the circle.

Anyone! They can be the object of his contempt, even himself, a director with whom he can go toe-to-toe. But in reality, the 'number one' is still Zhang Yimou.

"Hmm. But there's one thing, who knows, different interpretations can bring different experiences."

Ma Xiaogang said with a smile.

"At least for me, watching the movie 'To Live' makes me want to die."

"But after watching the TV version of 'To Live,' I really wanted to live."

"Then you must have read a fake 'To Live'."

Zhang Yimou was certain about this. During filming, he met Yu Hua, the guy who would find pleasure in the audience's suffering, and whose works were also meant to convey suffering.

If you want to live after reading "To Live".

Then you must have watched a fake version of "To Live"!
Ma Xiaogang, however, felt that...

If I had to choose...

Then I prefer the TV series version of "To Live".

Huayi Brothers didn't do anything about "To Live" either. Overall, there weren't any major moves. The only thing they did was to compare it with the movie version, but nothing else.

The relationship between the Northwest film circle and the Beijing film circle isn't particularly good. That place likes to shoot rural-themed films and rural scenes. In the words of the Beijing film circle, that place is a place where peasants live.

Many actors from the Northwest region who want to pursue higher careers have to come to Beijing to make a living, because there isn't much room for development there.
But then something happened: the marketing department staff went off on their own and started criticizing "To Live".

'Compared to the movie version, it's worlds apart.'

'Just a piece of trash trying to ride the wave of popularity; it disrespects the original work!'

'An overconfident directing team and actors, and a boring casting process.'

Even Wang Haiyang was speechless.

What deep-seated grudge does that woman in the marketing department hold against Li Xuan?

Here, in order to deal with Li Xuan, they launched an attack on "To Live".

They reacted as if on high alert, and started firing wildly!
At this moment, Jiang Li looked at Wang Haiyang strangely and whispered, "Sister, he is Zhu Xiaotian's [sasaeng fan]."

"Huh? She's a fan of celebrities?"

"Yes, her Jetta was covered in Zhu Xiaotian posters. And indeed, from a personal perspective, she was quite dissatisfied with the adaptation of 'To Live'."

"Well, that makes it easier to explain."

Wang Haiyang was speechless.

The fact that Zhu Xiaotian's role as Xiang Shuai was snatched away by Li Xuan is not news in the industry. Wang Haiyang is not bragging; isn't it normal for an idol actor to have his role taken away by an actor with better acting skills?

Although it's always directed at Li Xuan, it's also a form of recognition for him. His acting skills and potential are limitless. Although he's only a senior in college, his very presence is already a stepping stone on the path to becoming a 'star'.

It is walking on the 'main road'.

Zhu Xiaotian is quite good; he's the kind of idol actor that countless young girls dream of.

But compared to idols and star actors, a production team with high aspirations would definitely choose Li Xuan.

Even now, as Wang Haiyang intensifies his targeting of Li Xuan, he still has some reservations about Li Xuan's student status. Capital can do whatever it wants to ordinary people and celebrities, but the student status is a natural barrier and divide, preventing capital from launching a heavy-handed attack against him.

Even when Huang Xiaoming plays the underdog, he's only using dirty tricks, and it's all done in a sneaky and clandestine way.

Even if the measures are increased, the intensity is still being controlled as much as possible.

But it's okay, he's already graduated this year.

In terms of timing, launching a heavy attack on the graduation drama "The Young Students" is not exactly a 'decent' move against the students.

This was the first Waterloo his classmates encountered upon graduation.

It's cruel and realistic.

Wang Yuping was involved in this matter.

Of course, Wang Haiyang was too lazy to explain.

After all, idol fans are a thing.
"How stupid! Working in an entertainment company, knowing how idols are produced, yet still being so devoted to them." Wang Haiyang commented on Wang Yuping: "However, I can't really say anything about her using her personal authority and resources, so it can't be considered a misuse of public resources. After all, it's like using the life of the TV series to promote the life of the movie version, and it's also like providing a chair for Zhang Yimou."

Although the degree to which this chair can be raised is barely better than nothing.

Jiang Li shrugged.
"Moreover, many 'artistic women' like her are very dissatisfied with the adaptation of 'To Live'."

What are the complaints?

"It is clear that 'To Live' is a denunciation of the old society, a reflection of social injustice, dissatisfaction with society, and dissatisfaction with China. Therefore, its tone should be 'painful'."

The film version of "To Live" portrays poverty, ignorance, and suffering.

"But why does Fugui give off such a powerful and sunny vibe? He should be in despair."

why?
why?

at this time.

Wang Haiyang has a keen intuition about the market.

Suddenly I felt something was wrong.

"This Li Xuan insulted my idol and also insulted the literary works I love."

At this point, Wang Yuping intensified her efforts.

They encouraged the women in their Douban Literature Group to go on a rampage, giving the TV series version of "To Live" low ratings.
At the beginning, the low scores were indeed reduced, and the score on Douban dropped to a low of 5.5, which was unacceptable.

However, as the series progresses...
The scores for "To Live" are getting higher and higher.
"What kind of idiots who don't understand literature are giving the TV series 'To Live' such high scores!"

Wang Yuping was feeling very upset at her workstation, even though so many people were giving low scores.

But the score is still climbing towards 6 points.
6 points.

6.2 points.

6.5 points.

6.7 points.

7.2 points.

Keep jumping
It wasn't just out of personal grudges; as the leader of the literature group, she had a particular fondness for literature about suffering, such as 'living'.

The initial filming pace of "To Live" was indeed like that of a movie version, and it also really resembled her feelings after reading the novel: suffering, pain, so much pain, it was unbearable!
But while it was still airing.

However, it gradually deviated from the original work and from her understanding.

Fugui, this complete good-for-nothing, should be experiencing increasing pain and depression as he loses more and more. But why, why is there not a trace of pain on his face right now?
That kind of pain belongs to "To Live," belongs to the black soil.

It didn't appear. The pain, depression, and numbness on his face were nowhere to be seen.

It even gave Wang Yuping a feeling.

Physiological 'admiration'.

Faced with such a thing, it's amazing that I can still "live" and face all of this, face this pain. But no, this is not right.

As viewers, we should feel a sense of physical contempt for 'Fugui,' looking down on him and watching this miserable good-for-nothing live a life of utter waste, constantly losing parts of his life and becoming increasingly numb.

This is the real Yu Hua's "To Live".

But Li Xuan portrayed a sense of 'power'.

It's a feeling completely different from the movie version.

Meanwhile, the plot moves into the later stages.

The viewership rating also reached 9 points.

Then, after that taciturn and dull son-in-law was also crushed to death by the cargo on the truck.

It's broken 10.
He kept losing, kept suffering.

In the movie version, there's something counterintuitive about it: many people left halfway through the movie because it was too tragic for Fugui's life.

However, the TV series extended the scope of Fugui's life and the extent of his suffering.

But it kept the audience, the viewers, there.
Ratings soar against the odds
This is the end.

Fu Gui was left with only his grandson, Ku Gen.

There's also an old ox.

At this moment, Fugui looks back on the past.

Youqing, Jiazhen, Fengxia, Erxi.
The 'sweetness' that appeared in his life eventually became the 'bitterness' in his life.

This is the scenario that everyone familiar with "To Live" least wants to face.

In the very end, he would have to face one thing.

Finally, the bitter root.

He cooked beans, ate them, and died—he choked to death.

Fugui, who already had only a thatched hut left, now has no grandson left, and all that's left is the old ox in the house.
Fu Gui at this time.

Right in front of the old ox.

His eyes were very dull.

But just when everyone thought he would lose hope for the future, he did what he always did: taking the old ox to plow the fields and wait for the spring to come.

and so on.

The wheat is ripe.

Live on.

The play ends abruptly here.
At this moment, Wang Fengsheng and Xu Xiang's movie-watching experience also came to an abrupt end.

The two elderly people even felt a little unsatisfied.

Especially Xu Xiang.

"He made the film that I understand as 'To Live.' This director is really amazing. I really want to get to know him."

He then filmed the version of "To Live" that Xu Xiang envisioned, created by Yu Hua.

Many superficial readers might assume that the author of this novel has a very perverse sense of humor—and that seems to be true; Yu Hua is indeed an author with a very perverse sense of humor, which is undeniable.

That's who he is.

But let me also say something.

This work is definitely not one that will leave you feeling depressed.

He gives people a kind of strength to survive.

Just keep living. Things will always happen while you're alive, whether they're good or bad.

It is actually a work that heals the soul.

Regardless of whether the mainstream acknowledges it or not.

This is all the case.

At this time, forums discussing this work, including Douban, exploded, splitting into two camps.

One group criticized it as "disrespectful to the original work".

Can you understand Yu Hua better than Zhang Yimou?
That's how he always films!
You not only parrot others' ideas, but you also make random changes!
Make it all up! Make it all up!
The public opinion that Wang Yuping guided using her resources was much the same.
"Sure enough, the lower-tier market is the most important thing. He ignored the literary quality of the work and instead focused on serving entertainment. This is a mistake, a degeneration, and a tragedy! He has completely lost the essence of literature!"

Besides Wang Yuping, many other self-proclaimed literary connoisseurs are also criticizing the script of the TV series "To Live" and the acting of the protagonist, Fugui.

The biggest problem with the protagonist is that he isn't miserable enough.

If you're not miserable enough, you're not truly 'alive'.

Not 'Fugui' enough.

This doesn't feel right at all to the original work.

After careful consideration, Wang Yuping realized that her side still had a significant advantage in public opinion.
Now, it's no longer just Wang Yuping's personal grudge.

The TV version of "To Live" and the film version of "To Live" are fundamentally different. To agree with the TV version is no different from to deny the film version!
(End of this chapter)