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

Chapter 277: Is the novel "To Live" the original work by Zhang Yimou or the TV series version?

At this moment, on the Northwest side...

This was something Ge Pengyan hadn't expected.

"To Live" achieved good ratings.

Even though the viewership ratings exceeded expectations, there is still a problem that must be faced.

That is, this work, although it has good ratings, the extent of the script adaptation seems to be 'too big'.

Even Ge Pengyan herself felt that...

This adaptation is too drastic; it even completely 'subverts' the film version of "To Live".

This kind of 'subversion' is what's most shocking and awe-inspiring.
Even Ge Pengyan initially thought that this production of "To Live" would largely follow the film version, from the script to the performance style.

After all, this is the true meaning of having a gem preceding you; with a shining example ahead, your original work will become a hindrance, a burden.
Although, at present, this 'originality' has given "To Live" a wider audience and made the work more accessible to more people.

That's good.

It's a pretty good change.

"That's good. You've done a very good job this time." Ge Pengyan patted Zhu Zhengwen on the shoulder and looked at the director with appreciation, saying, "A work can't satisfy everyone. To put it another way, everyone has their own interpretation of Hamlet. Who says your way of filming is wrong, and who says they are absolutely right?"

This time, it was a complete success.

A project driven by 'ratings'.

"To Live" was filmed exactly as she envisioned it.

At this moment, Zhu Zhengwen, the director of "To Live," remained silent, his expression quite complex in the face of Ge Pengyan's praise.

What should one feel after achieving something? One should be happy.

But why.
Still not happy enough? There's even a hint of guilt in my heart.
At this moment, Zhu Zhengwen thought of Li Xuan.

It's not Fugui.

It's Li Xuan.

Seeing Zhu Zhengwen's appearance, Ge Pengyan thought that Zhu Zhengwen was not feeling well because of the negative public opinion, so she quickly patted him on the shoulder to comfort him.

Negative public opinion doesn't exist if you don't look at it.

The ratings are already in hand—there's no such thing as 'perfect'.

This time, Huayi's marketing department finally had a legitimate and reasonable reason to launch a powerful attack.

There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people, but in the heart of the person who created Hamlet, there is only one Hamlet.

The creators of "To Live" are naturally Zhang Yimou and Yu Hua.

In terms of public opinion, Zhang Yimou's stance is the same as Yu Hua's.

After all, the film adaptation deserves at least half the credit for making this work of literature about suffering international, earning him international fame, and winning him the Cannes Award and the Cannes Best Actor award.

In other words, no matter what, the film version of "To Live" has 'legitimacy'.

Just like the right to interpret scriptures when adapting IP.

With this adaptation, there will naturally be countless criticisms and comparisons.

"Your acting is really good, but the changes are too drastic. If it were just a small change, it would be fine. If the ratings had flopped after the change, it would also be fine. But you actually achieved ratings success after the change."

Wang Haiyang murmured.

With an average viewership rating of eleven points, it's comparable to "The Plot".

Li Xuan's acting skills are really good.

If "The Plot" allowed him to see Li Xuan's comprehensive qualities as a celebrity, then...

So "To Live" is purely an expression of acting skills; there's nothing complicated about it, it's really just a display of basic skills.

Wang Haiyang's feeling was, "Did Li Xuan study at the Central Academy of Drama?"
In terms of pure acting skills, his basic skills are so solid. He doesn't seem like a student from the Beijing Film Academy.

After all, students at the Beijing Film Academy are trained in a comprehensive way, and acting skills are not something that can be developed overnight. A person only has so many hours in a day, so how can you develop all your skills in parallel?
Do you have 48 hours in a day?

"It's incredible that he can play such an extreme role so well. How did he come to be so immersive? What kind of personality does he actually have?"

At this moment, even Wang Haiyang found it somewhat unbelievable, shaking his head and saying, "Generally speaking, an actor's sense of conviction and immersion comes from their resonance with the character, right? How can he resonate with both of these extreme characters?"

This is probably the most unbelievable, shocking, and even awe-inspiring part for Wang Haiyang.

However, Jiang Li said something from the side.

“Hey, you can’t say that. Who says Fugui isn’t a hero? He was able to survive under those circumstances and keep living. He is a ‘hero’ in the first place. He knows the pain of life, and then bravely faces it, bravely lives on, and keeps going. He is a true hero.”

"You're also into TV dramas?"

"Hmm, who can argue with that?"

Wang Haiyang was somewhat surprised by this, not expecting Jiang Li to be a television drama type.

It's worth noting that Huayi Brothers was one of the producers of "To Live" at the time, and it's surprising that they would approve of the TV version.

Jiang Li chuckled and said.

Departments are departments, and I am me. I have my own insights and expressions about art—that is, "To Live" is definitely not, as people say, a work that brings pain.

Her discerning eye led her to believe that Yu Hua wanted to bring people the power of life, which is why he created "To Live".

"Well, it's undeniable that you have a different perspective, but everyone has their own interpretation of Hamlet, so there's some truth to what you're saying. With the ratings, the TV series version of 'To Live' has already 'won,' so this matter won't be debated any further."

"Well, in a sense, Li Xuan also 'won'."

"To Live" was successfully completed, and Li Xuan's acting skills were amazing, managing to handle two completely different roles.

Regardless of whether he is a true 'hero' or not.

But they are indeed different roles in terms of their underlying nature.

At least the generalization of 'lofty' and 'humble' is completely grasped.

It's a genuine one.
Completely master different types of roles.

This display of acting skill is indeed genuine.

You want viewership ratings.

As for my request for the interpretation rights of "To Live," I suppose we can say that everyone gets what they need in this regard.

They constantly proclaim their superior position.

This kind of domineering attitude.

This is how literature should be understood.

The majority is always right.

However, for Li Xuan...

There were quite a few different opinions.

The TV series "To Live" has now finished airing.
The ratings for this new slot showed absolutely no sign of diminishing Li Xuan's popularity.

The Central Academy of Drama had already been breached, but it had never been suppressed as thoroughly as it has this time.

One person's weight can make people unable to lift their heads.

Although many of the younger students don't feel as much pressure as their peers.

They might also think that Li Xuan's arrogance stemmed from this.

It's because they weren't born in the same school year as me.

Wait for me to make my move!

We will surely be able to capture Li Xuan!

Of course, this is only for those who are unaware of the situation. Anyone who has been on set knows what kind of background Li Xuan has.

All we can do is pray and wait.

Waiting to see how the scandal surrounding "The Young Pioneers" will affect him.

"He was really impressive. I thought I could be his match back then, but now it seems I was just a laughing stock."

At that moment, Wen Zhang, who was filming on set, was watching Li Xuan's heroic figure in the lounge. The old man leading the ox, to ordinary viewers, was an interpretation of his life in that glance back. But for Wen Zhang, who was also a graduate of the acting academy, it was a different story.

Then we saw an acting performance that was hard to match.

Too strong.

That unparalleled gaze was unleashed.

This acting ability.

The gap is too big.

It's difficult for most people to consider him a rival.

Although he was unwilling, that's just how the gap is between people, there's nothing he can do about it. The only thing that gave him a somewhat dark sense of relief was that Zhang Mo, who had such a strong connection, could now only follow in his footsteps.

Faced with absolute purity, even those with connections and considerable influence were powerless to resist.

Just looking at Zhang Mo's slightly depressed expression...

Wen Zhang thought he might be able to eat three more big bowls today.

These days, Zhang Guoli no longer beats or scolds his son Li Xuan because of his behavior.

We can't catch up, we simply can't catch up. Even if I pile up all my resources on him, we still can't catch up.

This generation consists of "protagonists" who graduated from film and television schools.

Li Xuan was the leader.

The strongest graduates of this generation.

Regardless of how the industry's investors will treat him in the future, or what kind of relationship he will develop with them, at least for now, during his student days, he is undoubtedly the number one.

There's no need to discuss other relationships and possibilities.

Acting skills, comprehensive character portrayal ability, and ability to handle multiple genres.

"Don't worry about it. This career is a marathon. Being ahead now doesn't guarantee being ahead in the future. The topics he's good at now might not be popular in the future..."

Zhang Guoli stopped mid-sentence.

Even he himself felt that these words were mostly self-comforting.

Even words of comfort have become so hypocritical that he himself doesn't believe them. As things stand, he's truly targeting this group of male protagonists who are approaching middle age.

I've only just graduated, yet I'm already competing with them on the same platform.

At the very least, they are comparable.

This is horrible.

It's not that my son can catch up, even if he has to stop because of certain things... such as the unexpected mishap of the "Young Students" incident that everyone anticipated.

Even if this happens, it will only be the students and principal of Beijing Film Academy who suffer the consequences. For Li Xuan, it will not have too much negative impact. On the contrary, this courage and pioneering spirit will become part of his resume.

This is the courage to betray the world.

The allure of using others as stepping stones becomes the price to pay on one's path forward.

"Just how wide is his range of acting skills and subject matter?"

Zhang Mo doesn't care about these things; as an actress, she naturally focuses on acting skills.

It's Li Xuan's part as an actor that's enough to make Zhang Mo despair. Why is there such a big difference between people?
Is it a genetic issue?
My dad's fault?

For some reason, Zhang Guoli suddenly felt an urge to beat his son again.
At this moment, Zhang Mo sensed that his father's love was about to arrive, so he quickly changed the subject.

"However, he was also very lucky. The fact that 'To Live' achieved such a slightly better-than-expected result this time is largely thanks to the director's understanding of the script."

The adaptations are entirely based on the creative team's understanding of the script.

The director of the TV series version of "To Live" has taken a different approach and come up with a completely new understanding of the script, which is nothing to complain about.

"Hmm, Director Zhu Zhengwen's understanding of the script is indeed quite good," Zhang Guoli said casually. "Choosing a script is also part of an actor's ability."

"I deny that actors have ever had the right to choose scripts."

"I"

Zhang Guoli wanted to refute, but at this moment he was speechless.

Back in the days when he was at the height of his acting career, when he and the entire domestic entertainment industry were just starting out, he certainly had considerable autonomy. But now, does he really have that kind of autonomy?
Yes, there are people at his level.

But what about their sons' generation, their level?
Previously, Zhang Guoli had never thought about this question, or rather...

It has nothing to do with him.

"They all say you're lucky, damn it. Why don't they have some luck too? The bosses choose their own scripts—oh wait, even if they're lucky, it's useless. After all, they're the ones who get the scripts assigned to them."

At this moment, Zhu Yawen was in full swing as a troll on the campus network, showing no mercy when she started criticizing others.

You guys keep talking about luck, why don't you find yourselves a better script?

Can't find it?

Still can't get in?
Since we can't find it or get in.

Then why say our boss has "luck"?
"It's no use arguing with them. In a little while, they'll start saying that the script for 'To Live' is unorthodox, a mess of alterations, a pathetic compromise and flattery made to cater to the audience, and that it has even lost the essence of the original novel."

"How do you know so much?"

Zhu Yawen actually found comments below that were just as Luo Jin had described, which were not only full of sour grapes but also made her a laughing stock.

“Anonymity works like this: if you let them use their real names, you can guarantee that they will all be more civilized than the last. But now that everyone is anonymous, of course they will argue however they want.”

Luo Jin chuckled and said...
The acting, the chemistry, and the 'ratings' of this project are truly enviable. As a project that seemed destined for awards, the fact that it achieved such good ratings is what makes people deeply jealous.

But in a sense, luck is also a part of life.

Many people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth; isn't his luck just that?

That's what this statement means.
"Actually, I think the TV series 'To Live' is much better. To be honest, I have a bit of a depressive tendency, so I know I won't touch works like this because I know I can't find happiness or positive strength in them."

At this moment, Luo Jin spoke softly.

"But in this book, 'To Live,' I found a kind of strength and saw what it means to be a hero who never compromises in the face of life."

If we were to say what the biggest stain on the industry is regarding "To Live"...

If it means the 'essence' has been altered.

It's a thousand Hamlets, belonging to the film version.

But Luo Jin's "To Live" is the TV series version.

The only person I truly admire is Li Xuan; there is no one else.
However, Li Xuan was much more carefree than others had imagined, at the height of the controversy surrounding the conclusion of the broadcast of "To Live".

Li Xuan had a good rest at home for a while. Whether it was watching dramas, playing computer games, or watching TV, he truly experienced life on the eve of graduation.

If they were college students from other universities, they would probably be busy with autumn recruitment now, taking their first step out of the campus.

"Fugui is a hero of life... I admire him. If I were in that situation, I probably wouldn't have the courage to 'live'." Wei Ming was still reflecting on this. After reading it, he felt that the previous versions of "To Live" had been demonized. Although this work was a bit tragic, it was still quite healing.

However, the current trend of public opinion seems to suggest that healing was not the original author's intention.

On the contrary, the film's depressing tone is what the author intended; that's what those who support the film say.
"Right, I don't know what the author was thinking, but to me, Fugui is a bastard. But no matter how much of a bastard he is, he's also a hero who bravely faces life and survives. That's how I understand it, and that's how I portray him."

Li Xuan chuckled.

Next up are "Chu Liuxiang" and "The Young Students".
The upcoming filming schedule will place even greater emphasis on resource allocation, as it will involve even more blatant competition for resources.
And my next goal.

It's all about 'winning the prize'.

These are the projects that are both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, but have very different personalities, from the Huabiao to the Magnolia Awards.
If others heard this, they would think Li Xuan had gone mad.

If challenging someone of Huang Xiaoming's caliber is considered a "feat," then constantly talking about aiming for the Best Actor award would probably be seen as delusional, especially since it's done as a "celebrity."

That means they're aiming for awards with works that are both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

Since they are not on the 'actor' route, they naturally choose works that are more suitable for winning awards.

An actor who wins a bunch of awards can only be an actor; when they get old, they'll be known as a veteran actor.

If a celebrity wins a bunch of awards, then in the end they become a big star, a superstar.

Back then, you might have been taking on scripts and filming them yourself, or you might have been competing head-on with others, showcasing your resume, acting skills, and resources.
In any case, the goal for the next stage is still very clear, or rather, in essence, what I'm doing isn't much different from what I did before.

Improve yourself and choose good scripts.

That's it.

"fortunately."

At this very moment, Huang Xiaoming, who was waiting for "The Banquet" and "Curse of the Golden Flower", was once again brought into the public eye by Li Xuan's "To Live".

It wasn't too surprising, as he had watched parts of "To Live" on and off.

There's not much to say; Li Xuan's acting skills are indeed formidable, as is his ability to handle diverse genres.

Even Huang Xiaoming has to admire him to that extent.

Even Zhao Yanzi noticed that Li Xuan turned around and glanced at this junior.

'good'

This is Zhao Yanzi telling Chen Kun, who then tells Huang Xiaoming her evaluation of Li Xuan.

Even Huang Xiaoming himself never received a positive evaluation from Zhao Yanzi.

Li Xuan, however, received this evaluation.

Although Huang Xiaoming was indignant about this, he could only say that he was waiting for what was to come.

Waiting for the release of "The Banquet".

Everything else is just background noise.

As for "To Live," the noise brought by Li Xuan was expected, but there was still a lot of it.

While Li Xuan's acting skills have certainly been recognized and impressed, many people attribute most of the credit to Zhu Zhengwen, the director of "To Live," a director whose reputation is mixed.

It makes the work more accessible to a wider audience, but its literary quality is inferior to the film version of "To Live".

The film, by 'misinterpreting' the original author's meaning, loses its original essence, thus attracting more viewers and higher ratings.
"Fortunately, it's a mixed bag of praise and criticism; otherwise, if it had brought both fame and fortune, Li Xuan would have benefited even more."

Huang Xiaoming murmured.

He knew that his mindset at that moment wasn't very good.

What I actually hoped for was that the other party's progress would be slower.

As Li Xuan went through round after round, Huang Xiaoming felt a sense of fear.

The thought of hoping he would slow down made him feel ashamed and angry.

Damn it, I'm the senior.

I hope the younger generation will take it a little slower.

Isn't it just that deep down you feel that if things continue like this, it's only a matter of time before you get caught up?

Confidence must be restored.

The key to rebuilding confidence lies in "The Banquet" and "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

It lies in these two works.

My own performance in these two works.

When my two works are screened.

I am still the winner.

I am still Huang Xiaoming, always striving to climb upwards.

After taking a deep breath, Huang Xiaoming, who had already begun to regain his confidence, was finally able to do so.

But then I heard something that shocked me like a bolt from the blue.

The controversy surrounding "To Live" is not over yet.

After the "popularity" was achieved.

There have been numerous and persistent questions about whether the script was adapted correctly, but now a heavyweight figure has stepped forward to support the TV series.

His name is Shi Tiesheng.

Yu Hua's buddy.

A heavyweight figure in the Chinese writers' circle.

(End of this chapter)