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

Chapter 278, Zhu Zhengwen: I'm coming clean, Li Xuan is the one who completely controls "To Live"!!

At this time, Wang Fengsheng, Wang Jinsong, and the others were also paying attention to the public opinion surrounding this TV series adaptation.

After all, this work is also the work of my student, and it's the work of the student I have the most faith in and the one I like the most.

"Shi Tiesheng actually stood up and spoke out too," Wang Jinsong murmured. In the literary world, Shi Tiesheng was the person he admired the most.

Shi Tiesheng is a renowned writer who was physically disabled but determined.

A renowned writer of our time, worthy of being called a literary giant.

Aside from writing, he rarely expresses his opinions in interviews or news reports—or rather, all his understanding and insights about life and himself are incorporated into his books.

He wasn't always optimistic about life, after all, all sorts of unfortunate things had happened to him that most people couldn't even imagine: disability, organ disease. These things would be really hard for ordinary people to accept, but for him, they had become a part of his life.

If Fugui is the embodiment of 'living'.

Then Shi Tiesheng was truly 'alive'.

Of course, he once said that he survived because of friendship. For him, Yu Hua and a few others were the driving force for maintaining his life energy and the hope for him to live.

"For me, the TV series 'To Live' is more like a literary work that I like. I saw my own shadow in Fugui. I don't know if Yu Hua created this unlucky character based on me. All the unlucky things in this world happened to him, but he is still alive, just like me now. Although my health has deteriorated quite a bit, I am still alive. I still have a kind of courage. I am still alive~ (laughs)."

It was only after he spoke that I suddenly realized.

In terms of misery, Shi Tiesheng seems to be no less tragic. The lives of ordinary people start from zero, and no matter how many ups and downs they experience, they eventually fall back to zero.

Shi Tiesheng's life was a negative number.

When you feel that Fugui's resilience is somewhat unrealistic, you might want to take a look at Shi Tiesheng—

And this time, he is clearly endorsing the TV drama version of "To Live".

This led many people to leave their comments on media platforms such as Douban and Sina Blog.

With a leader in place, the public opinion seemed to show signs of a reversal, with the majority opposing the 'tyranny' of the minority.

When the number of people updating the score reached a certain point, the Douban rating soared to 8.6.

That's when people suddenly realize something.

It turns out that the majority of people are from the drama version!

A complete reversal.

That happened when Yu Hua stepped forward.

The original author put it very directly.

After watching the TV series adaptation of "To Live," I was reminded of the emotions I felt when it was created—it was exactly the same.

Many people think they understand "To Live" better, but when the original author comes forward, even those who think they understand it completely can no longer understand it.

No matter how knowledgeable you are, can you be as knowledgeable as the original author?

The only people who know more than the original author exist in the realm of 'reading comprehension' questions.

As the creator, he has the final right of interpretation.

"Sigh, wouldn't you say this is a betrayal of the movie version?"

Yu Hua also struggled for a short period of time, after all, the film version of "To Live" brought him fame and fortune. It can be said that in the eyes of the world, "To Live" is a depressing work.

He wavered, but seeing Shi Tiesheng stand up and speak, he still expressed his opinion.

There's a paradox in creation: if you start out aiming for fame and fortune, you're unlikely to produce good work. Creation always has an initial intention, a theme, a core point.

The novel *To Live* contains just that.

This thing called original intention
Therefore, Yu Hua still came out to 'explain' his point of view.

Use public platforms to express your opinions.
The TV series adaptation of "To Live" is exactly how I envision it.

"Backstabbing? I don't think so. After all, so-called 'adaptations' are essentially secondary creations by the creators. If everything follows the original work, then the meaning of adaptation is not that great." Mo Yan, who was standing next to him, said, "I also think the movie version may not necessarily be wrong."

"Hmm~ Right?"

"It's really a reversal! He actually stood up to explain the tone of his work. It seems that Yu Hua really cares about this work, and he doesn't care if he loses some fans because of it." Xu Xiang said admiringly, "He is a true scholar with the integrity of a literary man."

Although he may appear carefree and often jokes about the suffering of his audience and readers, he himself has his own pursuit of art.

This time, stepping forward is proof of that.

"It doesn't mean that Zhang Yimou's film is wrong. I know that there are still many people in the literary world who support Zhang Yimou's film version, feeling that it is more in line with the times, more in line with the pain of most people, and a more realistic reflection. But in any case, this time, the Northwest circle has produced a famous director."

Wang Fengsheng also felt a slight sense of appreciation at this moment.

This time, the Northwest circle has achieved some results.

A person with their own unique ability to understand scripts.

His name is Zhu Zhengwen?
Then Xu Xiang, who was standing next to him, laughed out loud.

"While you were still marveling at the talent of this Northwest director, I had already sent someone to make contact with him."

"You're really quick!"

"Haha, isn't that how I always am?"

Xu Xiang was standing next to him, smiling.
This time, I won again. The director from the Northwest circle who I contacted first had his own students given higher priority.

The Northwest film circle is inherently adept at humanistic, rural, and mainstream themes. Many older generation mainstream directors come from this circle. If we had to point out something, the biggest problem in this circle is the lack of successors. Whether it's directors, actors, or producers, there's a lack of continuity.

But now.
This director, Zhu Zhengwen, came out.

It’s not bad.

The loess land has nurtured many talented people.

"It seems I still can't compare to you." At this moment, Wang Fengsheng showed an expression of genuine admiration: "You shouldn't be the principal, you should go into business."

"Hmm, this kind of thinking is useful no matter what I do~"

Just as Xu Xiang was about to savor the feeling of 'I won again'...

A clarification was issued.

This is a statement from director Zhu Zhengwen and the crew of the TV series "To Live".

The fact that it turned out this way is not my achievement at all. I only provided the script, but the tone and rhythm of the character development were entirely led by the lead actor.

It was entirely the protagonist's own idea to act that way.

After seeing this message.

Xu Xiang finally couldn't hold back anymore.

They were all rubbing their eyes.

this.
How is this going?

At this moment, Wang Fengsheng, who was in the office, was also somewhat taken aback.
Look at that expression.

Wang Fengsheng also seemed genuinely unaware.
"you"

Why do you seem more surprised than I am?

Once the results are in, the remaining plot disputes are just minor incidents, at least for the production team. Whether they are authentic or not, they have no impact on the overall production.

The ratings and whether or not we get award nominations won't have much of an impact.

But it has an impact on directors and creators.

And the impact is significant.

After the plot twist of "Alive" completely reversed, the criticism of Zhu Zhengwen turned into praise, which can be said to have boosted Zhu Zhengwen's fame.

But at this moment, he suddenly stood up and said that the credit for rewriting the script did not belong to him. It was all the lead actor's performance and his own understanding of the script that set the tone. He said that he was just filming according to the script, nothing more.

Even Ge Pengyan specifically sought out Zhu Zhengwen.

You're so foolish.

This is clearly a great opportunity to make a name for ourselves, which would be of great benefit to both you and the industry. Why should we give the credit to someone else?

Ge Pengyan didn't understand at all.

I really don't understand.

"I know that making this decision was very difficult for me. In fact, when I learned that I might have a slight advantage over the current number one director in China in some aspects, the excitement I felt at that moment was genuine, and the temptation was extremely strong."

Ge Pengyan saw the struggle in his eyes.

I saw that inner conflict.

There was also extreme wavering and excitement.

But in the end, they didn't do it.

Ge Pengyan also looked at Zhu Zhengwen, wanting to hear the director's explanation.

He wasn't born and raised in the Northwest circle; he's actually from the Northeast circle. He's considered an outlier in his family. Apart from him, all his elders, brothers, and sisters are civil servants, and the younger generation is preparing for the civil service exam. His family's tradition is to understand interpersonal relationships every day. Regardless of his professional skills, his interpersonal skills are definitely up to par.

At least I won't do anything foolish. "First of all, this really wasn't my achievement, and it was definitely Li Xuan who set the pace. I was just stating the facts. In other words, I don't have the ability to uncover the potential of a script, and I'm aware of my own abilities. If I were to be praised for this..."

"Wouldn't it be terrible if the truth came out later? It's better to tell the truth here. The honors that are rightfully mine will be mine, but if those that are not rightfully mine are forced upon me, then I will be the one who pays the price."

That's incredibly clear-headed.

Ge Pengyan was unable to refute it.

"That's right, and that's a very reasonable reason."

"Moreover, I don't want to be the one to stick my neck out. Our initial plan for the living crew was to create a low-budget film version, but now it seems that in some aspects, we have an advantage over the film version by this top Chinese director. This is not a good thing, as it offends him. Whether he thinks so or not, can he accept this slight advantage? Is he satisfied with it?"

The calm analysis convinced Ge Pengyan completely.

No wonder he comes from a family with a long tradition of civil service jobs.

You should quit being a director and go for an administrative position; those jobs are more suitable for you.

Because what he said was indeed the most logical thing in the world.
The safest option right now is to avoid offending the big-name director.

At least, I didn't lose anything that belonged to me; in fact, I received more than I should have.

As for the honors and risks that belong to Li Xuan himself.

He should bear the consequences himself.

But regardless of the circumstances, the original author's endorsement can bring a definitive conclusion to this matter.

That is, the true essence of "To Live" lies in the TV series!

The original author has already said so, so what's there to argue about?

This isn't a college entrance exam reading comprehension section; the power to score lies with the examiners.
This incident caused some ripples within Huayi Brothers, but it didn't have a significant impact. After all, it was a project from the 1990s, and almost ten years have passed since then. Any impact will fade with time.

Further dwelling on it will only increase the popularity of the TV series "To Live".

Soon, the marketing department's resources were redirected back to promoting the film "Curse of the Golden Flower".

For Zhang Mouzi

There's not much to say about it, and it has had a negligible impact on his current career. Some people even watched the movie version because of the TV series, which is actually beneficial.

After all, not everyone agrees with what the author says.

Some people even believe that the movie version came first, and then the novel.

Regardless of whether this reasoning is right or wrong.

But at this point, Zhang Mouzi was not so able to let go.

While he was fully immersed in his new film.

This message is like a thorn in my side.

Like a hangnail that hangs across the thumb.

He won't have much of a real impact on you, but he can definitely make you feel very annoyed, extremely annoyed.

"Li Xuan."

At this moment, Li Xuan's name is extremely popular, and he is considered quite well-known in the entire industry.

It could even be described as somewhat explosive.

The pacing of the TV series "To Live" was actually controlled by Li Xuan.

Isn't that just telling others?

He was actually doing more than just playing the lead role here. His actions went far beyond the boundaries of what it means to be an actor.

It vaguely implies a dominant figure.

Generally speaking, the director is the one in charge of a film crew, but Li Xuan has become the one in charge, which is shocking.

"Your school is really lucky to have produced a student like Li Xuan. You've had all the luck in your life on this student."

At this moment, Xu Xiang didn't know what to say, and even felt a sense of powerlessness. He deeply understood what it meant that in the face of absolute luck, strength really meant nothing.

Judging from the current situation, Li Xuan is definitely a figure who will leave a significant mark on this industry.

“I also feel that the luck of my life lies in finding this student, his growth experience, and his talent and potential.”

Wang Fengsheng suddenly felt like he had won without even trying.

Li Xuan today.

One thing that can be basically confirmed is that he was the best one this year.

Taking this academic year as an example.

I'm afraid no one can compare to him.

Even among the entire new generation of actors, they are among the most outstanding.

They even possess some unique skills that others don't, such as the technique of drawing people into the story in the film "To Live".

This wasn't his responsibility, but Li Xuan... he did it anyway.

It can be said that this is truly unique among the new generation of young actors.

Most people only head in this direction after the flowering season has passed or when they are more mature, but Li Xuan has shown this talent here.

Does that mean there's a real chance for "The Young Pioneers" to be adapted into a TV series?
At this moment, Wang Fengsheng couldn't help but think of something.

Xu Xiang, who was standing next to him, also thought of this.

"The Young Students"
It seems that, at present, it is not entirely unfounded.

As for Li Xuan himself...

Director Zhu's honesty is indeed surprising, but upon closer reflection, it makes sense. Honesty is one aspect, but not wanting to be targeted by Zhang Yimou is also a genuine concern. Regardless of whether Zhang Yimou will remember it, being watched is definitely not a good thing.

At least, Zhu Zhengwen neither wanted nor dared to have any friction with the bigwigs in Beijing's elite circles.

Of course, for Li Xuan, it was nothing more than a case of "the more lice, the less it itches." He had already offended the Beijing elite circle to the point of no return. In fact, he was only using his student status as a last resort.

Having lost his student status, the major companies in Beijing's business circle will likely have to teach those who have provoked him, and those who want to provoke him, what capital truly means.
Now, his popularity is soaring, and this "low-budget Huang Xiaoming" is indeed showing increasing strength and arrogance. But for the Beijing entertainment circle, it seems he is getting closer and closer to his doom. Losing his student status is when he will strike hard.

Wei Ming had inquired about everything for Li Xuan during this period. Indeed, the power of capital had been at play. As of now, there were no projects for next year, or rather, none of the scripts Li Xuan had taken a liking to. Apart from the Beijing film circle, the CCTV circle and the Northwest circle had also sent some scattered productions, but they were all small-budget productions, some small works that people thought would not be 'targeted' even if they hired Li Xuan.

Moreover, some Hong Kong erotic films approached us and even warmly welcomed us.

Having acting skills, good looks, and the ability to get into character—these qualities are rare resources.

"Sure, they were quite generous with the payment."

At this moment, Li Xuan felt something was strange. The pay for those erotic films was very generous, with some even offering millions of dollars.

There is a slight premium, but in reality, in terms of market value, they already consider themselves to be at the near-top-tier level.
If we convert that to the standards of a TV series, it would be close to 80,000 yuan per episode.
Regardless of whether they get suitable roles or not, their market value is recognized within the industry.

No matter how much you suppress someone, their net worth, status, and level are all based on this.

“They all say that you reached your peak at the beginning of your career and then fell at lightning speed. Without the support of the Beijing film circle, the largest Chinese-language film and television circle, it would be difficult to continue.”

At this moment, Wei Ming clicked his tongue and said, "They don't know you have the ability to direct your own films. What kind of expressions will they have when 'The Young Pioneers' is released?"

Unlike most people who were not optimistic about Li Xuan's "The Young Pioneers", Wei Ming remained optimistic and trusting, and was quite looking forward to the release of the film.

There's no rush.

Li Xuan was not in a hurry at this point.
There's really no rush.

The entertainment industry, at least for now, has one very significant characteristic: the Beijing entertainment circle hasn't reached the point of having absolute control.

When it comes to acting, once you demonstrate a certain level of potential and ability, you'll always get offers to act.

Just like the TV series "Plot Against" back then.

“Well, there’s no rush for this. You still have another one, ‘The Legend of Chu Liuxiang,’ right? They’ve asked you to handle the publicity and distribution for it in Beiping.” At this moment, Wei Ming said with great interest, “In fact, the publicity and distribution venue for ‘The Return of the Condor Heroes’ is right next door.”

This is actually a bit subtle.

"Hmm, the most controversial film is about to be released."

At this moment, Li Xuan chuckled and said.

"To Live" has temporarily come to a temporary end—but it is not completely over.

The ratings are over, but there's still the award thing to come.

It may not win an award, but this kind of work is bound to go through those award rounds.

Even if the producers were aiming for high viewership, this type of work still has a certain advantage in winning awards; it's at least worth trying.
However, both "To Live" and "The Plot" are relatively niche works.

"Chu Liuxiang" covers all aspects.

This simultaneous release with "The Return of the Condor Heroes" is a huge boon for the entertainment industry.

How dare you, a Gu Long author, put your work on par with Jin Yong's?
Aren't they afraid that this time slot will ruin their own ratings?
(End of this chapter)