Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

Yang Che subconsciously made a "Godfather" gesture: "Wen Yiduo, round-framed glasses, black robe, gray scarf, fake mustache. Prepare two sets."

Lu Wei, who was writing furiously, replied, "Okay, Brother Che."

Liu Chang then took out the script and storyboard and handed them to Zu Feng.

"Prepare well."

"Okay, senior."

Yang Che waved his hand: "Continue."

"Hello everyone, my name is Guo Xiaodong."

"Um...security guard, where are you from?"

Linyi, Shandong Province.

Yang Che suddenly switched to Shandong dialect, which is more like Quancheng dialect, and said, "Speak Linpu dialect, and make yourself look even more simple and honest. The security guard uniform is from our warehouse."

People burst into laughter.

Guo Xiaodong smiled and said in his local dialect, "Hope you'll be safe."

Liu Chang handed over the script, and even the security guard had quite a few lines.

Hao Yi replied while taking notes, "Understood, Brother Che."

Huang Xiaoming, who was watching, was shaking all over. Che Ge was so cool.

"Hello Che-ge, hello everyone, my name is Huang Xiaoming, from the 96 class of the Performing Arts Department."

Yang Che stroked his chin: "Play a classmate. If we let Xiaoman play the role, all the classmates would need a different makeup and costume. We're filming in 2019."

Liu Chang replied, "Understood, Brother Che."

As Yang Che looked towards the next person, Huang Xiaoming spoke up: "Brother Che, don't I have a script?"

"A line or two."

"I see."

Seeing Huang Xiaoming's disappointment, Yang Che said in a serious tone, "There's nothing I can do about it, you're just too handsome."

"Pfft"

Kong Wei burst out laughing, which immediately drew laughter from everyone in the room. Huang Xiaoming also grinned, laughing heartily.

Seeing that it was about time, Yang Che waved his hand to signal to continue.

"Yan Danchen..."

Yang Che looked at her still slightly chubby face and said calmly, "Female director, hair in a bun, big black-rimmed glasses, exquisite makeup, suit skirt, white shirt, black stockings."

Lu Wei responded, "Okay, Brother Che."

Upon receiving the script, Yan Danchen wondered to herself, "Is this a mission film?" But then she thought, "It should be quite beautiful."

"...Shi Guanghui..."

"Wen Yiduo's makeup and styling are the same as Zu Feng's."

"Okay, Che-ge."

"...Kong Wei..."

"classmate."

"..."

After assigning the acting students to their tasks, Yang Che had them take the scripts and leave.

They started arranging other tasks. Since they had been working together for two months, their efficiency was naturally very high.

I have absolutely no recollection of casting child actor Yang Che. The main issue is that he cast a little boy; otherwise, he would have directly cast Yang Mi.

Everyone could only rack their brains and offer their opinions.

Finally, Liu Chang slapped his thigh: "The Galaxy Art Troupe!"

..........

When Hou Keming entered the office, the group had already finished their discussion and compiled a list of items.

Hou Keming took the production form from Liu Chang and looked at it. He was so happy. This student was indeed someone he had shamelessly "begged" for. Now it was time to see the results.

Then he pulled out the signed approval form: "Go collect the money."

By the afternoon of the next day, the house in Courtyard No. 8 had been set up like a film set, just a bit messy with lots of toys. Since they weren't shooting with a wide-angle lens, there wasn't much to do.

Right now, the most eye-catching thing in the house is a large national map next to an equally large watercolor painting, which is Lin Mu's painting of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

Of course, most people see the realistic depiction of Hong Kong; the bridge is painted beautifully and spectacularly.

A very pretty little boy with a bowl cut is also looking up at the watercolor painting.

"Director, will such a bridge really exist 20 years from now?"

Clearly, Yang Che didn't have time to give a 10-year-old a lesson in patriotism. He spoke very quickly, "Of course, didn't you say all the lines? By the way, have you memorized your lines?"

"It's ripe, very ripe."

This child's name is Dai Xu. He's from CCTV's Galaxy Art Troupe. He participated in a related program when Hong Kong returned to China in 97, so he's very familiar with the place. The little guy is also very lively.

Yes, the Galaxy Art Troupe that Wang Fei, Cai Guoqing, and Da Zhangwei used to work for.

Yang Che glanced at Guo Xiaodong, who was wearing a security guard uniform, and Zu Feng, who was wearing a long robe and a scarf and was covered in sweat, and nodded.

Everything is ready.

Guo Xiaodong and Zu Feng arrived outside and began knocking on the door.

Xiao Daixu shouted, "Who is it?"

Zu Feng: "I..."

Guo Xiaodong, speaking in a thick Linpu accent, quickly said, "I'll do it, I'll do it."

Then, while rhythmically knocking on the door, he said, "One sesame cake."

The door opened.

Xiao Daixu excitedly shouted, "Dad!"

Watching the monitor, Yang Che thought this kid's acting was much better than Gao Yuanyuan's...

The subsequent filming went surprisingly smoothly, perhaps because the actors were all quite talented, and the director's requirements weren't too high.

Yang Che felt he had high standards, and he really enjoyed filming, even though he was often behind the monitor.

I really don't have that kind of thinking if I'm not sitting here. What kind of thinking? It's that I'm thinking about how to make the image on the monitor more three-dimensional from beginning to end.

For example, one might think:

What music would be best to accompany this scene?

"The camera angle I envisioned when writing the script isn't suitable; I need to adjust it and try it out."

"It seems like natural light would be better for this, let's give it a try."

"This kind of performance seems a bit exaggerated; let's try a different style."

"......."

That's all. Yang Che summarized: This is watching the monitor with an editing mindset.

When Liu Chang heard this, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. After a long while, he said, "Brother Che, your words have enlightened me on the profession of director."

It was the afternoon of October 22nd when the small screening room at the Beijing Film Academy was converted into a cultural performance venue.

Elementary school students from a nearby school, with rosy cheeks and dressed in formal attire, sang "The Song of the Seven Sons."

Shi Guanghui, who plays Wen Yiduo, recites "The Song of the Seven Sons" with great emotion.

Elementary school students don't need to rehearse at all; they can pick it up immediately. After all, it's estimated that elementary schools all over the country are rehearsing this song right now...

"Mother, oh Mother, I want to come back..."

"Okay, that's a pass. Thank you everyone!"

Just as everyone was packing up, Yang Che heard some students who had only come to fill in whispers:

A: "Holy crap, they really dare to dream of building a bridge across nearly 60 kilometers of ocean?"

B: "Haha, it's artistic creation."

C: "That's nothing. Didn't you hear the last line? There's one more. We'll come back after it's finished."

Ding: "Then they definitely won't be coming back. I get it. This director is amazing; this is about left-behind children..."

"Hahaha"

"No wonder all the scripts from the literature and directing departments were rejected; they're not good at being sentimental or flattering."

"hehe...."

"......"

Liu Chang on stage suddenly paused, turned around, and pointed: "Hey, which bastards said that? I'll fucking kill you! Was it you guys?"