Xu Xin's heart could no longer be described as surprised.

Looking straight at Zhang Yimou...

His eyes are getting weirder.

I couldn't help but say:

"What...what do you mean?"

"literal meaning."

Holding the pen in his hand, the director from the West Film Studio shrugged.

Full of interest.

Perhaps, for him, movies are the best medicine to relax his mind at this moment.

He didn't hide anything and spoke straightforwardly:

"Although I don't want to talk to you so much now...because at your age, knowing so much now may not necessarily be a good thing for you."

"If you didn't tell me, I would feel even worse if you hung me up."

"..."

Hearing Xu Xin's words, Zhang Yimou nodded slightly:

"Well... the film and television industry also has its own challenges, you know?"

"Major movie studios?"

"It used to be, but now, it's basically just a few circles. Beijing circle, Hong Kong circle, Shanghai circle, and our place."

He pointed to the table in front of him:

"Northwest Circle."

"Well……"

Xu Xin was stunned for a moment and suddenly became interested:

"Why does it sound like a gang? Who is the most powerful? It should be us, right?"

"Bullshit gang."

Zhang Yimou was speechless.

Why is it that what you said to me in one sentence is the same as defining a gang of gangsters...

"But you are right about one thing...at least, in terms of honor, we are the most powerful."

honor……

Hearing this, Xu Xin thought for a while and said:

"Why does it sound like it is supported by several film studios? Yanjing Film Studio, Magic City Film Studio, Xiying Film... That's not right, what about Changchun? I can understand the Hong Kong circle, Hong Kong and Taiwan filmmakers. Changchun Film Factory

Woolen cloth?"

"He was beaten to death."

The middle-aged man told a cruel reality calmly.

"From the first movie of the New Heavenly Dynasty to the excellent works such as "Five Golden Flowers" and "Shangganling"... just like other heavy industries back then, step by step, with the changes of the times, they inevitably declined. And

Nowadays, most of the film resources in the Northeast are concentrated in Benshan, and he is actively promoting and interpreting the story of white mountains and black soil. The few TV series in the past few years are the epitome of the culture of an era. People of your generation may not feel it, but in our

At that time... who didn't yearn for the Northeast?"

"Well……"

Indeed, Director Zhang is right.

On this point, Xu Xin really can't empathize...

He has never experienced the prosperity of the Northeast and is not a native of the Northeast, so he cannot empathize with it in this regard.

After thinking for a while, he said:

"So since this thing has its own personal circle, there must be a level, right? How...is it divided? Or...are there any conditions for joining?"

"We can't talk about the conditions for joining, but when it comes to division, it's actually the same as what we just said. How the earliest directors could tell who they belonged to depended on which film studio they belonged to. For example, Chen Kaige, he was obviously a member of Yan

He is from Beijing, but he has a very obvious label from the northwest circle. Because he and I were both directors at the Western Film Studio at the time, so to speak, that was the way it was at that time. But now that the film studios have been reorganized, directors are creating

There is a lot of freedom on the Internet, so this label is gradually replaced by a method... similar to a dating circle."

"For example?"

"For example...well, Liang Binning, you know, right?"

"That's for sure, Princess Huanzhu, golden lock."

"She is from Shandong, but look at the people she is friends with? Qiong Yao is not mentioned, she is an artist signed by Wang Jinghua. Does Wang Jinghua know?"

"have no idea……"

"..."

Hearing Xu Xin's sincere confession, Zhang Yimou's mouth twitched, which was quite a bit of a joke.

So I stopped explaining these twists and turns that are still troublesome for "newbies" and said directly:

"In short, although several film studios no longer share the world, you can also understand that the film studios have declined, but the circle is still there. Do you understand? These circles do not mean to consciously absorb you, but

It is said that you will be assimilated by them unconsciously.

How to assimilate? For example, take Yang Mi. After filming the movie "Golden Armor", first of all, what did she gain? Looking for a girl, right? At this time, for example, she also wanted to find a movie elsewhere.

Why can't we talk to her? I just talked to a few friends around me. Regardless of the screenwriter or management, she has a greater chance of getting the same role than others. Do you understand this?"

"I can, because of you."

"Yes. Yang Mi and my friends have achieved each other's success, but similarly, as her status rises, she used to ask others for roles. But what happens after she becomes famous? For example, another friend wants to be cast in a certain movie.

She. If someone else approached her, she might not accept the role. But it happened that this friend had been in contact with the two before. Whether it was reciprocation or something else... she still accepted the drama for the sake of the relationship. And then, my friend

The friend knew that the friend had this relationship and found Yang Mi. Or maybe Yang Mi valued a certain drama and happened to be a friend of the friend... It just went back and forth like this, plus the spontaneous grouping behavior of some people in the circle.

.Unconsciously, you will be labeled as the Northwest Circle. That’s the reason.”

Following his words, Xu Xin nodded after probably understanding what Director Zhang wanted to express:

"I understand. In other words, circles... are everywhere in our circle, right?"

"Yes, it's just different from before when the film studio took the lead. We are all in the same system and are colleagues. You help me and I help you. But now everyone has formed a relationship driven by interests after mastering certain interests.

It forms a close combination.”

Zhang Yimou made a very vivid metaphor by crossing the five fingers of his hands.

"So... wherever there are people, there are rivers and lakes. Where there are rivers and lakes, there will be competition?"

"That's for sure. For another example, Yang Mi competed with others for a role alone. One of the actors recommended by others was from the Beijing circle. As a director, as long as he uses this actor, he can get the resources of the Beijing circle, such as filming for the next movie.

You are hooked up with a big actor, or you have a bargaining chip to announce investment. And the other actor's acting skills also meet the standards... It doesn't even matter whether he meets the standards or not, he is just a lonely lone wolf... Who do you want to use?"

"But what if there are two circles facing each other?"

Xu Xin did not answer the question whose answer was already written on the paper and continued to ask.

"Then it involves the competition for resources. How can you use one without offending the other, or how can you survive in this gap, how can you get benefits from both sides, or choose a longer-term benefit.

...and the result of doing this is just like what I said before. Whoever helps you more will gradually leave a distinct mark on you. The debt of gratitude will be transformed into a kind of debt that you can enjoy.

A rule that is obtained but restricted by it. Do you understand?"

"perhaps……"

Xu Xin nodded:

"I can't say that I understand everything, but at least I understand this circle... It can be regarded as the most basic rules of the game. That's why... you want me to go to Xiying?"

"Um."

Zhang Yimou nodded and asked:

"You don't blame me for helping you plan your life direction without permission, do you?"

"No way."

Xu Xin quickly smiled and waved:

"With your help, I will take fewer detours than others. How can I not know good from evil?"

Zhang Yimou couldn't help but rolled his eyes.

This brat...is very good at flattering.

He rarely shows this expression, but it's quite interesting to watch.

"I asked you to go to Xiying Studio. In fact, on the one hand, I think... Xiying's current situation is not very good. Many people say that Xiying began to decline after the millennium... But in my opinion, it is not the case.

It started in the mid-1990s...that is, when directors like us started to leave one after another, and for some reasons, the creative boom began to be subject to what more and more people call "restraints"."

He spelled the word "restraint" very clearly and seemed to disagree very much.

"Now, in my opinion, after the reorganization of the entire Xiying Film Studio, the only people supporting it are actually those two or three people. And these two or three people are all the same people who came in sooner or later with us. Including

In fact, many people particularly hate the so-called constraints among directors who have emerged in recent years, but many people do not understand the truth, that is, the fundamental factor that determines a director's status, or something, is not...

...How many high-grossing movies have you made, or your personal style, or how unique you are... none of it. A very simple example... I ask you, do you think I am better, or Kai?

Is the song great?"

"I'm sure you are."

"why?"

Zhang Yimou asked rhetorically.

Xu Xin replied without thinking:
To be continued...