"Isn't Director Gu filming in Anyang? He's back?" He Xin said in a daze.
"He is sending Wen Li and the child back. He just got home now and said he has to be back early tomorrow morning."
"Then why are you inviting me to dinner? Why are you so polite to me?"
He Xin thought Gu Changwei was trying to thank him for his friendly guest appearance.
"Eating is one thing, the main reason is that Lu Yue wants to meet you." Sister Hong said with a smile on the phone.
"Lu Yue? Director?"
Although he had never heard of the name Lu Yue in his previous life, he was definitely familiar with it in this life. If there was a selection to determine who was the most powerful photographer in the country, then the two names at the top would definitely be Gu Changwei and Lu Yue.
Two people.
Because their two names are often associated with the most powerful directors in the country, especially Lu Yue, who is more associated with the name of the national master.
Guoshi's "Alive", "Shake, Shake, Shake to Grandma's Bridge", and "Speak Well" were all shot by him, and He Xinzai had carefully watched the movie version starring Gong Li several times before.
He is also the photographer of "Painted Soul".
Since Gu Changwei has just changed his profession this year to become a director, Hou Yong, the director of the movie "Jasmine Blooms" that Zhang Ziyi is currently filming, is also a first-time director of a famous photographer. He was just thinking about why it is popular for photographers to change their profession this year?
But just as the words came to his lips, he suddenly remembered that this was not the first time that Lu Yue had become a director. He had filmed a movie called "Mr. Zhao" a few years ago.
This film won the Golden Tiger Award for Best Film at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland. This is one of the top twelve A-category film festivals in the world, and only a handful of domestic directors can win this honor.
He has also seen this movie, which tells the story of a middle-aged man's extramarital affair. However, the movie is generally quite depressing and a bit obscure. What impressed him most was probably the guest appearance of Jiang Wenli as a strange woman who chatted with Mr. Zhao.
I work in a water plant.
He burst out laughing at that time. You must know that Jiang Wenli was a female worker in the water plant before joining Nortel.
If we go by generation, as he, Guo Shi, and Gu Changwei are all graduates of the Nortel Department of Photography in 1978, Lu Le should be regarded as the so-called fifth generation director. But judging from the style of the movie "Mr. Zhao", He Xin
It feels closer to the style of sixth-generation directors who pay more attention to low-level or marginalized people.
Could it be that he is filming a new movie and wants to invite himself to audition?
Thinking of this, He Xin couldn't help but lick his lips...
You must know that the more than 30 scripts that he came to before were all TV series. Although the domestic film market is currently very sluggish, as an actor, between movies and TV series, there is no doubt that the allure of movies is obviously greater.
Much more.
But before he could ask the question, he heard Sister Hong happily say on the phone: "Director Lu Yue is currently preparing a new movie. The heroine is Hong Kong star Shu Qi. Although the male lead has not been decided yet, I guess you
The hope is very high. I heard that this film will be shot next month. Director Lu Yue asked to meet you at this time..."
He Xin suddenly realized that no wonder Shu Qi, the heroine originally scheduled for Dai Sijie's "The Botanist's Daughter", resigned due to schedule reasons. It turned out that the actress had already been booked earlier.
It’s no wonder that Sister Hong’s tone on the phone was very excited. Dai Sijie asked Li Xiaoran to fill in because of Shu Qi’s resignation, and director Lu Yue took a liking to He Xin. It was definitely a double blessing for the agent.
.
After Sister Hong exuded a joyful emotion, He Xin quickly asked: "What is this new movie directed by Lu Yue about?"
"I haven't read the specific script, but I heard that it is adapted from Shi Xiaoke's novel "First Love". The subject matter should be similar to "The Little Tailor", telling a love story between educated youths who join the queue in Yunnan."
"Shu Qi plays an educated youth?" He Xinyan said in surprise.
Educated youth is a special product of a special era in China. A female star from Hong Kong and Taiwan was asked to play an educated youth. He subconsciously felt that this was very unreliable, and because he had already played an educated youth once before in "The Little Seamstress", he
I also felt a little disappointed in my heart.
"Why can't Shu Qi play the role of an educated youth?"
"No, does she know what an educated youth is?"
It may be that in the fused memory, Yuan Hexin's parents were educated youths, so he now has a special feeling for the word educated youth.
"You don't care if she knows it or not, since the director and producer chose her, they have their own reasons for choosing her!"
Hearing what Sister Hong said, he realized what kind of obsession he was having! Whether it is a movie or a TV series, the first criterion for selecting actors is popularity. Only big stars can attract the attention of the audience.
Why did the French film producer insist on using Zhang Ziyi as the heroine of "Purple Butterfly"?
Why did Dai Sijie focus on Zhang Manyu and Shu Qi from the beginning in "The Botanist's Daughter"?
Including Guan Jinpeng's "Painted Soul", why did you have to find Li Jiaxin?
In fact, it's all the same.
That is to say, he, with the halo of the protagonist, stumbled into this circle by mistake, and starred in two award-winning movies in succession, which established his current position in the circle.
Then Sister Hong asked again on the phone: "Hey, are you eating well?"
"No, I just ate."
"Tell Lili, I don't want to rush her. It's rare for her to come back. I still have a lot of things to do with her here."
"Oh, then you can ask Master He to pick me up in a while. I think it will take about half an hour."
When he hung up the phone, he saw Sun Li holding a bowl, staring at him with big eyes, her mouth was so pouted that it could hang a bottle of oil, and she said with a dissatisfied look on her face: "It's only half an hour?
"
"Stop talking nonsense and eat your food quickly! Sister Hong said she didn't mean to rush you, but she still has a lot of things about you."
…
Black, thin.
This was He Xin's first impression when he met Lu Yue. If he hadn't been short, wore a pair of big metal-framed glasses, and had a braid on the back of his head, saying that he was Lou Ye's biological brother, He Xin would have
Xin also believes it.
However, Lu Yue, who seems to be dressed like an artist, does not show off his artistic temperament as clearly as most directors. He exudes a more scholarly atmosphere.
For example, the tone of his speech is always very gentle; he is used to saying "thank you" on his lips; when you sit next to him to eat, he always turns the food to your side first; when talking to others, he likes to stare at you seriously
eyes, for fear that you may not fully understand what he means.
In the short half-day from when he received Gu Changwei's call at noon to when he picked up He Xin and went to dinner with him in the evening, Chang Jihong had already roughly found out some general details about the new movie called "Beauty Grass" that Lu Yue was going to direct.
Condition.
First of all, this movie is jointly invested by Bona Culture Film Company and several film companies. It is a medium-scale film with an investment of 7 to 8 million.
Secondly, although the story is set in the context of Wenge, the script has passed the review of the relevant departments. In other words, as long as the movie is produced and does not abandon the script like Jiang Wen's "The Devil Is Coming", it will be able to be produced domestically.
Released and released normally.
As for why Gu Changwei was asked to organize the meal today, on the one hand, it was because Lu Yue and Gu Changwei were classmates, and they were too pretentious to resist; on the other hand, Gu Changwei was currently filming "Peacock" and Bona Culture would also be responsible for its domestic distribution in the future.
At the same time, another situation is that after the producers confirmed Shu Qi at the beginning, they wanted to bring together Li Min and Shu Qi, a pair of famous male and female stars who have been rumored to work together.
It is said that the producers had been talking for a long time but failed in the end, so they took a step back and looked for mainland actors to star. According to Gu Changwei, Lu Yue was actually very optimistic about He Xin playing one of the leading actors from the beginning.
Because as a person who also spent a long time in France, Lu Yue was deeply impressed by He Xin's Ma Jianling after watching "The Little Seamstress".
Although He Xin had no impression of the movie "Beauty Grass" in his previous life, he did not underestimate it because the longer he worked in this industry, the more he felt that he was too ignorant and ignorant in his previous life.
There is no trace of literary and artistic spirit.
At the dinner table, Lu Yue did not talk to him about the new movie. On the contrary, he was very interested in the TV series "Painted Soul" that he had just finished filming, and was especially concerned about some of the shooting details. For example, when He Xin mentioned that Guan Jinpeng often used
Lu Yue's eyes would light up when he photographed people in the mirror, and he could not help but nod his head and exclaim: "This is great!"
Then I will regretfully say: "Why didn't I think of using this method to shoot at that time? If it were done this way, the effect might be better!" and other emotions.
In short, he is very humble and does not show off at all that he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography for "Shake, Shake, Shake to Grandma's Bridge".
Perhaps because of his experience, He Xin was a little restrained at first, but later gradually relaxed. He also began to talk to Lu Yue about some of the details in his photographic works.
It should be said that Lu Yue is definitely the first person in China to shoot a movie with a handheld lens, especially in the movie "Speak Well", where Jiang Wen was shot like a big-headed doll, which was particularly cinematic.
It wasn't until the meal was almost over that Lu Yue slowly took out a full plastic document bag from his bag. At a glance, he knew it had been prepared in advance.
Lu Yue handed it to He Xin and said sincerely: "This is the script and original novel of "Beauty Grass". You can read it first. I personally hope that we can cooperate."
As he spoke, he glanced at Sister Hong, who looked delighted after hearing his words, and said slightly anxiously: "However, you'd better answer me quickly. According to the schedule, this drama will be released no later than next month.
It’s time to start up.”
Although He Xin was secretly disappointed to repeat the role of an educated youth he had played before, this was a movie after all, and he could also cooperate with Shu Qi. It was obviously impossible not to be tempted. He nodded hurriedly and said: "Okay Director Lu, I
I will reply to you as soon as possible."
After seeing off Lu Yue and saying goodbye to Gu Changwei, Jiang Wenli and his wife, He Xin got into Chang Jihong's business car. After seeing Sister Hong start the car, she did not start immediately, but looked at herself with a look of desire to speak.
He Xin couldn't help but smile, handed the plastic file bag in his hand to her and said, "Why don't you take it back and take a look first?"
"No, you better watch first."
Sister Hong paused for a moment and said seriously: "Xiao He, I think Lu Yue is very sincere this time, you should treat it with caution!"
He Xin nodded solemnly to this point, and without saying anything else, he just rushed to the package of things that he had prepared in his hand. As Gu Changwei revealed before, Lu Yue had actually identified him from the beginning. As for the previous
The invitation to the people was entirely the intention of the producers.
After returning home and taking a shower, he opened the document bag and sat on the sofa in the small room to read through it.
There are two large printed and bound books in the bag. The cover of one has two big words "First Love" on the title, and below it there is a line of small words "Author: Shi Xiaoke".
It's obviously an original novel.
He put the novel aside and read the script first.
For actors, no matter how exciting the original novel is, it cannot replace the script.
When he opened the script and read the synopsis for a while, he couldn't help but laugh. It was another old-fashioned, sensational, and familiar love triangle story.
However, in view of Lu Yue's sincerity, he still read it patiently. He just looked at it, but he unknowingly took it in.
I don’t know how long it took, but when he finally closed the last page,
"Huh!" He Xin leaned on the back of the sofa, rubbed his sore eyes, and looked up at the ceiling.
Like "The Little Seamstress", this is also a love story that takes place in a special era. The background of the educated youth destined the tragedy of love.
The heroine, Ye Xingyu, encounters the love confusion that all girls are likely to face: is she the childhood sweetheart who has loved her like an elder brother since she was a child, or is she the bad boy who is different from the world around her and is full of unknown excitement and freshness?
The relationship between the three people in the script is very similar to the female version of Red Rose and White Rose.
This is probably an eternal theme that the love triangle can never avoid.
Just like Pan Yuliang in "Painted Soul" loved Pan Zanhua and Tian Shouxin at the same time, Ye Xingyu may have loved both. Yuan Dingguo was like her red rose. Before Liu Simeng appeared, Yuan Dingguo had always been the gentle, reliable and capable person in Ye Xingyu's heart.
The man who stood in front of him and held her up to protect her from the wind and rain.
And Liu Simeng is a white rose. He conforms to all the fantasies of countless girls about love, but it is too beautiful to be attacked. Love itself is actually a mixture of many factors, and the form cannot stick to the rules.
He Xin feels that he is more like Yuan Dingguo, just like Ma Jianling in "The Little Tailor". His love for Ye Xingyu is a love that is suppressed in his heart and bound by the education and social rules he has received. This is also a true portrayal of his own character.
However, Liu Simeng, like Luo Ming, does not have the word "restraint" in his philosophy of life. He stalks after someone because he likes her, and he can easily hate someone because of a misunderstanding.
Regardless of the character setting and the role of Ma Jianling in "The Little Seamstress" that he had played, He Xin thought that he was more suitable for the role of Yuan Dingguo. However, in the character introduction column on the front page of the script, Lu Yue was chosen as Liu Simeng.