"Director Xu, you mean today is the audition for the character Feng Huo Lian Tian?"
"Oh, it's not an audition. Maybe my expression was a little inaccurate when I contacted you. I just want to talk to you." Xu Ke said with a smile.
Chat?
However, a director of Xu Ke's stature is indeed qualified enough to fly an actor from the capital to Hong Kong to chat with him with just one phone call.
"Director Xu, please tell me."
"You can tell that Fenghuoliantian is a character's name in one breath, which means you have read Mr. Liang Yusheng's "Seven Swordsmen Down the Mountain", right?"
"Yes! I saw it when I was in school."
"What do you think of the character Feng Huolian Tian?"
"He is a big devil who kills without blinking an eye..."
As he said this, he thought for a moment and said in a rare and cultured way: "His feelings are pitiable, but his actions are punishable!"
"His feelings are pitiable, and his actions are worthy of punishment!"
Xu Ke's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he repeated it in his mouth, and said with a smile: "That's a good idea. I'm very prepared to use this to describe Feng Huo Lian Tian. I believe you can play this character well."
Huh?
He Xin was stunned subconsciously, and the time was decided with just these few words?
Is it a little too hasty?
"I'm sorry, Director Xu, can I read the script first?" he said thoughtfully.
It is his consistent principle to read the script before taking on a role, and he does not want to break this principle just because the other person is Xu Ke or any other great director.
The only person who might make him break this principle is probably the director he has always admired - Guo Shi. Of course, "Three Guns" does not count.
"Script?"
Xu Ke first leaned over and opened the drawer next to his desk, but then he hesitated and said: "The script is not perfect yet, and I need to make further revisions with the screenwriter. Let me tell you first.
Tell me what this stormy sky should be like in my mind."
"Oh, Director Xu, tell me!"
He Xin was a little disappointed, but the character in the director's mouth should be the most accurate character reflected in the movie. After all, when actors express themselves, they often need to follow the director's baton to reflect the director's intention.
"I think Fenghuoliantian is actually a tragic figure in a sense..."
Xu Ke's words are meticulous and he depicts the character Feng Huo Lian Tian in such detail that he can even speak some Feng Huo Lian Tian's lines casually.
For example: "Actually, I have spent a long time getting used to being alone, but you suddenly came to accompany me. After you leave, I have to adapt again. If I gain something and then lose it, it would be better to never gain it at all."
"Who gave you the right to judge the life and death of others, and who will judge you!"
"Rescue people? That's just a pretense. Think about it, since you came down from the mountain, who have you saved? None! Instead, they keep killing people, those who should be killed, and those who shouldn't be killed, by the dragon sword.
, is covered with blood, isn’t it the same with your swords?...Well, swords are here to kill people!...There is only one truth in this world, the winner is the king, and the loser is the bandit!"
Just hearing these lines seems to give people the illusion that the person who can say these words should be a decent martial arts person full of wisdom and philosophy, full of benevolence and morality, rather than some murderous devil.
"I don't think villains are always heinous. In fact, everyone has his own humanity and vulnerability. A fierce villain can be understood as a bad person, or he can be understood as a good person in the worst possible way."
"..."
After He Xin listened, he was silent for a long time. He was still digesting Xu Ke's interpretation of the character Feng Huoliantian.
Xu Ke was not in a hurry, maybe because he was a little dry from what he just said, he drank a few sips of tea, then took out a cigar, lit it with a "pop", leaned back on the chair comfortably, and looked through the eyes.
Passing through the light blue smoke, she looked at him with a smile.
He Xin's craving for cigarettes was successfully seduced by the aroma of cigars, and he took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit one.
Then my mind began to summarize what Xu Ke just said one by one.
Positioning: The biggest villain!
Identity: The biggest enemy of Seven Swords!
The trump card: One person uses two weapons, knife skills and sword skills to kill people quickly, without any trouble. Kill people as quickly as possible and in the simplest way. It's very direct, just slash and stab.
Characteristics: He kills people like crazy. He is the leader of a murderous mercenary in the Qing Dynasty, who specializes in killing decent people with high martial arts skills. But in fact, he is also forced to become a villain. He is because after being hunted down in the Ming Dynasty
He started an act of revenge, but later became the target of being exploited by the Manchu Qing Dynasty.
Character: Very lonely and autistic, with a natural sense of inferiority, and clumsy reaction to feelings, unable to express them. He felt very painful until his lover died.
Putting aside the plot, this character alone is very three-dimensional and does not appear out of thin air. There is a complete character line. From a normal person to a cold killing machine, he has both a normal side and a spirit.
The divisive side is a very human character with a lot of room for development.
And what he is most interested in now is a ruthless killer like Feng Huoliantian who kills innocent people indiscriminately for financial gain. What is his friendship and love like? What is he thinking when he kills? What does he do when he is not killing?
A state of life? These all made him very curious.
"Director Xu, why do you think I can play this character well?" He suddenly asked again.
Xu Ke slowly took a puff of his cigar, stared at him and said, "To be honest, I didn't think you were a suitable candidate at first, but then they showed me a TV series you had acted in.
, the character Brother Qiang left a very deep impression on me. Brother Qiang’s attitude towards women, his feelings for brothers, his directness in doing things, etc. Many of his characteristics are very similar to the character Fenghuoliantian. So, I hope you can give me some advice.
A bigger surprise for me.”
"..."
Xu Ke's answer was what he expected. After all, "Conquer" is very popular, and Liu Huaqiang is not a villain in the traditional sense, and even makes people feel sympathetic. In this regard, it is like
What Xu Ke said is very similar to Fenghuoliantian.
To be honest, if the movie "Seven Swords" hadn't been too indifferent in his impression, or if he didn't know about this movie at all, maybe he would have taken on this role without hesitation.
So hesitation means hesitating whether to accept this movie that is destined to be a hit on the street.
"Director Xu, I want to think about it."
His words made Xu Ke slightly startled. Currently, the main actor in "Seven Swords" only has the role of Feng Huo Lian Tian, who has not yet been decided. The actors he has met before include Lu Yi and Zhang from Ciwen, the largest investor.
Jingchu's sincerity and fear when communicating with herself seemed to be etched on her face.
Even the first-tier celebrities in Hong Kong such as Li Min, Zhen Zhuzi, and Yang Caini who he appointed did not have to think about it. Of course, Liang Jiahui was an exception. After all, he promised Guan Jinpeng to go first, and he would find him later.
Not to mention the Korean investors, they really want their Korean actors to be used in all the roles.
However, Old Monster Xu's expression immediately returned to normal, and he said: "No problem, but you'd better hurry up. I plan to start shooting at the end of August, and there is still a preparation process before that."
"Director Xu, don't worry, I will fly out tomorrow morning and I will give you a definite answer before I leave."
"So fast?"
Xu Ke was surprised again, but he seemed to think of something again immediately, and said with a smile: "Then I will wait for the good news."
…
After seeing off He Xin and his agent Chang Jihong, Shi Nansheng walked to the office and asked: "How is it? Are you satisfied with this He Xin?"
Old Monster Xu shrugged, spread his hands and said, "I have long said that he is the most suitable candidate, and some of his characteristics are very similar to Fenghuoliantian."
What qualities do you have in yourself?
Of course it’s money!
In the eyes of Hong Kong filmmakers, this is a very normal thing. Of course actors film for money.
Take Fa Ge, for example. When he was producing "A Better Tomorrow", Fa Ge was filming four dramas at the same time. He still clearly remembers that Ti Lung persuaded Fa Ge not to do dramas at that time. Fa Ge was just like him now, with his hands spread out.
: "Everyone grab it!"
Shi Nansheng and Xu Ke have been together for so many years, and the two have already cooperated tacitly. Mr. Xu doesn't care about anything except making movies.
After hearing what her husband said, Shi Nansheng immediately nodded and said, "I'll take care of this!"