Chapter 294: People's Art Theatre's Obligation
For a publication, a special issue is not something that can be easily produced. Not only the quality and quantity of the works must be considered, but also the unity of the themes of the works. The most critical factor is the readers’ acceptance and influence after publication.
However, these are not problems for "Contemporary". Since Lin Weimin became the deputy editor-in-chief, the sales of "Contemporary" have been rising steadily and have already broken the one million copies ceiling in the field of domestic pure literature magazines. In the past year, the sales of each issue have been maintained between 1.2 million and 1.6 million copies.
If we look at the sales volume across the country, if it is in the field of popular literature, there are still many competitors, but in the field of pure literature, it is unique, and even "Harvest" and "People's Literature" cannot match it.
The normal sales of these two top magazines are at most one million copies per issue. Unless an issue publishes a novel with a particularly great influence, it is possible for them to surpass "Contemporary". For example, the January 1983 supplement of "People's Literature" published "The Horse-Raising Man".
The trip to Shanxi next month has been confirmed. The specific time for the special number has not been set, but it will most likely be in the second half of the year. Lin Weimin got off work and he has to go to the People's Art Theatre today.
"Teacher Yu! Teacher Ouyang! Teacher Lan!"
Seeing three old acquaintances after a long time, Lin Weimin greeted them warmly.
Lin Weimin came here today because the National Theatre of China is planning to adapt "The Story of Stealing an Official" into a drama.
Everyone was an old acquaintance, so Lin Weimin didn't hide anything and said bluntly: "Teacher Yu, this novel is not easy to modify!"
Yi Shizhi nodded, "It's really not easy to change. I have discussed this issue with teachers Ouyang and Lan before. Your novel has too strong a temperament and too many perspective changes. If you want to put it on stage, you have to make some major changes."
Ouyang Shanzun said: "Actually, there are benefits. I think the dialogues between the characters in your novel are very refined and interesting, and can even be called classics, especially the part where Huang Silang invites guests to dinner.
I counted, and it would be a play on our stage, but it took up 12,000 words to describe, half of which were dialogues. But it doesn't feel lengthy or cumbersome at all. Instead, it expresses the personalities of Zhang Muzhi, Huang Silang, and Master Tang to the fullest, and the contradictions and conflicts are also portrayed just right.
There is no problem with this dialogue, even if it is not changed word for word. "
Lan Yinhai also agreed, "Indeed! There are many places like this in the novel. This will be a convenient condition for us to adapt this novel in the future."
Yi Shizhi concluded: "So, adaptation has both advantages and disadvantages."
Lin Weimin smiled bitterly and said, "With the three of you singing the same tune, I don't think I have room to refuse."
Yi Shizhi smiled and said, "We are all old acquaintances. Leave the novel to our People's Art Theatre, so don't worry, Mr. Lin!"
"That's right." Ouyang Shanzun and Lan Yinhai also said.
The adaptation of "The Story of Stealing an Official" was happily decided.
At this time, Ouyang Shanzun pondered and said, "Should we change the name of "The Story of Stealing Officials"?"
"Change your name?" The others looked at him.
Ouyang Shanzun explained to Lin Weimin: "Teacher Lin, please don't get me wrong. I just think this name is too classical. It's just right for a novel, but it seems a bit out of place as the name of a play."
Lin Weimin nodded after hearing this, "The word 'remember' is indeed not quite appropriate."
Seeing that Lin Weimin also agreed with Ouyang Shanzun's opinion, Shi Zhi said, "How about calling it "Bandits Stealing Officials"?"
Lan Yinhai said: "No, it sounds like the name of an opera."
Lin Weimin said: "I think we should call it "Let the Bullets Fly"!"
"Let the Bullets Fly?" The three of them looked at Lin Weimin, and Shi Zhi asked, "Teacher Lin, what is the meaning of this name?"
Lan Yinhai clapped his hands and said, "I know."
Yi Shizhi and Ouyang Shanzun both looked at him. Lan Yinhai said, "'Let the bullets fly for a while'. This is what Teacher Lin said when he first accepted an interview with the Yanjing Youth Daily. Later, in an exclusive interview with the Yanjing Youth Daily, he said it again, but this time it was 'Let the bullets fly for a while'."
After Lan Yinhai finished speaking, he looked at Lin Weimin and said, "There is also this passage at the beginning of "The Story of Stealing Officials". I guess this passage should be a declaration of war and counterattack by Teacher Lin against those who attacked and slandered him, right?"
Yi Shizhi and Ouyang Shanzun couldn't help but nod their heads after listening to this. Teacher Lan's analysis made a lot of sense. He was worthy of being a screenwriter!
Lin Weimin: I give Teacher Lan full marks for this reading comprehension.
"Then it's settled, let's call it Let the Bullets Fly!"
Since this was Teacher Lin’s declaration of war, this name had to be used, so Yi Zhi decided on this name.
After finishing the business, Yi Shizhi gave Ouyang Shanzun and Lan Yinhai a look, and the two of them left the office tactfully. Lin Weimin was about to leave with them, but was stopped by Yi Shizhi.
Yi Shizhi pulled him to the sofa, got close to him, and asked him about his well-being.
Lin Weimin responded with a humming sound, not knowing what Comrade Lao Yu was thinking.
I have given you all the novels. If you take more, there will be no more left, not a single drop.
After saying a bunch of meaningless things, Shi Zhi finally said, "I heard that Mr. Lin's girlfriend works at Zhijiang?"
"Did you hear what Zhuangzhuang said?" Lin Weimin asked.
"Yes, I happened to meet Zhuangzhuang at rehearsal that day, and I found out after chatting for a while."
Then he explained it, which made the matter more obvious.
He then said, "Teacher Lin, our theater is currently in need of a group of young actresses. I heard that your girlfriend is a Yue Opera actress, so she is a suitable actress. Would you like to be transferred to our theater?"
One is a Yue Opera actor, the other is a drama actor. Do you call this a professional match?
Teacher Yu, we should not be without bottom line as human beings!
"This is not good, right?"
"What's wrong with that? Zhuangzhuang told me that your girlfriend is an outstanding actress in the Xiaobaihua Festival of Zhijiang Province and one of the pillars of the Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe. She participated in the Spring Festival Gala, right? She filmed a movie, right? It's a blessing for us to have such a rare talent come to our People's Art Theater!"
Lin Weimin nodded frequently as he listened. He hadn't noticed it before, but now after listening to Teacher Yu's summary, he realized that his girlfriend was so outstanding.
"She is a Yue Opera actress after all. She may not be able to adapt to the new environment in your People's Art Theatre," said Lin Weimin.
Then Zhizhi added: "It's okay, it's okay. If you can't adapt to our People's Art Theatre, the Peking Opera Theatre can also arrange it."
Teacher Yu has quite a wide network of contacts!
Lin Weimin couldn't help but doubt, "Teacher Yu, didn't Mr. Wan tell you that?"
Teacher Yu is a performing artist after all, his expression was calm and composed, "Mr. Wan? What does Mr. Wan have to do with this?"
"He didn't look for you?"
"No, no, absolutely not. Why do I need Mr. Wan to remind me? For all the contributions you have made to our People's Art Theatre, it is our job to help you solve your problems!"
From 1981 to 1984, he produced one play every year, including "The Intouchables", "Farewell My Concubine", "The Horse-Snatching Man" and "Official Robbery". Except for "Official Robbery" which is just being adapted, the other three works were both critically and commercially successful. "The Intouchables" was even brought to the Broadway stage in the United States by the drama master Arthur Miller.
The National Theatre of China's annual performance plan is basically one drama per month, half of which are classic plays since its founding, such as "Teahouse", "Longxugou", "Sunrise", "Thunderstorm", "Wilderness", "Yanjing People", etc.
The other half is new works in recent years, including three or four new plays staged that year.
Teacher Lin's efficiency of contributing a drama to the People's Art Theatre every year may seem insignificant, but unlike those short-lived dramas that were discontinued after public performances due to mediocre responses, these dramas by Teacher Lin are of extremely high quality and have won rave reviews from the audience. They have become the must-perform dramas of the People's Art Theatre every year in recent years.
Including "The Horse Catcher" which was performed just last year, Teacher Lin's works will occupy one-third to one-quarter of the annual performance plan of the People's Art Theatre for at least the next few years.
The last time screenwriters occupied such a large proportion of the performance plan of the People's Art Theatre was during the time of the three founding fathers.
The works of the three veteran comrades, Guo Lao and Wan, hold up the sky of the People's Art Theatre.
Now, Mr. Guo has passed away, Mr. Wan is getting old, and the development of the People's Art Theatre has reached a bottleneck.
At this moment, there was a loud bang in the sky and Teacher Lin made a brilliant appearance, bringing hope of development to the struggling People's Art Theatre.
So I can say this responsibly.
Teacher Lin’s contribution to the People’s Art Theatre is enormous!
Therefore, Teacher Yu felt that, let alone arranging a job for Teacher Lin’s girlfriend, even arranging a job for Teacher Lin’s dog was the unshirkable responsibility of the People’s Art Theatre!
"Teacher Lin, what do you think..." Yi Shizhi asked the thoughtful Lin Weimin.
"Teacher Yu, I'll go back and discuss this."
Being sure that Mr. Wan would not be involved, Lin Weimin was indeed a little tempted.
But this matter concerns Tao Huimin's future after all, so Lin Weimin feels that he should discuss it with her carefully.
"Of course, of course. I'll wait for your news then."
"Okay, thank you Teacher Yu!"
"Teacher Lin, you're welcome! Your business is our business!"
When he came out of the National Theatre of China, there was an extra person on Lin Weimin’s motorcycle.
He drove Li Guangfu to the courtyard where he lived on Xi'anmen Street.
Li Guangfu opened the gate. "The foundation and outer wall of the basement are now finished, and the top plate is being worked on. Hey, please watch your step, the yard is a bit messy."
Just now, Lin Weimin ran into Li Guangfu when he came out of the dean's office. He had been waiting since he learned that Lin Weimin had come to the People's Art Theatre. He wanted to bring Lin Weimin to the courtyard to check out the progress as a work report.
"This basement is the most troublesome thing to do. The formalities started before the New Year and ended last month. Look at the steel bars used here. It is very useful to use foreign exchange coupons to open the way. Otherwise, I don't know how much effort it would take!"
"I estimate that the construction of the basement will be completed next month, and the next step will be decoration. Your three-story courtyard, plus the basement, will be completed by the end of this year at the earliest."
Lin Weimin looked at the situation in the courtyard and said, "Don't worry, I'll leave it to you. I'm at ease."
After touring the place inside and out, Lin Weimin said, "By the way, my nephew just bought a small courtyard recently. How about letting you decorate it?"
Li Guangfu asked in surprise: "Are you still pretending?"
Lin Weimin smiled and said, "It belongs to my nephew, not me. I won't bother two people with one thing. Don't worry, you will get every penny of the wages. How do you think?"
Li Guangfu felt something was wrong. How come I, an actor, became a contractor?
Lin Weimin patted his shoulder and said, "I'm at ease with you doing the job."
Feeling the heavy weight on his shoulders, Li Guangfu forgot what was in his mind.
"Thank you, Mr. Lin, for taking care of our business!"
(End of this chapter)
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