Chapter 379 Ruffian Style
Teng Jinxian took out a script from the drawer of his desk and said, "I wrote this script when I had nothing to do. You are an expert in this field, could you please take a look at it?"
Lin Weimin took the script with a surprised look on his face. "Movie script?"
"yes!"
Lin Weimin didn't expect that Teng Jinxian, the director of the Film Bureau, could actually write a movie script. He took the script and didn't read it directly, but started chatting with Teng Jinxian.
I learned that Teng Jinxian was originally a drama actor. In 1973, he entered the Yenching Film Academy for further studies. Later, he was assigned to the Emei Film Studio as a director and produced many works.
In 1982, he was promoted to director of Emei Film Studio, and later transferred to the position of director of the Film Bureau. At that time, the Film Bureau had not yet merged with the Radio and Television Bureau to become the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.
In the past two years, Teng Jinxian has put down his directing baton and focused more on administrative affairs, but he has not given up on movies.
It was impossible for him to make movies again, but writing movie scripts was no problem. Out of personal hobbies and interests, Teng Jinxian changed his career and started writing movie scripts.
Lin Weimin couldn't help but admire Teng Jinxian's love for movies. After a brief chat, he focused all his attention on the script.
Looking at the name on the homepage, he couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
When he opened the script, although the content was very different, Lin Weimin could still recognize it at a glance. This was the script of the movie he had seen.
Lin Weimin had never noticed when watching movies before that the screenwriter of this movie was actually Teng Jinxian?
He couldn't help but raise his head and look at Teng Jinxian again. His round face actually looked more handsome.
"Teacher Lin, what do you think?" Teng Jinxian looked into Lin Weimin's eyes and asked expectantly.
Lin Weimin pondered for a moment. It was obvious that the script had not been polished yet and the story was not so coherent.
He said: "The script is very good, and it will be even better if it is revised."
Teng Jinxian was delighted when he heard this, but then he said with some embarrassment: "I am a complete beginner in scriptwriting, and I write entirely according to my own temperament. If I were to revise it, I really don't know how to start. Can you help polish it and sign your name when the time comes?"
Teng Jinxian was very polite. Lin Weimin said, "Director Teng, please don't say that. Actually, the changes to the script are not big. It's okay for me to help you revise it. You don't need to sign your name."
"That won't work? The script..."
Teng Jinxian wanted to insist, but Lin Weimin refused to sign his name with extraordinary determination, so he had to give up.
When he returned home in the evening, Lin Weimin read the script written by Teng Jinxian again. The movie he saw later had undergone significant changes compared to the current script.
The reason why he agreed to Teng Jinxian was also because of the foundation laid by the movies he had watched in later generations.
Foreigners are so unrefined that they don't even give their names to the scripts they wrote. It's a pity that when Lin Weimin watched the movie in later life, he thought that the foreign screenwriters did a great job. It turns out that they just "take what is available"!
Because Lin Weimin had seen the movie, it was effortless for him to revise the script, and he finished it in just two nights.
A few days later, Lin Weimin found some free time and went to the Film Bureau to find Teng Jinxian. Unexpectedly, there was a guest in Teng Jinxian's office.
"Come on, Teacher Lin, I'd like to introduce you to someone. This is my former colleague, Xiao Han Shanping, who is now the deputy director of our Emei Film Studio."
Han Shanping stood up and greeted Lin Weimin enthusiastically, "Hello, Teacher Lin, nice to meet you!"
Han Shanping was assigned to Emei Film Studio after he retired from the army. Teng Jinxian was his old leader at the Emei Film Studio.
In 1983, Han Shanping followed the same path as Teng Jinxian and went to the Yanjing Film Academy for further studies. After returning to Emei Film Studio in 1985, he was promoted to deputy director.
This time I came to Yanjing on a business trip for Emei Factory, and I also came to visit my old leader Teng Jinxian.
Han Shanping was filled with curiosity when he learned that Lin Weimin came this time for Teng Jinxian's script.
In front of Han Shanping, Teng Jinxian opened the script revised by Lin Weimin.
After reading the script, he stood up with a ruddy face and an excited tone, and said to Lin Weimin: "Teacher Lin, you are putting a golden border on my shit pot!"
Lin Weimin smiled and waved his hands, saying modestly: "Director Teng, please don't say that. It's obviously because you have a good foundation."
Teng Jinxian said, "If I were to revise the script myself, it would never be as good as it is now. No, you must sign your name, otherwise I won't feel at ease."
“No, no!”
Teng Jinxian and Lin Weimin were arguing over the issue of signatures. Han Shanping stepped forward and said, "Uncle Teng, Teacher Lin, let's put the signatures aside. It's almost time for dinner, so let's go out for dinner! Teacher Lin is here today, so I'll treat you!"
Teng Jinxian was interrupted by him and said hurriedly: "You have come from afar, and Teacher Lin has helped me, so of course I should treat you. Let's go, we won't eat in the cafeteria today, let's go to a restaurant!"
Teng Jinxian naturally took the initiative to treat everyone. After leaving the office and putting on Lin Weimin's crown, Han Shanping's eyes were full of surprise and novelty.
Teng Jinxian joked: "People say that Mr. Lin is 'Lin Baiwan'. They say there are only wrong names, but no wrong nicknames."
Lin Weimin laughed and said, "Director Teng, please don't look down on me. It's just a means of transportation. It's from Hainan, so it's not expensive."
Han Shanping listened to the conversation between the two, his heart filled with envy.
He had heard that Lin Weimin was rich, but it was the first time he knew that Lin Weimin actually drove such a nice car. This trip to Yanjing really broadened his horizons.
The three of them came to Bianyifang to eat roast duck, and Teng Jinxian treated them.
While eating and chatting, the topic is always movies and literature.
Yang Meng made the international call to Lin Weimin through Teng Jinxian's office phone. He naturally knew that Lin Weimin's "The Lover" had been adapted into a movie, and when he talked about "The Lover" participating in the Cannes Film Festival, he couldn't help but sigh.
“It’s not easy for our films to go beyond the country!”
In later generations, the domestic film industry was occupied and eroded by hot money, and going abroad to attend a film festival was as easy as drinking water.
Things are different now. First, the domestic film industry itself is relatively weak. Second, the major film studios are short of funds and simply cannot afford to participate in film festivals. Third, ideological issues have prevented some film festivals from being attended.
It is not easy to get an opportunity to go abroad to participate in a film festival.
In the past few years of reform and opening up, there are only a handful of domestic films that have been able to go abroad to participate in film festivals, and "The True Story of Ah Q" and "Yellow Earth" are among the few.
Teng Jinxian is now the director of the Film Bureau, so naturally he wants to bring more movies abroad for audiences in other countries to see.
"Film is a cultural industry. One of its very important functions is cultural exchange, or cultural export. It plays a very important role in shaping a country's soft power," said Lin Weimin.
Teng Jinxian clapped his hands and said, "Teacher Lin, what you said about 'cultural export' is very good. It can not only bring our country's culture to the world, but also enhance our cultural confidence and national confidence, just like those Olympic athletes who win glory for the country."
He then asked, "But what does this 'soft power' mean?"
"The term soft power is my personal term, which is relative to a country's hard power. Hard power is easy to understand. Economic, military, political and other aspects all belong to hard power.
Soft power refers to cultural strength, which, to a certain extent, determines a country's external influence and image, and is part of a country's comprehensive national strength, such as culture, education, legal environment, and institutional construction. Our films belong to the cultural industry, and are naturally part of a country's soft power."
Lin Weimin patiently explained the concept of "soft power" to Teng Jinxian and Han Shanping. Teng Jinxian couldn't help but admire him: "Teacher Lin's insights are really enlightening! I admire your understanding of the film industry even more!"
Han Shanping looked at Lin Weimin with a bit of admiration in his eyes. Teacher Lin was, after all, a cultured person, and this high-level way of looking at problems was something he had never thought of before.
Having just made a crown, Han Shanping thought that he had gained a lot of knowledge since coming to Yanjing. Now he understands that this is what it means to broaden your horizons.
Lin Weimin said a few humble words and the others continued chatting.
Before they knew it, they had drunk a lot of wine and said goodbye staggeringly.
The next day, when Lin Weimin got up, he still had a headache. Tao Huimin brought him a cup of hot water and complained about him drinking yesterday.
"Got it. I'll pay attention next time."
Lin Weimin coaxed her with something, and the scene of drinking yesterday came to his mind. Teng Jinxian took advantage of the alcohol and forced him to sign his name on the script.
Well, I at least helped a little and didn't let the foreigners take advantage of me.
I had rice porridge with steamed buns in the morning. After eating, I broke out in a sweat and the feeling of drunkenness was much reduced.
When I went out, I first went to Bianyifang to pick up the car, and then came to Guowenshe.
I went into the room, made a cup of tea, and was about to review the manuscript when someone knocked on the office door.
Wang Shuo, who hadn't been to the editorial office for a long time, appeared at the door.
"Leader, are you busy?" Wang Shuo complimented, but there was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
"What's the matter?" Lin Weimin was too lazy to talk nonsense with him.
"What else could it be?" Wang Shuo said, pulling out a manuscript from his bag.
Lin Weimin glanced at the manuscript and said, "When can you improve your efficiency?"
More than half a year has passed since Wang Shuo last submitted his manuscript.
Last year's article "Half Sea, Half Flame" was included by Lin Weimin in the "Selected Contemporary Novella Series" and received good response after publication.
"Is this slow?" Wang Shuo asked back.
It is obvious that he and Lin Weimin have different understandings of efficiency.
But it was normal when he thought about it. Everyone knew that Lin Weimin was a famous quick shooter.
"Take a look first!" Wang Shuo urged.
After Lin Weimin finished reading the manuscript, he met Wang Shuo's gaze.
"How about it?"
"Well, you found the right style this time!"
When Wang Shuo heard this comment, his face showed surprise and surprise.
Among the manuscripts he sent to Contemporary Magazine in recent years, this one should have received the highest evaluation.
Wang Shuo couldn't help but ask, "What style?"
“Your previous works, from “Stewardess” to “Half Sea, Half Flame”, wrote a lot about love affairs, and they were written quite well, but that was it.
In my opinion, this novel has a bit of a transformational meaning.
Not only does it have a strong sense of magical realism, it also integrates the language characteristics of Yenching University very well, while also depicting the oppression and alienation of marginalized young people in society very well.
Ridicule, fiction, and rebellion make this novel very avant-garde, but it is also different from the general avant-garde novels nowadays. "
It was rare to hear Lin Weimin praising him, and Wang Shuo couldn't help but grin, smiling brightly.
If you can speak, say more.
"So it can be published in the official journal this time, right?" Wang Shuo asked proudly.
"able!"
After getting Lin Weimin's affirmative answer, Wang Shuo laughed unbridled.
As he was laughing, he suddenly remembered and asked, "By the way, you didn't tell me just now, what is my style?"
Lin Weimin sneered: "Ruffian style!"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
