Chapter 392 Tea Master
Zhang Yimou's distress was actually very common in the 1980s.
In 1980, when Lin Weimin was still busy typing at the educated youth training center, China Youth published a letter from a female comrade named Pan Xiao.
The editor gave this letter a title, "Why is the road of life getting narrower and narrower?"
This letter, with its heavy and resentful tone, describes the depression that contemporary young people feel when facing difficult lives. As soon as it was published, it triggered a nationwide discussion on the outlook on life.
From May 1980 to the end of that year, China Youth magazine received tens of thousands of letters from readers, and there were countless special discussions on this issue from all walks of life, especially in colleges and universities.
The issues discussed in the "Pan Xiao Discussion" are very broad, including the meaning of life, the value of life, etc.
Zhang Yimou's distress is inconspicuous among these propositions, but equally important.
For many people of this era, a job is a lifelong commitment.
If you do this, does that mean you are destined to do only this thing for the rest of your life?
Zhang Yimou’s answer is no, and he is luckier than “Pan Xiao” as he has the help of his guide Lin Weimin.
The same evening after the phone call, Zhang Yimou boarded a train to Xi'an.
If the factory leaders don’t support me, then I will look for another factory.
I have to make a movie!
Lin Weimin was not aware of Zhang Yimou's inner stubbornness, but he admired Zhang Yimou as a person and the talent he showed in movies.
If you let a person like this be a photographer for his entire life, wouldn't that be a humiliation to him?
While Zhang Yimou was taking the train to pursue his dream, Lin Weimin was still writing the script day and night.
"The Kite Runner" is a big drama, and the script volume is much larger than that of ordinary scripts.
After being stuck in his apartment for several days due to continuous creation, Lin Weimin went to Broadway to relax and watch a musical or a drama.
However, he left home early and ran to Broadway after lunch. There were still five or six hours before the evening performance, so Lin Weimin could only wander freely on several streets of Broadway.
West 44th Street, between Eighth Avenue and Seventh Avenue, is home to five theaters. The first thing you see when you walk across from the theater is the conspicuous ghost mask. Posters are attached to each street lamp in a long row, and the buildings behind are covered with an ancient golden color.
The King's Theatre, opened in 1927, has 1,645 seats and is one of the largest theaters on Broadway. A series of classic musicals such as "Carousel", "South Pacific", "Camelot" and "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" have made it the most representative theater on Broadway.
Lin Weimin walked into a coffee shop diagonally opposite the King's Theatre. The shop was not big. He ordered a cup of coffee and sat by the window.
The coffee was served and I just took a sip when I heard an angry voice coming from the side.
"Cameron, I really can't go on. Richard has run out of ideas now, and what he wrote is not worthy of my song!"
Lin Weimin looked to the side and saw a middle-aged man with light blond hair and slightly buck teeth complaining.
The man sitting next to him was wearing a neat suit and had a sleek haircut, a typical elite white man.
"Andrew, you need to calm down. When Richard worked with you on 'Starlight Express' before, didn't you have a pleasant cooperation?" the man called Cameron advised.
Andrew said impatiently, "That's different. "Starlight Express", I don't have such high expectations for this work. To be honest, Cameron, you also think that "Starlight Express" is not excellent, right?"
Cameron fell silent in response to Andrew's question. Andrew continued, "But this time it's different. I can't let Richard ruin this work."
"It's not that serious, Andrew!" Cameron's rebuttal seemed weak.
Andrew said angrily, "Cameron, you are the producer of this play, can you show some responsibility? Sarah, you didn't agree with me using it, Michael, you didn't agree with me using it, and now Richard is forcing me to use it! Do I still have a say in this play?"
Seeing his old friend furious, Cameron quickly said: "Of course, you have a say, you are the soul of this show."
After giving some advice, Cameron said, "But, Andrew, you have to understand me. Sarah is a dancer and Michael is a comedian. How could the investors trust them to play such important roles? Richard's situation is different from the two of them. He has worked with you once, and you have a tacit understanding with each other..."
"F**k this tacit understanding! This is shitty tacit understanding!"
Andrew cursed, and Cameron's face didn't look good either. He stared at Andrew and said stiffly, "Andrew, this is a big drama with an investment of more than 3 million US dollars. You can't be so willful. Everyone has been very unhappy before. Unless you want to ruin this drama, you have to control your temper."
After saying these words, Cameron stood up and said to Andrew: "You need to calm down, let's talk tomorrow!"
Andrew looked at Cameron's back as he left, and slapped the table hard, still feeling unsatisfied.
At this time, he finally noticed Lin Weimin who had been staring at him.
"What are you looking at?" Andrew asked in an unhappy tone.
"Nothing, handsome guy!" Lin Weimin replied leisurely.
Andrew had been planning to vent his anger, but he didn't expect the other party to say something like this. His momentum instantly became like a balloon punctured by a needle.
He tried hard to make himself look more fierce, but it didn't work. Instead, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.
"You're awesome, buddy!" Andrew gave Lin Weimin a kind smile.
Lin Weimin also smiled and said, "Of course, this trick has worked for me many times."
"It sounds like you are a musical composer," Lin Weimin asked.
Andrew nodded, “As you can see!”
Seeing that Andrew was not averse to communication, Lin Weimin sat at his table.
“It just so happens that I’m also a screenwriter.”
Andrew pointed to the sign of the King's Theatre outside and joked, "On Broadway, it's not a coincidence that a musical composer and a screenwriter meet by chance."
"Well! If you were a blonde, maybe this would work a little better."
Andrew laughed out loud, "Man, your humor really does attract blondes more!"
After saying that, he stretched out his hand to Lin Weimin with a serious expression, "Andrew Lloyd Webber."
"Lin Weimin, you can call me Lin."
Andrew asked, "Mud bomber?"
In the 1980s in the United States, when people saw yellow people, they would subconsciously think they were mud people, just like when they saw Chinese people thirty years later.
“No, Chinese.”
Andrew nodded. "You said you were a screenwriter? Are you planning to write the lyrics for the musical for me?"
"If this is your request, I can consider it." Lin Weimin said easily.
Andrew frowned, “Man, do you know who I am?”
Lin Weimin nodded. "Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of Cats and Evita, and the top musical creator in London's West End and Broadway."
"So do you think I need to ask you to write the lyrics?"
"But don't you have a suitable lyricist now?"
Lin Weimin was so choked up by his words that Andrew was speechless. The two looked at each other for a few seconds, and Andrew muttered, "My work is not something that any screenwriter can interfere with."
"Have you heard of 'The Intouchables'?" Lin Weimin asked.
Andrew's eyes lit up. "The one that's playing at the Barrymore Theatre?"
There is nothing new on Broadway. People who have worked here for many years know all the plays here by heart.
Lin Weimin nodded.
Andrew frowned again, "Isn't that written by Arthur Miller?"
"My original work, he brought the United States."
"I see."
Andrew looked at Lin Weimin again with some appreciation in his eyes, "The play is well written. But this is a musical, I'm afraid you can't help."
"I didn't say I would write lyrics for you."
Lin Weimin's words once again made Andrew's breath stagnate, and then he heard Lin Weimin say: "Put aside the lyrics first, it seems that you are not satisfied with the investors' meddling?"
"What do you mean?" Andrew became alert.
“Don’t be nervous!” Lin Weimin smiled kindly. “I just think it’s sad that a top composer like you has to look at the faces of investors. They are stifling your creativity!”
After hearing what Lin Weimin said, Andrew immediately smiled.
"You're right. Those damn investors are good for nothing except throwing money around and making decisions."
"I totally agree. Letting those money-grubbing businessmen invest in musicals is a complete disgrace to your talent."
"That's right! Oh, Lin, artists really are connected in spirit."
Lin Weimin smiled more kindly, "Andrew, I completely understand how you feel. We must not let those damn businessmen control our destiny."
“You are so right, art is priceless.”
"My friend, I am more than willing to support your music career if you need it!"
Andrew finally woke up from Teacher Lin's flattery and looked at Lin Weimin with caution again, "You want to invest in my musical?"
"No, no, no, Andrew, I support your music career. Art is priceless. You are a natural artist and you must not be swayed by money."
Andrew looked at Lin Weimin with suspicion.
Teacher Lin has a kind face.
"Don't play tricks on me. You're just like those guys." Andrew said treacherously.
"No, no, no, I'm totally different from that group of people. Can they let you use Sarah as the heroine? Can they let you use Michael as the hero?"
"What do you mean?"
Lin Weimin smiled harmlessly, "It means exactly what it says. If I were your investor, I would fully respect your opinion. Because I fully understand that you are the soul of this musical, and I support all your decisions."
Although he realized that Lin Weimin must have other intentions, Andrew had to admit that his words and attitude made him feel too comfortable.
This guy is so professional!
"Damn it! You are such a good talker!" Andrew suddenly cursed.
Lin Weimin shook his head. "No, no, Andrew, this is a mutual admiration between artists!"
No matter how many clothes you wear, flattery will never wear out. In order to make money from Lao Mi, Teacher Lin has thrown away even his underwear!
"Cameron should really hear what you have to say."
"Are you talking about the gentleman just now? It seems that he should be your producer. You should understand him. After all, he is a producer. He should not only consider your feelings, but also the feelings of the investors."
Teacher Lin’s Tea Talk and Tea Language classroom has started!
"But he is my producer!" Andrew said, getting angry again.
"Forget it, Andrew, don't talk about these unhappy topics. I have no other intention, I just don't want a talented artist like you to be burdened by money." Lin Weimin said kindly.
Andrew's face showed a touching expression, "Lin, you really should let Cameron listen to you, he is such an ungrateful guy!"
In the cafe opposite the King's Theatre, Teacher Lin is conducting an NTR exercise.
(End of this chapter)
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