Chapter 453 Born to Win Awards
The publication of "Wives and Concubines" is of great significance to Tong Zhonggui.
Before this work, he had published several works, but they did not make much splash, let alone be very popular.
Before "Wives and Concubines", the avant-garde characteristics of Tong Zhonggui's works were very obvious. He made extensive use of imagery, circular narrative, multiple persons, and broken story structure in his novels, which are all typical characteristics of avant-garde novels.
The critics have long been paying attention to this emerging young author, and they also know that he is an author favored by Lin Weimin and is personally promoted. They all believe that he may be another great figure in the field of avant-garde novel creation after Ma Yuan and Yu Hua.
However, with the publication of "Wives and Concubines", Tong Zhonggui changed his previous creative style and writing techniques.
He began to use traditional plain-drawing techniques, and the presence of imagery in his novels became increasingly weak.
This change is like learning to paint. In the beginning, I liked the showmanship of Western paintings the most, and thought that the more realistic the painting was, the better; the more magnificent, the better. But now I have changed to the direction of traditional Chinese painting, which focuses on spirit rather than form.
As soon as he made a move, his skills amazed everyone!
Half a month after the publication of "Wives and Concubines", word of mouth among readers and critics has gradually fermented and received rave reviews.
The pen name Su Tong has become the most dazzling name in the Chinese literary world this year. He is like a dark horse, suddenly and quickly running to the forefront of the Chinese literary world.
"Xiao Tong, you're really popular!"
“You’ll be a great writer in the future!”
Faced with the teasing and jokes from his colleagues, Tong Zhonggui's face showed the shyness and restraint of a boy next door.
He never expected the huge popularity of "Wives and Concubines". When he first started writing this novel, he was wholeheartedly trying to make it big.
Write a novel with a purely classical Chinese flavor to test your own creative ability and the limits of your exploration.
He originally planned to write a long story, but as he was writing he realized that this was not a good choice.
He thought of the topics and content he had discussed with Lin Weimin when they were discussing creation. What was the point if it was just for the purpose of writing a long novel?
After realizing this truth, Tong Zhonggui decisively gave up the idea of blindly pursuing size and length, and focused his energy on the content itself.
The current results also prove that his choice was correct.
When it comes to literary works, the content should be the most important thing, and all forms are just icing on the cake.
"Xiao Tong, you haven't been in a relationship yet, right?" Liu Yin asked suddenly.
Tong Zhonggui's face became even more embarrassed, and other colleagues in the office laughed even more unscrupulously.
It is such a joy to tease Tong Zhonggui, a virgin.
"Don't be shy! I'll introduce you to one later, how about that?"
Tong Zhonggui completely retreated under the gaze of everyone, clutching a stack of manuscripts and planning to find a quiet place to stay. At this time, Lin Weimin walked into the office.
"Xiao Tong, where is the manuscript that Alai sent? Bring it to me and have a look."
Tong Zhonggui rummaged through a pile of manuscripts and found the manuscript that Lin Weimin wanted.
"Agu Dunba" is a short story. In Tibetan folk legends, Agu Dunba is a wise figure known to everyone, including women and children, similar to the legend of Afanasiy in another ethnic minority area.
Alai's narrative in the novel breaks the patterns and routines of folk tales, adapts and reshapes the character of Agu Dunba, and strengthens his folk cultural stance and spirit of resistance to aristocratic oppression.
The novel is not long and has a unique style.
After reading it, Tong Zhonggui realized how correct what Teacher Lin said to Alai was.
The existence of Tibetan oral literature has provided Alai with ample creative nourishment and space. The whole "Agu Dunba" reads smoothly, as if it was written effortlessly, and the quality is quite good.
After reading this novel, Lin Weimin felt that it looked familiar. The creation of "Agu Dunba" already had the shadow of "Dust Settles" which made Alai famous in later generations.
The character Agutonba was born into a noble family, but he betrayed his own class, walked among the black-headed Tibetans, thought in the most simple way, used the wisdom of the people to fight against the powerful, and was kind and honest, yet smart and cunning. How similar is this to the foolish second young master of Tusi Maiqi's family in "The Dust Settles"?
These two characters are of the same lineage. Lin Weimin believes that Agu Dunba is most likely the origin of the Foolish Second Young Master, and the Foolish Second Young Master is also an extension and expansion of Agu Dunba.
He had no way of explaining these things in detail to Tong Zhonggui, after all, "Dust Settles" had not been written yet.
So Lin Weimin wrote a letter to Alai personally, in which he first praised "Agu Dunba", and then talked to Alai about the details and character treatment in the novel, encouraging Alai to try to explore the character of Agu Dunba in depth.
It was almost half a month later that Alai, who was far away in Aba, received Lin Weimin's letter. After reading Lin Weimin's letter, he felt a little excited.
In the past few years, he has been focusing on poetry writing, and has only been writing novels for the past year, and he has not had much confidence in himself.
The last time he went on a business trip to Yenching, he had dinner and chatted with Lin Weimin, which gave him great confidence and inspiration. After he came back, he tried to write this "Agu Dunba".
The acceptance of his manuscript not only means that he can get a considerable amount of royalties, but also represents that his creation has been recognized.
In particular, Lin Weimin also discussed in depth with him in the letter the potential for development of the character of Agutunba, which suddenly opened up Alai's mind. He thought about it carefully and felt that what Lin Weimin said did make some sense.
Under the flattery of Teacher Lin, Alai's ambition gradually grew.
Or, write another novella?
But I don’t have any experience!
Alai came to his simple bookshelf with some boredom and looked at the names on the spines of the books one by one.
Suddenly, his eyes froze.
The Sound and the Fury, Faulkner.
After returning, Alai went to the bookstore and bought a copy of the book that Lin Weimin mentioned during their last meal and chat in Yanjing.
Recalling the contents of the novel, Alai's heart was eager to act.
In early September, Lin Weimin visited the set of "The Last Emperor" again at the invitation of Thomas. After nearly half a year of filming, the crew's scenes in the Forbidden City were about to end, and they were preparing to move to Changchun to film the subsequent plot.
The scene being filmed is where the young Puyi tries to leave the imperial city on a bicycle but is stopped by the guards.
Lin Weimin stood not far away and watched the crew filming. The person who played the captain of the guard looked a little familiar.
"Is that person Cheng Kaige?" Lin Weimin asked Gong Li beside him.
Gong Li nodded, "It's Director Cheng, he's here to make a guest appearance today."
Lin Weimin nodded, did not discuss the topic any further, and instead talked to Gong Li about Zhang Yimou.
The film festivals in the second half of the year have ended one after another. Zhang Yimou was busy for half a year, and he took "Red Sorghum" to almost all the film festivals he could participate in, and of course he reaped rich rewards.
The Golden Bear Award at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival, the Best Film Award and Best Director Award at the 5th Zimbabwe International Film Festival, the Film Critics Award at the 25th Sydney International Film Festival in Australia, the Grand Atlas Gold Award for Directors at the 1st Marash International Film and Television Festival in Morocco, the Silver Panda Award at the 5th Montpellier International Film Festival in France...
He became famous with one play, and it was a world-class fame.
Zhang Yimou's journey as a director had a dream start.
"Will you still be the female lead in the next movie?" Lin Weimin asked.
Gong Li shook her head and said, "I don't know. Director Zhang is too busy. I haven't seen him for half a year. His next movie hasn't been released yet!"
After filming Red Sorghum, Gong Li gained both fame and fortune.
The names are different. Zhang Yimou ate meat, while she and Han Zhuangzhuang drank soup.
In terms of benefits, with the blessing of "Red Sorghum", she successfully won the leading role of "The Last Emperor" with a salary of 300,000 US dollars, which shocked the entire Chinese film industry for a whole year.
You should know that China Film Co-Productions Corporation, as a co-producer of this film, invested only 300,000 US dollars, which is just enough to pay Gong Li's salary alone.
For Gong Li, who has not yet graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, the start of her acting career is even more dreamy than Zhang Yimou's career as a director.
Lin Weimin joked: "After filming The Last Emperor, you will be an international actress. Director Zhang may not be able to pay you that much, right?"
Gong Li said frankly: "I would act even if I didn't get paid. Without Director Zhang, I wouldn't be where I am today."
Regardless of whether this statement is sincere or not, it is very comforting. Xiao Gong knows how to behave.
While the two were chatting, the scene not far away ended.
Cheng Kaige's mission as the captain of the guard also came to an end. He noticed Lin Weimin standing with Gong Li, hesitated for a moment, and walked over with makeup on.
"Teacher Lin, long time no see!" Cheng Kaige greeted.
Lin Weimin smiled and said, "Comrade Kaige, long time no see!"
Cheng Kaige exchanged a few words with Lin Weimin and seemed to have something to say. Gong Li tactfully ran aside upon seeing this.
"Teacher Lin, the script of Red Sorghum is really well written."
"Haha, that's all Mo Yan's credit. He was the one who insisted on using my name."
"I've also read your novel 'The Lover'. It's also very well written."
Lin Weimin looked at Cheng Kaige, not sure what this guy was up to.
Talking about how the two met, it was when Lin Weimin went to Yanying for classes. Cheng Kaige praised "Eula's Death" and criticized "Farewell My Concubine". He was very individual and very literary.
"I have never understood why your works seem to be born to win awards? Why do they always win awards?" Cheng Kaige asked the question in his mind.
Lin Weimin smiled. It seemed that the experience of "The King of Children" some time ago really gave him a great shock, and he even asked this question.
"I told you that I wrote this specifically with the intention of winning an award. Do you believe me?" Lin Weimin asked in a relaxed tone.
Cheng Kaige was surprised at first, but after hesitating, he shook his head firmly.
"You are not that kind of person."
Lin Weimin was happy. He didn't expect that he had such a high status in Cheng Kaige's heart. "No need to praise me."
“You see, you also understand that whether a work wins an award has little to do with the author’s wishes, including the creation, because from the moment the work is published, it is out of our control.
The audience and judges are the ones who can give it a fair evaluation.”
Cheng Kaige came to him, somewhat intending to seek advice.
Lin Weimin's words were very tactful, meaning that he should not take the awarding of awards so seriously. The more he takes it seriously, the more he will care about gains and losses, and the easier it will be to lose balance.
After listening to Lin Weimin's words, Cheng Kaige was silent for a moment, and then asked: "Do you think I have any shortcomings?"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
