Chapter 665 Teacher Lin will help you get rich
The rough cut of Farewell My Concubine was four and a half hours long, which is too long for a movie.
But during the screening, no one expressed dissatisfaction with this. Everyone was immersed in the wonderful and poignant story and did not notice the passage of time.
When the movie ended and the lights came on, Michael Phillips, the producer and investor, was the first to applaud, followed by the applause from everyone present, which gradually became more enthusiastic.
Cheng Kaige's face, which had been serious the whole time, finally showed a hint of relaxation when the movie started. However, he still did not relax and smile.
It was not until he saw Lin Weimin clapping his hands that his heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally settled down.
With Lin Weimin's approval, it means that the quality of the film version of "Farewell My Concubine" has reached a certain level.
After all, Lin Weimin is not only the author of the original work, but also an outstanding screenwriter.
"Kaige did a good job!" Lin Weimin encouraged.
Cheng Kaige was still talking to Xu Feng. When he heard Lin Weimin's praise, he bowed and shook hands with Lin Weimin.
"They are all original works by Mr. Lin!"
Lin Weimin couldn't help but recall Cheng Kaige's unrestrained figure in the Yanying class.
I still like the rebellious you of those days!
After watching the rough cut of the movie, several investors and producers felt relieved. The quality of the movie is excellent, and they believe it will be even better after the fine-tuning.
Only Lin Weimin was a little dissatisfied after watching the movie.
Several producers shook hands with the main creators one by one to congratulate them. When shaking hands, Lin Weimin said to Zhang Guorong: "The performance was very good, but the lines were still a little bit off."
As soon as he said this, Zhang Guorong's originally happy face showed an embarrassed look.
He felt that he had worked very hard on this film and acted with full devotion.
Xu Feng laughed and said: "The lines are a little off, but the performance is really at the level of an award-winning actor."
Lin Weimin smiled and said nothing. He was not deliberately picking on Leslie Cheung. He was pointing out the problems with the film in a realistic manner. After all, the film was going to participate in a film festival, and Cheng Kaige was ambitious, so he should have an attitude of striving for excellence.
Cheng Kaige ignored Zhang Guorong's expression and said, "Guorong's lines are indeed a problem. I am also thinking about this matter."
Xu Feng winked at him, but Cheng Kaige pretended not to see it.
Zhang Guorong quickly adjusted his awkward attitude and smiled freely, "Ms. Xu, there's no need to defend me. It's bad, it's bad. Being able to perform to this level is already my limit. There's nothing to be ashamed of."
Xu Feng said: "Although there is a slight accent, it shouldn't be a big problem, right?"
Lin Weimin said: "We should handle it if we can. Kaige is counting on this movie to win awards, so there's nothing wrong with being more meticulous."
Cheng Kaige agreed with Lin Weimin's words. This movie was of vital importance to him and he certainly didn't want such a flaw.
"But..." Xu Feng hesitated, "The films participating in the film festival must have the original voices of the actors."
It is a clear rule in many film festivals around the world that films with non-original performances are not eligible for awards. The main reason is that the actor's voice is also part of the performance. If secondary dubbing is used, it will be unfair to other nominees.
"If we don't make it public, there shouldn't be any problem, right?" Cheng Kaige said with some lack of confidence.
It seems that he had this idea a long time ago, but today Lin Weimin happened to bring it up first, so he was not afraid of offending others.
Anyway, it was Teacher Lin who said it first.
Xu Feng looked at Michael Phillips, asking for his opinion with his eyes. Michael Phillips spread his hands. He had seen all kinds of situations, so this was not a problem at all.
Xu Feng looked at Lin Weimin again, and Lin Weimin said, "Keep it low-key, but try to find an actor with a voice similar to Leslie Cheung."
Hearing this, Xu Feng became worried again. Where could she find such an actor?
In order to make the dubbing realistic, at least three conditions must be met.
First, one must have a voice similar to Leslie Cheung’s. Second, one must be proficient in Peking Opera. Third, one must be able to act.
It is not easy to meet these three conditions.
Not only Xu Feng, but even Cheng Kaige is worried, as it is so difficult to find such voice actors.
At this time, Lin Weimin said to Chen Kaige: "Kaige, do you remember Yang Lixin?"
"Of course I remember. Cheng Dieyi in the drama version was played very well."
"Let him try, it shouldn't be a problem."
Lin Weimin is the original author and also the screenwriter of the drama version of "Farewell My Concubine". When he said Yang Lixin was good, no one dared to object.
Cheng Kaige was willing to follow suit, but he didn't know Yang Lixin, and he knew that Yang Lixin might not agree to such a thing, so Lin Weimin had to do it himself.
Less than an hour after the phone call, Yang Lixin appeared in Yanying.
"Teacher Lin!" Yang Lixin greeted Lin Weimin with a gasp when he saw him.
Lin Weimin introduced Yang Lixin to everyone and explained the situation to him in detail.
Finally, he asked seriously, "Although you are dubbing for Zhang Guorong, this play is going to participate in the film festival, so your name cannot appear. Do you agree?"
When Lin Weimin asked this question, Cheng Kaige was unsure.
He is a genuine actor in the drama version and worked hard to do the dubbing, but no one knows his contribution. Cheng Kaige put himself in his shoes and felt a little unfair.
Yang Lixin smiled and said, "You've already asked me, I can't just say 'no'. Besides, if the film is to be included in the film festival, it will also promote our country's prestige. If it really wins an award, I will be happy even if my name is not on it."
That's a very well said thing!
Lin Weimin patted Yang Lixin on the shoulder and said, "Not bad."
Cheng Kaige also held Yang Lixin's hand with some gratitude. He joked, "Director Cheng, I haven't been matched yet. Don't thank me in a hurry. If it's not suitable, your thanks will be in vain, right?"
His words caused everyone present to laugh.
Then everyone moved to Yanying's recording studio. Yang Lixin first listened to Leslie Cheung's voice, tried to get the feel for it for a few minutes, and then officially started dubbing.
"Brother, don't forget the three big guys under the pillow."
"You said it, and I knew it. I knew it the moment you met her. It's over. Everything is over."
…
Stunning!
Looks like it, very much like it!
Even the original owner, Zhang Guorong, found it amazing.
"Lixin, don't lower your head! Make your voice brighter." Outside the recording studio, Cheng Kaige saw Yang Lixin always lowering his head and couldn't help but remind him.
Yang Lixin said, "No. If the neck is lowered, the position will change and the sound will be different."
Everyone then realized that the actor also had some skills, and it wasn't just his voice that mattered.
This makes everyone admire him even more. What is a good actor? This is called a good actor!
After confirming that Yang Lixin was capable of doing the job, Cheng Kaige and several producers felt relieved.
Yang Lixin said, "Can you give me a copy of this video tape? I'll go back and study it and try to restore Mr. Zhang's voice to the greatest extent possible."
His professionalism won the respect of everyone present, but the movie is not finished yet, so the only way to watch it is at Yanying.
"Then I'll stay here for a few days." Yang Lixin said.
The dubbing problem was solved perfectly, and Lin Weimin and others felt relieved.
Before leaving, Lin Weimin told Cheng Kaige: "Give them more money, they are here to save the day."
Cheng Kaige nodded. Apart from anything else, just based on Yang Lixin's professional attitude, he couldn't treat him unfairly.
Zhang Guorong, who was standing by, interrupted and said, "This money should be paid from my film salary."
Several people looked at Zhang Guorong, and he said thoughtfully: "Take out 30,000 rice knives and regard it as Mr. Yang's reward."
Everyone present was shocked. With Yang Lixin's fame, he wouldn't get so much money even for playing the role of Cheng Dieyi!
Zhang Guorong smiled and said, "Mr. Lin's face is worth this money."
It turned out that it was for Teacher Lin's sake. Cheng Kaige felt relieved. He thought Zhang Guorong was deliberately trying to trick him.
Lin Weimin said: "What's the point of saving face? You can get such a high salary because of your fame and acting skills. Li Xin's fame is not comparable to yours. 30,000 Midao is too much."
"Then let's say 10,000 meters. Not more, not less. Mr. Yang's dedication is worth this price." Xu Feng said.
Lin Weimin nodded and said, "Ms. Xu, this is a good suggestion."
"Let's do it this way." Cheng Kaige said.
He told the news to Yang Lixin. Yang Lixin didn't expect that he would be paid such a high salary just for coming to save the day. He is now performing in a drama at the People's Art Theatre. His monthly salary plus allowance is less than 400 yuan. 10,000 yuan is enough for him to perform for ten years.
He thanked Cheng Kaige repeatedly, but Cheng Kaige said, "You should thank Teacher Lin for this."
Yang Lixin thought again of the phone call that Lin Weimin made to him. This didn't seem like he was here to save Teacher Lin. It was clearly Teacher Lin who was trying to help him get rich.
On March 9, 1993, a grand press conference was held in the banquet hall of Yanjing Hotel.
"Signing ceremony for the first batch of writers of the Ragdoll Series".
On the huge display board, a line of text attracted the attention of all the guests and reporters present.
Many journalists and people from the literary world came to the banquet hall today. Most of them were invited, but some came on their own initiative without being invited. Anyway, the Chinese Literature Society would not chase them away.
Regarding the Ragnarok series of books that has been hyped since the beginning of the year, media reporters, people in the literary and publishing circles, and ordinary literature lovers are actually very interested in it.
After all, in China's contemporary literary and publishing circles, there is only one such unique series like the Ragdoll Series that has attracted countless eyeballs since its inception.
The banquet hall was crowded with reporters and guests in the morning. As the protagonists of today's signing ceremony, the leaders and writers of the National Literature Publishing House were still keeping their faces hidden and had not yet appeared.
"The Chinese Literature Society is really capable of making a fuss. Today's event was quite a big one."
"That's right. It's just a series of books, but they've made such a fuss about it! There's a call for papers and a signing ceremony."
"In the eyeball economy, publicity is the primary productive force. Their propaganda offensive is really too powerful. I guarantee that at least dozens of media outlets will report the news of 'The Signing of the Author of the Ragdoll Series' tomorrow."
…
The reporters are well-informed and were not surprised by Guowen Press's operation, but they also admired its publicity strategy. It was really a waste of talent to put the person who could come up with this thing in Guowen Press!
In a small room next to the banquet hall, Cheng Zaochun and Lin Weimin, two of the three giants of the Guowen Society, gathered for the signing ceremony today, which shows the importance that the Guowen Society attaches to this signing ceremony.
There are eight writers who will sign contracts with Guowen Publishing House today, namely Wang Meng, Jia Pingwa, Liang Xiaosheng, Huang Anyi, Jin Ying, Tang Kangmei, Hong Feng and Yuxiu.
Except for Hong Feng and Yuxiu, everyone else present was Lin Weimin's old acquaintance.
Hong Feng and Lin Weimin do have some connection, after all, they both write avant-garde literature.
But this 19-year-old girl Yuxiu was meeting Lin Weimin for the first time. She lives in Pengcheng and is now in her third year of high school. She will take the college entrance examination in the second half of the year.
Yuxiu was accompanied by her parents when she went to Beijing. It can be seen that the girl came from a wealthy family and her parents were very supportive of her.
It was the first time that Yuxiu met many famous writers including Lin Weimin. When she thought about going on stage to face reporters, her heart almost jumped out of her chest with nervousness.
Wang Meng noticed the girl's nervousness and teased her, "Don't be afraid, kid. If they want to deal with someone, they'll deal with me, an old hand."
Lin Weimin said, "Old Wang, you are wrong. Of course you are the target of the reporters' fire, but the reporters will not let Xiaoyu go either. The two of you are much more talked about than them."
The other people around did not look unhappy when they heard this, but instead smiled a little.
Lin Weimin is right. Wang Meng and Yuxiu are indeed more talked about than them.
Wang Meng has more seniority than anyone present. He became famous in the 1950s with "Long Live Youth" and "A Young Man Comes to the Organization Department". Now, at the age of nearly 60, he is still active in the literary world.
Not only that, he also served as Minister of Culture for three years starting in 1986.
Both his status in the literary world and his position in official circles are much higher than those of the other writers present.
With him around, he can basically attract most of the reporters' attention.
The remaining firepower is likely to be concentrated on the little girl Yuxiu.
Nineteen years old, a high school student, and a debut work, these three factors combined together are bound to attract reporters.
The Ragdoll series of books has been under promotion for two months since the end of the year. We have received more than a hundred novel manuscripts, but only Yuxiu and Hong Feng have been selected based on their works.
Compared with Hong Feng, Yuxiu is undoubtedly more talked about.
Everyone was chatting, and when the time was almost up, Cheng Zaochun and Lin Weimin led a group of ten people to enter the venue one after another.
Suddenly, the banquet hall was full of flashes of light. There were at least forty or fifty reporters present today, all of them less than ten meters away from the podium, staring at the many writers with eager eyes.
It's normal for publishing houses to sign contracts with writers. After all, it's impossible not to sign a publishing contract as long as a book is published.
But what is a bit unique about Guowen Publishing House this time is that they signed both the works and the people, and some writers signed the contract before they even had a chance to work. This is the first time in the Chinese literary world.
(End of this chapter)
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