When watching the play "Memoirs of a Famous Courtesan", Ji Qi read a lot of related reviews in the newspapers, and had heard about those prostitute actresses who had attracted a lot of criticism. To be honest, even if the night watchman had not suggested it, he would have preferred to use prostitutes to play prostitutes. One reason was that such performances could help actors get into the role faster, and because they were real and particularly touching, and the other reason was because of funding reasons.
After all, their company had just been established and did not have sufficient funds. Most famous actors were very expensive, and the acting skills of actors who were not expensive were not guaranteed. In this case, prostitutes who had experience in drama performances but had never made a movie were a very cost-effective choice. As for the reputation issues brought by prostitutes, he did not consider them. If he really cared about this, he would not want to shoot "Memoirs of a Famous Prostitute".
Even so, Ji Qi decided to observe their performances with his own eyes. If their acting skills did not satisfy him, for the sake of the quality of the film, he would not choose them even if their pay was cheap or even if they were recommended by the original author.
Adhering to the concept of film first, Ji Qi followed Li Jingran to sit in the first row of the audience. Not long after, the curtain slowly opened, and one actor after another took the stage to perform various lives in the abbot's place.
Ji Qi's calm eyes soon set off a storm.
There are many prostitutes in the novel Memoirs of Famous Prostitutes, including the strong and brave Bai Moli, the vain and materialistic Xiao Taohong, the hard-mouthed but soft-hearted Phalaenopsis... These prostitutes with different personalities are the microcosm of the Eight Great Hutongs, and their fate is the common fate of all prostitutes.
Now these characters are walking towards the audience from the book, vividly alive on the small stage! Among them, Bai Moli is the most vivid and dazzling! Ji Qi looked devoutly at Bai Moli playing the piano and laughing on the stage, as if he saw a bright flame burning with passion.
Ji Qi's scalp was numb, and a long-lost shudder of joy crept up from his spine to his brain. His skin tightened and he couldn't stop getting goose bumps. He took a deep breath, barely suppressing the crazy joy in his heart, and told himself, it's her, it's them!
They are not performing, they are just showing their lives to the audience! Such a natural performance is hard to come by! Only such a performance can present the most perfect "Memoirs of a Famous Courtesan"!
So when the curtain was drawn, Le Jing heard Ji Qi's excited voice as expected: "I want to go backstage to meet the actress who plays Bai Moli!"
…
As soon as Le Jing led Ji Qi into the backstage, they were surrounded by many beautiful figures.
"Ah, sir, are you here to see my performance?"
"I saw you on the stage! Sir, do you think I performed well?"
"Why haven't you come these days, sir? Are you sick?"
Ji Qi realized belatedly that Li Jingran seemed to be very popular with actresses? Although he knew that he was not as good-looking as others, he still felt a little sour in his heart.
Le Jing smiled and answered a few questions. Seeing that these girls were about to ask Blue Cat three thousand questions, he quickly stopped talking: "I came here to discuss something with Miss Bai. Please give me some convenience."
"Alright, alright, stop bothering me, sir." Bai Shaoyao rudely pushed away the chattering sisters and protected Le Jing behind her like an old hen. "Sir, if you have anything to say, why don't we go out and talk?"
Le Jing shook his head and said with a smile: "It's okay, it's the same here." Then he told Ji Qi about his plan to make "Memoirs of a Famous Prostitute" into a movie. Ji Qi also took the opportunity to invite Bai Shaoyao to play the female lead.
"Filming a movie? Me?" Bai Shaoyao blushed. She pulled her hair awkwardly and asked unconfidently, "Can someone like me also film a movie?"
"Of course! In my opinion, the female lead of the movie must be Miss Bai!" Ji Qi said enthusiastically: "Miss Bai's acting skills are superb, she is very immersed in the role, and at the same time she has a deep understanding of the original work. I heard that the play script was adapted by Miss Bai?" After Bai Shaoyao nodded, Ji Qi looked at Bai Shaoyao with even more enthusiasm, and he asked excitedly: "Has Miss Bai ever studied related subjects before?"
Bai Shaoyao misunderstood Ji Qi's meaning, and lowered her head and stammered, "I know that I have not been educated and have little knowledge, so I specially asked many seniors in the theater to read this script for me. I revised the script at least ten times."
Ji Qi nodded and asked, "Can I ask who wrote those extra lines in the play?"
Bai Shaoyao replied nervously, "It's me, but is there anything wrong with the lines?"
Ji Qi laughed and shook his head vigorously: "On the contrary, in my opinion, these added lines are exquisite and in line with the original work. People would believe that they are the work of a master. Miss Bai can write such dialogues without any relevant training. She can really be called a genius."
Bai Shaoyao blushed at the praise and kept waving her hands, saying she didn't deserve it.
The two exchanged a few polite words, and Bai Shaoyao asked curiously, "How do you want to film Memoirs of a Famous Courtesan?"
Le Jing had also asked Ji Qi this question before, and at this time he just copied the answer he had given Le Jing at that time: "The movie basically follows the original content and remains unchanged, but I want to rewrite the ending."
Bai Shaoyao frowned, a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes, and asked, "How do you want to rewrite it?"
Ji Qi replied: "I want to change the tragic ending into a comedy. Bai Moli did not die, and she finally redeemed herself and became a free person."
Bai Shaoyao frowned even more tightly. This sentence was simple, but it almost changed the main line of the article and weakened the intention of the article. It changed the previous thought-provoking story into an unreal fairy tale. This was a blasphemy to the author's work!
Seeing Bai Shaoyao looking furious, Le Jing quickly explained, "Director Ji Qi has obtained my consent for this matter."
Although Bai Shaoyao was puzzled, she knew that Mr. Night Watchman must have his own reasons for doing this.
"Because only such a rewrite can inspire the audience's enthusiasm to change their fate and work tirelessly." The young man looked long and seemed to be lost in memories, with a faint smile on his lips: "Admittedly, tragedy is great, but is comedy not great? Human beings are very realistic animals. If they can't see the benefits of resistance, they will not choose to resist."
Bai Shaoyao nodded as if she understood, so Le Jing further explained: "The novel version of Memoirs of a Famous Courtesan is a tragedy. Through Bai Moli's tragedy, I made readers feel indignant about the dark and unfair world and sympathetic to prostitutes. However, if such content is made into a movie, it will have a negative impact on many viewers. They will think that Bai Moli did not realize her dream even though she worked so hard, and was finally forced to death by the madam. In the end, it was just a waste of time. In this case, it is better to accept her fate from the beginning and not have unrealistic fantasies."
Bai Shaoyao suddenly realized, "So the reason why the gentleman wanted to change the ending of the movie into a comedy is because he wanted to inspire people with the story of the heroine Bai Moli who successfully redeemed herself through unremitting efforts!"
Le Jing smiled and nodded: "Yes. Compared to the profound but lonely tragedy, the clichéd comedy can attract more people to the cinema and play a positive role in inspiring people."
The movie "Oshin" which was introduced from Japan at that time triggered a movie-watching craze in China with streets emptied of people. The protagonist Oshin was born in a humble family, but his legendary experience of becoming the owner of a large supermarket through his own hard work inspired countless women to embark on the path of self-reliance. Some female entrepreneurs also said that they were influenced by Oshin when they started their own businesses.
This shows the positive guiding role that outstanding positive characters play on society and the people.
Bai Shaoyao now completely agreed with Ji Qi's idea of adaptation, but...
"I really want to make a movie, but I have to ask my husband first about the female lead before I can give you an answer." She apologized and leaned towards the two of them, explaining, "I am where I am today thanks to the help of my husband, so I have to ask him about this matter."
Ji Qi also understood Bai Shaoyao's concerns. After all, actors in the old times were just actors, and in many people's minds, actors were playthings similar to prostitutes, so it was not surprising that many old-fashioned people were prejudiced against actors.
Ji Qi nodded to express his understanding of Bai Shaoyao, but before he could say anything polite, the actresses who had been craning their necks to eavesdrop on their conversation rushed over and surrounded him.
"Director, are you still short of actors? What do you think of me?"
"Director, please choose me. I'm so handsome, it would be a shame if I didn't become an actor."
"Director, director, you watched my performance just now, right? How was my performance?"
Ji Qi was overwhelmed after hearing this. Under the attack of this group of female soldiers, he could only sign the "humiliating" treaty in an embarrassing manner. After promising that each of them would have a chance to audition, these young ladies dispersed contentedly.
Facing Le Jing's mischievous gaze, Ji Qi recalled the sour feeling in his heart just now, and couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook his head, "It's the most difficult to accept the kindness of a beautiful woman."
…
It was already noon when we came out of the theater.
Le Jing glanced at the sky. It was a cloudy day today. The sun shrank into the dark clouds, leaving only a pale yellow halo. The autumn wind blew through the dilapidated streets of Peking, making the scene even more in line with the bleakness and sadness of late autumn.
"It's already this late, let's go to my house for lunch." Le Jing greeted him enthusiastically, "I'm not bragging, my cooking skills are amazing!"
Ji Qi was not a reserved person, and immediately said with a smile: "Then I can look forward to a feast!"
The two chatted and laughed as they hurried on. Le Jing's new home was not far from the theater, so there was no need to take a car.
It was in such a bleak late autumn that Le Jing met those children.
Some of them were wearing rags and running around barefoot, while others were simply naked. Without exception, they all had big heads, thin necks, and skinny limbs.
"Please be kind and give us something to eat!" They surrounded Le Jing and Ji Qi, knelt down and kowtowed skillfully. A girl with a disabled leg propped up her body with one hand and held up a broken bowl with the other hand, her big black and white eyes were numb: "Master, please give us some food." She said while kowtowed to Le Jing and the others with difficulty.
who are they?
They are Sanmao.
They are children of the Republic of China.
Shelley asked, winter is here, can spring be far behind?
But these children in front of us will hardly live to see the next spring. Their lives are as weak as candles in the wind and can be extinguished at any time.
Oscar Wilde said that everyone is born a king, but most die in exile.
These children once had infinite potential, but now they have to die quietly and dirty in dark street corners.
Children are the future of the country.
A country that is so poor that even its children cannot survive has no future.
Le Jing was about to take out the money from his pocket, but was stopped by Ji Qi. He ran to a nearby store and bought some fried cakes and buns, then handed them to the children in silence.
The children's eyes, which had been numb before, suddenly lit up. They fought for the food, and wolfed it down while fighting.
Ji Qi took Le Jing for a distance and asked him to look back. He saw several vicious men snatching all the money that the children had begged for. Only the food was spared and was wolfed down by the children.
Ji Qi sighed and said, "Now you understand."
As early as when Ji Qi stopped him from paying, Le Jing had already understood something. He remembered what he had seen in the news in modern times, that adults would train disabled children to beg for money, and he thought that this was similar to the way it was done now.
As expected, from ancient times to the present, the evil of human beings has been similar.
Le Jing thought that he probably had already thought of a new story for the series.
This is the inspiration these "Sanmao" gave him.
He planned to tell a fairy tale full of hope with a street kid as the protagonist.
People always need hope. Only hope can give people the motivation to endure disasters and persevere in struggle.
The author has something to say:
Now it seems that this instance won’t be finished in 40 or 50 chapters… Let’s set the goal to finish it in 60 chapters!!
I have too much to write about the Republic of China. If I had known, I would have opened a separate book about the Republic of China_(:з」∠)_The main reason is that when I started the article, I didn’t expect that I could write such a long article... This is the disadvantage of not having an outline QWQ
The subsequent copies are of varying lengths, but none should be as long as the Republic of China chapter... right?
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