1990: Starting from Baojia Street

Zhou Yan's eyes lit up when he saw the man in the wheelchair.

Under normal circumstances, Zhou Yan would have no interest in running into the dilapidated Ditan Park.

The reason why I came in was because I was expecting to see Shi Tiesheng in the Temple of Earth.

Unexpectedly, he actually saw it.

Although Shi Tiesheng is sitting in a wheelchair, he gives people a very burly look. It is still very cold, but he is only wearing a single coat. There was a book on his lap, but instead of reading, he stared blankly at the big tree in front of him.

Zhou Yan did not disturb him, but ran to the stone steps next to him and sat down, also looking at the tree quietly.

Zhou Yan has watched The Temple of Earth and Me many times, and has imagined the scene of Shi Tiesheng in the Temple of Earth countless times, so the scene in front of him now makes Zhou Yan feel a bit dreamy.

After a long while, Shi Tiesheng stopped looking at the tree and turned to look at Zhou Yan.

Although he had been looking at the tree, he also noticed someone watching him.

Shi Tiesheng said nothing, but his eyes were full of questions.

Zhou Yan stood up with a smile, You are Shi Tiesheng, right?

Yeah. Shi Tiesheng nodded.

Hearing Zhou Yan call out his name, Shi Tiesheng was no longer confused.

Since his works became slightly famous, people have come to visit him frequently. At first, they only visited his home, but later, people often came to the Temple of Earth to meet him by chance.

Although it doesn't happen every day, it happens a few times a month.

Therefore, Shi Tiesheng classified Zhou Yan into this category.

Zhou Yan walked up to him and offered a cigarette to Shi Tiesheng, but Shi Tiesheng picked up half a cigarette from the side and said, I haven't finished smoking yet.

Shi Tiesheng smokes and likes to put it out when he is halfway through smoking and then light it up again after a while.

After saying that, Shi Tiesheng took out a match and lit the half of the cigarette. Then he took out a cigarette from the cigarette case and handed it to Zhou Yan, Friend, come here.

I don't smoke.

Shi Tiesheng nodded, put the cigarette back into the cigarette case, and said nothing.

Zhou Yan took the initiative to introduce himself, My name is Zhou Yan. I am a student of Yangyin. I particularly like your works.

Hearing that Zhou Yan was a student, Shi Tiesheng smiled and said, Your school is not close to here. Did you come here specifically to visit the park?

I went to the coal mine art troupe to have something to do, so I happened to come in and take a look when I was passing by. Zhou Yan explained.

There wasn't much left in the half of the cigarette in Shi Tiesheng's hand, and he finished it in a few puffs. Zhou Yan gave him another cigarette. This time, Shi Tiesheng took it with a smile, struck another match and lit it, and then asked with a smile, What instrument did you learn?

I major in composition, and my major is the bamboo flute.

Shi Tiesheng nodded, In the Temple of Earth, you can often hear the sounds of various musical instruments, such as flutes, flutes, suonas, and sometimes pianos... Maybe I heard it wrong. For people like us who are not familiar with it, For those who understand music, whatever they hear and think is what they think.

Zhou Yan blinked. Shi Tiesheng was more talkative than he expected.

Originally, he was worried about being left in the cold and thinking about how to find a topic, but now he found that he didn't need to say anything at all, as long as he followed Shi Tiesheng's words, Shi Tiesheng could keep talking.

Shi Tiesheng's essays are all about life, but when chatting, he doesn't like to talk about daily life. As he chats, he turns to metaphysics, which sounds inscrutable.

The two chatted for about half an hour, and Shi Tiesheng suddenly said, I have to go home for dinner.

Then he politely extended an invitation to Zhou Yan, Why don't you come to my house for a bite.

Zhou Yan smiled and shook his head, No, I have to go back. See you again when I have the chance.

Shi Tiesheng nodded and smiled, I hope to hear your work if I have the chance.

…

After watching Shi Tiesheng leave, Zhou Yan also walked out of Ditan Park and rode his bike to Yanjing Studio.

After walking around the set and having lunch in the factory, Zhou Yan rode home.

During this time, in addition to his graduation work Nightingale, he was also preparing the soundtrack for Sanmao's Army.

The style of the movie San Mao Joins the Army is black humor, so the soundtrack will naturally follow this style and take a humorous and interesting route.

When he left Shanghai, he asked Zhang Jianya for a movie script. During this time, he read the script several times and took a lot of notes.

After some time, he will go to the set of Sanmao Joins the Army to discuss with Zhang Jianya the things recorded in his notes. Maybe he can also write two songs for Zhang Jianya to listen to.

Zhou Yan worked in the study until about four o'clock in the afternoon. When his pager received a message from Hou Xiaoxian, he ran to the living room and picked up the phone and dialed it.

After Hou Xiaoxian received the call, he was quite surprised, Why are you so fast? Aren't you in school?

Zhou Yan smiled and said, I'm not at school. I moved to a new place and just installed a phone.

That's more convenient. If you give me your phone number, I won't call your pager later.

Zhou Yan reported his phone number and then asked, Director Hou, what do you want from me? Is there any change in the promotion of The Piano Boy Who Wants to Fly?

No, I called you because I wanted to tell you about my new movie. Hou Xiaoxian said with a smile.

Hearing Hou Xiaoxian talk about his new movie, Zhou Yan scratched his head, what is supposed to come will come.

I heard from Sister Feng that your new movie is related to the puppet show?

Well, it's a biographical film that mainly tells the story of the first half of the puppet show master Li Tianlu's life.

Zhou Yan knew Li Tianlu. In Hou Xiaoxian's movie Sad City, Li Tianlu played the role of the head of the Lin family.

Dream Life Zhou Yan also knew about it, but he was not very impressed.

Xu Feng said that Hou Xiaoxian is the emperor of boring movies. This is not true at all. For example, his Sad City Zhou Yan can still be watched, but Dream Life can only be half watched.

Zhou Yan really didn't want to accept a movie that he could only watch half of. When he was about to tell Hou Xiaoxian that he didn't understand puppetry, he heard Hou Xiaoxian say again, As for the soundtrack, you don't need to know anything about puppetry. , some performance scenes use traditional music, and there is little room for development in this aspect, so just treat it as an ordinary movie. Let me tell you about the story this movie tells...

Next, regardless of whether Zhou Yantong agreed or not, Hou Xiaoxian spontaneously told Zhou Yan the story of the movie.

This is a biographical movie, telling the story of Li Tianlu's growth from childhood to adulthood.

Li Tianlu was born in 1910. He followed his father in the puppet show troupe Yanghuatai since he was a child.

There is a big line and a small line in the movie. The big line is the background of the times. At that time, Taiwan was colonized by neon. After Li Tianlu grew up, the war broke out again. The small line is Li Tianlu’s personal growth history. His mother After his death, his stepmother was very cruel to him, his grandfather passed away, he had a falling out with his father and stepmother, and he became the father-in-law of his in-laws...

Listening to Hou Xiaoxian vividly telling the story of Dream Life on the phone, Zhou Yan couldn't help but sigh that Hou Xiaoxian's oral story was actually more exciting than the movie, at least he could listen to it.

On the contrary, after it was made into a movie, it made people feel boring.

After Hou Xiaoxian finished telling the story, he finally asked Zhou Yan with a smile, Would you accept this movie?

Zhou Yan pondered. To be honest, the soundtrack work for this movie was not complicated, because the performance scenes were all samples of traditional drama songs that existed before. He didn't need to spend too much time on it. He only needed to write one or two new songs. That's it.

How is it? Hou Xiaoxian asked again.

After hearing Hou Xiaoxian speak again, Zhou Yan agreed directly without any further hesitation, No problem.

To be honest, Hou Xiaoxian has helped Zhou Yan a lot since Raise the Red Lantern. This is also the first time Hou Xiaoxian asked him for help. Zhou Yan really couldn't say no if he refused.

And this life is indeed not difficult.

When Zhou Yan agreed, Hou Xiaoxian smiled and said, Anyway, you are going to Taiwan in a while. We will meet and have a chat then.

Ok, no problem.

…

The next morning, Zhou Yan rode a bicycle to find Xu Qing.

After meeting, Zhou Yan handed her a bag, Your breakfast.

What did you bring me?

Xu Qing took the plastic bag with a smile, opened it, and then the smile on her face disappeared, Are these fried cakes and sugar pancakes?

Zhou Yan nodded, Don't you want something fried or something sweet? These two are the most suitable for you.

Xu Qing rolled her eyes to the sky, Oh, I said I don't eat fried or sweet food, but you just heard the rest.

How about I take you out to buy two buns?

Xu Qing shook her head, Forget it, I'll eat the fried cake. You can eat the sugar pancake.

Zhou Yan also shook his head, No, I'm trying to gain muscle recently, and I can't even touch sugar pancakes.

Xu Qing: ...

In the end, Xu Qing ate the fried cake. In line with the principle of not wasting, Zhou Yan took the remaining sugar cake back and gave it to Huang Jianxin.

Comrade Lao Huang was touched when he saw Zhou Yan bringing him breakfast. He smiled and asked, How do you know I didn't eat breakfast?

Zhou Yan didn't have the nerve to break Comrade Huang's beautiful fantasy, he just smiled and said, I just thought you didn't eat.

Zhou Yan then introduced Xu Qing to Huang Jianxin. Huang Jianxin looked at Xu Qing while chewing sugar cakes, Xu Qing's image is indeed very suitable for Ma Yunying. When will Kong Ling arrive?

Zhou Yan looked at the time and said, It should be here soon.

About ten minutes later, Kong Ling also arrived.

Huang Jianxin then found a few scripts and asked Kong Ling and Xu Qing to try out one scene each, and then asked them to try out two scenes together.

After about an hour of audition time, Huang Jianxin took out all the scripts with a smile, I am very satisfied with the performance of both of you. You two will read the scripts first, and then I will tell you about the shooting time and location. , you decide whether you want to take on this drama.

Xu Qing and Kong Ling had no objections to the script, filming time and location, and finally agreed to participate in Knife in Clear Water. The matter was settled.

Two actors were cast at once. Of course Huang Jianxin was very happy. He smiled and said to Xu Qing and Kong Ling, Before you go to Chang'an in June, I probably won't come to Yanjing again. If you have any questions during this period, you can You can also call me or find Zhou Yan.

Xu Qing blinked and asked, Is Zhou Yan the assistant director or the soundtrack director this time?

How can I use such a high-level assistant director? Zhou Yan is now an international director. Huang Jianxin waved his hand with a smile, As for the soundtrack guidance, I also hired teacher Zhao Jiping.

Xu Qing and Kong Ling were both puzzled. Zhou Yan was neither an assistant director nor a soundtrack director, so what else could he be?

Is that a screenwriter? Kong Ling asked.

Huang Jianxin smiled and said, Forget it, he wrote the original novel.

The two girls looked at Zhou Yan, their eyes full of doubts, but Xu Qing's eyes were filled with surprise, as if she had discovered a new world.

Xu Qing then asked Zhou Yan a lot of questions. What was the original name of the novel and where was it published...

After Huang Jianxin gave Xu Qing and the others a try, he set off back to Chang'an, and Zhou Yan took Xu Qing back to their school by bike.

In this world, the fastest-spreading thing is gossip. Just because Zhou Yan took Xu Qing a few times while riding a bicycle, there are already rumors in the film school that the two of them are in love.

As soon as Xu Qing returned to the dormitory, her roommate Li Ting asked her, Aren't you dating Zhou Yan?

Why do you want to talk to someone? It sounds so ugly. Xu Qing curled her lips.

This is being spread throughout the department.

How did you pass it on? Xu Qing was also curious.

They say you, 88, acted like a flower and were picked off by others. Seriously, is that what happened?

Zhou Yan and the others have a movie to make and they want me to star in it. It's not what you think.

Are you sure you're going to star?

Um.

Tsk, tsk, you agreed so quickly. I really don't believe you when you say that you have nothing to do with Zhou Yan. Director Chen Kaige asked you to film a movie before, but he blocked you for a week or two before you agreed.

Because I'm about to graduate, and I have time to take on roles. Xu Qing explained casually, and then asked Li Ting, Do you know where I can buy Yenjing Literature in our school? It's best if I can buy it From the past.”

Li Ting shook her head, How would I know? Why don't you go to Xinhua Bookstore or the post office and ask. But why are you asking? I don't see you paying attention to these literary magazines.

Xu Qing smiled and said, Because the original work of the movie we filmed this time is a novel, which was previously published in Yanjing Literature.

Oh, you have to read it, but the crew is quite stingy. Didn't they say they would send you a copy?

Sent the script.

…

Zhou Yan returned from Yanjing Film Academy and began to write the soundtrack for Dream Life.

After listening to Hou Xiaoxian's description, Zhou Yan felt that the melody of Gao Li's If Love Has God's Will was very suitable to be used as the soundtrack for Dream Life. The rhythm of Dream Life.

Zhou Yan decided to write a violin and piano ensemble version of this piece, and later try it with the Taiwanese Yueqin. If the effect is good, both versions can be included in the movie.

The whole song is very long. When the time comes, the song can be split up and used in various places in the movie, so that this song can run through the entire movie.

As soon as Zhou Yan was writing a little, the pager on the table rang.

To Zhou Yan's surprise, it was Li Bihua who sent the message.

The content of the message was very simple. Li Bihua wanted to chat with Zhou Yan and left a phone number.

Zhou Yan first wrote down the phone number, then picked up the phone and dialed it.

As soon as the call was dialed, he was picked up. Li Bihua should be next to the phone.

Hello, are you Director Zhou? Li Bihua's voice came.

Zhou Yan smiled and replied, Well, hello, Teacher Li.

Director Zhou, where are you now? Is it convenient for me to meet you?

I'm at home... Teacher Li, what do you want from me?

It has something to do with Green Snake. It's inconvenient to talk over the phone.

Hearing that it was related to Green Snake, Zhou Yan said, I'll give you an address. Come and find me.

Zhou Yan made two trips to the North Third Ring Road today, but he really didn't want to go there anymore.

Okay. Li Bihua said.

Then Zhou Yan reported the location of his home to Li Bihua and told her roughly how to get there.

More than half an hour later, Zhou Yan heard someone knocking on the door outside, so he got up and opened the door. Sure enough, it was Li Bihua at the door.

Teacher Li, please come in.

Inviting Li Bihua to the lounge, Zhou Yan asked her while pouring tea for her, What is it that requires you to make this trip in person, Mr. Li? It will take some time before the filming of Green Snake starts, right?

Well, several important roles have not been decided yet. Li Bihua pushed up the glasses on the bridge of her nose. Her glasses were very large, and her face was small, which made people feel that wearing glasses was very heavy on her.

Isn't White Snake decided yet?

The green snake has already settled down, and it is Zhang Manyu. Zhou Yan knows this. He thought that the white snake should have settled down during this period, but he did not expect that the white snake has not settled down either.

The version he saw was White Snake played by Wang Zuxian. He didn't know if there would be any changes this time.

Well, Gong Li was originally asked to play the role of White Snake, but Gong Li was not available. Later, Anita Mui, who was originally scheduled to play the role of Green Snake, was asked to play White Snake. However, Anita Mui and Gong Li agreed to play the role together. If not, they would not play.

Here, drink water.

Li Bihua took the water glass and pushed up her glasses, I came to you this time because I hope to show you the script.

Script? Zhou Yan looked confused, Director Tsui Hark has already read the script to me.

Li Bihua took out a script from her bag and handed it to Zhou Yan, This is the newly revised script. Take a look at it again.

The confusion on Zhou Yan's face became even more intense. He took the script and began to read it seriously without asking any more questions.

The beginning of this script is no different from the beginning of the script Tsui Hark gave him last time. It can be said that it is exactly the same. However, after Xu Xian appeared, the script had some changes.

Later Zhou Yan discovered that the changes to the script were basically concentrated on the character Xu Xian, while the other characters basically had no changes. Even if there were changes, they were changed because of Xu Xian's changes.

In the version of the script Zhou Yan read before, Xu Xian was very scumbag and ugly, even worse than in the movies he had seen.

But now in the version of the script Li Bihua gave him, Xu Xian became very different.

Xu Xian in this script actually has problems. He not only loves the white snake, but also has thoughts about the green snake. However, in this script, he shows more resistance and struggle.

And at the end, Xu Xian also showed a compassionate side, and the whole character became more full-bodied than before.

After reading the script, Zhou Yan asked doubtfully, Teacher Li, did you change this script?

Li Bihua nodded, This is a revised version after I discussed it with Director Tsui Hark. What do you think?

Zhou Yan pursed his lips, If I'm not wrong, did you come to me with this script to persuade me to play Xu Xian?

That's right. Li Bihua nodded, I still think you are more suitable for the role of Xu Xian. You have a special temperament... giving people the feeling of a private school teacher. I know you think this character design is not very good, but I I think it will be much better now that I have changed it.”

Well, it's better.

In fact, there are not many changes, but simply changing some details will have a great impact on the character.

For example, in the movie, Xu Xian looked at two colors of grapes and finally chose the purple grape that represented Xiaoqing. This detail nailed the character of Xu Xian to the pillar of scumbag.

In the new script, Li Bihua changed this paragraph, and Xu Xian finally chose the grape that represented his wife and put down the other purple grape.

Including the scene where I saw the green snake and the white snake taking a bath, I saw the white snake first, and then I used my sleeves to cover my eyes after seeing the green snake.

These two paragraphs alone changed Xu Xian's image a lot.

This shows that although the righteousness in Xu Xian's heart has been shaken a bit under the temptation of Green Snake, it is still there.

But even so, Zhou Yan still looks down on Xu Xian. In the new script, he is just not so scumbag, but still cowardly and incompetent.

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Yan said, I am still more inclined to play Fahai.

Director Zhou, if you are still dissatisfied with the design of the character Xu Xian, you can tell me.

Zhou Yan said with a smile, If we make further changes, Director Tsui Hark will probably disagree.

If it were changed according to Zhou Yan's idea, Xu Xian would not be tempted by the green snake first, and secondly, after discovering that his wife is a demon, he would not care at all and try his best to protect his wife, and finally die in the hands of Fa Hai. Such a kind and righteous man The image of an infatuated man emerges.

But if it were changed like this, it wouldn't be much different from the TV series, and Tsui Hark would definitely not do it.

Of course Li Bihua also knows that although she is the original author and screenwriter, she cannot change the script however she wants. It is not easy to change it to what it is now.

Is there no hope for you to play Xu Xian? Li Bihua said a little frustrated.

Zhou Yan smiled and nodded, I have no intention of playing Xu Xian for the time being.

Oh fine.

Zhou Yan smiled again and said, I will let Tomson contact Tsui Hark about the soundtrack and the role of Fahai.

I don't care about the soundtrack. Li Bihua shook her head, and then said, You can play Fa Hai, but I still think you are more suitable for Xu Xian.

It can be seen that Li Bihua really wants Zhou Yan to play Xu Xian, and she is still fighting for it at this time, but Zhou Yan has different ideas from her.

…

About two hours after Li Bihua left, Zhou Yan received a call from Xu Feng.

As soon as the call was connected, Zhou Yan heard Xu Feng smile and say, I have to tell you good news.

Zhou Yan became excited when he heard the good news, What good news?

Tsu Hark called us just now, hoping that you can play the role of Xu Xian.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan curled his lips, Sister Feng, is this good news?

Xu Feng laughed and said, Listen to me first. They are offering you 550,000 Hong Kong dollars.