1980 My literary era

Since May, the temperatures in New York have been heating up.

Lin Weimin has recently been concentrating on the creation of "The Kite Runner". Writing in English has reduced Teacher Lin's efficiency a lot, and he can't bear the nickname "Quick Gunner".

In addition to creating every day, he occasionally strolls in Central Park and goes to bookstores on the Upper West Side to buy books.

In less than half a month, the apartment was full of books.

Arthur Miller was shocked when he saw this picture, "Lin, how many books have you bought?"

"I haven't counted them. I think there are hundreds of them! There are so many second-hand book resources here in New York. It would be a pity not to buy them."

Arthur Miller smiled and said: "If I had known you had a hobby of collecting second-hand books, I could have mailed some to you!"

"It's not really a hobby, it's just that I'm happy to see it. If I buy it back, I can give it to my friends, and it's free of charge!"

In the era before online shopping, buying books had to be done in bookstores, which was not easy.

The two chatted for a few words, and Lin Weimin gave the written manuscript to Arthur Miller.

When the script of "The Horse Trapper" was originally created, it adopted the classical "Three Unities" structure, dividing the script into upper and lower parts, with a total of eight scenes, with the break between Bayin and Battelle as the midpoint.

Now when creating "The Kite Runner", Lin Weimin still followed this creative rule, and handed Arthur Miller the first four acts of the script.

Arthur Miller turned over the script and sighed: "Lin, I really admire your creative efficiency."

It has only been ten days since Lin Weimin wrote "The Kite Runner", and half of the script has been written. Based on this calculation, the entire script only took twenty days.

It took Arthur Miller six weeks to create "Death of a Salesman", which was an astonishing speed, but it was not enough for Lin Weimin to watch.

Arthur Miller didn't know that Lin Weimin could be faster if he wrote in his native Chinese.

The two discussed the newly released script for a long time. Lin Weimin wrote in English. There were many parts that could not fully fit the American culture. He had to strengthen communication with Arthur Miller. Only the two of them reached an agreement on the creative concept and intention. Consistent, subsequent polishing will be a plus, otherwise it can easily backfire.

When the two were communicating, Inge Moraes habitually took out his camera and took pictures.

"Mrs. Miller, if you keep shooting like this, you may not have enough film!"

After discussing with Arthur Miller, Lin Weimin smiled and said to Inge Moraes.

Inge Moras smiled at him, "I learned the lesson of that night deeply. Not only did I bring my camera with me, but I also prepared several rolls of film."

Arthur Miller and Lin Weimin both laughed.

Arthur Miller said: "Let's go, Lin, let's have a meal together."

It was already past six o'clock in the afternoon, and it was dinner time.

"Okay!" Lin Weimin stood up and tidied up.

Several people came to the Green Garden Lounge, which is not only a place for Manhattanites to drink, but also a place for everyone to dine.

Being surrounded by greenery, eating becomes a pleasure.

Arthur Miller and his wife talked about the upcoming free summer stage performances in Central Park. There is still one month left to enter the summer in New York. With the support of the New York City Government, Central Park will hold a series of performances. , including music, dance, talk shows, and movies.

"It will be very lively here then!" Lin Weimin said looking at the scenery outside.

Arthur Miller also expressed a bit of pride, "This is probably the most charming place in the Big Apple. Some people may think it is full of the smell of copper, but it can always accommodate art. .”

Lin Weimin agrees with this statement. At least in the Upper West Side, the artistic atmosphere is indeed very strong.

After finishing the meal, it was already past nine o'clock in the evening. They walked out of Central Park chatting all the way. Arthur Miller and his wife said goodbye.

When Lin Weimin returned to his apartment, the white girl Haili at the front desk stopped him.

"Mr. Lin, there was an international call to your room just now. This is the callback method." Haili handed over a note.

"Thanks!"

Lin Weimin took the note back to the apartment and called back according to the number on the note. After waiting for a long time to be transferred, the call was finally answered.

"Hello! Teacher Lin?" A familiar voice came from the phone, it was Zhang Yimou.

"Yimou, why did you remember to call me?" Lin Weimin asked.

On the phone, Zhang Yimou's voice sounded a bit anxious and helpless.

"Teacher Lin, the factory does not allow me to change my career to become a director!"

"Why?"

Hearing this question, Zhang Yimou's voice was full of sorrow, "There is no reason. The factory said that you, a photographer, just do the work of a photographer honestly, what kind of director can you be?"

From Zhang Yimou's retelling, Lin Weimin could hear the impact of this simple sentence on him.

Can't I be a director if I become a photographer?

In future generations, everyone will sneer at this. But at this time, it is the common psychology of most people.

The screw spirit is something that everyone has been taught for decades, and it has been ingrained in the minds and hearts of many people.

The studio may not have any dissatisfaction with Zhang Yimou, but simply based on simple concepts, they do not agree with Zhang Yimou being a director.

You are a photographer, what kind of director do you want to be?

A very simple sentence, but it weighed on Zhang Yimou like a mountain.

Zhang Yimou complained to Lin Weimin on the phone again. Not only was the factory opposed to his idea of ​​changing careers as a director, but also his relatives, friends, and colleagues. Everyone was not optimistic about his decision.

This is what makes Zhang Yimou most uncomfortable. It seems that his life is destined to end.

"Teacher Lin, can't I be a director if I become a photographer? Who is not born to be a director?" Zhang Yimou's tone was filled with resentment and dissatisfaction.

Lin Weimin reassured: "Of course you can be a director. Yan Ying's study, the training of the studio and the crew, these are the confidence for you to be a director."

"But why don't they agree? It's like I want to be a director, like I've done something treacherous!"

"We Chinese are conservative at heart. Besides, decades of collective education have made everyone wary of the pursuit of individuality, so if you want to break the rules, you will definitely need to have greater courage and more determined actions than others. .”

Lin Weimin's persuasion made Zhang Yimou feel better.

He thought of the expensive long-distance phone charges and did not dare to talk about his emotions anymore. Instead, he expressed his desire for help.

"Teacher Lin, can you think of a way to help me?" Zhang Yimou said with a hint of pleading in his tone.

When he first wrote the script for "Red Sorghum," Lin Weimin promised Zhang Yimou that he would provide help if necessary.

Lin Weimin joked on the phone: "Gangqing is here to collect debt this time!"

"Teacher Lin, that's not what I meant..." Zhang Yimou hurriedly explained on the phone.

"I know, I know." Lin Weimin interrupted Zhang Yimou's explanation and said with a smile: "I am optimistic about your career change and become a director. I have already considered this situation before. Let me make a phone call first to confirm. , see if I can help you solve the problem. Don't leave the phone over there. I'll call you when I have the results."

When Zhang Yimou heard this, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Okay, I'll wait for your news."

——

At the NN Municipal Telecommunications Bureau, Zhang Yimou had just put down the phone when he heard the staff shouting.

"Telephone booth No. 2, pay another 30 yuan!"

Zhang Yimou's face trembled. He just paid a deposit of 50 yuan!

Feeling distressed, I took out three more big solidarity notes from my pocket and handed them to the staff. I paid 80 yuan for a phone call!

Zhang Yimou began to regret that he had not controlled his emotions and complained on the phone just now.

It's too expensive. It cost an extra forty yuan.

Don’t be so willful in the future!

"Comrade, I may have to answer the phone later..."

Before Zhang Yimou could finish speaking, he was pointed out by a staff member, "Go over there and wait. I'll call you if I have your number!"

"Okay, thank you!"

Zhang Yimou sat on a seat not far from the phone booth, his eyes never leaving the phone booth.

Since returning to the factory in April, he has been communicating with the factory about becoming a director and filming "Red Sorghum".

It's a pity that no one, whether it's the factory leaders, family members or colleagues around him, supports him.

There was another thing that made him even more frustrated, but Zhang Yimou didn't say anything about it.

Even if the factory leaders did not support his idea of ​​becoming a director, they asked him to help Cheng Kaige's crew who were busy working on the movie "The Grand Parade".

This made Zhang Yimou even more uncomfortable.

We are all classmates. Cheng Kaige became a director right after graduation, but Zhang Yimou is not jealous.

But I have made a few movies and performed pretty well. Why is it so difficult for me to become a director?

During this period, Zhang Yimou had nowhere to express his inner depression and sorrow. After holding it in for more than half a month, he really had no choice. Thinking of what Lin Weimin said before, he thought of calling him for help. Unexpectedly, Teacher Lin He actually went abroad.

Zhang Yimou got Teacher Lin's contact information abroad and hesitated for two days just thinking about whether to make this call.

International long distance is so expensive!

Twenty yuan a minute, a few minutes of phone calls, and a month's salary come in. If he can't find Teacher Lin's people, or if Teacher Lin can't help, then he will suffer a big loss!

But waiting like this is not an option, and the factory will not change because of waiting so hard.

After thinking about it, Zhang Yimou decided to go to the telecommunications bureau.

Now, the phone call is over, and Teacher Lin has agreed to help. The next step is up to Teacher Lin.

Zhang Yimou looked at the phone booth, but his thoughts couldn't help but wander.

Can I be considered this director?

——

"Yes! You know that Yimou, he is very talented in movies!"

"He is a generalist. It is a waste just to be a photographer!"

"Didn't I arrange this matter? Mo Yan was the one who contacted Yimou. I can't just ignore it?"

"That's right. You have also cooperated with Yimou. What a reliable person. Give young people a chance."

"Okay, okay, that's it, I'll let him contact you."

"Oh, thank you so much! My brother Tianming, I will treat you to dinner when I return to China!"

Lin Weimin hung up the phone again. The call he just made was to Wu Tianming, director of Xiying Film Studio.

In later generations, Zhang Yimou was able to transform from an ordinary photographer to an actor and director, which was inseparable from Wu Tianming's appreciation.

This time Zhang Yimou came to Lin Weimin, and the first person he thought of who could help Zhang Yimou was Wu Tianming.

Lin Weimin didn't waste much words. Wu Tianming already admired Zhang Yimou. After chatting for a while, Wu Tianming agreed to Lin Weimin to help Zhang Yimou.

——

At the NN Municipal Telecommunications Bureau, the phone rang urgently.

Zhang Yimou stood up instinctively after a moment. There were very few incoming calls in the phone booth, almost all of them were outgoing calls. His eyes were fixed on the staff member who answered the phone.

I saw the staff member raised his head after saying a few words, his eyes scanned the hall, and finally locked on himself.

The two looked at each other, "Hey, is it you? My name is Zhang Yimou, right? Your phone number."

"Yes, yes!" Zhang Yimou jogged to the phone booth and took the phone.

"Hey, Yimou!"

"Teacher Lin, it's me."

"I just communicated with Director Wu that Xiying Film Studio intends to invest in your film "Red Sorghum". You should take the script to Xi'an as soon as possible and let Director Wu take a look."

Lin Weimin's words made Zhang Yimou feel like listening to the voice of heaven. He was overjoyed. He was so excited that he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Teacher Lin, thank you so much!"

"Okay, don't get excited. Director Wu also needs to read the script first, and he will also take an exam on you, so you have to be prepared." Lin Weimin warned.

"No problem! No problem! As long as I can film "Red Sorghum", there will be no problem in taking any exam!"

Zhang Yimou was so excited that he forgot all about it and said again: "Mr. Lin, thank you so much this time. Without you, I really don't know what I would do!"

"Okay, don't say that. Director Wu was originally very optimistic about you, but this time I just mentioned it, and he immediately became interested. It proves that your previous cooperation with others has attracted people's attention."

Zhang Yimou's eyes couldn't help but become moist as he listened to Lin Weimin's voice on the phone.

Teacher Lin is always so humble, even though he was responsible for everything.