Back to 80: My Literary Life

"Mr. Tang, do you think we can establish a film and television base in China?" Zhang Xianliang asked.

"Of course it can, but it must be adapted to local conditions. It may not be like Hollywood. After all, national conditions are different and cannot be copied."

Zhang Xianliang nodded after hearing this.

Fang Minghua followed without interrupting. He knew what Zhang Xianliang was thinking in his mind.

Are you starting to miss his Zhenbeibao Film and Television Base now?

Of course that's a good thing.

It's best to make it in advance, and it would be a good idea to mix it in at that time.

Zhang Xianliang is good at writing articles and is also good at doing business.

At noon, we randomly found a fast food restaurant to eat hot dogs and hamburgers. In the evening, the enthusiastic Tang Jiye drove the two of them to Chinatown in Los Angeles.

The Chinese architectural style of the 1970s is everywhere, with antique Chinese archways at the entrance, red lanterns all over the streets, and shop signs written in Chinese characters. It feels like you are suddenly back in China - to be precise, it looks like something from the 1980s and 1990s. Xiangjiang is full of traditional Chinese characters.

Tang Jiye took them mainly for Chinese food. Hearing that they were both from the northwest, he found a relatively famous Sichuan restaurant.

Stir-fried pork, twice-cooked pork, and spicy pepper sausage. However, Fang Minghua always felt that it tasted different from domestic Sichuan cuisine.

There were four people in total including the three of them and the driver. Tang Jiye also got a bucket of draft beer. They all chatted while eating. Tang Jiye and Fang Minghua clinked their glasses and asked, "Mr. Fang, are you still writing scripts or novels?"

At this point Tang Jiye added: "Just like the last two books, it is suitable for filming in Hollywood. We, President Wells, are very interested in your science fiction novels and scripts."

That's right.

Fang Minghua thought of the "Covered Bridge Legacy" that he had just finished, and replied: "Mr. Tang, I just wrote a novel, but it is not a science fiction novel but a novel that reflects the emotions of middle-aged people, called "Covered Bridge Legacy" "Dream", I wonder if you are interested?"

"Oh? Could you please briefly reveal some of the content?"

Fang Minghua briefly explained the content of the novel. Tang Jiye frowned slightly and finally said frankly:

"I'm sorry, Mr. Fang, we at Warner Bros. are interested in the science fiction novels and scripts you wrote, because they are also in line with the current trend of Hollywood movies. As for your "Covered Bridge", it may be a good novel, but It may not be a good movie, so...but I still hope to cooperate with you!"

The other party refused!

Fang Minghua didn't feel much disappointed.

After all, this kind of emotional movie is not as eye-catching as science fiction.

But that's okay.

Let’s talk about it after it’s published in the United States.

If Warner Bros. doesn’t like it, there are other film and television companies.

The two quickly changed the topic and talked about local people and customs while drinking, which was quite enjoyable.

When he returned to the hotel in the evening, Fang Minghua came out of the bathroom after taking a shower and saw Zhang Xianliang recording something in his diary.

Zhang Xianliang has the habit of writing about his days. Every night in the hotel, he writes down what he sees and hears during the day.

"Brother Zhang, go wash up." Fang Minghua said.

"No rush." ​​Zhang Xianliang replied without looking back: "When I record what Tang Jiye said during the day, we can't learn the Hollywood film production model for the time being, but my model of establishing a film and television base is very good."

"That's good." Fang Minghua nodded. Build some distinctive buildings and landscapes for different film and television crews to shoot. This will not only save the cost of the crew, but it can also form an attraction in itself and generate tourism income. What, does Brother Zhang have any ideas? "

"Don't tell me that I really have this idea. As the saying goes, you know your destiny at fifty. I will be fifty soon. I can't just write and write all the time. I have to do something else, right?"

"Brother Zhang, where are you planning to build a film and television base?" Fang Minghua asked deliberately.

"What do you think of our Zhenbei Fort in Yinchuan?" Zhang Xianliang asked.

"Is this where Guiying's Zhang Yimou is filming "No One Left Behind"?"

"Yes, that's right there! I heard from Zhang Yimou that you still wrote the script." Zhang Xianliang replied:

"Xie Jin's "The Wrangler" and Zhang Junzhao's "One and Eight" by Gui Ying were all filmed there. That place is not too far from Yinchuan, and the location is quite good despite convenient transportation."

Speaking of this, Zhang Xianliang seemed a little excited.

"Zhenbeibao was built during the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty. It is one of the many military fortresses built along the northwest line of the Great Wall in the Ming Dynasty. The castle still exists today."

"There is also a historical barracks built in the fifth year of Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that it was another barracks built under Qianlong's order after Ming City was destroyed by an earthquake."

"If we move another street in Old Yinchuan, the most prosperous "Willow Alley" in YC City before liberation, it will definitely be a good place for filming costume dramas or Republic of China dramas!"

Zhang Xianliang's eyes revealed the shrewdness of the businessman.

"It's just that Zhenbeibao has just been declared a municipal cultural relic protection unit by the government this year. It may be difficult to turn it into a film and television city."

At the end of the sentence, Zhang Xianliang sighed.

"It's just a human being." Fang Minghua said with a smile: "Brother Zhang, you are a well-known person in Yinchuan."

"No, no, I'm just a scholar." Zhang Xianliang returned to his usual elegant demeanor.

"Hey, Minghua, if I really want to build a film and television city in the future, are you interested in investing?" Zhang Xianliang asked half-jokingly and half-seriously. "You are rich now."

"Okay." Fang Minghua also laughed: "Of course it is a good thing to make money with Brother Zhang."

"Haha. Minghua, I think you are different from other literati. You are not as pedantic as some people. But now I only have a preliminary idea about this matter. I haven't told anyone else yet. You have to keep it a secret for me."

"Don't worry, it's no problem."

The next morning, Fang Minghua and Zhang Xianliang followed Wilson and the other three writers to visit the University of Southern California and discussed literature with the school's literature professors.

When it was almost over, Fang Minghua asked cautiously: "Excuse me, do you have a lady named Zhang Ailing here?"

The professor was stunned for a moment and then said: "Zhang Ailing? I know her. She is a very talented lady. Do you want to find her? But you can't find her. She likes to move. I don't know where she lives now."

"Why does he like to move?" Zhang Xianliang couldn't help but ask.

"She said she was running away from fleas."

After hearing this, everyone present looked surprised.

Fang Minghua sighed deeply in his heart.

He remembered what Zhang Ailing said.

"Life is a gorgeous robe, covered with lice."

Zhang Ailing is a very controversial writer. She went from being unknown in the mainland to becoming famous in the 1980s, and then became more and more popular.

Some people say that Zhang Ailing's life is just a desolate gesture and a heavy sigh.

Fang Minghua originally wanted to take this opportunity to visit this legendary female writer, but after hearing that that was all.

After visiting professors at the University of Southern California, the next day was to prepare for Santa Monica. It is one of the seaside cities around Los Angeles and is said to have beautiful beaches, the Santa Monica Coast Trail, the Santa Monica Mountains and more.

According to Wilson, this is the last stop in Los Angeles, where we will play for two days.

Fang Minghua has no plans to go, he plans to go to Emily's hometown-Palm Springs