Back to 80: My Literary Life

Two days later in the morning, Jia Zhangke rushed to Xijing and knocked on the door of Fang Minghua's house.

The weather was nice today, so Fang Minghua invited Jia Zhangke to sit in the yard and drink tea.

"Come, try it. This is West Lake Mingqian tea. It tastes good." Fang Minghua poured a cup for Jia Zhangke himself.

The color looked really good, green and transparent. Jia Zhangke quickly picked it up and took a sip - it was a pity that he couldn't taste the quality.

For him, drinking tea is really not as good as drinking.

Of course, in front of this man who was ten years older than him and already a famous writer at home and abroad, he couldn't say that he didn't like tea but wine. Jia Zhangke pretended to taste it and praised it repeatedly.

Fang Minghua smiled slightly and said nothing.

"Teacher Minghua, this courtyard of yours reminds me of the courtyard of my hometown. There are also trees and flowers planted in it, but it is not our family but several families who live in it. It is a large courtyard." Jia Zhangke looked at the courtyard with a tea cup.

"The traditional houses in your Jin Province should be similar to ours in Guanzhong, right?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Our Fenyang houses are similar to your small courtyard houses, but they are not as square. They are generally rectangular. In rural areas, just like yours in Guanzhong, the houses are built on half sides."

The two chatted about folk houses, and Jia Zhangke's somewhat reserved expression became much more relaxed. Fang Minghua discovered that Jia Zhangke, who seemed a bit dull, was actually quite eloquent.

"Speaking of residential buildings, the ancient city of Pingyao in Jin Province and the Qiao Family Courtyard are both good. I want to visit them when I have time," Fang Minghua said.

"We also have well-preserved courtyards in Fenyang, such as the Wei Family Courtyard. In Dongshe Village, Jicun Town, our county, it is a building from the Republic of China. Wei Guangnian, a representative of Shanxi merchants, built a residence after imitating the Shanxi Provincial Guild Hall in Tianjin. It's well preserved," Jia Zhangke added.

"Really? I haven't heard of it yet. I'll go over and have a look when I have time." Fang Minghua suddenly became interested.

"Welcome, welcome."

The two chatted for a while and then switched to the main topic.

"Zhang Ke, I've read your script. It's generally good, but I'm worried about a problem." Fang Minghua took a sip from the tea cup and said slowly.

"What's the problem?" Jia Zhangke asked hurriedly.

"Some of the plots in the script slander the image of the government. What I'm worried about is that it may not pass the censorship and be released to the public after it's filmed."

"Teacher Minghua, is it so serious? I'm just reflecting reality. In reality, this kind of situation exists everywhere. I'm not exaggerating at all." Jia Zhangke said.

"You are right. If it is made into a movie, it will have a great influence. What will the film review department think? In the future, facing the general audience and even film colleagues, can you guarantee that some people will report it to the relevant departments after watching it? If so, If it is exhibited at an exhibition, will it be said that your film will affect the country’s normal foreign cultural exchanges?”

"Ah? This?" Jia Zhangke was stunned.

He didn't expect that making a movie would involve so many things!

I just want to make a movie I like, telling an ordinary story, but it would violate the laws of heaven? !

Can I just fucking not release it in China?

Jia Zhangke's fierceness hidden in his bones was aroused. Just as he was about to express his opinion, he heard Fang Minghua speak.

"Zhang Ke, don't be like some directors who always like to take films that cannot pass the censorship to foreign countries for exhibitions, and are even proud of it."

Fang Minghua's tone became a little serious: "If you want to make a film in this land, you must abide by the rules of the game - you can find ways to use the rules, but you must not blatantly destroy them. Unless you want to imitate Zhang Yuan and make four consecutive films. It’s a banned film and he calls himself an underground director.”

Jia Zhangke was silent.

Zhang Yuan, of course he knows, he is his senior.

I made four consecutive films, "Mama", "Yenjing Bastards", "Son" and "East Palace and West Palace", but all of them were banned! Including Zhang Yuan himself is now banned from directing movies.

Of course he doesn't want to imitate Zhang Yuan. At heart, Jia Zhangke is still a relatively traditional man.

"Then I'll change the script." Jia Zhangke compromised.

"Well, you should film according to the script first. How about I be the producer of this film?" Fang Minghua said.

"Are you a producer?!" Jia Zhangke's eyes widened.

Although Fang Minghua has a close relationship with the film and television industry, several of his novels have been made into movies or TV series and have received wide acclaim, and his wife is the CEO of the largest private film and television company in China, but he himself has not really been involved in the film and television industry. This is the first time he has ever been involved in the film and television industry. Suffer!

"What? Not welcome? I also wanted to drink some authentic Fenjiu in Fenyang and take a look at the Wei Family Courtyard." Fang Minghua had a smile on his face.

"Welcome, welcome!" Jia Zhangke was overjoyed.

Having the great writer Ming Hua as the film's producer is also a major promotional highlight for the film.

Now that he had decided, Jia Zhangke explained his plans for the filming of the film in detail to Fang Minghua. He said that when he returned home during the Spring Festival, he had already taken a few people around Fenyang County and selected the filming location.

"Do you have anything written about these situations?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Yes, yes." Jia Zhangke quickly took out a piece of information from the yellow satchel he carried with him and handed it to Fang Minghua.

Fang Minghua looked at it for a while and then said to him: "Go to Shengshi Film and Television Company and give these things directly to Mr. Song, my wife. She will arrange for you to have a detailed discussion and sign a contract. I will give her a call soon." Let’s talk about the situation on the phone.”

"Thank you, Teacher Minghua, I'll go over now." Jia Zhangke couldn't wait any longer.

"Well, I wish our cooperation goes smoothly." Fang Minghua stretched out his right hand, and Jia Zhangke quickly took it.

After Jia Zhangke left, Fang Minghua went back to the living room and picked up the landline phone and dialed Song Tangtang's mobile phone number.

On the phone, Fang Minghua told his wife what happened with Jia Zhangke.

"Oh. Minghua, you actually want to be a producer? I can't believe it." Song Tangtang was a little surprised.

"Haha, in name only, I am just a hands-off shopkeeper. Jia Zhangke is still responsible for everything." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"I understand, do you want to increase the popularity of this film?" Song Tangtang said on the other side of the phone.

"We have also discussed that as far as the script is concerned, some plots in it are relatively sensitive. I am worried that it will not pass the review, and I am also worried that someone will bully Jia Zhangke, who is just a fledgling young man, and take the opportunity to report it. As for me, I just support Jia Zhangke!"

"Of course, I also want to visit Shanxi Province and relax. Doesn't the song say: "Shanxi is so beautiful," Fang Minghua said with a smile.

Jia Zhangke quickly signed an investment contract with Shengshi Film and Television. After returning to Yanjing, he immediately started planning the cast and crew. He rushed to his hometown of Fenyang after May Day.

At this time, Fang Minghua also set off from Xijing with his travel bag.