Back to 80: My Literary Life

"Director Zhao, tell me."

"This film was very controversial among the members of the review committee. Some comrades thought it could be passed, some thought it needed to be sent back for revision and re-examination, and some simply refused to pass it. They were deadlocked and finally went to the leaders of the General Administration."

"Our leader personally watched the movie and listened to the opinions of all parties. Finally, he said that there are indeed some problems in some plots of the movie, but there is no need to make a fuss about it. I don't think there is any need to send it back for revision and restatement. Let's just leave it at that. Minghua It’s rare for me to be the producer and producer myself.”

Oh?

"Thank you for your leadership." Fang Minghua said with a smile: "Thank you too. Director Zhao, do you have time? Let's have a casual meal together?"

"No, no, Chairman Fang, you're welcome. Mr. Song often comes to Yanjing to treat guests. I'm embarrassed. Director Liao from the office also helped me a lot. I'm in good health these days. , The doctor won’t let me drink next time. Next time Chairman Fang comes to Yanjing, I’ll treat you!”

Director Zhao declined, but Fang Minghua did not insist in the end. When Jia Zhangke came back after collecting the documents, the two left again carrying the box.

"Zhang Ke, are you going back to school? I'll take you back." Fang Minghua started the car and said.

"Thank you, Teacher Minghua, I would like to treat you to dinner tonight." Jia Zhangke said.

"What's there to invite? Didn't you invite me in your hometown Fenyang?" Fang Minghua said while driving.

"I was at Lou Ye's house just now, the one who filmed the novel "The Eighth Route Bus" written by you, and Wang Xiaoshuai. They knew that my film had passed the censorship, and if they wanted me to treat them, I would also like to invite you to participate."

Are they all sixth-generation directors?

Although Lou Ye filmed a novel he wrote and Wang Xiaoshuai's "Extreme Cold" received investment from Shengshi Film and Television, and the two became famous among the younger generation of directors, Fang Minghua had never met him in person.

Meet?

"That's okay." Fang Minghua agreed.

"Teacher Minghua, how about we go eat Yanjing roast duck? The Asian Games Village store is near Beishatan Beach." Jia Zhangke said again.

"Your treat is up to you."

"Okay then, half past six in the evening."

Fang Minghua sent Jia Zhangke back to the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and then drove back to the hotel. The weather was too hot and he didn't want to go anywhere. It was almost six o'clock in the afternoon before he went out.

I knew I was going to drink, so I didn’t drive and just took a taxi.

It was the rush hour after get off work, and there was a traffic jam on the road. By the time Fang Minghua arrived at the roast duck restaurant in Beishandang, it was almost seven o'clock.

According to the private room number Jia Zhangke texted, Fang Minghua went up to the second floor and pushed the door in. He found that there were many people inside, definitely more than three people, all of whom were young people.

Seeing Fang Minghua come in, everyone sitting there stood up.

"Teacher Minghua, please sit here." Jia Zhangke greeted warmly.

Naturally, it was the top position, so Fang Minghua sat down without being polite.

"Teacher Minghua, it was originally me, Lou Ye, Xiaoshuai, but several of my seniors heard that you were coming and wanted to meet you. Let me introduce you to you." Jia Zhangke started talking one by one.

"This is Lou Ye"

"Wang Xiaoshuai"

"Zhang Yuan is the director who made "Yanjing Bastards". He graduated from Yanjing Film Directing Department in 1991."

"Senior Lu, he filmed "Grown Up" and graduated from the directing department of Yidian Film and Television in 1989."

"Guan Hu, director of "My Hair is Messy", graduated from the directing department of Yandian Television in 1991."

They are all from Yandian!

Today is a gathering of sixth-generation directors.

Jia Zhangke introduced each other, and everyone shook hands with Fang Minghua in turn.

After the greetings were over, the dishes were served, and everyone chatted while eating. None of them were familiar with Fang Minghua at first, and he was also the oldest among them, so they were a bit restrained. But after two bottles of Erguotou, they all started talking more. Naturally it revolves around movies.

At first, he talked about the current situation of movies. He was worried about the raging Hollywood blockbusters in the country and the sluggishness of local movies. As he talked, he also talked about movie censorship, and everyone became even more excited.

It’s hard to make a movie, it’s even harder to submit it for review, it’s simply hard to make it to the sky.

"Look at the movies we made, how many of them passed censorship? Yours, yours, or yours?"

The speaker was Guan Hu, a native of Yanjing, with a crew cut and an unkempt beard. He looked like a street gangster and not a director.

"The film "Grown Up" filmed by my senior was good. Although it was revised and revised four times, it was finally passed."

Senior Lu had long hair and glasses, and looked very bookish. I heard that he was in poor health, so he didn't drink, but drank Coke.

Hearing Guan Hu's words, he smiled bitterly, picked up the Coke and took a big gulp, and finally said: "I passed, but it can only be filmed in China."

"It would be good to be in a movie." Guan Hu said with a smile: "The worst thing is Zhang Yuan. He made four movies in a row and all of them were banned. Do you think he was unjust?"

Zhang Yuanchang was fat and was tearing a chicken leg with his hands. Hearing Guan Hu's words, he didn't care: "Brother, it doesn't matter. Brother, when we filmed "Mother", "The Square" and "Son", we were making an art piece with some artists. Together, it has nothing to do with Mao in the Chinese film industry."

"I didn't want anything to go through. I didn't think about who I would show it to. So, since I have nothing to ask for, I have nothing to fear."

"Zhang Yuan, you better be open-minded." Guan Hu said with a smile.

"It's funny. The problem is, I won't be allowed to take pictures now! I'm going to fuck him!" Zhang Yuan suddenly slapped the table, startling everyone.

Jia Zhangke took a look.

broken.

If it was just Yan Dian and his friends drinking together, it wouldn't matter if they were drunk, but Fang Minghua was here today.

He wanted to treat them to a meal to thank them, but ended up letting his friends make trouble.

So he quickly picked up a glass of wine and said to Fang Minghua: "Minghua teacher, I thank you, thank you for your support and help, I toast you again."

"Didn't you toast just now?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Hey, toast you again."

"That's right, we really admire you, Minghua teacher, you are open-minded! Tolerant! If you were the leader of the Film Bureau, we wouldn't have to be so cowardly." Guan Hu took over the conversation and said.

"That's right, that's right."

Everyone immediately agreed.

Although everyone present was unruly and seemed to look down on everyone, they still admired Fang Minghua.

Not to mention the literary works he wrote, their attitude towards these young directors also made them very grateful.

After drinking Jia Zhangke's toast, Fang Minghua saw that everyone was calmer, so he said, "Everyone just thought that the people in the Film Bureau were bad, but have you ever thought about a problem?"

"What problem?"

"Do you really think that the censorship system has imprisoned you? If there is no censorship system, you will be able to accept the sun, rain and cheers of the audience from the ground to the ground?" Fang Minghua asked back.

"Is it not true?" Zhang Yuan was a little unconvinced.

He has the most banned films here.

Fang Minghua smiled and said:

"You are wrong. Once the ban is lifted, your filming will go from underground to above ground, but I dare say that you will immediately become an underground film in the market economy!"

"You have the right to shoot, but others have no obligation to watch!"