Back to 80: My Literary Life

Fang Minghua told his wife his idea, and Song Tangtang also agreed.

"You can call and ask tomorrow so that I can go to the United States and talk to Warner Bros. about this matter."

"OK."

The next morning, after getting up, washing and eating, Song Tangtang drove to the group headquarters, while Fang Minghua picked up his mobile phone and called up his address book to call Jiang Wen.

Hearing that it was Fang Minghua, Jiang Wen on the other side of the phone was also very happy: "Minghua, I'm about to find you. If you really say Cao Cao, Cao Cao will be here."

"What do you want from me?"

"I'm planning to make a new film, and I would like to ask if Shengshi Film and Television is interested in investing?"

"What movie?"

"The name is "The Devils Are Coming" and it is adapted from the novel "Survival" by You Fengwei, the winner of the 3rd Chinese Literature Award. I have written the script and sent it to you."

Damn it!

"The Devils Are Coming".

This is a banned film!

The review failed, but the creative team violated regulations and was sent to a foreign country to compete. As a result, Jiang Wen received an administrative penalty of "not being able to serve as a director within five years."

Of course, Fang Minghua cannot say now that you are filming a banned film, or you will be in trouble in the future!

I had no choice but to say, "Okay, you send the script to my email and I'll tell you the email number."

"Okay."

After the meeting, Fang Minghua went out and took a taxi straight to Shengshi Group.

In this era, there is no computer network in the hotel. It is most convenient to go to the group headquarters via the Internet.

Seeing Song Tangtang, the other party was surprised.

"Why are you here?"

Fang Minghua briefly explained what happened.

"Go to my office."

Although Song Tangtang works in Xijing all year round, as the vice chairman of the group, he has his own office in Shengshi Building.

Turning on the computer, Fang Minghua logged into his mailbox, and as expected, Jiang Wen sent a new email.

After downloading the attachment, the couple looked at it seriously.

The script is not long, only about 30,000 words. After the two of them read it, Song Tangtang frowned slightly.

"No, this script is not good. If it is filmed, it will definitely not pass the review."

Fang Minghua nodded.

"Unless Jiang Wei significantly changes the script, Shengshi Film and Television will not invest." Song Tangtang gave his own opinion: "I think it is better to persuade him to go to the United States to co-produce "Harry Potter"."

"I'll try." Fang Minghua said and dialed the phone again.

On the phone, Fang Minghua simply told Jiang Wei that he had read the script. Both he and Song Tangtang felt that there were serious problems in the script and that it had to be significantly revised, otherwise it would be difficult to pass the review.

"Why? I adapted it from You Fengwei's novel, which won the Chinese Literature Award for Best Novella! There should be no problem, right?" Jiang Wen asked.

"Yes, this novel won an award, but the problem is that your script has changed the novel beyond recognition!" Fang Minghua said unceremoniously:

"The main theme of the novel is "the bravery of the army and the people to resist the invasion", but you have put it aside, but you have chosen to expand on the "ignorance of the peasants" and the "absurdity of war". I think it is very inappropriate. In the current environment, you said Can your movie pass the censorship?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"Jiang Wen, please listen to my advice and give up this script. Either overhaul it or go to the United States to co-produce a film." Fang Minghua finally suggested.

"Going to the United States to film?"

"That's why I called you." Fang Minghua briefly told what happened.

There was another silence on the other side of the computer. After a while, Jiang Wen was heard saying:

"Minghua, thank you and Mr. Song for your kindness, but I'm not interested in cooperating in a film. I still want to film this script."

"Then, Shengshi Film and Television may not be able to invest."

"It doesn't matter, I'll find another company."

The two chatted for a few more words and hung up the phone.

Fang Minghua was using the speaker phone, and Song Tangtang, who was standing aside, heard the conversation clearly and asked anxiously: "Why don't you try to persuade him again?"

"How to persuade? You can't force people to listen to you, right? Besides, Jiang Wen is not Zhang Yimou, let alone a person from Shengshi Film and Television. He is just an ordinary friend. To be honest, everyone will be unhappy."

Song Tangtang let out a long sigh and said nothing.

"As for the U.S. side, I'll hold off for now. If we really can't find a suitable one, we'll let the Americans shoot it themselves and we'll just invest." Song Tangtang added.

"Alright."

Two days later, Song Tangtang took a flight to the United States, and Fang Minghua also took a flight back to Xijing.

But a few days after returning home, someone came to the door.

The weather was not good today. It was snowing heavily in Xijing City and it was extremely cold. The roads were slippery and it was difficult to ride a bicycle. Fang Minghua felt sorry for his two children and simply drove them to school.

After sending my children to school, I turned to Chaoyang Gate and drank a bowl of steaming spicy soup. Then I drove home and entered Nanfang Alley. I suddenly found a man standing in front of my house, carrying a travel bag. Pacing back and forth.

stranger?

He had already told his nanny that if he was not at home, he would not open the door unless he was a very familiar friend who came frequently.

He didn't recognize it until the car drove up to him.

He is tall and tall, with thick eyebrows and big eyes.

Chen Kaige!

"Director Chen!"

Fang Minghua called out and got out of the car.

The other party also saw Fang Minghua and said with a smile: "I came from Yanjing to look for you. Your nanny said that you have sent your child off and will be back soon. I will wait here."

"How can this Xiaoqin be so ignorant? How can you wait outside the door in the heavy snow?" Fang Minghua complained, opened the gate of the yard, and shouted to the house: "Xiaoqin, greet the guests."

Then he said to Chen Kaige: "Director Chen, please go into the house and have some tea first, I'll go park the car."

When Fang Minghua parked the car and walked into the living room, Chen Kaige was already sitting with his legs crossed, drinking tea slowly.

"Director Chen, what do you want to talk to me about?" Fang Minghua asked while sitting on the sofa next to him.

"I heard that Shengshi Film and Television and Warner Bros. of the United States are going to co-produce the third Harry Potter movie. Is Yimou not going to be the Chinese director?" Chen Kaige asked.

"Did Yimou tell you about this?" Fang Minghua asked back.

"No, it was Jiang Wen. He had a new film and wanted to find someone to invest in it. Later, he contacted Huayi Brothers through me. When we were having dinner and chatting, he said that Shengshi Film and Television was going to ask him to go to the United States to co-produce the third Harry Potter movie, but he refused because he wanted to make a new film. He asked me if I wanted to."

"I thought, I just finished filming "The Emperor and the Assassin", and I have nothing to do for the time being. I also want to see how American commercial blockbusters are made. I originally called Shengshi Film and Television, but I heard that your wife has already gone to the United States, so I just came to find you."

"Minghua, do you think I can do it?"

Ouch

Chen Kaige also wants to make a commercial blockbuster!

But thinking about "The Promise" he shot in the past few years, it's not surprising.

At the beginning, Zhang Yimou didn't want to continue filming Harry Potter, so Fang Minghua thought of Chen Kaige.

Now in the domestic director circle, only the two of them can make epic blockbusters.

But he and Chen Kaige have no intersection and are not familiar with each other. In addition, Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige have been competing secretly, and Fang Minghua is worried that asking him will hurt his self-esteem.

"You come to me to find a film that Zhang Yimou doesn't want to make?!"

I didn't expect Chen Kaige to come to me on his own initiative!