I’m a Director, I’m Not Bad

Chapter 186 184. One Four Eighty

"This man seems quite capable."

Sitting in the business car, Yang Mi said while dialing a phone number:

"Xiaobing, have you got in the car?...Okay, send me a message when you get home, don't run around, you know..."

"Um."

After hearing her call to Shaobing, Xu Xin responded:

"He looks nice...what are you going to eat?"

He looked at Jay Chou and asked.

Jay Chou shrugged:

"Whatever. I don't have much appetite... I would rather care about the box office results."

"The box office is not that fast. It won't be released until tomorrow."

"You might as well read the comments."

"Well……"

Xu Xin was still thinking about where to eat when Yang Mi suddenly said:

"Then why don't you go home? Don't go to the hotel tonight, Jaylen. I've made some syrup for you, can you go back and taste it?"

"oh?"

Xu Xin's eyes suddenly lit up:

"Did you get wet?"

"Yes, Uncle Xu taught me this. He said you like to drink this in summer..."

After the girl finished speaking, she looked at the time.

Just after 12 o'clock.

"The movie has started showing now. Let's go back and order some noodles. It's almost 2 o'clock after we finish. Can we read the reviews online then?"

"I can do that...what about you?"

Hearing Xu Xin's question, Jay Chou also nodded:

"Okay, but I want to eat the braised noodles with tomatoes and eggs made by Mi Mi."

Xu Xin’s mouth twitched:

"That thing has to be endured, why are you so good at summoning people!"

"Oh, just do it if you want to eat it. Look at you...don't you have to boil the water in your juice?"

After patting her boyfriend angrily, the girl showed a "kind mother" look.

"Don't worry, if you two want to eat, I'll make it for you two. Who makes me the chef~"

Xu Xin didn't want to argue with her.

really……

My girlfriend’s cooking skills have improved by leaps and bounds this year.

Anyway, it was particularly close to his stomach.

So, he took the initiative to move to the back row and leaned against his girlfriend:

"Then can you fry some more chili peppers..."

"Okay~"

Holding her boyfriend's hand with a loving look on her face, she responded:

"I knew you would come back today. I bought the vegetables yesterday. The water is also very clear. Eat more later."

"Wow……"

Before Xu Xin could speak, Jay Chou sighed:

"You two are really scary... Forget it, take me back to the hotel. A Lang and the others will go out to eat... I really can't stand you being like this."

"huh huh huh huh……"

Xu Xin was so proud that he lay directly in his girlfriend's arms:

"Come here, feed Mr. Zhou some cakes! All you can eat!"

Listening to his friend's strange description, Jay Chou shook his head speechlessly.

But Yang Mi was directly struck by the point of laughter and let out a goose call:

"Goose goose goose~~~"

It's so scary, these two people.

How can it be so sweet...

Logically speaking, it's been more than a year, and it's long past the sweet period.

…

in the kitchen.

Without adding a drop of water, the stewed stew made with six tomatoes and ten eggs over low heat has already released the unique aroma of tomatoes and eggs.

In the other pot is a pot of soup that is more sour and spicy than tomatoes and eggs.

In front of the chopping board, the girl took a kitchen knife and chopped the peppers she bought into pieces, planning to fry them with soy sauce later.

After cutting it, he opened the basin next to it. Inside was a pile of noodles that had just woken up for 20 minutes.

Let alone outsiders, Yang Dalin might go crazy if he was here.

Even if you want to have a late-night snack in the middle of the night, why don't you ask my daughter to knead the noodles for you?

Are you crazy, Mr. Xu?

But in fact, this was indeed done voluntarily by the girl.

Uncle Xu once said that the best noodles are wide noodles, which are the most comfortable to eat.

The thin noodles will be slightly sour at the end of the meal.

Anyway, it takes time to make tomato brine and syrup. Her boyfriend has been staying in Shenmu for several months, and he finally came back. If she doesn't pamper him, who will?

Even though the other party had just returned from northern Shaanxi, this meal of noodles was still enough to express his feelings.

Talking about...she's not tired.

On the contrary, I was quite happy.

My boyfriend and friends all recognize my craftsmanship, which is something I can be proud of no matter where I go.

Even if it's just a simple bowl of noodles.

But don't be in a hurry...I've learned a lot of different dishes from my dad during this time, so just take your time.

So, I skillfully took out the dough and kneaded it.

Until Jay Chou, who was hungry and had his chest pressed against his back, walked in and took a look...

He gave a sincere compliment:

"Mimi, you will be a good wife and mother from now on..."

"Hehe, right?"

Yang Mi smiled happily:

"Where's Xu Xin?"

"He's scrolling through comments... Ha, don't you think it's funny? He told me just now that comments on the Internet don't come out so quickly, but now he's scrolling through them faster than anyone else... Hey, do you think he's nervous?"

"I don't know, but I think we will definitely succeed!... I'm going to get started. You tell him to prepare for dinner."

"Okay~"

Soon, a "sizzling" sound came from the kitchen in the middle of the night.

A few minutes later, two bowls of braised noodles with tomatoes and eggs, a large bowl of wide noodles with slurry and a plate of fried chili peppers in soy sauce were brought to the table.

Xu Xin was stunned when he walked out of the study...

"Hand-rolled noodles?...You..."

"Hehe~"

The girl showed her small white teeth:

"Would you like to try it? Here are the noodles~"

"..."

The dialect is not authentic.

But this side...

At around 1 o'clock in the morning, on a hungry and sleepy summer day, a bowl of spicy and sour syrup was rolled out by hand...

Xu Xin didn't understand what moved others.

But with him, there is no price that can be exchanged.

"Is it tasty?"

"Um!"

My girlfriend’s craftsmanship…

So authentic.

…

After eating and drinking, the time came to 2 o'clock.

There was silence on Douban.

For no reason, Xu Xin suddenly missed the way he used to be able to speak freely by downloading the Douban APP on his mobile phone... huh?

Sitting in front of the computer, he was stunned.

What is APP?

The time came to around 2:30, and finally, on Douban, the first comment appeared in the comments that were opened simultaneously with the 12 o'clock premiere.

"Out!"

Jay Chou's words caused Xu Xin, who was sitting on the single sofa, and Yang Mi, who was doing stretching exercises in the yard, to run directly into the house.

"what did you say!"

"Have the ratings come out yet?"

After hearing what the two said, Jay Chou shook his head:

"It says it has less than 100 ratings, so there are no reviews yet. There are comments, please take a look."

The two of them approached the computer with squinted eyes.

Yang Mi thought:

“Looks great! Highly recommended!!”

"……Gone?"

Xu Xin was stunned.

Jay Chou nodded:

"Just refresh this one."

As he spoke, he refreshed it again...

There is still only one comment.

"This...I've been waiting for a long time, and this is it?"

Yang Mi was speechless.

"Well……"

Then she looked at her boyfriend.

But I saw Xu Xin using a... not very confident tone, and said suddenly:

"The first comment is a strong recommendation, so... it should be... not too bad in the future, right?"

"...It's strange."

Suddenly, Jay Chou said something.

"Uh-huh!"

The expressions of Xu Xin and Yang Mi changed instantly:

"what!?"

"What's wrong!?"

"Well……"

Seeing the somewhat dangerous gazes of the lovers, Jay Chou quickly waved his hand:

"I'm just curious about myself... I've obviously acted in movies, and they were all starring roles... but no movie has made me as nervous as this one. It's so strange~"

"..."

"..."

Xu Xin was speechless and did not respond to his nonsense, but directly refreshed the web page.

Then……

"!"

"...?"

"!!!"

Below the poster for "The Secret That Cannot Be Told", a numerical score appears directly to the right of the Douban score.

8.8/10.

The score is out!

"8.8 points!? 100 people rated it so quickly?"

Yang Mi screamed, but Xu Xin quickly pulled down and saw the message board:

"Wow! It's so beautiful! I just finished watching it with my partner, it's so beautiful!"

"Recommended, watching it once is not enough, I decided to watch it again tomorrow when I wake up!"

"The best love movie I have seen in recent years, no exaggeration!"

"Originally I went to watch it for Jay Chou, but I didn't expect it to be unexpectedly good-looking. No wonder it won an award in Cannes!"

"For anyone who sees this comment, I hope you can stay with your Lu Xiaoyu until old age without any regrets!"

"Friendly reminder: "Cannes" has a curse. Usually, no matter how good the award-winning films are, their box office results will not be too high... So please buy your tickets quickly and invite your loved ones to watch it!"

"I feel proud when I think that the Cannes judges and I have the same opinion about this film!"

"I just came back. After thinking about it, I will step into a trap first. I will update the long review later!"

"Ten points! Ten points in my mind! Although I don't like Yang Mi, Gui Lunmei is really beautiful!"

"Brothers and sisters, I heard that Jay Chou sang at Wanda Plaza? Did anyone listen to it? Does anyone have a video? Can you leave your email address and send me a private copy!"

It was a refresh time, and dozens of comments popped up all at once.

The three of them crowded in front of Xu Xin's laptop, but they couldn't see clearly, so Yang Mi ran to the bedroom. Xu Xin, who reacted, looked at Yang Mi and then at Jay Chou...

"You, go get your own computer and look at it~my home, my computer!"

"Get out!"

Jay Chou finally got tough:

"My computer is in the living room, go check it out yourself!"

Then... Young Master Xu rolled and crawled towards the living room.

A home.

three people.

Three rooms...

When the 8.8 score was refreshed again on the web page, a scream came from the bedroom:

"Ah! It's 8.9!!"

Tonight seems destined to be a sleepless night.

…

"It's 3:50 in the morning. I'm tossing and turning and can't sleep. I'll just go back to the computer and write a long review. There won't be any classes tomorrow anyway.

Ever since the news of "The Untold Secret" came out, as a fan of Jay Chou, I have been looking forward to when it will be released and hastened to watch it. But I have to admit that I was actually a little panicked.

Because, it is precisely because I am a fan of Jay Chou that I know that Jay Chou's acting skills...or, in other words, his acting talent, are not even the slightest bit worse than his favorite singer Jacky Cheung.

As an auxiliary instructor in the theater directing department, I feel that my argument is basically correct, at least from a professional perspective.

Although he contributed enough improvement in his acting skills in "The Golden Armor", the overall acting idea is still superficial.

Regarding acting skills, I believe that anyone who has taken an acting class or majored in acting should have heard this sentence:

"What we need is a hungry actor, not a hungry actor."

Therefore, I actually didn’t have high expectations for the idol’s acting skills.

Until I heard that "Secret" was shortlisted for Cannes Category B.

Regarding my views on this year's Cannes, as a film industry practitioner, I cannot make a detailed comment because I have not seen all the films. But I have watched all the films that have been released in Cannes this year or have found resources. For specific reviews and related content, please follow this link (HTTP...)

Okay, let’s get down to business. Because I didn’t have any hope, and because Jay Chou’s acting was one-sided and superficial, when I heard that he was shortlisted for Cannes, my first reaction was that I was deceived by this movie.

Because I firmly believe that Jay Chou's acting skills are definitely not enough to get into Cannes (note, this is not a slander, but a fact), so the most likely thing is that Jay Chou starred in this film, but his role will definitely not be too much. He even appeared in the film or trailer as a cameo. Otherwise, if it is his starring role, I can't figure out why my idol's film has killed him, not to mention those best actors and actresses at Oscars, Venice, Cannes, and Golden Bear... He can actually kill the stars of Sun Honglei, Liu Ye, and Shu Qi. "Heaven's Mouth".

After all, although Tiantangkou has not yet been released in China, it has also been shortlisted for the midnight broadcast unit and has been recognized by Cannes.

In terms of starting point, it's the same as "The Secret That Can't Be Told".

It is obviously impossible that Jay Chou can kill so many domestic movie kings and queens. What's more... in the trailer, it's obvious that his acting skills are still superficial.

Therefore, I once raised this possibility in the forum for a while, and denounced the promoter for being shameless and using my idol to deceive consumers.

It wasn't until "Secret" won the Cannes award, and I found the Cannes website through the wall, that I clearly saw the name of the leading actor "Jay Chou".

This idea is self-defeating.

So, another doubt appeared in my mind: What kind of story is this that can win Cannes... even if it's just the Best Debut Award?

With these doubts and doubts, my wife and I lined up to buy tonight’s movie tickets.

After reading the entire process, I can responsibly tell you that my above discussion is still correct. If you rely solely on Jay Chou, you won't be able to win any awards in "Cannes".

The reason why this film has achieved this result is because I refreshed the score at 4:07, and the score of "Secret" has exceeded 9.0.

The biggest reason why it won this award is the director.

Yes, you read that right, the director. A director who made me, a person with no talent and only typing on the keyboard, so jealous that I could gnash my teeth.

Here we must first clarify a concept, that is: what is lens language?

In book terms, lens language is to use the lens to express our meaning like language. We can usually see the photographer's intention through the pictures captured by the camera, because we can see the changes in the subject and pictures captured by the camera. To feel what the photographer is trying to express through the lens.

In fact, using the original words of the professor who once taught me, although it is a conclusion under a specific emotional context, it is also somewhat inappropriate to say it. But I think it’s just right to use here:

"The language of the camera is what separates a fool like me from a genius."

My mentor included himself among the “idiots.”

And, there is a very specific description.

Although to this day I feel that his statement is too extreme and biased, but after reading "The Secret", I feel that it is not an exaggeration to use it here.

"The language of the lens is the so-called "my lens can speak". And most of the people in this industry are from the perspective of beginners, just like babies in the stage of babbling, they can learn and use it. But can't express what I mean clearly, or "what do I want to say\

,"The basic theories we understand and even possess may even be far superior to those who are more advanced than us. But it happens that some people are born with the ability to "speak meaningfully and speak freely" from the first film they produced.

It is true that perhaps with the passage of time, we stupid birds can become "enlightened" and understand how to speak. But from beginning to end, in front of those "geniuses", we can only look up. We used the same lens, just to shoot. But when they come to use it, they can be given something different. "

These are the exact words of my mentor.

To be honest, to this day I still don’t understand why a fifth-generation director, not to mention a successful, but a well-known teacher, would show such envy and sentimentality after drinking.

But today, maybe it’s a preference for idols? Or is the subjective assumption too strong?

I really think that this director named "Xu Xin" is a genius.

I can understand the meaning of every shot he takes. In every shot, there was nothing particularly beyond my expectations...or even my capabilities. Whether it's composition, scene selection, cutting, or some small details.

I understand everything, I can also shoot and use it.

Because these are some of the most basic things.

Basic color use, basic light use, and even basic scenery.

But behind this, there were 115 minutes that made me mesmerized.

From the rhythm of the film to the overall tone and tone established through the background. And every shot that looks basic, but shows a kind of simplicity and simplicity...

Is this his first movie? I really can't believe it.

Because what I see is a smooth lens language composed of the most basic shooting fragments.

Every frame, it's alive.

Use a kind of silence to tell you the past of this story.

Unfortunately, because it is still in theaters and has not yet been released on disc, I cannot use some clips for demonstration.

But I still asked the crew to allow me to use two shots that I found extremely stunning to illustrate in words:

First, for those who haven’t had time to watch this movie, please pay attention to the scene composition of Lu Xiaoyu and Ye Xianglun, probably after a wonderful piano competition, the two of them went home together and passed by the beach. The tip is to follow the camera lens and look from right to left. You will see a downward curve of mountains → sea → trees. This represents the mental transformation of "hardness, softness, and restraint." Maybe I don’t understand what I said, but trust me, if you look at it, you will understand what I mean.

2. After the same scene, there is a conversation between father and son. Please note the background lights in the panning shot and the echoes of different lines as the father and son talk. Friendly reminder: Persistence represents the blue color of rationality, and the warm yellow and gentleness wrapped in rationality.

I can't say much because the movie is still playing. Even because it was my first time watching it, I was concerned about the direction of the plot and the development of the story. On the one hand, I have to use my professionalism to evaluate this movie, so many points that I clearly remembered at the time were a little blurry.

Tomorrow I will watch it again alone, with a go-before-stop mentality, and through the movie, I will pay tribute to the work of this director who really amazed me to the point of jealousy. Then, after the DVD resources of the movie are released, this film review and analysis will be completed again.

Let’s stop here today.

It's a bit anticlimactic, but since the movie is still in theaters, I can't show any clips... Huh? Yes, I can go and see if there are any intriguing scenes in the three trailers, and I just happened to have finished reading the whole story...

Sorry, the kid is awake. So that’s it for today, please give me a few days, and I’ll finish the film review. It's almost 5 o'clock, good night everyone.

At the end of the day, please believe me, it is a high-scoring movie worth watching over and over again. Please don’t be blind because of Jay Chou, and please don’t be conflicted because of Jay Chou.

Because, it's really a good movie.

——

I am Harmony, an amateur film critic who loves movies.

(Unfinished, to be continued)”

…

July 31, 2007.

This article was posted at around 5 a.m., but three hours later it received over a thousand likes and over a hundred replies as a popular movie review, announcing the beginning of a new day.

"Surprising finishing quality, hot review: "The Secret That Cannot Be Told""

"Zhang Yimou showed up at the premiere and was full of praise for "The Secret That Cannot Be Told."

"Jay Chou's acting skills have improved greatly! The premiere of "The Secret That Cannot Be Tellable" was recognized!"

"The theaters of "The Secret That Cannot Be Told" are fully booked when they open, and the box office forecast is promising."

"How beautiful is Yang Mi? Not just on the screen - the premiere photos of "The Untold Secret"."

“Audience interviews after the premiere of ‘The Secret’ – unanimous praise.”

"Jay Chou attended the premiere of "The Secret That Cannot Be Telln" and sang the song affectionately, which was recorded!"

A new day, a new beginning.

After a night of fermentation, on July 31st, "The Secret That Cannot Be Told" went through deliberate promotion and spontaneous publicity. Many people even had an illusion... It seemed that throughout the whole day, News about "The Secret That Cannot Be Told" are everywhere.

Text messages can be seen, web pages can be seen, and even colleagues and friends can hear it.

All of a sudden, this movie has the potential to become a national hot topic.

At the same time, when reporters were visiting major theaters that day, they suddenly discovered an interesting phenomenon.

People queuing up at the door of "The Secret That Cannot Be Told"...

Much more than "Transformers"!

Although it's unfair to say this, Transformers has been on screen for 20 days, so the number of people is definitely going down.

But it's so...

Under the hype of the media, this news seems to be competing with "Secret" and "Transformation".

Suddenly the heat became three points more.

And throughout this whole day, the media and the film's creators did not appear in any public view.

But as 12 o'clock in the night approaches, no one cares about where the creative team is.

Everyone is just looking forward to getting the movie's box office data as of 23:59 on July 31 from the film's distribution company, Xiying Studio, as soon as possible!

I want to take a look... There has been a lot of discussion all day today, and even with the promotion of Gonghuobei...

What is the real box office of this movie?

…

The media is waiting, including Xu Xin, Yang Mi, Jay Chou, including Sun Ting, Dani, and even Zeng Jia...

Everyone is waiting.

It's just that Yang Mi is waiting at home, Xu Xin is waiting at Shenmu, and Zhou Jielun has already flown back to Wanwan with Alang and the others and is waiting.

Waiting for news.

Time passes minute by minute.

Seeing that it was past 12 o'clock, Xu Daqiang, who was sitting in the living room at home, couldn't help but say:

"We're here!? We're here!?"

"Not so fast, dad. Didn't I say that they have to compile the statistics of each theater. You... don't rush it."

Holding up the phone, Xu Xin was persuading, but there was also anxiety in his voice.

12:01.

it's okay no problem.

12:05.

Soon, soon.

12:14.

? ? ? ?

12:20…

What went wrong?

12:23…

Zhang Qianqian looked at her brother-in-law's shivering way of lighting up a cigarette and wanted to express relief, but she didn't know what to say.

And just then...

"Buzz~"

A text message was sent.

Shenmu, Yanjing, Wanwan...

Everyone turned on their phones immediately and saw the text message:

"The statistics are out. The box office of "The Untold Secret" on the first day: 14,803,290 yuan!"

"How...how many!?"

Xu Daqiang asked quickly.

Xu Miao, on the other hand, plucked his fingers and began to count the numbers he heard from his younger brother:

"One, ten, one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand, one million, ten million...one thousand four hundred...how many thousands?"

"Fourteen and eighty million..."

After Xu Xin finished speaking, his whole body felt as if he had lost all strength, and he sat down on the sofa with a thud.

14.8 million...

How much money?

Not much.

At least not to him.

But for some reason, his face began to twitch.

Twitching, a smile... that could not be suppressed no matter what, quietly clung to his face...

One thousand...four million...eight hundred thousand!