I’m a Director, I’m Not Bad

Chapter 331 329. Divide the pork

He and Lao Fang haven't contacted each other for a long time.

Ever since Xu Xin helped him find a job with a CCTV crew during the Olympics, Fang Xiu had plunged into CCTV.

And was admitted to graduate school.

Xu Xin knew so much.

As for which department Lao Fang currently serves as a photographer for what program, he really doesn't know very well.

But Xu Xin's first reaction to his sudden call today was to refuse...

joke……

When is it?

Liu Yifei has a movie waiting for her, and next year's "Hawthorn Tree" is also waiting for her.

The most important thing is that the baby will be born soon.

He was so busy that he hit the back of his head with his feet, how could he still accept the documentary?

Speaking of which... documentaries sometimes consume more time than movies.

He really doesn't have much time.

and……

Are you destined to be too old this year?

Why do jobs come one after another inexplicably?

But after all, we are all old classmates and came from the same crew, so we shouldn’t be too hasty when we refuse.

So, after hearing Fang Xiu's words, he asked like a casual chat:

"What for? Our director Fang Da is short of an errand boy?"

"Haha~"

Fang Xiu couldn't help laughing.

This sentence melted away some of the waves of anxiety in my heart.

Then he said:

"I'm talking to you seriously, Lao Xu, are you interested?"

"...You mean you want me to make a documentary?"

"It's not that I'm looking for you. That's right. Now there's news in the station. It plans to prepare a batch of documentaries. But unlike before, it's different from looking for directors from within. This time, it's asking the literary and art circles for topic selection, external submissions, and internal submissions. After review, if you are selected, the station will directly approve the funding and start filming."

"Well……"

When Xu Xin heard this, he showed a strange expression:

"Why did you suddenly start soliciting external topics?"

"Well, it just came up suddenly. I just wanted to ask if you are interested. After all, next year will be the year of the 21st Starlight Awards."

"...!"

Xu Xin's eyes suddenly moved:

"Should the topic be purchased this time or filmed by CCTV itself?"

"I'll shoot it myself. I'll collect a selection of topics, and once I'm selected, I'll start looking for a director. It's nominally a Taiwanese film."

"In other words, if I submit a topic, if I am selected, I can directly run for director. Will the film be eligible for the Starlight Award?"

"right."

Fang Xiu responded:

"That's what I mean. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to submit your topic here. Don't you have a particularly good relationship with Xi Film Studio? Xi Film Studio's documentaries are also eligible, but... I'll tell you the truth. , first come first if you are on the stage near the water. If the station can choose your program, then why do you have to go to the Xiying Studio? I feel that the chance of winning the award will be greater if you go to the stage."

Fang Xiu didn't need to say this, Xu Xin understood it.

One is CCTV and the other is the self-operated channel of the film studio.

As one of the top three awards in the country, the election rules for the Starlight Award are based on rules reported to the relevant departments of each province or the "Chinese Direct Agency".

Although the awards applied for by some individual companies are not in principle unacceptable, compared to directly affiliated units, the things these individual companies shoot are more like thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge. Let alone them, I’m afraid even Xiying Channel is a part of it.

But if it is submitted internally by CCTV, not only does it have a greater chance of winning, but it also has a higher chance of being drafted.

The Starlight Award is not some pheasant award.

It is one of the three official awards alongside Huabiao and Feitian.

Does Xu Xin miss the award?

He is so lacking.

What’s the use of high box office?

You have to get a prize.

Although he says he has been delayed by the Olympics, he has not shown up for any awards, big or small.

I will participate in the Huabiao Award in a few days.

But I didn't go with "The Wind", but I was invited to participate in 2007's "Secret".

The Huabiao Awards are also selected every two years. The release date of "The Wind" has passed the deadline for the 13th Huabiao Awards, so you can only participate in the 14th, which is the 11th year of the award.

However, although it is one of the "big three", in fact, there is basically a consensus in the industry about the Huabiao Award. It means "everyone shares the pork together, so that when you get older, you can have it."

Although this sentence is biased, the essence is indeed the same thing.

The Huabiao Award has many awards, with a total of about twenty. And the award-winning style... is also very "warm" in a strict sense.

Basically everything that can be taken care of is taken care of. After all, everyone’s contribution to China’s film industry is obvious to all. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t get it this year, you will definitely “get it” in the future.

That's probably what it means.

Of course, what I say is not absolute. The so-called prerequisite for getting it in the future is that there must be sufficiently excellent works.

But this "excellent"... depends on how others understand it.

In short, it is true that the Huabiao Award is one of the three major awards, but for filmmakers, it is the most friendly award.

This is also the main reason why others say it divides pork.

When pigs are slaughtered in the village, regardless of whether they have heads, knuckles, or pigs in the water, you can always get something.

At the Huabiao Awards ceremony, you can always see a group of people coming up to the stage, holding up certificates representing different works, and then coming down with a roar...

It's the same as taking a quick look at the flowers.

You can even see some very strange names in this award.

For example, the "Outstanding Scientific and Educational Film Award" will occasionally burst out some films such as "Prevention and Control of Coal Mine Gas Explosion Accidents", "Blueberry Cultivation Technology and Processing", "Rural Fire Prevention Knowledge"...

It's really warm, but the problem is... the ingredients are too complicated.

Everyone is warm. But this brand effect... is a bit like going from Armani to Baleno.

And he actually has a very clear plan for his path.

The first thing you need to photograph is that you like and are interested in it.

The second is that awards and honors are more important than box office.

It’s the same old saying.

He has no shortage of money.

What is missing is the honor to support myself in moving forward.

Although this sounds very utilitarian at first glance.

But that's what happened.

So if Lao Fang wants to ask him to help control the rhythm of a documentary crew, if time is short and a friend can help, he might agree.

But if it was just a documentary, he might have refused.

It's really hard to do anything.

But once this matter was linked to the Starlight Award, everything seemed to be different again.

He would get the Huabiao "sooner or later".

"Flying" is a TV drama award, let's not mention it for now.

This Starlight Award... most people really can't get it.

Now that there is an opportunity, he must seize it.

"Lao Fang, when will this topic selection begin? When will it end?"

"It starts in October and ends at the end of the year...but."

Suddenly, Fang Xiu lowered his voice:

"Lao Xu, I heard this too. The reason why this opening was suddenly opened this year is because there are too many repetitive works in this New Year. All TV stations are offering gifts, and the submitted lists are all red, especially It’s monotonous. The leaders in the station are also very worried... But I still have a doubt, that is, some documentaries are shot very slowly, which may take a year or two. It seems that next year’s Starlight Awards will be too late..."

"It's normal. Maybe it's a rainy day."

After understanding what Fang Xiu meant, Xu Xin said:

"Maybe the leaders feel that next year's Feitian Award is a bit unsightly, and they want to pick a general out of the short ones. As for whether this opening will be opened next time or in the future, it depends on the response... In this way, Lao Fang, You asked me to do the sum total, but it won’t end until the end of the year anyway. I have to think about it and see if there are any good topics to choose. Will we be in touch then?"

"Okay! Anyway, I just want to tell you."

Fang Xiu smiled and said:

"After all, since there is a chance to get a trophy in this kind of thing, I want to let you try it. I am helping you to inquire. What news can I tell you?"

"No problem, thanks."

"Hahaha, what are you talking about~...Okay, I'll hang up then."

"Yeah. Let's go out for a drink when we have time."

"Um!"

The phone hangs up.

Xu Xin rubbed his chin.

Starlight Award… Documentary…

Are you excited?

Definitely heartwarming.

But...what should I take a photo of?

He frowned and started thinking.

And in my mind, a vague picture flashed through my mind.

Um?

Suddenly, Xu Xin was stunned.

Instinctively, he glanced at the time on his watch.

The afternoon class is after 3 o'clock... If I go to Xi'an Restaurant for a meal now, it should be too late, right?

After thinking for a while, he dialed Zhang Jiao's phone number.

"Dudu... hello, Brother Xu."

"where?"

"I was planning to go to the cafeteria."

"What classes do you have this afternoon?"

"Two sections."

"Well... forget it."

"Brother Xu is going out?"

"We're planning to go out to eat...then you go to the cafeteria, I'll go by myself."

Seeing that there was nothing important, Zhang Jiao responded:

"Well...then I'll go to the cafeteria to eat."

"good."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Xin suppressed the thoughts rolling in his mind and walked directly to the school gate.

While walking, he sent a message to Sun Ting:

"Tingting, look for those documentaries about food on the Internet. Find some for me and download them."

Sun Ting replied instantly:

"Okay, Brother Xu."

He put away his cell phone, pulled on his mask, lowered his hat, and walked out of the campus.

Now he is gradually able to understand the troubles of becoming famous.

Although the chance of being recognized when walking on the street is still low, it is near this school. If you are not careful, it is really easy to be surrounded by some scalpers.

It's quite annoying.

But maybe it was because the weather was relatively hot today and there were few people, so he had a pretty smooth walk.

When we arrived at the parking lot, we opened the door and got in the car, and the Volvo headed towards Xi'an Restaurant.

Xi'an Restaurant is the most authentic restaurant that he has ever eaten in Yanjing that serves Shaanxi cuisine.

Although the taste of the fried noodles was not to his liking, the steamed buns tasted good.

The mutton kebabs are not bad either.

It's easy to queue up at noon.

When he arrived at the entrance of the restaurant, he saw a group of people queuing up to wait for the barbecue. He simply skipped the barbecue step and went inside to order a bowl of steamed buns. He didn't even break them and cut them with a machine.

I was polite to others, shared a table, and sat on one side with my tickets, waiting.

While waiting, he picked up his phone and started checking.

The history of steamed buns, the history of noodles, specialties from various places, etc.

Following the vague feeling in his mind, he began to look up information.

However, although he had some inspiration in his mind just now, after checking it out, he found that... the gap between inspiration and reality was still quite large.

My thoughts were blocked for a while.

After browsing for a while, the steamed buns came, and he put the phone aside for the time being.

The people sharing the table with me should be a family of three.

A middle-aged man in his 30s came to eat with his parents.

Just by listening to the accent, he knew that this family must be from Guanzhong.

And the old man probably wasn’t very satisfied with the steamed buns from Xi’an Restaurant. While eating, he occasionally muttered:

"What's this called spreading? The steamed buns are all in soup."

"The mutton from Yanjing doesn't taste good! It's bad!"

"Son, you can eat the meat."

Xu Xin glanced at the old man and gave the piece of meat in his bowl to his son who was sweating on his forehead...

He instinctively picked up a piece of meat from his bowl.

What he wants is high quality, with quite a lot of meat.

After taking a bite of the meat, I found that there was nothing wrong with the meat.

There was nothing fishy or hard about it, it was obviously cooked from fresh meat.

It tastes similar to the food in Xi'an.

But watching the old man say "chai" while giving all the meat in his bowl to his son... he seemed to understand something in a daze.

Sure enough, the aunt next to me picked up the ticket for the steamed buns just now while eating.

"A bowl of eighteen... don't come to his house to eat next time. It's expensive and not delicious~ Do you want to eat some at night? Your dad and I will find some at the vegetable market and beat you when we go back~ Do you have much work in the afternoon? ? Let’s stew beef?..."

The elder brother next to him, his head down and snoring while eating steamed buns, seemed a little embarrassed.

He glanced at Xu Xin vaguely...

Xu Xin quickly lowered his head and continued to pick up his bowl of steamed buns with chopsticks.

Just pretend you can't see or hear.

"The rented apartment is small, so don't worry about it. I've opened a hotel for you two right next to it. We'll go out to eat when we get back from get off work in the evening..."

"Opening a hotel for sex is a waste of money..."

"I don't have a place to live~ and I don't have much money!..."

The second elder is afraid that his son will spend money.

And because the son is an outsider, it may be inconvenient for him to speak.

Xu Xin didn't know what this family of three was thinking.

He suddenly felt a little embarrassed sitting at this table.

I don’t even want to raise my head.

I was afraid of refuting the elder brother’s face.

Feeling a little emotional again.

Following his emotion, he thought for a while, took out his mobile phone, and typed this paragraph on his notepad:

"Food alone is not enough. Food is just a means, and there must be an inner emotional expression. It is important (food) but also important (traditional culture)."

After writing it, the inspiration seemed to come to me.

After thinking for a while, he wrote again:

"Food is the most important thing for the people. A solid storehouse means they know etiquette; enough food and clothing means they know honor and disgrace."

"Food is a carrier, and more importantly, it is the interpretation of culture."

“Diet is diversity, culture should also be diversity.”

“Food is a bond of family ties and a solace for strangers missing their hometown day and night.”

One by one.

One after another.

The vague picture in his mind inspired him, and the "misspoken words" of the family of three in front of him inspired him again.

Suddenly he got to the bottom of his idea of ​​what he wanted to photograph.

Documentaries...you can film food.

But it’s higher than food!

This kind of intention... is what he wants!

His eyes suddenly began to brighten.

If Fang Xiu's phone call just now made him want to win the prize.

But after receiving these inspirations, his creation was inspired after a long absence.

It's not like "The Wind". After seeing Gu Xiaomeng's story, I felt that it could help his wife's career to a higher level.

It was not because Director Zhang asked me to watch "Love at the Hawthorn Tree" because he wanted to help the teacher he respected in his heart bring his "junior sisters" with him.

Not to mention helping Liu Yifei transform, he chose a script that he felt was very suitable for her transformation...

This kind of pure desire to create is like the day when I learned from my father that a man named Chang killed a child... the kind of desire to truly express the thoughts in my mind. A sense of excitement!

Although the utilitarianism still exists.

But as his inspirations were recorded one after another, this utilitarianism has become too weak to be heard.

Make a documentary about food!

The satisfaction of photographing delicious food expresses my yearning for the traditional culture of my country, the kind that may have been active in the north and south of the Yangtze River for thousands of years, but has also cultivated the soil deeply and multiplied the entire nation... and even the wisdom left by the ancestors of civilization!

This great desire instantly filled his mind, directly awakening his long-lost passion!

He felt that his entry point...

You found the right one!

…

"...documentary?"

Yang Mi was stunned.

With a big belly, she stood at the door of the study, with her mouth open and eyes staring straight at Xu Xin...

OoO!!

What is this brother talking about?

What is it?

As soon as I got home, I went into the study, and then I suddenly said "I want to make a documentary"? ? ?

"Um."

Xu Xin nodded, looked at the folder on the computer that had been created by Sun Ting, and clicked on a documentary called "World Food".

While watching, he said:

"Lao Fang called me in the morning."

"Fang Xiu?"

"right."

After talking about the Starlight Award, Yang Mi frowned:

"Just to win the prize?"

She was a little dissatisfied.

Documentaries are shot in years.

Some good documentaries may take two or three years to shoot.

If you haven't been at home for the past two or three years, what have you been doing? Being a widow with children?

But Xu Xin shook his head:

"At first I wanted to see if I could come up with a good idea that would qualify for the Starlight Award. But... I changed my mind after I went to Xi'an Restaurant for a bowl of steamed buns at noon."

With that said, he handed the phone to Yang Mi:

"Look at what I wrote in the notepad."

"Well……"

After taking the phone and opening the notepad, Yang Mi instantly saw the passages recorded in the document.

She is an actress.

Not some idiot.

There is definitely some basic empathy for the script.

Therefore, when she saw the words, "Food is the most important thing for the people. Etiquette is known through solid warehouses, honor and disgrace are known through sufficient food and clothing.", through the actor's instinct, she connected with the various thoughts of her brother recorded later. something to express...

All of a sudden, she understood.

This time my brother seemed to be serious.

"You want to use food to express our culture?"

"It's not just about culture, there are also some social phenomena. I share a table with others for lunch. The people I share a table with are a family of three. The eldest brother is in his thirties and should be working here in Yanjing. His parents Come and see him..."

After explaining what happened at the dinner table, the dissatisfaction in Yang Mi's heart disappeared.

Instead, this is a thought:

"Indeed, food is one of the bonds of family ties. Just like when we are filming in other places, if I can taste the taste of my hometown, or think of the dishes my dad cooks, my mouth will water..."

As she spoke, she flipped through the contents of her notepad again.

"You mean to reveal the food cultures of different regions and then give them various meanings?"

“Not to bestow, but to show.”

After watching the "World Food" documentary in front of him and realizing that it was not what he wanted, Xu Xin clicked X and continued to watch the next one.

While watching, he said:

"Think about it, for example, what a bowl of fried noodles means to you Yanjing people. Why do you say that the best place to eat fried noodles is always at home? Why do you always use the standard for measuring fried noodles? Is the smell similar at home?”

"..."

Xu Xin's eyes were shining:

"Different regions, cultures, happenings, and even why the delicacies passed down from ancient times to the present are preserved, what kind of history does it contain, and what position does it occupy in the hearts of the eaters of these delicacies? ... And what kind of changes our country and civilization have experienced through the transformation of these foods... These are the things I want to shoot, explore, and verify. So... I want to make a documentary like this."

"..."

Yang Mi was silent now.

Because she understood her brother's eyes.

He really likes it...

Can't be fake.

But……

Instinctively, she asked:

"It will take several years to make a documentary...What will I do with my children..."

"Well……"

Xu Xin was silent for a moment.

In the afternoon, he was busy thinking, but he forgot that his life was not only work, but also life...

"I……"

For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

But at this moment Yang Mi suddenly waved her hand:

"Forget it~"

"……ah?"

Looking at this sister’s indifferent expression:

"If you are busy, then I will rest... Don't think about me. As long as you like it and want to take pictures. Then I will support you! Don't have any worries, I will take care of you at home~ Peace of mind~"

No thought was given at all.

The moment she expressed her grievances, she chose to accept it.

There is always someone who has to sacrifice for the family.

She doesn't mind taking on a little more.

Who makes him like it.

Xu Xin fell silent again.

For a moment, I didn't even know what to say.

Looking at his tangled look, Yang Mi directly changed the topic:

"So, you already have the core creative idea for this documentary? What's missing is the specific content?"

"right."

"When do you plan to submit it?...Isn't it too hasty? CCTV's screening and review should be very strict, right?"

"So I have to refine it. But the core idea is already there, so it shouldn't be too difficult to refine it."

"...What if CCTV doesn't choose it?"

"Then I'll find a factory to shoot it. The difficulty of this film is not actually the shooting, but the literary idea. You have to interpret the meaning of food, and you can't overdo it. It's not about teaching others some big principles, but letting everyone With a...resonant emotional connection, knowing what we want to express."

"...Do you need any of the four beauties to be the host or make a friendly appearance?"

"..."

Xu Xin's mouth twitched...

Suppressing the trace of guilt for his family in his heart and his thoughts on how to properly handle the relationship between the two parties to achieve a certain balance, he asked:

"Who is this person?"

"emmmm..."

The pregnant mother pinched her waist cutely with her big belly and raised her head proudly:

"It's me~"

"you?"

"for me!"

"forget it."

Under his wife's speechless gaze, Xu Xin smiled and said:

"This time, what we need are those ordinary people. Although I think our family lives a life of ordinary people... But fame is here. When people look at you, won't they instantly act like you?"

"Tsk..."

Yang Mi felt a little regretful, but she didn't force it.

Instead he continued:

"The 26th is the Huabiao Award. The new suit made for you has also arrived. Don't look at it and try it on first. If it doesn't fit, you have to change it~"

"Um."

Xu Xin responded, stood up and helped her out.

After taking two steps, Yang Mi suddenly remembered something and asked:

"By the way, have you thought about the name of this documentary..."

"Think about it."

"what is it call?"

""The Heaven on the Tip of the Tongue"."

"..."

Yang Mi frowned, seeming to be evaluating the name.

Then a few seconds later, he suddenly showed a look of disgust:

"You have this talent in naming, can you use it on your two sons?"

"..."

Xu Xin looked embarrassed.

(Baby name collection is open! I want both big and small names. Please give me a helping hand! ... It’s really difficult to name your child! There are many people who can start from the beginning, and there are many people behind the talented people (four tones)! Please help me. ~)