I’m a Director, I’m Not Bad

Chapter 397 395. Heavenly Love

Although Jay Chou and Liu Zhishi knew each other as friends of their friends before, they never had real one-on-one interactions.

The kind that keeps missing out.

The first private meeting in the evening was actually quite pleasant.

Xu Xin guessed that when children like Nuannuan and Yangyang grow up, it may be difficult to understand why they can't even sing the lyrics clearly, are not as handsome as their father, are not as tall as their father, and can't even speak as well. People who smell like motorcycles will become the idols of many of their parents’ contemporaries.

But for...at least those born in the 1980s, out of 10 people, at least 7 to 8 like Jay Chou.

Liu Zhishi is no exception.

Although the two of them had met each other before when Mimi gave birth to the baby, there were so many people there that it was difficult to say anything.

But now that they met her, her girl-obsessed look gradually emerged.

Who says artists don’t chase stars?

What's more, this person will still be his own director in the future.

So facing Jay Chou, she felt uneasy as if she was both an idol and a director.

But Jay Chou seemed much calmer.

He also came today for Liu Zhishi.

After arriving, he showed a satisfied look when he saw the real person.

Although he didn't audition, his beautiful face and good temperament met his needs.

He understands contrast.

When Liu Zhishi's "literary style" is paired with Jiang Xiaoyu's "manly" character, the contrast should be great.

He didn't have much other ideas.

Although at first glance, the news about Jay Chou's "private meeting" with Liu Yifei's cousin late at night seems very gimmicky, in fact the couple is not worried about what will happen between them.

Looking at the girls around the wheel... they all have one thing in common.

That is, they all look "sweet".

Wheel likes sweet girls.

everybody knows.

Liu Zhishi may be excellent in all aspects, but she doesn't have that "sweet" look.

You are saying, so what if there is?

Two people are alone, why can't they be together?

…

Meet, eat, chat.

The conversation lasted until almost 10 o'clock in the evening before Liu Zhishi left.

Jay Chou didn't leave.

It's totally normal for him to sleep here.

After Yang Mi coaxed the child to rest, the two brothers chatted in the study.

"Hey, I'm going to have a concert next year."

Hearing this, Xu Xin frowned:

"Concert? Didn't you just finish it in the first half of this year?"

"Yes, the last one will be in April, and then after the album is released next year, there will be another world tour."

"How many games?"

"That should be about the same. About 40 games."

"Open until 2011?"

"right."

Looking at Jay Chou who was looking relaxed, Xu Xin thought for a while and said:

"Next year you will have The Voice, "Pandaren", and "Across the Ages"...and then you will have a concert. It can be seen to the naked eye that you seem to be very busy. What are you doing? Are you in such a hurry?"

"Because I have to fire the first shot. After I start my own business, I have to show everyone that I am on the right track. Although I have made a lot of money, but... I can't just make money, can I? I also have to turn the company into a whole. You have to make it bigger bit by bit. So, after I release the album next year, I will start a round of big moves that will last until at least the end of 2011."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xu Xin, and because he knew what his friend meant by asking him these words, he added:

"But don't worry, it won't be very tiring. I will also bring other people to this concert and let them be the warm-up and pick-up guests during the show. In fact, it is also to promote them~ So, the schedule is probably quite easy. Looks like."

Xu Xin finally felt relieved:

"That's fine. As I said before, singers rely on their voices...don't be too tired. It's stupid to kill the goose to get the eggs."

"I know."

Hearing him repeat what he had been emphasizing since signing Guo Caijie's contract, Jay Chou smiled and pointed at his throat:

"Hey, it's so itchy. I haven't sung for a long time~"

"Ha~"

Xu Xin shook his head, put down another storyboard of "The Hawthorn Tree" in his hand, and handed it to him:

"how do you feel?"

"Well……"

Jay Chou took it and looked at it, shaking his head:

"That era was too unfamiliar to me, but the overall feeling was pretty good. It was a bit like... the kind of fishing girls I saw in the countryside before, wearing a straw hat and floral clothes... I In fact, I have always wanted to ask you, are you really not worried about making a movie that feels like it was made decades ago? I really can’t imagine what it would be like to make this kind of subject matter that is older than you from your hands. "

If others asked, Xu Xin would definitely be confident.

But he asked, naturally he had nothing to hide:

"I have to say that I never thought about whether I could handle this subject matter. Do you believe it or not?"

"……What's the meaning?"

Jay Chou was a little stunned.

"It's very simple. I didn't take it as a...task. Instead, I took it as a challenge. Just play a game with us. You know that you may not be able to defeat this monster, but you still want to operate it and show off. Feeling. Whether the shot is good or bad... I actually don’t take it seriously. What’s important is that it feels interesting, and that’s fine. This is my current thinking.”

Xu Xin said as he took out a folder containing all his shots. After opening it, he took out a few drawings:

"Look, this is a shot from the initial stage. Doesn't it feel very monotonous? I didn't think about the background or the shooting angles. It's an early stage with only the main line structure but no other technical content... But you Look at it now.”

Jay Chou looked down at the comparison of several drawings and nodded:

"Well, it can be seen that all aspects have been improved a lot. It is more delicate."

"Yes, I like this process very much."

Picking up a piece of drawing, Xu Xin looked at it for a while, then his tone was a little erratic:

"It feels like I got a new toy. I started from a blank slate and figured out a way to play it according to my own ideas. And then I expanded from one way of playing to many ways to play it."

Having said this, he stopped talking and turned to look at his friend:

"Hey, do you know what the most enjoyable feeling is when making a movie?"

"What?"

"It feels like you are creating a world. As a director, I am everyone's "god" in this world! If I say there is light, there will be light. If I say there is wind, there will be wind.

I don’t know if you have this feeling when making music... It’s like the whole crew is surrounding you, helping you realize all your ideas on the screen.

The world is also blank at the beginning, but you work a little bit, create a little bit, and finally create a colorful everything.

Then, you will have guests coming to evaluate your world... You will be looking forward to the thoughts, expressions, etc. of those guests when they come to the places you have carefully designed...

When you get tired of playing in this world, come back to another strange world. Maybe the last world was full of greenery, but this world is suddenly frozen. Just that kind of... feeling that can bring you something new every moment... It's so enjoyable! "

When he said this, Xu Xin's eyes were filled with brilliance.

Others may not understand.

But Jay Chou understands it too well.

It's like his first album suddenly gained recognition from countless people. When he walks on the street, someone will come up to him and ask him if he is "JAY", and then send the sentence: "I really like listening to your album." "XX, can you sign this song for me?" is the same thing.

The feeling that one's work has been recognized and sought after by others.

And just feeling this way isn't the end.

In the second, third, and fourth albums, I try to add some musical elements that others have never heard, or I hope to inspire my listeners and let them feel something new that only belongs to me. , after seeing how they praised their work...

That kind of mentality, which is somewhat similar to that of a leader, is indeed unforgettable.

Even he is like this now.

This is why... Xu Xin also said that his album was very advanced and that it might not be as popular as his previous albums, so he felt it didn't matter.

I had enough good stuff before this album.

Those things also helped me get rid of many shackles of reality.

And after starting to pursue the spiritual level, the feeling of being sought after is not worth mentioning compared to the feeling of being a leader, leading everyone, and guiding everyone to find a better thing.

only……

"The speed of your evolution is ridiculous. It feels like you have already started to put aside the influence of external things and start to examine and think about yourself before your fans follow you!"

"Have it?"

Xu Xin tilted his head.

"Yes."

Jay Chou nodded firmly.

After all, Mimi’s understanding of A Xin may not be as good as his at some point:

"At this stage of your life... well, let's put it this way. At least, I slowly realized it after "Qili Xiang". It's just that... others praising you can no longer bring you any pleasure... I just started to pursue my own things. .”

Looking at Jay Chou's somewhat emotional look, Xu Xin smiled slightly:

"This is normal. There is always a difference between genius and mediocrity."

"...????"

Hello.

What is this person talking about?

He said I was mediocre?

Hey, are all young people today so conceited?

Super funny.

Seeing his friend's ridiculous look, Xu Xin laughed:

"I'm joking, but...for "Hawthorn Tree", my mentality is actually like this. I create my own world...You know what I learned from Director Zhang, you, and Yang Mi. ?"

"What?"

"Directors don't need fans."

"...?"

Looking at his expression, Xu Xin knew that he didn't understand this.

In fact, if you think about it, he is Jay Chou.

Jay Chou is sought after by countless fans.

To put it bluntly, maybe Luan Lun himself has forgotten what he was like without fans following him.

But as for Xu Xin himself, he really doesn't need fans.

"Now when I walk on the street without a mask, many people still don't recognize me. But can you do that?"

"Nonsense, it's definitely not possible. If I appear on any street without a mask, traffic will be paralyzed within an hour."

"You see, this is the difference. Directors are there to see and observe."

Glancing at the time, Xu Xin opened the window as he spoke and found that it was almost 11:30.

Seeing his action, Jay Chou took his down jacket and put it on his body.

By the way, I refilled my and my friend's teacups with hot water.

The temperature plummeted.

Xu Xin lit a cigarette.

Smoke a cigarette and get ready for bed.

If you leave the windows in the study room open overnight, you won't be able to smell the smell tomorrow morning.

"Actually, I don't know if my way of thinking is right... In other words, this idea suddenly came to me when I was chatting with you just now. Just... you remember that I told you when we chatted before, I said: Director Zhang warned me that art must not be divorced from the soil of the people..."

"You say it so often, it's almost on your lips."

Jay Chou thought he was going to repeat the same tune.

But Xu Xin suddenly shook his head:

"No, what I want to say is...I understood it very well before, but yesterday I encountered something. For the child role in "The Deal", I chose a Chongqing kid. He was signed to Yanjing... I was in a company where I was a child trainee, and then I was recommended by this company.”

"...Well, then?"

"The day before yesterday was Monday, and my child was supposed to go to class. But because of my audition, he was delayed for a day. Then he took the train back in the evening. After I knew this, I bought a plane ticket..."

After recounting what happened to the mother and son, Jay Chou was a little puzzled.

What does this have to do with what I just said about directors not needing fans?

He didn't quite understand.

Then I heard Xu Xin continue to say:

"This morning, I went to Nancheng to select the shooting spots for "The Deal". The requirements were old family buildings, or a particularly remote courtyard house... It couldn't be a courtyard house, it should be said to be a large courtyard house. I Do you know how I felt when I got there?"

"What?"

"I can't imagine this kind of life..."

"...?"

Jay Chou was stunned.

Xu Xin nodded:

"Really, it's okay to be in the family building. After all, you can often see that kind of period drama in movies and TV dramas. But after going to a few large courtyards, I saw five or six members of their family crowded together in one The ten-square-meter hut was waiting for demolition... The sight of more than a dozen electric meters hanging at the door of the courtyard... I was really shocked. If nothing else... their bathroom was actually public... How dirty!”

Now, Jay Chou understood what his friend meant.

After thinking for a while, he said:

"Is it because you haven't experienced this kind of life, so...it's different from what you imagined?"

"That's pretty much it. But that's not the decisive factor... The decisive factor is that I went to the nightclub this afternoon to choose a scene, and I discovered something."

"What?"

"My impressions of nightclubs are still from three or four years ago... All my impressions are the same as those from three or four years ago."

"Isn't that normal? You're not going there now...Consumption of this kind of thing...is also hierarchical."

"Yes, but times are also changing. Think about it, I am still using the impressions and routines of nightclubs three or four years ago when I was filming "Deal". Maybe it is just a little old, but not outdated. But What if it’s five years from now? What if it’s ten years from now? With my lack of knowledge in this area...many things can only be imagined and guessed based on past impressions...wouldn’t that mean I’m out of touch with the masses?”

Rather than chatting with friends, it is better to say that Xu Xin is telling himself:

"Have you heard that joke? A peasant couple was chatting. The woman asked the man: What do you think the emperor's life was like? The man answered her: The emperor must use a golden hoe to dig the ground... In fact, I spent the entire day today I’m just not used to it, especially in nightclubs. The smell... I feel particularly uncomfortable. But now that I’m chatting with you, I suddenly feel a little scared..."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid that in five or ten years, my understanding of poverty will be: there is an ordinary two-bedroom apartment outside the Third Ring Road in Yanjing."

"..."

Jay Chou's mouth twitched.

"Really, I'm very afraid of this. I'm afraid that the things I shoot in the future won't be down to earth, will be out of touch with the masses, or even... will be nonsense.

For example, to describe a migrant worker, I arrange for him to live in a bathroom with a bathtub, a sofa in the living room, and drink cheap red wine with every meal. He doesn’t have to worry about rent and livelihood, and he still has spare money to go out for dinner and karaoke with friends on weekends. People...that's not the life of ordinary people.

And once this kind of thing becomes my understanding, I feel that I am really not far from being eliminated. "

Speaking of this, Xu Xin suddenly paused and then said:

"And you know what the scariest thing is?"

"……What?"

"It's not just me that this kind of thing happens to. The most terrifying thing is that not only the director can no longer imagine the life of ordinary people, but also the actors, even Fu Huadao, etc. who have been influenced by these things, everyone can Taking this kind of separation from the masses as a matter of course...that will be the most terrifying thing then."

"..."

At this time, Jay Chou's brows wrinkled completely.

Not that he found the situation scary either.

But I feel...my friend is a little unfounded at the moment.

It is inappropriate to say that we are worried about the future.

It should be that my divergent thinking is too strong and I think too much.

"But you can't force yourself to live an ordinary life, right?... Even if you haven't reached your current position, your family environment itself is not an ordinary person's environment."

"That's why I said that directors don't need fans or adoration... It's not true, they don't need the adoration of laypeople. The best result is that when fans hear my name, they will come to watch the movie. But for me I don’t know what I look like or what I look like. This situation is the best... so that I can see what I want to see and experience anytime, anywhere."

"Well……"

Hearing this, Jay Chou thought for a while and suddenly rolled his eyes:

"Wow...why am I here to chat with you, but now I'm suddenly discussing such a heavy topic?"

Xu Xin was startled...

Then he laughed out loud:

"Haha, that's right. Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore... Let's go? Have a rest?"

"Let's go."

Seeing that he had finished smoking, Jay Chou stood up.

…

Friday.

morning.

"Hello, Sister Yifei."

"Ah, Jiaojiao~"

Seeing Zhang Jiao walking over with a few pieces of paper in her hand, Liu Yifei's eyes were full of joy:

"I haven't seen you for a long time!"

"……hey-hey."

Holding her hand, Zhang Jiao smiled and nodded:

"yes."

"How are you studying?"

"...I don't know, I just try my best anyway."

After Zhang Jiao finished speaking, she looked at the page of lines in her hand and said to Liu Yifei;

"Sister Yifei, can I talk to you about my lines?"

"okay!"

Liu Yifei nodded, took her slightly thicker script book, opened the scene for the two of them to shoot, and said:

"Don't be nervous for a while, just remember to find the right angle of the mirror. These words are easy to say~"

"Mmm Good."

Zhang Jiao responded, took a deep breath, and said:

"Are you crazy? Are you drinking like this?"

After hearing this, Liu Yifei thought for a while and said:

"You need to add a more helpless tone here. What you said is too peaceful..."

"You Biao~~~are you drinking like this?"

"This is good, just use this."

"Well, then let's start over...you are so drunk~~~."

"I'm used to it... vomit~ If I don't vomit like this every day, it will feel like constipation."

"Just for the one hundred yuan? What's the matter?"

"A hundred yuan isn't money?...Oh, these men are getting more and more stingy now..."

The two of them had lines there.

This scene is about the bartender played by Liu Yifei who hid in the bathroom and vomited after drinking with her client. A little sister from the same class came over to take care of her, and the conversation between the two occurred.

Zhang Jiao is that "little sister".

He was caught by Xu Xin to show off.

Moreover, Xu Xin did not have any direct communication with Zhang Jiao throughout the whole process. He just told her that there was a role with lines, and you could come and play it.

After sending the script in the end, I ignored it.

Zhang Jiao has been studying for a semester now. She is either in the library or in the classroom every day.

Sister Mi’s image assistant exists in name only.

Xu Xin also wanted to see what she was like now.

If it's good...start with some small roles and help her train one after another.

The conversation between the two actually only lasted less than ten sentences in total, but even so, Liu Yifei helped her correct three or four sentences.

Micro movies are also movies.

You still need to be careful about your lines.

What's more... it's Xu Xin's play.

While the two were exchanging words, Xu Xin came over with a notebook in his hand:

"Jiaojiao."

"Ah? Brother Xu, tell me."

"Well, relax for a while and behave well. Don't be too nervous, you know?"

Seeing that she and Liu Yifei were holding script books in their hands, Xu Xin knew what they were doing. First, he gave a word of comfort.

Zhang Jiao nodded quickly:

"Yeah, okay! Brother Xu! Don't worry!"

"Well... one more thing, are you going to use your own name or something?"

"……ah?"

Zhang Jiao was stunned.

Seeing this, Xu Xin handed over the notebook.

Zhang Jiao took a look and found that it was a cast list.

Drinking girl——Liu Yifei

Child——Wang Junkai

The second female escort——

Xu Xin pointed to the place where the "Second Wine Accompanying Girl" was:

"Write what?"

When Zhang Jiao saw this arrangement, she knew... Brother Xu really took good care of her.

The director is not responsible for the credits at all.

But Brother Xu came over in person and decided the order himself.

If the director sets the order, no one else can change it. So after the final film is completed, the subtitles will be based on this.

And her character, who only had a few lines, was placed in the third position by Brother Xu.

It is also easier for the audience to remember.

Her heart warmed.

After thinking for a while, he said:

"If I use another name...will it be my stage name in the future?"

Xu Xin rolled his eyes:

"Isn't this nonsense? Why else would I rank you third?...Think about it, think it through, and then write it yourself. I'm busy over there. After writing it, give it directly to Liu Zhou. There are many people below. Woolen cloth."

Today is Friday, and Wang Junkai has to take a flight in the evening.

During the day, Xu Xin planned to finish filming all the scenes in the nightclub.

This will not delay other people's normal business at night.

Liu Zhou is the person in charge of venue management and is also responsible for registering the names of actors.

Xu Xin locked the first three people, and he didn't care how to arrange the rest.

With that said, he handed the notebook to Zhang Jiao, then looked at Liu Yifei's makeup and nodded:

"Yeah, very good."

Then he left.

Over there, Fang Xiu was adjusting the camera position. Although Lu Yang was watching, he still had to go and see it in person in order for the shooting to go smoothly.

As soon as Xu Xin left, Liu Yifei looked at Zhang Jiao curiously:

"Jiaojiao, what stage name are you going to choose?"

"I……"

Zhang Jiao hesitated for a moment...

said:

"Would it be overwhelming to choose a more auspicious name?"

"...can't hold it down?"

Liu Yifei was a little puzzled.

Zhang Jiao nodded:

"Yes, it just...doesn't match my horoscope. It's too tough. If you marry this name, you will be in trouble..."

"..."

Liu Yifei's mouth twitched.

"What age are we in now and are we still so superstitious?... Just pick something that sounds nice and is easy to remember. Just don't pick any uncommon words. The first step for an actor is to make people laugh. Just remember your name."

"...Well, let me think about it."

Zhang Jiao said, stepped aside, and stared at the name above in a daze.

She...actually always felt that she was quite lucky.

First he met Baozi, then he met Brother Xu...and then he met Sister Mi.

Not to mention that Baozi is a friend, Brother Xu and Sister Mi are the noble people in his life.

Everything seemed to be destined, they found themselves and brought themselves to the forest called "Dream".

How about calling her Zhang Mengsen?

As soon as the idea came to her mind, it was quickly rejected.

No... too masculine.

Is that called Zhang Lucky?

Ouch~ So earthy.

What should it be called?

How should I express my gratitude to Brother Xu and Sister Mi?

Zhang Xumi...eh~~~~~~

Thinking of this, she also felt disgusted.

No one else would mention it, but if Brother Xu and Sister Mi knew about it, they might be speechless.

Not good, not good.

Otherwise... call her Zhang Ai?

It feels so... passionate, this name.

God made me so lucky, it must be because of something... huh?

Suddenly, she was stunned.

I seem to have thought of something...

How about... call it this?

It seems to feel pretty good.

…

"Brother Xu..."

"Well... the light needs to be weaker. There is reflection in the carved decoration, which is too obvious... What's wrong? Is it done?"

While talking, Xu Xin looked away from the busy people in the box and looked at Zhang Jiao, who was walking over with a notebook in her hand:

"Didn't I ask you to give it to Liu Zhou?"

"I...wanted you to take a look first and see how it feels."

"Well……"

Hearing this, Xu Xin took the notebook and looked down.

"The second female escort - Zhang Tianai."

"Zhang Tianai...?"

"Um!"

Zhang Jiao nodded:

"The moral is... I think God must love me so much that I met Brother Xu and Sister Mi... But I can't add your and Sister Mi's names to it..."

"Don't."

Xu Xin shook his head speechlessly:

"What kind of Zhang Xu'ai, Zhang Mi'ai are you going to create? That's too outrageous. People who don't know think you're making pornographic films~"

As he spoke, he looked at Zhang Jiao's three beautiful handwritings and tapped them with his pen:

"That's it. Zhang Tianai... sounds pretty good."

Hearing this, Zhang Jiao... no, Zhang Tianai smiled and nodded vigorously:

"Um!"