Chapter 13 Reminder
Zhang Yuan had gained a lot of work experience through more than ten years of working life in his previous life.

One of them is...

“Sometimes, it is easier to gain recognition from your leader by denying him/her than by blindly following him/her.”

However, the prerequisite for doing so is to have real ability. After denying the other party, the other party must still think that you are right, so that it is easier to gain appreciation.

Of course, there are also those who are not smart enough to just learn blindly, and then they end up contradicting their bosses in public, and they may easily be fired on the spot.

At the dinner table, Zhang Yuan raised his objection to Li Dawei's idea, and everyone at the table turned their eyes to him.

Gao Qunshu, who was helping Zhang Yuan speak, was trembling in his heart, fearing that he would offend someone.

But Director Li Dawei was not angry at all. Instead, he looked at him with a warm smile.

"Zhang Yuan, tell me what I said was wrong. It's okay, just speak up."

He was very benefited from Zhang Yuan's analysis of "The Story of a Noble Family" just now. Now, in addition to curiosity, Li Dawei also felt a little more respect for Zhang Yuan.

It's similar to the respect you have for your teacher.

Why is he so good-tempered towards Zhang Yuan? This story needs to be told from the beginning.

Li Dawei graduated from Beijing Film Academy. Zhou Xiaowen and Yang Tao at the table today also graduated from Beijing Film Academy. This table can be considered half of the Beijing Film Academy alumni association.

Zhou Xiaowen and Yang Tao are much older than Li Dawei, but they are very polite to him. As for the reason... it's because they have a good mother!

Li Dawei's mother is named Liu Guoquan, a graduate of the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy in 60. She entered the Beijing Film Studio as an actor in 69 and acted in many movies with Chen Peisi's father Chen Qiang.

Later, she became a director after being an excellent actress. "Father and Son's Classic Car" starring Chen's father and son was her work.

From his connections, to his abilities, to his qualifications, Liu Guoquan is basically a godmother-level figure in the Chinese film and television industry, with countless students and old friends.

He is a veteran who can make even the Beijing Film Academy tremble with just a stomp of his feet.

Li Dawei's first film was "Happiness" directed by his mother. He was given the title of director, but in fact it was just to let him learn.

It was not until the second film that Li Dawei took over the director's baton and directed most of the film, but his mother was still in control behind the scenes.

By the way, this TV series is called "The Great Hero Zheng Chenggong". It was delayed for several years due to political reasons during review.

The originally planned theme song was snatched away by "The Reign of Kangxi".

That’s right, it’s Han Lei’s “Borrow Another Five Hundred Years from Heaven”.

The song originally praising Zheng Chenggong was used to praise Kangxi, which is simply a black humor.

Now that Li Dawei's mother sees that the time is ripe, she has given her son a third project, which is "The Story of a Noble Family"!
This time, in order to train her son, the old lady let go of everything in the early stages. Not only did she let Li Dawei make the preparations on his own, she also let him adapt the script himself.

The old lady took so much pains, some people might say, is it really that important?

Hey, didn’t you see that Chen Kaige’s famous work was also organized by his father Chen Huaikai? It is even called "Farewell My Concubine", the pinnacle of Chen Kaige’s career. The old man also contributed a lot behind the scenes. Which parent doesn’t want their son to be successful?

Li Dawei's directing ability was influenced by his mother, and with the training of two films, he has basically mastered it.

But when it comes to adapting the script, he is still a little bit behind. He has been staying up late every day these days and is worried about this matter. Today he went to have a drink with a bunch of director friends, on the one hand to complain, but also to learn from his friends and seniors.

He originally came here with the attitude of learning, and now that Zhang Yuan had something meaningful to say, of course he treated him like a guest of honor.

Zhang Yuan also knew this very well, so he dared to speak boldly.

"Director Li, what you just meant was to shoot the film exactly according to the novel. I don't think that's right."

“There are several reasons why this is not possible.”

"First, the original novel has over a million words and contains a lot of content. If we really want to film the whole thing, 100 episodes won't be enough."

In those days, the era of "watered-down" TV dramas had not yet begun. A TV drama with 40 episodes was considered a long one. It was nothing like later times, when it was easy to have 80 or 100 episodes. It even caused the radio, television and radio, film and television departments to issue a "slimming order", but it still had little effect.

Li Dawei nodded slightly. He had indeed overlooked this point.

"Also, this novel was written during the Republic of China. The values ​​at that time were different from today, and many of the contents do not suit the tastes of today's audiences."

"For example, the male protagonist Jin Yanxi is a super scumbag. His family's decline is closely related to his lack of knowledge and skills, but he has a good ending."

“How can the audience not feel angry after watching this?”

In fact, Jin Yanxi not only had a good end, but he also abandoned his wife and children and ran to Southeast Asia, where he actually became a movie star with his outstanding looks. Not only that, he also made a special movie, distorting the story that his first wife was greedy and vain and abandoned him.

At the end of the novel, the movie becomes a huge hit, Jin Yanxi gains both fame and fortune, while his first wife Leng Qingqiu becomes indignant after watching the movie.

With this ending, the audience will be very angry. The villains succeed and the good people get hurt.

Li Dawei was stunned: "Zhang Yuan, what does scumbag mean?"

He forgot that there was no such word back then. "It means a playboy, who has affairs with many women but never takes responsibility, just like scum."

"Interesting, and quite appropriate." Zhou Xiaowen, who was already drunk, laughed at what he heard.

"Dawei, I think what Zhang Yuan said makes sense. This is not a problem of content, but a problem of the market!" Director Yang Tao on the side noticed it keenly.

"No matter how good the novel is, it was written 80 years ago. People today may not like to read it. If we abandon the audience just to restore the original work, it will be a waste of time."

"Tao is right. We make movies to please the audience. Otherwise, who would we sell them to?"

Li Dawei opened his mouth and looked at Zhang Yuan in great surprise.

It would be fine if he just understood the story, but at such a young age, he has already considered the market and audience issues for film and television dramas.

Even I, the director, didn’t think of this!

This kid's ability is greater than I thought... Li Dawei thought to himself, then raised his glass.

"Zhang Yuan, are you free tomorrow? Let's arrange a place to talk in detail."

"Is there food provided? If not, I won't go." Zhang Yuan said jokingly.

"I'll take care of your three meals a day!"

Gao Qunshu, who was standing by, glanced at Zhang Yuan, understood the hidden meaning in his words, and quickly joined in.

"Three meals a day is not enough. If you want to manage it, you have to manage the meals for a whole play."

Zhang Yuan gave Director Gao a thumbs up in his heart, he is one of us!

"Oh..." Li Dawei slapped his forehead.

Zhang Yuan had been helping him analyze the script, and he had forgotten that he was an actor.

"That's easy to say. I'm in charge of the casting for this play, so it's easier to talk to someone I know."

With his words, Zhang Yuan's trip today was not in vain.

A meal and a drink changed one's role, making a lot of money!

Li Dawei felt relieved and gradually relaxed, and he enjoyed the following drinking session.

When the game was over, Li Dawei was already drunk and had his arm around Gao Qunshu's shoulder.

"Lao Gao, thank you for introducing such a talented person to me."

"I'll buy you a drink next time."

"When your movie becomes a big hit, we'll celebrate together." Director Gao gave a highly emotionally intelligent answer.

"It will definitely be popular. To be honest, I have thought about it."

"Hasn't Korean TV series been popular in the past two years?"

"Just take the movie "Autumn in My Heart" from two years ago, it was so popular."

"So I've thought it through. This time we're going to get a few Korean actresses to star in our film. Young people will definitely like it!"

His dazed, half-drunk words reached Zhang Yuan's ears, perking him up.

"How could I have forgotten this!"

In those years, it was indeed popular to invite Korean actresses to star in mainland TV dramas, such as Park Si-yeon, who was known as the most beautiful Three Holy Mothers and starred in Jiao Enjun's version of The Lotus Lantern.

But that was a few years later.

Everyone knows that there are no Korean actresses in "The Golden Age"!

"Director Li, you just said you wanted to invite a South Korean actress to act in the movie."

"Yes, the roles prepared are the second female lead Bai Xiuzhu and the maid Xiaolian. I have already contacted the Korean side." Li Dawei said proudly.

Everyone knows that the role of Bai Xiuzhu finally went to Liu Tianxian, who had just returned to China that year!
The final actor of the role of Xiao Lian was Xu Lu, who played "Ke Yun" in "My Fair Princess", and was later made into a large number of emoticons and GIFs.

"Director Li, our country is relatively conservative regarding the entry of foreign artists. If their visas are blocked, it will likely affect the filming. You need to make plans early."

"No." Li Dawei waved his hand, obviously not taking it seriously.

Zhang Yuan didn't say anything more. He said goodbye to all the directors one by one and went home alone...

(End of this chapter)