Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 75: The Vicious Curse from Zhang Chao

In the following period, Zhang Chao spent his spare time not only completing his homework for the advanced research class, but also writing the script for "Youth Like You". Even the novel "Dwelling Narrowness" had to be temporarily suspended.

A week later, on Sunday afternoon, Zhang Chao took a taxi to the Central Academy of Drama in East Mianhua Hutong, Nanluoguxiang, with part of the script he had written. A few days ago, he and a screenwriter introduced by He Jiping to assist him made an appointment in an email to come to the Central Academy of Drama to review the script.

It is normal for a play to have multiple screenwriters. Even if the original author himself is involved, other screenwriters will not be excluded from participating. For example, the early work of "National Master" "Red Sorghum" was adapted from Moyan's novels "Red Sorghum" and "Sorghum Wine". The first draft of the script was written by Moyan himself. But the final draft was still modified, deleted, and added by other screenwriters, and it was very different from the first draft.

Again, the screenwriter serves the crew, and the script is not a "personal work."

There was no traffic jam on Sunday, so it only took Zhang Chao half an hour to reach the gate of the Central Academy of Drama. As the highest institution of drama in China, the gate of the Central Academy of Drama is very simple and low-key, a small traditional Chinese style gate with flying eaves. If it weren't for the black-lettered sign with the school name on a white background hanging on the pillars on both sides of the gate, it would look like a more luxurious courtyard.

Because the major is quite special, especially the performance department is full of beautiful girls, the Central Academy of Drama is different from other universities. Generally, outsiders are not allowed to enter and leave at will. Outsiders must be led by someone to enter. When Zhang Chao arrived at the school gate, he called the other party. A girl answered the phone and asked Zhang Chao to wait at the school gate for a while.

Less than 10 minutes later, a pretty girl in her early twenties with a round face came to the school gate. As soon as she saw him, she asked, "Are you Zhang Chao?"

Zhang Chao nodded.

The girl introduced herself: "Qin Wen, a junior in the Department of Drama. My senior said you were writing a script, so I came to help you."

"Senior?"

"Oh, it's Teacher He Jiping. She is our senior from the 82 class of Xiwen."

At this time, Zhang Chao's phone also rang. It was He Jiping who called. She said on the phone: "...Xiao Zhang, Xiao Wen is the best talent in the Department of Drama in the past two years. She has a solid foundation in scripts and has followed projects before. If you have any questions, feel free to ask her. Don't worry, she is very reliable."

Zhang Chao said, "Okay, Teacher He. We have already met, at the Central Academy of Drama."

While Zhang Chao was on the phone, Qin Wen explained to the guard that he was there to discuss the script, which was a common occurrence in the Central Academy of Drama, so they registered him and let him in.

The campus of the Central Academy of Drama is very small, and the buildings are arranged very compactly, so you can see handsome men and beautiful women passing by from time to time.

Zhang Chao asked, "Why do so many students stay on campus during the summer vacation?"

Qin Wen replied, "There are many drama groups in Yanjing, and the school does not prohibit us from taking roles during the winter and summer vacations, so I stayed."

Zhang Chao followed Qin Wen past the basketball court, and there happened to be five or six girls carrying washbasins, wearing loose T-shirts and shorts, passing by them. These girls were all tall and pretty, with wet hair, exuding a sweet fragrance, and the whole air seemed to be hot.

One of the girls noticed them, greeted Qin Wen, and asked, "Senior sister, who is this?"

Qin Wen replied, "Zhang Chao, the writer, is here to discuss the script."

The girl was very surprised and said, "You are Zhang Chao? The 'Midnight Tide'? I've read your novel, 'Your Name', it's really well written. I didn't expect to run into you here. Let me introduce myself, my name is Bai Xue."

After Zhang Chao greeted her politely, the girls left. Not long after they walked away, they started chattering about something and burst into laughter from time to time.

Qin Wen tilted his head slightly, glanced at Zhang Chao, and asked, "Is she pretty?"

Zhang Chao said calmly: "Beautiful!"

Qin Wen didn't expect him to be so honest. He snorted and asked, "Who is the prettiest? Bai Xue?"

Zhang Chao said, "Uh... I didn't see it clearly." Qin Wen sneered, "You didn't see enough, did you?"

Zhang Chao was a little puzzled. He just felt that Qin Wen was always sarcastic when he spoke to them.

Qin Wen said as he walked: "I have read the script outline you wrote and the original novel. Overall it is OK, but there are some plots that I need to discuss with you."

The two did not enter the library, but walked around a small lawn and talked about the script.

Qin Wen said: "When you novelists adapt your own works, there is usually a problem, that is, you are reluctant to give up the content of the novel, and think that the plot and characters you wrote are all good. Your script outline does not make such a mistake, which is rare."

Zhang Chao did not comment, as these were all things that Teacher He Jiping had praised before.

Qin Wen continued, "But an outline is an outline, and a script is a script. I hope that your script is not a simple division of the novel manuscript into sections with the Enter key, adding a few lines of dialogue, and then thinking that it is a movie script. The drama of a movie is different from the drama of a novel."

Zhang Chao smiled slightly and asked gently, "You haven't read the script I wrote yet, right?"

Qin Wen looked up at Zhang Chao and was surprised to find that he was not angry. His attitude softened, but he still muttered, "Isn't it the same for all of you novelists? Isn't Farewell My Concubine just..."

Zhang Chao knew she was talking about a famous case. The original author of Farewell My Concubine was Hong Kong writer Li Bihua, who was also the first screenwriter credited in the film. However, according to the "second screenwriter" Lu Wei, the first draft of the script completed by Li Bihua was just a change of the novel into a script, which was completely unusable; the script used on the set was almost entirely rewritten by Lu Wei.

However, because Li Bihua refused to give up the screenwriter clause in the contract, she was still named in the screenwriter column, and was listed ahead of Lu Wei. Lu Wei had a big fight with director Chen Kaige because of this. A few years later, Lu Wei published his own collection of scripts and included "Farewell My Concubine". As a result, he was sued by Li Bihua.

Zhang Chao said: "Let's read the script first."

The two found a quiet bench, and Zhang Chao took out the printed script and handed it to Qin Wen.

The scripts for the scenes were not long, so Qin Wen finished reading them quickly. Then she looked up at Zhang Chao with a look of surprise. She asked, "Is this really your first time writing a script?"

Zhang Chao nodded and asked, "Does it have those problems you mentioned about 'writing novels'?"

Qin Wen replied: "Indeed not. This script can be handed over to the crew to start work."

Zhang Chao asked again: "Is there anything that needs to be revised?"

Qin Wen said frankly: "What you wrote is better than what I imagined. There is no need for me to revise it." After that, he took out a copy of "Youth Like You" and handed it to Zhang Chao.

Zhang Chao took it and opened it, only to see that almost every blank space on the page was filled with small words, some of which were comments on the characters, some were additional background information, and some were rewrites of the plot.

Qin Wen said self-deprecatingly: "It seems that all my homework has been in vain. You can complete this script independently. I will report to Teacher He."

Zhang Chao read the novel carefully for a while, closed it, and praised Qin Wen sincerely: "No, it was not in vain. Some of your ideas are inspiring to me. You are really excellent! Teacher He did not recommend the wrong person.

You will definitely become a good screenwriter and write scripts for the best directors. For example, Wong Kar-wai. "

Qin Wen's face changed. He thought to himself, my attitude was a little bad before, but you shouldn't curse me like that. Being a screenwriter for Wong Kar-wai, this is a hellish task...

(End of this chapter)