I was just thinking about taking the arts exam and you said I've been playing supporting roles

Chapter 213 "No, have you learned it?"

At first, Xie Baorui didn't take Chen Jin's story seriously at all.

It was not until Chen Jin talked about the little girl Xiaowen, played by the leading actress Zhao Jinmai, who put stickers and drew pictures on the guest's daughter's urn that the old man suddenly laughed out loud.

Liu Yue next to him was no longer cleaning the windows, but standing there listening to what Chen Jin said.

The subsequent funeral of a living person made Xie Baorui nod his head slightly.

His expression at least showed approval.

"Funeral care is a profession that protects the dignity of life!"

“This is the tone of my film…”

Chen Jin suddenly said something, but Xie Baorui said nothing, as he had heard too much of this kind of nonsense. However, Liu Yue blinked and nodded slightly in approval.

In fact, this was why she came to the funeral home.

"No?"

Xie Baorui was still listening with great interest.

"Yes, the last scene also features the protagonist's father!"

“But the ending is a little different from that of the father in “Departures”!”

Chen Jin told the mystery of Lao Mo's "disposing of his own body in the most economical way". Xie Baorui was still thinking about how to deal with it. Finally, he heard that his third sister made his ashes into fireworks that bloomed in the night sky, and the father and son reconciled.

"..."

The whole person was kind of stuck there.

Then he burst into laughter.

Liu Yue wanted to laugh but didn't dare to. This... this ending was so dramatic!

Yes, this is the final ending.

Unlike the happy ending of the original version, in which the third sister and the biological mother raised Xiaowen together, and the three of them formed a non-blood family, this ending is cliché and bloody. There is no artistry in the ending of Venice at all.

This is a trick used in commercial films.

After discussions, Zhong Acheng, Chen Jin and Tian Zhuangzhuang worked out a formulaic script that was shortlisted for Venice.

The first is the deepening of the theme.

From a heartwarming narrative to a social allegory.

Taking the funeral industry as a microcosm of society, it is closely integrated with the changes in contemporary Chinese society.

For example, urbanization and the demise of traditional industries are reflected in the struggles of traditional craftsmen in the tide of capital through the plot that the "Shangtiantang" funeral home is facing demolition and being squeezed by chain funeral companies.

There is also the intergenerational conflict in the views on life and death. The younger generation, the protagonist Mo Sanmei, pursues efficiency and commercialization, while the older generation's father Lao Mo adheres to the sense of ritual, which implies the rift between traditional culture and modernity.

Then there is the commodification of death.

It exposes the gray industrial chain in the funeral industry, such as high-priced urns and cemetery monopolies, and criticizes how consumerism erodes the dignity of life and death.

Death is also a political metaphor. Through the power relations in funeral ceremonies, such as the hypocritical pomp of officials' funerals and the plight of the poor who "have no place to be buried", it alludes to the solidification of social classes and the unfair distribution of resources.

Of course, we have to shoot it first. Whether it can pass the review depends on Lao Tian’s connections.

This is an artistic criticism of the film. It is not intended to show the bad side of China, but the film needs such a voice.

Just like the movie "Dying to Survive", it made the relevant departments pay attention and then rectify the industry.

Furthermore, role reconstruction!

Complicated characters and moral dilemmas.

The redemption and dark side of the male protagonist Mo Sanmei, and ultimately her self-redemption in the process of raising Xiaowen, present a more complex moral grayness.

And the most important character is Lao Mo.

He must have a philosophy of death.

He is portrayed as the inheritor of the traditional Chinese view of life and death. Through his conversation with his third sister before his death, the Chinese concepts and ideas about life and death are introduced, enhancing the philosophical depth.

Finally, there is film language and shots.

The use of long shots, open endings and blank spaces.

The script starts with a single shot for the entire 10 minutes, from the death of the grandmother, Xiaowen's crying to the third sister collecting the body, all kinds of life in the city flow naturally in the shot.

This will be a huge test for Chen Jin's acting skills.

Therefore, this requires the actors, photographers, directors, and screenwriters to all be capable.

This adaptation of "Life Events" has elevated the original script to an artistic level in all aspects.

When Chen Jin finished reading the script, he actually had a sense of déjà vu of several award-winning films at the three major film festivals in his mind, such as the social allusions in "A Separation", the national changes in "Roma", and the class structure in "The Power of a Dog".

"Put the ashes in the fireworks... crush the bones and scatter them!"

Xie Baorui narrowed his eyes, looked at Chen Jin and said, "The screenwriter of your movie is quite bold!"

"Ha ha!"

Chen Jin smiled and didn't shamelessly say that it was his own idea.

"Actually, I thought of something similar to this!"

Xie Baorui suddenly spoke to Chen Jin.

"?"

Chen Jin looked at Old Xie, who smiled and said, "You should have heard of tree burial and stone burial, right?"

"Well, it just turns into a tree and a natural stone!"

The experience of "Life Events" is there.

“I’ve thought about turning my ashes into a painting!”

“My daughter happens to be a painter!”

When Xie Baorui talked about this, he was very calm. After Chen Jin was stunned for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

"Yes, my daughter had the same expression as you do now when she heard my idea!"

I guess any other child wouldn't dare to do this.

Movies are movies, reality is reality.

"Death is just like that. There's no need to respect it or not!"

"I'm overthinking..."

Xie Baorui smiled and said, "When you get used to it, you will know that this kind of thing is just like eating and drinking water, it is the law of human nature!"

“So, treat it as a normal thing!”

It is obvious that Chen Jin cannot achieve this awareness of death at the moment.

This is probably comparable to doctors who perform major surgery every day.

The psychological quality is definitely tough to a certain extent.

Jingle Bell!
The sudden call from the landline phone startled the three people in the office. Liu Yue subconsciously walked to the phone and picked up the receiver.

"Generally speaking, when this phone rings, it's definitely not a good thing!"

Sure enough, Liu Yue said directly the next second: "Master, there is a migrant worker who jumped to his death. Send him here immediately!"

"Did you hear that?"

Xie Baorui's expression seemed very calm, but Chen Jin pursed her lips.

The migrant worker who jumped off the building... Any normal person would definitely feel a little uncomfortable inside, even Liu Yue sighed slightly.

And Xie Baorui seemed to be accustomed to it.

"I have taken on seven cases of migrant workers jumping off buildings, and without exception, they all happened before and after the New Year!"

“I didn’t get paid…”

As Xie Baorui was talking, he had already put on his work clothes behind the chair and said to Chen Jin and Liu Yue who were a little dazed: "Why are you dazed? Follow me. Aren't you going to do an internship? You're lucky. You got a job right after you arrived!"

Chen Jin: “…”

"Xiao Yue, get him some clothes!"

Xie Baorui pointed at Chen Jin, and Liu Yue immediately took out a brand new set of funeral home work clothes from the metal cabinet behind him.

"Whoo~~~"

Chen Jin suddenly let out a long breath, and the scene of experiencing "Big Events in Life" a few months ago suddenly appeared in front of him again.

"That's the dressing room!"

Liu Yue said to Chen Jin and walked towards the women's locker room.

"Xiao Yue, bring... bring him to the restoration room later. I'll go over and prepare first!"

Xie Baorui said this and walked out of the office.

Liu Yue changed his clothes quickly and walked into the office, but he did not see Chen Jin. Generally, men are faster than women, but Liu Yue remembered the scene of his first job and was trembling with fear in the women's locker room.

"Chen Jin?"

She called out softly. In fact, she had only been at the funeral home for less than a month, and there was another senior brother who was off today and had been working there for 2 and a half years.

"Ok!"

Chen Jin changed into intern's clothes and came out. Liu Yue glanced at him subconsciously.

She was afraid that Chen Jin was scared of something and wanted to say something to comfort her, but when she saw Chen Jin's calm and composed face, she swallowed back what she wanted to say.

Just now, Chen Jin experienced "Life Events" again in it!
So it was delayed for a few minutes.

"Let's go, lead the way!"

Chen Jin said calmly.

The tone of the voice made Liu Yue not think much about it. It was as if Xie Baorui ordered her, so she quickly replied: "Okay!"

Only after she finished speaking did she realize what was going on.

This guy seems like a different person, he seems so calm.

Just now Chen Jin was not like this at all, but had a gentle temperament. Now he is almost like that Senior Brother Li.

He is usually smiling, but becomes energetic as soon as there is work to do.

However, Liu Yue still led the way and soon arrived at the restoration room of the funeral home. Xie Baorui was already wearing a mask and a hat, washing his hands there.

Chen Jin also started washing his hands.

Liu Yue was a step slower.

"You wash your hands quite professionally, don't you?"

Xie Baorui looked at Chen Jin and said, "You will stand in front of the corpse and watch. Remember, don't stand in front of the head, stand at the feet. Maintain the minimum respect for the corpse!"

"Although I said that, some family members don't like it, you know?"

Xie Baorui obviously approved of Chen Jin's internship and explained it to Chen Jin.

"Ok!"

Chen Jin washed his hands, wiped them with a disposable towel, and then began to put on gloves. He was very skilled in the whole process and Liu Yue didn't even remind him.

"No, have you learned it?"

Xie Baorui was a little surprised that the body had not arrived yet.

"I've studied it and read some internal information!"

"You learned it yourself?"

Xie Baorui could understand that Chen Jin was an actor, and to play the role well, of course he had to make certain preparations.

This really impressed him.

This young actor is quite different from many of the ones he has seen on TV.

The most important thing is that Xie Baorui actually has a filter for Chen Jin, which was given by the Spring Festival Gala program.

So after Chen Jin told him the story of "Life Events", he actually had no objection to Chen Jin's internship.

"Wait!"

"Wait for the body to arrive!"

"The trash can is over there..."

Xie Baorui pointed to a trash can in the corner. It was for interns to vomit in, not a special garbage storage for corpse restoration.

Liu Yue lowered her head embarrassedly. This trash can was originally her exclusive use during this period.

Now, there is a new owner.

bang bang bang --

The sound of the corpse transport's wheels and the ground came from far away, and the sound sounded particularly urgent.

"coming!"

Xie Baorui stretched out his hands, just like a doctor in the operating room. Next to him was an undertaker's instrument table with various restorative instruments on it, and there were more sculptures under the table.

"Thank you, Master. Sorry for the trouble!"

The staff of the funeral home said politely to Xie Baorui, who wore a mask and had no expression on his face: "Where are the family members of the deceased? Have they signed?"

"Signed, signed!"

In this case, the deceased's family usually signs and the money is paid by the construction unit.

The family members certainly won't make things difficult for the undertaker. If they make a fuss, it will be with the construction party and funeral home staff, not the technical staff.

The person who jumped from the building was wrapped in a professional plastic bag, so his face could not be seen and had to be pulled open to see it clearly.

"let's start!"

"Xiao Yue..."

Xie Baorui called out to Liu Yue, whose face was obviously not normal, and came to the corpse.

Liu Yue said "oh" softly, still reluctantly.

scoff-

Xie Baorui pulled open the body bag. Liu Yue walked over and took a look. Suddenly, his stomach began to churn.

It's been more than half a month, and she still hasn't adapted. She could tolerate ordinary corpses, but she couldn't stand this kind of unrecognizable one.

Xie Baorui ignored him and started cleaning the body with disinfectant soap.

Then comes the massage.

Chen Jin stood there, motionless, but his eyes were observing the details of Xie Baorui's hands.

This master is more professional than Mr. Mo Sanmei.

"Pull the tube!"

Xie Baorui suddenly said something, his hand stretched out. Seeing Liu Yue squatting there and still vomiting, Chen Jin had no choice but to step forward and hand him a pump.

This is used to suck blood.

"cotton!"

"preservative!"

"Tinsel!"

Every time Xie Baorui said something, Chen Jin gave it to him. Liu Yue stood up and looked at the old and the young working in perfect harmony.

I thought I was dazzled.

This guy, no reaction?
"Xiao Yue, watch out—"

Xie Baorui suddenly looked up and originally wanted to talk to Liu Yue.

But looking at Chen Jin standing next to him, he suddenly thought of something, and Liu Yue beside him hurriedly said: "Master, those tools were taken by Chen Jin for you just now!"

"Oh?"

Xie Baorui glanced at Chen Jin and always felt that this boy was not normal.

"You're not affected?"

"It's not bad, just like many bloody movies!"

"..."

Liu Yue reacted again.

"hehe!"

Xie Baorui smiled, "Okay, that's great. No wonder you have the courage to come for an internship. Then cooperate with me and watch how I do it. The movie doesn't need to be too realistic, but you have to at least understand the process, right?"

"Yes!"

Chen Jin actually feels that the burial techniques in "Life Events" are too crude.

He wanted Tian Zhuangzhuang to shoot a few one-shot burial scenes, which would make the film more impactful and also show the professionalism of the actors.

Venice is not afraid of large-scale films, and if it is censored domestically, the most it can do is to make some deletions.

This is all possible, as long as it is not prohibited.

And most importantly, this is a big plus for the actors' performances.

The premise is that you can't add unnecessary details.

The more professional, the more it reflects acting skills.

"When a person dies, the body becomes stiff because it has no temperature. In order to apply makeup better, the body is massaged..."

"Use the warmth of your hands to stimulate the muscles, so that the makeup will adhere better..."

"..."

Xie Baorui was repairing the corpse while talking to Chen Jin.

Chen Jin actually knew all of this, but he listened very carefully!
(End of this chapter)