Chapter 177

Liu Rulong had been gone for several days. Wei Ming thought he was coming back when he called two days ago, but it turned out the negotiation didn't work out. He planned to try the Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House, which was also a major center for comic book publishing, and the "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" series could be called a classic.

So A Long returned from Tianjin, and he didn't notify Wei Ming.

Hearing the movement, A Long opened his eyes.

From his expression, Wei Ming knew that the negotiation didn't work out, and the reason for the failure was the same.

"Our painting method is different from their traditional painting method. The editor is worried that the engravers won't be able to do it well, or even if they can, the market won't buy it."

Wei Ming sighed: "In the final analysis, it's still a lack of enterprise and unwillingness to change."

He comforted A Long: "Don't worry, I still have connections in Shanghai. You give me the manuscript, and I'll send it over. Do you still have money? Pay your classmates first, don't owe them."

A Long forced a smile: "I already gave it to them. I've earned quite a bit from drawing illustrations with you."

Wei Ming laughed: "Then you can draw the second part of 'Black Cat Detective' again. I've already written it. After you finish drawing it, submit it to 'Children's Literature'."

"Okay, I won't leave today."

"Why leave when it's so late? Just sleep on these letters from readers."

The next morning, as soon as A Long left, Wei Ming mailed these drawings to the Shanghai Er Yingchang, addressed to Gong Xue.

It just depends on whether Xuejie's mother can help with this favor. If the mainland publishers don't think highly of it, then wait until the time is ripe to enter Hong Kong directly.

After sending it to Xuejie, Wei Ming started thinking about the letter to Mao Mao Amin.

He wrote four more songs, still the old rule, a 9-1 split. Can't let the little girl work for nothing.

The point Wei Ming was hesitant about now was how to get the money into his own hands.

This time, four songs meant 8,000 or 9,000 Hong Kong dollars, which was not a small number, and the risk of putting it in the package was a bit high.

And if he let Mao Mao Amin remit the money, it would be safe, but he was afraid he wouldn't be able to withdraw it when he wanted to use Hong Kong dollars. If he wanted to use it, he could only exchange it for foreign exchange certificates at the official exchange rate.

So Wei Ming agreed with Mao Mao Amin that 2,000 could be tucked into the package, and the rest could be remitted.

Afterwards, Wei Ming went into the city to buy some snacks the little girl liked, but Beijing was indeed not rich enough in terms of materials. The Friendship Store was very rich, but Mao Mao Amin could buy those in Hong Kong, so it didn't make much sense.

After the shopping was finished, Wei Ming mailed the package directly in the city.

When he returned to the South Gate, the clerk at the guard post told him.

"Brother Ming, a director is looking for you."

Then he saw a middle-aged man with an honest appearance leaning out.

He smiled and waved to Wei Ming: "Hello, Writer Wei, I am Wu Tianming from the Xi'an Er Yingchang."

"Oh my, Wu Dao, hello, hello." It was the first time they had met. This person was the benefactor of future new directors like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige.

Wei Ming put down the motorcycle and went to the playground with Wu Tianming to find a seat.

"Wu Dao, is there any problem with the script this time?"

"Oh, no, no!" Wu Tianming laughed, "I am very satisfied, and the name change is also good. I came to Beijing this time to select actors, and by the way, to see you. Oh, and I also brought the manuscript fee."

Seeing the other party hand over a thick envelope, Wei Ming smiled and said: "No rush, no rush."

However, his hand was not slow at all; he was waiting for this to settle down.

Now Wei Ming had practiced it; he could feel it based on the thickness. This money should be around 1,500, and it was highly likely to be 1,500.

After this manuscript fee arrived, Wei Ming's cash flow became more than 13,000 RMB, 500 yuan in foreign exchange certificates, and more than 4,000 Hong Kong dollars.

Immediately, Wei Ming asked about finding actors.

"Mainly the two roles of Niu Er and Jiu'er. For Niu Er, I hope he doesn't look too good, but is cowardly and stubborn. As for Jiu'er, she can be a bit sharp-tongued and have a healthy beauty. If she can be from Shandong, it would be even better. The most important thing is acting skills."

Actually, being from Shandong didn't mean much at this time, because the movie dialogue was almost all Mandarin, and there was no dialect.

Wu Tianming came to Beijing to see the actors from the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy. Although they were students, they were basically over 20 years old, or even 30, and wouldn't look too young.

In addition, the actor reserve of the Beijing Er Yingchang was also the best among the major state-owned factories, and Wu Tianming also wanted to see it.

Speaking of the Beijing Er Yingchang, Wei Ming suggested: "Although Liu Xiaoqing from the Beijing Er Yingchang is not from Shandong, her sharpness is enough, and her figure is also plump, which is very consistent with the image of Jiu'er."

Although Wei Ming turned a blind eye to Liu Xiaoqing's overtures at the beginning, one thing was one thing. She was not suitable for "Herdsman," but she was very suitable for the role of Jiu'er.

Wu Tianming laughed: "Writer Wei, you and I thought of the same thing. I also think Liu Xiaoqing is suitable, but she is a nationally famous actor now. I'm afraid I can't convince the other party, so I want to invite you, a great writer, to go with me. Maybe she will agree when she sees you."

This old guy, could it be that he wants to use a handsome man's trick!

However, Wei Ming was also going to the Beijing Er Yingchang to ask about the situation of "Heroes Born in Troubled Times," so he could make a trip.

"Okay, when are we going?"

"How about now?"

So Wei Ming pushed the motorcycle out again and carried Wu Tianming to the Beijing Er Yingchang. He praised Wei Ming's vehicle endlessly, obviously very envious.

However, hearing that Wei Ming bought it for 3,000 yuan, Old Wu gave up the idea. He should just sit in the factory's small car, and he didn't have to pay for the gas.

On the way, Wei Ming chatted with Wu Tianming about the candidates for the male lead. He had just arrived in Beijing and didn't have a suitable candidate yet.

"Then I'll ask for leave tomorrow to accompany you to the Beijing Er Yingchang and the Central Academy of Drama to see."

"That would be great!"

After arriving at the Beijing Er Yingchang, they happened to see Old Man Chen Qiang, who was Chen Peisi's father and also the head of the Beijing Er Yingchang's actor troupe. Borrowing actors was the right thing to do by finding him.

Wei Ming had met Chen Qiang, and Chen Qiang had also heard of Wu Tianming, so he immediately invited them to his office.

"You came at an inconvenient time. Liu Xiaoqing just went to Sichuan and Chongqing to film 'The Mysterious Buddha'."

Wu Tianming hurriedly said: "It doesn't matter, our play is still in preparation, and it will take a few months before we can start filming, so it shouldn't be delayed."

Chen Qiang laughed: "Then I'll help you ask. Has the male lead been decided?"

He knew the novel "Er Niu." In the novel, the female lead Jiu'er didn't have many scenes, and the male lead Niu Er was the soul. This role was not easy to play, but it would definitely be brilliant if played well.

Wu Tianming: "It hasn't been decided yet, I'm looking for it."

Chen Qiang also hoped that the male actors of the Beijing Er Yingchang could take on this important task, of course, on the premise of not delaying their own production tasks.

So he began to introduce the male actors of the Beijing Er Yingchang to Wu Tianming.

He first recommended Zhang Guomin. Speaking of which, he and Wei Ming were fellow countrymen from Hengzhou. It seems that the Beijing Er Yingchang was deeply infiltrated by people from Hengzhou.

Wu Tianming knew this actor. Their Xi'an Er Yingchang's "Mist of Shennv Peak" was starred by this person.

!

Wei Ming was more familiar with his daughter Zhang Yanyan, who had acted in popular dramas such as "Wu Lin Waishi" and "The Story of Minglan." When she was young, she was sprayed for not being worthy of playing the number one beauty in the martial arts world, but when she reached middle age, she began to exude charm.

Wu Tianming was not very satisfied; he looked too upright. Afterwards, Chen Qiang introduced a few more, all with this problem; they looked too regular.

Wu Tianming said: "I hope there can be an actor whose appearance doesn't follow the usual path."

"That kind of actor, only my son Peisi has it, he is from the August First Er Yingchang."

Wei Ming hurriedly said: "There is no need to be so extreme."

Old Man Chen Qiang laughed. His youngest son shared a face with him, and it was estimated that he could only play roles like Little Nan Batian in the future.

Just as they were chatting, someone knocked on the door and entered. A white-haired aunt came in, and Wei Ming hurriedly stood up to greet her.

"Hello, Aunt Yu."

Yu Lan recalled for a moment before remembering: "Oh, Little Wei Ming."

They had met at the Literature and Art Congress and even taken a photo together.

Wu Tianming also knew Yu Lan. Like Chen Qiang, she was one of the "22 Great Film Stars of New China." Back then, almost every cinema in the country had their photos. Back then, they were in their prime, and now they were almost sixty years old.

Hearing that Wei Ming and the others were looking for actors, the conditions were good acting skills, Shandong people, and not looking too regular.

Yu Lan clapped her hands and said: "What a coincidence, why is it such a coincidence!"

Wei Ming asked: "Aunt Yu, do you have a suitable candidate here?"

Yu Lan sat down and said: "Then I will recommend the worthy without avoiding relatives. My niece's unit, the Air Force Political Department Art Troupe, has a Shandong actor whose acting skills are particularly good. The two of them are dating."

Wei Ming and Chen Qiang thought of who it was at the same time.

Chen Qiang hurriedly said: "Oh my, that guy acts so well. Have you heard of the play 'September 13th Incident' from a while ago?"

Wei Ming and Wu Tianming nodded at the same time.

Chen Qiang said: "It's the actor Li Xuejian who played 101."

Wu Tianming had seen the relevant reports. Li Xuejian's makeup in the newspaper made people tremble. He thought that his appearance was also a bit extreme.

He was embarrassed to say it clearly, but said: "Will the age be a bit old? Our requirement is not to exceed thirty years old."

Yu Lan said: "He is only twenty-six years old, a very simple and honest guy."

The old lady's evaluation was so high that Wei Ming and Wu Tianming decided to meet him when the time came, but they also wanted to go to the Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama to see.

Wu Tianming's business was finished, and Wei Ming still had to find Factory Director Wang.

Yu Lan said: "Factory Director Wang is not here, he is entertaining an Italian film crew."

Hearing Italy, Wei Ming subconsciously thought it was "The Last Emperor," but later realized the time was wrong.

Listening to Yu Lan's explanation, he learned that it was the TV series "Marco Polo" crew. The other party wanted to film in China and needed the cooperation of the Beijing Er Yingchang.

Since this was the case, Wei Ming took Wu Tianming and prepared to leave, and would come back another day.

Wei Ming thought about where Wu Tianming was staying; it turned out he was staying at the Beijing Er Yingchang guesthouse.

Wu Dao laughed: "At home, rely on parents; when going out, rely on brother units."

Wei Ming treated him to a meal outside the Beijing Er Yingchang, then returned to school by himself and set a time.

They went into the city first and went to the Central Academy of Drama located in Dongmianhua Hutong.

You really shouldn't say that. The Central Academy of Drama really favored those ugly-looking people. In a while, they had already seen several men with strange appearances.

Wu Tianming grinned and laughed at Wei Ming: "We came to the right place for the Central Academy of Drama. I heard that the Beijing Film Academy looks at faces when selecting students. It is estimated that there are no ones we want."

"Hey, look at that one, how is it? It's just a bit old. I don't know if he is a student or a teacher." Wu Tianming pointed to a person.

Wei Ming laughed when he saw that face and suggested: "Let's go, go over and ask."

(End of chapter)