Chapter 270

Before Wei Ming wrote out that English song with the very familiar melody, "The Herdsman" was released.

Gong Ying, who had originally prepared to come to Yanjing, had to stay in the Magic City for a few more days to coordinate with the Shanghai Er Yingchang's promotional work; she specifically made a long-distance call to Wei Ming to notify him of this.

Fortunately, Wei Ming was at home at the time, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to hear his voice.

In fact, Wei Ming had also seen the posters for "The Herdsman" when passing by nearby cinemas over the past two days; after all, it was a film with built-in popularity, and cinemas regarded it as the biggest blockbuster of the year-end.

This was the first film released for which Wei Ming served as a screenwriter, and also the first film adapted from his novel, so it held special significance for him.

However, he didn't go to see it immediately after the film's release because he and Sister Xue had agreed over the phone to watch it together.

"You're really not going?" Lao Lao Lao Wei looked at his son to confirm again.

Wei Ming shook his head: "You two go ahead, I'll find time to go see it myself."

Wei Jiefang and Xu Shufen exchanged a glance, thinking to himself, "Go see it myself," he must have made an appointment to see it with little Gong; of course, if he had made an appointment to see it with little Zhu, then he'd be impressive.

As one of the prototypes for the story of "The Herdsman," Lao Lao Lao Wei and Xu Shufen certainly had to watch it; they had been waiting ever since they saw the public release date in "Popular Cinema," and they had even told Old Sun about it when they left the house.

"This movie is about the story of the two of us; it's very good. Old Sun, you can go see it when you have time."

Watching Wei Jiefang leave while showing off everywhere, Old Sun was filled with emotion: It's good to have a son who is a writer, he can even write out the story of his father and mother. It's a pity my son is just a plain and unremarkable police station chief.

Lao Lao Lao Wei and the others went to the Daguanlou Cinema in Dashilan. Although it was only the afternoon and a workday, the 500-seat grand screening hall was already full, mostly with young people who were readers who had read the novel. This must be what they call a big IP with built-in popularity.

The film used an interspersed narrative technique. It started with the male lead, Xu Shengfang, picking up his father at Yanjing International Airport and arriving with him at the Yanjing Hotel.

However, the father had an elite demeanor, while the son was dressed simply, appearing old-fashioned and even somewhat weathered, but his facial features were sharp, unable to hide his handsomeness.

Because the audience was mostly readers, at first they were all discussing the male lead, Zhu Shimao, feeling that this newcomer actor was the Xu Shengfang in their minds.

Only Xu Shufen felt that compared to the prototype of the story, it was still lacking something: "Our Lao Lao Lao Wei was much better than this actor when he was young, it's just that he wasn't as tall, his nose wasn't as straight, his eyes weren't as big, and he wasn't as cultured as him, but he was just very, very good."

And when the female lead, Wei Fenfang, appeared, although her face was dirty, her eyes were exceptionally clear and full of story. Once she washed her face clean, it stunned the audience even more.

As for Gong Ying, Xu Shufen was very satisfied. This pitiful demeanor instantly brought her back to the memories of that era.

Many of the audience here were seeing Gong Ying's performance for the first time, and at this time many cinemas were still showing "Good Things Come After Hardships." After experiencing Gong Ying's beauty on the screen, they all had the idea of watching "Good Things Come After Hardships" as well.

In the projection room at the back, when one-fifth of the film had been screened, the projectionist connected the second reel, and the first reel was immediately sent by a film runner to a nearby cinema.

"The Herdsman" was a key project of the Shanghai Er Yingchang, blessed by a great director, and coupled with the popularity of the original work, 220 35mm reels were eventually distributed, second only to "Romance on Lushan Mountain" and "The 405 Murder Case" this year.

35mm reels were mainly used for urban cinemas. Although the quantity was usually far less than 16mm and 8.75mm reels, 90% of a film company's profits came from 35mm reels; these were the ones that could truly sell tickets.

But 220 reels were still too few compared to the 2,800 regular cinemas nationwide. Even a few provincial capital cities could not be fully covered, so film runners came into being.

One reel could hold 15-20 minutes of material, and a film usually required five to seven reels, so it was common for several cinemas to use one copy.

Cinema No. 1 would transfer to the second cinema after finishing the first reel, and then transfer to the third. At this time, the second reel of the first cinema would also arrive at the second cinema, and so on.

This method saved on reel costs, it was just a bit hard on the people.

Today, the worker responsible for running the film at Daguanlou was Wang Qiankun. He delivered the reel to the nearby Hongqi Cinema and then hurried back to pick up the second reel; he was pedaling his bicycle so hard it was almost sparking.

If he encountered any unexpected situations on the road, the audience at Hongqi Cinema would have to wait. In the meantime, they could insert some newsreels or short animated films to cope.

When delivering the third reel, Wang Qiankun encountered an unexpected situation and bumped into someone. After much talking, he paid 50 cents to be allowed to leave, which broke his heart.

At this moment, the audience at Hongqi Cinema was waiting for him, including Zhu Lin.

Zhu Lin's enthusiasm for watching "The Herdsman" was even greater than Wei Ming's. She came on the first day of release; she wanted to see how Gong Ying performed in the movie.

Since she had to fight for a man, it had to be a comprehensive competition, including movies.

Previously, her "The Traitor" was indeed not as good as "Good Things Come After Hardships," but being fat first doesn't mean you're fat, being fat later crushes the bed.

As a result, after watching for more than half an hour, she didn't see much of Gong Ying's scenes, and now it had suddenly stopped. It took a full three minutes for the plot to continue; she thought they were going to show newsreels again.

Later, Gong Ying still only appeared in the male lead's memories, and basically always appeared with Xizi. It wasn't until the very end that she appeared for a moment. In a 100-minute movie, her screen time was only about twenty minutes, maybe even less.

But Zhu Lin had to honestly say that Gong Ying's ten or twenty minutes of screen time were even more charming than in "Good Things Come After Hardships." This had to be said to be the difference between a famous director and an ordinary director. Xie Jin filmed Gong Ying very beautifully, but it was unexpectedly harmonious and consistent with the environment of the Northwest ranch, not appearing abrupt.

Also, Wei Ming's character design added a lot to Gong Ying. Zhu Lin could also feel from the surrounding viewing atmosphere that Gong Ying was likely to become popular, even more popular than in "Good Things Come After Hardships."

In the final analysis, the film quality was much stronger. "The Herdsman" was a top-tier choice in terms of both artistry and storytelling. In the coming period, I'm afraid that both the film industry and the audience will focus on this film and the two leads.

While Zhu Lin felt happy for Wei Ming, she also felt sour about Gong Ying's impending great popularity. When would she have such a day of being the center of attention?

When she finished watching the movie, Wei Jiefang and Xu Shufen, who had finished watching one reel earlier than her, had already come out and were buying groceries to go home and cook dinner.

Along the way, Xu Shufen kept praising it, saying it was the best movie she had seen this year. Even the annual blockbuster "Romance on Lushan Mountain" didn't have such a high evaluation from her.

Lao Lao Lao Wei thought of his old father in distant Hong Kong. This secret had always been limited to him and his son, but his wife was also his closest person. They had walked together for twenty years and had a pair of children; what could he not tell her?

So when they returned home, when Xu Shufen started preparing to cook, Lao Lao Lao Wei helped her and started chatting.

"Shufen, what would you think if I suddenly popped up with a father?"

"Is he also a billionaire abroad? Does he want to take you abroad?"

"Not abroad, just in Hong Kong. He's not as exaggerated as a billionaire, but he opened a not-so-small shop, and he won't take me abroad. Instead, he wants to return to the country himself," Lao Lao Lao Wei said very specifically.

Xu Shufen suddenly stopped what she was doing. This doesn't sound like a hypothesis?

"Jiefang, didn't our father pass away long ago?"

Lao Lao Lao Wei: "He appeared again later."

"Ah?"

Lao Lao Lao Wei pulled her to sit on a small stool: "Do you remember before the New Year last year, our family received an inexplicable letter from Hong Kong, and then we came to Yanjing to see our son."

"I remember."

"That was written by little Ming's grandfather..." Then Lao Lao Lao Wei told the whole story from beginning to end, including how Lao Lao Lao Wei was seriously injured at the time and was taken to Taiwan for treatment by his grandfather using a fake death method, and later how he ran to Hong Kong, wanting to go home but unable to.

Xu Shufen was dumbfounded after hearing it and couldn't even speak. She felt that her husband's experience was much more tortuous than the male lead's experience in the movie!

"I, I'm a bit confused."

Lao Lao Lao Wei: "No need to be confused, I'm not asking you to make decisions. It's just that I thought this matter could be hidden from Xiao Hong and Ping'an, but I couldn't hide it from my wife. So I said it. As for whether he can come back or whether we can go see him, let's leave that to our son. Who told him to be capable?"

Xu Shufen nodded, feeling that her husband made sense. Let those capable and smart people worry about such complicated things.

At this time, a smart person, Wei Ping'an, was taking his whole family to the cinema to watch "The Herdsman," both to support his nephew's work and to cheer for his son's acting debut. They were all very curious about Xizi's performance.

There were so many people in the cinema, the ticket-checking queue stretched far away. Because this cinema was near Qingbei, it was basically students from these two universities. Wei Ping'an recognized several of them, such as Liang Zuo, Liu Zhenyun and his girlfriend Guo Jianmei, etc.

Although they hadn't seen Xizi even after the movie was halfway through, the content of the movie had deeply attracted them. Reading a novel is one feeling, and watching a movie is another immersive experience.

"Ah, brother!"

When the son of the male and female leads made his first appearance, Lele was the first to cheer out loud. Lu Xiaoyan quickly covered her mouth, while Xizi was already speechless. Seeing himself on the big screen felt like this; it was so wonderful.

It was just that there was a crying scene of his later, and it was because he wanted a toy car. He felt a bit ashamed and quickly slid under the seat, only sitting back up after that part ended.

While walking out of the cinema, Wei Ping'an listened carefully to the discussions of the students around him.

Now the country is becoming more and more open, and foreign ideas are pouring in crazily. University students have also had their first impressions of foreign countries, especially the United States, through various channels.

That is the lighthouse, which everyone yearns for.

"Didn't our department have five students go to the United States to study last year? I heard that one senior brother and one senior sister don't plan to come back."

"Compared with Xu Shengfang, they really have no faith at all. Xu Shengfang has billions in assets abroad but doesn't go, while they have nothing outside and would rather wash dishes to stay. Comparing the two, the difference is clear."

"Yes, like Xu Shengfang, I believe in the future of the motherland. I will also apply to study in the United States, but I will bring back the advanced technology of foreigners to build the motherland! I also believe that the motherland will not treat talents like me badly. There is more future here than outside."

Hearing these words, Wei Ping'an felt very gratified. Ordinary people might live better abroad, at least with richer material conditions, but as talents from the top universities in the country, under the great situation of reform and opening up, staying behind means the future is promising.

Over the past few days, with the hit of "The Herdsman," this novel from a year ago has regained its vitality. The People's Literature Publishing House had long ago reprinted "Animal Fierce" in advance, and many who had not read the original work would find it to read as soon as possible.

And the newspapers also reproduced the grand occasion of the nationwide discussion when "The Herdsman" was first published. It's just that this time it was a movie. In addition to the discussion on the story content and values, there was also affirmation of the director Xie Jin, and extra attention to the two new leads, Zhu Shimao and Gong Ying.

Looking at the reports in the newspapers and seeing his photos appearing in many major newspapers, Old Mao's thick eyebrows and big eyes narrowed with excitement. He had finally made it!

Zhu Shimao is from Yantai, Shandong. He joined the Fuzhou Art Troupe at the age of 16 and became a stage actor.

And as early as five years ago, he relied on his handsome appearance to become the male lead in two key projects, "Children of Xisha" and "Jinggangshan."

Among them, the director of the former was Shui Hua, and the director of the latter was Cheng Yin. Both were the four handsome men of the Beijing Er Yingchang, and the cast and investment were luxurious.

However, due to policy reasons, the former was almost finished but still aborted, and the latter was stopped just as filming began.

Old Mao felt that he was having bad luck and might have no hope of becoming famous in his life. Unexpectedly, at the age of 26, he was recommended by Wei Ming to Director Xie Jin and had the opportunity to star in "The Herdsman."

After only being released in major domestic cities for a few days, he had already felt the joy of fame.

From Fuzhou to the Magic City, on the train along the way, people often called out his name in the movie, "Xu Shengfang!"

When he arrived in the Magic City, he also saw a huge poster of himself and Sister Gong Ying hanging outside the Daguanlou Cinema. I heard that Guo Kaimin and Zhang Yu had been hanging there for half a year before, and it hadn't been changed even when "Good Things Come After Hardships" was a hit.

When he walked into the Shanghai Er Yingchang, Director Xie Jin, who was in a great mood, told him another piece of good news.

"The August First Er Yingchang called and said they want you. What do you think?"

Because Old Mao is in the art troupe system, he is considered a soldier. If he wants to switch to the film industry, the August First Er Yingchang is the best choice, no need to take off the military uniform.

"I, of course I'm willing!" Old Mao said without hesitation, without the slightest nostalgia for his original unit.

In his previous life, he was transferred to the August First Er Yingchang after "The Herdsman," became a colleague with the creamy little student Tang Guoqiang, and met his destined Chen Xiaoer.

But Gong Ying, in a similar situation, chose the Beijing Er Yingchang. She didn't want to wear a military uniform anymore, and living together unmarried, she was afraid of smearing her original unit.

And if she married little Wei, but he still had lingering feelings for Zhu Lin, with her status, she was even more afraid that little Wei would be shot because of this.

Zhu Shimao had a meal with old friends like Gong Ying and Niu Ben in the Shanghai Er Yingchang canteen. Learning that Gong Ying had been confirmed to be transferred to the Beijing Er Yingchang and was invited by Director Wang Haowei to star in Wei Ming's new script "Mom, Love Me Once Again," Old Mao was truly envious.

He had also read this script. If the male lead's character wasn't too scummy, he would have wanted to recommend himself. And in fact, it couldn't even be considered a male lead; the male lead should be that little gourd.

However, Zhu Shimao was not without gains at the Shanghai Er Yingchang. Director Zhao Huanzhang's new film "Happy Reunion" was looking for a male lead. The film took place in the Qilu land, and he hoped to find some actors with northern temperament.

Originally, he wanted to find Ma Xiaowei, who had worked with him. He was from the Jiangsu Art Troupe, but he was called to Yanjing by the Beijing Er Yingchang. So Zhu Shimao, who was also tall and from Shandong, became Zhao Huanzhang's backup.

Then Zhao Huanzhang and screenwriter Xin Xianling ran to Yanjing without stopping, preparing to see if there were any suitable male and female candidates. The temperament of the actors in the Shanghai Er Yingchang was too southern.

Because Gong Ying was also going to Beijing, they were able to travel together. Along the way, Gong Ying was often recognized, half because of "Good Things Come After Hardships" and half because of "The Herdsman."

Director Zhao Huanzhang joked: "In another month or two, when the influence of 'The Herdsman' ferments a bit more, you will be the next Zhang Yu. It's a pity you are from the Beijing Er Yingchang."

Gong Ying also joked: "I have lived in Yanjing for several years and have become more accustomed to the north."

Screenwriter Xin Xianling laughed: "It's a pity that the temperament is still biased towards the south of the Yangtze River, otherwise this role of the second sister-in-law would have been chosen for you."

Gong Ying was curious: "Teacher Xin, can you tell me about your movie?"

The screenwriter looked at the director and then laughed: "Okay, let me tell you, 'Happy Reunion' starts with the marriage of the Chen family's second son, Chen Renwu, and his wife, Xue Shuilian..."

Sister Xue is coming to the capital, and she may be stationed in Yanjing in the future, but she won't stay too long this time because "Mom, Love Me Once Again," whether it's experiencing life or filming, is mainly on location in the south.

So she and Director Zhao Huanzhang and the others moved into the Beijing Er Yingchang guesthouse. Now the Shanghai Er Yingchang content in the Beijing Er Yingchang guesthouse has obviously increased.

Zhao Huanzhang found Ma Xiaowei as soon as he arrived. Ma Xiaowei's first film, "Love of the Sea," was also Zhao Huanzhang's independent directorial debut.

It's just that this time Ma Xiaowei received the role of the scummy father in "Mom, Love Me Once Again." Others didn't want to play it, but he later dared to play the Chairman, so what was there to be afraid of? So he agreed, and the director said the female lead is Gong Ying!

The two people who should have cooperated in "Happy Bachelor" met in advance.

"Really sorry, Director Zhao." Ma Xiaowei apologized.

Zhao Huanzhang sighed: "Forget it, since you can't play it, I can only choose Zhu Shimao."

"Ah, Zhu Shimao from 'The Herdsman'?"

"Yes, a famous actor." Director Zhao was still somewhat proud.

Later, Zhao Huanzhang met his colleague from the Shanghai Er Yingchang, Da Shichang. "Regret for the Past" was about to be finished, and he would also be able to return to the Magic City for the New Year.

When Zhao Huanzhang told Da Shichang about the needs of the main actors in "Happy Reunion," Da Shichang suggested: "I do know a female actor, whose ancestral home is Shandong, she is very tall, and her personality is also very northern. Do you want to see her?"

"What's her name?"

"Zhu Lin."

"Ah?" Zhao Huanzhang was stunned, "Why is it this Zhu Lin again?"

"Again? Has someone recommended her before?" Da Shichang thought of it immediately.

Zhao Huanzhang nodded: "We were on the same train as Comrade Gong Ying when we came. After she heard our script, she also recommended this actor, but I heard she is not a professional actor, saying she is very close to the second sister-in-law."

Da Shichang smiled playfully: "Then it seems that Comrade Gong Ying and I have the same hero's view."

In the Beijing Er Yingchang for so long, Da Shichang had seen Wei Ming come to find Zhu Lin more than once.

In addition, he had also seen Wei Ming go to find Gong Ying at the Shanghai Er Yingchang.

These three people, there's something strange~

"What? Looking for me to film?" Zhu Lin looked at the Shanghai Er Yingchang director in front of her with some surprise.

Director Shui Hua said: "It's an audition, it's not necessarily you yet, you should look at the script first."

"Oh." Zhu Lin was confused.

Then Director Shui Hua started telling Director Zhao Huanzhang about Zhu Lin's goodness, hard work, high understanding, etc., in a posture of strong support~

(Guaranteed update today)

(End of chapter)