Chapter 270: New Play and Selecting the Little Protagonist

One month after returning to China, in addition to the release of *Brotherhood of Blades*, Wu Yuchen ran through many remaining concentration camps during the War of Resistance in China.

Speaking of concentration camps, people's first impression is the Nazis, and the Jews who were persecuted in the concentration camps. But in fact, this was not only done by the German Nazis during World War II.

Did the Japanese do less? Did China receive less persecution? Not at all. The direct death toll from the war during the entire World War II was 70 million, and China had 18 million, equivalent to one-fourth.

However, the persecution suffered by the Chinese during World War II did not receive international attention, and the tragic tragedies that occurred on the land of China seemed to not exist compared to the Jews. Germany apologized honestly, but there are still many forces in Japan that try to deny their crimes. This is the power of discourse!

In 8 years, Japan also built many concentration camps in China, such as the Fengtian POW Camp, Lushun Prison, Weixian Concentration Camp in Shandong Province, Jinan Concentration Camp, Shimen Concentration Camp, the old site of Pingfang 731, etc., all of which Wu Yuchen ran through.

To be honest, the more he saw and the more he understood, the more he felt it was a hell on earth, which made all kinds of negative emotions grow in his heart. Staying for a long time might make people depressed. It is no wonder that Zhang Chunru, who was later committed to researching the Nanjing Massacre, had a mental breakdown and committed suicide, sigh...

Subsequently, Wu Yuchen shook his head. He must extract his emotions and cannot be affected, otherwise it might affect the subsequent shooting.

The Chinese anti-war film he wants to shoot this time is to reflect the persecution suffered by China during the War of Resistance. But if he wants to shoot from a conventional angle, to be honest, most of the angles that the Jewish directors should shoot have already been shot.

For example, shooting *John Rabe* would make people feel like imitating *Schindler's List*. If he wants to shoot the same subject matter with a Chinese film to campaign for an Oscar, he must find a new angle.

Fortunately, it is not without... *The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas*.

Its story framework basically does not need to be changed. There are also concentration camps in China. Of course, some details need to be changed. For example, the little boy's father in the original version was a Nazi officer, and here it can be changed to a high-level Japanese puppet army. According to Wu Yuchen's visits and investigations, many guards in concentration camps are actually done by puppet troops.

And this *The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas* fits this point perfectly. The whole film has very little bloody violence, but when you watch everything from a child's perspective, almost everyone can understand everything, thus producing a strong resonance. After all, a child's emotions are the most sincere and the most touching!

This film was released in 2008 in his past life and won many awards. Its original novel was only published in 2006. Now even the creation has not started, so Wu Yuchen has no problem shooting it.

Two years ago, she acted in a *Beautiful Mother* and won many awards.

A more clever method is not to use a large number of bloody and violent pictures to cause discomfort and anger in the audience, but to let the audience substitute into it, mobilize the audience's emotions, and let the audience resonate, so as to share a common hatred.

This is also a point that Wu Yuchen values. Similar anti-war films are mostly aimed at bloody violence, directly showing the crimes of the thugs. It is not that shooting like this is bad, but to be honest, this is not conducive to the spread of the film. Films need artistic processing, and it is not a straightforward documentary.

However, even if he has it, he dare not use it directly. Who knows what they looked like when they were young? How is the acting? Therefore, more than half a month ago, Wu Yuchen had already let the crew start a nationwide audition.

This is a film that shows Nazi crimes entirely from a child's perspective. Because it is a child's perspective, it is very pure. Many things he saw made him difficult to understand, gloomy and absurd.

"Haha, Sister Li, what you are going to play this time is not a poor mother, but a noblewoman, but the care and love for the child are the same. I thought of you the first time!"

These two little actors are the top priority. Wu Yuchen's requirement is a boy between 92 and 94.

One looks handsome and good-looking, a child raised in a life of luxury, with an innocent temperament; the other is thin and weak, or a little radish head, which makes people feel sympathy when they see it.

Before returning to China, Wu Yuchen also communicated with Spielberg. When he was shooting *Schindler's List*, he also thought about whether to shoot more of the various behaviors of Nazi violence and show their crimes more vividly. But he finally gave up, because if so, the bloody and violent scenes in the film would make it difficult to spread.

Wu Yuchen and Hearing Gong Li walked into the room laughing and talking. This time he decided on Hearing Gong Li in advance, and also let her join the audition judges to choose a "son" with Wu Yuchen.

The protagonist of this film is undoubtedly two little boys, one is the son of a high-ranking puppet official guarding the concentration camp, and the other is a prisoner in the concentration camp.

Most of the real Japanese elites were sent to the front line to fight hard battles, and the security management of concentration camps and prisons was mostly Han traitors and puppet troops.

Wu Yuchen was not without trying to search for the performance of actors in his past life in his mind, but to be honest, he really couldn't remember a few actors born in these years who had great acting skills. Basically, they all took the route of fresh meat and traffic.

The film never bluntly stated cruelty and bloodiness, which does not mean that it deliberately avoided these problems, but that children's eyes cannot interpret them. Only through some details and hints can the bloodiness and coldness of that era be conveyed.

In addition, there are some important supporting roles. Wu Yuchen did not conduct auditions, such as the role of the little boy's mother, and directly called Hearing Gong Li. A woman around 40, elegant and solemn, Wu Yuchen couldn't think of anyone more suitable than her.

Although there were people around Wu Yuchen who asked for this role, for example, Jiang Qinqin expressed that she wanted to play it, but her age was not suitable at all, and Wu Yuchen didn't agree at all.

"Wu Dao, I really didn't expect that I just played a mother in my last movie, and this time you asked me to play a mother again~" Hearing Gong Li said to Wu Yuchen with a smile.

As for the shooting location, this time he plans to set it near Fengtian. The three northeastern provinces have been occupied for as long as 14 years, and many concentration camps are here. Moreover, while persecuting the people of the Northeast, they also carried out brainwashing propaganda, which is the most suitable place for the story to happen.

The choice of the two little actors took a week of picking and choosing. Hearing Gong Li held a piece of information and said to Wu Yuchen: "I still think this one is good."

Wu Yuchen looked at the photo on the information, and the performance of his audition today immediately appeared in his mind, nodded and said: "This Dong Zijian is indeed okay, thin and small, and quite cute. His acting skills are also beyond his peers. It is really suitable for him to play that little radish head in the concentration camp."

Speaking of which, Dong Zijian also has a background. His mother is Wang Jinghua, known as the number one agent in the mainland. Many crews have to give her face.

However, for Wu Yuchen, Wang Jinghua is nothing in front of him, and he doesn't need to look at her face at all. He values Dong Zijian because he is indeed suitable. Maybe because he was influenced by the family atmosphere and was exposed to many things about acting, he showed talent at a young age.

"Okay, this role is decided to be him."

Wu Yuchen made a final decision and asked Hearing Gong Li: "Sister Li, which one did your son like?"

Hearing Gong Li pushed the three pieces of information she had left in front of her again: "Here, I think these three are good."

Wu Yuchen picked up the three pieces of information and looked at them. Fang Xi, Lin Dongyang, and Wei Zhe, the images and temperaments of these three little boys are very good, and their performance during the audition is also very spiritual, and they have also left a number in his heart. Well, none of them are names Wu Yuchen is familiar with in his past life.

Wu Yuchen held the three pieces of information and said to Hearing Gong Li: "Sister Li, these three are all good. I will add two more, let them 5 come back tomorrow for a trial. Let's see their chemistry with you and Dong Zijian."

Hearing Gong Li also nodded. Many actors are like this. They are very good when performing alone, but once they play against each other, the feeling may be different. Different people will have different chemistry, and the effect presented will also be different.

"Wu Dao! Thank you, it is a great blessing for Zijian to be seen by you!"

Wang Jinghua has also run many crews and is used to big scenes. But when she heard that her son was chosen by Wu Yuchen to be one of the male protagonists of his new play, she was also excited and her face was red.

It is because she is a top agent that she knows better how big the gap is between other directors and Wu Yuchen in the Chinese film circle. The outside media is hyping who is the number one director between Zhang Yimou and Wu Yuchen. This is basically no controversy in the circle.

You ask these actors, if they are seen by Wu Yuchen and Zhang Yimou at the same time, who would they be willing to act in? That must be Wu Yuchen!

Box office, Oscars, Hollywood, just these few words are in front of you. Which actor hesitates, that is disrespect for his future and prospects!

Therefore, her son entering Wu Yuchen's new play can be described as a perfect start. Although the development of a child star may not be smooth, with her old mother who knows the business paving the way for him, as long as her son is willing to develop in the entertainment industry in the future, it will definitely be smooth!

Looking at Wang Jinghua who was nodding and bowing to him, Wu Yuchen also shook hands with her gently, and then said with a smile: "No need to be like this, it is also because Zijian has talent. It's just that acting for the next two months may be a bit hard, can you accept it?"

"Don't worry, Wu Dao, hard work is the basic quality of an actor. Being able to learn from you and accept your guidance, the child will benefit infinitely in the future!"

One day later, after careful screening, the candidate for the male protagonist little boy was finally decided, Fang Xi, who performed best in all aspects.

After the little boy was selected, his parents were also happier than he was, pulling the little boy to thank and promise Wu Yuchen in various ways.

Wu Yuchen smiled. This time he picked a little actor who was a layman. I don't know if it will change his fate and embark on the path of an actor in the future.

Then he shook his head and stopped thinking about it. The future is uncertain. What he values most is to shoot the current play well.

"Hey, Brother Wu, how is your new play?"

"Hahaha, thanks to Brother Han, I just decided on the actors for the two children." Wu Yuchen replied to Han Sanping with a smile.

"That's good, children's plays are the hardest to shoot. Being able to find two suitable little actors is already half the success. I see that your mind is now on this new play, haven't you paid attention to the box office of *Brotherhood of Blades*?"

Wu Yuchen said frankly with a smile when he heard this: "With Brother Han taking care of *Brotherhood of Blades*, I guess there is definitely no problem!"

"You, you! Okay, I am not talking to you about the box office of *Brotherhood of Blades* this time, Brother Wu, I want to ask you, is this play of yours definitely campaigning for an Oscar this year?"

"Yes, what's wrong?" Wu Yuchen asked.

"Well, if you are sure to campaign for an Oscar, I will keep this quota for you first. Just now the *Hero* side asked, wanting this year's Oscar campaign quota."

Wu Yuchen understood when he heard Han Sanping say this. Each region can only send one film to participate in the evaluation of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film every year. In his past life, the mainland region sent *Hero* this year, but now that Wu Yuchen is involved, there will be some waves.

Wu Yuchen pondered for a while, and then said: "Brother Han, I won't hide it from you. My film is about the War of Resistance. I will definitely take this submission quota this year. As for *Hero*, you tell them and let them take the route of Hong Kong Island!"

The investor of *Hero*, Anle Film, is itself a Hong Kong company. At the same time, in its cast, Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, and Donnie Yen all have permanent resident status in Hong Kong, and many staff members also come from Hong Kong, so it fully meets the conditions for applying from Hong Kong.

Of course, whether they can fight for this quota depends on Jiang Zhiqiang's ability. However, Wu Yuchen estimates that with Zhang Yimou's brand and Jiang Zhiqiang's connections, there should be no problem.

In fact, if operated, *The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas* can also take the Hong Kong quota. But the subject matter of this play is a serious War of Resistance subject, so Wu Yuchen will definitely let it represent the mainland to participate in the competition. This meaning is different, and he will definitely not give up this quota.

Han Sanping agreed after listening: "Okay, Brother Wu, then it is decided. But you have to hurry up with the shooting, there are only 3 months left until the submission time."

"Don't worry, this play has no big scenes. I have already arranged all the scenes. It mainly depends on the performance of the little actors. I expect to get it done within 2 months."

Han Sanping nodded and reminded Wu Yuchen:

"Brother Wu, you are aiming at the War of Resistance subject for this play, but it has attracted a lot of attention, and many people above want to see your finished product at that time. I won't say much else, it is mainly the scale problem, don't follow the footsteps of *Devils on the Doorstep*."

Wu Yuchen smiled directly when he heard this: "Hahaha, Brother Han, since I started shooting movies, which play has been banned? I guarantee you, if this play of mine can't pass the review, then other War of Resistance plays don't have to be shot!"

This *The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas* he chose can almost be said to be one of the smallest scales among many anti-war films. If this can be stuck, he will make a big fuss with big scissors! ===== CHAPTER 271 =====