spokesperson for heaven

Lin Jing's audition sequence was ahead of Han Mufeng, who silently watched him enter the room.

Han Mufeng touched the small jade bottle in his pocket, hesitated, took off the copper coin pendant on his wrist after a while, and put a set of Big Five Emperors coins on the table.

It wasn't the first time he calculated Lin Jing's affairs, but every time he calculated the results were ambiguous, either excellent or extremely bad. As for luck, he couldn't directly account for it, which fully demonstrated how anti-human Lin Jing was.As time went by, he was unwilling to speculate about Lin Jing's affairs.

The result of this calculation is the same, and it is not clear whether it is good or bad.

Thinking of Lin Jing's words, Han Mufeng kept the little jade bottle in his pocket.He decided to try again on his own.

Lin Jing entered the room, and saw three middle-aged men sitting on the long table, among them was a man of yellow race, who was Zheng Yao, the director of the play.

Before he could speak, Zheng Yao asked directly, "Can you speak English?"

Lin Jing then greeted them in English.

The two Americans nodded as they listened. Lin Jing's English speaking style made people feel good.He speaks the International Standard Phonetic Alphabet, which sounds a bit American but without retroflex, and does not show off that kind of nonsensical (thought it is very standard but actually very rural) accent, which can be understood by the whole world.

Zheng Yao nodded, "Hello, you are Lin Jing." He turned his head and told the other two about Lin Jing, omitting his self-introduction.

Lin Jing had participated in so many auditions in his previous life, but he had never met a director introducing himself for him, so he knew immediately: as long as the work and rest issues can be discussed, this role will not run away.

Zheng Yao's appreciation for him was visible to the naked eye, and his demands on him also increased accordingly. Lin Jing did not dare to relax, and completed the question and answer conscientiously, and then completed a few performances by drawing questions.

The audition is actually no different from the interview, the examiner will chat with you about everything, plus Zheng Yao's undisguised appreciation, he bbs and talks a lot, Lin Jing has the most time for the audition among all the people. long one.

When he was about to leave, Zheng Yao asked him, "Do you have any other announcements when you come to Los Angeles this time?"

Lin Jing shook his head honestly. Apart from a set of photo shoots that can be taken on the street, he has no other work. He can be called the most unprofessional artist in history.

Zheng Yao smiled and said, "The morning audition will be over soon, can you wait a moment and have lunch together? I have something I want to talk to you about. Call all the assistant managers."

Lin Jing thought about it, and then politely agreed.When he saw Zheng Yao for the first time, he knew that he was a down-to-earth person, and he probably wouldn't have any crooked ideas.

He left the audition room and met Han Mufeng Yaoyao, who turned his head expressionlessly.

Soon, Han Mufeng was called out, he was the last one in the morning session.

Lin Jing was still sitting in the waiting room, talking to Ji Fan about having dinner later, in the middle of talking, a staff member ran over and told him: "Director Zheng, please come over."

He thought the audition in the morning was over, but after entering the room, he found that Han Mufeng hadn't left yet and was also inside.

Zheng Yao was a little embarrassed. The person he was optimistic about was Lin Jing. It can be said that the moment he sent out the audition invitation, this role had already been decided in his heart.But the feeling that Han Mufeng gave him was amazing, so now he is not sure who to choose from the two, and wants them to act again.

Lin Jing had no objection, "Okay, what about another show?"

Zheng Yao said: "...the specific plot is not specified, you try to explain what the beauty in your mind looks like."

Han Mufeng nodded, and cast a sidelong glance at Lin Jing, "You first?"

Lin Jing didn't care about him, and after getting ready, he walked to the center of the field.

The play "Beauty" is as its name suggests, interpreting a story about a beauty.The protagonist started out as a little brother who suppressed his gender consciousness, and finally turned into a gentle and enchanting young lady.

The plot itself is actually a bit boring, a bit mysterious, and a bit of a stream of consciousness.It's not just about self-awareness, it's about the "movie" itself.

The protagonist's grandfather is a famous director who passed away due to illness. When the protagonist collected his grandfather's belongings, he accidentally found a script and several video tapes in his room.

He inherited his grandfather's mantle and was also a director. He decided to finish the last unfinished film of his grandfather.The name of this drama is "Beauty", and it is a stream-of-consciousness road movie. It tells the story of a highly sought-after beautiful woman who pursues "ugliness", but sees the beauty of human nature in various people.

The protagonist played the role of this beauty in person. In the movie, she was truly magnificent and stunning. In reality, he also gradually awakened his self-awareness, no longer suppressed, and showed his true female side.

After the movie was finished, he underwent sex reassignment surgery and became "she".She entered the movie theater and watched this grandfather's legacy and her new work with everyone.

For the time being, Lin Jing only got the outline and fragments, but did not see the full picture of the script, so he felt that the script was very strange—too messy, too complicated, with too many things to tell, and the story line itself that carried those things was extremely scarce .

Movies are not made like this, it's not like a movie, but like Zheng Yao's rambling essays.

With this doubt, Lin Jing began to construct the beauty in his mind.

First of all, he looks like a man. Because of years of repressed disguise, he will maintain the habitual actions of a man, but he is a woman in his heart, so he will unconsciously reveal a woman's modality.Secondly, what this audition should show is his "beauty". There are many kinds of cents.

Lin Jing didn't make up a story himself this time, because he didn't know what the story should be like.

With a cigarette in his mouth, he leisurely entered the arena, smiling and greeting the non-existent people around him.This is a routine on the set, with no contradictions or plot points, just an ordinary dialogue when a director is working.

His basic skills are very good, and the performance without physical objects can be called fake and real. This performance is also very casual. Every gesture of the character is suitable for men and women, revealing an indescribable charm. When one looks up, the passion is deep in the bones Elegant, it makes people blush and heartbeat when they see it, and they can't look away.

But Han Mufeng frowned.

Lin Jing is very good at creating characters. He thought that the other party would also elaborately design this time, but he didn't.Even his interpretation of the female side of the character feels a bit lame.Although very charming, in Han Mufeng's view, this performance was a failure.

After Lin Jing's performance, Zheng Yao didn't comment, and Han Mufeng went on stage.

He plays the feminine protagonist, with light steps, natural body twists and swings, and a perfect smile on his face.In terms of posture alone, he impeccably presented a glamorous and incomparable goddess, and his shaping power was even better than that of Lin Jing.

After the two performances were over, Zheng Yao asked them what they thought of this role.

Han Mufeng said: "This is a character with inner conflicts, but he also has a free and easy side..."

When it was Lin Jing's turn, he thought for a while and said, "I don't think this protagonist is fresh."

Han Mufeng looked at him in surprise, and Zheng Yao also said "Oh?"

Lin Jing: "This play—including the play within a play, depicts many characters, whether they are excellent, mediocre, disabled, special groups... Each of them has the beauty of humanity, only the protagonist , more like a carrier to support the story."

"Although a story of self-awareness awakening also happened to him, from the overview, there are no major contradictions in the whole process, and it is more like a background setting. Let me make a bold guess, this drama is just under the guise of lgbt , actually thinking about something else."

He said bluntly: "This is what attracted me to this book: It is a wonderful thing for an actor to interpret an empty and illogical character with his unique vividness."

Han Mufeng watched Zheng Yao's eyes become brighter and brighter, and retorted unwillingly: "But you didn't show his freshness at all, and you didn't even show that he is a woman in essence."

Lin Jing said: "I don't think it is necessary to label it. The protagonist releases his nature step by step. It is at the end that he reveals a relatively strong gender characteristic. The middle part is more like a masculine and feminine posture."

Zheng Yao smiled and patted Han Mufeng's shoulder, "Don't be discouraged, I heard that you are only [-] this year, and you don't have a deep understanding of people and things at this age, and you will be fine in the future."

Han Mufeng thought that Lin Jing was only 23.

But no matter how unwilling he was, the role was given to Lin Jing.

It's not all for him to gain, he got a supporting role with a heavy role, but for him, it's like returning to the strange circle of "Laughing", and once again reduced from the protagonist to the supporting role - just like what the master gave him. Like fate, you will never get what you want, and no matter how hard you work, you will fall short.

He led the team out of the room without making a sound. Before closing the door, he heard Zheng Yao say to Lin Jing with a smile: "I've been waiting for a long time, let's go to eat now, I don't know if you mind coming to my house? I'm used to inviting the chef at home It’s more comfortable to entertain distinguished guests.”

In an instant, a flash of lightning pierced into Han Mufeng's chest, and his expression changed suddenly, as if he had an instant insight into the dirty py transaction between Zheng Yao and Lin Jing.

Recalling Lin Jing's sentence "Don't think about crooked ways all day long", it seems like a joke.

Master's kind and kind face reappeared in front of his eyes, Han Mufeng took out the bottle from his pocket and made up his mind.

-

Zheng Yao really planned to hold a banquet at his home.

While the chef was cooking, Ji Fan discussed with Mrs. Zheng about Lin Jing's work and rest.Mrs. Zheng is Zheng Yao's assistant at work, and she is the only one to go to for contract disputes.

Zheng Yao invited Lin Jing to the study to talk.

He started with the topic of audition, and said with a smile: "You don't seem to have confidence in our movie?"

Lin Jing said: "I haven't seen the complete script yet, so I dare not comment."

"It's easy." Zheng Yao directly dug out the script and handed it to him for him to watch on the spot.

Lin Jing watched roughly for half an hour, during which Zheng Yao didn't urge him.Half an hour later, he closed the script and raised his head quietly.

"How is it, can we evaluate now?" Zheng Yao asked.

"Now...it's even harder to say."

"It's just a literary film with a simple plot, what's there to say?" Zheng Yao laughed.

Lin Jing said: "Director Zheng, in my opinion, there is no difference between literary and commercial movies, only the difference between talking to yourself and telling stories to others."

Zheng Yao paused.

Lin Jing said: "This movie is the most typical self-talk."

"Just looking at the script, how many things are you trying to tell? Let me count—first, the main character tells the story of self-awareness awakening. Second, the main character's grandfather tells the story of a film director's life's pride and regret. No. Third, the play within a play filmed by the protagonist contains three levels of meaning. It is not only a portrayal of the grandfather’s heart, but also a portrayal of the protagonist’s heart. Finally, it is a tribute to the diversity of human life and the light of humanity. Fourth, the protagonist’s self-awareness A series of incidents encountered during the awakening process showed all kinds of contradictions in the film industry. The fifth point is also the one that shocked me the most..."

He turned the script to the end and said: "I don't know if I understand correctly, what you want to discuss is the 'movie' itself."

The ending of the story is like this: the protagonist who has become a woman, together with all the characters that appear in the whole play, entered the cinema to watch their works.And their work is also called "Beauty".

Lin Jing can fully imagine what kind of magical scene will appear at that time——

In reality, the audience sat in a movie theater and watched "Beauty".

On the screen in front of them, the audience in the movie is also sitting in the movie theater, watching "Beauty".

The big screen is the connection between them, a straight axis of symmetry, reflecting the two worlds, one mile and one outside, allowing them to form an amazing symmetry and unity.

It seems that behind the screen is not a wall, but a space of another dimension. When the audience looks at it, the people inside are also watching them silently.

Viewers get two perspectives.One is their own perspective—sitting below and looking up at the screen.The other is the angle of view used in movie shooting-looking down from the perspective of the screen.

The dislocation of perspective will bring a sense of confusion. When this confusion reaches its peak, the protagonist will say a line of genius:

"I often think that if our real life is a high wall, the movie is a hole in the wall, a window for people to spy on another world."

"You can peek from the inside out at the world that doesn't know whether it exists outside of reality, or you can peek at the reality of the world from the outside in. You can even tear the screen, rush out of the window, and find the world you've been staring at for a long time yourself."

There are obviously so many people sitting around the protagonist, but when he said this, he was facing the screen, directly breaking the dimensional wall.

"What story did you see through the window?"

Lin Jing saw a crazy director talking to himself.

The logic of the story is not rigorous, the structure is scattered, the characters are many and complex, and there is a road movie interspersed in it. After a rough look at the whole script, it is completely stream of consciousness and freewheeling.

"This is not a serious movie, it's just an essay." He concluded, "The complaints and ramblings of a director who has been working for 20 years."

Zheng Yao didn't expect that he really understood, "I have seen all kinds of people. They have different types of excellent qualities, and the diversity and beauty that bloom when they collide with each other. I have seen the coldest, most vain, and also The proudest and most sincere film industry. I have seen my own struggles and decisions... So I want to talk about humanity, movies, and myself... I also want to mix the thrilling beauty of the movie itself, Its expressive skills, camera aesthetics, editing art..."

"As you said, this is a stream-of-consciousness movie that talks to itself. It's my last work in Hollywood. It's a farewell letter. I just want to say something."

Finally he said, "Yeah, I'm giving it my all to make a bad movie."

Because the story is mixed, the structure is scattered, the narrative stream of consciousness... all the elements of bad movies are combined, the only thing that can keep the bright spots is the characters, so he attaches so much importance to casting.

Lin Jing said, "With all due respect, are you planning to quit the circle?"

"No," Zheng Yao said, "I plan to go back to China."

Lin Jing was taken aback.

Zheng Yao sighed: "This is what I want to talk to you about today. The executive president of Jiashang Media has fallen, and the company has also been hit hard. I inquired a little bit about Jia's intention to integrate Jiashang's resources to Jiaying?"

Lin Jing finally understood that this international director came to talk to him about cooperation.

With the downfall of Jiang Yunhua, Jiashang Media lost a large number of people, but the original foundation is still there.

The major shareholders of the group avoided Jiang Yunhua, fearing that Mrs. Jia's identity would throw them a shit, so it was too late to throw this hot potato, and no one wanted to take over.Just when Jia Yuanxun started to get in touch with group affairs, he decided to sell Jiashang Media to Lin Jing cheaply.

The group is quite satisfied with this decision, because Jiashang Holdings itself is also the major shareholder of Jiaying, and integrating the resources of Jiashang Media to Jiaying can be regarded as a lot of money that will not flow to outsiders.

Lin Jing's influence has become the top in the industry. As the boss of the company, he is qualified to cooperate with Zheng Yao on an equal footing.

Zheng Yao didn't understand the domestic situation, and was worried that his hasty return to Congress would cause rejection from various circles in the film industry-it's not that this kind of thing has never happened before.So he directly approached Lin Jing to cooperate. On the one hand, Jiaying is strong enough, and on the other hand, Lin Jing is now excluded by all circles.

But none of the above are the most important reasons. For Zheng Yao, the most important thing is: "I have seen something in you that no one else has. This era lacks spirit. If you can create movies with that admirable spirit, Maybe even more amazing works will be created.”

Lin Jing said helplessly: "Just kidding, I'm just an ordinary person."

"No," Zheng Yao said after deliberation, "My next project may not be very good to cooperate with any other company. You are the most ideal partner. I also want to draw you into the main creative camp and invite you Working on this project together—to be honest, Countdown blew me away, and I believe in your abilities."

"Can I ask what the next project is?"

Zheng Yao took out his mobile phone and showed him a notification file - "Light, Shadow and Peace International Film Centennial Awards"

Of course Lin Jing knew about this event, and he had discussed it with Ji Fan.

UNESCO will hold the Centennial International Film Festival in the next year, and one of the participating units has attracted special attention from the Propaganda Department, and specially issued documents to select films from major companies.

He was a little surprised, and said bluntly: "The theme of this unit is 'Peace and Development'. To put it bluntly, it is to let countries make their own promotional videos and get them to advertise themselves at international film festivals. Don't you know? Go back to China first. Do you want to choose this kind of theme for this work, have you thought about it?"

Zheng Yao asked rhetorically, "Is there no related project approval in China?"

"It's not true, but you know the piss in the country, and you all seize this opportunity to make patriotic gunfight films, and insist on a slogan for maintaining peace." Lin Jing said, "Policy support can please the superiors, and can also make money. Money, but also word of mouth, this subject matter is too versatile."

"Don't you have any confidence in participating in the exhibition?"

Lin Jing shook his head, "The official film "Road to a Great Country" is a real national image promotional film, which is too orthodox; private projects are too routine. I am not optimistic about the results of the screening."

"So we have to make it ourselves." Zheng Yao said quietly, "I want to make a special and different movie."

"How is it different?"

Zheng Yao said, "I...don't know."

Lin Jing: "..."

"But I can define the effect of the finished film." Zheng Yao said, "The first thing it needs to do is to be shocking enough to capture the hearts of all audiences. "Countdown" is the work that has brought me the most shock recently. I not only hope to get your investment, but also hope that you can join the main creative team and work with me to come up with a sufficiently shocking idea.”

Lin Jing was silent for a moment, and said: "Everyone wants to make a shocking movie, but it is very difficult. Do you know why "Countdown" has that effect?"

Zheng Yao knew, "Yes, "Countdown" has too many tricks."

The shock of "Countdown" has multiple levels and meanings, precise conception, unprecedented reversal, huge contrast between tragedy and comedy... The most important thing is the power of reality, the feedback bonus of the documentary, the work Legendary in itself.

If you remove so many bonus factors and just look at the plot, although it can also reflect the shock of life's unyielding, the effect will be greatly reduced.

Zheng Yao also wanted to shoot that kind of shocking effect, but he had no other material at hand, so he could only start from the movie itself and design it in terms of plot and technique.

He didn't even want to take into account the skills, "If you make a movie that tells a serious story, just from the plot level, can it bring that kind of shock?"

Lin Jing said: "Director Zheng, let me tell you the truth. After so many years since the birth of human culture, almost all the stories in the world have been written. Our audience is well-informed. What kind of plots have they never seen?"

"If you want to make a shocking movie, it is easy to find in terms of subject matter. Our predecessors have provided us with countless experiences - the treachery and darkness of human nature, the mystery and inconceivability in the depths of the starry sky, the precise and rigorous conception and tricks, and the grief. The redemption of the dead, the struggle of the little man, the humble and full of life, the great and secret sacrifice..."

"From the plot level alone, it is easy to shock the audience, but the real shock is too difficult, because they have seen all those stories, and the shock is fleeting, and it will not produce the effect of shocking the audience speechless. It's just cheap feelings."

"A truly shocking story requires the creator to empathize and come from the heart. It must start with the story first, instead of preaching 'I want to shock'. When you create with this idea, you are actually limited. I am very I don't understand why the word 'shock' has to be emphasized?"

Zheng Yao understood everything he said, but he was still unwilling. He said, "Do you know why I want to go back to China?"

"why?"

"Staying here is too boring." He sighed. "In Hollywood, I have climbed to the top of the Asians, and I was pressed against the board of racial segregation, and I couldn't make any progress. Of course I can condense myself in each work , enjoy the fun of shooting, but where can't you enjoy this kind of fun?"

"So I began to think, why would I develop my career in the United States? Oh, because the domestic industry is too backward, and there are more learning opportunities here."

"I am ashamed to say that now that I am developed, I want to go back and help the world."

But at the same time, he was also very afraid, afraid that the reputation he had worked hard for for many years would be sunk in the quagmire of the country. Not only would he fail to do what he wanted to do, but he would stumble and fall, and his hard work in the first half of his life would be wasted.

So he needs a work to open up the situation. This work does not have to be very connotative, but it must bring a different viewing experience to the audience and leave a deep impression on them.

The reason why he chose the Centennial Film Festival is because once he has a name in the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, it is equivalent to having a talisman, and he is completely sure to return to China to do business.

Lin Jing said: "I will cooperate with you, and I will try my best to think of ideas, but I can't guarantee that I will have a good idea. This thing is too unpredictable."

"I understand." Zheng Yao said, "Come, let me show you something."

He went around behind a row of bookshelves, and there was a small secret door here.

Lin Jing walked in and found that it was actually an antique collection room!

Pieces of quaint old things are quietly displayed in the quiet room, and there are many valuable treasures such as Yuan blue and white flowers. Although the overall color is gray and dark, they seem to reveal strange brilliance, telling their own stories without haste.

"I know that kind of amazing idea is hard to come up with, so I prepared a backup plan." Zheng Yao said, "This is a story about an overseas antique returning to the motherland. Although it is a bit old-fashioned, the audience should buy it."

Lin Jing listened to him tell it again, and said: "If it is this story, it will also be good for being selected for the exhibition, and there is a high probability that it will be selected."

"On the day I return to China, I will bring them all back and donate them to the Forbidden City." Zheng Yao sighed, "Actually, I just want to earn a reputation so that some people will be afraid to act rashly. Those things I want to do when I return to China , there is nothing that does not offend people."

"That's good," Lin Jing said, "Director Zheng, we can definitely deepen our cooperation."