independent filmmaker

After at least ten years of bad luck, 25 yuan was collected, and Xie Lansheng was about to resign.

Tell the truth to the acting factory director and Li Xian Xie Lansheng.Wang Fugui used his last heroics to fight for him to be in the film, and Li Xian is the regular director of "Fortune and Prosperity", and he took good care of him, and he learned a lot.

Li Xian was a little shocked when he heard this, and asked, "What, don't take the factory logo, don't rely on the state-owned factory, and make the film yourself?"

"Well," Xie Lansheng said, "then participate in foreign film festivals, and then sell the rights to Europe and the United States! You won't be hungry! I discussed it with my friends. If the film is not released in China, the Film Bureau will not be in charge."

"..." Li Xian looked at Xie Lansheng thoughtfully.

He has been in Xiaoxiang for 20 years, and he has never done as he pleases.

He was also a little touched.

…………

The "Rooting" drama was set up, and Xie Lansheng was the only one.At this time, he was full of pride, completely unaware that this would be the beginning of his wandering life.

Xie Lansheng calculated: he should be the screenwriter, the producer, the director, and the artist himself... "Rooting" still lacks at least one camera, one recording, and one or two assistants, and the most important of these is undoubtedly the photographer. up.

Finally, acting director Zhang Fugui introduced a retired Hunan TV cameraman to Xie Lansheng.

The old man's name is Luo Dajing, which means "full of economics". He is 60 this year and has been working in the documentary department of a TV station. It is used to pay off debts, and I feel that I have nothing to be afraid of when I am old.

Luo Dajing wanted a salary of 4000 yuan, but he refused to lower it, saying that it was not bad work, and there were others who wanted to hire him. Xie Lansheng agreed after struggling, and said: "4000 is fine, and it will be paid on a monthly basis." Xie Lansheng thought about it and felt that, This job is not serious and dangerous, and it is normal for the other party to ask for more.Besides, Luo Dajing’s qualifications at the Xiaoxiang Factory require 500 yuan a month, and that’s 2000 yuan in those four months, and 4000 yuan is just twice that. Take 60, no better than before on television.Xie Lansheng has always believed that if he is as good as possible to others, he will reap the same sincerity.

Regarding the phrase "payment by month", Luo Dajing asked if he could change it, because he was in a hurry to spend money - his son was called to the house again, and he had to pay another 10%, and now he was still short of 2000. Borrowed all over.He looked very embarrassed, he hesitated, and it took him a long time to get to the point.Xie Lansheng felt that the two of them were the center and soul of the crew, and they should maintain harmony and harmony, and it was best not to have conflicts, so he helped Luo Dajing and asked Luo Dajing to advance 2000, and agreed to give another 500 per month in the future. It is Luo Dajing who will accept overtime work in the future.

On the day Luo Dajing joined the crew, Xie Lansheng counted the banknotes and handed them to the other party in person, very seriously, saying: "Brother Dajing, we two are the core of the crew, please pay more attention in the future and give "Rooting" to the other party." The best shot. This film is my life and my hope. There are only a few people in our crew, and we are all a family. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me. I will definitely try my best to help. Thank you for your hard work, Brother Dajing, Please come up with your housekeeping skills and take a good shot!"

He is a director, but he has no qualifications. He has just graduated from school and has not directed independently, and he can't hold back his partners, so he can only play the emotional card.

Luo Dajing just accepted Xie Lansheng's many "helps" to solve his family's urgent needs. He felt warm and said sincerely: "Of course, I will take it seriously. Don't worry about these problems." Luo Dajing's skin is very Bai, tall and fat, like a giant rice cake.

Xie Lansheng said: "Well, it's hard work."

"By the way, Lan Sheng, can I get a 35mm camera?" Luo Dajing asked, "I use it more easily."

"I also have this plan, see if I can borrow one." Xie Lansheng smiled, "Also, I want to go to Hebei to buy film myself! You know, buying from the original factory is the cheapest, and it can save a lot of money. Big money."

Luo Dajing said: "Okay, I will wait for your film."

Luo Dajing didn't know that Xie Lansheng's budget was already stretched because of asking him to shoot.

In order to go to Baoding to buy 35mm film, Xie Lansheng finally chose...the train.

He cated in one place, and when he saw the coal truck passing by slowly, he started to run along with it, then jumped up at the right time, grabbed the upper edge of the carriage, and felt the wind whistling in his ears.The carriages of the coal train were all open without a cover. After kicking hard a few times, the muscles in his arms bulged, and he finally turned inside as he wished, and fell into the coal with a clatter.When Xie Lansheng rolled over, the speed of the train was already up. If he didn't have enough strength and fell down, he would lose his head.After getting in the car, he dug a big pit out of the pile of coal under his feet with his bare hands, lay down in it, looked at the blue sky above, and smiled.He smiled happily, his face and body were pitch black.He squinted his eyes, looking at the blue sky, white clouds, and streaks of golden light that flickered above.

When he arrived at Lucky Films in Baoding, Xie Lansheng suddenly discovered that the other party no longer produced large-format films for making movies—the quality of domestic films was so poor that the studios didn’t want to use them anymore, and the large-format films would be cut into ordinary films for photography.Xie Lansheng talked about it, and Lucky's people agreed to give him some people who hadn't been laid off.

He calculated for a long time, and finally bought 9 films. The nine films are 9 minutes, while the movie is about 90 minutes.Unexpectedly, when Lan Sheng left the gate of Lucky with the film in his arms, the Lucky worker just chased him out panting, and suddenly stuffed another movie film into his arms, saying: "Take this I’m giving it to you! It’s impossible for the director to shoot 84 minutes of film with 84 reels.” This move made Lan Sheng want to cry.

Xie Lansheng walked over by the train, and came back by the train, with Lucky's 35mm film in his rag pocket.On the return journey, as soon as he jumped out of the car, he heard a yell in the distance, "F*ck you are paralyzed! The train!" He was so frightened that he quickly let go of the girl and ran away without a trace.His whole body was dyed black, and three basins of black water came out of washing.

After buying the film, he went to borrow a camera from Nortel teacher Wang Xianjin. He didn't expect that the process went so smoothly, and there happened to be a discarded one in the film school's equipment library.This camera can't record, the noise is very loud, like beeping, but Xie Lansheng doesn't care, he thinks it's ok to use another device to record.

So far, in less than two weeks, Xie Lansheng has finished with the photographer, camera and film, and can move on to the next step.

…………

The so-called "next step" is to choose actors.

In line with the purpose of "saving money", he hired all non-professionals, that is, "natural", and felt that these new actors had a sense of reality and simplicity.

The script of "Rooting" revolves around a rural woman to tell a story.She was born in the countryside, grew up in the countryside, married and had children in the countryside.

When casting, Xie Lansheng's interview requirements were very simple.Actors do not need to recite lines or perform clips, but must tell the camera about their own growth experience, where they come from, whether they have gone to school or not, what they have been doing, and how many people are there in their family? The people, how the family members are... different from the usual casting.

Xie Lansheng finally found the perfect heroine "Caifeng" in his mind after asking his friends to introduce dozens of people. Very satisfied.What surprised him the most was that the experience of the "Caifeng" actor overlapped with the role in many ways. I also have acting talent, can capture the character's psychology, and can also find the feeling that Xie Lansheng wanted.

However, for the heroine, that is, Caifeng's husband, Xie Lansheng has never seen a candidate who can satisfy him, and it doesn't work well after trying.

This role has many facets.Xie Lansheng found that because this role changes with time and experience, it is difficult for non-professional actors to play each personality to the extreme at the same time. They may be able to play "Wang Fusheng" when they were just married but not for six years. In the future, Wang Fusheng may be able to perform six years later but not when he was just married.

"This role has too many layers..." Xie Lansheng said to Luo Dajing, "I thought about it, it is best to use professional actors, the more professional the better."

Suddenly, a figure flashed in Xie Lansheng's mind, and he spoke again: "For example, Xinye. He was born to eat this bowl of rice. The character who won the award before has more layers than "Rooting", which is very complicated, but he But it can express every aspect to the extreme.”

"Hahahaha!" Luo Dajing's answer was, "Brother Lan Sheng, don't dream. Xin Ye is the first Chinese actor in the three major film festivals...to act in an underground film??? Can't be released without a factory logo ??? By the way, the director has just graduated from school, and the total funding is less than 25."

Xie Lansheng: "..."

It seems to be dreaming.

But Xie Lansheng loves to dream, or in other words, he lives by dreaming.

He felt that if he asked, he would at most be rejected or laughed at in the end. He had a thick skin and was not afraid at all.I can't pull it now, and I still can't pull it after asking at most-can the other party still beat him? ? ?

Xie Lansheng did what he said.

He called Nortel teacher Wang Xianjin again to say hello, and "by the way" asked if the other party, as the dean of the film academy, could contact Xinye.

Hearing this thought, Wang Jinjin was also taken aback and said, "Ask Xin Ye to make an underground movie?"

Xie Lansheng bit the bullet: "Just...just ask... Maybe he will be interested?"

Wang Jinjin liked the student Xie Lansheng the most, he was silent for a while, agreed to build a bridge, and said, "Let me take a look."

Xie Lansheng was overjoyed: "Thank you Teacher Wang!!!"

The result of Wang Xian's "watching" was that he could get the phone number of actor Xin Ye's agent.

Xie Lan was surprised and asked, "What is a manager?"

Wang Xianjin explained: "There is an agent job in the United States, which represents artists to contact and negotiate with potential employers, discuss cooperation, and negotiate contracts. Agents are professionals and can guarantee the rights and interests of artists. Did Xinye grow up in the United States? It is more particular about this aspect, there were already brokers in the United States around 1900.”

"Oh oh oh..."

Xie Lansheng once again felt that Xinye is really foreign.Although he is the first Chinese movie star, he actually participated in an American film—the story about the tragic Chinese laborers who went to San Francisco to build the railway in 1868 is not the same as Chinese filmmakers like them in essence.

When he got the phone call, he carefully prepared the materials, copied and sent the script, character biographies, shot lists, and shooting plans to the other party one by one.He also wrote about his plan—to participate in European and American film festivals, sell the rights, recover the cost, and then make other films.

He also attached information about everyone's work experience, including himself, photographer Luo Dajing, sound engineer Zhang Jixian, and two assistants, Xiaohong and Xiaolu.In order to prove that the atmosphere is harmonious and like a family, he also took a few photos and sent them along with the materials.In the photo, the five of them stood together, holding the board of "Rooting" in their hands, which showed that there were really so many people in the crew, and he didn't talk nonsense.

…………

the other side.America, Los Angeles, AAA Cultural Brokerage Company.

Xinye crossed his long legs and said to Fang Jie in a bored manner: "Fang Jie, I don't want to make a movie anymore. Let's discuss it, let's terminate the contract?" He is not short of money.

"No," Fang Jie, his manager, felt that life was difficult, "Xin Ye, why do you always think about it?"

With good looks, money, IQ and education, do you just live in blindness?

Do this if you find this interesting today, and do that if you find it interesting tomorrow?

Xin Ye said: "You said that "The Vagabond" lacked a Chinese, and I just agreed because I was going on summer vacation. Later, I took this Hong Kong film because I wanted to make money easily and be independent. Now I think it's boring, so I might as well go back to the company to work. . ” His stepfather was a hotel owner, as well as many other businesses.

"No," Fang Jie said, "You can indeed earn money lying down. How much is the salary for this Hong Kong movie?! You really have acting talent. You can enter and exit the play in a second, and the role of "Wandering" has nothing to do with yourself. It's a bit similar, but after you finish reading a script, you will be the director. Look, I still have a bunch of invitations from major companies in my hand."

After a pause, he remembered a joke: "By the way, there is also a guy who is making underground movies in China! He is so messed up. In order to fight for you, he sent over such a thick stack of documents. !" As he spoke, Fang Jie made a gesture with his hands, and even made two or three "tsk tsk".

"Oh?" Xinye raised his eyelids and became curious, "What's there?"

"Wait a minute." Fang Jie stood up and brought over a stack of materials, "This is the new film of xx, this is..." Finally, he took out the thickest envelope to hold other materials, and said, " Just this one, called Xie Lansheng, who broke up with the state-owned factory, and wants to make underground movies by himself. In China...you know it too."

"I know." Xin Ye took the envelope, pulled out the materials, leaned on the back of the chair like an old man, turned the pages, and chuckled after a few minutes: "This book is quite interesting."

"It's quite interesting."

"It's impossible to get the qualification, no wonder I have to shoot it myself."

"Ah."

But Xin Ye was not tempted until he saw a photo.

"..." Xinye picked up the photo again, looked at it carefully, and found that he had really seen it.

The gambler in the casino last month, he would tease the cat if he won a little.

Ah, he has a good memory.

According to the position on the photo and the age on the "resume", Xin Ye immediately confirmed that Xie Lansheng was the director of "Rooting".

The person who sat in front of the slot machine stiff and nervous, as if "gambling" was the most important thing in the world, said that in order to have the best effect, he invited himself to join the movie?

It turned out that he was putting all his eggs in one basket in the casino because he wanted to make an underground movie?

Don't work in a state-owned factory, don't take government funding, do it yourself?

This is too strange.

It can be compared to giant pandas, or it is giant pandas.

Is it No. 1 in the daring history of Chinese film in a hundred years?

Xinye knew that there were only 16 state-owned factories that could make movies.

Thinking of this, he stuffed the materials back into the envelope, turned his face away, and said to Fang Jie, "Jay, I decided not to terminate the contract."

Fang Jie: "???"

"I'm going to take this."

"No, Yves," Fang Jie said foolishly, "you think it's right again... This is an underground movie!"

"I'm just an actor, I don't care if I have a contract or not. Besides, I went back to the United States after the filming, and I don't plan to stay there forever."

"..." Fang Jie was puzzled, and asked Xin Ye, "Xin Ye, my friend, what are you doing playing this???"

"What are you doing?" Xin Ye slowly put the material in his hand on the coffee table, turned his head, crossed his fingers lightly on one long raised leg, looked at Fang Jie, and hooked the corners of his mouth upwards. With a false smile, he replied to his manager: "Look at the giant panda."

The author has something to say: Dao Xie has a magic weapon: recognizing relatives.Call everyone brother and sister

Seeing a panda and mistaken life (no)

In reality, it is generally believed that the first Chinese independent film was Zhang Yuan's "Mom".He graduated in the same year as Lan Sheng, but after being assigned in 90, he didn't report to the unit at all, because he just wanted to shoot "Mom". "Mom" was not in demand at the time, so he shot it himself.Lou Ye was also in the same year, and he didn't go to the unit to report, because he wanted to shoot "Weekend Lover".The two films started at about the same time.Wang Xiaoshuai was a little later. After working in the studio for a few years, he found out that he couldn't make a film, and then resigned.

It was also Wang Xiaoshuai who bought the film from the Lucky factory, developed the film at the Lucky factory, and developed it with a long-abandoned film developing machine.

Many students think that the "factory standard" is a very distant thing, but it is not.Perhaps unexpectedly, it was only 2003 years ago that private enterprises were not allowed to make films until 16. The film reform in 2003, and "2003" will be the third part of this article.