Once the original version was released, it received incomprehensible feedback from the market. The reason is that it belongs to an abnormal film structure.
The movie is divided into four stories, and the order of narrative is "Crazy", "Love", "Gun" and "Dream". According to the subtitles, the first three episodes took place in the spring, summer and autumn of 1976 respectively, while "Dream" took place in 1958 winter.
This narrative style abandons the traditional model, allowing multiple interpretations of the film's "story". The blank spaces and jumps will cause any audience to feel confused.
In fact, this separate short film collection model is the reason why it has won praises from many professionals in the industry. Because the same actor appears in different short films, it is actually a cover-up method of the screenwriter, and it belongs to the "iceberg principle" in the film creation style. ” one of the categories.
The "Iceberg Principle" is a specialized writing technique whose source is news. It is similar to the reportage technique. The core is that the author is only responsible for the description related to the content. Other details will not be written, and the readers can make up their own minds.
In fact, this style is very popular internationally and has a great influence, especially in the United States. Many writers and screenwriters are proud of being true to the iceberg principle.
Because this technique presupposes that the creator's technique must be superb: using the most concise way to narrate, but not using pen and ink to express emotion and expression. If you want to show the central idea, you can only rely on the author's narrative and descriptive ability.
Of course, this method has its flaws. Compared with long stories, short and medium stories are more powerful. However, in long stories, due to the concise description, the space occupied by the same content is limited.
Moreover, appropriate lyricism and detailed description in long novels are originally an important part for readers to organize their thoughts and understand the content. The emergence of the "iceberg principle" has put more pressure on creators. Therefore, long novels that are loyal to this narrative method, even classics, There are also many flaws that make reading very difficult, such as "The Sun Also Rises".
Therefore, the use of the "iceberg principle" is consistent with comments such as digging holes but not filling them, and making false claims. This is because digging holes but not filling them is the same as saying something that has not been finished. Another interpretation of making false claims is that there is too much nonsense.
How to avoid such plot interpretation, Liu Qingshan spent a lot of time to come up with the current version.
The current version has been modified into a puzzle-solving process, which is also a layer-by-layer process of revealing the male protagonist's growth history. The audience's curiosity about the following plot has been aroused, which makes up for the touching and confusing character of the original version. Nonsensical plot setting.
Once the completeness of the story is more easily reflected, it means that the loopholes in the plot are completed to the greatest extent, those plot bugs are filled, and the entire film looks more suitable for the audience's viewing angle.
However, art films do not necessarily have the box office guarantees and rave reviews of commercial films.
This type of film style is the broadest personal, original and critical expression of the world, society and life, and an experimental attempt at film language.
Since it is an attempt, it naturally involves methods that violate norms and offend common sense.
Moreover, art films target specific audiences rather than the general public, and are obviously different from mainstream Hollywood films. Therefore, the significance of the existence of "The Sun Also Rises" is to reflect the endlessness of artistic creation rather than the market. Recognition.
However, just because ordinary audiences are not interested in movies does not mean that film artists have no interest in making them. Liu Qingshan knew that Jiang Wen was a person with real artist potential, so he prepared this script early as a way to express his inner guilt. Ways to repay.
Sure enough, after Jiang Wen read the script, the expression on his face was as happy as a flower in bloom.
His next words also verified that he was fully immersed in the previous reading: "Shanzi, why do I feel that many of the plots in this story are very familiar? It's like the feeling of déjà vu that I have experienced or heard about!"
Liu Qingshan secretly complained: It's strange that you don't think it's familiar. The original script was adapted from your personal experience and hearsay.
Of course he would not say this in his reply: "I have friends who are your contemporaries, and they have told me many stories. It is normal for you to feel familiar, which shows that my retelling ability is not too bad! "
"Not only is it not bad, on the contrary, anyone my age will feel the same after reading it!" Jiang Wen waved his hand and confirmed the script's value, "Are you really going to leave this script to me for filming? Are there any specific requirements for candidates?”
He did not mention the royalties for the script or future copyright issues, but directly asked about the specific operations, which inadvertently exposed his straightforward character.
"My personal understanding is that Teacher Liang is played by Brother Liang Jiahui from Xiangjiang. The role of Li Dongfang and Chen Zuming should be suitable. I will not make suggestions for other candidates!"
"Why did you choose to cooperate with people from Hong Kong? Of course, I'm not saying that their acting skills are not up to standard. On the contrary, actors from Hong Kong have better acting abilities than actors from the mainland! What I mean is that the background and characters of the story are all from the mainland. Looking for Is it easier for mainland actors to understand the characteristics of interpretation?"
"But my point of view is that even if it is an art film, it must also consider the market situation. It is just an investment. In my opinion, it is easier to find investors from Hong Kong. Therefore, the appearance of Hong Kong actors in the film is to cater to the psychology of investors. !”
"It doesn't matter. I understand your worries if you speak out boldly. All the talk about art is nonsense. If you don't even have enough to eat, you're an idiot if you still engage in such art!"
"It's good that Brother Wen can understand. I chose these two people because I think they have the ability to perform perfectly and can also capture a part of the Hong Kong and Taiwan markets."
"Well, I see nothing wrong with your suggestion. I can have the final say on the rest, right?"
"I gave the script to Brother Wen based on enough trust. You also have the right to make your own choices about the two people I mentioned. My suggestions are just suggestions, and I will never interfere with the content and process of filming! "
"Okay, Shanzi, I recognize your brother, he is a man!"
Since tonight's distinguished guests were happy, naturally everyone sitting there was also happy, so the following wine party was filled with a happy and harmonious atmosphere.
Today, Fa Ge is increasingly adapting to the mainland environment, including the way he drinks. He has also passed the adaptation period. Frequent toasting is the truest reflection of his mood.
This good mood lasted until the second day of filming.
The content of the shooting that day was the scenes where Zhang Mazi intercepted the train and forced Tongtian to trick Lao Tang into becoming his master and accompany him into the city.
So there was nothing wrong with Brother today, so he and Jiang Wen temporarily acted as the on-site director.
Looking at Liu Qingshan who was filming, Brother Fa shook his head as if with emotion: "As soon as I opened my mouth, a wave of hormones hit my face, walking hormones! Awen, Shanzi's masculinity is stronger than yours. !”
"No matter how you Xiangjiang people practice with the script, if there are no northerners around to correct you, many children will never be able to master the sound. Manly - children, read it with me thirty times!"
Jiang Wen and Fa Ge were very familiar with each other, and they seemed to be joking very casually.
But he did not directly reply to the other party's emotion. Instead, he turned around and asked Fan Shengyang for a cigar. When he was satisfied, he took a deep breath and then spoke again pointedly: "This guy Shengyang and I have a fundamental relationship." You have to be careful when smoking, even though you think you are very familiar with it, do you understand why you have this mentality?"
"Is this the difference in psychological quality between us ordinary people and the strong?" Fa Ge said, looking back at Fan Shengyang who was walking away.
Jiang Wen nodded, "Yes! From Shanzi's point of view, everyone in the world is ordinary people, because they have personal abilities that are transcendent in this world, and of course they have courage! Try to think about it, walking on the streets late at night When suddenly hundreds of assassins appeared around, including dozens of professional killers, how would you and I react? Should we run away, or should we kneel down and beg for mercy?"
"You should turn around and run away, and then die in a bush of knives!"
"I think my first reaction is the same. They will run away when they feel they are invincible, but as long as they have the slightest resistance, they will try. Regarding this issue, I asked my friends around me who know some kung fu! "
"What on earth are you trying to explain? It's a mess and I can't understand it at all!"
"Full-blooded! This is the passionate nature of a true warrior, which is what you just said about manliness! Hormones are just a deliberately exaggerated gimmick by some old ladies who are in heat. What a bullshit man's smell, don't you think? Can you smell it when you are close to a man? Can you still smell the so-called masculine charm when you are not in estrus? Are you sure it's not the smell of sweat?"
"Damn it, your views are very extreme. Aren't you afraid that these words will spread and let those experts and scholars criticize you for your ignorance and shallowness?"
"So I am different from them. I am referring to those old ladies who have free time, no pressure from life, and still have the lingering dreams of adolescent girls! Brother Fa, don't wait for me with your eyes. , you are not included in this!"
"So what point are you trying to make by talking nonsense without drinking?"
"Besides, what you said about manliness, so I think manliness is a result of cultivation, rather than someone like me who looks rougher and has a deeper voice! Their manliness is filled with murderous intent. After The violence that comes from the bones, stained by blood, is hidden behind the gentle surface, which is different from the arrogance of those gangsters! Therefore, I can't act out the masculinity of Shanzi, and you can't act out either. I want to That’s what it means!”
"Well, it's really interesting." Fa Ge frowned for a moment, as if he was imagining himself playing the role of a gangster.
"Fan Shengyang is not an actor, he is just one of Shan Zi's apprentices, but when did you see hundreds of people here, who would dare to say something funny to him? This man is always smiling at everyone, both for you and me. You open and close your mouth to call me uncle, but you have to choose your tone of voice when asking for a cigarette in private."
