"director!"
"Teacher Li, Teacher Wang, long time no see!"
In the afternoon, Li Tang arrived at Director Zhang Yimou's studio in the central villa area ten minutes earlier than the agreed time. It was different from the very lively scene when I came back. In addition to a few staff members in the studio, the director and three middle-aged men were sitting around in the office drinking tea. It looked like they had just had lunch.
Among the three middle-aged men, one of them wears glasses, has long hair and has a ponytail called Li Feng; the other is slightly older and has a crew cut called Wang Bing. Both of them are screenwriters of "Hero" and also a TV series director. Screenwriter directing new film.
The two have been working with the director for nearly ten years, and their names are listed in the column of screenwriters who have directed all works since "Alive".
When we were filming "Hero", we all got to know each other day and night for a month, and we were all very familiar with it.
There was another man in his early forties, dark and thin, with a conspicuous red baseball cap on his head.
"Who is this……"
Just as the director was about to introduce him, Li Tang had already stepped forward and held his hand: "Hello, Mr. Hou!"
"Hello! Hello!" Teacher Hou greeted him with a kind smile.
"Hey, do you know each other?" The director, who originally wanted to introduce his old classmate, was slightly surprised.
"Director, you have forgotten that at the Changchun Li Rooster and Hundred Flowers Festival, Teacher Hou and I were both nominated for the Golden Rooster Award." Li Tang said with a smile.
The person in front of me is none other than the famous photographer Hou Yong. He and Li Tang’s other actor friend, Brother Hou, have different names with the same pronunciation, so they left a deep impression. Moreover, this photographer is also the photographer who has won the most Best Photography Awards in the history of the Golden Rooster Awards. So far, he has won four Golden Rooster Awards for Best Photography trophies.
Only then did the director suddenly realize. He slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, I remembered it."
As he spoke, he laughed with Hou Yong and said, "It seems that I didn't win the award that time, but I got a nomination."
Previously, Hou Yong won the Berlin Film Festival Jury Prize with the biographical film "Sun Da Pao", "Evening Bell" directed by Wu Ziniu, and "The Opium War" directed by Xie Jin, which won three third place. It was his first time to collaborate with the director "One". "You Can't Say It" was only nominated for Best Cinematography, but failed to win.
Hou Yong smiled and nodded: "But I got it the second year."
The following year, he won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Cinematography for the fourth time for his second work with the director, "My Father and Mother."
After a few pleasantries, Hou Yong stood up and left.
When he was leaving, he held Li Tang's hand and said, "Xiao Li, let's meet in Shanghai if we have the chance."
Li Tang thought that Hou Yong was the photographer directing this new work, so he smiled and said, "Teacher Hou, I also really hope to cooperate with you."
He does not mean that. Li Tang hoped to star in the director's new movie, and Hou Yong was slightly startled when he heard his words, and then his heart moved when he looked at Li Tang's handsome face.
The director on the side knew that Li Tang had misunderstood, so he explained with a smile: "Xiao Li, you may not know, Lao Hou has just been transferred to the theater as an associate professor. But today he just came to sit here, Xiao Li, do you want to talk to him? We still have to find opportunities for cooperation.”
Li Tang remembered that Shanghai Theater Academy had just established a film and television art department last year, and there was a film and television photography and production major under it. With the development of the times, pure stage drama is no longer in demand. Like China Theater, the direction of cultivating talents is slowly tilting towards the film and television industry.
When he heard that Hou Yong, a famous photographer, had joined the Shanghai Theater Academy, as an alumnus of the Shanghai Theater Academy, Li Tang suddenly felt honored and said in surprise: "Oh, Teacher Hou, that really should be called Hou." teacher."
"I'm just rushing to put it on the shelves, let's try it first!" Hou Yong smiled heartily, and then looked at Li Tang meaningfully and said: "Xiao Li, actually I really hope to cooperate with you."
Li Tang thought Hou Yong had said a kind word to ease the embarrassment of his misunderstanding, so he just smiled gratefully and didn't take it to heart.
Everyone walked Hou Yong to the stairs and watched him go downstairs. When he returned to the office, the director explained to Li Tang: "Lao Hou has now changed his career to become a director. This time he found Ziyi and Jiang Wen. And Cheng Chong is planning to make a movie, which will start filming early next month."
Li Tang was really moved when he heard the first half of the director's sentence and thought of Hou Yong's words just now. But when he heard the last sentence, the little fire that had just popped up in his heart suddenly went out.
It will be started at the beginning of next month, and it will only take about ten days. Think about it, if you can find Zhang Ziyi, Jiang Wen, and "you Chinese" Ms. Cheng Chong, it must be a big production, and all preparations will be very sufficient. It is impossible to say that it will not be completed ten days before the start of filming. Looking for actors.
Back in the office, Li Tang originally thought he would try acting like last time, but the director just threw a script over to him.
"Xiao Li, please read the script first."
"Ah...oh."
Li Tang took the script and subconsciously asked: "Director, do you want to sign a confidentiality agreement?"
The director's originally relaxed expression froze. After thinking about it seriously, he hesitated and said: "Just watch it here, no need."
Li Tang then turned his attention to the script in his hand, and saw a few thin sheets of printing paper sandwiched in a plastic folder, with four big words on the cover - Man in Jianghu.
The director and the two screenwriters sat around the desk, discussing something in a low voice. Li Tang suppressed his excitement and sat down to read the script.
On the phone before, the director just said that he wanted to talk to himself, but in the end he didn't say anything and just asked himself to read the script, which is enough to show that the director has decided to use him.
Li Tang turned to the first page.
Introduction:
I, a dying old man, quietly picked up a rusty throwing knife in this claustrophobic house where I was living. It, together with the world's number one stunt "Flying Knife Kill", which once terrified everyone in the world, has long since been gradually desolate in my old hands. For many years, I have been immersed in endless regrets. I recalled a dark and dull period in my life, and recalled my little sister and Xiao Li who died because of my dark heart and crazy love.
Hey, does Xiao Li fly a knife?
Li Tang thought to himself and continued to scroll down.
text:
My surname is Liu. During the Dazhong period of the Tang Dynasty more than thirty years ago, I was a head catcher in Fengtian County, three hundred miles away from the capital Chang'an. At that time, I was in my thirties, single and unhappy, but I could use the knife skill of "cutting off the water" with one hand. I have a brother, Xiao Li, who works with me in the shooting room. Xiao Li is young and handsome, with a sharp knife in his hand and a smile as bright as the sun...
Seeing this, Li Tang felt that his role should be Xiao Li. Isn't "youthful and handsome" exactly how you describe yourself?
It's just that this script doesn't look like a script at all, but more like a first-person memoir.
At that time, the court was corrupt and incompetent, and the people were in dire straits. Many anti-government organizations have emerged among the people. Among them, the "Flying Knife Sect" uses flying knife weapons. Everyone has high martial arts skills, so they are the most powerful. Gang leader Liu Yunfei's unique skill "Flying Knife Kill" is invincible in the world and is coveted by people in the martial arts world.
The "Feidaomen" invaded Chang'an, and the imperial court sent the elite "Eight Squadron" and the "Flying Eagle Battalion" to set up an ambush and capture and kill them with heavy troops. In that battle, the troops sent by both sides perished together. Liu Yunfei was seriously injured and was dying. A masked man appeared beside him. He was Sui Feng Daxia, Liu Yunfei's best friend for many years.
Sui Feng once served Liu Yunfei wholeheartedly and eliminated countless enemies within and outside the gang. Everyone said that no one except Liu Yunfei had seen Sui Feng's true face. The traitorous Sui Feng forced Liu Yunfei to teach him the "Flying Knife Killing" technique, but Liu refused and died of exhaustion. Later, there were rumors in the world that Liu Yunfei died at the hands of a policeman.
"Flying Knife Sect" has elected a new gang leader. It is reported that the headquarters is operating in our Fengtian County. Xiao Li and I were ordered to arrest the new gang leader of the "Flying Knife Sect" within ten days.
I told Xiao Li that there were various signs that the new blind dancer girl in the famous Peony Square in Fengtian County was most likely Liu Yunfei's daughter. I devised a plan and went with Xiao Li to investigate and arrest her.
Although the little girl is blind, she is very beautiful and has excellent dancing skills. In our plan, Xiao Li is a sex-seeker who comes forward to tease the girl. And I, Capt. Liu, showed up in time to save the little girl and ordered her to perform a dance to prove her identity as a maiko. What the little girl danced in front of us was the blind dance, the most coquettish and beautiful dance in the world. Unexpectedly, in the last move, he hid his murderous intention towards me, and swung his sword towards my life gate. I pushed the little girl into the water with all my strength, took her down and took her to the prison.
The younger sister's assassination of me, the police officer, was nothing more than a misunderstanding of the rumors to avenge her father. This also preliminarily confirmed her identity as Liu Yunfei's daughter...
I said this to Xiao Li and ordered him to carry out the second step of our plan.
On a dark and stormy night, Xiao Li changed his name to Suifeng Daxia and rescued his little sister in order to win her trust and further find out the nest of "Flying Knife Gate" and destroy it in one fell swoop. And I followed behind and responded.
At first, on the way to escape, the younger sister did not completely believe Xiao Li. But Xiao Li, this passionate person, takes great care of his little sister, and she can't help but develop feelings for him. When Xiao Li faced his younger sister, he was even more attracted by her earthly temperament. The two couldn't hold back and fell in love together...
I hid in the bushes and watched this scene, and my heart hurt like a knife.
At dawn, elite soldiers of the government's "eight teams" came in pursuit, and a dangerous killing began in the flower field where Xiao Li originally expressed his love to his younger sister. Xiao Li and Xiao Mei worked together to fight against the enemy and almost fell into a deadlock. Xiao Mei's three flying knives were used at the critical moment, allowing them to escape the initial disaster.
How could Xiao Li have expected that besides the trap he and I set together, there was a more sinister conspiracy. Xiao Li would never have imagined that my little sister had something else to hide, and I even had an ulterior secret in my heart. Everything he experienced turned out to be a scam set by the "Flying Knife Sect" to kill him. But the sudden "eighth team" was summoned by me personally out of jealousy.
After Xiao Li led his little sister to escape from the ambush of "Team Eight", a more dangerous trap was waiting for him ahead. The younger sister was clearly aware of the conspiracy, and she shed tears to save Xiao Li and parted ways with him. Unexpectedly, he fell in love with his little sister and couldn't bear to be separated, so he quietly followed her into a sea of bamboo.
"Flying Eagle Camp" set up another ambush here. Xiao Li and Xiao Mei fought on the ground against the attacks launched by the "Flying Eagles" from the air. This is a more fierce and fierce battle. With their lives hanging by a thread, the "Flying Knife Sect", led by the new gang leader Sister, came to cover up the attack, rescued Xiao Li and the younger sister, and brought them back to the "Flying Knife Sect".
The eldest sister presided over the wedding and betrothed the younger sister to Xiao Li. Xiao Li was overjoyed when a big net fell from the sky and caught him.
After reading this, Li Tang can basically understand it. It feels a bit like the New Longmen Inn. Xiao Li and his younger sister escape, and the government eagles and dogs chase them. It's just that I still can't see clearly what role Liu Putou plays. I always feel that this guy is not a good person.
Continuing to turn the page, the secret of Liu Putou is finally revealed.
Yes, at this time, I can finally reveal the secret: In my early years, because of my strong martial arts skills, I was recruited into the gang by Liu Yunfei, the old gang leader of the "Flying Knife Sect", and became an invisible killer hidden in the government. It’s true Sui Feng.
After a long time, I became tired of being regarded as just a killing tool. In order to win over me, Liu Yunfei sent his daughter Xiaomei to my bed.
I got my little sister’s body, but I didn’t get her heart. My little sister taught me the initial skills of flying knives and then left me. During these two long years, I not only longed for my little sister, but also longed for the highest level of knife-throwing skills - "Flying Knife Killing".
Liu Yunfei is dead. The eldest sister became the leader of the gang. In order to secure her position as the leader of the gang, she wanted to frame a person as the real culprit who killed the former gang leader Liu Yunfei and behead him to subdue the crowd and establish her authority. My eldest sister and I made some plans and chose Xiao Li as the victim. The reward for betraying his brother is to get his little sister again, and if he gets his little sister, he may get the "Flying Knife Killing" knife technique, because Liu Yunfei left it with his daughter.
Hey, this Liu Captou really looks a bit like Yue Buqun.
The younger sister was sent to Peony Square by the elder sister, and she was blind as a trick. We co-acted in the opening scene. However, the development of this drama was beyond my calculation. Seeing my little sister and Xiao Li, whom I loved madly but could not get any response, gradually falling in love with each other, my originally extremely gloomy heart suddenly changed. I became an inhuman beast. The chase turned into a real killing.
And how unjust the eldest sister is to me right now! After achieving her goal, she ordered me to continue working as an undercover agent in the government. She told me that my little sister would not be mine because she did not love me. Perhaps, the truth is that the eldest sister is also trying to figure out the sword skills on the younger sister. I resisted angrily, was hit by the eldest sister's flying knife on my shoulder, and ran away.
I fled closer to the flower field and saw Xiao Mei and Xiao Li from a distance. The younger sister was originally ordered by the elder sister to escort Xiao Li to the sea of flowers for execution. Returning to his old place, he was moved by Xiao Li's true feelings. The two of them rolled down among the flowers and had passionate intercourse...
The younger sister let Xiao Li go and asked him to stay away. I hid in the dark and kept watching. Finally, I was so jealous that I completely lost my mind. I stepped forward and stabbed the little girl with a knife, and then chased after Xiao Li.
Suddenly heavy snow fell from the sky. In the wilderness of first snow, all love and hatred are entangled together. Xiao Li is being besieged by people from the "Flying Knife Sect", and my purpose is to kill Xiao Li with my own hands. I jumped into the battle group and joined forces with Xiao Li to kill everyone in the "Flying Knife Sect".
So, it was left to me and Xiao Li to fight. Both of us have lost our fighting strength and exhausted all our moves. We can only fight hand to hand like wild beasts. We were both hit by each other's knives and lay dying on the ground.
The little girl staggered over, dragging a long trail of blood behind her. She and Xiao Li on the ground hugged each other tightly.
Seeing this scene, the madness came back to me. I gathered my last strength, stood behind Xiao Li and raised my knife to chop...
ending:
I finally got the knife technique and fell down. Before I closed my eyes, I saw my eldest sister leading all the people from the "Flying Sword Sect" to appear not far away. At the same time, I also heard the roar of the officers and soldiers coming to cover up the attack.
I survived. Afterwards, I learned that in the extremely tragic snow battle that took place after I fell into coma, the "Flying Knife Gate" was completely wiped out. Xiao Li and Xiao Mei died hugging each other due to excessive blood loss.
I refused the imperial court's reward and left without saying goodbye. I found a remote place and lived in seclusion.
I spent the rest of my life with the deepest sense of guilt and pain in the world, immersed in endless memories...
Li Tang spent almost half an hour reading it carefully from beginning to end, word by word.
It's a bit brain-burning and very suspenseful. Everyone has a dual identity. If Xiao Li, who pretends to be Suifeng Daxia, is on the first floor, then the little girl who pretends to be blind is on the second floor, and Liu Captou, who is the most hidden and mastermind of all this, is on the third floor.
Overall, Li Tang felt that this was a story like "Infernal Affairs" plus a bloody love triangle. In particular, the relationship between the younger sister and Mr. Li is very similar to the love between Jack and Rose in "Big Ship".
Maybe he was watching it too seriously, and he didn't even know when the two screenwriters left.
At this time, the director came over with a smile, sat opposite him, and asked: "Xiao Li, how do you feel?"
"Uh... Director, which role should I play?" Li Tang, who was still immersed in the plot, asked hesitantly.
"..."
The director was surprised. He knew at a glance that the role Li Tang was going to play was Capt. Li. Moreover, Capt. Li obviously has more roles and is the leading male lead.
After a short pause, the director said, "Do you want to play Capt. Liu?"
Guoshi's "House of Flying Daggers" has been criticized for having a weak story and many loopholes in the script. I personally feel that the original character of the script should be restored and a different "House of Flying Daggers" should be made as much as possible.
(End of chapter)
