When an actor plays a role, he needs to understand the background of the character and write a biography of the character in order to be able to immerse himself in the character more deeply.
What about the director?
In fact, more work needs to be done.
For example, a contemporary movie like "The Thief of Time" is really difficult for Li Yi, who was born in the 1980s.
As we all know, film is the director’s art. The final product of a film is the expression of the director's consciousness, and actors are the executors of this expression process. They complement each other and are indispensable.
So to a certain extent, the director needs to know more and more deeply than the actors.
Why is this plot like this?
If even the director himself knows it but doesn't know why, then how can he let the actors know how to interpret this short plot?
In the following time, Li Yi and Mu Qing traveled around Hong Kong Island. Although Li Yi was born in Hong Kong Island, in fact, he rarely visited many old places and streets in Hong Kong Island.
Therefore, this is a rather interesting journey for both Li Yi and Mu Qing.
For example, the famous old street in Hong Kong Island, Wing Lee Street!
Wing Lee Street is a street in the Central District of Hong Kong Island. It is located south of Bridges Street in the southern part of Sheung Wan, between Staircase Street and Shing Wong Street, running east-west.
Wing Lee Street is famous for its characteristics of Hong Kong Island in the 1960s. Most of the original residents of old streets in Hong Kong Island like Wing Lee Street are immigrants from the mainland in the 1950s and 1960s. After Hong Kong Island's economy took off, most of these old streets were demolished one after another in order to speed up urbanization.
In fact, when Li Yi and Mu Qing came to this famous old street, they were surprised to find that the mess here was completely different from what Li Yi and the others had known before.
After asking around, I found out that this old street had been decided to be demolished, so everyone started to move out.
However, this made Li Yi frown quite a bit, because although this place looks messy now, with many old shops closed and many people preparing to move out, it has to be said that if the movie "Thieves of Time" is to be filmed, then there is no doubt that If we could shoot directly on the very few remaining old streets with the characteristics of the 1960s in Hong Kong, it would definitely be more convenient and realistic than building a new street.
However, it is going to be demolished, which is a bit troublesome.
"What should we do?" Mu Qing asked.
"Let's ask someone to find out when it will be demolished. If possible, I still hope to shoot here." Li Yi said.
Although the place where the story of "Thieves of Time" takes place does not necessarily have to be "Wing Lee Street", it only needs to be an old street in Hong Kong Island.
However, Li Yi checked and found that the best preserved old street with characteristics of the 1960s is Wing Lee Street. If the scene is shot on this street, then only some fine-tuning of the layout will be done.
And if you want to rebuild the street scene, it will require a lot more manpower and material resources. The key is whether the laid out streets can have such a flavor, which is a matter of two minds.
In Li Yi's memory, because of the influence of "Thieves of Time", the "Wynn Street" of that world has been preserved.
However, it also caused some controversy at the time.
Li Yi had never thought about this. He just wanted to find out the time of demolition. If possible, he still hoped to shoot the scene here.
...
"I understand. The Hong Kong government has indeed decided to demolish the entire Wynn Old Street in Sheung Wan, and the original demolition time is February next year. However, I learned that you are going to film the Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong series on Wing Lee Street. "Thieves of Time", the Hong Kong government said that the demolition can be postponed, but the time cannot be too long, and the details need to be discussed again!" Zhuo Yixiong said to Li Yi.
"Suspension of demolition? Has the Hong Kong government agreed?" Li Yi just thought it was a bit too easy.
"Haha, is this normal? In fact, at first I only found the relevant departments to find out the time of the demolition. But after I reported your name, they reported it step by step, so there was this A result." Zhuo Yixiong said with a smile.
"Isn't there any condition?" Li Yi asked doubtfully.
Mainly because he felt that this kind of decision related to urban planning changed the original plan just because he wanted to shoot a movie and shoot the scene here, which made Li Yi feel a bit unreal. So he subconsciously felt that there should be conditions.
"No! No, Director Li, do you have any misunderstanding about your own influence?" Zhuo Yixiong shook his head at first, and then looked at Li Yidao dumbfounded.
"You have to know that the environments on Hong Kong Island and the Mainland are different, and you can be said to be the most influential director in the Hong Kong film circle. Your film, and the film series "Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong Island", can be said to have produced It is a city card of Hong Kong Island. If you want to shoot a movie and shoot scenes there, it is very normal for them to suspend demolition." Zhuo Yixiong explained.
"In fact, Hong Kong society has different opinions on whether to demolish those old streets. Some people believe that those old streets with the cultural characteristics of Hong Kong's era should be preserved, but there are also some people who believe that these old streets should not be over-protected. The so-called characteristic old streets left over from the old era have become an obstacle to the urban modernization of Hong Kong Island."
"And if the influence of "Thieves of Time" is large enough, the east wind may not be able to overwhelm the west wind and make the Hong Kong government change its mind about retaining this old street with the characteristics of the times." Zhuo Yixiong added.
Li Yi nodded noncommittally.
"Thieves of Time" is not that kind of commercial movie. Li Yi would not naively think that "Thieves of Time" in another world caused Hong Kong Island to change its original demolition plan and preserve this old street. In this world, "Thieves of Time" is It also has that kind of influence.
Li Yi is not in a hurry to prepare for "Thieves of Time". Well, the main thing is this movie. As a feature film, apart from restoring the social environment of the 1960s, etc., other aspects are very simple.
However, Li Yi didn't want his movies to affect other people's demolition.
Perhaps old Hong Kong people like Meng Qiguang will have a great feeling for old streets full of sense of the times like Wynn Street, but for Li Yi, or for people of his generation, the feeling is not that deep.
Whether the Hong Kong government demolishes it or retains it, he has no particular preference.
Speaking of Hong Kong Island movies, they are actually quite special among Chinese movies. Due to historical reasons, the city of Hong Kong Island can be said to be the blending and fusion of traditional Chinese culture and modern Western culture at the cultural level, and it is shown in movies The same goes for the features that come out.
At the same time, it can also be seen from many street names, shop signboards, school names, etc. in Hong Kong Island.
Hong Kong Island in the 1960s can be said to be in a very special dark age. Most people who have watched police movies set in Hong Kong Island during that era will know this well.
But as for the lives of ordinary people living at the bottom of Hong Kong Island at that era, it can be said that no Hong Kong film has truly shown it.
