Chapter 18 Section VIII

Although Wang Shuo left "Good Dream", he still misses our work very much.I successively found investment for "Sweet Dreams" and filmed my debut film.In 1995, I returned to "Sweet Dreams" to shoot a movie, which was the first movie directed by Wang Shuo. It won the "Best Film Award" at the "Lucano" Film Festival. It has not yet been performed in China. In 1996, we also wrote a script "Living a Wretched Life" for "Good Dream". The film was launched less than 10 days ago, and we received a notice from the Film Bureau to suspend filming.

That's what happened. That day, according to the shooting plan, we should be shooting the drama "Ruan Lingyu" in which the heroine rehearses in the theater at the Beizhan Theater.The previous night, the art department invited Beijing Renyi’s stage art team to work hard all night, and the entire set was installed in the Beizhan Theater. The assistant director also gathered nearly a thousand extras outside the Beizhan Theater in the early morning as planned, waiting for shooting. At 9:30 in the morning, I received a call from the production office of Beijing Film Studio, informing me that Wang Shuo and I would go to Beijing Film Studio soon, and that the director, Han Sanping, had important matters to meet with us.

I drove Wang Shuo all the way to Beijing Film Studio.Both of them had an ominous premonition on the road.Because it allows the crew to stop the big scene, what good will happen?It will not be the head of state who will meet us both. Later, it was true that US Secretary of State Albright came to Beijing Film Studio to meet the director, but what she wanted to meet was Chen Kaige.It is said that when she came, the security gate was set up at the gate of Beiying. The factory was full of bodyguards wearing pocket earphones, and those who entered and exited were strictly interrogated. Because they did not know the factory director Han Sanping, he was almost thrown outside. .But when we walked into Beiying, the factory was the same as before, with security doors and no bodyguards wearing earphones.

Before 10 o'clock, Wang Shuo and I walked into Han Sanping's office. In the office, the secretary of the factory director and the leadership team have already taken their seats.All of them looked solemn and forced a little smile when they saw us.Factory Manager Han stood up and ushered us to the two single sofas in the middle, and said: Thank you for your hard work, you sit in the middle. We are flattered.Then, they look at me and I look at you, passing a piece of paper in their hands. Seeing this, Director Han grabbed the piece of paper and said, "Let me read it."This is an urgent message from the Film Bureau at work today.

The full text is as follows: Opinions on the script "Living a Wretched Life". Beijing Film Studio: Your factory script "Living a Wretched Life" has been received. As a popular medium of communication, film plays an extensive and profound guiding role in social values ​​and moral norms.The script talks about teasing, chasing, and raping women, repeatedly chewing on the sexual desire and improper emotions between men and women.Exposing ugliness without lashing out at ugliness violates the value concept of socially recognized moral standards and misleads the public's aesthetic taste.The three-person relationship described in the script is an improper relationship between a man and a woman, such as extramarital affairs, third-party involvement, adultery, etc., which has always been despised by the society. If there is no strong criticism, the script will not be able to be established.For this reason, it is suggested that Beiying choose another shooting topic, or make a fundamental rewrite, otherwise, even if the filming is completed, the film bureau will have difficulty passing.

For the above opinions, Beijing Film Studio, together with the relevant creative personnel, should earnestly study the spirit of the "Changsha Conference" and correct creative thinking. After Director Han finished reading, Wang Shuo and I were speechless for a long time. After a while of silence, Director Han asked: How many shots have you taken? I hurriedly said: It has been more than ten days, and more than one million has been spent. Director Han smoked a cigarette and said after a long while: Stop it. Wang Shuo asked again: Can we finish filming first? Factory Manager Han smiled wryly: "It's very clear in the text, and it won't be approved after the filming is over."

I was a little anxious, and said: How can there be a rape scene in our book?How do you change it?You can change it any way you want. Director Han looked at me, hesitating to speak, and after a while, he said: "Then you go and change it, and then shoot after you change it and pass it... I can tell you that even if you change the script, there is little hope of passing it." . I said: But our script was approved by Beijing Film Studio, and there is a production order issued by Beijing Film Studio. Director Han said with a sullen face: Now this power of Beijing Film Studio has been withdrawn.

I said again: It doesn't make sense.We stood by the pool and asked if you could jump?You say you can dance. We jumped down, and there was boiling water in it, which scalded us to death. Director Han patted the table: You can sue me, I am the legal person of Beijing Film Studio, and I can bear all the responsibilities. Let me tell you, you are not the only one who is unlucky. Beijing Film Studio produced more than 20 films this year, and now 8 of them have been shot.Including Wang Shuo's. There is a buzz in my mind, it is also our video. The two films add up to five or six million, and they are all in vain.

It is late at night as I write this.It was sub-zero outside, but my back was sweating profusely. On the way back, neither Wang Shuo nor I spoke. The assistant director who was waiting on the scene called to inquire, saying that the extras on the scene were getting impatient. I said: Check them out and let them go home. The art department called and asked if it should be demolished? I said: Check them out, let's take it apart. The production department called and said that the theater should also charge as agreed. I said: Take it. In the afternoon, the whole crew had a meeting, and I announced the disbandment of the crew.

The corridors that are bustling and noisy every day are empty in an instant. My heart is empty too. He drank wine at night and passed out outside the restaurant until he was drunk. When I woke up the next day, Xu Fan saw my tears falling.She handed me the mirror, and I saw from the mirror that on the right side of the head, there was a piece of flesh-colored scalp the size of a thumb, and the hair on it disappeared.Commonly known as "ghost shaving". I shaved my head that day.That was the first time I shaved my head since I could remember. My friend Ai Weiwei took a picture of it, which is still on the bookshelf.

The day of the incident was April 1, 1996.In western countries, this day is "April Fool's Day". Four years later, I adjusted the script of "Living a Wretched Life" and renamed it. The script was completed by the Film Bureau and was released nationwide in October 2000. The review comments are simple: pass.Agree to mass copy processing.Agree to release at home and abroad. In the same year, the Film Bureau recommended the film to participate in the Cairo International Film Festival. Won: Best Film Award, Best Screenplay Award, Best Actor Award, Best Actress Award. In order to commend and encourage the wonderful performances of the young actors in the film, the jury specially awarded the young actor Wu Xu the "Special Jury Award".