Chapter 5 Fives

The dormitory for female college students at the Central Academy of Drama.It's like the worst small inn where the "old errand runners" in the Northeast live.At least that's how the talented young female writer Zhang Xinxin lived in the dormitory before graduation.There seemed to be no heating at all, or it was working but not much warmer than it was outside.There are four beds, two of which are empty, and the bare bed boards are full of miscellaneous things.Fortunately, Xin Xin's quilt is rolled up, which is easy to roll like a Hanamaki.Lao Li and I sat on her bed.There is a small table next to the bed, but the table is covered with manuscript paper, and the wastebasket is full of "snow lotus flowers".It seems that there is a lack of "flower fairy" in this dormitory.In one corner was a pile of rubbish.Bowls, plates, and lunch boxes are placed on the windowsill like handicrafts.What caught my attention was that there was a broken ashtray on Xin Xin's desk, which contained a lot of "content".

Xin Xin's classmate was painstakingly adjusting a nine-inch "Peony" version of black and white TV, but couldn't adjust the picture no matter what. Old Li Gan and I sat bored, so we struck up a conversation and asked, "Is it broken?" She said, "It's not broken, I watched it before I moved from home." Then I asked, "Where are you from?" I said, "I'm from Beijing Film Academy, and he is." Question: "Do you know Liang Xiaosheng from Beiying, right?" I said, "That kid is me." She looked at me carefully: "Is it you?"

I said, "That's right." "My God!" she said, "I don't even recognize you." I asked, "Who are you?" She said: "I'm Bruce Lee! My teacher and I have been to your house several times, can't you remember?" I finally remembered and said, "You've changed a lot, too." "Fat," she said, "I'm married." From a female college student to a young woman, a qualitative change.Of course I had trouble recognizing her.She looked at me again, and said regretfully, "I never thought that you would become like this after three years of absence! When we first met, I thought you were okay!" I said, "I'm a dad gone."

She gave a very sympathetic "oh". I shaved my head bald in September. At that time, in November, my hair grew less than an inch, but my beard had not been shaved for a long time, and my face was barren.And just recovering from a serious illness, he looked tired and his face was painted with lead.Wearing a tattered "cotton monkey" and old leather shoes without laces, he has the image of an evil monk in vulgar attire.I have become less "able" than before, not only because I became a father, because I shaved my head, because of illness, but also because I became a writer.Women who have become actors become more and more beautiful, more "modern", and maintain their good-looking by being "modern".As a man of writers, he is doomed to become less and less "permissible".The effort will be spent on "dressing up" the manuscript paper, and I probably don't care what kind of bird I look like.

Lao Li said: "Let's wait a little longer and not disturb?" She said, "It's okay, it's okay." I asked, "How is Xin Xin feeling?" She said: "Xin Xin has been criticized more times, and she doesn't seem to care too much." It's another kind of "don't care". I said, "I don't care, this is the realm. Chinese writers should get used to being criticized, so they can deal with it calmly." She said, "It's not on your head that you are calm." I said, "Yes. Someone else's child being strangled to death is not as painful as my own child being strangled to death."

While talking, Xin Xin came back. I introduced Lao Li to her and showed my sincerity to her on Lao Li's behalf.She sat down and was silent. I said, "Lao Li is my friend, and I came to collect manuscripts for you sincerely. I don't look at the monk's face to see the Buddha's face." Xin Xin pondered for a long time, then Fang said: "Xiaosheng, it's not that I don't show friendship. I have almost published an article recently, and I have been criticized. The editorial department dare not post it. What do you think I wrote?" Are you still fucking able to write?” Flipping through the manuscript paper on the table, he said, “Actually, it’s not that I don’t want to write anymore. I still want to write, but I really can’t continue! It’s been a week. It's less than 6,000 words. I want to cool down for a while and think about some problems. I hope I can think without any interference." After speaking, she gathered all the manuscript paper on the table, put it in the drawer, and locked it.It seems that this life will no longer be taken out.

Lao Li said: "I will not force you to write an article. The purpose of my coming is more to see you, and to express our concern to you on behalf of this journal. If we keep the green hills, we will not be afraid of lack of firewood. We will have a long future in Japan. People, if a writer is in trouble, he will be neglected; if a writer is famous, he will be close to him, that would be too snobbish!" Lao Li is such a good editor, worthy of my friend. We chatted for nearly an hour, and we said goodbye after ten o'clock.In the howling night wind, we walked slowly, feeling unspeakable melancholy in our hearts.At that time, because of some kind of novel, "spreading pollution", it was included in the briefing.I understand his mood.Under the pressure, I came to Beijing to find Xin Xin to organize a manuscript. As the person in charge of a publication, this "chivalry and courage" makes me admire.

As for myself, to use the language of the "star" and "star" of the third and fourth-rate reporters in the Shanghai beach tabloids before liberation-it is very "popular".However, I am also melancholy, I am also depressed, and I am full of the desolation of "the death of the rabbit and the sorrow of the fox".Because it is impossible for me to play the role of "singer" or "drummer" in this era and society all my life.Once I also frown, shake my head, or stare at this era and this society, and say a few cold, sour, and harsh words, even if the words are true, I will "stand on the same horizon as Xin Xin" up".And a writer, no, a person, will probably frown, shake his head, or stare at certain things at certain times.It is always inevitable that something will be said to make some people uncomfortable.Reaching the realm of "picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and seeing Nanshan leisurely", detachment is detachment, leisurely is leisurely, and the writer is no longer a writer in this "detachment" and "leisurely"!The literary world has never been a Buddhist temple.If you want to "transcendence", it is better to abandon the pen and paper and count the rosary beads, and it is better to escape into Buddhism.

Later, an editor from a certain newspaper came to visit and said that he wanted to write an article. Taking two young writers as examples, Liang Xiaosheng represented the "correct" creative path, and Zhang Xinxin represented the "wrong" creative path.Forcing me to talk about my experience as a "correct representative", I was disgusted at first, and then furious, and I was rudely "sent" out of the house. I am not scheming, nor do I want to fish for "political straw" in the ups and downs of the literary world.When you are needed to be some kind of "political prop", they will lift you up high; as soon as the drumbeat stops, they will throw you on the stage with their hands and throw you "backward".There is still some "savvy" in accumulating political common sense rather than experience for later generations.And some editors and journalists obviously look down on you in their hearts, and for the sake of their profession, or perhaps for other reasons, they insist on painting you with some kind of paint and putting you on a high profile, which is really dishonest. up!

Later, a certain magazine asked me to write an article like "Me and Literature".At that time, I felt that there were so many things to say in my heart, and it seemed that I couldn't express it quickly, so I wrote it.More than 8,000 words, of which more than 2,000 words are about Xin Xin and her works.It describes the state of mind, feelings, and thoughts when Comrade Li Ji and I visited her late at night.I remember the words written in it: "Xin Xin is thinking. I think thinking is a serious moment for anyone, a sacred moment, and should be respected. To interfere with other people's thinking, no matter in what way, No matter what the motivation is, whether it is good or well-meaning, it is actually disgusting. Today when spiritual civilization is advocated, at least it is an uncivilized behavior. I advise them to learn to be more polite..."

An article that spits out quickly will inevitably lose its implicitness.It is reasonable for this article to be returned at that time.I wanted to send it to Xin Xin for a look, but I put it away when I thought it might be a flattery.It is still preserved today. During the fourth "Writing Congress", a critic asked me: "Have you read Zhang Xinxin's long essay "Back to Hometown" published in "People's Literature"?" The answer was not. Said: "It must be read, and it is very well written." I left the meeting two days later and took that issue of "People's Literature" to Shijiazhuang.I finished watching it in the guest house, and it was really good.In that issue of "People's Literature", there was a "recommendation of 'readers' favorite works'".So I wrote a very serious recommendation letter overnight, about a thousand words, and sent it to "People's Literature". "Back to My Hometown" was not rated as "Readers' Favorite Work", it is said that I was the only voter.Alas, good works are often buried!No wonder Comrade Wang Meng advocated editing and publishing the "Selected Unselected Works" to make up for the "regret of lost pearls". I still believe that Xin Xin has the talent to write screenplays.Before her assignment was delayed for more than half a year, he asked someone to express his wishes to "recommend" her to Beijing Film Academy.After reading "Back to My Hometown", I can't help but regret it.I thought to myself: Liang Xiaosheng, Liang Xiaosheng, you are a big fool!No one will pull a strong person to "cover" yourself like you!Zhang Xinxin joined Beijing Film Academy, you should simply "go back to your hometown"!When this idea came to my mind, it was like a person looking in the mirror and saw a hideous grimace, and his soul couldn't help sweating.Admitting that a certain piece of work by someone else is better than one's own, and writing a "recommendation letter" or something, this kind of small "nobleness" is beneficial but harmless, but it is just a "noble" self-expression.But if you want to pull others to your side, let the brilliance of others reveal your mediocrity, the ghost in your heart will gnaw your soul! People, people!Why can't you avoid being so jealous?After returning to the factory, I still "recommended" her to the leader, who also said that she could be considered.She hesitated again, so I had no choice but to give up... Zhang Xinxin, listen!If you don't write one-three good movie scripts in your life, you will be sorry for yourself!Write it, and if necessary, I would like to be an editor for you very responsibly like I did back then.I'm a screenwriter now, and not every screenwriter is happy to be someone else's editor.And there is one thing you can rest assured that no matter how good a script you write, I will not put my own name after yours.I've never been in the light of others.When the time comes, you get your screenwriting fee, and I get mine.Even if you write a screenplay that might win an "Oscar" award, I'm not tempted.This professional ethics is still there, not to mention that you are not a "good stubble". At this point, I have to defend the film editors a few words.Because I remembered what you said when you met me for the first time a few years ago: "I know, there is no celebrity recommendation, and there is no backdoor convenience. For someone like me, it is wishful thinking to make a film in Beiying... " At that time, you and I were not young writers, but belonged to the category of "literary youth".I am pitifully "round-the-wall", but you are extremely "crazy".But like you, I am eager to show my energy as soon as possible, so I can't help but feel some kind of suppression. In fact, I have been a film editor for several years, but I think it is not so easy to rely on celebrity recommendations or go through some "back door" to achieve the goal of publishing a film in Beijing Film Academy.Above the editor is the editorial team leader, and above the editorial team leader are the directors of the editorial department.The directors also said that it doesn't count, and it has to be discussed by the editorial department to finalize the draft.After the discussion, it is still invalid, and it has to be approved by the party committee, and sometimes even alarmed the Film Bureau, the Ministry of Culture, and the Central Propaganda Department.To advance to a higher "stage", it is necessary for a certain leading comrade of the Party Central Committee to come forward and say a word. The shooting of a movie is really difficult and difficult.Now that "shooting autonomy" has been delegated to each factory, the situation has improved slightly, but the possibility of "making mistakes" has also been delegated to each factory at the same time.Gatekeepers are still more concerned than journal managers.A manuscript is published and withdrawn, and the loss is only a few thousand yuan, at most tens of thousands of yuan.And if a film is put into shooting and then "dismounted" halfway, the loss may be hundreds of thousands, hundreds of thousands.Nowadays, "economic benefit" is emphasized, and the loss includes the bonus of the entire factory staff, which is "complaints".Film editors, except for a few people who are keen to fake the names of celebrities or chief executives, pushing mediocre works in order to get editorial fees, most of them still have artistic conscience. I feel like I'm invulnerable at this point.Too much modesty is hypocrisy. When our "Film Creation" of Beijing Film was about to resume publication, one day the director called me to the office and handed me a script and said, "Don't delay, finish it early. After finishing it, write me a written opinion." I took the script, went back to my office, sat down and read it. There are several "instructions" pinned with pins inside. The first page was written by a leading comrade at the time to his secretary, and only the author's name was mentioned, which shows that the relationship is extraordinary.The general idea is that I have read the script, it is very cinematic, and the theme is very meaningful.The characters are prominent, and the plot twists and turns are vivid.I want the secretary to tell the author that it has been transferred to a comrade in charge of the Film Bureau. The second page is the "opinion" of a comrade in charge of the Film Bureau. Of course, he "fully agrees" with the above-mentioned "opinion".Probably in order to show piety and serious attitude, I also mentioned a few innocuous "may be modified".The word "like" expresses a lot of caution. The third page is the approval note from the director of our Beijing Film Studio at the time——I will read it by the director of the editorial department. The director had too many manuscripts, so he trusted me, so I "read" them.After reading these "official approvals", I smiled at an old editor in the same room: "This author is not the son of a big cadre, but must be a nephew and son-in-law or something." The old editor teased: "Your good job came Already." I replied, "Let's see and talk." This script is adapted from the posthumous work "War Horse" by the late famous screenwriter Comrade Haimo of Beiying. After reading it, I didn't see any "ingenuity".After contemplating for a long time, I went to the reference room to dig out the original work and read it carefully.After reading it, I don't think so much.Comrade Haimo's original work is about a horse of a People's Liberation Army platoon leader who died in battle during the period of suppressing bandits in Xinjiang. The horse is the cavalry's "second comrade-in-arms".Later, he killed a bandit leader in the battle and got a snow-white horse that was exactly like his "comrade in arms".The original novel is indeed a better work. I have always believed that from novels to movies, the so-called adaptation should be "re-creation", which should re-reflect the adaptor's own artistic processing and artistic conception. "Re-creation" means artistic "re-sublimation", ideological "re-discovery", and "re-combination" of plot details.If you don't see these, then the adaptation is a mediocre adaptation, and being a screenwriter is too easy.Moreover, when a short story is adapted into a film, it is self-evident how much the adaptor's own life and artistic accumulation should be supplemented. Based on this artistic point of view, I think the adaptation of the script is mediocre, which is quite different from the opinions of those in charge. I also learned that Comrade Haimo had personally adapted his novel before his death, and Beijing Film Academy had even printed it, and it was "swept away" during the "Cultural Revolution". I felt in a dilemma and didn't know how to write the "written opinion", so I simply took it to the director and said it face to face. The director asked again: "How did the adaptation go?" I said: "Break lines in a novel does not mean it is an adaptation." The director understood what I meant and pondered. I also said: "The subject matter is also a bit outdated. The 'Gang of Four' has just been smashed, and the people hope to see films that reflect the 'ten years of turmoil' positively or sideways. Furthermore, even if it is filmed, Comrade Haimo's own adapted script should also be filmed. It is a kind of remembrance and commemoration of the famous screenwriter of our factory." It can be seen that the director is also quite embarrassed, smoked in silence for a while, and finally said: "Well, let's show it to the deputy director. The publication will be restored soon, and it will be revised and published, and the matter will be settled." The deputy director, an old comrade with high moral character and high level of artistic judgment, said to me after reading it: "Even if it is published, the author must carefully revise it several times." I called the author and asked him to come to the factory to listen to the opinions of me and the deputy director. He thought it was a long way and hoped to talk with him at his home. I thought that the deputy director's house was closer to his house, and I agreed to save the old man from walking a lot.At that time our deputy director was on medical leave at home. From Beijing Film Studio to the train station, the road is far enough.I backed up the car three times and arrived at the train station, and I had to back up the car once, and I had to walk for ten minutes after getting off the car.I haven't been to that area since I arrived in Beijing, the streets are unfamiliar, and the agreed time is early—8:30.I left the factory at 6:30 and couldn't eat breakfast. I bought a piece of bread near Beijing Railway Station and ate it while walking. When I arrived at the author's home, I naturally asked the deputy director to discuss my opinion first. The old man read it very seriously, made many marks on the edge of the manuscript paper with a pencil, wrote a lot of "comments", and talked about it while flipping through it. The old man talked about one, and the author "explained" one.Or say: "You don't understand here." Or say: "This can't be changed according to your suggestion." Or say: "I think this is a good change." I couldn't bear it anymore, and interrupted him: "We respect the artistic opinions of the editors themselves, and our opinions are only for your reference. It is not too much to ask you to revise a draft. Please send us to read after you revise!" "After that, he got up and went out without saying goodbye. The deputy director had no choice but to leave with me. When I walked to the street, the deputy director criticized me: "Why is he so impatient?" I said, "Why is he so insincere?" The deputy director said: "He thinks he is not comparable to ordinary authors, you haven't seen this yet?" I said: "I can see it, so I, an ordinary editor, don't want to be the editor in charge of an extraordinary author like him, please be smart!" The deputy director smiled and said: "After we research, you must be the editor in charge! Didn't you have breakfast? Come to my house to eat, or let's find a place, and I will treat you to a meal." A few days later, the script was sent back . I looked it over, and there was no change except for a few typos that the old man and I ticked off.Another "labour" of the author is to use an eraser to erase the marks or comments made by the old man on the grid. I thought I was too stingy with my brain cells!Set aside the drawer and see what he does?Just one day later, I called and asked: "Have you made a decision?" I asked, "What decision?" The author said: "Relevant leaders and comrades have taken this script seriously and fully affirmed it. The director of Beijing Film Factory has no objection. Why are you picking on the bone?" I said: "Then you let them directly issue a production order to shoot! Why are you still calling me, the editor in charge?" After that, I hung up the phone.