enjoyebooks Chapter 92 The Era of Young People
Chapter 92 The Era of Young People
Chapter 91 The Era of Young People
While "Reign of Assassins" was in full swing of preparation, "Sherlock on the Plains" continued to dominate the market for some time.
Before filming of "Reign of Assassins" began, the film had grossed 4633 million yuan at the box office.
Although it can't compare to Zhang Jun's "About Time," the return on investment is already quite good considering the film's scale.
Logically, for such a successful film, the investors should have held a celebration banquet. However, neither director Zhang Jun nor lead actor Uncle Benshan were present, so the banquet was canceled.
However, Uncle Benshan, who was preparing for his Spring Festival Gala skit, accepted an interview with the movie channel and talked about his role in the film and his evaluation of Zhang Jun.
"He is a very insightful director, extremely insightful."
Uncle Benshan didn't hold back his praise in front of the camera: "Director Zhang is very young. Young people have a lot of ideas and unlimited imagination."
"The moment he showed me the script, I agreed to star in the movie because the story was just so good."
Uncle Benshan continued, "Whether it's a sketch or a movie, if you can bring a good show to the audience and make them happy and laugh, then I think that's the right thing to do."
"Sherlock on the Plains" also received praise from state media.
Perhaps the authorities felt there were too many works that smeared rural areas, so when a film that accurately reflected the current situation in rural areas finally came out, it immediately caught the attention of the authorities.
At a meeting, the leader in charge of cultural affairs used "Sherlock on the Plains" as an example to affirm the development of Chinese-language films and encourage filmmakers to continue their efforts.
As a director with a special identity, Zhang Jun naturally attracted the attention of some leaders.
Han Sanping called Zhang Jun specifically, saying that it was the leader's instruction to let Zhang Jun continue to make contributions in the field of film culture.
To be honest, Zhang Jun himself didn't expect that a film he casually shot would be taken seriously by his superiors, which surprised him.
Fan Bingbing also found it strange: "Your film is of normal quality; I don't see anything different about it."
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Zhang Jun had figured it out. He explained, "In recent years, those directors have made too many films that the authorities don't approve of. Although some of them are true, some are maliciously exaggerated."
As the saying goes, "Don't wash your dirty linen in public." The authorities have long been dissatisfied with this kind of work, let alone malicious slander.
Although the main storyline of "Sherlock on the Plains" is detective work, it presents content that is different from those works.
In order to correct the wrongs, praise is naturally due.
Fan Pangbing nodded: "I see. So, do you think those people will listen?"
Zhang Jun shook his head: "Of course not. They would think I lack principles and backbone, but it doesn't matter. People like me will eventually be abandoned by the times."
As he spoke, he laughed and said, "But for me, this is a good thing. As long as I can maintain a certain level of performance, I will be able to gain attention from the official level."
Fan Pangbing seemed to be deep in thought; she sensed that Zhang Jun had grand ambitions.
After designating Part 1 of "The Martian" as the magazine's featured work and arranging for its printing and layout.
At Qin Li's request, Jia Si took a sample copy of the "Science Fiction World" magazine to the mysterious writer Zhang Jun.
He first went to Hengdian, contacted Zhang Jun's assistant Gao Yan, and learned that Zhang Jun was at Wufeng Temple at the moment, so he went to Wufeng Temple to see Zhang Jun.
Gao Yan greeted Jia Si: "You must be Jia Si. Come with me, the boss is filming upstairs."
Unable to contain her curiosity, Jia Si asked, "Is your boss an actor?"
Gao Yan gave Jia Si a strange look: "Our boss is a director, haven't you heard of him?"
"director?"
Jia Si suddenly remembered: "Wasn't he the director of 'About Time'?"
"Yeah!" Gao Yan said, as if to say, "You don't even recognize this person?"
Jia Si was shocked, internally exclaiming "Holy crap!" A director had written a science fiction novel, and such a brilliant one at that—it was truly astonishing.
It's not surprising that Jia Si didn't recognize Zhang Jun. After all, China is such a big country, and nowadays, those who know Zhang Jun's name are basically people in the film and television industry and veteran movie fans.
If you don't usually watch movies or pay much attention to film production credits, you might not know who Zhang Jun is.
After all, Zhang Jun is relatively new to the industry, unlike seasoned veterans like Zhang Yimou. While the media has reported on Zhang Jun, he has maintained a low profile, only appearing in public for film promotions.
This is the difference between directors and stars. Stars need popularity and online traffic, while directors need their works to speak for themselves.
Of course, times will change, and directors will become more and more involved in front of the camera, gaining greater and greater fame.
This is a good thing for Zhang Jun. He can take advantage of this golden age and forgo big-name stars. He can use his influence and appeal alone to support a film, even with a bunch of newcomers.
Jia Si followed Gao Yan to the entrance of Wufeng Temple, which had now become a filming location. Gao Yan invited Jia Si to go inside the tent to rest and have some tea, while Zhang Jun continued working.
"Which one is Zhang Jun?" Jia Si searched for eyes in the room.
He saw an actress from "Young Justice Bao," I think her name was Li Shuangbing. Another one was from...
The handsome guy in "Never Close Your Eyes" seems to be named Lu Yi.
Gao Yan pointed to a handsome young man in a black trench coat who was talking to someone and said, "That's my boss, Director Zhang Jun."
Jia Si was stunned again. Judging from Zhang Jun's youth, he seemed to be only twenty-three or twenty-four years old.
He's such a young child and already a director? And he even wrote a science fiction novel?
You can't blame Jia Si for this; as the old saying goes, "A young man with no beard is unreliable."
Being young is great, but it also means having little experience when you first enter the workforce. You need a long period of learning and practice to become successful.
The fact that Zhang Jun became a director at such a young age can only mean two things.
One reason is his strong family background, which gives him the resources to take risks. Although Jia Si doesn't understand the film and television industry, he knows that being a director is a difficult job.
Without a family background, it's impossible for a young person to challenge for the director's position right away.
Another thing is that Zhang Jun himself is actually a genius.
Following the boss's instructions, Gao Yan gave Jia Si a brief introduction to Zhang Jun's background.
When Jia Si heard that Zhang Jun graduated from Tsinghua University, she leaned towards the latter possibility: Zhang Jun was a genius.
He was curious about what it was like on set for such a successful young director, so after taking a couple of sips of tea, he went out of the tent to observe the filming of the scene.
Believe it or not, this was his first time filming on a movie set, and curiosity led him to get closer. He only stopped and watched from the edge when the crew stopped him.
Gao Yan reported to Zhang Jun: "Boss, Jia Si, the editor of *Science Fiction World*, is here."
.
"Okay, I understand!"
Zhang Jun did not go to see Jia Si immediately, but focused on filming the scene.
Wufeng Temple is an ancient temple dating back to the Tang Dynasty, which was rebuilt in 1850. The film crew contacted the relevant local authorities and obtained the necessary filming permits.
The set design team on set went to great lengths for this scene.
Two ancient trees stand before the temple, their branches gnarled and twisted. The chill of deep winter seeps into the bluestone slabs. The mist lingers, and smoke from the incense burner rises gently, carrying smoke specially made by the film crew. The scene conveys a sense of solemnity and solitude befitting this ancient temple.
Zhang Jun, wearing a trench coat, sat behind the monitor, clutching a rolled-up script. Qian Jiale squatted beside him, the two of them watching a playback of a scene that had just been filmed.
In winter, most directors don't care about their appearance when filming, and they often appear unkempt with unshaven beards. But Zhang Jun is different; he pays great attention to his image.
His trench coat outfit gave him the look of a domineering CEO from an idol drama. The production crew even assigned a photography assistant to take pictures of Zhang Jun on set.
These work photos will be posted online, using Zhang Jun's handsome pictures to attract viewers, especially female viewers.
This is also part of the publicity plan. The investment in this film is too large, and Zhang Jun has gone to great lengths to promote it.
In the replay, Li Shuangbing, who plays Xi Yu, dressed in night clothes, glided up the temple wall like a ghost, his narrow sword drawing a cold arc in the morning light.
Lu Yi, who plays Lu Zhu, stands quietly in the center of the courtyard in a gray-white monk's robe, holding no weapon but a pair of dark iron chopsticks.
"Click!"
Zhang Jun picked up the walkie-talkie: "Xi Yu, the moment you land, the camera will capture your profile, and your eyes will look even more empty."
You're not here to kill people, you're here to end a mission, you know what I mean?
Lu Zhu, very good, you've regained your composure.
Li Shuangbing nodded, and the makeup artist quickly came over to touch up the powder.
Lu Yi let out a slight breath, weighing the pair of specially made iron chopsticks in his hand.
Thicker and longer than ordinary chopsticks, heavy and connected by a thin chain at the end, they can be disassembled and reassembled. They were made by the props team through repeated molding according to Chin Ka-lok's requirements.
Chin Ka-lok pointed to the monitor and said to Cheung Chun, "Director, just now when Xi Yu stabbed with her sword 'Swaying Willow in the Wind,' Lu Zhu used chopsticks to 'Close the Door and Push the Moon' to catch it. The force and angle were just right."
But I think the sound effect of the metal rubbing against the sword when the chopsticks are used should be made a bit harsher in post-production.
It shouldn't be too brittle; it should show that Lu Zhu used internal force to firmly "lock" it in, not just by chance.
That makes sense.
Zhang Jun nodded and turned to the sound effects team leader next to him: "Old Chen, take note, the sound of metal rubbing together should have a bit of a soft, taut feel, like the tension of twisting a rope."
He stood up, walked to the center of the courtyard, and took a training sword and a pair of iron chopsticks from the props.
Li Shuangbing and Lu Yi also gathered around.
"Let's go over the core logic of this action again."
Zhang Jun pointed lightly with his chopsticks: "Lu Zhu's martial arts are far superior to Xi Yu's."
But he didn't come to fight; he came to enlighten.
Therefore, the core of his actions can be summed up in one word—"stop."
He gestured for the martial arts actor to impersonate Xi Yu and thrust his sword at him.
Chin Ka-lok personally demonstrated, flipping his wrist so that the chopsticks did not block the sword but slid in along the spine. Then he closed the chopsticks together, making a "pincer" motion.
"Look, it's not blocking, it's not picking, it's clamping."
Chin Ka-lok explained, "It's like an adult holding a branch that a child is wildly swinging. The key is not about suppressing the force, but about landing precisely on that point where the sword can no longer move."
Lu Zhu, when you act, your eyes shouldn't show any competitive spirit, but rather a kind of—well, a kind of compassionate helplessness.
You don't want to hit her, but you have to stop her.
Lu Yi pondered for a moment: "Director, could I add a slight head-shaking motion after I clamp the sword between my fingers?"
Very subtle.
"Okay! This is good!"
Zhang Jun's eyes lit up: "It's this kind of subtle handling that makes you shake your head. It's not because you disdain her swordsmanship, but because you sigh at her obsession with killing."
He then looked at Li Shuangbing: "Xiyu, your emotional layers need to be more intense. At first, it should be the cold ruthlessness of an assassin completing a mission, but after a few moves, you should realize that this monk is unfathomable, and then turn into surprise and anxiety."
Finally, the sword was firmly held between the chopsticks, unable to break free or pierce through. The shock and even a hint of fear brought about by the disparity in strength were palpable.
You've never encountered an opponent like this before; he doesn't use any killer moves, yet he leaves you feeling utterly powerless.
Li Shuangbing pursed her lips, nodded slowly, and unconsciously stroked the hilt of her sword.
Chin Ka-lok then added details about the movements: "The four chopstick techniques I designed are: 'Closed Door Pushing the Moon' is an interception, 'Golden Thread Entangling the Wrist' is a lock and grab, 'Crane Shadow in the Cold Pond' is to deflect force, and 'Ancient Well Without Waves' is the final stance."
Every move is not an attack, but rather a way to guide, neutralize, or prevent.
Lu Zhu, when you move, your lower body should be as stable as a rock, but your upper body, especially your wrists, should be flexible.
"Iron chopsticks are hard, but the force you're using is like iron wrapped in cotton."
He stepped down to demonstrate, and the pair of iron chopsticks in his hands moved with the grace of a flower plucked from a willow branch, and the strength of a vajra wielding a pestle, switching between softness and strength in an instant.
Especially the last move, "Still Water in a Well," where he crossed his chopsticks to hold the virtual sword behind him, and his whole being seemed to calm down instantly, with all the outward force disappearing without a trace.
Only the point where the chopsticks and the sword touched exuded an unshakable "steadiness".
Actors of this era generally have some basic martial arts skills, and as long as it's not a high-difficulty fight scene, they can do it themselves without any problem.
Of course, you should also be careful to avoid getting injured.
"Brilliant!"
Jia Si, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but whisper in admiration: "The way they use chopsticks is truly Zen-like. It's not about fighting and killing, it's about reasoning."
Zhang Jun noticed Jia Si, turned around and smiled, "That's exactly what I mean. In our 'Reign of Assassins,' the action isn't the goal; it's an extension of the characters' personalities and relationships."
Lu Zhu used chopsticks, Xi Yu used a sword; one wanted to cross, the other wanted to kill—the tools themselves created conflict.
He clapped his hands and addressed the entire audience: "All departments, get ready. Let's go over the scene one more time. Actors, try to find the feeling we were talking about earlier. Stuntmen, get in sync!"
We're not rushing the schedule. This scene will be filmed with both dramatic and action sequences; the emotions and movements must be spot-on.
The script supervisor claps the clapperboard: "Scene 72, Shot 3, Second Take!"
Action!
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Li Shuangbing's eyes sharpened, and Xi Yu moved again. This time, her advance was more elusive, and her sword light rained down on Lu Zhu.
Lu Yi (Lu Zhu) did not move his feet, but used his waist as an axis. His gray-white monk's robe rippled, and the iron chopsticks in his hand transformed into two black lights, sometimes pointing, sometimes guiding, sometimes entangling, and sometimes clamping.
"Ding, ding, hiss—"
The sound of metal clashing was short and muffled.
Every time the chopsticks made contact with the sword's edge, they precisely landed at the point of force conversion, subtly neutralizing the sword's sharp momentum.
The more swift Xi Yu's sword strikes became, the more steadily Lu Zhu deflected them. That composure, in turn, put even greater pressure on his opponent.
After several moves, the look of surprise and doubt in Xi Yu's eyes grew stronger. Finally, she used her killing move. The sword trembled and made a buzzing sound as it pierced straight for Lu Zhu's throat!
Lu Zhu finally moved at this moment.
He took a half step to the side, and his chopsticks moved like dragons emerging from the water. Instead of blocking, he met the sword's momentum with his own. Just as the tip of the sword touched the monk's robe, his chopsticks cleverly moved in a quick interplay!
"bass--!"
A sickening metallic scraping sound rang out.
The narrow sword's blade was firmly held three inches from the tip by those seemingly ordinary iron chopsticks. No matter how much internal energy Ren Xiyu channeled, the sword remained motionless, as if cast in an anvil.
Lu Yi (Lu Zhu) looked at Xi Yu, who was close at hand, her eyes filled with shock and confusion. As designed, she shook her head very subtly, almost imperceptibly.
His eyes were complex, filled with pity and helplessness, as if to say: Look, this is what you're so attached to, it can't even break through a pair of chopsticks.
"Cut!"
Zhang Jun stared at the monitor and watched the replay three times.
"When the emotions are right, the rhythm of the movements is also right."
He pondered for a moment: "But—the close-up of the moment the chopsticks caught the sword should be given half a second longer."
I want the audience to see the changes in Xi Yu's eyes, and to read more from Lu Zhu's slight head shake.
"Add more light to Lu Yi's eyes, give them that all-seeing clarity, not a murky look."
"besides,"
He added, "Xi Yu, the detail of your wrist trembling when you subconsciously tried to draw your sword but couldn't is excellent, keep it."
That feeling of frustration—of having one's power completely controlled—was there.
He surveyed the scene: "We've secured this take. Now we'll change camera positions and add close-ups and reaction shots. Everyone's in great form, keep it up!"
The atmosphere relaxed for a moment, then immediately tensed up again.
The lighting and photography teams quickly adjusted their equipment.
Li Shuangbing walked to the side, and her assistant put a coat on her. She was still gently moving her wrists, clearly showing that the contest just now, even if it was just acting, had taken a lot of effort.
Lu Yi looked down at the iron chopsticks in his hand, silently pondering the power of "stopping war".
After Zhang Jun returned to the monitor, he whispered to Qian Jiale beside him, "Brother Le, this set of movements is perfect. It's novel, makes sense, and can help the actors portray their characters."
Chin Ka-lok wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed, "Director, you've got it right. Props serve the characters." I'll remember that.
In the future, we need to think more about this when designing movements.
Zhang Jun smiled as his gaze swept across the busy film set, the temple's outline appearing even more solemn under the lights.
He knew very well that this "chopsticks versus sword" scene might not amaze the audience like those grand scenes of flying and leaping.
But it will be one of the cornerstones of the "Reign of Assassins" style, a martial arts flavor that pays more attention to internal logic and serves the narrative and characters.
After a busy day of filming, the crew officially wrapped up and returned to their hotel.
Jia Si observed for a whole day and didn't feel tired at all; on the contrary, he was very excited. He saw Zhang Jun's calm and composed command on set and knew that Zhang Jun was a very capable person.
More importantly, Zhang Jun has enough media attention.
A graduate of Tsinghua University became a director and achieved great success, and then wrote a science fiction novel. That's an amazing story!
Even if it were bragging, it probably wouldn't be this exaggerated, but the facts speak for themselves.
This legendary experience is also a good thing for the works featured in this issue of Science Fiction World.
The author's identity will likely pique the interest of many readers in this novel, thereby attracting more readers and boosting magazine sales.
The most urgent task now is to see the later parts of the novel and make sure that the content maintains the same quality as the first part.