Chapter 108: All Big Lei Zi, How Can I Find Inspiration!
Soon, Shen Qing withdrew his thoughts and began listening to Jay Chou’s introduction.
One must be meticulous when it comes to work.
Ten minutes later, Shen Qing understood the general story and, based on the plot he had seen in his past life, connected the storyline.
Anyway.
This is a melodramatic film, set in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, but its core is inspired by “Thunderstorm” and “Hamlet.” The entire film revolves around three keywords: chaos, extravagance, and patricide!
…
Chaos refers to the tangled relationships.
The Eldest Prince and the Queen were having an affair while the Great King was away on campaign.
The Eldest Prince, unsatisfied with the Queen’s beautiful, plump, and delicate body, couldn’t resist sleeping with a palace maid, referred to as “Little Mochi.”
And this palace maid’s identity was incredibly dramatic; she was the Eldest Prince’s maternal half-sister. They were essentially…
Upon returning to the court, the Great King, through informants within the palace, learned of the affair between the Queen and the Eldest Prince and ordered the imperial physician to poison the Queen.
The Queen, unwilling to accept her fate, instructed the Second Prince to rebel, and she began embroidering chrysanthemums daily in the palace, signifying: the uprising would commence on the Double Ninth Festival.
The youngest, the Third Prince, was also restless and full of schemes. He also intended to use the Double Ninth Festival, a day for family gatherings, to kill the Emperor and his two brothers, and then seize the throne himself.
This plot is chaotic!
…
Extravagance refers to the lavish scale of the production.
This film reportedly had an investment of 360 million yuan. In terms of actor salaries, costumes, props, the number of actors, and the grandeur of the sets, it was the most extravagant commercial film in Chinese film history, bar none.
Many people couldn’t understand, how could they dare to invest 360 million yuan? Why was Chow Yun-fat alone paid 40 million yuan? Last year, the highest-grossing film in China, “The Promise,” only made 181 million yuan!!
With a 360 million yuan investment, the investors would need at least 1 billion yuan to break even. Isn’t that absurd…
Were the investors too foolish?
Of course not.
If they could earn 360 million yuan, they were certainly not fools. It could only mean that this money needed to be channeled through a clean avenue, and even a slight loss would be acceptable, within their tolerance.
…
Patricide is the core theme around which the entire film’s story unfolds.
However, patricide as a cultural symbol is not promoted in China, though it is frequently seen in many foreign artistic works.
Consequently, many have labeled “Curse of the Golden Flower” as having an ‘Eastern facade with a Western core.’
Especially those public intellectuals, they practically reached a climax, exclaiming, “Everyone, look! The most formidable director in China has made a blockbuster that also incorporates excellent foreign ideas.”
Shen Qing didn’t want to argue…
Because “Old Zhang” indeed copied.
But Shen Qing disagreed with the public intellectuals’ assertion that patricide was exclusively Western. Although instances of ‘patricide’ in China’s five-thousand-year history are few, the sheer length of history means a few examples can always be found.
For example: Liu Shao of the Liu Song dynasty killed Liu Yilong, and Zhu Yougui killed Zhu Wen during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
As for the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there were even more; regicide and usurpation were old traditions in the state of Chu.
…
As Shen Qing and Jay Chou were chatting, Zhang Yimou entered the room and began filming the next scene.
Shen Qing had never seen a film being shot.
He was very curious~
He followed behind Zhang Yimou.
Those female extras were bare-chested, with a band of white cloth wrapped around their chests, forcefully pushing out half of their bosoms. At first glance, even a fitness instructor with large pectoral muscles would feel inferior.
Hmm?
Who is that woman?
She looks so familiar?
Shen Qing focused his gaze and exclaimed, “Good heavens, it’s Zhang Tian’ai!”
She acted as a palace maid in “Golden Flower”!?
Shen Qing genuinely didn’t know about this.
However, it was indeed true.
Currently, Zhang Tian’ai is a “Bei Piao” (someone who moves to Beijing to pursue a career), working as an advertising model in Beijing and also selling houses part-time. She is determined to enter the entertainment circle and therefore frequently attends auditions for various film crews.
When Zhang Yimou was filming “Golden Flower,” the crew recruited extras near Beijing. With her good height, looks, and figure, she was selected without surprise, and she was positioned quite prominently.
Shen Qing observed Zhang Tian’ai for a while and nodded silently, “Indeed, if you squeeze them, they’ll show!”
Judging by her age, around eighteen or nineteen, she was likely born in ’86 or ’87, around the same age as Shen Qing.
Definitely a post-80s generation~
At this moment.
Zhang Tian’ai also noticed a young man looking at her. However, she was accustomed to it, having been looked at by boys like this frequently since childhood, and didn’t pay much attention.
But a fleeting glance surprised her immensely, “Hmm? Shen Qing? It really seems to be him… Why is he here on set? Is he making a cameo or writing the theme song?”
Zhang Tian’ai frequently watched “Super Girl” last year and knew Shen Qing; this year, she watched “Come On! Boys” and saw Shen Qing as a judge; a while ago, she also saw news of Shen Qing winning a major award at the Music Fengyun List…
She had long remembered this talented and handsome musician, who was the same age as her.
Women tend to fantasize~
She even dreamed of replacing Zhang Liangying.
But each time she woke up, she felt disappointed.
Zhang Liangying had already become a Little Heavenly Queen, while she was still an extra in Zhang Yimou’s crew, revealing her chest and cleavage. The gap was undeniably significant.
When a beautiful woman intensely desires something, and her family cannot provide assistance, she will leverage her only advantage: her beauty.
As the first scene concluded, Zhang Tian’ai made up her mind and chased after him, “Teacher Shen Qing, Teacher Shen Qing, wow, I finally get to meet you! I’m a fan of Zhang Liangying.”
Shen Qing turned around, saw her, and said calmly, “Hello!”
Furthermore.
He said nothing more.
Zhang Tian’ai felt a bit awkward, but she still moved closer and said, “Teacher Shen, can I take a photo with you? I really like you and Zhang Liangying; I bought two copies of your album.”
Too enthusiastic~
Her snow-white bosom almost pressed against Shen Qing’s face.
What 19-year-old young man could resist that?
Shen Qing glanced over and smiled, “Thank you very much. I wish you smooth filming!”
Zhang Tian’ai smiled slightly, appearing somewhat pure, yet there was an inherent charm about her, “I’m just an extra, with only a fleeting shot.”
“Keep working hard, and your wishes will come true in the future!”
“Thank you, Teacher Shen Qing.”
After speaking, Shen Qing left.
He had found his inspiration and would immediately find a place to sit down and start writing lyrics.
As Zhang Tian’ai watched him walk away, she felt immensely disappointed, a sense of powerlessness washing over her, much like failing to get into a university by just one point on the college entrance exam – helpless, distressed, and pained.
She had been a “Bei Piao” for several years with no achievements.
Zhang Tian’ai knew very well that if she couldn’t make a name for herself during these years of her youth and beauty, it would be extremely difficult to become famous later.
She watched from afar as Shen Qing sat on a lounge chair writing, her eyes filled with a yearning for success. She felt that Shen Qing could help her, and she was willing to sacrifice anything.
Meanwhile.
Shen Qing had long forgotten about Zhang Tian’ai. After all, there were so many female stars in the domestic entertainment industry—the ’85 flowers, ’90 little flowers, and ’00 little flowers—all waiting for his guidance in the near future. Zhang Tian’ai was not the most outstanding one, and he wasn’t particularly interested in a long-term commitment.
Not long after.
Zhang Yimou finished filming a few scenes and was preparing to move to another location. He happened to pass by Shen Qing and Jay Chou and took a look, smiling, “Wow, Shen the great talent lives up to his name. These lyrics are written beautifully.”
Jay Chou: “Huh? They’re finished? I hadn’t noticed.”
Gong Li leaned over to take a look and nodded, saying, “The lyrics have a great artistic conception and fit the film’s theme quite well.”
Shen Qing’s nose was filled with Gong Li’s fragrance. She touched her nose and smiled, “You flatter me. Director Zhang and Sister Li, please take a look…”
The lyrics were quickly passed around among everyone present.
Zhang Yimou: “Excellent, I think it’s very good!”
Gong Li: “Can you sing a bit?”
Shen Qing sang a section acapella. Jay Chou couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up, “Wow, it’s the same as my idea. I also think this arrangement has flavor.”
Of course~
In his past life, you were the one who arranged this song.
Shen Qing: “For this song, I want to use a male-female duet. Only then can it better fit the film’s theme. The singers should be Jaylen and Liangying; they should create a different kind of chemistry.”
Gong Li: “I think it’s great. Zhang Liangying’s voice is very suitable for this type of song. For example, ‘Peerless Under Heaven’ has a melancholic yet ethereal feel. Jay Chou’s voice is also quite deep, so it should be very effective.”
Zhang Yimou: “Haha, Shen Qing, you truly impress me. How about this: can you record a demo for me in the next few days?”
Shen Qing: “No problem!”
Zhang Yimou: “We’ll also need your and Liangying’s help with publicity. Of course, compensation will be handled properly; our crew is not short on money.”
…
At noon, Shen Qing ate the crew’s meal before leaving.
Just as he reached the entrance of the Beijing Film Studio, a woman’s voice called out to him from behind.
Dressed in costume, Zhang Tian’ai chased after him, her chest heaving up and down, hands on her knees, panting, “Teacher Shen Qing, can I have your phone number? I really want to learn English from you, no, music…”
Shen Qing finally understood the feeling of those big shots being pursued by ordinary people for jobs. It wasn’t particularly pleasant; on the contrary, it was somewhat frustrating…
“I don’t take students.”
“Oh… Teacher Shen Qing, I’m actually very diligent in my work. Do you need anyone in your studio? I can clean, do laundry, and cook for you, so you don’t have to worry about trivial matters. I can do anything, please give me a chance, Teacher Shen Qing…”
It must be said, this woman was quite brave.
There’s a saying: the brave enjoy the world first.
Shen Qing suddenly smiled, “I don’t need a personal secretary. Are you trying to get close to me and enter the entertainment circle?”
Her face turned red from Shen Qing’s words.
Just as she thought she was about to be rejected, Shen Qing continued, “I’m not interested in a personal secretary. I only appreciate capable women, like Zhang Liangying. I don’t see any particular abilities in you yet.”
Ah?
Zhang Tian’ai couldn’t hold back her emotions.
What is this?
If you’re going to refuse, just refuse. Why do you have to mock and discourage me…
Her eyes welled up with tears, and large drops began to fall, “Thank you, Teacher Shen Qing. I’ve bothered you today. I, I will continue to work hard in the future…”
Shen Qing stared at her face. At this moment, Zhang Tian’ai became quite brave, not avoiding his gaze. With a pitiful yet somewhat resilient look, she quietly gazed at the man before her.
At this moment, Shen Qing suddenly understood why many influential figures were willing to give brave, thick-skinned people a chance.
This experience of bestowing favors from a position of superiority was very satisfying, much like emperors and generals rewarding their subordinates.
Shen Qing: “Although I don’t see any other abilities in you, you are indeed quite brave. Out of all the extras, only you chased after me.”
Zhang Tian’ai’s breathing quickened instantly, and she looked at Shen Qing eagerly, blurting out, “Teacher Shen Qing, I’m willing to do anything, learn anything, and listen to anything you say…”
