China Entertainment 1981: Starting from Journey to the West

One sentence reminded everyone who was having a heated discussion. Following Yang Jie's gaze, they turned their heads and looked over. Only then did they realize, hey, there is someone else in the room.

The young man is fair and handsome. What is his name?

Gu Bei!

I heard from Director Yang Jie that she is a new artist. She can join this group just after arriving. I am afraid she has a very deep background!
"Xiao Gu, feel free to say it boldly. Since we have a meeting to discuss, we just need to brainstorm ideas."

"That's right! It doesn't matter if you say it wrong."

"Tell me, tell me, Xiao Gu, you are also in our group, but you can't be a spectator. You must actively participate. Young people have active minds. There must be places that we can't think of and can't see."

Everyone encouraged him one after another. As a senior in the station, he was also very interested in this young man whom he met for the first time.

I definitely have the care of the seniors, but at the same time, I also want to see Gu Bei's quality.

They are all doing practical things, and they don’t want to hang around and wait for qualifications.

"Xiao Gu! Everyone tells you to speak, so just speak."

Yang Jie also followed the conversation and said that she was not happy with Taili's way of forcing a young man like Gu Bei into the preparation team of "Journey to the West".

It's not that he has any objections to Gu Bei.

Mainly because, while she was excited to take on the drama "Journey to the West", Yang Jie also felt that a heavy burden was weighing on her shoulders. She was mentally prepared that she would suffer a lot in the next few years.

So the people chosen were either old people in the station, or people who had worked together before and could endure hardships.

Like Gu Bei, who is twenty years old and has no experience in fighting, can he endure it?
But now that I'm here, I can't go back. If it can be used, I will make do with it. If I really can't stand it, I will leave.

Gu Bei was originally very self-conscious as a newcomer and planned to listen and watch more, but since everyone encouraged him and Director Yang Jie called his name, he could no longer remain invisible.

Besides, Gu Bei really didn't intend to just be a spectator.

"Journey to the West" is an important part of his childhood memory. It is quite exciting to think about being able to join this group by accident and participate in the classic creation process.

"Director Yang, teachers, I am young and inexperienced. I am no more knowledgeable or experienced than you teachers. Whether what I say is right or wrong is just a matter of family opinion."

This is a young man?
What I said is pretty much the same as an old fried dough stick.

There are many new people coming into Taiwan every year, and the impressions of those new people are basically the same as those of the seniors here.

The word "dissatisfaction" was clearly displayed on his face.

We only respect them superficially and are always ready to replace them.

Yang Jie also looked puzzled. She had already read Gu Bei's file. He was born in 1962 and had just celebrated his birthday, making him 19 years old.

Normally, a young person of this age can experience many people and things. Yang Jie has also been young. What is she like at this age?

His mind is full of passion and ideals, he thinks he can change the world, and he only wants to rush.

But after hearing these words from Gu Bei...

He's obviously a slippery man.

"What do you think."

Gu Bei knew in his heart that if he didn't show his skills in front of these seniors, even if he joined the group, he would only be a marginal figure.

Everyone has just been discussing it for a long time, and the questions raised cover all aspects, such as special effects, character modeling, martial arts design, framing, etc.

But there is one issue, which is also the most critical issue, and everyone has a tacit understanding not to touch it.

money!
If you want to film a classic, especially a mythological drama like "Journey to the West", you don't have the money to film six of them!
But is there money in Taiwan now?

It's the end of the year, and the holes in the allocations made at the beginning of the year have already been filled. I'm afraid there's a nest of rats lurking in the safe in the finance office.

The whole morning, what Lao Zhang said the most was that there was no money in the station and he was very poor.

Many plans can only be shelved due to funding problems, and many ideas... in the end can only be just ideas.

With the current situation being like this, Gu Bei would naturally not take issue with that. Money matters would be resolved by the leaders above. Specific to their group, Director Yang Jie would naturally communicate with the leaders.

Even if he wanted to beg for alms, the alms bowl would never reach Gu Bei's hands.

What he wants to say now is...

"Teacher Wang just mentioned that with just one line of words in a book, those gods and monsters can soar into the clouds and overturn mountains and seas. This is a specific problem of lens presentation. But before considering this issue, I thought how to put hundreds of chapters and 87 words into it. The adaptation and condensation of "Journey to the West" into a literary script is even more important."

Uh?
The eyes everyone looked at Gu Bei suddenly became strange.

It's not like Bole discovered the Chollima, but...

Is this a core issue that you, a stupid young man, can talk about casually?
You are a new artist, just tell me what part you are responsible for!
"Go on!"

Yang Jie is somewhat interested in Gu Bei as a partner. Young people should dare to think, speak, and do. Who said that the artist should not talk about the script.

If she were a stickler, she could offend her previous boss because of work matters.

Gu Bei also knew that he had overstepped his bounds, but if he just talked about superficial things, it was obviously not enough to leave a deep impression on others. The literary image and the stories in it have long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. There have been related works in operas and cartoons before. Now to adapt it into a TV series, the most important thing is to make it recognized by all audiences, like It’s not okay to make things up like that in my childhood.”

Yes, audience approval is most important.

Yang Jie nodded subconsciously, feeling that this boy had something, not just an empty head.

She was also worried about the script. Where should she focus and where should she start?

Not only the script, but also the issues and difficulties that others just mentioned.

During the meeting in the morning, many people had already given her opinions. Some people said that the martial arts was more exciting than that in "Shaolin Temple", otherwise it would not be called Monkey King, the Monkey King; some said that there must be more stunts, and it should be better than that in Japan. Some people say that Sun Wukong must have a charming face, otherwise it will not be called art; others say that the scenery must be set up in a studio, otherwise it will not be magical enough.

But Yang Jie didn't agree with any of the suggestions provided by these people.

Gu Bei continued: "Teachers, I have an immature suggestion. To film "Journey to the West" well, you must first be faithful to the original work. The original work of "Journey to the West" provides us with a very good story foundation, but after all, the TV series is different from the original work. Novels are different. When you mention "Journey to the West", you can't think of gods and monsters, let alone think of it as a simple fairy tale."

"What is "Journey to the West" if it's not a fairy tale? Could it be that it's also a realistic subject?"

Peng Li was impatient and rushed to speak without waiting for Gu Bei to finish.

"Teacher Peng, I want to extract reality from this fairy tale, such as...human touch."

Human touch?
Upon hearing these three words, Yang Jie's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she was in a fog and suddenly saw the light.

After receiving this task, the question she has been thinking about is how to set the tone for "Journey to the West".

The three words "human touch" that Gu Bei said attracted her immediately.

"Human touch, Xiao Gu, where did the human touch come from in "Journey to the West"?"

Faced with Peng Li's questions, Gu Bei was not in a hurry.

"These three words seem to have nothing to do with the mythical story "Journey to the West", but in fact, no matter what kind of drama, if there is no emotion, it will lose its soul, so we must focus on portraying the characters and describing human feelings in a rich and colorful way."

The original work of "Journey to the West" successfully created various artistic images, and the main characters in it all have distinctive character traits. Both Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie have human thoughts and feelings.

Sun Wukong is affectionate and righteous, with a clear distinction between love and hatred; Zhu Bajie is generally a good person with flaws although he is lazy and lazy; Monk Sha is hard-working and uncomplaining; Tang Xuanzang is sincere and tenacious.

During the many hardships that the four masters and disciples faced on the way to learn the scriptures, they not only deepened the relationship between master and disciple, but also deepened the relationship between family and country, the relationship between children, etc. There is so much to write about here.

As for the monsters, monsters, kings and ministers encountered on the westward journey, they all have their own characteristics and true feelings.

Gu Bei talked for a long time, his throat was so dry that it was almost smoking, and he finally concluded: "As Mr. Lu Xun said: Gods and demons are all humane, and their charms are also sophisticated."

"it is good!"

Yang Jie suddenly slammed the table, startling everyone who was listening to Gu Bei's speech attentively, always ready to seize the opportunity to refute.

it is good?
How good is this?

"We should really focus on writing about love. Human relationships, whether they are kings, ministers, gods or monsters, should all be living beings with feelings and desires. Xiao Gu, you said it well."

After receiving Director Yang Jie's approval, Gu Bei breathed a sigh of relief. The novice's task of establishing himself in the crew was basically completed.

"Human touch is the core of script adaptation. When it comes to the creation of literary scripts, Xiao Gu, do you have any other ideas?"

Ha ha!

Is this old lady planning to take out all the stuff in his stomach at once?
Of course he has the idea. As a reborn person, Gu Bei's biggest advantage is his foresight. In his previous life, he had watched "Journey to the West" countless times. He also watched an interview with director Yang Jie, where he interviewed the little old lady about "Journey to the West" The understanding is profound.

Filming "Journey to the West" with a "human touch" was originally the tone set by director Yang Jie for the script creation.

"Concentrate on selecting the most exciting parts and film them into stories one by one, episode by episode, continuous and independent, and try to make each episode unique, avoid plot similarities, and keep the audience fresh."

It is not difficult to adapt the famous work "Journey to the West". It is not difficult to read the content before learning the scriptures. Sun Wukong learns skills, obtains the magical armor, and causes havoc in the heaven. Everything is exciting. The real difficulty is after the learning of the scriptures begins.

Every time he encountered a difficulty, the master was caught and the apprentice went to save him. If he couldn't defeat the monster, he went to find helpers.

If it really goes back and forth like this, what's the point?
The 86 version of "Journey to the West" will not become a classic.

Whoops!

This guy not only has something, he also has a lot to offer.

Yang Jie suddenly had a strange feeling at this moment. Every word Gu Bei said seemed to scratch her itch. The previously vague and hazy thoughts and ideas became clear one by one at this moment. .

"Teachers, the last thing I want to say is that when adapting "Journey to the West", the basis is to be loyal to the original work and to be careful in renovating it."

ho...

Just now, I said that young people have little knowledge and are just like the family.

As a result, this young and ignorant boy was really rude. Not only did he take the core and calm down, but he also finally decided on the general direction of the adaptation.

After Gu Bei finished speaking, he quietly sat down, and everyone's eyes shifted from him to Director Yang Jie.

This young man really dares to think and speak, Director Yang, it’s your turn to make the decision next.
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PS: The old man’s new book has been signed. I ask for your support and help me add it to my collection. If it is still interesting, I will give you a recommendation. I am very grateful. Thank you, thank you!