China Entertainment 1981: Starting from Journey to the West

The filming of "Journey to the West" in the previous life has been an exploratory process from beginning to end. There were no previous works of the same type for reference. Everything had to be completed independently by the crew from scratch.

I believe every viewer who has watched the 86 version of "Journey to the West" will have an idea of ​​the quality of the final work.

Even though the economy has developed, science and technology have advanced, and there have been more films and TV dramas with mythological themes, but to say that there is nothing comparable to "Journey to the West" is not to boast, but to be serious.

From this, it is not difficult to imagine how much hard work all the staff in front of and behind the scenes of the "Journey to the West" crew put in for this.

Since Gu Bei came to this era and was lucky enough to participate in it, he has always wanted to help the crew take less detours and experience less twists and turns, so as to complete the production of this classic masterpiece better and more smoothly.

The previous portraits of the four masters and apprentices and the general direction of the script adaptation can be regarded as Gu Bei's contribution to "Journey to the West" with his foresight.

Now that the issue of soundtrack was mentioned, Gu Bei couldn't bring it up and just wait for the teacher Xu Jingqing to die.

It's time for him to take advantage again.

In his previous life, Gu Bei had read many interviews about the crew of "Journey to the West". Director Yang Jie and teacher Xu Jingqing both said that before scoring the music for "Journey to the West", he was just an unknown composer. When the crew contacted him, He even thought the visitor was a liar.

Director Yang Jie also mentioned that she heard a piece of music composed by Xu Jingqing by chance. The combination of traditional instruments and Western instruments attracted her immediately.

Naturally, Gu Bei didn't know where this teacher Xu Jingqing was at this moment. Moreover, the Internet was not yet available in the country, and consultation was not well developed. Looking for someone was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

But he couldn't find anyone. Gu Bei could at least give Yang Jie some inspiration.

such as……

"You mean, you can't just fix the soundtrack on traditional instruments and traditional music?"

After hearing Gu Bei's words, Yang Jie's first reaction was confusion.

Because at the meeting of the leaders of the Literature and Art Department, it was mentioned many times that whether it is "Journey to the West" or "A Dream of Red Mansions" written by Wang Fulin, as a classical masterpiece, traditional music should be used in the soundtrack to highlight the characteristics of the classical masterpiece.

Now Gu Bei actually wants to overturn this decision.

"If you don't use folk music, why should you use it? You can't use foreign stuff, right?"

Although Yang Jie is not an old-minded person, she is more or less conservative on this issue.

Because from the very beginning, from Radio and Television to Taiwan, the tone set was that the Chinese should use Chinese methods to shoot Chinese masterpieces, and also highlight Chinese characteristics.

Although the soundtrack has the word "match", it does not mean that it is dispensable. On the contrary, the quality of a piece of music can directly affect the quality of the entire play.

"Why not? How do you know it doesn't work if you don't try it?"

Hearing what Gu Bei said, Yang Jie also had some thoughts. Since she couldn't find a suitable song now, she might as well give it a try.

"You said that, is there a suitable composer?"

Uh……

Teacher Xu, where are you hanging out right now?
Gu Bei really didn't know which unit Xu Jingqing worked for now, but...

"Director Yang, have you seen the movie "Danxin Pu" from the year before last?"

Yang Jie nodded. She is a movie fan. As long as there are newly released movies, no matter how busy she is at work, she will still find time to watch them.

"It was filmed by Jingying Film Studio. I've seen it!"

"Do you still have an impression of the soundtrack?"

Yang Jie tried hard to remember for a long time, and suddenly her eyes lit up: "I remember, I remember, it seemed to be mainly symphony, with a little..."

"electronic music."

Gu Bei has never seen this movie, but Yuan Shen has. At that time, "The Heart of the Heart" was previewed at the Beijing Film Academy. Yuan Shen watched it with her classmates, and was very impressed by the soundtrack.

"The composer you want to recommend is from Beijing Film Studio?"

"No."

Gu Bei had already asked Li Sufen this question last night, but Li Sufen didn't remember that there was such a person as Xu Jingqing in Beijing Film Studio.

"But someone must know which unit he is from."

"Who?"

As soon as Yang Jie finished asking, she immediately realized who Gu Bei was talking about.

"Are you talking about Teacher Zheng Rong?"

Zheng Rong is the acting director of the "Journey to the West" crew. He is also scheduled to play Taishang Laojun in the film. Teacher Zheng also participated in the previous film review meeting and has a very close relationship with the crew.

And Teacher Zheng Rong happens to be one of the leading actors in the movie "The Heart of the Heart".

"Xiao Gu, you don't need to attend the afternoon meeting. Go to Renyi to find Teacher Zheng Rong and contact the composer. Please come over tomorrow and I will talk to him."

Gu Bei agreed and then went to prepare.

In the afternoon, I went to Renyi to find Teacher Zheng Rong. I heard that the crew of "Journey to the West" was planning to ask the composer of "Danxinpu" to score the music. Zheng Rong immediately agreed and there was no need for Gu Bei to ask for it. He would take people to Taili tomorrow. .With Xu Jingqing, can the demonic Kagura be far behind?

Doudoudou... thump thump thump thump thump...

And through his own influence, he accomplished something, and Gu Bei felt extremely happy.

There is no need to go back to work in the afternoon.

Gu Bei rode directly to Xicheng District. Although the two-entry courtyard in Chaoyang was larger, Gu Bei still preferred the small courtyard in Baihua Hutong.

When I rode to the door, I saw that the courtyard door was open. Just as I was about to go in, Ma Saner happened to come out.

"Xiao Bei, why are you here free today?"

Today's Ma San'er is really very different from back then. She wears a suit and leather shoes, a tie, a pair of shiny big leather shoes, and she also imitates the appearance of the male protagonist in the Xiangjiang movie, combing her hair. I have a big back and I don’t know how much oil I put on my hair.

"I've been busy with work lately, so I haven't been here for a long time. Come and have a look."

Ma San'er is getting ready to leave. There is a dinner party this afternoon.

He now looks like a big boss. Anyone in the clothing business in Beijing and Tianjin basically gets their goods from him, and there are constant drinking parties every day.

When Ma Saner saw Gu Bei coming, he didn't leave in a hurry and followed him into the yard.

It's very clean inside. The pomegranate tree has already borne fruit, and the branches are covered with huge pomegranates. There are a lot of new furniture added to the house, all of which Ma Gan'er helped find during this period. They are old objects with a certain age. Not a lot, but it's all good wood.

"Xiao Bei, let me tell you, your job is not interesting. You might as well get down to business."

Although Ma San'er doesn't know how much Gu Bei's monthly salary is, it's only four to fifty yuan at most. How can he make money quickly from doing business? He now occupies 50% of the share, and every time he wholesales goods, he pays at least You can earn thousands of dollars, which is enough to pay ordinary workers for several years.

"Let's see and talk!"

Gu Bei said perfunctorily that Gu Bei had never thought about resigning and going to work. At first it was because of family reasons, but now he didn't want to.

If you were to be reborn just to make money and accumulate wealth, it would be too boring.

People still have to pursue something, and Gu Bei's current pursuit is to flex his muscles in the film and television industry and make a real career.

Be a second-rate dealer?

What an ideal that is.

After only staying for a while, Gu Bei left. Ma San'er was in a hurry to attend the dinner and wanted to invite Gu Bei to join him, but he refused.

For some reason, Gu Bei suddenly felt that he and Ma San'er were no longer as close as before. Maybe the two of them had different views on business, or maybe...

illusion?

Forget it, don't care about these.

Gu Bei doesn't pay much attention to the current clothing wholesale business. It's just to accumulate initial capital. He really doesn't care about long-term development.

The next day, Teacher Zheng Rong brought a thin middle-aged man to CCTV. Gu Bei recognized him at a glance and it was Xu Jingqing.

Although he is not famous yet, Gu Bei knows that this person is definitely a weirdo and genius in the field of Chinese film and television soundtracks.

Unlike other composers, Xu Jingqing does not stick to one style. He dabbles in folk music, symphony, electronic music, and even opera. However, because he knows so many and likes to try different scoring styles, he is favored by his peers. It is regarded as a heretic, so there are not many opportunities.

He himself did not expect that he would be recommended to the crew of "Journey to the West". In fact, this is not the first time he has become associated with "Journey to the West".

Zhu Xiaofeng took the lead in soliciting the title song for "Journey to the West". He had also submitted a submission, but he was not selected. After watching "The Kingdom of Demons" yesterday, I felt that the title song was too ordinary and not expressive at all. The characteristics of the big proposition of "Journey to the West" are revealed.

As a result, Zheng Rong contacted him the next day and told Yang Jie, the chief director of "Journey to the West", that he wanted to see him.

Gu Bei held back his excitement and chatted with teacher Xu Jingqing for a while. After Yang Jie had finished their time there, they went over together.

Seeing Xu Jingqing standing in front of Yang Jie with an excited expression on her face, talking and gesticulating, and seeing Yang Jie listening with great interest, Gu Bei knew that there was something wrong with this matter.

"Director Yang, my opinion is that the soundtrack for "Journey to the West" should not stick to any one form, but should be arranged according to different plots. For example, Tang Monk should be dignified and grand, expressed in the way of folk music, and another example For Sun Wukong, it is necessary to reflect his fearless and fearless spirit. You can try to use more exciting tunes and theme songs. It should not only show the hardships of the four masters and apprentices along the way, but also reflect the road ahead. There are many hardships, but you still have the courage to move forward.”

You are right, but the key is to look at the works. Without works, just messing around will be of no use.

"Teacher Xu, the crew will leave for Qingcheng Mountain in Sichuan on the 6th. If it is convenient for you, I hope you can come with us and participate in the filming of the crew."

"No problem, no problem."

Not to mention just asking him to join the team, even if he was asked to resign now, Xu Jingqing would not hesitate.

Yang Jie thought about it again: "Well, the shooting period of our trip to Sichuan will be about 20 days. I hope to see your work before returning to Beijing after the shooting."

"Eating Ginseng Fruit" will be broadcast during the Spring Festival, and we really need to hurry up on the soundtrack.

20 days?
Xu Jingqing was stunned for a moment, but soon made a decision and nodded vigorously: "No problem!"