NABC Chapter 27 Finished Film and Collaboration
Chapter 27 Finished Film and Collaboration
After returning to the editing room and resting, the two were in completely different states.
Lin Ruiyang's initial smugness after the rough cut was replaced by anxiety and relief.
Upon revisiting it, all the problems and loopholes that had gone unnoticed before were now laid bare.
Under Zhou Xinxia's guidance, the two began to disassemble the bones, with the first cut made at the very beginning.
Before she could finish saying, "It's too slow here, the audience won't wait for you to get into character," the timeline was pushed forward seven seconds.
As Zhou Xinxia's cuts fell one by one, Lin Ruiyang gradually understood: fine editing is not repair, but rewriting.
From then on, the lights in the editing room were almost never off.
The dialogue was cut frame by frame, and some shots were rearranged. Several emotional expressions that Lin Ruiyang had previously liked were cut by Zhou Xinxia without hesitation.
Whenever he tried to argue his point, Zhou Xinxia would refute him with "You're speaking from the author's perspective," ultimately resulting in a complete defeat for him.
This situation lasted for almost two weeks, until Lin Ruiyang, before Zhou Xinxia could even make a move, spoke up and asked to cut half of it off during a long shot.
Zhou Xinxia looked it over and said, "This knife is your own."
"Yeah, I can bear to part with it," Lin Ruiyang replied with a smile.
Although the door to the editing room was closed, the outside world never stopped.
The entertainment industry was even more lively in November than before.
The controversy surrounding "Kekexili" extends beyond mainland China, becoming a hot topic of discussion across mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Taiwanese media also pointed out the similarities between the two awards, and even called on the Golden Horse Awards organizing committee to reconsider.
Lu Taro also responded after Liu Yujun left the scene last time, saying, "I have never seen 'My Tibetan Antelope' and I don't know Liu Yujun." He also accused Liu Yujun of self-promotion by a clown.
This response was like a bombshell, instantly causing an uproar online.
"As a director, to not even be able to provide evidence of whether he's seen it or not, that's incredibly low-level of a statement," someone posted on a forum.
Meanwhile, Liu Yujun's legal team in Beijing acted even faster.
Just days after Lu Taro's response, Liu Yujun's lawyer, Qiu Zhang, filed a lawsuit with the Chaoyang District People's Court in Beijing, requesting the court to confirm that "Kekexili" infringed on copyright.
What makes the situation even more delicate is that a third voice has gradually emerged online.
An anonymous insider revealed on a forum that Liu Yujun does indeed have a new feature film project, which has been approved and registered by the State Film Administration. The film is titled "Wind and Snow in Kekexili" and is scheduled to start filming after the Spring Festival this year.
Looking at the timeline, the netizens' earlier speculation about a "hype" was remarkably accurate. Accusing someone of plagiarism at this juncture was indeed using the popularity of Lu Chuan and "Kekexili" to generate pre-release buzz.
However, some people believe that taking advantage of the public relations period of "Kekexili" to file a lawsuit is a legitimate way for Liu Yujun to defend his copyright.
The truth is unknown to the general public, but everyone has their own internal scales.
Busy with post-production, Lin Ruiyang paid no attention to anything happening in the outside world; his focus was entirely on the final cut of the film.
December 9th has arrived, and today marks the successful completion of post-production for "A Separation".
After verifying that each frame was correct, Lin Ruiyang and Zhou Xinxia turned off all the equipment.
Lin Ruiyang stood up and stretched, looking at the neatly arranged film canisters on the table. A feeling he couldn't quite describe welled up inside him. It was finally over.
Filming wrapped up at the end of October, and we've gone through post-production until now. I can't say I'm excited, nor am I reluctant to part ways. I just feel much more relaxed and have more expectations for the future.
He also wanted to see just how far he could go.
After telling Wang Hai that he could come and pick up the finished film, Lin Ruiyang left first, as he had arranged to have dinner with Fatty.
When Lin Ruiyang came out of the Qingying Film Studio, the wind made his face sting a little.
The fat man was waiting for him at the door, stomping his feet while scrolling through his phone.
"You've finally figured it out! How's it going?"
Lin Ruiyang only said two words: "It's done."
"I knew it!" the fat man laughed.
The two had only been gone a short while when Lin Ruiyang's phone vibrated.
"Hey, a text message from the old man."
Under the fat man's gaze, he clicked on it and glanced at it, his face showing surprise.
"Are you frozen stiff, or what? Let me see."
He handed me his phone; it contained a rather unremarkable industry news article:
"The Jiangnan Wuju Opera Troupe's newly adapted play, Cao Yu's Literary Award-winning work 'Three Battles with the White Bone Demon,' may be included in the rehearsal list."
Below is a brief summary.
The Jiangnan Wuju Opera Troupe in Jinhua is currently selecting new plays, with a focus on the award-winning Wuju stage plays from this year's competition, and conducting feasibility studies.
After reading it, the fat man couldn't help but ask, "Is this... someone going to pick this up?"
"It's not certain yet, but at least it means there's a chance."
The phone rang the next morning.
On the other end of the phone was Director Fan from the performance planning department of the Jiangnan Wuju Opera Troupe, speaking with a distinct Jiangnan accent.
He said that the troupe saw "The Three Battles with the White Bone Demon" on the Cao Yu Award list, and the script was very much in line with the direction of experimental plays they have been promoting in recent years.
This year, the troupe's "Dream Broken on the Wujiang River" was selected as a preliminary work for the National Stage Art Masterpiece Project. The troupe leaders want to strike while the iron is hot and promote another experimental play.
The other party spoke very politely and without beating around the bush.
Director Fan stated directly that the troupe hopes the authorization agreement can be signed before the end of the year, and officially included in the troupe's annual rehearsal plan next March. The premiere is scheduled for Jinhua, with five performances showcasing the youth's experimental work. Further decisions on whether to expand the tour will be made based on audience feedback.
Lin Ruiyang agreed to grant authorization, but he needed to see the agreement and preliminary rehearsal plan first.
"Then we'll draft a preliminary plan and get in touch with you as soon as possible," Director Fan replied quickly.
After hanging up the phone, Lin Ruiyang called Liu Yibing.
"Teacher, the Jiangnan Wuju Opera Troupe called and wants to rehearse 'The Three Battles with the White Bone Demon'."
"I understand. I'll go with you to collect the award. Have them bring the agreement over to review first, and then we'll sign it if everything is okay."
Hang up when you're done.
Lin Ruiyang put his phone back in his pocket and stood in the corridor.
From the manuscript handed out in Office 301, to the printed words in the "Script" journal, and then to the nomination for the Cao Yu Award, the last link has finally been closed.
Next March, the lyrics he wrote in countless versions will be sung line by line by the actors in the hometown of Wuju opera.
That evening, he received a message from Liu Yibing: "Meet at the school gate at seven o'clock tomorrow morning, and we'll take a bus to Shaocheng. The school has already bought the tickets."
Lin Ruiyang pulled out the original manuscript of "Three Battles with the White Bone Demon" from the drawer. The manuscript paper was already curled at the edges, and the two lines on the cover were written in pen half a year ago—Wuju Opera.
He packed the manuscript into his bag, intending to take it with him when he visited his hometown.