novelraw Chapter 31: Meat Stewed in the Pot
Chapter 31: Meat Stewed in the Pot
Liu Yu returned to his dormitory, threw his backpack on the bed, turned on his computer, and sat down at the table.
The screen's light illuminated the dim room, and he stared at the blank Word document for a few seconds.
The cursor was flashing on the screen, as if urging him on.
Create a new document and place the cursor on the first line.
Liu Yu placed his hands on the keyboard and typed three words: First Match.
He thought about the title of the script for a long time before deciding on the American one.
The female protagonist is a hearing person, but she lives in a world of deaf and mute people. She is the bridge between her family and the outside world.
...
For a month, Liu Yu devoted all his energy to the script.
I attend classes during the day, write scripts at night, and even write on weekends.
He locked himself in his dorm room, sometimes typing away on the keyboard, sometimes staring blankly at the screen with his head in his hands.
Wang Chaowen and the others were already used to his state, so they didn't dare to disturb him and even lowered their voices when they spoke.
"Is it happening again, bro?" Wang Chaowen asked in a low voice once.
"It's starting," Liu Xiao whispered as well.
"What did you write this time?"
"I don't know, but I saw his eyes redden after he finished writing once."
"Damn, that must be a really sentimental script."
"It's not sentimental," Xin Hao interjected, unusually, "it's true."
The script was finished one evening in early March.
Liu Yu typed the last word and read through the document from beginning to end.
He was alone in the dormitory. Wang Chaowen had gone to the library, Liu Xiao was studying in the classroom, and Xin Hao was running on the track. He leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.
He wanted to find someone to share with.
It's too painful to keep the joy of writing something good inside.
The script is ready.
The storyboard will be drawn later.
What about the actors?
......
Liu Yu opened his eyes, turned his chair around, and faced the screen.
This script can't just be cast any actor; we have to be careful.
The female lead is eighteen years old, a high school student, can sing, and has a natural charisma. Not the kind of charisma that's flawlessly beautiful, but the kind that's so real that you feel she is the real person.
Such actors are hard to find; he wasn't even sure if he could find one.
When asked about the role of a father, Zhang Guoli was the first person he thought of.
Liu Yu picked up his phone, found Zhang Guoli's number, and dialed it.
"Teacher Zhang, I am Liu Yu."
"Xiao Liu, what's wrong?" Zhang Guoli's voice was still the same, unhurried.
"I've written a new script and would like to ask you to play a role. A deaf-mute father."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone. "Not this year, Xiao Liu," Zhang Guoli said apologetically. "My schedule is full. I have two more films scheduled for the second half of the year, and I really can't find the time."
Liu Yu's heart sank, but he didn't show it.
"It's alright, Teacher Zhang. We'll have another chance to work together in the future."
"Show me that notebook of yours later, and I'll try to find someone to help you with it," Zhang Guoli said.
"Okay, thank you, Teacher Zhang."
...
In mid-March, he decided to show the script to Teacher Xue first.
Xue Xiaolu's office was on the third floor of the Literature Department. Liu Yu knocked on the door, but no one answered.
He pushed the door open and found that Teacher Xue was not there, but Tian Zhuangzhuang was sitting on the sofa inside, holding a document in his hand and looking down at it.
"Teacher Tian? What are you doing here?"
Tian Zhuangzhuang looked up and took off his reading glasses.
"I'm waiting for your teacher, Ms. Xue. She went to a meeting and told me to wait here for a while." He noticed Liu Yu holding a stack of papers. "What's that?"
"A new script."
"Let me see it." Tian Zhuangzhuang held out his hand.
Liu Yu hesitated for a moment before handing over the script.
Tian Zhuangzhuang took the script, put on his reading glasses, and turned to the first page.
He didn't speak, reading page by page. The office was quiet, save for the sound of turning pages. Liu Yu stood beside him, his palms slightly sweaty.
Tian Zhuangzhuang read for about ten minutes, turned to the last page, put down the script, took off his reading glasses, and looked up at Liu Yu.
"Did you write this?"
"Um."
"When was it written?"
"I wrote for about a month last month."
Tian Zhuangzhuang put the script down and tapped it lightly twice with his fingers.
"This notebook is better than 'The Eraser'."
He didn't say what was good about it, but Liu Yu could tell from his tone that it wasn't just politeness.
"Teacher Tian, do you think there's a chance?"
"Whether it's a success or not depends on who you cast." Tian Zhuangzhuang leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. "Have you found a female lead yet?"
"No. This role is hard to find; the actor needs to be eighteen, able to sing, and have a natural talent."
"Take your time, there's no rush." Tian Zhuangzhuang picked up the script and flipped through it again, stopping at a certain page. "Have you found an actor for the father yet?"
"We originally wanted to ask Zhang Guoli, but he's unavailable this year." Liu Yu paused for a moment, then added, "Teacher Tian, do you have any recommendations?"
Tian Zhuangzhuang thought for a moment and said a name: "Li Xuejian".
Liu Yu was taken aback. Li Xuejian is one of China's best actors. His roles in films like *Jiao Yulu*, *Aspiration*, and *Water Margin* are all textbook examples of acting excellence.
The idea of him playing a deaf-mute father exploded in Liu Yu's mind.
"Can Mr. Li Xuejian accept this question?"
"Let me ask for you." Tian Zhuangzhuang picked up the phone on the table and dialed a number.
When the call connected, Tian Zhuangzhuang's voice became casual, as if he were chatting with an old friend.
"Xuejian, this is Tian Zhuangzhuang. I have a script you can take a look at, written by a young director. I think it's pretty good." After a few words on the other end of the phone, Tian Zhuangzhuang hummed in agreement and placed Liu Yu's script on the table. "Okay, I'll have him send the script over. We'll talk after you've read it."
After hanging up the phone, Tian Zhuangzhuang looked at Liu Yu and said, "Take the script to Li Xuejian. I'll write down the address for you. He'll see what he thinks, but I think it'll be fine."
Liu Yu took the address from Tian Zhuangzhuang, his heart already pounding with excitement, though he didn't show it on his face.
"Thank you, Teacher Tian."
Tian Zhuangzhuang waved his hand, "What are you thanking me for? I just think your script is really good. Good things shouldn't go to outsiders; a good script needs good actors."
.......
That afternoon, in less than half a day, all the teachers at the Beijing Film Academy knew that Liu Yu was going to make a new film, an award-winning film.
Liu Yu couldn't help but marvel at how quickly gossip about the Beijing Film Academy spread, even faster than press conferences.
What surprised him most was that Wang Jinsong, the director of the Performing Arts Department, came in person.
Director Wang was in his fifties, almost bald, and spoke slowly and deliberately. He intercepted Liu Yu downstairs at Liu Yu's dormitory building, standing at the stairwell with one hand in his pocket and a cup of tea in the other.
"Liu Yu, I heard you're looking for an 18-year-old female lead for your new film?"
"Teacher Wang, you're really well-informed."
"The Beijing Film Academy is only so big, everyone knows that." Wang Jinsong took a sip of tea. "Let me be frank with you, you basically didn't use any students in the first two films. This time, can't you give the female lead to one of our own? From the 01 to 03 classes of the acting department, can't you find a suitable one?"
Before Liu Yu could answer, Wang Jinsong added, "That's what Principal Zhang meant too."
Liu Yu stood on the stairs and thought for a moment.
Wang Jinsong makes a good point; the Taipei Film Academy's Department of Performing Arts is not lacking in talent.
Moreover, the female lead this time is a high school student, so casting a current student is appropriate in terms of age and identity.
If this role could be given to a student from the Beijing Film Academy, it would not only solve the casting problem but also be a way for him to give back to the school, giving his seniors a chance to appear on the big screen.
"Professor Wang, then I'd appreciate it if you could help me with the casting. I'd give priority to students from the Beijing Film Academy."
Wang Jinsong smiled and nodded, "I've been waiting for you to say that for a long time."
The father, Li Xuejian, responded quickly, and I received a call the next day.
Li Xuejian's voice was deep and he spoke slowly, "Xiao Liu, I've read the script. I'll take this role."
Liu Yu gripped his phone, his heart skipping a beat.
"Thank you, Teacher Li."
"No need to thank me, thank you Zhuangzhuang. I trust his recommendation." Li Xuejian paused for a moment, "And this script is indeed good."
To fulfill his role as a mother, Liu Yu contacted Xi Meijuan.
Xi Meijuan is an actress at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center. She has solid acting skills and a gentle temperament, making her very suitable for playing the kind of mother who "quietly gives and is not good at expressing herself".
After reading the script, Xi Meijuan's agent replied, "Ms. Xi really likes this role and is willing to take it."
Liu Yu felt a little more at ease.
For the role of the older brother, Liu Yu chose Luo Jin.
Although they didn't end up working together on "A Moment to Remember," that meeting left a good impression on him. He felt that Luo Jin had a down-to-earth quality, wasn't impetuous, wasn't picky about roles, and could settle down.
Wang Jinsong personally took on the role of teacher.