Chapter 270 New Play and Selection of Leading Role

After returning to China for a month, in addition to the release of "Embroidered Spring Blade", Wu Yuchen visited many concentration camps left over from the Anti-Japanese War in China.

When it comes to concentration camps, the first thing people think of is the Nazis, the Jews who were persecuted in the concentration camps. But in fact, this was not only done by the German Nazis during World War II.

Did Japan do less? Did China suffer less persecution? Not a lot. During the entire World War II, the number of direct deaths due to the war was 70 million, and China had 18 million, accounting for a quarter.

However, the persecution suffered by the Chinese during World War II was not taken seriously internationally. The tragic tragedy that happened in China seemed to be non-existent compared to the Jews. Germany apologized honestly, but there are still many forces in China who want to deny its crimes. This is the power of discourse!

During the 8 years, Neon built many concentration camps in China, including Fengtian Prisoner of War Concentration Camp, Lushun Prison, Weixian Concentration Camp in Shandong Province, Jinan Concentration Camp, Shimen Concentration Camp, Pingfang 731 Site, etc. Wu Yuchen went through all of them.

To be honest, the more he saw and the more he understood, the more he felt that it was a hell on earth, which made him feel a lot of negative emotions. If he stayed there for a long time, he might become depressed. It is no wonder that Zhang Chunru, who later devoted herself to studying the Nanjing Massacre, had a mental breakdown and committed suicide. Alas...

Then Wu Yuchen shook his head. He had to pull out his emotions and not be affected, otherwise it might affect the subsequent filming.

The Chinese anti-war film he was going to shoot this time was to reflect the persecution suffered by China during the Anti-Japanese War. But if it was to be shot from a conventional angle, to be honest, most of the angles that the Jewish directors should have shot had been shot.

For example, shooting "The Diary of John Rabe" would make people feel that it was imitating "Schindler's List". If he wanted to shoot a Chinese film on the same subject to compete for an Oscar, he had to find a new angle.

Fortunately, it is not without... "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas".

This is a film that shows Naturi's crimes completely from a child's perspective. Because it is a child's perspective, it is very pure. Many things he sees are difficult for him to understand, gloomy and absurd.

The film never speaks directly of cruelty and bloodiness, which does not mean that it deliberately avoids these issues. It is just that children's eyes cannot interpret them. Only through some details and hints can the bloody and coldness of that era be conveyed.

This is also a point that Wu Yuchen values. Many similar anti-war films are aimed at bloody violence and directly show the crimes of the mob. It is not that this kind of filming is bad, but to be honest, it is not conducive to the dissemination of the film. Movies need artistic processing, and they are not straightforward documentaries.

Wu Yuchen also communicated with Spielberg before returning to China. When he was filming "Schindler's List", he also thought about whether to film more of Naturi's various violent behaviors and show her crimes more vividly. But he finally gave up because in this case, the bloody and violent scenes in the movie would make it difficult to spread.

A more sophisticated method is not to use a lot of bloody and violent images to cause discomfort and anger to the audience, but to let the audience immerse themselves in it, mobilize the audience's emotions, and resonate with the audience, so as to share the same hatred and enemies.

And this "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" perfectly meets this point. There is very little blood and violence in the whole film, but when you watch everything from a child's perspective, almost everyone can understand everything, thus generating a strong resonance. After all, children's emotions are the most sincere and touching!

This movie was released in 2008 in its previous life and won many awards. Its original novel was only published in 2006, and now it has not even started to create. Wu Yuchen has no problem shooting it.

The story framework does not need to be changed basically, and there are also concentration camps in China. Of course, some details need to be changed. For example, in the original version, the father of the little boy is a Nacui officer, and here it can be changed to a high-ranking Japanese puppet army. According to Wu Yuchen's visit and investigation, many concentration camp guards are actually done by puppet troops.

Most of the real devils were sent to the front line to fight hard battles, and many of the security management of concentration camps and prisons were traitors and puppet troops.

As for the shooting location, this time it is planned to be near Fengtian. The three northeastern provinces were occupied for 14 years, and many concentration camps were here. While persecuting the people of Northeast China, brainwashing propaganda was also carried out. It is the most suitable place for the story to take place.

The protagonists of this movie are undoubtedly two little boys, one is the son of a senior puppet army officer guarding the concentration camp, and the other is a prisoner in the concentration camp.

These two little actors are the top priority, and Wu Yuchen’s requirement is boys between 1992 and 1994.

Wu Yuchen did not try to search for the performance of the actors in his previous life in his mind, but to be honest, he didn’t remember how many actors born in these years had great acting skills, and basically all of them took the route of fresh meat and traffic.

But even if there were, he didn’t dare to use them directly. Who knows what they looked like when they were young? How about their acting skills? Therefore, as early as half a month ago, Wu Yuchen had asked the crew to start nationwide auditions.

One should be handsome and good-looking, looking like a child raised in luxury, with an innocent temperament; the other should be thin, or a little carrot head, which makes people feel sympathy.

There are also some important supporting roles, and Wu Yuchen did not conduct auditions again, such as the role of the little boy's mother, and directly called Gong Li to make an appointment. A 40-year-old, elegant and dignified woman, Wu Yuchen couldn't think of anyone more suitable than her.

Although Wu Yuchen was not without people around him who asked for this role, such as Jiang Qinqin who expressed her desire to play it, her age was not suitable at all, and Wu Yuchen did not agree at all.

"Director Wu, I didn't expect that I just played a mother in the last movie, and this time you asked me to play a mother again~" Gong Li smiled and said to Wu Yuchen.

Two years ago, she played a movie "Pretty Mom" ​​and won many awards.

"Haha, Sister Li, you are not going to play a poor mother this time, but a rich lady, but the care and love for the child are the same. I thought of you at the first time!"

Wu Yuchen and Gong Li walked into the room, chatting and laughing. This time, Gong Li was selected in advance, and she was also asked to join the audition judges to choose the "son" with Wu Yuchen.

The selection of the two young actors took a week. Gong Li took a piece of information and said to Wu Yuchen: "I still think this one is good."

Wu Yuchen looked at the photo on the information, and his performance in the audition today immediately appeared in his mind. He nodded and said: "This Dong Zijian is indeed good. He is thin and small, and he is also very cute. His acting skills are also beyond his peers. It is really suitable for him to play the little carrot head in the concentration camp."

Speaking of it, Dong Zijian is also very background. His mother is Wang Jinghua, who is known as the first agent in the mainland. Many crews have to give her face.

But for Wu Yuchen, Wang Jinghua is nothing in front of him. He doesn't need to consider her face at all. He chose Dong Zijian because he is really suitable. Maybe it was because of the family atmosphere and the exposure to acting that he showed his talent at a young age.

"Okay, this role will be decided for him."

Wu Yuchen made the decision, and then asked Gong Li: "Sister Li, which one did your son like?"

Gong Li pushed the three files she had left in front of her: "Look, I think these three are pretty good."

Wu Yuchen took the three files and looked at them. Fang Xi, Lin Dongyang, and Wei Zhe, the three little boys all had good images and temperaments, and their performances during the audition were also very spiritual, which also left a mark in his heart. Well, none of them were names that Wu Yuchen was familiar with in his previous life.

Wu Yuchen took the three files and said to Gong Li: "Sister Li, these three are all good. I'll add two more and let the five of them come back tomorrow to try. Let's see how they react to you and Dong Zijian."

Gong Li also nodded. Many actors are like this. They are very good when performing alone, but once they act together, they may feel different. Different people will have different chemical reactions and different effects.

"Director Wu! Thank you. It's a great blessing for Zijian to be in your eyes!"

Wang Jinghua has also been to many film crews and is used to big scenes. But when she heard that her son was chosen by Wu Yuchen to be one of the male protagonists in his new play, she was so excited that her face flushed.

Because she is a top agent, she knows how big the gap is between other directors and Wu Yuchen in the Chinese film industry. The outside media is hyping up who is the number one director between Zhang Yimou and Wu Yuchen, but there is no controversy in the industry.

Ask these actors, if they are chosen by Wu Yuchen and Zhang Yimou at the same time, whose play would they be willing to play? It must be Wu Yuchen!

Box office, Oscar, Hollywood, just these few words are in front of them. Any actor who hesitates is disrespecting his future and prospects!

Therefore, her son got into Wu Yuchen's new play, which can be said to be a great start. Although the development of child stars may not be smooth, with her knowledgeable mother paving the way for them, as long as his son is willing to develop in the entertainment industry in the future, it will definitely be smooth!

Looking at Wang Jinghua who nodded and bowed to him, Wu Yuchen also shook hands with her gently, and then smiled and said: "No need to do this, it's also because Zijian is talented. It's just that you may have to endure some hardships in the next two months of filming. Can you accept it?"

"Don't worry, Director Wu, hard work and perseverance are the basic qualities of an actor. Being able to learn from you and accept your guidance, the child will benefit infinitely in the future!"

A day later, after careful screening, the candidate for the male lead, Fang Xi, was finally decided. He performed the best in all aspects.

After the little boy was selected, his parents also acted happier than he was, and took the little boy to thank and assure Wu Yuchen in various ways.

Wu Yuchen smiled. This time he chose an amateur little actor. I don't know if it will change his fate and become an actor in the future.

Then he shook his head and stopped thinking about it. He could not predict the future, and the most important thing for him was to make this movie a success.

"Hey, Brother Wu, how is your new movie?"

"Hahaha, thanks to Brother Han, we just decided on the actors for the two children." Wu Yuchen replied to Han Sanping with a smile.

"That's good. Children's dramas are the hardest to shoot. If we can find two suitable actors, we're already halfway there. I see that you're focusing on this new drama now. Have you paid attention to the box office of "The Blade of the Assassin" yet?"

Wu Yuchen smiled calmly and said, "Brother Han, you're taking care of "The Blade of the Assassin". I think there will be no problem!"

"You! Okay, I'm not talking to you about the box office of "The Blade of the Assassin" this time. Brother Wu, I want to ask you, are you sure that this drama will compete for the Oscar this year?"

"Yes, what's wrong?" Wu Yuchen asked.

"Well, if you are sure that you will compete for the Oscar, I'll keep this spot for you. Just now, "Hero" asked about this year's Oscar spot."

Wu Yuchen understood when he heard what Han Sanping said. Each region can only send one movie to participate in the Oscar competition for the Best Foreign Language Film every year. In the previous life, the film submitted by the mainland this year was naturally "Hero", but now that Wu Yuchen is involved, there will be some waves.

Wu Yuchen pondered for a moment, and then said: "Brother Han, I won't hide it from you. My film reflects the theme of the War of Resistance Against Japan. I will definitely get this quota for submission this year. As for "Hero", you can tell them to go through the Hong Kong Island route!"

The investor of the film "Hero", Anle Films itself is a Hong Kong Island company. At the same time, among its cast, Jet Li, Liang Chaowei, Maggie Cheung, and Zhen Zidan, they all have permanent resident status in Hong Kong Island, and many staff members are also from Hong Kong Island, so they fully meet the conditions for submitting through Hong Kong Island.

Of course, whether he can win this quota depends on Jiang Zhiqiang's ability. However, Wu Yuchen estimated that with Lao Mouzi's face and Jiang Zhiqiang's connections, there should be no problem.

In fact, if it is manipulated, the play "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" can also go through the Hong Kong Island quota. But the theme of this drama is a serious anti-Japanese war theme, so Wu Yuchen must let him represent the mainland to participate in the competition. This has a different meaning, and he will definitely not give up this spot.

Han Sanping agreed after listening to him: "Okay, Brother Wu, that's it. But you have to hurry up with the filming, there are only 3 months left before the review."

"Don't worry, this play doesn't have big scenes. I have already arranged all the scenes. It mainly depends on the performance of the young actors. I expect it will be done within 2 months."

Han Sanping nodded, and then reminded Wu Yuchen:

"Brother Wu, your play is aimed at the theme of the Anti-Japanese War, but it has attracted a lot of attention. Many people above also want to see your finished product. I won't say much about other things. The main thing is the scale issue. Don't follow the footsteps of "The Devils on the Doorstep."

Wu Yuchen laughed and said, "Hahaha, Brother Han, which play has been banned since I started filming? I promise you, if this play of mine can't pass the review, then don't shoot other anti-Japanese war plays!"

The movie "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" he chose can almost be said to be the smallest among many anti-war films. If this could get stuck, he would make a scene with the scissors!