"Ladies and gentlemen, let us now raise a glass to celebrate the completion of the Dongying scene of "A Game of Chess", and at the same time wish the filming in China a smooth sailing. Cheers, everyone!" In the lobby of a restaurant in Tokyo, Yasushi Tokuma stood on the stage, holding his glass high, looking at the actors present, and smiling authentically.

The scene was very enthusiastic, and everyone in the crew raised their cups. Everyone shouted "Cheers" in unison and drank all the wine or drinks in the glass.

After toasting together, everyone chatted while eating. The actors and crew who will go to China to shoot talk about their longing for filming in China, while the actors and crew who will not go talk to the Chinese about their feelings in the past few months, and they seem to be reluctant. Many of them carried wine bottles and glasses, and toasted everywhere.

The Dongying crew has a strict hierarchy, and subordinates must bow when they see their superiors, and it is common for them to be scolded and trained, even if they are beaten, there are many rare things, just like the slap of Akina Mori in the slap of Junya Sato. However, this kind of thing rarely happens in the crew of "A Game of Chess", when Junya Sato gets angry and scolds, Xu Wangqiu will persuade him next to him. The Dongying staff of the crew are very grateful to Xu Wangqiu. Now that parting is imminent, they have come over to toast Xu Wangqiu.

The culture of the Dongying wine table is a little different from that of China, and the people of Dongying also toast at the wine table, but they do not discourage drinking, and everyone can drink according to their preferences. If you are accidentally persuaded to drink, you can drink only one glass, and the second drink can be politely declined. Therefore, although there were many people who toasted Xu Wangqiu, he did not drink much.

When the finale banquet lasted for almost an hour, Tokuma Yasushi quickly pulled Xu Wangqiu aside and chatted. Recently, he heard the news that "Shaolin Temple" was a box office hit in Xiangjiang and Southeast Asia, and he also heard that "Shaolin Temple" was filmed by Xu Wangqiu at the suggestion of Yindu Agency. He suddenly realized that with a genius like Xu Wangqiu, the export company might make a lot of movies like "Shaolin Temple", so he hoped to have more in-depth cooperation with Xu Wangqiu and the export company.

Tokuma Yasushi said with a quick smile: "Wangqiu, after the filming of "A Game of Chess", do you have any plans?"

Tokuma Yasukuai is an important partner of the export company, and Xu Wangqiu naturally will not hide it from him, so he said: "After the filming of "A Game of Chess", I will help Ms. Xia Meng's Blue Bird Company make a movie, mainly about how capitalism drives an injured person into a madman, and then prepare to make a costume historical blockbuster. Since 1979, the number of moviegoers in Chinese films has declined year by year, and the number of moviegoers has dropped by 2 billion in three years. In the best two years, China has introduced a large number of TV production lines, and TV sets will soon enter thousands of households, and in the next few years, the rate of decline in moviegoers will further increase. I estimate that by 1990, the number of moviegoers in China might have been half of what it was in 1979, almost 15 billion. The only way to resist the impact of TV is to engage in commercial blockbusters and give the audience audio-visual enjoyment that cannot be felt in the TV. ”

When Tokuma heard that Xu Wangqiu wanted to make a costume history blockbuster, he said excitedly: "I have a script for a costume history film about China here, I don't know if you are interested?"

Xu Wangqiu said in surprise: "I don't know what story is told?"

Tokuma Yasushi said quickly: "Mr. Inoue's history "Dunhuang". Director Masaki Kobayashi has been interested in this story for a long time and has been preparing for it for a long time. In '79, I worked with director Kobayashi to prepare for this story and began to prepare for the filming of this film. However, as the project progresses to the present, our differences are getting bigger and bigger, and what director Kobayashi wants to make is a semi-documentary style film that has undergone detailed historical research, while what I want to do is a magnificent historical legend drama. Your "Falcon" is magnificent, and with your ability to shoot this story, it will definitely be very exciting. If you're interested, I can buy the script from Mr. Inoue and director Kobayashi and give it to you to shoot. ”

Xu Wangqiu knew that "Dunhuang", the movie was made quite well, and it caused a sensation after its release, not only was it extremely successful at the box office, but also swept the major awards in Dongying. However, this movie was full of twists and turns from preparation to shooting, the original director was Masaki Kobayashi, and later changed to Shinji Fukasaku, and in the end it was Junya Sato who really completed the movie.

Xu Wangqiu knew that Dongying people were very interested in Chinese history, and there were many Dongying writers who wrote Chinese history, such as Inoue Jing and Sima Liaotaro, and the first time he knew about Wang Xuance's deeds was because of Tanaka Yoshiki's "Tianzhu Hot Wind Record". However, he is not too interested in photographing the Chinese historical stories written by the Dongying people, and the Chinese history written by the Dongying people always feels strange to read, a bit like American Chinese food, which looks similar, but it just tastes wrong.

Chen Kaige's movie "The Legend of the Demon Cat" is adapted from Dongying's "Tang Ghost Banquet", Xu Wangqiu felt wrong when he watched it, especially the Feast of Bliss, although it was filmed with flowers and luxury, but I always felt that it was not like Datang, and the real Datang should not be like that.

Xu Wangqiu smiled and said: "I have read Mr. Inoue's "Dunhuang", it is very good, and it is very wonderful. But it's not the historical story I really want to shoot, I have my own story I want to shoot, and I'm going to shoot the thirteen soldiers returning to Yumen. ”

Tokuma Yasukuai said curiously, "What is this story about?"

Xu Wangqiu said: "In 74 AD, the Eastern Han Dynasty re-established the Western Regions Protectorate, and appointed Geng Gong and Guan Zhong as captains. In the following year, the Northern Xiongnu Shan Yu sent 20,000 elite soldiers to attack the Che Division, killed the Che Shi Hou Wang, and instead attacked the Geng Gong garrison where hundreds of people were stationed and besieged it into the city. At this time, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty died and had no time to send troops, and the rescue troops did not come, and Che Shiguo betrayed the Han Dynasty and joined forces with the Xiongnu to attack Geng Gong. The Han soldiers ran out of food and fell into trouble. They boiled their crossbows and ate their tendons, and held on to the city. It was not until Emperor Zhang of Han succeeded to the throne that the imperial court sent troops to the rescue. Geng Gong and they held out for more than a year, and by the time reinforcements arrived, there were only 26 people left in the city. The next day, they returned with reinforcements. The Northern Xiongnu sent troops to pursue, and Geng Gong walked while fighting. When they returned to Yumen Pass, there were only 13 people left.

During the siege of the city, the Northern Xiongnu knew that Geng Gong and them had reached a desperate situation, so they sent envoys to surrender on the condition that the king would send a woman. Geng Gong pretended to agree, and after the Xiongnu envoy entered the city, Geng Gong grabbed him to the city, killed him with a knife, and roasted his meat with fire. This is the origin of the sentence in Yue Fei's "Man Jianghong". ”

Although Xu Wangqiu's description is simple, Tokuma Kangkuai was deeply shocked, the Xiongnu army besieged the city, hundreds of Han troops were trapped in the lonely city for more than a year, and in the end, only thirteen people were left to return to Yumen Pass, what a tragic story, I couldn't help but say: "When the movie is made, it must be handed over to our Daying Company for distribution." ”

Xu Wangqiu chuckled: "This is definitely not a problem. ”

Xu Wangqiu was chatting with Tokuma Yasu, and Akina Nakamori walked over with her hands behind her back and looked at Xu Wangqiu smiling shyly. Xu Wangqiu knew more about Akina Nakamori, and when he saw her appearance, he knew that he had something to say, so he said, "What's the matter, Akina, do you want to have a drink with me?"

Akina Nakamori smiled, took out a beautifully packaged gift box, and put it in front of Xu Wangqiu: "Mr. Xu, I really thank you." If it weren't for your guidance, I would have been replaced, and I wouldn't have been able to participate in this movie. Thank you really much. This is a little bit of my heart, and I would like to ask you to accept it. ”

Xu Wangqiu waved his hand and said: "It is the job of us directors to guide actors, and I am willing to guide you because you are talented, and your image and responsibility are particularly suitable for Ba, it would be a pity not to let you act." I have received your heart, and the gift will be forgotten. ”

Akina Nakamori insisted: "This is my heart, please accept it." ”

Tokuma Yasukuai also persuaded: "Since it's Mingcai's thoughts, you can accept it." ”

Xu Wangqiu explained: "We have a rule that the gifts we receive cannot exceed 10 yuan. If it exceeds this price, it must be paid to the public. If it's a small gift, I'll take it. If it's more than ten yuan, then I don't have to send it, and even if I do, I have to hand it over to the unit. ”

"I heard Mr. Tang say that you like to take pictures, and you take pictures very well, so I bought a Ricoh camera as a gift. Akina Nakamori stared into Xu Wangqiu's eyes, as if she was afraid that he would lie, "You really have to turn it in, can't you hide it secretly?"

Xu Wangqiu said: "This is our rule and we must hand it in, so you better take the gift back." ”

Akina Nakamori reluctantly took back the gift box, stared at Xu Wangqiu, and said seriously: "Then I'll prepare a gift for you again, and I'll give it to you when the time comes." ”

Xu Wangqiu smiled: "Don't bother." ”

Akina Nakamori said firmly: "No, you must send it." ”

Xu Wangqiu didn't insist: "It can't exceed ten yuan, and if you convert it into yen, it's less than 1,000 yuan." ”

Xu Wangqiu didn't take this matter to heart, but two days later, when the crew was ready to leave for China, Akina Nakamori went to the airport to see everyone off, and he really brought the gift. She took out a small box with beautiful packaging and handed it to Xu Wangqiu: "Mr. Xu, this is the tape of the album of Yamaguchi Baihui, don't you all like Yamaguchi Baihui very much? I bought a box, I hope you can like it." ”

Xu Wangqiu actually didn't have any feelings about Yamaguchi Baihui, and he didn't think it was very good-looking, but Yamaguchi Baihui's tape would definitely not exceed ten yuan, but he could accept it, and said with a smile: "Since it's Yamaguchi Baihui's tape, then I'll accept it." But I don't have a present. ”

Akina Nakamori laughed: "It's okay if you're not prepared now, next time we meet, just give me the gift you made an appointment." ”

Xu Wangqiu said in surprise: "Did I promise anything?"

Akina Nakamori said with a smile: "Before the movie started, when the crew met for the first time, didn't you say that when the movie was released in China, you wanted us to see the pandas. Have you forgotten? I remember very well, you are not allowed to cheat!"

Xu Wangqiu laughed and said, "I thought you gave me a gift because of friendship, but I didn't expect it to be to see a panda, why do I feel a little sad?"

Akina Nakamori giggled: "No, I really want to thank you for giving you a gift, and it has nothing to do with pandas." She stared into Xu Wangqiu's eyes and said seriously: "Yamaguchi Baihui's song is good, you must listen to it." ”

Xu Wangqiu smiled: "No problem, I will definitely listen." ”

At this moment, the message of boarding came from the radio, Xu Wangqiu smiled and waved at Akina Nakamori, and strode towards the checkpoint with the crew.

After entering the cabin, Xu Wangqiu came to his place, released the salute into the salute rack, and sat on the seat to think about the shooting.

It's already mid-April, and the film has to be released in mid-September, which is only 5 months away, and the post-production of the film, plus censorship and processing of copies, is probably more than three months. In other words, the domestic scenes must be completed in more than a month, and the domestic scenes of "A Game of Chess" account for nearly two-thirds, with nearly 80 minutes of content.

To finish filming so much content in more than a month is also a serious challenge for Xu Wangqiu.