Hearing Andy's words, Lan Li couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly, originally he thought it would be a new work, but after thinking about it, Broadway and London's West End are now becoming fewer and fewer new creations, and the decline cannot be reversed, and classic masterpieces are still the best choice. "Movie or play?"

Andy's words poured into his mouth couldn't help choking, and his smile became a little brighter, Lan Li is always so keen, everyone's first reaction when they hear "Les Miserables" will be drama, the last film adaptation was in the distant 1998, plus in the past few months, Andy has been looking for a suitable drama for Lan Li...... However, Lan Li saw through his trick.

"Movies. Andy still said the answer calmly, "This project has actually been in the dust for twenty-three years, and it was first in the hands of Columbia Pictures, but no one dared to challenge the subject, and musical adaptations always lacked some highlights, and after a while, they came to Universal Pictures...... I know, you listen to me go on. ”

Universal Pictures, it's an interesting reincarnation.

"Although this is a Universal project, Cameron Mackintosh still has the rights to the first producer, and Universal Pictures does not intend to interfere. Andy explained quickly and simply.

"Cameron?" Lan Li retracted his chin meaningfully.

Cameron Mackintosh, who was the original producer of the English version of "Les Miserables" and is hailed as a gold medal producer, also produced "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Miss Saigon". Three of the four classic musicals. However, he never tried to make films, always stuck to the field of theater, and it seemed that "Les Miserables" would be his first attempt.

Obviously, Universal Pictures was also worried that the remake of the classic would be messed up, so it brought in Cameron to press the lineup. However, Cameron's experience can be a sharp weapon, but it can also be a prison that restricts change and innovation.

"Yes, Cameron is forming a cast of crews. Tom Hopper has been identified as the director, and the main character is now entering the second round of screening, which ended a month ago. Andy continued, "But this is Hollywood, so don't worry too much. I've spoken to Cameron and he's willing to watch you audition. No, he was looking forward to seeing you audition. ”

For nobodies, the first and second rounds of screening are very important, but for top superstars, skipping the pre-audition and going straight to the final screening is a normal thing. Lan Li is not a top superstar yet, but he is no longer a nobody.

Andy put his hands on his chubby belly, the corners of his mouth were still habitually smiling, his eyes narrowed into a thin slit because of the smile, through the gap, he carefully looked at Lan Li's expression, and added, "I know you've been looking forward to being back on the theater stage, but now that there are fewer and fewer plays in the West End and Broadway that are worth challenging, you need to really calm down and choose slowly." ”

It's only been three months since Lan Li told Andy that he wanted to challenge himself in theater again, and it's still not enough time, not to mention that it's still the busiest time of awards season. Andy used his connections at an innovative artist's agency to conduct a carpet search, and he even went to Off-Broadway to find the right work, but it was a needle in a haystack and it was difficult.

However, Andy did not take the initiative to take credit, nor did he shirk responsibility, but simply expressed his opinion realistically, "'Les Miserables' is a good opportunity. Under the supervision of Cameron Mackintosh, the film will still restore the original book to the greatest extent, and it can almost be regarded as a theatrical performance, and the director is Tom Hopper, who is also British, and he is also from a TV series, I think his understanding of drama should also be commended. ”

In the two sentences, Andy's true identity as a drama layman is completely exposed.

Film and theater are completely different because the camera and the stage are completely different, and the way of acting, the content presented, and even the understanding of the characters are very different. The reason why Lan Li wants to return to the stage is to polish his basic skills on the one hand, and on the other hand, to feel the oppression of being in close contact with the audience on the stage.

Also, Tom Hopper is a TV director. His understanding of drama is the level of a TV station, which is flat and stable. Whether it is "The King's Speech" or "Les Miserables", his sense of camera is too TV, and there is no deconstruction and depth of the big screen at all. Lan Li has always believed that after the 21st century, the most "watery" Oscar director is Tom Hopper.

The most important thing is that the way the drama is performed is very different. There are fixed performances every day, each with a different audience, which means that every day has to face a new test, deliver a 100% good performance, and each day has a different challenge to deal with, and the difficulty and challenge are always present and updated every day over the long course of the show.

But the movie will not, during the filming, you can repeat the mistake repeatedly, after filming a scene, there is no worries, and other things can be left to post-production. All the tests are just one-off.

But Lan Li did not ridicule Andy, he has a specialization in the art industry, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, he needs to stick to his position as an actor, but he also needs Andy and Roy's professional advice, "Which role is the audition?"

"Marius. Andy tapped his belly lightly with his fingertips, feeling a little lighter.

Lan Li accepted his chin to show understanding, "Not a surprise answer." ”

In the original book "Les Miserables", the male protagonist Jean-Argent is a character who has experienced the vicissitudes of life, first after 19 years of hard labor, then spent 10 years to become mayor, after the identity of the former prisoner was revealed, he became a gardener incognito for five years, and finally after the ordeal, Ran died on the bed at home.

It can be said that this is a role with a very large age span, from youth to old age, and in theatrical performances, it is often difficult for makeup techniques to create such a drastic effect in a short period of time. Therefore, the adapted drama locks the age in Ran's middle-aged period, condensing the time span as much as possible.

The same is true of Jean-Argent's nemesis, Xavier, who lived through the same era span. However, in addition to these two roles, Fantine, Cosette, and Marius are all young characters, aged between 18 and 25, which is an important opportunity for young actors.

Among them, Marius is one of the important characters in the whole movie.

Handsome and handsome, from a privileged family, but full of ambition, he was a standard revolutionary/life young man of the nineteenth century. His father was a colonel and baron to Napoleon, and he was raised by his maternal grandfather, who was a royalist, and always hated his father as a Bonapartist. However, after the death of his father, who loved him deeply, he gradually understood the revolution and the republic, abandoned the material comforts of his grandfather's family, inherited his father's military rank and title, became a staunch republican, and joined the uprising. Later, Marius became acquainted with Cosette and fell in love with her, drawing Cosette and Jean-Argent into the torrent of time.

Choosing Lanli to audition for Marius was a fitting decision.

"Well, are there any requirements for auditions?" Lan Li took his chin and said neatly without expressing too many opinions.

However, the affirmative reply was a bit too crisp and neat, and Andy was surprised instead, "You have no opinion?"

Lan Li chuckled, "Of course I have an opinion, what I'm looking forward to is a drama, not a movie." That's the essential difference. However, your words also have a point, Cameron McIntosh's version of 'Les Miserables', even if it is a movie, still retains the character of the drama, and for the director, the challenge is enormous, and for the actors, the essence is still the same. ”

Tom Hopper's version of "Les Miserables" does not have many innovative parts, and the acting part is basically copied from the stage version, and even many of the actors are real from Broadway and London's West End. The performance method, performance content, and performance intensity are almost the same as those of stage plays.

In fact, this is also the reason why Russell Crowe was scolded by film critics. As a pure film actor, the gap between Russell and other actors is not only about singing skills, but also about stage performance and character interpretation. Tom directs the film in the form of a stage play, and all of Russell's shortcomings are exposed, how can film critics approve of it?

"What I'm looking forward to is polishing the basics, controlling the stage, and communicating with the audience. However, if you can't find a suitable project, the movie version of 'Les Miserables', this is indeed the wisest choice at this stage. Lan Li said with a smile, "At least, all the tests in the audition stage, it is not much different from the stage play." ”

Now Lan Li has already begun to think in his mind, which part of Marius he should perform, or Shakespeare in an ingenious way, these are all lessons when he was a student at the Royal Academy of Drama. Even before it started, Lan Li had already recalled those years again, as well as the experience of standing on the stage to show himself, and his blood began to boil.

“…… Yes. Andy was a little surprised, "The audition asks for a theatrical performance, and it can be sent by email, preferably 90 to 120 seconds." Is the same true for the requirements of the stage play?"

"Yes. The only difference is that we're standing on stage, not cameras. Lan Li's calm and complacent appearance fell into Andy's eyes, thoughtful.

It wasn't until this moment that Andy really understood the difference between a film actor and a theater actor. In Lan Li's body, there is a shock and infection after getting rid of the camera, which is really subtle and cannot be described in words. Andy couldn't help but wonder: what would it be like to stand on the stage of London's West End or Broadway?

"What's more, I'm sure you won't surrender on this point. Lan Li's voice came again, interrupting Andy's thoughts, and then Andy saw the twinkle in Lan Li's eyes, Lan Li knew, knew the purpose of his coming to London this time, and knew the information he was hiding.

Andy smiled and patted his little belly with his fingertips, and asked curiously, "Are you guessing?"

"I'm sure now. Lan Li's answer made Andy chuckle, and Nathan, who was sitting next to him, was confused, watching the two of them play dumb riddles, unable to understand anything.

Fortunately, Andy didn't continue to go around in circles, and the next step was to cut to the chase, "I came to London this time, mainly because there is a suitable project here, and I want to talk to them in person." "The drama that has to be rushed back for a while, that's why.

"So, whose work is it tonight?" went around in circles, and finally returned to the first question after meeting today.