Zhao Fei joined the crew, and the most important part of Zhang Ran's main creative team was completed. The whole crew began to operate, and each group began to break down the script, followed by the location scouting. Although Jing Zhangran had already surveyed it, he had to survey it again because the art, recording, lighting, and photography were not present.

"The Burst Drummer" is basically an indoor play, and the main scene is Nortel's rehearsal room, as well as a multi-purpose screening room, so it is quite easy to scout the location. It only took one day for the whole job to be done.

After the scout, each team began to implement their work step by step, developing their own shooting plan, drawing up a list of each group, and putting it together to develop a detailed budget.

Zhang Ran was so busy that he naturally didn't have time to care about Liu Yifei. But he couldn't really ignore it, so he handed over the teaching task to Li Xinyue, who lived in Beiping. Liu Yifei has a good relationship with Li Xinyue, and there is no problem with Li Xinyue's counseling.

The budget proposal is finalized, and the most important casting work is next.

There are two most important characters in "Burst Drummer", student Zhou Xu and teacher Chen Wei. The role of Zhou Xu itself is not difficult, the acting skills do not need to be too high, the key is to be able to play the drums, and the role of Chen Wei is much more difficult, Chen Wei's character image is reversed four times in 100 minutes, in the original movie, JK Simmons also successfully won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor with the role of the teacher.

There are two highlights of this movie, one is the music, and the other is the performance of the role of the teacher. If it were in the United States, filming the American version of "Burst Drummer", Zhang Ran might go directly to JK Simmons, but now that he is filming the Chinese version, he must find actors from China.

"At first, he seems to be an eccentric teacher, then he reverses into a tyrant with sadistic tendencies, then reverses into a well-intentioned strict teacher, then reverses into a narrow-minded villain, and at the end of the film, he becomes a loving father who wants his son to become a dragon. It's best for this actor to be a person who looks good, the kind of person who looks like a wicked person, and it's best if he hasn't played a bad guy before. ”

Ning Hao frowned when he heard this, and even began to shake his head: "This requirement is too high, and ordinary people can't perform well." ”

"Actually, I've already figured out who I'm going to play the role. Zhang Ran took a sip of water and continued, "I hope that Mr. Li Xuejian will play this role." ”

"If Teacher Li Xuejian can come to act, it will definitely be the best candidate, but Teacher Li was diagnosed with cancer when he went to signal the moon, and now he is being treated, so he will definitely not be able to take the play!" Hearing the person selected by Zhang Ran, Ning Hao frowned directly.

Zhang Ran was stunned, he had seen a report in his previous life, when Mr. Li Xuejian was diagnosed with cancer, the play was not finished, he went to the hospital for chemotherapy in the morning, and then rushed to the filming site in the afternoon to film, just like that, Li Xuejian filmed hard for a month, until the last shot was filmed. It's just that I didn't expect it to be now, which is really a pity!

Teacher Li Xuejian can't participate, so he has to look for a new candidate!

Zhang Ran said: "Wang Zhiwen, he can play this kind of character who is both righteous and evil, and he can perform a touch of good in the bad character, which can make this role fuller!"

"I also think Wang Zhiwen is suitable, Wang Zhiwen's acting skills are superb, especially the lines are a must, stronger than Chen Daoming's lines. ”

The assistant director said: "Wang Zhiwen is now filming Chen Kaige's "With You", is it too late?"

Zhang Ran asked: "When did "With You" start?"

"November. ”

Zhang Ran has seen "With You", there are no big scenes, and there are no difficult performances, the filming period is at most three months, and Wang Zhiwen is a supporting role, so it should be in time: "We started the film in March, it's not a big problem! Please get in touch with him as soon as possible, try it first, let's find something else!"

"No problem!"

"The role of the actor Zhou Xu, I think Nicholas Tse is more suitable, what do you think?" Zhang Ran was not too satisfied with the performance of the original protagonist, he felt that he was a little lacking, and now that he wants to shoot it, he must avoid these problems.

The male lead of the original movie was played by Miles Teller, an actor who was too tall to form a good difference between high and low cameras.

The film's shots are shot upwards, giving the impression that they are in a strong position, while the characters are weak when shot from above. When two people clash, the director often does not let the characters' eyes be on the same level, often one high and one low. This sets the tone for this scene, and the audience can feel who is strong and who is weak. Jackie Chan's movies often have particularly tall opponents, which is to make the audience feel that Jackie Chan is in a weak position and increase the tension of the movie.

In Zhang Ran's conception, Chen Wei must be higher than Zhou Xu, because Chen Wei has always been in a strong position. If you choose a particularly tall actor to play Zhou Xu, then there will be no such difference between height and low positions, so Nicholas Tse, who is a little more than 1.7 meters tall, is quite an ideal candidate.

"No problem, what about the other characters?"

"The heroine Chen Xin has relatively few scenes, only a few scenes, this character must be beautiful, look very innocent, have a sweet smile, and it is best to have a little naïve feeling. In this way, when Zhou Xu broke up with her, everyone would feel sorry and feel that Zhou Xu's behavior was unreasonable. This role is still looking for it in the mainland, see if you can find a suitable candidate, if not, find Zhang Jingchu!"

If Liu Yifei is two years late, she is definitely the best candidate, but now she is too young, Zhang Ran continued: "Zhou Xu's two competitors must be able to play the drums, and one is a little taller, which can form a contrast with Zhou Xu." The role of Zhou Xu's father does not have any requirements in appearance, as long as he looks like a kind father, he must have rich acting experience. The members of the band, as well as other characters, from Nortel, Chinese opera, some students who can play musical instruments, can do it. ”

"No problem. The assistant director nodded.

Two days later, the assistant director came to Zhang Ran with the information, and Zhou Xu's two opponents had suitable candidates.

Zhang Ran couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he looked at the information of the two actors, Cheng Guanxi, Yu Wenle. Yu Wenle is okay, Nicholas Tse and Cheng Guanxi, this combination is a bit interesting: "How much do these two get paid?"

"Cheng Guanxi 500,000, Yu Wenle 300,000. ”

Zhang Ran calculated that Nicholas Tse's salary was 1 million, Cheng Guanxi was 400,000, Yu Wenle was 300,000, Wang Zhiwen was 300,000, and the salaries of other actors and crew members were almost 3 million, less than half of the crew's budget, and the funds were abundant.

"Please send the script to the two of their agents, how about Nicholas Tse?"

"No news yet!"

In Zhang Ran's heart, there are two candidates for the role of Zhou Xu, Nicholas Tse and Jay Chou, but Nicholas Tse's acting skills are much better, which is undoubtedly more suitable. If possible, Zhang Ran still hopes that he will play it: "Wait, if there is no news before the Chinese New Year, let's contact other people!

The assistant director said: "Wang Zhiwen has been filming Chen Kaige's "With You" recently, he is busy, he has read the script, but he wants to meet and talk to you!"

Zhang Ran said: "Then make an appointment, I can do it at any time, the key is him." ”

I met Wang Zhiwen a day later, and the place was in a tea room.

After a few polite words, Zhang Ran went straight to the point: "Mr. Wang, I have considered many domestic actors, but after thinking about it, I am afraid it is yours to be able to play this role thoroughly." ”

Wang Zhiwen is a person from the past, and it is impossible to be coaxed by a young man to be so coaxed that he can't find the north: "You are praising me, the script of "Bursting Drummer" is very good, and the role of Chen Wei is also very good, but I want to know what kind of person Chen Wei is in your eyes, good, or bad?"

Zhang Ran knows that there is a trap in this, if a director's understanding of the characters is to the extent of good and bad, it will only show that the director is extremely shallow. In the same way, if a director asks an actor to talk about a role, if the actor just says that the character is in pain and sadness, it means that the actor is very amateurish.

Although Zhang Ran did not write a biography of Chen Wei's character, he ate this character quite thoroughly: "Chen Wei is only an artistic maniac, he really loves music, and he also loves talents with musical talents. However, his mind is more paranoid, and in his opinion, if he finds geniuses, he must beat them hard and expel them to keep going. I have some agreement on this point, I am also a teacher, teaching students to perform, I believe that one minute on stage, ten years off the stage, people's inertia is very heavy, if they are not strict, they will waste their talents. However, I still think that Chen Wei's behavior is a little excessive, and it is no problem to be strict with students, but some students are very vulnerable, and insulting and scolding will only destroy their confidence, just like the student who hanged himself!"

Wang Zhiwen nodded slightly: "That's right, I like the little girl's scene, I like the scene where he plays the piano in the bar, and I also like his last smile!"

Zhang Ran knew what Wang Zhiwen liked, what he liked was the kindness under Chen Wei's dark appearance: "Mr. Wang, you are very good at showing the inner contrast of the characters, even if the characters you play are bad people, they are both bad on the outside and good on the inside." When you are acting, you often focus your eyes on one point, look down diagonally, and the corners of your mouth are slightly raised, with a kind of melancholy, in fact, you want to use this external action to highlight the character's inner gentleness, and this gentleness is exactly what I want!"

Wang Zhiwen had no expression on his face, but his eyes flashed, this person should not be underestimated, even this habit of mine was discovered, and he said directly: "Just by your words, I will take this film!"

Zhang Ran stood up and said with a smile: "Great! Chen Wei's role is the most critical part of the whole movie, with you joining, this drama will be more than half successful!"

Coming out of the tea room, Zhang Ran saw an old man on the side of the road selling rock sugar gourds with his throat. He pondered that he had to go to Liu Yifei's house, and then he had to devote himself to the movie, but he really didn't have time to teach her, so he had to talk to her in person.

(Thanks to "Book Friend 150516111141124 and Lord Earl for rewarding in 1949, 5Lookingfor, and Very Sad Song, ask for collection, ask for recommendation!)