Chapter 171 People's Art Theatre also joins in the fun
I just came back from the Central Academy of Drama and someone came to visit me.
"Comrade Hongmin, I am Lin Chaohua from the Beijing People's Art Theatre."
"Hello, Teacher Lin."
Liu Hongmin was a little puzzled. Could it be that Lin Chaohua also came for "Duds"?
Sure enough, Lin Chaohua said, "Comrade Hongmin, I am sorry to bother you by coming to visit me. I heard that the Central Academy of Drama wants to adapt "The Donkey Gets Water" into a play?"
Liu Hongmin nodded, "Yes, I just came back from the Central Academy of Drama."
Lin Chaohua said regretfully: "It seems that I am a step late."
"It's not too late!" Liu Hongmin said, "I didn't ask them for the licensing fee. After all, the Central Academy of Drama is a school, and it's a good thing to train actors for the country."
Lin Chaohua said in surprise: "So, our People's Art Theatre still has a chance?"
"Of course!" Liu Hongmin said, "You can adapt it as long as you pay the copyright fee according to the standard. But I have a request, that is, every time you perform, you can let students from the Central Academy of Drama come to watch."
"Of course!" Lin Chaohua agreed on the spot.
He also graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, so naturally he hopes that his alma mater will be good.
Liu Hongmin signed the authorization contract. Lin Chaohua did not leave in a hurry, but talked with Liu Hongmin about the creative concept.
Liu Hongmin doesn't know what the original concept of "Mr. Donkey" was. However, some people have interpreted it as a metaphor for the special period by tying it to events such as Zhang Yiman.
However, when Liu Hongmin was creating the work, he removed these misleading parts. He is different from others. He never denies the special period. It happened for a reason. It was only later that it was used by someone with ulterior motives, which led to such a situation.
This kind of thing has happened many times in history. There will always be opposition to any reform, and what is more terrifying than the opposition are those with ulterior motives.
Wang Anshi's reform was not afraid of Sima Guang, his political enemy, but the vested interest groups who pretended to obey but secretly disobeyed. These maggots hidden under the history books were the reason why Wang Anshi's reform failed.
"The history before the founding of the People's Republic of China is not that long ago, only 30 or 40 years ago. But if you look at the current public opinion, there are so many people whitewashing the period before the founding of the People's Republic of China. I don't deny that they have advantages, but I will never agree to cover up their countless shortcomings with just a few advantages. We are all defenders on the cultural front, and we must not let these villains succeed."
Lin Chaohua agreed with Liu Hongmin's idea. Although he did not like political aspirations, he could not stand the unhealthy trends that had emerged in the past two years.
"Comrade Hongmin, rest assured. I know how to adapt it."
Lin Chaohua stood up and said goodbye, "If you have time, come to the People's Art Theatre and help us with the review."
Liu Hongmin smiled and waved his hands, "Teacher Lin, you are embarrassing me. I don't understand drama. I believe in the level of the People's Art Theater. It can definitely stage a wonderful drama, as long as you don't deviate from the main theme."
Lin Chaohua said affirmatively: "Please rest assured, we will not deviate from the main purpose."
After getting the authorization, Lin Chaohua immediately found someone to adapt the script. The screenwriters of the People's Art Theater were very good and finished the script in a few days. "Mr. Donkey" is suitable for adaptation into a drama, and there are not many places that need to be changed. If the script did not need to be handwritten, it would probably not take even a few days.
After getting the script, Lin Chaohua immediately gathered people for rehearsal. The actors of the People's Art Theater were much more mature than the students of the Central Academy of Drama. Under Lin Chaohua's guidance, they became familiar with the script in a few days, and it took half a month for it to take shape.
Lin Chaohua decided to hold an internal performance. If the effect is good, it can be performed publicly.
Liu Hongmin was also invited, and then he called Ma Weidu and went to the People's Art Theatre together.
He was not really interested in the drama. Although the actors performed very well, he could not help but look around the theater. There are many people watching dramas now. Should we build a theater in Jinpeng Shopping Mall? After thinking about it, Liu Hongmin rejected his idea. In the 1990s, after the rapid development of the national economy, people's consumption of dramas and movies will be downgraded. In the new century, almost no one watched dramas, and they were not as profitable as movie theaters!
Ma Weidu watched it very seriously. He had recently come into contact with several friends in the film and television industry and had some interest in this area.
After the performance, Lin Chaohua came over and said, "Comrade Hongmin, please give us some advice!"
Liu Hongmin smiled and said, "I don't have any objection, Lao Ma, you looked at it so seriously just now, tell me about it!"
Ma Weidu waved his hands quickly, "You, the original author, don't have any objections, so how could I have any objections?"
This is the Beijing People's Art Theatre, and he doesn't understand drama, so what suggestions can he make?
Lin Chaohua was afraid that the two of them might have concerns, so he quickly said, "We collect opinions for every performance, and audience feedback is the key to the formation of a play. So don't worry, you two can directly raise any opinions you have."
Liu Hongmin: "Teacher Lin, I really don't have any opinions. I don't know much about dialogue drama, you should ask other people."
Ma Weidu said at the side: "That's right, Teacher Lin. He is just an ordinary person, you don't have to care about his opinion."
When Lin Chaohua heard them say this, he no longer insisted.
"Okay, Comrade Hongmin, I'll go ask others for their opinions."
Ma Weidu said, "Were you distracted when you were watching the play just now?"
"You said it before, didn't you? I am a vulgar person, a little allergic to elegance. You guys watch plays, but I am thinking about whether I should open a theater myself."
Ma Weidu was speechless. "I have learned a lot. Otherwise, I would say that you are good at making money! Everything you see is business."
"I am worried, right? Jinpeng Shopping Mall is supposed to set a benchmark for the industry. If we can't do it well, some monsters might pop up again."
Thinking about the chaos in the construction industry later, Liu Hongmin felt that he still had a long way to go.
"You! You just worry about too many things." Ma Weidu said: "You can't be an official, why worry so much?"
Liu Hongmin shook his head. "If I don't worry, what's the meaning of my life?"
Ma Weidu was speechless, but Liu Hongmin was right. It was too easy for Liu Hongmin to make money. He could make tens of millions just by writing a book. Even if he didn't dare to do anything from now on, the income from Transformers alone would be enough for him to use for a lifetime.
"That's up to you to worry about. There are so many industries in the country, can you manage them all?"
"Then let's take each industry one by one!" Liu Hongmin shrugged, "I'm still young anyway."
"You're almost thirty, find some time to get married."
"Did my mother ask you to say that again?"
"Auntie, isn't this just because she cares about you? You and Li Lizhen have been together for two years, right? If it's possible, just get married."
Liu Hongmin was speechless, "She is not yet of legal marriage age."
Moreover, Li Lizhen was more like his lover than his girlfriend. Li Lizhen lowered her status, which also reduced her importance in Liu Hongmin's heart.
(End of this chapter)
