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Text: Jiangyu Kuo
Editor: Jiang Yu Kuo
Preface
"Dare to ask where the road is, the road is under your feet"
This song rings in my ears again, as if I have returned to the summer vacation of watching "Journey to the West".
For many people, a childhood is incomplete without Journey to the West.
Today, the 86 version of "Journey to the West" has become a classic in film and television.
Time has passed, and things have long been different.
As a director, Yang Jie also left us in 2017.
Now that six years have passed, what happened to her husband Wang Chongqiu?
One camera, one story
In 1986, "Journey to the West", which took six years, finally came out.
As soon as it was broadcast, it caused a great sensation among the people, and for a time the four Tang monks were household names.
Many of the special effects in TV series may seem exaggerated and unprofessional today.
But at that time, such a TV series was already almost the best equipment.
As soon as the TV was broadcast, the four Tang monks and apprentices became famous and popular.
At that time, many people almost paid attention to the various plots of slaying demons and demons, and few people paid attention to the people behind the scenes.
The fire of a TV series, in addition to the actors and plot, the most important thing is the director.
The biggest hero behind this oriental myth "Journey to the West" is its director.
"The success of "Journey to the West" is everyone's credit"
At any time, in the face of the public, Yang Jie always said this.
But without her dedication to art, there would be no appearance of this classic TV series.
And this persistence has almost been her dream since she was a child.
Yang Jie, who was born in Xinyang City, Henan Province, has loved reading novels and dramas since she was a child.
She is even more crazy about movies, and shooting a good work has become her dream.
However, this dream was opposed by his father.
For parents at that time, reading novels and movies was a "non-business" thing.
Yang Jie can only secretly watch with her mother when her father is not at home.
"At that time, there were very few opportunities, and when my father was out, I was able to go to the movies with my mother"
For literature and art, she is almost crazy.
Even if her father didn't allow it, she would still secretly watch it under the covers.
She can't put down China's four famous novels and all kinds of foreign literature.
Her father wasn't exactly "stubborn" either.
Seeing that his daughter loved it, he finally decided to fulfill his daughter's preferences.
He sent his daughter to Yan'an Luyi to study literature and art.
This kind of learning opportunity has touched Yang Jie a lot and inspired her.
After entering the North China Associated University, she became a member of the literary and artistic soldiers.
In 1958, Yang Jie's work was transferred.
This transfer also brought changes to her life.
She was seconded from the Central People's Radio and Television Station to Beijing Television.
This "Beijing TV" is not the other "Beijing TV".
At that time, Beijing TV was actually the predecessor of today's CCTV.
Although she is a drama director, her ability on TV also makes the station very appreciative.
At that time, the "Laoshan Taoist" she produced was successfully broadcast, allowing the leaders to see her ability.
At a later meeting, when the leader asked her if she could shoot "Journey to the West" well,
"If you have money, you dare, why don't you dare"
She almost didn't hesitate to give her own answer.
At that time, she didn't know if she could succeed.
Seeing Yang Jie's straightforwardness, the leaders of the TV station also knew that they were not looking at the wrong person.
In order to prepare for "Journey to the West", Yang Jie spent many years.
Many of today's TV series only take a few months from start to finish, and an actor can shoot several works a year.
In contrast, we probably know why "Journey to the West" has become a classic.
At that time, Yang Jie was also under tremendous pressure.
"Journey to the West", as a well-known work, will be criticized by the people of the whole country once it is not filmed well.
It is precisely this pressure that makes Yang Jie attach great importance to this work and strive for excellence in production.
During the filming of the ancient city of China, the crew also suffered a lot of difficulties, especially various exterior locations.
Unlike most of today's productions, which use green screens, almost all of the exterior scenes were real places.
In the mountains, many times they encountered very dangerous situations, and their lives were greatly threatened.
But they didn't back down.
Yang Jie believes that actors must be able to endure hardships.
Although during the filming, the actor came a long way.
But compared to them, there are only a lot more directors.
She "stepped on the spot" in advance of all the shooting points.
Although it is very hard every time, Yang Jiele is happy in it and never complains about any environment.
The success of a TV series has never been a person's ability.
Many times, we see the actors' superb acting skills and wonderful plots, but few people can see that the staff behind the scenes often pay more.
It is also Yang Jie's efforts that have made "Journey to the West" a label that cannot be torn off on her.
For a director, it is a great success to have such a classic film and television.
Life is often not only about career, but also about feelings.
Compared with the smooth career, Yang Jie's feelings seem to be a little bumpy.
After his death for many years, her husband's persistence was tearful
In 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded, everything was in ruins.
The literary and artistic industry is also ushering in its spring.
This year, Yang Jie embarked on a journey to Qingdao People's Radio and Television Station.
Here, she meets the man she loves.
There are always a lot of romantic stories happening on the romantic seaside.
In Qingdao, a very beautiful city, Yang Jie also experienced a beautiful love.
At Qingdao Radio and Television Station, Yang Jie met Zhou Chuanji, who was dressed very well.
He graduated from the Department of Foreign Literature of Shandong University, and his daily conversation has his own unique charm.
This charm deeply attracted Yang Jie.
Yang Jie, who was just beginning to fall in love, was full of curiosity about the gentle and versatile boy in front of her.
The two often communicated, and in the process of talking, the atmosphere gradually became ambiguous.
The two hot hearts gradually came together and held a very romantic wedding by the sea.
But when passion meets triviality, it never seems to win.
No matter how much you love, the once scorching heat seems to turn into "mosquito blood".
After the birth of the child, although at first both were immersed in the joy of the newborn.
But this joy did not last long, and the feelings disappeared in the quarrels again and again.
Seeing that the lover who used to be you and me was standing opposite him and arguing over a trivial matter
Both of them felt tired, and this exhaustion was almost unbearable for both of them.
But neither of them was willing to give up on the other like this.
Until 1953, after Yang Jie underwent surgery in the hospital, she was transferred to China Central Radio and Television.
By this time, she already had three children.
But if she doesn't go, she's almost losing her job.
After the surgery, her lung capacity was greatly affected, and it was difficult for her to work in the broadcasting industry again.
The moment she stepped on the train to the north, the relationship between the two almost came to an end.
Because of the special period, Zhou Chuanji's identity has also changed dramatically, and he fell off the altar overnight.
Such a huge change is difficult for him to accept, and the former gentleness and elegance are gone, only the daily irritability.
The two struggled in their marriage for a long time, until finally the two calmly completed the divorce procedures and almost no longer contacted.
In that era, divorced with children, Yang Jie had to bear a lot of public opinion.
But she is still in a straight posture and will not be defeated by public opinion.
During her time as a director, Yang Jie met another person, and the appearance of this person gave her a huge surprise.
Due to the needs of work, Yang Jie and photographer Wang Chongqiu, who is 14 years younger than herself, have frequent contact, and the two who also like literature and art get together and have a lot of common topics.
For Yang Jie, Wang Chongqiu admires, likes, and feels distressed.
"She is very tolerant of art"
Wang Chongqiu has a different admiration for Yang Jie.
In her, there is a great insistence on art.
In their daily interactions, the two gradually came together and re-formed a family.
In Wang Chongqiu's eyes, Yang Jie is warm, simple, and upright.
Since they met, Yang Jie has hardly changed.
When filming "Journey to the West", her style was very advanced, and many people couldn't understand it at the time, and they thought that the audience would not like this style.
But Yang Jie insisted on her own opinion, filmed a TV series that was different from that time, and created a classic "Journey to the West".
In the process of getting along with the two, Yang Jie is also very "stubborn".
On many things, she has her own opinions, and she is very persistent, and will not save face for anyone.
Although the two of them sometimes quarrel very much, in the end, Wang Chongqiu will still listen to Yang Jie.
After all, she is the director.
In the relationship between the two, Wang Chongqiu always seems to be the one who endures.
However, when two people are together, how can they win or lose, no matter which way, it is because of love.
At the time of filming the sequel to "Journey to the West", Yang Jie was 70 years old, and when she was enjoying her old age, she still insisted on being on the shooting site and maintained great vitality.
Wang Chongqiu especially admires this, no matter at any time, he maintains the greatest enthusiasm for the things he likes, and once he wants to do it, he must do his best.
On April 15, 2017, Yang Jie died of illness at the age of 88.
The actors of "Journey to the West" expressed their grief.
"Director Yang Jie is not only my mentor, but also my teacher on the road of art and life"
Liu Xiaolingtong, the actor of Monkey King, mourned director Yang Jie on social platforms.
Many people said that it was the Jade Emperor who wanted to watch the play, so he invited her over.
As a husband and as a photographer, Yang Jie's death brought great pain to Wang Chongqiu, and until now, he will still miss director Yang Jie.
"In the next life, I will still be a cameraman for you"
In his letter to Yang Jie, he misses his wife like this.
Now he has almost no job, and he is 80 years old and has entered his old age, and he will always miss the simple and enthusiastic director and wife Yang Jie.
epilogue
"I often burst into tears. The reason why we can fight hard to produce such a 30-year-old TV series when we have nothing is because we have that spirit. ”
In her memoir about "Journey to the West", Yang Jie said.
The ultimate pursuit of art by that generation has shaped classic TV series such as "Journey to the West" and "Dream of Red Mansions", even if there are multiple versions of remakes later, it is almost impossible to surpass.
And this kind of spirit is precisely what many literary and artistic workers lack today.
Nowadays, we tend to pursue speed and pursue some popularity.
But it ignores the most fundamental "quality".
I hope that our literary and artistic workers can calm down and produce, "good food is not afraid of waiting", and the works made with heart will always be welcomed.
I hope that Chinese film and television will bloom and become more and more exciting.
I will always miss Director Yang Jie!
(Disclaimer) The process and pictures described in the article are from the Internet, and this article aims to advocate positive social energy and no vulgar and other bad guidance. If it involves copyright or character infringement issues, please contact us in time, and we will delete the content as soon as possible!
Resources:
Beijing Daily - Wang Chongqiu, the cameraman of the 82nd edition of "Journey to the West", published a book to tell the unfinished story of director Yang Jie
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2023-08-25
People's Daily Online - "82 version of "Journey to the West" director Yang Jie's "artistic life": there are wind bones and no charming bones
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2018-10-26
Guangming.com - "The 82nd version of "Journey to the West" has been in operation for 40 years, and there are many stories in front of and behind the scenes
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2022-07-18