Wide Split Lens：Reasonable arrangement of time

2017-7-19

In July 19, 2017, after the viewing activity for group construction, we conducted a brief business advisory with MS. K, who just made a special visit to Louis. Although this event was only to watch the currently popular film type of "journey to the west" and to combine with a business advisory, but the compact arrangements did manifest our persistent style of work "efficiency".

 

Activity 1: Having affection and faith, unruliness

 

In July 19, 2017, Louis and I came to Lansheng DianShang cinema (figure 1) that only 610 meters away from the company to watch the movie "Wu Kong Biography". I didn't feel anything about this movie before watching; there were too many "journey to the west" with various subjects but couldn't top the "Westward Journey" of Stephen Chow, and it might direct at Eddie Peng if I wanted to see. I didn't have too many expectations for this viewing with Louis for group construction activity, but while waiting to enter, Louis discovered that his hobby unexpectedly was the "fish" of the theater owner! (figure 2)

(Figure 1: There is one starbucks inside the waiting area in Lansheng cinema, it brings more comfortable feeling for visitors. No one is sure about S'bucks' turnover, because it is related with surrounding environment (customers' idendification) and movie sequence per day.)

(Figure 2: Whole glass fish tank is built around a big column, main types of fish are about 30 cryprinus carpiod, 4 Scavenger fish, with simple green scene inside the water, except some cobblestones and few color stones were put at the bottom of fishtank, we can say it looks more like a naked fishtank. Louis' fish tank is more beautiful than here, we guess the boss of cinema didn't want to pay too much time and invite the prefessional person to feed the fish.)

 

"Wu Kong Biography" is adapted from the novel "Wu Kong Biography" of Jin Hezai. It mainly narrates the story that Wu Kong resolves to revolt after his favorite Mountain of Flowers and Fruits being destroyed by the heavens, why should the heaven control the numerous living beings? Why my death should obey your arrangements? I will resist, and I will destroy all this commandments and make my own decision. He meets A Zi in heaven, who he wants to love but cannot; and he also meets the long-term enemy "Yang Jian" and Tian Peng, who longs for the old lover A Yue. Behind the mutual love and kill, Wu Kong is not the only one who is actually unwilling to be driven by fate.

The whole movie is tied in blood at least in my opinion. I've been reluctant to buy tickets for domestic movies in recent years. The story is nothing more than formulaic with the poor-skill actors and poor special effects; the ticket only makes me feel a waste of money; and it can be watched online later if you want to see. But I may certainly buy tickets and swiftly rush to the cinema as long as the European and American movies are released, such as "the Avengers", "The Fast and the Furious" and even the animated film "Zootopia", "Pet Wars". I am just willing to cost although most of them are popcorn movies; taking "The Avengers" for example, the lineup of actors contains Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hiddleston and other enchanting characters; and the special effects really perform to my heart's content at the same time. I don't like "Wu Kong Biography" at first probably due to preconceived ideas. But I find it is a good movie with the beginning of the film and the depth of the storyline, and the director diligently interprets and shows the audience the character "Wu kong" in his comprehension.

 

As an ordinary audience, I think the special effects are excellent. The golden cudgel flows out from Wukong's ear just like magma; and the red magma is wrapped with break-stones, little sparks are spurting out from it; you may feel dangerous, burning hot and untouchable. This is the first time I see that golden cudgel is arranged like this; the golden cudgel is dug out gently from Wukong's ear whether it's in the 86 edition TV series "the journey to the west" or for all kinds of Sun Wukong. But in "Wu Kong Biography", you may find the golden cudgel is soft every time it appears; it can be trampled into any shape but you don't think it's weak; every time Wukong first makes it immense and then waves it out for various fights, and thus you may feel that only Wukong can possess and control such a dangerous instrument in the world.

 

There is a thick resistance atmosphere in the whole movie, but no doubt it may make audience feel depressed and breathless if movie is full of this atmosphere; however, all these are handled very delicate, no matter the emotional lines of Wukong with A Zi, Tian Peng with A Yue, or the scene that antagonizing the heaven to help the villagers drive the demon cloud away, as well as the gradually established brotherhood among Wukong, Yang Jian, Tian Peng and Juan Lian.

 

I remember there is a special scene that makes me blush and my heart beats fast; Wukong and A Zi often quarrel when that just recognize with each other; A Zi usually "troubles" Wukong, but in my opinion, it's just a young girl who desires for love hoping to attract the attention of her favorite person; suddenly in the process of quarrel, the specific impression is a little vague, it is probably the scene that A Zi accidentally falls into the arms of Wukong and they gaze at each other; the shot fixes on the faces of these two protagonists, BGM is only the "Dong Dong" heartbeat of A Zi. However, upright Wukong still asks what is that voice. When seeing this scene, I just spontaneously blush and titter, hiding my face.

And let's talk about their brotherhood; although it goes against the grain and totally incompatible for Wukong, Yang Jian and Tian Peng in the secular world; but they unite gradually in the process of helping the villagers, they let Juan Lian make all kinds of magic weapons to resist the demon cloud and make concerted efforts in fighting. When Tian Zun assigns the divine troops descending from Heaven to mercilessly loot the villagers' lives, and even Juan Lian finally sacrifices in order to protect the villagers, you will cry, you will sob and feel unfair; all the efforts just can be casually destroyed by Tian Zun; everything is in vain, you just want to fight. Wukong desperately wants to kill the divine troops for revenge, but he just even cannot draw near and is beaten with scars of wounds strung together like beads. The mind still conjures up the tragic death of Juan Lian and villagers, as well as the grieved cry of A Zi, you may suddenly clear what is Wukong fighting for.

Finally, A Zi passes away, Tian Peng gives up his life heroically for resisting Tian Zun, Yang Jian chooses to unite with Wukong against this injustice; they defeat Tian Zu and destroy the Tian Ji spot. There are four sentences written with red characters and vigorous calligraphy at the end of the film: I wonder that this sky can no longer cover my eyes, this land can no longer bury my heart, all sentient beings understand my mind and all Buddhas can vanish in a flash. All affairs are sufficient to make us perceive the Wukong, who has affection and faith with unruliness; we will remember the name of this Winning Buddha in the next ten thousand years from now: Sun Wukong! (Figure 3)

(Figure 3: This pix and the thumbnail's view pix of this article in the beginning taken from cinema's poster by internet.)

Activity 2: commercial activity

 

After viewing the film, Louis and I instantly came to a coffee shop on Huaihai Road and proposed some advice on the work to be done at present. The one coming together was Boss Jiang of an investment company, who was invited by Ms. K. (Figure 4)

(Figure 4: From left, Louis, Mr. Jiang, Ms. K.)

 

Recently, after traveling around the world for two years, Ms. K then went to Shanghai without a stop for seeking for experience and consulting Louis as well as other scholarly mentors and beneficial friends in Shanghai; she hoped that the years of industry experiences of our company could provide sound strategy so as to start the specific work confronted in the near future as soon as possible and make it more standardized and specialized. After listening carefully to Ms. K's ideas and problems, we offered several suggestions and exchanged views with Boss Jiang in respect of the current market conditions.

Journalist: Sara