After walking out of the Okencie International Airport in Warsaw, Louis Dawtry took a deep breath and was refreshed. Although it was already afternoon, the environment with high sky and clear sky made people feel very comfortable.
Northeast Europe in April is indeed the season of tourism. Louis said so in his heart, pulling his backpack and reaching out to stop a taxi.
"Go to the Birkinley Hotel in Slandall," he said in fluent Polish after sitting in the co-pilot's seat.
"Okay, sir," the taxi driver nodded smilingly, "are you here for a tour?"
"No, I'm here to work." Louis smiled. To be honest, he did not expect that the editor-in-chief would entrust himself with the task of interviewing in Warsaw. Originally, everyone thought that the candidate would be Cliff Beckson, because the guy not only speaks Polish, but also involves German and Slavic. .
Perhaps it was because he was fluent enough in Polish, Louis thought about the driver and continued the conversation. Soon they were talking about what Louis wanted to know.
"Yeah, I know, in fact, I took members of their crew a few days ago." The taxi driver named Poromoviski laughed, "They were filming in the Vlaranque, It's a movie about the Holocaust during World War II. I heard that the director was that 19-year-old genius lady. I've heard her songs and watched her movies but I didn't know she would direct. To be honest, I think she Maybe a little too... arrogant, that's all."
At first, Louis was nothing, but he couldn't help frowning after speaking. He was about to refute, but after thinking about it, he said lightly: "That's not necessarily. You must know that she has created enough miracles."
The taxi driver shrugged and seemed a little disapproving, but the destination Berkinley Hotel had already arrived, and Louis didn't say anything and got out of the car to pay the bill and leave.
After checking into the hotel, he quickly tidied up his suitcase and backpack, then washed and closed the curtains to prepare for jet lag. However, the biological clock is sometimes not so easy to adjust, so after lying on the bed for a while, he simply sat up and opened the laptop, backed the head of the bed and sorted out the relevant materials needed for the interview.
This is probably the weirdest interview assignment I've ever received, right? Louis, who was browsing the relevant comments, was a little helpless, but when he thought that other newspapers and media might send reporters to Warsaw from as far away as himself, his mind was much more balanced. Perhaps, only Miss Genius has the ability to make the media on both sides of the Atlantic quarrel for her.
The reason is very simple. The New York Times and The Washington Post published the news that "Miss Genius went to Poland to direct the film of the same name as Spearman's autobiographical novel" at the same time at the end of April.
It should have been a reporter from The New York Times who found out that Angela had left Harvard University, and had previously said that Miss Genius was about to direct her own story.
The rumors of the fifth work had been heard enough, so they quickly began to verify.
Then reporters from The Washington Post got involved, maybe because the movie had already started in Warsaw at that time, so it was easy for the reporters to find out the situation, so there was a situation where two newspapers ran headlines at the same time. As soon as the news was announced, it immediately caused quite a shock.
"She's too rash, edgy and sloppy! I admit that Angela Mason is a genius, no one can do it better at her age, and last year's American Beauty is the best proof. But it's not It means that she has mastered such a heavy subject matter, I don't know why she wants to put this history on the screen in a whimsical way, I only know that the consequence of doing so is that she may fall into the abyss if she is not careful!"
Here's a review published in The Hollywood Reporter, which criticized the film with a somewhat benign reminder, but more of a merciless sarcasm: "Miss Genius is clearly ambitious Prove her strength, so she chose to put "The Pianist" on the screen.
Obviously, she thinks that since she can be nominated for the Oscar for best director with Spielberg at the same time, she must be able to shoot works like "Schindler's List" like him. I can't say much, because it's useless to say anything when one forgets a lot of things that aren't done by genius. "
In short, most of the mainstream media are critical, and they are puzzled and dissatisfied with Angela's "blind" start of filming related to the World War II Holocaust. Many tabloids followed suit, sarcastically saying that Miss Genius would make an unprecedented movie until the European media stepped in.
"Arrogant! Arrogant! Who does she think she is? Of course, Hollywood geniuses, that's what they say. But at this moment, she seems to be just a little girl who has been carried away by honor, and she thinks this history is very simple, She thought she could handle this subject with her 18 years of experience in Hollywood? Yes, "American Beauty" is very good, but it's a pity that she quickly became as arrogant as most Americans, I don't know dozens of What people who died in that war years ago would think of this film."
This article was published in the "French Evening News", which basically represents the European media's view of Angela's filming of "The Pianist". As a result, the American media are not happy. In their view, even if Angela is so blindly arrogant and should be criticized, it is still an American business. What does it have to do with the Europeans? As a result, many media immediately turned their heads and began to defend Angela.
"Don't forget, what Miss Genius is best at is creating miracles, and a genius who can direct a movie like American Beauty at this age is unique even among men. Maybe in your opinion she overestimated her own. Level, but how do you know if she is what we think she is? If she works miracles again, will those who question her feel embarrassed by it?"
—Avery Boltin, The New York Times
Europeans, who have always looked down on Americans culturally, also launched a counterattack. As a result, just like the media war between the United States and the United Kingdom in 1995, the American media and European media began to confront each other again. Surprisingly, most of the British media This time on the side of Miss Genius.
Then many celebrities in the cultural world were also involved. Most of the native American actors and directors remained neutral. It was not that they did not support Angela but that the subject matter was indeed beyond the grasp of a 19-year-old girl. But sometimes neutrality is the best support. People even thought that Spielberg, who had directed the same theme in 1993, would criticize him, but he hesitated in the face of the media's question and just shook his head and said, "In her No comments until done".
Although the views on the European side are basically one-sided, even Sophie Marceau, who has a relationship with Angela, thinks she is too big. However, there are also a few people who remain neutral. Luc Besson said in an interview that he should not take it lightly for a girl who can write "Killer Lyon", "The Sixth Sense" and "Hide and Seek" at the age of 12. draw conclusions; Polanski is completely silent and does not respond.
However, there are not so many complicated opinions among ordinary people, and many people are still discussing with great interest on the website what Angela might make of "The Pianist".
"Maybe we can see a 'The Pianist' that has disrupted the chronological order, multi-line narrative, and dark humor, just like "Life is Beautiful." A Dutch netizen commented on a British forum, followed by It was a heated discussion over a dozen or so pages, completely different from the tit-for-tat media on both sides of the Atlantic.
However, Angela, the genius lady who caused all this, has directed the film in Warsaw with no response at all. Even her blog has not been updated for at least half a month, except for an update after the news was published and announcing that she is shooting. Originally, several European newspapers and magazines sent reporters to Warsaw to interview her, but all of them were rejected by the crew, and even several people were blocked on the outside of the set and did not even see Angela.
"However, we are an exception." Louis, who was looking at the computer screen, said with a smile.
Although Angela is filming in a closed manner, she must still be aware of the controversy from the outside world, otherwise she will not refuse interview requests from those European media. But under such great pressure, she couldn't keep silent like this, she would always open her mouth to express her opinion, and as an American reporter, it should be easier for her to grab this news, and maybe there will be exclusive headlines. Didn't the editor-in-chief choose this time to let him come to Warsaw
The next day, Louis woke up early. Although the jet lag had not been fully adjusted, he was quite excited. He took the camera and other equipment and went directly to the Flalanque area where the crew is located.
With the assistance of the local police station, the crew of "The Pianist" closed two streets for filming at this time, so the taxi stopped all the way. After paying for the car, Louis did not go up to greet the crew directly, but first carefully looked at the surrounding environment.
The crowd in twos and threes walked up and down the street in a small area or chatted in a low voice. They were all dressed in civilian clothes of the 40s and seemed to be waiting for the shooting. In addition, there are many people in World War II German uniforms leaning on an old tank and talking, I don't know if it's a made prop or a real guy rented.
At this time, there was a sudden explosion and banging gunshots coming from the corner. It sounded like a war scene was being filmed. After a muffled sound, the room at the entrance of the street suddenly exploded and a thick smoke rose.
Louis couldn't help but quickly took two steps forward while holding the camera hanging around his neck, looking over there to take a picture.
"Excuse me, sir, may I ask who you are?" a staff member who noticed him immediately came over and asked in English.
"Ah, hello, I'm..." Louis thought for a few seconds before deciding to tell the truth, "I'm Louis Doughty, reporter for The New York Times, could I give Miss Angela and the crew an interview if I could? ?"
"New York Times reporter?" The other party stretched out his hand after he took out his press card: "Hello, Mr. Doughty, I'm Barney Burner, and I have to regret to tell you the principles of the crew. No visits are accepted.”
"Can you please convey my opinion to Miss Angela first?" Louis asked, hearing the word "in principle" in the other party's words, he knew there was definitely a chance.
"Okay, I will," Barney nodded, "but we'll have to wait until the current stage of filming is over. Please don't take pictures until then?"
"No problem," Louis agreed.
At this point, the filming over there seems to be paused, and then the horn sounds as if something is being said in Polish, but it is too far away that Louis can't hear it clearly. The actor who had run out of the corner then walked back, and a few minutes later the gunshots and explosions rang out again.
Is the camera over the street? I don't know what she looks like now? Relaxed or anxious? Louis thought so. Although he is not a director and has not made a movie, as an entertainment reporter he is very good at finding answers to certain questions from the director's look.
Finally, as the horns shouted, many extras turned from the street over there, in what seemed to be a common temporary break.
"Okay, I'll go over now, come back soon, don't go away." Barney, who was standing beside him, said at this time.
"Please wait," Louis stopped him, "please tell Miss Angela, I will only delay her for a few minutes, and also ask her to allow me to interview other actors and take a few photos, I will not go beyond."
In this case, if you want to get exclusive news, you must lower your posture, and you are a reporter, not a paparazzi.
Admittedly, he was doing the right thing because—
"Tell the props team that the explosive device they prepared must detonate when the barrel of the tank is raised. I don't want the problem of yesterday." After explaining the matter to the assistant, the director finally turned her head: "Hello, Louis. , nice to meet you. Before I start, I would like to state that although I have agreed to your interview request, I don't have much time for you. You can only ask a few questions and I have the right not to answer. You can stay temporarily Interviews with other people on the set, but not interrupting the filming of the crew, and interviews can only be done within today."
"Thank you, I get it." Louis nodded and looked at the girl in front of him secretly.
She just took off her sunglasses, and there was a trace of exhaustion and anxiety in her brows, but from the tone of voice she spoke to the assistant just now, it should not be because of those reports. This was the first time Louis had observed Miss Genius at such a close distance, and he had to admit that even though the girl in front of her had a ponytail and a baseball cap, she was still as beautiful as the photos.
She should be an actress instead of a director. The reporter couldn't help but say something secretly in his stomach.
"I believe you should have read the newspapers these days. I'm very curious about Miss Angela, why don't you defend yourself?" Louis asked the first one.
"When people come to a conclusion for something they don't know or understand, they won't accept it no matter how they explain it. At this time, they can only speak with facts." Angela smiled slightly, as if she didn't take these disputes to heart at all. .
fact? Louis in the shorthand couldn't help raising his eyebrows, and wrote on the side: not completely indifferent but very confident.
"What made you want to make the novel The Pianist into a movie?"
"Because of the cruelty of this history," the other party's expression became serious, "you should know that I played a role in "Schindler's List" 6 years ago, and I have had ideas since then. The idea of directing a movie with the same theme by myself. Of course, at that time, the idea was vague and uncertain, and it was not until later that I decided to direct the movie myself. Home, I think it's an opportunity."
It was planned from the age of 13 and finally realized today. Louis quickly recorded what she said, and at the same time did not give up writing her own opinions briefly in other places in the stenography book. Although it was a little exaggerated, it was normal. Starting planning at the age of 13 definitely attracted attention, and it also showed that The difference between a genius lady and ordinary people.
"What angle do you plan to shoot the film from?"
"Many people have asked me this question after knowing my plan, and my answer has never changed," Miss Genius suddenly turned her head to look at the cluttered street, "From the perspective of a bystander, no With a touch of emotion akin to grim narration. And... relative justice! There were good and bad among the Jews, and there were lunatics and goodness among the Nazis, and that was it."
She has to admit that she has her own opinions and is very mature. If she can fully express her own thoughts in the movie, maybe... Louis took it down quickly, but when he tried to speak again, Angela had already stood up. Get up: "I'm sorry, I'll just answer three questions, we're going to turn on again."
"Miss Angela..." Louis shouted quickly, but the other party shook his hand without negotiating, walked to the crowd, called the assistant and said a few words, and followed the whole crew to move again.
She's energetic and unhurried, knows what she's doing, is more sensible than most people know, and has the right to speak out on the set. I have a feeling that those who want to see a joke may not get it. Louis shrugged his shoulders and wrote down his impressions in a shorthand.
Although Angela only let the practice of asking three questions disrupt his plan, Lewis thinks that the three questions he asked are still very representative, and there is an exclusive message. Anyway, I can interview other members of the crew next time, maybe I can dig out something, and I can also take some pictures of Miss Genius when she was directing, so let's just don't be too demanding.
It's just... Louis suddenly looked up at the slender figure, is she really as relaxed as she appears