Chapter 13 Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
To be honest, compared to the sketches of Shen Teng and Song Xiaobao, Liu Zhou is most familiar with the works of Zhao Benshan.

Not only did I watch them when I was young, but later on, because the sketches at that time were so bad, I went back to look for Zhao Benshan's sketches to watch again.

Although it has been a decade or two, Liu Zhou and his family still enjoy watching his sketches again.

It’s not that Shen Teng and his team’s sketches are bad, but compared to Zhao Benshan’s works, they still lack a bit of flavor.

People in later generations often say that those born in the 1980s are the most miserable generation, but they have enjoyed the best film, television and music works.

The script that Liu Zhou prepared for Liu Ye this time was Mr. Zhao Benshan's work in the 1999 Spring Festival Gala, "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow".

For Mr. Zhao Benshan, who has a lot of blood in his veins, taking advantage of him shouldn't have much of an impact on him.

This "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" does have some innovations. It is the first time that it is combined with a TV program, and it is also the first collaboration between Zhao Benshan and Song Dandan.

Anyone who has seen Mr. Zhao Benshan’s works should know that in addition to being full of jokes, another major feature of his sketches is that his lines are very rhyming.

Liu Zhou certainly could not reproduce the lines of this sketch 100%, but precisely because of the rhyme, based on Liu Zhou's familiar memory, he could better improve the lines and better preserve the flavor of this sketch.

In addition to rhyme, the lines also need some modification because of the different eras, because the lines of this skit also include some current events in the next three years. They haven't happened yet.

Fortunately, Choi Yong-won's "Tell the Truth" program had already started airing in March this year, but in order to avoid trouble, Liu Zhou wrote the program as "Tell the Truth" when writing the script.

This will not only avoid unnecessary disputes, but also allow everyone to guess what program it is referring to.

After coming up with the idea, Liu Zhou began to write.

This time, for Liu Ye, Liu Zhou really tried his best. Even though he had classes in the afternoon, he didn't go to class and stayed in the dormitory to work hard.

Liu Zhou finally got it out before the lights went out at night.

After checking, Liu Zhou felt that there was no problem and went to Liu Ye's dormitory.

"Old Liu, did you really finish the script today?" Liu Ye asked when he saw Liu Zhou coming in with a stack of manuscripts.

"Of course, I said I would give it to you tonight and it won't be later than twelve o'clock!"

Liu Ye ignored Liu Zhou's pretense and took the manuscript and started reading it carefully.

Seeing that Liu Zhou finished the script of the skit in less than a day, Liu Ye did not have high expectations for its quality. However, after he opened it, he found that he had indeed greatly underestimated Liu Zhou's talent.

Even though it was just a script, reading the lines made him laugh from time to time.

After reading the entire book, Liu Ye said to Liu Zhou in surprise:

"Lao Liu, you are really amazing! I now admit that you are a genius."

"Then you have to act well. I skipped classes to write this for you. Don't waste my hard work."

"Certainly not!"

"Are you sure it won't happen?" Qin Hao's voice suddenly sounded beside the two people's ears. "I've seen you two sneaking around. Are you planning something bad?"

"I asked Lao Liu to get me a notebook for the cultural performance next month."

"Let me see it quickly."

After saying that, Qin Hao picked up the manuscript on Liu Ye's desk and began to read it carefully.

After reading it, Qin Hao immediately said excitedly:
“I want to act in this script too!”

"Why? I asked Lao Liu to write this for me."

"There are three characters in this book. Can you handle them all by yourself?"

"No, I can go find Dang Hao, he's also from the Northeast."

"Dang Hao already has a show, and he's the lead actor. We're the only two in the dormitory who have so much free time. And I advise you not to be ungrateful!"

"Hey, are you threatening me?"

"Just tell me if it's okay or not, give me a straight answer!"

"You can participate, but you have to treat me and Lao Liu to three dinners!"

Qin Hao looked at Liu Ye's bullying look and wanted to punch him twice, but he held back and said, gritted his teeth:
"no problem!"

Seeing Qin Hao agreed, Liu Ye smiled and said:

"make a deal!"

In fact, even if Qin Hao didn't come over, Liu Ye was ready to invite him.

It's not just because he's from the Northeast and the role fits the script better, but also because among the boys currently confirmed to be in the show, they are the only two who have supporting roles.

But Qin Hao volunteered himself, so Liu Ye had to give him a good beating. No, three beatings.

"But you play the host and I play Heitu." Liu Ye continued.

"Sure." Qin Hao was not picky about roles, and this role had a lot of scenes. "Who will Bai Yun invite?"

"Old Liu, who do you think would be a good role player for Bai Yun?"

"Of course she's the one who fits the role best. Qin Hailu is the only girl in your class who's from Northeast China, right?"

"Yes."

"Then it's her. It's too late for others to learn to speak Northeastern dialect now."

"Okay, I'll invite her tomorrow."

"That's it for now. I'm so sleepy that I have to go to bed."

"Thank you, Lao Liu." "I'm leaving now."

After handing the script of the sketch to Liu Ye, Liu Zhou felt relieved.

They will need to work out the rest of the things themselves, and Liu Zhou can't interfere too much.

In the following days, Liu Zhou was still busy with his own affairs at his own pace.

As time came to November, the weather in the capital became noticeably colder.

On the evening of the 1st, Liu Zhou was reading carefully the classic work "Introduction to Classic Film Theory" by Dudley Andrews, an American film theorist and founder of the Yale Film Center.

This book was recommended to them by a teacher from the directing department of Beijing Film Academy. It is an introductory book for directing.

Before Liu Zhou could flip through a few pages, Liu Ye rushed into his dormitory again.

"Liu Ye, could you please not be so impetuous every time?"

"I just ran over here and couldn't stop."

"What do you want to do this time?"

"We have already rehearsed 'Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow'. We want you to see what needs improvement."

"Now?"

"Of course now."

"Let's go then."

Liu Zhou also wanted to see how this classic sketch would be performed in their hands.

When Liu Zhou and Liu Ye arrived at the rehearsal room of the acting class, he found that there were quite a few people. In addition to the two leading actors Qin Hao and Qin Hailu, there were also Zeng Li, Yuan Quan, Hu Jing, Dang Hao and other people from the class.

"Great talent, you are finally here. I have been waiting for you."

As Liu Zhou Yi walked in, the cheerful and generous Qin Hailu said to him with a smile.

"I'm not a talented person. I'm just an ordinary freshman at the Central Academy of Drama." Liu Zhou also replied with a smile.

"Can an ordinary freshman write such an excellent script? I even quit Li Zi and Xiao Quan's Peking Opera program to participate in this script."

"Zeng Li, Yuan Quan, I don't take the blame for this. It wasn't me who asked Sister Hai Lu to quit." Liu Zhou said to the two with a smile.

"I'm not asking you to take the blame, so stop being so sarcastic. I invited you here today because I hope you, the original author, can give me some opinions and suggestions."

After saying that, Qin Hailu, Liu Ye and Qin Hao began to prepare on the stage.

Several other students also stopped what they were doing to see how they performed.

Liu Zhou watched very seriously, and kept comparing their performances in his mind with those of Teacher Zhao Benshan and others.

The stage effect is definitely far behind the performance of Mr. Zhao Benshan and others, but it is obvious that Liu Ye and others have also worked hard, and at least they have memorized the lines quite well.

Just as Liu Zhou was watching intently, Zeng Li came to his side and whispered:

"Why did you choose Sister Lu instead of me as the protagonist of this skit?"

“You’re not from the Northeast.”

"Just because I'm not from the Northeast doesn't mean I can't speak the Northeastern dialect."

"You can also speak Northeastern dialect?" Liu Zhou asked a little surprised.

"will not!"

"You won't make any more trouble." Liu Zhou said unhappily.

"It's not like you can't learn it. Don't you know that learning dialects from different places is also a basic skill for actors?"

There is indeed nothing wrong with this statement. Song Dandan is from Beijing, but when he was partnered with Zhao Benshan, he also spoke authentic Northeastern dialect.

There is also He Bing, who is also from Beijing. When he was filming the TV series White Deer Plain, he also spoke standard Shaanxi dialect.

However, learning a dialect is not something that can be done in just a few days.

"Unless you are a language genius, how can you possibly learn Northeastern dialect with less than ten days until the performance? Wouldn't it be embarrassing if you speak incoherently on stage?"

"A few days ago you promised me to invite me to be the protagonist. Forget it this time. Next time you have a work, you must invite me."

"I think this is your purpose?" Liu Zhou rolled his eyes.

"Yes!" Zeng Li replied with a smile.

"Then you have to wait. I don't know when the next work will be released."

"Just wait and wait."

"By the way, does Sister Hailu's withdrawal from your show have a big impact on you guys?"

"It doesn't have much of an impact. The three of us have all learned Peking Opera since we were little. Now that she's withdrawn, Yuan Yuan and I can just re-plan a new show."

“It’s OK as long as it doesn’t have much of an impact.”

At this time, the skit performance had come to an end, and Liu Zhou and Zeng Li also stopped talking.

Although Liu Zhou was talking to Zeng Li just now, his eyes were always fixed on the stage. Liu Zhou knew how they were performing.

(End of this chapter)