Intermediate - An Old Flame

Hey Sophie and Karl! Are you guys free tomorrow to meet up to start sorting out our group project? Laura Moore

Hi Laura, sounds good. Just looked at the dialogues on ChinesePod...my first impression is that we should make it really animated to suit the subject matter. Anyway once we've chosen roles we can start practicing. Sophie Bent

Hey team, I thought that it was a great meeting we had. Now that we've got the translation down, let' work on our fluency individually, so that we can have a smooth presentation. I agree that being animated is the key. Go Team!

Hey Karl and Soph, what props are we using again to get the audience really involved? All I can remember is the Chinese menu.. Laura Moore

Hi Laura and Karl, I remember saying we should use the Chinese menu/plates & cutlery in "Jealous Friend"...how about files/a business magazine in "Old Flame" to represent Li Xiang, entrepreneur?

In "Old Flame", I don't understand why my character (Li Xiang) says "Ai, zhen buhaoyisi, wo yi huir yao kaihui". Doesn't "buhaoyisi" translate more as "embarassed"? I think plain "duibuqi" would be more appropriate given the context. Li Xiang strikes me as rather collected and unemotional. I don't think he should sound too apologetic in front of Lili. Will try to work that in to the flow of the speech...

Also in "Jealous Friend", I think body language and facial expressions are going to be really important in creating that dramatic feel. Laura, your character (Lili) must be feeling really awkward when Chen Jing says "you've totally forgotten about me" and Karl steps in to "defend your honour". Any more ideas? Sophie Bent

Hi Sophie and Laura,

Mmm, good point about the props. As the restaurant serves lobster, I imagine that it'd be a fairly classy joint, so we should try and reflect that with the props. Maybe a water jug/candle? How about a bottle of wine? It could explain why Chen Jing is acting so cruelly.

In "Old Flame", you're right in that the Chinesepod translation is wrong, though I still think that "buhaoyisi" makes sense. I think that Liu Xiang is embarrassed that he wasn't able to observe the proper formalities, etc., and had to rush off to a meeting, which could have been a social faux pas.

I agree with your character assessment of Liu Xiang, though I don't think that that necessarily makes him cold. I think that he is businesslike and professional, though still a warm, caring person, which may explain why Lili was so taken with him.

I think that my character, Zhang Liang, has a few contrasts. In "A Jealous Friend", he appears to be quite conciliatory, eager to resolve the situation and to end the fight. However, in "An Old Flame", when he says "Jıngran yao nı deng wo", he comes across as narky, implying that Lili is always late. Do you think that this would be the result of his jealousy in seeing Lili with another man, with him reminding her of all that he has given in this relationionship, or do you think that it is merely indicative of deeper flaws in their relationship?

Everyone good for our meeting and rehearsal tomorrow night?

Karl A. Kruszelnicki

Hey Soph and Karl! Great meeting on Sunday, I felt we really made some progress with our lines.

I have a contrasting opinion for you Karl about Zhang Liang. I read through all the other dialogues (those that our tongxue are performing) and it seems that Lili is the more dominant one in the relationship. Zhang Liang repeatedly gets all mushy with Lili and he even starts to get worried that she is cheating on him. I think he is actually being genuine in “An Old Flame” when he says “Jingran yao ni deng wo. Dou shi wo de cuo”.

I definitely agree with Karl’s description of why Liu Xiang uses “buhaoyisi” instead of “duibuqi”. At first I was confused as why he didn’t use “sorry” instead of “I’m embarrassed” but I think Karl has really nabbed that one, saying it may be a social faux pas.

In “The Jealous Friend” I find it quite amusing when my character Lili says “Ni bu shi jianfei ma?” At first I thought she was totally innocent especially when she says “wo he jingjing…shi zui hao de pengyou”, however when she releases the line “Aren’t you on a diet?” I guess we see that she is retaliating against Chen Jing, offended by her comments about Zhang Liang. However maybe it is as Chen Jing suspects, that Lili just wants to save Zhang Liang money. In any case, it’s a sticky situation between these two girls…

I do agree that Liu Xiang seems a bit cold in the dialogue “An Old Flame”. It seems to me he just wants to get away from Lili, he probably has many old friends wanting “in” on his success and fortune. Or maybe his heart was broken by Lili years ago and he can’t bear to spend any longer in her presence, in case he finds himself amidst all his old feelings for her again? A bit far fetched I know lol.

I think we’re doing well  I’ve been practising and I think I’d learnt my lines for the first dialogue!

Laura Moore

How are we all going guys? Our meetings are going well. I really like Soph's idea of using music! Maybe the "deskmate" song we did on friday? It would be a hit! lol. See you tomorrow Laura Moore

Yes I thought "deskmate" would be a nice intro to "An Old Flame" seeing as the theme is "long lost love"...maybe a bit impractical but just trying to think of ways to be more creative with the script. Also, costumes? We should meet up to discuss all the fine details :) Sophie Bent

Ps I agree with your character analysis of Zhang Liang, he seems quite complex! I think he must be feeling rather insecure in "An Old Flame"...but then Lili seems to provoke him at the end by saying "Zenme, ni bu gaoxing?" Maybe they're headed for a "nao fan"! We should think of ways to imply all these subtleties through facial expressions and body language etc. See you in class. Sophie Bent