In the wondrous films of Hayao Miyazaki, we get action, spectacle, war, and thrilling chases.

在宫崎骏的精彩电影中，我们看到了动作、奇观、战争和惊心动魄的追逐。

But we also get moments like this.

但我们也有这样的时刻。

Stillness.

寂静。

Tranquility.

宁静。

Peace.

和平。

Balance.

平衡。

These are scenes where nothing happens.

这些都是什么都没有发生的场景。

And yet they can be the most compelling moments in the film.

然而，它们可能是电影中最引人注目的时刻。

Most films have some sort of pause or moment of calm either before or after a moment of action.

大多数电影在动作时刻之前或之后都会有某种停顿或平静的时刻。

So what makes Miyazaki's moments of silence different?

那么宫崎骏的沉默时刻有何不同呢？

Welcome to "The Director's Playbook".

欢迎来到“导演剧本”。

You may have been told that stories are like sharks.

您可能听说过故事就像鲨鱼。

They have to keep moving or they die.

他们必须继续前进，否则就会死。

Well, that's not true of all sharks and it's not true of all stories.

嗯，并不是所有的鲨鱼都是如此，也不是所有的故事都是如此。

One filmmaker who breaks this rule all the time is Hayao Miyazaki.

宫崎骏就是一位经常打破这一规则的电影制片人。

Roger Ebert once interviewed Miyazaki and shared his appreciation for these moments.

罗杰·艾伯特曾经采访过宫崎骏，并分享了他对这些时刻的欣赏。

Instead of every movement being dictated by the story, sometimes people will just sit for a moment or they will sigh, or look in a running stream.

并不是每个动作都由故事决定，有时人们只是坐一会儿， 或者叹息，或者看着流淌的溪流。

Not to advance the story but only give the sense of time and place and who they are.

不是为了推进故事，而只是给出时间和地点以及他们是谁的感觉。

We have a word for that in Japanese, he said.

“我们在日语中有一个词来形容这一点，”他说。

It's called 'ma.' Emptiness... It's there intentionally.

它被称为“妈妈”。空虚……它是故意存在的。

Miyazaki clapped his hands three or four times.

宫崎拍了三四下手。

The time in between my clapping is 'ma.' If you just have non-stop action with no breathing space at all it's just busyness.

我鼓掌之间的时间是“ma”。如果你只是不停地行动，根本没有喘息的空间，那就只是忙碌。

But if you take a moment, then the tension building in the film can grow into a wider dimension.

但如果你花点时间，那么电影中的紧张气氛就会发展到更广阔的维度。

What really matters is the underlying emotions.

真正重要的是潜在的情绪。

That you never let go of those.

你永远不会放开那些。

If you stay true to joy, and astonishment, and empathy, you don't have to have violence, and you don't have to have action.

如果你忠于喜悦、惊讶和同理心，你就不必有暴力，也不必采取行动。

They'll follow you.

他们会跟着你。

This is our principle.

这是我们的原则。

Let's take a closer look at how Miyazaki brings these principles into his films.

让我们仔细看看宫崎骏如何将这些原则融入他的电影中。

A well-known rule in screenwriting is movies shouldn't have a constant rise in tension.

剧本创作中的一条众所周知的规则是电影不应该不断加剧紧张气氛。

They should include peaks and valleys providing a break from the action every so often to keep the overall story balanced.

它们应该包括高峰和低谷，以便时不时地在动作中提供休息，以保持整个故事的平衡。

This is done all the time.

这一直都是这样做的。

And yet Hayao Miyazaki doesn't treat his valleys as obligatory pauses.

然而宫崎骏并没有将他的山谷视为强制性的停顿。

He uses them to create non-traditional pacing.

他用它们来创造非传统的节奏。

To create an immersive experience for the audience.

为观众营造身临其境的体验。

And to underline his themes.

并强调他的主题。

A common theme in Miyazaki's work is the clash between humans and nature.

宫崎骏作品中的一个共同主题是人与自然之间的冲突。

Especially the destruction of the natural world through war.

尤其是战争对自然世界的破坏。

We can see this in "Howl's Moving Castle".

我们可以在《哈尔的移动城堡》中看到这一点。

After settling in an idyllic location around Star Lake we have a quiet and serene moment.

在星湖周围田园诗般的地点安顿下来后，我们度过了一段安静祥和的时刻。

Sophie and Markl enjoy a tranquil picnic.

苏菲和马克尔享受着宁静的野餐。

Tiny waves gently lap the shore as Sophie admires the view.

当索菲欣赏着美景时，微小的海浪轻轻地拍打着海岸。

How mysterious.

多么神秘啊。

I have never felt such peace.

我从未感到如此平静。

This scene is the time between claps as Miyazaki put it.

正如宫崎所说，这个场景是鼓掌之间的时间。

And its serenity is juxtaposed with the next scene.

而它的宁静与接下来的场景并置。

Howl soars over an apocalyptic scene as airships drop bombs on the city.

飞艇向城市投下炸弹，世界末日般的场景上空弥漫着嚎叫声。

By placing these extremely disparate scenes next to each other, Miyazaki creates a clear message.

通过将这些极其不同的场景放在一起，宫崎骏创造了一个清晰的信息。

First showing us everything we can appreciate about the natural world.

首先向我们展示我们可以欣赏的自然世界的一切。

Then showing us its destruction.

然后向我们展示它的破坏。

Without taking moments like this in his storytelling without 'ma' his themes would not be as strong.

如果他在讲故事时没有“ma”这样的时刻，他的主题就不会那么强烈。

Another way Miyazaki uses 'ma' is to make us feel present in the scene with the characters by creating an immersive experience for the audience.

宫崎骏使用“ma”的另一种方式是通过为观众创造身临其境的体验，让我们感觉与角色一起身临其境。

For example, in "My Neighbor Totoro" Satsuki and May wait at a grizzly bus stop for their father to return from work.

例如，在《龙猫》中，小月和梅在灰熊的公交车站等待父亲下班回来。

Daddy wasn't on it.

爸爸不在场。

He'll be on the next one.

他将参加下一场比赛。

Why don't you wait at Nanny's?

你为什么不在保姆家等呢？

May splashes in a puddle, observes a darkened shrine, and drifts off to sleep.

梅在水坑里溅起水花，观察着一座黑暗的神殿，然后渐渐睡着了。

A toad slowly makes his way down the road.

一只蟾蜍慢慢地沿着路走。

Someone on a bike squeaks by.

有人骑着自行车吱吱地经过。

All quiet moments surrounded by the light batter of rain.

所有安静的时刻都被小雨所包围。

Moments of no obvious significance.

没有明显意义的时刻。

And then Totoro arrives and Satsuki has a first interaction with the lovable giant.

然后龙猫到来，小月与这个可爱的巨人进行了第一次互动。

Are you Totoro?

你是龙猫吗？

For nearly seven and a half minutes, the plot is put on hold.

近七分半钟，剧情被搁置。

The way Miyazaki fills this time with serene innocence is compelling nonetheless.

尽管如此，宫崎骏这次充满宁静纯真的方式还是令人信服的。

Both the tranquil sound design and lengthy pacing give the audience an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the moment.

宁静的声音设计和冗长的节奏让观众有机会完全沉浸在当下。

Dedicating this much time to a scene where nothing happens is what separates Miyazaki from the rest.

宫崎骏在一个没有发生任何事情的场景上投入了如此多的时间，这就是宫崎骏与其他人的不同之处。

And yet another way we see 'ma' is how Miyazaki creates non-traditional pacing.

我们看待“ma”的另一种方式是宫崎骏如何创造非传统的节奏。

In screenwriting, pacing is the speed at which a story is told.

在剧本创作中，节奏是指讲述故事的速度。

In a very broad sense, most movies start slow and pick up speed until the climax.

从广义上讲，大多数电影都以缓慢的速度开始，然后加快速度，直到高潮。

But watching a Miyazaki movie our expectations for traditional western narrative pacing go out of the window.

但观看宫崎骏的电影时，我们对传统西方叙事节奏的期望就破灭了。

There is a great example of this in "Spirited Away." Chihiro befriends a boy named Haku who is dying from a deadly curse.

《千与千寻》中有一个很好的例子。千寻与一个名叫白的男孩成为了朋友，他因致命的诅咒而濒临死亡。

Haku! Haku, Haku!

哈库！哈库，哈库！

On her way to save him, Chihiro encounters the monstrous No-Face wreaking havoc in the bathhouse.

在拯救他的路上，千寻遇到了在澡堂里肆虐的怪物无脸者。

To Swamp Bottom, please.

请到沼泽底部。

After the clap of the bathhouse scene, we sit with her in silence as the train passes through painterly dreamlike landscapes.

浴室场景拍完后，我们默默地和她坐在一起， 看着火车穿过如画般梦幻的风景。

With her friend's life on the line, we would expect more urgency.

由于她朋友的生命危在旦夕，我们预计事情会变得更加紧迫。

But the silence allows us to consider what must be going through Chihiro's head.

但沉默让我们思考千寻的脑子里到底在想什么。

Is my friend going to die?

我的朋友会死吗？

Will I be able to rescue my parents?

我能救出我的父母吗？

A more traditional treatment of the scene would have a cry, panicking, or voicing these concerns through dialogue.

更传统的场景处理方式是哭泣、惊慌，或者通过对话表达这些担忧。

Instead, we share this contemplative moment of 'ma' with her.

相反，我们与她分享这个沉思的“妈妈”时刻。

Hayao Miyazaki isn't the only filmmaker to use this technique but he might just be the best.

宫崎骏并不是唯一使用这种技术的电影制片人，但他可能是最好的。

No matter the genre you're working in all filmmakers can follow Miyazaki's lead with a little 'ma'.

无论您从事哪种类型的电影制作，所有电影制作人都可以效仿宫崎骏的做法，并带有一点“ma”。

Consider the story you're telling and ask yourself how you might be able to fill in the time between claps.

考虑一下您正在讲述的故事，并问问自己如何才能填补鼓掌之间的时间。

With silence?

沉默？

With romance?

带着浪漫？

Or with a giant fuzzy magical beast.

或者与一只巨大的毛茸茸的魔兽一起。

New Words and Expressions 生词和短语

spectacle noun UK

/ˈspek.tə.kəl/

an unusual or unexpected event or situation that attracts attention, interest, or disapproval

不寻常的事；出人意料的情况

It was a strange spectacle to see the two former enemies shaking hands and slapping each other on the back. 见到两个宿敌握手言欢，拍着彼此的背部，真是一幅奇怪的场景。

We witnessed the extraordinary spectacle of an old lady climbing a tree to rescue her cat.我们目睹了一件奇事：一位老妇人爬上树去救她的猫。

a public event or show that is exciting to watch; an exciting appearance

壮观场面; 壮观景象

The carnival was a magnificent spectacle. 嘉年华场面十分壮观。

The television show was mere spectacle (= had an exciting appearance, but little value). 这个电视节目只不过是场面壮观而已。

tranquillity noun [ U ] (US usually tranquility)

/træŋˈkwɪl.ə.ti/

a peaceful, calm state, without noise, violence, worry, etc.

平静，宁静祥和

living in peace and tranquillity生活在平静祥和之中

I love the tranquillity of the countryside. 我喜欢乡村的恬静。

scene noun UK

/siːn/

a part of a play or film in which the action stays in one place for a continuous period of time

场景，场面;镜头

the funeral/wedding scene葬礼／婚礼场景

nude/sex scenes裸体镜头／床上戏

Juliet dies in Act IV, Scene iii. 朱丽叶死于第四幕第三场。

compelling adj. UK

/kəmˈpel.ɪŋ/

If a reason, argument, etc. is compelling, it makes you believe it or accept it because it is so strong.

（理由、论证等）令人信服的，很有说服力的

compelling evidence 强有力的证据

It's a fairly compelling argument for going. 去的理由很有说服力。

very exciting and interesting and making you want to watch or listen

引人入胜的;激动人心的;扣人心弦的

I found the whole film very compelling. 我觉得整部影片都很扣人心弦。

a compelling story 扣人心弦的故事

sigh verb [ I ]

/saɪ/

to breathe out slowly and noisily, expressing tiredness, sadness, pleasure, etc.

叹息，叹气

She sighed deeply and sat down.她深叹一口气，坐了下来。

[ + speech ] "I wish he was here," she sighed (= she said with a sigh).“我希望他在这里，”她叹息道。

If the wind sighs, it makes a long, soft sound as it moves through trees.

（风穿过树林时）发出呜咽声

I lay on my back, listening to the sound of the wind sighing in the trees. 我仰面躺着，听着风穿过树林发出的呜咽声。

tension noun UK

/ˈten.ʃən/

a feeling of nervousness before an important or difficult event

（精神上的）紧张，焦虑，焦急

You could feel the tension in the room as we waited for our exam results.我们等待考试结果出来的时候，你可以感觉到屋子里的紧张气氛。

B2 [ C usually plural or U ]

a feeling of fear or anger between two groups of people who do not trust each other

（互不信任的人群之间的）紧张关系;紧张局势

ethnic/racial tension民族／种族间的紧张关系

There are growing tensions between the two countries. 两国间的关系日益紧张。

dimension noun UK

/ˌdaɪˈmen.ʃən/ /ˌdɪˈmen.ʃən/

a measurement of something in a particular direction, especially its height, length, or width 空间，尺寸

Please specify the dimensions (= the height, length and width) of the room.请明确说明房间的大小。

a building of vast dimensions (= size)一座规模很大的建筑物

B2 [ C ]

a part or feature or way of considering something 层面，维度；特点

His personality has several dimensions. 他是个有多重性格的人。

These weapons add a new dimension to modern warfare.这些武器为现代战争增添了一个新的特点。

There is a spiritual dimension to her poetry. 她的诗还有一个精神层面。

underlying adjective [ before noun ] UK

/ˌʌn.dəˈlaɪ.ɪŋ/ US

/ˌʌn.dɚˈlaɪ.ɪŋ/

real but not immediately obvious

暗含的;深层的;潜在的

And what might be the underlying significance of these supposedly random acts? 这些看似偶然的行为，其暗含的意义可能是什么呢？

astonishment noun [ U ] UK

/əˈstɒn.ɪʃ.mənt/

very great surprise 惊愕；惊讶

To the astonishment of her colleagues, she resigned. 她竟然辞职了，这让她的同事们大吃一惊。

She gasped in astonishment. 她吃惊得倒抽了一口气。

empathy noun [ U ] UK

/ˈem.pə.θi/

the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person's situation

同情; 同感，共鸣

1. Firmly devoted or loyal to someone or something. 忠于

You promised to be true to me when we got married—do those vows mean nothing to you?True to her word, Margaret destroyed the documents after I paid the blackmail.

2. Consistent or in accordance with some pre-established aspect or condition.

You promised to be true to me when we got married—do those vows mean nothing to you?We have to have a president who is true to our company's values.His paintings are startlingly true to life.

stay true to yourself 强调了对自己真实感受、价值观和欲望的诚实和深思熟虑的重要性。

Because you'll never be a true artist unless you're true to yourself. So, who are you?

因为你不能诚实地对待自己，就不能成为一个真正的艺术家，所以，你是谁？

principle noun UK

/ˈprɪn.sə.pəl/

a basic idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens or works

原理;原则

the principles of the criminal justice system 刑事审判制度的原则

The country is run on socialist principles.这个国家推行社会主义制度。

The machine works according to the principle of electromagnetic conduction.这台机器根据电磁传导原理运行。

The organization works on the principle that all members have the same rights.该组织的工作原则是所有的成员都享有同等的权利。

screenwriting noun [ U ] UK

/ˈskriːnˌraɪ.tɪŋ/

the activity of writing the stories for films

电影剧本撰写

He dabbled in screenwriting, acting, and producing. 他涉足了编剧、表演和制作。

It has been said by teachers of screenwriting that there are only three plots. 编剧老师曾说过，一共只有三种情节。

serene adjective UK

/səˈriːn/

peaceful and calm; worried by nothing

平静的; 安详的

She has a lovely serene face. 她长着一张可爱而安详的脸。

tranquil adjective UK

/ˈtræŋ.kwɪl/

calm and peaceful and without noise, violence, worry, etc.

安静的，平静的;安宁的

She stared at the tranquil surface of the water.她凝视着平静的水面。

The hotel is in a tranquil rural setting.宾馆周围是静谧的乡村。

A spasm of pain crossed his normally tranquil features. 一阵疼痛掠过他那平时平静的脸庞。

juxtapose verb [ T ] UK

/ˌdʒʌk.stəˈpəʊz/

to put things that are not similar next to each other

把（不同的事物）并置，把…并列

The exhibition juxtaposes Picasso's early drawings with some of his later works. 展览同时展出了毕加索早期的绘画作品和他的一些晚期作品。

apocalyptic adjective UK

/əˌpɒk.əˈlɪp.tɪk/

showing or describing the total destruction and end of the world, or extremely bad future events 预示大灾难的，预言世界末日的

apocalyptic vision apocalyptic visions of a nuclear confrontation 对核对抗灾难性后果的描述

apocalyptic warnings about our destruction of the environment 对人类破坏环境可能带来毁灭性后果所作的警示

shrine noun [ C ]

/ʃraɪn/

a place for worship that is holy because of a connection with a holy person or object

圣地;神龛;圣坛;神殿

Islam's most sacred shrine is at Mecca in Saudi Arabia. 伊斯兰教最神圣的圣殿位于沙特阿拉伯的麦加。

a special place in which you remember and praise someone who has died, especially someone famous

（尤指名人的）纪念之所

She's turned her bedroom into a shrine to the dead pop star and covered the walls with pictures of him. 她把自己的卧室变成了纪念那位已故流行歌星的地方，墙上贴满了他的照片。

phrasal verb with drift verb [ I usually + adv/prep ]

/drɪft/

to gradually start to sleep

渐渐入睡

I couldn't help drifting off in the middle of that lecture - it was so boring! 我在听讲座的过程中不知不觉地睡着了——这个讲座太乏味了！

squeak verb

/skwiːk/

Add to word list

C2 [ I ]

to make a short, very high cry or sound

发出短促的尖叫;吱吱叫;嘎吱作响

The mice in the cupboard squeaked.老鼠在碗橱里吱吱地叫。

The door squeaked as it swung back and forth on its rusty hinges. 门的铰链生锈了，转动起来嘎吱嘎吱作响。

[ I + adv/prep ] US

to only just succeed in something such as a test or competition

（测验、竞赛等）勉强通过；侥幸成功

He squeaked through the exam. 他勉强通过了考试。

batter

verb [ T, I + adv/prep ]

/ˈbæt.ər/

to hit and behave violently towards a person, especially a woman or child, repeatedly over a long period of time, or to hit something with force many times

连续猛打（尤指妇女、儿童）

He was battered to death with a rifle butt. 他被人用枪托连续猛打致死。

He was battering (at/on) the door with his fists and howling.他不停地用拳头砸门，边砸边吼。

The waves battered against the rocks at the bottom of the cliff.波涛不停地拍打着悬崖底部的岩石。

The burglars had battered down the door of the house (= hit it so hard that it broke and fell down). 窃贼用力撞倒了房门。

a batter of rain 这个短语可以理解为描述雨势强烈，反复冲击某个地方或物体。