After the morningâs shooting, Ji Mian came to Luo Zhang Weiâs side, seemingly casually saying, âDirector Luo, take advantage of everyoneâs coming together and just shoot the murder scene.â As he spoke, he handed over a cigarette and took out a lighter.
Luo Zhang Wei leaned over to light the cigarette, took a few puffs and nodded, âHmm, itâs a major scene. Itâs good to shoot early. I think Xiao Jia Shuâs skin been playing too much these days. He doesnât take this play seriously. When he comes, he only knows how to play the game. He doesnât read the script or recite the lines. I have to tighten him up. If he doesnât shoot well, I can change people as early as possible, so as not to waste the time and cost of the crew. I havenât seen anyone bring a teacher to the theatre to teach plays in my life and itâs not taking me as chief director seriously! â
Ji Mian didnât answer. He also lit a cigarette and smoked slowly.
Xiao Jia Shu had only one scene today. Just now, he had finished filming. He was going to leave, but Director Luo stooped him, âXiao Jia Shu, Zhou Fu, Lu Hao⌠Donât hurry to leave. After lunch come back to the set to for the shooting of The Apostlesâ 108th scene- killing relatives. â
âOkay, Director Luo!â
The old actors have long been accustomed to the directorâs temporary change of scenes. They agreed to it one after another, but Xiao Jia Shuâs heart became a little empty. He grabbed Huang Zi Jin and asked, âZi Jin-Ge, whatâs in 108th scene? Let me see the script. â
Huang Zi Jinâs heart broke. The 108th was a major part. Ling Feng took the easy job in this play. The part had a strong conflict and canât be filmed without profound performance skills. Recently, he was preparing to collect information to make up private lessons for him. He had a concept of the play, but he didnât expect the director to advance the time for it.
âHereâs the script. Iâve drawn the key points and written the comments. Take a good look when you eat.â Huang Zi Jin said seriously, âIâm telling you, this partâŚâ
Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Ji Mian who came, âHuang Zi Jin, thatâs not the way to teach people. You can either let him go and let him know for himself what it is like to act, or you can persuade him to change his career earlier. â
Huang Zijin tried to refute. Luo Zhang Wei also came over. âHuang Zi Jin, this is my studio. Iâm the only one who can teach actors how to act. You canât interfere. If you continue to talk, believe it or not, Iâll let the security guard get you out. â
A movie embodies the directorâs thoughts, reflects the directorâs understanding of art, and itâs most taboo of being told by others. Huang Zi Jin also knew that his practice was not right, so he just taught Xiao Jia Shu how to move, find the camera, read lines and so on. He didnât say much about the plot. But this scene was different. It was too important. If he doesnât guide at all, Xiao Jia Shu would be confused and most likely spend the whole afternoon NGing.
But at present, Director Luo was furious and apparently beyond his patience. He had to keep his mouth shut to avoid being pulled out.
Xiao Jia Shu was not a fool. How could he not notice that the situation was wrong. He quickly took the script and turned it over. Before turning the page, he was dragged into the lounge by Luo Zhang Wei. âEat lunch with me, Ji Mian will come, and weâll tell you about the play. It focuses on all the conflicts. If you canât do it well, you can be let go! â
The lounge was full of actors who were eating. Fang Kun had already prepared the boxed meals for several people and placed them neatly on the table, with a gloating mood in his eyes.
âTake the script out and have a look. Huang Zi Jin, stand far away, I donât want to see you! â Luo Zhang Wei yelled. No director could tolerate an outsiderâs meddling in directing his actors on how to perform, a blasphemy and offence to his work!
Huang Zijin raised his hands and made a surrendering gesture, then handed Xiao Jia Shu a look of self-pity. Shi Ting Heng, who was sitting by the side called out jokingly, âZi Jin, come and eat with my brother. Donât mess with Director Luo.â
Luo Zhang Wei didnât pay attention to them. He stared at the young master Xiao resentfully. âHave you studied this part?â
âStudiedâŚWellâŚ.â Xiao Jia Shu stared at the script with his neck stretched, his expression guilty.
Luo Zhang Weiâs hands were itchy. He looked up and found that his loudspeaker was placed on a high chair far away. He had to restrain his impulse to hit people.
âYou should know that this is Ling Fengâs most important scene. If it were me, the first time I got the script, Iâd focus on how to go about performing it. Oh, you are so good! you donât even have to fucking practice! Read the script now and donât eat lunch until youâve studied the whole script! â
When it comes to acting, Luo Zhang Wei turns into a tyrant in a second and frightened the young master Xiao. He was full of discontent, and thought to himself that it would be difficult for him to get a piece of cake? Then he picked up the script and flipped it over without any sense of urgency.
Luo Zhang Wei quietly took a sigh of relief. When he finished reading, he asked, âWhat do you think?â
What should I think?â Xiao Jia Shu knew nothing about acting. How could he see the way of acting? He answered and secretly observed Director Luo.
âWhat do you think is the hardest part of the scene?â Luo Zhang Wei was good at being persuaded.
âItâs very difficultâŚâ Xiao Jia Shu didnât dare to boast this time, and carefully replied, â How about Director Luo give me an example?â
Luo Zhang Weiâs hands were raised, but Ji Mian gently held his shoulder. âHeâs new. He doesnât understand anything. Teach him slowly. The more irritable you are, the more confused he becomes. Later, the scene would not be able to be filmed at all if both the director and actor are out of shape. Itâs wouldnât be good. â