Chapter 852 Lu Yanhe is your shield of incompetence

Insomnia is nothing to worry about.

For Lu Yanhe, insomnia, while not a regular occurrence, was still a serious problem that happened from time to time.

But this time, the problem with insomnia is a little different—

Lu Yanhe knew perfectly well why he had insomnia.

Moreover, the reason is a rare and unresolved tension.

Lu Yanhe hadn't felt this nervous, unsure how to act in a long time. It wasn't that he had no acting methods in mind; he did, many: outwardly expressive, inwardly restrained, highlighting inner emotions, or expressing through subtle facial expressions. Having acted for so long and played so many roles, Lu Yanhe had now accumulated a vast "arsenal" of acting techniques.

But those are all techniques, tools, and equipment, not performances.

Lu Yanhe knew where his problem lay.

He couldn't fully immerse himself in the play.

Once involved, it's an uncontrollable rage.

He would put himself in the situation of "Chen Pinhe's death," and at that moment, he even felt a sense of relief, as if "his wish had finally been fulfilled."

But such emotions shouldn't appear in this movie.

His emotions must have been complex.

He did it to save his sister and nephew.

He committed patricide after much struggle.

The motive behind the act of "murder" was not very related to the person himself.

Of course, he was also confused and angry, not understanding why his father could be so heartless as to kill Abao.

But his confusion and anger stemmed from his past respect and reverence for his father.

Lu Yanhe lay in bed, tossing and turning.

—Respect, reverence…

Oh.

Lu Yanhe really couldn't sleep.

I stayed awake all night until dawn.

When Wang Biao came to call him, he was taken aback when he saw the heavy dark circles under his eyes.

Lu Yanhe waved his hand and said, "I need to ask the makeup artist right away if these dark circles can be covered up."

The makeup artist looked at it and said, "That's great, no need for makeup now."

Luo Yuzhong also said, "This mentally exhausted state is particularly accurate. In the play, you are all waiting for your father's death and are suffering from inner torment. It's impossible for you to be in a good state. That's the feeling we need to capture."

Yu Mengling said, "I stayed up until 4 a.m. yesterday, but I couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep."

Lu Yanhe shook his head. "I don't want to stay up any longer. I really want to sleep, but I can't. As soon as I close my eyes, I feel like I'm going to break down. I don't know how to act out this scene today."

Luo Yuzhong: "It's okay, we'll take it slow and find our rhythm. If we can't get it right today, we'll try again tomorrow."

Yu Mengling smiled and said, "Yes, let's take it slow together, there's no rush."

Lu Yanhe: "I'm afraid I won't be able to perform well today, and then I'll have insomnia again tonight, and I really won't be able to sleep..."

Luo Yuzhong patted his shoulder forcefully.

“It’s okay. If you can’t perform today, just take some sleeping pills,” Luo Yuzhong said. “You need to know that all your pressure comes from your high expectations of yourself. This is especially true for the most difficult roles. But for actors like you who are capable and have ideas, once you get on set, you will gradually find your footing. It’s just a matter of sooner or later. Never worry that you can’t do it. A good performance is always like looking at flowers through the fog. You are that flower.”

Luo Yuzhong's encouragement deeply inspired Lu Yanhe.

Lu Yanhe: "Then I'll have to ask for your understanding. I really have no idea how to act in this scene that we're going to film today."

Yu Mengling: "It's okay. Maybe when we start acting, you'll find that there's another me who doesn't know how to act even more than you. What you say is what I want to say, but you say it faster than me. It's so frustrating."

Luo Yuzhong laughed.

"Both of you say you can't act, so what am I supposed to do?" Luo Yuzhong joked. "Alright, you two."

Yu Mengling smiled gently.

"Teacher Wen is here," she suddenly said.

Everyone turned to look.

Wen Shengming walked over, dressed in theatrical costume (with an undergarment).

Wen Shengming asked, "What are you talking about?"

Luo Yuzhong pointed at Lu Yanhe and Yu Mengling and said with a smile, "These two people told me as soon as they met that they didn't know how to act today's play. They were very troubled and had a big headache."

Wen Shengming: "This scene is difficult to act."

He looked at the two of them in surprise.

"But for you, is it so difficult that you need to give prior notice?"

Lu Yanhe nodded.

“It’s very difficult to act.” He put his hands together. “Teacher Wen, please forgive me if I have to do too many takes. I absolutely did not do it on purpose.”

"He didn't sleep a wink last night, he was just anxious and didn't know how to act out this scene," Luo Yuzhong said with a smile.

Wen Shengming: "That's strange. It's not the first time I've acted with you. Even with such a difficult role in 'Dingfeng No. 1,' I've never seen you so worried before the filming started. What's going on?"

Lu Yanhe shook his head: "Inner demons."

Others wouldn't understand why he said that.

Of course, no one can truly understand where each actor's inner demons lie.

-

When the performance actually began, everyone realized just how deep Lu Yanhe's inner demons were.

Even Luo Yuzhong could clearly see that Lu Yanhe was not truly in character during his performance.

He is detached.

He seemed very engaged and serious, but it was entirely a matter of "technique" in his approach.

However, Luo Yuzhong did not call "cut," and the others did not stop either, staying with Lu Yanhe until the entire scene was finished.

Luo Yuzhong came over and chatted with Lu Yanhe: "Is there anything in this scene that I need to analyze and discuss with you further?"

Everyone had already discussed the script thoroughly and reached a consensus on the characters and lines.

That's why Luo Yuzhong asked that question at this moment.

Normally, each actor's understanding is already in place, and the next step is simply to present the scene on set, without the need for the director to give on-set instructions.

Talking about a scene on set is a very basic thing to do. It's something that needs to be done on set because the initial communication wasn't good enough.

Often, on set, there are some impromptu ideas, things that come together spontaneously, and then everyone sits down to discuss whether it's good or bad, whether it's reasonable.

Lu Yanhe shook his head and said, "I know how I should act, but I can't get into it."

"What's wrong?" Luo Yuzhong asked. "How about we talk about it?"

Lu Yanhe didn't hide anything and said directly, "My problem now is that, on the one hand, I find it hard to control the degree of anger that comes from my past respect and love for my father. Because I'm unsure, other emotions also become unbalanced and I don't have a sense of proportion. On the other hand, I didn't expect to express my true emotions to what extent before my father died. So, I expressed my emotions cautiously, without clear layers, and instead, they became chaotic."

Luo Yuzhong: "I understand."

Yu Mengling nodded as well.

Wen Shengming: "Then let's try it little by little."

Luo Yuzhong also said, "Yes, you used to have talent. You didn't need to try. You knew very well what level and degree the performance should give. But you don't know now. So let's start by restraining everything in our hearts and not revealing anything. Let's act like this first and see. After we finish acting, we'll look at the effect presented on the camera and make adjustments."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

Yu Mengling shook her head slightly and said to Luo Yuzhong, "I finally understand why he can act so well at such a young age. He is actually very clear about why he didn't act well and what the problems were. He just lacks a little emotional self-empathy."

Luo Yuzhong: "His greatest skill is his exceptional comprehension. He grasps the characters' personalities and emotions so well that you never have to worry about him. You just need to help him with the technical adjustments."

Yu Mengling: "It's really enviable. I've been acting for several more years than him, but I've found that his grasp and understanding of the characters far surpasses mine."

Luo Yuzhong: "Your skills are beyond question. In the end, what matters for actors is their aesthetic sense and temperament. You two each have your own characteristics, so there's no point in comparing you. As long as you find a role that suits you, you'll be unstoppable."

Yu Mengling: "Oh, thank you so much, Director, for encouraging me."

-

Lu Yanhe came to the side by himself.

What Luo Yuzhong and Wen Shengming said just now gave him some inspiration.

He took out paper and pen and outlined three different levels of performance for himself.

This is a performance hierarchy derived entirely from rational judgment.

However, after identifying the three levels, Lu Yanhe felt more at ease. He was now able to skillfully manipulate his emotions.

Lu Yanhe uses these three levels to develop his skills, mainly to find the level where he can best get into the zone.

Half an hour later, Lu Yanhe performed another scene.

Luo Yuzhong and his team watched the video on the monitor and offered some suggestions.

Lu Yanhe made some adjustments and performed another take.

“It would be better if there was a slight fluctuation in your eyes here,” Luo Yuzhong said, pointing to the monitor. “Your sister is already holding Abao and silently shedding tears. She is using her downcast eyes to hide her complicated inner emotions. If you still keep your emotions inside, it will be a bit too much.”

Lu Yanhe agreed.

Five came in total.

After five takes, Luo Yuzhong said, "Okay, let's stop filming here for today. We're not rushing. We'll continue filming tomorrow."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

-

Indeed, although the footage shot today is unusable, Lu Yanhe has already gotten a feel for it after several takes.

I now have a general inner framework for the performance of this scene.

After dinner, Lu Yanhe planned to go for a stroll outside, to wander around by himself and review today's filming.

Wen Shengming suddenly came to his side and asked, "Want to take a walk?"

Lu Yanhe nodded and said okay.

He and Wen Shengming went outside together.

Night had fallen.

The bodyguards stood about four or five meters apart, surrounding them.

Lu Yanhe and Wen Shengming walked all the way to the wilderness on the outskirts of the county town.

The streetlights were spaced far apart, and their light was dim.

That's good, because no one can see anyone else clearly.

Wen Shengming said, "You seem to have some resistance to the image of a father?"

His first words struck Lu Yanhe squarely at his weak point.

Lu Yanhe smiled. "Yes."

Wen Shengming nodded.

"really."

He didn't press further about why.

Wen Shengming said, "I don't mind if you portray me as your father when you're acting."

"ah?"

“If you can’t step outside yourself to enter the character’s perspective, then simply replace the image of your father in your life with your own perspective,” Wen Shengming said. “Find an ideal person who can act as your father and replace his original image in your life.”

Lu Yanhe felt as if he had been struck by a club.

“Respect, anger, contradiction, struggle, making a painful decision…” Wen Shengming said softly, “Different people have different lives. As for actors, in the end, it’s about reality within illusion and illusion within reality. Often, a little bit of genuine emotion is enough to make the audience empathize. Don’t worry about whether it’s 100% the same. The script is dead, but the actor is alive. What you give is real.”

After Lu Yanhe finished showering and drying his hair, he lay back in bed, still thinking about Wen Shengming's words.

As I pondered, sleepiness crept in.

I fell asleep without even realizing it.

-

This way.

"What have you been up to lately?" Li Zhibai asked Yan Liang over the phone.

Yan Liang said, "Nothing."

“Nothing much, why didn’t you go back to China?” Li Zhibai said. “Weren’t you about to film ‘Friends’?”

Yan Liang said, "I didn't do anything, or rather, I had nothing to do. I was just sightseeing in Italy with Wu Zhouyou."

"Wu Zhouyou? Isn't that the director of 'The Gold Rush'? You were traveling in Italy with him? When did you two become so close?"

“Ruyi wants to develop a movie called ‘The Gold Rush,’ and they happen to have contacted the Italian Ministry of Tourism, which is willing to provide assistance and some funding for the filming. So, we came to take a look,” Yan Liang said. “Are you interested? The script hasn’t been written yet, but if you’d like to come and join us, they’ll definitely be happy to.”

Li Zhibai: "Going to Italy to search for treasure? Uh, it's your own one-man show, why do you want me to join you?"

“It would be fun to film together,” Yan Liang said. “Besides, if you were to act in it, I would have a reason to refuse Meng Li’s participation.”

"What the hell?"

“Meng Li is Wu Zhouyou’s girlfriend. Meng Li has been pestering him, wanting him to write a female lead role for her in this movie,” Yan Liang said. “Wu Zhouyou has been trying to persuade me to agree to this, but I really can’t find a reason to refuse him outright. It’s a real headache.”

Li Zhibai: "You're really funny. You dragged me into helping you reject Mengli. Don't you have enough enemies already?"

“She’s been your enemy for a long time, so what’s one more time?” Yan Liang said with a smile. “Besides, I think this movie should do well in the international market. The two series are doing very well on streaming platforms and have a lot of fans. As soon as the news of the spin-off movie came out, several international film companies came to talk about the distribution rights.”

Li Zhibai said, "If the two of us star in the same film, can Ruyi Entertainment afford to pay us both?"

“If you were to star in it, how could Ruyi not increase the budget?” Yan Liang said.

Li Zhibai: "Then let them come and talk to me, and see what their attitude is."

Yan Liang: "OK, if they have a bad attitude, I won't act anymore."

"Are you crazy? 'The Gold Rush' is an IP that you worked so hard to create. If you don't act in it, are you just letting Mengli benefit from it?"

“If I don’t act, this movie won’t be made,” Yan Liang said. “You underestimate me.”

Li Zhibai: "Tsk, that's awesome."

-

Yan Liang is now... how should I put it, besides Lu Yanhe, one of the Chinese male actors with the highest international commercial value.

Friends built a huge base of fame for him.

"Flypaper" directly opened up the international market for him.

There's also "Speed" waiting to be released—because of this blockbuster, everyone sees him as a "potential Hollywood heartthrob."

Even if Yan Liang's personal fan base isn't large, he still has a series of works that have gained some international recognition, such as "The Gold Rush," "The Summit," and "Dragon Inn."

Play protects people.

If he hadn't acted in the spin-off film of "The Gold Rush," the Italian Ministry of Tourism might not have been willing to provide related support for the film.

Not to mention, without him, would this IP still be able to attract its core audience?

If the "Gold Rush" spin-off film is only aimed at the domestic market, then of course, casting another male lead from "Gold Rush" or Meng Li as the lead actor would have a certain appeal. However, if Ruyi wants to sell the rights to the "Gold Rush" spin-off film to the international market and get a good price, then Yan Liang is indispensable as the lead actor.

This is the fundamental source of Yan Liang's current confidence.

-

Longyan.

Huang Zhongjing discussed the production plans for the next few years with a group of senior executives, and mentioned Lu Yanhe, Yan Liang, Jiang Jun, Jiang Yuqian and others.

"Because of the emergence of these stars who have begun to have international appeal, major film companies are now using them as the core selling point to develop projects. Ruyi is making a spin-off film of 'The Gold Rush,' and Jingtai has authorized Linghe to produce three spin-off films of 'The Seventeen Floors.' These three films will be co-produced with Green Valley in the United States," said Huang Zhongjing. "If the past three years have seen a surge in Chinese actors participating in international projects, it is foreseeable that the next stage is likely to be a period in which Chinese-language films open up box office opportunities overseas."

Some say, "But currently, apart from Linghe, no other company can successfully and consistently generate box office revenue for Chinese-language films. Linghe's success is also due to Lu Yanhe's connections in Hollywood, which enabled Linghe's films to obtain global distribution."

"The spin-off film of 'The Gold Rush' has nothing to do with Lu Yanhe, but shortly after the news of this project was released, a film company in Europe and America offered a seven-figure US dollar distribution price," Huang Zhongjing said. "If we keep using Lu Yanhe as an excuse, we will always fall behind. What I want to emphasize is that China now has several stars who have bargaining power and commercial value with international film companies. We cannot fall behind and let these stars' schedules be snatched up."

"We also have a collaboration with Lu Yanhe on 'Burning Fire 3'."

"Yes, and there's also 'Even Faking Death Is Not Allowed 2.' Although Liu Bige isn't directing anymore, Li Zhibai is confirmed to return as the lead actor, isn't he?"

"Has 'Burning Fire 3' opened the door to international cooperation at this stage?" Huang Zhongjing asked directly. "'Even Fake Death 2' is still in the script stage. We're looking for international investment. Go and see if any companies will invest. You should study the development of the 'Seventeen Floors' and 'Gold Rush' spin-off films. They started cooperating with overseas companies even before they were officially approved and only had a title. Only when overseas companies are deeply involved in a film will they pay more attention to it in later stages."

Everyone fell silent.

Huang Zhongjing said, "Having a blockbuster star is not enough; you also need to combine it with a marketable theme. Considering global distribution from the very beginning of the project is much more efficient than editing around market hotspots after the movie is already filmed."

"But both 'The Seventeenth Floor' and 'The Gold Rush' are backed by popular TV series, have a solid fan base, and are well-known IPs."

"Isn't 'Burning Fire' an IP?" Huang Zhongjing said. "This film was managed by Lu Yanhe, and its overseas box office was revived. Do we only have one third film to develop? Besides 'Burning Fire,' don't we have any other IPs to work with? Are all the IPs readily available?"

The executives looked at each other in bewilderment.

“If we don’t develop overseas markets, we can only rely on the domestic market to make money. The risk will always be so high that a single film could collapse the entire company’s cash flow at any time,” Huang Zhongjing said. “Linghe has never gone public or raised funds. It was an independent small company that was not taken seriously by everyone at the beginning. Now, no company can match its profitability. Other companies make more money from an art film than from ‘Burning Fire’. But in your mouths, it’s still only Lu Yanhe. It’s all because of Lu Yanhe. Lu Yanhe is your shield for incompetence!”

Several senior executives turned green with rage.

-

"Brother Lu's filming didn't go very smoothly yesterday." Wang Biao was on the phone with Chen Ziyan in a corner, reporting on the situation on set. "I wonder how it is today."

Chen Ziyan asked, "How is Yan He doing today?"

"He looks pretty good, and he said he slept well last night," Wang Biao said. "Although I still look a bit tired and my eyes are bloodshot, I do look much more energetic than I did yesterday morning."

Chen Ziyan: "Okay, just keep an eye on his mental state at all times. I'm worried that he'll get too absorbed in it again."

"Hmm," Wang Biao said, "That shouldn't be the case. The problem that Brother Lu is having now is that he can't get into character when he's acting."

Chen Ziyan: "It's normal that he can't get into some scenes for a while in this drama. With Luo Yuzhong and Wen Shengming there, he will overcome it."

Wang Biao: "Huh?"

“For Yan He, if he really had to find the role of a father in his life, it would be Luo Yuzhong and Wen Shengming,” Chen Ziyan said.

(End of this chapter)