Chapter 148: Miscellaneous Things About the Film Crew After Filming Ends
Chapter 148
It was still very cold near the film set, with no sign of warming up at all. Every time Lin Yuan went out, he felt like he was wrapped up like a bear.
He lost the weight he had when he returned to Mayor A's office, but lost it again within a few days of returning to the film set.
At this moment, all Lin Yuan wanted to do was send messages to Yu Ying like crazy, because Yu Ying kept complaining that she couldn't lose weight and that her weight would go up if she wasn't careful.
Lin Yuan said, "Come and work with director Ren Maoxing."
Yu Ying sent a "Heh" sound.
"Cold-blooded and ruthless." — Given Lin Yuan's frequent harassment of Yu Ying and He Xun, he has become the most unpopular person in the trio's group chat.
Lin Yuan pretended not to know this and continued to harass him.
To sum it up in He Xun's words, Lin Yuan was probably so obsessed with filming that he became completely twisted.
Lin Yuan: "...Can you please stop swearing?"
The filming of "Bloody Past" was very slow. The director required the film to create an atmosphere without appearing deliberate. Sometimes, Lin Yuan would sit for a whole day and have no other impressions except that he had to complete one or two actions or keep his expression still for a long time at the director's request.
During the filming of "Bloody Past", Lin Yuan rarely had the opportunity to fully showcase his acting skills. For example, when filming "Mandala", Lin Yuan almost nailed some scenes with long lines in one take. Han Shen's final farewell scene was also almost entirely improvised by Lin Yuan.
The character's emotions were well-developed, and Lin Yuan himself felt that it was a seamless performance. However, "Bloody Past" was different. The filming was intermittent, and Lin Yuan's emotions were also very fragmented. Rather than saying that he was showing his acting skills, it would be more accurate to say that he was being sculpted by director Ren Maoxing.
But this did allow Lin Yuan to experience another aspect of performing.
One of the good things about director Ren Maoxing is that he personally likes a lot of films from a wide variety of genres. When Lin Yuan had nothing to do, the director gave him a long list of films to study.
From a viewer's perspective, Lin Yuan naturally prefers drama films, especially those with twists and turns.
He gets drowsy watching overly artistic films, and as for so-called cult films, Lin Yuan can't understand the intention behind their creation.
But every type of film has its reason for existing, and he still needs to watch films with subject matter that Lin Yuan himself cannot handle.
Lin Yuan could only sigh, "Director Ren has indeed watched a wide range of films."
However, during the process of absorbing the information, Lin Yuan's understanding of the film has changed.
Films with overly intense plots, such as "Bloody Memories," are indeed not suitable for large-scale theatrical releases, but their production, whether depicting a vast, seemingly endless forest or a blanket of white snow, provides a visual and sensory stimulation.
Lin Yuan has recently watched a lot of revenge movies, all kinds of genres, some about people who have been lying in wait for years in hiding, and others about people with blood and gore and chunks of flesh falling to the ground. He has different feelings after watching each one.
Lin Yuan finds it hard not to think, "My performance was too one-dimensional." As an actor, Lin Yuan enjoys challenging himself, and given the availability of better performances, he won't choose the easier option for himself.
Observing other people's performances is also quite interesting.
In the public's perception, actors have relatively fixed performance patterns, but low-budget films often make bold choices in casting. The actors themselves dare to break through conventions and perform. Some production teams even simply hire non-professionals to perform. There are many things worth learning from these actors.
In addition, film directors deliberately conceal a lot of information before filming, just to capture the actors' true state at that moment.
The actors themselves might feel offended, which could even lead to some famous feuds in film history, but the director's intentions are indeed achieved in the work.
As Lin Yuan watched these movies, he analyzed which ones he could do and which ones he probably couldn't do even if he tried for half his life.
Then his desire to challenge himself will emerge, and he will feel that he should try it next time.
My love for movies has intensified.
"The director did this on purpose, didn't he? Showing you this?" Yu Ying exclaimed. "Is he inviting you to join his next movie?"
Lin Yuan: "...I refused."
Ms. Yu Ying, being from the film industry, is indeed very familiar with the styles of various directors.
...
After returning to the film crew, Lin Yuan did not spend too long adapting and gradually entered the state of Wei Liang.
The most difficult part of "Bloody Past" is over, and now filming is focused on Wei Liang's real life.
The appearance of this county town was fully captured by Wei Liang's camera.
A gray sky, a gray mood, and Wei Liang's gray life.
The feeling of struggle was too intense.
If Lin Yuan doesn't fully immerse himself in the role, he won't be able to grasp its essence.
Later on, without the director saying anything, Lin Yuan slowed down his own pace.
Because he had already sensed that Wei Liang was overwhelmed by the pressures of life.
The city is bright and bustling, and those who leave this county live the free and peaceful life they dream of, but Wei Liang is trapped here.
Revenge became a form of catharsis.
The so-called revenge is nothing more than one person who has driven another to their own doom, and the latter retaliating in kind.
At first, Lin Yuan couldn't understand what "Bloody Past" was trying to express, but now, as he gets closer to the character of Wei Liang, he slowly understands it.
"Bloody Past" contains a level of oppression and cruelty that most people cannot comprehend.
The majority of the film's budget was spent on the environment. Lin Yuan didn't receive much salary; the production team signed a profit-sharing contract with him, meaning he would get a share of the profits once the film was released.
Right now, he does receive very little money.
Not only that, Lin Yuan also treated the director to hot pot several times.
They went to a hot pot restaurant a few days ago, and the director even complained that their corn cakes weren't good.
"Who paid for it? Let's find out who paid for it!" Lin Yuan couldn't help but protest.
"You have a lot of money."
Among the entire crew of "Bloody Past", Lin Yuan is indeed the richest, and everyone knows that.
The filming of "Bloody Past" did not encounter any obstacles at the beginning, but after "Mandala" was broadcast, the small town was in an uproar. Residents would come over from time to time to watch Lin Yuan's performance and then exclaim, "How come he is so much uglier than on TV?"
Lin Yuan: "..."
I'm really sorry.
“I should insure my face,” Lin Yuan remarked. “That way, I can earn some money from the insurance company every day I film ‘Bloody Past’.”
The agent was very blunt: "Having someone slap you will have the same effect."
Lin Yuan silently rolled his eyes: "Vulgar and disgusting."
Feng Zeng: "...Wasn't it you who lacked awareness of being an idol first?"
However, the fervor sparked by "Mandala" did not last long. After watching for a few days, the nearby residents probably found filming quite boring and quickly lost interest.
Fans can't possibly travel to the north during this season; it's too cold.
In short, the filming of "Bloody Past" proceeded slowly, and as time passed day by day, the filming gradually came to an end.
Lin Yuan went back home for the New Year once, and everything was peaceful and uneventful. He then rushed back to the film crew to continue filming.
The weather finally started to warm up. Although there were still very few green leaves, the sun was always warm and gentle, giving Lin Yuan a sense of spring.
Whether it was Lin Yuan's imagination or not, he felt that the director's mood had improved.
That day, Lin Yuan even saw him reading "Mandala".
Lin Yuan really wanted to advise him not to watch it, at least not in front of him.
How embarrassing!
Moreover, based on Lin Yuan's understanding of director Ren Maoxing, the other party might have had some ulterior motive in watching the drama.
If he thinks Lin Yuan acted a particular scene from "Mandala" well today, he can probably use it in "Bloody Past" tomorrow.
The director is such an unpredictable person.
Lin Yuan felt that, influenced by the director, he gradually became unpredictable as well.
A character like Wei Liang requires the actor to have a strong inner strength.
Lin Yuan is actually quite lively, but in playing this role, he has to suppress his temper, a state he has been in for nearly half a year.
While he needs to maintain his composure on set, Lin Yuan clearly feels that he can become very irritable at times off-set.
Wei Liang's sluggishness and repression persisted until they finally erupted. In the movie, the character could have an outburst, but off-screen, Lin Yuan couldn't.
These fragmented filming sessions really took a toll on his will as an actor.
Every day felt endless.
The closer Lin Yuan got to the role of Wei Liang, the clearer he realized that he could not become Wei Liang.
But it doesn't seem easy to detach oneself from a character.
As filming progressed day by day, Lin Yuan became increasingly silent.
This situation continued until March, when UNO magazine representatives appeared on the set of "Bloody Memories".
Ren Maoxing doesn't like outsiders visiting the set when he's filming. It's a different story if nearby residents come to watch. It's like the film crew is occupying someone else's territory, so it's impossible to not even let them watch.
UNO magazine had worked hard to secure this opportunity, and once "Bloody Memories" is released, the magazine will promote the film through various channels.
In other words, UNO secured filming and interview opportunities through free marketing.
The magazine was mainly drawn by Lin Yuan.
The drama "Mandala" was a huge hit, but Lin Yuan, the male lead, plunged into the film crew. Everyone thought Lin Yuan would reappear soon, but he disappeared without a trace and hasn't made any public announcements for a long time.
Those in the industry consider this approach quite wasteful.
Which male actor doesn't rush to make money after becoming a sensation?
Take on any commercial deals you can, do seven or eight magazine shoots, and leverage your fans' spending power to increase your market value. If all else fails, negotiate with production teams to secure more screen time and better roles.
Who would be like Lin Yuan?
Not only did he disappear without a trace, but he also made a movie like "Bloody Past," which he couldn't afford to pay.
Director Ren Maoxing's works are truly capable of winning awards, but they are also truly poor. Although they will not lose money in the end, the money that the actors receive is quite limited.
Industry analysts believe that if Lin Yuan capitalizes on the popularity of "Mandala" and plans his career carefully, he could earn at least an extra 100 million yuan.
Lin Yuan gave up too easily.
The persona of treating money like dirt remains intact.
Several months passed, and the UNO magazine finally couldn't hold back any longer.
Lin Yuan has produced many works in recent years, but his fashion photoshoots have been quite limited. His absence from the year-end review makes readers feel as if something is missing.
After all, Lin Yuan has a great reputation for his styling and outfits, whether he attends events in the film or television industry.
Moreover, Lin Yuan himself has become a very popular figure in recent years.
The reason UNO magazine went to the set of "Bloody Past" is because Lin Yuan has been photographed several times recently, and he has shown a different style than before.
To the average viewer, it might be considered ugly, but to those in the fashion world, his appearance is quite unique.
Of course, the reason why people in the fashion industry have this opinion is because Lin Yuan is very popular.
If Lin Yuan weren't famous, he would still look ugly.
The wilder, more rugged side that Lin Yuan is now showing is exactly the theme that UNO magazine wants to capture.
There's no need to plan the styling for the magazine shoot, and the backgrounds are all natural—forests with withered grass and yellow leaves, and snow that hasn't completely melted, are all excellent materials for the photos.
If possible, the magazine would even like to hire the photographer from "Bloody Memories" to take the photos.
UNO aims to deliver a cinematic feel, coupled with Lin Yuan's adaptability...
UNO has already secured one of the best covers for this spring.
GVM did not sponsor the filming of "Bloody Memories" mainly because they could not find suitable costumes. However, when "Bloody Memories" competed for awards overseas or attended any large-scale events, GVM was willing to cover the costumes for the entire crew.
The collaboration between the brand and Lin Yuan has been extremely pleasant.
"Mandala" is practically a walking GVM plant-planting machine.
Since his debut, Lin Yuan has never seen a GVM show. The brand invites him every year, but most of the time, Lin Yuan is on set.
If it were any other actor, the brand would probably feel that the other party was being disrespectful.
However, when this person becomes Lin Yuan, the situation changes—every time he joins a film crew, he can bring GVM a sales increase of n%.
This 'n' is not a particularly small number.
These works either feature Lin Yuan wearing GVM at large award ceremonies or spark heated discussions—even a month after the finale of "Mandala," Han Shen's face would still occasionally appear on trending searches.
For brands, this is clearly the best opportunity to generate buzz.
GVM sponsored the costumes for the filming of "UNO".
Lin Yuan felt that after he partnered with GVM, the brand could penetrate every nook and cranny to promote its products.
The requirements for Lin Yuan from the UNO team were simple: just capture the feeling of the character.
Lin Yuan switched to Wei Liang's mode in an instant.
There was no one around, unlike when he was rehearsing a scene where his co-star was right across from him.
Lin Yuan seemed to have returned to the state he was in when he first filmed "Bloody Past"—between heaven and earth, only Wei Liang's lonely shadow remained.
Pedestrians in dim light against a dark background.
A forest that can easily engulf a person if one is not careful.
There was also the loneliness and repression in Lin Yuan's eyes.
Film actors, especially those with good acting skills, always know how to make the most subtle expressions and can always blend into their environment.
At times like this, the feeling the magazine wants is secondary; the key is what effect Lin Yuan can achieve.
Lin Yuan is the one with the greater advantage.
The photographer shot very quickly, mainly because Lin Yuan's condition was beyond correction; every shot he took looked perfect.
Especially in the last shot, Lin Yuan's shadow seemed to be swallowed by the darkness. The cinematographer felt that he was not taking a photo at all, but experiencing the impact of Lin Yuan's acting skills.
At this moment, in this perfectly chosen setting, Lin Yuan's presence could not be ignored.
The photographer didn't call "stop" and continued to shoot repeatedly. When Lin Yuan put his hands in his pockets and looked at the camera from afar, he seemed to have been born to be in this environment.
UNO hasn't collaborated with Lin Yuan for a long time.
But whenever Lin Yuan's face comes into view, he always manages to give the most perfect answer.
Compared to when he first became famous, Lin Yuan has a better sense of camera presence. The character Wei Liang is very mature, and Lin Yuan, when he enters the camera, is also full of maturity. However, when he first filmed "UNO", he still had a bit of a boyish feel to him.
UNO is very satisfied with this set of photos.
The magazine even felt that negotiating with the "Bloody City" crew was a worthwhile deal, and the hardship of traveling a long distance by train and then car was not worth mentioning.
I'd be willing to go abroad as long as I can achieve this effect.
And... Lin Yuan is in high demand right now, so it wasn't easy for UNO magazine to secure this opportunity.
If possible, the magazine would even like to release behind-the-scenes footage of the shoot as early as possible to share the joy with fans.
In addition, I also want to share with my peers.
Although... my colleagues might not necessarily be happy.
But it doesn't matter, as long as UNO makes us happy.
...
In fact, after obtaining the consent of the "Bloody Past" production team and selecting suitable photos, UNO announced that Lin Yuan would be the cover star of the next issue.
Time is tight because magazines usually finalize the content many days in advance. The advertisements and celebrities featured in the inner pages are decided well in advance, and any changes will affect a large number of people.
However, initially, the crew of "Bloody Memories" did not agree to "UNO" coming to film; the arrangement was temporary.
After receiving the notification, UNO magazine rushed over and temporarily changed the cover star of the next issue to Lin Yuan. The original cover star did not occupy many pages inside, but the effect of Lin Yuan's photo far exceeded the magazine's expectations.
The editor-in-chief thought it was a set of very stylish photos that aligned with the UNO magazine's style.
Fashion magazines spend most of their time creating unflattering photos. It's already quite difficult to have two or three memorable covers a year. As the leading actresses gradually fade from the forefront, the emerging actresses, while beautiful, are slightly less imposing than the leading actresses.
Therefore, magazines prefer supermodels, at least in terms of their ability to interpret products.
Even top-tier publications are now frequently criticized by readers for being "ugly".
If readers don't buy it, the magazine will have a hard time. It can only lower the bar and let in brands that are not high-class enough. However, these brands conflict with the magazine's consumer group, so readers will not buy it even more, and the magazine will have an even harder time.
It's rare to see a photo that is both aesthetically pleasing and has a great atmosphere.
In addition, Lin Yuan is currently very popular.
In recommending Lin Yuan for a title, GVM displayed extraordinary generosity, exceeding all expectations.
The filming of "UNO" went smoothly, and communication with the brand was also very smooth.
Before the new issue of the magazine was released, there was one brand that UNO had been unable to finalize a deal with – a brand that had recently collaborated with the fashion magazine, in addition to traditional luxury beauty brands, also included automobiles, electronics, and home furnishings. That brand had collaborated with several luxury brands and had recently gained high brand awareness among consumers. UNO had extended an olive branch to them, but the brand was not very interested.
At least the brands are unwilling to appear in this issue's pages.
This is naturally closely related to the person on the cover.
After replacing Lin Yuan, UNO communicated with the other party again, and this time, UNO received a positive answer from the person in charge.
Because the Mandala is so popular.
The brand has always wanted to collaborate with Lin Yuan, but has been struggling to find the opportunity. This is mainly because there are too many brands queuing up to contact Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan's studio is not unfriendly and is easy to communicate with, but Lin Yuan himself simply doesn't have the time.
Through this collaboration with UNO, UNO can act as an intermediary to facilitate the signing of a contract between Lin Yuan and the brand.
Even if the cooperation ultimately fails, communication channels can still be maintained.
Just because there's no opportunity now doesn't mean there won't be one in the future.
Lin Yuan is extremely sought after.
UNO, having learned everything: "..."
This issue of the magazine hasn't been released yet, and they don't know how it will be received, but they've already realized that inviting Lin Yuan was definitely the right decision.
After the magazine was published, UNO realized that they had clearly underestimated Lin Yuan.
They underestimated the fans' desire to see Lin Yuan alive.
"I don't even know what Kobayashi is filming lately!!! A disgraceful fan!!!"
"Beast-like Kobayashi! Speaking of which, aren't kangaroos beasts?"
"Oh my god... Whose idol is like this? He disappears for months on end. I don't even know where he goes unless he's shooting a cover."
"Ah~ mouse~ ah~ mouse~ ah~ mouse."
The fans' spirit in the comments section of the official UNO Weibo account is truly eye-opening.
But this is clearly not the fans' problem, but Lin Yuan's problem.
...
Lin Yuan spent several months on the set of "Bloody Past" before finally returning to a normal life.
In the last month, the weather was no longer cold, and Lin Yuan actually felt quite comfortable. The air was much better than in City A, the surrounding residents were very welcoming, and there was plenty of delicious food. Lin Yuan didn't need to restrict his weight, and on his days off, he would take a bag and go to the nearby market to find food.
Lin Yuan bought a lot of dried duck necks and also brought some for He Xun and the others.
Since they weren't available in City A, Lin Yuan would chew on one when he was bored while reading the script.
Perhaps because their separation was imminent, Director Ren Maoxing had become much gentler, looking at Lin Yuan with a smile every day, making Lin Yuan suspect that he would soon be kidnapped by him to a new film crew.
In short, Lin Yuan should absolutely not work with director Ren Maoxing again in the near future.
The director's torment of him was both physical and psychological.
"Is it really that exaggerated?" Ren Maoxing was unconvinced.
Lin Yuan quietly shared a photo of a fellow actor from the same production crew at the wrap party – Lin Yuan and the actor had taken many photos together during filming.
Whenever they were filming, the other person always had a melancholy and weathered face, staring at Lin Yuan every day with an expression that said, "Who am I? Where am I? Why aren't I leaving yet?"
Although the other person was in his forties, Lin Yuan often felt that his mental state was close to that of a 70-year-old.
As a result, on the day filming wrapped, he instantly recovered.
The other person was beaming, grinning from ear to ear, looking like he was about to escape. Lin Yuan had never seen him so happy during all the days he had been on the set of "Bloody Past".
The contrast is so stark it's almost frightening.
For a moment, Lin Yuan felt a pang of jealousy towards the other party.
He also wanted to finish filming as soon as possible.
He thought his partner would never laugh.
If he were the butler in the short drama, he would definitely add the line, "Master hasn't laughed like this in a long time."
That's how exaggerated it is.
In short, it's now Lin Yuan's turn to escape.
However, he is quite looking forward to his performance in "Bloody Past". He has never been exposed to such a script before, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, Lin Yuan may not be able to film it again.
He endured a lot of hardship and constantly pushed himself. Lin Yuan was very curious about what kind of performance he would deliver in the final cut.
Hopefully, the director's editing will be something he can brag about.
The reason why the filming period of "Bloody Past" was so long was because Ren Maoxing required the actors to shoot a large number of scenes, which were more than enough to make up a film of more than two hours.
Lin Yuan was very curious about the finished product.
Given Director Ren's efficiency, Lin Yuan doesn't know if he'll be able to get the job this year.
"It should be possible." Ren Maoxing gave a positive answer. "At the latest, next year. You'll need to make sure you have time available by then."
"Okay," Lin Yuan readily agreed.
Back in City A, Lin Yuan found it hard to adjust. On the set of "Bloody Past," Lin Yuan had the best sleep quality in years, falling asleep the moment his head hit the pillow, since he had no other plans but to film. But in City A, Lin Yuan was prone to overthinking, and his work was quite varied, requiring advance preparation.
Every time he needed to get up early to leave, Lin Yuan would toss and turn all night, unable to sleep.
A few days passed like this, and Lin Yuan finished up the remaining work. Feng Zeng still gave him a schedule.
If he's not filming, Lin Yuan actually has quite a few schedules, but as long as he doesn't join any productions or participate in variety shows, these schedules won't affect his songwriting.
Lin Yuan gradually came to appreciate the benefits of filming "Bloody Past".
During his time on set, he watched an average of five movies a week.
Classic scenes from movies often linger in his mind, providing Lin Yuan with abundant creative inspiration.
This time, Lin Yuan didn't feel a lack of inspiration. Instead, he felt that these images would suddenly pop up when he tried to express something through the song.
Sometimes the classic scenes in the movie are actually scenes that Lin Yuan conceived himself that never existed.
Although he has set a plan not to film any movies this year, Lin Yuan feels that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, his new album will probably also be related to filming.
Creators always need inspiration.
As an actor, he lives in different roles in different works, playing other people and touching their hearts at a certain moment, which is also a way of creating inspiration.
When Feng Zeng came to see Lin Yuan again, he saw that Lin Yuan's eyes were closed and he looked like he was asleep, but he was not asleep. His eyelashes were moving and his fingers were gently stroking, probably because he was deep in thought.
"Thank you for your hard work," the agent said silently, and quietly stood in the corner.
He should speak up after Lin Yuan becomes aware of his presence.
Feng had no desire to disturb Lin Yuan in this state.
Lin Yuan has really tried his best.
Taking a year off was a remarkable decision, and the creative work was remarkable as well.
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Author's Note: Update! [Kiss][Kiss][Kiss] Next up is more stage-themed chapters~
Before I knew it, it had already reached over 500,000 views. I plan to write a longer post.
I've already written many novels about the entertainment industry, and to be honest, there's a lot of overlap. I have another novel planned, a boy band novel, but it won't be the kind with all the hard work and happiness. I want to write something different.
This is my second-to-last book on the entertainment industry; I probably won't write any more.
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