Chapter 132 Beauty in Close Contact: First Encounter with Wen Nian, Top-Tier Streamer (from a Country Bumpkin)
Seeing Jiang Xiuyuan's mocking and mischievous grin, Song Ying gave him a sharp rap on the head.
Don't think I don't know what you're thinking.
That brat and Qin Shu have never gotten along. He's clearly trying to see her film a kissing scene so he can watch Qin Shu get jealous and have some fun.
"Do you have one or not?"
"No. The second female lead isn't good enough."
Song Ying rolled her eyes, determined not to let the brat get his way.
Yes, there is.
Song Ying plays Qi Yue, the younger sister of the female lead Qi Xing.
During her school years, she was a cunning and rebellious girl. As an adult, she returned from studying abroad and sought revenge. In order to make her sister Qi Xing give up on the male lead Qi Zechen, she deliberately targeted Qi Zechen. Among her many methods, she drugged him after her seduction failed and staged a scene of the two having a passionate night together, which was discovered by Qi Xing.
Although it's fake, I don't know how the director plans to film it.
Long shots can be faked using camera angles, but for close-ups, you have to record them live.
But that was a later part of the story, and the filming location was in Beijing.
My phone vibrated. It was a message from the actors' group chat, where the makeup artist was asking where Song Ying was.
To ensure that all scenes can be filmed on schedule, the makeup and styling artists will call on the actors two hours in advance to do their styling before each scene starts filming. Modern dramas take less time, while period dramas take longer.
After the makeup is done, the assistant director and actors rehearse their lines before the actual filming begins, where the director and actors confirm the blocking and camera positions.
The waiting and preparation time in between is very long.
For example, if we are going to shoot 51 scenes today, the first scene will officially start at 7 o'clock, the props team needs to be in place by 4:30 or 5 o'clock, and the actors for the first scene must arrive no later than 5:30.
Song Ying was scheduled to film scene 13, which was expected to start at 10 a.m., so she got up at 7 a.m., had a quick breakfast, and arrived at the set at 8 a.m.
After replying to the message in the group, Song Ying patted Jiang Xiuyuan on the back.
"I'm going to get my makeup done, do you want to come with me?"
"I'm not going. What's the point of watching you put on makeup? I want to watch them film."
Jiang Xiuyuan stared at it for a while, as if he had discovered a new continent, his idiotic look as a bystander was all too obvious.
"Okay, then don't wander off or cause trouble. If anything happens, just call me."
"Okay, I understand. You can go ahead and get busy, sis!"
"Give me back my bag."
Song Ying's bag contained a script, sunscreen for daily makeup touch-ups, and other frequently used items. Jiang Xiuyuan had been carrying it for her on the way there.
"Here you go."
Jiang Xiuyuan quickly took off his backpack, returned it to Song Ying, moved closer, and continued watching the play.
Song Ying gave him a speechless look and went to the makeup touch-up area.
Because the filming took place in the school's teaching area, the logistics team occupied the teaching buildings. The classrooms were very large, and apart from the separate room for changing clothes, the other classrooms were multi-functional and mixed-use.
For example, the place where Song Ying comes to get her hair and makeup done is also a rest area.
"Teacher Song, over here!"
As soon as Song Ying spotted the classroom number, someone inside greeted her.
She went inside upon hearing the sound.
The woman in charge of doing her makeup was a girl in her mid-twenties named Mina.
"Teacher Song, your skin is so beautiful! You look even better in person than on TV!"
Although Mina is young, she studied makeup at a technical school when she was fifteen, and later followed her teacher who ran a studio to film sets.
Because of her love for research, she later successfully joined Huatian and became one of the makeup artists for Huatian's modern dramas.
"I really liked you when I watched the variety show! I never expected to have the chance to do your makeup, it's such a pleasant surprise!"
"Thank you for liking it, you're very cute too. Please take care of my makeup and styling."
"No trouble at all! It's all my duty!"
There were many actors in the crew, and several makeup artists, each with different roles. Mina was in charge of Song Ying's makeup and styling for the entire series.
It is my duty.
As she spoke, Mina took out the clothes she had prepared beforehand.
"This school uniform was made to your size. If it's convenient for you, please go to the changing room next door to change first, so you don't ruin your makeup when you change clothes later. Then, the restroom is at the very end of the corridor. Please wash your face and come over, and I'll do your makeup and hair."
Song Ying took the clothes and nodded.
"Okay, thank you."
This wasn't Song Ying's first time acting, so she was already quite familiar with the procedures.
However, when she returned, there was already another girl in the makeup area.
Wearing a pink and white tracksuit, with a neat high ponytail and wispy baby hairs at the temples, she has very attractive features and a somewhat baby-faced appearance. She looks youthful and energetic, yet also a little soft and gentle.
Hearing her footsteps, the girl turned her profile, her dark eyes like black gems.
She has a very likable, sweet and soft appearance; I want to stick close to her.
"Teacher Song, you're back? Let me introduce you. This is the original author and screenwriter of 'Temptation of Stars,' Teacher Wen Xiaowen, whose real name is Wen Nian."
Mina's introduction quickly revealed the identity of the girl in front of her to Song Ying.
As a behind-the-scenes worker, Wen Xiaowen rarely appears on the internet, and this is the first time Song Ying has seen her in person.
After reading "Temptation Star", Song Ying also read other comics by Wen Xiaowen. However, the one she is currently following is the webcomic "The Rabbit Prefers to Eat the Grass Near Its Burrow", which is serialized on Weibo by Wen Xiaowen's alternate account NN. It is said to be a love story between her and her boyfriend, who is also a senior executive of Huatian and the producer of "Temptation Star", Ji Zhiheng.
A few days ago, she was so sweet that she rolled around in bed, and Qin Shu teased her, saying that she was wriggling like a cauliflower worm.
Song Ying really liked Wen Xiaowen's works, and now that she had met him in person, she felt even more comfortable and at ease.
This face perfectly matches her aesthetic preferences.
"Hello, Teacher Wen. I am Song Ying. I am very happy to work with you and to be able to play a role in your writing."
Song Ying warmly extended her hand.
However……
Aside from being relaxed and natural at first glance, Wen Xiaowen seemed somewhat awkward and embarrassed in the face of her enthusiasm.
Wen Xiaowen reached out and gave Song Ying a light handshake, smiling as she spoke.
"Hello, Teacher Song. You can just call me Wen Nian. I'm really looking forward to your Qi Yue project and hope we can work together smoothly."
His speech was fluent, and his smile was genuine.
But Song Ying felt that something was wrong.
Wen Xiaowen—Wen Nian, her hands seemed to be trembling.
His voice trembled slightly.
You can't really hear it unless you listen carefully.
But Song Ying is a musician and extremely sensitive to sound, so she easily noticed the other person's discomfort.
"Then just call me Song Ying or A-Ying! That way we'll both feel more comfortable."
"Oh? Okay."
The two clasped hands briefly before parting.
Wen Nian even avoided Song Ying's enthusiastic gaze.
Song Ying: ……
No, is she really that scary?
Or perhaps your previous behavior on variety shows was too aggressive and scared the innocent girl in front of you?
Song Ying looked on with suspicion, but Mina pulled her to sit down.
Then whisper a reminder in her ear.
"Teacher Song, Teacher Wen is a bit socially anxious. Since you've just arrived, she's not very familiar with you yet, so she might feel a little uncomfortable. But she'll get used to it after you spend more time with her; she's a very nice person!"
Song Ying suddenly thought of the female lead's social anxiety character in "The Rabbit Prefers to Eat the Grass Near Its Burrow".
Isn't that Wen Nian?
While the two were talking, Song Ying took the script from the side and sat down about a meter away from Song Ying.
"Old Song..."
The words were about to come out, but Wen Nian swallowed them back. After a moment's thought between Song Ying and A Ying, he chose the latter, whom he felt closer to, before continuing to speak.
“Ah Ying, because you joined the crew a little later and received the script later, Director Fang communicated with me and said that he would be in charge of your rehearsals for the first few scenes and your character analysis… The assistant director will come over later and go through it with you again to ensure that you can get into character as soon as possible and that the filming will be smoother.”
Generally, before the official filming begins, actors in various roles are required to participate in a script reading session.
At this point, the director, screenwriter, and actors will sit together to discuss the character's personality, details, and internal and external driving forces, analyzing and interpreting various aspects of the character to reach a consensus on understanding the role.
In this way, actors can better understand and portray their roles, and directors can more clearly express their desired effects.
There are also some writing bugs or minor details that can be further polished and improved by the screenwriter before filming.
This is an essential step in any major production.
Song Ying, who was temporarily replaced after filming began, naturally did not go through this process.
The director's arrangement is perfectly reasonable.
But at this moment, Song Ying was not focused on that.
Rather, it is the change in temperature over the years.
At the beginning of the conversation, Wen Nian's voice was a little nervous and trembling, but as she spoke, her voice became steady.
Especially when Song Ying thanked her and asked Wen Nian to speak first, as the introduction of the characters' relationships and the clarification of their roles unfolded, Wen Nian's voice became increasingly clear, resonant, and confident.
This is an extremely remarkable change.
However, Song Ying quickly figured out the key point.
As a behind-the-scenes worker, Wen Nian spent most of his time at home drawing comics and rarely interacted with the outside world.
Therefore, it's always a bit awkward to communicate with strangers.
Only when they become familiar with each other, or when they talk about areas they are familiar with, will they suddenly open up and become cheerful and talkative, as if they were a different person.
It is commonly said that they are as still as a virgin in front of strangers, but as lively as a mad rabbit in front of acquaintances.
Song Ying dared not imagine what Wen Nian would be like when she went crazy, but at least she could be certain that Wen Nian's previous attitude towards her was not due to any objection or misunderstanding about her as a person, but rather it was simply due to her personality.
Moreover, people with this kind of personality, once they accept someone as a friend, will be extremely sincere and completely open-hearted.
Thinking about it this way, Song Ying suddenly realized that Wen Nian was not only cute in appearance, but also in personality.
-
Since the filming is currently set in high school, the styling and makeup are not complicated.
The main focus is on a clear, natural, and vibrant feel.
Mina quickly finished Song Ying's makeup and then started doing her hair.
The whole process took about half an hour.
Just then, Wen Nian finished explaining all the precautions and script analysis.
"Ah Ying, do you still have any questions about what I just said, or are there any differences in our understanding? If so, please tell us, and we can discuss it together."
Wen Nian spoke for so long that her originally soft and sweet voice became a little hoarse.
"There are no problems for now; our understanding is consistent. However, your interpretation and analysis have helped me to understand the other characters more deeply, which will be very helpful for my future scenes with them."
Song Ying did not call Wen Nian by his name.
The other person calling her Aying was obviously to avoid awkwardness. For Wen Nian, who is a little socially anxious, it may seem like a small nickname, but it is actually a big step in their process of showing goodwill and getting closer to each other.
Song Ying certainly couldn't refuse her kindness.
Sure enough, Wen Nian breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the name "Nian Nian"—or perhaps she was relieved that the two of them understood each other and that Song Ying was in a good mood.
After all, it's said that Sun Ruoxuan had repeatedly harassed Wen Nian on set, even demanding additional scenes and changes to the lines. She even portrayed Qi Xing, a character with a very complex and multifaceted personality, as a stereotypical and vicious supporting character.
Given such past experiences, it's understandable that Wen Nian is nervous.
Of course, these are all Song Ying's guesses, but in any case, it's a good start.
Song Ying felt that she was treating Wen Nian like a little baby, or like a piece of pure white porcelain.
I was afraid that she might accidentally bump into something or get hurt.
This is a feeling I've never experienced before.
This was the first time she had ever wanted to get close to someone so much, and the first time she had ever been so tender towards someone.
"You've been talking for so long, your voice is hoarse. Niannian, drink some water to soothe your throat."
"Th...thank you."
The passion and affection brimming in Song Ying's eyes were so intense that even Wen Nian, a girl herself, couldn't help but blush and stutter once again when she was being gazed at so intently by such a beautiful woman who seemed to have stepped out of a painting.
It's also Song Ying's fault.
Completely unaware of how dazzling and captivating she looked at that moment.
Wen Nian picked up the thermos cup next to her and took a sip of warm honey water. Her little face puffed up like a tiny pufferfish.
Song Ying suppressed the urge to poke it gently with her index finger.
"Alright, Ms. Song, please look in this full-length mirror and see if there's anything you're not satisfied with. Ms. Wen, if it's convenient, could you also take a look?"
Mina's words brought Song Ying back to her senses.
"Xiao Bao, you can just call me by my name."
Although it's the usual practice on set to call everyone "teacher"—the prop master, the actors, the cinematographer—Song Ying still wasn't quite used to being called that.
As she said this, she stood up, straightened her clothes, stood in front of the full-length mirror, turned around, and looked at herself from both the front and the back.
I must say, Mina truly lives up to her reputation as Huatian's contracted makeup artist. She's not that old among her peers, but her skills are truly exceptional.
The entire base makeup is clear and luminous, highlighting the best feature of Song Ying's skin, but the eyeshadow and eyeliner suppress Song Ying's bright and beautiful appearance, extending the unique extreme, repressed, sensitive and thoughtful nature of Qi Yue's character.
She wore her hair in a curly ponytail, paired with a red, white, and black school uniform plaid skirt set, white knee-high socks, and black leather shoes, with a red bow on her bow tie.
Especially her straight and slender legs, which give her the energetic vibe of a schoolgirl from a school anime.
She exudes youthful energy; you'd never guess she's a 24-year-old married woman.
This is clearly the real-life seventeen-year-old Qi Yue!
"Ah Ying, this is the Qi Yue I've always dreamed of!"
Wen Nian held the thermos, his bright eyes filled with amazement.
This was the first time she had ever dared to look Song Ying directly in the eye and stare at her without blinking.
Song Ying was also somewhat surprised.
Although actors represent unlimited possibilities and should be able to play roles of different ages, it is better for women to play roles older than their actual age. However, when playing roles younger than themselves, due to the physical limitations of their appearance, many veteran actresses who insist on playing young girls often fail miserably.
Qi Yue and Song Ying were seven years apart in high school. Song Ying was actually quite apprehensive, but she really liked the role. In addition, she had tried similar looks before and made a preliminary assessment. That's why she went to compete with Sun Ruoxuan with a mix of trepidation and anticipation.
But the final makeup result still exceeded her expectations.
"Mina, thank you!"
Song Ying smiled and thanked Mina.
Mina was also very excited, "You're welcome! It's the makeup artist's job to bring the character to life! Besides, it's also because you, Teacher Song, have such a good foundation!"
Creating a character is not the responsibility of the actor alone.
The screenwriter's scriptwriting, the makeup artist's costumes and makeup, the cameraman's shooting techniques and angles, and the editor's selection of footage are all indispensable.
Director Fang and Hua Tian are the guarantee of hardware quality, so the most important thing next is Song Ying's acting skills.
Mina and Wen Nian looked on eagerly, and Song Ying, who was not very nervous at first, suddenly became a little nervous.
Just then, the assistant director came over and asked her to go over the scenes that were going to be filmed next.
Wen Nian and Song Ying then went to the filming location together.
-
After receiving the script, Song Ying spent almost all her free time reading it.
Before going to bed last night, she went through all the shows for today, including her own, several times according to the schedule.
With such thorough preparation beforehand, when the executive director and she went over the lines, there were almost no hiccups, and the process went much more smoothly than expected.
"I've rehearsed with so many actors, and the last one I could recite a line perfectly was Ms. Jiang Lan'an. But that was many years ago. She no longer acts and has switched to stage plays."
The executive director's voice was filled with emotion, sighs, and nostalgia.
Song Ying was surprised to hear her mother's name under these circumstances and laughed.
"I thank the teacher for his recognition on behalf of my mother."
The executive director was slightly taken aback, only then remembering the gossip he had heard before.
She slapped her forehead. "Look at my memory! Teacher Song, you are Teacher Jiang's daughter. They say like father, like son, and although you are a girl, you have truly inherited Teacher Jiang's talents. You have not disgraced Teacher Jiang's reputation!"
It's no secret that Jiang Lan'an and Song Ying are mother and daughter.
But Song Ying is first and foremost Song Ying, and only then is she Jiang Lan'an's daughter, and only then is she a so-called second-generation star.
When professionals first see Song Ying as an actress, rather than as an appendage to her parents' labels, it proves that she has already succeeded halfway in proving herself to the outside world through hard work.
This is a good omen.
The remaining half requires her to prove herself powerfully with more works.
-
Around 10 o'clock, it was finally Song Ying's turn.
This was also the first scene she filmed since joining the crew.
Before filming began, while the director was explaining the scene and blocking, I could vaguely hear the whispers of the staff around me.
Some people were amazed by Song Ying's beauty and good figure.
Some people even compared her to the previous actress, Sun Ruoxuan.
Of course, there are also speculations about her acting skills.
It may not be malicious, but the small environment on set is a microcosm of the internet environment.
To some extent, this reflects the different attitudes of the outside world towards her taking on the role of Qi Yue.
However, before Song Ying could say anything, while she was attentively listening to the director's instructions, a voice suddenly rang out beside her.
"Go Yingjie! You're the best!"
Unable to tolerate the discussions, Jiang Xiuyuan cupped his hands to his mouth and suddenly shouted something.
Everyone looked at him.
Song Ying: ……
What does it feel like to be socially dead?
No one understands this better than she does now.
In that instant, Song Ying was plunged into self-doubt—why on earth did she bring that idiot Jiang Xiuyuan to the film set…?
Fortunately, after shouting, Jiang Xiuyuan seemed to realize how embarrassing it was and quickly covered his face and shrank back.
The brief incident passed quickly, but the pressure was put on Song Ying.
"Did you understand what I just said?" Director Fang Zhonghua asked again to confirm.
"Understood."
Song Ying and Shen Yuning nodded at the same time.
-
Shen Yuning plays the male lead, Qi Zechen.
After debuting through a talent show, she signed with Huatian Media and is considered a top-tier idol with exceptional talent in singing and dancing.
He was only 19 years old.
"Temptation Star" was his first film.
There are rumors that the reason why the film "Temptation Star" invited actress Zhao Jingyi to play the female lead was to boost Shen Yuning's career and help him transition from idol to actor.
In fact, since the cast of "Temptation Star" was officially announced, the character with the most fluctuations and changes is Qi Yue, but the character with the most controversy and the most questioned by netizens is Qi Zechen, played by Shen Yuning.
When the original novel's fans voted for the male lead, it was almost impossible to find someone in the entire entertainment industry who could match him.
After all, Qi Zechen, this fictional character, has always been a beloved figure in the hearts of readers.
When Shen Yuning took on this role, he was relentlessly attacked on Weibo for almost a week, with constant criticism questioning whether he was a "resource-backed" actor.
Compared to this, Song Ying doesn't seem so bad.
Because she had to act opposite Shen Yuning, and after signing with Jian Cheng, Shen Yuning was almost the most threatening competitor in the industry that Song Ying intuitively sensed.
Therefore, she learned a lot about Shen Yuning.
Shen Yuning, on Weibo, is known as "Tu Gou" (meaning "country bumpkin").
While other celebrities are posting selfies, advertisements, and endorsements, Shen Yuning is the only one surfing the internet every day, posting at least ten Weibo posts, all of which are reposts of funny jokes and videos.
They either added a caption like "Hahahahahaha" or "I'm a country bumpkin, but I love watching this."
It's like a mudslide in the entertainment industry.
No wonder netizens feel he can't portray Qi Zechen, the lovable yet hateful, abstinent, and possessive character at his peak.
However, all of this was before I actually met Shen Yuning in person.
Because the rehearsal went smoothly, Song Ying had time to watch Shen Yuning and the female lead's previous scene.
To be honest, it was unexpected.
A popular idol who had never acted before, performed much better than expected in his first acting role.
I only got stuck twice before I passed smoothly.
Director Fang Zhonghua is known in the industry for being strict and meticulous. Under his high standards, the film only took two takes.
Such actors are either exceptionally talented or have put in tremendous effort offstage.
Or, both.
Regardless of which one, they are all formidable opponents for Jian Cheng.
Song Ying even began to look forward to the scene of the two meeting again.
She admired Shen Yuning and also thought highly of the promising young talent she had chosen.
On the road to growth, having such rivals to inspire each other is Chien Cheng's good fortune.
"OK, camera position one, let's take a panoramic shot first!"
As soon as the director gave the command, the set fell silent.
The atmosphere became tense.
——
Updated 3.26√, this chapter has 6200+ words. The scene of filming "Temptation Star" is a crossover with "White Peach"! For those of you who are looking for something to read, you can check out "White Peach Sweet Summer" (click the book title in the author's notes below to jump to the page), the story of Wen Nian x Ji Zhiheng~ It's completed and super sweet!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
