Chapter 46
In July, cicadas are chirping and the weather is getting hotter. Wearing thick costumes, standing in the sun for a few minutes will make you sweat profusely.
After the mudslide, the crew re-contacted the location shooting and filmed the horseback riding scenes in a unified manner.
Filming is not only about presenting the characters, but also about polishing the actors. After filming on and off for two months, everyone was a little tired, but towards the end, they regained their excitement.
There is a small horse farm nearby, so we went in and took a look around. The horses are often loaned out to shoot various films and are no longer unfamiliar with the camera. They seemed to have little interest in seeing these two-legged animals.
Zhou Qilin and Song Mei both know how to ride horses, so the extras can use post-production special effects to simulate shots on horseback. The highlight of the horseback prisoner rescue scene is Fang Jingshi, because he is going to take off from the horse's back, break into the marriage team and rescue Fang Ruoyu.
The staff had already led the horse out. It looked like the horse had a good diet. Its hair was shiny golden brown, its mane was fluttering, its hooves were smooth, and it walked out with its head held high. It snorted disdainfully as it passed by the crew.
Xiao Ziyu thought that this arrogant look was a bit like Yuan Heng.
"This is our most beautiful horse, named Jifeng," the staff introduced. "It's a four-year-old Mongolian horse with a lot of experience, but it's picky and has a bad temper, so it's best to get used to it with the actors beforehand."
Of course, Fang Jingshi would ride the most eye-catching horse. Director Yang asked directly, "Xiao Xiao, can you ride a horse?"
Xiao Ziyu said conservatively: "We can give it a try."
"Don't be afraid, we are with you." Song Mei said with a smile.
She and Zhou Qilin also climbed onto the horses, straightened their backs, pulled the reins slightly, and gradually adapted to the horses' rhythm.
The staff member reached out his hand and tried to help him up. Xiao Ziyu was not used to being pulled by others, so he took the reins and said, "I'll try it myself."
He held his breath for a moment, stepped on the pedal, lifted his other leg neatly, drew a half arc in the air, and landed steadily on the horse.
"You're an expert at this pose." The staff member was relieved and kept a distance from him to let him perform on his own. "You're considered a senior member of our club."
Xiao Ziyu pulled the reins, but Ji Feng was not willing to move. The weather was hot, and it paced in circles in the shade of the stable, refusing to run into the yard.
"Are you unwilling to work again?" The staff member walked up and patted its ears.
The wind kicked its tail and mooed loudly.
Yuan Heng, be good. Xiao Ziyu was talking to Ma in his mind.
He stood up slightly in the stirrups, clamped his legs around the horse's belly, and gave the wind a rhythm. Ji Feng finally turned around and stomped into the horse farm.
In the hot weather, the horses were unwilling to move. Song Mei and Zhou Qilin both ran with the help of staff, and were now some distance behind Ji Feng. Song Mei was stunned: "Teacher Xiao Xiao is too modest, this technique is far better than mine."
Director Yang also narrowed his eyes and looked at the light figure in the distance, and nodded with satisfaction.
More experienced actors usually know how to ride horses. It is not easy to sprint and stop suddenly, and it is even more difficult to relax on horseback and express appropriate emotions in front of the camera.
So many times, even if the actors can ride horses, a lot of effort is still needed in the post-production stage. Most of the time the camera is zoomed out when shooting, so it is difficult to capture a wonderful close-up.
Looking at Xiao Ziyu's condition, it seemed that he could no longer be described as "able to ride a horse". Under his control, the horse suddenly stopped, turned around and turned, raised its front hooves, and ran very smoothly.
"Your little actor will give you the rhythm," the staff member said, "Ji Feng is most reluctant to cooperate with those half-baked ones. They feel restrained on horseback, and the horse doesn't feel smooth when walking, so the shots often fail to achieve the desired effect."
“So most people would choose a medium-sized horse that is not so outstanding in appearance but has a gentle temperament.”
Xiao Ziyu galloped on the sun-bleached horse field, the heat waves whistling in his ears, blocking all other sounds from his mind.
His horsemanship was taught by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Although Daliang was located in the Central Plains, it was warlike by nature, especially by the generation of Yuan Heng, when the whole country respected martial arts and most teenagers could ride horses and draw bows. If they can pass the layers of selection, they will be absorbed by the royal family. Regardless of their background, they will be trained intensively and will be able to lead the team when they grow up.
Xiao Ziyu grew up in Shu. The Jiangnan region was like a landscape mirror. People built houses along rivers and lived near lakes. People traveled by water more than by land. Therefore, he had never ridden a horse before entering Liang. Not only have I never ridden one, I'm even a little afraid of these tall four-legged animals.
The climate in the north is dry, and even the soil is inexplicably thicker, able to bear the weight of the iron hooves. If he wanted to follow Yuan Heng, he had to learn how to ride.
At first, the two of them rode together. Yuan Heng hugged him from behind and taught him to hold the reins: "Keep your back straight and relax."
The horse was quite obedient under Yuan Heng's intimidation. After running a few laps on the training ground, Xiao Ziyu took the initiative to say, "I'll try it myself."
Yuan Heng dismounted and led the way for him. Xiao Ziyu felt lost without support and subconsciously wanted to curl up into a ball.
"Don't hunch your back." Yuan Heng reached out and patted him on the back of his waist. "I asked you to hunch your back last night, but you didn't. Are you excited now?"
Talking about private matters in broad daylight, with soldiers training not far away, Xiao Ziyu's ears became hot: "Your Highness, please be careful with your words."
"What are you afraid of when the prince of Daliang lets you lead the horse?" Yuan Heng pulled the reins and trotted. "Hold the horse's belly tight and give it a rhythm actively. Don't let the beast lead you."
He was taken to run around the school training ground again and again, and finally he was able to control the horse by himself, but at the cost of the skin on the inside of his thigh being rubbed raw.
Yuan Heng didn't expect him to be so patient, nor did he expect the skin of the people in Jiangnan Shu was so tender that it could be worn out even through several layers of clothes. When taking the medicine at night, Xiao Ziyu bit his hair tightly in pain, his eyes red with shock. Yuan Heng was furious: "Don't you feel the pain?"
Xiao Ziyu was so nervous that the pain was really secondary. He said honestly: "I didn't notice it at the time."
"You're going to die if you put too much pressure on the bed, but you can stand it on horseback," Yuan Heng started to bully people again, "Why don't you try it on horseback some other day."
Xiao Ziyu stared in astonishment, not understanding where Yuan Heng came from with all these nonsense, and reached out to cover his mouth.
However, his vital parts were restrained, so Yuan Heng did not need to dodge. He pulled Xiao Ziyu up by the knees, and Xiao Ziyu fell backwards with his arms and legs spread out, and was pressed down firmly by the solemn Crown Prince in the dragon robe.
Xiao Ziyu recalled the embarrassing moment and pulled Ji Feng's ears, not knowing who he was making fun of: "You have no sense of shame."
After he finished running a lap, Jifeng still felt a little unsatisfied. He dug the soil with his front hooves and didn't want to go back to the stable.
Zhou Qilin and Song Mei also came back one after another. The crew rented a few horses and went into the mountains in the afternoon.
The trees in the mountains block out some of the heat. However, the road is bumpy and requires higher equestrian skills from the actors.
"Zi Yu, slow down. I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up with you." Zhou Qilin said with a smile.
Xiao Ziyu nodded, indicating that he would cooperate: "Teacher Zhou is too modest."
Fang Jingshi and Wei Zhouqi, along with dozens of their personal guards, were lying in ambush in the nearby woods. This place was far away from the royal capital, and the marriage party was in a state of being caught in the middle of nowhere. Moreover, they had been walking all day and were exhausted.
Fang Jingshi, the deputy captain in charge of supporting the team, received the signal and indicated to rest on the spot. The soldiers stopped, took off their armor, and began to eat and drink supplies. At this moment, Fang Jingshi rushed out from the forest with his face masked. He first shot down two nearby people with arrows from his sleeves, and then went straight to the princess's carriage!
Xiao Ziyu had a wire tied around his waist, and he jumped directly from the back of a running horse, taking advantage of the momentum to launch a surprise attack like a kite entering the forest. Jifeng mooed loudly, then ran into the woods and hid along the original route. Zhou Qilin didn't have time to cheer before he followed. He was hanging on the wire in a static state and landed beside Xiao Ziyu to protect him.
"Brother Zhou Qi!" Fang Jingshi had already rescued his second sister. Xiao Ziyu put his arm around Song Mei's waist, his movements were not slow at all, and with a little effort he lifted her up into the air.
Song Mei didn't expect this series of movements to be so smooth. The arms around her waist were not strong, but they gave her just the right amount of room to gain leverage. She almost lost control of her expression when the two of them took off.
She has worked with many actors, and there are also scenes where two people fly together. Many male actors even need her to take the initiative to lead them. Xiao Ziyu's wirework skills have surpassed most of the veteran actors.
She couldn't help but turn her head to look to the side. Xiao Ziyu did not show any expression, and his free hand still had enough strength to move. Ji Feng was waiting in front, Xiao Ziyu controlled the distance and brought her steadily onto the horse's back.
Director Yang shouted "Cut" from afar. Song Mei breathed a sigh of relief and said sincerely, "Xiao Ziyu, can you really fly?"
"Does it hurt you?" Xiao Ziyu let go of his hand very gentlemanly, and took the initiative to dismount and hold the reins for her.
Song Mei shook her head and patted her chest and said, "This set of shots will definitely be a hit when it comes out."
They were briefly out of the camera as Zhou Qilin still had to film the fight between the two characters. On the carriage, he held two knives and slashed at a soldier's neck, his actions were as quick and decisive as always.
But soon, Wei Zhouqi was outnumbered, and with a muffled groan, his right arm was shot by an archer.
Fang Jingshi turned back to rescue the people. Zhou Qilin's 1.85-meter tall figure was half pressed on him, and the sticky blood plasma was all over Xiao Ziyu.
After returning to the nanny car, everyone simply changed and washed up. When they came out again, the sun had already set. It was a rare night without filming, so everyone wanted to go out for something delicious.
"Zi Yu has taken another highlight shot today." Song Mei was not stingy with her praise, "You fit in so well with the costume drama. If you don't know me, you might think you traveled through time from ancient times."
"Maybe," Xiao Ziyu already joked, "The character of Wei Zhouqi seemed very familiar to me the first time I saw him."
Zhou Qilin was two steps behind him and said, "You played Fang Jingshi very well."
Xiao Ziyu turned around and was about to say something modest when he heard him whisper, "I like it very much."
The large group was bustling in front. Xiao Ziyu deliberately slowed down his pace and whispered in a low voice: "Teacher Zhou, there is actually a big difference between Fang Jingshi and me."
Zhou Qilin didn't react: "Huh?"
A blue shadow appeared in the sky. Xiao Ziyu looked up at the brightest star. "Fang Jingshi is a free-spirited person. He dares to love and hate. I can't do that."
Even though he knew the other person was not single, Zhou Qilin couldn't help but say, "No, you are very good and worth it..."
"I would hesitate, get tangled, and feel overwhelmed," Xiao Ziyu said, "I am not Fang Jingshi."
For the first time in his life, Zhou Qilin felt reluctant to leave the play. In the play, Wei Zhouqi and Fang Jingshi could be friends for life and death, and close friends in need. When he encountered danger, Fang Jingshi would turn back without hesitation.
"I know." He smiled bitterly, "I'm sorry, I don't know what happened to me, I hope I won't cause you any trouble."
"Teacher Zhou, one day you will meet your own Fang Jingshi in reality." Xiao Ziyu said, "The world is so big, there will always be someone who knows what you are thinking, there will always be someone... who will come to you even if it means crossing time and space."
"Thank you. I may need to take a break after filming this movie." Zhou Qilin quickly covered up his gaffe and said half-jokingly, "It can be seen that Yuan Heng cares about you very much. Even when we were competing for the Best Actor award, I didn't see him fight to this extent."
Xiao Ziyu didn't know whether he should feel jealous or soft. He reached his fingers into his pocket and pinched the jewel necklace first.
Clouds obscured the moon, and Xiao Ziyu analyzed himself in the darkness. He seemed to be experiencing a feeling he had never experienced before, full and overflowing. He wanted to touch something soft, but he also wanted to hide himself so that no one could find him.
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