Chapter 316 This is what I wanted
"You want her to be a production assistant on 'Idol Era'?"
Lu Yanhe looked at Chen Ziyan in disbelief, utterly astonished by this completely unexpected outcome.
"Didn't you say she wasn't suitable?"
Chen Ziyan calmly pressed her hand down, signaling Lu Yanhe to calm down.
“I just said she wasn’t suitable to be your assistant, but she would be quite suitable to be a production assistant for ‘Idol Era’. I talked to her for almost forty minutes. She’s quite smart and seems very mature,” Chen Ziyan said. “It just so happens that I need to put one of my own people in ‘Idol Era’, but I don’t have any capable people available.”
Lu Yanhe said, "Then what about my assistant?"
Chen Ziyan said, "I will find someone and get one for you within a month."
Lu Yanhe snorted twice, crossed his arms, and said, "You've stolen my girl, Sister Ziyan."
Chen Ziyan was both amused and annoyed. "You think I'd steal your man? You are my man, why would I need to steal him?"
Lu Yanhe: "..."
Lu Yanhe realized that he could never win an argument with Chen Ziyan.
never mind.
Chen Ziyan said, "I actually have another idea about Xu Fanxing."
"Hmm?" Lu Yanhe looked at her in surprise. "What are you thinking?"
Chen Ziyan said, "I think she is suitable to debut as an artist."
Lu Yanhe's expression showed even more surprise.
He never expected Chen Ziyan to think that way.
Chen Ziyan said, "I see potential in her to be an artist. Of course, in the end, it depends on her own efforts."
Lu Yanhe: "I thought you brought the three of us and didn't plan to bring any other artists."
Chen Ziyan said, "I was originally too lazy to bring it, but I'm preparing to leave Star Entertainment."
"Leave...Star Entertainment?" Lu Yanhe looked at Chen Ziyan in surprise. "Really?"
“Hmm.” Chen Ziyan nodded. “Of course, we might cooperate with Xingyu in another form. I haven’t thought it through yet, but one thing is certain: I definitely won’t continue doing things in the current state.”
"Your current situation... Sister Ziyan, are you dissatisfied with the position Xingyu has given you?"
“Of course not. If I wanted to be a senior executive, do you think they wouldn’t give me this position?” Chen Ziyan said with a disdainful look. “It’s just that Xingyu’s current development and future direction are different from my goals.”
"Sister Ziyan, I've always wanted to ask you this question: what is your goal?" Lu Yanhe couldn't understand why Chen Ziyan, after bringing out top actors like Shang Yongzhou and Chen Bige, would choose to part ways with them and no longer cooperate.
Chen Ziyan said, "My goal is—"
She smiled slightly after saying those four words.
"It's the stars and the sea."
Lu Yanhe: "..."
That's as good as saying nothing at all.
Chen Ziyan: "There's no point in telling you all this now, but I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't continue working with Chen Bige and Shang Yongzhou, right?"
Lu Yanhe nodded.
“I’ve talked to you about this before, but we didn’t go into much detail. Today, I can actually tell you something. To put it simply, my ambition isn’t to be a babysitter or a middleman for a top actor,” Chen Ziyan said calmly. “When actors like Shang Yongzhou and Chen Bige reach that level, their agents will inevitably need to dedicate themselves to managing their affairs. That doesn’t align with my own goals. So, at a certain point, it’s best to part ways amicably.”
Lu Yanhe suddenly felt enlightened.
So that's how it is.
"I genuinely enjoy being an agent. I especially love making talented people who deserve to be famous. However, my world isn't just about a few people," Chen Ziyan said directly. "When you grow to the level of actors like Chen Bige and Shang Yongzhou, I will inevitably have to break up with you. This isn't a matter of how deep or shallow the feelings are. At that time, you'll need an agent who will focus 100% on you, otherwise your career will run into problems, and I can't possibly focus 100% on just one person."
Upon hearing Chen Ziyan's words, Lu Yanhe felt somewhat lost and bewildered.
“But you don’t need to worry about anything, Xiao Lu. Trust me, when that day really comes, I will have already assembled a reliable and completely trustworthy team for you,” Chen Ziyan said. “We will still be friends, just like my relationship with Chen Bige and Shang Yongzhou is now.”
Lu Yanhe was at a loss for words.
He couldn't even accept it for the time being.
Humans are creatures who always hope for eternity and permanence.
You may rationally know that nothing lasts forever, let alone eternity, but you can theoretically score 100 points. When the moment actually arrives, even if it hasn't happened yet but you clearly see the moment it's about to happen, you realize that the perfect theory, constrained by emotion, is a fragile, vulnerable building, on the verge of collapse at any moment.
-
Chen Ziyan hadn't expected that she would say these words to Lu Yanhe so early.
Generally, she would only warn the artists a year or two before the event was about to happen.
Why did things suddenly change when it came to Xiao Lu?
Chen Ziyan said it on impulse, not premeditatedly.
After a moment's thought, Chen Ziyan realized that she was shocked by Lu Yanhe's rapid rise.
Furthermore, Lu Yanhe's rise is very rapid, but he hasn't had enough time to develop the mental fortitude to handle the world he faces now.
They even forgot to analyze the pros and cons of hiring an assistant for themselves.
Was it that Lu Yanhe lacked analytical skills? No, it was that he was blinded by the identity of "Xu Zijun's sister" and forgot to analyze.
Chen Ziyan subconsciously wanted Lu Yanhe to grow up faster. Even though Lu Yanhe had already grown up very quickly, it was still not enough to keep up with the pace of his career development.
Being soft-hearted will lead to losses, and being sentimental will eventually lead to being taken advantage of and betrayed. Chen Ziyan is a pessimist in this regard and doesn't think about it at all.
Before this, Chen Ziyan only hoped that Lu Yanhe could forge a stronger shield, as well as a stronger mind and resilience.
-
In the warm spring of March.
While "Idol Era" was airing with great success, Lu Yanhe went to record an episode of "City Travelogue" and then began preparing to start filming "Late Spring".
Everything is ready; waiting to power on.
"Late Spring is my first film as a director." Before filming began, Liu Bige finally got the main actors together. Unlike usual, when the crew gathered everyone before filming, they usually did so in a conference room. This time, however, they all sat together in a classroom.
It felt like going back to the days of high school.
Liu Bige was still wearing a white shirt, trousers, and black leather shoes, looking just like a white-collar worker who clocks in and out every day.
in the country, this kind of attire is generally considered to be work attire.
However, Liu Bige wore it as everyday clothing.
After seeing it for a while, Lu Yanhe got used to it—until today, when Liu Bige stood on the podium dressed like this, he looked just like a teacher.
“This film has a small production budget and isn’t a big production, but it will be an excellent film. Except for Lu Yanhe, most of you are acting in a film for the first time. I hope it can be a good start for your careers, and of course, I also hope it can be a very good film in Yanhe’s acting career,” Liu Bige said. “This is my first time directing independently, but I have been studying and familiarizing myself with the art of film for more than ten years. For the past ten years, I have been thinking about what kind of film I would make when I direct for the first time. After I got this opportunity, I have been looking for all kinds of projects. Finally, I saw the novel ‘Late Spring’.”
"There are already many classic films with a youth theme, so why would I make a film that tells a story that many people have already told?" Liu Bige said. "Many people ask me this question, especially since it's not one of the more popular or high-grossing films in recent years, and there's been a lot of skepticism. Indeed, I didn't choose to make this film for the sake of commercial box office success. If I wanted to make a film that would do well at the box office, I definitely wouldn't have chosen this story."
Lu Yanhe sat in the audience listening, a little curious as to why Liu Bige would say such a "morale-dampening" speech before filming began.
Generally speaking, don't directors go to great lengths to make everyone believe that this will be a very successful film?
He believed Liu Bige must have his reasons.
"Because of all the choices, it was the one that moved me the most," Liu Bige said frankly. "Because this is my first film, I had to make a story that I most wanted to make. So, 'Late Spring' came about. I've talked to each and every one of you, and we've kept in touch almost every day. You were all actors that I picked out one by one. From today onwards, I hope that everyone can put aside all distractions and concentrate fully on this film. It requires everyone's 100% focus and dedication."
-
There are five main characters in "Late Spring".
Lu Yanhe plays Meng Bai, the male lead in this film.
Originally, in the original novel, the main perspective of this story was that of a girl named Yin Yue.
However, after Liu Bige and Miao Yue discussed it, they decided that firstly, they wanted Lu Yanhe to star in the film, and secondly, they wanted to move the film's expression away from the individual perspective and make it more three-dimensional and multi-perspective from a story perspective. As a result, the film became a script that progressed from multiple perspectives.
The actress who plays Yin Yue is Yan Lingyu, a freshman at Beijing Art University. Liu Bige communicated with her homeroom teacher countless times to get Yan Lingyu a role in the film, and it was only because Lu Yanhe was starring in the movie that her teacher finally relented.
Yan Lingyu's name is rather artistic, and she herself has a rather aloof and reserved personality. To be honest, the moment Lu Yanhe saw her, he felt that the casting was perfect. Yin Yue in the story is just such a cool and reserved girl, somewhat out of place in the tutoring class, unable to integrate into the group.
Besides Yan Lingyu, there is another freshman from Beijing University of Arts, Kong Fan.
He plays Yu Lang, a classmate of Lu Yanhe who is quite close to him in the drama.
Kong Fan's image is more like Yan Liang's; he has a muscular build, though not exactly muscular, but his wheat-colored skin and bright smile exude a sporty and powerful aura.
In comparison, Lu Yanhe's image is that of a typical "white moonlight school heartthrob" often seen in movies and TV dramas. Handsome, academically excellent, and with a "warm, sunny smile." Fortunately, that's just his image; if he had to portray that character throughout the entire film, Lu Yanhe really wouldn't have been interested in playing the role.
He Qingqing is different from the other two; she did not graduate from a performing arts school.
In fact, Liu Bige found her at a stand-up comedy theater.
Liu Bige told Lu Yanhe, "When I saw a small girl who was only eighteen years old come on stage, I was incredulous. But when she picked up the microphone and started talking, I was amazed. Her unstoppable, rambling expression and her natural ease and familiarity were just like Jiang Mo's."
He Qingqing wasn't a professional stand-up comedian. She just failed to get into university, saw that the stand-up comedy industry was booming, and since she herself was a talkative person, she gave it a try. After less than a month and only on her third stage appearance, she was persuaded by a man named Liu Bige to become a comedian.
He Qingqing didn't believe it at first, thinking she had been scammed. She kept telling him, "Brother, my family is poor. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come here after failing to get into university to see if I could do stand-up comedy. Stop bothering me and wasting your time and energy. I really don't have any money."
Liu Bige: "..."
In fact, when directors go looking for actors, they can easily be mistaken for scammers.
Because filmmaking is so far removed from the real lives of ordinary people, it's hard for anyone to really believe that someone who suddenly appears in front of them and asks them to act in a film is actually a director.
The last lead actress was Wang Jing. A very ordinary name. She came from another performing arts school, but it was far less famous than the Beijing Arts School; it was a very ordinary performing arts school. Liu Bige's initial finding of Wang Jing was purely coincidental, entirely due to a recommendation from a colleague at Longyan Film Studio, who said they had seen this girl and she had left a deep impression on them.
Liu Bige went to meet her, and after the meeting, he decided to commit to her.
She plays Zuo Lanlan, the most extreme female character in the film.
They had never met each other before.
Liu Bige made it very clear that they should start acting from the very first scene, when they didn't know each other at all.
-
Of course, script readings and rehearsals are still necessary.
Before filming officially began, Liu Bige led them through reading the script together.
Upon reading this, Lu Yanhe was surprised to find that although the other actors had little acting experience, their understanding of the script, the characters, and even each scene was quite accurate, and they did not make any of the basic mistakes that novices often make.
This is because before the script reading, Liu Bige had actually discussed the script and characters with the other actors countless times.
The preparations for "Late Spring" before filming were quite thorough. Of course, Lu Yanhe hadn't starred in any other films before, so he didn't know what other film crews were like. Perhaps other films also started preparations early on, with actors communicating frequently with the director before filming began, clearly analyzing their characters.
The film was shot in Yuming.
Lu Yanhe didn't ask the production crew to arrange hotel accommodations for him. He came to work at the same time every day and went back to Ziyuan Bridge to sleep after work.
With fewer classes, I'll definitely need to ask for leave from the production team when I have to attend classes. Anyway, it was already agreed beforehand that it wouldn't affect filming.
On the contrary, Miao Yue would also come to the scene from time to time, curious to see what the filming site was like.
-
The crew of "Late Spring" was small, with only about thirty people, about the same size as the crew of "Three Mountains".
This is because the budget is small and they can't afford to support a large group.
Because of this, each person is practically doing the work of two people, resulting in an overwhelming amount of work.
As a result, logistical conditions were not very good.
There were virtually no snacks or drinks available at the event.
Seeing this, Lu Yanhe would take out his own money and treat the entire crew to coffee, milk tea, and snacks every now and then.
Anyway, there weren't many people in the crew. Although we booked the entire crew, the expenses weren't as high as we had imagined.
For Lu Yanhe, filming "Late Spring" was much more difficult than he had imagined.
He himself hadn't expected it.
Logically speaking, he had already acted in several dramas, and his acting skills were highly recognized and praised so much. Originally, it was thought that acting in a drama like "Late Spring" would be a natural thing. However, just a few days after filming started, he encountered a huge problem.
He felt that he had performed well enough—he didn't know where he could change or adjust, but Liu Bige was never satisfied.
However, Liu Bige didn't specify what details were wrong; he only said that Lu Yanhe's impression was off.
"He acted very well, but it wasn't what I imagined," Liu Bige said.
This scene depicts Meng Bai, played by Lu Yanhe, writing furiously during evening self-study after accidentally witnessing his father having an affair.
According to Lu Yanhe's design, Meng Bai's state in this scene is that he is suppressing and restraining his anger on the surface, but in his heart he is burning with anger and wants to rush to his father to question him.
However, Lu Yanhe performed three takes in a row, and Liu Bige said they were all unacceptable.
"He acted very well, but the layers were too obvious, and the acting felt a bit too contrived," Liu Bige said.
Although this scene is a solo performance by Lu Yanhe, the background is a classroom.
The other actors and extras were all there.
Everyone has to stay here and act out the scene with Lu Yanhe again and again.
At first, Lu Yanhe was able to get into character while filming the scene, but after seven or eight takes, he became increasingly frustrated and unable to concentrate on the role.
After Liu Bige shouted "Action" again, he almost started writing on the paper with a sullen expression, his head down, writing very quickly with his wrist and fingertips, each word deliberate and forceful, the pen strokes even seeming to tear the paper.
The character's psychological state and Lu Yanhe's frustration and anger as an actor at this moment are intertwined.
He lost control of his strength, and the pen tip finally tore through the paper with a "rip" due to excessive force.
Lu Yanhe was stunned for a moment, his eyes momentarily dazed, before he regained his senses.
Liu Bige finally said, "This one is good, Yanhe. This is what I want."
(End of this chapter)
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