Chapter 463 I Thought You Were a Different Kind of Actor (10,000-word update!)
"Happy Hour" premiered on the third day after the film festival opened.
For films competing in the main competition, the first wave of media reviews will follow the premiere.
Of course, in reality, many film critics and journalists had already seen the film at special advance screenings before the premiere. They could write their reviews in advance and publish them immediately after the premiere.
Lu Yanhe did not participate in this special advance screening, but Lin Yu did.
She is now the chief film critic for Jump Magazine and has joined several film critic associations around the world.
Lin Yu told Lu Yanhe that the movie was very well made, especially Ning Xiulian's performance. Several film critics around her said in private conversations that Ning Xiulian would be a strong contender for Best Actress at this year's Venice International Film Festival.
Therefore, Lu Yanhe attended the premiere of "Happy Time" with high expectations.
Fu Kai and Shang Yongzhou have not yet arrived.
The only representative from the "Road to Glory" production team was Lu Yanhe.
The artistic director of the Venice International Film Festival, Picasso, stood on the steps to welcome the attendees.
Lu Yanhe was greeted by Picasso himself, who descended two steps to greet him.
In such situations, every gesture carries its own meaning.
Lu Yanhe greeted him with a smile.
"Hello, Mr. Picasso."
"Welcome." Picasso had actually welcomed Lu Yanhe on the opening day, and this time he was just as enthusiastic as when he first met Lu Yanhe. "I'm glad you can stay for so long this time. I hope you have a good time here."
Lu Yanhe said with a smile, "I'm very happy, but tickets for many movies are so hard to get. I really want to see as many movies as possible this time."
Picasso said, "I believe that if you are willing to walk the red carpet a few more times, every film in competition will welcome you with open arms."
“Oh, I just want to watch the movie in peace and quiet.” Lu Yanhe shrugged and nodded with a smile to Picasso. “Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll go in now.”
Picasso suddenly said, "How about we get together for afternoon tea sometime?"
Lu Yanhe looked at him with some surprise and disbelief.
Who is the busiest person during a film festival? Undoubtedly, it's the festival's artistic director. They must dedicate their utmost energy and attention to entertain filmmakers from all over the world from morning till night. From screenings to other events, they are constantly on the go.
Lu Yanhe was quite surprised that such a person would suddenly invite him to afternoon tea.
“Sure, no problem.” Lu Yanhe nodded with a smile.
Picasso said, "I'll have my assistant contact your agent later to schedule a time."
Lu Yanhe nodded.
He guessed that Picasso might have something to say to him.
-
At the screening of "Happy Hour," there were significantly more Asian faces than on the opening day.
Lu Yanhe found Chen Ziyan inside the movie theater.
Chen Ziyan is chatting with Kim Ji-yeon, a famous South Korean director.
Upon seeing Lu Yanhe, Chen Ziyan immediately introduced him to Jin Zhiyan.
Kim Ji-yeon is arguably one of the top film directors in South Korea. Among living South Korean film directors, he would undoubtedly rank among the top three on any list.
Lu Yanhe had seen his films and found that his film style was very similar to that of a Korean director he knew.
Park Chan-wook.
Violent aesthetics.
Park Chan-wook was a director that Lu Yanhe greatly admired before he transmigrated. Although he hadn't watched all of Park Chan-wook's works.
Kim Ji-yeon's films also revolve around the timeless theme of "revenge."
The concept of "revenge" appears in almost every one of his films.
Kim Ji-yeon almost collaborated with Sang Young-joo before. However, because the production company for that film was an American company, they were only willing to offer Sang Young-joo a salary of $800,000, far below his market rate. If the production budget were small, it wouldn't be so bad, but Kim Ji-yeon isn't the kind of pure arthouse film director who can't sell at the box office—he's always been regarded as an auteur genre film director in the film industry, and he has a high profile, consistently achieving good box office results, even being able to make a profit at the box office.
Therefore, Shang Yongzhou later declined the opportunity to work on the film and was instead cast by a South Korean actor for a lower fee.
Lu Yanhe introduced himself to Jin Zhiyan.
Kim Ji-yeon: "I know you. I've seen you in 'Three Mountains' and 'Late Spring'."
This is the advantage of having works to create.
His works are his calling card.
Lu Yanhe: "Thank you, I've always been a fan of yours."
Kim Ji-yeon suddenly remembered something and smiled, “When you had three conflicts with Yong San-ha, I was thinking about whether to contact you. You did a great job.”
Lu Yanhe looked at him in surprise, "Director, did you also have a conflict with Yong Shanhe San?"
"He's a disgrace to film critics," Kim Ji-yeon said bluntly.
Lu Yanhe asked in surprise, "Did he also maliciously belittle you?"
Kim Ji-yeon said, "That's right. Once at the Busan International Film Festival, my film won Best Film, while a Japanese director's film didn't win, so he wrote an article attacking me."
“This guy is like a mad dog,” Lu Yanhe said. “Moreover, he never says anything objectively; film reviews are just tools in his hands.”
Lu Yanhe did not expect that the first common topic he and Jin Zhiyan found was that they both disliked Yongshanhe San.
At this moment, Yu Qin entered with Ning Xiulian, Gu Zhao, and other crew members.
Their arrival meant that everyone was inside and ready to watch the movie.
Before watching the film, Picasso went up to introduce the director.
It was through Picasso's introduction that Lu Yanhe learned that this was the third time Yu Qin had submitted a film to the Venice International Film Festival.
However, the previous two times they were shortlisted in other categories, but this is the first time.
What Picasso was implying was that Yu Qin was a director trained at their Venice International Film Festival.
This kind of solemn pre-screening introduction has a strange sense of ceremony.
At this moment, Lu Yanhe felt even more excited about the movie that was about to be shown.
-
Wang Biao and Zou Dong did not stay in the cinema.
The two of them found a small coffee shop outside and sat down, waiting until it was almost time to pick up Lu Yanhe and the others.
"Brother Dong, can you understand these art films?" Wang Biao asked.
"You're asking about the two movies we saw at the film museum here before?" Zou Dong shook his head. "I can't understand English, how could I understand them?"
“I woke up in the middle of the night and saw you still watching the big screen, wide awake,” Wang Biao said. “Those movies are really hypnotic.”
Zou Dong recalled that Wang Biao had fallen asleep almost twenty minutes into the movie. This man who claimed to be educated by film art had gone straight to his dreams.
Zou Dong smiled and said, "Although I can't understand what the people in the movie are saying, I can still guess some things from their performances. That's good. Maybe if I understood them, I wouldn't be able to watch them. By guessing and figuring things out, I was able to concentrate on watching them until the end."
"Wow, Dong-ge is amazing," Wang Biao exclaimed.
Wang Biao then asked, "Brother Dong, do you think all the people who come to the film festival really enjoy watching these movies?"
Zou Dong: "There must be many people who are just attracted by the prestige of the film festival. If there were really that many people in the world who liked to watch these films, their box office wouldn't be so low."
"Then tell me, why are so many films still being made and then sent to film festivals?" Wang Biao said. "I've never really understood this. Many award-winning films don't perform well at the box office, and may even lose money. And not many people actually like watching them."
Zou Dong: "I don't know either. For me, I prefer watching those simple and brutal action movies. Don't many people think that these kinds of movies are devoid of substance? But I don't expect to get any substance from movies."
Wang Biao: "But Brother Lu seems to be able to really understand those art films, and he can see many things in the films that we can't see."
“A film that can win an award must have its artistic value, but we may not be able to understand it,” Zou Dong said. “Many classics are the same. Books that are respected as classics all over the world are still difficult for many of us to read. Look at the Four Great Classical Novels, how many people can actually finish reading the original text?”
Wang Biao: "Now that you mention it, it makes sense."
Zou Dong said, "I think Yan He made a very good point."
"Huh? What did Brother Lu say?"
"Although a movie is a commodity, some movies are not made as commodities. From the beginning, the creators did not intend to make money from them."
-
"Happy Hour" is definitely not going to sell well at the box office.
This was Lu Yanhe's most immediate feeling after watching half of the movie.
An hour has passed, and the entire movie has focused on Ning Xiulian alone.
After her husband passed away, she lived alone. The film depicts her life living alone, showcasing her personal routine of grocery shopping, cooking, and housework. In this process, her past—including her childhood, adolescence, and marriage—is gradually revealed.
The film itself has the tone of a documentary. However, it uses a lot of popular music to help express the changes in emotions.
Lu Yanhe's most vivid memory is of a snowy night when Ning Xiulian, playing the female lead, was enjoying herself by herself, drinking red wine and dancing. Suddenly, she woke up from a dream, looking around blankly with a dazed and helpless expression. That sense of loss and detachment from reality was presented on the screen in a mirror-like manner.
He suddenly remembered what Lin Yu had said: many film critics believed that Ning Xiulian was a strong contender for Best Actress at this year's Venice International Film Festival.
This film is entirely a one-woman show by Ning Xiulian.
As a film, this movie has almost no plot and certainly won't appeal to most viewers. However, the loneliness, memories, and reflections on life that it portrays are all subtly woven into the everyday details of the film.
Indeed, this kind of movie could easily be made for 800,000.
However, despite his admiration, Lu Yanhe himself would not make such a film.
He might act in a good script, but he wouldn't write and produce his own work like he did with "Love Letter."
He can appreciate this kind of film now, but if he were to make it himself, he wouldn't be nearly at that level.
This kind of film can only be made by people with a certain level of skill; otherwise, it's just a poor imitation, and the result will be bland and tasteless.
-
In the ending of "Happy Times," Ning Xiulian finally leaves her solitary apartment, no longer dwelling on the past, and decides to break free from her self-isolation. She enrolls in a gym class, and Gu Zhao plays her fitness instructor.
The film ends with a sex scene between the two.
In the dimly lit room, on the bed, the camera focused on Ning Xiulian's face, then through Gu Zhao's strong, sweaty shoulders and back, and finally settled on Ning Xiulian's eyes.
Her face was flushed, and sweat streamed down her face, mingling with her tears.
The rhythm became more and more intense, and her tears flowed more and more. Finally, as if breaking free from some restraint, she suddenly broke down and cried.
Gu Zhao stopped moving.
He paused, then hugged her and asked softly, "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
Ning Xiulian shook her head, hugged Gu Zhao, buried her head in Gu Zhao's arms, and cried so hard that her shoulders shook.
The camera then begins to zoom out, getting further and further away.
The two people on the bed gradually receded into the distance, becoming blurry.
In the end, all that could be seen was Gu Zhao gently patting Ning Xiulian's back, as if he were coaxing a child.
Soft music began to play.
The movie is now coming to an end.
-
Lu Yanhe stood up and applauded along with everyone else in the room.
He felt he might not be able to truly immerse himself in the film's atmosphere and experience everything. But that didn't stop him from applauding the movie after watching it.
Yu Qin, Ning Xiulian, and Gu Zhao stood up and accepted everyone's applause.
They bowed three times to everyone in greeting.
Chen Ziyan asked Lu Yanhe in a low voice, "What do you think of this movie?"
“Very good,” Lu Yanhe said. “Maybe it won’t sell many tickets at the cinema—but that’s not necessarily true. I think Teacher Ning could win an award for this film. Her performance was superb, bringing the intangible to life, and several scenes were so good they gave me goosebumps. If she wins an award, I think a lot of people will be interested in going to the cinema.”
Chen Ziyan nodded and said, "I also think that this movie is not obscure at all, and it doesn't have those dull long takes. Although most of the shots don't have any dialogue and focus on Ning Xiulian, the visual language is very rich, showing various aspects of her life, and it's not boring. Yu Qin's style has changed a bit. She used to like using long takes, but to be honest, those long takes are too dull."
The applause from the audience was very enthusiastic.
Lu Yanhe said, "Sister Ziyan, do you know how I felt after watching this movie?"
"Um?"
“If you ask me now whether I would accept a role if Yu Qin asked me to act in a film,” Lu Yanhe paused, as if confirming his thoughts, and said, “I don’t think I would read the script before making a decision; I would just agree.”
Chen Ziyan: "You."
Lu Yanhe: "I acted impulsively again."
Chen Ziyan: "However, when it comes to movies, I have more and more faith in your judgment."
"ah?"
Chen Ziyan: "If you say you want to act in Yu Qin's play, I might have some reservations, but I won't stop you."
Lu Yanhe was somewhat surprised, "So you're actually not too keen on me taking this?"
“It’s not a matter of willingness or unwillingness. Director Yu Qin’s works also have obvious shortcomings, namely, poor box office performance,” Chen Ziyan said. “This shortcoming is a huge shortcoming for you. Your greatest value as an actor is not how many awards you have won, but that your works have received both critical acclaim and commercial success. Yu Qin’s films have never received widespread critical acclaim, let alone commercial success. If we really go by my standards, her role could be given to Wen Minglan, but not to you. Minglan’s current situation allows for the failure of an art film; no one will use the failure of an art film to negate her career. But you are different. You have already become a benchmark. A mistake that would happen to an ordinary actor would have a tenfold or a hundredfold impact on you.”
Chen Ziyan's words calmed Lu Yanhe down a little.
-
After watching the movie, Lu Yanhe walked out with the crowd.
They saw Zou Dong and Wang Biao waiting for them at the exit.
The people around me were all audience members who had just finished watching "Happy Hour".
Lu Yanhe heard everyone discussing this movie.
This is the atmosphere of a film festival.
It's rare to hear so many people discussing a movie after watching it.
"Hey, Lu Yanhe—" someone suddenly called his name.
Lu Yanhe turned around in surprise and saw a very familiar person.
Tom Wayne, a film critic and columnist for Variety magazine.
"Hi!" Lu Yanhe smiled with delight.
Tom Wayne said, "Got a break? Want to grab a drink?"
Lu Yanhe glanced at Chen Ziyan.
Chen Ziyan said, "You guys go ahead, I have an appointment to meet someone later."
Lu Yanhe then took Zou Dong and Tom Wayne with him.
Tom Wayne said, "I've already had a special screening of 'Path of Glory' ahead of time."
Lu Yanhe looked surprised.
Film festivals typically hold a special screening for the media and renowned film critics before the premiere.
But Lu Yanhe was unaware that "The Road to Glory" had already completed this step.
“It’s a real shame. This film should have been in the main competition. If it had, you and the other lead actor would have been strong contenders for Best Actor this year,” Tom Wayne said.
This is a very high compliment.
Lu Yanhe smiled and said "thank you," then added, "Is it really that good? I'm a little nervous; I don't know how everyone will view our movie."
Tom Wayne said, "It's a good film, that's for sure. I'm actually quite surprised that the two Chinese films selected for the Venice International Film Festival this time have both changed the style of Chinese films in the past and focused on exploring the inner world of people. This has always been a characteristic of European films."
"I'm curious, what are the characteristics of Chinese-language films in your eyes, Americans?"
"If I tell you the truth, you might not be happy."
"It's okay, go ahead and tell me."
“The Chinese-language films I’ve seen over the years have all been very focused on spectacle,” Tom Wayne said. “You’ve hardly seen anything like ‘Happy Hour’ and ‘Paths of Glory’ that explore the most basic aspects of human nature. In the last two years, directors like Wang Zhong and Liu Bige, who have been quite active in the international film scene, have all paid great attention to the form of their films. I’m not saying they only have form, but their expressive techniques all use a distinctly auteur-style to unify the style of their films. Even last year there was a Chinese-language film called ‘White Pearl,’ which was poorly made. Only the actors’ performances were decent, but this film was also very formalistic and used bizarre and melodramatic interpersonal relationships to build a misplaced character conflict.”
When Lu Yanhe heard Tom Wayne say this, he felt that every word he said made sense.
That's true.
Film styles are incredibly diverse, but in reality, if you watch a lot of films, you'll find that films from different countries and regions also have distinct stylistic differences. Each person's cultural and historical background subtly differentiates their films from others.
Both *Happy Hour* and *Road to Glory* do indeed focus more on exploring the individual's inner world and expression. This is actually influenced by modernist thought and Western film culture. In the past, the expression of the individual's inner world was not a focus of Chinese-language films.
Lu Yanhe thought for a moment and said, "Because China's social environment is also changing, people's lifestyles and living conditions are also changing. In the past, everyone lived together, but now, with the development of urbanization, many young people live in apartments and live alone. We inevitably face such changes in life, and these changes are reflected in the creation of films. Film is actually a kind of cultural content, and any culture is actually a reflection of people's lives in a certain period of time."
Tom Wayne nodded thoughtfully.
"Actually, you could also check out a Chinese movie that was just released last month. I recommend you watch it when it becomes available in the US. It's a martial arts film called *Nine Yin Manual*. Martial arts films have always been a unique genre in Chinese cinema, but this one, set against the backdrop of martial arts, tells the story of a reclusive swordsman who must make a difficult choice between personal survival and national survival. This actually embodies a kind of Chinese cultural spirit. That's what movies are like; they can reflect many changes in lifestyles and ways of thinking, but sometimes they also use new stories to convey and pass on an enduring cultural spirit. Change and continuity are both contained within the changes and continuities of film."
Tom Wayne nodded.
“Okay, hopefully it will be shown in American theaters,” he said.
“It might not be shown in theaters. Give me an address, and when the DVD is released, I’ll send you a copy,” Lu Yanhe said.
Tom Wayne smiled and nodded. "Okay."
They went into a bar.
In broad daylight, Lu Yanhe was not used to drinking alcohol all the time like Europeans and Americans.
But Tom Wayne was clearly used to it.
Lu Yanhe only ordered a low-alcohol cocktail, while Tom Wayne ordered a gin and tonic.
“By the way, I saw that Japanese guy also came to Venice. Did you run into him?” Tom Wayne asked Lu Yanhe.
"Which Japanese person?" Lu Yanhe asked, puzzled.
“The one you had a conflict with.” Tom Wayne frowned, racking his brains. “But I can’t remember his name. Japanese names are so hard to remember.”
Lu Yanhe realized what was happening. "You mean Yongshanhe Three?"
“Ah, yes, that’s him!” Tom Wayne nodded. “After the special screening of ‘Paths of Glory,’ he expressed his dislike for your film to several of his colleagues.”
Lu Yanhe: "He is a very vengeful person. I don't understand why a film critic like him can still be so active in the international film scene."
Tom Wayne immediately said, "Don't get me wrong, I don't know him at all."
Lu Yanhe smiled and nodded, "Then we can continue to be friends."
Tom Wayne said, "Have you ever considered coming to Hollywood to make movies?"
Lu Yanhe pondered for a moment and said, "Of course I won't refuse if there's a good script, but as you know, good scripts and good roles in Hollywood won't be reserved for an Asian actor like me, especially an Asian actor who hasn't worked in Hollywood before."
“The situation has changed in recent years. Every year, several influential films and TV series starring Asian actors have emerged,” Tom Wayne said. “Moreover, now almost every blockbuster will have an Asian actor in one of its main roles.”
“It’s to maintain political correctness,” Lu Yanhe chuckled. “But those roles aren’t necessarily valuable ones, and I don’t want to waste my time on a role that’s not worth my effort.”
Tom Wayne nodded. “Lu, you’re a very proud guy.”
"Thank you for the compliment." Lu Yanhe didn't think it was a bad thing. "I need to protect my reputation as an actor."
Lu Yanhe and Tom Wayne chatted for almost an hour before saying goodbye and parting ways.
He had a very pleasant conversation with Tom Wayne.
Some film critics are just superficially knowledgeable but actually mediocre, while others are genuinely passionate about the art of film, know the great works of film history like the back of their hand, and have their own insightful and insightful perspectives.
In terms of film aesthetics, Lu Yanhe discovered that he and Tom Wayne had a great deal in common.
This finally allowed him to find someone with whom he could share common interests and have a heart-to-heart talk.
-
Soon after, the media reviews for "Happy Hour" came out, and it received a score of 3.1, which is quite good considering that the average media score for a film is around 2.
Most importantly, Ning Xiulian's performance received unanimous praise. In Variety's awards predictions for this year's Venice International Film Festival, Ning Xiulian was ranked first among the nominees for Best Actress.
Lu Yanhe sent Ning Xiulian a congratulatory text message.
Under these circumstances, Ning Xiulian became even more controversial in China.
However, Ning Xiulian's agency has already begun public relations efforts.
They used the theme of "Ning Xiulian doing as she pleases and enjoying life" to portray her as an independent woman who breaks free from traditional thinking and pursues her own wonderful life. Coupled with the consistent praise from foreign media for Ning Xiulian's performance in "Happy Hour," this further solidified her image as a "low-key but powerful" actress.
Most people in China don't actually know Ning Xiulian. She's not a particularly famous actress. However, her public hand-holding and kissing with Gu Zhao on the red carpet, along with the positive reviews of "Happy Time" at the Venice International Film Festival, have dramatically boosted her fame.
At the press conference, one reporter asked Ning Xiulian if she had any response to the controversy in China regarding her holding hands and kissing Gu Zhao.
Ning Xiulian said calmly, "I am a woman and he is a man. We sparked a connection and got together. It's only natural and there's no need to make a fuss about it."
Her response also went viral in China.
Many women shared her statement and idolized her.
Putting aside his initial discomfort, Lu Yanhe actually quite admired Ning Xiulian's attitude.
Regardless of the circumstances, you should openly and honestly admit what you've done, without hiding or concealing anything, and let people say whatever they want.
It was at this moment that Lu Yanhe suddenly received a call from Yu Qin.
"Yan He, will you stay here until the film festival closes?" Yu Qin asked.
Lu Yanhe was somewhat surprised, but replied, "Yes, that's right, I'll stay here this time."
Yu Qin said, "That's great! I suddenly had an idea. Are you free now? I'd like to come and talk to you about it."
Lu Yanhe replied with surprise, "I'm free," and then arranged to meet Yu Qin in Chen Ziyan's room.
Chen Ziyan asked in confusion, "Didn't she tell you what she wanted to talk to you about?"
Lu Yanhe shook his head, "I don't know, he didn't say anything, he just said he suddenly had an idea."
"Maybe she's going to film something and wants to work with you?" Chen Ziyan gave a half-smile. "Looks like you'll be making that decision soon."
Lu Yanhe said, "Really?"
He thought for a moment, "Isn't it said that she has a very low output? She only makes one film every few years."
“That’s because her family is a burden to her,” Chen Ziyan said. “Her husband is in poor health and has an illness that has been dragging on for a long time, so she has to stay at home most of the time.”
"Has her husband recovered?"
“She passed away,” Chen Ziyan said. “So, given her passion for making movies, her output should have been quite high. When she first started directing, she would release a film every one or two years, which was very fast.”
Lu Yanhe waited for Yu Qin in Chen Ziyan's room.
Yu Qin came alone.
Lu Yanhe inexplicably felt that her eyes were shining as she looked at him.
She was in a state of excitement.
"Director, congratulations! With such great reviews from the media, 'Happy Time' should be able to bring home an award this year," Chen Ziyan said with a smile.
Yu Qin: "I hope it's not just wishful thinking. But that's not what I came here to talk about. Yan He, I want to invite you to participate in the filming of my next movie."
"Huh?" Lu Yanhe was taken aback.
Although he had guessed it, Yu Qin's quick and direct approach in stating her purpose still caught Lu Yanhe off guard.
Chen Ziyan immediately took over the conversation, giving Lu Yanhe some time to react.
"Director, 'Happy Time' hasn't even been released yet, and your next film is already out?"
“I got my inspiration from Ning Xiulian’s recent controversy,” Yu Qin said. “I wanted to make a film set against the backdrop of a film festival.”
Lu Yanhe was bewildered.
Chen Ziyan hesitated for a moment.
"What kind of story is it?" Chen Ziyan asked.
Yu Qin said, "A middle-aged actress, in an effort to revive her career, participated in the filming of an art film and attended the Venice International Film Festival with it. However, her explicit scenes in the film sparked a lot of controversy, which brought her renewed popularity but also subjected her to pressure and condemnation from relatives and friends back home. During this process, she met another popular young actor from China. They met in a bar, where she confided her loneliness and pain over the years to him. The young actor, a fan of hers, was surprised to have the opportunity to get to know her so closely and showed her great care. But when the actor realized that the actress was trying to get close to him, he realized that their roles for each other were misaligned."
As Yu Qin told this story, Lu Yanhe and Chen Ziyan almost couldn't control their expressions; their astonishment was practically written all over their faces.
Yu Qin seemed oblivious to their expressions and continued speaking.
"The male actor begins to avoid the female actor's advances, but under the pressure of media praise and moral condemnation, the female actor gradually loses control of her behavior. She projects the emotions of the character in the film onto herself, and as a result, because of drinking, she publicly confesses her feelings to the male actor at a film festival event, making a huge scene. The male actor feels sorry for the female actor—his idol—but is also troubled by her out-of-control behavior."
Lu Yanhe had already guessed that the male actor in the story Yu Qin was talking about was the one Yu Qin wanted him to play.
Yu Qin said, "After the actress's repeated extreme actions, the actor went from being tolerant and backing down to becoming annoyed and angry. At a party, he angrily accused the actress of harassing him. The actress, provoked, burst into tears in front of everyone, as if she were a victim. The actor was also attacked by the actress's fans. Caught in this unwarranted disaster, the actor had no way to express his suffering. In an interview, the actress expressed her apology to the actor, saying that she had misunderstood his meaning. But this only made people sympathize with the actress more, and criticize the actor for lacking manners. In the end, the actress won the Best Actress award at the Venice International Film Festival and returned home in glory."
Lu Yanhe's face was full of incredulous question marks.
What is this thing?
Without consulting Lu Yanhe, Chen Ziyan immediately asked, "Director Yu, you're not planning to model this actress after Ning Xiulian, are you?"
“I’m planning to cast her in the role,” Yu Qin said.
Chen Ziyan: "...Have you talked to her? Will she come?"
In this story, the female protagonist is portrayed entirely negatively—narcissistic, selfish, and vain. Chen Ziyan couldn't understand why Yu Qin thought Ning Xiulian would be cast—especially in a film so clearly based on her. If this story were actually made, it would definitely generate a huge buzz.
Yu Qin said, "Don't you think this role is... very challenging? Ning Xiulian is an actress, she can see what kind of significance this role has."
“But from what I hear, the role you want Yan He to play is actually a young man who suffered an undeserved misfortune, a complete tool with no room for performance.” Chen Ziyan bluntly stated, “Although the female lead’s image is very negative, I admit that she is complex and rich, with plenty of room for performance. As for the male actor… any male actor could play the role.”
Yu Qin said, "But the only person who can film this movie here is Lu Yanhe."
"We can film this movie here?" Chen Ziyan looked at Yu Qin in disbelief. "Director, do you want to film here right now?"
Yu Qin nodded, "This story takes place at a film festival, such a convenient filming location, of course we should film here now."
Chen Ziyan was speechless and asked, "You haven't even finished writing your script yet, have you?"
"We're writing the script as we film," Yu Qin said. "I've already figured out what kind of movie I want it to be, and the script will be written very soon."
The people of Lu Yanhe are all fools.
Only one thought remained in his mind from a few days ago: neither of these two women was easy to deal with.
Now, Yu Qin has played her trump card.
Lu Yanhe hesitated for a moment and said, "Director, this role... is too much of a tool, I don't want to play it."
He rarely turns down a role outright.
Yu Qin frowned. "A tool? Did you even listen to my story? He has plenty of room for performance. Don't you think this kind of character is something that has never appeared before in film history? A young male actor who is being harassed for no reason. He's not just a tool. An actress who used to be your idol harassed you, shattering your illusions. You passively resisted, then actively fought back, and then got caught in the vortex of public opinion again. Isn't this kind of capricious and bizarre thing that often happens in the entertainment industry?"
Lu Yanhe took a deep breath.
“Many films nowadays like to portray harassment from a patriarchal or feminist perspective. Why not let it return to the most basic relationship between the sexes?” Yu Qin became more and more excited as she spoke. “Even to the end, what if the male actor suddenly develops desire for the female actor—”
"Wait, wait." Chen Ziyan couldn't listen anymore. "Director, your idea has really caught us off guard. Yan He came to Venice to rest, and we didn't want to give him any other work. This sudden suggestion to shoot a movie has left Yan He with no time to prepare."
Yu Qin: "These are all secondary. Yan He, you are a good actor. I believe you can see the value of this story being made into a movie."
Lu Yanhe said, "Director, the male actor is not the main character of this movie. You need to convince Teacher Ning Xiulian to act in this movie first, otherwise, none of this will work."
"If Ning Xiulian is willing to act, will you act?" Yu Qin pressed on relentlessly.
Lu Yanhe: "To be honest, I don't find this story particularly appealing right now."
Yu Qin looked disappointed.
"I thought you were a different kind of actor."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
