Chapter 576 Acceptability
Lu Yanhe played a straight shot.
To be honest, at this moment, Lu Yanhe was both surprised and somewhat incredulous.
Indeed, his involvement in "Tropical Rainy Season" was a rare and fortunate event.
Even if Huang Tianlin, as the director of "Tropical Rainy Season," didn't need to give Lu Yanhe a warm welcome, he shouldn't be so picky.
Such an attitude, especially at their first meeting, inevitably made Lu Yanhe overthink things.
Many directors—especially those making art films—may not be so welcoming of big-name actors.
The reason is simple: the involvement of big-name actors can affect their control over the film as directors.
Lu Yanhe was worried that Huang Tianlin was acting this way towards him for this very reason.
If that's the case, Lu Yanhe feels that forced relationships are never sweet, and there's no need to force things.
For him, "Tropical Rainy Season" was just a good movie, a type of role he had never played before. It was challenging and offered room for performance, but not so good that he would set aside his pride and take on the role regardless of everything.
Indeed, he doesn't need another movie to act in.
Therefore, Lu Yanhe didn't want to guess or go back to communicate with Huang Tianlin through an intermediary, so he asked him directly.
Huang Tianlin glanced at Lu Yanhe in surprise, not expecting Lu Yanhe to ask him that question directly.
The scene became somewhat awkward for a moment.
After a while, Huang Tianlin said, "I hope this movie can be made according to my ideas."
really.
Lu Yanhe suddenly realized and breathed a sigh of relief.
Once you know where the problem and the crux of the issue lie, things become much easier.
“Of course, you are the director of this film,” Lu Yanhe said. “However, I am an actor, and I certainly have my own understanding of the character. I hope you will not regard my different understanding of the character as a challenge to your authority as the director.”
"What if we ultimately disagree and can't reach an agreement?" Huang Tianlin asked.
Lu Yanhe: "Unless it involves matters of principle, if I can't convince you in the end, I will perform the version you want. In the end, you can choose which version to use."
Can you keep your word?
“Of course.” Lu Yanhe nodded. “In the past, when filming, my collaboration with the director always started before shooting began. I’m an actor who really needs the director to discuss clearly how I should play my role. Of course, some directors like me to come up with several versions on set, and that’s fine with me. I’m not the kind of actor who is stubborn and insists on acting according to my own understanding, but I’m also not the kind of actor who will act exactly as the director says. If you just want a puppet actor, I’m definitely not that type.”
Huang Tianlin: "When I was filming my last movie, I almost couldn't finish filming because I couldn't reach an agreement with the male lead. He left the crew directly, which forced me to revise the script in order to finish the movie. To be honest, you are Lu Yanhe, and if something like this happens again, I can't stop you."
“I am a responsible actor. If I decide to participate in the filming of a movie, I will not give up halfway unless it is a matter of principle, and I will not leave the crew just because of a disagreement.” Lu Yanhe said to Huang Tianlin, “I am no longer a newly debuted actor. Director, my attitude towards acting and towards directing has been tested by more than ten films.”
Huang Tianlin remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Director, since your script moved me, it must have moved other so-called big-name actors as well. Past events have left you with a negative impression of them, making you hesitant to work with them. You can't keep avoiding big-name actors forever. I don't know what to say to put your guard up—I won't promise that we'll never argue, nor will I promise that we'll never have disagreements. But I will definitely discuss things objectively. In fact, convincing me is your responsibility as the director, and convincing you is also my responsibility as an actor. As long as our shared goal is to make this film better, I think we can definitely reach a consensus."
Lu Yanhe's words softened Huang Tianlin's expression considerably.
-
Actors are not static; they also have the potential to grow.
When you first start acting, you will definitely follow the director's instructions. But as you act more and more and gain a deeper understanding of the script and the performance, you will start to have your own ideas.
Although it's generally said that the director is responsible for a production and is the one in charge, when actors have a certain amount of influence, they can easily clash with the director in order to protect their roles or realize their own ideas. Such situations are not uncommon.
For young directors like Huang Tianlin, who have only directed one film, this is actually the most difficult period.
He has already directed one film, so he is no longer a novice director. Having the experience of directing one film has given him a certain level of confidence.
However, he lacked sufficient knowledge and experience to give him enough confidence and strength to face a big-name actor like Lu Yanhe, so he inevitably felt inferior, or even flustered and uneasy.
Knowing this, Lu Yanhe did not immediately choose to "forget it" but instead chose to speak frankly and clearly.
In short, he hopes that many collaborations will not end in failure due to emotional friction between the parties.
Lu Yanhe also knew that his current situation was rather awkward.
Young, famous, and capable—this is certainly why many people are eager to collaborate with him, but it's also why others are wary of working with him.
Especially directors like Huang Tianlin who make art films.
The film he chose was never intended to be a box office hit.
-
After Lu Yanhe and Huang Tianlin had made things clear, they ended their meeting at another gate in the ecological park.
He was a little tired from walking, so he looked up and saw a coffee shop in front of him.
Lu Yanhe said to Zou Dong, "Brother Dong, let's go sit over there for a while."
Zou Dong nodded.
Once inside the coffee shop, Zou Dong ordered two coffees and brought them over.
Lu Yanhe was looking at his phone and chatting with someone.
"Thank you, Brother Dong." Lu Yanhe picked up the coffee that Zou Dong had placed in front of him, took a sip, and said, "Hmm? The taste is a bit unusual."
Upon hearing this, Zou Dong picked up the glass and took a sip.
"I didn't taste anything special; all coffee tastes the same," Zou Dong chuckled.
Lu Yanhe is a heavy coffee lover and drinks a lot of coffee, so he can tell the difference in taste and flavor. Zou Dong usually drinks more tea.
"Did you try the box of tea they sent me?" Lu Yanhe asked.
The film festival organizers gave him several local specialty gifts. Since Lu Yanhe doesn't drink tea, the tea leaves were immediately given to Zou Dong, and Zou Dong was the only one drinking tea with him.
Zou Dong shook his head and said, "Not yet."
“I feel like the teas here in Southeast Asia all have a spice flavor, I guess you won’t like them,” Lu Yanhe said.
The aroma of that tea is different from the delicate fragrance of Chinese tea.
The two of them sat in the cafe, chatting and relaxing.
Suddenly, at that moment, Lu Yanhe's phone buzzed.
"Um?"
It was Li Zhibai who sent the message in the three-person group chat.
Li Zhibai complained that he had an argument with Liu Manbo on set today.
Lu Yanhe was somewhat surprised and immediately dialed the group chat voice call.
"What's going on?" Lu Yanhe asked immediately as soon as Li Zhibai came in.
Li Zhibai gave a brief explanation.
“The effect he wanted was something I couldn’t pull off. It was a technical challenge that I couldn’t handle, but he insisted that I act that way.” Li Zhibai said, speechless, “We spent the whole afternoon filming that one scene, and in the end, we still didn’t manage to get it right.”
Lu Yanhe hesitated for a moment and said, "How could this happen? Has it delayed the normal filming schedule?"
"It's not that bad. A couple of takes with a few extra takes didn't affect the overall progress. And this particular scene was indeed quite important. I was just really annoyed. From the beginning, I felt like I couldn't act it out. I told him, but he insisted that I try. I did try, but I couldn't get it right even after more than a dozen takes. Shouldn't I have just given up and tried a different approach?"
Li Zhibai was somewhat annoyed.
"The entire crew watched me NG again and again, like I was a joke."
Lu Yanhe immediately realized that Li Zhibai was just shy and felt embarrassed.
“What’s the big deal? It’s normal for actors to have multiple takes. Besides, you’re playing a role that’s not your strong suit,” Lu Yanhe said. “Don’t rely too much on your talent. It’s not easy to find a director who makes you do more than ten takes. In the past, no matter how you acted, the director would probably praise you, right?”
Li Zhibai: "Of course, I do have some natural talent for acting."
Lu Yanhe: "...While actors should be confident, they shouldn't be too blindly confident."
Li Zhibai: "Just kidding. I'm telling you, I just haven't acted in any art films yet. When I do act in one, I'll win an award and surprise you all."
"Alright, alright." Lu Yanhe laughed. "You should have a good talk with Liu Manbo. Is it that you don't want to cooperate with him to challenge yourself, or do you feel embarrassed about having to do too many takes in front of so many people? Make it clear to him and let him come up with a solution for you."
“Why would I talk to him about this? Forget it, do I have no shame?” Li Zhibai immediately refused.
Lu Yanhe: "Then what are you going to do? Keep making mistakes?"
“So what if I’m afraid of someone?” Li Zhibai said. “Anyway, I’ve already done my best. He gave me such a difficult performance, and if I can’t perform it, that’s his problem. He’s deliberately making things difficult for people.”
"You really don't fight internally at all."
“Internal strife? How could that word be applied to me?” Li Zhibai said.
When Lu Yanhe heard him say that, he knew that his emotions were running high.
It seems that Li Zhibai's outburst of emotion from earlier has subsided.
At this moment, Yan Liang joined the voice call belatedly.
"What's going on? Weren't you and Liu Manbo getting along well?" Yan Liang asked as soon as he came in.
Li Zhibai: "You're too slow."
At that moment, Zou Dong suddenly made a gesture to Lu Yanhe behind his phone.
Lu Yanhe turned around and found that Huang Tianlin, who had just left, had somehow returned.
He was standing outside the coffee shop, ready to come in.
Lu Yanhe quickly said to Li Zhibai and Yan Liang, "I have something to attend to here, so I'll leave first. You two chat."
He ended the voice call and looked back.
Huang Tianlin pushed open the door and walked in, going straight to Lu Yanhe.
“Yan He, I’ve been thinking about what you said to me seriously, and I think I have to apologize to you.” Huang Tianlin said with a serious expression, “I shouldn’t have been so wary of you because of what happened in our first film.”
Lu Yanhe stood up in surprise and looked at Huang Tianlin.
"Director, why are you doing this so suddenly?" He was somewhat taken aback.
Huang Tianlin: "I'm afraid that because of my irrational behavior just now, I'll miss the opportunity to cooperate with you."
Lu Yanhe was even more bewildered.
Lu Yanhe couldn't figure out what Huang Tianlin was thinking by doing this.
Why does it keep going back and forth like this?
Would you still be willing to make "Tropical Rainy Season"?
Lu Yanhe said, "Of course I'd still like to work with you on this film."
Huang Tianlin breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I will seriously consider your opinion when I get back."
Lu Yanhe said, "Don't force yourself. As I said, I only have my own interpretation of the character based on my identity as an actor, but you are the director. If you ultimately decide that the movie should be made that way, I will cooperate with you as much as possible."
Huang Tianlin was somewhat surprised, but a hint of unbelievable joy also appeared in his eyes. He clearly did not expect Lu Yanhe to say such a thing to him at this time.
"I am truly sorry for what I said before," Huang Tianlin said.
Lu Yanhe shook his head and smiled, "See you on set later, director."
Huang Tianlin smiled, nodded, and breathed a sigh of relief.
After Huang Tianlin left, Lu Yanhe sat down again.
Zou Dong looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked, "Yan He, why did you say so readily that you would continue making this movie? His attitude today is very strange. He was like that towards you at the beginning."
Lu Yanhe pondered for a moment and said, "Although I also find it strange, it's really just a feeling. I've never sensed any malice from him. So, I can understand his wariness of me, his feeling that I might usurp his directorial authority. Any creator would be wary of that. After I clearly told him my attitude, he probably came to his senses and realized that I'm actually quite suitable for collaboration?"
Zou Dong: "I just think his previous behavior was too impolite. Let alone your current status and reputation in the film industry, even if you were an ordinary actor, his attitude would be impolite."
Lu Yanhe: "It was a bit impolite, but as I said, I didn't feel any malice, so it was fine. I'm quite accepting."
(End of this chapter)
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