Chapter 637 Three Songs
"I beg you, I beg you, senior, I beg you."
Li Zhibai, like a short, stout man, tugged at the hem of the actor playing the Drunken Sword Immortal's robe, following behind him step by step, playfully pleading for enlightenment.
Those watching the scene couldn't help but smile when they saw Li Zhibai's expression.
This night scene was filmed entirely in a studio, without any outdoor locations.
"The second move of this sword control technique is enough for you to roam the martial world and defeat all second-rate masters. I'm warning you, don't hold me back anymore! Otherwise, I'll sever your tendons and make sure you can't eat or walk!"
Li Zhibai immediately let go, looking at him with a fawning yet aggrieved expression.
Zhou Zhao, the actor who plays the Drunken Sword Immortal, is middle-aged, but he is still a very handsome middle-aged man.
He has thick eyebrows and big eyes, with deep-set features.
Zhou Zhao grabbed Li Zhibai's shoulder. "Come on, let's go have a drink!"
"Okay, click!"
Luo Yuzhong shouted with a smile.
He couldn't help but smile throughout the entire scene.
There are many scenes of Li Xiaoyao being both handsome and playful in this drama, and Li Zhibai is able to portray them in a very likable way.
Women think he's handsome, and men want to recruit him as their underling.
Unlike some similar scenes, some actors can portray it as if they are born with a slight intellectual disability.
Zhou Zhaosong released Li Zhibai's shoulder.
Li Zhibai twisted his neck.
"Director, why do I have to squat on the ground here, grabbing Zhao Ge's clothes and jumping around like a clumsy radish?" Li Zhibai was speechless. "My thighs are sore."
Luo Yuzhong said, "Yan He suggested it. At this time, Li Xiaoyao was still a novice, a bit naive and ignorant. Of course, the main thing is that the effect of this performance was indeed more likable."
Li Zhibai sighed.
The next scene is a drinking scene between Li Xiaoyao and the Drunken Sword Immortal.
In the original work, the two people lay down on a haystack.
Here, the props team provided them with a large rock so they could lie down on it.
The difference isn't significant. However, since Lu Yanhe didn't specify in the script that it was a haystack, the props team, based on their understanding of the script, decided that in this kind of forest, if two people were to lie down, a large rock large enough to accommodate both of them would be more suitable.
Besides this stone, there is also moonlight.
In this scene of a nighttime conversation, the Drunken Sword Immortal mentions his "sorrow," and Li Xiaoyao also talks about his "sorrow." Each of them has their own sorrows, but the atmosphere is relaxed.
Li Xiaoyao's sorrow is the sorrow of youth; there's no need to ask, he'll say it himself, a sorrow tinged with a touch of lightness.
The sorrow of the Drunken Sword Immortal is the sorrow of someone who has been through it all. Even if you ask him questions, his heart is still filled with sorrow. He doesn't speak his mind, and his eyes and brows are filled with desolation.
Luo Yuzhong wanted to use this scene to convey the sentiment of a young person versus an experienced person.
A scene might only last a minute in a TV series.
However, a lot of preparation was required to film this scene.
In this scene, Luo Yuzhong focuses on the Drunken Sword Immortal.
It took two takes to get it right.
On the first viewing, Luo Yuzhong felt that Zhou Zhao had the words "regret and remorse of a middle-aged person" written directly on his face.
That won't do; we need more of the boldness and magnanimity of a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person from the martial arts world).
"A worry is a worry because it is kept in the heart."
Luo Yuzhong emphasized this to Zhou Zhao.
Then, I passed on the second try.
Around 9:30 pm, filming wrapped up and we finished.
Li Zhibai stretched, said goodbye to the director and the others, and prepared to go back.
Suddenly, Luo Yuzhong called out to him.
"Hey, Director, you wanted to see me?" Li Zhibai was a little surprised.
Luo Yuzhong nodded.
"I have a friend who wants to work with you on a project. He'd like to discuss it with you in person. He'll be coming to the film set in a couple of days. Would it be convenient for you to talk to him then?"
“It’s convenient, what’s inconvenient about it?” Li Zhibai nodded readily.
Luo Yuzhong: "I've known him for years, and we've worked together before. His name is Huang Keren. You should have heard of his production of 'Flame in the Wind'."
“Oh! I’ve seen this show; it was very popular back then.” Li Zhibai nodded.
"Well, but his luck wasn't very good after that drama. The next few dramas he did weren't very successful either," Luo Yuzhong said. "I don't know anything about his new project. He's an old acquaintance of mine and asked me to make a connection."
Li Zhibai nodded, "Okay, Director Luo, I'll go and find out myself."
Luo Yuzhong nodded.
-
To Li Zhibai's surprise, the project Zhou Keren approached him about was yet another web series adapted from the novel of the same name in Liujia Town.
The series "Nineteen Years of Crime Records" can't be called a flop, but it certainly didn't meet their expectations.
During this period, Li Zhibai barely communicated with Liujia Town and didn't know what to say.
It's fair to say that the adaptation of "Nineteen Years of Crime" has had very poor luck. The movie flopped, and the TV series version didn't receive much praise either.
Of course, this does not affect the fact that Liujia Town is still welcomed by major film and television companies.
After all, he is currently the most popular author of Chinese-language crime and suspense novels. No one blames Liu Jiazhen for the failure of these two films, because the novels have a very high reputation. In fact, because of the novels' high reputation, both the film and television adaptations were initially highly anticipated by the market.
Everyone says that if the film is well-made and the story is presented according to the original novel, it will definitely be a huge hit.
The result, of course, was contrary to expectations.
Now another TV series adapted from a novel by Liujia Town has come to us...
Li Zhibai's first thought was, would Liujia Town still be willing to let him act?
After all, his performance in "19 Years of Crime" didn't exactly win over the audience.
Unlike Yan Liang, whose performance was widely praised despite the poor reputation of "Liu Guang Yin".
Zhou Keren said, "Regarding the male lead of this drama, we actually consulted Mr. Liu Jiazhen. Unexpectedly, the person he recommended was you, just like the one I had in mind."
Li Zhibai was somewhat surprised and asked, "Did Teacher Liu recommend me?"
“Yes,” Zhou Keren said. “He said that the whole process of working with you on the TV series ‘Nineteen Years of Crime Records’ made him feel that you are a very suitable actor.”
"He didn't recommend Lu Yanhe?" Li Zhibai knew very well that between him and Lu Yanhe, everyone would definitely choose Lu Yanhe first.
Zhou Keren shook his head and said, "Some people have suggested finding Lu Yanhe, but we have read the script carefully. This is a suspenseful crime drama set in the Republican era. The male lead is a rich young master who is born with a sense of justice, but also has some spoiled habits. In the entertainment industry, we all think you are more suitable than Lu Yanhe to portray this kind of character."
Zhou Keren's ability to offer such a practical reason convinced Li Zhibai to some extent.
Li Zhibai said, "As you know, the market response to 'The Nineteen Years of Crime Records' was not very good, and there were some criticisms of my performance in it."
“I watched the show, and I don’t think it’s your problem,” Zhou Keren shook his head. “You just didn’t have a good director to teach you how to act alongside a good actor. As long as Jiang Jun isn’t in the scenes, you actually acted very well. As a villain, you should have been more arrogant, more outgoing, and had more of that kind of inhuman, hysterical, and unexpected side in front of a policeman like Jiang Jun. But instead, in those situations, that aspect was weakened. It’s not that you didn’t have it, it’s just that no one helped you keep it on track.”
These words struck a chord with Li Zhibai.
Regarding his performance in "Nineteen Years," he himself watched the series and reflected on why his performance had received some criticism. He also reflected on some of the opinions raised by others. And the conclusion he reached was indeed the same as what Zhou Keren had said.
This made Li Zhibai have a better impression of Zhou Keren.
At least on a professional level, Li Zhibai felt that Zhou Keren was a person who spoke the truth.
Li Zhibai had read the novel "Liujia Town".
The novel by Liu Jiazhen is called *The Mandarin Duck's Supplement*. It tells the story of a storyteller in a teahouse who is murdered, and how a wealthy young man named Zhou Fuzhi eventually uncovers the killer. A crucial character in this story is the storyteller's daughter, Su Jin. Zhou Fuzhi falls for her at first sight, which is why he takes notice of the case.
Li Zhi asked a hundred questions: "Has the script been written yet?"
“Yes, it’s already written,” Zhou Keren said. “If you have any complaints, you can let us know and we’ll work on how to revise it. But we really hope that you will star in this drama.”
Li Zhi asked, "Have you decided on a cast for the role of Su Jin? Who are you planning to cast?"
Zhou Keren said, "We wanted to invite Jiang Yuqian to play the role, but we've already submitted the script and haven't received a reply from her yet."
Li Zhi was stunned.
What a coincidence!
"Although this drama is adapted from Liu Jiazhen's novel, which has many fans, it is also a suspense drama."
He Heng said to Jiang Yuqian, "You've already promised Liu Zhijiang that you'd film his period suspense drama. If you take on another one, your schedule will be completely full, and you won't be able to continue your international projects next year."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuqian, who had initially been somewhat tempted by the script of "The Mandarin Ducks' Supplement," began to feel hesitant and apprehensive.
“Furthermore, the male lead is the lead in this drama, and the female lead is only the second lead. At your current stage, it’s not suitable for you to take on roles as the second lead. We need to stabilize our positions first,” He Heng said.
Jiang Yuqian pondered for a moment and then said, "Then let's cancel it."
He Heng nodded.
She said, "You filmed two movies this year, 'Mysterious Ghost' and 'Perfect Truth,' both of which will be released next year. In addition to 'Telephone' at the end of this year, you only need to film Liu Zhijiang's drama next year. If it's not a movie, let's not take on any more for now."
Jiang Yuqian asked, "Sister Heng, what do you think of the movie 'Telephone'?"
"Not bad." He Heng nodded. "Just like Yan He said, it's a very commercial film, and it'll definitely generate a lot of buzz. But I doubt it'll be able to compete for awards; it's not the kind of subject matter that awards like."
Jiang Yuqian nodded.
He Heng said, "However, the distribution rights for this film in Thailand and South Korea have already been sold. I will try to get the distributors in both places to do a promotional campaign. We will still stick to the international route. So far, no other female star in the industry has been able to replicate your path. You are the most successful. The two new global ambassadorships for high-end luxury brands this year are basically due to your achievements in this area."
Jiang Yuqian truly made the most of the popularity that "Squid Game" brought her.
In the year and a half that followed, Jiang Yuqian capitalized on the popularity of the drama and the strong support from various partners, appearing at events around the world. She also boosted public expectations with the Hollywood blockbuster action film "The Mysterious Ghost" and the French director's series "Perfect Truth," convincing her partners of her future career and providing them with resources and support, making her one of the most dazzling female stars that year.
Of course, half of that was achieved through her hard work.
They work almost year-round, appearing at three public events every month on average to maintain exposure. Even while filming on set, they release a lot of "stockpiled" material to keep their exposure and popularity going.
It's fair to say that, in terms of status, Jiang Yuqian may not have truly risen from the top-tier lineup she used to form with Zhang Lan and other female celebrities.
However, in terms of star power and popularity, Jiang Yuqian has firmly left her group behind this year.
Especially with the two new high-end global ambassadorships she secured this year, she has firmly established herself as the top female celebrity among the current crop of popular stars.
Apart from top figures like Chen Bige, whose status has reached another level and who no longer engages in swordplay competitions at Mount Hua, no one can rival his prowess at this time.
He Heng suddenly thought of something and said to Jiang Yuqian, "You and Li Zhibai... you must keep this a secret. Every time you meet with him, you must let me know so I can take appropriate measures. Otherwise, once this matter is exposed, not to mention anything else, Li Zhibai's fans will definitely launch a large-scale attack on you. At this critical juncture, if your image is even slightly damaged, many partners will lose trust in you."
Jiang Yuqian nodded.
A key reason she's able to maintain her star status is that her major partners are willing to provide her with resources. She receives invitations to all sorts of top-tier events, and she's given priority consideration for any job that can enhance her status and reputation.
If it were suddenly revealed that she was dating a top male idol, public opinion would be secondary; what would happen is that some people who had just started working with her would start to question her.
The resources people have aren't so plentiful that they can just give them away as a favor. If someone is willing to give her something now, they're essentially buying into it, hoping that once she's reached a higher position, she can give back to them.
Jiang Yuqian said to He Heng, "Sister Heng, don't worry, we will be very careful. Besides, we don't have much time to meet anyway."
He Heng: "It's better to be safe than sorry. You and he are both targets of the media and paparazzi. If you're not careful, you'll be photographed without our knowledge."
Jiang Yuqian nodded.
"I will definitely pay attention."
For any celebrity who reaches this position, maintaining it is no easy feat. It's not that simple.
Jiang Yuqian experienced a decline in her career and almost lost her position, falling from the top tier. Fortunately, at a crucial moment, the drama "Squid Game" helped her surpass her previous peak and reach even greater heights.
She won't give up on all of this.
-
"You refused?" Li Zhibai asked, somewhat surprised.
"Hmm." Jiang Yuqian asked, "What's wrong? Heng-jie was right about the drama 'The Mandarin Duck Supplement,' it's not really suitable for me right now, so I turned it down. Why?"
Li Zhibai: "No, it's nothing."
He said he was fine, but the disappointment in his voice was undeniable.
Jiang Yuqian said, "You sound very disappointed. What's wrong?"
“Because of this drama… they came to me to play the male lead. I originally thought I could act with you,” Li Zhibai said.
Jiang Yuqian: "Huh? Really? They came looking for you?"
“Yes.” Li Zhibai sighed. “Never mind, it’s alright, you’ve already declined.”
"I should have thought about it again."
"No need. Your agent is right. You should actually be playing leading roles in major female-centric dramas now."
"The main reason is that I've already taken on a role in Liu Zhijiang's drama, which is also a period suspense drama, so it's a bit similar," Jiang Yuqian said. "I can't very well take on two similar roles at once."
"Yes." Li Zhibai nodded.
As we were chatting, someone knocked on the door and started talking about Li Zhibai's play.
Li Zhibai could only hang up the phone hastily and leave.
Today's scene is still with the Sword Immortal.
Li Zhibai was actually quite shocking.
With such a large scale and so many scenes, other production teams would definitely have split the series into A and B groups, or even three groups (A, B, and C) with several co-directors.
Generally speaking, the director may not even be on set for a third of the scenes.
However, Luo Yuzhong insisted that he personally steered every scene on set, while the B team was only responsible for shooting some establishing shots and reshooting some subpar shots of extras in large scenes.
In Li Zhibai's previous dramas, it was rare to encounter one where a single director filmed the entire series from beginning to end.
It's quite remarkable that he was able to direct every single one of the key scenes.
No wonder Luo Yuzhong's dramas have never been of low quality. Not every drama of his is a hit, but none of them have ever been a disappointment.
When Li Zhibai arrived, Luo Yuzhong told him about the scenes they were going to film later.
Just then, Lu Yanhe arrived.
He was holding a portable CD player and a pair of headphones.
Luo Yuzhong and Li Zhibai looked at the thing in his hand with some confusion.
"What's this?"
Lu Yanhe said, "I wrote a few songs for 'The Legend of Sword and Fairy', which I plan to use as theme songs and OSTs. I just had someone finish them, so I brought them here for you to listen to."
However, there is only one pair of headphones.
Therefore, we can only listen to them one by one.
Lu Yanhe gave it to Luo Yuzhong first.
During this time, Li Zhibai asked in a low voice, "When did you write these songs?"
“They spent some time working on this piece before you joined the group,” Lu Yanhe said. “There are two songs in it, and they’re planning to have you sing them.”
Upon hearing this, Li Zhibai's eyes lit up.
"Hey, another song for me to sing!"
Lu Yanhe nodded with a smile.
They are being played instrumental music now; no one is singing.
After listening, Luo Yuzhong gave Lu Yanhe a thumbs up.
"Yes, that's the feeling I want."
"I was worried you'd think these songs were too pop."
"This drama is essentially an idol drama disguised as a serious drama, so these kinds of pop music-style songs are just right," Luo Yuzhong said. "What are the names of these songs?"
"June Rain".
"Always Quiet"
"Sha Po Lang" (杀破狼).
-
I recommend the classic entertainment novel, "I Became the Leading Lady of a Scandal Overnight."
(End of this chapter)
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