Chapter 842 Don't hold me back
Wang County.
The filming location of "The Boat".
Before the first shoot, Lu Yanhe had just arrived on set when he heard Luo Yuzhong tell someone, "Wipe off all the makeup."
Upon closer inspection, this other person turned out to be Yu Mengling.
Lu Yanhe was taken aback.
Luo Yuzhong had seen the previous promotional photos, so why is he having objections now?
However, no one at the scene raised any objections.
This includes Yu Mengling himself.
The makeup artists did a thorough cleaning.
Seeing this, Lu Yanhe did not disturb them and watched silently from the side.
About fifteen minutes later, Yu Mengling sat back down under the eaves.
Luo Yuzhong sat behind the monitor and looked at it for a while, then called Yu Mengling and the makeup artist over.
“Look, today’s lighting requires your makeup to be a bit more natural, with less powder,” Luo Yuzhong said, pointing to the monitor. “In the current footage, Meng Ling looks fine in everything else, but she lacks a bit of radiance. I want her to look a little tired, but still have some shine in her face and eyes.”
The photographer was also called over.
Upon hearing Luo Yuzhong's request, people from several departments began to make adjustments and devise solutions.
The photographer moved the light source to achieve an effect that couldn't be achieved under natural light.
The makeup artist, meanwhile, was staring intently at the monitor, racking her brains for ideas.
At this moment, Yu Mengling offered no opinions, acting as a prop and cooperating with every adjustment and attempt by the people in various departments.
About forty minutes later, Yu Mengling finally reappeared on camera and met Luo Yuzhong's requirements.
Start filming.
The scene was quiet.
No one spoke.
Luo Yuzhong didn't even shout "Action!"
Lu Yanhe sat in the corner and waited for about five minutes. Yu Mengling remained motionless, her eyes gradually reddening. Finally, a tear slid down her cheek.
The tear slowly rolled down her cheek and onto her chin.
"Okay, click!"
Luo Yuzhong then called over Yu Mengling, the photographer, the on-site art director, and others, and asked them to watch the monitor and see what had just happened.
“This shot is beautiful, but it’s missing something dynamic,” Luo Yuzhong said. “Here, with the rain curtain, I wanted it to be a bit blurred. This shot is an outdoor scene that shows her inner world. No matter how heavy the rain is, her heart is calm. Especially after this tear falls, it’s like breaking a certain calm. A veil is lifted, the barrier disappears, and the rain and wind appear more naturally in the shot, just like the feeling of suddenly opening a door and the wind and rain outside suddenly appearing in front of you.”
After saying all that, Luo Yuzhong spoke to Yu Mengling.
“Meng Ling, don’t rush. That last tear you shed was a little too hasty. It’s okay. Even if it takes you an hour to shed that one tear, we can wait,” Luo Yuzhong said. “Don’t try to act at all. This isn’t a film about showing off your acting skills. You need to be very natural, as natural as the ordinary people in the documentary. When ordinary people cry, there aren’t so many layers of build-up or subtlety. It’s unexpected but natural. So, just get into character. Didn’t you write a short biography? Just naturally recall your past experiences. When your tears fall, how the camera should capture them, how the weather should match—that’s all the technical department’s job. You don’t need to worry about it, understand?”
Yu Mengling nodded.
Lu Yanhe watched this scene on set—to be precise, he watched this shot for four hours, but still couldn't film it.
Luo Yuzhong's requirements were so high and meticulous that they were unbelievable.
However, everyone on set understood what effect he wanted, and no one showed any impatience or "why isn't it over yet?" expression.
The assistant director came over and spoke to Lu Yanhe.
"This scene might need to be filmed a few more times, Yan He. Why don't you go and rest first, and I'll come and call you when we're done filming."
Lu Yanhe shook his head and said softly, "It's okay, I'll just watch from the side and learn a bit. You guys go about your business."
Not every film can be shot in just over ten days. In this world, there are some films that are shot in only ten days, but the final result is excellent, not bad at all.
However, some films require slow and meticulous work, such as "The Boat".
Every question and suggestion Luo Yuzhong raised was entirely focused on the effect he wanted.
Everyone knows where they went wrong just now.
Finally, at 2 p.m., as a tear fell, the camera began to pull back along the track that had been revised five times. In the few seconds that the camera moved, the wind and rain outside the eaves gradually intensified without being noticed. At the moment when the camera and Yu Mengling formed a graceful silhouette under the eaves, the wind and rain had already begun to rage.
"Okay!" Luo Yuzhong exclaimed, holding the walkie-talkie. "Got it!"
The crowd cheered.
Lu Yanhe also cheered.
Everyone gathered behind the monitor to check the footage they had just taken. When they heard Luo Yuzhong say "Very good," the audience cheered once again.
Lu Yanhe was deeply moved.
That's a great shot.
This is a scene that appears early in the movie.
It is a scene from a play where Yu Mengling misses her deceased husband, and then Lu Yanhe appears to comfort her.
Yu Mengling in the photos looks like a figure from a landscape painting.
The real person has an ancient air about them.
Lu Yanhe was secretly amazed and found it unbelievable.
-
"Yan He's movie has already started filming, and I'm planning to visit the set."
Li Zhibai sighed helplessly.
Why do I have to go to all the comic conventions in the US?
Lin Suyang said, "The viewership data for 'Grasshopper' in Europe and America is just average, so it needs some promotion. The show itself is a martial arts drama, and martial arts dramas have successful precedents in the United States, so it's not unfamiliar to them. Therefore, HP specifically communicated with one of the largest comic conventions in the United States and planned this promotional event. The event will even have wire rigging set up on-site, and you will appear in your 'Grasshopper' costume and perform a short segment. If this event can attract some attention in the United States, it will be very beneficial for the promotion of 'Grasshopper'."
"Alright then," Li Zhibai sighed.
“Yan Liang also accepted the invitation to this comic convention, also to help promote your show,” Lin Suyang said. “Normally, the lead actor of a successful movie like ‘Flypaper’ wouldn’t easily go to a comic convention for autograph sessions, but he agreed. Anyone who has watched ‘Flypaper’ for more than an hour on HP can get a free autographed photo of him on site.”
“Why would he do something like this? What’s the point?” Li Zhi was speechless. “He has over a thousand people on his shoulders, and he’s putting in so much effort. Isn’t he afraid of exhausting himself?”
Lin Suyang: "It was to promote 'Grasshopper'. He heard that 'Grasshopper' was not doing very well in Europe and America, and the promotion was not going to work. The comic convention happened to invite him, so he took the initiative to suggest this kind of promotion. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been willing to charge $20 for a signed photo and do autograph sessions."
Li Zhibai: "Alright."
"Besides the promotional activities at this comic convention, there's also a popular podcast recording for 'Grass on the Grass'," Lin Suyang said. "Grass on the Grass may not become a big hit in Europe and America right away, but we can slowly attract a small group of drama fans and get them to like this Chinese drama with a martial arts theme. Maybe we can gradually accumulate more fans in the future."
Many plays are like this.
It may not be particularly popular, but it always has some audience.
It serves as publicity for the drama, and also for the actors.
Li Zhibai is currently facing a rather awkward problem: after "Buried," he suddenly has no film or television projects in North America.
He's different from Yan Liang.
He already has a season of Friends every year, so he needs to maintain a high level of exposure.
After "Flypaper", he also had another blockbuster, "Speed".
There was also a cameo appearance in "Men in Black".
Yan Liang's exposure in Hollywood has been almost constant.
Li Zhibai's focus shifted back to China because of "Chinese Paladin" and "You Are the Apple of My Eye".
Lin Suyang felt it would be a pity if Li Zhibai's overseas popularity were not maintained.
Of course, Buried 2 is about to start filming.
Parameter bought the rights from Lu Yanhe and is preparing to produce a second season, with Li Zhibai as the lead actor. The contract has already been signed.
Unlike series like The Mist, Buried 2 features entirely new characters and a completely independent story, unrelated to its predecessors.
Moreover, this time the entire filming process was no longer confined to a closed space.
Li Zhibai has also become one of the producers of "Buried Alive 2" and will be in charge of the quality control of the film.
However--
Without Lu Yanhe's script, Lin Suyang really wasn't very confident about his performance in "Buried Alive 2".
The problem is that Parameter didn't find a particularly good director or screenwriter for this movie.
The director of the first film was fired because Parameter felt his salary was too high, and they found someone else.
The screenwriter's previous films did not score higher than 7 points on North American rating websites.
Li Zhibai has argued with them several times about the script's ideas and the characters' stories.
Their idea was simply to make a popcorn movie with the title "Buried Alive," so Li Zhibai was unwilling to make such a movie and consistently disagreed.
Parameter does respect Lee Ji-baek, but they don't seem to have any intention of making Buried 2 more successful than the first one.
They all just wanted to capitalize on the reputation and box office success of the first film to make a quick buck, so as long as the script was passable, that was enough.
For this reason, Buried 2 has not yet been released.
-
Linghe and Yemai.com jointly released project information.
The project "Corpse Scene 2" has been approved.
Jiang Jun has joined the cast and will co-star with Li Yuefeng in "The Corpse 2". The film will be co-financed and produced by HP, with HP responsible for theatrical distribution in North America. HP will reserve a 21-day theatrical window for "The Corpse 2" before releasing it on the HP platform.
The first "Corpse" film grossed 212 million RMB in China and over $53.21 million worldwide.
However, the film performed poorly in North American theaters, grossing only a little over $200,000.
HP participated in the production and distribution of "The Corpse 2" because "The Corpse" performed very well after it was released on HP. In about six months, a total of 11.2 million people watched more than 30% of the film's content on the platform.
Jiang Jun's joining was also proposed by HP, because they wanted to make "The Corpse 2" an A-list commercial film.
A top Hollywood actress will also be joining the film, though this has not yet been officially announced.
Simply put, this film falls into the category of co-productions.
Because HP wanted to make "The Corpse 2" a commercially viable and attractive film in Europe and America, they specifically invested $15 million (90% of the total investment in "The Corpse 2") – thereby obtaining 45% of the film's revenue rights and North American distribution rights.
Li Yuefeng was the happiest person about this collaboration.
After all, in a way, this is also his first film to break into Hollywood.
“I told you long ago that working with Lu Yanhe is definitely a good thing.” Upon hearing the news, Li Yuefeng immediately told his agent Wu Bai, “You’re letting me go to Hollywood on my own. When will I ever get a leading role? I’ll be in ‘The Corpse’. The second one is a Hollywood blockbuster, with Jiang Jun joining the cast and Lily Williams starring.”
Wu Bai: "..."
He said, "Don't get too excited yet. With Jiang Jun and Lily Williams joining the cast, it means you won't be the male lead in the second movie."
"Am I crazy to ask for a leading male role at a time like this?" Li Yuefeng clicked his tongue. "Brother Bai, what's wrong with you? Why do I feel like you're getting more and more bothered by my career getting better and better?"
Wu Bai took a deep breath.
“I admit, I mind that I’m finding it increasingly difficult to get involved in your work,” Wu Bai said. “You might as well just get a different agent.”
"Can you stop being so sensitive? I have no intention of replacing you," Li Yuefeng said. "You should also try harder and keep up with me. I want to become a top male actor, so don't hold me back."
Wu Bai: "What if one day I really can't keep up and end up holding everyone back?"
“Then let’s find someone who can help me advance my career. Adjust your job duties; you’ll be responsible for my publicity, public relations, and logistical support. Anyway, with such a large team, you know you’re the person I trust the most. People I meet in the future will always be newcomers. You’re the agent I trust the most,” Li Yuefeng said. “Brother Bai, don’t think I’ll let you go. Unless you quit being an agent, if one day you abandon me and take someone else, I will use all my strength to stop you.”
Wu Bai remained silent.
"If you reassign me to a marginal position, you won't allow me to start my own business?"
"The premise is that I'll move you to a marginal position, but why does our conversation make it seem like I'm the one in control?" Li Yuefeng was speechless. "From my debut until now, you've been the one guiding me, you built my team, and you also managed my relatives who got their jobs through connections. Why does it seem like I can just kick you out at will?"
“If you find an agent like Chen Ziyan, who is both capable and has resources, of course I can’t beat her.”
“If you can’t beat her, how can I? I just want to become famous, I don’t want to invite trouble,” Li Yuefeng said.
Wu Bai shrugged.
Li Yuefeng: "Quickly change your mindset and continue to charge forward with me."
-
The crew of the TV series "Boat".
On set.
“Yan He, from the moment you appeared, this shot has been a long shot,” Luo Yuzhong explained to Lu Yan He. “You may have been observing from the sidelines before, but the requirements for what follows are completely different from those for filming Meng Ling’s shot just now.”
Lu Yanhe nodded.
“You and Yu Mengling are talking through the rain,” Luo Yuzhong said. “Your voices will be processed technically to make them sound like they’re being heard from a distance.”
"It's almost impossible to see the subtle expressions of you and Yu Mengling clearly in the footage. It's like watching actors perform live in a theater. So you can't use the restrained acting style common in past films and TV dramas. Of course, it doesn't mean you have to speak with a strong voice like you're in a play, but rather that you have dynamic traces that can be perceived on screen at certain rhythmic points."
Lu Yanhe understood perfectly what Luo Yuzhong meant.
As Luo Yuzhong had said before, aside from a few special shots, most of the scenes would be filmed with the camera fixed in one position, like shooting a documentary, to capture the actors' activities.
After Luo Yuzhong finished explaining things to Lu Yanhe, he also called Yu Mengling over.
“Here, the script has very detailed but also very brief dialogue,” Luo Yuzhong said to the two of them. “We are not in a hurry. You can act according to the script or improvise. If you can’t continue acting, just signal us and we will start over. You are both very mature actors. You can try to do it in various ways, and then we will communicate with you based on the effect.”
Yu Mengling looked surprised.
Luo Yuzhong asked, "What's wrong?"
Yu Mengling said with a smile, "This is my first time filming, and the filming time is so ample that it's almost a luxury for us actors."
Luo Yuzhong laughed.
"The scenes and characters in this movie are very simple, which gave us enough time to work out the details. So, we don't need to rush, we can take it slow," Luo Yuzhong said. "At the beginning of filming, the most important thing is for the entire crew to reach a consensus and have a consistent standard for the aesthetics of the film."
Yu Mengling nodded.
“When you were filming the scene where you shed tears, you were working hard to cooperate with the technical department. You are an excellent actor, and you made the best of your ability to coordinate the performance with the work of other departments within the limited conditions,” Luo Yuzhong said with a smile. “But you can rest assured that you can focus on your performance. The production staff I brought are all industry experts from their respective departments. Their professional skills are very high. Of course, even if there are problems, we will have plenty of time to make adjustments.”
Yu Mengling: "Okay."
Lu Yanhe then realized where the problem lay in Yu Mengling's performance just now.
Only an experienced director like Luo Yuzhong could quickly and incisively see through it.
(End of this chapter)
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