Chapter 502 The screenwriter is unhappy
Hengdian Film and Television City, the set of "The Imperial Doctress".
The sunshine in the May morning was just right, and the set was still busy even during the breaks in filming.
Yuan Bingyan and Hu Bingqing, who had just finished a group play, walked side by side to the actors' rest shed not far away.
Hu Bingqing turned his head and glanced at the little sister beside him who was yawning with her eyelids almost stuck together, and couldn't help but touch her gently with his arm.
He asked with concern, "Bingyan, what's wrong with you? Didn't you get enough rest last night? We still have several scenes to perform this afternoon. If you're in this state, you might get scolded by the director."
As he spoke, he imitated the director frowning and shouting "Cut" very vividly.
Yuan Bingyan was amused and yawned loudly again. She raised her hand and slapped her cheek hard, trying to wake herself up.
"Don't mention it. I was so addicted to playing 'Plant Defense' last night, a tower defense game from Tengda, that I ended up playing it until three in the morning.
It felt like I had barely closed my eyes when I was yanked out of bed to put on makeup. My body is on the set, but my soul is still in bed."
"'Protecting Carrots'? Sounds interesting." Hu Bingqing blinked, looking curious, but more concerned about real-life issues.
"Then you need to wake up quickly. There are a lot of scenes in the afternoon, so you have to be fully focused."
"Yeah, I have to order a cup of coffee to keep me awake, otherwise I won't be able to hold on in the afternoon." Yuan Bingyan muttered as she picked up her phone and habitually clicked on the familiar blue icon.
However, the prompt that appeared on the screen made her stunned, and she said "Huh" in confusion: "Can't deliver? What's going on?"
Hu Bingqing came over to take a look, said "Oh" in understanding, and explained: "Baidu Takeout's business mainly covers the capital area.
In Hengdian, people usually order takeout using "Ele.me" or "Today's Best." He then generously pulled out his phone and said, "I'll treat you to coffee. I have "Ele.me" installed on my phone."
"No, no." Yuan Bingyan waved her hand quickly, smiled a little embarrassedly, and quickly switched the APP.
"I've used 'Today's Best' before, but I don't think the deals are as good as 'Baidu Takeout'. I've used it less recently. I can do it myself."
Hu Bingqing expressed his understanding and casually shared his experience: "Speaking of which, Tenda's platform is still powerful. You can order takeout almost anywhere in the country.
I usually go to Donghai, and I actually use 'Today's Choice' more often. Although the coupons are not as generous as 'Ele.me', the delivery speed is super fast.
It usually takes about ten minutes to get the food, and it arrives hot. As for Ele.me, they sometimes offer big discounts, but the wait is excruciating.
I've used it a few times before, and it was so inefficient that the food was cold when it was delivered. It was a terrible experience in such cold weather."
"That's the truth." Yuan Bingyan nodded in agreement as she selected two cups of hot American coffee on the 'Today's Choice' screen.
"In terms of speed, 'Today's Best' is unbeatable. Baidu Waimai can't compare in terms of delivery range and speed."
The two of them talked and laughed as they walked into the makeshift rest shed.
At a glance, I saw the male protagonists Chen Xiao and Huang Xuan sitting on chairs not far away, holding the script in their hands and rehearsing their lines with a focused expression.
Yuan Bingyan signaled over there with her eyes, lowered her voice, and asked the little sister curiously.
"Bingqing, I heard that screenwriter Zhang Wei came to the crew yesterday and seemed unhappy. Is it because the script has been significantly changed?"
Upon hearing this, Hu Bingqing curled his lips and chuckled disapprovingly: "Well, it's coming.
You've read the original script, which was a period romance with a career arc. But now, the plot has been completely altered, turning it into a career drama featuring a female protagonist.
The core is all about the heroine pursuing her career, studying medicine, and fighting prejudice. All the emotional lines have been deleted. The screenwriter's hard work has been greatly changed. It is normal for her to have emotions.
After a pause, he lowered his voice even lower, with a tacit understanding: "But it doesn't matter if she is unhappy. In the end, isn't it the eldest sister who has the final say on the crew?
"Senior Sister Shi insisted on making this change, and didn't the director agree? The screenwriter's say is limited."
"That's true." Yuan Bingyan nodded, then praised sincerely, "But honestly, I think this change is pretty good.
The focus on career heroine, with a clear plot and refreshing viewing experience, will definitely appeal to female audiences. Tan Yunxian's character's charisma is instantly established."
Hu Bingqing also agreed very much: "That's right! In the new script, all the love lines have been deleted, it is clear that there is no CP.
The interactions between the two male protagonists and the female protagonist are now framed in the relationships of doctor and patient, monarch and minister, master and apprentice, and alliance. There is admiration and respect, but the emotional pull is gone.
As he said this, he glanced with a hint of sympathy at the two male actors who were rehearsing their lines not far away.
"It's just hard on Mr. Chen and Mr. Huang. Their roles have been cut down a lot and they've become more functional. I guess netizens will complain about them being called 'accessory male protagonists.'"
Yuan Bingyan listened, a trace of envy and yearning flashed in her eyes, and she couldn't help but sigh softly: "Oh, that's great!
Being able to play a drama with a truly strong female lead is what we actresses dream of.
Look at Shi Shijie, Yang Mi, and Sun Li, which one of them didn’t gain a reputation and become extremely popular by starring in heroine-led dramas?
"Scarlet Heart," "Palace," "Empresses in the Palace"... Which female star in the industry wouldn't want to take on a script like this?"
Hu Bingqing also had a look of longing on his face. He looked at the luxury RV in front of him and sighed, "Yes, it's so enviable.
But for now, let's just keep our feet on the ground and play our supporting roles well and brilliantly. We have to take one step at a time."
In another corner of the rest shed, Chen Xiao and Huang Xuan finished a scene and stopped to take a breath. They each picked up their water bottles and took a few sips.
Huang Xuan flipped through the obviously thinner script in his hand, a helpless smile curled up at the corner of his mouth.
"Teacher Chen, looking at it this way, can we say that this is a case of hardship before happiness? Once we get these core lines down, the rest will seem much easier."
There was a hint of self-mockery in his voice. In the new script, the roles of these two nominal "male protagonists" were greatly streamlined, and their functional positioning was extremely clear.
Chen Xiao's face was also full of helplessness, and he shook his head slightly.
Liu Shishi is the absolute leading actress in the drama, and her status is obvious. She insisted on highlighting the career path of the heroine, and the crew from top to bottom naturally had to cooperate.
The original emotional entanglement between the two male protagonists was cut into pieces, and their roles were completely transformed into "important NPCs" in the female protagonist's career line.
One is the emperor who appreciates the heroine's medical skills and gives her a platform and support; the other is a powerful person who has a clash of ideas with the heroine and is ultimately impressed by her medical skills.
His interactions with the heroine are all based on politics, medical skills, and court games, with the romantic elements stripped away completely. Being ridiculed as a "tool man" is not unfair.
"Think about it more positively." After all, Chen Xiao had more experience, so he quickly adjusted his attitude and comforted Huang Xuan, who looked a little lost.
"Just think of it as building relationships and connections. Being able to work happily with my senior sister and leave a good impression is better than anything else. There's still a long way to go."
Huang Xuan wasn't one to dwell on trivial matters, so he nodded and said, "That's right."
He knew very well that even if he was just a "pendant male lead", it was still a top resource. Countless young actors of the same age were trying their best to get in and show their faces, so he had nothing to complain about.
The atmosphere eased slightly, and Huang Xuan suddenly remembered something. Envy flashed in his eyes, and he looked up at Chen Xiao.
"Teacher Chen, I heard that Teacher Yu Zheng's studio is planning to remake The Return of the Condor Heroes and has invited you to play Yang Guo? Jin Yong's dramas are big IPs, and their ratings are pretty solid. Congratulations."
There was a hint of sourness in his tone. Chen Xiao had the support of the big tree of Tengda Culture, which was a first-tier company itself, and his external resources were so good that it made people jealous.
Chen Xiao felt even more helpless when he heard this. He waved his hands in a headache and said, "Don't mention it. Teacher Yu Zheng is the best at this...
"The Return of the Condor Heroes" is still in the concept stage, and it hasn't even been officially approved yet, and yet the news is flying everywhere before there's even a glimmer of hope. I really don't know what to say!"
Then he restrained his expression, his tone became serious, even a little bitter, and he half-truthfully complained:
"The previous versions of The Return of the Condor Heroes are all such classics! Mr. Liu Dehua, Mr. Koo Tim-lok, and Brother Xiao Ming, which one of them wasn't a gem?
The pressure of remaking a movie now is too great! If you act well, you deserve it, but if you don't, you'll be ridiculed by the entire internet.
To be honest, given my current situation, taking on this kind of flop project is too risky. The company and I are still carefully evaluating it and may not accept it.
Huang Xuan couldn't help but roll his eyes when he heard this, muttering to himself: This is really like a full man not knowing the hunger of a hungry man. He is so picky about being able to play Yang Guo!
Chen Xiao keenly caught that fleeting expression, chuckled, patted Huang Xuan's shoulder, and said sincerely:
"Teacher Huang, if you are really interested in the Condor Heroes project, I can introduce you to Teacher Yu Zheng.
Yang Guo is unlikely, but important supporting roles like Yelu Qi or Huo Du should not be a problem to fight for."
As he spoke, he took a special look at Huang Xuan and added half-jokingly and half-seriously, "I think you have a kind of upright temperament. You might be suitable for playing Wu Dunru."
When Huang Xuan heard this, the slight depression he had just felt instantly disappeared, and a surprised smile immediately appeared on his face.
"Oh, thank you so much, Teacher Chen! Please put in a good word for me when you have the chance!"
He is in a stage where he urgently needs exposure and to accumulate national popularity, and he basically accepts any substantial resources that come his way.
Chen Xiao smiled and said calmly, "You're welcome. We're helping each other."
At this moment in the studio, where the light is focused, Tan Yunxian, played by Liu Shishi, is sitting behind an antique desk.
A long ancient costume dress with a gradient of azure blue, the fabric is bright, like a pool of clear spring water, flowing quietly.
The eldest sister has her hair tied up in a high bun, her face is beautiful, her expression is focused and calm, and her whole body exudes a classical temperament as elegant and calm as a faint orchid in a deep valley.
On the side, He Qing, who played the empress dowager, was staring at Liu Shishi with a burning gaze, her eyes full of admiration and a sense of nostalgia from a different world.
It was as if I saw myself when I was young in the calmness and elegance of Sister Yi.
Although several actresses in the same scene, such as Jin Chen and Li Chengyuan, were also dressed appropriately, when they looked at Liu Shishi, their eyes were still filled with admiration and a hint of envy that was difficult to conceal.
It's no secret that the crew of "The Imperial Doctress" invested heavily in costumes.
Because of her role, Liu Shishi had to gradually advance from a folk doctor to an imperial physician and even a royal concubine, and she had more than fifty different looks.
Moreover, each set is extremely exquisite, and the cost of one person's clothing accounts for more than half of the entire crew's clothing budget.
In comparison, although the costumes of these supporting characters were also carefully designed, they were difficult to compare in terms of quantity, sophistication or cost.
A true supporting actress, she is destined to be compared and outshone by the audience after the show is broadcast.
"This one passed!" Li Guoli's voice came through the loudspeaker, breaking the silence on the set.
Upon hearing the voice, Liu Shishi in front of the camera relaxed a little from her tense acting state and breathed a long sigh of relief. The morning's scene was finally completed successfully.
Assistant Su Xiaoxiao quickly ran over and handed over the thermos cup: "Senior Sister, drink some hot water to moisten your throat."
He carefully looked at Sister Yifanyi's pretty face and asked with concern, "Sister, are you okay? You look a little tired."
Liu Shishi took the cup of water, nodded slightly, and said softly, "Not bad."
After a major script revision, the time originally devoted to the relationship between the male and female protagonists was completely replaced by scenes showing the female protagonist's medical development, studying medical books, collecting herbs, practicing acupuncture, and treating patients...
These professional scenes required her to spend a lot of extra energy to learn and imitate, striving to achieve both form and spirit. The continuous shooting did make her feel a little tired.
After taking a few sips of warm water, he was about to get up and go back to the lounge for a short rest when the executive producer hurried over and respectfully asked, "Senior Sister, excuse me.
"A few reporters from CCTV's TV drama channel are here, hoping to interview you and Director Li to promote our show in advance. What do you think...?"
Liu Shishi thought for a moment and readily agreed: "Okay. Please ask them to sit in the rest shed for a while, I will go over after I tidy up a bit." CCTV has a huge influence, so this face should be given.
"Okay, okay, I'll arrange it right away." The executive producer responded and left.
On the other side, the CCTV staff who were led to the spacious rest shed to wait had just sat down when they saw a beautiful woman in ancient costume walking towards them from afar.
Her gait is calm and her manners are graceful. Her exquisite costumes appear even more elegant and refined in the sunlight, as if carrying a breath of cool frost and snow, which is eye-catching.
Leading female reporter Wang Lan couldn't help but whisper to her colleagues, "I've always heard people say Liu Shishi was 'the chosen one of the ancients,' but after seeing her on set today, I finally understand what she meant. Her aura is truly extraordinary."
Several people nearby nodded in agreement, and the cameras were already ready.
When Liu Shishi approached, Wang Lan immediately stepped forward with a professional smile on her face: "Hello, Teacher Liu, I'm sorry to interrupt your filming.
I'm CCTV reporter Wang Lan, and I'd like to take this opportunity to do a brief interview with you about the drama "The Imperial Doctress."
Liu Shishi smiled sweetly and said in a gentle voice: "Welcome. Please take a seat." After that, she took the first seat on the prepared chair, her posture still elegant.
Wang Lan sat down opposite and looked closely at Liu Shishi's beautiful face even without any makeup, and her gentle and calm demeanor from the inside out. She actually felt a little ashamed of herself.
I quickly dispelled this thought, calmed myself down, adopted a professional attitude, and began the formal interview.
(There is something going on at home, so only one update)
(End of this chapter)
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