Chapter 217
Zhou Xiao put away her camera just as the sun was blazing down overhead. After she called out, "Alright," the assistants eagerly gathered around the members, carrying their bottles and jars like they were picking up a child from kindergarten, asking about their well-being.
Seeing this scene, Zhou Xiao thought the assistants might want to install a camera on set and record this video. If fans criticize them for not fulfilling their responsibilities, they could use the video to prove their innocence. However, this might just lead to even more criticism.
Fans undoubtedly harbor a deep distrust of the staff around the members. Ji Shao is relatively okay, as Chen Shenju meticulously protects him offline. Fans of the other members are already calculating which assistant spends the most time with them. Any uneven offline time could put the official Weibo comments at risk.
"Is it all right?" Zhou Xiao had already put his camera away and asked directly to the members who were still resting. Did he feel bad as a fan? Not at all! It was actually because the group was too active during the live filming, wasting a lot of time. But that wasn't a bad thing either; at least the images Zhou Xiao captured were very vivid and lively.
The bus had already stopped by the roadside and was waiting. After Zhou Xiao and Fang Zaijian got on the bus, they got on the car and headed to the next shooting location.
The scenery in Zhejiang Province is extremely beautiful. Zhou Xiao, who was sitting in the back row, knew that his destination was about to be reached when he saw the scenery passing by the window gradually transition from the sea to the woods.
Tall trees, a deep green forest, and the constant comings and goings of people on the site diluted the already quiet atmosphere. Zhou Xiao got out of the car and headed straight for the vacated filming area. A massive tree, its roots rotted, lay collapsed in the center of the site, its trunk covered in moss. This was a rare sight, indicating that the forest, however small, was still moist.
The Modern Fashion staff had already done a quick cleanup of the area. Zhou Xiao arrived just as she saw someone carrying a net bag of trash toward the woods. She recalled seeing a number of similar-colored garbage bags near her car before entering the woods.
"This is trash in the woods," Fang Zai, who was following her, said casually. "We look for filming locations every day, and we always do a thorough cleanup. Don't think it's a lot of trash. We once cleared out even more. The nearby residents dumped their trash directly in the woods because the bins were too far away. Later, we hired a cleaning service to clean it up."
Zhou Xiao nodded as she listened, and she was quite impressed with their behavior. When she got on the bus at the beach, she saw the staff using long sanitary tongs to clean up the garbage left after the filming.
In the new filming environment, NINE STAR naturally had to change their looks, so Zhou Xiao took advantage of this free time to walk around. Although the fallen tree looked very photogenic, it was more suitable for group or multi-person shots; it would be a bit empty if it was alone.
Zhou Xiao casually wandered along the edge of the woods. She had already looked at a map of the area and even had a screenshot saved on her phone. When she came to her senses, she found herself in the makeshift dressing room set up by the Modern Fashion staff.
As she approached, the noise that had faintly echoed through the trees became clearer. She wasn't sure if all boy bands were this loud, but she felt the decibel level at NINE STAR's location was probably among the highest.
Zhou Xiao had already grasped the members' chattering prowess, and just as she was about to leave, she happened to spot a crooked tree not far away. From her position, the tree's position was perfect, and even its crooked branches had a unique charm.
But if he wanted to arrange the shooting on the tree, there would be some safety risks. Zhou Xiao thought for a moment, took out his mobile phone from his pocket, took a picture of the scene, and took the photo to discuss with his assistants.
Several people gathered around a computer screen, discussing something. As idol artists, even something as common as climbing a tree required approval from their agency. If they were filming a show, these things would have to be written into their contracts.
The main reason is that the male artists are too unconventional. No one knows what they will do after climbing the tree. Especially since the members of NINE STAR are relatively young, no matter how strict they are, it is not too much.
"Well, Mr. Zhou," a bespectacled assistant hesitated for a moment, "this tree is a bit tall. I think Yanyan and Chu Cheng won't go up there, right?"
"No problem!" Zhou Xiao, who was holding a pen nearby, agreed straightforwardly. Her straightforwardness made the others hesitate. The other two then turned their attention to Chen Shenju, wanting to see what he had to say.
Chen Shenju, who was being watched by many people, smiled slightly and said, "I will follow Teacher Zhou's arrangements."
…
The members who are almost dressed up as flowers are now looking for a position in the center of the venue. Their brightly colored jackets stand out in the woods, and at this moment, the personalities of the members can be seen.
Zhou Xiao looked at Ji Shao, who was among the crowd. He was assigned to sit on the moss-covered tree trunk with Wu Yanyan, Chu Cheng, and Ji Shao. Unlike the others who hesitated, he adjusted his position and sat down directly, waiting to be filmed.
The roots of the fallen tree are still visible, but the members gathered here are like flowers absorbing nutrients in spring and finally blooming in full bloom. The smiles on the members' faces are exactly what Zhou Xiao wanted, and they also reflect the concept that runs through the entire "Modern Style Idol" version: vitality! Climb upward!
The group photo shoot was quick, perhaps because the quietness of the woods made it easier for the members to "get into the role," allowing them to better showcase their unique sides. The previously striking colors now blended into the environment, showcasing their uniqueness to everyone in front of the screen.
Zhou Xiao put away his camera and followed the staff to the crooked tree. The tree was indeed quite tall, and after the Modern Fashion staff tried to find the props on site were not enough for people to climb up safely, they hurried to a nearby village to borrow a wooden stepladder.
The wooden ladder was two or three meters high, but even a tall person had to step on the last step to climb up the tree. After knowing that they might have to climb up the tree for the filming, many members began to get excited.
Looking at several members nearby who seemed to be planning to climb up by themselves, Zhou Xiao keenly noticed Wu Yanyan and Chu Cheng in the crowd who looked a little embarrassed.
The two people were afraid of heights, so the assistant originally wanted to help them refuse the tree shoot. However, when he saw that the other assistants were also following Chen Shenju's instructions, he quickly withdrew his request.
Seeing that someone had already climbed the tree, Zhou Xiao spoke directly, "There's more than one shooting scene, don't force yourself. Managing your expression is very important for still photos. Even if there's a hint of forced expression, it will be very clear in the picture."
This was said not only to the two of them, but also to the assistant who was leading them. To Zhou Xiao, this crooked tree was just a filming location. No matter how important a scene was, it was far less important than the people in her eyes.
"Teacher Zhou, everything is ready here!" a staff member on the side shouted loudly.
“Here we come!”
Zhou Xiao climbed the ladder steadily and saw Ji Shao, standing in the tree, casually greeting her. Chen Shenju, standing below, looked even more displeased than Wu Yanyan and Chu Cheng, who had previously learned they might have to climb the tree. Waving Ji Shao to film, Zhou Xiao raised her camera.
In her lens, Ji Shao lay on a thick, outstretched branch. His brown coat draped over his shoulders, intertwined with the leaves, creating a strikingly light and comfortable look. His bony right hand clutched a pure white prop book, creating a vibrant pop of color amidst the greenery.
…
In the car, Fang Zai, who was in the front seat, turned around and said to Zhou Xiao, who was looking at photos in the back seat, "At this rate, we can finish it this afternoon!"
As one of the co-directors of this new magazine shoot, Fang Zai naturally knew how long and diligently everyone had prepared. But the real challenge was aligning it with NINE STAR's schedule.
After much negotiation between the magazine and the agency, two days were allocated for Zhou Xiao to photograph the members. Considering the new photographer's speed, they had initially considered allowing an extra afternoon for the interview. After all, as this was the inaugural cover, the interviewees naturally needed to be delved into more deeply.
Zhou Xiao nodded casually. Group photography was actually much simpler than individual photography. After all, with a boy band that even had a fixed formation, neither the photographer nor the subjects had to rack their brains over posing. They'd be shooting the final scene in the studio later, and they probably wouldn't need many props.
Large studios are usually located in the suburbs, but when the car stopped at the roadside, Fang Zai, who was in the front row, was about to get out to pick up the members behind him, Zhou Xiao reached out and pulled him hard. After swiping Fang Zai's face in front of the security guard in front of the glass door, he entered the lobby first.
As soon as the two of them stepped into the lobby, the outside became noisy. Fang Zai, who was originally confused, now completely understood what Zhou Xiao had just done.
Watching the crowd gradually gather outside, he finally realized that the artists invited this time weren't some established film and television stars, but rather the idol boy band that had been trending since last year. Of course, this was simply Modern Fashion's arrogance as a top women's magazine. Nine Star's airport appearance had already been trending, but they hadn't considered this at all.
Magazine shoots are supposed to be secretive. A source broke the news shortly before the shoot, and Huayao also gave fans a sneak peek. Zhou Xiao suspected that perhaps the fans waiting here weren't all there was; there were likely people waiting at other photo studios.
"Then I'll take you to the studio first." Even though he had a strong desire to save her, he felt somewhat powerless at this moment. After a moment's deliberation, Fang turned and spoke directly to Zhou Xiao. After all, there were assistants outside, so it wouldn't be his turn anyway, right?
Zhou Xiao glanced at the scene outside. Several assistants were holding hands and escorting the members as they made their way over. Although the pace was difficult, fans had already begun to form a human wall, clearing the way for the members. Surely it was only a matter of time before they could safely enter?
She looked away and nodded again. Following his lead, they headed towards the reserved studio.
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