Chapter 466
In Studio 1.
Under the spotlights, the nine members stood in a straight line on the stage, name tags taped to their waists, rehearsing in unison. Before today, they had already mastered the formations for both stages in private practice.
Because NINE STAR's reunion would generate such a high level of traffic, the various agencies, anticipating the potential for disruption, agreed to change practice rooms every two days to prevent the members from being disturbed. The practice rooms were provided by the agencies, and privacy was paramount.
From the perspective of the on-site staff, they saw this now-disbanded group's performance as a truly unified and cohesive whole. Whether it was the chemistry between the former members or the overall cohesion of the performance, it was unmatched by today's talent shows.
The melodious and lyrical music, the warm yellow spotlights, the full moon covered by a veil on the big screen behind, the smoke filling the stage, coupled with the mature stage presence of the members on stage, made Shang Xia, who was claiming to be recording but actually watching closely, feel extremely amazed, even though this was just the first tentative rehearsal.
If there's one regret, it's probably the slight regret that comes with being a fan. Because of the expiration of their contract, the station approached Huayao Xingyu+ about copyright, hoping to secure the rights to several NINE STAR stages, but was met with a rebuff without further negotiation.
Shang Xia only recently found out that Huayao did not authorize these stages because they had already given them to the company's boy and girl groups, who would use them as bargaining chips for the local Mid-Autumn Festival Gala.
For netizens, NINE STAR naturally comes to mind when they see the program list, and this is also the result of a traffic diversion agreement reached between Huayao and local TV stations. As for whether the performing members will be criticized for riding on the popularity of the show, the impact on both sides is not significant.
The only ones who might be hurt are probably the members of Huayao's boy and girl groups. However, gaining exposure and popularity from the star-studded Mid-Autumn Festival night is a bonanza for both the company and the artists.
As the saying goes, applause and boos are better than silence, and this is what Huayao currently hopes for most. Following NINE STAR's disbandment, not only has the company's market value plummeted, but even the resources it has been maintaining are at risk of being poached. If they can promote their own artists at this stage, they can mitigate significant losses.
Listening to the familiar music, Shang Xia returned her attention to the stage. The nine members' group performance this time included "Sending Lovesickness" and "Chasing the Moon," both of which were reworked by the station's lyricists based on popular songs on short video platforms over the past six months.
Apart from anything else, the change in lyrics immediately made the theme more noble. The station hoped that the members' role in the evening party would be to bring the audience, who were already a little tired at halftime, back to life.
As the second track in the medley, it bears distinct NINE STAR influences throughout. From the choreography to the music, nearly every key moment is followed by crisp, clean dance moves. The powerful movements and the rousing music, combined with the dynamic arrangement, create a perfect balance of power and power.
The highly concentrated performance on stage is very tiring. After rehearsing several times, Shang Xia saw the stage manager loosen his hand covering the headset and call out to the members on the stage who were still preparing to continue practicing to stop.
There was barely a second's delay. The moment the supervisor called for a halt, Shang Xia, standing beside Du Huiyue, saw figures suddenly push off the edge of the stage and leap from the audience to the stage in front of the performers. Such speed and agility made anyone want to rub their eyes, wondering if they were seeing things.
"What are you looking at?" Du Huiyue took off the headset and looked at Shang Xia with some confusion.
"I didn't even notice how they jumped up there. They are all reincarnated flying monkeys!" Shang Xia pointed at Song Xiao in front of Ji Shao. No one knew where this big guy had been hiding just now.
Du Huiyue clearly understood the other party's plan. They were just trying to get closer to the stage. She waved her hand helplessly, "Go away, rest enough. Don't come near me later."
"Oh my, Sister Du, you understand me the best," Shang Xia said with a playful smile, her tone full of intimacy towards Du Huiyue, "I'll treat you to dinner tonight. Don't worry, I definitely won't be treating you to the East Canteen this time!"
Let’s eat at the West Canteen! Shang Xia’s eyes rolled around. This kind of word game is the only fun thing!
"Don't be so ungrateful!" Du Huiyue said this, her eyes unconsciously falling on the young people on the stage. From the perspective of someone in the industry, compared to the performance of these young people at the campground last time, it can be seen that their level has been continuously improving over time.
For the photographer, this shoot was undoubtedly quite enjoyable. Furthermore… thinking about Mr. Zhou’s timely guidance through the headset during the shoot, the feeling of growing as I shoot is truly wonderful.
While Du Huiyue could still feel her own strength when filming the large-scale dance scenes, which were, after all, a routine task during evening show filming, Zhou Xiao, with his extensive experience, simply fed them with the explosive stage scenes, which required more control.
Thinking back to the stage layout she'd received the previous morning—it even detailed the camera positions, angles, and movement paths the members would use when filming the two stages—Du Huiyue mentally simulated filming this scene and almost wanted to run up to Zhou Xiao, hug her thighs, and beg her to accept her.
Her receipt of the layout meant that the other dozens of camera operators had also received it. Du Huiyue had every reason to suspect that Zhou Xiao had only sent it to them in the early hours of the morning because he had wasted his time on this.
The photographers' shots also have a profound impact on the performers on stage. It's no secret that idols are born to capture the camera. When you realize there's a camera that captures every punctuation and highlight, it's like you're practicing until your lungs are exhausted, not just slacking off.
The members on stage were working hard, scaring the managers and assistants offstage, especially Zheng Shulin's manager. Zheng Shulin's skills were undoubtedly at the bottom of the Nine Star group, and even he himself had tacitly accepted that he was the shortest plank in the barrel. But today, he was like a madman, pumped up, and working even harder.
"My goodness! We still have a tiring variety show after the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala! Don't use up all your energy!" A middle-aged man with a shrill voice and a worried look on his face hurried forward and whispered a warning to Zheng Shulin after he took off the microphone.
Zheng Shulin has nothing else to offer, but his physical strength and good looks are both top-notch in the industry, otherwise he wouldn't have become the first guest of the second season of "Running Man." His agent was originally not worried about this powerful lion, but after watching his performance on stage, he began to worry.
While the CCTV stage is important, this season of "Run for Life" has stepped up its game. Not only has the sponsorship been comprehensively upgraded, but the requirements for the team members are also incredibly high. While it might be called an outdoor competitive variety show, it's more accurate to describe it as an alternative entertainment industry exchange platform.
The company hoped that Zheng Shulin could secure a spot on the show based on his "strength," so during rehearsals, the other members' managers had become increasingly impatient with him. They cared about Zheng Shulin like he was about to melt in their mouths.
"Don't worry, brother." Zheng Shulin smiled foolishly, not caring that Ji Shao was drinking water in small sips a few meters away from him. He simply stretched out his hand and hooked the other person to his side.
"Cough cough." This was Ji Shao who was caught off guard and choked on a mouthful of water. His eyes, half covered by wet hair, narrowed dangerously, and his eyes began to become unfriendly as he looked at the big fool.
Ji Shao was so suddenly hooked by Zheng Shulin's neck that even Song Xiao was slow to react. When he was about to pull Ji Shao back, he saw him slightly shaking his head at him.
Well, is this sourness just a form of fun among former members? Seeing that Ji Shao wasn't upset, Song Xiao quietly stood beside him and listened to Zheng Shulin's "defense."
Seeing Ji Shao choked by the water, Zheng Shulin felt a little embarrassed for a moment, then he generously put his arm around Ji Shao's neck and said, "It's okay, I'll ask Master Ji to teach me some secrets of playing games later!"
The resources for Zheng Shulin's "Running Man" were recommended by Ji Shao. It was precisely because he understood this measure that he was able to openly bring Ji Shao in as his external aid.
Although the two years they've spent together haven't been very long, NINE STAR seems to have that magical quality. Even after disbanding, the nine of them will still be friends.
Ji Shao didn't speak right away. After seeing the worry on his friend's agent's face and considering today's performance which was indeed a bit too exciting, he already understood most of what was going on.
"Don't be too bold, be more careful." Although Ji Shao didn't attend every show, he was quite familiar with "Run for Time." "Before doing a task, consider the program team's settings and the reasons for doing it. That's all."
Zheng Shulin looked at his agent, who was treating Ji Shao like a treasure and wanted to write down everything Ji Shao said. He tried hard to hold back his smile and gave Ji Shao a look that said "You understand me, kid".
Seeing that the other party's agent's attention had been diverted and watching the staff gradually returning to their seats in the audience, Ji Shao handed the thermos cup in his hand back to Song Xiao, and his eyes fell on the camera lens at position No. 1 with a little thought.
I don't know why, but today's stage felt particularly comfortable. Unlike usual times when I had to adapt to the stage, this time, the stage was truly "actively" cooperating with me.
Moreover, he was not the only one who felt this way.
As Ji Shao was about to look away, his gaze accidentally crossed Xu Zhou's. As close friends, they instantly understood each other's expressions. After a slight nod, their anticipation for the performance grew even stronger.
…
In the director's room.
Watching the members rehearse once again, even Zhai Yunshao found it somewhat incredible. If the previous performance was considered excellent in her eyes, then the insight of the members rehearsing again after a period of rest was truly beyond her imagination.
For Zhou Xiao, all of this was within her calculations. As a fan, most of the shoots were similar. The layout plans the photographers in the studio received were also thanks to NINE STAR's popularity, and they needed all the stage video footage they needed.
Each fan-favorite fan knows exactly which angle they think will look best. Zhou Xiao only needs to flip through the information to learn about each person's best shooting angle.
Coupled with Zhou Xiao's familiarity with the members' performances on stage, this comfort zone, tailored for the photography teachers and created for the members, made people feel its success almost as soon as the stage rehearsal began.
"Teacher Zhou," Zhai Yunshao couldn't help but ask as he watched the increasingly complete stage, "Do you have any interest in joining CCTV?"
Although she did not have the right to keep Zhou Xiao, if he could not stay in the stage based on his performance in the past few days, Zhai Yunshao would feel that she was not even qualified to sit in the chair she was sitting in.
Zhou Xiao couldn't help but laugh at this, knowing it was something the other person had said without much thought. Watching the performance conclude, Zhou Xiao manually turned off the microphone on her headset and said cheerfully, "I'm not thinking of joining the company, but I do have to go film a movie with Director Fang next!"
Director Fang? Was that the Director Fang she knew? Zhai Yunshao was stunned, then suddenly felt that this seemed to perfectly align with the impression Teacher Zhou had given her. Not only was he unrestrained, but he also possessed a powerful ability to cross boundaries at any time.
"Teacher Zhou!"
"Um?"
"I will definitely buy a movie ticket to support you then!"
"Haha, okay~ Then thank you in advance~"
“…”
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