"Brother Li!" Ji Li walked quickly to Qin Li's side, with an unstoppable smile in his eyes, "...I didn't expect to see you here again."
Unlike the deliberately darkened beggar makeup in the movie, the young man's ancient costume now looks very eye-catching.
Qin Li was infected by his smile, and the curve of his lips unconsciously rose, "Well, long time no see."
Yao Chuan and Fang Zhixing looked at each other and asked in confusion, "Do you two know each other?"
"Ji Li played my character's younger brother in The Kingdom, and we have worked together on several scenes together." Qin Li paused for a moment and added, "Director Zheng likes him very much."
At this point, Yao Chuan immediately realized, "The new actor that Lao Zheng praised so much in his circle of friends is him?"
The personal connections in the director circle are interconnected, and Yao Chuan and Zheng Anxing also know each other privately.
Qin Li nodded in affirmation.
This was the first time Ji Li heard about this. His eyes lit up slightly. "Brother Li, Director Zheng praised me in his circle of friends? When did it happen?"
"On the day you finished filming, Lao Zheng, who seldom posts on WeChat Moments, praised you a lot that day." Qi An took over the conversation and asked the staff to bring another chair.
After watching the scene just now, Fang Zhixing had already equated him with Xie Yan in his mind, "Your name is Ji Li?"
"Yes." Ji Li introduced himself politely, "Hello, Director Yao, hello, Teacher Fang, my name is Ji Li."
"Please sit down. You handled the scene just now very well." Yao Chuan said.
"Thank you, Director." Ji Li calmly sat down next to Qin Li and glanced at the monitor. "My hat veil seemed to be blown up by the wind just now. Will it be exposed? Do you need me to put on another one?"
"No need, I've already seen it." Yao Chuan has been directing for so many years and knows what the audience wants to see.
In the close-up shot, there is only a passing profile, which does not expose the character. Instead, the subtle beauty revealed by the young man touches people's hearts.
"Ji Li, I remember you were under Dream Media." Qi An took advantage of the opportunity to ask the question in his mind, "Why did you come here to be a stand-in? Did the company's agent force you to come?"
Let a potential and talented new actor be a stand-in? This company is so unreliable.
Qin Li looked at the young man and was also concerned about this matter.
Ji Li was afraid that they might misunderstand him, so he explained, "I have chosen a role in a movie, but the crew hasn't prepared yet, so there is a gap of more than two months."
"I heard that the production team of "Da Zong Shao Nian Mo" is very good, so I took this opportunity to be a 'stand-in' and follow the crew. I want to learn more and make some more connections."
Ji Li’s answer was sincere and true.
Which newcomer in the industry doesn’t want to be part of a big-budget production? Don't you want to seize every legitimate opportunity to move up?
Yao Chuan laughed deeply, obviously having a good impression of Ji Li.
Qin Li curled his lips and asked for the first time, "When we were on the film crew before, why didn't I see you asking for my and Director Zheng's WeChat? Aren't we already good connections?"
"How could that be?" Ji Li retorted, smiling sheepishly, "We have spent too little time together, and I was afraid you wouldn't give it to me. So I only added a few staff members on WeChat, but I follow the crew news through them every day."
For a newcomer who has just debuted, wanting to add the movie emperor’s WeChat, isn’t this just wishful thinking?
Ji Li is still very self-aware.
However, now that the other party has mentioned it, can he try to ask?
"Brother Li, can I add you on WeChat? If there are any suitable roles for auditions in the future, can you recommend them to me?" Ji Li stared at Qin Li eagerly and added, "I'm a newcomer who just debuted, and my price is very cheap."
When the people around heard this, they all chuckled in unison.
The young man moved slightly closer, his delicate facial features were too eye-catching, his eyes looked at her sincerely, as if even his trembling eyelashes contained a request.
Qin Li's eyes darkened, and he was almost trapped in the attraction of this close distance. He had to straighten his body and said, "Of course."
Qi An noticed his friend's abnormality and raised his eyebrows subtly.
As for Yao Chuan and Fang Zhixing, they just watched the fun from the sidelines. They all understood that a newcomer who could gain unanimous recognition from Qin Li and Zheng Anxing must have something outstanding.
It’s a pity that Xie Yan has already decided on He Ling, otherwise they would definitely bring Ji Li into the crew.
The staff who were watching secretly were all stunned——
Have Ji Li and Brother Li worked together? And he took Brother Li’s personal WeChat account right in front of them?
Someone sighed in a low voice, "Ji Li is actually a new contract artist of Dream Media? No wonder he looks so good."
"What's the point of having good looks? If you want to get into this circle, you still need capital." Someone else whispered, "Look, they are from the same company, He Ling can play the villain, while Ji Li is only qualified to be a stand-in who can't show his face."
"What's wrong with a double? In the same scene, Ji Li's lethality is a hundred times stronger than He Ling's." The stylist who followed him to the shooting scene interrupted, "Just wait and see, with Ji Li's face, it's only a matter of time before he becomes famous."
While everyone was discussing this, the stagehand ran to Yao Chuan and asked, "Director Yao, there was a problem with the filming of Group B. We estimate that it will take another two hours to transfer over."
Due to the demand for scenes, today's filming was divided into two groups. Group A was the first encounter scene between Xu Miaomiao and He Ling, and Group B was the daily scenes of the male lead and others.
When Yao Chuan heard this, his brows knitted again, "This has taken too long than expected."
"Look, do you want to move tomorrow's fighting scenes here first?" The stagehand suggested, and then looked at Ji Li and said, "He Ling said from the beginning that all his fighting scenes must be performed by a stunt double."
Ji Li heard this conversation and took the initiative to express his attitude, "Director Yao, I have no problem, I can cooperate with the filming needs at any time."
Anyway, he has already put on the mask and changed into the costume, so he will shoot as many scenes as possible.
Yao Chuan considered for a while, "Are the martial arts instructor and extras here?"
The stagehand replied, "They are all here. The martial arts director said that there is still enough time to teach the fighting moves on the spot."
"Okay, hurry up and take Ji Li to prepare." Yao Chuan looked at the time and added, "Tell Group B not to come over after they finish filming, and we can catch up on the rest tomorrow."
The field staff should leave.
Ji Li quickly stood up, said something politely to everyone, and left.
Qin Li waited for him to leave before he asked seriously, "Whose role did Ji Li replace? Where is the actor himself?"
Originally, the crew's affairs had nothing to do with him, but when he thought that the young man had to be a stand-in, he felt a little unhappy.
Seeing that he was concerned, Fang Zhixing told him everything, "He is also an artist from Dream Media, his name is He Ling. I heard from Xingyuan that he took the initiative to find me..."
He Ling is more popular than the average newcomer, and his looks are also good enough. Most importantly, he brought 30 million out of his own pocket to join the group.
Their drama has many martial arts elements, and the content about the court is not the popular palace fighting. In recent years, all the dramas with similar themes have failed. There are still walls between the novel market and the film and television market. No matter how good the original novel is, the investment they can get is still limited.
In order to produce high-quality products, funds must be used where they are needed most.
Producer Mo Xingyuan is essentially a businessman. He thought that as long as He Ling's acting skills were acceptable, the deal would not be a loss for the crew, so he persuaded Yao Chuan and others to accept it.
Unexpectedly, on the first day of joining the crew, He Ling's acting skills were not seen, but his temper was clearly revealed to everyone.
Qin Li picked up the script on the side and flipped through it, then said nonchalantly, "...have you ever thought about changing the cast?"
Qi An was slightly startled when he realized what was happening, and he lowered his voice to stop her, "Qin Li, you haven't even met He Ling."
You know, according to Qin Li's previous personality, he would never interfere in the affairs of other crews that have nothing to do with him, and his words now clearly suggest that Yao Chuan and others replace He Ling.
My friend and He Ling have never met each other. If this matter were to get out, who knows how it would be misinterpreted by outsiders.
Qin Li remained calm, "If you want to make a good drama, you can't be careless about any role. There are obviously more suitable and cooperative candidates, why do you have to choose someone who is arrogant and unprofessional?"
Yao Chuan and Fang Zhixing looked at each other, and the latter lowered his voice and asked, "Are you saying that He Ling should be replaced with Ji Li?"
Qin Li tightened his grip on the script, but didn't say absolutely, "There are so many good actors, the casting needs still depend on you."
"This matter should be decided by Old Yao and Xingyuan." Fang Zhixing looked at director Yao Chuan.
To be honest, he had a very good impression of Ji Li and was looking forward to seeing him play the role of Prince Jin Xie Yan. But as a screenwriter, he has no substantive decision-making power over the casting of actors.
Yao Chuan lit a cigarette for himself and shook his head in the smoke. "I'm afraid it's not that easy."
Because He Ling brought money into the crew, the actor's contract clearly stated that the actor cannot be replaced unless there is some force majeure factor. If the film company breaches the contract, it will have to pay double the liquidated damages.
If we have to force a replacement, I'm afraid it will cause a lot of trouble.
"I need to discuss this with Xingyuan and the others. I don't want to cause too many irrelevant problems during the filming." Although Yao Chuan has a tough personality, he is still thoughtful. "It would be fine if it was someone else, but if it was Ji Li, I'm afraid this child will be targeted by He Ling in the company in the future."
Even if we take a step back, it takes time for an actor and a role to get used to each other, and he can't simply condemn He Ling. As a director, he also has the obligation to help actors understand and shape their characters.
Having said that, Qin Li nodded and said, "If you need funding in the future, you can come to me."
"Yes, our IP investment department of Lixing Culture is worried about having money but nowhere to spend it." Qi An replied jokingly.
He and Qin Li cooperated to open a film and television company, and signed contracts with countless powerful and veteran actors. In addition, we also regularly acquire film and television resources, and our current development momentum is very strong.
"Okay, after I finish filming this TV series, I plan to make a small cross-industry move to make a movie called 'Special Operations'. The first version of the script has been written, and I'll show it to you when the time comes."
Qin Li put down the script in his hand and said, "Okay."
As soon as he finished speaking, the stagehand came over with the martial arts instructor and said excitedly, "Director, everything is almost ready. The assistant director has arranged for the actors to audition, so we can start shooting later."
When Yao Chuan heard this, he was surprised and asked, "Are you almost ready?"
"Less than half an hour." Qin Li glanced at the time and said.
It should take an hour or so to teach a set of martial arts moves, even if the actor can absorb it quickly.
The martial arts instructor hired by the crew was Wang Ruixiang, a famous action star in the early years. Later, due to the decline of kung fu movies, he transformed himself into a martial arts instructor.
Their generation all have real kung fu skills, and even if they switch careers and work behind the scenes, they will not relax their requirements for guidance in fight scenes.
"Lao Xiang, don't let up. We can't be careless in the fighting scenes in our play." Yao Chuan reminded.
"Who was careless?" Wang Ruixiang was famous for his seriousness. For the first time in his life, he smiled on his usually stern face. "I also want to ask you, where did you find such a good seedling?"
Qin Li's eyes lit up when he heard this obvious "praise". He looked at Ji Li who was tied to a wire in the distance, and heard Wang Ruixiang say again.
"I'll keep you in suspense for now, you can see for yourself."
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#KungfuJili is coming soon! (I am praised as a good seedling wherever I go~)
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