Chapter 213: No Way Out
Hu Xiaoxiao said, "Director, with Xie Weihua's pride, it's impossible for her not to fight back when she's trying to get back at someone. So, these two slaps are perfect for Xie Weihua's character. Sister Xia Lu, do I make sense?"
Hu Xiaoxiao turned to Xia Lu.
When the director yelled "cut," Xia Lu came out of her role as Yamamoto Masako. At this point, she replied calmly, "Hu Xiaoxiao performed very well, director. There's no need to cut this part."
Qi Weiming was left speechless. One by one, two people changed the script in front of him and started to argue with each other.
I have to say that this change has intensified the conflict, and the audience also enjoys watching the two women fighting each other. Since the two actors have no objection, then let it be.
This scene was filmed very smoothly, the actors all performed exceptionally well, and Qi Weiming finished work very quickly.
When he packed up his things, almost everyone had left. He picked up his bag and was about to leave when he saw Xia Lu sitting next to him, applying gauze wrapped in ice to her face, looking at him silently.
Qi Weiming felt a little uneasy when Xia Lu looked at him. Thinking of Xia Lu's unusual behavior today, he sat back down and asked, "Is your face okay?"
"It's okay." Xia Lu's face was hurt from being hit, but after applying ice, it became numb and didn't hurt that much.
Qi Weiming guessed that Xia Lu wanted him to make the decision, and said, "You added the scene first. You said it fits Yamamoto Masako's setting, which makes sense. But similarly, Hu Xiaoxiao hitting you later also fits Xie Weihua's setting, which also makes sense."
So, both of them make sense, and he can't be partial.
Qi Weiming also comforted Xia Lu, saying, "Although Hu Xiaoxiao slapped you twice, she was very strong and showed mercy. I heard that even martial artists can't match her strength. If she had used all her strength, your face would have been broken."
"Let's not talk about what happened in the play outside of the play." Xia Lu didn't want to talk about this topic.
Qi Weiming was surprised and asked her, "Then what do you want to talk to me about?"
Xia Lu asked him, "Director Qi, what do you think of my performance today?"
"Very good, very good. You portrayed Yamamoto Masako to perfection. Xia Lu, your performance today is finally at your peak." Qi Weiming observed Xia Lu for a few moments. He didn't seem dissatisfied with him, nor did he seem to want to cause trouble for Hu Xiaoxiao, so he asked her, "Have you come to terms with it now?"
Xia Lu nodded and said, "I still want to act, and I want to act well."
"That's good." Qi Weiming was happy for Xia Lu and encouraged her, "As long as you act well and carefully understand the role, it's not too late to make the transition now."
"Thank you, Director Qi." Xia Lu was silent for a moment, then said, "Since my acting is acceptable, I'd like to increase my role in the car racing scene. Director Qi, I can drive, too, and act well."
"Your racing scenes will be done by a stunt double..." But there will be fewer shots.
"No, I want to do it myself." Xia Lu looked at Qi Weiming with a serious and determined look. "Director Qi, you like Hu Xiaoxiao's performance and think her performance is good. That's right, her performance is indeed good. However, no matter how good Hu Xiaoxiao's performance is, it is only her one-man show, and only she is brilliant. You are the director, and you should focus more on the wonderfulness of the entire script. If you add my scene and let me perform on equal terms with Hu Xiaoxiao, the entire script will come alive."
That makes sense, but—"Your technique..."
"No problem. Director Qi, since you're willing to give Hu Xiaoxiao a chance, give me one too." Xia Lu said sincerely, "I don't need a body double. I want to do it myself. I can be in the camera with my face, and I can do it in one take."
"You've never acted in a thriller like this..."
"Hu Xiaoxiao didn't know everything at the beginning! You haven't seen my performance, how do you know I can't learn it?"
Qi Weiming patiently said to Xia Lu, "You're different from Hu Xiaoxiao. She's daring and dedicated, and she's known for her professionalism. She's willing to risk her life to make a good film. She'll fall down at any moment, and won't even complain, no matter how painful it is. Xia Lu, it's not that I look down on you, nor do I want to give you a chance. You know why you left the film industry. A small part of the reason is because you're afraid of doing action movies."
"After filming once, you get scared and don't dare to do dangerous action anymore. You can only do some gentle scenes, and suddenly you lose a lot of market. Now, for the racing scenes, I plan to make them more professional and exciting. Hu Xiaoxiao is the only one in the crew who can achieve the effect I want."
It's considered unpopular in the industry for actors to use body doubles in action films. Some directors will simply pass on such actors in favor of more aggressive performers.
Big-name actors perform all the action and dangerous scenes themselves. Who are you? Why do you have to use a body double? Using a body double means you won't be able to use your face in many shots. If you can't find a body double that matches your body type, your back view will instantly distract the audience, affecting the overall film and causing them to question it.
If a martial arts superstar personally takes part in a film and is covered in injuries, and all the actors are questioned just because you used a body double, who would be willing to use you?
In this circle, if you don’t join, there are plenty of people who will. If you don’t dare, there are plenty of people who do.
Xia Lu understood this and spoke her mind to Qi Weiming, "That was in the past. I had a way out before, I could be willful, I could escape. But now, Director Qi, I have nowhere else to go.
I'm not going back to the film industry. If I still can't make it in television, I'll have to say goodbye to the entertainment industry for the rest of my life. Director Qi, I'm not willing to give up. I entered this industry when I was just a teenager, and I haven't been educated much. I can't do anything except acting. If I don't act, what else can I do?
Qi Weiming saw Xia Lu's decision to take a gamble, but he still reminded her again: "The risk of racing scenes will be very high."
"I'm not afraid. Even Hu Xiaoxiao isn't afraid of risks. I'm so much older than her, I can't be worse than her, right? Even if something happens, I'm willing to accept it. Director Qi, as long as the play is good, I can also work hard, as long as you give me a chance."
"I need to think about it." Qi Weiming was in a dilemma and did not make up his mind until Xia Lu left.
The more brilliant the actors' performances, and the more evenly matched their acting chemistry, the better the filming. It's also beneficial for both actors; dramas are richer and more engaging when there's competition. But the prerequisite is that the performances are strong. Other scenes are fine, but this car racing scene, with its high-risk action sequences, can Xia Lu really handle it?
The reason for reducing Xia Lu's scenes is to make the TV series better, but if Xia Lu can do it, giving her more scenes will make the TV series more enjoyable and more exciting.
The question is, can he trust Xia Lu?
After much deliberation, Qi Weiming returned home and called Lin Yi to discuss the matter with him.
Lin Yi didn't seem as fussy as Qi Weiming. He said, "It's very simple. The script already has a stunt double for Xia Lu in the racing scene. Let's see if she can pull it off. If she can, and it goes well, then we'll add it. If not, we'll just shoot it as planned."
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