Qi Ming tapped Shang Yechu's forehead: "What is the most important principle of the given situation theory?"
"The most important one?" Shang Yechu racked her brains to recall. The given situation theory was too basic, and it seemed that every point was important. She really couldn't think of which one was the most important for the moment.
After thinking for a while, Shang Yechu asked uncertainly, "'No action without a given context... an action is a response to a given context'?"
"Not bad brains." Qi Ming chuckled. "That's right, it's this one."
Shang Yechu was immediately annoyed: "Do you think I didn't answer the given question?"
But she clearly did it!
Every action Shang Yechu designed was based on Li Yiming's psychological state and the character settings of Lu Huaizhang, Diting, and others. If this level of dedication doesn't count as an "answer," then what does?
Qi Ming did not answer the question directly, but instead asked in return, "Why do you think the scene set in the script is a theater?"
Shang Yechu answered subconsciously, "It's to make that opera segment echo Lu Huaizhang's lines..."
"Haha!" Qi Ming laughed. "If that's the only reason, why not just find a radio and play this scene?"
"—" Shang Yechu's eyes widened.
Qi Ming patted Shang Yechu's hand and said kindly, "Is the action the same when you run wildly across an endless plain and when you run wildly down a bustling street?"
Boom!
As if struck by lightning, Shang Yechu was instantly enlightened!
Qi Ming released Shang Yechu's hand and slowly stood up.
"Look at those moves you just did—"
Qi Ming began to repeat the actions that Shang Yechu had just performed.
"Your first action was to drink a cup of tea."
Qi Ming made a tea-drinking gesture, then smiled and asked, "Am I enjoying tea in a teahouse or in my office?"
Shang Yechu stared intently at Qi Ming, without uttering a word.
"Your second acting method produced these micro-expressions."
Qi Ming perfectly imitated Shang Yechu's expression and subtle movements, without missing a single detail!
Qi Ming took a breath and said, "In such a lively and bustling place as a theater, isn't it out of place to show such an expression?"
Shang Yechu gripped the water bottle tightly, squeezing it until it was slightly deformed.
Qi Ming completed the third action of spilling hot tea. While imitating Shang Yechu's action of picking up the shards, he almost fell to the ground because of his age and unstable center of gravity.
Shang Yechu jumped up and caught her!
Qi Ming, panting, wiped his sweat and laughed sheepishly, "I haven't slept much for two days, I'm a little dizzy—doesn't this action resemble Liu Bei dropping his chopsticks during the plum wine-making ceremony? But Liu Bei had the sound of thunder to cover it up for Cao Cao, how can Li Yiming cover it up?"
Shang Yechu pursed her lips and said in a trembling voice, "I understand, Teacher Qi. Please sit down and rest."
Shang Yechu understood everything.
The reason her performance felt off was because her movements didn't interact with the "theater" scene!
While Shang Yechu's performance of those movements was emotionally engaging, it's not something that can only happen in a theater. It could also be performed in other settings—such as a regular teahouse, office, or even a coffee shop.
Zheng Bohan meticulously designed the theater setting; there must have been a reason. However, Shang Yechu completely squandered that intention!
No wonder something was missing no matter what.
Shang Yechu's heart pounded wildly, almost unable to contain her excitement. Her heart was torn in two, one half filled with gratitude for Qi Ming, and the other half with self-reproach.
How could she not have thought of that?!
They acted out that stupid scene so many times, wasting everyone's time!
Seeing that Shang Yechu was so depressed that mushrooms could grow on her head, Qi Ming reached out and touched Shang Yechu's wet hair: "Don't blame yourself, this can't be entirely your fault."
"Thank you..." Shang Yechu lowered her head and clutched her pajamas tightly. "You don't need to comfort me."
"I'm not trying to comfort you," Qi Ming said seriously. "Xu Hanwen also bears responsibility for this. In fact, his responsibility is greater."
Xu Hanwen?
Shang Yechu raised her eyes, her gaze filled with confusion and bewilderment: "What does this have to do with Director Xu?"
Qi Ming caught her breath, and Shang Ye Chu quickly handed her her ice water. Then, realizing the water was too cold for the old lady, she got up to buy her a bottle of room-temperature water.
“No need,” Qi Ming said, pulling Shang Yechu back. “This will do.”
Qi Ming took a sip of water and lowered his voice, saying, "The prescribed scenarios aren't just the actor's job..."
Shang Yechu's heart skipped a beat, only to hear Qi Ming continue, "You're in charge of the internal scenarios, while the director and scene designer are responsible for the external scenarios—that's the right approach."
Some things don't need to be said. Shang Yechu already understood Qi Ming's meaning.
Lu Huaizhang and Diting didn't come to see the opera, so they could ignore the theater's environment. However, in this scene, Li Yiming is ostensibly accompanying Lu Huaizhang's wife to the opera—she has to react to the content of the opera and even the theater's environment!
Therefore, opera content is essential during filming. Otherwise, Li Yiming would not be able to accurately portray this "reaction".
Just like in science fiction movies where the protagonist needs to communicate with alien beings, in actual filming, there are obviously no alien beings. The crew will find a crew member to stand in for the alien and talk to the protagonist, allowing the protagonist to complete the dialogue and emotional exchange. Otherwise, the actor would just have to memorize the lines while timing it with a stopwatch.
Xu Hanwen canceled the opera performance on stage, leaving Shang Yechu to act in front of an empty stage. This undoubtedly greatly increased the difficulty for Shang Yechu to react to the situation.
This situation is tantamount to asking Shang Yechu to act as a student without providing a classroom or teacher. After Shang Yechu's performance, it's like pointing fingers and questioning him: Why didn't you actively answer class questions?
This matter cannot be entirely blamed on Shang Yechu.
As the director, Xu Hanwen had a responsibility to immerse Shang Yechu in the atmosphere of the theater. But he did the exact opposite!
No wonder Qi Ming was so surprised.
Qi Ming had been acting for many years and had met all kinds of directors. Seeing that Shang Yechu was silent, he patted her hand and comforted her, "Are you not familiar with Director Xu? Actually, you can talk to him more and say something sweet."
Why did Xu Hanwen do this?
Shang Yechu had no idea what Xu Hanwen was planning. She only knew that those involved were often blinded, while bystanders saw things clearly. Since an experienced actor like Qi Ming could see through this, then Zheng Bohan, Lu Huaizhang, the actor playing Diting, and even Shi Shan should all be able to see it too.
But none of them mentioned it, and they just watched Shang Yechu film in such a sorry state for seven days...
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