Filming location of "Tianji Tower".
Generally speaking, before filming begins, the main creative team needs to get together to discuss their thoughts and understanding of the script and characters. This is to ensure everyone is on the same page and avoid situations where one person writes their own thing while the other acts their own.
But such chats and gatherings are clearly beyond the reach of someone of Shang Yechu's level. What Shang Yechu needs to do is to honestly work and be a supporting character who doesn't cause trouble.
When Shang Yechu arrived at the scene, filming had already begun.
It wasn't Shang Yechu's turn to go on stage yet; she hadn't even had her makeup done. She could only find a corner and wait patiently for the assistant director's call.
Most extras spend their years waiting like this, and Shang Yechu has gotten used to it.
Shang Yechu's gaze swept across the film set, growing increasingly alarmed with each glance.
The cast of "Tianji Tower" is surprisingly luxurious.
This "luxury" doesn't refer to the actors' fame, but rather to the quality of the actors and crew.
The thin man standing not far from Shang Yechu, gesturing wildly, had a slender, eagle-like face and a short stature, making him unremarkable at first glance. Judging by appearance alone, few would recognize this small man. But mention his name, and many martial arts drama enthusiasts would instantly recognize him!
He Yuan is the foremost martial arts instructor in mainland China and one of the few figures in the mainland who can be compared to martial arts instructors from Baogang.
The man chatting with the action choreographer was a refined middle-aged man who still retained his charm. Time had worn away his features, but the elegance in his eyes and the well-defined lines of his face still hinted at his former grace.
Shang Yechu certainly recognized him. He was a veteran actor who had been popular in the entertainment industry for over thirty years, and was once known as "the most handsome man in period dramas." He was Jiang Erjing, the first person officially chosen by CTS (China Television System) to star in period dramas.
An elderly man, dressed in black robes and with a prosperous appearance, was adjusting the wires on the set. He was fair-skinned and beardless—not naturally so, but freshly shaved. His character was presumably a eunuch.
The face of this portly old man is familiar to generations of Chinese viewers. He is none other than Mr. Ge Dafu, a veteran supporting actor in Chinese dramas and a specialist in playing eunuchs.
Shang Yechu looked towards the other end of the film set and saw Director Yi Tianzhao talking to an actress of similar age. The actress was dressed in a light red jacket and skirt, with striking features and heavy makeup. Shang Yechu glanced at her a few more times before recognizing her as Shi Qing, a famous TVB actress who had won the Best Supporting Actress award at Hong Kong TVB several times.
Without a doubt, this is a film set filled with talented actors.
The actors present may not have high salaries or large fan bases, and their combined popularity may not even be as high as a single trending topic about Su Ge holding hands with a certain young male idol.
But when it comes to acting skills, they can crush most of the entertainment industry!
Shang Yechu suddenly felt a sense of pressure. She was confident in her acting skills, after all, she had been working in the entertainment industry for over a decade. But everyone on the set, every single one of them, had been acting for longer than she had lived in her previous life!
Shang Yechu had already read most of the original novel of "Tianji Tower," titled "Phoenix Plays with Dragon: Tianji Tower." "Phoenix Plays with Dragon: Tianji Tower" wasn't long, only about 150,000 words. Every book in this series was around that number. In more fashionable terms, this word count was Jiang Shang Nongchaosheng's comfort zone.
Shang Yechu checked the actors' makeup and costumes against their roles in the film. Good, the supporting roles were all cast very faithfully to the original novel. Now, only the female lead, Xiao Fengque, was missing.
In her previous life, Shang Yechu had seen this movie. She remembered that the female lead, Xiao Fengque, was...
Speak of the devil, and he appears. Just as Shang Yechu was reminiscing about the female protagonist, a voice rang out behind him.
"Director Yi! Director Yi! Call Sister Yi and say she's coming right away!" A chubby girl wearing glasses ran up to Yi Tianzhao, panting, and said, "You're here... please wait a little longer."
Yi Tianzhao's expression didn't change, but Shang Yechu knew that she must be in a very bad mood.
On the first day of filming, the female lead was late. This would be a bad omen for any director.
"Understood," Yi Tianzhao said calmly. "Tell her there's no rush; we can film other scenes first."
The little girl with glasses, oblivious to the situation, happily thanked Yi Tianzhao upon hearing this: "Thank you for your understanding, Director Yi! Sister Huanyi has had a tough time lately too..."
"Alright, go ahead." Yi Tianzhao waved his hand, dismissing the thankful little girl, and turned around to wipe his glasses.
Shang Yechu observed Yi Tianzhao's expression with great interest. Just then, she suddenly felt someone sit down next to her.
Shang Yechu turned her head and saw a tall young man standing in front of her.
The newcomer was dressed in a narrow-sleeved purple shirt. Purple shirts were originally military uniforms, and their style was rather narrow. The muscular physique of the adult male, tucked into the neat and close-fitting military uniform, created a blatant sense of oppression.
However, beneath such a tall and robust physique lay a delicate and harmless face. The other person had fair and smooth skin, refined and three-dimensional features, and long eyelashes that, when lowered, made them resemble a porcelain doll.
The other person was sitting very close, and Shang Yechu subconsciously felt uncomfortable as her private space was being invaded, so she subtly moved to the side.
Four words involuntarily surfaced in Shang Yechu's mind: "King Kong Barbie".
"Hello. Who are you?" Shang Yechu asked hesitantly.
The newcomer gave a smile brimming with innocence and kindness. "My name is Li Yi. And yours?"
Shang Yechu glanced at the other person. "Shang Yechu. Are you the actor who plays Xiao Fengque's partner?"
Li Yi was taken aback: "How did you know?"
"Look at the clothes." Shang Yechu forced a smile. "Your costumes are of better quality than others."
Besides the absolute protagonist Xiao Fengque, there are also several male supporting characters with significant screen time in "Phoenix Plays with Dragon." For example, Xiao Fengque's partner, Xie An. Shang Yechu hasn't read the later parts of "Phoenix Plays with Dragon," but in the "Tianji Tower" unit, Xie An is arguably the male character with the most screen time.
Li Yi's makeup and appearance were exactly the same as Xie An's in the original novel, and even her appearance was very similar to the description in the novel. It would be difficult for Shang Ye Chu not to notice.
"Are you always this observant of others?" Li Yi asked curiously.
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