This scene, after post-production editing and special effects, will undoubtedly become a classic moment in the film. But stripping away the layers of post-production effects and editing, the core plot is actually shockingly simple: Ye Chu appears, stands outside the crowd for a while, and then walks to the center of the crowd.
The epic feel and composition are all things that Shao Guangji added later!
Young actors are most prone to misjudging the nuances. In Shao Guangji's imagination, Ye Chu's performance in this scene would either be bland and uninspired, like a street urchin visiting someone's door; or it would be overly greasy and utterly childish. In short, he needed to be properly coached.
But Ye Chu perfectly replicated Shao Guangji's vision—no, in fact, the Heavenly Emperor that Shao Guangji imagined was exactly like her!
Every movement, every step, every smile, even the amplitude of her movements as she weaved through the crowd, was exactly as Shao Guangji had anticipated. Ye Chu seemed to have read Shao Guangji's mind, appearing precisely in the most fitting position in every composition, lingering for the exact second, and then leaving without a second's delay!
This treatment gives Ye Chu a sense of detachment in every shot. Even though everyone is in the same frame, Ye Chu seems to be on a different level from everyone else.
God doesn't need to shout or bluff. God doesn't need slow motion or slow-motion shots to project an aura. The most important thing in portraying God is doing the same things as everyone else, yet appearing different. This is the legendary protagonist's halo.
To achieve this requires an extremely strong sense of conviction and imagination. Actors need to genuinely express that "I am different from others," but at the same time, they cannot react with confidence or arrogance because of these differences. Just as a person wouldn't be confident because they are different from an ant.
What surprised Shao Guangji the most was that when the extras were arguing and fighting, a fat extra, whether trying to steal the scene or by accident, actually pounced on Ye Chu from behind and was about to fall on her.
At this moment, if Ye Chu quickly dodges, she might give herself away. If she doesn't dodge, she might be knocked down by the extras, revealing her embarrassing state.
Shao Guangji is prepared for NG (no good) (in this case).
Unexpectedly, Ye Chu did not make any of the usual responses. As if she had eyes in the back of her head, she casually pulled out a burly man who was fighting fiercely from the crowd, and with a wave of her hand, pushed him away—or rather, threw him behind her.
Everyone present was certain that Ye Chu did not turn around or glance to the side at all throughout the entire process. The burly extra she had pulled out staggered as she dragged him behind her, and the fat extra precisely pounced on the burly man. The two of them collided in weight and barely managed to stand up, forming a perfect "human" shape.
The fat extra and the burly extra still had bewildered expressions on their faces.
The surrounding extras involuntarily stopped what they were doing, staring in disbelief at Ye Chu's retreating figure.
With a single, subtle movement, the Heavenly Lord's predictive and calculating abilities, as well as his detached and otherworldly demeanor, were perfectly demonstrated!
This shot was a stroke of genius, perfectly executed. Shao Guangji believed that even with careful planning, he could never have performed better than that scene. In that instant, Ye Chu's inhuman aura reached its peak. Shao Guangji believed that if someone fell in front of her, Ye Chu would unhesitatingly step over their body to get to them.
In science fiction films, humanity is a unified whole. The genre doesn't typically feature a single dominant male or female lead. After all, in a highly advanced technological age, the power of the individual is reduced to a negligible level—unless it's a fantasy superhero story. Therefore, science fiction films often focus on ensemble casts.
As the main character in the camera's view, Tianjun is easily overshadowed by the stellar supporting cast. The eccentric Taoist priest Lao Zhao, the highly intelligent Russian hacker Maxim, and the rebellious and audacious rebel leader Anika—each character is unique, charismatic, and possesses their own compelling storylines. Tianjun, however, lacks emotional fluctuations and a distinct "personality," and standing alongside these figures, he risks becoming invisible.
Shao Guangji had always harbored this concern. Only during today's filming did he realize that his hidden worries had seriously underestimated Ye Chu!
With just one appearance, Ye Chu created an insurmountable chasm between himself and the human characters. The more distinctive the personalities of Anika and the others became, the more it highlighted the divinity of the Heavenly Lord. It was like... like a group of children fooling around in front of a statue of a god.
Ye Chu walked with her eyes straight ahead, but Shao Guangji inexplicably felt that the deity in the camera lens was scrutinizing him from outside the lens. Perhaps the next second, the other party would turn around and say in his usual mocking tone, "So, Teacher Shao, who is the invisible one?"
He blinked subconsciously; it was all just an illusion.
Shao Guangji also noticed that Ye Chu's walking posture was very special. It was precise and orderly, with even the intervals between steps being almost identical. Each step seemed to have been carefully calculated and measured, yet it did not appear stiff at all; on the contrary, it was very graceful and natural.
Physical appearance is a crucial part of an actor's performance. For example, an emperor should possess a majestic and imposing presence. A lame person trying to conceal their limp will always have a slight limp. A courtesan walks with seductive glances, while a self-conscious child walks with a hunched back, avoiding eye contact. A hero walks with a crab-like gait, and a general has a protruding belly. The true skill lies in the details.
Shao Guangji had seen Ye Chu's gait before. Clean and crisp, very efficient. Not exactly graceful, but always seemed rushed. Shao Guangji had secretly resented this: A flustered Heavenly Emperor? What kind of talk is that!
It's very difficult to change a person's walking posture; otherwise, there wouldn't be the idiom "邯郸学步" (meaning to imitate someone from Handan). However, Ye Chu's gait and the way he swung his arms at this moment seemed like that of a completely different person, with no trace of his former self!
Acting is a profession that requires both talent and hard work.
Shao Guangji saw her talent in the aura Ye Chu exuded.
Shao Guangji saw her efforts in Ye Chu's gait as she walked step by step.
This is a very long shot.
Finally, the Heavenly Ruler passed through the strife-ridden humanity, through the historical corridors formed by human figures, and arrived at the very center of the crowd. Several leaders who had been arguing finally noticed her and looked over with puzzlement.
Anika felt a probing gaze sweep across her face. She unexpectedly met the gaze of the newcomer, and in those deep, sea-like eyes, there was a hint of longing, as if they had seen her long ago.
The world changes, and time flies.
For a split second, Anika's heart skipped a beat, and she blurted out a line in her native language that wasn't in the script at all:
Have we met somewhere before?
The Heavenly Emperor withdrew his gaze, not saying the line "How did you become like this?" as required by the script, but instead turned his attention to the arguing crowd.
"Gentlemen," said the Heavenly Emperor, "I have brought some news."
The sound was not loud; those on the outside couldn't even hear it clearly.
The Heavenly Emperor said, "Disposal is too time-consuming and labor-intensive. After deliberation, the God System has decided to throw all humans who are useless to the continuation of civilization to Earth."
The room fell silent instantly.
The Heavenly Emperor spoke clearly and calmly: "After the throwing is completed, the waste will be uniformly incinerated."
"At that time, the entire Earth will become an incinerator."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
