20.
“He said that he would come around to read the script together and that he wouldn’t be absent just because he didn’t live with us. Of course, the conditions on his side must be much better. I was thinking about hugging his thigh so I would get to live there
Zhuang Qin: “……”
Director Guo explained: “That’s what I thought but the crew is all here, and I can’t do anything special but you can. After you shoot, you will have a good relationship. Just live with him. You have too many encounters and you have to act scenes together often. ”
Zhuang Qin smiled and didn’t speak.
He wants to hug his thighs. It doesn’t hurt to have a better relationship, but he doesn’t want to stick to it too tightly. It would be obvious and annoying.
Director Guo took him down for dinner: “Dinner is a buffet. President Qiu is afraid that our crew and actors will not be used to the food here, so he said that he would find a few chefs to come over. We will have to settle for these for two days. There will be Chinese food in a few days. When filming starts, they will send lunch boxes to the staff every day. This is the restaurant. There is an indoor and an outdoor one. Breakfast and dinner are eaten here” He pointed out.
There are about fifty or sixty people from various departments of the crew, all of whom were professional teams found by Qiu Ming. There are individual rooms where two people live together, and a few rooms were kept empty for other actors who have not yet entered the group.
“This is the assistant director, Director Zhou. ”
“Hello. ” Zhuang Qin looked at the middle-aged assistant director with a half-bald head and felt familiar, but Director Guo didn’t mention his name again, so he forgot about it.
“This is Teacher Lin Song, who plays the Gangster brother in the film.”
“This is…”
Everyone is very enthusiastic about Zhuang Qin, but he was cautious while being friendly. He was the biggest star in this crew.
Zhuang Qin recognized everyone in the crew one by one, and Xiao Lian silently wrote down everyone’s name.
At night, Zhuang Qin fell asleep in a strange country and strange environment. He didn’t know if he was too unfamiliar with the bed or was just too excited but he didn’t fall asleep until midnight.
When he got up the next day, he was already familiar with his surroundings and walked out. Director Guo said: “The set is close by. It’s only a fifteen-minute walk. It’s very short. If you want to walk to the beach, it will take you forty minutes. ”
He took Zhuang Qin into An Ke’s home, the most important set of the film to look around: “It hasn’t been fully arranged yet and some things are still missing. ”
It was a small building with two floors. Besides, it was the street and even the grocery store had been restored. Next to it was rented and used as a dressing room and a warehouse for stacking photographic equipment.
With just these preliminary arrangements alone, plus months of hotel rent: that’s already a few million gone.
Director Guo asked, “By the way, do you want to go out in the afternoon or do you want to rest at the hotel? There is a script reading in the evening. ”
“I’ll go out. “Zhuang Qin said.
“First time in Thailand? ”
“First time. ”
“It’s a good place to look around. There are a lot of delicious things, but I can’t accompany you. ”
“It’s okay, Xiao Lian will accompany me.” When you come to a strange place to film or any foreign country, you have to first integrate into the local environment.
The appearance of the people around him, their accents, their clothes, and how the city looks are all closely related to his performance. And when shopping, one can buy some items that can be used as props.
Although it was a non-tourist city, Zhuang Qin still didn’t dare to take risks and went out fully covered. As a result, he spent the afternoon shopping and buying some gadgets, and the rest of the time was spent eating.
At 6 pm, Director Guo reminded the crew that the script reading will start at 7 pm. Zhuang Qin returned to the hotel with a fresh coconut drink.
“You’re back? Just in time, we will start reading the script in half an hour. Have you eaten dinner yet?”
“I ate outside”. He went to take a shower and fifteen minutes later, he’d changed into clothes and come downstairs. He saw several actors leisurely sitting by the swimming pool. A few chairs were arranged in a circle. It wasn’t overly formal and very relaxing.
Li Mu was also there.
Except for the two protagonists of “Hidden Heart”, the rest are middle-aged and elderly actors. In a group of these people, Li Mu’s figure was simply fairy-like.
This time he was dressed casually in short sleeves. He had a slightly lazy posture while sitting with the others. His back relaxed and leaned back on the chair. Because he was sitting on the edge, his long legs were stretched out and his thighs were slightly apart as he held a script in his hand.
When he didn’t speak, he had a very amazing aura. A glimmer of light swept across his handsome side face. Zhuang Qin had seen many beauties in the circle of all types, but Li Mu’s was really unique. He had a complete 360-degree face with no dead ends or angles.
As Zhuang Qin looked over, the two of them made eye contact and he nodded in greeting.
Qiu Ming was also lying leisurely on a lounge chair under an umbrella and drinking beer as if he was just there to watch a show.
“Okay, everyone is here. Although everyone has the information of the crew in their hands, let’s introduce ourselves again, and then start the reading ”
Zhuang Qin saw an empty chair and took a seat. It was a wicker chair with two cushions. He leaned back and listened to Director Guo say, “Then let’s go clockwise. I’ll start. I, Guo Baozhen, am the director of “Hidden Heart” and one of the screenwriters. The other screenwriter is a good friend of mine but didn’t come here today. I will introduce them next time. ”
After he finished speaking, it was the assistant director’s turn: “I am Zhou Yanwen and I have been in the industry for more than 20 years. ”
Hearing the name, Zhuang Qin remembered the name of this Director Zhou.
He has been making commercial films for more than 20 years and had a lot of experience. Why did he come to their crew as an assistant director?
After the round of introductions, the reading began. Zhuang Qin deliberately took out his notebook. The main purpose of this reading was to correct and get rid of any unreasonable and unsatisfactory lines.
There are only a few actors reading around, and most of the lines belong to Li Mu and Zhuang Qin.
Surrounded by people from various departments of the crew, Zhuang Qin was a little embarrassed at first, but he quickly put on a professional attitude.
When he spoke, everyone around him was surprised.
The young man’s line skills are so good?
They watched his dubbed TV series and thought his speaking skills were not very good. His original voice was so powerful. When he spoke there was an immediate underlying feeling from it.
It is worthy of being classed highly.
Zhuang Qin had already exchanged lines with Li Mu once before. This was the second time. Their dialogue was very skillful and smooth. Both of them instantly entered the play. Li Mu, a newcomer who no one knew, was even more surprising.
After entering the group, people gossiped. It was no secret that Li Mu brought capital into the group and that Director Guo was given tens of millions for the role. Who knew that when you met him, he was actually a top-notch handsome man in the circle, with a temperament like a nobleman. He spoke very little, his tone was very polite, and his lines were well-spoken. He didn’t look like an actor who brought capital into the group.
Of course, everyone is a professional actor. They are surprised in their hearts, but it didn’t show on their faces.
Zhuang Qin had too many lines, and because he was too absorbed, his whole body was tense and sweating. Xiao Lian went to get a fan to blow him.
The fan was turned up to the maximum and blew his black hair. When it got to unsatisfactory places, Zhuang Qin would stop for a while and Director Guo would propose changes: “This word has to be replaced. ”
When the later lines became a little ambiguous, Zhuang Qin suddenly seemed to get stuck several times. Director Guo flipped through the script: “That’s it for today.”
At half-past nine, Zhuang Qin’s voice was a little hoarse.
“Tomorrow we will continue the reading and finish the rest of the script. The day after tomorrow will be the opening ceremony. We’ll finalize the makeup, and the official booting will be on the 13th. After speaking, the crew dispersed, leaving Director Guo alone with Zhuang Qin and Li Mu: “Your lines are pretty smooth, right?”
Li Mu “Hmm”
Zhuang Qin: “We met once a few days ago.”
Director Guo used the script to fan himself: “I was afraid that you two would be embarrassed at first. ”
Zhuang Qin smiled: “I’m an actor. This is my profession. ”
“Good, being professional is enough.” Director Guo’s tone was appreciative, “But some parts are still a bit stuck. I’ll mark out your intimate scenes separately. Tomorrow afternoon, the three of us will rehearse together and we will do the rest with the crew in the evening.”
Zhuang Qin breathed a sigh of relief. He was nervous with more people so it would be much better if there were fewer people.
“Thank you, Director Guo. ”
“It’s a small thing. ”
Director Guo turned to Li Mu: “You have too many intimate scenes. Shooting officially starts on the 13th. You should communicate and get along more in private. For the next day’s scene, you will act as a couple on the first day. This is what I want you to do but you live so far away…”
Li Mu replied: “I will do activities here in the future and I go over there to just sleep. I will come early in the morning. Director Guo can rest assured. ”
Director Guo nodded: “In that case, I won’t keep your room for you. If you two want to rehearse together, you can find a place by yourself.”
There are still a lot of things to do in the crew. He was already very busy. After talking to them, he went to find the cameraman, and then the art director to explain one by one.
At night, the blue swimming pool reflected the bright lights. The air was sultry and the sound of the electric fans was whirring. The two of them were still sitting in the same place. Zhuang Qin was about to speak when Qiu Ming squeezed in from the side and greeted him enthusiastically: “Teacher Zhuang, your lines are so good!”
Zhuang Qin’s hand was suddenly held by him and he was very uncomfortable. Thinking of President Qiu’s rumors, he subconsciously pulled his hand back but Qiu Ming held on and shook it the same way a fan would before letting go.
“I watched from the side just now…” Before he finished speaking, Qiu Ming was poked away by Li Mu.
Qiu Ming took a few steps back and looked at him.
“I have something to tell him, you go and stay over there. ”
“……eh? “Qiu Ming looked at his cold eyebrows and shrank a little, “…Okay.”
Qiu Ming went away but Li Mu still didn’t speak. Zhuang Qin was a little puzzled. Did it take so long to say something?
They silently looked at each other for a moment.
Li Mu said, “I won’t do the rehearsal today. I’ll do it the night after tomorrow. Your throat is sore. Do you have any throat lozenges? ”
“I have some,” Zhuang Qin said, “Do you have? I still have a lot left. ”
Li Mu said he didn’t bring it.
Zhuang Qin: “Wait, I’ll bring it down for you.”
“Give it to me tomorrow.”
The two said good night briefly, and Zhuang Qin went upstairs to rest.
At the end of the second day’s reading, some changes were made to the script, which involved very ambiguous parts. Zhuang Qin was only a little slow in delivering the lines.
Director Guo thought that his line skills were good, so he didn’t correct him: “The direction is right and the feelings are also there, but it’s not enough. Can you prepare for the scene on the 13th? ”
“Li Mu and I will rehearse in advance tomorrow night so it should be fine. ”
The makeup part is even simpler. Movies pay attention to texture, and makeup generally only highlights the characteristics of the characters. The makeup artist didn’t even apply a makeup base to him, just did a little touch-up: “The camera will widen the look of a person, and the role of An Ke should be thinner.”
Zhuang Qin felt a little guilty when he thought that he had eaten a little too much in the past few days and hadn’t practiced much.
There are disadvantages to staying in this type of hotel. He can only stand upside down in the room, and can’t do anything else. He can’t even get up early to practice because it will disturb others.
Fortunately, the shooting only took a little more than three months to finish.
The main actors took the film photos one by one, and when the principal and assistant directors saw them, there wasn’t a problem. Even at the end of the day, there was still the opening banquet to attend. Halfway through, Zhuang Qin left the scene early and stood on the side of the road to send a message to Li Mu: “Are we going to rehearse the scene now?”
“Wait for me, I’ll come out. ”
After a while, Li Mu came out. His slender fingers hooked his car keys and tilted his head slightly, shouting at him: “Get in.”
The crew rented a lot of cars, but Li Mu’s Hummer should have been recently bought.
Zhuang Qin got in the car. Xiao Lian also went up and closed the door. Li Mu started the car: “Go back to the hotel? Or go to my place?.”
“Go to my place, Director Guo said tomorrow’s scene will be from morning till night. We’d have to buy this and buy that, with only a few lines. Zhuang Qin took out the script and turned to the scene arranged in the shooting plan.
Li Mu said ”hmm”.
The scene tomorrow will be filmed outdoors. It is the part in which Jiang Zhuo takes An ke, who rarely goes out, shopping and to buy things. It is also to pave the way for the villain to come in.
That’s all. Judging from Zhuang Qin’s experience in editing films, this scene will only retain up to 30 seconds of footage, and the rest will be cut off in the finished film.
Nevertheless, it still took a day to shoot.
When he arrived at the hotel and entered the room, Zhuang Qin asked him to come in while kicking the suitcase on the ground away: “it’s a bit messy here. Don’t mind it. ”
Only then did Li Mu know that the room environment was actually so simple. There was a small number of summer clothes hanging on the hangers, electronic products were piled on the table, and there were some small snack bags. With three of them in the room, it immediately became crowded.
He frowned without a trace. Can he have a good rest in such an environment?
Zhuang Qin turned on the tablet and opened the storyboard that Director Guo sent him last night. The script was also spread out: “We are walking. This shot is spread out. From behind us, through the right shoulder, to the front middle shot, then close-up, and then we stop…”
Zhuang Qin first spoke about it according to his own understanding. He talked for at least three minutes. After speaking, he found that Li Mu didn’t speak and stared at him with deep eyes. He said, “I just spoke casually. Let’s just start”
Li Mu commented: “You have the talent to be a director. ”
Zhuang Qin heard that he was seriously complimenting and was a little pleased: “Thank you, shall we start?”
There isn’t much physical contact in this scene. Most was just the act of “holding hands”.
Li Mu held his wrist.
The scene smoothly passed twice and Li Mu left. Zhuang Qin pondered over it a few times before going to bed. He felt that there wasn’t any problem with the scene tomorrow, so he went to bed with peace of mind.
The set was located on the street. Their whole crew was there and there were also a lot of locals. It was very chaotic.
Zhuang Qin had already put on makeup and changed his clothes. He sat in the car and put on the air conditioner. He looked down at the script for a while, and then looked up at the fenced-in studio outside the window.
Director Guo was giving a speech to the live audience: “The camera is here, don’t look at it, and don’t pay any special attention to the actors when you see them. There is no difference between how they usually look and how they look today. When the filming is over, everyone will get red packets. ”
The translator relayed the message across.
Zhuang Qin got out of the car, walked to the Humvee parked on another street, and knocked on the window.
The door opened from the inside. Zhuang Qin probed saying, “I guess it will take a while to start shooting. Shall we rehearse the scene first? ”
Li Mu put his hand on the top of the car frame and asked him to come up.
“Do you drink ice water? ”
“Yes. ”
Li Mu took a bottle from the car refrigerator and gave it to him. He said a few lines and turned it over and over several times, but seemed to gradually feel a bit worse.
Li Mu looked at him: “Don’t be nervous, let’s start again. ”
Zhuang Qin nodded.
Two hours later, Director Guo called them out and talked to them about their positionings: “Walk to this stall first and buy this thing… ”
“OK. “Zhuang Qin understood immediately. He only looked at the storyboard and knew where to stand.
“Are you all ready? ”
“yes. ”
“Hidden Heart”, Scene 70, First shot, Action! ”
An Ke flinched a little when he went out, and Jiang Zhuo said: “Don’t be afraid, follow me. ”
After the two of them went out, Jiang Zhuo turned to confirm that he was following and they walked to a stall. An Ke sniffed the aroma of the food and asked what it was.
Jiang Zhuo glanced at the Thai language and relayed it to him.
The first few shots went smoothly. It only took two shots to pass.
For the first day of filming, this was a very smooth start.
Until Jiang Zhuo found that his curiosity was too great. He often disappeared after following him, so he reached out to take his hand: “Follow me closely. ”
“Cut!” Director Guo looked up from behind the viewfinder, “What are you doing with his wrist, pulling him?” Hold hands! ”
Li Mu glanced down at him, and Zhuang Qin nodded to show that they would do whatever the director told them to do.
“Hidden Heart”, Scene 70, Second shot, Take 2, Action! ”
“Follow me closely. “Li Mu took his hand.
“Cut！ ”
“No, no, it’s unnatural. Let’s try a third time! ”
One NG after another made everyone present sweat. The sun was on their heads, and Zhuang Qin was so sunburned that his entire back was hot and his palms were sweating.
Only then did Zhuang Qin discover how harsh and strict Director Guo was. When directing scenes on the set, he showed a very professional attitude which was very different from his usual silly and shrewd appearance.
Take 12 After NG.
“Cut！ ”
“You are actors, why is holding hands so difficult! How would you shoot a kiss scene and fall in love later?!” He shouted, “Rest for half an hour!”
He saw from behind the viewfinder that Zhuang Qin and Li Mu were in the wrong state, and the problem seemed to be the action of holding hands.
Zhuang Qin went to the side to drink water and when Xiao Lian gave him the small fan, Director Guo called him over.
“And Li Mu! Both of you come here! ”
Li Mu was also sweating. The front chest and back of his shirt was soaked in sweat and stuck to his skin. His prominent muscle lines were in full view: “It’s my fault. ”
Zhuang Qin hurriedly said, “Director Guo, I’m sorry, I’m in a bit of a state…I didn’t mean to waste everyone’s time. ”
“I know, you both have a problem. That is, it’s awkward. Holding hands looks stiff and it doesn’t feel right. ”
The description of “doesn’t feel right” was very subtle. He can’t just say it directly because it’s not their acting that has the problem but the actor’s experience.
t/n: I couldn’t find another word to replace “actor’s experience”, but I hope the point Guo is trying to convey is understandable. The feelings aren’t there, they’re acting but it looks not right or maybe too good. If that makes any sense 🙃
Zhuang Qin apologized again: “I will adjust it. ”
Director Guo waved his hand: “It’s the first day so I understand, but you have to show a professional attitude. Everyone should rest. You are not allowed to rest. Go and stand next to me and hold hands for half an hour! This must be taken care of. If I don’t say so, you’re not allowed to let go, and don’t let go when you go to the toilet!”
