NOVEL WEB Chapter 141 Acting
Beside the film set.
Under a dark light block, Wen Lan was frowning intensively at the monitor screen, concentrating so much that he didn't notice the staff beside him handing over hot water.
Li Jing, sitting next to him, took the hot water for Wen Lan and placed it on the table, smilingly signaled the staff to leave, then refocused on the monitor screen.
At this moment, it was the first scene for the second female lead, set on an old street, having a conversation with the male supporting actor.
For the first time, Li Jing was watching a director filming on-site. Compared to Wen Lan's seriousness, he was more curious and intrigued.
In front of him, the monitor was connected to the camera, allowing him to see the footage being shot in real time, including the actors' expressions, scene composition, and lighting effects.
Watching the changing expressions of the male and female actors on screen, Li Jing, as an observer, maintained an attitude of appreciation and learning.
Compared to the seriousness of those around him, his leisure and comfort were distinctly different.
His initial purpose for investing in this movie was to experience filmmaking; now, sitting beside the director and observing the actors through the monitor, he had a unique feeling.
This feeling gave him a sense of spiritual fulfillment and satisfaction; childhood fantasies, once like a castle in the air and unattainable, were successfully realized in adulthood, making him deeply moved.
Experiencing a life he once fantasized about is, in itself, also his way of enjoying life.
Just then, Wen Lan, focused on the monitor, frowned, immediately picked up the walkie-talkie, and said deeply:
"Stop! Lili, tone down your expression, it needs to convey inner conflict, not just simple anger, that was entirely wrong."
As soon as the words fell, the scene fell silent, and the actors stopped their actions, turning to look in the direction of the monitor.
Wen Lan then got up and walked to the center of the film set, telling the actress playing Lili: "Lili's appearance is very important; you can't just act like an angry woman venting, her inner world and thoughts need to be expressed through your performance..."
In the scene, Li Jing stood nearby, watching Wen Lan continuously instructing the actress on her issues, even personally demonstrating the way to portray expressions.
The actress seemed somewhat at a loss, only nodding repeatedly, showing respect for Wen Lan, not daring to have the slightest personal insight.
"Brother Jing, want an orange? It's pretty sweet."
As Li Jing watched Wen Lan instructing the actors, he suddenly heard a crisp female voice beside him. Curiously, he turned and found a young girl with a pure and innocent appearance offering an orange to him.
Li Jing took the orange, curiously asked, "Are you a staff member or...?"
"I'm an actress."
The young girl looked very young, with long, shiny black hair, a delicate and lovely face, and large, bright, clear eyes that glowed with liveliness and smartness.
Speaking, she enthusiastically introduced herself to Li Jing: "Brother Jing, my name is Yang Xiaoxiu, you can call me Xiaoxiu."
"An actress?"
Li Jing recalled what Wen Lan had mentioned today about the shoot, furrowing his brows slightly: "But Director Wen told me today's shoot was just with those few people, didn't mention shooting with other actresses."
"I had a scene, but it's already shot."
Yang Xiaoxiu smiled faintly, explained generously: "Just a single shot; maybe Director Wen already forgot he shot me."
Hearing this, Li Jing remembered that in today's shoot, there was a scene where the male supporting actor buys a gift for the second female lead at an accessory store, surprised, he said: "You were the salesgirl in the accessory store?"
"Brother Jing, you have such a good memory to remember someone as small as me."
Yang Xiaoxiu's eyes lit up with a hint of surprise.
"Mainly because Director Wen explained the scene to me today to help me better learn about acting, so I remembered it."
Li Jing explained, then peeled the orange, eating while watching the actors who were preparing to reshoot: "Since your scene is already filmed, did you stay to learn from others' acting?"
"Hmm... sort of."
After hearing this, Yang Xiaoxiu also focused on the second female lead, who was about to reshoot the scene.
Having been trained by Wen Lan, the second female lead appeared a bit nervous, took a few deep breaths, and seemed determined to perform well this time.
With Wen Lan's cue over the walkie-talkie to start, the clapperboard was swiftly placed in front of the camera with a crisp snap, everyone's gaze concentrated on the actors, and filming resumed.
This time, the second female lead's emotions were much richer than before; Li Jing nodded slightly, about to praise her when he heard Yang Xiaoxiu's calm voice beside him.
Yang Xiaoxiu slightly shook her head: "No, this expression is too exaggerated, and her limbs are too tense, lacking naturalness."
Upon hearing this, Li Jing glanced at her, furrowing his brows, about to speak, when he heard Wen Lan call "cut" again.
Wen Lan strode out from behind the monitor, holding the script, shouted at the second female lead: "Dai Weiwei, what are you doing? Didn't you understand what I said earlier? What were you nodding about if you didn't get it?"
As he spoke, Wen Lan opened the script to show her the content, frowning admonished: "Did you fully understand this character? Your expressions are too exaggerated, and why are your limbs so tense? Is this the state your character should be in?"
"I'm sorry, Director Wen..."
Dai Weiwei's eyes turned red after being reprimanded, showing grievance, and bowed her head deeply.
Seeing this, Wen Lan couldn't help but turn around to take a deep breath, restraining his inner dissatisfaction, frowning and seriously said: "If tears were useful, there would be no need to learn acting; if apologies worked, what would I be a director for?"
He continued, staring at her lowered head, once again earnestly in a deep tone: "Dai Weiwei, acting is not a game. If you want to perform this role well, learn with your heart and perform with your heart instead of always brushing me off, understand?"
"Yes, I understand..."
"You don't understand at all!"
Seeing her demeanor, Wen Lan was infuriated and waved his hand: "Xiaowu, take her aside to adjust her emotions."
Li Jing watched as both Wen Lan and Dai Weiwei left the scene, a bit surprised he glanced at Yang Xiaoxiu beside him.
He realized her earlier words were exactly what Wen Lan had just said.
"Your acting seems really good?"
"Not bad, mainly because I'm more familiar with her character."
Yang Xiaoxiu smiled, neither complacent nor modest, calmly said: "I've read this script dozens of times, wrote insights and notes on every character, analyzed their relationships, behavior patterns, and psychological changes.
Actually, besides Dai Weiwei, the male actor just now didn't fully hit the mark either. It could be due to Dai Weiwei's influence, or maybe he didn't thoroughly understand his own character."
After hearing this, Li Jing was surprised internally, glancing at her youthful side profile, couldn't help but ask again: "What role did you say you played in this movie?" Enjoying the story? Find more at MV-LEMPYR.
"The salesgirl in the accessory store; ultimately, when the film is out, my screen time might not exceed five minutes."
As she spoke, Yang Xiaoxiu turned, lifting her hair, and smiled at Li Jing: "Brother Jing, do you think I'm being presumptuous, meddling too much?"
Li Jing, hearing this, didn't answer, instead looked her over, furrowing his brows, asked: "You're quite young, just graduated?"
"No." Yang Xiaoxiu shook her head: "I'm a student at Celestial Sea City Drama Academy, just in my second year."
"You're still a university student?"
"Yang Xiaoxiu! Come over and help move some things."
As Li Jing was about to ask a few more questions, he heard someone from the props team calling for help not far away.
Yang Xiaoxiu immediately turned and responded loudly, then smiled at Li Jing: "Brother Jing, it was nice talking to you; I hope you'll be willing to chat again next time."
With that, Yang Xiaoxiu jogged over, helping the few guys in the props team carry a heavy prop together.
Li Jing watched her figure, slightly furrowing his brows, just turned away when he heard Wen Lan's voice beside him: "How was it? Familiar with the filming site yet?"
Seeing Li Jing turn his head back, Wen Lan smiled slightly, then said: "You saw it just now, right? I'm very strict with actors, so I hope you'll take your role seriously.
I want all the characters in the book Mortal to truly come to life under my lens."
"Don't worry, since I want to experience acting once, I'll do it well so as not to delay your work."
Speaking, Li Jing seemed to recall something, asked in an unusual tone:
"I saw you said just now that Dai Weiwei didn't perform well, what about the male actor she was working with... how did he do?"