Chapter 718: Tired, can't shoot anymore, that's all (5600 words)

This day, it was pouring rain.

The site had to stop work.

Lu Yanhe sat under the eaves, listening to the rain.

The one playing his sister in the movie was Zhou Ruo.

She was also there today.

Zhou Ruo was a very delicate and quiet girl, looking like a student at first glance, not a female star in the entertainment industry.

Her temperament was very similar to Yu Mengling, both having that scholarly air.

In fact, she was indeed from a famous family; her grandfather and father were diplomats, her maternal grandfather was a leader in thoracic surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, her mother was a professor doing condensed matter physics research, a family of high knowledge.

Besides being an actor, Zhou Ruo was also a painter. To be precise, her identity as a painter was more famous.

When she was very young, her paintings were selected for several top exhibitions, and she became famous quite early.

When she was in college, while studying art, she became the heroine of her then-boyfriend's short film, accidentally becoming popular on the internet and receiving much attention, thus accidentally embarking on the path of an actor.

Of course, her acting path could not be copied by other actors at all.

She basically didn't make a living as an actor.

After all, the price of one of her paintings started at six figures.

Really calculating, it was a bit like another actress Lu Yanhe knew, He Saifei. In fact, she was already a film and television actor, but her identity was still mainly as an opera actor, as if she could leave the film and television circle at any time.

Zhou Ruo coming to play his sister also surprised him quite a bit.

However, Liu Bige said that Zhou Ruo contacted him actively after reading the script.

With Zhou Ruo's family background here, Long Yan of course opened the door to welcome her to play in this mainstream melody movie.

Zhou Ruo sat a meter away from him, also supporting her chin to watch the rain, her eyes clear, and having a charm like clouds and mist.

"Brother, do you prepare like this every time you shoot a play?"

In the crew, everyone addressed each other by character relationship.

This was Liu Bige's requirement.

Whether on or off the play.

Lu Yanhe came back to his senses, smiled at Zhou Ruo, and said: "Not really, different plays, different characters, different ways of preparation. This time it wasn't that I specifically wanted to prepare like this, it was just that when I was pondering the script, I naturally entered such a state."

Zhou Ruo nodded.

She looked at the rain curtain in front of her thoughtfully.

"You are so strange, clearly a person who acts with sensibility, yet you adjust your performance method so rationally."

Lu Yanhe smiled.

"I am not from a professional class, and I don't know how the academy school acts. I figured out a set of things suitable for myself."

Zhou Ruo: "Really amazing."

One week after the boot shooting, Chen Ziyan came again.

She came to see Lu Yanhe's situation.

Of course, she didn't say so.

Wang Biao told Chen Ziyan that Lu Yanhe's state seemed to have stabilized and did not develop in a more dangerous direction.

Chen Ziyan still wanted to see for herself, seeing is believing.

After coming, Chen Ziyan discovered that Lu Yanhe's state was indeed quite good, without that isolated and lonely state of "being cut off from the world."

Lu Yanhe smiled slightly at her and said: "I'm fine."

He knew clearly why Chen Ziyan came to the crew again.

"*Burning Fire* was released in Japan, and the box office was better than everyone's imagination. In two weeks, it took more than 40 million dollars at the box office, shocking everyone."

The news brought by Chen Ziyan made Lu Yanhe lose his mind slightly.

"Is it that amazing?"

"Yes." Chen Ziyan nodded, "This time *Burning Fire* was released in Japan, dozens of Japanese manga artists and writers promoted this movie on their social media. Siqi put a lot of effort behind it."

The publication of *Jump Up*'s collection of works in Japan was rarely relatively smooth.

Plus the works of Liu Jiazhen, Ming Yin, and others were published in Japan one after another, Chen Siqi's relationship with the Japanese publishing industry had always been very close.

Chen Ziyan said: "Long Yan didn't expect at all that *Burning Fire* would get such a high box office in Japan. They are now preparing to go to Japan to hold a meeting with the main creators to add fire."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"The pity is that the box office of *Burning Fire* in North America is not high. Green Valley refuses to do large-scale distribution. It is estimated that it will be about 5 million dollars at most."

"Long Yan refuses to lower the quote, and Green Valley will not take risks for them. 200 or 300 cinemas being able to get about 5 million dollars at the box office is actually quite good." Lu Yanhe said, "Then the overseas box office of *Burning Fire*, is it also 70 or 80 million dollars?"

"Almost, the box office in Japan is too explosive, accounting for more than half of the overseas box office." Chen Ziyan said, "Originally, there was really hope to impact the overseas box office of more than 100 million dollars. This is also a big income for Long Yan."

Lu Yanhe thought of the Chinese movie *Red Cliff* back then, directed by John Woo, which also exploded unexpectedly in Japan. The upper and lower parts each took more than 50 million dollars at the box office in Japan, and also exploded an average of 10 million dollars in South Korea.

In his view, in fact, the banner *Burning Fire* hit at that time was very similar to *Red Cliff*.

After all, East Asian culture is influenced by Chinese culture. Such an oriental fantasy special effects blockbuster based on Chinese traditional culture must be attractive to Japanese and Korean audiences.

As long as they know this movie is released—

Promoting through the manga artist and writer circle to open up popularity happens to have a very high overlap with the main audience of *Burning Fire* in Japan and South Korea.

"Chen Siqi once again proved her keenness in market marketing." Chen Ziyan smiled, "She, now she is already at the top in the country in film marketing. Domestic big productions, it is estimated that they will prioritize finding them to do film marketing."

Lu Yanhe nodded upon hearing this.

"Long Yan's promotional team is also very interesting. They want to get the contact information of those manga artists and writers who helped *Burning Fire* promote from Jump Up, saying they want to send them thank-you peripherals." Chen Ziyan smiled, "Chen Siqi directly sent a message to Mrs. Huang, telling her to manage her subordinates well. If there are such ideas of overstepping, she will not take Long Yan's orders in the future. Too rigid."

Lu Yanhe also laughed when he heard it.

He said: "Why is she so direct?"

"Siqi is not afraid." Chen Ziyan said, "The film and television marketing of Jump Up itself is in a state of short supply. They take the boutique route. People take sacks of money to smash them, but it is very difficult to smash them. They have told the industry that they must watch the film before taking orders, and decide whether to take it after evaluation and review. This kind of top-level marketing team that does not take quantity and does not take pure party B is the darling of the market, and everyone is grabbing it."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

So, no matter what position you are engaged in, what work you do, you must try your best to put yourself in a position where "others are irreplaceable," so you have more say and choice.

"Long Yan." Chen Ziyan sighed with a smile.

"Long Yan." Lu Yanhe also smiled.

Chen Ziyan asked: "For this movie *Storm Calmer No. 1*, is there anything that needs me to prepare in advance?"

Lu Yanhe shook his head.

"Okay, *Those Years* has already started shooting, everything is normal, Chen Yin went to the crew personally to watch it." Chen Ziyan said with a smile.

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"There is one more thing, your album has been recorded almost, but it is a bit difficult to produce and sell the physical album before your birthday in September. My idea is to cooperate with your birthday and go online on major platforms in the form of an electronic album, because this activity is also themed on your birthday, to give a gift to all fans." Chen Ziyan said, "What do you think?"

Lu Yanhe nodded: "Okay."

Chen Ziyan said: "After the album is released, we can plan the concert."

"Concert?"

"Didn't you want to do a concert before?" Chen Ziyan smiled at Lu Yanhe, "A tour concert may not be possible, but you can do a single concert, how about it?"

Lu Yanhe thought to himself, he wanted to do a concert at that time, intending to propose to Chen Siqi at the concert.

Actually, it's about the same.

It's okay.

Then let's plan it.

Lu Yanhe nodded with a smile, "Okay, then tentatively set to do a concert next year."

At this time, Zhou Ruo walked past them from the front.

Chen Ziyan's eyes lit up, and she said with some surprise: "This girl—"

Lu Yanhe turned to look at Chen Ziyan.

"What's wrong? She plays my sister in the movie, named Zhou Ruo."

"I know, I know her." Chen Ziyan said, "She is very beautiful, very recognizable, a face with a very cinematic feel. I thought about signing her before, but she refused."

Lu Yanhe was a bit surprised.

There are still people who refuse Chen Ziyan.

"She is really good-looking." Chen Ziyan said again.

In the entertainment industry, there is never a shortage of beauties.

Those who can make Chen Ziyan, who has seen countless people, repeat that they are good-looking in a short time, are few and far between.

"I think her temperament is very similar to Yu Mengling." Lu Yanhe said.

"But Yu Mengling is that kind of cold and graceful feeling of a female poet." Chen Ziyan said, "Zhou Ruo has a more elegant and quiet temperament like a mountain ghost."

Lu Yanhe nodded upon hearing this.

"Her temperament is unique, especially in the cultural background of China, it must be what the big directors are most moved by." Chen Ziyan said, "In the past few years, she has also acted in many movies, basically all such female images, and I really haven't seen her play that kind of very modern female role."

In *Storm Calmer No. 1*, the sister played by Zhou Ruo is also an image of a progressive female student, a girl as clean and pure as a white orchid, and her ending of being persecuted and dying innocently is also an important turning point for Lu Yanhe to be stimulated in the movie.

Lu Yanhe said: "However, I heard that she didn't take acting as a full-time profession. She doesn't seem to have signed an agency."

"Yes." Chen Ziyan nodded, "She basically only cooperates with a few fixed film companies. One of her classmates helps her part-time as an agent. Except in the movie, she basically can't be seen on other occasions. She may not be able to compare her popularity and popularity with popular stars, but she has a group of fans who like her style very much. In her small circle of fans, no one can compare to her."

Lu Yanhe said with a smile: "I feel that you still really want to sign her now."

"Yes, you are not wrong." Chen Ziyan nodded, "I see her as if I see a rare treasure."

Lu Yanhe asked: "Sister Ziyan, then why don't you ask again?"

"Forget it, it's useless to ask. She doesn't need an agency at all. Her intersection with the entertainment industry is really just acting." Chen Ziyan said, "She doesn't even count as an artist."

Lu Yanhe understood what Chen Ziyan meant.

"Moreover, my current identity is not suitable for signing her anymore. If I don't personally take charge of her work, others will do it, and I don't think they can understand how to bring out the most precious place in her."

Lu Yanhe heard Chen Ziyan actually have such a high evaluation of Zhou Ruo, and for a moment, he actually felt a bit jealous in his heart.

In *Storm Calmer No. 1*, the actors are almost all acting schools, and there is no one who can't act.

However, Liu Bige is still often dissatisfied.

What he is dissatisfied with is precisely that everyone is too good at acting.

He often calls to stop, pulls the actors behind the monitor, lets them look back at the shot fragments, and then says: "It's acted too well, but it's too steady. It's the kind of place where you should roar out, and in the next second, you roar out as expected. It fits our expectations for this scene very well, but I don't want this kind of 100% compliant thing."

The actors were confused by what Liu Bige said and couldn't find the direction.

Liu Bige found it difficult to explain clearly to them, so he could only re-shoot again and again, and then by mistake, some seconds were shot that he was satisfied with, so he quickly called the actors over and told them that he wanted this.

In fact, to put it bluntly, he wants 90% steady goodness, and also 10% things that don't fit the performance aesthetic system so much.

It's not that—restraint is always advanced.

A sudden out-of-control storm on the vast ocean is a more vast shocking experience than advanced.

Liu Bige wants that kind of instantaneous, fire-sparking thing that hits the magma like a fist and even forgets the pain.

Lu Yanhe thought to himself, for example, the raised eyebrows and the glance after Jiang Wenli knelt down in *Farewell My Concubine*, for example, the look in Zhang Guoli's eyes when he heard the vote result in *The Founding of a Republic*, for example, the raised eyes and a drop of tears after Zhang Ziyi said "Mr. Ye, I have had you in my heart" in *The Grandmaster*.

Those are performances that are completely in the mature performance system but cannot be accurately described by the so-called performance system.

The performance system is a norm, a mode, an aesthetic standard. Outside the standard is the art that cannot be copied.

Liu Bige's requirements are too high.

Every actor was tossed to death by him.

Including Yan He.

Yan He's action of looking up at Lu Yanhe, Liu Bige shot from the sunny afternoon to the dusk, and finally, Liu Bige said: "Mr. Yan, I didn't shoot the moment I wanted. Tomorrow we have to continue shooting this shot."

Yan He left the scene without saying a word.

Everyone thought he was angry, after all, he is such a big-name actor with such a status.

However, the next day, Yan He came again without saying a word.

For Liu Bige's almost perverted requirements for the lens, Lu Yanhe had fully experienced it.

He knew that he, as an actor, might have given 100%, but it didn't fit the look in Liu Bige's mind.

Then what can he do? He can only continue to give it again and again, and go to the depths of the soul where he doesn't know where the edge is again and again.

Often acting until work is finished, the person is completely collapsed, and the spirit is tired.

The summer gradually became hot.

However, air conditioning is not allowed on the set.

Liu Bige required the crew to make a one-to-one copy of the military intelligence station at that time corresponding to the movie.

What state people are in under different environments, this is a physiological reaction.

The scenes in the intelligence station are the most difficult for Lu Yanhe to act.

Because there is another layer of mask on top of one layer of mask, and another layer of performance under one layer of performance.

That grasp of propriety is not in Lu Yanhe's comfort zone.

Lu Yanhe knocked on the door and entered Yan He's office. At this time, he had already received the monitoring task and had to contact and familiarize himself with him in the name of work.

Such an action, knocking for an hour, Lu Yanhe didn't get into this door.

Because Liu Bige felt that Lu Yanhe knocked on the door wrong.

"You are a nobody, suddenly knocking on the door to see the deputy station chief."

"You have something on your mind, you are confused and uneasy, and you are forced to do it."

"You don't have such good acting skills, you are all wrong, but you still have to make yourself not show any flaws."

"Don't you have hesitation? No retreat? No forced and unavoidable by the station chief?"

"Can you express it?"

Liu Bige asked Lu Yanhe sentence by sentence.

Lu Yanhe was already a bit unable to hold it, and now he wished he could take a needle to sew Liu Bige's mouth.

"Let me be quiet."

"What's the use of you being quiet?" Liu Bige was relentless, following Lu Yanhe, "Does he have time to be quiet? Does he have a place to organize his thoughts? Is it useful to organize thoughts? Can this be designed?"

"Can you shut up!" Lu Yanhe scolded Liu Bige irritably.

People around were stunned, looking at them in surprise.

Liu Bige: "You think he wants to hear so many people talking? He wants to find a place without people to be quiet. Does he have such a place? This is a dragon's den and a tiger's lair. He is going to monitor the deputy station chief. What if the deputy station chief's people know, or even the deputy station chief knows directly? Can he have a good end?"

"Go to hell!" Lu Yanhe couldn't stand Liu Bige's stimulation method like Tang Seng—

Although he knew Liu Bige was helping him find his state, he still couldn't stand it.

"Don't bother me!"

Liu Bige pushed Lu Yanhe suddenly.

"I'm helping you find your state. If it weren't for your acting being really bad, who would want to spend so much time with you?"

Lu Yanhe staggered.

The staff around looked over with full faces of confusion.

Lu Yanhe's self-esteem at that moment, like smoke and dust, choked his eyes.

Seeing him, Liu Bige suddenly roared: "All departments prepare, start shooting in ten seconds!"

A group of people waiting were thinking something was going to happen, but suddenly received the instruction, and they were in a mess.

Lu Yanhe walked to the end of the corridor with his head down, the starting point of his head.

With a start, Lu Yanhe walked over with a somewhat stiff and somewhat hurried walking posture. His eyes were a little unfocused, looking at that door, as if he didn't see it.

He was still the slightly clumsy and upright appearance, but his eyes were like a wolf dog enduring the heat, hiding strength.

Then, slowly, that bit of strength wore away little by little.

The lens followed him completely, without any pause in the middle.

In one go.

Walking to the door, while raising his hand, he took a half-breath as if he couldn't breathe, held it, and bent his fingers down.

Thump.

Thump, thump.

He retracted his hand, his upper body tilted slightly, and his eyes became unfocused again.

This time it was because all his senses were concentrated on his ears.

The light at the end of the corridor condensed into a gray spot of light on his eyes.

"Come in."

Lu Yanhe straightened up, his movements had no pause, but he gave people a momentary stagnation in the process of movement. Was it hesitation and retreat?

The door opened.

He had no time to think.

The station chief's secretary was standing where he walked over, watching him enter the deputy station chief's room.

"Good, cut!"

Liu Bige let out a long sigh.

He watched this shot just now in the quiet expectation of everyone.

"Okay, pass!"

Lu Yanhe let out a long sigh.

Liu Bige walked over with a smile on his face.

Lu Yanhe stretched out a hand and made a gesture of stopping.

"I can't act anymore, don't talk to me, I'm going back to rest."

He didn't wait for Liu Bige's reply, and walked away with a slumped face.

The crew staff saw this scene and discussed it one after another.

"Is Lu Yanhe angry?"

"The director was a bit too much just now."

However, the next day, just like Yan He before, Lu Yanhe came as if nothing had happened.

Nothing else, he was just tired.

Really can't shoot anymore.

Manpower can't reach it, and forced support can't reach Liu Bige's standard.

Can only go back to rest.

That's all. ===== CHAPTER 719 =====