Chapter 52: Don

The crew heard the instruction and immediately shut off the machines, packed up the props, and wrapped the equipment neatly—no delays, the team had become increasingly professional.

"Cut that last segment." Fang Hong whispered to Wang Ran.

"Understood." Wang Ran nodded.

Fang Hong gave him a shove, signaling to move away! At that moment, Liu Tianxian was utterly bewildered—her emotions had just risen, and this man had abruptly interrupted her, and now they weren't even filming.

She couldn't help but feel curious, walking over to Fang Hong: "Was that really acceptable?"

"Of course it's acceptable, it's quite good, just a tiny flaw—needs a bit more refinement." Fang Hong even believed himself.

True or false? Liu Tianxian looked at him with skeptical eyes and said seriously: "I'm telling you, don't fool me."

"Do I look like I'm fooling you?"

Fang Hong met her gaze, his expression utterly sincere.

Faced with those deep eyes, Liu Tianxian couldn't read anything—staring too long made her feel like she'd sink in, so she reluctantly looked away.

After all, she wanted to act well, to give a good performance!

Fang Hong wasn't denying her the chance to perform—he just couldn't tolerate that level of acting, and there wasn't time to polish it.

Besides, that scene only set up the backstory—it didn't require any emotional intensity.

But the next scene? That's where Liu Tianxian had to shine—in an apartment, the very room she lived in.

The room had a certain bourgeois charm—typical for a literary young woman.

The plot: her boyfriend cheated, the wedding dress never arrived, and her boss Zhang Songwen called to berate her, sending her into a breakdown as she screamed back.

"Yifei, let me demonstrate once—you copy me exactly."

While the crew set up the apartment, Fang Hong seized the chance to train her—though it was last-minute cramming, better to cram than not at all.

Otherwise, the film's reception would be disastrous! Sure, it's retelling the screenwriter's story, but actors still need expressiveness! Without it, viewers might think Liu Tianxian was just being funny!

"Oh!"

Though Liu Tianxian's skill was poor, her humble attitude was good.

It was said she'd paid money to hire Zhang Songwen as a private coach to teach her acting—but Zhang Songwen wasn't here for this scene.

"This scene expresses your inner state—reluctance, sorrow. The most direct way to show it is mental numbness."

Fang Hong sat on a chair and demonstrated: "Watch my eyes and demeanor."

He slumped forward, his gaze unfocused, vacant like daydreaming—but you could clearly feel the sorrow within his emotion.

Liu Tianxian watched, grasping a bit of the technique.

"Then the phone rings—you think it's your boyfriend, so you quickly answer—but when you see the number, you're instantly disappointed."

As he spoke, Fang Hong mimed picking up the phone.

Hearing this, Liu Tianxian remembered her own birthday, waiting for the man's call, feeling that same flicker of disappointment.

The feeling was familiar! "When you hear your boss yelling, your pent-up frustration surges past control—you curse him as a bastard. At this moment, your emotion must explode. Got it?"

Fang Hong explained in detail, afraid she'd mess up, even demonstrating it himself.

Liu Tianxian listened intently and nodded: "I'll try."

In her previous film, Fang Hong hadn't coached her—nor was coaching needed; all she had to do was sit quietly and be a beautiful girl being chased.

This film was different—it entirely depended on the female lead's portrayal of heartbreak and her emotional state.

If Liu Tianxian failed, the film might flop—that's why Fang Hong was teaching her so seriously.

Training actors to perform was a director's essential skill! Just then, the crew finished setting the scene. Fang Hong returned to his director's chair and shouted: "Action!" The camera slowly pushed in, starting from the surroundings, then stopping squarely in front of Liu Tianxian.

This way, one shot captured the female lead's environment.

But the environment was lifeless—it needed emotion. By fixing the frame on Liu Tianxian, the emotion came from her. She sat on a chair, hugging the unworn wedding dress, staring blankly.

It looked decent. Fang Hong raised his hand, signaling the Assistant to make the call.

"Ding-ding-ding!"

Liu Tianxian snapped back to reality, picked up the phone, and immediately heard her boss's tirade.

For this scene, Liu Tianxian's lines were dubbed later—her line delivery was terrible!

But other actors recorded live—if the audio was too disjointed, they'd dub everything.

The female character was cruel, and cruel women spoke fast and sharp—Liu Tianxian's soft, high-pitched voice wouldn't work at all—it'd break immersion.

Plus, this scene had many voiceovers!

Fang Hong didn't tell Liu Tianxian they wouldn't be recording her live—he still had her do live audio, so she could better immerse herself in the performance.

After all, she was the creditor—and this film was funded entirely by her; she had every right to special treatment!

Liu Tianxian's emotions erupted, her face contorting as she screamed at the boss: "Bastard! You're all bastards!"

"Good. Do it again."

After filming, Fang Hong stood up and said: "Yifei, tone down your expression—after you hang up, your face should look wounded."

"Okay!" Liu Tianxian nodded.

They shot this scene multiple times before passing—but the rest of the scene was all crying.

Fang Hong patiently explained: "Don't overdo your expressions—just think of something sad, let the sorrow build gradually."

Liu Tianxian thought for a moment and nodded.

"Want me to give you eye drops?" Fang Hong asked.

"No, I can manage—I just need to prepare." Liu Tianxian affirmed.

This movie had many crying scenes—it was a test of her acting. How could she use props? That'd be so unartistic.

"Alright, if you don't know how to express it, say so—we'll figure it out together," Fang Hong warned.

Liu Tianxian looked intently at this man—no other director had ever coached her so personally, so carefully! Filming began again.

Liu Tianxian stood before the sink, scrubbing the soiled wedding dress with a toothbrush—gradually, she remembered something sad, and tears began to fall.

Then she tilted her head slightly, mouth open, crying harder and harder—it was all fine, except her expression looked like she was trying to sneeze but couldn't, and it was unbearable.

She had strong immersion, but some crew members couldn't help letting out a "puff!" as they laughed.

Immediately realizing it was inappropriate, they quickly covered their mouths! Others also tried their best to suppress their laughter.

Only Fang Hong remained calm; he was a professional and never laughed at others' weaknesses, unless he couldn't help it.

Liu Tianxian also noticed crew members laughing at her; though she felt a little hurt inside, she said nothing.

Adjust her mindset and continue acting! This scene was filmed several more times; although Liu Tianxian's performance was somewhat comical, the emotion was genuine.

As long as the editors use montage techniques in post-production, the feeling will come through and resonate with viewers.

During a break in filming, Liu Tianxian asked Fang Hong: "Was my acting just now bad?"

She had noticed that only this man hadn't laughed at her.

"No, it was great!" Fang Hong said.

"Don't lie to me—I saw people laughing at me," Liu Tianxian said, her tone tinged with melancholy.

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