Chapter 78: Filming in Progress: Tropes Win Hearts

Jin Li was receiving guidance from Screenwriter He.

Although the filming schedule was tight, the crew still needed to assess her acting skills to determine which scenes suited her best.

So Screenwriter He said, "The first scene is a very steady one, depicting the princess going on an outing. At that time, the princess is innocent and carefree, deeply infatuated with her beloved, the Commandery Prince, and friendly to everyone around her."

"You just need to remember that at this stage, the princess is still cherished by those around her and very happy, so her tone of voice should be cheerful."

Jin Li flipped to the corresponding pages, reviewed the plot content, and nodded involuntarily.

She had already changed into her costume, while a makeup artist worked on her styling nearby.

With the crew pressed for time and no one having the luxury to dawdle, Screenwriter He used this gap to explain the scenes to Jin Li.

"The second scene involves intense emotional conflict." Screenwriter He paused. "The princess learns that the Commandery Prince is getting engaged, feeling as though the sky is falling and the earth is splitting, because she had always believed she would become his wife."

"As the Emperor's favored daughter, she is the most noble woman in the world after the Empress; she can have anything she desires. Moreover, her feelings have always been openly expressed, so she never imagined the Commandery Prince would not marry her."

Jin Li flipped to that scene.

Upon hearing the news, the princess is combing her hair, holding a hairpin in her hand.

Overcome with agitation, the hairpin pierces her skin, drawing blood; she only snaps back to reality when her maid reminds her.

Screenwriter He specifically added, "I'm not asking you to actually stab yourself hard; just pretend. The bleeding palm will be added with special effects in post-production."

Jin Li nodded again. "Understood."

Screenwriter He continued, "Next is the third scene. In this one, after learning the Commandery Prince has someone he loves, the princess rushes to confront her father for clarity, only to discover she is to be sent far away for a political marriage."

"This news is announced by the Emperor in front of the Commandery Prince. The princess feels both humiliated and incredulous; she cannot accept being sent for a political marriage."

Jin Li turned to the corresponding plot, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Does the princess already know that a political marriage is a point of no return? She didn't expect her father to send her away for this purpose; is this shock even greater than the Commandery Prince refusing to marry her?"

Screenwriter He praised her insight, saying, "Exactly!"

"The princess is innocent and carefree, not stupid. Since ancient times, princesses sent for political marriages never meet good ends; only weak nations resort to such alliances to quell wars."

"In the past, small states would send their princesses here to select a consort. This time, however, it is our dynasty's princess being sent far away to marry. From this, one can see that our dynasty has already become very weak."

Jin Li recalled the entire script's content.

She had almost forgotten that this was not just an ancient romance drama, but also a grand male-led political intrigue story, with the dynasty's revival resting entirely on the Commandery Prince.

Later in the story, after the princess is sent far away for her political marriage, many events unfold within the dynasty, all resolved by the male and female leads turning the tide.

The female lead's role in all this...

...is not merely that of a virtuous helper; she is also an extraordinarily sharp and clever woman who several times anticipates the male lead's intentions, coordinating efforts from within and without.

Although this drama markets itself as an ancient romance and the plot appears ordinary at first glance, it possesses all the necessary elements of structure and progression. If filmed well, it might even become a modest hit.

Jin Li did not look down on these ancient romance dramas.

Those classic tropes are used over and over again; netizens complain about the lack of innovation on one hand, yet they keep coming back to watch on the other.

Why is that?

In one sentence: Since ancient times, deep affection rarely stays, but only tropes win people's hearts!

Innovation carries risks; it can either make you a god or leave you utterly ruined.

But tropes carry far less risk; you might get criticized for being old-fashioned, yet old-fashioned styles still have a market.

After finishing the scene briefing with Jin Li, Screenwriter He left the makeup room and headed to the director's resting area.

Inside the resting area...

...not only Director Li was present, but Producer Zhang was there as well.

Before Director Li could speak, Producer Zhang asked immediately, "How did it go? Did you communicate with Jin Li? What's your impression?"

Screenwriter He pondered for a moment, then slowly replied, "It's hard to say."

Producer Zhang urged anxiously, "If she's good, say she's good; if not, say she's not. Why give us this 'hard to say' answer, leaving us hanging like this?"

Director Li, however, seemed to guess something and remarked, "Is it that you initially thought she was a newcomer who knew nothing and needed extensive teaching, but after communicating with her, you felt she didn't act like a newcomer at all? Her attitude and everything else were very professional, making it difficult for you to be certain?"

Screenwriter He murmured, "Something like that, half and half."

He explained, "She didn't act like a newcomer; she didn't ask me many questions. Basically, I was the one doing all the talking. Yet, the few questions she did raise were quite insightful, showing she grasped the character's situation perfectly."

"But if I say she isn't a newcomer, I'm not sure either. She didn't engage in deep discussion about the character with me. My feeling is that she has already thoroughly analyzed the role, so she doesn't need further communication with me."

He shifted his tone, "However, I also feel that since she has never acted before, she shouldn't be this seasoned and shrewd. So, after thinking it over, I just can't figure out her style."

Seeing that both Director Li and Producer Zhang looked somewhat grave, Screenwriter He smiled freely.

"Don't be too nervous. We have to test her level before we can decide on the next steps. I've only streamlined some plot points in the script; I haven't made any major changes yet."

"I plan to wait until Jin Li films these three scenes today, assess her capabilities, and then decide how to proceed with revisions."

"The three scenes we selected show emotions escalating layer by layer, each stronger than the last. This will surely reveal her true level."

"We still have a few days. Let's take our time to polish it. As long as nothing like what happened with that previous unlucky actor occurs, we'll be fine."

Screenwriter He's words made sense. Producer Zhang and Director Li exchanged a glance and agreed there was nothing else to do for now.

No matter how anxious they were, it wouldn't help!

An hour later, Jin Li's makeup and styling were complete.

She felt that the crew's choice of these three scenes today was not only due to the escalating emotions but also because all three scenes utilize the same costume set.

Wearing the same costume would save the time needed for changing outfits and redoing makeup and styling.

The script supervisor was running around the set.

He had to coordinate many actors; for Jin Li's scenes, he had already called over the maids for the first scene in advance.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Get moving! Do you expect the whole crew to wait for you?"

"And the lighting team! The lighting brother, get over here quickly!"

"Has the blocking been rehearsed? Where is the stand-in for blocking?"

Jin Li ended up waiting on the spot for another ten minutes.

Jin Li waited in the same spot for another ten minutes.

After everyone was settled, she finally put down her "Five Gaokao, Three Simulations" and walked to the designated spot.

When the clapper loader came to notify her, he glanced over and thought: Hmm, this actor is quite diligent; she wasn't playing on her phone and only put down her script right before the performance.

Wait a minute!

The clapper loader blinked several times. "Five Years of Gaokao, Three Years of Simulations? That's not the script, is it?"

"Clapper loader, come quickly!"

Called out by someone, the clapper loader hurriedly ran off.

He wasn't much of a fan-chaser, only remembering actors by name; to him, Jin Li's face was a new one.

The clapper loader muttered to himself: Could the crew be so desperate they've hired a high school student to play the Princess?

Although her age fits well enough, will her acting skills hold up?

Soon after, Jin Li proved to everyone through her own actions—

Whether her acting skills were up to the task or not.

"First scene, action!"

"Princess, these flowers are so beautiful!" a maid said.

"Princess, these are peach blossoms. Seeing so many peach blossoms on this outing, perhaps the Princess will even see the Commandery Prince today!" another maid said.

Jin Li plucked a peach blossom, adopted the shy demeanor of a young girl, and tucked the flower into her raven-black hair.

With the flow of her brows and eyes, she displayed nothing but innocent vivacity, untouched by worldly dust.

She turned to ask the maids, "Do you think I look beautiful?"

"Beautiful! The Commandery Prince will surely like it too!"

Still carefully holding the flower in her hair with one hand, Jin Li exclaimed in feigned anger, "Who cares if that blockhead likes it!"

Outside the camera lens, one group scattered fake petals from a tall building, while another group used a blower to waft the petals around.

Chaotically dancing outside the lens, yet aesthetically moving within it.

"Cut!"

Director Li called a halt, reviewed the footage, and felt Jin Li's performance was acceptable.

Flaws certainly existed; even if there were none, some had to be found.

If striving for perfection, they should ideally film it again to allow for editing choices later, selecting the best take.

However, since Jin Li's time was limited and her energy insufficient for prolonged filming, Director Li immediately decided, "One take is enough. Prepare for the next scene!"

The next scene was an indoor one, requiring the entire crew to change locations.

But in pursuit of efficiency, Filming Group A had already been arranged to enter the indoor set in advance, so Jin Li and Director Li only needed to proceed to the predetermined scene to start filming immediately, without waiting for the main crew to move.

In the film and television city, every few steps revealed a different scenery.

Jin Li walked for just a few minutes before arriving at the indoor scene reserved by the crew.

She sat down and glanced at the exquisite bronze mirror before her.

After only a curious look, she picked up her "Five Gaokao, Three Simulations" again and continued solving problems.

Director Li wouldn't start filming that quickly; every bit of time squeezed out for studying counted.

In a state of focused concentration, she could make one minute feel like three, her efficiency soaring.

As for the script, Jin Li had already memorized all her lines, so she didn't need to flip through it at all.

Perhaps she had grown accustomed to acting in the Heavenly Realm before; this time acting in the mortal world, she felt quite capable.

In the Heavenly Realm, she had been a little drama queen.

In the mortal world, she was gradually rediscovering that former feeling.

Ten minutes later, Director Li and the entire crew were ready.

Jin Li asked Xiao Luo to take away her "Five Gaokao, Three Simulations" and help her tidy her appearance.

"Second scene, action!"

While one maid helped Jin Li with her makeup, others brought out hairpins for her to choose from. "Princess, which one would you like to wear today?"

Jin Li lightly pointed with her bare hand; under the lens, that hand appeared slender and distinct, like scallion whites.

Director Li immediately zoomed in for a close-up of those hands!

He still had other cameras before him, continuing to film the wide shot.

Jin Li pointed to one of the hairpins; she had once seen this particular hairpin in the Commandery Prince's hands and assumed he had bought it to give to her.

Filled with joy, she had sent someone to buy that hairpin as well.

"This one!"

Just as the maid was about to take down the hairpin, Jin Li suddenly said, "Eh, wait!"

She took down the hairpin herself, looked into the bronze mirror, and smiled, saying, "I will pin it myself."

Suddenly, a maid rushed in hurriedly.

"Princess, something terrible has happened!"

The head maid immediately scolded, "What is all this panic? What if you frighten the Princess!"

Jin Li said, "Alright, alright, I am fine!"

She asked, "What has happened? Why are you so panicked?"

That maid knelt on the ground, trembling as she spoke, "Just... just now, as this servant passed by the Chengtian Hall, I... I heard the young eunuch guarding outside say that the Commandery Prince... the Commandery Prince has expressed to His Majesty his desire to request marriage with the daughter of the Minister of Works!"

Bang!

Jin Li's expression turned panicky; as if accompanied by its own background music, something shattered.

She fiercely clenched the hairpin in her hand. "Impossible, this is impossible!"

"He cannot be unaware of my feelings! I have said many times that I wish to marry him; he cannot fail to understand my meaning!"

The head maid exclaimed urgently, "Your Highness, your hand!"

Jin Li looked down; the sharp tip of the hairpin had sliced her palm, drawing a streak of deep red blood.

Only then did she seem to emerge from an endless nightmare. She immediately loosened her grip; the hairpin slipped and crashed heavily to the floor.

At the same moment, a crystal-clear tear slid from her eye.

"Cut!" Director Li called a halt.

He watched the footage on the monitor over and over; Jin Li's portrayal of panic was something he had not anticipated.

How to put it...

It differed from what he had envisioned, yet the resulting effect was surprisingly good.

Director Li pondered for a moment, then said, "This take is approved!"

The rest of the crew couldn't help but feel surprised; this scene had passed in a single take again?

The way they looked at Jin Li had changed somewhat.

This actress seemed to have some real skill!

The next scene required intense emotion, so Director Li gave Jin Li half an hour to rest and adjust her state.

Because Jin Li's performance had given Director Li a pleasant surprise, he specifically summoned Screenwriter He to go over the scene with her.

Yet within five minutes, Screenwriter He returned with a strange expression.

Director Li and Producer Zhang were still watching the monitor, reviewing the scene Jin Li had just filmed.

"Her acting is quite unique; she seems to have a natural talent for it."

"Mm, she is more vivid than those trained in academies, less formulaic, yet she doesn't seem to follow the Method either; traces of performance are still visible."

"If carefully polished and refined, she might well become a fine jade."

Catching Screenwriter He out of the corner of his eye, Producer Zhang asked, "Eh, why are you back already?"

Director Li also asked, "Have you finished explaining the scene?"

Screenwriter He said helplessly, "You're overthinking it; she doesn't need me to explain anything. I asked if there was anything she couldn't understand, and Jin Li said she understood most of it and found nothing incomprehensible."

"After saying that, she lowered her head to work through 'Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Simulation Tests.' I watched her solving problems—physics problems, specifically."

"I only left after watching her diligently solve one problem. Setting other things aside, Jin Li is incredibly driven when it comes to studying!"

As if recalling something, Director Li said, "I heard from Qiu Qiwen that she brought Jin Li in to act. I specifically searched her background; she only has a junior high school diploma, and I believe she mentioned wanting to take the university entrance exams?"

Producer Zhang replied, "I know about that; she is also the public welfare ambassador for Maozhua Live Streaming."

"Last week, during a live stream to support farmers, she exhausted herself to the point of fainting, yet she returned to participate the next day. Everyone in the industry praises her drive. Her channel is a study-focused live room; she often streams herself attending lectures and solving practice problems."

Screenwriter He said thoughtfully, "Going by that account, Jin Li possesses very strong willpower?"

Director Li affirmed, "She is so famous now; instead of rushing to accept every engagement, she chooses to study. That is not a decision an ordinary person could make."

Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend~

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(End of Chapter)