Chapter 24: Is the Movie Wrapped?

July.

The sound of cicadas chirped in waves.

Shen Long lit a "Da Qian Men" cigarette, costing two yuan and fifty cents a pack, and squatted silently at the entrance of the film crew, smoking in silence like a dead dog.

As he smoked, he trembled while flipping open the latest script for "Lin Daiyu Battles Lu Zhishen"...

Opening the first page, he looked at the characters on the wrinkled script...

He closed his eyes in despair.

They called it a script, but...

It was just one damn line: 【Ancient times, beautiful woman Lin Daiyu, Lu Zhishen, beast, action film】.

"How the hell am I supposed to shoot this?"

As the sun set, thick sunset clouds filled the sky; Shen Long pinched out the cigarette butt and suddenly sighed to the heavens...

"Director Shen, what's wrong? This script... holy shit!"

Zhang Yunyi, carrying the camera, walked over curiously after seeing Shen Long's heartbroken expression, but the moment he saw "Lin Daiyu Battles Lu Zhishen," he was instantly petrified.

"How do you think it should be shot?"

Shen Long handed the script to Zhang Yunyi.

Ancient times, action film, beautiful woman and beast... Lu Zhishen, Lin Daiyu...

Zhang Yunyi saw that series of keywords...

He couldn't control his twitching mouth corner; after a long while of not recovering, he finally looked at Shen Long bitterly: "Director Shen, this thing has too high an artistic component."

Shen Long silently packed up the script, sighed, and after a long time, as if making a firm decision, looked at Zhang Yunyi: "Zhang Laoshi, Director Zhou's meaning is to add some special effects to our 'Sun Wukong Battles Superman 2'..."

"What, special effects?" When Zhang Yunyi heard this, he was immediately shocked: "This thing, do special effects? How much investment are we getting?"

Shen Long remained silent.

Seeing Shen Long's expression, Zhang Yunyi turned pale with shock: "Don't tell me we have to hand-craft the special effects!"

Shen Long remained silent for a long time, then finally looked at Zhang Yunyi: "Zhang Laoshi, I remember, you cinematographers studied light and shadow, right? Using the camera, can you use cinematography techniques combined with visual illusions, along with props like lighting, to create it for me?"

"I..." Zhang Yunyi was dumbfounded: "Holy shit, do you think I'm omnipotent?"

"I know you are very talented..."

"I am not!"

"Don't rush, let's discuss it. Director Zhou said if we do this special effect well, he'll give us a big red envelope!"

"How much?"

"I don't know, but he emphasized the word 'big'! Probably five figures..."

"Is Director Zhou really that rich? I've been shooting for so many days, why do I feel more and more like we're doomed?"

"No! Absolutely not..."

Shen Long, imitating Zhou Yang's manner, patted Zhang Yunyi's shoulder and showed a smile.

Zhang Yunyi wanted to speak but held back, finally nodded, turned around, and left the office.

The moment Zhang Yunyi left the office...

Shen Long's smile gradually vanished.

And then...

Looking at the "Lin Daiyu Battles Lu Zhishen" script in his hand...

He pressed his hand over his heart, then frantically patted it!

Damn it!

Suddenly, I can't breathe!

Am I going to have a stroke just from reading the script?

"Damn it!"

"How am I supposed to write the script!"

Dusk.

The "Sun Wukong Battles Superman 2" film crew.

A crew of about ten people seemed to be getting crazier and crazier.

"Teacher Ding, that shot was awesome!"

"Teacher Ding, that move was great!"

"Teacher Ding, I just feel that having you as a production assistant is a waste of talent; look, your acting is simply natural!"

"Teacher Ding, continue, let's hurry up and shoot the next scene; come on, shout with me, Ruyi Jingu Bang!"

"..."

"Teacher Ding, damn it! Look, look at what acting is, what acting is; if this year's Golden Horse Award for Best Actor doesn't invite you, I won't accept it!"

"..."

Eight days ago.

Ding Rong was kicked out of the "Love Ferris Wheel" film crew and was recommended to join the "Sun Wukong Battles Superman 2" film crew.

At first, it was quite normal; he sorted out the production assistant work of the crew, planned a scheme in his mind, and originally intended to work hard...

But unexpectedly, whether it was because he used too much force while moving props or accidentally revealed a tiny bit of muscle, Director Zhou suddenly saw him, and after he was completely confused, shoved a script into his hands.

Then, before he even understood the situation, he was dragged to the center of the lens, put into a costume, and immediately started acting!

Immediately after, this film crew had begun developing in an increasingly crazy direction.

It seemed that whatever he did, whatever he acted, whatever lines he spoke, was praised!

He, who completely lacked acting skills and didn't even know what he was filming, just waved the stick around randomly...

And then, he received a round of praise from Director Zhou!

He spoke his lines with a bit too much force, his voice full of energy, and was praised again...

While filming on the battlefield set, he accidentally fell to the ground...

Before he even figured out what was happening...

Director Zhou, standing before the camera, immediately led the applause with great excitement, enthusiastically praising his acting as utterly natural, embodying Sun Wukong's unyielding spirit in the face of evil forces, and then simply called it a perfect take!

Ding Rong felt that if he kept filming, he would truly become a Best Actor in Director Zhou's eyes!

The key point was, he had no idea what he was acting!

Damn it!

Is this really a movie being filmed?

Evening, the sun set.

After being excitedly praised by Zhou Yang once again, Ding Rong removed his headgear, sat gloomily on the ground, and read his lines over and over.

At this moment, praised by Zhou Yang to the point where even he himself lacked confidence!

Damn it, could I really have acting skills?

No, no!

He felt that if he stayed on this film set any longer, he would go mad.

Just after memorizing his lines, pondering how to act out the final few scenes.

Yes, the final few scenes!

Basically, every single scene in this movie was done in one take.

How utterly insane was that?

Ding Rong remembered that even when he messed up his lines, Zhou Yang let him pass in one take, and loudly praised his line change as brilliant, simply adding the finishing touch!

Damn it!

Just as Ding Rong was bewildered in the wind, he saw Zhou Yang walking towards him with a smile.

"Director Zhou..."

"Teacher Ding, I can tell, you have some martial arts foundation!"

"A little, I practiced when I was young..."

"Very good, very good. After filming today, I thought about it for a long time, and ultimately feel you are suitable for action movies!"

"Huh?"

"The script for our new movie is already being created. Here, you come play the male lead in the new movie!"

"What? The male lead? Me?" Ding Rong pointed at himself, completely stunned!

"Yes!"

"But, I..."

"I approve of your acting skills, and I approve of your talent even more. You must participate in the new movie, only then will I feel a bit at ease..."

"..." Ding Rong listened blankly as Zhou Yang spoke these words, then looked at the script Zhou Yang handed over.

Ding Rong drew in a sharp breath of cold air!

He saw the title "Lin Daiyu Battles Lu Zhishen"!

When he looked up again, he saw Zhou Yang staring at his head: "How about we shave your hair off?"

"???"

………………………………

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was July 8.

The filming progress of "Love Ferris Wheel" was in full swing.

An Xiaoshi stayed on the set for a day, and her emotions gradually became somewhat suppressed.

What she did every day was very simple...

Wake up and wash, sit before the camera, watch the professional crew of the film set finish filming the movie, then silently return to the hotel to sleep.

Of course, she would also attend some plot discussion meetings, but basically the professional screenwriters did the work, while they were responsible for listening, occasionally offering some of their own suggestions, but most were not adopted.

She was like a complete outsider.

In the afternoon, because a heavy rainstorm fell, the filming progress of "Love Ferris Wheel" was temporarily halted.

On the way back to the hotel, she received a phone call.

"Director An..."

"Zhou Yang? What's wrong?"

"Our movie has wrapped filming!"

"??"

On the other end of the phone.

Zhou Yang's voice, like a bolt from the blue, shook An Xiaoshi into a state of stunned silence!

She looked at her mobile phone in disbelief.

For a moment, she suspected she had heard wrong!

Wait!

Did I not hear wrong?

What did he say?

"You're saying this film has wrapped?"

"Ten days, and the movie is finished?"

"..."

"Hey!"

"..."

"Hey?"

"So fast, already, wrapped? Cong-congratulations..." An Xiaoshi was already stunned.

"Yes, by the way, our new film is already in preparation. Director An, do you have any actresses of better quality?"

"What do you mean by better quality?"

"Just... sweet-looking, soft and cuddly, that kind. Best of all, to be blunt, big!"

"What exactly are you filming for your new movie!"

"Lin Daiyu Battles Lu Zhishen!"

"???"

A gentle breeze blew.

Upon hearing that name, An Xiaoshi's eyes widened, and then she grew excited.

"Zhou Yang, what movie are you actually filming!!!!"