Chapter 4: Visiting the Set

Most performance majors, upon entering a film crew for the first time, will feel the gap between reality and their ideals.

At school, you only need to learn and act as much as possible according to what the teacher taught and what you think is right.

But once you enter a film crew, everything is decided by the director; he won't accommodate you like a teacher, letting you try over and over, and your classmates won't be there to laugh at you.

On a film crew, every time "cut" is called, it wastes everyone's time, and every moment is money; that sense of pressure and those strange looks will increasingly cause one's mindset to lose balance, leading to poor performance, which eventually spirals out of control.

Therefore, visiting a set is also very necessary; to look at the film set from a third-person perspective, to put yourself in their shoes, to think, and to prepare.

Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen agreed to visit the set of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils"; they shouldn't have started concentrated location shooting during this period yet, otherwise, who would be willing to visit a set in Yunnan? Neither of them had that kind of time.

"Back then, Senior Sister Yan Danchen also competed for the role of Wang Yuyan; I heard that look was extremely beautiful, but in the end, she still lost to our Miss Liu," Zhu Yawen gossiped as he filled Lin Nan in.

Of course it was beautiful; how could the Chang'e from "The Lotus Lantern" not be beautiful?

Lin Nan had, after all, seen that makeup test clip on the internet.

With eyebrows slightly furrowed, she was naturally heart-touching and pitiful, with fair skin and a beautiful face that invited sympathy.

It's a pity she ran into Miss Liu; ever since then, the latter became famous in one battle and earned the nickname of "Fairy."

"You didn't go there just for those girls, did you?" Lin Nan looked at Zhu Yawen with the gaze one uses for a lecher.

"Aren't you the same? Which guy doesn't envy Lord Wei and Young Master Duan?"

"I envy Young Master Duan's father more," Lin Nan added weakly.

"That makes sense," Zhu Yawen was stunned for a moment before giving Lin Nan a thumbs up.

When they arrived at the set, the two were very glad they had brought their student IDs, which saved them a lot of trouble.

This production would be finished in five months at most; there weren't many scenes left in the capital, and they would focus on location shooting later.

After receiving the badges given by the staff, the two went inside along with some other visitors.

They were currently filming a dialogue-heavy scene, and some actors without parts were also watching from the sidelines.

"Little Whirlwind is really popular right now," Zhu Yawen said with envy.

"He is indeed red-hot," Lin Nan knew that the current Lin Zhiying was a figure who was red-hot across half the sky in Southeast Asia, especially in places like Thailand.

In the outermost circle, Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen just watched from afar, watching the stars.

"A goddess," Zhu Yawen saw Zhong Liti.

Lin Nan nodded in agreement; those female stars from Hong Kong were still peerless in their beauty, each with her own charm.

"Don't say, Senior Brother Hu from the Central Academy of Drama really has great acting skills; it's clearly a dialogue scene, but he looks just like a chivalrous hero," Lin Nan glanced at the scene of Qiao Feng's dialogue; he was worthy of being a future first-class actor.

This year, he won the Best Actor award at the Golden Thorn Awards for that film with Liu Ye.

Lin Nan saw Jiang Xin; this delicate and pretty little beauty was not yet the later, stout Consort Hua.

The director over there might have called "cut" and was communicating with a few supporting actors; Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen walked inward, wanting to circle around to get a closer look.

"Producer Zhang really knows how to pick people; the period costumes look better one after another," Lin Nan absolutely agreed with this; Zhang Jizhong's aesthetic for casting was definitely not bad.

The principle he upheld was that men must be handsome and women must be beautiful.

Lin Nan looked at Zhu Yawen; he remembered that Lao Zhu also followed the path of an acting-focused career, doing both period and modern dramas.

The two saw Chen Hao in costume and said in unison, "Beautiful."

"If I had known, I would have called that kid Luo Jin," Lao Zhu said with a hint of regret.

All in all, Lin Nan had only stayed at school for two months; he was closest to Zhu Yawen, and the girls got along with Zhou Yang.

As for the other classmates, except for those in the dormitory, they were really just classmates; they might see some in class, but otherwise, they really couldn't be seen.

But Lao Zhu was different; he had more friends than Lin Nan and could get along with everyone.

"Everyone is actively looking for film crews; who would be as idle as me to come visit a set with you? Can visiting a set compare to joining a crew?"

Lin Nan complained.

"Little Zhu," just as Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen were chatting nonsense, a voice called out from far behind.

Before Lin Nan could react, he saw Zhu Yawen waving his hand excitedly, "Xixi."

Then he brushed past Lin Nan and ran over.

Lin Nan turned around; in the distance, Liu Yifei, dressed in a pink outer garment and period costume, was smiling very brightly.

"If life could always be like the first time we met...", Lin Nan could only think of this line from Nalan to describe Miss Wang at this moment.

Her face and the peach blossoms reflected each other's redness; she was fifteen years old.

"Oh, Little Linzi is here too," she called out in surprise.

Lin Nan was speechless; could you not call me that, Miss Wang?

The two were led by Liu Yifei to a corner where there were several tents and many chairs; it was a place to rest.

"It's so great that you could come; how is it, do I look beautiful in this outfit?"

She spun around happily.

"Beautiful."

"Good-looking."

The young lady was clearly dissatisfied with this answer, but she could accept it.

The three sat on chairs; Liu Yifei's mother seemed to have just left.

"I even went back to school last month; I heard you went to film a movie, Little Linzi. How is it, have you finished filming? I also want to film a movie, I don't know when I'll have the chance..."

Perhaps she was stifled on the film crew; seeing familiar classmates, she talked a bit much.

"Finished filming. What are you envious of? It's just a low-budget film with an investment of a million or so; it can't compare to you, Miss Wang, who is stunningly beautiful," Lin Nan replied with a smile.

It was evident that the young lady was very pleased.

Zhu Yawen's look at Lin Nan was off; Linzi, I never knew you were so good at coaxing girls?

Then why do you always seem so blunt, like talking to a brother, when you talk to Zhou Yang?

One sentence after another, the three chatted very happily.

"It's a pity I'm going to Yunnan in two days; it's probably impossible for you to visit the set, but when I wrap up and come back, I'll bring you gifts."

Liu Yifei said with certainty.

At this moment, someone walked over, "Are you Xixi's classmates?"

Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen hurriedly stood up, "Hello, Auntie, I am Lin Nan (Zhu Yawen)."

Liu's mother had a smile on her face, but Lin Nan felt a sense of "strangers keep away."

"Mom, these are my classmates, Zhu Yawen and Lin Nan; Lin Nan has already filmed a movie."

Little Liu held Liu's mother's arm and introduced them.

"Oh, already filming a movie? What kind of film? Who is the director? Is it an art film or a commercial film?"

Liu's mother finally had some change; Lin Nan didn't expect the other party to ask three questions in a row, "Auntie, it's a low-budget film, a realistic subject, following the film festival route."

Lin Nan had to be vague; Liu's mother had a cold and aloof temperament and was still charming, a typical beauty, but beauties seemed to have a common flaw, which was arrogance.

With Liu's mother's vision, she definitely wouldn't look favorably upon "Blind Shaft."

"Oh, then you must work hard in the future and strive to film big productions," Liu's mother's tone lowered a bit.

"You guys chat, I'm going to check on the crew's side regarding your scene schedule," Liu's mother left again.

"My mom is just like this, a bit cold; I'm used to it, please don't mind," Liu Yifei also sensed the atmosphere just now.

"Auntie is right, we all have to work hard," Lin Nan said at the right time.

Zhu Yawen was much quieter; he was the only one who hadn't joined a crew yet, and watching Lin Nan and Liu Yifei chatting and laughing, he felt a bit jealous, "Sigh, consider my feelings, you two."

"Aren't you also joining a crew next year? Even if it's not the male lead, haha," Lin Nan teased.

The three talked and laughed for a long time; there seemed to be some arrangements on the crew's side, so Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen had to leave.

"Remember to bring me a gift, Miss Wang," Lin Nan looked at Liu Yifei with a smile.

"I definitely won't forget," Liu Yifei smiled happily; she looked very good.

The two left the film crew, preparing to take a car back to school.

"You're really something; I didn't see it before, you have a whole set of ways to coax girls. I just watched you two talking there without stopping," Zhu Yawen twisted his mouth and complained about Lin Nan.

"She's so good-looking, is it wrong for me to say a few more words?"

Lin Nan argued; he was purely appreciating beauty.

"No wrong, no wrong, everyone has a love for beauty."

Zhu Yawen couldn't win an argument with Lin Nan and was too lazy to talk.

"But when her mother came over just now, why did it feel... it always felt strange, as if..."

"As if you went to a wealthy classmate's house and were looked down upon by her mother?"

"Yes, yes, a little bit, especially when she heard you filmed a movie, she became a bit more enthusiastic," Zhu Yawen felt that was exactly it.

"Auntie Liu is a dancer who has won the Five-One Project Award and the Wenhua Performance Award; looking at us is just like looking at children, how much more enthusiastic could she be?"

Zhu Yawen was shocked by Lin Nan's words; he didn't know Liu Yifei's mother was so formidable.

Lin Nan knew that Liu's mother was a proud person and hoped her daughter would be equally proud, including her daughter's friends and circle.

It was already afternoon when the two returned to school; it was fortunate they had no classes, which gave them time to visit the set, otherwise they definitely wouldn't have caught "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils." When they returned, the crew had already started packing up, preparing to transfer to Yunnan ahead of schedule.

"How about we go eat something first?"

Zhu Yawen suggested.

Lin Nan agreed; the two didn't plan to go to the school cafeteria.

They ordered three home-style dishes and chatted while eating.

"I saw the 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' crew today; to be honest, I'm really envious. Yifei's starting point is really high, both 'The Story of a Noble Family' and 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'; I don't know when I'll be able to film a production of this scale," Zhu Yawen looked at Lin Nan and expressed his thoughts.

Lin Nan didn't know how to answer; in recent years, martial arts dramas were very popular, especially the novels of those masters, with Master Jin being the most prominent.

As long as it is a remake, the ratings are guaranteed to be high, and the productions are all brilliant; although those few remakes by Zhang Da were scolded for a long time after their release, as time passed, the internet would naturally vindicate them.

Once thought to be trash, who knew they would turn out to be works of conscience; without comparison, one wouldn't know what is good or bad.

"Rest assured, we will definitely become famous. You will have both Best Actor in a TV series and Best Actor in a film," Lin Nan could only offer this consolation.

"Oh, give it a rest, you wouldn't even use that to coax a three-year-old," although Zhu Yawen was cursing on his lips, there was a smile on his face.

Lin Nan was speechless; I am telling the truth, I am not joking.