Chapter 234: There Are Many

Huang Xiaoming is a very interesting person.

After Cao Yang finalized him, he requested that he join the crew by mid-April at the latest, and he agreed very readily.

The two female leads had already joined the crew in late March, so his timing was actually already considered late.

The problem was that Huang Xiaoming was still filming "The Return of the Condor Heroes," which was scheduled to film until the end of April.

This was also the reason why Cao Yang did not choose Chen Shu to play the other female lead initially; Chen Shu had the same problem, as the "Plot Against" she was currently filming would also take until about April to wrap up.

Lv Yi did not have this problem; she was only a minor supporting character in "The Fairy of the Sky," and her scenes had not been filmed yet, so Chen Gufang had already resolved it for her.

Huang Xiaoming's method of resolution was also very simple.

That evening, he found producer Zhang Jizhong, chatted idly for a while, then pushed a bank card with a password written on it toward Zhang Jizhong, and explained with a smile:

"Director Zhang, this is the advance payment for my role in 'The Return of the Condor Heroes.' Please don't be in a hurry to decline. To be honest, in working with you, I have learned so much—not only has my acting improved by a huge margin, but I have also learned very valuable lessons from you on how to conduct myself in the world.

I have always felt grateful to you and just wanted to repay you. I know you lack nothing, and I really couldn't think of what else to do, so I might as well perform in this TV series for free..."

Until he left, Huang Xiaoming did not mention any requests, nor did he say anything about joining "Black Swan."

Don't look at the fact that the director of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" was Yu Min; the TV series copyright was in Zhang Jizhong's hands, and the producer was also Zhang Jizhong. Everything about this production was decided by Zhang Jizhong.

Even after Huang Xiaoming left, Zhang Jizhong was still bewildered.

No one knew better than him how Huang Xiaoming had won the role of Yang Guo when competing against Nie Yuan.

However, what kind of act was Huang Xiaoming putting on today?

He first called director Yu Min to ask about Huang Xiaoming's recent performance.

Upon learning that Huang Xiaoming had been performing very well, Yu Min mentioned at the end that Huang Xiaoming had taken a day off for something a few days ago, but had worked overtime every night since to catch up on the progress, and he even treated the crew to late-night snacks every day.

Because Huang Xiaoming was always very good at handling people in the crew, everyone did not show much resistance to working overtime.

Did he take a day off?

Then Zhang Jizhong made a few more phone calls and understood the general situation.

In the domestic film and television circle, especially the TV series industry, Zhang Jizhong could be considered one of the few people standing at the pinnacle, and since Cao Yang did not deliberately hide the news, it was still very easy for Old Zhang to find out.

Only then did Zhang Jizhong feel relieved, and he couldn't help but smile and shake his head.

"This kid, he has good luck!"

The next day, Huang Xiaoming's scenes were concentrated for filming. Originally, he definitely would have had to stay with the crew until the end of April, but on April 6th, all his scenes were finished.

After Huang Xiaoming wrapped up, he treated the entire crew to a big meal, saying it was to thank everyone for their help during this recent period.

During the meal, Little Dragon Maiden and her mother also came, and several main actors sat at one table.

"Brother Xiaoming, I heard you received another role from Cao Dao?"

Little Dragon Maiden asked in a low voice.

"Ouch, why are you pinching me?"

Little Dragon Maiden glared at her mother; just now, her mother had twisted her arm, and it hurt a lot.

Her mother gave Huang Xiaoming an embarrassed smile, "Xiaoming, Xixi is still young and doesn't know any better, speaking without thinking. Don't mind her."

Who knew if others wanted to keep such things confidential, or if it was just an alternative that wasn't selected? Wouldn't that be offending people?

"It's fine, Sister Li, it's not a secret. I'll be joining the crew the day after tomorrow, and Cao Dao will be coaching us on the scenes during this time."

Huang Xiaoming's face was filled with a smile as he said softly.

Little Dragon Maiden and her mother both showed expressions of envy.

"Brother Xiaoming, is it 'Inception'?"

Huang Xiaoming shook his head and said with a smile: "Not that one, it's an art film called 'Black Swan.' Cao Dao said he wants to go to the Venice Film Festival."

"Ah!"

Little Dragon Maiden, who was a junior this year, perhaps because she was studying at the Beijing Film Academy, still held great reverence for art films and the three major European film festivals.

In this day and age, domestic commercial films had just started, and most actors from academic backgrounds were almost all like this—they viewed awards, especially those from the three major European festivals, as extremely, extremely important.

"Congratulations, Brother Xiaoming. Don't forget your 'Auntie' when you make it big."

Little Dragon Maiden was just envious and didn't have many other thoughts; after all, when the news came out at the time, she was too young and didn't meet the requirements.

"Go away, you have no manners."

Little Dragon Maiden's mother hit her daughter lightly and then asked: "Xiaoming, is 'Black Swan' a ballet film?"

There was nothing to hide about this, so Huang Xiaoming nodded.

"I don't know the specific content too well either. Cao Dao told me that this is a film about ballet dancers, and the actresses in the crew are almost all from dance backgrounds."

Hearing Huang Xiaoming's words, Little Dragon Maiden's mother was now more than just envious.

Ballet!

I am most skilled at ballet, and I have never given it up.

If I could participate in Cao Dao's film and build a good relationship with him, wouldn't Xixi be able to develop better?

What a pity, what a pity. It is too difficult to get to know Cao Dao, and even harder to participate in his films.

According to what Xixi said, the only people in the country who could get respect from Cao Dao were Teacher Situ and Tian Zhuangzhuang, but those two were not people she and her daughter could easily build a relationship with.

Sigh!

If I were ten years younger... perhaps I could think of a way.

The notice Chen Shu received also required her to join the crew by mid-April at the latest.

She didn't need to go through all the roundabout ways like Huang Xiaoming.

After receiving the notice from Ning Hao, she was a bit disappointed but even more excited.

That was Cao Yang's film; how many people would break their heads trying to get on it? Even if it was just a role with not many scenes, it was something domestic actors dreamed of.

In the domestic film and television circle, it is well known that Cao Dao can promote people, win awards, and has global box office numbers that leave domestic directors nowhere to be seen.

Another point that makes domestic actors love and hate him is that Cao Dao likes to use "old faces"!

As long as you have been in one of Cao Dao's films, even if it's just a small supporting role, he will think of these "old faces" first whenever there is a role in the future.

Only when these people are not suitable will he look outside.

Therefore, even if the role didn't have many scenes, Chen Shu was still very excited.

After consideration, she told this news to the director of "Plot Against," Liu Yunlong; after all, Liu Yunlong had supported her audition before.

If we are talking about disappointment, Liu Yunlong was much more disappointed than Chen Shu, the person involved.

If Chen Shu could be chosen as the female lead, she would definitely become popular, and the first TV series he directed, "Plot Against," would also reap the benefits.

Now... it's probably a bit difficult to reap those benefits.

However, if Chen Shu could be in Cao Yang's film, her future opportunities would be much greater, and who knows when she might become a big star. Liu Yunlong felt there was no need to offend her.

What's more, if he blocked Chen Shu because of scheduling, not to mention what would happen to Chen Shu, would he offend Cao Yang because of it?

As a Beijing Film Academy person, offend Cao Yang?

He wasn't that brave, nor that stupid. Wouldn't that be cutting himself off from the Beijing Film Academy clique?

Liu Yunlong's mind turned, and he cursed himself for being an idiot. Wasn't this a good opportunity?

A few years ago, when Cao Yang first won the Golden Lion, the Beijing Film Academy was "gathering people" with great fanfare. He was still an actor then and not particularly famous, so he didn't have the qualifications to participate. Now that he was a director, he definitely wanted to mix into the core circle of the Beijing Film Academy.

Thus, taking advantage of Chen Shu's matter, he called Cao Yang.

The content was very simple and also very polite.

The general meaning was:

Chen Shu is currently filming in my crew, and it was originally supposed to be filmed until May. Since she is participating in Cao Dao's film, as a Beijing Film Academy person, I must fully support it.

Give me one week; I will film her scenes first, and after one week, I will let her report on time.

If one week is too long, I will pause the crew and wait for Chen Shu to finish Cao Dao's film before coming back to film mine!

Don't look down on Liu Yunlong's little schemes; doing this isn't shameful.

Moreover, he would indeed film Chen Shu's scenes first to let her report to the "Black Swan" crew earlier.

If pausing the crew's filming to let Chen Shu go could make Cao Yang owe him a favor, Liu Yunlong would absolutely not say a word and would pause filming immediately.

On May 1st, after more than a month of scene coaching, the film's preparations were all ready, and "Black Swan" officially started filming.

!

Usually, the first shot of a film is chosen to be a very easy one, so that there won't be any retakes, implying that everything will go smoothly.

The first shot Cao Yang chose was the scene of the female lead, played by Dong Xuan, waking up in the morning. It was a short ten seconds or so, very simple.

"Open your eyes, look forward and smile, turn your head and smile, lift the quilt, sit up—that's it. Did you remember?"

Cao Yang instructed Dong Xuan, thought for a moment, and then added: "Think of something happy in your heart, and give people the first impression that you are a cheerful, simple, and happy girl."

This was the first frame after that "demonic" dance at the beginning of the film, intended to create an illusion for the audience and form a contrast with the image later on.

Dong Xuan nodded, indicating she had remembered.

The female lead's room was decorated mainly in pink; the cloth rabbit and pig behind the bed were pink, her pajamas were also pink, the quilt and bed sheets were also pink, and even the carpet had pink patterns.

The cinematic language here had two meanings.

One was to create an illusion for the audience; the room being mainly in pink tones would make the audience relax and lose their guard, thinking the female lead was a simple and cute little girl.

Two, when the white and pink tones were dominant, it implied that the female lead was still a simple "White Swan." Later, the tones, including her clothes, would change until they all turned gray and black, implying that the female lead had become a "Black Swan."

This is the application of color in cinematic language.

Many art films use the changes in the clothes the protagonist wears and the surrounding colors to imply changes in psychology and personality.

The film "Black Swan" took the application of color changes to the extreme.

In the early stages, the female lead's clothes and related items were mainly white and pink.

Only on the pink pillow were there black vine patterns.

In several overhead shots of the female lead waking up from a dream, her head was placed exactly in the center of the intertwined black vine patterns, being "entangled" by black.

The other female lead, "Black Swan" Lily, including the female lead's mother and the former lead dancer, had clothes and related items that were mainly in black tones.

This filming followed the old rules: besides the main staff, there were two to three interns as assistants at every post.

Dong Xuan covered herself with the pink quilt and lay on the bed.

The assistant looked around the bed once, confirmed that there were no flaws according to the requirements, and made an OK gesture.

The script supervisor checked the film title, scene number, shot number, take count, director, cinematographer, date, etc., on the clapperboard again, confirmed there were no problems, and after Cao Yang shouted "Action," hit the clapperboard in front of the lens.

Filming started.

Dong Xuan opened her eyes, looked forward for a few seconds, suddenly smiled, then turned her head, and a beam of warm light hit, making the whole room instantly bright.

She smiled happily again and sat up from the bed.

"Cut, not bad."

Cao Yang said.

Dong Xuan was very happy. Being a female lead for the first time, having the first shot go smoothly, and being praised by Cao Yang—this feeling was really good.

"Hehe, young."

Ning Hao muttered softly next to Gu Changwei.

While the staff was setting up the next scene, Old Gu glanced toward Cao Yang, and seeing he wasn't paying attention here, he asked in a low voice: "How many more shots do you think he'll film before he gets angry?"

Ning Hao also carefully glanced at Cao Yang's side before saying: "A pack of Zhongnanhai, the third shot."

Gu Changwei frowned. Damn Ning Hao, this was his guess too; if he had known, he would have said it first.

Thinking carefully about the first few shots, the most likely time for Cao Dao to make a fuss was the third or sixth shot.

There was no choice. Old Gu gritted his teeth. This bastard kid, I'll bet my luck against you today. I don't believe it—raising the stakes!

"The sixth shot, a bottle of Wuliangye. Dare to bet?"

Ning Hao sneered. This little old man still wants to bluff me? I'm definitely drinking your liquor.

"Bet."

The two looked at each other and smiled, both despising the other in their hearts, thinking they had definitely won.

The following shots would definitely not change locations; they would continue filming in this bedroom.

The second shot was of the feet, a close-up of a few seconds.

If we are talking about filming feet, the most famous one is Quentin Tarantino. He is a famous foot fetishist and just loves that.

In his films, close-ups of feet can be seen everywhere; he believes that feet are one of the most sexually attractive parts of the body.

Cao Yang also had some research on this. He often played with... well, practiced it personally, and by synthesizing techniques such as composition, lighting, styling, and cinematic language, he was quite familiar with filming it.

The third shot was more complex; it was the female lead, played by Dong Xuan, recounting the scene in her dream.

Because this was a close-up shot of the face, the two thought Cao Yang would use this shot to "torture" the actor over and over again to make the female lead get into character more easily.

This was also a long take, starting from the reflection in the mirror, moving the camera to the female lead's feet, and then pushing up for a close-up of the face.

"Little Yi, how come I noticed during rehearsals that our clothes are all black, but hers are all pink?"

Chen Shu asked in a low voice.

Although Lv Yi and Chen Shu and the others didn't need to film today, they all came to familiarize themselves in advance and leave a good impression on Cao Yang.

The reason Chen Shu asked this, besides being a bit curious, was because she had other little thoughts.

We are all in black, the first female lead is in pink; she is different from us, we are the ones on the same side.

Chen Shu wasn't deliberately instigating; Dong Xuan's fame and status were much higher than theirs. Uniting a few people would prevent them from being bullied.

Crew bullying is still very common.

(End of chapter)