Chapter 40: How Much Do You Look Like Before?

Cao Yang was rubbing his hands this morning, eager to try.

On the way to the set, he even boasted to Tian Zhuangzhuang that yesterday was because the film had just started shooting, and Liu Ye and Yu Feihong hadn't entered their state yet. Today, there would definitely be a rebirth-like change.

Old Tian asked, "How are you so sure?"

Cao Yang smiled and replied: "I've been explaining the scenes to them almost every day these past few days. Even if they were blocks of wood, they would have been enlightened by now, let alone people."

Old Tian sneered, thinking Cao Yang was joking.

If explaining scenes every day could make actors enlightened, there wouldn't be so many actors just making up the numbers.

Arriving at the set, they continued the filming that wasn't finished yesterday.

Cao Yang wasn't worried about the half-day delay yesterday; as long as Liu Ye and Yu Feihong performed above their level, the progress would only be faster.

When Cao Yang and Tian Zhuangzhuang arrived, Liu Ye had already been there for a while and took the initiative to greet them: "Cao Dao, Director Tian, you're here? Everyone is in a good state today; the filming will definitely go smoothly. Please accept my blessing."

Cao Yang was stunned for more than ten seconds, really not knowing how to describe his mood at this moment. There were too many points to criticize and too many doubts.

Today's Liu Ye was like a different person. There was no coyness at all; from his face, you couldn't see any shyness anymore, only confidence and sunshine, as if he had walked out of *Lan Yu* overnight.

Also, are you serious? What do you mean "please accept my blessing"?

With Liu Ye's current state, could he still shoot the feeling of the male lead? At least on the surface, everything Cao Yang wanted had disappeared without a trace from Liu Ye.

As for Yu Feihong, it was hard to tell yet. Had she entered her state?

Cao Yang had a faint, ominous premonition.

Action, action!

As soon as the camera started, Yu Feihong was like a different person. She pushed the plate hard, staring at Wu Qihua, her expression full of irrepressible anger.

"Cut!"

Cao Yang frowned. The ominous premonition grew heavier. This wasn't right.

"Sister Hong, don't stare at Teacher Wu. You need to look at the camera. Also, you used the wrong emotion. You have 'come alive.' The male lead you've been waiting for has returned, right behind your husband. You need to have irrepressible joy and excitement, not anger."

"All departments, pay attention. One more take."

"Cut!"

Cao Yang couldn't hold back anymore, his voice louder than before: "Sister Hong, look at the camera, look at the camera! Don't be angry, be gentle and happy, be happy and excited, don't stare at Wu Qihua. Rest for ten minutes and adjust."

During the break, Wu Qihua couldn't help but come to Yu Feihong's side and ask in a low voice: "Miss Yu, did I unintentionally offend you while filming? Your eyes just now were too terrifying, as if I had done something to wrong you."

Yu Feihong waved her hands hurriedly: "No, that's not it. I don't know what's wrong with me today. As long as I'm filming, I feel... I feel that your domestic violence is wrong, and I get a bit worked up. Sorry, my fault, my fault."

"It's okay, it's okay. You might be a bit too immersed in the role. I understand, I understand." Wu Qihua himself felt it was inexplicable. You're too immersed, but you don't have to target me like that.

Old Tian came to Cao Yang's side and gave him a thumbs up. He truly felt Cao Yang was a bit formidable. He knew a bit about Yu Feihong's acting; he could only say it was on par with the initial Li Xiaoran.

Today's Yu Feihong, although she kept NG-ing, in Old Tian's view, it wasn't a big deal. Didn't he see Yu Feihong's acting progress clearly?

The previously hollow and lifeless eyes now had full emotional changes; that was the most important thing.

"Don't rush. Filming is like this; not everyone is as talented as Li Xiaoran. You have to learn to adapt. A situation like Yu Feihong's is normal; she's already improving, her eyes have drama now."

Old Tian was good at comforting people.

Cao Yang didn't think so; he always felt Old Tian was mocking him.

The immersion experience added to Yu Feihong was like throwing a stone into the water, splashing a little, and then sinking.

So what about Liu Ye?

Was the Liu Ye with such a big change counterproductive?

Yu Feihong pushed the plate, her face full of hatred...

"Cut, cut, cut!"

Cao Yang took a deep breath, suppressing his anger: "Yu Feihong, go adjust yourself. Let's shoot Liu Ye's scenes next."

He didn't even call her "Sister Hong" anymore, calling her by her full name.

"Cao Dao, Sister Feihong didn't perform well, don't get angry, you have to be patient with women." Liu Ye smiled and advised from the side.

Cao Yang glanced at Liu Ye. This guy wasn't right. With his previous personality, how could he dare to interrupt at this time? Also, you're a newcomer actor, how dare you interrupt when the director is angry?

It's over; both the male and female leads are not right.

In this villa, Liu Ye had two more heavy scenes: one was beating the abuser with a golf ball, and one was the famous scene where the abuser and the heroine are hugging, and the male lead appears behind the abuser and kisses the heroine.

The clapperboard claps.

Liu Ye was gloomy for a moment, his strike decisive and merciless. With a *pop*, he swung the club, his posture standard and graceful.

"Cut!"

"Very good, one more take, second swing."

Cao Yang's eyes lit up. Liu Ye's performance was unexpectedly good.

Here, they needed to shoot three takes of the swinging action, and then shoot three takes of Wu Qihua being beaten and screaming, and edit them together, so that every swing would make Wu Qihua scream and fall.

Liu Ye swung the club for the second time, the same expression, the strike decisive.

!

"Cut!"

"Very good, passed. Next, the third swing."

Liu Ye swung the club again. This time, besides the gloomy face and decisive strike, after swinging, he also slightly curled the corner of his mouth, matching the contempt in his eyes, his demeanor handled extremely naturally.

"Cut! Passed, very good!"

Cao Yang breathed a sigh of relief. This was what he wanted. Liu Ye didn't pull any stunts here.

For the last shot of the villa scene, Cao Yang thought about it and decided to adjust the camera position slightly, shooting from Yu Feihong's side and back, which avoided shooting her expression and focused on Liu Ye.

Wu Qihua walked over in his pajamas and asked: "What are you doing?"

Yu Feihong turned around, her expression still full of disgust, but because the camera was shooting from the side and back, her expression couldn't be seen.

Yu Feihong said the only line she had in the whole film: "I love you."

Wu Qihua was stunned for a moment, turned around to look back, then turned back, his expression changing from surprise to joy, hugging Yu Feihong: "Darling..."

Yu Feihong stretched out her left hand, Liu Ye walked over from behind Wu Qihua, took Yu Feihong's hand, his eyes seeming to speak, looking at Yu Feihong, his face full of pity and love.

He gently kissed Yu Feihong's forehead, stroked her head with his other hand, tilted his head to look at her, like a father finally seeing his child grow up, his eyes full of doting.

"Cut!"

Cao Yang fell into deep thought. Liu Ye didn't act according to the script. This was originally a famous scene of "cuckolding" in front of someone, but it was acted by Liu Ye as a plot of "my daughter has finally grown up."

But there was no doubt that Liu Ye's acting at this moment was absolutely textbook-level. There were no words, but his eyes were full of drama; you could easily feel what he wanted to convey.

Which version was better, let's not discuss it first, but there was no doubt that Jin Laoguai was indeed more perverted and twisted.

If interpreted according to this segment Liu Ye improvised, it also fit the plot.

If interpreted as the male lead being a fantasy character of the heroine, the heroine has already changed and dares to resist the abuser, and her own fantasy character is very gratified to see her change—this fits perfectly.

If interpreted as the male lead actually having died in prison, then everything that follows is the heroine's hallucination. The heroine has become strong, and she imagines that if the male lead saw her like this, he would be very gratified—this also explains it.

If interpreted as the male lead being the protector of women, seeing the heroine's change, he should also be very gratified.

"Very good, passed!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 41 =====