Chapter 10

Zhang Zhang Jizhong had intended to have the assistant director give him a simple explanation of the scene, but he hadn't expected Seeing Lu Kuan to enter the state so quickly, just like a veteran of the film crew.

For the over-the-shoulder shot found by the side camera angle, Seeing Lu Kuan's positioning was even more precise than that of the light stand-in who had walked the path, and his sense for the camera was excellent.

His line delivery was clear and error-free, his facial expressions were controlled, and he possessed a great sense of visual composition and plasticity.

His performance with the sword in his arms, despite the lack of a physical prop, was also very realistic; his gaze and body movements fully captured the chain of actions involved in provoking Yin Yin Zhiping.

Zhou Jie was slightly stunned; he hadn't been very willing to be called over by the crew to accompany the audition. Did a new actor really require him to step out personally?

But this was a novice actor? This performance without props was more professional than that of many drama students.

In this moment of distraction, he was outshone; even if Guo Jing wasn't his role, he shouldn't have been made to look so terrible in the scene with his opponent.

"Sorry, let's do it again!"

Seeing Lu Kuan smiled and nodded at him, and the two of them walked through the two-minute scene smoothly and without error.

Jiang Jiang Qinqin watched Seeing Lu Kuan's performance with her jaw dropped. Even though the difficulty of this scene wasn't high, it wasn't something a novice who had never acted before could handle so easily.

The group of directors also looked at each other in dismay; Zhang Zhang Jizhong and Meng Meng Fanyao, who knew Seeing Lu Kuan's background, both felt it was somewhat inconceivable.

Even with the most demanding requirements, one couldn't say there were any errors or omissions in this performance of his; it was even more outstanding than that of the bewildered Zhou Jie.

To borrow a phrase from later generations, this world is just a giant makeshift stage.

A Daoist priest who just ran out of some deep mountain forest could seamlessly insert himself into a role in the crew; it was truly hard to believe.

Yet all of this was happening to this mysterious little Daoist priest, and Jiang Jiang Qinqin and the others who were familiar with him inexplicably felt it was very reasonable.

After all, he possessed even more mind-boggling abilities.

A smattering of applause rang out, and Seeing Lu Kuan of this lifetime had finally taken the first step in his acting career.

The crew lay low and rested for a few more days, and everyone often saw that Yin Yin Zhiping, who had appeared halfway through to snatch the role, getting very close with the big-shot producer.

He frequently entered and exited his motorhome and even overstepped his bounds to arrange the crew's chores; he even had to manage how the tables in the makeup room were placed!

It just so happened that he was accompanied by the production manager Meng Meng Fanyao, patrolling the crew like a eunuch flaunting his power, and the latter was also completely obedient, adjusting many details that no one had previously cared about.

Of course, this was just Seeing Lu Kuan's random planning; he had only made some improvements based on the most basic knowledge of Feng Shui to make the overall structure more reasonable.

For example, making the aisles more spacious or the ventilation better; regardless of other supernatural matters, it was all just for show.

"Hahaha, Master Lu's methods are good. Now, every newspaper headline is about the 'Legend of the Condor Heroes' crew."

Seeing Lu Kuan sat in the bearded man's motorhome and took the newspaper from his hand.

"Zhou Xun and Li Li Yapeng fall in love due to the drama; the latter changes his heart and angrily dumps Qu Ying."

"'Legend of the Condor Heroes' crew has frequent interesting news; the excitement is comparable to the original drama!"

"Pretty Huang Rong snatches love by force; Hua Zheng rushes to the hospital, heartbroken and in tears!"

They had written Qu Ying as Hua Zheng; reporters these days were quite talented.

"Director Zhang's energy in the circle is truly extraordinary. These media resources are the most important thing, haha."

Seeing Lu Kuan offered a compliment without leaving a trace.

The bearded man had always liked to hear good words, and the flattery of a smart person was even more pleasing to him: "Daoist Lu, what are your plans for the future? I have a few more dramas coming up; are you interested in participating?"

Seeing Lu Kuan understood his meaning; he wanted to deeply bind him to himself and use his mystical powers to escort his crew.

It was only a consultant fee of one or two hundred thousand, which didn't count for anything in a crew with a budget of tens of millions; he would just treat it as buying peace of mind.

Aside from Seeing Lu Kuan's ability in Feng Shui and geomancy, even if he just came up with another dirty idea like this one, the advertising value alone would be equivalent!

Still the same saying: if a person is valuable, even if they are a pile of shit, someone will be able to pick you out of a dung pit, let alone someone as extraordinary as Seeing Lu Kuan.

"I've been reading books these past few days, preparing for the Beijing Film Academy art exam in March."

"If the schedule doesn't conflict, I am very willing to continue cooperating with Director Zhang and see if I can make a bigger breakthrough in my roles."

Seeing Lu Kuan's preparation to take the Beijing Film Academy exam was based on considerations from all aspects.

First, he needed an official identity to appear in this circle; he couldn't always appear in the public eye with the image of a charlatan—that wouldn't be presentable.

Secondly, as the cradle of domestic film talent, the name of the Beijing Film Academy could provide many conveniences for the future acquisition and exchange of resources in all aspects.

For example, the affordable Youth Film Studio rarely produces many films a year; those vacant film quotas could completely serve as a springboard for the start of his directing career.

For example, the fifth-generation Beijing Film Academy directors currently in the country, such as Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang, who has returned to school to pick up the teaching whip, and Zhang Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, who are still shining—with the identity of the Beijing Film Academy, they are all from the same school wherever they go, aren't they?

Take, for another example, the film censorship system that gives domestic directors a headache; among the thirty-seven members of the censorship committee, besides some special commissioners from relevant departments of the ministries and commissions, do you know how many are from the Beijing Film Academy?

People are the sum of all social relations; a suitable title could allow his abilities to be more fully utilized.

One could even fantasize about the increasingly declining identity of a state-run factory establishment, seeking a transformation from a leader of a state-owned enterprise to a leader in the system of a relevant unit, but that is a story for later.

Zhang Zhang Jizhong did not yet know that this young man had already made comprehensive plans for his future, and he joked: "It seems Master Lu is going to temper his Daoist heart well in this circle? Haha."

Hearing him say he was going to take the Beijing Film Academy exam, the bearded man suddenly remembered something: "I established a brokerage company with someone, and a little girl from a friend's family wants to return to the country to be an actress. I'd like to ask you to take a look and judge her fortune."

The little Daoist priest's heart stirred upon hearing this, but his expression remained calm.

"Easy, easy."

"Director Zhang, I've been chatting with Zhou Xun these past two days; you're going to take on another Jin Yong drama, right?"

"This drama of yours... could it be related to the girl you just mentioned?"

"You? This..." Zhang Zhang Jizhong's mind raced; he wished he could think back to the beginning of time to see which details might have been grasped by the other party to make such a judgment.

The key was that "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" had just been bought by the Jiangsu Provincial Television Station, and he had also just been approached by capital investors to discuss production cooperation, and this little girl from his friend's family he spoke of was barely 15 years old, only being considered as one of the candidates...

The little Daoist priest smiled and took a sip of tea, making the bearded man opposite him feel his hair stand on end; people say ghosts and demons are nothing more than this!

Could this person really calculate everything?

(End of chapter)