Chapter 61: The Routine

"What are you doing? Don't you know how to respect the old and cherish the young?"

"Exactly, what's wrong with coming in to take a look? Isn't this right under the shadow of the Imperial City? Why can't common folk come in?"

"Call the security guards!"

The studio was inside the Central Conservatory of Music, with strict security; it was a mystery how this group of elderly people out for a stroll had gotten in.

Ning Hao leaned in quietly: "These were likely all hired with money, and the security at the gate must have been bribed as well."

Before the mask incident, basically all universities were undefended; the perimeter walls were just for show, and elderly people from nearby residential areas, as well as those walking dogs or children, could generally come and go freely.

The Central Conservatory of Music was a university directly under the Ministry of Education; Zhang Tianshuo certainly couldn't organize a group of thugs or vagrants to cause trouble, so these disheveled elderly people were the best weapon.

Once they arrived, they would stand right in front of your camera or sit on your prop boxes.

Non-violent, non-cooperation! We are all Gandhi!

Xie Tingfeng and the other two stole glances at Lu Kuan’s expression, disappointed to find no useful reaction, not even a hint of fluctuation.

Lu Kuan picked up the megaphone used to direct the set: "Attention everyone, we are taking the morning off. Protect the equipment and props, and disperse for now."

He then smiled and urged the elderly people: "Everyone, watch your step while walking. It's fine for you to occupy the space, but you'll have to pay for any property damage."

"We are resting for the morning, so you elders should disperse first. Those who leave first can pick up mineral water at the gate; we won't be providing lunch!"

He then gave Ning Hao a look, wanting to safely send these old fossils away first, lest any of them trip or fall and try to pin it on him.

Qiu Yuanxu couldn't stand it anymore; he tugged at Lu Kuan’s sleeve to signal him to talk aside.

"This is clearly intentional. Should we report the situation to Teacher Tian?"

"It's fine, let them be arrogant for a few days."

Lu Kuan immediately called over the assistant director: "Arrange for everyone to rest, and wait for further instructions this afternoon."

The employees of the Beijing Film Studio were dumbfounded. Before, it was just passive sabotage, but now the crew was about to fall apart, yet why was the director still acting so leisurely?

Sigh! Young people are just unreliable; he’s probably just another second-generation heir squandering his family’s money.

"Ah Zai, what about us?"

Chen Guanxi was looking at Xie Tingfeng; this was his nickname in the Xiangjiang circle.

Xie Tingfeng curled his lips coolly: "The director is the boss on set, listen to the director!"

Feng Yuan was also feeling disheartened. He had come for Lu Kuan’s Grotowski acting method, wanting to explore in practice the similarities and differences between what he had been taught by Ms. Mersin in Germany and Lu Kuan’s approach.

He hadn't expected this young director to have such a weak grip on the crew; not only could he not suppress these arrogant and unruly Xiangjiang actors, but now even a normal start had become a problem.

Ten-plus minutes passed, and the scene was left in a mess.

Lu Kuan smoked cigarette after cigarette on set. The other side had made their move, so the objective was very clear.

It was impossible to simply drag him to death; the acting contracts of the three Xiangjiang young actors were still in his hands. If the crew didn't work, they had no work either.

The entertainment industry has always only seen the new people laugh, never heard the old people cry.

Let Xie Tingfeng, Chen Guanxi, and the other popular young actors who were already mired in controversy and in urgent need of exposure waste time with the crew?

They wouldn't be willing themselves.

This was counting on him to retreat in the face of difficulties and give up voluntarily, or to use the contract clauses to unilaterally terminate the agreement!

But why was Zhang Jianting getting involved in this? This was the one point he hadn't figured out.

It was understandable if Xie Tingfeng and the others were dissatisfied with the treatment, dissatisfied with his strict requirements, or if there were differences in creative ideas between the two sides.

Why was a big director in the Hong Kong circle like Zhang Jianting, a big shot's son-in-law, picking a fight with a nobody like him?

Could it be that Liu Zeyu had promised him some extra "clearance reward"?

"Director, Director!"

Lu Kuan’s deep thought was broken. He turned to see the crew’s actor, Gu Ming, from the 2001 junior college class of the Beijing Film Academy, who was considered an alumnus.

"Senior Brother Gu, we aren't filming this morning, why haven't you left yet?"

Lu Kuan revealed his signature smile, the very sincere kind.

If someone who knew him as well as Zhuang Xu were present, they would definitely be able to tell that this expression was unusual.

"Sigh, it's very hard to get things done these days."

"Senior Brother, want to sit in my room for a while?"

Gu Ming still appreciated this young director.

He had run into Lu Kuan while auditioning for another play at the Beijing Film Studio. At the time, Lu Kuan was leaving Tian Zhuangzhuang’s place, and the two met face-to-face.

Lu Kuan felt he was well-suited to play one of the school band's cellists, so he took the opportunity to invite him to audition and join the crew.

The two sat down in the room. Gu Ming took the initiative to get up to boil water and make tea, but Lu Kuan politely took over.

"Senior Brother, we are from the same school, and you are my senior, so please don't be so formal."

"On set, we are director and actor; off set, we are all brothers and friends, no need for that."

Gu Ming adjusted his glasses: "Alright, then I'll listen to you."

"Director Lu, I've always heard you and Teacher Feng talk about Grotowski. It feels quite interesting. Is that the method you use to train little Liu every morning?"

"That's right. This acting theory isn't very widespread abroad either. I reckon only Teacher Feng and I have practiced it in the country, and now there's little Liu."

"Originally, I was able to invite a powerful actor like Teacher Feng to perform because he agreed for the purpose of acting exchange. I didn't expect that now..."

Sigh! Making movies isn't easy, little Lu sighed.

Gu Ming smoked, eyeing the ashen-faced Lu Kuan with no small amount of vigilance. Watching this young director walk step-by-step from high spirits to today, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

Aside from bit parts and extra roles, this film was also his first work with screen time and lines.

Gu Ming tentatively asked: "Director Lu, these elderly people must be organized, right?"

He immediately added: "It must have something to do with those three Xiangjiang actors, Xie Tingfeng and the others."

He thought it over and over; from any angle, it was impossible for Lu Kuan to know his background.

He had even almost been eliminated when auditioning for the cellist role; it was only because the original actor had found a better opportunity that he was able to fill in.

At this moment, Gu Ming didn't know that the longest road he had ever walked in his life was the "routine" of Boss Lu.

(End of chapter)