Video Editor

During the intensive preparations for the "Lurking" project, the most crucial and time-consuming aspect was script polishing, which was then fully implemented under the personal leadership of Suning.

Inside the screenwriters' meeting room, smoke filled the air. The whiteboard was covered with character relationship diagrams, plot outlines, and keywords, while the floor was littered with densely marked and revised script drafts.

Suning is well aware that remakes must not be copied verbatim; they must be bold and reasonable adaptations made while respecting the spirit of the original work, giving it new vitality.

After all, "New Bright Sword" and the recently aired "New Snow Leopard" have proven this point; deliberate imitation can only backfire.

Therefore, Suning is going to innovate this time, changing the character settings in the drama to give the audience a refreshing feeling.

First, there is the reshaping of the key figure, Yu Zecheng.

"Everyone, in the original version, Yu Zecheng was initially more passive and patient, relying on caution and luck to get by." Su Ning pointed to Yu Zecheng's name on the whiteboard and explained his concept to the screenwriting team. "We want to give him a stronger sense of initiative. He is still that inconspicuous nobody in the Military Intelligence Bureau, good at disguising himself, but beneath this disguise lies a deep level of cunning and meticulous thinking. He is not waiting for orders, but observing, analyzing, and planning in secret."

He gave an example: "For instance, in the process of gaining the trust of the traitor Li Haifeng, we can design some details to show that he is not simply carrying out orders, but rather anticipating Li Haifeng's needs and suspicions, and cleverly guiding the development of the situation."

Furthermore, when Yu Zecheng contacts the traitor Li Haifeng, he can find a more perfect excuse, such as having an immoral relationship with his superior's wife, which was later discovered by his superior, forcing him to decide to defect for various reasons. Moreover, it would be best if Li Haifeng took the initiative to expose this secret, thus highlighting Yu Zecheng's embarrassment and Li Haifeng's arrogance.

For example, some seemingly accidental acts of 'luck' that helped him overcome difficulties were actually the result of his careful planning. He needed to be like a skilled chess player, seemingly making silent moves while actually having already calculated the entire situation.

"At the same time," Su Ning emphasized, "his operational capabilities need to be strengthened. He needs to be more than just a mental worker; when necessary, he needs the courage and skill to single-handedly eliminate traitors. Especially during his time in Nanjing, the scenes where he faces danger alone, maneuvers with the enemy, and even takes direct action need to be more thrilling, more exciting, and have a stronger visual impact. We want the audience to see that this undercover agent not only possesses the sharpness of intelligence but also the courage and ability to dance on the edge of a knife."

Secondly, there are adjustments to the important female character, Zuo Lan.

When Liu Yifei ultimately declined the offer to play the role of Zuo Lan due to scheduling conflicts and team considerations, Su Ning was not too disappointed. Instead, he turned his attention to Chen Xiaojun, the person he knew best.

After a late-night script discussion, Su Ning looked at Chen Xiaojun, who looked slightly tired but was still focused, and suddenly had an idea.

“Xiaojun,” he said, “I want to make some major adjustments to the character of Zuo Lan, and I think you are the most suitable person to play the new Zuo Lan.”

Chen Xiaojun was stunned, pointing at herself in surprise: "Me? Su Ning, you must be joking. My appearance is very different from Zuo Lan's."

“I’m not joking.” Su Ning’s gaze was intense. “I remember you mentioned to me that you studied drama in a Yue Opera troupe when you were a child, and you also majored in opera at the art academy, so you have a solid foundation. I plan to set Zuo Lan’s public identity in Chongqing as a young male lead in a Yue Opera troupe.”

This concept caught the eye of the screenwriters and Chen Xiaojun.

In those days, being a traditional opera actor was a good cover for one's identity. It provided a certain social status and relatively high mobility, making it easy to come into contact with all sorts of people.

Su Ning then continued to outline the image of this new Zuo Lan: "She is Yu Zecheng's ideal woman, but no longer the symbolic representative of a progressive woman. She uses her identity as a Yue Opera actress as a cover to move among high-ranking officials and pass on intelligence to the organization. On stage, she is a dashing and handsome young man; off stage, she is a meticulous and steadfast underground worker. This contrast has both the charm of traditional culture and is full of dramatic tension. Her relationship with Yu Zecheng is not only a resonance of idealism, but also a kind of unspeakable yet profound understanding of each other's situation and pain between two top undercover agents under special circumstances."

He looked at Chen Xiaojun, his tone encouraging and trusting: "You have a background in traditional opera, which allows you to grasp the demeanor and spirit on stage. You've managed the company for many years, and you have a calm and capable air about you, which is similar to the qualities of an underground worker. Most importantly, I know you; you can understand Zuo Lan's inner resilience and tenderness. This role is perfect for you."

"In addition, when facing Ma Kui, Zuo Lan can kick Ma Kui to death directly, making Zuo Lan the strong 'man', which would make the conflict more intense."

As expected, Chen Xiaojun was moved by the new Zuo Lan described by Su Ning and this unreserved trust.

Her long-dormant desire to perform and her thirst for challenges were rekindled.

After all, she had always regretted giving up her beloved opera, and also wanted to take the opportunity to have business dealings with her former classmates.

After careful consideration, she accepted this heavy responsibility.

"Suning, I can agree, but there's one condition."

"Haha, go ahead and say it."

"I would like to invite my former colleagues and classmates from the theater troupe to participate in the performance."

"No problem! You can use your Yue Opera troupe's name directly; it will also be a form of publicity for your troupe."

Finally, there is a redefinition of another key woman, Wang Cuiping.

“Cuiping can’t be the slightly comedic ‘simple-minded’ and ‘invincible’ character of the original.” Su Ning had a very clear understanding of the role. “We want to create a more realistic Cuiping who better reflects the reality of rural women at that time. Not only is she illiterate, but she’s also naive and inexperienced. She’ll feel anxious and socially awkward when she first arrives in the city, but she possesses the most essential resilience, diligence, and survival wisdom of rural Chinese women. Her growth trajectory needs to be more obvious, from her initial incompatibility and near exposure to her gradual learning and adaptation, ultimately becoming an indispensable helper to Yu Zecheng, and even showing unique insight in certain aspects. Her simplicity is precisely her best camouflage in a complex environment. For this role, we need to boldly use newcomers, looking for a fresh face with substance and spirit. What we want is that unadorned, earthy authenticity, ideally creating a strong sense of separation from the original Cuiping.”

With Suning's clear direction, the screenwriting team's ideas were fully opened up.

The new script for "Lurking" gradually presents a completely different look from the old version: Yu Zecheng is more intelligent and brave, and there are undercurrents; Zuo Lan combines the charm of traditional opera with the thrill of underground work, and has a unique charm; Cui Ping returns to simplicity and grows up with difficulty in the torrent of the times.

A spy drama about faith, humanity, and love has gradually taken on a clear framework and fleshed out through countless debates, revisions, and improvements.

Everyone could sense that this was no longer a simple replication, but an ambitious rebirth.

……

After several rounds of intense discussions, including heated debates, the script for the new version of "Lurking" was finally polished and completed under Suning's persistence and guidance.

When the final version of the script was distributed to the core creative team, all previous doubts were transformed into conviction and excitement between the lines.

This script retains the soul of the original work while giving the characters new flesh and blood and a sense of the times. In particular, the image of Yu Zecheng is no longer just simple forbearance, but a combination of deep shrewdness, decisive action and complex emotional entanglement, making him three-dimensional and full, with great performance tension.

With the script finalized, the casting process was accelerated.

Suning once again demonstrated his unique vision and the courage to overcome all opposition.

First and foremost is the crucial female character – Cuiping.

There were many suggestions internally regarding this role. Some suggested finding an actor with comedic talent, while others suggested using a more well-known actress. But Su Ning had already made up her mind.

At a casting meeting, he pushed a list of actors directly to the center of the conference table.

“Cuiping, I suggest Liu Linlin play the role.”

A murmur of discussion arose in the conference room.

Liu Linlin is the actress who successfully portrayed the honest, outspoken, kind, and lovable Jiang Dehua in the TV series "Parents' Love".

This image seems somewhat different from the Cuiping that many people imagine.

Most importantly, Su Ning and Liu Linlin had worked together on the set of "Parents' Love" and Su Ning greatly admired Liu Linlin's acting skills.

I believe Liu Linlin will be able to present a different Cuiping, bringing to life the image of a cute, gentle, and somewhat naive rural parent.

“Director Su,” a casting director cautiously offered his opinion, “Liu Linlin’s acting skills are beyond doubt, and her portrayal of Jiang Dehua in ‘Parents’ Love’ was also very successful. But for the role of Cuiping, does she need to be a little more… ‘bitter and resentful’? Or perhaps a little more ‘rustic’? Wouldn’t Liu Linlin’s temperament seem too ‘spirited’?”

Su Ning shook her head, her tone firm: "The Cuiping we want isn't a symbolic rural woman. She's a living, breathing person, swept up by the tide of the times, forced to take on a completely unfamiliar role. She'll have fear and clumsiness, but more importantly, she needs the resilience and survival wisdom inherent in her social class. Furthermore, it needs to reflect the absurdity of being temporarily pulled in to fill a role. After all, female guerrilla fighters are rare, and female guerrilla leaders are even rarer. The setup of the younger sister being a key member of our Party in Yan'an and the older sister being a female guerrilla leader seems too contrived. Liu Linlin, on the other hand, was able to portray Jiang Dehua from youth to old age in 'Parents' Love,' and that vividness and vitality rooted in the land is exactly what our crew needs."

He further elaborated on the new setting: "In our script, she is not a former guerrilla leader, but an ordinary, even somewhat resigned, rural woman who is temporarily brought in by the organization to fill in for her real sister's work—a 'helpless choice.' This 'passivity' and 'unprofessionalism' is precisely the source of dramatic tension, making her growth arc and kindness more real and moving. I believe Liu Linlin can portray this transformation from helplessness to gradual resilience."

Suning's analysis convinced most people.

When Liu Linlin received the invitation and carefully studied the new script, she was also attracted by the more nuanced Cui Ping and gladly accepted the challenge.

Another notable casting choice is Wanqiu.

For this role, Su Ning almost didn't hesitate and directly named his girlfriend, Fan Lin, to play the part.

Fan Lin was quite surprised when she received Chen Xiaojun's call in Beijing.

In recent years, she has appeared in many urban dramas, often playing independent and capable female characters.

"Xiaojun, Wanqiu? That spoiled, willful young lady who's a bit love-struck?" Fan Lin confirmed over the phone.

“Yes, but not entirely.” Chen Xiaojun relayed Su Shining’s meaning with a smile. “Su Ning said that the new version of Wanqiu should highlight her ‘spoiled and willful’ and ‘princess-like temper.’ Her dependence on and dissatisfaction with her husband Xie Ruolin, and her dangerous and inappropriate infatuation with Yu Zecheng, should be portrayed more openly and dramatically. He felt that you have a kind of well-protected ‘spoiled’ quality, which, if amplified slightly, is the essence of Wanqiu. Moreover, the character’s later transformation also requires strong acting skills.”

Fan Lin was intrigued by this description.

She has always wanted to try some more contrasting roles, and the character of Wanqiu is undoubtedly a breakthrough opportunity.

Given that this was a "bizarre and outlandish" project, as Suning's girlfriend, she had no reason to refuse, either professionally or personally.

With this, the main female cast for the new version of "Lurking" is basically finalized: Zuo Lan (played by Chen Xiaojun), an underground worker with both charisma and charm; Cui Ping (played by Liu Linlin), a simple and resilient "substitute" wife who grows up; and Wan Qiu (played by Fan Lin), a spoiled and willful woman with a tragic fate...

The announcement of this combination sparked another round of heated discussions among the media and audiences, with anticipation and curiosity coexisting.

……

The opening ceremony was held in Hengdian World Studios, Zhejiang Province.

The scene was packed with media, with flashes of light constantly going off.

On the backdrop, the words "Congratulations on the start of filming for the new version of the TV series 'Lurking'" were particularly eye-catching.

Su Ning, as the director and male lead, stood in the center of the crowd, flanked by producer and female lead Chen Xiaojun, as well as main actors Liu Linlin, Fan Lin, and others.

He was dressed in a simple black casual outfit, his expression calm and his eyes sharp, already in the mode of a director.

After the traditional procedures of offering incense and unveiling the curtain, Su Shining, on behalf of the production team, gave a brief interview to the media.

"Director Su, are you under a lot of pressure remaking a classic again? Are you confident that you can surpass the original?"

Facing the camera, Suning remained calm and composed: "Pressure is motivation. We never thought about 'surpassing' it. Classics are meant to be paid tribute to and learned from. We just want to tell a story of 'Lurking' from our own team's perspective, with a fresh viewpoint. We have the best script, the most dedicated actors, and the most professional team. I believe we will deliver a result that will satisfy the audience."

His words were confident yet understated, and full of persuasiveness.

After the opening ceremony, the crew immediately began filming without a moment's rest.

In the replica Republic of China-era street scene in Hengdian, the familiar "Action!" sound soon rang out.

Su Ning served as both director and lead actor, shuttling between the monitor and the performance area, sometimes calmly directing, and sometimes transforming into the meticulous and cunning Yu Zecheng, who was in the heart of a dangerous situation.

Chen Xiaojun demonstrated remarkable versatility, acting as both a producer in control of the overall project and the elegant and subtly sharp Yue Opera actor Zuo Lan in front of the camera.

A creative journey full of challenges and anticipation has officially begun.

All ideas, debates, and expectations will be put to the most rigorous test on this land known as the "Hollywood of the East".

...(End of chapter)