I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 273, Double Lion Earth Card: I'll let you act, don't take it seriously!

A drug addict.

A fragile, weak drug dealer.
The entire plot is built upon Lin Kun's illness and years of weakness.

His body had reached its limit.

Diabetes destroyed his kidneys, causing him great pain.

pain.

That is Lin Kun's underlying character.

Li Xuan could empathize with this, after all, he had once come from a state of being in negative shape.

If I had to describe that feeling, it would be like a shadow that follows me everywhere.

In my memory, in my very bones.

That's how diseases are; the troubles they cause stem from many reasons, from incurable diseases to inescapable poverty—these are all things that can worsen a disease.

Things that can turn illness into suffering.

But as a drug lord, poverty was simply not a thing for Lin Kun.

This is probably the most ironic part of his life: a huge amount of wealth with unknown origins.

He didn't even dare to use it. On the surface, he was just an electronics store owner, driving an old Mercedes that he had acquired years ago—a piece of junk.

If he waits for a kidney in a public hospital, he might die before it arrives.

What a laughable life.

Li Xuan looked at this ridiculous life.

Looking at everything he pursued and sought, it all seemed so tragic.

"disciple".

A drug lord's apprentices are called disciples, meaning successors who inherit everything from the drug lord.

Li Xuan at this time.

I felt like I was imitating this character.

Discover a person's inner desires.

Ali is my disciple, but am I not also someone's disciple? I also inherited these resources and techniques from the previous generation of drug lords.

"If someone needs it, I'll provide what they need. Is that so difficult?"

"Just like doing business, you find the market, we provide the product, and they spend money to consume it. It's actually very simple and not something hard to understand. You can't say that it's wrong for me to do business and meet needs."

Yes, it's not because I'm selling them things, but because there's demand in the market.

If there's demand, I'll provide the goods. What's so difficult about that!
Moreover, this industry is profitable; fortune favors the bold.
at this time.

Li Xuan then 'found' the role.
Demand.

Or rather.

His evil.

Ordinary evil.

Just like the disciples in "Protégé".

I was originally in charge of transportation.

I started getting to know the 'kitchen'.

Begin to explore everything in this chain.
[Start Simulation: Lin Kun]

At this time, filming of the movie "Protégé" officially began.

The main actors here are Li Xuan, Wu Yanzu, Zhang Jingchu, Yuan Yongyi, and Gu Tianle, who, although he has few scenes, still has a lot of room for expression.

Other important characters, including Liu Kai-chi, Ho Mei-tin, and even Derek Yee himself, made cameo appearances as police chiefs.

The star on stage
At this moment, both Zhang Jingchu and Yuan Yongyi noticed Li Xuan.

Wow, she's so young.

Yuan Yongyi clicked her tongue in amazement from the side.

He'd be more suited to playing my younger brother.
Li Xuan looks younger than Wu Yanzu without makeup. However, with today's makeup techniques, adding a few wrinkles to make the actor's age match the character's doesn't seem to be a very difficult thing.

“They are quite good-looking,” He Meitian said, glancing secretly at Li Xuan and then at Wu Yanzu, her pretty face flushed. “They shouldn’t have acted in ‘Protégé’; they should have acted in ‘Beautiful Boys’.”

Yuan Yongyi: "."

Although, I still admit that what you said makes a lot of sense.
The good looks of Li Xuan and Wu Yanzu would be absolutely explosive if they were cast in a romantic comedy film.

Ah Zu's sense of youthfulness and brokenness.

Li Xuan's temperament is a bit strange; it's not very outward-looking, and there's even a sense of chaos about him. He's a very 'ordinary' handsome guy.

It's the best to use it to 'complement' Ah Zu.

She didn't have much presence; I wonder what she was like when filming started.
When filming officially started, Ah Zu really put on a show.
Gloomy, composed, responsible for the 'feet' part
Ah Zu was actually being watched by the police, but he wasn't worried because he was actually an undercover police officer, someone who had spent a lot of manpower, resources, and time to become the second-in-command of the Lin Kun Group.

The plot is clear from the beginning, with no suspense whatsoever.

Infiltrate the drug cartel, gather evidence, and then bring down the entire drug trafficking syndicate.

The plot is very simple and straightforward, but this is also an element that Derek Yee believes is necessary for achieving 'high box office'.

That's the plot.

People need to understand and be able to comprehend it before they will buy it.

Undercover agents and drug lords.

At this moment, after Wu Yanzu made a steady and solid appearance, he also appeared in the same frame as Li Xuan for the first time.

Li Xuan, dressed in old-age makeup and supporting her back, appeared at the hospital.

At this moment, Er Dongsheng was somewhat surprised.

"This makeup is really good."

The 'weakness' and 'cold sweat' looked so real, not like 'pain' that could be faked with makeup.
That pallor and weakness felt so real.

This feeling of authenticity is unlike anything that can be acted out.

It seems I really am that weak, both physically and mentally.

Before me stood a middle-aged man, frail, his life hanging by a thread, needing assistance.

And that which pierces to the bone.
ordinary.

That certainly fits the image of a 'drug lord'.

Many people think that drug dealers are the kind of people who can kill someone with a flick of their wrist, but in reality, after learning about Derek Yee's "connections," it turns out that this is not the case.

Most Hong Kong drug lords were seen as good neighbors, good friends, and good husbands—ordinary people. Until their arrest, they appeared to be just ordinary folks. This wasn't pretense; it was simply a person's true nature. One could fake it for a year or two, but to fake it for over a decade, to deceive everyone, was highly improbable.

The most likely explanation is that they genuinely are good neighbors, good husbands, and good friends, but are simply treating this as their career or job.
That mindset creates a kind and gentle demeanor, and makes the middle-aged man in front of you seem 'ordinary' in every way.
However, the makeup artist who came out from the side had a complicated expression. This makeup artist, who was Derek Yee's personal makeup artist, said something to the side.

She only wore old-age makeup, nothing else.

His weakness, which emanated from his very bones, was not something he could fake.

It was all an act.
For Wu Yanzu, when he first started filming and rehearsing his lines, he didn't feel anything. He just felt that everything about Li Xuan in front of him was very solid.

There were no surprises, nothing unexpected.

If someone reaches this level of "idol" status, Ah Zu knows how much of that is just hype, since he himself went through the same process.

Idol actors generally have some flaws and shortcomings in their acting skills; this is a widely acknowledged fact and must be admitted.
Li Xuan's "solid" performance is more like that of those who come from an academic background, his performance is solid and unremarkable. As for why he had such good expressiveness in "The Myth" and "Kung Fu Hustle," as well as in "Election," it's probably because he just happened to encounter something relatable.
This time, the reading session was quite 'mediocre'.

That's fine, a more even pace. It won't cause any scenes with other actors vying for screen time. I already have more screen time and more character development with my own individual shots, and with Li Xuan's expressiveness, some things shouldn't be up for discussion. Most of the screen time will be given to me; there's no doubt about that.
At this moment, Ali looked at Brother Kun, who had taken care of him for so many years, and said with concern.

"You should get a kidney transplant. You can go to a private hospital; you don't need to wait in line."

This concern is not fake; it is genuine.
After spending so many years together, it would be a lie for Ali to say he had no feelings for Lin Kun. After all, this 'kind' older brother had taken good care of Ali over the years.

"Hey, let me tell you, I'm going to the US. I'm taking my daughter with me, and I'll get her heart transplanted too."

At this point, Lin Kun revealed his next plan without holding anything back.

He didn't hold back at all, telling everything to the person in front of him.
brother.

Brothers to rely on.

At this moment, a look of seriousness flashed in Ali's eyes. He knew it was time to do this.

He said.

After all these years, I've wanted to ship the goods myself.

For an instant.

In an instant, Lin Kun's eyes changed, becoming chilling... This was another side of him.

The side of drug lords.

Faced with this abrupt request, Lin Kun pondered for a moment.

But he still said.

"it is good."

It doesn't have to be like "Infernal Affairs," going through three years after three years.

After finding out the location of the 'kitchen', Ali told his boss.

My superior said I had two choices: either close the net or continue the investigation. Either was fine, and he respected my decision. But our police station had invested so much manpower and resources; we actually wanted more. For example, the network behind Lin Kun—these were things we were also seeking.

You can also choose to take down Lin Kun; that's your achievement.

That's what they say, but Li had no choice at all.

I've never worn a police uniform for a single day, and you expect me to go back to being a policeman like this?

Who is it for?

I will definitely give you credit afterward.

A pie in the sky.

Ali had long since become numb to it.

But now there's something driving him.

The poor mother and daughter who live next door.

Why do people use drugs? Why do people traffic drugs? This is a question.

It's actually Derek Yee's hidden meaning and killer move.

Actually, it's something even the director can't give a definite answer to; it all depends on Ali, the lead actor, finding the right feeling.

The script can only be described in general terms.

It's because of emptiness.

But why exactly does this emptiness exist?

honestly.

Wu Yanzu didn't know either. He could only say that he was acting according to the script.

The focus is largely on Zhang Jingchu and her mother.

It broadened their horizons considerably.

It doesn't show the police's perspective, but rather the perspective of drug addicts. Even the perspective of undercover police officers is very rare.

He was more of an ordinary neighbor to an addict; although he was quite wealthy, he couldn't afford to spend it all.

Ironically, it's true.

The consumption habits of an undercover police officer.

And the spending habits of major drug lords.

They're practically the same. One has money that's stolen and can't be used, while the other doesn't dare to use it. They're clearly living on the edge, it's ironic.

The gentle interaction between Zhang Jingchu and her daughter is completely different from his sinister face when he was using drugs.

Depravity.

"Why do people fall into depravity? Why do they take this kind of drug? There are two kinds of people: one kind cannot feel happiness, and the other kind cannot feel happiness and seeks out this feeling."

At that very moment, Li Xuan appeared.

While Er Dongsheng was pondering how to help Zhang Jingchu and the others find their footing, Li Xuan leaned over and whispered something in Wu Yanzu and Zhang Jingchu's ears.

They were talking quietly.

How do I find that feeling?

There are two types of people in this world who cannot experience happiness.

One type is someone who has experienced all the happiness in the world.

One type is people who have never experienced happiness.

The emptiness of decadence and the emptiness of happiness.

Which side or which point you belong to, you can find that feeling for yourselves, but the essence remains the same despite all the changes.

The greatest emptiness is the inability to feel joy.

Only then did everyone turn their attention to Li Xuan.

Who is he?
By the way, his name is Li Xuan.

It hasn't been long since filming started.

It seems like everyone has forgotten.

This is an actor named Li Xuan.

Not that drug lord named Lin Kun.

Almost from the very beginning, he presented himself as 'Lin Kun'. It seems that soon after filming began, everyone started to see him as Lin Kun.

At this moment, he became 'Li Xuan'.

From the perspective of 'getting into character', how can we provide support to Zhang Jingchu?
"director."

"Wait a minute, let him speak."

At this moment, Er Dongsheng squinted and looked at Zhang Jingchu.

Under Li Xuan's words and guidance, she began to seek that feeling.

I really found it. That feeling, that look in those eyes, was an indescribable sense of depravity.

For filming purposes, it's impossible to let anyone touch that stuff. To prepare for this scene, Zhang Jingchu and Gu Tianle both went to a drug rehabilitation center to observe and imitate their mindset in order to express their acting skills.

But imitation and observation can still have subtle differences. Zhang Jingchu's performance was more alluring than it was depraved.

To be honest, at the beginning, it felt more like he was on drugs than acting like he was taking conch. Although you, Derek Yee, don't dislike this approach, on the contrary, this approach is more likely to attract attention.

In a sense, it is a correct path, but it is always lacking something.

Lust can raise the lower limit, but he wants the upper limit.

It still has a high ceiling, which is what he was pursuing in "The Disciple".

Now, Li Xuan is right beside her, letting her take the role.

From a prostitute.

It can turn you into a drug addict.

In just a fleeting moment.

This kid.

It seems like it might actually be quite interesting.

At this moment, Er Dongsheng looked at Li Xuan and changed his name from 'Li Xuan' to 'Lin Kun'.

He became that ordinary drug lord again, just like two different people, with two different faces.

"Unbelievable!" Zhang Jingchu looked at Li Xuan, barely managing to snap out of the scene from before.

She had observed drug addicts before, but she only ever grasped their outward appearance, never their true essence.
But this time, it seemed that Li Xuan had enlightened her in just a few words, at least letting her know what kind of person was a real drug addict.

That kind of extreme depravity and malice.

'Li Xuan' and 'Lin Kun'.

It looks like two people.

Even Wu Yanzu was slightly shocked at this moment.

He hadn't expected it, and it was quite unexpected.
It's not his ability as an actor, but his non-actor aspects.

Whether the actors can portray the feeling the director wants is one thing, and whether their expression is adequate is another.

Zhang Jingchu didn't quite capture the feeling that Derek Yee wanted.

However, Li Xuan's change of direction allowed Zhang Jingchu to understand how the scene was acted.

It's as if they understand this scene, and they seem to know how to act it.

It seems really, somewhat unbelievable, that he actually did the work of a director, taking on all the responsibilities that belong to a director.

Drug addict.
People who are extremely empty can be divided into those who cannot obtain happiness and those who can obtain all the happiness in the world.

Damn it, it seems I've also gained some insights—by analogy, I've even gained some insights into the character 'Ali'.

The complex relationship between him and Lin Kun, and why he ultimately turned against Lin Kun.
This Li Xuan seems to be more than just a simple person.

"Give Li Xuan more front-facing shots."

Derek Yee pondered as he spoke to the chief photographer.
His sense of immersion is exceptionally strong, and he can even draw others into that immersion; this ability is truly remarkable.

The camera zooms in on his face.

Half of him was in the shadows, while Wu Yanzu followed beside him like a younger brother.

If we say that Lin Kun's performance in the hospital scene was that of a sickly middle-aged man, then he embodied all the common human traits of illness, pain, and worries.

So now.

at this time.

Not the same.

During the day, Ali said he wanted to do things himself, and after thinking about it for a while, Lin Kun took him to the kitchen.

Let's look at the 'dish' that has the problem.

Even Lin Kun didn't know the exact location of the 'kitchen'; he had to ask the 'head chef' to come down and meet him.

Feet, head, kitchen—each is separate; that's why Lin Kun was able to operate for so long without being caught.

He was extremely cunning, and it took him so many years to get his most trusted confidant, Ali, to come here.

"It won't solidify?"

"How can it not solidify?"

At this moment, Lin Kun skillfully sniffed the air and said, "Give me fire."

"be quick."

This was a completely different feeling from the sickly Lin Kun he was during the day.

The head chef squinted at this moment.

"Ah, it's magnesium?"

"Magnesium is silvery-gray, this is potassium nitrate. Didn't you go to middle school? Ugh."

“That shop in Sham Shui Po I bought from, damn it, I’m burning down their shop tomorrow.”

"Sigh, you must have taken the wrong one." Lin Kun said impatiently, "Hurry up, my foot, bring two sets of US dollars and make them again."

A smooth and efficient process
They hadn't even practiced.

Er Dongsheng, who was standing next to him, was somewhat stunned.

He even planned to use several shots to create this scene, since everyone was just an actor, not a real chemist. But Lin Kun, at this moment, skillfully operated the chemical equipment in front of him.
No, I'm aiming for realism; you don't have to actually do this.
at this time.

In front of Er Dongsheng and everyone else, he really did a set of things smoothly and effortlessly.

The process of diluting 'US dollars' into 'Hong Kong dollars'.

Look, that's how Double Lion Earth brand products are made.

Er Dongsheng was stunned.

No, I asked you to act, but you're going to do it for real!

(End of this chapter)