This director is vindictive.

Chapter 248 Next time, bring pepper spray. Teacher Ning sprays him as soon as he gets into character!
Ning Li's acting skills can be said to have taught Yang Mi and Zhao Liying a harsh lesson.

Of course, it's not to say that other veteran actors are inferior to Ning Li; they just play different roles.

A character like Li Fengtian is essentially a bestial serial killer; that's just the nature of the character.

For example, after filming "Don't Talk to Strangers" back then, the actress who played the female lead would tremble whenever she saw Feng Yuanzheng, and was so frightened that she developed a mental illness.

So sometimes, an actor's acting skills really do depend on the type of role they are given.

Actors bring characters to life, and characters bring actors to life; the two are inherently complementary.

"Sorry, sorry, I got a little carried away and startled you!" Ning Li instantly transformed back into the gentle and polite uncle he had been before, leaving Chen Mo in awe.

"I was quite frightened. Just now, I even felt like I was actually doused with gasoline, like I was really facing a murderer. And Teacher Ning, the way you licked your lips just now was terrifying. How did you do that? It felt like I was facing a wild beast, not a human being," Zhao Liying asked, still shaken.

Upon hearing this, Ning Li smiled gently, the sinister look in his eyes instantly vanishing, and he returned to his usual refined demeanor. He rubbed his fingers together and explained, "Actually, the inspiration for that action came from 'Animal World'—I've observed the state of wolves before they hunt. Before launching an attack, they unconsciously lick their lips, both to moisten their mouths and maintain alertness, and also as an instinctive reaction of excitement."

He paused, then added, "As for the 'inhuman feeling,' it's because when I was reading the script, I found that the character Li Fengtian had essentially deviated from the behavioral logic of 'humans.'"

He didn't kill out of hatred or self-interest, but rather like a wild animal treating its prey, treating violence as a natural instinct, like breathing. So when I was acting, I would deliberately empty my mind, not to 'act' cruelty, but to 'become' a pure predator.

I specifically looked at cases of antisocial personality disorder in "Criminal Minds." According to research in criminal psychology, the active areas of a serial killer's brain are highly similar to those of a predator. So, I was thinking about whether I could portray that feeling where you can see him, but you always feel like he'll crawl on all fours at any moment.

Listening to Ning Li's words, Zhao Liying and Yang Mi both felt like they had learned something new. At the same time, they also had a very special feeling, that is, Ning Li was giving the most chilling acting lesson in the gentlest tone.

“Other actors experience life firsthand, but Teacher Ning, you’re directly experiencing the wild!” Zhao Liying said admiringly.

"Come on, come and see, look at your performance just now!" Chen Mo called the two over to see their reaction.

Chen Mo filmed their performance with his phone just now.

Hmm, this is really good promotional material!

Yang Mi and Zhao Liying both crowded around and started watching.

After all, it's hard for them to say how well they acted or how they reacted, so watching the replay that Chen Mo filmed is quite interesting.

"Oh my god! My expression just now was so ferocious!" Yang Mi exclaimed, covering her face and pointing to her wide-open, terrified eyes on the screen. "If this gets posted online, my fans will say I completely lost control of my facial expressions!"

Zhao Liying leaned closer to the screen and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Hahaha, you were so scared you shrank back like a cat with its fur standing on end! And the way you were trembling, when did you become such a good actor?"

She turned to Ning Li and said, "Teacher Ning, your acting was terrifying! I got goosebumps just now."

Ning Li scratched his head sheepishly: "Sorry, sorry, it's just my professional habit kicking in. But your reactions were very genuine, that's the best kind of performance."

Chen Mo flipped through the video footage with satisfaction: "This part is amazing! Yang Mi's terrified expression, Li Ying's subconscious step back, and Teacher Ning's instantaneous change of expression—it's absolutely brilliant!"

Chen Mo gestured with a smile: "We'll edit it together, showing Teacher Ning's scary performance at the beginning, followed by your real reactions. The contrast will be absolutely explosive!"

"Well, you should really thank Teacher Ning. You can see that you're playing the terrified victims here, and your sense of relaxation is just as good as Teacher Ning's!" Chen Mo couldn't help but tease.

But I must say, Zhao Liying and Yang Mi both performed quite well, in some ways, just as well as Ning Li!
It was a completely instinctive reaction, so natural that it didn't even seem like acting.

"You're really going to use it for advertising?" Yang Mi seemed a little surprised.

"Of course, why not? How do you think you acted just now?" Chen Mo asked with a smile.

"Uh..." Yang Mi and Zhao Liying both felt a little embarrassed.

They weren't acting; they were genuinely terrified by Ning Li's appearance and screamed.

When the two looked at Ning Li, they found him standing to the side, his gentle and refined demeanor completely unchanged from the "murderer" he had been just moments before.

The two admired this veteran actor even more sincerely!

Next, Yang Mi and Zhao Liying earnestly sought advice from Ning Li.

However, Chen Mo was secretly laughing to herself. Their advice to Teacher Ning Li was completely irrelevant.

Surely they wouldn't become psychopathic killers, would they?
At this moment, Chen Mo was thinking about how to edit this "promotional video"!
Then Chen Mo made some minor edits to the video.

Actually, there's not much to fix. The main thing is to separate the two parts: Ning Li's performance and Yang Mi's reaction.

While Chen Mo may not have the highest number of Weibo followers, his active followers are undoubtedly among the best.

It's a pity that he doesn't share his life on Weibo as often as those celebrities.

Chen Mo only posts on Weibo when he needs to promote himself.

But sometimes things really do become more valuable when they are scarce. Although Chen Mo's Weibo posts are mainly "practical," they are always full of juicy tidbits!

This time is no exception.

"Behind-the-scenes footage of the audition for the new drama, 'The Untouchable', part of the 'Mist Trilogy'!"

Then upload the video and click send.

"Wow, this is great! I've been waiting ever since 'The Hidden Corner,' and finally there's some news!"

"The title 'The Untouchable Crime' seems to suggest a suspenseful crime drama. Looking forward to it!"

"What's this 'audience behind-the-scenes footage' thing? I'm totally confused!"

These netizens commented without even watching the video.

However, after watching the video, the tone changed instantly.

Because this first audition behind-the-scenes video was edited by Chen Mo, it was a short video of Yang Mi and Zhao Liying's reactions.

Ning Li was not included.

"Yumi's acting is amazing! Was that terrified expression, with her whole body trembling, for real?"

"Holy crap, Chen Mo is amazing! This is the first time I've ever seen Yang Mi act so convincingly!"

"Although it's the same screaming and the same terror, it's completely different from Far Cry!"

"Is this Yang Mi? When did her acting become so good?"

"Zhao Liying acted very well too, it really captured the feeling of an actor's genuine stress reaction! But what kind of role was this audition for? Why was it so exaggerated? The way the two of them looked so scared, there was absolutely no trace of acting!"

"Yes, yes, yes, I was just about to say that. Although it was short, their reactions were absolutely amazing. How did Chen Mo teach them? I don't think their acting was this outstanding before."

"With the background music from 'Ju-on' added, it feels like it could totally be watched as a horror movie!"

Soon, the topic became a trending topic.

On one hand, Chen Mo's new script has attracted attention, and on the other hand, Yang Mi and Zhao Liying's popularity is undeniable.

As top-tier actresses among the post-85 generation, these two are arguably the most popular among young actresses.

In addition, the performances of the two were truly remarkable, which is why they achieved such a good result.

#ChenMo'sNewDrama#
#Yang Mi screamed in fright!#
#Zhao Liying and Yang Mi showcase award-winning acting skills#
Then, Chen Mo quickly released the full version of the video.

This immediately caused an uproar in the comment section of Chen Mo's Weibo.

"Holy crap, who is this? He looks familiar, but his acting is just too amazing!"

"He seems to have played Zhang Jinglin in 'The Hidden Corner,' but is he the same person?"

"Damn, even though there are no props, why do I suddenly feel a chill down my spine?"

"The most amazing part was the one-second face-changing scene. I was so scared that I dropped my phone into my instant noodles! This acting is so good, I suggest he be recommended to play a criminal suspect on 'Today's Talk'!"

"Smoking backwards and licking lips, is this even broadcast? I suggest you investigate this actor, Ning Li; it doesn't seem like he's acting! (doge)"

"One second: a gentle uncle; the next second: a serial killer. This acting is simply textbook-level!"

"Yumimi: What haven't I seen before? -- Holy crap, I've never seen anything like this before! I've already saved the meme!"

"I suggest this video be included in the Beijing Film Academy's teaching materials—'On Actors' Real Stress Responses'! @BeijingFilmAcademy!" No one expected that Ning Li, who had been acting for so many years without much success, would suddenly have his name spread all over the internet with just this "audience behind-the-scenes" video.

Ning Li originally had only a few thousand followers on Weibo, but after Chen Mo's video was released, he gained more than 100,000 followers in just a few hours.

The comments below were even more amusing: "Teacher Ning Li, do you need any apprentices? I want to learn how to deliver the scariest lines in the gentlest tone!"

"I suggest Yang Mi and Zhao Liying bring pepper spray next time, so they can spray Teacher Ning as soon as he gets into character!"

"I suggest that Teacher Ning Li open a 'Master Class for Insane Acting Skills,' I'll definitely sign up!"

On the other side, Yang Mi and Zhao Liying also got teased.

"Yumimi: I'm as steady as a mountain in palace dramas, but I was scared into making a meme by Ning Li's one look!"

"Yang's Pupils Shocked: At this moment, I finally understand what 'acting skills overshadowing' means."

"I suggest turning the GIF of Yang Mi shrinking her neck into a 'Guide to Encountering Abnormal Reactions' (I've saved it)."

"This video should be titled 'About My Colleague Suddenly Becoming a Murderer'!"

What's most surprising is that some netizens had previously tagged the Beijing Film Academy, jokingly suggesting they should invite Ning Li to give a lecture.

As a result, the Beijing Film Academy hasn't made a move yet, but Ning Li's alma mater, the Shanghai Theatre Academy, knows better how to create a buzz.

Surprisingly, they immediately tagged Ning Li: "We sincerely invite Teacher Ning Li to return to his alma mater to offer a short-term specialized acting course, teaching junior students about 'the detailed portrayal and psychological logic of villainous characters'!"

This move by the Shanghai Theatre Academy surprised not only netizens, but also Chen Mo and Ning Li.

It's safe to say that the Shanghai Theatre Academy truly understands the power of online traffic.

Netizens were initially stunned, and then the topic suddenly went viral.

Many netizens jokingly commented on @BeijingFilmMovieTeachingAcademy and @CentralAcademyofDrama: "We're giving you a chance, so don't let yourselves down!"

There was even a joke: "Course Outline: Chapter One - How to Make the Audience Have Nightmares with a Single Cigarette!"

"Final assignment: When getting food in the cafeteria, ask your classmates to give up the last piece of sweet and sour pork ribs!"

"I suggest adding a practical lesson: a walk on campus at 3 AM where people smoke in the opposite direction (to ensure no one dares to stay out all night)."

Ning Li responded immediately: "It's okay to act like a pervert, but one's values ​​must be upright!" (He also attached a photo of himself with a gentle smile.)

To Ning Li's surprise, someone from the Shanghai Theatre Academy actually contacted him immediately.

The classes are actually going on.

The main reason is that, although it was just behind-the-scenes footage of the audition, that performance without props was so incredibly lifelike.

He portrayed a bestial, deranged killer so convincingly.

This was something Ning Li had never expected.

Students from the Shanghai Theatre Academy also joined in the fun immediately, and they all posted on Weibo.

"Is it too late to apply for a change of dorm room? I'm worried my roommate will come back after completing their studies."

"It is recommended that all participants sign a 'Psychological Resilience Commitment Letter' before class!"

"Is it too late for me to apply now?"

Yang Mi and Zhao Liying immediately tagged @Shanghai Theatre Academy and @Ning Li, asking: "Is the course really starting? Can we sign up?"

Chen Mo's promotional campaign for a new drama has sparked a huge discussion, making many people envious and jealous!

The main point is that the cost is really low, but the effect is really top-notch.

Although everyone is focusing more on Ning Li's acting skills, the problem is that he is an actor in Chen Mo's new drama!

The happiest person must be Tencent Video, because they had already pre-ordered Chen Mo's next two dramas. Although the contract has not been signed yet, the Mist Trilogy is basically settled starting from "The Hidden Corner".

The industry was also amazed, saying that he truly deserves to be called a marketing genius.

Any publicity idea, no matter how random, can spark a huge discussion.

Even before filming began, "The Untouchable" had already become one of the most anticipated web series.

Chen Mo began preparing for "The Untouchable Crime". In order to make the film better, Chen Mo planned to film in Harbin, and wait for winter to come and the temperature to drop.

Chen Mo actually admires the original creative team quite a bit. It has to be said that Harbin is indeed the most suitable place to film this movie.

Because "The Untouchable" itself is a metaphor, a perfect metaphor for ice and snow, evil and the trapped beast of human nature!

In this drama, the extremely cold environment serves as a natural stage for crime. On one hand, it showcases climate violence; the -30°C temperatures and streets where breath freezes instantly make the violence all the more chilling. For example, when Li Fengtian dumps a body in the snow, the blood instantly congeals. To achieve the most natural effect in such scenes, it's best to film them in a way that perfectly matches the environment.

Secondly, there is the pressure of survival. The harsh cold blurs the lines between good and evil, making people willing to commit crimes to survive and even burn corpses for warmth.

Another aspect is the city's character. What is the character of Harbin?
It's the decadent feel of the steel forest. The filming locations that Chen Mo had people find were mainly those old Soviet-style tenement buildings, which were also the breeding ground for evil in the movie, as well as the abandoned factory of Li Fengtian's slaughterhouse.

There is also a visual contrast: church spires coexist with casino neon lights, with the sacred and the decadent separated by only one street.

Of course, the most important thing is not any of these. The most important thing is that "The Untouchable" is actually based on a real case.

That's right, it's based on a real case!
Based on several "snowfield serial murder cases" in Northeast China in the 2000s!
The murderer used the low temperature to slow down the decomposition of the body.

Furthermore, the murder weapons used in the drama, such as ice fish, are also found in low-temperature regions.

Chen Mo certainly didn't need to do everything himself in the preparation of this drama.

He now has a highly experienced and well-coordinated team around him.

He usually only needs to make the final decision.

He put down the location scouting photos sent from the ice layer by the assistant director of the film crew. Just then, a wedding dress advertisement was playing on the large rear-projection TV in the living room. The star was Yang Zi, an old acquaintance of Chen Mo.

Chen Mo was taken aback for a moment.

He was stunned not because the female lead in the TV commercial was Yang Zi, but because of the wedding photos!
For no apparent reason, I started thinking about the women around me.

In their past lives, Yang Mi, Zhao Liying, and Zhang Yuqi all experienced failures in marriage, ultimately ending in divorce.

But I think every woman has dreamed of what it would be like to wear a wedding dress, right?

For a moment, Chen Mo thought about many things.

Although he believed he hadn't mistreated them financially, he did feel he owed them something in other ways.

Perhaps we could give them a surprise?
Chen Mo stroked his chin and began to think.

It's not just about the wedding dress, but also the ceremony.

Although he could never give them a complete marriage in this lifetime, apart from that piece of paper, everything else was fine.

Thinking of this, Chen Mo picked up the phone and called Zhang Bing, the person in charge of Huayun Clothing.

As the leading brand of traditional Chinese clothing, Huayun Clothing has changed dramatically. Thanks to Chen Mo's status in the entertainment industry, Huayun Clothing's strategy is to associate itself with the entertainment circle.

The results were very good, and the business scope was also very broad.

Chen Mo remembered that Huayun Clothing had previously launched a traditional Chinese wedding dress series, and it sold quite well.

"Chairman Chen?" Zhang Bing, the general manager of Huayun Apparel, was somewhat surprised to receive Chen Mo's call, as Chen Mo was known for being a hands-off manager.

"Mr. Zhang, has Huayun's wedding dress series not yet found a spokesperson?" Chen Mo asked.

“Yes! Because this series was just launched recently, and currently only the ‘Ten Miles of Red Makeup’ series is available, we haven’t found a spokesperson yet,” Zhang Bing said.

Although she had some doubts about why Chen Mo suddenly paid attention to this series, Zhang Bing still told the truth.

(End of this chapter)