The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 139 invited Zhou Xun to be the teacher of eye acting.
……

Weibo was only launched at the end of last year.

As of last month, the number of registered users was only four to five million.

Both Lu Zhiyuan and Dilraba have more followers online than all registered users on Weibo.

Breaking news!

"Everyone come and see! Lu Zhiyuan and Dilraba have joined Sina Weibo."

"Lu Zhiyuan sent a message."

Hello everyone, I'm director Lu Zhiyuan. Thank you for your attention to the movie "Real Steel".

"Dilraba also sent a message."

Hello everyone, I'm actress Dilraba Dilmurat. Thank you all for your support. I hope you'll continue to follow my upcoming work, "Real Steel".

"Wow!"

"Dilraba is in it too!"

"I knew it! Director Lu wouldn't give up on my Alita!"

"Alita is going to be resurrected in 'Real Steel'. So the Easter egg is real, and it's not a dream world. Alita has grown up in the movie and become an intellectual and elegant girl with glasses."

The message posted by Dilraba was much more explosive than the one posted by Lu Zhiyuan.

After all, what kind of fans could Lu Zhiyuan himself possibly have?
As a director, he doesn't give interviews, and there are no messy scandals online; he's like a transparent person.

If it weren't for the movie "Upgrade," which broke various box office records, Lu Zhiyuan himself would have been nominally the number one Chinese director of commercial films.

Most netizens probably don't know who he is.

But Dilraba is different.

Alita is such a wonderful character, possessing both intelligence and beauty, and an incredibly filial heart... The only flaw is that she died too young.

In the movie, this character left the audience with countless regrets.

In reality, this regret will be transformed by the audience into endless love for Dilraba as an actress.

Shortly after Dilraba posted this message, it was screenshotted and shared on various forums, chat software, and social media platforms by someone with ulterior motives.

Soon after, the news that Dilraba had joined Sina Weibo swept across the entire internet.

Netizens flocked to Sina Weibo, frantically registering accounts, following Dilraba, and leaving countless comments on her posts.

In one afternoon, Dilraba became the celebrity with the most followers on Sina Weibo, gaining 50 followers and receiving over 10 comments.

On Sina Weibo, this marks a milestone.

How can Yao Chen compare to Dilraba Dilmurat at this stage?
In terms of popularity, beauty, and even commercial value, they are not on the same level.

"【Celebrity Verification】System, test it immediately. Once the test is complete, go live right away. Forget about everyone else, pour all the traffic into Dilraba."

"This young girl is simply a lucky star for Weibo. From now on, we'll make her our top star, optimize the backend algorithm, and give her preferential treatment in terms of traffic."

Watching the backend data surge, it showed that in just one afternoon, the increase was more than in a typical month.

The executives at Sina Weibo were overjoyed.

I am truly grateful for the help from Dilraba and Lu Zhiyuan.

In return for their kindness, they naturally promoted Lu Zhiyuan and Dilraba as top Weibo influencers.

After Lu Zhiyuan and Reba finished sending their messages, Hanikezi also joined in the fun.
—Hello everyone, I'm Hani. I'm honored to have acted in Teacher Lu's movie "Real Steel". I will work hard!
"sofa."

"Bench".

"group photo!"

"Honey, promise me you won't hold Alita back! Otherwise, I really will come and yell at you!"

"Honey, act well! I'll buy tickets to see your IMAX 3D movie next year after 'Real Steel' is released!"

Hanikezi is just a nobody, so of course she doesn't receive the same treatment as Dilraba. In fact, many of Dilraba's fans dislike Hanikezi.

I feel like this little girl stole the lead role from Dilraba.

Unfortunately, at this stage, Weibo only supported plain text posts; it did not allow posting pictures or taking selfies with a mobile phone.

Otherwise, if Hanikezi posted a few photos of herself, perhaps netizens would be more fond of her after seeing her cute appearance.

After all, most netizens who can access the internet these days come from well-off families, are well-educated, and have quite good character.

Weibo is not the cesspool it will become in the future.

At this point, Weibo will be like the future WeChat Moments.

Many celebrities interact with netizens and post sentimental messages, pretending to be artsy young people.

Whether they are celebrities or ordinary users, everyone cares a lot about their online image.

……

"Personally, I strongly support Director Lu's practice of casting a newcomer in every film."

"The movies on the market these days are all the same old faces, I'm tired of them. No wonder the box office is getting worse and worse."

"I have no problem with Hanikezi, and I'm actually quite looking forward to it. After all, 'Upgrade' was so well made! Alita is also a newcomer, isn't she? I have faith in Director Lu's coaching skills!"

"The IMAX 3D effects are on par with Avatar in every way. A great director is truly something else—they get right to it! My sword is itching for action!"

The box office performance of "Upgrade" was absolutely phenomenal, and the movie was great too.

Most netizens support Lu Zhiyuan's decision to cast newcomers in his film.

The only thing that upset me was that Dilraba's Alita wasn't the female lead.

However, thinking rationally, Lu Zhiyuan can't possibly only date Dilraba as his leading lady for the rest of his life.

Furthermore, Dilraba's Alita being resurrected in the new movie is a huge surprise and something to look forward to.

Just for the chance to see Alita again, many people quietly remembered the movie "Real Steel".

When the movie is released, I'll buy an IMAX 3D ticket!

Even if a movie ticket costs as much as 120, they'll accept it!

"Breaking news! Tents are available for rent in the open space in front of the 798 Art Center. They cost 50 yuan a night. The highest bidder wins."

"Brothers, don't worry about the price. This is the golden route. Not only can you bump into Director Lu, but you can also bump into Dilraba and Liu Yifei."

There are countless people online who find humor in things.

Weibo has only been online for a short time, but many netizens couldn't help but start revealing information to the public.

"Brother, tell me the details!"

Why did you run into Liu Yifei and Dilraba at the 798 Art Zone?

Sure enough, someone took the bait very quickly.

They started chatting under Lu Zhiyuan's Weibo post.

Before long, netizens learned that Lu Zhiyuan and Liu Yifei often went to the 798 Art Center to see art exhibitions together.

Occasionally, she would also bring Dilraba.

Liu Yifei also has a close friend.

These four people often meet at the 798 Art Zone and have lunch together; they are the kind of close friends who can talk about anything.

"I envy him! I'm genuinely envious of him!"

"I won't say any more. I'm going to the children's art center downstairs to register for painting lessons starting tomorrow. I also hope to run into Liu Yifei and Reba."

……

There was a lot of discussion online, but Lu Zhiyuan didn't read it at all.

Dilraba held the phone, looking as if she had discovered a new continent, and couldn't help but chuckle happily.

Netizens praised her Alita, saying she was super beautiful and her acting was outstanding, a real eye-opener. They said that given time, she could definitely win an Oscar for Best Actress.

At 17, Dilraba was not as composed as she would be in the future, having seen much of the world.

With all the netizens praising her, who could resist getting carried away?

"Sister Dilraba, I really envy you."

Hanikezi checked her Weibo followers and found she had fewer than 500.

Looking at Dilraba's fans again, she already has over 50.

A difference of 1000 times!

so horrible.

That's the difference between a superstar and an unknown.

"Don't be envious. You'll soon realize that you reap what you sow."

Thinking back to how I was tortured to the point of near death by Lu Zhiyuan, not to mention the physical exhaustion, the emotional blows are still fresh in my mind.

Reba gave Hanikezi a sympathetic look.

Seeing Hanikezi's seemingly understanding expression, Reba couldn't help but say earnestly, "Hani, trust your sister. Whatever Teacher Lu does to you next, it's all for your own good."

"Never complain about him in your heart. When you grow up, you will realize that, apart from your parents, he is definitely the one who treats you the best."

"Because, at least during the filming of this movie, you were a work of art in his eyes. He would constantly refine you and make you a unique treasure."

Dilraba deeply understands this point.

Back when Lu Zhiyuan brought her back from his hometown, he acted like a pervert, spending every day tormenting her.

Dilraba once considered killing Lu Zhiyuan.

However, looking back now, it's all sweet memories, filled with beautiful stories.

When filming that movie, Lu Zhiyuan put a lot of effort into himself. I reckon he only put half that effort into Miss Jing Tian at most.

Therefore, I am his true love!
Haha!

"Honey, stop playing on your phone, it's time to go home. Don't keep Teacher Zhou waiting too long."

Hanikezi lived in Lu Zhiyuan's house, and Lu Zhiyuan found her an acting teacher.

It was none other than Zhou Xun!
Lu Zhiyuan had no idea how skilled those theoretical acting teachers really were.

He only trusts those who are pragmatic.

Among actresses, Lu Zhiyuan believes that Zhou Xun is the most suitable person for Hanikezi to imitate.

In "Painted Skin," the fox spirit Xiaowei's wink, the instantaneous change in her eyes, the contrast between innocence and monstrousness, amazed Lu Zhiyuan.

Zhou Xun can be called a master of micro-expressions!

If Hanikezi could learn even a fraction of Zhou Xun's skills, it would be enough to make the performance in "Real Steel" feel realistic.

Realism, realism, realism!
Say important things three times.

In the movie "Real Steel," Hanikezi's character couldn't have too many physical movements.

Only through changes in their eyes can they convey, in an instant, two completely different inner worlds: one of enthusiasm and the other of despondency and melancholy.

If this isn't done, the movie will lose its authenticity.

Lu Zhiyuan can compensate for the other visuals and plot points through technology.

The only change he couldn't help Hanikezi achieve was the transformation in the female lead's demeanor.

This is completely different from the difficulties encountered when Dilraba photographed a world-famous painting last time.

Creating a film to achieve the ultimate effect you desire is indeed full of challenges.

……

"Brother, Sister Xiao Ai is still at home celebrating the New Year, and Nazha is also at home celebrating the New Year. It will be so boring for me to go back alone."

"Can I stay at your place tonight?"

Seeing that Lu Zhiyuan was about to leave with Hanikezi, Reba suddenly felt that she was no longer favored.

She followed him, feeling wronged.

Finally, with Lu Zhiyuan's nod, she quickly jumped into Lu Zhiyuan's car and sat in the back seat with Hanikezi.

"Dilraba, your art exam is in a couple of days, are you ready?"

After the New Year, Lu Zhiyuan had a lot to do: the preparation for the film, Hanikezi's art education program, and he also had to check on Reba's exam results.

"Don't worry, it's safe."

Dilraba gave Lu Zhiyuan an OK sign.

If the Beijing Film Academy rejects her, she will go to the Central Academy of Drama instead.

From then on, no matter where they were, whether on a film set or on a TV show, whenever they encountered actresses from the Beijing Film Academy, they would always suppress them and prevent them from getting ahead.

I hope the Beijing Film Academy won't give me the opportunity to turn to the dark side.

"Honey, congratulations on arriving at our fairytale castle, the place where dreams take flight."

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Lu Zhiyuan's house. Reba took the lead and went up to enter the password.

The three chatted and laughed as they entered the villa.

……

Inside the house. Zhou Xun had been waiting there for a long time.

Sitting alone on the sofa, Zhou Xun drank countless cups of tea before finally waiting for Lu Zhiyuan to return.

Seeing Lu Zhiyuan enter, she felt somewhat helpless, unsure of what expression to make, and finally let out a soft sigh.

"Director Lu, you're quite an interesting person. You invited me to your home, but you weren't even home yourself."

"He even told me the house code so I could go inside and wait for him. He even told me where I kept my drinks and tea, and that there were snacks in the cupboard if I got hungry..."

"Ah really……"

They're treating me like I'm not an outsider at all!

We've only seen each other a handful of times in total.

However, since you're a renowned director of art-house films and exude an artistic temperament, I enjoy being friends with people like you.

Genuine personality, a good friend, and unpretentious.

"Ms. Zhou, please take a seat."

Lu Zhiyuan remained calm, completely ignoring Zhou Xun's complaints, treating her as a guest as if he had just brought her in from outside.

"Miss Zhou, please have some tea."

"Sorry for the poor hospitality."

Lu Zhiyuan even pretended not to see that Zhou Xun had placed the cup on the coffee table and brewed her tea again.

"Even if my stomach is bursting, I have to drink the tea that the famous director makes for me."

Zhou Xun didn't know what Lu Zhiyuan was up to yet, but since she was already there, she might as well play along with him for now.

She's been feeling down lately.

The movie "Confucius," which she starred in with Chow Yun-fat, was released in January. It had an investment of 1 million yuan, but the box office still didn't break 1.5 million yuan.

It's a complete flop.

The movie she starred in with Zhao Wenzhuo, "True Legend," was released in February. Jay Chou made a cameo appearance. The film had an investment of 130 million yuan, but the box office was less than 50 million yuan.

This movie flopped even worse.

Two movies he starred in flopped in a row, all because of Lu Zhiyuan!

The movie "Upgrade" is so well made!
She, an artsy young woman, suddenly found science fiction action movies to be very appealing.

The movie is full of various concepts.

There's also that poetic and picturesque artistic atmosphere.

In particular, the scene where Dilraba was thrown into the sea terrified her.

The interplay of light and shadow, the sharp, desolate cuts in the scene, and the warm orange sunset shining through the gaps in the dark clouds amidst the stormy, apocalyptic landscape—all these elements create a breathtaking spectacle.

Simply amazing.

Lu Zhiyuan didn't say much about this scene that was enough to make him a legend.

However, in an interview, Dilraba touted it all as a miracle of God, saying that God had arranged it all.

Lu Zhiyuan captured this fleeting moment.

It seems as if everything is preordained by fate.

Zhou Xun didn't know if this scene was destined, but she knew that even if others were given the same opportunity, other directors probably wouldn't be able to capture such a divine scene.

How high must one's artistic cultivation be?

"The Raft of Medusa," a world-famous painting that holds a glimmer of hope amidst the apocalypse, appears in the film.

Don't think she didn't notice.

"Zhiyuan, may I call you that?"

"Of course. Do as you please."

After receiving Lu Zhiyuan's consent, Zhou Xun immediately perked up, his eyes shining.

"Zhiyuan, take me to make an art film. I have money, I'll invest. You can make it however you want. I'm willing to do anything! You can even make me strip naked!"

Before Lu Zhiyuan could react, Reba, who was standing next to him, jumped up in anger.

This is not possible!

You might be willing, but I'm not!

Besides, you're so old and your figure isn't good either. Who wants to see you naked?

"The market for art films is getting smaller and smaller. If you're cast as the female lead, there's a high chance you won't recoup the costs. Besides, I don't really like making art films."

Lu Zhiyuan shook his head and refused.

Although Zhou Xun, this rich woman, gives him money and lets him do whatever he wants, it feels great.

But it is not necessary.

Filming "The Coffin in the Mountain" was out of necessity at the time.

He actually doesn't like that kind of subject matter.

“I know you like making science fiction movies, you like playing with robots, drones, AI technology... I’ve heard all that from my friends.”

Zhou Xun's eyes looked much dimmer.

Lu Zhiyuan wants to make commercial films, but she doesn't have any advantages.

She wasn't particularly good-looking, nor did she have a great figure. She also had a deep, resonant voice, but her overall demeanor was quite good.

An art-house film director, I admire her unique charisma.

However, she's definitely not suitable for making science fiction films.

"By the way, Zhiyuan, what's the matter that you called me over here for? Is there something you need my help with? You don't mean you want me to start a tech company with you and become like Gao Yuanyuan, do you?"

Zhou Xun and Gao Yuanyuan are currently at roughly the same level of fame.

However, the two rarely meet in public, maintaining a distant and polite distance, like kings not meeting kings.

Originally, Zhou Xun could have easily defeated Gao Yuanyuan.

But then Gao Yuanyuan met Lu Zhiyuan, and the two even started a company together, which suddenly turned Gao Yuanyuan into a well-known figure in the industry.

YG Entertainment was even featured in a movie by Lu Zhiyuan.

I don't know about overseas, but on the Chinese internet, Gao Yuanyuan is being praised to the skies.

Originally, everyone thought that Gao Yuanyuan was just an advertising queen with the title of "national first love". Who knew that she would become the CEO of a high-tech company in one turn.

Now, Gao Yuanyuan's aura is absolutely explosive.

Its commercial value suddenly skyrocketed, allowing it to overtake Zhou Xun.

At this moment, Zhou Xun deliberately teased Lu Zhiyuan about this.

"It's not about starting a company. I want you to mentor an apprentice and teach her how to use micro-expressions for control."

"In exchange, I can help you out when you need my help in the future."

After he finished speaking, Lu Zhiyuan saw Zhou Xun's eyes light up, and he wondered what she was thinking.

He added, "For example, if you want to start a company in the future and have some suitable young actors under your management, I can give priority to the people who bring you along, all other things being equal."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun was immediately disappointed and couldn't help but laugh at herself: "Then I really have to thank you. I'm not old enough to retire and start a company yet."

They only promote newcomers when they can't produce their own work.

Although Zhou Xun is 36 years old, she feels she can still persevere for a few more years.

But who can predict the future?

It's good to leave behind a legacy of ancestral worship.

Anyway, I don't have much to do lately, so it's no big deal to teach Director Lu a student.

"Let me make this clear first, I will not teach apprentices."

“In the past, some people asked me to teach their apprentices, but the other party was so stupid that they could never learn.”

Zhou Xun has good acting skills; she's the kind of person who's naturally gifted. But such a talent is often impossible to teach ordinary people.

She needed to make this clear first, lest Lu Zhiyuan suspect that she was putting in the work but not putting in the effort.

"It's okay, I'll help you."

"The main reason I'm asking for your help this time is to teach Hani how to use her eyes to express herself. How to make her entire demeanor change drastically in an instant through a change in her eyes!"

"However, based on my observation and analysis of eye acting, there are three tips to achieve the same narrative effect as you, where your eyes can penetrate the lens and strike the soul."

"First, changes in iris pigmentation. When a person experiences emotional fluctuations, the blood flow to the blood vessels on the surface of the eye is different, causing the pupil to appear in different warm or cool tones under different lighting conditions."

"This is not difficult to achieve; it can be controlled by lighting to ultimately achieve the effect I want."

Upon hearing Lu Zhiyuan's description, Zhou Xun's eyes widened.

Goodness, rumors are circulating that you're a robot.

Indeed, there are only wrong names, not wrong nicknames.

You're such a robot.

He speaks without any emotion, cold as a psychopath.

"Second, the tremor of the orbicularis oculi muscle. In a moment of silence, the sudden, rhythmic tremor of the eyelids can make the audience clearly feel that a character's mental state is on the verge of collapse. You used this technique in 'The Equation of Love and Death.' It was very impressive to me."

"This is purely your talent. I've never seen any other actor as freakish as you. I reckon Honey could never learn it."

When Lu Zhiyuan said he was a pervert, Zhou Xun couldn't help but want to refute him.

Who is the pervert?
But she held back.

It's one thing to be called a pervert by others, but why call someone a pervert a pervert?
Please don't hurt each other.

"Third, the shifting of the eye's focus. Whether it's looking up, looking into the distance, or glancing back, it's all just to convey an emotion to the audience."

"I have a lot of personal experience with this. In photography, I often use focus shifts to achieve the various montage atmospheres I want."

“You can try to teach Hani. If you can’t, I will teach her. It’s not very difficult to coordinate with the camera.”

Lu Zhiyuan thought it was very simple.

Zhou Xun goes without saying; for her, shifting the focus of her gaze is as easy as eating and drinking.

Reba, who was standing next to her, glanced at Hanikezi silently, patted her shoulder gently, and said nothing.

it is more than words.

But this silent comfort sent chills down Hanikezi's spine.

too frightening.

What are they talking about?
Two perverts have clicked, and I'm the one who's going to suffer!
I'm only 13 years old!

"So, all I need to do is teach this little girl how to use her pupils. Right?"

When a person displays various emotions, their pupils will dilate or constrict.

Of course, such exaggerated acting is unnecessary in TV dramas.

But for movies, especially close-up shots, once this kind of acting is displayed, it will definitely create a strong atmosphere.

Once an actor masters this skill, they will never have to worry about not having roles to play.

Because this is a unique skill.

If a director wants to make a film, they can only approach you.

No one else could possibly portray this feeling.

Zhou Xun turned her head and glanced at Hanikezi, a bright-eyed young girl who seemed quite clever.

I guess.

However, she has met many clever girls over the years, but none of them have been able to master this unique skill.

"So, as your tutor, shall I stay here tonight?"

Zhou Xun was making a joke.

"can."

To everyone's surprise, Lu Zhiyuan agreed, nodding and saying, "There's an empty room on the third floor, opposite Reba's room. You can go take a look. I hope it won't be too much of a hassle for you."

As he spoke, Lu Zhiyuan asked, "By the way, what would you like to eat for dinner? I'm about to order. Don't be shy, Teacher Zhou."

Seeing Lu Zhiyuan's serious expression, Zhou Xun panicked a little.

Brother, I was just kidding!
If I stay at your place overnight, we'll most likely be on the entertainment news front page tomorrow morning!
No, it's the four of us!

There are also Reba and Hanikezi.

But how to say it?

This feeling of not being treated like an outsider, and of instantly connecting with someone I've known for a long time, seems quite nice.

The great director is indeed a man of strong emotions.

(End of this chapter)