The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 140: Reverse shot, Hanikezi's amazing acting skills!

……

I can't teach it.

I can't teach him at all!
"No, Honey, look me in the eyes. Hold your breath slightly, and then... that's it!"

"It's so simple, why can't I learn it?"

"You're making me so anxious."

Zhou Xun stayed at Lu Zhiyuan's house for two days.

Every morning, she would give Hanikezi a two-hour lesson, and in the afternoon, Lu Zhiyuan would take Hanikezi to the 798 Art Center.

Take Hanikezi to see the paintings of Takehisa Yumeji, so that she can immerse herself in the beauty of melancholy.

Lu Zhiyuan had tested this trick on Dilraba.

It works well.

"Teacher Zhou, am I very stupid?"

Hanikezi has also tried very hard to learn Zhou Xun's acting style, but she just can't seem to master it.

Zhou Xun's eyes are so expressive; she can change her gaze however she wants.

She can learn by following along, but her eyes don't change as quickly.

When the speed slows down, it feels sluggish and loses its dynamism.

A fake look.

This is where the difficulty lies.

Zhou Xun also discovered it.

But no way.

That's what actors without talent look like; no matter what expression they make, they always look wooden.

She's lively and adorable in real life, but when filmed in close-up by a camera, she becomes like a wooden doll, instantly pulling the audience out of the story.

"Honey, my skills are limited, I can't teach you. Goodbye!"

In just two days, Zhou Xun can basically conclude that Hanikezi is the kind of person whose acting is wooden, and that the famous director Lu Zhiyuan is going to make a mistake this time.

She couldn't wait to distance herself from the situation.

He had never taught Hanikezi.

When the movie is released, Hanikezi will be ridiculed by the audience. She should be careful not to drag herself into it for no reason.

"Young Master Zhou, are you leaving already? Won't you stay a few more nights?"

Seeing Zhou Xun hurriedly return to her room to pack her things, Lu Zhiyuan heard the commotion, came out of his studio with a smile on his face, and casually asked a question.

Hanikezi's acting is truly an eyesore.

Lu Zhiyuan observed for two days.

My initial hesitation was justified.

But now that Hanikezi has been chosen, no matter how difficult it is, this problem must be solved.

"No, I have an urgent matter at home and must go. Brother Zhiyuan, may we meet again someday."

The main reason is that Zhou Xun felt that she was too weak and frail to enjoy life.

Moreover, Zhao Wenzhuo has been frequently visiting these past few days.

Ask her how well her mentor teaches.
Zhao Wenzhuo lived in another villa 100 meters away. He originally had no interaction with Lu Zhiyuan and was too embarrassed to come over for a visit.

However, he co-starred with Zhou Xun in "True Legend," which is still showing in theaters and is currently a spectacular flop.

The two are in the same boat, constantly being mocked online, so it's only natural that they would stick together for warmth.

“Young Master Zhou, look at how flustered you are, you’ve lost some of your elegance.”

“I know that Hani’s acting skills are a bit lacking, but I’ve also observed your teaching methods for a few days and I feel that they are not right.”

Upon hearing Lu Zhiyuan's words, Zhou Xun immediately put down her clothes, turned around to look at Lu Zhiyuan, and her eyes widened instantly.

Was I wrong?
Then you teach me!

“I know you’re not convinced. Come downstairs with me, and I’ll show you.”

Lu Zhiyuan gave Zhou Xun a look that said "Take it easy," then put his hands behind his back and leisurely walked downstairs.

Zhou Xun looked unconvinced, but was also very curious.

What can you possibly teach Hanikezi, that blockhead?

I can't believe it!
……

In the living room downstairs.

Hanikezi was nervous and at a loss.

She realized that because she hadn't made any progress in two days, she had angered her teacher, Zhou Xun, and caused her to leave.

At such a young age, how could she have ever experienced such pressure?

Teacher Lu will definitely feel very embarrassed, and might even take her anger out on me.

How can this be good?

"Honey, don't be nervous. Just because she can't do it doesn't mean I can't. Besides, what are you afraid of? We've done that kind of ceremony before."

The Uyghur apprenticeship ceremony is even more solemn than a wedding ceremony, so Lu Zhiyuan would never send Hanikezi back.

As a famous director, he also cares about his image.

"Director Lu, please begin."

Anyone can make sarcastic remarks. If you're so capable, then stop your empty talk and do it yourself!

Zhou Xun folded the clothes neatly, but didn't bring them down.

At this moment, she sat on the other side of the sofa, arms crossed, looking intently at Lu Zhiyuan.

She gestured with her chin toward him.

Please start your performance.

"Teacher, I'm sorry, I haven't learned it yet."

Hanikezi also has self-esteem; at 13 years old, she is at a stage where she should be proud.

When she said "I can't," tears were welling up in her eyes; she looked so wronged.

“It’s not that you can’t do it, it’s just that Teacher Zhou hasn’t found the right way to unlock your potential. I’ve been observing you for a few days, and you actually have a lot of talent.”

As Lu Zhiyuan uttered the words "talented," Hanikezi's eyes widened instantly, sparkling brightly. After being veiled with tears, they shone even more brilliantly.

isn't it?
Do I have talent?

I do not know how?
Teacher, please don't lie through your teeth, it will put a lot of pressure on me.

Even though you said that, I'm very happy and wish I could go to the kitchen right now and make you a soup and rice meal.

"See, that's it."

"Round, big eyes, long, thin eyelashes, a slender figure... You perfectly match the poignant beauty in [Takehisa Yumeji]'s paintings in terms of appearance."

Why do some people say you can't learn it?

Lu Zhiyuan pointed at Zhou Xun and then said to her, "Young Master Zhou, could you please draw the curtains in the living room? Just halfway, on the right side."

Zhou Xun rolled her eyes at Lu Zhiyuan, wanting to see what tricks he was up to. She silently got up and covered half of the living room curtains.

The light suddenly dimmed.

The light shining on Hanikezi suddenly dimmed considerably.

She was facing the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room, but because the living room was dark, half of her face was always in shadow.

For some reason, at this moment, a vague sense of fragility suddenly arose about her.

"This……"

Zhou Xun was stunned for a moment, then realized that Lu Zhiyuan was cheating!

But so what?
The fleeting fragility, the loneliness, and the sense of being adrift and dependent on others truly capture the essence of the character [Ophelia] mentioned in the film.

But this is not the point.

The key is the instantaneous change in demeanor!
One moment Hanikezi was brimming with youthful energy, and the next he felt fragile, lonely, and adrift, living under someone else's roof.

Show me what you've got!

As if knowing what Zhou Xun was expecting, Lu Zhiyuan smiled, looking relaxed.

"Honey, how about we go out for a big meal tonight? After that, we'll go to the Beijing Film Academy tomorrow to see how Dilraba does on her exam. If she fails, we'll all laugh at her."

"In the Beijing Film Academy's entrance exam, there will be a talent show, which may require students to sing... If Dilraba were to sing a folk song, what do you think the teacher's expression would be?"

Lu Zhiyuan suddenly mentioned the way Reba sang folk songs.

In Hanikezi's mind, an image immediately flashed into his mind: Reba lying on the sofa, playing mobile games and singing folk songs without restraint.

Not a single note is in tune.

However, she sang with great confidence.

In that instant, Dilraba's goddess image shattered completely, and she suddenly transformed into a comedic figure.

Just imagining that scene made Hanikezi grin from ear to ear.

The moment Hanikezi smiled, the upturned corners of her mouth resembled blooming flower petals, and combined with the full curve of her cheekbones, she was instantly captivating.

It's sweet to the extreme.

She had just been sitting there quietly, her eyes deep and clear like spring water, like a sorrowful young girl, but now, as her smile blossomed, her eyes were full of playfulness.

Previously, she might have had a touch of melancholy, but in this instant, she exudes youthful vitality.

Lu Zhiyuan nodded in satisfaction: "Young Master Zhou, do you see? That's it. I don't think it's that difficult."

Zhou Xun had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but her mind was a bit muddled and she couldn't figure it out at the moment.

"Zhiyuan, what are you doing?"

"What do you mean by making her laugh?"

Hanikezi's performance was indeed quite good, but it was completely opposite to the change in temperament required in the movie.

At this moment, Zhou Xun was a little unconvinced.

"That shot just now, it must have looked beautiful from any angle, right?"

Lu Zhiyuan turned to look at Zhou Xun and said with a smile, "Since it's impossible to transform her from a radiant youth into a sorrowful girl in an instant, let's do it the other way around."

"From a state of sorrow, she instantly switched to a state of youthful sweetness."

"You didn't know... that camera footage can be played in reverse?"

Depend on!
You cheated!
Are you playing me like this?
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun almost jumped up, but had to admit that it was indeed possible. As long as the editing skills were excellent enough, the audience wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

She thought about it carefully for a while, and then she thought about how to edit Hanikezi's expression just now and present it to the audience in reverse.

It might just be a scene of phenomenal acting!
From a bright smile to a gradual fading of the smile, to mist forming in her eyes, and then sitting there silently, letting the light from the window fall on her profile.

He was filled with loneliness and a sense of alienation from the world.

"Director Lu's idea is truly ingenious; I admire it. Farewell!"

This is absolutely evil and heretical.

However, Hanikezi actually mastered this unorthodox martial art!

Although Zhou Xun was convinced in her heart, she still appeared quite angry on the surface.

She felt that Lu Zhiyuan was taking a shortcut and had no intention of properly nurturing Hanikezi.

Is this how acting skills are honed?

Having learned to take shortcuts, Hanikezi never amounted to anything in his life.

Because if she were directed by a different director, her true colors would be immediately revealed, and she would be severely criticized by the other directors.

However, from Lu Zhiyuan's perspective, he was not Hanikezi's acting teacher; he only mentored Hanikezi in one film.

Once filming begins, millions of dollars are being burned every day. As the director, Lu Zhiyuan will be under tremendous pressure and simply cannot afford to delay.

If there's a shortcut, of course I'll choose the shortcut. There won't be any hesitation whatsoever!
If Zhou Xun were in Lu Zhiyuan's position, she probably would have done the same.

"Young Master Zhou, don't be angry."

Acting skills are a vital skill for actors to make a living, but Lu Zhiyuan seems to operate like a robot, dissecting acting skills into a rigid, disjointed form.

He even used opportunistic methods to help Hanikezi rebuild her acting skills.

Lu Zhiyuan knew that Zhou Xun would definitely be angry. After all, the other party had wasted two days of effort, only to have him use a trick of reversing the camera to overtake him.

"Young Master Zhou, if you don't have any important plans for the future, would you like to go on a trip with us?"

"In about a week, I will show you the changes in Hani."

The unorthodox methods only allowed Hanikezi to briefly appear in a few scenes, but the sense of fragmentation, loneliness, and alienation needed to permeate the entire film.

It's impossible for Lu Zhiyuan to adjust every single shot for Hanikezi.

That would be too much trouble.

He still hopes that Hanikezi can undergo some substantial changes.

"Where are you going on vacation? Just the three of us?"

Zhou Xun rested her chin on her hand, looking at Lu Zhiyuan with a strange expression.

After hesitating for a moment, she shook her head, feigning reluctance, a hint of mockery in her eyes: "I don't mind. But, isn't this a bad idea? If your girlfriend finds out, won't she blacklist me?"

It's impossible to blacklist Zhou Xun.

She was, after all, one of the "Four Dan and Two Bing" (referring to four top actresses and two top actresses in China), and one of the most prominent actresses in Chinese-language cinema.

"It wasn't the three of us."

Lu Zhiyuan didn't seem to care at all, and smiled: "My assistant director Xiao Su will be there too, and Brother Kun will be there too."

Besides a few key locations, Lu Zhiyuan also needed to scout out the other locations in advance.

Although the ordinary scenes in the movie will be processed by CGI and will look completely different from the original, it is still necessary to shoot on location as a spatial reference.

Otherwise, creating a model from scratch would require even more effort.

"Where to? I'm not interested in just any place."

Zhou Xun was somewhat curious.

Lu Zhiyuan is quite an interesting person. After using me once, he even invited me on a free trip to soothe my wounded heart.

At this point, she had already agreed in her heart, but she still wanted to be a little proud.

"Ponte Tower, the second tallest building in Johannesburg, South Africa."

Lu Zhiyuan casually replied, "I booked the plane tickets this afternoon and we're leaving the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, Dilraba is going to take the entrance exam for the Beijing Film Academy, and I promised her I would go with her."

"Row!"

Zhou Xun thought for a moment and realized that she had never been to South Africa.

Since someone's treating, and covering all expenses, why not take advantage of it?

After returning from a week of travel, I went to report to the "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" film crew to play Ling Yanqiu, a lone swordsman wandering the martial arts world.

Zhou Xun vaguely remembers a line from this character: "A lone figure on a cold river, a stranger on the road of life; why should we need to have known each other before we meet?"

Like Hanikezi's character, she has a sense of loneliness and wandering.

However, this is Chinese martial arts.

The female lead should have a sense of vicissitude and a solitary demeanor.

After all the calculations, among the four Dan and two Bing actresses, only I can achieve this. I can be lively and agile when needed, and I can portray a sense of wandering when needed. Only I can bring out this feeling.

If it were someone else, they would never have this feeling.

Let's imagine……

If Tsui Hark were to encounter a wooden character like Hanikezi, the old man would most likely have to kneel down before her... and then, without hesitation, replace the actress.

In comparison, Lu Zhiyuan went to great lengths, even resorting to unorthodox methods, to find a way to bring out Hanikezi's acting skills.

What a stubborn person!
Why not just change the actor?
wrong.

Finding an actress as lively and sweet as Hanikezi might be even more difficult.

Zhou Xun flashed through my mind.

Among child stars, there is probably no one more suitable than Hanikezi.

Thinking about it this way, Zhou Xun silently sighed: "This little girl, Hani, encountered a great director like Lu Zhiyuan, who is skilled at and willing to mentor newcomers, in her debut film. It's truly enviable."

After expressing her feelings, Zhou Xun walked towards the door.

"Teacher Zhou, please don't go."

Hanikezi thought Zhou Xun was about to leave, so he went up and tugged at Zhou Xun's sleeve: "Teacher Zhou, I know I'm a little lacking in talent, but I will work hard. Please don't be angry with me."

Zhou Xun is actually a nice person. Although she always complained that she was stupid, Hanikezi could tell that she cared about her a lot and taught her a lot of acting tips.

"I do not go."

Zhou Xun turned to look at Hanikezi and smiled: "Didn't you say you were going to South Africa for tourism? It should be summer there now."

"I need to bring a few pretty dresses. I can't exactly go wearing a down jacket, can I?"

Upon hearing this, Hanikezi let go, thinking to herself, "When Sister Reba comes back, I'll have to buy some pretty dresses too."

"Honey, you actually have some talent too. Don't take shortcuts and get corrupted by someone! I'll teach you a few tricks while we're traveling, and I guarantee you'll benefit immensely!"

Hanikezi still knows what's good for him.

She knew that she was her acting teacher.

Lu Zhiyuan's unorthodox methods are of no use to her future.

With that thought in mind, Zhou Xun was in a much better mood and turned to ask, "Brother Zhiyuan, are you willing to take the Three Heads and One Palm?"

"eat!"

Lu Zhiyuan nodded succinctly, then added, "Forget the fish heads, just get more duck heads and duck feet."

"learn."

Zhou Xun gave Lu Zhiyuan an OK sign and left with a smile.

"Three Heads and One Palm" is a famous delicacy from Quzhou, Zhou Xun's hometown.

It includes duck heads, rabbit heads, fish heads, and duck feet, all of which are spicy and flavorful, making you feel a tingling sensation all over your body after eating them.

Lu Zhiyuan is very knowledgeable!

……

That night.

Zhou Xun packed a few pretty dresses and returned to Lu Zhiyuan's house.

At the same time, she also specially packed several portions of duck heads and duck feet to bring back.

After experiencing a failed relationship, Zhou Xun was down for a few days, but then she became light and youthful again... It's highly likely she's in love again.

In particular, she has become much more of a homebody, bringing home takeout from outside.

This scene thrilled the paparazzi who were staking out outside the residential area.

They took out the super-telephoto lens that Nikon users use specifically for bird photography, and from 100 meters away, they took a lightning-fast 10-shot burst of shots at Zhou Xun.

—[Zhou Xun is suspected of living with a mystery man! She was all smiles and in good spirits, and even brought him dinner!]

—[Zhou Xun moves into a luxury villa in Dongshan; the mysterious man is suspected to be Zhao Wenzhuo's neighbor!]

— [Zhao Wenzhuo denies rumors of a new romance with Zhou Xun, stating they are just friends!]

Debunking a rumor is equivalent to verification!
This caused an instant uproar among netizens, who flocked to click in to see the gossip!

Zhao Wenzhuo didn't say that Zhou Xun's move into the Dongshan Villa mansion was fake, nor did he say that her cohabitation with the mysterious man was fake... He only said that the romance was fake, and they were just friends.

Who believes it!
They're living together, and you still say their relationship is fake?

In the photo, Zhou Xun is smiling so happily, holding two lunchboxes in her hands. I don't know what's inside, but it's probably a lovingly prepared dinner.

— [Who exactly is the mysterious man? Netizens reveal the truth one by one!]

For these paparazzi and gossip media, as long as they create a topic, regardless of whether it's true or false, as long as someone clicks to view it, they'll get traffic.

With traffic comes advertisers.

With advertisers, I can get a year-end bonus.

As for the warning I was given before, I shouldn't write about Lu Zhiyuan's gossip and scandals.

They swore to God that they didn't write it down, they only wrote about Zhou Xun and the mysterious man.

……

Jiaozuo Film and Television City.

Miss Jing Tian had just finished a day of filming.

"The Warring States" will be the most breakout film in Miss Jing Tian's career.

It's so bad it's become an outrageous phenomenon.

Of course, some people also gave the film a suffocating review.

Even if it's bad, it's so bad that it's mediocre that it doesn't make you want to complain.

It's too heartbreaking.

But at this moment, Miss Jing Tian was unaware of all of this.

She was in a good mood when she returned to Jiaozuo Film and Television City.

Thinking back, it was right here that she met, got to know, and fell in love with Lu Zhiyuan... At this moment, she felt a sweet sense of reliving their love.

Everything I saw was beautiful, as if pink bubbles were shimmering inside.

Especially the mottled old city wall, which looks dirty, witnessed the music video that made her acting skills legendary!

"Tian Tian, ​​this look suits your temperament very well."

"As brave as Mulan, and as beautiful as a flower and as noble as the moon."

Seeing Miss Jing Tian removing her makeup, the male lead, Sun Honglei, came over to greet her, showing great enthusiasm.

How could we not be enthusiastic?
He has already signed a contract with Zhao Shanshan and will soon be going to work on "Real Steel" as a mecha warrior.

What a terrible "Warring States" series! He just wants to finish filming and leave as soon as possible.

Of course, at this point, filming is no longer important; maintaining a good relationship with Miss Jing Tian is the most important thing.

"Xiao Li, please distribute the milk tea to everyone."

Miss Jing Tian gave her assistant a hint.

The assistant immediately understood, knowing that Miss Jing Tian had something to say to Sun Honglei, so he led the others out.

Soon, only Miss Jing Tian and Sun Honglei remained in the dressing room.

Jing Tian thought for a moment and asked bluntly, "Brother Honglei, although we've only been filming for one day, why do I have a bad feeling?"

This director doesn't seem very capable!

Although Miss Jing Tian couldn't quite explain why it wasn't working, she just had a gut feeling.

"hehe."

Sun Honglei smiled knowingly and didn't reply.

You're asking me about your own company's projects?
I've actually stumbled into a den of thieves!
When I saw the script, I knew it was going to be a flop, but who knew it would be this bad! The director seems to have some issues with his aesthetic sense!
While silently complaining to himself, Sun Honglei glanced at his own appearance in the mirror.

It really made my head spin.

With that sleazy look, if this movie were released, he'd definitely be bombarded with criticism!
He finally became a national-level actor thanks to "Lurking", but now he's likely to be brought back to square one!

What a crime!

This money is way too hot to handle!
Forget it.

Instead of waiting for others to criticize me, I might as well post a notice on Weibo first, jokingly calling myself "King of Looks," so that others won't have a chance to criticize me!

What a genius I am!
After calming down, Sun Honglei said calmly, "It's okay. Historical dramas are all pretty much the same. Let's finish filming 'The Warring States' and then go see Brother Yuan's 'Real Steel' together."

Sun Honglei could only comfort Jing Tian and himself in this way.

Otherwise, how will we get through the next three months of filming?

"and……"

Sun Honglei looked around to make sure no one was there, and whispered, "Besides, Tian Tian, ​​you can't use Brother Yuan's standards to judge other directors."

“If Yuan Ge’s level is 99 points, then our director is at most 60 points. If you’re always around a top student who gets 99 points, and then you encounter a slacker who gets 60 points, of course you’ll feel a sense of disparity.”

Right.

Our robot gets more than 99 points; it can definitely answer the 20-point bonus question correctly too.

119 points, compared to 60 points.

Double the damage.

We're not even from the same world anymore.

My expectations really can't be too high.

With this in mind, Miss Jing Tian nodded and considered Sun Honglei a close friend.

She smiled sweetly: "Brother Honglei, I know my acting skills. It mainly depends on the atmosphere. If there's any part where the atmosphere isn't right, please guide me."

"That is required!"

Sun Honglei smiled and nodded.

What kind of atmosphere? You're quite the talker, girl.

I've been watching your acting all day, and it's absolutely awful!

It must have been tough for Director Lu to film you in "Upgrade" so spectacularly, with such great presence, making you look like a true top-tier boss.

The female CEO in "Upgrade" is of a higher status than the eldest daughter of the Tian family in "Warring States," almost standing at the pinnacle of humanity.

When it comes to performing, especially in terms of temperament, it's something most people simply can't achieve.

Sun Honglei originally thought that Jing Tian, ​​a rich heiress and a professional actress specializing in playing female CEOs, would be a piece of cake for him to play the eldest daughter of the Tian family in "The Warring States".
Who knows... let's not talk about it.

The girl is young but has great potential; I shouldn't discourage her confidence.

"hateful!"

"They start writing nonsense as soon as I'm not home!"

At that moment, Sun Honglei suddenly heard Miss Jing Tian mutter a curse under her breath.

He looked at Miss Jing Tian's phone, where several posts had popped up with various speculations about Zhou Xun's secret meeting with a mysterious man.

All the speculations subtly point to the renowned director Lu Zhiyuan.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xun was photographed entering a villa in Dongshanshu, smiling sweetly and carrying two lunch boxes.

Sun Honglei was very familiar with the surroundings of this villa.

That's Lu Zhiyuan's home.

Finished!

Yuan Ge was playing too many tricks and got caught by the young lady.

Just as Sun Honglei was preparing to leave quietly, he was caught in the crossfire.

But then they heard Miss Jing Tian mutter, "These paparazzi just write nonsense. I gave my permission for Zhou Xun to move into my house!"

These words made Sun Honglei slip and turn his head in disbelief.

Good guy.

Can you agree to this?
That young lady is different; she's so open-minded. Knowing she can't stop a man from cheating, she uses a strategy of retreat to advance, seizing the initiative and completely taking control.

The realm is too high.

(End of this chapter)