Huayu: This celebrity doesn't follow the rules.

Chapter 133 Filming Abroad, Next Stop Chang'an

As he turned around, his gaze inadvertently swept over Zhou Ye's still flushed profile, and he found that the girl was quite pretty.

It's a bit small, a bit flat...

After leaving Fisherman's Bastion, the four strolled to a nearby street filled with tourist souvenirs and unique handicrafts.

Huang Xiaoming went into a rather exquisite-looking shop and carefully selected some items, saying he wanted to bring back some special gifts for his baby at home.

Jiang Ye and his two companions stopped to browse in front of a shop filled with various Hungarian folk art pieces.

Meng Ziyi took a fancy to a finely crafted painted ceramic plate, which was decorated with intricate floral patterns in a Central European style.

She pointed to the plate and tried to ask the elderly shop owner in English, "Hello! How much is this?"

The old lady answered with a smile, speaking a little quickly with a slight Hungarian accent.

Meng Ziyi didn't quite understand and was a little confused. She subconsciously looked at Jiang Ye.

Jiang Ye cleared his throat, feeling that as the most educated person present, he should step forward.

He tried to be more specific: "Excuse me, what's the price for this plate?"

However, he had almost forgotten his English.

Before my rebirth, I hardly ever needed it; after my rebirth, I've hardly attended any classes.

The old lady repeated herself, this time speaking more slowly, but the currency unit forint and the numbers she mentioned still required Jiang Ye to process.

He was mentally calculating the exchange rate and trying to think of what to say to ask if he could pay by card...

Zhou Ye, who had been quietly watching from the side, suddenly spoke up. Her voice was clear and crisp, and her English was fluent and her pronunciation was quite standard: "Excuse me, could you please tell me the price of this plate again? And do you accept credit card or cash only?"

"Excuse me, could you please tell me the price of this plate again? Also, do you accept credit cards or cash only?"

The old lady's eyes lit up, seemingly pleased to have met a customer with whom she could communicate smoothly. She immediately replied enthusiastically, "Of course, dear! It's 8500 forints. We accept both credit cards and cash."

Zhou Ye nodded and continued, "Thank you. Could you please help me wrap it carefully? It's a gift for someone."

"No problem at all!"

The old lady smiled and agreed, then started looking for packaging boxes.

The whole process was smooth and natural. Zhou Ye's expression was clear and polite, completely going beyond the scope of simply asking for a price.

Jiang Ye and Meng Ziyi, who were standing to the side, were stunned. They looked at each other, their faces filled with surprise and a hint of... embarrassment.
Two college students were outdone by a high school student...

Meng Ziyi couldn't help but whisper, "Xiao Ye, your English is so good! You speak it much better than I do!"

Zhou Ye smiled a little embarrassedly and explained in a low voice, "I studied in the international department of high school, and there were quite a few classes taught by foreign teachers, so I used them a lot..."

Meng Ziyi attended Changchun No. 11 High School. She scored 512 points on the college entrance examination, exceeding the provincial first-tier university admission line by 34 points, and was admitted to Beijing Film Academy.

She is one of the few students admitted to the Beijing Film Academy through the regular college entrance examination, making her a top student in the entertainment industry.

Sister Meng is actually not stupid at all; in fact, she's quite clever.

However, she has a straightforward personality, speaks quickly, and sometimes has different ideas than others.

Zhou Ye can actually be considered a top student.

She entered the IELTS class of the International Department of Hua Luogeng High School in her first year of high school, chose humanities in her second year, switched to the media class in her third year and decided to take the art exam at the last minute. She was eventually admitted to Beijing Film Academy with a score of 36th in the country.

Her total score in academic subjects exceeded the admission line for key undergraduate music programs by 131 points, making her the first student from Huizhou to be admitted to the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy.

"Hmm, her pronunciation is fairly standard, and her reactions are quite quick. Xiao Ye's English level is indeed quite good, um... almost as good as mine."

Jiang Ye managed to salvage his reputation!
When a man is out in public, his reputation is something he earns himself.

Upon hearing this, Meng Ziyi immediately turned her head and looked Jiang Ye up and down with an extremely suspicious look, as if she had heard the funniest joke of the century. Her lips twitched, and she barely managed to hold back her laughter.

Zhou Ye was also stunned for a moment, then lowered her head, her shoulders shrugged slightly, and she pursed her lips, not daring to speak, for fear that she might burst out laughing and offend her boss.

Huang Xiaoming happened to be walking over after buying his things. He vaguely heard half of the sentence and asked curiously, "Caught up with what? Who caught up with whom?"

Jiang Ye: "...It's nothing! Brother Xiaoming, have you finished shopping? If you're done, let's go to the next spot!"

He quickly changed the subject and walked out of the store first, his pace a few seconds faster than usual.

Men's damn competitive spirit!
He felt that he needed to brush up on his English when he got back!
……

The crew began filming the next day.

In March, Budapest is still chilly, the air is crisp, and the sky often takes on a pale grayish-blue hue. The sunlight is thin yet clear, adding a touch of serene and melancholic poetry to this ancient city.

This weather atmosphere perfectly matches the sense of alienation, historical weight, and slightly melancholic romantic tone required for the alternate time and space chapters in the drama "A Thousand Years of Song".

During the early stages of preparation, Jiang Ye abandoned the original filming location in Quebec, Canada, and chose Budapest instead.

It's not just a matter of political considerations.

In his view, Budapest in Central Europe, compared to North America, has a more mysterious, ancient, and even slightly melancholic medieval European atmosphere, which is more in line with the sense of loneliness of immortal life and the sense of destiny that transcends time and space set in the play.

For example, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the Buda Castle area.

This scene replaces the old streets of Quebec City that appeared after Kim Shin and Ji Eun-tak first passed through the gate in the original game.

The Chain Bridge itself is magnificent, connecting Buda and Pest, just like the bridge connecting different times and worlds in the play.

The metaphors and atmosphere here are much stronger!
The crew will choose to film in the early morning before the fog dissipates, capturing the mysterious feeling of the bridge appearing and disappearing in the mist.

The cobblestone streets and ancient walls of the Buda Castle district will serve as the main backdrop for the otherworldly streets, and their weathered historical traces will enhance the fantastical, non-modern atmosphere far more than those of Old Quebec City.

The original filming location for the Quebec City Place where Kim Shin and Ji Eun-tak strolled and chatted was Fisherman's Bastion.

Fisherman's Bastion's white-spired arcades, viewing platforms, and statues appear even more ethereal and sacred in the crisp March air, like a pavilion in the sky far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world.

This section will focus on filming the scenes where the male lead, Xiao Che, reveals part of the truth to the female lead and engages in important dialogues.

With the expansive Danube River and the Parliament Building as the backdrop, the composition of the image will be both impactful and romantic.

Many scenes, such as Matthias Church and its surrounding streets, the banks of the Danube and the riverside park, were replaced from the original series.

Of course, Jiang Ye couldn't remain unchanged. Without affecting the main plot, he filmed some additional scenes.

The main additions include older stations and carriages on Budapest Metro Line 1.

This is an innovative design. Budapest Metro Line 1 is one of the oldest metro lines in continental Europe, and some of its stations, such as Opera station, still retain retro tiled walls and an old-fashioned atmosphere.

Jiang Ye plans to use its unique time tunnel-like feel to shoot some transition shots or shots with special meanings, suggesting the travel and intersection of time and space.

……

Three o'clock in the morning
Budapest, Liberty Bridge. This century-old iron bridge, painted entirely in green, is adorned with statues of the Thulus bird from Hungarian mythology at its entrances. In the crisp March air, it appears particularly solemn and imbued with a sense of history.

In order to film this crucial romantic snow scene, the production team had to coordinate with the Budapest city government and traffic management authorities for weeks in advance, and finally obtained permission to close one side of the bridge's sidewalk and some lanes between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Huge signs indicating where to take photos, roadblocks, and friendly local security personnel were already in place.

Although it is March, natural snowfall in Budapest has already become rare.

To create the beautiful scene of the first snow falling on Liberty Bridge as required in the script, the production team spared no expense, importing two large snowplows and several fog machines from Germany.

The massive equipment had been quietly deployed in concealed locations on both sides of the bridge the night before, with pipes and cables cleverly hidden.

Before dawn, the crew members were already in their positions in the cold wind.

The lighting team set up huge softboxes and reflectors in an attempt to simulate the softest and most natural light at dawn.

The photography crew repeatedly adjusted the equipment on the tracks and stabilizers, while the art department meticulously checked the effect of every inch of "snow" on the bridge surface.

It is made of an environmentally friendly, easily meltable, and harmless polymer material that simulates snow. Its texture is extremely close to that of real snow, and it makes a similar crunching sound when stepped on.

Huang Xiaoming and Zhou Ye had already finished their makeup and styling.

However, they still wore thick down jackets and stayed warm in the van while waiting for their orders.

As an inland city, Budapest experiences significant temperature differences between day and night; the current temperature is minus one degree Celsius.

The executive director held a megaphone and repeated the instructions in both Chinese and English.

Everything was ready, and all that remained was for the sky to reach that delicate "fish belly white" light that Jiang Ye had requested, and for the city lights to be just about to go out.

"All departments, prepare!"

"Snowflake generators, prepare!"

"Prepare for fogging!"

"The actors are in place!"

Jiang Ye sat behind the monitor, his sharp gaze sweeping across every frame.

He picked up the walkie-talkie: "Action!"

At the command, the fog generators started up, and a light, moist fog spread low over the bridge and the Danube River, blurring the outline of the modern city and creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

Immediately afterwards, two huge snowplows roared to life, and countless white, light "snowflakes" gushed out, dancing in the air and slowly drifting down under the strong wind, instantly transforming the green Liberty Bridge into a silver-clad fairytale world.

Although the melody of the background music "Szerelem, szerelem" will be added in post-production, Jiang Ye had the sound engineer play an instrumental version of this Hungarian folk song to help the actors capture the emotions.

The mournful and poignant gypsy melody, transmitted through hidden speakers, echoed softly in the chilly morning wind, intertwining with snowflakes, mist, the ancient iron bridge, and the actors' inner monologues, greatly enhancing the immersive experience.

As Huang Xiaoming walked on the bridge, listening to foreign love songs and feeling the cold "snowflakes" melting on his cheeks, he watched Zhou Ye, with her pure eyes, slowly walking towards him from the opposite side, and the extremely romantic yet melancholic atmosphere created by Jiang Ye behind the camera. Suddenly, a long-lost and strong urge to perform welled up in his heart.

He has played too many domineering CEOs and too many heroes, but he often relies on his outward coolness and stereotypical deep affection.

But this time, under Jiang Ye's lens, all emotions were required to be restrained and conveyed through subtle glances, the curve of the lips, and even the rhythm of breathing.

That kind of profound love that transcends time and space, the unspeakable protection, and the palpitations under the snowy scenery at this moment require a deeper and more heartfelt interpretation.

"This feeling... is very different."

Huang Xiaoming thought to himself, "Jiang Ye is indeed quite something."

He no longer simply played a sentimental character, but truly tried to become Xiao Che, who was waiting for redemption over the long years.

You can say he's greasy, but you can't say he has no acting skills.

From Liu Che, the dashing and spirited young man in "The Emperor of Han Dynasty," to Cheng Dongqing, who ventures to New York with his native accent in "American Dreams in China" and hides his inferiority complex in his stubbornness.

From Xiao Pingzhang, the calm and steadfast character who prioritizes his country in "Nirvana in Fire 2", to Jiang Liwei, the character who braves the flames in "The Bravest" and shouts, "There will be sacrifices sooner or later in the firefighting battle."

He portrayed these characters with great depth.

In Jiang Ye's opinion, Xiao Ming's acting skills are undeniable, given his immersive performance.

Zhou Ye's performance was sometimes amazing, and sometimes she stumbled.

Her sense of camera presence is decent; in certain still shots, her cool and aloof temperament blends perfectly with the snowy landscape. Without any dialogue, she is as beautiful as an oil painting, accurately conveying the fragility and spirituality of the female lead.

However, when it comes to scenes that require complex emotional shifts, especially when specific reactions are needed, her lack of experience becomes apparent, and her expression instantly goes blank or she becomes at a loss.

"Cut!" Jiang Ye's voice came through the walkie-talkie, "Xiao Ye, your emotions are off. He's not your enemy. Besides curiosity, there should be a hint of barely perceptible dependence and heartache in your eyes. Let's start over!"

After another attempt, Zhou Ye's performance still failed to meet the requirements.

She lowered her head in frustration.

At this moment, Hao Lei and Zhang Songwen, the performance instructors accompanying the group, came over.

They didn't directly tell Zhou Ye how to act.

Hao Lei said softly to Zhou Ye, "Xiao Ye, don't try to act like you're feeling sorry for them. Try to recall if there was ever a moment when you saw someone you care about a lot who seemed very tired and unhappy, but you didn't dare to ask them. That feeling of slight tightness in your heart?"

Zhang Songwen said to Huang Xiaoming, "Teacher Huang, give her something. Don't just look at her. Your gaze can be more complex, as if you are seeing someone or a scene from a long time ago through her, with a touch of nostalgia and a hint of nervousness at losing it again. Give her an emotional support that she can hold onto."

Two professional teachers provided continuous guidance and adjustments on site.

After several takes, when Zhou Ye looked up at Huang Xiaoming, her eyes held a subtle, indescribable emotion, no longer just blank curiosity.

Huang Xiaoming's response was also more precise.

"Good! This one's a pass! Keep it!" Jiang Ye's voice carried a hint of satisfaction.

The entire team breathed a sigh of relief and immediately threw themselves into a new round of preparations.

The snowplow roared again, snowflakes danced, enveloping the century-old bridge and the intertwined fates destined to unfold in the drama.

This meticulously crafted snow scene, under professional guidance and tireless efforts, is gradually approaching the perfect picture envisioned in Jiang Ye's mind.

Time flies, and fifty-two days and nights passed in the blink of an eye amidst busyness and creation.

Budapest’s ancient streets, tranquil riverbanks and magnificent buildings have been captured by countless cameras.

With the director's satisfied "Cut!" for the final scene, the crew of "A Thousand Years of Song" successfully completed all filming tasks in Hungary.

Without much rest, the large team, like migratory birds making a precise migration, quickly packed their bags and embarked on their journey home.

Their next stop is Chang'an, the ancient capital that carries the weight of Chinese civilization.

(End of this chapter)