Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 469-467: God's Perspective

Los Angeles time, February 1, 2003, early morning.

The chill of San Francisco had not yet been completely dispelled by the sunshine, but the crew of "The Pursuit of Happyness" had already begun another day of filming.

The filming location was in a slightly dilapidated neighborhood near the city center, which perfectly recreated the sense of economic depression and life in the early 1980s.

Wang Sheng, wrapped in a dark down jacket, stood behind the monitor, calmly watching Jamie Foxx and Tyler James Williams move around the court.

His thoughts would occasionally drift back to another time and space, to the classic version starring Will Smith and his son.

At this moment, he is not "creating," but rather conducting a precise "reproduction" and "fine-tuning"—based on his timeless aesthetics and profound understanding of the essence of the original, he guides the actors in front of him to reach or even surpass the performance heights they remember.

This certainty and precision, derived from a "prophet," gradually reveals an almost magical efficiency and authority to outsiders.

“Jamie,” Wang Sheng picked up the walkie-talkie, his voice clearly reaching Jamie Foxx’s ears through the earpiece, “when you pick up Taylor and run towards that bus, the emotion on your face will be more than just anxiety.”

You need to have a sense of panic, like being cornered by life and almost missing your last lifeline, but at the same time, there must be a fierce determination deep in your eyes that refuses to accept your fate.

Chris Gardner is not a weakling who complains and blames his fate; he is a fighter who reaches out even when he's in the mire.

Jamie Foxx, who was in the arena, took a deep breath and nodded.

After nearly a month of adjustment, he had gotten used to the young director's insightful and soul-searching guidance.

Wang Sheng always seems to be able to see through the most subtle deviations in his performance and guide him onto the "only correct" emotional track with the most precise language.

"Action!"

Jamie Foxx, holding a bone density scanner in his arms and tightly gripping little Taylor's hand in his other, ran wildly down the steep streets of San Francisco.

His breathing was rapid, sweat beaded on his forehead, and his eyes held a mixture of frustration at missing the bus, fear of having nowhere to go, and an almost obsessive determination not to let this opportunity slip away.

“Cut!” Wang Sheng looked at the monitor and nodded slightly. “Very good, the emotion is right. Keep it up. Let’s change the angle and pay attention to the details of the scanner hitting your leg when you run. It hurts a lot, but you have to get into the habit of ignoring it.”

The crew's efficiency was astonishing.

The scenes of running around on the street, which were originally scheduled to be filmed all day, were actually completed before lunchtime thanks to Wang Sheng's precise scheduling and the actors' outstanding performances. Moreover, every take was of excellent quality.

This efficiency initially made Andrew White, a middle-aged white man who was the on-site producer sent by Disney, feel somewhat uneasy and even doubtful.

In his view, filmmaking is an art that requires repeated polishing and the collision of inspirations. Will such a fast pace sacrifice the depth of the performance and the quality of the film?
He even privately expressed his concerns to Robert Geller, wondering if the young director from the East was too focused on speed and neglecting the "meticulous craftsmanship" required by Hollywood's industrial standards.

However, as the raw footage continued to be sent back to Disney headquarters in Burbank, Andrew White and Robert Geller, who was far away in Los Angeles, fell silent.

On the monitor, Jamie Foxx's performance was transforming and deepening at a visible speed.

He is no longer the actor known for comedy and supporting roles; he is becoming Chris Gardner himself—a man struggling in despair, yet never extinguishing the flame in his eyes.

Especially for scenes that require extreme emotional outbursts, Wang Sheng's directing style can be described as "magic."

In mid-February, the crucial scene of "spending the night in a subway station toilet" was filmed.

In a cramped, confined set, Jamie Foxx had to portray one of the lowest points in Chris's life.

After several test shoots, Jamie's performance was already quite moving, conveying exhaustion, shame, and love for his son.

But Wang Sheng frowned slightly as he looked at the monitor.

He called a halt, walked over to Jamie, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Jamie, you portrayed a 'grieving father,' but it's not enough. At this moment, Chris is not just grieving. He is using all his dignity to build a temporary, false 'fortress' for his son."

He braced his foot against the door, shielding himself not only from external dangers but also from the torrent of inner collapse. You can hold your tears in your eyes, but don't let them fall easily.

You need to make the audience feel that each tear carries immense weight, bearing all the failures and resentment of a man, but it simply cannot fall—because the child in his arms is more fragile than he is.

Wang Sheng paused, then added the most crucial sentence: "Imagine if any weak movement you make right now would wake the child in your arms and shatter the 'adventure game' you've woven for him, how would you control your breathing, your trembling?"

Jamie Foxx froze, closing his eyes, deeply immersed in the scene Wang Sheng had depicted. When he opened his eyes again, only an extreme, suppressed, yet distorted, tenacity remained. "Action!"

This time, the performance was completely different. Jamie Foxx huddled in the corner, holding little Taylor, his body trembling slightly from pushing against the door, his cheek muscles tense, his eyes red-rimmed, tears welling up, but he held them back with his strong will.

He whispered the lie about Indiana Jones to his "son," his voice hoarse yet gentle, as if he were using his last bit of strength to protect a fragile dream.

Behind the monitor, Andrew White unconsciously held his breath, feeling as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart. He had seen countless performances, but such restrained yet penetrating emotional expression was truly masterful.

"Cut!" Wang Sheng's voice broke the silence on set. "Perfect."

A moment later, spontaneous, low applause broke out on set. Jamie Foxx got up from the ground, his eyes still red-rimmed, walked over to Wang Sheng, and gave him a tight hug.

"Wang, thank you...you allowed me to touch the soul of the character." His voice was still a little choked up.

Wang Sheng patted him on the back, his tone still calm: "You're the one who caught it."

Standing to the side, Andrew White completely abandoned all his previous disdain and doubt. He realized that Wang Sheng did not disregard the depth of acting; on the contrary, he possessed an extraordinary ability to pinpoint the core of performance, bypassing tedious trial-and-error processes and directly guiding actors to the most accurate and powerful emotional state. This was not hasty, but rather extremely precise.

He privately remarked to his assistant, "This Director Wang... it's like he already has a finished film in his mind. He knows what every shot ultimately needs, and he has a magical ability to get the actors to 'bring' it out. It's incredible."

Time flew by during the efficient and creative shooting sessions.

The rainy season in San Francisco began in late February, and the occasional rainy weather did not hinder the crew's progress.

Wang Sheng even managed to use the rain to temporarily adjust the shooting schedule and reshoot some scenes of Chris promoting the scanner in the rain. The dampness, coldness, and dishevelment actually added more realism to the character.

Under Wang Sheng's guidance, young actor Tyler James Williams also delivered a stable performance far beyond his years. Wang Sheng's guidance to him was more specific and concrete.

"Taylor, imagine your favorite toy is locked in a transparent box. You can see it, but you can't touch it."

Now your dad tells you he'll be able to open the box soon, and you believe him, but you're also a little afraid the box will never be opened… Yes, that's the look in your eyes, hold onto it.”

Under such clear and effective instructions, the interaction between Taylor and Jamie Foxx, father and son, is natural and sincere, becoming the warmest and most touching aspect of the film.

During this period, Wang Sheng also took the time to review the latest actor negotiation report from New Line Cinema for "Spy Kids," in which Matt Damon and Kate Beckinsale's agency contracts had entered the final detailed negotiation stage.

He also maintained communication with Han Sanping and Li Tingting in China via encrypted phone calls to learn about the final box office result of "The Museum" (4.1 million yuan, which has already created a legend) and the progress of Shengying Media's listing.

Everything was under his control, operating efficiently in parallel without conflict.

Before we knew it, it was March 3, 2003.

On a sunny afternoon in San Francisco, the final filming location was set up inside the actual offices of "Witt Securities".

This scene depicts Chris Gardner's hard-won acceptance of a role after numerous trials. He struggles to suppress his excitement and bitterness as he walks through the bustling street, unable to resist applauding himself as tears mingle with his smile.

"Action!"

Jamie Foxx walked through the crowd, his steps shifting from hesitant to firm, his eyes gradually welling up with tears—a complex emotion that blended all his grievances, pain, perseverance, and ultimate victory.

He raised his hand and began to clap, first lightly, then more and more forcefully, tears streaming silently down his face, yet the corners of his mouth turned up, creating a moving expression that blended tears and laughter.

Without a single line of dialogue, it conveyed everything.

"Cut!" Wang Sheng stood up from behind the monitor, looked around, and his voice clearly echoed throughout the entire set, "I hereby announce that 'The Pursuit of Happyness' is wrapped!"

After a moment of silence, a huge cheer and applause erupted, sweeping across the entire set.

Jamie Foxx and Taylor Swift embraced tightly, and the crew members high-fived and hugged each other to celebrate the successful completion of the film, which was shot efficiently and with high quality in just thirty-three days.

Andrew White stepped forward and sincerely said to Wang Sheng, "Director Wang, this has been an amazing filming experience. I apologize for my initial shortsightedness. This film will definitely be a success."

Wang Sheng shook hands with him, a faint, relieved smile on his face: "This is the result of the entire team's hard work."

He walked into the center of the court, received another tight hug from Jamie Foxx, and patted Taylor's hair.

(End of this chapter)