I’m a Director, I’m Not Bad

Chapter 149 147. Rocket range extension

"Well, not bad...stop, stop, stop, Elder Sun, please take back your magical powers."

"puff……"

The girl who was still showing her elegance suddenly burst into laughter.

However, because the people around them were so curt, they seemed to be unable to catch the joke between the two of them, and seemed a little confused.

But it doesn't matter.

Xu Xin did not explain, but gave instructions to the lighting engineer:

"For the record, the lighting for this scene is exactly as it was just now."

After speaking, he waved to Gui Lunmei on the side:

"come here."

"Uh...ok."

Gui Lunmei walked over directly. After coming to his side, Xu Xin directly adjusted to the scene he had just taken.

About 45 seconds of the scene was played in front of her.

Then, Xu Xin said the first sentence:

"It's jarring, isn't it?"

"……Um."

Guilun Mei nodded:

"I behaved badly."

"It's not that your performance is poor, but that you are unfamiliar and timid."

Xu Xin didn't mean to belittle her, and the way he spoke even seemed very gentle.

I learned this from Director Zhang.

When Director Zhang was communicating with Jay Chou, or when communicating with Yang Mi, Gong Li, or anyone else, there was no strong rhetoric. Instead, I chose to tell you what was wrong the first time and then think about it for myself. If it still doesn't work, I will tell you how to change it the second time, and you can change it yourself. If it still doesn’t work, just calm down for a while, shoot something else first, and then start shooting again after you have adjusted your mentality...

According to his words:

"Actors are also human beings, not the director's "tool" during filming. You cannot put all the pressure on the actor. Instead, you must make adjustments to bring him and our spirits into a state of synchronization. In this way, we can understand what you want to express. Something you asked for to feel like."

Xu Xin is very useful.

And he also asked Yang Mi whether she felt very comfortable with Director Zhang's shooting method.

Although I was a little nervous at first due to the pressure from the "big director".

But in fact, after taking a few shots and understanding the other party's communication style, you can naturally get rid of that kind of ideological baggage.

Therefore, Yang Mi believes that Director Zhang is one of those directors who can allow actors to work in a very comfortable environment. He is not like other directors who are fine with one cut but become impatient after two cuts. CUT basically means that the nose is wrong and the nose and eyes are not eyes anymore...

Of course, this is not absolute.

Not all actors think this way, and not all directors push actors to the top every day.

But among the directors she has worked with so far, Director Zhang's directing style is definitely her favorite.

Take your time and change your thinking mentally so that you can express your most natural acting skills.

It's not like he has to pick every detail out of you, or have to follow his requirements to the last hair.

Xu Xin continued this style, so when he spoke to Gui Lunmei, his tone was just the right guide:

"Your unfamiliarity and timidity are exactly the opposite of the confidence exuded by Lu Xiaoyu, who is as talented a pianist as Ye Xianglun in this script. Do you understand? You are different from her."

Holding the script in his hand, Xu Xin suddenly pointed at Yang Mi:

"She can pretend, just like the scene just now. She obviously can't play, but she can use her acting skills to cover herself up..."

"..."

For no reason, Gui Lunmei felt much better.

And Yang Mi really wanted to give her boyfriend a big look...

But I can’t bear to...

A man's face must be taken care of when he goes out.

A man’s face is very valuable…

but……

Xiaoya!

I'll wait for you to go back to the hotel!

If I don’t squeeze you into a dehydrated sponge today, your grandma Yang will be considered incompetent!

So, she gave Xu Xin a very polite expression:

【Smile】.JPG

"She can pretend, because there is no plot in the movie where she and Ye Xianglun play four-handed music together. But you can't. According to the requirements of the script, in this section, Lu Xiaoyu and Ye Xianglun use the sound of the piano to create an emotional collision and fusion. Therefore, the four-handed music When playing jointly, you must make sure that you can’t play every note wrong under the camera, and you must also exude a kind of confidence from the inside out that is not inferior to Ye Xianglun. Do you understand? Your biggest shortcoming is this. It’s not that you play It doesn't matter whether you're wrong or good, or even if you play it wrong. I can find a pianist to retake the shot later, but your sense of self-confidence from the inside out cannot be replaced by others. You have to show it here. Understand me What do you mean?"

"...can we make up for it later?"

Gui Lunmei was suddenly startled...

"But...Chou Zhou clearly requested...to personally perform the four-handed bomb attack..."

Xu Xin rolled his eyes:

"He is the director and I am the director?"

"..."

"Hey...Axin...I feel so embarrassed when you do this~"

"I'm just giving an example, understand?"

Xu Xin waved his hand, stared at Gui Lunmei and continued:

"If you can do it without making mistakes, then I can use that natural one-shot to capture the feeling of the two of you communicating through the sound of the piano. But before that, you must first express that feeling. Confidence from the inside out, you understand? Only when you are confident can you have the next choice... So you have to pay attention to this. Look here..."

Under Li Pingdong's smiling gaze, Xu Xin controlled the monitor and moved backwards:

"Look, he is following the beat of the music. He plays very naturally and casually. Look again..."

Switched the screen to "Qingyi":

"Why can she exude that kind of classical beauty from the inside out? Because Qingyi's setting is the monitor, an elegant beauty who is good at piano. Do you understand? Don't regard this piano as a constraint. First of all, you have to gain confidence. Come on, to put it bluntly... think about your acting skills first, and then consider whether you can play and whether you will make mistakes. Do you understand what I mean?"

"..."

Gui Lunmei was silent, but he showed a clear look.

Indeed, she was indeed manipulated by Jay Chou just now.

But it's not that there's something wrong with her acting skills, it's that when faced with Jay Chou's naturalness and spontaneity, she unconsciously showed a timid look because she wasn't proficient...or simply couldn't play the piano.

I got the order wrong.

She was "playing the piano + acting = timid", but the director told her that the correct method should be "acting + emotion - playing the piano = natural".

She did it backwards, so the effect looks very different.

"I understand."

After receiving the advice and thinking about it instantly, Xu Xin nodded:

"Okay, let's do it again. Don't treat it as a test shoot or a shooting. Just treat it as... playing and having fun. Understand? Let's take a look."

After he finished speaking, the director of photography Li Longyu asked:

"Want some lighting?"

Xu Xin waved his hand:

"No, let her find a feeling with him."

After saying that, Xu Xin winked at Li Pingdong.

Lao Jianghu nodded and quietly pressed the record button.

After Jay Chou and Gui Lunmei were seated, Xu Xin deliberately blocked the RED light and said:

"Anyway, there's no video. Let me see if you show a relaxed state."

"OK."

Guilunmei took a deep breath.

Narrowed his eyes.

And Jay Chou also put on his coat...

The weather in January was quite cold in the studio without heating.

Then, following the director's thoughts, she opened her eyes, looked at Jay Chou's hand that was already on the piano, and put it directly on it.

"Ding ding dong dong ding ding dong dong..."

A simple but lively intro begins.

Xu Xin also quietly moved away from the camera.

Jay Chou's performance this time was still casual, but Gui Lunmei's performance was actually similar to him.

It also looks very casual.

Although the two people's notes often went wrong in the second half, at least the tension on Gui Lunmei's face was eliminated.

Xu Xin, at some point, turned into a frowning and meditative look again, standing sideways and staring at the two people playing.

Soon, the episode ends.

Suddenly, he said:

"It's still wrong. Although you have been integrated, there are some problems with the connection between this integration and the story in the script. EMMMM..."

Xu Xin seemed to have thought of something and suddenly said:

"In this case, you play first."

Pointing at Guilun Mei, he said:

"You play first, and play the melody leisurely by yourself. Remember the classical beauty that Qingyi showed just now, right? Like her, you show the solemnity and elegance of a pianist... and then It's you."

Pointing at Jay Chou:

"After her melody sounded, you joined in. Then at this time, Lu Xiaoyu was surprised, unexpected, because she didn't prepare to play the four-handed play at first. Because in the script, Ye Xianglun was deliberately trying to be cool, right? You can act cool, play the piano behind your back, and then act like you want to hold Lu Xiaoyu's hand.

This is the beginning of the journey, and Lu Xiaoyu's turning point is to start playing the piano by himself. This is the beginning and end of a period. It means that although Lu Xiaoyu refused to hold hands with Jay Chou... No, Ye Xianglun... Oh, it's so troublesome. Lu Xiaoyu refused to hold hands with Jay Chou, but he still joined in. This is the most basic process for the advancement of a relationship between a man and a woman. If you sit down, it means that even if you are a little shy, you are still willing to move forward with this relationship. This is the rocket's first stage of propulsion. "

"Well……"

"..."

Jay Chou and Gui Lunmei looked at Xu Xin eagerly.

After hearing this, even Jay Chou couldn't help but say:

"Is there... is there? Is that what you mean?"

Obviously, he didn't think so when he wrote the script, but just to look cool.

After Xu Xin heard this, he nodded directly:

"Don't worry, leave it to me. I know how to interpret the story here. Note that after the first stage of the rocket's advancement, it's time for the second extended range advancement. Here, Lu Xiaoyu, you play first, you play, it's a response... or He said that he acquiesces to Ye Xianglun sitting next to him. This is your emotional line... The second emotional line is initiated by you. When you play, it is the ignition device of the second engine. When you start to play, the emotional rocket starts to ignite. Then , Ye Xianglun, you..."

"...Am I not Jay Chou?"

"If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will kill you!"

"..."

"Ye Xianglun, you start to join in. You help her start to push. Then, Lu Xiaoyu, you have to show that you are surprised by his rash joining. Pay attention, when you show this surprised emotion, your emotional state should be Like this... First, he started the Formula 1, and then ended up refusing to hold hands but taking a seat. And when you started playing the piano, the Formula 2 ignited, but he suddenly joined you, which caught you off guard, but immediately the two of you started to play together. But, Lu Xiaoyu, you still have to maintain the style of a serious classical musician, and Jay Chou here..."

Jay Chou actually really wanted to ask again, "Am I Jay Chou or Ye Xianglun?", but looking at Xu Xin's eyes that said "I'll kill you if you dare to do it again", he finally gave up...

"You just started to show that casual state, but you have to be more restrained. Lu Xiaoyu was surprised at first, understand? She looked very surprised. And Ye Xianglun, you started to let yourself go after you saw her restrained look, Then lead her to let herself go together. Both of you have to show a growth curve of your mental journey. Do you understand what I mean? Then...here...that's it...you play it, that ding dong ding dong ding That "dong ding dong" part..."

"……here?"

Jay Chou's fingers pressed on the black and white keys of the piano keys and pressed them repeatedly.

Ding dong ding dong ding dong…

"Yes, it's right here... Look, here are two pieces of this sound, right? You two have to show conflict and tacit understanding. Because this is a single note, because there was no agreement on who will play it before. You want to play, You want to play too. What should I do? Come on, you two do this."

Xu Xin's hands were clasped together.

"Jay Chou plays the piano, Lu Xiaoyu plays his hand, and then Jay Chou plays her hand to "moisten the oil", and then Lu Xiaoyu suddenly laughs. In the end, the notes of both of you are in harmony... Teacher Li, this section Prepare yourself and shoot according to the curve. My eyes will serve as close-ups of the hands. Let's do it again. Show your mental journey, understand?"

After he finished speaking, Gui Lunmei understood, but Jay Chou couldn't help but say:

"Is it so complicated?"

"It's not that it's complicated, it's that in a story, you have to explain enough to the audience the changing curve of the character's mental journey, so that they will accept it. If you can't express it, there must be something wrong. So... behave better, understand. Yes, Ye Xianglun... and Lu Xiaoyu, you too. The psychological changes of the two of you are slowly coming together, from being dignified to being casual, letting go, don't be afraid of making mistakes, and show that contrast... …”

Li Pingdong looked at the young man breaking up this simple plot, breaking it into pieces and feeding it to the two of them. He touched his pocket with some emotion.

I feel like smoking.

The reason why he has such feelings...is that he entered the industry very early, in 1978...even before Jay Chou was born, he had already picked up a camera.

As a photographer who has witnessed the rise of Wanwan Film from its glory to its current decline, he knows very well what his shooting state was like in his early years.

For a film, the director should first determine the shooting concept after receiving the script. Then we start building character candidates according to the director's shooting concept. After selecting a suitable actor for the role, filming begins.

The director's ideas run through the entire film.

This is Li Pingdong’s favorite and most accustomed filming atmosphere.

But the current crew...

In fact, it is normal for this young man to respect himself. After all, as a photographer, he can almost be said to be standing at the top of the Wanwan photography circle.

But he also has apprentices, and a group of people behind him who are learning from him.

There are also friends of the same generation who, although they have not become famous, are still living in this circle in a down-to-earth manner.

And in the past few years...or after 2000, what he heard his friends complain about the most was that the actors or directors were outrageous.

This friend's crew encountered an actor trying to be a big name. A certain company hired a few newbies who knew nothing about shit. Or the director of another crew was directly ignored by the producer and actors... He even encountered actors. Adding scenes or changing scenes without permission, or being fired midway due to conflicting ideas between the director and the film crew...

The list goes on and on.

This seems incredible to Li Pingdong.

Please, this is a movie, not a TV series that just throws people into it. When did a movie become so casual?

It's incredible.

Because since his time, the director has always been a well-deserved authority on the crew.

Whether you are a producer or an actor, you must listen to him.

Because only the position of director is the position that can clearly interpret all films.

Sometimes Li Pingdong even wonders if his path is too smooth.

That’s why I couldn’t see those “weird” sights that my friends described.

The first reason why he agreed to take part in the filming of "The Untold Secret" this time was because Yang Junrong had a good relationship with a friend of his. He asked his friend to intercede and he was willing to take the job.

Second... In fact, no one would believe it when he told it. He joined it because he wanted to see how weird the current film industry is.

After all, as director Hou Hsiao-hsien's royal photographer, very few people ask for him. And he has always only cooperated with those big directors.

But the problem is that as his disciples and friends complain more and more, although he is keenly aware that the Wanwan film market is declining like Hong Kong and Taiwan... he has never experienced it.

As people get older, they actually become more willful towards some things.

Therefore, he really wanted to see how the current "lower-level" circle works.

The script in front of him was in line with his expectations.

First, the person I collaborate with is a crossover singer. Meet your own "requirements".

Second, the popularity of the other party is very high, so it will not give fellow friends the illusion that "I can't afford to eat."

Third, the pay is pretty good. He hasn't made a movie in more than a year, and he also feels a little itchy.

So I agreed.

I originally wanted to experience life, but who would have thought...that I would meet such a young director.

From the concept of the other party's three-shot scene and one scene spanning the mountains and seas, Li Pingdong discovered that... this young director from the mainland seemed to have something.

It's a little different from what I thought.

And through these few days of contact, he was more certain that the camera sensitivity displayed by this young man... was of a very talented type.

Strangely enough, I originally came here to "experience life."

Unexpectedly, I found a director with a bit of "OLD SCHOOL" old-school filmmaker style.

Moreover, the other party's love for him broke out and shattered the idea of ​​​​guiding actors. Compared with those he heard from friends who "only shout CUT", "just use a big speaker to make noise every day", "this kind of filming" He dares to appear in movies after just a few MVs.”… Directors of this type are so much better.

It is also the type of director he likes to work with the most.

Li Pingdong likes actors to use their most natural acting skills to interpret their characters under his own lens.

It just so happened that this young man was his favorite...

Moreover, it is a completely new personal style.

There are needles hidden in the cotton, and it is continuous.

It is different from Hou Xiaoxian who likes long shots, empty shots and fixed camera positions. It is also different from Wang Jiawei's style that likes to explore edges, emptiness, absurdity and loneliness.

The world of this young man... seems to be filled with a lot of excitement that may seem intense but not boring.

His personal style is actually very strong, but it is not very pretentious or artificial, but he likes to pursue a true and revealing sense of déjà vu.

Use the language of the lens to express a certain spirit that is not obscure or obscure, but more beautiful and more gorgeous.

At this point, it felt fresh to him.

Very interesting too.

So, at this moment, he really wanted to smoke.

Smoking a cigarette, resting his shoulder on the old man who has been with him all his life, looking forward to his lens completely imprinting the director's personal style into the picture...

This in itself is a particularly happy thing.

only……

pity.

There are girls here.

Men.

As you get older, you still have to pay attention to your manners.

Didn't you notice that this young man hasn't smoked for a long time?

As he was thinking about it with a smile, he saw that the young man had finished communicating with the two of them and said hello to him again:

"Teacher Li, get ready."

"okay."

Li Pingdong came back to his senses and slowly focused on the picture again.

At the same time, I sighed in my heart...

"The mainland film industry... has a good seedling... Sigh."

…

"Yes, yes, yes, come on, three, two, one, fingers..."

"Ding dong ding dong ding dong..."

"OK, yes, let go a little. He sways, and you sway with him. Your inner curves finally converge. You have to show happiness, do you understand?"

Amidst the melodious but occasionally erroneous sound of the piano, Xu Xin patiently guided the two of them into the steps and rhythms they had set.

Finally, with a row of cool slide keys by Jay Chou, the performance ended.

"OK...Teacher Li, how about it? Does it feel natural to you?"

Hearing this, Li Pingdong smiled and gave a thumbs up:

"It's natural, Director Xu, you'll know when you come and take a look."

Xu Xin nodded and immediately walked to the monitor, taking the two people behind him with him.

Although there was Xu Xin's figure on the monitor, there was no sound. But after watching the 40-second shot, both Jay Chou and Gui Lunmei expressed their sincere approval of the director's exquisite design:

"Axin, that's great!"

Jay Chou's face was full of smiles.

Gui Lunmei also nodded silently, looking at himself playing repeatedly in the camera...

For no reason, an idea came to her mind.

This drama...

It's so easy to shoot.

It seems... very interesting.

Very comfortable.