Huayu Entertainment: The Birth of a Succubus Top Star

On the first day of filming, the actors had a simple opening ceremony and then were free to do as they pleased. Filming officially started on the second day.

After a thorough discussion, Da Tian Tian then asked about her performance skills.

These past two days, whenever she had time, she would have Gu Zhiyan accompany her to rehearse, then find out her shortcomings in acting and provide targeted instruction. Da Tiantian is very serious and responsible when it comes to her roles.

Da Tiantian has a deep understanding of her husband's abilities; she always learns a lot from listening to Gu Zhiyan talk about acting.

Da Tiantian plays Xu Yan, whose original family is full of pain. She is sensitive and resilient from a young age. She fabricates her background to escape her miserable life. She is intelligent, patient and has a strong sense of purpose.

She yearns for dignity and respect, yet she is trapped in the lies she has woven, struggling between love, survival, and conscience. In the end, she abandons shortcuts, relies on her own strength to stand firm, and achieves personal independence.

Many actors who portray pseudo-refined characters, underdogs rising to success, or deliberately upper-class individuals easily come across as "fake." They either appear too timid, clearly showing their inferiority complex from the lower class, or too pretentious, putting on airs of wealth and appearing artificial.

But none of these are problems for Da Tian Tian, ​​the "flower of wealth and nobility." She can easily handle elegance, sophistication, and the air of a wealthy family.

However, the problem lies precisely in this.

In response to this question, Gu Zhiyan said, "Tian Tian, ​​remember this: Xu Yan's elegance is cultivated, not innate."

A girl who truly grew up in a prestigious family is relaxed, open, and unafraid of scrutiny—you did that very well.

But every bit of composure Xu Yan exudes comes from deliberate restraint, repeated imitation, and self-hypnosis.

Therefore, your performance needs to have two layers of skin.

Surface appearance: appropriate, gentle, precise, and impeccable.

The inner layer: tense, sensitive, constantly vigilant, afraid of being exposed.

Gu Zhiyan slowed down her speech and continued to break down the details: "You don't need to walk slowly or deliberately elegantly. The people who are truly trying to be dignified are most afraid of being 'overly deliberate'."

You need to be natural, so natural that no one can tell you're acting. Just be yourself.

When others praise your good family background and elegant demeanor, don't be happy or proud. A fleeting hint of unease flashes in your eyes, but you quickly smooth it out. That slight unease is the root of Xu Yan's character.

Jing Tian suddenly understood: "I get it! I was always thinking about 'acting properly' before, but I overlooked the spirit she always carried in her bones."

"Yes," Gu Zhiyan nodded and continued to teach in detail, "Why did Shen Haoming target her? It's not because she's perfect, it's because she tries too hard to be perfect."

When you're acting with me, remember this state: when you're facing my scrutiny, probing, and sizing up, don't hide or panic. You need to calmly accept it and even dare to look me in the eye.

But in the instant I turned my head and the camera couldn't capture your expression, you breathed a slight sigh of relief, your emotions subsiding for half a second.

Flawless in public, but scarred in private—that's the complete Xu Yan.

Gu Zhiyan's description was extremely detailed, breaking down everything from posture, eyes, and micro-expressions to the character's psychological logic.

Jing Tian's eyes lit up with admiration as she listened, and she said sweetly, "Honey, you're amazing! I need to reward you properly!"

As she spoke, Da Tiantian started to move, then bent down...

Gu Zhiyan gasped. She was conducting a serious acting lesson when...

Okay, this won't happen again!

The filming of "Grant Me Your Dazzling Light" officially began early the next morning.

The set design perfectly replicated the city's top private cocktail party, with crystal chandeliers shimmering with light, champagne towers neatly arranged, and extras dressed in exquisite gowns, perfectly replicating the glamorous and extravagant upper class.

Today marks the first actual shooting of the drama, specifically the iconic scene of the male and female leads' first encounter.

The staff repeatedly adjusted the lighting and sound equipment, the stagehands checked the positioning back and forth, and Da Tiantian stood in the corner quietly pondering her emotions, her fingertips repeatedly stroking the edge of the script.

Gu Zhiyan stood by the monitor, listening to the director's detailed instructions. Stripped of the glory of the Huabiao Award, she was focused and calm.

Although his understanding of the character may be deeper than the director's, the director should still be given the respect he deserves.

"In the first scene, focus on capturing the tension between the two. Xu Yan is deliberately getting close, hiding her inferiority and scheming; Shen Haoming has seen countless people and sees through her feigned composure at a glance, with a hint of playfulness and scrutiny. Don't portray it as a cliché domineering CEO falling in love at first sight." The director held the storyboard and carefully instructed the two.

Gu Zhiyan nodded slightly and whispered to Da Tiantian to rehearse the lines and rhythm: "When we make eye contact later, my gaze will be a little cold. Don't instinctively look away. Xu Yan is stubborn and unwilling to admit defeat at heart."

Da Tiantian nodded knowingly: "I understand. To appear gentle and graceful on the surface, but with a hint of panic in one's eyes, that's the proper way to do it, right?"

After these few days of instruction, Da Tian Tian has a pretty accurate grasp of the role.

Everything was ready, and the clapperboard clattered down: "Scene 1 of 'Give Me Your Dazzle,' one take, one shot, action!"

As the music flowed softly, Da Tiantian adjusted her posture, a perfectly appropriate and gentle smile appearing on her lips, and slowly walked towards Gu Zhiyan in the center of the crowd, holding a glass of champagne.

At this moment, Gu Zhiyan was dressed in a sharp black haute couture suit, his back straight, his eyebrows and eyes indifferent and aloof, and the oppressive feeling of keeping strangers away from him was natural, perfectly matching the persona of Shen Haoming, the person in charge of capital.

"Mr. Shen, I've heard so much about you." Da Tiantian's voice was soft and gentle, her tone perfectly measured, and a hint of tension was hidden deep in her seemingly open eyes.

Gu Zhiyan lowered his eyes to look at her, his gaze slowly sweeping over her from top to bottom, devoid of enthusiasm, only a superficial scrutiny. His voice was low and calm, carrying an almost imperceptible probing: "Miss Xu, haven't we met somewhere before?"

A single question instantly shattered Xu Yan's forced composure. Da Tiantian's pupils trembled almost imperceptibly, her fingertips tightened her grip on the wine glass, and she hurriedly managed to maintain a smile, revealing the full layers of panic and feigned calm.

In their brief exchange of two lines, there was no intense conflict, yet undercurrents surged between them as their eyes met.

The entire production team behind the monitor held their breath, watching the wonderful atmosphere created by the collision of elements in the footage.

"Cut! Perfect!" the director exclaimed immediately, his face beaming with satisfaction. "The emotional layers are all spot on, just the feeling I wanted!"

The moment filming stopped, the tense atmosphere on set dissipated, and the staff applauded.

Da Tiantian breathed a sigh of relief, turned to look at Gu Zhiyan, and teased with a smile, "That scrutinizing look you gave me just now, I really felt like you could read my mind for a moment."

Gu Zhiyan chuckled and casually loosened his tie: "Shen Haoming has seen many people approach him with ulterior motives; this wariness is ingrained in his bones."

The producer standing nearby couldn't help but sigh, "Having just won the only grand slam in film history with two rounds of awards, he's not arrogant at all. As soon as he joined the crew, he immediately cleared away all his glory and immersed himself in the role. This kind of composure is truly rare."

Gu Zhiyan simply shook her head upon hearing this: "Awards are just past recognitions. When I stand in front of the camera, I am just an actor. I only need to focus on the role I am playing."

The film set was brightly lit, and the outside world was still discussing the many memorable moments of the Huabiao Awards night, with the trending topics list being updated one after another. But Gu Zhiyan, who was on set at the moment, had already put the flowers, trophies and the online discussion behind him.

The initial encounter at the cocktail party has come to an end, and the entangled story of Shen Haoming and Xu Yan officially begins on camera...