Huayu Entertainment: Starting with Exorcising Evil from a Film Queen

"Teacher Wang is right, Bai Xiaonian's inner world is indeed very complicated."

He first acknowledged the other person's point of view, making his words sound less like a rebuttal.

"This is my personal understanding. Bai Xiaonian grew up in an opera troupe, enduring countless humiliations and disdain, so he desperately craved power and was extremely insecure. His dependence on the commander and his abuse of power were actually a projection of his inner inferiority complex. He looked down on everyone, but the one he despised the most was himself."

"Therefore, his flamboyance and ostentation in front of others are precisely to cover up his inner cowardice and emptiness. He is like a hedgehog, who must raise all his quills to feel safe."

"As for the god you mentioned, I believe that this god was not fully revealed at the beginning. Rather, it was only after he was captured and imprisoned in Qiu Manor, and all the power he relied on became ineffective, that hard shell was gradually broken down, and his inner vulnerability and panic were completely exposed. This process should have a sense of layers."

Zhang Ze's voice wasn't loud, but his pronunciation was clear and his logic was sound.

Instead of arguing about whether his acting style was right or wrong, he directly analyzed his performance design from the perspective of the character's psychology and the dramatic structure.

This goes beyond the scope of an ordinary actor.

Wang Zhiwen never expected that a young man in his early twenties could say such things.

His prepared lectures suddenly became useless.

Because the opponent's skill level was much higher than he had expected.

In the conference room, both Li Bingbing and Zhang Hanyu showed a hint of surprise on their faces.

Their gazes toward Zhang Ze now held a hint of inquiry and approval.

Director Chen Fuguo nodded silently, his appreciation for Zhang Ze growing even stronger.

This young man not only has excellent acting skills, but he is also clear-headed, and his understanding of the character is even deeper than that of many veteran actors.

A hint of admiration appeared in Zhou Xun's eyes.

Wang Zhiwen's expression was rather unpleasant.

He originally wanted to give this arrogant newcomer a hard time, to let him know that not just anyone could get by in this film crew.

As a result, when he threw a punch, the opponent not only didn't fall down, but the impact also made his hand go numb.

"That makes perfect sense."

Wang Zhiwen sneered, leaned forward, and placed his hands on the table with his arms crossed.

"You have a good theory, but acting isn't just about talking."

He stared at Zhang Ze.

"Anyone can talk the talk, but I'm waiting to see how you portray this level of sophistication in front of the camera."

Wang Zhiwen's fiery words brought everyone to a halt.

Zhang Ze did not respond; he simply calmly withdrew his gaze and returned it to the script in front of him.

There's no point in saying anything to someone who's deliberately trying to find fault.

Zhou Xun glanced at Wang Zhiwen, then gently touched Zhang Ze's arm and gave him a reassuring look.

Zhang Ze turned his head and revealed a slight smile.

Director Gao Shuqun coughed, breaking the momentary awkwardness.

"Alright, let's continue. Next scene, inside Qiu Manor, Bai Xiaonian is interrogated for the first time."

With the director speaking, everyone's attention returned to the script.

This scene features Bai Xiaonian, Wang Tianxiang, and Wu Tian as the main characters. Since the actor playing Wu Tian hasn't joined the production yet, his lines are being temporarily spoken by the assistant director.

"You're Bai Xiaonian?" the assistant director read out the line in a stiff tone.

It was Zhang Ze's turn.

He didn't speak immediately.

He first adjusted his posture, straightening his back and raising his chin slightly, glancing at the assistant director out of the corner of his eye.

"That's me."

With just three words, his voice was completely different from before.

Zhang Ze deliberately raised his voice, making it sound high-pitched and thin, with a hint of impatient tremolo at the end.

His gaze drifted to a non-existent point on the table, and his whole being exuded an arrogance that seemed to seep into his very bones.

Those present were all experts, and in that instant, they understood that Zhang Ze had completely entered Bai Xiaonian's state.

Wang Zhiwen, who was sitting opposite him, unconsciously straightened up a bit, his body that had been leaning back in his chair.

The assistant director continued reading his lines, "Headquarters aide-de-camp, specifically responsible for the commander's personal needs?"

"Speak your mind, or spit it out."

Zhang Ze's fingers tapped impatiently on the table, the rhythm light but urgent. "The Commander is waiting for me to come back and serve him."

He recited his lines faster than the script suggested, and his anxiety to get rid of trouble and return to his comfort zone was clearly conveyed through his speaking speed and subtle body language.

"We suspect that you are a dangerous element lurking in headquarters, codenamed Old Ghost."

"Pfft~"

Zhang Ze suddenly burst out laughing.

The laughter was short and abrupt, filled with absurdity and disdain.

His shoulders were shaking slightly from laughing, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

At this moment, he raised his head and looked directly at the assistant director.

"You arrested me just for this?"

His voice carried a hint of insulted anger, "Did your heads get squeezed by a door, or kicked by a donkey? Me? Old Ghost?"

He stretched out a finger and tapped his chest, the gesture exaggerated and somewhat mocking.

"If I were Old Ghost, the first thing I'd do is twist the heads off all of you idiots and use them as chamber pots!"

The moment those words were spoken, the temperature in the conference room seemed to drop several degrees.

Zhang Ze's performance breathed fresh life into the character, and his arrogant and disdainful attitude made everyone present feel a real sense of unease.

Wang Zhiwen frowned.

He originally thought Zhang Ze was just a theorist, but he didn't expect him to be so solid in practice.

This kid is definitely got some skills.

Li Bingbing sat diagonally opposite, arms crossed, watching Zhang Ze's performance without any particular reaction. However, after Zhang Ze finished reciting the line "to be a chamber pot," Zhang Hanyu next to her moved very slightly, as if suppressing some kind of emotion.

Director Chen Fuguo remained silent, simply watching quietly, his fingers rhythmically tapping on his knees under the table.

Following the script, the assistant director slammed his hand on the table and shouted.

"presumptuous!"

This loud shout made everyone instinctively shift their positions.

Zhang Ze, who was at the center of the storm, reacted the most violently.

His body felt as if all the bones had been pulled out in an instant; he jerked backward and slumped into the chair.

The arrogance that had just been there vanished without a trace, replaced by a fear that welled up from within.

His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but he only made a few unintelligible "hoho" sounds.

He braced his hands on the table, trying to use them to stand up, but failed repeatedly due to violent trembling.

Zhang Ze was directly demonstrating a physiological stress response.

The meeting room was completely silent.

Everyone was stunned by Zhang Ze's sudden change in demeanor.

One second he was an arrogant and domineering commander, the next he turned into a pile of mud.

He portrayed this transformation from outward strength to inner weakness to complete collapse with such realism that it sent chills down the spine.

Wang Zhiwen was completely stunned.

He looked at Zhang Ze, his mouth slightly open, forgetting the lines he was supposed to recite next.

He's a veteran actor; what kind of performance hasn't he seen?

However, this was the first time he had ever seen someone like Zhang Ze who could completely shatter and rebuild a person's mental state in an instant.

He felt that he was not facing a young actor in his early twenties, but the real Bai Xiaonian.

"Teacher Wang?"

Director Gao Shuqun had to speak up to remind him.

Wang Zhiwen snapped out of his daze.

He lowered his head somewhat awkwardly, searching for his lines, but when he opened his mouth, his delivery of the line "Take him away" was dry and lacked the ruthlessness that Wang Tianxiang should have.

Everyone present was an expert, and they immediately saw Wang Zhiwen's problem: he was being overshadowed by Zhang Ze.