Huayu Entertainment: Starting with Exorcising Evil from a Film Queen

Realizing what had happened, Wang Zhiwen was momentarily dazed before standing up. "I'm not feeling well today, so I'll be leaving now."

The others exchanged bewildered glances. The actor had simply left, so the script reading session was naturally canceled and ended abruptly.

Gao Shuqun announced a half-hour break to prepare for the afternoon's opening ceremony.

The actors got up and left in twos and threes.

Li Bingbing stood up, straightened her clothes, and walked past Zhang Ze without stopping.

She simply whispered something to her assistant, her disdainful attitude obvious to everyone.

In her opinion, although Zhang Ze's performance was impressive, in a movie, that would be considered stealing the spotlight.

In an ensemble piece, to be so overtly assertive and fail to know how to restrain oneself and cooperate is a major taboo.

Zhang Ze can only rely on his acting skills and his face, but that alone won't get him anywhere in the industry.

He doesn't know how to compromise, he lacks tact, and no company would want to work with him.

Do you really think other people's resources just fall from the sky?

Zhang Ze naturally noticed her attitude, but he didn't care.

Just as he was about to get up, director Chen Fuguo walked over.

The usually taciturn director was now scrutinizing him with an extremely complex expression.

"You..." Chen Fuguo began, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "How did you manage to be in that state just now?"

"I just pondered it a bit myself," Zhang Ze replied.

Chen Fuguo shook his head. He could tell at a glance that Zhang Ze was just giving him the runaround, but he couldn't force Zhang Ze to talk if he didn't want to.

"If you're just figuring it out yourself, then you need to be careful. This kind of role-playing is dangerous. If you continue like this, you'll actually believe that you are Bai Xiaonian, who was scared out of his wits."

"I've seen many method actors who are completely ruined after a few movies because they can't get out of character."

Zhang Ze smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Director Chen. I will be careful."

His advanced acting skills are due to his improved performance level, so he will never have the problem of being unable to step out of the role.

Looking at his nonchalant demeanor, Chen Fuguo could only sigh, pat him on the shoulder, and turn to leave.

However, he began to look forward to the young man's performance on set.

He had a feeling that this movie might become a classic.

The opening ceremony in the afternoon went very smoothly.

In front of a barrage of media cameras, the creative team offered incense and unveiled the exhibit, proceeding with meticulous attention to detail.

Zhang Ze stood at the very edge, a polite smile on his face, cooperating with the photographer's requests.

He didn't go up and recommend himself. The reason he came to "The Message" was to take advantage of Huayi Brothers' resources to enhance his own fame, not to let others take advantage of him.

Moreover, judging from the behavior of the actors and other members of the crew, they clearly do not like me, so why bother to belittle me?

After the ceremony, the crew immediately began filming.

The first day of filming mainly consisted of several group scenes inside Qiu Manor.

Zhang Ze has few scenes, only a few shots.

Even so, he gave it his all.

His first scene is Bai Xiaonian being led into Qiu Manor and looking around.

Before filming began, Zhang Ze stood quietly in a corner, closed his eyes, and adjusted his state of mind.

The moment the script supervisor slammed the clapperboard and the director yelled "Action!", when he opened his eyes again, he had transformed into that effeminate, wary, and somewhat uneasy commander's aide.

He carried an exquisite birdcage, took small, quick steps into the set, his eyes scanning the gloomy surroundings rapidly, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

The neck is slightly tucked in; this is an unconscious self-protective action.

The entire process was seamless, with incredibly precise emotional progression.

"Click! Pass!"

Chen Fuguo, who was behind the monitor, immediately called for a halt.

He watched Zhang Ze's performance in the replay, his face showing undisguised satisfaction.

In this shot, Zhang Ze provided more than he had anticipated.

Many staff members on the set looked surprised.

They never expected that this seemingly quiet young man would have such explosive acting power.

Only a few people looked rather unwell.

Wang Zhiwen sat on his lounge chair, holding the script, without saying a word.

Li Bingbing and her assistant were talking in hushed tones, occasionally glancing in Zhang Ze's direction with a scrutinizing and distant expression.

Zhang Ze was completely oblivious to everything around him.

He came to make a movie, not to make friends.

He quickly detached himself from the role, reverted to his usual self, and quietly waited aside.

The filming proceeded smoothly.

Around 3 p.m., a black Mercedes pulled up outside the film set.

The car door opened, and a middle-aged man wearing a bespoke suit and gold-rimmed glasses walked in, surrounded by several assistants.

When the film crew's producer, Gao Shuqun, saw the person arrive, he immediately greeted him with a big smile.

"Mr. Wang, why did you come in person?"

The man referred to as "President Wang" is Wang Zhonglei, the vice president of Huayi Brothers.

He holds the power of life and death over most of Huayi Brothers' film and television projects.

"I've come to take a look."

Wang Zhonglei's voice was calm. He took off his glasses, wiped the lenses, and said, "I heard that a very talented newcomer has emerged in our production?"

Gao Shuqun was taken aback, but then he understood.

"Mr. Wang, you must be talking about Zhang Ze, right? That kid is really talented."

Wang Zhonglei didn't respond. His gaze swept around the set and finally settled on Zhang Ze, who was rehearsing his lines with Zhou Xun.

He watched for a while, then walked behind director Chen Fuguo's monitor.

"Director Chen, show me the playback of what we just filmed."

Chen Fuguo nodded and asked his assistant to bring up the footage that Zhang Ze had just finished.

The image was playing on a small monitor.

Wang Zhonglei finished reading it without any expression.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"Isn't this character's screen time a bit too much?"

Chen Fuguo paused, turned his head, and looked at Wang Zhonglei.

"Mr. Wang, the character Bai Xiaonian is the catalyst for the entire story, and his role is..."

"I know," Wang Zhonglei interrupted him. "What I mean is, he's stealing the show."

He pointed to Zhang Ze on the monitor.

"The selling point of our film is Zhou Xun, Li Bingbing, and Zhang Hanyu, who are actors from Huayi Brothers. The current popularity of this newcomer will blur the focus."

Gao Shuqun, who was listening nearby, was terrified and quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Mr. Wang, Zhang Ze was recommended by Brother Xun, and his acting skills are indeed..."

"We have to give Zhou Xun face, but business is business."

Wang Zhonglei's tone left no room for argument: "Director Chen, you're the director, you should know how to strike a balance. Some unnecessary scenes can be removed. Some shots can be handled more subtly."

These words are almost tantamount to an explicit statement that Zhang Ze's scenes will be cut.

Chen Fuguo frowned deeply.

He is a director who cherishes his reputation and hates nothing more than the brutal interference of capital in creative work.

"President Wang, every character has its function. If the character of Bai Xiaonian is not well-developed, many scenes in the later episodes will have problems."

"Then let him stand firm, but don't let him stand too high."

Wang Zhonglei patted Chen Fuguo on the shoulder, "Sense of proportion, Director Chen, you need to grasp the sense of proportion."

Just then, a clear, cold female voice broke in.

"What sense of propriety?"