Huayu Entertainment: Starting with Exorcising Evil from a Film Queen

His star aura was worn away by the daily grind, replaced by heartfelt greetings from the crew members to Teacher Zhang Ze.

What they saw was a young man willing to humble himself and start learning from the most basic script supervisor work, not a big star who came to the film crew to gain prestige.

In the blink of an eye, a month has passed.

On the eve of the official start of filming for "Scarlet Heart", the crew held a start-up banquet at a hotel.

After a few rounds of drinks, Li Huizhu stood up.

"Filming starts tomorrow, so without further ado, I have only one announcement to make."

She looked at Zhang Ze.

"Starting tomorrow, Zhang Ze will serve as the assistant director of this drama."

These words shocked everyone present.

Everyone looked at Zhang Ze, including Zhao Liying, who had just arrived at the film set and was sitting next to him.

Zhao Liying opened her eyes wide and looked at Zhang Ze, who was sitting beside her without making a sound, her mind filled with countless questions.

It's unheard of in the industry to appoint an actor, especially such a young one, as the assistant director of a big-budget production.

"Director Li, this..." The production manager hesitated.

"I've made up my mind." Li Huizhu interrupted him. "You've all seen what Zhang Ze has learned and done this past month. Do you think he's not capable enough for the job?"

The audience was silent.

They weren't blind during this time. Zhang Ze had been to every corner of the crew, and he had helped them solve many problems. To say that Zhang Ze was incompetent would be to slap themselves in the face!

Seeing that no one objected, Li Huizhu said again, "I believe that Zhang Ze's addition will take our crew to the next level."

As she spoke, she looked at Zhang Ze and asked, "Do you dare to accept?"

Zhang Ze stood up. He was also surprised, but he was still grateful for Li Huizhu's promotion.

As for becoming an assistant director?

What's there to be afraid of?

His original plan was to learn from the masters on this film set and then go to the next film set to make his own movies.

If you don't even dare to be an assistant director, then you shouldn't be doing this job.

He didn't say anything more, but simply bowed deeply to Li Huizhu and the main cast and crew members present.

"Thank you, director. I will do my best."

The next day, at the Hengdian film set.

The morning air still carried a hint of chill, but the entire film crew was already in operation like a sophisticated machine.

Li Huizhu walked up to Zhang Ze and handed him a walkie-talkie and a notice.

"The crew has been divided into two groups, A and B, as planned. Group B is your responsibility."

Her instructions were clear and concise: "Scene 1: Ruoxi's first visit to the palace garden, leading several newly recruited palace maids on a tour. You are responsible for filming their reactions and the empty shots of the garden."

Holding the equipment in his hand, Zhang Ze felt an instant sense of responsibility from its weight.

He glanced at the notice, then looked up at Zhao Liying, who was touching up her makeup not far away, and a group of young girls dressed as palace maids.

Li Huizhu's voice came through the walkie-talkie.

Don't let me down.

Zhang Ze put down the walkie-talkie, and his entire demeanor changed.

"it is good."

The humble learner who had previously followed Li Huizhu has disappeared, replaced by a decision-maker who is in control of the situation.

"Attention all departments, Group B, first match, now beginning!"

His voice carried through the handheld megaphone to every corner, and the previously somewhat disorganized stagehands immediately took their positions.

During this time, Zhang Ze had already established a certain prestige within the film crew through his professional knowledge.

"Cinematographer, keep up with my pace. I want a long shot that zooms in from the palace gate, following their steps, from slow to fast, to capture that curiosity and tentativeness of entering the palace for the first time."

The photographer gave an "OK" sign.

Zhang Ze walked up to Zhao Liying and several actresses.

One of the girls, with a quiet temperament and classical looks, is Liu Shishi, a rising starlet promoted by Tangren Media.

She plays the second female lead, Ruoxi's older sister, Ma'ertai Ruolan, in this drama.

At this moment, Liu Shishi's gaze was fixed on Zhang Ze, with a hint of inquiry and barely perceptible excitement.

"Listen to me," Zhang Ze said, not looking at any one person, but scanning the entire room. "This is your first time entering the Imperial Garden. You are all imperial concubines, and you may become the emperor's women in the future, or you may grow old and die in the palace. Therefore, your emotions are complex."

He paused for a moment to let them process it.

"Curiosity is good, but even more important is a fear of the unknown destiny and awe of royal majesty. Don't treat it like a casual stroll in a park."

He looked at Zhao Liying, "Liying, you are the core. Although your soul is that of a modern person, your body's instincts are still there. You can be more curious than others, but you must restrain yourself and express it through your eyes. When your gaze sweeps over those pavilions and towers, you must convey a sense of scrutiny and detachment from feudal imperial power."

Zhao Liying nodded seriously, pondering silently.

Zhang Ze then turned to Liu Shishi, "Shishi, you are Ruolan, the older sister. Your character is set to be quiet and detached, with a heart as still as water. So your task is to be steady. You need to walk among them, but your heart shouldn't be there. When you see your younger sister being lively, your reaction should be one of tolerance, with a touch of the satisfaction of someone who's been there and a subtle worry that's hard to detect. Do you understand?"

When Liu Shishi was called upon, she instinctively straightened up and nodded vigorously.

"Understood, Director Zhang."

"Okay, everyone get ready. We'll start filming in five minutes."

Zhang Ze retreated behind the monitor and put on his headphones.

"Action!"

In the video, several girls dressed in exquisite qipao pass through the palace gate and enter the imperial garden.

The camera followed them steadily, capturing the grandeur of the garden and the smallness of the girls in a single picture.

Zhao Liying's performance was very spirited. She tried hard to suppress the frivolity of a modern person and used subtle changes in her expressions to show Zhang Xiaochen's confusion and novelty when she first became Ruoxi.

Liu Shishi walked quietly, her demeanor dignified. However, when the camera zoomed in on her, Zhang Ze noticed something amiss on the monitor.

Her tranquility was somewhat superficial; the sense of brokenness—the feeling of being out of place with her surroundings because of her love for someone—was not fully revealed.

"Card!"

Zhang Ze called for a stop.

He got up and walked straight towards Liu Shishi.

The girls all looked at him nervously.

Liu Shishi clenched the handkerchief in her hand, somewhat at a loss.

"Don't be nervous," Zhang Ze said calmly. "Your posture is good, but something feels off."

Instead of criticizing her in public, he pulled her aside and whispered, "The character Ruolan has someone hidden in her heart, so she rejects everything in the palace. She sees these beautiful scenes as a magnificent cage. Your performance just now was too empty; it lacked that inner struggle."

Liu Shishi bit her lower lip and asked softly, "Then how should I act?"

"You don't need to act," Zhang Ze said. "Think of the most regrettable thing in your life, think of someone you really want to see but can't. Bring that feeling of loss and helplessness into your mind, and then look at these landscapes. It will feel different."

He patted her on the shoulder, "Try again."

Liu Shishi stared at him blankly.

Zhang Ze used to have an outstanding temperament; one glance at him would draw you in.

But Zhang Ze now gives people the feeling of having washed away all artifice and being as gentle as a spring breeze.

The only thing they have in common is that they are both so handsome and so attractive.

Zhang Ze's gentle and professional attitude is completely different from how he was fawned over by everyone on the set of "Chinese Paladin 3".

Liu Shishi took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and earnestly followed Zhang Ze's instructions, recalling some past fragments in her mind.

When filming resumed, Liu Shishi's entire demeanor had changed.

She was still walking on that road, but her gaze was unfocused, falling on the artificial hills and streams, yet seemingly penetrating them to look into the distance.

That faint trace of sorrow was precisely conveyed through the lens.

"Okay, pass!"

Zhang Ze shouted with satisfaction.

Group B's filming task was successfully completed by 3 PM.

Zhang Ze finished shooting the remaining establishing shots and detail shots, and then announced that the job was done.

Zhao Liying removed her makeup, changed into her own clothes, and saw Liu Shishi still pestering Zhang Ze for advice. She pursed her lips and didn't go over to disturb her.

She crossed her arms and leaned against a pillar, watching her man directing the film set, feeling both proud and a little bittersweet.

After Liu Shishi left with a face full of admiration, Zhao Liying slowly strolled over.

She leaned close to Zhang Ze's ear, "Ze, there are some parts I don't understand either. I need you to explain the play to me too!"

Zhang Ze smelled the fragrance in her hair and saw her affected manner, so he couldn't help but chuckle.

He reached out and pinched Zhao Liying's cheek. "What's wrong? Are you jealous?"

"Hmph, who's jealous? I'm just reminding you, don't forget who your own people are." Zhao Liying turned her head away, stubbornly retorting.

"Okay, my mistake." Zhang Ze went along with her words. "To make it up to you, come to my room tonight. I'll give you a special private lesson, explaining everything from the script to the character, from head to toe, thoroughly. How about that?"

He emphasized the words "from head to toe" and "thoroughly".

Zhao Liying understood the deeper meaning, her cheeks flushed, and she spat at him.

"rogue."

Despite saying that, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up, and her eyes were full of laughter.

After the film crew finished work, Li Huizhu called Zhang Ze to her private dressing room.

"I've reviewed the footage from Group B," Li Huizhu said, sitting in front of the monitor without turning around. "It's well-shot."

Gaining the approval of this demanding director is no easy feat.

Li Huizhu said, "They have a great sense of camera presence and are very efficient. There were no unnecessary shots, which saved on budget and time."

"It's all thanks to your excellent guidance, Director Li," Zhang Ze said modestly.

Li Huizhu waved her hand, "I just threw you into the water, how you swim is your own business."

She stood up, turned to look at Zhang Ze, and said, "But remember, a director is not just a craftsman who manipulates machines. Actors are the paint in your paintbrush. How to guide them, train them, and make them present the effect you want, or even exceed your expectations, that is the true skill of a director."

Her gaze drifted into the distance. "Moreover, directing actors is one of the greatest joys of being a director. The sense of accomplishment from watching a rough gem shine in your hands is far greater than shooting a beautiful empty shot."

Zhang Ze nodded thoughtfully.

"I understand, thank you, Director Li."

As Zhang Ze was preparing to return to the hotel, he saw that familiar figure in the parking lot outside the film set.

Liu Shishi was wearing a white down jacket, which looked rather thin in the cold evening wind.

When she saw Zhang Ze come out, her eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over.

"Director Zhang, I...can I go back to the hotel with you? I'd like to ask you a few questions on the way." Her voice trembled slightly, whether from the cold or nervousness, it was hard to tell.

Zhang Ze did not refuse. He opened the passenger door and said with a smile, "Don't call me Director Zhang anymore. We're not strangers. Just call me Zhang Ze or A-Ze."

"Get in the car."

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed in Liu Shishi's eyes.

On the way back, Liu Shishi asked some more questions about the performance, which Zhang Ze patiently answered one by one.

However, it seems that the girl's mind is not entirely on the performance.

Her gaze kept drifting to Zhang Ze's profile as he focused on driving, listening to his magnetic voice, her mind went blank, and she couldn't remember what he said at all.

Upon arriving at the hotel entrance, the two said goodbye.

Liu Shishi watched Zhang Ze walk into the elevator and clenched her fists.

Back in her room, she collapsed onto the soft bed, her mind filled with the image of Zhang Ze explaining the scene to her that day—so professional, so earnest, so charming.

She recalled that when Tang Yan was on the set of "Chinese Paladin 3", she had also taken the initiative and eventually succeeded in entering Zhang Ze's life.

An idea began to grow uncontrollably in her mind.

If Tang can do it, why can't I? In terms of looks and figure, I'm no worse than her.

After she found out that she and Zhang Ze were in the same film crew, she specially asked her assistant to arrange her room next to Zhang Ze's, just for Zhang Ze!

Being near the water tower gives you an advantage; this is wisdom passed down from our ancestors.

A strong woman fears a persistent suitor, and a good man fears a lovesick woman.

Liu Shishi believes that as long as she perseveres, she will definitely reap the rewards!

Meanwhile, there was a knock on Zhang Ze's door.

Zhao Liying, dressed in the costume of Ma'ertai Ruoxi, walked in carrying the script.

"Director Zhang, I'm here for some extra help." She winked playfully.

The two sat on the sofa and initially seemed to be seriously discussing the script.

"In this scene, Ruoxi is forced to kneel in the Imperial Garden, and her emotions are very complex. There is anger at the injustice of the imperial power, disappointment that the Fourth Prince and the Eighth Prince cannot save her, and despair at her own powerlessness..."

Zhang Ze pointed to the script and analyzed it carefully.

As Zhao Liying listened, her body unconsciously moved closer and closer, until finally she simply rested her head on his shoulder and drew circles on his chest with her fingers.

"Well... I'm feeling really conflicted right now. Director Zhang, would you like to help me analyze it?" Her voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of something else.

Zhang Ze's explanation came to an abrupt halt.

He lowered his head, looked at the alluring girl in his arms, and closed the script.

Soon, rustling sounds came from the room.

"Oh dear, be careful, you'll ruin the costume!"

And next door.

Liu Shishi had just finished showering and was lying in bed with a face mask on, feeling excited about her courage today and the plans she was about to implement.

Just then, a vague yet incredibly familiar voice drifted through the hotel's not-so-thick walls.

That rhythmic duet instantly transported Liu Shishi back to the world of "Swordsman 3".

The face mask on Liu Shishi's face fell directly to the ground.

She lay frozen on the bed, her eyes slowly widening.

That sound, that rhythm...

She overheard it through a wall on that night on the set of "Chinese Paladin 3".

Liu Shishi had only one thought in her mind.

"No way? Not again?"