Huayu: The young actress is heavily dependent on me

When Chen Li arrived, the photography crew was already setting up the equipment, and the art team members were squatting on the ground fine-tuning the props and decorations.

Perhaps because they were amazed by Chen Li's exaggerated talent yesterday, none of the students from Beijing Film Academy were still in the mood for casual internships; they all took it seriously.

He had just sat down in front of the monitor when he saw Tian Xiwei squatting in the corner with the script in her hand, muttering her lines to herself.

Today's scene is about Huang Chengzi being scolded by her mother for her exam results, and then taking her anger out on Tan Song.

This scene may seem like a simple, playful everyday squabble, but in reality, it's extremely difficult to strike the right balance.

Huang Chengzi's spoiled nature must not carry any real hostility, and her grievances must conceal her complete dependence on her childhood sweetheart.

Sure enough, after three takes, each one fell short.

"Cut." Chen Li's voice wasn't loud, but it made Tian Xiwei freeze in place instantly.

"I'm sorry, Director Chen, I... I need to get back into character. I've taken up everyone's time."

The staff members nearby did not say anything.

In this production crew that was entirely made up of personal connections, failing three takes in a row was already considered a delay.

Chen Li rewound to the beginning and said gently:

"Don't be nervous. It's not that you acted badly, it's that you didn't capture the feeling of Huang Chengzi."

He reached out and tapped on the image on the screen, patiently explaining it to her:

"You see, Huang Chengzi's tantrum isn't really about being angry; it's because she felt wronged by her mother and wanted to get revenge on Tan Song."

As he spoke, he got up and walked to the spot where Tian Xiwei had been standing, demonstrating the movement to her:

"You took those two steps back too quickly, it looked like you were hiding from someone, that's not right."

"You should take half a step forward, tilt your head back and glare at me. That's Huang Chengzi—a fearless little girl. Only when she's really wronged will she back away, her eyes red with anger, and sulk with me."

"I understand, Director Chen! I'll try again!"

The little girl's eyes shone like stars. She nodded vigorously, turned around, and quickly returned to her seat.

When filming resumed, his entire demeanor was completely different.

"Tan Song! It's all your fault! You insisted on dragging me to play video games yesterday, and my mom has been scolding me all morning!"

Tian Xiwei took half a step forward, tilted her head back, and glared at Chen Li, her cheeks puffed out in anger.

Following the script, Chen Li lazily raised her eyes:

"You're blaming me because you had to hit me?"

"It's all your fault!" Tian Xiwei reached out and slapped his arm, her eyes slowly reddening, but she stubbornly held back her tears and turned her face away.

"My mom said if I don't do well on the test again, she won't let me play with you anymore."

The emotions build up layer by layer, perfectly in sync with the character's rhythm.

"Cut! Passed!"

As soon as Chen Li finished speaking, Tian Xiwei jumped up, ran happily to him, and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Director Chen! Thank you for teaching me just now!"

"It's alright, you have a high level of comprehension." Chen Li smiled and rarely praised him.

Meng Ziyi, arms crossed, leaned against the monitor. Having just finished filming her scene, she nudged him with her elbow.

"Hey, Director Chen, why are you praising that young lady? Look at me, I nailed all three scenes this morning in one take."

"How was it? Did I act exceptionally well? I didn't let you down, did I?"

She was practically wagging her tail, waiting for Chen Li's praise.

"His acting was alright, and his delivery of lines was solid, but there's one problem."

Meng Ziyi was taken aback: "What problem?"

"Your expressions are too expressive," Chen Li said seriously, pointing to the camera on the screen where she was looking at him.

"You're playing the second female lead, Zhu Jinxiao, a cool and aloof academic genius. Why are you being so affectionate with me, the male lead? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were playing the female lead."

Meng Ziyi blushed.

Okay, I admit I crossed the line...

We were busy filming all day, and by the time we finished filming the last scene, it was already dark.

"You've all had a hard day. Come on, I'll treat the three of you to barbecue. I asked around at a place nearby, and it's pretty good."

Upon hearing this, Tian Xiwei's eyes lit up instantly, and she put down what she was holding and ran over:

"Really? Thank you, Director Chen!"

Bai Mengyan also let out a "whoosh" and followed.

Meng Ziyi watched Xiao Tian jumping around in front of her, while she silently put her arm around Chen Li's arm.

......

The barbecue restaurant was not far from the Huairou Film and Television Base, and the group occupied the large round table at the very back.

The waitress was a young woman in her early twenties. She hurriedly brought them charcoal and ingredients, helped grill a few skewers of beef and chicken wings, and then was called away by other customers.

"Are we really going to have to do it ourselves?" Tian Xiwei muttered under her breath, poking at the meat on the grill with tongs.

"When we eat barbecue in Chongqing, the restaurant grills it and brings it to us."

Her voice wasn't loud, but Chen Li keenly caught the meaning of her words.

His eyes lit up, and he put down his chopsticks, turning to Tian Xiwei: "Would you like the waiter to help you grill it? That's easy."

Tian Xiwei blinked, looking completely bewildered: "Huh? They're so busy, would they even agree?"

Chen Li placed her chopsticks on the bowl and leaned forward slightly:

"Xiaotian, what did I say to you while we were filming today?"

"If you want to be an actor, you first need to understand what acting is. Now I'll give you a live practice lesson."

He beckoned Meng Ziyi closer and whispered a few words.

Meng Ziyi rolled her eyes, but a smile of excitement appeared on her lips:

"You're so mean, using that waiter as a practice subject."

When the waiter came over with the vegetable platter again, Meng Ziyi suddenly raised his voice:

"What will it take for you to break up with my boyfriend?"

The waiter's hand visibly trembled, and the vegetables almost fell onto the table.

She quickly put down the plate and pretended to tidy up the condiments on the table, but her ears were perked up.

Bai Mengyan paused for a second, but then, thinking about what she was going to do next, she excitedly got back into character and placed the clips in her hand on the metal tray:

"Why should I break up with him? Why don't you break up with him?"

The waitress's eyes lit up instantly. She subtly moved a step closer to the table, picked up the tongs, and began to flip the meat on the grill, her movements three times more attentive than before.

Meng Ziyi sneered, tapping her fingers lightly on the table: "Because I'm pregnant, with his child."

"Pfft—" A boy at the next table who was drinking a beverage sprayed it out and quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth.

The waiter's hand froze in mid-air, his eyes wide open, and he even held his breath.

While other tables in the restaurant were calling for waiters, she seemed not to hear them, focusing intently on serving Chen Li's table of grilled meat.

Their movements were as gentle as if they were caring for a baby, turning the meat over, brushing on oil, and sprinkling seasonings—a complete, one-stop service.

"You...you're lying!" Bai Mengyan raised her voice in agreement, her eyes reddening instantly. "He clearly told me he had his vasectomy!"

Even Chen Li almost choked on his own saliva.

Bai Mengyan, oh Bai Mengyan, I was planning to wait for you here.

Meng Ziyi gently kicked Bai Mengyan under the table, gritting her teeth as she whispered, "You've gone too far."

The waitress had completely forgotten about her other duties. She not only diligently flipped the grilled meat but also thoughtfully cleaned the fruit plate, as if afraid of missing any part of the story.

When he was finally called away by the manager with great reluctance, he looked back several times before leaving, clearly still thinking about the plot development.

"You guys..." Tian Xiwei glanced at the waiter's retreating figure, then at Chen Li, and whispered as she leaned closer.

"Director Chen, is this even possible?"

Chen Li picked up a skewer of grilled beef, smiling and lowering her voice:

"That's the power of performance. People are always curious about other people's stories, especially dramatic conflicts."

"A good actor not only needs to be able to act, but also needs to know how to use performance to influence reality."

Tian Xiwei nodded slowly, seemingly lost in thought:

"So acting isn't just for filming?"

"Performance is an innate human ability," Chen Li said, taking a bite of her beef skewer.

"That waitress wasn't fooled by us; she was drawn in by the story. People always crave drama, which is why melodramatic stories always have a market. A good actor needs to understand this human nature."

"But be careful not to overdo it." He glanced at Tian Xiwei, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Bai Mengyan's comment about 'vasectomy' was a bit over the top and easily gave her away. Good improvisation should be close to life, but slightly more than life."

Tian Xiwei nodded vigorously.

"So actors are actually studying human nature?"

"That's right. Technique can be trained, but an understanding of human nature is the key that distinguishes a good actor from an ordinary one."

"You did a great job today. Starting tomorrow, everyone and everything you see could become material for your future performances." Chen Li raised her drink.

"Welcome to the world of performance."

Tian Xiwei picked up her cup and solemnly clinked it against his.