Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Lu Mingfei and Frilian stood at the entrance, both somewhat shocked by the scene before them. Lu Mingfei was shocked by the industrialized filming process, while Frilian was shocked by the high level of organization and collaboration that humanity could mobilize to "create a realistic illusion."

A production assistant spotted them and jogged over: "Lu Mingfei, you're Frillie, right? Director Wang said your scenes are later today, so stay on the sidelines and learn the process. Don't run around or make any noise that might disrupt filming."

The two nodded quickly, found a quiet corner to stand in, and began to act as quiet bystanders.

As soon as Director Wang shouted, "All departments, get ready!", the set fell silent instantly, and everyone who was not involved held their breath.

"Action!" The sound of the clapperboard rang out.

The banquet scene officially began. Cao Cao sat in the main seat, with civil and military officials lined up on both sides, amidst singing and dancing. The actors immediately got into character, clinking glasses and chatting animatedly. The camera first focused on a conversation between Cao Cao and one of his key advisors.

"Cut!" Suddenly, Director Wang's voice blared through the loudspeaker, "Cao Cao! Your eyes are off! I wanted three parts drunk and seven parts sober, a test, not someone really drunk! Let's do it again!"

The actor who played Cao Cao immediately apologized and composed himself.

Second take.

"Cut! Strategist! Your lines are a beat too slow! Your responses need to be natural! Let's start again!"

The third shoot.

A seemingly simple dialogue took seven or eight takes to get right. Lu Mingfei watched with trepidation, realizing how difficult filmmaking was, with every detail requiring meticulous attention. Frilline focused intently on observing the actors' subtle facial expressions and the director's adjustments, analyzing the rationale behind each step.

Next was a scene of a song and dance performance. A group of dancers dressed in gorgeous ancient costumes gracefully entered the stage and danced to classical music. This shot mainly focused on the atmosphere and the overall view, and went relatively smoothly, except for one dancer who didn't swing her sleeves smoothly enough, so it had to be reshot.

Lu Mingfei didn't even realize there was a problem here. He was like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, finding everything new and exciting.

Then came a scene where a general was demonstrating his martial arts skills. The actor playing the general wielded a long halberd with great power and skill. But Director Wang yelled "Cut!" again.

"Wire! Wire ready! I want his last aerial maneuver to be even higher, more powerful! Props team, check the table he lands on, make sure it's specially made, it'll shatter with a single blow!"

Lu Mingfei then realized that those seemingly cool fight scenes were supported by steel wires and special props. He whispered to Frilian, "Frilian, Frilian, look, this is like our academy's physical training, but with special effects."

Frillie smiled and shook her head: "Hybrids can't be compared to ordinary humans."

They spent the entire morning observing. They saw the lighting technician repeatedly adjusting a side lighting angle, the cinematographer carrying heavy equipment and moving between different camera positions, the script supervisor meticulously recording detailed information for each shot, and the director controlling the overall situation, sometimes stern, sometimes patiently explaining the scene.

Around noon, a large group scene was finally filmed. Director Wang called out, "One-hour break! Lunch break!"

The tense atmosphere on set instantly relaxed. The actors slumped into their chairs to rest, and the crew began distributing boxed lunches. Lu Mingfei and Frillie also received two standard boxed lunches.

While eating a simple work meal consisting of one meat dish and two vegetable dishes, Lu Mingfei remarked, "It looks simple, but I didn't expect filming to be so complicated, like fighting a war. I'll ask the senior actors for advice on how to do it later."

Frillie chewed her rice slowly, looking at the tired but still laughing staff around her, and said, "This division of labor is very efficient, but it also takes a lot of energy out of each staff member, and it really tests the director's ability."

In the afternoon, it would be their turn to perform. Lu Mingfei looked at the extras who would be playing his servants not far away, feeling both nervous and eager. Frillie, on the other hand, remained calm, as if what was about to happen wasn't a performance, but simply going out to pick a flower for her mother.

Chapter 217 Midfield

The morning's filming finally came to a temporary halt with Director Wang's shout, "Lunch break! An hour and a half rest!" The tension instantly eased, and the entire set was enveloped in a tired yet relaxed atmosphere. The actors breathed a sigh of relief, and assistants immediately rushed forward to offer water and towels. The crew members dispersed quickly, like a receding tide, seeking shady or comfortable spots to have lunch and rest.

Lu Mingfei and Frillie also received the crew's standard boxed lunch: one meat dish, two vegetable dishes, a braised egg, and a bottle of mineral water. They followed the extras they had met that morning—the tall, thin "soldier" Li Mo, the chubby "eunuch" Zhao Pangzi, and the experienced "veteran" Grandpa Sun—to the shade of a large locust tree outside the studio. Many extras and low-level staff like themselves had already gathered there, some squatting, some sitting, forming the set's unique "open-air canteen."

"Oh my, finally I can rest for a bit." Fatty Zhao plopped down on a rock, eagerly opened his lunchbox, and shoveled a big mouthful of rice into his mouth. "Director Wang's temper today is even more volatile than the weather in July. My heart is pounding."

Li Mo, being rather particular, even placed a newspaper on the ground. Hearing this, he laughed and said, "Fatty, your mental fortitude is lacking. This is nothing. I heard that last time we were filming a night scene in heavy rain, Director Wang made an actor kneel in the rain for two hours, just to wait for a suitable shot."

Lu Mingfei was astonished: "So strict? Actors have it so tough."

Grandpa Sun ate his meal slowly and deliberately, then said, "What's easy? Even making a living isn't easy. On set, especially for small roles like ours, if you want to stay and avoid getting yelled at, you have to know the rules."

The words may be rough, but the principle is sound; Lu Mingfei felt that the old man's words made sense.

Lu Mingfei immediately perked up. He was worried about not knowing anything about the film set, so he quickly asked humbly, "Uncle Sun, Brother Li, Brother Zhao, you are all seniors, could you tell me and Frilian what the rules are on this set? We just arrived and don't know anything, we're afraid of making a mistake."

Fatty Zhao swallowed the meat in his mouth and said quickly, "The first and most important rule! The director is like heaven, his words are like imperial edicts! If he tells you to stand, you can't sit; if he tells you to cry, you can't laugh! Don't try to be clever, and definitely don't talk back. Unless you don't want to work here anymore."

Li Mo added, "Yes, and also, don't look at things you shouldn't see, and don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. When the lead actors are rehearsing or the director is explaining the scene, we extras should consciously stay away, and we certainly shouldn't go up to ask for autographs or photos; that's considered impolite. During breaks, don't disturb the main actors either; they might be reading the script or resting."

Grandpa Sun nodded and pointed to the people wearing different colored vests on set, saying, "Also, you need to recognize people. People wearing different colored vests are from different departments. For example, those wearing black vests are usually the directing team and script supervisors, those wearing blue vests are the cinematography team, those wearing green vests are the production assistants and stagehands, and those wearing yellow vests are the electricians and lighting technicians... If you need anything, find the right person and don't randomly ask people, or you'll delay their work."

Lu Mingfei nodded repeatedly like a diligent student, firmly memorizing these golden rules. Frillie, though not saying much, listened quietly to avoid causing any unnecessary trouble.

"So, are there many different types of actors?" Lu Mingfei asked curiously. "I noticed that the actors who acted opposite Cao Cao today had quite a strong presence."

"Of course!" Li Mo became interested and began to explain to Lu Mingfei, "The acting industry is very complex. At the top are the leading actors, also known as big stars, like Teacher Liu who played Cao Cao and Teacher Zhang who played Zhuge Liang. Some of them have box office appeal, some have awards, high salaries, good treatment, and have their own dressing rooms, dedicated assistants and nanny cars. Directors are very polite to them."

"Next are important supporting roles, with a lot of screen time and key characters, but they may not be that famous. Then there are featured actors, like us who have a few lines. Featured actors are also divided into big and small ones. Those with more lines and more famous characters are big featured actors, while those like us who only have one or two lines are small featured actors."

Fatty Zhao interjected: "Below the 'special guest' category are the 'extra guest' categories, which are a bit more advanced than regular extras. They might get a close-up shot or have specific styling requirements. At the very bottom are the extras, also called 'living props.' They're just a huge group of people there, used to fill out the scene, and you can barely see their faces."

Lu Mingfei suddenly realized, "So there are so many intricacies involved. What about those of us who brought our own funding to join the team?" he asked somewhat embarrassedly.

Grandpa Sun chuckled: "You guys are basically hired through connections. But it's okay, as long as you follow the rules and perform seriously, no one will say anything. After all, in this industry, everyone has connections. The key is attitude."

Li Mo patted Lu Mingfei on the shoulder: "Brother Lu, I think you're a genuine person, and we click. Let me teach you a few practical tips: First, always wait in the wings. Even if you don't have a scene, wait in the designated area; they might call your name at any time. Second, you must thoroughly study the script. Even if it's just one line, you need to know the context, otherwise your reaction will be wrong. Third, pay attention to your positioning; don't block the camera or make any mistakes. Fourth, maintain your costume and makeup. Don't take off your costume casually, and if your makeup gets smudged, find a makeup artist to touch it up immediately."

Fatty Zhao lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "And the most important thing is! Keep your mouth shut! Anything you hear or see on set, especially celebrity gossip and behind-the-scenes stories, you can't say a word about it once you leave! In this industry, being loose-lipped is the worst thing you can do!"

Lu Mingfei felt overwhelmed by the amount of information, but also much more at ease. These seemingly trivial rules were survival wisdom gleaned from the lessons learned by countless extras. He said gratefully, "Thank you so much, brothers and gentlemen! A single word from you is worth more than ten years of study! Otherwise, Frilian and I, being so foolish, would definitely have gotten into trouble."

Frillie nodded in thanks.

At that moment, a stagehand called out through a megaphone: "Special guest actors with scenes this afternoon, please come to the dressing room for touch-ups in ten minutes!"

Lu Mingfei and Frilian quickly finished the last few bites of rice.

Li Mo smiled and said, "Go on, it's your turn. Don't be nervous, just do as we say, you can't go wrong."

Fatty Zhao also encouraged them: "Keep it up! Brother Lu, Sister Frillian. You two have great looks, who knows, one day you might be spotted by some assistant director and rise to fame."

Lu Mingfei chuckled: "Thank you for your kind words. But right now I just want to get these two lines off smoothly and avoid too many takes."

The brief breaks and conversations allowed Lu Mingfei to gain a more genuine understanding of this seemingly glamorous but actually arduous industry, and also allowed him to establish initial friendships with his colleagues who were struggling at the bottom. He took a deep breath and, together with Frillie, headed towards the photography studio.

Chapter 218 Filming - Lu Mingfei

The afternoon sun beat down on the concrete floor of the film studio, the heat oppressive. Inside the dressing room, several high-powered fans whirred frantically, but couldn't dispel the sticky smell of foundation, hairspray, and sweat mingling in the air. The lead actors had finished their makeup touch-ups and were either resting with their eyes closed or quietly rehearsing their lines. It was the featured actors' turn.

Xiao Chen, the makeup artist in charge of extras and special guests, had her hair soaked through and stuck to her forehead. She moved with the efficiency of an assembly line, and upon seeing Lu Mingfei and Frillie, immediately waved: "Quick, sit here! Let's get this over with!"

She dealt with Frillie first. Looking at that almost flawless face, Xiao Chen sighed—a sigh tinged with envy and helplessness.

“I don’t even know where to begin with your skin,” she said, gently pressing blotting paper onto Frilian’s nose and forehead, where there was hardly any shine. Then, using an extremely fine brush, she applied a small amount of dark brown eyebrow powder, slightly deepening it along Frilian’s already defined brow shape to prevent it from being “eaten up” in bright light. The eyeliner was also extremely thin, close to the lash line, with a slightly extended end, creating a touch of classic elegance.

Finally, she sprayed setting spray a few times from a distance. "Okay, the main thing is the hair, don't mess it up."

Xiao Chen carefully inspected Frilian's hair bun and jade hairpin to ensure that nothing was out of place.

When it was Lu Mingfei's turn, Xiao Chen immediately sped up his pace.

"Close your eyes." A powder puff, dipped in foundation a shade darker than Lu Mingfei's skin, patted his face, covering the traces of staying up late and the slight redness caused by tension.

"Young man, your pores are a bit large. You should use face masks regularly."

Lu Mingfei dared not utter a sound, only feeling the powder puff rubbing against his face like sandpaper. While drawing his eyebrows, Xiao Chen's hands were steady, quickly outlining a more dashing shape than usual. Contouring powder was swept across his cheeks, making his face appear thinner. Finally, the tight-fitting servant's hood was put back on, and Lu Mingfei felt his temples throbbing.

"Sister Chen, could you loosen this wig a bit? My head hurts," Lu Mingfei pleaded softly.

While adjusting the collar of his gray shirt, Xiao Chen ruthlessly refused, "Bear with it. It makes your head look smaller on camera, which looks better. If it's loose and gives you away, Director Wang will scold you into the ground."

She wiped the sweat from Lu Mingfei's nose with a wet wipe and said, "Alright, go ahead, don't be nervous, just pretend there's no one in the audience."

Looking at his pale, unfamiliar face and comical little hat in the mirror, Lu Mingfei felt a surge of unease. Frilian gently reached out and straightened his slightly askew hat brim with a natural gesture. The two walked out of the stuffy dressing room one after the other, heading towards the brightly lit photography studio.

Inside the "Cao Cao's Banquet" filming studio, the heat was even more intense. Several high-powered spotlights illuminated the palace-like set as bright as day, bringing with them an astonishing temperature. The actors playing civil and military officials wore heavy costumes, with transparent sweat-absorbing pads stuck to their foreheads. The strange smell of the props' wine and meat, a mixture of flavorings and preservatives, made Lu Mingfei frown.

The executive director shouted to Lu Mingfei and his seven or eight attendants, "Listen up! Enter through the door on the right! The order is crucial! You, Du Kang! You, Qingmei! Lu Mingfei, you're third, 'Drunken Immortal Drink'! Remember, walk to this marker."

He stomped hard on an inconspicuous duct tape mark on the ground. "Stop, bend down, and announce the name of the drink! Keep your voice steady, don't tremble! Be natural, you're just background figures, but even background figures can't make mistakes! Understand?"

Lu Mingfei mingled among the attendants, nodding repeatedly, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. He carefully picked up the heavy, antique-style bronze wine vessel, which contained colored water; the cool touch temporarily relieved the sweat on his palms. He stole a glance at the head of the table, where Teacher Liu, playing Cao Cao, had his eyes closed, being gently fanned by his assistant; his imposing aura was already palpable.

"Scene 23 of the banquet, shot 3, action!" The clapperboard clicked sharply.

Instantly, the entire studio came alive. Pre-recorded traditional music played through hidden speakers, and the officials at the banquet raised their glasses, chatting and laughing, creating a lively scene of toasting and revelry. But this liveliness was controlled; everyone's movements and volume were kept within a range that would not interfere with the main camera's sound recording.

Lu Mingfei followed the attendant ahead, head down, eyes focused on his own thoughts, taking as steady a step as possible onto the smooth stone slab. The heat of the spotlight made his scalp tingle; he could clearly hear his heavy breathing and heartbeat, thump-thump-thump, like a drumbeat. He stared intently at the attendant's heels, afraid of taking the wrong step.

Lu Mingfei's inner monologue: Stay calm! Don't panic! Just think of it as receiving an 'S' scholarship on stage in the Kassel College auditorium. Damn, I've never received one before, I'm even more nervous! Is this floor slippery? I really don't want to slip and fall flat on my face, that would be legendary! Why is this wine bottle so heavy? Don't let your hands shake!

The first attendant reached the marker smoothly, bowed, and clearly announced, "Prime Minister, the Du Kang wine has arrived!" before stepping aside into the shadows. The second attendant also completed the task successfully.

It was Lu Mingfei's turn. He took a deep breath of the scorching air, thick with a strange smell, and stepped onto the marked spot. He could feel the main camera and at least one side camera pointed at him. He stopped, struggling to control his stiff back from nervousness, and bent deeply, raising the wine glass to eyebrow level with both hands. With all his might, he controlled the trembling in his voice, and tried his best to pronounce the line he had practiced countless times:

"Prime Minister, the famous Jingzhou wine, 'Drunken Immortal's Drink,' has arrived!"

The sound that came out was slightly drier than he had expected, but it was still loud and clear, without any cracking.

After speaking, Lu Mingfei remained bowed, not daring to move. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of "Cao Cao" Teacher Liu slowly turning his head in the main seat. His eyes, made up to appear exceptionally sharp, lingered for a moment on the wine cup in Lu Mingfei's hand, filled with scrutiny and contemplation. That gaze felt tangible, sending a chill down Lu Mingfei's spine.

Lu Mingfei's inner monologue: Is it over? Why haven't they yelled "cut" yet? Did I not bow deep enough? Or did I deliver my lines too quickly? Teacher Liu's eyes are terrifying! No wonder he's a veteran actor! Is he building up his emotions? Should I hold my breath? I can't breathe! This wig is killing me; sweat is getting into my eyes, it's so itchy, but I can't move, absolutely can't move!

Time seemed to stretch out. Every second felt like an eternity. Just as Lu Mingfei felt he was about to faint from lack of oxygen, Director Wang's voice blared through the loudspeaker:

"Card!"

Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat. Oh no!

But Wang Dao continued, "Cao Cao, slow down your gesture when accepting the wine a little more, show a bit of scrutiny and hesitation. The attendants are fine, this one's done, prepare for the next one!"

The sense of relief instantly overwhelmed Lu Mingfei's tension. He almost staggered as he straightened up and followed the other attendants to the designated rest area off-camera. Only after he had steadied himself against the wall did he dare to breathe heavily, realizing that not only was his back soaked with sweat, but his calves were also feeling weak.

Li Mo and Fatty Zhao suddenly appeared from somewhere, secretly winking at him and giving him a thumbs up. Lu Mingfei returned a weak, relieved smile.

After Lu Mingfei finished his scenes, he took a short rest before following the crowd to Studio B, where the "Meeting of the Envoys of Shu and Wu" was being filmed. This studio was set up as a Shu army command tent, with an atmosphere quite different from the lavish banquet, appearing simple and solemn. The background featured a huge military map and weapon racks, with a faint smell of dust.

Frillie's role is here. She doesn't need to wait as long as Lu Mingfei did.

The assistant director told her succinctly: "Wait outside the tent. When you hear it quiet down inside, lift the curtain and go in. When you get to this position," he pointed to a spot on the map, "bow down and announce your arrival. Speak calmly and clearly. You are the catalyst, leading into the later scenes. Don't try to steal the show."

Frillie nodded calmly.

Chapter 219 Filming - Frillie

Inside the studio, Mr. Zhang, who plays Zhuge Liang, sits solemnly in the main seat, gently waving his feather fan, his eyes deep and thoughtful. Actors playing generals such as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stand solemnly on either side, creating a tense atmosphere as if a storm is brewing. The lighting technician adjusts the angle, focusing the light primarily on the area between Zhuge Liang and the tent flap, forming a visual corridor. The sound engineer carefully holds a long microphone boom above the actors' heads to ensure the clearest possible sound.

"The first scene of the Shu-Wu meeting, the first shot, Action!"

The clapperboard sounded. The tent fell silent instantly, broken only by the soft scraping of the camera carriage moving along. All the actors were in character; Zhuge Liang gazed calmly towards the tent entrance, while the generals wore solemn expressions.

A slender, pale hand gently lifted the tent flap. Frilian entered with measured steps. She didn't deliberately lower her head; her gaze was straight ahead, but her eyes were restrained, displaying the respect due to a subordinate. The elegant, flowing robe she wore fit her perfectly, each step seemingly measured and measured, exuding composure. Her unique silver hair and cool, almost transparent aura made her appear like a refreshing spring flowing into the otherwise masculine military tent, instantly attracting everyone's attention, including the cameras.