Huayu: When the director changed his major

Chapter 113 Don’t worry, little Reba, brother knows a lot more

At the end of March 2011, Cheng Xi chose an auspicious day.

The filming of "The Beginning" officially started at the 798 Art District in Yanjing.

Of course, this time the filming cannot be like the previous "Never Expected", where there is not even a pig's head.

The crew had already arranged everything needed for the start of filming.

The offering table is covered with red velvet cloth. Guandi is enshrined on the table, with incense burners on both sides and roasted suckling pig and various fruits placed on the table.

The camera was covered with a red cloth and placed next to the table.

A banner was hung at the back with the words "Warm congratulations to the crew of "The Beginning" for the start of filming!"

After everything was ready, the main creative crew was led by director Cheng Xi and deputy director Zhang Mingzhong.

They burned incense and prayed for a smooth start-up.

Then Cheng Xi lifted the red cloth covering the camera and officially announced the start of filming.

Suddenly there was applause all around, and the atmosphere was very lively.

The publicity and promotion team had already picked up their cameras and started filming behind-the-scenes footage for everyone.

Cheng Xi also prepared some small red envelopes for everyone and distributed them to every staff member who came to participate in the opening ceremony.

Finally, everyone took the first group photo of the crew under the banner, holding their own red envelopes and smiling.

After the opening ceremony in the morning, the publicity team and Cheng Xi posted photos of the crew of "The Beginning" celebrating the start of filming on Weibo.

Yang Mi and other good friends who have a good relationship with her also forwarded the message and sent blessings to the crew of "The Beginning".

However, when netizens saw that Reba, who was to play the female lead, had joined the crew and was about to start filming, and that Yang Mi, the person involved, had sent her blessings, the criticism became much less.

After all, there is no point in scolding now, the matter is a foregone conclusion.

However, some indignant netizens said that it would not be too late to criticize the video after it goes online.

After finishing all these, the crew started the formal shooting in the afternoon.

For the first scene, Cheng Xi chose the interrogation room of the Public Security Bureau.

Because the set is relatively simple, the scene is closed, and the number of actors is small, it is very friendly for me to shoot the first scene.

The plot is that after Officer Zhang received a call from the heroine Li Shiqing saying that there was a bomb on the bus, he quickly went to the scene, but it was too late and the bus exploded.

So they found the male and female protagonists who got off the car early through the camera, took them back to the police station and interrogated them separately.

There are only three characters in this scene.

Police Officer Zhang played by Liu Yijun, the heroine Li Shiqing played by Reba, and a female police interrogation recorder.

When Cheng Xi sat behind the monitor outside, a sense of tension came over him.

This is my first time directing, and it’s impossible not to be nervous.

However, Reba in front of the camera looked much calmer than himself. Maybe it was because she was already a veteran actor and he was a new director.

Seeing Reba sitting quietly on the interrogation chair from the camera, Cheng Xi couldn't help but calm down gradually.

Executive director Zhang Mingzhong saw that Cheng Xi had almost made the adjustments and began to direct the group.

For Zhang Mingzhong, this was just an ordinary play in his long directorial career, so he did his job step by step.

After reiterating the lens and the required effects to the photographer, Zhang Mingzhong, having completed the arrangements, gave an OK gesture and walked out of the set design room.

The camera is in place, the lights are in place, the sound is in place, the actors are in place, and the script supervisor is in place.
"Silence!" the radio called out.

"Turn on!" The camera turns on.

After everyone made the OK sign, all the crew members waited quietly for the director to give orders.

"The first scene, first shot, first time of 'The Beginning'!" the script supervisor claps.

Cheng Xi's mood had calmed down a lot at this time. Looking at the army under his command waiting for orders, he couldn't help but feel a sense of heroism rising from his chest.

He slowly closed his eyes and then quickly opened them, and called out calmly:
"action!"

"Officer Zhang, can I ask a question?"

Cheng Xi was behind the monitor and could see all the expressions of the actors.

When Reba said this line, her tone was a little nervous and innocent.

"Of course, you say."

Mr. Liu Yijun is indeed a veteran actor. He got into the role very quickly, and his appearance as a criminal policeman at work fits the plot very well.

While speaking the lines, he also designed an action for himself to pick up the teacup.

"After you received my call to the police, did you take it seriously and send police immediately?"

Reba continued to ask. Reba spoke this line in three parts, which was handled well.

"After receiving the alarm call, we immediately chose to go to the scene, but the time was too short for us."

Liu Yijun slowly unscrewed the teacup and took a sip of tea. After finishing the tea, his expression suddenly froze.

"How do you know my last name is Zhang? From the moment I found you in Qingshui Park until now, I haven't introduced myself to anyone except Xiao Jiang."

At this time, the camera slowly moves towards the actor, making a gradual picture until a close-up.

"How did you know my last name is Zhang?"

You can clearly feel the changes in Liu Yijun's eyes during the performance, which is very layered. He is a criminal policeman, it is impossible for him to have a surprised expression right from the start.

But you can feel from his actions and eyes that he has hidden the incredible deep in the heart of the old detective.

This scene was almost over when suddenly Zhang Mingzhong, who was sitting next to him, nudged Cheng Xi with his elbow.

Cheng Xi just realized that he was about to yell "cut".

Although I was sitting behind the monitor when filming "Wan Wan" and "Diao Si Nan Ren" before, I was the producer and supervisor.

It was Yi Xiaoxing and Dapeng who called out "cut". Now it was my turn. I was so immersed in the picture that I almost forgot my job as a director.

"click"

Cheng Xi behind the monitor quickly added a "cut". Fortunately, he was the director and did not say "cut". Except for Zhang Mingzhong, no one noticed.

That’s right, I didn’t say “cut” and you thought I was going to continue watching.

Who knew that a new director like me would forget it?

spread hands.jpg
Because the interrogation room is relatively small, it is not convenient for two devices to shoot at the same time.

So one actor is delivering the lines, while the other actor is performing in the painting.

Cheng Xi arranged to shoot Liu Yijun's shots first, and then shoot Reba's shots, to give Reba some time to prepare.

I also wondered if Liu Yijun's performance could get Reba into the mood.

After the "cut" sound, the crew stopped working and Cheng Xi continued:

"Teacher Liu's expression was spot on just now. The camera's positioning was a little too fast."

"When the actor said the first sentence, 'How do you know my last name is Zhang?', the camera started to slowly move from the medium shot to a close shot."

"When the actor finishes his last line, I want you to center the portrait, position the close-up shot of the actor, and control the speed of the camera." "Okay, Teacher Liu, you've been working hard. Let's do it again."

"'The Beginning', first scene, first shot, second take!" The script supervisor clapped the board again.

"action!"

Cheng Xi shouted "start" again.

After five takes, this one was finally passed.

I have to say that Zhang Mingzhong is indeed a good deputy. Watching him do his job calmly and methodically.

Cheng Xi also gradually entered the role of director.

After shooting this shot, Cheng Xi talked to Zhang Mingzhong next to him and asked him to process the shots of Reba later.

Zhang Mingzhong then went into the interrogation room and communicated with Reba and the cameraman.

When Reba was acting in the previous scenes, her lines were handled very well.

You can tell that a lot of effort was put into it.

"Officer Zhang, can I ask a question?"

Reba was a little nervous in front of the camera, but she recited her lines well.

But the expression of uneasiness and innocence did not keep up, it was a little flat.

This definitely did not meet Cheng Xi's requirements, but he did not call cut but let Reba continue acting, not wanting to easily interrupt Reba's acting state.

"After you received my call to the police, did you take it seriously and send police immediately?"

The condition is slightly better, but the same problem still exists: it is too flat and lacks a bit of tension.

After all, this was my first time in an interrogation room, so I was definitely a little scared and nervous about the unfamiliar and depressing environment.

Only after Reba's condition improved a little did Cheng Xi choose to call cut.

"Reba, pay attention to your current state of mind. You are a little scared and nervous. The expression you just gave was too calm."

"But you're not particularly scared, because you know you'll probably be back in the cycle again, and this time it'll probably be in vain. Give me this sense of hierarchy."

Cheng Xi tried to explain to Reba as patiently as possible.

"You should carefully consider and grasp this scale."

"Okay, everyone, rest here for five minutes and wait for the actors."

When she was filming "Wan Wan" before, there were rarely so many people gathered around her, all watching her performance.

She usually plays a supporting role, so it will take some time for her to become the real female lead.

Cheng Xi also went in and gave Reba some psychological massage and comforted her.

"We weren't supposed to be filming this afternoon, so don't be nervous. Just treat it as an audition and get the feel for acting in front of the camera."

Just like that, the first day of filming ended without any incident.

Since Reba was slow to get into the groove, she only managed two scenes in the afternoon.

Fortunately, Reba’s condition is much better than her first scene.

It can be seen that he is slowly adapting. It is good to see progress, but he does need to speed up the process.

Since Cheng Xi did not arrange any work for the crew tonight, when the afternoon scene was finished, Cheng Xi announced that they would have dinner at the hotel in the evening.

Many crew members were not familiar with each other, which led to the slow progress of today's shooting.

Chinese people have a characteristic that after having a meal together, it becomes more natural for them to get to know each other.

So Cheng Xi arranged a dinner party so that everyone could get to know each other, break the ice, and facilitate subsequent filming.

After dinner, when everyone returned to the hotel to rest, Cheng Xi came to Reba's room.

When Reba saw that it was her brother who came to see her, her little face suddenly showed a depressed expression.

This is another time to show off my acting skills to my brother.

"Brother, did Reba's performance today seem particularly bad and delayed the crew's work?"

Of course, Cheng Xi would not blame Reba for everything. He had anticipated this situation.

A new director, basically a new female lead, and a new crew to get used to.

It’s good enough to be able to do this.

So Cheng Xi told Reba the truth, and Reba seemed to feel a lot better after hearing it.

"Let me give you a shoulder massage. This is your first time directing and you're so professional!"

In the hotel, there was no other way, so Reba just wanted to massage her brother's shoulders to relax him.

But Cheng Xi felt that today was okay and not too tiring.

And I came here mainly to help Reba vent.

So he said:

"Before, it was always Reba who massaged Brother's shoulders. This time, let Brother do it. Our heroine has worked hard today!"

After saying that, Cheng Xi pulled Reba to a chair in the hotel.

Without waiting for Reba to shyly refuse, Cheng Xi directly put his hands on Reba's soft and slender shoulders and began to pinch them.

When it comes to shoulder massage, Cheng Xi can be considered a semi-professional teacher.

In my previous life, because there were many anchors in the company, they all had neck pain after a long period of live broadcast.

So Cheng Xi actually went online to learn how to massage the shoulders and neck.

This also made Cheng Xi a friend of women. Some internet celebrities like to come to Cheng Xi to relax after the live broadcast.

Of course, Cheng Xi asked himself that he was learning these things not for his own benefit.

Instead, use another method to improve the performance of the anchors.

It can be said to be selfless!

However, in this life, Cheng Xi wants to use this method to improve the actors' acting skills.

Um.
To translate it, it means improving the director's self-cultivation.

So Cheng Xi slowly roamed over Reba's shoulders while asking with varying strength:
"Are you comfortable, cutie?"

"Mm, it feels so good, brother."

Cheng Xi smiled when he heard Reba say that, and thought:

Don’t worry, little Reba, your brother knows a lot more.

"Want to be more comfortable?"

"think"

(End of this chapter)