The only sun in Huayu

Chapter 49 Please Don't Disturb My Writing (Fourth Update, 11,000 Words! Requesting Monthly Tickets!)
A view of Suzhou gardens, specifically the inner garden of the Zhao family mansion at daytime.

In the afternoon of May in Jiangnan, the air is filled with moisture and a faint fragrance of flowers.

The meticulously arranged pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and winding streams depict the extravagant lifestyle of a prominent southern family, a dreamlike scene even more luxurious than the imperial palace.

Everything is exquisite and luxurious.

Zhang Zhijian plays Zhao Wenhua, the prefect of Suzhou, who is filled with both infatuation and trepidation as the camera zooms in from the side and rear.

The carved wooden door was silently opened by two bowed maids.

Chen Hao, who plays Su Xiaoxiao, makes her entrance.

The first thing that catches the eye is not a person, but a flowing display of color and light.

She wore a long, soft, turquoise silk robe, over which was a semi-transparent, moon-white gauze jacket. The fabric shimmered like water under the special lighting, so light that it seemed she would melt into the night at any moment.

The skirt is embroidered with sparse lotus scroll patterns in extremely fine silver thread, which shimmers faintly as you walk, understated yet luxurious.

Her hair was as black as clouds, styled into an exquisite "fallen horse" bun, adorned only with a kingfisher feather and pearl hairpin and a simple jade hairpin, with no other ornaments.

Shen Shandeng knew Chen Hao at his best and also understood the beauty of "leaving blank space".

The images of women completely naked are captivating, lacking the allure of even a few pieces of fabric.

Too much jewelry would actually detract from Chen Hao's natural, aggressive charm.

Her makeup was also very light, with the focus on highlighting her signature almond-shaped eyes, which were both affectionate and shy yet unfathomable, as well as her full and glossy cherry lips.

Those eyes held a refined and mysterious charm.

There is beauty in motion within the lens.

She didn't look at Zhao Wenhua immediately, but instead lowered her eyelids slightly and moved with light, graceful steps.

The camera pans slowly upwards, focusing on the embroidered shoe tips peeking out from under her flowing skirt.

The blower sent a gentle breeze just in time, which stirred the plain shawl draped over her arm, lifted a few strands of hair at her temples, and brushed against her alabaster cheeks.

The wind was precisely calculated and rehearsed in terms of angle and intensity, solely to create that ethereal, otherworldly aura, "graceful as a startled swan, lithe as a swimming dragon," while also carrying the gentle charm of everyday life.

Even in still images, there is a captivating charm.

When she was about three steps away from Zhao Wenhua, she finally raised her eyes.

The camera steadily zooms in for a close-up, precisely framing a perfect composition from her shoulders up.

The lighting technician positioned the main light source at a 45-degree angle to her side, casting a soft shadow on one side of her upturned nose, which further accentuated the three-dimensionality of her face.

Her gaze was fleeting, carrying just the right amount of shyness, and a close-up shot showed her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

Then, she bravely met Zhao Wenhua's gaze with boundless affection and admiration.

The medium shot showcases her graceful neckline and submissive posture.

Those eyes, captured by the camera, were brimming with the spring waters of Jiangnan, shimmering and seemingly unspoken, as if they could steal one's soul.

Shen Shandeng deliberately blurred the background into a soft patch of light, making Chen Hao's meticulously sculpted face the sole and absolute focus of the image.

"Director Shen, this shot is so beautiful! It's amazing."

After watching the footage, Chen Hao couldn't contain his surprise and radiance, and looked at Shen Shandeng in shock.

"This is a great shot of me."

She couldn't find the right words for a moment, her eyes filled with joy and gratitude.

She truly felt that she had made the right choice in joining this film crew.

Shen Shandeng not only understands acting, but also knows how to find the most dazzling balance between commercial appeal and artistic merit, allowing her to present screen images that exceed her own expectations.

Shen Shandeng smiled and nodded, his gaze still fixed on the stunning still frame on the monitor.

"It's because you have a good foundation. Chen Hao, Su Xiaoxiao should be like this, unforgettable at first sight, making people willingly fall into her 'gentle embrace'. This is just the beginning, the best is yet to come."

His tone was certain; this perfect entrance had laid an undeniable visual foundation for the lethality of Su Xiaoxiao, this "beautiful weapon."

It's as if I can already see the amazement this character will evoke on the big screen in the future.

The photography assistant stated that the brightness distribution and skin tone lines displayed on the waveform monitor were fine, and the exposure level, contrast, skin tone, and color balance met the requirements.

"One more."

Shen Shandeng felt good.

The crew behind the scenes is top-notch, and the actors on screen are also very capable, making the work environment very comfortable.

Zhang Zhijian is a first-class actor of the Nanjing Drama Troupe, and Chen Hao is a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama and has also worked at the Beijing People's Art Theatre. They are both very talented.

This shot looks simple, but it's actually quite complex. However, we've rehearsed it many times and were able to get it right in one take.

Moreover, not only did it give him the effect he wanted, but it also went a step further during the actual filming, giving him a pleasant surprise.

However, Chen Hao ran into trouble the second time.

Shen Shandeng did not call a stop, but continued acting. The shooting schedule for the first scene was ample, so there was no need to rush.

There's plenty of film stock; China Film Group's full support is no joke. The equipment is top-tier in China, and the prices are affordable.

"Cut." As soon as Shen Shandeng called "cut," Chen Hao apologized to Zhang Zhijian: "I'm sorry, Teacher Zhang, I didn't handle it well."

"It's alright, it happens all the time when filming," Zhang Zhijian reassured him.

Chen Hao apologized to Shen Shandeng again, bowing his head: "Director, I had some emotional issues."

Ultimately, it was Shen Shandeng's fault. She looked so beautiful on camera that she didn't seem like herself, which made her overly excited.

The interplay of light and shadow brought out the texture and color of the clothing to their fullest potential, making her skin appear even whiter and her eyes as bright as stars under the fluorescent lights.

That moment when she looked up was captured so precisely, perfectly blending Su Xiaoxiao's captivating charm with her complex inner emotions, yet it was breathtakingly beautiful.

The effect presented by the camera exceeded her own expectations, especially the presentation of the layers in her eyes.

And that close-up shot—even she was surprised that the camera could present the nuances in her eyes so clearly and movingly.

That feeling of vulnerability and resilience intertwined is exactly what she was trying to portray.

"Make some adjustments."

Shen Shandeng did not put any pressure on her: "The core of her appearance is her positioning as a 'famous courtesan,' 'Yangzhou slender horse,' and 'exquisite gift.'"

"Through the subtle changes in her eyes, shyness, attachment, and admiration are conveyed, suggesting her submissive posture as a 'tool'."

"The shots I want are those that, while satisfying the requirement of 'beautiful shots,' also leave room for subsequent character development."

Shen Shandeng's professional skills calmed Chen Hao down.

"pass."

Shen Shandeng saved one take, indicating that the scene was over.

The first day of filming went very smoothly. All the scenes were indoor dialogue scenes, which had been rehearsed many times beforehand. We not only completed the first day's filming tasks, but also filmed two more scenes.

"The film must be stored properly."

After finishing work, Shen Shandeng, along with Zhou Qifeng and the editing assistant, finalized the storage procedures for the film footage.

I checked the scene log of the imported footage, as well as the accuracy of key descriptions and notes.

This step is tedious, but essential.

Even with a tight budget, you must make at least two complete backups of the original footage and store them in different physical locations.

The raw materials are the lifeblood!

"You were amazing today."

During the crew's late-night snack, Yang Mi clung to them.

Shen Shandeng knew that this was an attempt to take his manhood, and admonished him, "Focus your energy on filming."

"Oh."

Da Mimi started touching him inappropriately.

Fan Bingbing also sent a text message saying that there was a problem with the shower in the room and asking if he could help.

Shen Shandeng saw through the scheme at a glance.

"I want to focus on creating good content."

Shen Shandeng gave a brief reply.

Good luck and great fortune! You're dreaming if you think you can get chicken tonight!

"what?"

Shen Shandeng glanced at the text message; Chen Hao also wanted to discuss the script with him.

After a brief chat, it turned out to be a genuine creative exchange.

Chen Hao was comfortable filming today.

Chen Hao didn't hinder his creative work, but it left Shen Shandeng somewhat disappointed.

The disappointment didn't last long; Sun Li sent a congratulatory text message, saying that she had watched the live text and picture broadcast on the website that day.

"I'm in seclusion, please don't disturb me while I'm creating!"

Shen Shandeng subconsciously gave Sun Li a lecture.

Looking back, they were just concerned, and I shouldn't have acted that way.

But I've gotten used to it.

The filming of "The Eunuch" is progressing smoothly, and the opening ceremony has caused quite a stir in the entertainment industry.

"Don't mention Shen Shandeng again, 'The Eunuch' is doomed to fail!"

Huang Li said angrily, unable to control his emotions.

　The book is getting better and better after the rewrite. There are a few more attempts to stir up trouble, but please ignore them; I will handle them. The more anxious people are, the more it shows we're doing the right thing. Just focus on reading the book.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)