Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

"Are you nervous?" Zhou Xun tilted his head slightly and asked in a low voice.

Tang Yan nodded honestly: "A little."

“Remember, from the moment the camera is pointed at you, you are Lin Wan.” Zhou Xun’s voice was calm and powerful. “Other people’s opinions don’t matter. What matters is that you believe you are that character.”

Director Zhang Yu stood at the forefront, holding three incense sticks. His speech was brief and powerful: "Jingzhe is not just a film; it is our tribute to an era and a commemoration of a group of unsung heroes. Thank you all for joining this journey. May we create together a work that will be remembered."

Incense was placed in the burner, the red cloth was unveiled, and firecrackers went off. Amidst the falling confetti, Tang Yan felt a sacred sense of mission. At this moment, she was no longer the graduate worrying about making a living, but an actress about to create life in the world of film.

As expected, the reporters' questions were sharp during the media interview session following the opening ceremony.

"Director Zhang, what were your considerations in choosing newcomer Tang Yan for such an important role?" A male reporter wearing glasses asked first.

Facing the camera, Zhang Yu remained composed: "I have only one criterion for choosing actors—whether they are suitable for the role. Tang Yan demonstrated qualities that were highly compatible with the character of Lin Wan during the audition. Her performance had an unpolished sense of authenticity, which is exactly what we need."

"But there are rumors that..."

“Rumors stop with the wise.” Zhang Yu interrupted the reporter. “I believe that when the movie is released, the audience will see Tang Yan’s performance, and all the questions will be answered.”

On the other side, Tang Yan was also surrounded by reporters. Following the techniques she had learned during training, she maintained a smile and gave concise answers.

"Ms. Tang, are you nervous about participating in a big-budget production for the first time?"

"I'm nervous, but mostly excited. It's an honor to work with such outstanding filmmakers as Director Zhang, Sister Xun, and Brother Kun."

What are your thoughts on some of the rumors circulating online?

Tang Yan paused, her eyes clear: "I only want to let my work speak for itself. The role of Lin Wan is a precious opportunity for me, and I will do my best to live up to the director's trust and the audience's expectations."

The answer was appropriate and impeccable. Zhang Yu, standing not far away, nodded slightly.

……

The real test came in the afternoon.

The first scene filmed was Lin Wan's solo scene backstage at the Paramount Ballroom. There were no lines; the character's loneliness and resilience were conveyed entirely through body language and micro-expressions.

In the dressing room, Tang Yan had already changed into a royal blue cheongsam, her hair styled in retro waves, and her makeup was exquisite yet not overly flamboyant. Looking at herself in the mirror, she was momentarily unable to distinguish whether it was Tang Yan or Lin Wan.

"On your marks—" came the script supervisor's voice.

Tang Yan took a deep breath and walked to the designated spot. The backstage set of the Paramount Ballroom was extremely exquisite, from the cosmetics on the dressing table to the various cheongsams on the clothes rack, all of which restored the texture of the 1930s.

"Action!"

The camera zooms in silently. Tang Yan sits at her vanity, picks up a lipstick, and slowly applies it. The camera zooms in on her eyes—there is weariness, wariness, and a barely perceptible softness. She puts down the lipstick, takes a tiny metal tube from inside the collar of her cheongsam, and quickly hides it in the compartment of her powder compact.

The entire process took less than a minute, yet it conveyed a great deal of information: Lin Wan's dual identity, her caution and meticulousness, and the danger of being exposed at any moment.

“Cut!” Zhang Yu’s voice came through.

Tang Yan's heart skipped a beat. She looked at Zhang Yu behind the director's monitor, awaiting his evaluation.

Zhang Yu stared at the replay for a moment, then looked up: "Overall it's good, but the action of hiding things could be smoother. Lin Wan has done this action hundreds or thousands of times, it should be as natural as breathing. Let's do one more take."

The second, the third, the fourth... until the eighth, Zhang Yu finally nodded: "This one is acceptable. Let's secure one more before we move on."

Zhou Xun, who had somehow appeared beside the monitor, whispered to Zhang Yu, "You have very high expectations of her."

“Because she can do it.” Zhang Yu’s eyes were still fixed on the screen. “You can see the changes in her eyes. There are subtle adjustments every time. She is thinking and improving.”

“You’re nurturing a real actor, not just a star,” Zhou Xun said thoughtfully. “That’s rare, but also dangerous.”

Zhang Yu understood Zhou Xun's meaning. In this era where traffic is paramount, focusing on honing acting skills might mean missing the best opportunity to become famous. But he believed that true brilliance would not be buried.

The filming didn't finish until 9 p.m. Tang Yan changed her clothes and was about to leave when Zhang Yu called her back.

“Today’s shooting notes.” He handed her a notebook. “I’ve noted down some details of your performance, and areas for improvement. Take a look at them tonight.”

Tang Yan took the notebook, opened it to the first page, which was filled with observation notes:

"First point: The tension is too outwardly displayed. Lin Wan is a long-term undercover agent; the tension should be internalized..."

Article 3: Hand movements are slightly stiff; it is recommended to practice finger dexterity...

Article Six: The timing of a change in eye contact can be made even more precise by 0.3 seconds...

Every performance was meticulously documented, even including subtle habits she herself was unaware of.

"Director Zhang, you...you've been recording all this?"

"A director's job isn't just about yelling 'cut'," Zhang Yu said simply. "Go and rest; you have more important scenes to film tomorrow."

Tang Yan returned to her hotel room with the notebook and studied it through the night. She discovered that Zhang Yu's notes not only pointed out the problems but also provided specific methods for improvement. For example, regarding "outward display of tension," he suggested: "Imagine your skin is a membrane, with all emotions surging beneath it, while keeping the surface calm."

This concrete guidance suddenly enlightened her.

……

As expected, Wang Zhongjun's counterattack came a week after filming began.

First, two equipment vehicles rented by the production crew "unexpectedly" broke down en route, forcing adjustments to the day's shooting schedule. Then, a group of so-called "industry insiders" appeared online, claiming that the production crew of "Awakening of Insects" was poorly managed, the director was autocratic, and there were many conflicts among the actors.

The most troublesome thing was that a veteran actor who had originally agreed to make a cameo appearance suddenly declined the role, citing "illness" as the reason. This actor was a contracted artist of Wang Zhongjun's company.

"He's testing our responsiveness," Zhang Yu said at a hastily convened crew meeting, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather. "The equipment issue has been resolved; I've brought in backup equipment from Shenzhen. We don't need to pay attention to the online rumors; focusing on filming is the best response. As for the cameo actors..."

He looked at the casting director: "I remember you said that there is a retired professor from the Shanghai Theatre Academy whose image and temperament are very suitable for that role?"

The casting director's eyes lit up: "Yes, Professor Chen Mo! He acted in many films in his early years before switching to teaching. If we could get him to..."