novellhall Chapter 97 Filming Completed
Chapter 97 Filming Completed
Chapter 103 Filming Completed
In June 2018, filming for "Joy of Life" entered its third month.
Summer arrives fiercely in Hengdian.
The June sun was already scorching, and the temperature on set often exceeded 35 degrees Celsius.
Chen Nianbei wore heavy ancient costumes every day, layer upon layer, and after a scene, his clothes were soaked with sweat.
But he never complained.
Everyone on the crew said that Chen Nianbei was an "iron man".
It's not that he never gets tired, it's that he never lets anyone see that he's tired.
After everyone else had left, he stayed on set for an extra hour to watch the playback and discuss the next day's scenes with the director.
Back at the hotel, he continued to prepare by memorizing lines and taking notes, sometimes until two or three in the morning, when the room lights were still on.
Xiao Wu sometimes felt sorry for him and advised him to rest early.
He would always just smile and say, "It's okay, it'll be over soon. Just hang in there a little longer."
But this "almost over" statement was repeated from June to July, and then from July to August.
A major event: Fan Xian's trip to Northern Qi.
This scene is the climax of the entire play in its middle part.
Fan Xian was sent as an envoy to Northern Qi, where he navigated the complex relationships between various factions within enemy territory, facing numerous life-threatening situations.
The filming location moved from Hengdian to Inner Mongolia—where the crew built a temporary "Northern Qi Royal Court".
.
In Inner Mongolia, the summer is scorching hot during the day and freezing cold at night.
Chen Nianbei had to change from thin summer clothes to thick fur coats for her costume, switching between two extreme temperatures every day.
The most challenging scene was when Fan Xian was being chased in the snow in Northern Qi.
There was no snow in Inner Mongolia that day. The film crew used two tons of fertilizer and lime to artificially create a "snow scene".
Wearing only a thin costume, Chen Nianbei ran, rolled, and fought in the pungent "snow" for more than ten hours straight.
"Action!"
He rushed out, staggering, with more than a dozen pursuers behind him.
His eyes held fear and despair, but even more so, a fierce determination that said, "I absolutely cannot die here."
He fell down, got up, fell down again, and got up again.
His face was covered in "snow," and his eyes were filled with white dust, stinging so much that he couldn't open them.
But he didn't stop, nor did he yell "Cut," he just kept running and running until the director yelled "Cut."
"Nianbei, are you alright?"
Sun Hao rushed over and was startled when he saw his bloodshot eyes.
Chen Nianbei waved his hand, asking the staff to bring water to rinse his eyes.
He rinsed himself for ages before finally managing to open his eyes. He blinked and looked at the director: "Was that take usable?"
Sun Hao looked at his still red eyes and remained silent for a few seconds: "It's usable. But you need to rest."
Chen Nianbei laughed: "No need, one more take, I can still run."
That day, he ran more than twenty tracks.
When he finished work, his legs were so weak that he could not stand. Xiao Wu and two stagehands helped him back to the hotel.
He was soaking in the bathtub when Naza called.
"I heard you filmed all day today?"
Naza's voice was full of concern, "Are you tired?"
Chen Nianbei closed her eyes, her voice a little hoarse: "It's alright, a bath will do the trick."
"What do you mean by 'okay'?"
Naza panicked, "Xiao Wu told me you got something in your eye, your legs were weak, but you still forced yourself to film all day. Are you crazy?"
Chen Nianbei opened her eyes, looked at the steam rising from the bathroom ceiling, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
"I'm fine," he said. "Really. This film is almost finished, and I want to make sure every scene is filmed well so I have no regrets."
Naza was silent for a moment, then said, "I know you're serious."
But you must remember, you are someone I care about—someone we care about. What would I do if you fell ill?
Chen Nianbei's heart skipped a beat.
"Okay," he said, "I promise you, I'll get some rest after filming this."
Naza snorted: "You said the same thing last time, but then you turned around and took on a new role."
Chen Nianbei laughed: "This time it's for real. After filming Fan Xian, I want to take a break."
Naza didn't say anything more, just gave a few more instructions, and then hung up the phone.
Chen Nianbei put down his phone and closed his eyes again. The water in the bathtub was gradually cooling down, but his heart remained warm.
Dilraba's message came right on time, just like a goodnight message every night.
"Teacher Chen!! Have you finished filming today?! I heard it's very cold in Inner Mongolia!! You should wear more clothes!!"
Chen Nianbei looked at the string of exclamation marks and couldn't help but laugh. He replied, "Filming's done. I ran over twenty laps today, my legs are about to give out."
Dilraba replied instantly: "Ahhh!! Then you should rest!! Don't reply to my messages anymore!!"
Then she added: "But if you still have the energy to reply, I'd like to hear what you filmed today—"
'
Chen Nianbei smiled and sent her a voice message, briefly explaining today's filming.
The crew moved from Inner Mongolia back to Hengdian to film the final interior scenes.
The last month is the most agonizing.
Everyone was at their physical limit, but everyone knew they had to keep going.
Chen Nianbei's daily sleep time has been reduced to less than four hours.
He lost eight pounds, and his bones became more prominent, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter—those were Fan Xian's eyes, having experienced and seen through so much, yet they had not lost their brilliance.
The final showdown: Fan Xian's ultimate confrontation with Emperor Qing.
This scene is the ultimate climax of the entire play.
Fan Xian finally learns that Emperor Qing is his father and that he knows the whole truth. The two confront each other in the palace.
The complex emotions of a father and son recognizing each other yet being unable to, the ultimate clash between power and humanity, require the two actors to give their best performances.
On the day of filming, the entire set was completely silent.
Chen Daomin sat on the throne without saying a word, but his aura filled the entire hall with a sense of oppression.
Chen Nianbei stood in the center of the hall, looking up at him, her eyes filled with countless emotions.
Shock, anger, sadness, and an undeniable, deep-seated complex emotion.
"Action".
Chen Nianbei's Adam's apple bobbed. He looked at the person high above him, the person who controlled his destiny, the person he should call "father".
"you----"
His voice was dry and hoarse. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Chen Daomin looked at him, his eyes unwavering, like a bottomless pool of water.
"Tell you what?"
His voice was calm. "I'll tell you I'm your father? And then what? You'll kneel down and call me Emperor? We'll recognize each other as father and son, and from then on, be a loving father and a filial son?"
He stood up, slowly walked down from the throne, and approached Chen Nianbei step by step.
"Fan Xian,"
He stopped in front of him, looking down at him. "This world is not what you imagine."
Power isn't what you think. Neither am I what you think.
Chen Nianbei's eyes reddened. He didn't back down, but met his gaze.
"Then what are you?"
His voice trembled, but not from fear; it was something deeper: "What are you?"
Chen Daomin looked at him and remained silent for a long time.
Then, he suddenly smiled. The smile was faint and gentle, yet it possessed a heartbreaking complexity.
"I am your father," he said, "and also the loneliest man in the world."
Chen Nianbei's tears finally fell.
He didn't cry out loud; he just stood there, looking at the person, letting the tears flow.
Chen Daomin reached out, seemingly wanting to touch his face. But his hand stopped in mid-air.
He withdrew his hand, turned around, and walked back to the throne.
"Go," he said softly, his back to him, "and live well."
Chen Nianbei stared at his retreating figure for a long time.
Then, he knelt down and kowtowed.
That head hit the ground hard and loudly.
Then he stood up, turned around, and walked towards the palace gate.
The camera zooms out to show two men, one sitting and the other walking, separated by the distance of an entire hall.
They were father and son, and also ruler and subject.
It is love, and it is also hate.
It was a reunion, and also a final farewell.
"Cut."
Sun Hao's voice was very soft. Then he stood up and began to applaud.
Everyone on set stood up and applauded. The applause grew louder and more frequent, like a tidal wave.
Chen Nianbei stood at the entrance of the hall, his back to everyone. He didn't turn around, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Chen Daomin walked over and stood beside him.
"Kid," he said, "you've made it."
Chen Nianbei turned her head and looked at him. Her eyes were still red, but there was a light in them.
"Thank you, Teacher Chen," he said. "It was you who guided me."
Chen Daomin patted him on the shoulder, said nothing, and turned to leave.
The final scene shows Fan Xian's back view.
He stood on the edge of the cliff in Danzhou, looking at the sea in the distance.
That's where he came from, and it's also where he can never go back.
There are no lines, no opponents, only a silhouette.
Chen Nianbei stood there, dressed in Fan Xian's clothes and sporting Fan Xian's hairstyle, on the edge of the cliff. The sea breeze was strong, making his robes flutter loudly.
He wasn't thinking about anything.
At that moment, he simply stood there, letting the wind blow through him.
"Cut."
Sun Hao's voice came through, very soft and calm.
Then, he stood up, picked up a megaphone, and announced to everyone, "I hereby announce that filming for the first season of 'Joy of Life' has wrapped!"
Cheers and applause erupted on set. Some threw hats, some hugged, some cried, and some laughed.
Staff, actors, stagehands, lighting technicians, sound engineers—everyone released the stress and fatigue of the past few months at this moment.
Chen Nianbei stood on the edge of the cliff, motionless.
He looked at the distant sea, at that vast expanse of blue, and felt a deep emptiness in his heart.
Fan Xian is gone.
That person, who had lived inside his body for five months, finally left.
Xiao Wu ran over and put his coat on him. Only then did he realize that his hands and feet were freezing cold.
"Teacher Nianbei, filming's wrapped!" Xiao Wu exclaimed excitedly. "You can finally rest!"
Chen Nianbei looked at her and smiled.
"Yes," he said, "finally I can rest."
That evening, the wrap party was held at a hotel in Hengdian.
The entire second floor was booked by the film crew. The long table was filled with food and drinks, and the atmosphere was as lively as during the Chinese New Year.
Sun Hao sat in the main seat, flanked by veteran actors Chen Daomin, Wu Gang, and Liu Hua, while Chen Nianbei sat next to Chen Daomin.
After a few rounds of drinks, Sun Hao stood up, took the microphone, and tapped his wine glass.
The whole place fell silent.
"Say a few words." Sun Hao looked around, his gaze somewhat complicated. "Five months, one hundred and fifty-three days, and we finished filming this movie."
He paused.
"In all my years of acting, this is the most tiring, but also the best. It's not because of the good script or the big investment, but because of everyone here."
His gaze fell on Chen Daomin.
"Thank you, Teacher Chen. With you here, our entire crew feels more confident."
Chen Daomin nodded slightly and raised his wine glass.
Sun Hao's gaze then fell on Chen Nianbei.
"Nianbei," he said, his voice trembling slightly, "I've been looking for you for a long time. Thank you for entrusting Fan Xian to us."
Chen Nianbei stood up, raised his glass, and bowed deeply to Sun Hao.
"Director Sun, thank you for giving me this opportunity."
Sun Hao waved his hand and looked at everyone.
"Come on, everyone, let's toast to 'Joy of Life'!"
"Cheers!"
The sounds of clinking glasses, laughter, and cheers blended together.
Chen Daomin sat next to Chen Nianbei and drank a few more glasses than usual, which was unusual for him. His face had regained some color, and his eyes were gentler than usual.
"Nianbei," he said, his voice not loud, but Chen Nianbei heard him clearly, "You have to walk your own path from now on."
After this film, you'll be different.
Chen Nianbei looked at him and nodded seriously.
"Thank you, Teacher Chen."
Chen Daomin waved his hand and said nothing more.
Wu Gang walked over, holding a glass of wine, and looked at Chen Nianbei.
"Kid," he said, "just let me know if you need me for any future projects."
Chen Nianbei quickly stood up and clinked glasses with him.
"Teacher Wu, what you said is exactly what I wanted to hear."
Wu Gang smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
Liu Hua, Li Xiaoran, Xin Zhilei, Song Yi, Li Chun, Zhang Ruoyun, Tian Yu—familiar faces walked over, clinked glasses with him, and laughed with him. All those nights they stayed up together, the sweat they shed together, the scenes they filmed together—all of it turned into wine, into laughter, and into tears welling up in their eyes at this moment.
Late at night, the banquet ended.
Chen Nianbei walked out of the hotel and stood at the entrance, letting the night breeze blow on her. The night in Hengdian quieted down, and stars twinkled in the distance.
Sun Hao came out, stood next to him, and offered him a cigarette.
Chen Nianbei waved her hand: "I won't smoke."
Sun Hao lit it himself, took a drag, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Go back and get some rest," he said. "There's still promotion to do, and then there's season two. I'll be busy."
Chen Nianbei nodded.
Sun Hao looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Nianbei, you know what? The first time I saw you, I knew you were capable. It wasn't because you could act, but because there was something in your eyes—that burning desire to become a good actor."
Chen Nianbei smiled and said, "Director Sun, you've had too much to drink today."
Sun Hao laughed and patted him on the shoulder: "Maybe. But I'm telling the truth."
He stubbed out his cigarette, turned around, and left.
Chen Nianbei stood there, watching his figure disappear into the night.
On his way back to the hotel, he received a lot of messages.
Naza's message was simple: "Filming wrapped up? You must be exhausted. I made some soup for you to drink when you get back."
Dilraba's message was as enthusiastic as ever: "Teacher Chen!! Happy wrap-up!! I'll treat you to dinner when you come back!! This time it's true!! I'm not kidding!!"
Zhang Lei's message was laced with teasing: "Brother Bei, another big production has wrapped up filming. When are you coming back? Let's grab a drink!"
Wang Hao's message was earnest and sincere: "Brother Bei, you've worked hard. You are my role model."
Liu Haocun's message was choked with tears: "Brother Bei, filming has wrapped up—I'm so reluctant to leave—thank you for always taking me under your wing—"
He read them one by one and replied to them one by one.
Finally, he put down his phone, leaned back in his car seat, and closed his eyes.
Back in his hotel room, he stood by the window, gazing at the night view of Hengdian.
In the distance, the outline of the Ming and Qing palaces still stands there, quietly bathed in moonlight.
There, lies his five months of memories, Fan Xian's life, and countless sleepless nights.
He recalled the trepidation he felt when he first stepped onto the set, the nervousness he felt when he acted opposite Chen Daomin for the first time, the days he spent running under the scorching sun, and the nights he shivered in the cold wind.
He recalled Fan Xian's laughter, Fan Xian's tears, Fan Xian's anger, and Fan Xian's helplessness.
That person, who had lived inside his body for five months, finally left.
But he knew that Fan Xian would remain in his memory forever, like all the characters he had played, becoming a part of him.
He let out a soft sigh of relief.
Then he turned around, went into the bathroom, and washed away the day's fatigue.
The hot water washed over my body, and also washed away those emotions that didn't belong to me.
When she opened her eyes again, the person in the mirror had become Chen Nianbei again.
At least, that's the case now.
The next day, Chen Nianbei left Hengdian and flew back to Beijing.
On the plane, he leaned against the window, gazing at the sea of clouds outside. Those clouds were pure white and soft, like another world.
He recalled Fan Xian's silhouette as he stood on the edge of the cliff, and the words, "Live well."
He smiled softly.
Fan Xian, live well.
Chen Nianbei, you must also live well.
There is still a long road ahead.
There are new roles, new challenges, and a new life.
He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep above the clouds.
This was the deepest sleep he had had in five months.