novellhall Chapter 139 There is a creature that combines the forms of a sheep and a horse! [5000]
Chapter 139 There is a creature that combines the forms of a sheep and a horse! [5000]
Chapter 139 There is a creature that combines the forms of a sheep and a horse! [5000]
"Okay, keep it up!"
Director Gary keenly noticed the change and lowered his voice: "All departments, get ready, let's go again!"
"Action!"
This time, Jennifer's performance was completely different.
She remained lying in bed, her body somewhat stiff.
But when the beautician's hand touched her, her reaction was no longer itching, but an uncontrollable trembling, as if she were enduring some kind of violation.
Her gaze was fixed on the void, deliberately avoiding Chen Xun's direction, her jawline taut, revealing her stubbornness.
The entire performance became real and powerful.
It vividly portrays the pain Katniss suffered during her first dehumanizing experience at the Capitol.
"Cut! Perfect!"
Director Gary was genuinely delighted this time: "This take is fantastic! Jennifer, you're absolutely perfect!"
Jennifer felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.
The staff quickly brought over a coat and draped it over her shoulders.
She wrapped her coat tighter, let out a long breath, and walked over to Chen Xun, her eyes still slightly dazed, as if she hadn't quite snapped out of character.
"Thanks, you acted really well just now, it really felt like Peeta was there watching."
"It's because you adjusted well!"
Chen Xun praised her.
Jennifer smiled smugly, clearly pleased with Chen Xun's praise.
Jennifer Lawrence's favorability +4, current favorability 88
Chen Xun began to wonder if the properties of the noodle board could be transferred remotely.
It's somewhat similar to the halo effect of the previous awakening.
He influences those around him through his attributes.
He seemed to have grasped a little bit of the key just now, but that feeling vanished in an instant. He tried to recall it, but couldn't find any trace of it.
Left with no other choice, I had to abandon the idea for now.
I estimate that once his attributes reach level 5, he will definitely make some discoveries.
After half a month, the filming in the studio is finally almost over.
The crew began moving to the most important arena scene in the entire film.
To Chen Xun's dismay, his [Emotions] and [Body] attributes still hadn't reached level 5.
He can only pin his hopes on the upcoming arena shoot.
The film crew's bus bumped along the winding mountain road for several hours, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from the town to a dense and somewhat oppressive forest.
Finally, the convoy stopped in a relatively open clearing on the edge of the Pisca National Forest in western North Carolina.
"We've arrived at our home for the next few months."
The assistant director shouted through a megaphone, "The conditions are a bit basic, everyone please bear with it!"
Chen Xun got off the car carrying his luggage and took a deep breath of the earthy air.
Before us was a makeshift camp, with a dozen camouflage-colored simple canvas tents and several rows of buildings that looked like military prefabricated houses scattered in the clearing in the woods.
In the distance, there are endless, dark green mountains, and the faint sounds of unknown birds and streams can be heard.
The scenery is undeniably beautiful, a natural oxygen bar, but whether it's suitable for long-term shooting and accommodation is another matter.
"There are probably more mosquitoes here than in the Capitol."
Jennifer dragged a large suitcase over, frowning as she shooed away the few small flying insects that had already surrounded her.
She was wearing a plain gray hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, her hair was casually tied up, and she had no makeup on.
Be more confident, and remove the "I'm afraid"!
Chen Xun complains.
He had already found a lump on his bare wrist.
The mosquitoes here are not only numerous, but also extremely poisonous!
Assign accommodations.
The main actors at least got to stay in small single rooms partitioned off from those prefabricated houses. Although they were rudimentary, at least they had a bed with a mattress, a small table, and a simple wardrobe, which was better than tents.
Chen Xun's room is next to Jennifer's.
The wooden walls provided virtually no sound insulation; you could clearly hear the sounds of luggage being placed next door and people complaining that their beds were too hard.
No filming is scheduled for the first day.
The main purpose is to let everyone adapt to the environment and become familiar with the main outdoor locations where the filming will take place.
The arena has been fenced off, and artificial rocks, specific trees, and points marked with special effects to be added in the future have been pre-arranged inside.
The production team held a short meeting to reiterate safety protocols.
"This forest is real, with varied terrain, wild animals, and various insects and plants. Everyone must stay within the designated area and follow the instructions of the safety officer."
"To achieve the greatest possible realism, the director required all actors to perform as many climbing, running, and falling actions as possible themselves within their capabilities, minimizing the use of stunt doubles. We need your most authentic reactions!"
After the meeting, Chen Xun, Jennifer, and several other actors strolled around the camp.
Their attire also changed from the various sportswear sets in the photography studio to sturdy windbreakers, durable work pants, and Doc Martens boots.
The colors are mainly dark green and brown.
"These boots are nice; they must hurt pretty much when you kick someone."
Jennifer tried stepping on the ground, which made a few dull thuds.
"Are you already thinking about putting it into practice, Katniss?"
Aiden, who plays a male tribute from District 3, joked.
"That's called being prepared. What if the director suddenly wants to add more scenes?"
Jennifer was very serious.
Chen Xun tried it on and found the soles of these Martin boots to be rock hard!
Fortunately, the quality is decent; at least they don't rub against your feet when worn.
In his previous life, Chen Xun often bought shoes that rubbed his feet, making them extremely uncomfortable to wear, especially Vans and Converse, which were notorious for this problem.
The film crew's convoy arrived in the afternoon.
After everyone got acquainted and took a short walk around, it got completely dark.
As soon as the sun went down, the temperature in the forest dropped rapidly, and a damp chill seeped into the prefab house.
That's not the worst part.
Whether it was the smell of human activity that attracted them or not, countless mosquitoes swarmed in through the tiny gaps in the prefab house or when people opened or closed the door.
The mosquito lamps and mosquito coils provided at the campsite have limited effectiveness.
Chen Xun lay on the bed, covered with a thin blanket provided by the film crew, listening to the continuous buzzing sound in his ears.
He had already killed at least seven or eight, but it felt like there were still more coming one after another. He had several bites on his arms and neck, and they were so itchy.
From Jennifer's room next door, you could also hear the sounds of slapping and suppressed cursing!
Fortunately, the assistants were all resting in the tent, otherwise the swearing can would have appeared at Jennifer's door right on time.
Unable to fall asleep, Chen Xun got up and put on his coat.
He decided to go outside for some fresh air.
There are fewer mosquitoes in open areas where the air is circulating.
He gently pushed open the door; the moonlight was still bright, shining on the quiet campsite.
Then he saw a tiny spark flickering under the lone lamp in the middle of the camp.
Someone was sitting on the wooden stake over there smoking.
Upon closer inspection, it was Jennifer.
She was also wrapped in a coat, her hair was a little messy, and she was blowing smoke rings in frustration, while her other hand kept scratching her arm and calf.
"You're out feeding mosquitoes too?"
Chen Xun walked over and sat down on another wooden stake next to her.
Jennifer turned her head, her expression obscured by the moonlight, her voice filled with utter despair: "I feel like they're draining me dry. These little vampires are even more exploitative than film producers! I hate the forest, I hate the mosquitoes, I hate this damn bed!"
She would take a deep drag of her cigarette every time she uttered the word "hate".
Chen Xun was amused!
Jennifer is really a fierce girl.
"You've been training really well lately, not swearing much. Did you get scolded by the swearing machine?"
"I threw all my spare change into the jar!"
Jennifer said irritably, looking at Chen Xun curiously, "Do you guys have any really satisfying swear words in Chinese? Teach me a couple of harsh ones!"
Chen Xun thought for a moment: "We have a creature that combines the forms of a sheep and a horse, but it's usually used to express intense grief and indignation!"
"What's your name?"
Jennifer perked up.
"Alpaca!"
"Grass—mud—horse?"
Jennifer tried to pronounce it, then her eyes lit up: "Why is this animal's name a swear word?"
"It's actually a cute creature; shouting its name is a way to release your emotions!"
Chen Xun explained, feeling a little guilty, wondering if this could be considered setting a bad example for foreign friends.
"Cute animals? That sounds harmless!"
Jennifer's got fired up!
She started practicing repeatedly in various tones of voice: "Damn it!"
"Grass? Mud horse?"
She became happier and happier as she talked, as if she had discovered a new toy.
Under the moonlight, the two sat on a wooden stake, one teaching and the other learning, and the conversation slowly drifted from the damned mosquitoes.
Jennifer asked Chen Xun about his childhood.
Chen Xun had no choice but to mix the original body's vague memories with his own stories from his previous life and weave them together.
The original owner was an orphan who sold her house to study in America, and her past experiences were basically blank.
The memories of my past life were quite fascinating.
She just picked out a few items and brought them out, which made Jennifer laugh out loud.
Chen Xun also listened to Jennifer complain about her hometown of Kentucky and the strange experiences she had in her early auditions.
Sometimes I think you're pretty amazing!
Jennifer suddenly said that she had finished her cigarette. She hugged her knees and looked at Chen Xun sideways: "Unlike many actors who are always partying and creating hype, you seem to just focus on acting, observing, and learning. And you know a lot of strange things."
Chen Xun shrugged helplessly.
He didn't want to understand so many strange things, mainly because he had no choice but to collect attribute orbs along the way, which led to his knowledge becoming a mixed bag!
Chen Xun thought to himself, "I might as well just write an autobiography called 'Full-Time Artist,' it's sure to be good!"
The night breeze rustled through the trees, bringing a richer scent of grass and trees, and temporarily repelling some of the mosquitoes.
It was very quiet, with only the faint rustling of some unknown animal in the distance and the low hum of the camp's generator.
Jennifer was silent for a moment, then suddenly whispered, "Sometimes I feel that Peeta's feelings for Katniss might have started as calculation, but later became genuine. It's like some people; at first you might just think they're good actors and easy to work with, but after spending more time with them—"
Before she finished speaking, she turned her head, her eyes flickering in the moonlight, as if trying to discern something from Chen Xun's face.
Chen Xun's heart skipped a beat.
He could see that Jennifer's favorability rating had reached 91 points!
Before he could speak, Jennifer suddenly stood up and yelled, "We should go back! Damn it, this place has so many mosquitoes!"
Goodnight, remember to apply some medicine and don't scratch it.
Chen Xun also stood up.
Goodnight, Peeta!
Jennifer waved and walked towards her prefab house.
As she reached the door, she glanced back at Chen Xun, who was still standing in the moonlight, before pushing the door open and going inside.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.
The film crew's reveille broke the tranquility of the forest.
With dark circles under his eyes from not sleeping well all night, Chen Xun struggled to get up.
Stepping out of the prefab house, the air was cool and damp, with dew clinging to the ground and leaves. The sky was overcast, looking like it could rain at any moment.
Jennifer was already stretching in the open space in the center of the camp. When she saw Chen Xun come out, she waved as if nothing had happened: "Good morning, are you ready to welcome nature's bounty?"
Her tone was relaxed, and her eyes were bright, showing no signs of staying up late.
This woman has amazing energy!
Breakfast was a simple meal of oatmeal and coffee. After everyone finished eating quickly, they boarded a modified off-road vehicle and headed to the designated arena area, Renshe, deep in the forest.
On the way, the safety officer accompanying the team emphasized again: "It rained a little last night, and the ground in the forest is slippery. The moss, rocks, and tree roots are all very slippery, so everyone must be careful, especially during the running scenes later!"
Upon arriving at the destination, Chen Xun felt his legs go weak as soon as he got out of the car.
The ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves and wet mud, making it slippery and difficult to walk on.
Workers are already setting up a prop with weapons and supplies piled up at the firing point.
Director Gary Ross, wearing a thick waterproof jacket and high-top rain boots, is having a meeting with the action director and cinematographer.
"Today's opening skirmish and initial escape were worse than expected; safety first!"
"Chen, Jennifer, you two remember this: Peeta and Katniss will split up as soon as they're tethered, but their target will be the forest, not the supply area!"
"clear!"
The two nodded.
Jennifer tended to her hands and feet, and a wildness, typical of Katniss's hunting instincts, slowly emerged in her eyes.
Makeup and changing clothes.
Chen Xun and Jennifer both changed into tribute outfits.
At this time, they had just been thrown into the arena, and their bodies and faces were still relatively clean, so there was no need to do too much makeup.
Chen Xun adjusted his breathing, allowing himself to enter the role of Peeta.
The first match was a big event.
All the actors playing the roles of offerings gathered on the barren, empty ground at the starting point of the arena.
The surrounding area was a green screen and special effects markers.
A countdown light screen will be added later.
1) When people stand together, the atmosphere suddenly becomes tense, as if they are really going to fight to the death.
"Action!"
At the director's command, chaos erupted instantly!
As the countdown ended, the offerings rushed towards the central pile of weapons.
Only Pita went crazy and charged straight into the woods.
During the countdown, Chen Xun's character, Peeta, makes eye contact with Katniss and shakes his head slightly, signaling her not to fight for the supplies.
As the countdown ended, Peeta didn't hesitate and turned to run wildly towards the predetermined direction of the forest.
His task was to desperately flee from the wet, muddy ground, while also being careful not to slip and fall.
This is harder than I imagined.
The slippery mud and fallen leaves made every step uncertain.
Chen Xun had to control Su Wu, both to create a sense of panic while constantly adjusting his center of gravity to prevent slipping.
He could hear simulated fighting sounds and shouts coming from the direction of the pile of weapons behind him.
Katniss remained where she was.
Next comes her main event.
Sure enough, after running a few dozen meters, he heard a director shout, "Katenes, come on stage! Reactions!"
Chen Xun had already bypassed the woods and gone behind a surveillance camera.
He has no more scenes to film.
After initially standing there in a daze, Katniss, played by Jennifer, finally fixed her gaze on a fallen supply backpack in the distance.
She sprinted off, moving swiftly, but the slippery ground also caused her trouble.
Katniss finally managed to grab a supply pack, but before she could run a few steps, she stumbled and slipped, falling to the ground.
Just then, a tall male offering actor, as planned, lunged at Jennifer from the side, weapon in hand, and charged at Katniss.
puff!
Before he could even get close to Katniss, an actress playing a female tribute skilled in throwing knives executed a beautiful throwing motion.
puff~
The tall male offering fell to the ground with a thud.
The female stunt performer's movements were clean and precise, with standard postures, clearly indicating she had practiced.
The moment the male offering fell to the ground, she swiftly threw another throwing knife.
Just as she finished her throwing technique and her body stretched out and quickly returned to a fighting stance, a deep purple attribute token fell from her body:
[Weapon throwing power +8]
At the same time, a purple attribute appeared on Jennifer, who was struggling in the mud, displaying extreme panic and explosive power:
[Self-protection in muddy terrain +6]
Absorb it all!
Chen Xun used his mind to nurture and absorb these two attributes remotely.
A surge of insight into how to coordinate the body's strength for accurate throwing and how to effectively defend against attacks in unfavorable terrain flooded my body.
This knowledge quickly merged with his existing fighting skills and memories of woodland survival training.
puff~
Another soft sound.
Jennifer reacted by quickly grabbing her backpack and using it to block the incoming throwing knife.
The throwing knife did not hit the backpack.
The footage will be added later.
However, Jennifer executed this block very solidly, with stable power from her hands and core. Although it was a performance, the results of the training camp were evident.
Another attribute dropped from her:
[Defensive Instinct in Emergency Situations +7]
Chen Xun absorbed it again.
After absorbing several high-quality physical attributes, Chen Xun felt that his body, especially the knowledge about exercise, power generation, balance, and instinctive reactions, had reached a critical point.
His experience level under the [Limbs] attribute on his panel just reached its maximum at that moment.
[Physical attribute upgrade, limb Lv5 (1/1000)]
The moment the notification appeared, Chen Xun felt a slight buzzing sound emanating from inside his body.
A change more intense than any previous upgrade swept through my entire body!
Chen Xun felt that his perception of his own body had become clearer than ever before.
He looked down at his mud-covered hands, as if he could feel how the muscles under the skin attached to the bones, and how the tendons pulled his fingers to make subtle movements.
Previously, I relied on muscle memory and coordination developed through practice to perform movements.
Now he seems to understand which muscle is in control, which joint is bearing the pressure, and how to exert force most efficiently and effectively behind each exercise.
At this moment, he thought of Ge Wuyuan, the Tongbei Quan successor from his previous life, who, before being ridiculed by netizens, explained these theories and power exertion methods in great detail.
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