novellhall Chapter 255 Overall Rating: S [5000]
Chapter 255 Overall Rating: S [5000]
Chapter 254 Overall Rating: S [5000]
Kamar-Taj training ground.
Five o'clock in the morning.
The sky on the plateau was just beginning to brighten.
The lighting used for filming has illuminated the location as bright as day.
Today's filming is of the most important turning point in Gu Yi's childhood.
The master taught the Vishanti Shield Hand Seal.
Jackie Chan stood in the center of the venue, flexing his wrists.
He was not wearing the simple monk's robe he had worn yesterday, but a more formal dark red robe with gold runes embroidered on the cuffs.
Her hair was made even whiter by the makeup artist, but her eyes were brighter than yesterday.
Chen Xun stood barefoot on the cold floor, wearing the rough cloth training clothes of the young Gu Yi.
The crew placed foot warmers outside the camera beforehand, but he had to stand back in his original position when filming started.
"Action!"
The master slowly raised his hand and began to form a hand seal.
It's not fast action, it's slow!
So slow that the bending of each finger and the rotation of each joint are clearly visible.
It's like peeling back layers of an invisible cocoon, or drawing invisible runes in the air.
When Jackie Chan reached the third change, Chen Xun suddenly realized something was wrong.
The handprint is not exactly the same as the one written in the script.
The script required twelve standard variations, but Jackie Chan did thirteen.
The extra change is subtle; there's an extra flip between the thumb and forefinger, as if it's questioning something.
Chen Xun instantly recalled the memories from the previous instance.
When Yao's master taught this hand seal, there was indeed a thirteenth variation, but only a very few disciples with pure hearts could perceive it.
The script was simplified because the film didn't have time to explain things in such depth.
But Jackie Chan didn't know the script had been simplified.
He was performing according to his own understanding of the highest level.
Unexpectedly, they now strangely overlapped.
Chen Xun didn't have time to think much and instinctively followed suit.
His fingers automatically found that hidden change—the angle, the pressure, the breathing rhythm—perfectly accurate.
After Jackie Chan finished forming the hand seals, his hands stopped in mid-air, pretending that a layer of light golden energy shield appeared.
The specific display effects will be made into CG later.
He looked at Chen Xun: "Did you see clearly?"
Chen Xun nodded.
"Do it once."
Chen Xun raised his hand.
It begins with the first change and ends with the thirteenth change.
The whole process was as smooth as instinct.
Jackie Chan stared at his hand, his gaze shifting from calm to surprise, and then to deep thought.
"Cut!"
Yates called a halt.
He didn't look at the monitor, but walked straight over and asked, "Brother Jackie Chan, did you make a slight change to your handprint just now?"
"Um."
Jackie Chan nodded: "I felt the original was too standard, lacking a bit of spirit. So I added the 'Questioning the Heart' posture. The shield isn't just for defense; it's also about asking yourself what you're protecting."
Yates paused for two seconds, then clapped his hands excitedly: "Brilliant! That's a great addition! Chen Xun, you actually followed along?"
"Follow your instincts!"
Chen Xun saw two golden attribute orbs fall from Jackie Chan's body:
[Deepening Understanding of Hand Seal Philosophy +30]
[Impromptu Creativity in Teaching +25]
In the instant he absorbed the information, he understood all the thoughts behind Jackie Chan's introspective question.
This is a sophisticated technique that externalizes a character's inner thoughts into actions.
"One more as a safety net."
Yates said, "But the last one was already very good, especially when Chen Xun kept up with that change; the tacit understanding between master and disciple was amazing."
The second take went even better.
The morning's filming has ended.
At lunchtime, Jackie Chan sat down next to Chen Xun with his tray.
"Who taught you that hand gesture you made this morning?"
"With you."
Don't try to fool me.
Jackie Chan picked up a piece of shiitake beef and said, "You are the most talented young actor I have ever worked with."
"Yuen Woo-ping told me privately that some of your action design concepts are very inspired."
Afternoon motion design discussion.
Today we're designing one of the climactic scenes of the entire movie.
The first ideological conflict between the Ancient One and Karuru in the Mirror Space.
It is a literary contest, using handprints and the collision of energy to express opposing worldviews.
Yuen Woo-ping's team produced the initial design.
The two formed hand seals and clashed, golden light clashing with purple light, creating a spectacular special effect.
"Too blunt!"
After watching the demonstration video, Chen Xun said directly, "The mirror space is a projection of the inner world, so the fighting should be more symbolic."
"For example, the Ancient One's attack could be the unfolding of a Sanskrit scroll, and Karuru's defense could be a broken mirror, reflecting the Ancient One's face, but the cracks distorted the image."
The meeting room fell silent for a few seconds.
Then Yuen Woo-ping's eyes lit up: "This is great! It's visually symbolic!"
"And it can save on special effects costs."
Chen Xun pulled up the sketch on the tablet: "Use real footage of the Sanskrit scriptures, find a calligrapher to write the scriptures, and use wires to control their unfolding. Use real objects and post-production for the broken mirrors. It's cheaper than pure CG, and the texture is more realistic."
The visual effects supervisor leaned over to look at the sketches and nodded: "Indeed, the lighting and shadows are more natural when shooting with real objects."
"But how do we coordinate the movements?"
Jackie Chan asked, "We can't just stand there and watch the scriptures and mirrors fly around."
"Keep the movements extremely simple."
Chen Xun stood up and walked to the open space in the conference room: "When Gu Yi makes hand seals, each hand seal must be slow and steady. Karuru is the opposite; her movements must be fast, like she is tearing something apart."
He demonstrated the Ancient One's movements.
With hands forming a mudra, slowly push forward.
His body barely moved, but the power in his eyes made the entire conference room hold its breath.
Then comes Karuru's action.
The same starting stance, but it suddenly deforms halfway through, with fingers twisting and wrists rotating at an angle that violates ergonomics, yet it exudes a desperate beauty.
"This is--"
Xiao Jie, a young designer on Yuen Woo-ping's team, gaped: "The reverse meridian hand seal of black magic—I've only seen descriptions of it in ancient books, but nobody knows exactly how to do it!"
"I figured it out myself."
Chen Xun remained unfazed.
Just then, he saw a bunch of attribute balls fall to the floor of the conference room with a clatter:
[Advanced motion imagery design +35]
[Combining Special Effects and Live-Action Shooting +28]
[Innovative Aesthetics in Villainous Action Scenes +30]
[Cost control creativity +18]
Jackie Chan also lost a big one:
[Intergenerational Creative Inspiration +40]
As Chen Xun absorbed the information, he continued, "The core of this scene is not who wins or loses, but the clash of ideas. Therefore, the actions must serve the ideas. Every hand gesture of the Ancient One speaks of order, and every transformation of Karuru speaks of freedom."
"The audience can all feel it."
Yuen Woo-ping stood up, walked up to Chen Xun, and looked at him for a long time.
Then he said, "Chen Xun, after this movie is finished, you can join my team and get a freelance position. You don't have to do any work, just come to meetings occasionally and offer your ideas."
A soft chuckle filled the conference room.
But nobody thought it was a joke.
Chen Xun smiled as well: "Eighth Master is too kind."
The discussion continues.
By the end, the initial plan had been completely overturned.
Looking at the final draft, Yates remarked, "If you had been there when I was filming Harry Potter, some scenes could have saved half the money and the results would have been even better."
Chen Xun just smiled.
Yao and Karuru fought countless times in the mirror space within the instance.
He remembered every single detail.
The first part of the new plan was filmed in the evening.
As Gu Yi formed a mudra, Sanskrit scriptures unfurled from the void.
The actual filming used genuine Tibetan scriptures, borrowed from a local temple, which floated slowly under the control of wires.
The light shone from the side, and the gold lettering on the scroll reflected a sacred light.
Chen Xun stood in the center of the scripture scroll.
Close your eyes and form a hand seal.
His fingers were frighteningly steady in the close-up shot.
There wasn't a single tremor.
Every angle is accurate to the degree.
"Cut!"
Yates called a halt, but didn't let Chen Xun move.
He stared at the monitor for a full minute, then looked up: "This is incredible!"
"I feel as if I see a mage standing before me!"
When he finished work, Chen Xun opened the project evaluation panel.
[Filming schedule: 42/110 scenes]
[Daily progress efficiency: 150%]
Director's satisfaction rating +15
Teamwork +10
[Performance rating upgraded to A]
The overall rating has also changed from A to A+.
[Reward: Trendsetting progress +8% (current total 28%)]
The rating is just one step away from the $ level!
The filming time flew by.
The master sacrificed himself to awaken the Ancient One.
When Jackie Chan was filming that scene, the entire set was crying.
Even several members of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team, known for their tough-guy image, had tears in their eyes.
Ancient One succeeds as the Supreme Master.
A hand seal is formed atop Kamar-Taj, and a protective charm envelops the three major sanctuaries worldwide.
When Chen Xun was filming that scene, he felt a faint warmth in his fingertips.
n■gnE8
Soon it will be the final showdown between the Ancient One and Karuru.
There were no lines, no shouts, only the clash of handprints and magic.
The script marks this scene as a visual climax and an emotional peak!
But during the actual filming, Yates cut all the dialogue!
He felt that at this level of ideological conflict, language was superfluous.
Chen Xun stood on one side of the field, wearing the Ancient One's iconic yellow robe, but the hem of the robe was torn, and the bloodstains on his face were special effects makeup left from the previous battle.
His hair was disheveled, and his eyes no longer held the clarity of his youth, but rather a complex mix of sadness, resolve, and compassion.
Christine, on the other side, no longer resembles the young girl Karuru at all.
She wore the tattered dark purple robes typical of Voidwalkers, her hair was half-white, her eyes were tinted pure black with special effects contact lenses, and faint purple veins could be seen under her skin through special effects makeup.
The two were ten meters apart.
The clapperboard clicked.
"Action!"
Chen Xun made the first move.
His hands formed an extremely complex hand seal.
The starting stance for Vishanti's ultimate technique, Judgment of Light.
He moves very slowly!
It's like pushing an invisible mountain.
Every joint in my fingers was trembling.
Chen Xun mobilized all his muscles to mimic the feeling of exertion when a mortal body draws upon divine power.
Christine reacted almost simultaneously.
Her fingers twisted into an unnatural angle, forming the Void Mystic Touch of Devouring.
The movements possess a morbid beauty.
The special effects department hasn't started post-production yet; there's only a green screen and markers on set.
But all the staff held their breath.
Because they saw that Chen Xun and Christine's gazes had transcended mere acting.
Kouichi Karuru.
The senior brother's feelings for his junior sister who has fallen into darkness.
Guardian versus Destroyer.
The two of them took a step forward at the same time.
The handprint is complete.
Chen Xun pushed his hands forward, and a golden beam of light erupted.
Christine opened her arms, and a purple vortex engulfed them.
The two stared at each other from ten meters away.
There were tears in Chen Xun's eyes.
It contains nostalgia for the past, pain for the present, and resolute determination for the future.
There was nothing in Christine's eyes.
Utter nothingness!
"Cut!"
Yates' voice trembled.
There was a three-second silence.
I don't know who started clapping first, but then everyone joined in.
Even the usually composed special effects supervisor took off his glasses and wiped his eyes.
Chen Xun and Christine stood still.
The two are still in the play.
Until Chen Xun took a deep breath and said softly, "Pineapple pizza."
Christine blinked, her eyes slowly regaining clarity behind her black contact lenses: "Nolan's movies are too long!"
The two of them relaxed at the same time.
Chen Xun went behind the monitor to watch the playback.
In the video, their performance was so full of energy that it seemed to overflow the screen.
Even without special effects, the emotional tension was powerful enough.
"Let's skip this one!"
Yates looked at Chen Xun, his voice a little hoarse: "I've been making movies for twenty years, and this is one of the best scenes I've ever had with someone."
Chen Xun viewed the panel:
Filming for the final showdown scene is complete.
[Single-game performance rating: SS]
Director's satisfaction rating +30
Teamwork +15
[Performance Rating: S]
Overall Rating: S
[Milestone Achieved: Project's Overall Rating Reaches $ Level]
[Reward: Trendsetting progress +15% (current total 43%)]
[Bonus Reward: Unlocks the "Industry Benchmark" title (boosts all initial ratings by half a level in subsequent projects)]
The rating has finally reached $!
Chen Xun turned off the panel and looked at Christine.
She was having the makeup artist remove the special effects makeup from her face; her eyes were still a little dazed, and she hadn't completely broken character yet.
He walked over and took her hand.
My hands are very cold.
"It's alright now."
Christine looked up at him, her eyes slowly focusing: "I really hated you just now."
"That feeling is terrifying."
"But it's also very precious!"
Chen Xun helped her wipe away the remaining blood and makeup from her face: "Not every actor gets to experience this level of acting with another actor."
Christine nodded and leaned on his shoulder: "I never want to play a villain again!"
Why?
"Because the feeling of falling into darkness is too lonely."
Chen Xun silently held her.
Karuru is a lonely character from beginning to end.
He loved his mother, but couldn't save her; he loved his senior brother, but they couldn't be together.
Choosing darkness, yet failing to gain the understanding of the world.
Once you get into a role, it's really hard to get out of it!
Then came the final scene:
Doctor Strange's car crash scene on a rainy night in New York in 1963.
A paper crane floated down from the sky and landed in the palm of a hand.
The voice-over is that of the Ancient One: "Pain is the starting point of awakening, Doctor Strange, I'm waiting for you."
The last scene was filmed at 3 a.m.
The moment Yates shouted "That's a wrap!", the entire crew erupted in cheers that could have lifted the roof off.
The champagne was pushed out, spraying foam everywhere.
Chen Xun was lifted up and tossed into the air by the Jackie Chan Stunt Team.
Christine was laughing and filming the video from the side.
The wrap party lasted until dawn.
The beverage Chen Xun was drinking.
He sat in the corner watching everyone celebrate.
Yates came over with a wine glass and sat down next to him.
"List."
"Um?"
"Thank you!"
Yates said very seriously, "This movie exceeded all my expectations."
"Your performance, and those brilliant designs, were such a delightful surprise!"
"I just did what I was supposed to do."
Chen Xun shrugged.
"No, you've done far more than you should have!"
Yates took a sip of his drink and looked at the lighting technicians and production crew members who were drunk and singing together in the distance: "I received a call from Disney executives yesterday. They said that post-production for 'The Ancient One' hasn't started yet, but the fifteen-minute rough cut clip shown in internal screenings has already made them decide to start the 'Doctor Strange' project."
Chen Xun was not surprised.
Yates lowered his voice: "They want you to be one of the producers of Doctor Strange. Feige is already drafting the contract."
Chen Xun thought for a moment and said, "Let's talk about it after the movie is released."
"clever."
Yates patted him on the shoulder: "Don't rush to agree. Wait until the box office results are in, and your bargaining power will be even greater!"
As the party was drawing to a close, Chen Xun's phone rang.
He went to a quiet place to answer the call.
"Chen Xun? I'm Lin Yibin."
Chen Xun was stunned for a moment.
"Director Lin, it's been a long time."
"That's been a long time indeed. I heard you were filming a Marvel blockbuster in Qinghai? Has filming wrapped up yet?"
"We just finished filming today."
"Very good!"
Lin Yibin's voice was urgent, with the roar of a car engine in the background.
"Fast & Furious 7 is about to start filming. Is your schedule available? We need you to join the crew as soon as possible."
Chen Xun calculated the time.
The post-production of "The Ancient One" took about three months, the promotion period was two months, and there was a five-month schedule in between.
"Okay, but you need to give me two weeks of rest."
"No problem! See you in Los Angeles in two weeks!"
Los Angeles International Airport, 3 p.m.
As soon as Chen Xun stepped out of the terminal, he was hit in the face by the California sun and heat wave.
It takes a few seconds for the body to adapt from the dry cold of the Qinghai Plateau to the humid heat here.
"List!"
Rob was waiting for him at the exit, holding a sign, with a black GMC van parked next to him: "Welcome back, Master."
Chen Xun tossed his luggage to him and got into the car.
The air conditioner was on full blast, dispelling the heat outside.
"Going straight to the film set?"
"Yes, Director Lin said there's a preliminary meeting today, and all the main actors are here."
Rob handed him a bottle of ice water.
Chen Xun paused for a moment as he twisted the bottle cap.
He thought of Paul.
According to the events of his previous life, Paul died in an accident during the filming of "Furious 7".
The car drove to Universal Studios, where the temporary production office for "Furious 7" was located.
The conference room was already full of people.
Vin Diesel was the first to see him, stood up and gave him a firm hug: "Bro! Welcome home!"
Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris—
Familiar faces.
Then Chen Xun saw Paul sitting in the corner.
Paul was wearing a simple gray T-shirt, his hair was a little messy, but his smile was as clean as the California sunshine.
"Hey Chen! I heard you went to make a fantasy movie, how cool!"
Chen Xun walked over and shook hands with him.
"Paul, it's been a long time."
"I heard your new movie is really good, even Jackie Chan is in it?"
"Just wrapped filming!"
"Awesome! Teach me a couple of tricks next time; they might come in handy when filming car chase scenes!"
"Everyone's here, let's start the meeting!"
Lin Yibin walked in and clapped his hands.
The meeting primarily focused on confirming the filming schedule and safety regulations. Justin Lin emphasized, "I know everyone wants to film the most thrilling scenes, but safety comes first. All stunt shots must undergo triple checks, and vehicles must be thoroughly inspected every day."
Chen Xun raised his hand: "Director Lin, I have a suggestion."
"Establish a safety oversight team, with each lead actor as a member. This team has the authority to halt any filming that is deemed dangerous. It is also recommended that all lead actors have their private vehicles undergo regular inspections during filming."
The meeting room fell silent instantly.
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