I entered Huayu Entertainment in 2016.

Chapter 130 contains an error!

Scene 2 begins filming: Japanese soldiers enter the theater.

This time, it's finally Old Li's turn to be the main character.

The photographers and lighting crew who had been chasing Wang Zi'an around on the street with cameras all afternoon were now being ushered into the dressing room. When they came out, they had changed their outfits.

He wore a khaki military uniform, a belt around his waist, and black leather boots that clicked on the stone pavement. His hat was pulled down to cover half his face, revealing only a cold, hard chin.

Old Li was already dark-skinned and thin, and when that military uniform was put on him, he didn't need to act much; the way he walked alone was already intimidating.

Old Yang also changed back into his translator's outfit. His plump figure made the suit bulge, and he pushed up his small round glasses. He followed behind Old Li, bowing and scraping, looking exactly like a lackey.

After arranging the camera positions, Wang Zian stepped back behind the monitor and sat down.

This scene doesn't involve complicated camera work, it doesn't require long moving shots, or repeated cuts from multiple cameras.

The shot is a straight shot of Old Li leading a group of Japanese soldiers in formation as they walk down the street. The camera follows their steps, slowly moving upwards, from their feet to the brim of their hats, then cuts to a panoramic view overlooking the entire occupied theater, and finally cuts back to the interior of the theater.

The next second, the wooden door was kicked open by Old Li.

After Wang Zian made the arrangements, Lao Li just watched from the sidelines, occasionally adding a few points he hadn't noticed, while the people behind the scenes actively cooperated.

It was obvious to everyone that Wang Zian wanted to learn and get started on his own.

Filming resumed.

Wang Zian sat behind the monitor. Zhou Ye and the others weren't in this scene, so they all stood behind Wang Zian watching the spectacle.

When Lao Li walked into the camera with a cold face, his facial expression was magnified clearly on the monitor.

His lips were pressed down, his gaze swept across the carved wooden door of the theater like a knife, his brows furrowed slightly, not with anger, but with a cold-blooded scrutiny, as if the building in front of him was just another brick he was about to crush.

"You know what, Brother Li has been making movies for so many years, and his acting is actually pretty good." Zhou Ye crossed his arms and tilted his head to look at the screen.

"Yes!" Tian Xiwei nodded in agreement. "With that dark face and that stern expression, he really looks like a bad guy. Old Yang acted well too, like a traitor!"

Liu Haocun didn't speak, but her doe-like eyes were fixed on the monitor.

The filming proceeded smoothly.

····

In the third scene, Old Li kicks open the theater gate, and the translator Old Yang follows him, bowing and scraping. He informs the opera troupe that they will be watching the performance the next day, and if the performance is good, the team leader will come to watch in a couple of days, so they should prepare well.

The entire segment went almost flawlessly. Old Li's performance was masterful, and Old Yang's portrayal of the translator was equally convincing. The two actors, working in perfect harmony, brought to life the arrogance of the invaders and the sycophancy of their lackeys.

Wang Zian sat behind the monitor and got it right in one take, saving him the trouble of even getting a backup.

The fourth scene is a bit more complicated; it's an ensemble piece.

The owner of the opera troupe has absconded with the money, leaving only a group of young actors in the troupe, with a few leading actors as the core.

A large Japanese unit had been stationed outside, and everyone was afraid. Some wanted to escape, while others wanted to stay, and the two factions were locked in a stalemate.

The main actors in this play are Wang Zian, Liu Haocun, Zhou Ye, and Tian Xiwei.

Tian Xiwei and Zhou Ye play the faction that advocates escaping, Wang Zi'an plays the one who insists on staying, and Liu Haocun plays the one who ultimately stands up and makes the final decision.

Filming begins.

Zhou Ye recited her lines, "If we don't run now, it'll be too late. When the brigade leader comes tomorrow, this theater will be a battlefield."

Her tone was urgent and anxious, and the light in her almond-shaped eyes was bright and firm; she acted superbly.

Wang Zian stood opposite her and argued that the Japanese had already entered the city, and a large battalion was stationed next door. At this time, there was no way to get out. If they tried to escape rashly, they would only kill everyone.

Everything went smoothly when he was delivering his lines, until the moment he looked up.

His gaze swept over Old Li behind the monitor, and then over Wang Chunzai, who was standing behind Old Li with his arms crossed, looking at him expressionlessly.

Fortunately, he was easygoing and quickly looked away.

But for a fleeting moment, Wang Zian's eyes unconsciously glanced at the camera.

"Cut!" Old Li decisively called "cut."

"Look at the camera, this take is unusable, let's fix it and start again!"

Wang Zian was stunned for a moment, then immediately raised his hand and apologized repeatedly to the staff around him: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's my fault."

"Let's call it a day for now, everyone take a break, we'll come back later!"

After shouting those words, Wang Zian stepped out of the scene and walked quickly toward Wang Chunzai.

"Teacher Wang, what brings you here?"

"You know perfectly well what I'm asking. You just let me choose the actors this morning; I have to come and see how they performed."

Wang Chunzai glanced at him, then turned her gaze to Zhou Ye, "Just now, his eyes were expressive. He wasn't relaxed, his whole body was tense. From his shoulders to his arms, he was taut."

Zhou Ye smiled sheepishly. "This is my first formal drama, I'm a little nervous."

"Everyone has a first time, so give it your best!"

Then she looked at Liu Haochun and Tian Xiwei: "You two performed very well too. When you didn't have any lines, you knew how to follow the emotions and weren't just thin background figures; in this respect, you are better than many formally trained students."

Liu Haochun nodded slightly, a grateful smile on his lips.

Tian Xiwei smiled broadly, her dimples deeply set in her cheeks, and her voice was sweet and clear: "Thank you, teacher!"

"Teacher Wang, what about me?" Wang Zian pointed to himself.

"You've already made a mistake, and you're still asking?" Wang Chunzai glared at him.

Everyone around laughed, even Old Li, who was standing next to him, chuckled.

The tense atmosphere caused by the NG (no good) moment dissipated most of it with this laugh.

The second take started quickly.

Everyone returned to their positions, and the clapperboard snapped shut in front of the camera.

This time, no one looked at the camera; everyone's attention was highly focused on their scenes together.

Zhou Ye repeated the phrase "If we don't run now, it will be too late" again, his tone more natural than the first time, and the tension in his shoulders had mostly subsided.

Then it was Tian Xiwei's turn to deliver her lines. She opened her mouth, but the first word she uttered was hesitant and awkward.

It was immediately shut down.

Xiaotian realized this himself, and stopped before he finished his lines. He slapped his forehead, then clasped his hands together and bowed repeatedly to the surroundings, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was too nervous and my tongue got tied."

Start from the beginning the third time.

Zhou Ye's lines flowed smoothly, as did Tian Xiwei's; their emotions and rhythm were both on point.

Then it was Zhou Ye's turn to move.

She was supposed to take two steps to the left and front after delivering her lines, turning her back to the camera and shifting the focus to Liu Haocun, who was about to speak. However, she took a slightly larger step, and her entire body stepped out of the frame.

On the fourth take, everyone's positioning and lines were finally all correct.

The camera zooms in on Liu Haocun, whose lines are: "If we can't run away, then we'll sing. If they want to see a play tomorrow, we'll sing for them."

Liu Haocun had been repeating those words to herself for several afternoons, but when she looked up and saw the camera pointing directly at her, her lips twitched, and then her expression froze.

A thin layer of panic surfaced in her doe-like eyes, then her lips tightened, and her composure completely crumbled.

In the end, this scene was filmed ten times before it was approved.

When Lao Li finally shouted "Passed!", everyone breathed a sigh of relief.