Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years
Chapter 112 - 111: Must Stay Positive! (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 112: Chapter 111: Must Stay Positive! (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

After An Feng’s final appearance was completed, it truly amazed many people on the set.

It’s not that her new look reached a new height of beauty,

after all, she’s playing a character disfigured in a car crash.

Plus, the clothes are the most ordinary kind, and the hairstyle is wrapped in a headscarf.

If it were an average person, this look might not scare people away, but at least it wouldn’t prompt a second glance.

However, An Feng’s appearance gave a peculiar... shattered feeling.

In ancient times, even knowing she committed a crime wouldn’t make you want to sentence her to death; she’s pitiful.

Still, better keep her in the imperial harem.

So suitable to be a female deceiver!

"OK, that’s it, start shooting!"

Ye Weimin thought it was acceptable; he was shooting a commercial movie, so he couldn’t spend too much effort on one makeup.

The first scene is in a rundown apartment.

This is where the female con artist teaches a group of orphans.

In the revised script, there’s an orphanage right next door, and these orphans come to her for art lessons.

The reason why the female con artist is so impoverished is not because the Zheng Mansion doesn’t care about these orphans, but because she and her boyfriend want to treat a few kids so they can live like normal people.

Many kids are abandoned because of defects.

And the orphanage has limited funds, which at most keep you from starvation and freezing, while providing education. But with healthcare, some illnesses they can’t manage or don’t want to.

So, the female con artist and her boyfriend are a pair of excessively idealistic artistic youths.

Now, the female con artist’s boyfriend is dead.

The female con artist is doing everything she can to fulfill his dying wish, so she’s doing things beyond her capabilities.

She’s a very complex character.

Her heart overflows with compassion; she could even be described as saintly. Yet for the few kids who receive treatment, she’s the warmest sunshine in their lives.

Of course, her deceit for money is an undeniable fact.

Most real-life con artists have unscrupulous motives, and when audiences give their compassion, they should keep their eyes wide open.

The script modifications are not perfectly polished.

But at least the logic can somewhat shakily stand.

Alright, let’s start filming.

The first set of shots is Qi Hao and An Feng standing at the broken kitchen door chatting.

This is a tear-jerking scene.

This movie explores the vicissitudes of life; life always has something touching.

If performed well, it’s poignant; if not, it’s pretentious.

"Cut, lower the voice some, get into the emotions but don’t unleash too much right away... Step aside, watch how I do it."

Ye Weimin stepped in directly to demonstrate for An Feng.

Many directors from Xiangjiang have more than just one trick up their sleeves. Some excel at acting, others at photography, and some are skilled at everything.

An Feng quickly understood that the essence involved wasn’t complex; it was just about controlling emotions, and having eye and facial expressions synchronize with the emotions.

Though, getting NG is still inevitable.

In terms of acting skills, the gap between her and Qi Hao isn’t small.

Especially in recent months, with the revised system training space, Qi Hao can spend money to exchange for training times; he almost trains four days a week.

Each time, eight hours.

It’s even more intense than a student’s study at school.

"OK, take a break, ponder, or have Qi Hao run through the scene with you."

Ye Weimin thought with admiration.

Indeed, beauty and acting skills are difficult to coexist.

It’s not that An Feng’s acting skills are particularly poor.

In Ye Weimin’s eyes, An Feng’s acting skills aren’t too bad, it’s just that his comparison is with Zhou Xun’s type, and that naturally leads to the sentiment that beauty and acting skills are hard to coexist.

"Come on!" Qi Hao was enthusiastic.

"Thanks a lot, after filming I’ll treat you to a meal, hmm, I grew up here, know plenty of good food."

Compared to other actresses who don’t eat any carbs, An Feng has a normal diet.

"Then I won’t be polite."

Qi Hao glanced over at Ms. Liu not far away, and began rehearsing with An Feng.

Despite not being the official shoot, both methodically went through each shot, and the rehearsal effects were quite good. At least some earlier shots already satisfied the director.

"How did you improve so fast?"

An Feng looked as if she discovered a fellow student secretly enrolled in a cram school.

We agreed to fail miserably together, yet you quietly excelled.

When collaborating on The Return of the Condor Heroes, their gap wasn’t so stark. By the time they worked together on October Fortress, she felt Qi Hao had transformed, no wonder he won the Golden Rooster Best Actor.

The Return of the Condor Heroes was filmed in 2004, and by 2008, four years had passed, improvement is understandable.

However, now it’s only been a few months since October Fortress, and Qi Hao has progressed so much, his level of self-improvement is outrageous.

During the scenes, even when Qi Hao played her role, he performed better than she did.

This would mean, in the competition of mimicking An Feng, An Feng would come in second.

"Of course, it’s because of hard work."

Qi Hao replied boldly; reaching this point was all due to his own efforts. Even with the training space, it requires him to grind little by little.

It’s not like the system directly gives him skill points.

"You’re too driven."

The motivation might be understandable, but you’re so capable already and still so driven, how can others withstand it?

"Qi Hao, have some milk tea~"

At this moment, Ms. Liu walked over with the milk tea, handing one cup to her daughter and the other to Qi Hao.

Red date tea?

I’m not on my period, why would I drink red date tea?

Probably, Ms. Liu bought it for herself.

Qi Hao didn’t hold back.

In this cold winter, a little warmth feels really comfortable.

"Everyone will get some later, they’ll bring it over once it’s done."

Ms. Liu explained briefly. They have always been generous with the crew, buying snacks and milk tea was standard practice.

"Thank you, Aunty."

Qi Hao started to reflect on himself, as the representative of the production side, he hadn’t really provided any benefits to the crew before.

"No need to be polite, we should be thanking you for introducing a role to Qianqian."

Ms. Liu obviously saw "Lost on Journey" as a great opportunity. Following "October Fortress," Qi Hao once again introduced a good opportunity to An Feng.

In the past, she was a bit naive and bold, thinking her daughter was already a top star, so she didn’t take Sugarman or Madam Hua seriously.

After one setback after another, especially the recent "ban," she was completely woke up.

When you don’t have any new projects, you can’t even negotiate new commercials; even a top star can drop to a second or third-tier instantly.

Lunch was boxed meals.

The afternoon scenes were even harder to shoot.

As the female swindler told her story, her emotions grew increasingly agitated, even leading to crying scenes.

In a comedy film, this is called elevation.

Ye Weimin was most looking forward to An Feng’s crying scenes.

An Feng’s heavy broken look and makeup achieve their best effect when she’s on the verge of tears or weeping silently, tugging directly at the audience’s heartstrings.

Yes, yes, everything she said is right.

Beauty has its reason!

"Don’t cry just yet, this isn’t right. Qi Hao, do you understand what I’m saying?" Ye Weimin looked at Qi Hao.

"I do." Qi Hao nodded.

"Then could you demonstrate it to An Feng?"

Ye Weimin couldn’t demonstrate it himself because his acting was nothing exceptional, and his rough appearance wouldn’t earn sympathy, might even disgust people.

Looking handsome invites sympathy.

Not looking good means being dragged out and chopped.

"Director, I understand it too, can I give a demo?"

Wang Baoqiang wasn’t willing to back down.

An Feng could sense Qi Hao’s significant improvement in acting—isn’t it obvious to him too?

Wang Baoqiang hadn’t worked with Qi Hao much, but they often practiced acting together.

In the early days, they usually watched movies on VCD, played a movie clip, and then each picked a role to act out.

Pointing out possible issues in each other’s performances.

Although their combined academic education wasn’t higher than high school, three unskilled cobblers, all equally amateurish, compared notes, which was better than fumbling alone.

Wang Baoqiang knew Qi Hao’s acting skills inside out.

But now he wasn’t so sure.

"You... then try acting together with Qi Hao..." Being the lead actor, Wang Baoqiang, Ye Weimin had to give him some face.

Yet Ye Weimin regretted it the next second.

Not because Wang Baoqiang’s acting wasn’t good—on the contrary, he got into the character quickly and deeply. At the thought of his boyfriend dying in a car accident, leaving him with these kids, he was sobbing uncontrollably.

If it were his usual way of acting, it wouldn’t be too jarring.

The problem was, he didn’t forget he was supposed to demonstrate for An Feng, so he, who prides himself as ethereal beauty, cried a brand-new realm.

Ye Weimin forced himself to bear through the discomfort, signaling the cameraman to be sure to capture these scenes.

Once the movie hits theaters, using this for promotion would definitely be a spectacle.

Of course, since they were recording some promotional material, after Wang Baoqiang’s demonstration for An Feng, it was only logical for Qi Hao to give his demonstration as well.

Qi Hao’s demonstration was unlike Wang Baoqiang’s.

He chose a more reserved style of performance, as if the death of the boyfriend was what it was; sorrow was certain, but more so was the shame and helplessness of being a swindler.

Yes, helplessness!

That’s precisely what Ye Weimin wanted.

The female swindler subplot was meant to reflect certain social reality issues, to give the movie some uplifting energy.

After all, even the Coal Boss said, it had to be positive energy!

So, the focus wasn’t on whether to help the female swindler or not, nor was it about discussing whether benevolence should exceed one’s ability, but to craft a positive energy closed-loop story.

The main duo had a disagreement about the swindler.

Yet Niu Geng still helped her.

He even said, "It’s good to be swindled, being swindled means no one is sick, no one being sick is even better."

So, if the facts prove Li Chenggong was right and Niu Geng was wrong.

Then, is it still positive energy?

Definitely not, why should good people suffer losses and swallow their pride?

Thus, the female swindler had her reasons.

Not only did she have her reasons, but she also had to reflect on her deceitful actions, and her heart was indeed undergoing a torment.

That’s true positive energy.