novelraw Chapter 110 Undercover Agent?
Chapter 110 Undercover Agent?
He wanted to make a good film so that everyone who had put in the effort wouldn't have wasted their time.
He also wants to shut up those who want to see him make a fool of himself.
Before shutting down his computer, he took one last look at his email.
There is an unread email from an unfamiliar English address with the subject line:
"Regarding October Siege - International Distribution Inquiry"
He clicked on it and quickly browsed through it.
It was a letter from a French film distribution company expressing interest in the overseas distribution of "Bodyguards and Assassins" and wanting to learn more about the project.
As Li Jun read the email, a slow smile crept onto his lips.
Light is already leaking through the gaps in the clouds.
He replied:
Thank you for your attention. It would be a pleasure to communicate with you further.
Click send.
Then I turned off the computer and went to the window.
The night was deep, but the east was already beginning to lighten.
A new day is about to begin.
And he still has a lot to do.
Hong Kong, Kwun Tong Training Base.
The morning sun at seven o'clock slanted in through the huge north window, cutting bright patches of light on the maple-colored dance floor.
The air smelled of sweat, leather, and disinfectant.
Nicholas Tse has been training in the fitness area for forty minutes.
He was wearing a black, tight-fitting training vest, and sweat dripped down his muscles, leaving dark spots on the floor.
Today's training is a specialized endurance workout—the "Hell Loop" invented by Master Cheng Guoqiang:
Five minutes of short knife sparring, three minutes of jump rope, two minutes of burpees, one minute of plank, then start again, for six rounds in a row.
Lin Jiadong had just finished the third round and was lying on the mat, panting heavily.
Song Tie was in better condition, but his face was still pale, and his ponytail clung messily to his sweaty neck.
"Three more wheels!"
Master Cheng stood on the sidelines, his voice booming.
"In the movie, there's a chase scene at the dock. You have to run two kilometers and fight three times without stopping in between!"
If you can't even endure this little bit of hardship now, how will you film it later?
Lin Jiadong struggled to get up.
Ever since Li Jun talked to him at the tea restaurant, this man has become a different person. He never slacks off in training and insists on finishing even if his movements are out of shape.
Song Tie's performance surprised Li Jun.
This girl looks quiet, but she is extremely resilient.
Her weakness lies in strength, especially upper body strength; she can't even do one pull-up.
But after her daily training session, she would do an extra half hour of practice on her own, pushing against the wall and using resistance bands to help her grind it down little by little.
Li Jun stood on the observation corridor on the second floor, holding a training record book in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the three people one by one.
Nicholas Tse is fine; in fact, he's in even better shape than expected.
Lin Jiadong is making progress, albeit slowly, but steadily.
Song Tie...
His gaze lingered on the girl.
She was gritting her teeth as she did burpees, her form was perfect, but she was clearly at her limit.
As she jumped, her gaze unconsciously swept across the second floor and met Li Jun's.
In an instant, Li Jun caught a fleeting glimpse of clarity in her eyes.
Just as her body was pushing to its limits, her mind was calmly observing everything.
The feeling was subtle, and Li Jun trusted his intuition.
He glanced down at Song Tie's name in the notebook, added a question mark, closed the notebook, and went downstairs.
"Master Cheng, add an extra basic firearms class this afternoon."
Li Jun walked to the sidelines.
I contacted retired instructors at the Hong Kong Police College to teach them how to handle and disassemble firearms.
Cheng Guoqiang nodded:
"It should have been added a long time ago."
The way those Qing soldiers and bodyguards handled their guns in the movie clearly showed they were amateurs.
"Lin Jiadong."
Li Jun looked at the man who was still panting.
"The key to Lao Zhao's scene where a gun is pointed at his head lies in his eyes."
You need to portray the real reaction of an ordinary person under the gun.
It wasn't the heroic spirit of a martyr's sacrifice; it was fear, trembling, the urge to wet oneself, but in the end, a touch of resentment overcame the fear.
Lin Jiadong nodded vigorously, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead:
"Understood, Director Li."
"Song Tie".
Li Jun turned to the girl.
"Your role is small, but important."
The look in the female student's eyes when she was passing on information at the last moment should be clean, but not naive.
Female students who survive in chaotic times cannot be too naive.
Song Tie straightened up and wiped the sweat from his face:
"I'll think about it, Director Li."
Her Mandarin is very standard, with almost no accent.
Li Jun remembered that the information said she was from Shandong, but she studied in Beijing for many years.
"Have you ever trained in dance?"
Li Jun asked.
"I practiced folk dance for a few years when I was a child, but I stopped because I was busy with schoolwork."
Song Tie answered naturally.
"Good physique, keep it up."
Li Jun nodded and said nothing more.
Training continued. Li Jun walked to the side and took out his phone. There were several unread messages:
This was sent by Yuan Tao:
"The venue for Jane Zhang's Shanghai tour has been confirmed. It will be on the 8th of next month."
Linda is in talks for sponsorships; several international brands are interested, but they require that the sponsorship be bundled with the film's promotion.
Kent Chan's:
"There's been new progress on the overseas distribution side; the French company wants to send a representative to Hong Kong to check on the training."
There was also an unfamiliar number:
"Director Li, I am a reporter from Film Weekly. I would like to arrange an interview to discuss the creative concept behind Bodyguards and Assassins."
Would this be a convenient time for you?
Li Junxian replied to Yuan Tao:
"Sponsorship is negotiable, but the terms need to be carefully reviewed, especially regarding portrait rights and the scope of use."
Also, I need to attend the Shanghai show; let me know the schedule when it's available.
Then he replied to Kent Chan: "Next Wednesday afternoon is fine. The training will include a full action scene rehearsal."
Finally, he dialed the reporter's number.
The call was answered quickly; it was a young woman's voice, speaking very fast.
"Director Li, this is Qin Yue. Thank you so much for calling back!"
This issue of our magazine is going to feature a special report on emerging directors, and you are one of the key people we want to interview…
"Yes, but there are a few conditions."
Li Jun interrupted her.
"First, we won't talk about actors' gossip, we'll only talk about the creative process."
Second, photos taken at the shooting location and training base need to be reviewed by us.
Third, if you are going to write about Wang Zhonglei and Huayi, you must be objective and not try to stir up trouble.
There was a pause on the other end of the phone, then a laugh:
"Director Li is indeed very direct."
No problem, we all agree. When would be a convenient time for you?
"Tomorrow at 3 PM, at the training base. Only one hour."
"Okay, okay! Thank you so much!"
After hanging up the phone, Li Jun walked to the window.
The industrial area outside the window was as busy as ever, with trucks coming and going and workers shouting in Cantonese.
It's too quiet on Wang Zhonglei's side.
This is not normal.
Given that person's style, after being confronted by Zhang Liangying in the media and then humiliated by the public opinion reversal caused by Xie Tingfeng, it's impossible for him to just let it go.
He must be planning something even bigger.
Li Jun recalled Chen Zeshi's warning that Wang Zhonglei was contacting Zhang Ziyi's team.
There's also Song Tie.
He took out his phone and sent a message to Chen Yongren:
"Check Song Tie's background. His entire experience from the Central Academy of Drama to now, the more detailed the better."
Chen Yongren quickly replied:
"Received. It will take a few days."
The next afternoon, Qin Yue, a reporter from Film Weekly, arrived on time.
She looked very young, probably a recent graduate, but her eyes were sharp and her questions were very well-structured.
Before the interview began, she took out a voice recorder and notebook, then looked around the training base with her eyes shining.
"Was this really a factory before?"
"Yes, the textile factory went bankrupt in the late 1990s."
Li Jun showed her around.
"We rented it and renovated it, keeping the original structure and windows, only adding soundproofing and reinforcement."
"Why choose this location instead of a professional film and television base?"
Because of the atmosphere.
Li Jun pushed open the door to the performance workshop, where Xie Tingfeng and Lin Jiadong were rehearsing a scene under the guidance of Teacher Zhou.
"The movie is about Hong Kong in 1905. At that time, Hong Kong was a big factory with docks, warehouses and factories."
Training here allows actors to experience the raw, industrial feel of the environment.
Qin Yue quickly took notes, then raised her camera:
"Can we film them training?"
"Yes, but don't use flash photography and don't disturb them."
Over the next half hour, Qin Yue filmed the fight between Xie Tingfeng and Lin Jiadong, the scene of Cheng Guoqiang instructing Song Tie on how to hold a short knife, and the historical photos that the art department had pasted all over the wall.
After filming, the two sat down in the director's room. Qin Yue turned on the recorder and officially began the interview.
"Director Li, what is the most appealing aspect of the story 'Bodyguards and Assassins' for you?"
Li Jun thought for a moment:
"They are human beings. In that great era, how did a group of ordinary people get swept into the torrent of history, how did they make choices, and how did they define their own righteousness?"
"A nobody?"
"right.
Bodyguards, singers, informants, female students, tea merchants...
They did not have the power to change history, but their choices shaped the details of history.
Li Jun said.
"What interests me is not grand historical narratives, but the struggles of specific people in specific situations."
Qin Yue nodded and continued to ask:
"Why did you choose Nicholas Tse for the role?"
His image seems quite different from the ordinary person you described earlier.
"Nicholas Tse is not playing an idol, but an ordinary person with flaws."
Li Jun put it bluntly.
"The character Shen Mo was a deserter, had blood on his hands, and did things against his conscience in the chaotic world."
But in the end, he chose the most difficult path. Nicholas Tse can portray that complexity—a tough exterior masking a fragile interior.
"As for Zhang Ziyi, she was willing to play a singer whose role wasn't the most significant, which surprised many people."
"Because she's a real actress."
Li Jun said.
"What actors fear most is repetition. The role of Bai Yulan is different from any of the roles she has played before, and that in itself is the biggest attraction."
Qin Yue's pen scratched across the paper.
She looked up and asked an even more pointed question:
"Recently, there have been rumors in the industry that Wang Zhonglei of Huayi Brothers is also making a movie of the same theme, and his filming may start earlier than yours."
What is your view on this kind of competition?
Li Jun took a sip of water and spoke calmly:
"Healthy competition is a good thing; it can promote the progress of the entire industry."
But if we compete for the sake of competition, sacrificing quality in the pursuit of being first, then we've put the cart before the horse.
Do you think Wang Zhonglei will sacrifice quality?
"I have no idea."
Li Jun looked at Qin Yue.
"But I know that filmmaking is not a sprint, it's a marathon."
The fastest runner isn't necessarily the one who finishes first.
The interview went very smoothly.
Qin Yue's issues all fall within the scope of creative work and do not cross any boundaries.
When it was over, she packed up her equipment, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke:
"Director Li, there's something... I feel I should tell you."
"What is it?"
"I have a friend who's on set in Hengdian. He said that Huayi Brothers' 'Storm 1905' is having secret auditions these days, and they're auditioning actors who are... very similar to the characters you're playing."
Qin Yue lowered her voice.
"Moreover, it seems they're asking about your art team's design proposals."
Li Jun's eyes sharpened:
"Be specific?"
"For example, they are also looking for a female student who knows some kung fu, and a middle-aged informant with a down-to-earth, street-smart vibe."
Qin Yue said.
"This can't be a coincidence, can it?"
It's certainly not a coincidence.
Wang Zhonglei is imitating, or rather, plagiarizing.
"Thank you for telling me this."
Li Jun said.
Qin Yue shook her head:
"You're welcome. I'm a reporter, but I'm also a movie fan."
I want to see good movies, not bad ones that follow trends.
After she left, Li Jun stood by the window, motionless for a long time.
Wang Zhonglei acted even faster than he had anticipated.
They imitate character designs, poach the behind-the-scenes teams, and now they even want to copy the art designs.
The goal was to make a similar-looking movie in the shortest amount of time and release it before "Bodyguards and Assassins".
My phone vibrated; it was Yuan Tao calling.
"Li Jun, something's happened."
"What's wrong now?"
"Huayi held a press conference this morning to officially announce the start of filming for 'The Storm Riders 1905'."
Yuan Tao's voice was heavy.
"The cast list has been announced. Guess who they cast for the bodyguard?"
"Who?"
"Furuta Raku".
Li Jun's heart sank.
Koo Tin Lok is one of the most bankable actors of the middle generation in Hong Kong, with a positive image and solid acting skills.
Wang Zhonglei must have spent a fortune to hire him.
"Anything else?"
"The female student dated Yang Mi, who is currently the most popular young actress."
Yuan Tao paused.
"Moreover, their start date is set for the 15th of next month, a whole month earlier than ours."
"Where's the script? Or is it the same outline as before?"
"I don't know, but at the press conference, Wang Zhonglei said that the script was adapted to local conditions by a Hollywood screenwriting team, and he guarantees that it will be a new benchmark for Chinese blockbusters."
Yuan Tao sighed.
"The media is currently hyping up the duel between the two heroes, saying that these are the two most anticipated historical epics of the year."
Li Jun closed his eyes.
Wang Zhonglei played a ruthless game, using a stronger star-studded cast, an earlier start date, and a larger publicity campaign to put "Bodyguards and Assassins" directly under intense scrutiny.
If you panic now, you've already lost.
He opened his eyes, his tone calm:
"Old Yuan, two things."
First, let's move up the announcement of our start date to next month. You and Kent Chan can discuss the specific date.
Second, contact the media and spread the word that we have found the original architectural plans for Central Hong Kong from 1905 and are building a set based on the original design.
"Real-life footage? Aren't we using a green screen?"
That's what we say to outsiders.
Li Jun said.
"Wang Zhonglei wants things to be fast, so we emphasize that slow and meticulous work produces fine results, and we emphasize the rigor of historical restoration."
Let the audience compare for themselves: do they want to see rushed special effects, or do they want to see meticulously crafted details?
Yuan Tao was silent for a moment:
"This is a risky move. What if the audience doesn't accept it?"
"Then admit it."
Li Jun said.
"But at least we lost standing up, not on our knees."
After hanging up the phone, Li Jun walked out of the director's room.
On the training field, Nicholas Tse and Lin Jiadong were practicing their fight scene at the dock.
Both men exerted all their strength; the clashing of their short knives produced a piercing sound, and sweat splattered everywhere.
Li Jun looked at it and suddenly had an idea.
He walked to the sidelines and waited for Master Cheng to call a stop before speaking:
"Starting tomorrow, the training content will be adjusted."
Everyone looked at him.
"Physical training and skills will continue as usual in the morning, but all rehearsals in the afternoon will be conducted on location."
Li Jun said.
"We set up some simple scenes in the base: a corner of the dock, a corner of the teahouse, and a section of street fighting."
The actors, dressed in costumes and holding props, rehearsed and fought in a near-realistic environment.
Cheng Guoqiang's eyes lit up:
"That's great! Practicing a routine a hundred times is not as good as walking it out in a real setting."
"But Director Li."
Lin Jiadong wiped his sweat.
"Our costumes aren't finished yet, are they?"
"First, use similar substitutes; the key is the sense of environment."
Li Jun looked at Xie Tingfeng.
"Especially you, Shen Mo, had to complete that fight scene at the dock where you took on three opponents by yourself, amidst real obstacles."
Nicholas Tse nodded, his eyes burning:
"clear."
"in addition."
Li Jun paused.
"Next Friday, representatives from the French publishing company requested to see the training session."
That afternoon, we rehearsed a complete scene, from the confrontation in the teahouse to the chase in the street.
Everyone was really fighting, really running, and really emotional.
After these words were spoken, the training ground fell silent.
This is the first real-world test. It's unprecedented in terms of funding and international issuance.
"Is there a problem?"
Li Jun asked.
"No!"
Nicholas Tse was the first to answer.
"No!"
Lin Jiadong followed.
Song Tie bit his lip and said softly:
"no."
"it is good."
Li Jun nodded.
"Then let's begin preparations."
The training base underwent a complete transformation the following week.
The art team used wooden planks, canvas, and old furniture to construct several simple yet lifelike scenes in the empty factory:
In one corner of the pier, in a private room on the second floor of a teahouse, there is a winding alley.
The lighting team brought in some simple film and television lights, which, although not as good as real film set equipment, could simulate the lighting effects at different times of day.
The actors began training in substitute costumes: Xie Tingfeng in black shorts, Lin Jiadong in gray long gown, and Song Tie in blue cloth school uniform.
The clothes were hastily made by the costume department using modern fabrics; the details were rough, but the style was correct.
The effects of on-site rehearsals were immediate.
When Lin Jiadong first acted opposite Lao Zhao in the teahouse scene, he was noticeably more natural than when they acted in an open space.
He unconsciously touched the edge of the wooden table, his eyes darting back and forth between the teapot and the window, revealing the wariness and scheming of a petty, ordinary person.
Nicholas Tse's action scenes at the dock were a complete transformation.
With real cargo boxes and cables, his movements were no longer a formulaic routine.
Instead, they adapt to the environment, jumping onto cargo containers to gain a high point, using ropes to trip opponents, and adjusting their center of gravity on slippery ground.
After watching several rehearsals, Cheng Guoqiang said to Li Jun:
"Mr. Li, these kids have finally figured it out."
"It was the environment that forced it."
Li Jun stood in the shadows, watching Xie Tingfeng perform a beautiful side roll in the alleyway battle, dodging the virtual bullets.
People will react differently depending on their environment.
Practicing a hundred times in an open space is not as effective as walking once in an alley.
But Song Tie's performance always bothered Li Jun.
This girl is very hardworking; she strives for perfection in every movement and repeatedly studies every line of dialogue.
But her performance had a strange sense of completeness; it was too standard, so standard that it didn't seem like that of a newcomer who was still figuring things out.
Li Jun asked Teacher Zhou about it privately.
Teacher Zhou's evaluation is:
"Song Tie has a very good foundation in acting, with a solid academic background. But her problem is also academic; she knows too much about how to act, which makes her lack genuine listening, seeing, and feeling."
"Is there anyone she's paying particular attention to?"
Li Jun asked.
Teacher Zhou thought for a moment:
"She seemed very interested in Nicholas Tse's training and often watched him fight scenes from the sidelines."
She also asked the art department a few times about things like the concept behind the scene design and the historical accuracy of the costumes.
This is not normal.
A new actor should focus more on their role than on these behind-the-scenes things.
On Thursday evening, Chen Yongren sent the investigation results.
The message was long, and Li Jun read it one by one.
Song Tie, from Qingdao, Shandong, graduated from the Performance Department of the Central Academy of Drama with above-average grades.
During my sophomore year of college, I participated in the filming of a CCTV drama series, playing a minor supporting role.
After graduating, I spent a year in Beijing, taking on a few male roles and web series. My family background is ordinary; both my parents are middle school teachers.
It looks like there's nothing wrong.
But Chen Yongren added a paragraph at the end of the email:
"Mr. Li, something is strange. I asked a friend in Beijing, and someone said that after Song Tie graduated, he didn't actually take on many jobs that year. Instead, he frequently went to high-end clubs and dinner parties."
Furthermore, her tutor at the Central Academy of Drama was a classmate of a high-ranking official at Huayi Brothers.
Li Jun stared at this passage for a long time.
Frequenting high-end clubs?
This is not something an ordinary actor struggling in Beijing could afford.
Moreover, the connection between Huayi and Huayi is too coincidental.
He replied to Chen Yongren:
"Continue the investigation, especially whether she has any direct or indirect connection with Huayi."
Also, check all of her advisor's social connections.
After sending the email, Li Jun walked to the window.
Victoria Harbour is brightly lit at night, and cruise ships slowly pass by, leaving trails of silvery water.
If Song Tie really was sent by Wang Zhonglei...
What was her purpose?
Stealing training methods? Poaching actors? Or creating chaos?
Li Jun remembered that the French representatives were coming to watch the rehearsal the next afternoon.
That was a crucial moment.
He picked up his phone and sent a message to both Cheng Guoqiang and Teacher Zhou:
"Tomorrow afternoon's rehearsal will have Song Tie's role adjusted so she can play the scene where she delivers intelligence, but a few movements and positioning will be changed at the last minute."
Don't tell her beforehand.
Cheng Guoqiang replied quickly:
"Understood. Should we test her?"
"right."
Teacher Zhou's reply was even more concise:
"Received. Should we also revise a few lines?"
"change."
After doing all this, Li Jun leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
If Song Tie is indeed an undercover agent, then there must be more than one connection behind her.
Wang Zhonglei will not just place one person in the position.
So who else is there?
Lin Jiadong? He's been stabilized, but it's hard to guarantee he won't waver.
Nicholas Tse? Unlikely. Given his wealth and status, he wouldn't need to do such a thing.
The behind-the-scenes team? The art team's assistant who resigned has already been poached, but could there be others?
Li Jun felt a wave of fatigue.
Filmmaking is supposed to be a creative endeavor, but now it's turned into a spy thriller.
But there's nothing we can do; that's reality.
If you do something, someone will try to bring you down.
If you choose a path, someone will try to dig a pit for you.
The phone rang again. It was Zhang Liangying.
"Are you asleep?"
Her voice was light and cheerful, and she seemed to be in a good mood.
"Not yet. What about you? Are you in Shanghai?"
"Yeah, I just finished rehearsing with the band, and it went really well."
Zhang Liangying paused.
"Xiao Jun, Linda told me that Mr. Chen wants me to sing a movie theme song at his concert next month."
What do you think?
"I……"
Zhang Liangying hesitated for a moment.
"I want to sing it. I really like the song 'The Moon is Curved' myself, and it matches the atmosphere of the movie very well."
But Linda said, "This is too much of a 'tether' situation, what if the movie..."
"If the movie flops, it will affect you."
Li Jun spoke for her.
"I did not mean that."
Zhang Liangying hurriedly said.
"you are right."
Li Jun interrupted her.
"Linda has thought this through. That way, the song can be sung, but it shouldn't be included in the main program of the concert, as an encore or a special segment."
Promotional efforts should also be separate. You can mention your song when promoting a movie, but don't proactively mention the movie when promoting your concert.
"Is this okay?"
"Can."
Li Jun said.
"I'll talk to Kent Chan."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Zhang Liangying said softly:
"Xiao Jun, are you under a lot of pressure?"
"fine."
Don't lie to me.
Zhang Liang speaks with a serious tone.
"I can sense it. I heard about what happened with Wang Zhonglei from Brother Yuan."
And what about training...?
You'll break down carrying so much on your own.
Li Jun felt a warmth in his heart, but he still said:
"It's okay, I can handle it."
Even if you can't bear it, you have to speak up.
Zhang Liangying said.
"I'm on your side."
She said it a little awkwardly, but she got the point.
"I know."
Li Jun smiled.
"Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?"
Zhang Liangying also smiled.
"By the way, Tang Yan came to Shanghai yesterday, and we had dinner together."
Li Jun's heart skipped a beat:
"She came to see you?"
"Yeah, she said she came to Shanghai to film a movie and also to visit me."
Zhang Liangying paused.
"She asked a lot of questions about you, about the movie. I told her you were busy, but everything was fine."
"What else did she say?"
"Nothing special was mentioned."
Zhang Liang's English was as usual.
"We just talked about work and gossip in our circle."
She's a really nice person, down-to-earth and not pretentious at all.
Li Jun didn't know how to respond to that.
Tang Yan's act of going to Shanghai to find Zhang Liangying was itself quite subtle.
"Xiaojun"
Zhang Liangying suddenly asked, "What exactly happened between you and her?"
This problem came out of nowhere.
Li Jun was silent for a moment before speaking:
"It's rather complicated."
"How complicated is it?"
"It's so complicated that I don't even know how to handle it."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Zhang Liangying said:
"Then let's not do anything about it. Let nature take its course."
"Can we just let things take their natural course?"
"You have to be able to, even if you can't."
Zhang Liangying spoke very frankly.
You don't have the time or energy to think about these things right now.
Let's focus on making the movie first, and then take care of these immediate issues.
We'll deal with the rest once things calm down.
That's very insightful.
Li Jun knew that once he finished filming the movie, it would be a chaotic battlefield.
"Beautiful."
He said.
"Thank you."
"And then he said thank you."
Zhang Liangying smiled.
"Alright, you should get some rest. Don't you have an important rehearsal tomorrow?"
"Um."
"come on."
After hanging up the phone, Li Jun looked at his phone screen, which showed a photo of Zhang Liangying during rehearsals at the Shanghai Concert Hall.
She stood by the piano, her profile outlined gently by the light.
He put his phone aside and turned his computer back on.
There is still a lot to do.
Tomorrow will be a tough battle.
On Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., the training base welcomed several special guests.
The representative of the French publishing company was a woman in her fifties named Isabelle, with short hair, wearing a well-tailored suit, and sharp eyes.
She brought an assistant and a translator with her.
Kent Chan also came, along with two senior executives from Starway Capital.
Li Jun greeted them at the door.
Isabel's handshake was firm, and her Chinese was quite good.
"Director Li, I've heard so much about you. Mr. Chen showed us a lot of materials, but seeing is believing."
"welcome."
Li Jun led them inside.
"This afternoon we rehearsed several key scenes from the middle of the movie, from the confrontation in the teahouse to the chase in the street."
All rehearsals were done on location; the actors actually fought and ran. It might be a bit rough, but it felt real.
"What we want is authenticity."
Isabel said.
"Special effects can be done anywhere, but realistic performances and textures are the soul of a film."
The group walked to the observation area, where chairs had already been set up.
The stage lights were already in place, and the simple set somehow took on a touch of old Hong Kong charm under the lights.
Rehearsals begin.
The first scene is set in a teahouse. Lin Jiadong, playing Lao Zhao, is having a private conversation with a tea merchant in a private room on the second floor, while Xie Tingfeng, playing Shen Mo, is keeping watch outside.
Lin Jiadong is in excellent condition today.
When he poured tea for the tea merchant, his hands trembled slightly and his eyes darted around, vividly portraying an informant who wanted to make money but was afraid of getting into trouble.
Nicholas Tse's performance was more restrained. He stood by the window, seemingly casual, but his ears were listening, his eyes were scanning the street, and his body was poised to act at any moment.
Isabel watched intently, occasionally jotting something down in her notebook.
The second scene is a street chase.
Shen Mo realized he was being followed and led the tea merchant through the alleyways.
This scene features complex action sequences, including scaling walls, jumping out of windows, and close-quarters combat.
Xie Tingfeng and Lin Jiadong fought fiercely, the sound of their short knives clashing echoing in the empty factory.
Li Jun noticed that Isabelle's eyes lit up when she saw a certain action of climbing over the wall.
The third scene is Song Tie's play.
According to the temporarily adjusted plan, the positioning and movements in this scene were changed.
Originally, Song Tie was going to run from one end of the alley to the other to hand the intelligence to Shen Mo.
But now she has to climb over a low wall, squat down at the base of the wall and wait for Shen Mo to pass by before getting up.
Li Jun stared intently at Song Tie.
As the music started, she began to run.
The movements were very standard, and the breathing rhythm was well controlled.
She ran to the low wall, ready to climb over it.
Then it stopped.
It wasn't stopping, it was hesitation.
Her gaze swept back and forth across the low wall, as if assessing something, or perhaps waiting for some instruction.
The pause lasted only two seconds, but it seemed abrupt in the otherwise continuous performance.
Cheng Guoqiang frowned from the audience, but did not call a halt.
Song Tie eventually climbed over, but while she was squatting by the wall waiting, her eyes kept glancing towards the observation area.
Li Jun had a plan in mind.
The rehearsal ended, and applause rang out.
Isabel stood up and walked up to Li Jun:
"Director Li, it was fantastic. Especially Mr. Xie, his action scenes had a kind of, how should I put it, raw explosive power."
This is rarely seen in action movies these days.
"Thanks."
Li Jun said.
"What do you think of Song Tie's performance?"
Isabel thought for a moment: "The girl has a very good foundation, but there's a strange sense of preparedness in her performance."
It's as if she knows exactly how to proceed, so there's a lack of spontaneous authenticity.
That's a very accurate statement.
Li Jun nodded:
"She's still adjusting."
After seeing the guests off, Kent Chan stayed behind and talked with Li Jun in the director's room.
"Isabel is very satisfied."
Kent Chan lit a cigar.
"She said if the final product can maintain this level of quality, she can handle the distribution in France and Europe."
"That's fine."
"But Director Li."
Chen Zeshi then changed the subject.
"I heard that Wang Zhonglei's side is making great progress."
They'll start filming next month, and it's said they want to release it during the National Day holiday.
"We can catch up too."
"I know, but the pressure from public opinion will be immense."
Chen Zeshi exhaled a puff of smoke.
"The media is saying that Huayi is a big-budget production with a strong cast and a fast pace, while we are a small workshop that takes our time to produce fine work."
This comparison has a subtle impact on market expectations.
"Then let them talk."
Li Jun looked out the window.
"When the movie comes out, the audience will vote with their feet."
Kent Chan smiled:
"Director Li, sometimes I really admire your composure."
"It's not about willpower, it's about having no choice."
Li Jun turned around.
"Since we've chosen this path, we can only keep moving forward."
After Chen Zeshi left, Li Jun called Cheng Guoqiang and Teacher Zhou over.
"What's wrong with Song Tie today?"
Cheng Guoqiang asked first.
"That pause was too obvious."
"I changed my positioning at the last minute, and she probably wasn't used to it."
Li Jun said this, but did not mention his own suspicions.
"But it shouldn't be that bad."
Teacher Zhou shook his head.
"She's usually very quick-witted, able to adapt to changes in words and actions immediately. But today, she seemed to be waiting for something."
Li Jun didn't respond to that question, but instead said:
"Starting tomorrow, Song Tie's training content will be adjusted."
Her scenes are concentrated in the later parts of the film; in the earlier parts, she was allowed to learn alongside the crew, observing and listening more, and practicing less.
Why?
Cheng Guoqiang was puzzled.
"Let her calm down."
Li Jun said.
"Her problem isn't technique, it's her state of mind. She tries too hard to act well, which makes her act poorly."
That reason is plausible.
Cheng Guoqiang and Teacher Zhou both nodded.
After they left, Li Jun took out his phone and sent a message to Chen Yongren:
"Song Tie behaved unusually during rehearsal today, which is likely because he was waiting for some kind of instruction or signal."
Check who she saw and what phone calls she received on her way to the training base today.
send.
Then he walked to the window and looked at the actors and staff who were finishing up on the training field.
Nicholas Tse and Lam Ka-tung were reviewing the fight scene they had just filmed. Both of them were covered in sweat, but their eyes were filled with excitement.
Song Tie was packing his things alone in a corner, his profile somewhat blurred in the setting sun.
Li Jun recalled Isabel's words.
"Authentic performances and texture are the soul of a film."
But now, even the reality itself might be a staged performance.
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze had become firm once more.
This is a transformation that Nicholas Tse risked his reputation for, an opportunity that Lin Jiadong had waited for for more than a decade, a choice for Zhang Ziyi to seek a breakthrough, and a high-stakes gamble that Zhang Liangying made with her music.
It is the trust and dedication of all these people.
He cannot let him down.