novelraw Chapter 138 Filming
Chapter 138 Filming
Chapter 138 Filming
"Cut!"
Li Jun called a halt.
On the monitor, the scene was as beautiful as a poem. A rainy day with gray tones, a touch of moonlight, a touch of bluish-gray, the curve of an oil-paper umbrella, the silhouettes of two people embracing.
All the worries, anxieties, and reluctance are hidden beneath a calm exterior.
"Passed."
Li Jun said.
"Keep one from a different angle."
I took two more shots when the rain suddenly intensified, pouring down like water being poured from the sky.
Filming was forced to stop, and everyone ran under the eaves to take shelter from the rain.
Nicholas Tse and Qin Hailu were still standing in the rain with umbrellas, their clothes mostly soaked, but they looked at each other and suddenly smiled.
It was a relieved smile. As if the heavy rain had washed away all the anxiety.
Li Jun looked at them and smiled.
Perhaps this was fate. A heavy rain disrupted the plans, but it also brought unexpected gains.
That night, the rain finally stopped.
The night sky was as clean as if it had been washed, and the stars were exceptionally bright.
The film crew held a small barbecue in the village secretary's yard to celebrate the completion of this "unexpected scene".
Everyone drank beer, ate barbecue skewers, and chatted and laughed. The gloom of the past few days was swept away.
Li Jun sat in the corner, watching the group. The lighting technician was telling jokes, making everyone laugh.
Xiao Chen and the photographer were discussing the shots from the scene they had just witnessed;
Xie Tingfeng and Qin Hailu sat together, talking in hushed tones; Master Li was teaching the village secretary's grandson to recognize stars.
At this moment, we didn't feel like a film crew, but like a family.
Nicholas Tse walked over and handed Li Jun a can of beer.
"Director Li, thank you," he said.
"What are you thanking me for?"
Thank you for waiting for the rain to stop.
Nicholas Tse sat down next to him.
"Thank you for adding that scene."
When filming that scene, I suddenly understood Lin Shen. He wasn't running away; he was using what he could control to fight against a world he couldn't control.
Taking a walk, painting—these are both ways to do it.
Li Jun clinked the jars with him: "If the actors can understand this level, the director will have a much easier time."
The two drank their wine and looked at the night sky.
"Director Li."
Nicholas Tse suddenly asked.
"What exactly is a movie?"
Li Jun thought for a moment and said, "For me, movies are a container of time."
Capture the light, shadow, emotions, and thoughts of a fleeting moment, and leave them for future generations to see.
"So, what do you want to include in this film?"
"Incorporate a gentle resistance."
Li Jun said.
"It's not a grand, dramatic struggle, but rather carefully protecting something whole in a broken world—a painting, a walk, a glance."
Nicholas Tse was silent for a moment, then said, "I think I can do it."
I think so too.
In the distance, Qin Hailu was singing Kunqu opera. Her voice was clear and bright, and she was singing an excerpt from "The Peony Pavilion": "Originally, the flowers were in full bloom, but now they have all been given to broken wells and crumbling walls."
Such a beautiful day, such a lovely scene, yet what a waste! Such delightful pleasures, yet whose courtyard enjoys them all?
The song drifted through the night sky, melodious and moving.
Everyone quieted down and listened.
Li Jun closed his eyes. At this moment, he felt very happy.
This kind of happiness is fleeting and fragile, like a rainbow after the rain.
But it is precisely because it is fleeting that it is precious.
He recalled the lyrics of Zhang Liangying's song: "The paper will get wet, the writing will become blurred, but the creases remember the direction of every effort."
Movies will be forgotten, and time will pass.
But the sincerity invested in the creative process, the days and nights spent on set, the light that flashed in the actors' eyes—these "creases" will remain.
It will become a memory, a part of history, and a part of the landscape on paper.
It was late at night, and the party was over.
Li Jun returned to his residence, opened his laptop, and began writing in his photography diary. This was his habit—to record his experiences and insights from each day's shooting.
Today he wrote: "That scene in the rain taught me a lesson: creation is not about following a plan, but about adjusting according to your feelings."
The heavy rain trapped us, but it also gave us a gift.
The moment Xie Tingfeng and Qin Hailu were under the umbrella felt more real than any pre-planned scene.
Perhaps this is what movies are like:
Finding a balance between control and loss of control;
Discover surprises amidst the planned and the unexpected.
The forecast is for sunny skies tomorrow. We can continue shooting on location.
But I will remember this rain.
After finishing writing, he turned off the computer and walked to the window.
The Milky Way was clearly visible in the night sky, like a luminous river stretching across the horizon.
He thought that everyone is a star, running on their own orbit.
But occasionally, the stars meet, forming constellations and illuminating a patch of the night sky.
The film crew is just like that.
They met briefly, each shining brightly, and then parted ways.
But the light we created together will remain on the film, in our memories, and in the hearts of some viewers.
This is enough.
He lay back down on the bed and quickly fell asleep.
There were no movies or scripts in my dream, only a tranquil darkness, like an unexposed film reel.
Waiting to be lit up.
The rain stopped completely at dawn.
Li Jun was awakened by a clear bird song. When he opened the window, the morning light was just breaking through the clouds.
The sky after the rain is a rare, clear blue, like the finest Ru ware porcelain.
The mountains have been cleansed of dust, and layers of greenery spread from the foot of the mountains to the top.
The nearby black tiles and white walls reflected the light, damp and dripping, with water still dripping from the eaves in a slow, rhythmic patter.
The entire village seemed to have woken up and washed its face, looking fresh and refreshed.
The film crew's accommodations quickly became lively.
The pent-up energy of the past few days was released under the clear sky: shouts of people moving equipment, the hum of electricity as equipment was being adjusted.
The actors' hoarse voices blended into a vibrant, bustling noise.
.
Assistant director Xiao Chen knocked on each room door, his voice filled with a long-lost excitement: "The sun's out! Outdoor shots! All outdoor shots today!"
When Li Jun finished washing up and went downstairs, several people had already gathered in the courtyard.
Nicholas Tse was practicing Tai Chi while wearing a training uniform. His movements were slow and steady, and his breathing was synchronized with his movements, indicating that he had been practicing for many years.
Qin Hailu sat on a stone bench reading the script, his notebook spread out on his lap filled with notes.
Master Li was directing several young art assistants to move several pots of orchids and asparagus ferns onto a tricycle; those were the props they would be using today.
Good morning, Director Li!
Everyone greeted them.
"morning."
Li Jun nodded.
"The weather's perfect, let's get going. Xiao Chen, which scenes are planned for today?"
"The stone bridge at the village entrance, the deep forest where students were seen off from their hometown; "
The bamboo forest behind the mountain, the scene where Wanrong encountered danger while gathering herbs;
besides----"
Xiao Chen flipped through the filming schedule.
"If there's enough time, add a few establishing shots."
"Has the action direction for the bamboo forest scene been completed?"
"They arrived last night and should be scouting locations in the bamboo forest right now."
Li Jun took the schedule and glanced at it: "Let's shoot the farewell scene on the stone bridge first. It's an emotional scene, let's finish it in one go while everyone's in good spirits."
Breakfast consisted of simple porridge and steamed buns.
Everyone squatted in the courtyard, around several large basins, and ate very quickly.
The sunlight gradually moved across the bluestone slabs, and the air was filled with the smell of rising earth and cooking smoke.
After the meal, the convoy set off.
Several vans loaded with equipment and personnel sputtered along the wet village road, startling the ducks in the puddles by the roadside.
The stone bridge is located at the east end of the village. It is a three-arched stone bridge that has been around for many years, and the stone lions on the bridge railings have been eroded by wind and rain, making them indistinct.
The stream under the bridge was brimming with water due to the rains of the past few days, flowing gurglingly into the distance.
On the opposite bank is a dirt road leading out of the village, winding its way into the depths of the bamboo forest.
The art team has already set up the bridge.
A few simple pieces of luggage were tied up and placed at the bridgehead. An extinguished lantern hung on the stone railing, and fallen leaves were scattered on the bridge surface, creating a desolate atmosphere.
Xie Tingfeng and Zhou Xiao were reciting their lines by the bridge.
This scene is the first emotional climax in the film. With war approaching, Lin Shen decides to stay, but sends his most outstanding student to the relatively safe rear.
"remember,"
Nicholas Tse said to Zhou Xiao.
"You don't want to leave, but you know you have to."
It wasn't that I was afraid of dying, but that I was afraid of disappointing my teacher.
Do you understand that contradiction?
Zhou Xiao nodded vigorously: "I understand. I want to stay and keep the teacher company, but I also know that staying might let him down."
"Yes. Also, parting isn't about wailing and crying; it's about holding it in."
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I couldn't let them fall.
They're rehearsing their lines here, while the lighting and camera work is being adjusted over there.
Zhao Xiaodong insisted on using natural light, only adding a reflector to the subject's face. He lay on the ground to find the right angle, directing his assistant to move the camera position: "A little more to the left, yes, I want the bridge arch as the foreground frame."
Li Jun stood behind the monitor, looking at the composition of the image.
A stone bridge, flowing water, distant mountains, and two small figures. It evokes the atmosphere of a traditional Chinese painting.
"Actors, take your positions!"
"The script supervisor shouted."
Xie Tingfeng and Zhou Xiao walked to the middle of the bridge.
Xie Tingfeng, dressed in a faded blue long gown, was slightly hunched over, holding a scroll of painting in his hand. Zhou Xiao, carrying a simple bag, had tears welling up in her eyes.
"Scene 53, Shot 1 of 'Dreams of Mountains and Rivers,' begin!"
The clapperboard clicked.
The camera pans up from the stream, across the stone bridge piers, slowly moves upward, and finally focuses on the two people.
Xie Tingfeng handed the scroll to Zhou Xiao: "Take this with you."
Zhou Xiao took it, her hands trembling slightly: "Teacher, this is your most treasured 'Visiting Friends in Autumn Mountains' painting —"
"Paintings are inanimate, but people are alive."
Nicholas Tse interrupted him, his voice calm but deep.
"When you carry it with you, it's like carrying a piece of my memory."
"If I get there and have the chance—I'll keep drawing."
"Teacher, please come with me!"
Zhou Xiao finally couldn't hold back anymore, her voice trembling with tears, "It's too dangerous to stay here!"
Xie Tingfeng shook his head and looked towards the distant mountains.
The morning light outlined the contours of his profile, revealing a few strands of white hair at his temples.
"I'm too old to walk anymore."
He said it with a resigned indifference.
"Moreover, this is my root. The mountains are here, the water is here, and my memories are here."
"I'm leaving, and all of this will truly be gone."
He turned to look at the student, his eyes turning stern: "But you are different. You are still young, your pen is not yet firmly in your hand, and you have a long road ahead of you."
"I'm not leaving to save my own life, but to pass these things down."
He pointed to the scroll in Zhou Xiao's arms, then to his own heart: "The things here, and the things here."
Zhou Xiao's tears finally fell, but he gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound, only bowing deeply.
Nicholas Tse reached out, seemingly wanting to pat him on the shoulder, but his hand stopped in mid-air and he eventually withdrew it.
He turned around, his back to the students, his voice a little hoarse: "Let's go. While it's still light."
Zhou Xiao bowed again, wiped away his tears, and turned to walk down the stone bridge. His steps were slow, and he looked back every few steps.
Nicholas Tse never turned around; he simply stood in the middle of the bridge, his back straight, like a silent sculpture.
The camera follows Zhou Xiao as she walks across the bridge, down the stone steps, and onto the dirt road.
He walked further and further away, gradually becoming a small black dot.
Then the camera slowly pulled back and focused on Tse Ting-Fung again. He still didn't move, but his shoulders trembled slightly.
A tear silently slid down his wrinkled cheek, landing on the bluestone bridge and spreading a small dark patch.
He raised his hand and traced a few lines on the bridge railing with his finger, as if sketching an invisible landscape in the air.
"Cut!"
Li Jun called a halt.
The scene was completely silent. Only the sound of the stream and the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind could be heard.
Several seconds passed before Nicholas Tse snapped out of character, wiped his face, and turned to walk over. His eyes were red, but his gaze was bright.
Everyone gathered around the monitor. The playback flowed silently on the screen.
A close-up of the tear stain, the details of the finger tracing the outline, the trembling of the figure's back—
Every little detail is full of emotion, yet it is restrained just right.
"Passed."
Li Jun said his voice was a little hoarse.
"This one is good."
A sigh of relief rang out, followed by soft exclamations of admiration.
Zhou Xiao ran back, her eyes still red, and scratched her head somewhat embarrassedly: "Did I cry too much?"
No, it's just right.
Nicholas Tse patted him on the shoulder.
"A genuine expression of emotion is more precious than anything else."
Qin Hailu stood aside, quietly watching the replay.
She suddenly said softly, "Lin Shen didn't send off his students, he sent off another part of himself. That part that can still go on, that part that can still be passed down."
Li Jun glanced at her and nodded: "So this scene, on the surface, is about parting, but at its core, it's about inheritance."
The morning sun grew warmer, dispelling the chill of early morning. The first scene went much more smoothly than expected, greatly boosting the morale of the crew.
"Move to the bamboo forest!" Xiao Chen shouted. "Action team, get ready!" The bamboo forest was deep in the back mountains, a 20-minute hike away.
The group climbed up the slippery stone steps, flanked by dense shrubs whose leaves were still glistening with water droplets in the sunlight.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of plants, mixed with the smell of soil and decaying leaves.
Li Jun walked in the middle of the group, discussing the scenes with action director Lao Wu as he went.
Old Wu is from Hong Kong, in his fifties, lean and capable. He worked with Cheng Guoqiang in his early years, but later went his own way and made many martial arts films.
He spoke with a heavy Cantonese accent: "Director Li, in the bamboo forest scene, Wanrong encounters defeated soldiers while gathering herbs, struggles to escape, and is eventually scratched by bamboo branches."
You want realism, not flashy fight scenes, right?
"right."
Li Jun said.
"No wall-climbing, no fighting techniques. Just the instinctive reactions of an ordinary woman in a crisis: pushing, scratching, falling, getting up, and running away. Be pathetic, be real."