The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 27: Desolation and Unrest in Edward Hopper

……

"Heart Labyrinth", filming scene.

Xin Yukun, the actor who plays Zong Yao, rode a small electric bike with a cross-body bag on his back, swaying as he passed the small bridge at the entrance of the village and entered the village.

This is the opening scene of the movie.

It is also the simplest scene.

As it was the first scene and the first shot of the filming, everyone was watching the fun from the side. Although it was Xin Yukun's first time as an actor, he didn't take it seriously.

How could he not perform well in such a simple scene?
who knows……

Just then, an untimely voice sounded.

"Crack!"

“Do it again!”

"The feeling of light is wrong!"

When Xin Yukun heard Lu Zhiyuan call out "Cut", he finally understood why he had been feeling something was wrong so early this morning.

It turns out that I didn’t hear the sentence "The light doesn’t feel right".

Having been classmates with Lu Zhiyuan for a year and having worked together on many commercials, Xin Yukun admired Lu Zhiyuan very much and was certain that his classmate was a true genius.

However, geniuses are often perverts!
He knows nothing about the trivialities of life. He can't cook or wash clothes. He has to carry a map when he goes out, otherwise he will really get lost.

However, he has almost perverted requirements for the aesthetics of light and shadow.

"Which feeling do you want?"

Xin Yukun didn't want to challenge Lu Zhiyuan's directorial authority, he just wanted to learn from him from close range.

As for the other actors, teacher Li Jianyi, classmate Liu Shishi, Ni Hongjie, and a group of special guests and extras, they all gathered together at this moment, just like elementary school students in class.

After this period of time, through chatting with each other and observing from the side, these people were very sure that Lu Zhiyuan was a lonely genius.

The way geniuses think is often different from that of ordinary people.

Many of them have made TV series and commercial films, but this is the first time they have made this kind of literary and artistic author film.

I'm all very curious.

"Zong Yao returns home from outside. This is the beginning of the story. The light here needs to change significantly, from bright to dark, metaphorically implying that he has entered a cage."

"I need a light atmosphere that gradually gets colder."

“When the audience sees this scene, they will feel a sense of unease at being stared at.”

"Also, there needs to be a clear dividing line between the village and the outside environment."

"Obviously, the light doesn't feel right right now."

"Everyone, take a break. Based on my observations around the village, the light I need should appear at 4 p.m.."

It's already 3 o'clock, and it's only an hour until 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Waiting for an hour is no big deal.

But the problem is, this is only the first scene and first shot of the filming... Lu Zhiyuan's requirements are gradually becoming abnormal.

"I knew it would be like this."

"I knew from the beginning that there was no way Ayuan would honestly shoot an ordinary documentary."

"I am too naive."

Two days ago, when Zhao Shanshan came over, Lu Zhiyuan took out some ordinary footage and convinced Zhao Shanshan.

As a result, he changed his mind as soon as he turned around.

I had long since forgotten about the documentary-style realistic images and began to pursue the ultimate changes in light and shadow.

Fortunately, Lu Zhiyuan and I did not invest a penny, and all we spent was other people's money... Otherwise, I would be heartbroken.

This is the coolest thing now.

Spend other people's money to pursue your own art.

……

An hour later.

The camera was turned back on and the crew members started working in an orderly manner.

Xin Yukun rode the electric bike again and entered the village from outside. He accidentally stepped on a small puddle, causing the almost still picture to shake.

In fact, he did it unconsciously.

But in the context of the movie, active-thinking audiences might wonder if the director is hinting that Zong Yao is about to fall into a trap?

"Okay, perfect!"

"Change the scene!"

I looked at the changes in light and shadow in the camera.

In that almost static scene just now, as the sunlight gradually dimmed on Zong Yao, a turbulent atmosphere was created...

This scene made Lu Zhiyuan very satisfied.

This is the feeling you want.

I waited for an hour and only took one shot.

Xin Yukun was no longer surprised.

The other actors in the crew just felt that director Lu Zhiyuan had high expectations for the visuals. Liu Shishi, for example, had filmed many TV series, but this was her first time filming an art film, so she was curious about everything.

Not to mention, Lu Zhiyuan also taught them on the spot, telling them how the changes in light and shadow affect the atmosphere of the film.

In one word, professional!
"Ayuan, so handsome!"

Liu Shishi once again turned into a little fan girl, following Lu Zhiyuan closely.

There's no other reason, I just want to stay away from Lu Zhi.

Get a little artistic exposure.

……

"Ayuan, our plan is to shoot 10 shows a day. If you do this, you won't be able to shoot even 3 shows a day."

After Xin Yukun finished shooting his own shots, he once again became the assistant director of the crew, helping Lu Zhiyuan control the camera.

As the second in command of the crew, he had to remind Lu Zhiyuan to pay attention to the time.

If he continues shooting at this rate, by the time the awards have been given out at Cannes, they might still be shooting birds in this village.

"Don't worry."

"For indoor shooting, I can let the lighting technician adjust the lighting requirements to my needs. For outdoor scenes, like today's, there are no more than three takes, so it won't waste too much time."

"I know it well."

Lu Zhiyuan was very calm.

In fact, before shooting, he had already simulated the entire shooting process in his mind.

It won't be too long.

It will definitely be done in 45 days at most.

After all, this is a low-budget suspense film with limited scenes and low requirements for art.

During these 45 days, he can freely find the images he wants.

Completely surpass the original version.

……

Scene 2, shot 1.

The scene changed to indoors, and Xin Yukun and Li Jianyi played against each other as father and son.

It was an argument and the atmosphere was somewhat depressing.

There aren't many lines.

But Lu Zhiyuan started to operate again.

He placed the camera through the crack in the door and watched the quarrel between the father and son from a mother's perspective. The strong light and shadow cut through the space, making the figures of the two people flicker.

It gives people the feeling that this father and son are walking back and forth on the boundary between morality and sin.

When Zong Yao stole his father's medal, a mirror appeared on the screen.

The camera gave a close-up of the side.

Zong Yao stood in front of the mirror, and two images appeared at the same time.

One light and one dark.

This implies that Zong Yao's heart was divided at this moment.

……

These shots are not in the original version.

Based on his own understanding of the entire film's plot, Lu Zhiyuan reconstructed the picture and injected the style characteristics of American painting master Edward Hopper.

Desolate and uneasy.

The whole movie is filled with a ghostly feeling.

He also didn't know whether the movie would be successful after he did this.
However, as an art student, even if you work in the film industry, you should have your own unique style, right?
Copy the original?

He does.

However, I have long forgotten the plot and scenes!

……

the other side.

Xin Yukun, who served as the assistant director and photographer, looked at the pictures he had taken under the direction of Lu Zhiyuan.

He was simply silenced.

"Brother Kun, why are you so silent today?"

Lu Zhiyuan felt a little strange. Usually after taking a shot, Xin Yukun would keep mumbling and talking endlessly, analyzing the characteristics of the picture and the language of the shot.

"Ah Yuan, Brother Yuan, Master Yuan... Can I ask you for a favor? Be a painter instead of coming to the film and television industry and ruining my dream of becoming a director!"

At this moment, Xin Yukun really wanted to throw away the camera and go back to his hometown in Inner Mongolia to mine.

He wrote the script for the movie "Maze". As a photography student, he certainly had the dream of becoming a director, and he also secretly thought about how to shoot the entire movie.

He felt that if he had the opportunity to get investment, the effect of the film would probably not be bad.

As a result, after seeing Lu Zhiyuan's picture structure today, he was immediately discouraged.

Go to hell with the dream of being a director!
I don’t want to play anymore, I want to go home!
(End of this chapter)