Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 16 Sour and Sweet
……

……

What kind of roles do you want to play?

Gu Qing fell into deep thought.

As a man,
The films he most wants to act in are, of course, kung fu and martial arts films, where he can fly and roam the world.

But Gu Qing knew her own limitations.

The only martial art he had ever practiced since childhood was the "military boxing" he learned during his university military training.

Considering one's own situation,

Gu Qing hesitated and said, "Period drama, I guess."

Since he plans to release songs in the ancient style, if he also acts in some period dramas, it will definitely complement each other.

"An ancient costume?"

Zhang Songwen looked slightly surprised and laughed, "Ah Gu, period dramas are not easy to act in. Do you know what the most important thing is in a period drama?"

"It's about temperament."

Gu Qing expressed her resentment about watching dramas in her previous life: "At the very least, they have to look like an ancient person. Otherwise, if their behavior is like that of a scoundrel, how can anyone bear to watch them?"

"good."

Zhang Songwen smiled and nodded, "It's less about temperament and more about demeanor."

As he spoke, he gestured for Gu Qing to stand up, "Gu, if you were an ancient person right now, take a few steps and show me."

"Okay, Teacher Zhang."

Gu Qing hurriedly stood up, took a deep breath, straightened his expression, straightened his back, and started walking.

Zhang Songwen then raised his phone and took a picture of Gu Qing.

For every step Gu Qing took, he took a step back.

"Okay, Gu, sit down."

After Gu Qing had almost walked around the room once, Zhang Songwen stopped filming and handed her his phone, saying, "After you watch this video, tell me what you think is wrong."

"..."

Gu Qing took the phone and looked at it carefully.

The more you look,

His face fell. "Teacher Zhang, I feel like none of it is right."

In the video on his phone, his eyes darted around, sometimes looking at the camera, sometimes glancing left and right.

His body, when he walks, appears extremely stiff, like a robot that hasn't been oiled.

"Let me address these issues one by one."

When Zhang Songwen was teaching acting, he had a very serious expression. Moreover, he was a teacher at the film academy, which made Gu Qing feel as if she was back in her student days.

"The first is camera presence!"

Zhang Songwen said earnestly, "As an actor, the most important thing is conviction. Right now, with only the three of us in the room, it's hard to concentrate."

So when you're actually filming, there are at least thirty to fifty people surrounding you. How can you possibly act like that?

"Secondly, the proper demeanor in period costumes is not simply about sitting up straight and walking correctly. Doing so will only make the audience think you are too stiff, which is not beautiful."

"Teacher Zhang, what should I do?"

Gu Qing nodded obediently and listened attentively.

"Come on, let me teach you how to walk first."

Facing Gu Qing, Zhang Songwen assumed the starting stance. "First, stand with your feet together, body upright, eyes looking straight ahead, and arms hanging naturally at your sides."
Alternatively, raise your right hand to your abdomen (remember, your right hand), and place your left hand behind your back. This will better showcase your mental and physical appearance.

Zhang Songwen helped Gu Qing adjust her posture, "If you've seen classic period dramas, like Dream of the Red Chamber or Justice Bao, the noble children in them all walk like this."

"Teacher Zhang, is the square step you taught me?"

Gu Qing recalled a short video she had come across by chance before, in which a traditional opera actor walked with similar steps.

"Gu, you actually know about the Four Directions Step?"

Zhang Songwen was a little surprised, "Does anyone in your family work in the opera industry?"

Let alone young people, even middle-aged and elderly people wouldn't understand these things without having studied them specifically.

His four-square walk was learned from an old gentleman in a TV series he filmed before, "The Dragon-Riding Son-in-Law".

"No, I just personally enjoy traditional culture, so I've learned a little about opera," Gu Qing explained.

“Ah Gu, you are doing very well. Many things left by our ancestors are not just dross.”

Zhang Songwen was very happy and continued to teach, "Come on, first lift your knee, with your toes pointing naturally downwards, and then open your hips to the outside when lifting your leg, so that you can form a square stance."

Then,

Zhang Songwen then provided guidance on 'stepping,' 'weight shifting,' and 'rhythm and breath control.'

From the moment Gu Qing became familiar with the movements to the point where she walked with practiced ease, an hour had passed without her realizing it. Even so,
Zhang Songwen was mostly satisfied, and he kept encouraging and praising Gu Qing.

The smarter a person is, the more they despise stupidity.

He went from being a tour guide to suddenly wanting to act, which led him to be admitted to the Kyoto Film Academy, and eventually to becoming a well-known teacher in the industry.

Isn't he just a 'genius' in the eyes of outsiders?
Gu Qing's performance made Zhang Songwen feel as if he had encountered a beautiful jade that had not yet been carved, and his teacher's soul was burning brightly.

They can remember what someone says after hearing it only once, and they can also understand the meaning and actions perfectly.

He was infinitely better than those idiots he had taught who could only say things like, "Huh? Teacher, say it again. I don't understand. This is too complicated..."

"That's all for now on the Four Directions Step. Practice it whenever you have time, and I'm sure you'll master it soon."

Zhang Songwen reminded him, "But you also need to understand one thing: the square steps must match the image of the character you are playing."
You can't walk with more airs than those lords when you're playing a beggar or an ordinary citizen..."

"Snapped--"

Just as Gu Qing was engrossed in listening, Zhang Songwen suddenly slapped his forehead, realizing he had made a fool of himself.

"With your looks, A-Gu, it's impossible for you to play these roles. Nobles and princes are the characters you're more likely to play."

"Now that we've finished teaching them how to walk, we're teaching them how to eat."

Zhang Songwen pointed to a plate of grapes in the middle of the tea table, "Come on, act out a reaction that the grapes taste delicious after eating them."

"boss."

The assistant, who had been sitting there blankly, quickly handed him a grape.

"Sister Xiaoya, I can do it myself."

Gu Qing took the grapes, pondered for a moment, and then slowly placed them between her white teeth.

"Sour—hiss—sweet"

Oh, this taste!

Gu Qing's exaggerated expression made Zhao Ya, who was standing next to him, cover her mouth.

"don't want…"

Zhang Songwen was about to stop her, to prevent Zhao Ya's mocking actions from hurting Gu Qing, who had never acted before.

Unexpectedly,

"Wow~ Boss is so awesome, so cute~" Zhao Ya said dreamily.

Zhang Songwen: "..."

this moment,
He began to doubt his acting career.

Was it... my fault?

So, audiences actually enjoy this kind of performance?!

Fortunately,

Gu Qing, still quite clear-headed and blushing, said, "Teacher Zhang, please don't take Zhao Ya's words to heart."

She's like a fan; even if I choked to death on a grape, she'd still praise me for dying a good thing.

"Is that right?"

Teacher Xiaoxiong scratched his head, admitting that he had never been famous and simply didn't understand what his fans were thinking.

"Gu, your grape-eating performance just now wasn't exactly problematic, it was just... too formulaic."

Zhang Songwen explained: "What is the experience of ordinary viewers watching our actors' performances?"
If we do things that the audience does in their daily lives, then they will use their own daily experiences to judge us.

"Just like eating grapes."

Zhang Songwen picked up a grape, popped it into his mouth, ate it in a few bites, spat the seeds into his palm, and then pushed the plate in front of Gu Qing. "Come and try it. These grapes were just bought today, and they're quite sweet."

It was exactly like the expressions and gestures of an elder in the family when entertaining guests.

"Teacher Zhang, you look so much like him!"

Gu Qing opened her mouth slightly, her emotional value at its peak.

I was a little embarrassed by all the praise I gave Zhang Songwen.

after all,

From what Gu Qing said when they met, he already considered her a little fan.

Before I knew it, I had been teaching from afternoon until evening.

Zhang Songwen's phone rang; he needed to go home to cook and feed the dog.

"Take care, Teacher Zhang."

Gu Qingcai reluctantly said goodbye, but didn't forget to add Teacher Zhang's contact information, looking forward to the next interesting and lively class.

……

(End of this chapter)