Against the Current Hong Kong 1979

Generally, TV dramas are not filmed in chronological order. Instead, they are filmed in a coordinated manner based on various factors such as the plot, scenes, actors' schedules, and the weather at the time.

"Young Detective Bao Qingtian" is somewhat special because the first episode needed to air in seven days. With such a tight schedule and heavy workload, they had to rush to film the first and second episodes. After the first episode aired, they actually had more time to film scene by scene, which was faster.

TVB never uses just one production team when filming; instead, it uses three or four teams to film simultaneously.

For example, Zhao Zhenqiang divided the film crew into three groups. He personally directed Group A, which mainly filmed important scenes from the perspective of Zhang Shuai'an and Zhao Yazhi.

Group B, overseen by Huo Yaoliang and Liu Shiyu, mainly filmed some important scenes without Zhang Shuai'an and Zhao Yazhi.

Group C was led by Johnnie To and Wong Jing, who were responsible for filming all the remaining scenes, such as establishing shots and wide shots.

Right now, Team B is filming the scene from the first episode where Gongsun Ce is showing off; Team C is simultaneously filming the scene in another studio where Aunt Bao is performing an autopsy.

On the other hand, there hasn't been much activity from Group A yet. Zhang Shuai'an and Zhao Yazhi are currently waiting in the dressing room for instructions from the director.

Zhao Zhenqiang said, "Anzai, Azi, you two get a feel for it here. Filming will begin in three minutes!"

To help the two of them find their chemistry as quickly as possible, Zhao Zhenqiang asked the production crew to prepare a separate dressing room for them, and to not disturb them unless absolutely necessary.

"Sister Zi, let's go over the lines, shall we?" Zhang Shuai'an was now fully made up, with a crescent-shaped mold on his forehead.

He has already redeemed "Zhou Jie's" acting skills with the [Acting Skills Exchange Coupon], and now he can take advantage of the opportunity to slowly digest the performance during the dialogue.

"Okay." Zhao Yazhi remained as composed and elegant as ever, and moved closer to Zhang Shuai'an with her script in hand.

Zhang Shuai'an pointed to the two scenes in the script where Bao Zheng and Ling Chuchu meet: "In the first scene, the two don't have many lines. Let's try the second scene."

Zhao Yazhi nodded: "Okay."

Their second encounter occurred after the assassination attempt on the Goryeo delegation in the street, when Prefect Gongsun dispatched constables to arrest all suspects throughout the city. Ling Chuchu, disguised as a beggar, was naturally among them. Bao Zheng, seeing that Shen Liang was about to imprison Ling Chuchu, intervened to save her, and this marked the beginning of their first formal conversation.

"Are you alright?" Zhang Shuai'an made a chasing motion, his voice slightly breathless.

Zhao Yazhi's originally gentle voice instantly became lively and playful: "What? Don't think I'll thank you! I saved you last time, and you helped me this time, so we're even."

Then, Zhao Yazhi's tone rose: "Anyway, it's not that easy for me to thank you."

Zhang Shuai'an looked up at Zhao Yazi with some surprise and found that her eyes became incredibly girlish when she spoke her lines.

Before his transmigration, Zhang Shuai'an often saw the term "youthful spirit" online. This was the first time he had seen a similar "girlish spirit" in Zhao Yazi.

Even in "The Legend of the White Snake," where he played Hu Meiniang, he still maintained that lively, girlish charm. How can a woman who has given birth still possess such a youthful spirit not be considered a gift?

Zhang Shuai'an's tone lowered, tinged with a hint of doubt and grievance: "Hey, I didn't ask you to thank me. Did I offend you by just saying hello?"

Zhao Yazhi's tone was somewhat unreasonable: "You've said so much, you must have offended someone! Humph~"

Zhang Shuai'an said, somewhat speechless, "You can hear something so soft? Are you a bat?"

"Hmm?" Zhao Yazhi looked up at Zhang Shuai'an with a questioning expression that said, "I've caught you red-handed."

Zhang Shuai'an immediately shook his head: "I didn't say that."

As they said this, their eyes suddenly met.

Zhang Shuai'an subconsciously released the "Charming Eyes" buff, his eyes shining like stars, making Zhao Yazhi's heart flutter.

However, she quickly recovered, turned her head, and said with a smile, "Mr. Zhang, have you really never acted before?"

Zhang Shuai'an said with a self-deprecating laugh, "To be honest, I was actually in mainland China just half a month ago, and I only recently swam over here. My family is very poor; we can't even afford enough to eat. How could I possibly have any opportunities to act?"

His statement was, of course, made up on the spot. When he first came ashore, he boasted to Chen Huimin and the others that he was a student at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. It didn't matter; Zhao Yazhi wasn't going to verify it with Chen Huimin and the others anyway.

"Ah, you are..." Zhao Yazhi was genuinely astonished, her mouth agape. "Then how come you speak Cantonese so well?"

Zhang Shuai'an said with a smile, "I have relatives in Hong Kong, and I've been practicing like crazy for the past two weeks to get to this level."

"Then you really are a genius." Zhao Yazhi found that the more she learned about this young man, the more mysterious and charming he seemed, like a treasure.

Subconsciously, she thought of her husband, Huang Hanwei. The two met through an acquaintance. Huang Hanwei was a doctor, and Zhao Yazhi's mother liked him very much. So, after dating for a short time, they got married under her mother's urging, and soon after, their eldest son was born.

However, these two were fundamentally different, and their pursuits were diametrically opposed. Huang Hanwei hoped that Zhao Yazhi would quit her job, stay at home to be a good wife and mother, and settle down as a traditional housewife. Zhao Yazhi, on the other hand, was a very ambitious woman, unwilling to live an ordinary life, and determined to become a big star through acting. Arguments between the couple naturally became the norm.

Last year, Zhao Yazhi was rumored to be having an affair with her co-star Huang Yuanshen during filming. Huang Yuanshen's love letters even fell into the hands of Huang Hanwei, leading to Huang Hanwei causing a scene at Shaw Brothers and making the matter widely publicized.

Neither Zhao Yazhi nor Huang Yuanshen have any choice but to maintain their current marriage in order to prove that they haven't cheated. Next October, Zhao Yazhi will give birth to another baby boy, as a way of showing her loyalty to her husband.

Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a broken mirror being mended in this world. Once feelings fade, they fade. In 1983, Huang Jinsen still managed to steal her away.

These things have nothing to do with Zhang Shuai'an.

His purpose was very simple: he just wanted to have a few close encounters with Zhao Yazhi and get some star points and skills. He had no intention of actually winning Zhao Yazhi over.

"Are you ready?"

More than ten minutes later, Zhao Zhenqiang returned and asked the two of them.

Zhang Shuai'an and Zhao Yazhi nodded at the same time.

"Let's start filming!"

Zhao Zhenqiang led the two out, where the scene had already been set up in the photography studio.

"Everyone to take positions, Action!"

The filming proceeded smoothly.

Zhang Shuai'an was a little awkward at first, but he got into character in just a few minutes. He was like Bao Zheng himself, as if there was no trace of acting. He was the young Bao Zheng himself, and every word and action was exquisite.

Zhao Zhenqiang was amazed; this person was indeed a born actor.

Zhang Shuai'an also experienced firsthand the intensity of Shaw Brothers' filming. They started filming at noon and continued until midnight, only taking a break once for meals.

The others were fine; they didn't have many scenes, and after filming their own scenes, they would rest or sit on the sidelines waiting for their turn.

As the main character, he had to be present at all times and always be the focus, so he couldn't be careless and had to maintain a good image when appearing on camera.

This version of "Young Detective Bao Qingtian" is quite different from the original "Young Bao Qingtian".

Because most of TVB's filming takes place at Shaw Studios, the studio feel is very strong. However, Hong Kong audiences are used to it and mostly don't find it a problem.

Before his transmigration, Zhang Shuai'an had only watched TV dramas filmed on location. After wandering around these studios for half a day, he got a little tired of it.

Fortunately, he had the buff of "Eternal Vitality," so he was still full of energy even in the middle of the night.

"Aren't you tired?" Miao Qiaowei, who plays Gongsun Ce, looked at Zhang Shuai'an in surprise: "Even the cameramen and stuntmen are exhausted."

Looking at Zhang Shuai'an, who was still rehearsing and reshooting in the distance, Chen Yulian couldn't help but shake her head and sigh, "Is he made of iron?"

"His condition is truly amazing." Zhao Yazhi, who was also resting on the side, murmured, "I've seen Adam Cheng and Chow Yun-fat endure high-intensity filming before, but they still had to rely on coffee and some medicine to get through it in the end."

"Even Chow Yun-fat can't keep up with him. He's a real freak with boundless energy." Chen Yulian was dating Chow Yun-fat and knew her lover inside and out. Comparing them in her mind, she had to admit that Zhang Shuai'an was a freak.

They filmed for another two hours.

It's already two or three in the morning.

Most of the people were already drowsy. When there was filming, they would force themselves to keep going and film for a while, and when there was no filming, they would doze off on the side.

Only Zhang Shuai'an remained energetic, filming group scenes with a new batch of extras and adding some close-up shots.

"He's practically Superman!"

Wang Pangzi couldn't hold on any longer by 10 o'clock, so he went back to sleep and came back, only to find that Zhang Shuai'an was still filming.

He suddenly remembered Zhang Shuai'an's boast that he could broadcast the first episode in ten days and finish filming in a month.

This isn't just bragging!