Huayu 2015, the Artist of Light and Shadow

……

Seeing that Lu Yunzhou was still somewhat hesitant, Ji Rujing didn't force him to take the plunge. Instead, she asked seriously, "Getting back to the point, Yunzhou, what are your alternative options if you don't want to play this role?"

Lu Yunzhou tapped the table lightly, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "How about Wang Yibo?"

Wang Yibo is currently 18 years old and is a handsome young man with a cool demeanor.

Lu Yunzhou had chatted with Wang Yibo a few times on the set of "A Chinese Odyssey Part Three" and they were quite familiar with each other.

Although Wang Yibo's acting skills are mediocre, his temperament is barely acceptable.

Most importantly, Wang Yibo is very cheap at this stage, and his salary is negligible.

As a director with a limited budget, Lu Yunzhou prefers to use young actors who offer good value for money.

He proactively sought out Zhou Yiwei because Zhou Yiwei was relatively inexpensive, his acting skills were decent, and with the boost from "Brotherhood of Blades," his fame was also quite good.

The price is very high.

But Ji Rujing shook her head after hearing the plan: "Wang Yibo, although he has a cold demeanor, his eyes are rigid and devoid of any emotional fluctuation. Are you sure he can portray the Grim Reaper you want in just one day?"

Although the Grim Reaper is the main character, his setting is very fixed, which is in that death cycle space.

Every time he appears, he exerts immense pressure on the female lead. He can drive her insane with just his eyes and lines.

Is this something Wang Yibo could act out?

Most importantly, the Grim Reaper character, due to the very limited range of scenes, will only need to be filmed for a maximum of two days before filming wraps up.

How could Wang Yibo grasp such emotional changes within two days?

Even killing him wouldn't work.

"Sister Ji, your concerns are valid."

Lu Yunzhou remained silent for a moment upon hearing this, but had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Ji Rujing was telling the truth. Wang Yibo's acting skills couldn't support the oppressive feeling of the Grim Reaper's soul. Even if they only filmed for two days, it would likely drag down the overall quality of the series.

"Yunzhou, you'd better work a little harder yourself. After all, this is the male lead role. How about you take 500 million in pay?"

Seeing that Lu Yunzhou was still hesitating, Ji Rujing offered him a fee that Lu Yunzhou could not refuse.

500 million, just for two days of filming.

This is the current salary of top-tier celebrities, with a daily wage exceeding 200 million.

Lu Yunzhou worked tirelessly, writing scripts and directing, but his work was only worth about 1000 million yuan.

of course.

Directing is a job that heavily relies on experience. Lu Yunzhou is only earning 1000 million now, but after he has two hit dramas, his salary will be much higher.

Even so, it still doesn't have the same appeal as top-tier celebrities.

TV series are not movies, so the director's irreplaceable role is not as strong.

Most viewers watch TV dramas because of the stars.

TV dramas have a very high tolerance for error. As long as the stars have appeal, even if the drama is terrible, there will still be viewers who watch it from beginning to end.

Just use it to kill time when you're bored.

This is completely different from the logic of the film market.

Seeing that Lu Yunzhou was still hesitating, Ji Rujing played her trump card: "I heard that your mother recently returned to China and is renting an apartment in Hangzhou. Don't you want to buy your aunt a luxury riverside mansion on the Qiantang River?"

This reason was indeed one that Lu Yunzhou could not refuse.

"Sister Ji, if you were born in ancient times, you would probably be able to wear the seals of six kingdoms."

At this point, Lu Yunzhou had already been persuaded by Ji Rujing.

The main reason is that Ji Rujing is right.

This character appears to be the male lead, but he actually has few scenes. The filming was very quick, the scenes were simple, and it took at most two days.

It won't interfere with his overall work.

In fact, being a director is a complicated and messy job, and Lu Yunzhou was worried that taking time out to be the male lead would affect the quality of the entire TV series.

But if it's only two days, I should be able to handle it.

"Director Dapeng has been very successful in directing and starring in his own shows over the years, hasn't he? His dramas have not only become hits, but he himself, as an actor, has also become a guarantee of the quality of the entire drama."

Ji Rujing then gave Lu Yunzhou another example.

If you can control the director, script, and lead actors, the chances of the show flopping are very low.

Reducing risk is an instinct for every businessperson.

At this moment, Lu Yunzhou's ancestral talent for making money, inherited from his Wenzhou roots, gained an absolute advantage.

"Sister Ji, you're right. I am indeed the most suitable person for this role."

After thinking for a moment, Lu Yunzhou lightly pressed his finger on the thick script on the table and said firmly, "In that case, prepare my makeup and costume."

"I'm glad you agree!"

Hearing this, Ji Rujing was overjoyed: "A rising director directing and starring in this drama—believe me, you've already secured a spot on the trending topics list for next year. Plus, with a top star like Tangtang, the audience's anticipation for this show is absolutely off the charts."

"We'll save at least 2000 million on advertising costs!"

After saying that, Ji Rujing picked up the office phone and called out, "Have the makeup and costume teams get ready, our male lead is here."

……

Tang Yan Studio is located near Songjiang High-Speed ​​Railway Station.

There are many film and television bases here.

However, at the same time, this is also a veritable suburb, not a bustling area.

"Does Brother Yunzhou work around here? He's a little different from what I imagined."

Zhang Ruonan thought that as a director, Lu Yunzhou would frequent some high-end places.

Just like in the movies, he was dressed in a suit and tie, surrounded by luxury cars, and all sorts of tall, beautiful women.

But now that she's arrived, she sees that it's no different from her hometown.

Her hometown is called Hongqiao Town.

This place is also called Rainbow Bridge.

Fate is truly a wonderful thing.

"Ms. Ruonan, the public audition is tomorrow afternoon. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, Director Lu will not meet with you before then. I will arrange for you to stay at the hotel across the street."

To avoid any misunderstanding from Zhang Ruonan, the driver whispered a few more words of explanation: "Many artists from other companies will be participating in this open audition. I believe you can understand."

"I understand."

Zhang Ruonan felt something was off after hearing this.

Did I get in through connections?

wrong.

This is Sister Tangtang and that agent named Ji Rujing forcibly helping me get in through back channels. Brother Yunzhou probably doesn't know anything about it.

Since that's the case, let's give Brother Yunzhou a big surprise.

Sister Nan, I'm a strong-willed person who never gives up.

……

The driver took Zhang Ruonan and her daughter to the hotel.

"Miss Ruonan, please study this script carefully. It's a token of my appreciation from Sister Tangtang."

In addition, the driver mysteriously handed Zhang Ruonan a special script.

This script looks old, as if it has been read countless times. It is covered with many tiny notes, densely packed with the writer's interpretations.

"Whose handwriting is this?"

"It doesn't look like a girl's handwriting. It looks so cold and hard. The handwriting itself is quite beautiful, though."

"Caravaggio? Who's that? That name appears more than a dozen times throughout the entire script."

"...Light must have its own will, shadows must have sufficient weight, and the contrast between light and shadow is the color that paints the soul... My God, who wrote this? This essay is absolutely perfect!"

Zhang Ruonan became extremely curious about the owner of this script.

She found the complete part of her own role.

After watching for a while, she suddenly realized that the character was crying from beginning to end.

isn't it?

Sister Nan is strong-willed and never admits defeat; she just looks like a little white rabbit. You don't really think I'm a crybaby, do you?

……

In the fading sunlight after school, she wore her washed-out school uniform, carried a worn-out schoolbag with frayed edges, and clutched the blood pressure medication she had bought for her mother tightly in her hand. A soft, gentle smile played on her lips. Sunlight fell on her doe-like eyes, which had a natural droop at the corners, making them look as clean and pure as an unblemished sheet of paper. Even her steps were light, as if afraid of disturbing something.

[After opening the door, her mother was cooking in the kitchen. Turning around, she asked, "How was school today?" She smiled, hiding her schoolbag behind her back, and said cheerfully, "It went really well! My teacher even praised me for improving on the mock exam." The moment she turned to go back to her room, her smile vanished.]

She closed the door, leaned against it, and slowly slid down to sit on the floor. There was no crying; she covered her mouth tightly with her hand, choking back all the sobs, grievances, and pain. Tears streamed down her face like broken beads, pelting the floor. Her shoulders trembled violently, but she dared not utter a single sob, afraid her mother in the next room would hear.

This is text from the script.

In addition, there are many notes between each line of text.

—"Lighting considerations: Use light filtering through a crack in the door, just enough to hit the pupils and eyelashes, ideally making the teardrops glisten. It should evoke a silent heartache in the audience… but that doesn't seem powerful enough. Keep it as a backup. We'll adjust it on set."

Besides this section, there are some additional notes below.

"When lighting here, remember that the whole room should be completely dark, with only a small table lamp in the corner flickering a faint light... Would side lighting be better? The interplay of light and darkness, the death throes of life before its annihilation, would create a more dramatic effect? ​​Let's keep this as an option for now. Once we get to the site, we'll try both approaches."

……

After looking at it for a while, Zhang Ruonan finally realized what was going on.

This is Lu Yunzhou's notebook!

At this moment, Zhang Ruonan's fingertips brushed over the cold, austere handwriting on the paper, her cheeks began to burn slightly, and even her heartbeat slowed down a beat.

Even such confidential filming notes were delivered to her. Although Lu Yunzhou said that the auditions were open and everyone was treated equally, he was actually still looking out for her.

For a moment, looking at the densely packed shooting notes on the notebook, a figure involuntarily appeared in Zhang Ruonan's mind.

She seemed to see Lu Yunzhou sitting alone under the desk lamp in the quiet studio late at night, staring at the script, sometimes frowning, sometimes quickly jotting down a few lines of sudden inspiration in his notes, and sometimes leaning back in frustration, letting out a long sigh, wondering how to portray the silent collapse.

"Being a director sounds incredibly tough. If I became a billionaire, wouldn't Brother Yunzhou not have to work so hard?"

The thought that inexplicably popped into her mind made Zhang Ruonan's heart skip a beat.

She closed the script, her fingertips brushing over the dry yet warm notes that belonged to Lu Yunzhou, and suddenly her resolve strengthened.

I must get this role.

Not just to prove anything, but also so that one day I can truly stand under such lights, side by side with him, instead of just looking up at him.

……

The following afternoon.

Zhang Ruonan followed the group to the waiting hall outside.

She looked around and saw many handsome men and beautiful women, especially those female models who were tall and slender.

She looked at her short legs and suddenly felt powerless.

However, none of those people are as cute as I am.

The role she auditioned for was a seemingly weak and easily bullied high school girl.

"I still have a lot of advantages."

"Go, Nan-jie!"

She secretly mustered her courage, and just then, assistant director Wu Xiaoqiang came out: "Zhang Ruonan, number 45, it's your turn."

"They're here."

Zhang Ruonan took a deep breath and followed assistant director Wu Xiaoqiang into a closed conference room.

The next second, she felt her brain go blank.

Because all the windows in the conference room were closed and the curtains were drawn tightly, only a beam of light shone down from a corner through the gap in the curtains.

Beneath this beam of light, there was a piano.

Dressed in a black suit, with his back to everyone but his posture upright, Lu Yunzhou was slowly playing the piano.

The urgent yet oppressive melody flowed slowly through the closed conference room, like the surging tide in the dark night.

Half of his face undulated in the light, while the other half remained hidden in the shadows, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

He exudes a mysterious and aloof aura.

It gives off a dangerous vibe.

However, due to the constantly fluctuating light, everyone could only see his body outline and could not make out his specific appearance. At this moment, they couldn't help but want to get closer and hope to see him clearly.

It's a really special feeling.

At that moment, there was no wind inside the room.

But Zhang Ruonan felt that her heart had been stirred.

Just then, Lu Yunzhou stopped playing the piano, turned around, and asked, "What's the name of this piano piece?"

At this moment, Ji Rujing almost wanted to applaud.

The judges sent from the kiwi fruit side also looked at Lu Yunzhou with shining eyes.

He was initially worried that a new director would dare to direct and act in his own show; was this some rich kid coming to the entertainment industry to play games?

However, at this moment, when he saw Lu Yunzhou's special temperament with his own eyes, he even felt a great expectation for the future of the drama.

That's the feeling!

This damn sense of oppression, this damn cold demeanor, this damn aloof, godlike distance.

If this drama can not only secure a promising director, but also a promising future superstar, wouldn't that be like winning twice?

This investment was absolutely worthwhile!

Zhang Ruonan felt her heart pounding in her throat. She stammered, "Beethoven, the third movement of the Moonlight Sonata?"

"You got it right."

Lu Yunzhou walked over from the piano and smiled at Zhang Ruonan: "No one could answer this question before. I'll give you 5 extra points for now. I hope you won't disappoint us in your next performance."

His every step was the same size, as if he had practiced countless times.

After all, he had participated in many solo competitions since he was a child, and these rhythms and postures seemed to be engraved in his genes.

As Lu Yunzhou sat down, the lights in the room gradually came on.

The judges present, as well as Zhang Ruonan, the auditionee, suddenly had the illusion that they were not participating in an audition, but filming a very stylish idol drama.

Ji Rujing exchanged a glance with the judges from the kiwi fruit competition, then turned to a page in the script and said to Zhang Ruonan, "Let's perform that scene, the night before the suicide farewell."

This match is crucial.

This is the most emotionally concentrated scene in the entire unit. If performed well, it can bring the audience to tears and elevate the film's reputation to that of a masterpiece.

However, few of the young actors in China possess this kind of acting skill.

Before the performance started, Zhang Ruonan suddenly said to the judge who was dressed as a kiwi, "Judge, could I have a table lamp?"

The kiwi judge paused for a moment, as none of the previous auditioning actors seemed to have mentioned this requirement.

Everyone is performing without props.

But after thinking about it, the judge didn't refuse and nodded to his assistant beside him: "Get her a table lamp."

He wanted to see what tricks Zhang Ruonan could pull.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunzhou paused for a moment, looking thoughtfully at Zhang Ruonan, while glancing sideways at Ji Rujing.

Ji Rujing simply smiled and offered no explanation.

Zhang Ruonan was destined to become a member of their company, and when it came to vying for roles, each company used its own unique methods.

She was simply making good use of the resources at her disposal!

……

The table lamp is turned on.

Zhang Ruonan adjusted the lighting, especially the height of the desk lamp, so that it hit her eyes just right. Then, she borrowed a fountain pen and began to write her will.

I wrote and crossed out, crossed out and wrote again.

The paper was covered in scratches.

The last thing she left behind was a single line: "Mom, after I'm gone, you can eat well and sleep well. You won't have to work so hard anymore."

As soon as she finished writing this line, she suddenly remembered that her mother also worked hard every day, leaving early and returning late, to run the clothing business for the sake of her four siblings.

At that moment, Zhang Ruonan suddenly felt the same way. A crystal tear fell from her eye and landed on the letter, blurring the ink.

She quickly tried to wipe it off, but the more she wiped, the more smudged it became.

Finally, she crumpled the letter into a ball and stuffed it into her pocket.

No trace was left.

"good!"

The kiwi judges were stunned after seeing this scene. After a moment, they came to their senses and stared at Zhang Ruonan with shining eyes.

It's like looking at a piece of uncut jade.

He carefully voiced his question: "I don't remember it being written like this in the script. Why did you put that letter in your pocket?"

Zhang Ruonan first glanced at Lu Yunzhou silently.

Your script isn't written like this, but my script has an alternative plan that's written this way.

A silent farewell is even more heartbreaking, isn't it?

Silence is the most deafening!

But judging from Lu Yunzhou's appearance, he seemed unaware of all this.

To avoid being noticed, Zhang Ruonan lowered her head and stammered, "I think this kind of escapist behavior is more in line with the character's personality."

"That makes sense. It seems you've put a lot of effort into this role."

After hearing this, the kiwi fruit judge thought for a moment, then immediately decided, "You're the one! You absolutely have to come!"

He then became very curious about Zhang Ruonan, repeatedly asking, "What's your name? Which company do you work for? I've never seen you before?"

After he finished speaking, he realized that he had overstepped his bounds and was about to speak to make amends when Ji Rujing gently touched his arm.

He snapped out of his daze, a slightly embarrassed smile appearing on his face. He turned to Lu Yunzhou and asked expectantly, "Director Lu, what do you think?"

After all, their CEO Ma personally promised that the casting for this drama would mainly take Lu Yunzhou's opinions into account.

Lu Yunzhou looked at Zhang Ruonan for three seconds and then laughed silently: "The tears of an angel are truly heartbreaking and devastating."

"Welcome to the team, Zhang Ruonan!"

Very good!

I love Caravaggio!

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ruonan jumped up and down with excitement, ran around the conference room, and gave everyone a high-five.

When she ran up to Lu Yunzhou, her outstretched hand suddenly stopped, her cheeks flushed instantly, and her eyes seemed to be expecting something.

"You did a great job."

Lu Yunzhou looked at her, smiled, and gently raised his hand.

Zhang Ruonan's cheeks flushed instantly, but her eyes sparkled. She reached out and gently touched Lu Yunzhou's hand, then shrank back like a startled rabbit.

His adorable appearance made everyone present laugh.

"So youthful and vibrant!"

The judges from the kiwifruit platform were unaware of the relationship between Zhang Ruonan and Lu Yunzhou; they simply thought the young girl was incredibly adorable.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Just one chapter today.

Does the opening of Death and Angels create a sense of destiny?