Returning to the 82 Mountain Village: An Encounter with the Journey to the West Film Crew at the Beg

"Oh? Teacher Wang is so quick? Cheng Ru just showed me the sketch a few days ago."

Xiao Zhou, I heard you also participated in the revisions?

Zhou Fangyuan responded with a smile.

The frost on Yang Jie's face melted slightly. She casually tossed the documents in her hand onto the table and softened her tone.

"Alright, let's go see how much progress our Marshal Tianpeng has made. Let's go."

She stepped aside to clear the doorway, gesturing for the two to come out.

The movements were swift and decisive, as if the angry door-opening scene just moments before was merely an illusion.

Zhou Fangyuan and Zhang Jinlai both secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Jinlai was very grateful to Director Yang for not investigating further, and he quickly followed.

As he passed Yang Jie, he said in a low but clear voice, "Director Yang... thank you."

This sentence is ambiguous; it could be a thank you for agreeing to go see the stylist, or it could be a thank you for her understanding at this moment.

Director Yang Jie glanced at him, said nothing, but nodded almost imperceptibly, a hint of understanding and encouragement flashing in his eyes.

The three of them left the editing room one after the other.

That moment of vulnerability and encouragement, along with the transformation, were sealed away in the dimly lit room behind me.

Walk toward the bright and airy dressing room, a space brimming with creativity and possibilities.

The three of them entered the slightly crowded dressing room.

What comes into view is a "big head" wearing a brand new headgear.

The big pig's head was swaying back and forth in front of the mirror on the wall, making all sorts of funny faces, and humming an off-key tune.

Who else could it be but Ma Dehua?

That joy that emanated from his very bones could be felt even through the makeup and styling.

"Director Yang is here!"

When Ma Dehua saw them in the mirror, she immediately turned around.

The pig's snout twitched, and its big ears flapped.

Although his face was covered in latex, his eyes were full of childlike excitement and a sense of accomplishment.

Director Yang Jie quickly stepped forward and examined the object closely.

Under the lights, the newly made face of Zhu Bajie is indeed more exquisite than that of the pilot episode.

But she immediately noticed that it was clearly a complete set that had been firmly attached to her face, and even her forehead and sideburns had been neatly combed.

She was somewhat surprised and turned to look at Wang Xichong, who was giving instructions.

"Teacher Wang, you've already put it all on your face so quickly? Why didn't you adjust it on the mold first and then apply it to your face?"

"Wouldn't it be a hassle to modify this if it's not suitable?"

Her tone carried the director's natural concern for efficiency and risk.

Mr. Wang accepted the acrylic paint from his assistant with a calm smile on his face.

He pointed to the open box of talcum powder on the worktable, and the jar of Vaseline next to it.

"Director Yang, that was the original plan, but Xiao Zhou came up with a makeshift method."

Wang Xichong's voice was unhurried, carrying the affirmation of a craftsman, as Director Fang Yuan explained.

When talking about the effects, he deliberately kept everyone in suspense and looked at Ma Dehua.

Ma Dehua immediately chimed in, her voice muffled through the hood, but her joy was palpable.

"Director Yang, it's amazing! My face feels smooth and cool, like the sweat is being absorbed! It used to be sticky and hot, but now it's so much more comfortable!"

Now, I feel like I could wear it and sing a whole rendition of "The Drunken Beauty"~

His words made his assistants chuckle.

Wang Xichong nodded in satisfaction.

"Look at how lively he is. He would have been complaining about the heat and wanting to take off his makeup by now."

Director Yang listened attentively, his gaze returning to the still lively eyes behind the pig's head mask.

Finally, he looked at those two ordinary everyday items.

She wasn't unaware of the actors' hardships, but as the director, she had to consider the overall situation and sometimes had to put her personal suffering aside temporarily.

Is there really such a simple and inexpensive method that could significantly improve an actor's working condition?

She looked at Zhou Fangyuan, who had been standing quietly to the side, his eyes filled with a hint of expectation.

This young man, starting from helping the film crew in Lengshuijiang, has solved quite a few problems each time.

He is observant, has a clear understanding of the tasks, and is quick and efficient but never boastful.

This thoughtful and considerate gesture touched a soft spot in her heart.

"Fang Yuan," Yang Jie said, his voice not loud, but everyone in the room fell silent.

Her eyes were full of approval:

"Your old-fashioned method sounds simple, and it's not easy to think of it and come up with it. What's even more remarkable is that it has a miraculous effect."

She took a step forward and patted Zhou Fangyuan on the shoulder, the force neither too light nor too heavy, but carrying a formal affirmation.

"You did a good job, this is no small matter! When the actors are more comfortable, they can be more relaxed and more engaged in front of the camera, and the things we shoot will be better."

This also saves the foreign exchange and money spent on purchasing professional anti-sweat patches. You're helping the production crew solve a real problem!

Yang Jie's words were simple and unadorned, without any exaggerated praise, yet they carried more weight than any flowery language.

She turned to Wang Xichong and Ma Dehua.

"Teacher Wang, if this method is indeed stable and effective, we should promote it among actors who need to wear heavy makeup for long periods of time."

Dehua, you continue to feel it too, and let me know if you have any questions.

"Don't worry, Director Yang." "Okay, Director Yang!"

Zhou Fangyuan felt his face burning, and his heart filled with warmth and a sense of fullness.

He didn't expect Director Yang to be so direct in his affirmation.

This is not just an endorsement of an idea, but also a confirmation of his value as an intruder.

He glanced at Zhang Jinlai beside him and found that the other man was also looking at him with an approving smile in his eyes.

In this challenging creative environment, a team spirit of mutual understanding and problem-solving is quietly taking root.

Yang Jie carefully examined Ma Dehua's makeup and styling, gave her a few instructions on the details to pay attention to during the shoot, and then prepared to leave.

She still has countless things to deal with.

But before leaving, she glanced back at everyone in the room, her gaze lingering briefly on Zhou Fangyuan.

The corners of his mouth seemed to curve upwards slightly, then he turned around, his steps still hurried, but a little lighter.

She knew Zhou Fangyuan's family situation very well and made up her mind.

We need to give this young man, who trusted us enough to leave his hometown and repeatedly helped the film crew, some tangible benefits.

Thinking of this, Yang Jie's aura suddenly surged, and he headed straight upstairs.

Once the small door to the dressing room closed, the tense yet excited atmosphere inside slowly subsided.

Wang Xichong, holding a small brush, continued to adjust the details around Ma Dehua's ears.

Zhang Jinlai stood there for a while, then shifted his gaze from the bustling area to Zhou Fangyuan, who was helping to organize the materials.

He pursed his lips, as if he had made up his mind, and then moved over.

"Comrade Zhou..."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear in the slightly noisy room.

Zhou Fangyuan looked up and saw that it was Zhang Jinlai. He immediately stopped what he was doing, smiled, and listened attentively.

Zhang Jinlai's fingers unconsciously twirled the edge of the worktable.

"Thank you so much in the editing room just now..."

"Teacher Zhang, don't thank me. Being able to persevere is the most important thing. Feeling... better?"

"Hmm! I'll have to carry this golden cudgel."

But he paused halfway through his sentence, looking somewhat embarrassed.