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

Teacher Dai looked up, a smile in her eyes behind her glasses: "Fang Yuan, are you done with your work? Today's scene was a success."

Director Yang's idea of ​​a "three-second silence" was the finishing touch.

He paused, then glanced meaningfully at Zhou Fangyuan.

"I heard that the idea for this finishing touch originated with you?"

Zhou Fangyuan quickly said, "Director Yang summarized and refined it well; I just shared some fragmented feelings."

"Feeling it right is skill." Teacher Dai closed his notebook and looked at Zhou Fangyuan solemnly, saying:

"Starting tomorrow, there will be a few scenes where the dialogue needs to be slightly adjusted according to the on-site environment. You'll be with me, and we'll work together to figure it out."

Having a sense of the big picture isn't enough; you also need to know how to fill in the gaps and smooth out the details. That's the daily work of a screenwriter.

"Yes, thank you, Teacher Dai!"

Zhou Fangyuan knew with certainty that his creative studies were about to enter a more refined stage.

As dusk fell, the red walls of Qingyang Palace were tinged with twilight.

The filming for the day was completed, and everyone packed up their equipment and returned to their rooms one after another.

Exhausted, but more than anything, feeling a sense of accomplishment after a tough battle.

Zhou Fangyuan was in a good mood at the moment. He walked at the back and helped check the restoration of the venue.

The real ancient camphor tree stood quietly, as if the daytime storm had nothing to do with it.

He touched the rough bark, feeling a sense of peace.

Tomorrow, there are new scenes to film and new problems to face.

But today, he learned to communicate under pressure, saw how an idea can go from vague to clear and then to perfect presentation, and also received more specific tasks.

The road extends forward step by step, by solving one specific problem after another.

Filming at Qingyang Palace proceeded as planned.

The next scene to be filmed is an outdoor scene where "Qingfeng and Mingyue discover that the ginseng fruits are missing and count them under the tree".

Before filming began, art director Ma Hongyun faced a dilemma.

He found Li Hongchang and Zhou Fangyuan, pointed to the script and said, "Director Li, in the next scene, the two Taoist boys should be holding the 'golden cudgel'."

The "golden cudgel" brought by the props team was exquisitely crafted, but it felt... lacking a sense of antiquity, like it was newly made. It felt a bit out of place in the centuries-old environment of Qingyang Palace.

Old Han and the others are busy with other, more important work. Look, this…”

Director Li examined the props and confirmed that there was indeed a problem.

He pondered, then turned to Zhou Fangyuan, his eyes overflowing with trust, this time without even frowning:

"Fang Yuan, you've been learning from Teacher Dai lately, and you're quick-witted. Do you have any ideas about Team Leader Ma's problem?"

Could you look around and see if there's an experienced craftsman nearby who can do some aging work, or... is there a more suitable alternative? We need to be quick; we can't delay the filming.

Zhou Fangyuan took the gleaming gold cudgel, examined it for a moment, thought for a moment, and said:

"Director Li, Team Leader Ma, I'm going to take a look around the neighborhood."

I remember when I came here, there were several shops on the old street outside the palace that collected secondhand goods and made small handicrafts.

"Okay, I'll leave this to you! Be mindful of the time, and safety comes first," Li Hongchang decided.

Zhou Fangyuan, carrying props and a little bit of the production crew's funds, left through the side gate of Qingyang Palace.

The bustling old streets outside the palace were unlike any market he had ever seen before.

There are few brand-new goods here, but plenty of secondhand bookstores, porcelain shops, and small workshops that repair copper and ironware.

The air was filled with the smells of old paper, tung oil, and metal.

He asked several bronze repair shops, but the master craftsmen were either too busy or shook their heads and said that "antiquing" is not a simple matter of polishing; it takes time and specific techniques and cannot be done in a short time.

Just as he was getting a little anxious, he saw a shop without a sign on an inconspicuous corner.

The storefront is narrow, but the interior is quite deep, filled with all kinds of old furniture, old wood, broken porcelain and metal objects.

An elderly craftsman with gray hair, wearing reading glasses and a dark apron, was gently sanding the surface of a bronze incense burner with fine sandpaper by the light from the window.

The movements were neither hurried nor slow, but extremely methodical.

Zhou Fangyuan's heart skipped a beat. He went in and greeted the staff politely, "Master, I'm sorry to bother you."

The old craftsman looked up, glanced at him over his glasses, and continued working: "Young man, what are you looking for? I don't sell new things here."

"Master, I don't want to buy anything new, but I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Zhou Fangyuan took out the golden cudgel and explained that he was from the "Journey to the West" production team.

We need to give this prop a worn-out, "long-used" look, but time is tight.

The master craftsman took the metal mallet, weighed it in his hand, examined its workmanship against the light, and a slight twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Filming a movie about Sun Wukong? That's interesting..."

He put down his tools, turned around, and began rummaging through the pile of junk behind him, saying as he searched:

"This is just copper with gold powder applied, it's too shiny and superficial. To truly appreciate an antique look, you need to consider the layers and textures."

The gold powder on the parts that have been handled by hand for years should have worn off, revealing the underlying bronze color, and there should also be a warm, smooth patina.

The occasional bumps and knocks left some dark dents... It's a rush job, so I can't use the clumsy method of natural oxidation.

As he spoke, he pulled out several small jars containing powders and pastes of different colors, and also took out a set of small tools.

"Please sit down."

He pointed to a small stool next to him.

Zhou Fangyuan sat down and watched the master craftsman begin his work.

He first used extremely fine sandpaper to gently polish the handle of the "golden mallet," paying great attention to the pressure and placement.

Then, use a small brush to apply a little dark-colored paste to the areas where you want to create abrasion and shadow. Then, quickly wipe it with a soft cloth to allow the color to blend in naturally without looking harsh.

Next, he used another powder to create fine spots on specific areas that resembled patina and the erosion of time.

Throughout the process, the master craftsman didn't say much, but Zhou Fangyuan was captivated by his skillful hands.

It's not just technology; it's more like an understanding and representation of "time."

"Master, your skills are amazing! How many years have you been doing this?" Zhou Fangyuan couldn't help but ask.

"My whole life has been spent dealing with these old objects."

The old craftsman smiled without looking up and said, "My father did this job too. Repairing, aging, antique-style... I've seen it all."

In the past, wealthy families would look for people like us when their valuable possessions broke and they couldn't bear to throw them away.

Now... fewer people need it.

About an hour later, a "brand new" metal mallet was transformed in the hands of the master craftsman.

It remains exquisite, but the luster has become softer and more understated, the handle shows natural wear and a warm feel, and some edges have just the right amount of signs of age.

It looks like a magical artifact that has been used by a Taoist disciple for a long time.

"Alright, look at this!" the master craftsman handed it over.

Zhou Fangyuan took it, examined it carefully, and was amazed.