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

Zuo Dabing turned to Director Yang Jie with a smile and said:

"Director Yang, I met this kid a few years ago. He's hardworking, reliable, and has inner talent—a promising prospect! I never expected him to be working under you."

Yang Jie laughed heartily after hearing this: "Yes, Fang Yuan's performance in the group is indeed quite good."

This public and simple recognition was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating subtle ripples around Zhou Fangyuan.

The next day, he could clearly sense that some of the more experienced colleagues and mentors he wasn't very familiar with spoke to him with a different kind of respect.

A young actor playing a Taoist boy made frequent mistakes due to nervousness.

After several retakes, she became increasingly flustered, her eyes reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes.

During halftime, Zhou Fangyuan didn't say anything, but went over to straighten the child's crooked headdress and handed him a glass of water.

He whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Don't look at the camera, just look into Wukong's eyes. There really is a ginseng fruit tree in his eyes. Try it again."

The child was skeptical, but when they took the photos again, they were indeed much better.

This scene was witnessed by Zuo Dabing, who was memorizing his lines on the side.

She recalled that when she was young and in the theater troupe, she had suddenly gained enlightenment thanks to a timely and insightful comment from a senior colleague.

This kind of unassuming, genuine "help" is more valuable than any cleverness or talent on a film set.

The scene of "reviving the ginseng fruit tree" has officially begun filming, and this scene can be considered the final shot of the entire episode.

The Three Star Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, Zhenyuan Daxian, the master and his four disciples, and so on, are all present.

Zhou Fangyuan's main task remains to assist Teacher Dai with recording and on-site coordination.

During a break while adjusting his positioning, Teacher Zuo happened to be standing nearby and casually asked:

"Xiao Zhou, do you think the light from that spot just now came from my side and behind, making the shadow on my face too heavy?"

Zhou Fangyuan hadn't expected Teacher Zuo to ask him that question. Based on the superficial knowledge he had gained over the past few days and his observations on the spot, he cautiously answered:

"Teacher Zuo, from the monitor, the contour lighting on your face is actually very layered."

As Director Yang just mentioned, they might have wanted the light in your eyes when you turn around a bit brighter, so we've already had the lighting technician adjust it.

Teacher Zuo listened, nodded, and didn't say anything more, but there was a hint of approval on his face that said, "This young man is quite observant."

This was just a very short interlude during filming, but it made Zhou Fangyuan truly realize how important meticulous observation and accurate communication are on the actual creative set.

This dedication has created a classic of our time.

The filming of the scene where the ginseng fruit tree is revived is quite interesting. Whether it's immortals or Taoist priests, everyone has to follow Director Yang's unified command.

"Look here, everyone look here!"

Since what was actually "revived" was just the prop tree in the pot, it was also this fake tree that could truly "stand up".

To capture the breathtaking scene of everyone looking up at the fruit tree as it is reborn, the director must give commands to unify their gaze.

At that command, all the actors on set looked up at once, their faces instantly filled with surprise and awe.

A ginseng fruit tree that had "come back to life" was brought to life on camera.

Teacher Zuo's scenes have been successfully filmed.

At this time, the crew had just started filming and had sufficient funds, but in order to control costs, the special guest actors mostly adopted the "film and leave immediately, available whenever needed" model.

The day I left the group, the sky was slightly overcast.

Zuo Dabing said goodbye to everyone and walked up to Zhou Fangyuan.

He took out a half-used, seemingly ordinary drawing pencil from his small bag, gently placed it in his hand, and looked expectant.

"I've used this pen for a long time, revised many scripts, and drawn many character sketches. I'm giving it to you."

Her voice was gentle and calm: "If your pen gets dull, you can sharpen it; if your thoughts get dull, you can observe life more and learn more from the people around you."

The road is long, so take it slowly and steadily.

Zhou Fangyuan was taken aback.

There were no expensive gifts, but this pen, bearing the marks of use, speaks louder than a thousand words.

He gripped it tightly, his throat tightening, and could only nod vigorously: "Thank you, Teacher Zuo, I will definitely remember."

Zuo Dabing looked at him, smiled with satisfaction, and turned to get into the old jeep.

The car drove away, but Zhou Fangyuan was still standing there.

He looked down at the pencil in his hand, his fingertips able to feel the fine indentations on it.

This sudden affirmation didn't make him arrogant; instead, it was like lighting a brighter lamp in his heart, allowing him to see clearly the path he needed to walk patiently.

Over the next two days, the scenes at Qingyang Palace also came to a close.

Zhou Fangyuan was still doing the same work as before, but he could sense some subtle changes.

There are a few experienced workers I'm not very familiar with, and when I talk to them, I'll chat a bit more about what's happening on-site.

When coordinating the work, the other party's attitude became more serious, and he knew that this was the lingering warmth of Teacher Zuo's words.

He became more meticulous in his work, paying extra attention to the coordination of lighting and movement when observing the monitor. The pencil was tucked into the side pocket of his notebook.

Two days after Zuo Dabing left, all the scenes at Qingyang Palace were officially wrapped up.

The crew packed their bags, preparing to depart early the next morning for Mount Emei to film some additional exterior scenes.

The night before we parted, the moonlight was bright and clear.

Zhou Fangyuan was organizing his belongings in the side room: stones from Qingcheng Mountain, the book given by Master Wang, the old bamboo box containing seeds, the pencil given by Teacher Zuo, and the suggestion letter that had been repeatedly polished.

Looking at these things, I felt a mix of a sense of fulfillment and emptiness at this stage of life.

He strolled into the courtyard, wanting to take one last look at the "ginseng fruit tree" that had witnessed countless stories both on and off screen.

Beneath the ancient camphor tree stood a familiar figure.

It was directed by Yang Jie.

She had her back to him, looking up at the moonlight filtering through the leaves, her shoulders seeming to twitch slightly.

Zhou Fangyuan paused, intending to leave quietly, but Director Yang seemed to hear the noise, turned around abruptly, and quickly wiped his face with the back of his hand.

But the moonlight clearly revealed the tear stains on her face and her reddened eyes.

"Director Yang..." Zhou Fangyuan was caught in a dilemma and could only speak softly.

Director Yang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when he recognized him, not bothering to hide his rare vulnerability, though his voice was a little hoarse:

"Oh, it's Fang Yuan. Still not resting?"

"Let's go for a walk. Director Yang, are you... alright?"

Zhou Fangyuan stepped forward, his tone filled with cautious concern.

Director Yang Jie glanced at him, then slowly turned back, his gaze returning to the high palace wall, as if he could see through it and into the outside world.

After a few seconds of silence, she spoke softly, her voice so gentle it seemed as if she were talking to herself, or perhaps confiding in the ancient tree:

"My father... is buried not far outside this wall."

Zhou Fangyuan was shocked; he hadn't expected to hear this.

"I really want to go see him..."

Yang Jie continued, his gaze unwavering, "But this is filming, it's work... I don't have that free time."

So many years have passed, separated by this wall... so close, yet so far...

As night deepened, the surroundings became so quiet that one could hear the wind rustling through the leaves.