Chinese entertainment: What's wrong with actresses wanting to improve?

Chapter 624 Ya'an Earthquake

On April 16th, the film crew moved to Zhaotong Ancient City.

According to the filming plan, a segment about Si Teng during the Republican era will be filmed here.

Qin Fang wasn't in this scene, so Chen Xiao took leave to go to Shanghai for an event.

The art team set up the scene in the ancient city a week in advance. Small flower petals were scattered on the bluestone road, and dark red lanterns were hung on the old walls on both sides. The lighting team set up two sets of light arrays with different color temperatures at both ends of the alley to create an ambiguous lighting atmosphere at the time of day and night.

Jing Tian changed into a dark purple cheongsam, the darkest of the thirty-two outfits. The skirt was narrower than the previous styles, making it difficult to take large steps. But this only gave Si Teng a more imposing and authoritative aura.

The filming went very smoothly for the first three days. At the current pace, this part of the story will be finished in two more days.

On the morning of April 20, a light rain fell in Zhaotong Ancient City.

The bluestone pavement becomes darker in color after being soaked by rain, and it makes a slight creaking sound when stepped on.

Fu Yibai was holding a cup of hot tea that the production assistant had just brought him, and he was discussing the shooting schedule for this morning with the photographer.

"Attention all departments, filming will begin in ten minutes."

Fu Yibai picked up the walkie-talkie, said something, and then bent down to place the teacup on the folding table next to the monitor.

Jing Tian had already changed into a moon-white cheongsam and was sitting at the entrance of the dressing room flipping through the script.

At 8:03, the first scene was being rehearsed.

Suddenly the ground began to shake slightly.

The lighting assistant, standing on the platform, glanced down at the light fixture beneath his feet. The fixture was shaking and making a faint metallic scraping sound.

The pottery jars placed on both sides of the alley by the prop team began to sway from side to side. One of them swayed twice and then overturned, rolling once on the bluestone slab with a dull thud.

"earthquake!"

Someone shouted, and then the entire scene started moving at the same time.

Fu Yibai stood up from behind the monitor, almost dropping the walkie-talkie in his hand.

He raised his voice and shouted into the alley.

"Everyone evacuate to open areas! Do not run inside! Do not approach walls! Those near the light fixtures, leave immediately!"

The lighting assistant jumped down from the platform, tripped when he landed, and someone next to him immediately grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the square.

A young woman from the art department stood there stunned, when someone next to her grabbed her wrist and pulled her away.

Jing Tian was standing in the middle of the alley. The moment the earthquake began, the hem of her cheongsam restricted her steps.

She lifted her skirt, ready to run, but her high heels slipped on the wet, slippery cobblestones.

Huang Mengying was three steps away from her when she reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards the square.

The two women's high heels clicked rapidly on the cobblestones, and the hems of their cheongsams and jeans fluttered in the morning breeze.

A young staff member was so frightened that he stood frozen in place.

Fu Yibai hoisted her onto his shoulder and ran towards an open area.

He ran to the fountain in the center of the square, put the staff member off his shoulder, and then turned to look at the alley behind him.

The tremor lasted for about ten seconds, and the shaking stopped before the people in the alley had even completely run out.

Everyone was still in shock.

Although the tremors stopped, people in the alley continued to run towards the square.

Jing Tian and Huang Mengying stood there hand in hand, looking terrified.

"Are you alright?"

Fu Yibai came to their side and asked with concern.

"fine."

The two women snapped out of their daze and their expressions softened considerably when they saw Fu Yibai.

"Is your foot alright?"

Jing Tian moved around a bit, felt no pain, and shook her head.

"fine."

Fu Yibai nodded, then looked around.

After confirming that everyone was already in the square, he loudly announced that filming would be suspended for the day.

"The heads of each department counted the number of people and confirmed that everyone in their group was present."

No one is allowed to enter the building today. Do not touch the outdoor equipment for now; await further instructions from the Earthquake Bureau.

Each group began counting the number of people.

The entire production crew was present, the entire photography crew was present...

For the rest of the day, everyone stayed outdoors.

Only after receiving a notification from the earthquake bureau did everyone dare to return indoors.

Back at the hotel that evening, Fu Yibai immediately turned on the TV.

The news channel is broadcasting the latest earthquake news on a loop, with red emergency subtitles scrolling at the bottom of the screen: A 7.0-magnitude earthquake has occurred in Lushan County, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, with a focal depth of 13 kilometers.

The ancient city of Zhaotong is some distance from the epicenter, so although the film crew felt the tremors clearly, they did not suffer any substantial damage.

But the aerial footage of the epicenter shown on television silenced everyone.

Collapsed houses, cracked roads, rescue teams searching through the ruins—aerial footage sweeps across villages razed to the ground, with brick fragments and twisted steel bars reflecting blinding sunlight.

He picked up his phone and called Zhao Qi.

The phone was answered after ringing twice.

"Mr. Zhao, have you seen the news about the Ya'an earthquake?"

"Watching it now."

Zhao Qi's voice was deep.

"I'm already working on contingency plans."

"Prepare 100 million yuan worth of supplies according to the standards used for the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and the southern snow disaster."

"Tents, blankets, drinking water, instant food, medicine—you know better than I what the disaster area needs most right now."

As before, the company established a dedicated liaison team to directly contact the disaster area and ensure that supplies reached the victims within two days.

"Understood. I'll arrange it tonight."

"Also, inform Lin Wei and ask her to initiate an internal donation drive within the company."

Both the artists and directors have been notified that the standard amount is 5 million for top-tier artists, 3 million for first-tier artists, 1 million for second-tier artists, and for artists and their agents below second-tier, the amount is to be negotiated between 100,000 and 500,000.

For newcomers, the company advances the payment, and the artist sets the amount themselves, repaying the company after they become famous.

The director sets no mandatory standards; it's entirely voluntary.

"I'll arrange it right away."

Just as Fu Yibai hung up the phone, there was a knock on the door.

He opened the door, and outside stood Jing Tian and Huang Mengying.

"Yi Bai, have you seen the news?"

The earthquake that happened today actually occurred in Ya'an.

The two women came in and pulled Fu Yibai to sit down on the sofa.

"I saw it. I just finished a phone call with Zhao Qi and asked her to organize a donation."

"I want to donate too. Can I donate with you?"

"Of course, how much do you want to donate?"

Should we discuss this with President Lu?