We asked you to make an anti-corruption film, but you made one in the name of the people!

Half a month has passed.

Three days before filming began, all the actors were in place.

Zhang Yixing arrived two days early and checked into the hotel arranged by the film crew.

Jin Chen arrived two days early, carrying a large suitcase filled with her own clothes.

She looked at the costumes prepared by the crew and felt they weren't worn enough, so she brought a few old clothes with her.

When Wang Chuanjun arrived, he was wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a dark shirt. Standing there, he looked exactly like Manager Lu.

When Sun Yang arrived, he had a bit of stubble on his chin, was wearing a black tight-fitting T-shirt, and had very obvious muscle definition on his arms.

Teacher Yongmei arrived last, dragging a suitcase. She greeted everyone quietly, her voice soft but warm.

The night before filming began, Lin Mo called everyone together for a simple script reading session.

In the hotel's small conference room, everyone sat in a circle, each holding a stack of scripts.

Lin Mo sat in the main seat, holding a script in his hand, but did not open it.

"Dear teachers, you have all read the script. I won't read it line by line, but I'll just talk about the key points."

He looked at Zhang Yixing: "Yixing, Pan Sheng's key scenes—entering the park, being beaten, escaping, being rescued—are all emotionally charged moments. You need to get into character beforehand; you can't cram at the last minute."

Zhang Yixing nodded: "Director Lin, I've been reading the script the whole time I've been at the hotel these past two days, so I'm able to get into character."

Lin Mo looked at Jin Chen: "Chenchen, the most challenging part of Liang Anna's role is portraying her psychological changes from being forced to becoming numb to despair and then to hope. You need to act that out."

Jin Chen nodded seriously.

Lin Mo looked at Wang Chuanjun: "Teacher Wang, I don't require you to play a villain in any of Manager Lu's scenes. Just play a businessman doing business in northern Myanmar, except that this business is fraud. He thinks he's done nothing wrong, and he thinks the people who were cheated deserved it. That's the most terrifying thing."

Wang Chuanjun adjusted his glasses: "Director Lin, I understand. I'll make this character more ordinary."

Lin Mo looked at Sun Yang: "Sun Yang, Ah Cai doesn't have many scenes, but he has to shine in every one of them. You have to make the audience remember you—not because you're handsome, but because you're terrifying."

Sun Yang grinned, a smile that sent a chill down Xiao Liu's spine.

Finally, Lin Mo looked at Yongmei: "Teacher Yongmei, your character is the only light in the whole play. There's no need to say anything more, just play your role well."

Yongmei nodded, a smile playing on her lips.

The reading session lasted for more than an hour, and it was already past 10 p.m. when it ended.

Everyone went back to their rooms to rest and prepare for tomorrow's opening ceremony.

……

The next morning, just as dawn broke, the crew got busy.

The opening ceremony was scheduled for 8:00 a.m., in the open space at the factory gate.

A table was set up at the entrance of the factory area, with roast suckling pig, fruit, pastries, and an incense burner on it.

A banner with red background and white characters was strung behind the altar: "Wishing the movie 'All In' a successful start to filming."

Two red lanterns hung on either side of the banner, with the words "Peace" and "Smooth Sailing" written on them.

This is a tradition of the film crew: they pray to the gods before filming begins, hoping for good luck.

Lin Mo didn't really believe in this, but Lao Zhao insisted on doing it.

"Director Lin, the opening ceremony ceremony wasn't about superstition, it was to put the crew at ease," Old Zhao said seriously. "Think about it, with so many people working together, a sense of ritual helps everyone feel united."

Lin Mo couldn't persuade him otherwise, so she let him do as he pleased.

At 7:30, the actors arrived one after another.

Zhang Yixing was wearing a white T-shirt with a black jacket over it, and his hair was neatly combed, making him look very energetic.

Jin Chen wore a red dress, her hair was down, she wore light makeup, and she greeted everyone with a smile.

Wang Chuanjun was wearing a dark blue shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, holding a cup of coffee in his hand, standing to the side slowly sipping it.

Sun Yang, wearing a black leather jacket, stood expressionless at the back of the crowd.

Teacher Yongmei was wearing a light gray trench coat and had no makeup on, but her temperament was incredibly good.

At eight o'clock sharp, Old Zhao picked up a megaphone and spoke loudly.

"Dear teachers and colleagues, the opening ceremony for the film 'All or Nothing' is now beginning!"

Applause erupted.

Old Zhao continued, "First, please, Director Lin, offer incense!"

Lin Mo stepped forward, took the three incense sticks from Old Zhao, lit them, bowed three times to the offering table, and then placed the incense sticks into the incense burner.

Then the actors offered incense one by one.

After all the actors finished offering incense, Old Zhao called out again, "Director Lin, please unveil the red cloth!"

Lin Mo walked up to the camera, which was covered with a red cloth.

He reached out and grabbed a corner of the red cloth, then yanked it hard.

The red cloth fluttered down, revealing the camera body, with a red paper strip pasted on it that read "Good luck with the start of filming".

The applause rang out again.

Old Zhao shouted last, "Fire the cannons!"

Firecrackers crackled and popped, sending red fragments flying everywhere.

Some people covered their ears, while others laughed and hid away.

Lin Mo stood in the middle of the crowd, watching this scene with a smile on his lips.

After the firecrackers were finished, Old Zhao picked up the megaphone and announced, "Everyone, filming for 'All or Nothing' is officially underway! The first scene will begin shooting at 1 PM! Get ready!"

The crowd dispersed, each going about their own business.

Zhang Yixing walked over to Lin Mo and said, "Director Lin, my scene is the first one this afternoon. Please don't hold back and scold me if you need to."

Lin Mo laughed: "I won't curse, but if you don't act well, I'll make you film it take after take until it's good."

Zhang Yixing's face fell: "That's even harsher than scolding me."

Wang Chuanjun patted Zhang Yixing on the shoulder: "No pain, no gain."

Zhang Yixing rolled his eyes: "Brother Chuanjun, don't talk like that without understanding the situation. You don't have any scenes this afternoon, you can go back to sleep."

Wang Chuanjun took a sip of coffee and said leisurely, "Who says I have no chance? I'll go to the set this afternoon to watch you film and learn something from you."

Zhang Yixing was completely speechless.

Jin Chen laughed out loud.

Lin Mo felt much more relaxed watching them bicker.

He turned and walked into the factory area, wanting to do a final check on the site.

Old Zhao followed.

"Director Lin, are you nervous?"

Lin Mo thought for a moment and then spoke the absolute truth.

"I was nervous. But being nervous was useless; we still had to film."

Old Zhao laughed: "What you said is as good as saying nothing at all."

Lin Mo smiled too.

He stood in the middle of the factory area, looking up at the gray-white buildings, the barbed wire fence on the wall, and the rusty water tower in the distance.

The wind blew by, carrying a desolate feel.

Lin Mo took a deep breath and turned to walk towards the dressing room.

The first scene was at 1 p.m.

The first scene where Pan Sheng is tricked into entering the park.

That look in his eyes, that expression, that instantaneous shift from hope to despair.

He was going to talk to Zhang Yixing about how to act out this scene.