The director starts by learning from the abilities of renowned directors.

2 pm.

The actors arrived on set all dressed and made up.

Shen Qing had arrived long ago and was patiently discussing camera movements with photographer Jia Haijun.

He gestured and moved his hands slowly to simulate the camera moving, occasionally pointing to the lighting equipment not far away, and spouting out a few technical terms.

The company's first film officially started filming, and Zhao Hongwei, as the producer, was naturally present.

He couldn't help but turn to Wang Damin, the production manager beside him, and ask, "Was he always this meticulous when directing before?"

Wang Damin crossed his arms and shook his head, saying, "He used to always trust the photographer's personal interpretation."

At this point, Shen Qing finally finished communicating with the photographer and said, "Okay, let's move the camera according to our plan in a bit. We don't have much money, so let's not have any meaningless empty shots."

The original owner wouldn't have been so meticulous when directing those two TV movies, but everything changed after acquiring 99% of Zhang Yimou's professional abilities.

Zhang Yimou's photography is top-notch, while Jia Haijun's photography is only considered above average in the industry, which leads Shen Qing to feel that there are areas for improvement everywhere.

This is the company's first theatrical film, and also his first theatrical film. How could he possibly resist interfering in every little detail?

Turning to Zhao Hongwei and the others, he smiled and said, "Mr. Zhao, filming has officially begun. Would you like to say a few words to everyone?"

Zhao Hongwei waved his hand and laughed, "I won't say anything. You're the director, so you say a few words."

Shen Qing nodded and didn't refuse any longer. Looking at the main actors in front of him, he said seriously, "If you have any good ideas, you can bring them up, but please bring them up in advance, and don't improvise on the spot after filming officially starts."

His gaze lingered on Shen Teng's face, intentionally or unintentionally.

I've heard people say he can't remember his lines. I wonder if it's because he's gotten older and his memory isn't working well anymore, or if he had this problem when he was young.

Shen Teng was somewhat puzzled by the look he was being given.

"The average ratio of film to film in mainstream commercial films is now 1:8. Our film's budget for film stock is 1:3. One shot can only be filmed a maximum of 3 times. If we're not careful, we'll exceed the budget. So it's not that I can't listen to opinions or accept improvisation. It's that I don't have film stock. Improvisation has to be done during rehearsals. Once the film is running, everyone has to act according to the plan determined during rehearsals."

Looking around, most of the actors were nodding silently, with Shen Teng nodding the most.

"Shen Teng".

Shen Qing called on him directly, saying, "You must read your lines several times, understand?"

"Understood, Director."

Shen Qing nodded.

It's important to let the actors know that the film crew has limited film stock, but you can't put too much pressure on them.

Excessive pressure often leads to the opposite of the desired result.

"I believe in everyone's abilities."

He looked at Ni Dahong and said, "Teacher Ni Dahong, you've been a veteran actor for many years."

Then he turned to look at Guo Jingfei: "Guo Jingfei, the 'other people's child' that all the teachers in the department talk about, his acting skills are absolutely superb."

His gaze then fell on Yu Entai's face: "Yu Entai, a top student at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, her acting skills are naturally excellent."

"There are also Lei Jiayin, Yang Haoyu, and Wan Qian, whose basic skills are very solid. It can be said that as long as everyone performs at their usual level, the 1:3 ratio of scenes is not a big problem. 95% of our scenes take place in this villa, which is very similar to performing in a play. In a play, there is no chance to start over, but we have three chances, so we should have confidence in ourselves."

After the speech, Shen Qing and Zhao Hongwei together unveiled the red cloth covering the camera.

"Congratulations on the start of filming for 'Making a Name for Yourself'!"

"Good luck with your startup!"

……

The film set became busy, with staff coming and going.

One assistant director was assigned to Shen Qing to relay messages, while another assistant director guided the actors and directed the various crew members on set.

The actors began rehearsing their lines.

The first shot shows reporter Li Jiahui and a washed-up silent film actor walking through the villa's corridor.

Guo Jingfei held a delicate little flat wine pot in his hand, which was filled with water, of course.

"Xiao Guo, Li Jiahui is a reporter who is not afraid of power. Even if Lu Ziye were still a tycoon, let alone the fact that he is now just an ordinary businessman, Li Jiahui wouldn't be nervous if he came to see him. So, try to grasp his current mindset: drowning his sorrows in alcohol, being relaxed, nonchalant, and with a touch of melancholy."

"clear."

Guo Jingfei raised the small, flat wine flask in his hand and said.

"Haoyu, Guan Jingnian was a once-famous actor in the silent film era. He was incredibly successful, but with the advent of sound films, his career plummeted. He may seem a bit cautious on the surface, but he actually has a conscience and principles. He's like Li Jiahui, just a bit more worldly."

"OK."

After several rehearsals, the script supervisor clapped the clapperboard, Shen Qing shouted "One, two, three, action!" and the scene was filmed in one take.

The scene where the two walk through the corridor was filmed in 6 shots. It was the simplest scene, with no lines, and it was all done in one take.

In the seventh shot, the two walk to the closed door of the conference room.

In this scene, Guan Jingnian touches Li Jiahui's arm, trying to persuade this naive young man not to be so intolerant of injustice before he enters the room.

The stage manager claps the clapperboard.

"One, two, three, go!"

As instructed, Yang Haoyu nudged Li Jiahui and said earnestly, "Little Li, if you encounter any disagreements at the meeting later, don't argue with them."

"Click!"

Shen Qing waited a moment, until all the groups reported no problems, before saying, "Passed! Let's film the next take right away."

The previous shot was a medium shot, the next shot is a close-up, and Lee Ka-fai is closer to the center line of the composition.

The crew got busy, and a moment later...

The stage manager claps the clapperboard.

Shen Qing shouted, "One, two, three, begin!"

Guo Jingfei picked up on Guan Jingnian's conversation and said, "I understand, I understand, it's about making money to eat."

Then take a sip of wine.

"Passed!"

The crew got busy again, and Shen Qing smiled and said, "Very good, you two have given the crew a great start, the filming is going very smoothly."

Yang Haoyu immediately said, "Director, you explained the play very well. You made it simple and easy to understand. You have to understand the character before you can play him well."

Shen Qing nodded, and Yang Haoyu's slightly flattering manner suited Guan Jingnian's mindset perfectly.

He clapped his hands and said, "Let's keep going and shoot the next scene right away."

In the next scene, the two push open the conference room door, where they see Zheng Qianli, a director of bad movies, playing the piano. Li Jiahui casually closes the door he just opened, and the two leave.

Li Jiahui and Zheng Qianli have a deep conflict.

Zheng Qianli filmed Li Jiahui's script, but did not credit him.

The script fee was paid, but there was no credit for it.

This scene had no dialogue, yet it was still filmed in one take.

The next shot then gives Guan Jingnian a close-up.

Then Guan says her line: "Aren't you going to eat?"

"Click!"

"Passed!"

Just this one sentence.

Another flurry of activity ensued, and soon it was time for the next scene.

The next shot is a close-up of Lee Ka-fai.

After filming began, Lee Ka-fai picked up where he left off, saying, "Eat, eat, eat shit!"

"Click!"

"Xiao Guo, calm down, you've gone a bit overboard. Let's adjust and film another take later."

This is the crew's first non-stop shooting session today.

This shot also perfectly illustrates how to shoot with extreme film-saving techniques.

Li Jiahui closed the door and left. Guan Jingnian asked him: Aren't you going to eat?

Lee Ka-fai replied, "Eat, eat, eat shit!"

The above content is divided into two shots.

Normally, two people facing each other, each with one line of dialogue, could and should be filmed in one take, using two cameras for reverse shooting, one for Lee Ka-fai and the other for Kwan Ching-nin.

But what happened on set today was that after Guan Jingnian finished her line "Aren't you going to eat?", it was Li Jiahui's turn to take over the line, but there was no camera filming Li Jiahui!

Then Li Jiahui obviously couldn't continue his lines, and Shen Qing would inevitably have to call "cut".

Is it because Shen Qing is reluctant to rent two cameras?

Actually, that's not the case!

Even with two cameras on set, they still filmed line by line.

Imagine it.

Suppose there are two cameras, both using external mirror shooting positions. When Guan Jingnian says "Aren't you going to eat?", should the camera aimed at Li Jiahui be turned on?

If the camera pointed at Lee Ka-fai is turned on at the same time as Kwan is saying his lines, but he doesn't have any lines at that moment, and the footage of him isn't included in the final cut, then wouldn't that film be wasted?

If the camera isn't turned on for Li Jiahui, and Guan Jingnian finishes her lines before it's Li Jiahui's turn, but the camera isn't turned on to save film, what's the point of Shen Qing calling "cut"?

The camera wasn't calling "cut" when Guan Jingnian's scenes were finished. Her shots weren't included in the final cut, but the camera was still running, consuming film. Meanwhile, Li Jiahui was delivering his lines, but the camera wasn't on, so his scenes couldn't be included in the final cut either. What to do if they didn't call "cut"?

If Shen Qing were Jiang Wen, able to squander film at will, then it would be easy. Just shoot with two cameras simultaneously, and discard the scenes where the actors didn't speak during post-production editing. It would only waste a little film, a simple matter.

But isn't the problem precisely that the "Fame and Fortune" production team didn't have any film stock?!

Without film, we had to shoot it line by line!

Without film, even if two actors are in top form and have already started acting out their lines—actors act on the spot, and even Shen Qing has to yell "cut"—if there's no film, who are you acting for?!

Actors in low-budget production crews don't even have the chance to improvise scenes!

If you really want to have a dramatic scene, you can only do so when the actors you're acting opposite are in the same shot.

If this were the digital age, Shen Qing could easily set up six or seven cameras at once for a comprehensive filming approach, regardless of whether it would be included in the final cut. He could then select which footage to include in the final cut from the massive amount of material.