Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
âOld Zhang, Iâve brought you the person you wanted. He definitely meets your requirements.â After meeting with the people from the Calligraphy Association, elder Yu brought Song Qianming to the production team. As the shooting of the drama was decided at the last minute, they were rushing the progress. This was also why the directing team did not directly select the people they wanted from the industry, but asked the Calligraphy Association to send one.
âYo, this child is so handsome!â The directorâs eyes lit up when he saw Song Qianming.
âI told you I wouldnât let you down. Let me introduce. This is Song Qianming. You can call him Xiao Song. Heâs not only a member of our Calligraphy Association, but heâs also an actor. So, you can count on him to perform well.â
âYouâre all in the entertainment industry,â elder Yu said. âI donât think I need to introduce Director Zhang Hua to you, do I?â
âItâs an honor to meet you, Director Zhang.â Song Qianming stepped forward to greet him.
âYouâre also an actor? This is a great surprise.â
Elder Yu was afraid that Director Zhang would be worried, so he explained, âXiao Song is one of the best among the younger generation in our Association. Heâs not only good at calligraphy, heâs also good at painting. If youâre worried, you can ask him to do it on the spot.â
âHow can I not be at ease with the people you brought? Itâs decided.â
Director Zhang wasnât curious as to why he had never heard of Song Qianming in the entertainment industry. After all, there were so many artistes in the industry, and he didnât know many young artistes.
âYou wonât regret it. Youâll know when you start filming.â
Director Zhang wasnât the kind of person who would make promises without thinking. The reason why he was able to decide so quickly was because there werenât many scenes for Song Qianming. Secondly, since elder Yu had recommended him so strongly, he must be quite capable. Thirdly, Song Qianmingâs image was really good. The leader he was supposed to shoot was a handsome man in his youth, and this fit the bill perfectly.
Due to the tight filming schedule, after signing the contract, Song Qianming checked into the hotel arranged by the crew. Although his part was scheduled for a week later, he had to do his makeup and practice his scenes before that.
âIs this Xiao Song?â Just as he was about to go on stage, a middle-aged actor with a righteous face walked up to him. Song Qianming recognized him because this actor was a senior actor who was very respected in the industry.
âTeacher Zhang.â He hurriedly stepped forward. Although he was a dignified prince, and he felt helpless to keep bowing his head to others during this period of time, these capable people were worthy of respect. Moreover, he had no reputation or status now, so this was the only way. If he wanted to have a higher status, he could only keep working hard.
âYiming, this child is not bad, isnât he? Heâs not worse than you were when you were young,â Director Zhang chuckled.
Zhang Yiming nodded, âNot bad? I think he is much more handsome than when I was young.â
âTeacher Zhang, you think too highly of me,â Song Qianming said humbly.
âIâm just telling the truth. I heard that youâre also a member of the Calligraphy Association? â
âYes.â
âNot bad. Itâs rare for a young man to have interest in calligraphy.â
âItâs all thanks to my familyâs encouragement.â
âYouâre too humble. Even with your family, if you donât have real skills, you wonât be able to enter the Calligraphy Association. Donât be nervous during the filming later.â
âI will put my heart into it.â
After the small talk, they began filming. In front of the camera, the humble young man quickly turned into a confident young man. One could clearly feel his upbeat spirit.
Zhang Yiming looked at Song Qianmingâs performance in shock, âDirector Zhang, youâve really gotten a bargain.â
Director Zhang was also very surprised. He had only wanted to shoot a few scenes of him doing calligraphy, but he didnât expect Song Qianming to be so impressive!
As one of the main leaders of the countryâs founding, the young character played by Song Qianming was naturally confident and full of ambition at his age. Even though Song Qianming did not have any lines, his micro-expressions were on point. How could Director Zhang not be pleasantly surprised?
âCut!â Because there were only two shots in this scene, the shooting was completed very quickly. However, Director Zhangâs brows were furrowed.
The other staff members looked at each other, and some even assumed that Song Qianming performed poorly. But Zhang Yiming understood and asked, âDo you have other ideas?â
âItâs a pity to only give him a few shots. But how should we change it?â
Zhang Yiming laughed, âThen have you ever thought about giving him some scenes from young to middle-aged?â
âBut arenât you the one acting for that?â Director Zhang looked at him hesitantly.
âTo be very honest, I know Iâm a little too old to act as a young man. Now that thereâs a better choice, why donât you use it? Director Zhang, donât worry about me. I wonât miss a few more scenes. The big picture is our priority, Xiao Song is more suitable for those scenes.â
Director Zhang seemed to be afraid that Zhang Yiming would regret his decision, so he immediately agreed. âAlright, itâs decided then.â
Zhang Yiming pointed at him with a smile: âYou! You just want me to be the one who says it, donât you?â
âYouâre just assuming thigns.â Director Zhang smiled slyly.
Song Qianming had only wanted to show the best side of that time period. He had read that part of history and admired these great people very much. Therefore, he did not want to tarnish the reputation of the leader when he performed it. He did not expect such a surprise.
What did it mean to have more than five minutes of scenes in a National Day representative drama? This was something that young actors in the industry would fight for, but he had achieved it so easily.
However, with more scenes, he had more to prepare. But no matter what, he had to act well in this movie.
âThese words are really well written!â Not only was his acting recognized, but his calligraphy was also praised by Zirector Zhang and the veteran actor Zhang Yiming.
Zhang Yiming pointed it out directly, âWere you trying to imitate the leaderâs notes?â
âYes, but itâs only the shape,â he smiled humbly.
Zhang Yiming sighed. âIn the past, I always thought that the young actors in the industry were too impetuous. Now that Iâve met you, I know that I was too biased.â
Director Zhang even said directly to the cameraman, âCome, give this piece of paper a few close-up shots. Forget it, letâs do it again. Xiao Song, you donât have any objections, right? â
âOf course not.â
Again, Song Qianmingâs acting was still on point. This time, the focus was on his expression and the words he wrote.
Because of the increase in his scenes, his plan to return in a week had to be delayed. Even when there were no more scenes for him, he would still stay on the set. Those who could participate in the filming of this film were all capable actors in the industry. He would be lucky if he could learn anything.
Nowadays, there werenât many people in the circle who were as eager to learn as he was, and also had a strong learning ability. In addition, he was good-looking and very likable, so he often had a group of seniors kindly guide him, which benefited him a lot.