The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 446: Chapter 194: Hand Over

Online, there was a meme about actors’ performances, ”Turning evil doesn’t require eye makeup.”

But for He Tiantian in front of Director Feng and others, it wasn’t as simple as not needing eye makeup; she was practically possessed by the character.

She was clearly a young girl of seventeen or eighteen, yet her eyes were sharp and fierce.

Every move she made demonstrated shrewdness and competence, yet there was also the charm and allure of a mature woman.

What surprised the screenwriter even more was He Tiantian’s nimble handling of things.

Although these were just a few unintentional movements, the screenwriter, who had written martial arts dramas before, could tell at a glance that this girl had some foundation in martial arts.

Thus, without waiting for Director Feng to speak, the thirty-something screenwriter, who looked like a refined young man, excitedly asked, ”He, He Tiantian, right? Have you studied martial arts?”

He Tiantian nodded and humbly replied, ”Just a bit!”

It was more than just a bit. In the recently concluded script for Mrs. Ma, she was no less than the top martial arts heroine.

Even though she was out of the Martial World and lacked the script’s enhancement, and the reality of polluted air made it unrealistic to develop Inner Strength quickly,

He Tiantian had a foundation.

When the screenwriter and Director Feng asked her to demonstrate a bit, He Tiantian found a broom in the corner of the room and used it as a weapon to perform the Dog Beating Stick routine.

The broom moved powerfully through the air as He Tiantian alternately picked, wrapped, led, and chopped with the grace of flowing clouds, displaying beauty along with a strong sense of power.

Hearing the whooshing sound cutting through the air, Director Feng and the others were certain: He Tiantian was not those dance-born or performance-based martial artists, hers was genuine skill.

Ah, this was indeed rare.

Since wires became widely used in film production, true action stars had been getting scarce.

Whether in martial hero or immortal hero dramas, a high kick or a wire-assisted spin represented a top-level master!

Where were the thrilling and violent aesthetics of past martial arts films?

Punches connecting directly, sweat and blood splattering, a simple move or a kick demonstrating profound skill—that sort of martial arts scene had nearly vanished from the current film industry.

Perhaps using wires offered the protagonists an ethereal beauty, but the raw, visceral violence brought a thrilling, heart-pounding delight.

Originally, while creating this script, the screenwriter included some fight scenes.

However, considering the current state of the film industry and the shortage of martial arts stars, Director Feng and the screenwriter decided to remove those scenes after discussing it.

Director Feng felt it was a pity, and the screenwriter had a deep sense of regret.

This was supposed to be a spy drama, featuring hidden undercover operatives, but also the aggressive demons and Guo Party agents.

Though real historical spies weren’t necessarily martial arts masters, they were better at hiding and gathering intelligence.

But on screen, if a spy could deftly handle intense fights with the enemies, the scenes would surely captivate the audience.

Moreover, the male lead in the drama wasn’t the traditional kind of Red Party agent; he had a humble background, had mixed with gangs, and did have a foundation in martial arts.

It was because of this setting that the screenwriter designed several fight scenes.

Regrettably, reality wouldn’t allow it, and the screenwriter had to reluctantly delete them.

But seeing He Tiantian’s outstanding performance ignited countless inspirations in the screenwriter’s mind.

Perhaps the character setting could be revised again!

The plot and other elements could be enriched, more dramatized, to produce something truly spectacular!

The screenwriter’s eyes brimmed with excitement, and he felt an eager urge to try these new ideas.

Director Feng and the screenwriter had collaborated several times, and were good friends privately, so he knew him well.

Seeing his expression, Director Feng realized, oh, the script was likely going to be changed again.

However, Director Feng trusted his friend’s ability; both were perfectionists. No matter how demanding or finicky they were at work, it was all for the art.

If the script needs rewriting, the start of filming would be delayed again.

But Director Feng was not in a hurry; this was his transitional work. In the past, his artistic films were critically acclaimed but not commercially successful, while his commercial films were box office hits but not critically acclaimed.

This time, with the anti-Japanese spy film, he aimed to create a truly great film that was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

The initial preparations had taken two years, and delaying a few more months to rework the script was trivial.

Although he was not in a rush to start shooting, He Tiantian as the female lead was already decided.