Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 259: Chapter 221: Rise Phase: 57

”I can’t act like this, how am I supposed to act? Am I playing a fashion model?”

Half an hour later, the on-site executive producer arrived here, and costume designers, makeup artists, and other staff members gathered together.

”Xiao Yun, the TV station also has its requirements. If the look isn’t appealing, they won’t accept it,” the executive producer persuaded. ”If it’s too realistic, the show won’t look good.”

Zhou Yun said, ”So, wearing high heels and a fringed skirt at a murder scene won’t be ridiculous?”

The executive producer was somewhat helpless.

”I disagree with wearing this to act in the play,” Zhou Yun shook her head, ”Sorry.”

The situation was a bit deadlocked for a while.

The executive producer had no choice but to call He Yong.

”Zhou Yun is very adamant, but these costumes are provided by sponsors. If she refuses to wear them, it puts us in a difficult position with the sponsors.”

He Yong asked, ”Why didn’t you have her approve these costumes earlier?”

The executive producer said, ”Our usual practice is to have the actors confirm when they join the team and take photos for the makeup and costume test. We’ve never had an actor with such a strong opinion on costumes before.”

There was some dissatisfaction in his words.

He Yong said, ”So, what do you plan to do now?”

The executive producer said, ”President He, could you please call Zhou Yun and talk to her? Honestly, I’m not in a position to decide this, no matter how much I plead, she won’t agree to wear them.”

”Doesn’t the sponsor have other clothes she could choose from?” He Yong said irritably.

”These clothes are the main new products pushed by the brand,” the executive producer explained.

”Fuck the new products,” He Yong snapped, ”who is the contact for this sponsor? Send me their contact information.”

...

Zhou Yun of course understood how much trouble her non-cooperation could cause the production team.

But she had her own convictions.

She was an actor, and she needed to protect her character.

A media reporter covering crime news should not be dressed like a glamorous fashionista. She could look stunning and attractive at specific occasions, but most of the time, especially at a crime scene, she shouldn’t look like a runway model.

Zheng Xiaoju quietly relayed various gossips she heard to Zhou Yun.

”Everyone says you’re difficult to deal with, saying your standards are too high.”

Zhou Yun sat on the chair, her face showing indifference.

”Then let them talk.”

Zheng Xiaoju looked troubled and said, ”Sister Xiao Yun, you can’t let them defame you like this, it’s clearly their lack of adequate preparation.”

”Xiaoju, I can’t say their work is bad. If they had the decision-making power, they would know what’s appropriate.”

”You understand them, but they don’t understand you.”

”They don’t need to understand me, Xiaoju, remember this: in our relationship, they are the weaker side. I can stick to my stance, but I can’t expect the weaker side to understand me,” Zhou Yun said, ”You’ll probably face a lot of such situations in the future, just remember, don’t really blame a person who has no power or ability to make decisions.”

Zheng Xiaoju nodded and said, ”I understand.”

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In the afternoon, representatives from the sponsoring brand came over, holding several booklets, and handed them to Zhou Yun with a smile.

”Miss Zhou, please have a look, these are all the main products from our brand,” the brand manager said. ”Our boss said, everything is up to your preference, you can wear whichever you want.”

Zhou Yun was VX’s brand ambassador and strictly speaking, she shouldn’t be wearing clothes from other sponsoring brands.

But this was for a movie shoot, not a commercial activity, and according to the contract, clothing for filming wasn’t under those restrictions. Nevertheless, Zhou Yun still made a call to Zheng Xiaowen, and communicated about the situation in advance. He Yong also communicated with Zheng Xiaowen, though it’s unclear what exactly was discussed, but Zheng Xiaowen seemed very satisfied.

Zhou Yun browsed through the booklets, picked about twenty variations, mainly in black, white, gray, and brown.

”Send these over as soon as possible,” Zhou Yun said. ”I need to start shooting tomorrow.”

The sponsoring brand manager carefully took back the booklets, his attitude very attentive and respectful, saying, ”Alright, we’ll prepare and send them first thing.”

Zhou Yun then turned to the costume designer and said, ”After they deliver them, please distress them a bit; they shouldn’t look brand new.”

The costume designer looked hesitantly at the executive producer.

After the executive producer nodded, the costume designer agreed.

After all these adjustments, by three in the afternoon, Zhou Yun finally settled her character’s costume.

She heard that Director Cong had gone to the cafeteria to eat, so she immediately headed there.

On her way, she passed by another shooting scene where the assistant director was filming.

Director Cong was sitting in a corner of the cafeteria eating alone, with a deep furrow in his brow as if he was in deep thought.

Zhou Yun walked over and sat opposite him.

Director Cong snapped back to reality and upon seeing Zhou Yun, smiled in surprise and said, ”Why are you still here?”

Zhou Yun said, ”I just finished confirming the makeup and costumes with everyone.”

Director Cong asked, ”Were there any problems? This drama was prepared in a rush, I was sort of drafted in last minute.”

He laughed self-deprecatingly.

”All problems resolved,” Zhou Yun said. ”Director Cong, I’ll need your guidance from now on; please don’t hold back.”

Director Cong responded with a smile, ”If we can complete this drama with quality and on schedule, it would be quite an achievement. I heard you’re a very capable actress, that saves a lot of effort.”

”Director Cong, I hope you can be strict with me,” Zhou Yun said earnestly. ”You are an experienced director, and I am sure I can learn a lot from you.”

”It’s all about cooperation,” said Director Cong.

For some reason, Director Cong kept avoiding the topic Zhou Yun brought up.

Zhou Yun wondered, does Director Cong not like her?

What Zhou Yun didn’t know was that Director Cong had been a director for many years with rich experience, but in recent years, due to market changes, film companies preferred to use celebrities with mass appeal. Unfortunately, these celebrities often had bigger egos, worse tempers, and poorer acting skills. Director Cong initially reacted angrily, even yelling at people, but was quickly warned and ’educated’ by the people behind these celebrities, facing a situation he had never encountered in his career before.

Previously, no matter how big the name, one had to listen to the director on set.

Those who confronted the director were all accomplished.

Unlike now, where each young newcomer, thin-skinned, couldn’t even handle a bit of criticism.

Disheartened, Director Cong gradually compromised, and later even lowered his standards.

He no longer had the passion he once had. Regarding these young actors, he couldn’t be bothered to provide hands-on guidance anymore. He would say his piece, and if the other party didn’t want to listen, he couldn’t be bothered to say any more.