Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 260: Chapter 222: Rising Phase: 58

Zhou Yun’s words barely registered with Director Cong.

Over the years, he had encountered many actors whose attitudes seemed impeccable, but how they actually were, only those who worked with them knew.

Zhou Yun realized that Director Cong was somewhat perfunctory with her, but for reasons unknown, she pondered it for a moment without eagerly seeking the root cause.

With a smile, she said, ”This is my first time playing a journalist. In fact, if time permitted, I’d really like to experience this profession. But I just finished shooting a film yesterday, and there’s simply no time left.”

Director Cong chuckled, ”Shooting more scenes on set, practical experience is also very important.”

Zhou Yun said, ”Director Cong, I have my own understanding and interpretation of the character I am going to play, Zhang Hua. I’m not sure if it’s right, could you please give me some guidance?”

Director Cong’s chopsticks paused, and for the first time since Zhou Yun sat down, he showed a serious expression.

”Oh?”

Zhou Yun said, ”Zhang Hua experienced the trauma of losing both parents in her childhood. Because of living in others’ homes, she became particularly sensitive and sharp. In her career, she’s decisive, not just earnest. She has a deep-seated obsession with gaining others’ recognition, a feeling rooted in her long-standing insecurity from childhood. Moreover, being frequently exposed to brutal realities and scenes through crime reporting, her outward personality appears tougher than ordinary people. She understands the complicities of human relationships but tends to disdain them, even holding a somewhat contemptuous attitude. It was not until a fire incident, where she met police officer Liu Zhixing, who risked his life to save hers at a critical moment, that her guarded heart was finally touched.”

Director Cong said, ”It’s not just that. Zhang Hua’s obsession with gaining recognition in the workplace is also heavily influenced by her gender. Why does she seek validation? One important reason is that few female reporters venture into crime news. Carefully study the script, particularly the workplace part for Zhang Hua. You’ll realize that many of her colleagues are skeptical about her ability to handle crime reporting, believing she will soon be overwhelmed and leave.”

Zhou Yun nodded and took out her phone to make notes in the memo.

”I’ll go through the script again in detail.”

”You are playing Zhang Hua and it’s easy to fall into a stereotype,” Director Cong advised, ”I suggest you study biographies of media reporters, especially those involving news documentation, and then create a small profile of the character. Your analysis is accurate, but still lacks depth. You need to dig deeper into how her parents’ deaths affected her, how living in other people’s homes changed her emotions and sensitivities. Further refine these into small detailed elements. Your performance will be richer and have more layers, beyond just being sensitive or fixated on childhood traumas. For instance, even if it means living farther away, Zhang Hua rents her own place instead of sharing—because she never had her own space as a child, and now that she can afford it, she wants her own independent living space.”

”Exactly, that’s the idea,” Director Cong said, ”The scriptwriter actually crafted the character of Zhang Hua very well, likely infusing a lot of personal emotion into her. If you want to perform well, you can’t play her in a clichéd, formulaic manner. A sensitive, sharp career woman is not merely superficially sensitive and sharp.”

”Understood.” Zhou Yun nodded earnestly, ”I will go back and prepare.”

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Upon returning to the hotel, Zhou Yun started reading the script immediately.

The scene to be shot the next morning was exactly where she debates a topic choice with the editor-in-chief.

Zhou Yun practiced the scene with Zheng Xiaojue, performing it twice.

Zheng Xiaojue said timidly, ”Sister Xiao Yun, you were quite fierce.”

Zhou Yun suddenly snapped back to reality.

Was Zhang Hua supposed to be that fierce when negotiating a topic with the editor-in-chief?

The editor-in-chief was her superior, and given Zhang Hua’s background-free, self-reliant status as a junior reporter, it was not appropriate for her to be so fierce.

Zhang Hua is stubborn and persistent but shouldn’t be fierce.

Zhou Yun reviewed and adjusted her performance before trying again.

Then, she performed in front of a mirror, watching herself.

...

Zhou Yun rehearsed tomorrow’s scenes several times until she was finally satisfied, then turned off the lights and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, she arrived at the set half an hour early and silently reviewed her lines while getting her makeup done.

Looking up after her makeup was completed, she hesitated, pulled out a tissue, and pressed her lips together.

The lipstick no longer looked so bright.

She also took off her headband, shook her hair out, and retied it.

Finally, she appeared somewhat more composed.

The makeup artist, surprised, said, ”With this look, aren’t the lips a bit too pale?”

Zhou Yun replied, ”That’s the effect I’m aiming for. Zhang Hua has been up all night, only sleeping for two hours. She can’t possibly look too lively. However, before meeting the editor-in-chief, I can touch up a bit, apply some lipstick to look a bit more spirited.”

The makeup artist accepted Zhou Yun’s explanation.

Zhou Yun put on her jacket and jeans, stepped into a pair of canvas shoes, grabbed the script, and headed to the set.

Director Cong was adjusting the final details of the newsroom set-up.

”Under that windowsill, pile some newspapers and books, and make the bookshelf look messier,” Director Cong instructed, ”It should look thoroughly used, like someone has been frequently pulling things out and putting them back.”

The art staff immediately started adjusting the scenery accordingly.

Zhou Yun approached Director Cong and called out, ”Director.”

Director Cong looked up, saw Zhou Yun, paused, and asked, ”Makeup done?”

”Done. What do you think?” Zhou Yun asked.

Director Cong gave Zhou Yun a complex look and nodded, ”It’s good.”

Others around them looked at Zhou Yun’s appearance with surprise.

It seemed they hadn’t expected Zhou Yun to show up with such makeup.

”This is the handbag that Zhou Yun will use in the scene,” a staff member came over, holding a canvas bag.

Zhou Yun took one look at it, shook her head, and said, ”It’s too new; age it a bit.”

Director Cong nodded, ”Indeed, it’s too new. You guys need to be more meticulous. Why hasn’t it been aged?”

The staff member, embarrassed, said, ”I’ll have someone age it right away.”

Zhou Yun asked, ”Where’s my workstation?”

An assistant director immediately led the way.

Zhou Yun arrived at her workstation and nodded satisfactorily.

No desktop computer was present, and the desk was cluttered with various items: pens, documents, notebooks.

It matched her expectation for a news reporter’s workstation.