Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 1048: Chapter 609: Broader Horizons

Zhou Yun was particularly shocked just now—

Jiang Yuzhen, her performance was outstanding.

Just now, while she was fully immersing herself in the emotions, she was able to manage her performance with great control, and not just shouting from beginning to end; the layers were particularly distinct.

Zhou Yun’s own performance was basically following Jiang Yuzhen’s lead.

Jiang Yuzhen was in control of this performance.

Originally, Zhou Yun didn’t expect that she would be led by Jiang Yuzhen’s emotions, but Jiang Yuzhen’s presence just now was so strong that it directly pulled her into the character, and she performed purely based on reaction.

Hence, she felt somewhat uneasy, unsure about how her performance was just now.

Did she lose control?

Zhou Yun got down from the bed, walked to Director Kang Xin behind her, and asked, ”Director, was the last take okay?”

Kang Xin nodded and said, ”It was fine.”

”Really fine?” Zhou Yun was a bit uneasy, always feeling like she had just been led by Jiang Yuzhen, and the performance she delivered might not have been accurate.

Kang Xin saw through what Zhou Yun was worried about at a glance and said, ”No problem, both of you performed really well in that last take.”

He brought up the last take and showed it to Jiang Yuzhen and Zhou Yun.

”The brilliance of your performance was in that sudden moment, creating a sense of conflict,” Kang Xin said, ”I specifically instructed Yuzhen not to inform you in advance, so you had a genuine surprise reaction. I’m actually not particularly in favor of rehearsing with actors multiple times; we’re not performing a play. Films and TV shows are a type of visual language, a pictorial art, and a close-up camera shot reveals every emotion on your face, so many times we are pursuing that elusive moment.”

Zhou Yun suddenly understood.

Kang Xin felt that both she and Jiang Yuzhen were such capable actors; after acting together a few times, they could basically anticipate how the other would perform. No matter how well they acted, it lacked that unexpected feeling.

The camera would reveal it all.

Kang Xin truly was that detail-oriented director.

Zhou Yun smiled, nodded, and said, ”Alright then, that’s good.”

...

The foreigner who came to the set was named Richard.

Richard was here today to meet Kang Xin. He’s a buyer for a streaming platform, interested in ”Chen Yin,” so he specifically came to the set to meet Kang Xin and also to see the filming in person.

For an experienced buyer like Richard, they often rely more on their judgments of people and the overall project rather than data and celebrities.

Whether the shooting set is professional, and if the entire project team runs smoothly, are very important factors.

Richard has seen many filming sites, and because he’s seen so many, his eyes have become quite discerning.

What kind of set has he not seen?

He’s seen sets with Oscar-winning actors and actresses.

Richard knows that the lead actress of this drama is China’s top actress, but to his surprise, the supporting cast performing alongside this lead actress today were all so impressive.

During a scene change, Kang Xin walked towards him.

”Richard, how do you feel about today?” Although Kang Xin seemed to be asking Richard, his tone was one of confidence in the performances of these two scenes.

Richard said, ”The two actresses in your film are stunning.”

”They are actresses I’ve worked with before,” Kang Xin said, ”and among the finest actresses in China.”

Richard express his strong approval.

”I’ve only seen Zhou Yun act; she portrayed two completely different women in ’Life’ and ’Behind the Scenes.’ I was shocked that in such a short time, she managed to create a third female character so different from her previous roles,” Richard said, ”If this were a movie, perhaps just for Zhou Yun, the global film scene would have expectations for it.”

”Why can’t a TV series do just that?” Kang Xin replied, ”You’re the biggest streaming platform buyer in the world; if you can use the best resources to promote this series, it might have the potential to create a global impact.”

”Kang Xin, I know you’re a particularly proud director, but films and TV series aren’t the same, and I can’t make any decisions.” Richard spread his hands helplessly, ”If it were possible, I would love to arrange the best promotional resources for this series. I’ve known you for so long, and we’ve collaborated several times. I have complete confidence in your talent, but how we at WTT will arrange this series, that’s not something I can decide. All I can promise is that I will strongly recommend this series.”

Kang Xin: ”Alright then.”

”So, are you willing to sell the broadcast rights to us?” Richard’s eyes lit up as he asked.

Kang Xin said, ”Richard, I need you at WTT to show more sincerity. This series, be it in terms of its subject matter or its lead cast, has a vast audience market in Asia, and if you’re coming to negotiate with the same terms as before, I won’t agree.”

Richard said helplessly, ”Kang Xin, I have already provided the best offer we can.”

”Not long ago, NF offered $10,000 more per episode than you, but I declined as well,” Kang Xin said, ”If it weren’t because I’ve known you for so long, I wouldn’t have told you this.”

Richard showed a look of surprise.

NF?

Richard didn’t expect NF to have offered such a high price to Kang Xin.

He didn’t consider that Kang Xin would lie to him about this.

Many people would lie during negotiations, exaggerating facts, but Kang Xin wasn’t that kind of person.

...

Zhou Yun and Jiang Yuzhen tacitly stopped sitting together laughing and chatting.

They needed to reduce that sense of closeness.

For this, Zhou Yun basically went back to the trailer to rest right after filming a scene, not staying around on the set much.

Mainly because the set environment also made her feel oppressed.

There wasn’t a single scene she shot in that house that made her feel happy.

Zhou Yun, after shooting back-to-back scenes, was always crying, tearing up, the emotional swings were so large, upon returning to the trailer, the whole person seemed spiritless, leaning against the chair weakly, saying nothing.

Zheng Xiaojue, seeing Zhou Yun dispirited and not wanting to talk, asked, ”Sister Xiao Yun, do you want to play some light music? To relax a little.”

Zhou Yun nodded.

Zheng Xiaojue turned on the stereo.

The music began to flow around.

In the gentle music, Zhou Yun slowly restored her spirits.

Filming takes a lot out of her.

Some actors are amazing; one second they’re in tears in a scene, and the next, they step out, joking with their co-stars.

Zhou Yun can’t yet do that; after stepping out of a scene, she can’t quickly detach herself from the performance, especially crying scenes.

She closed her eyes in deep thought.

At noon, the crew arranged boxed lunches.

Zhou Yun was just sitting in her trailer eating her boxed lunch.

Xu Caiqin suddenly came to find her.

”Xiao Yun,” Xu Caiqin said, ”I’m getting ready to return to Hong Kong soon, so I wanted to say goodbye before I leave.”

Zhou Yun promptly put down her chopsticks, slightly lifting her seat, ”Sister Caiqin, have you had lunch?”

”I had a little something.” Xu Caiqin nodded, ”You eat, don’t mind me, I just wanted to chat with you before leaving since we don’t get to meet often.”

Zhou Yun nodded, saying, ”I’ve always been thinking, when I go to Hong Kong, I must meet Sister Caiqin and let you take me to eat something good, but I never had the chance.”

”Ah, mainly because the entertainment industry in Hong Kong isn’t thriving as it used to be, there haven’t been many opportunities to invite you over,” Xu Caiqin said.

Zhou Yun recalled the conversation over dinner last night.

She said, ”Sister Caiqin, last night Director Jiang mentioned a larger platform inviting you. I really wanted to say, if you went to a larger platform, you could do even more.”

Xu Caiqin: ”Don’t try to persuade me, I know what I’m doing.”

Zhou Yun shook her head, ”Sister Caiqin, if I didn’t feel your passion for this industry, I wouldn’t say anything, but from our few interactions, I can truly feel your passion for the art of film and TV. You really love your work, and your past achievements have brought you a lot of fulfillment, haven’t they?”

Xu Caiqin smiled, nodded, ”I won’t deny that.”

”If a once-mighty ship is destined to no longer sail forward, why not accept the invitation of another giant ship and embark on a new journey?” Zhou Yun said, ”I believe that neither I nor Director Jiang would like to see an experienced captain stay on an old ship, and if you could steer that new ship, you could explore broader domains on the ocean, and the crew from your old ship could get to see even more expansive sceneries.”