Chapter 614: Chapter 614

It is easy to create a TV drama that caters to the market, simply by combining elements the audience likes into one pot and stewing them together, not caring about the logic of the story, but only aiming to pander to the market for the sake of it.

Such TV dramas are guaranteed not to incur losses, but they will definitely never become classics!

Like popcorn, they are forgotten once consumed, unable to leave a lingering taste.

He had made five TV dramas to date, and one of his modern dramas even became a minor hit. He was not lacking in popularity, but in a classic work that would consolidate his position or even elevate him further,

Qiu Zhenze believed what he needed was a good work, not these ubiquitous scripts.

At that moment, he had already picked up his phone to call his agent. Amid the melodious and light ringing of the call, Qiu Zhenze’s heart also settled down slightly, as he thought of something he had failed to consider in his anger.

Director Liu was a famous director for many years. New directors might rely on formulaic scripts to secure investments, but Director Liu did not need to. As soon as he hinted at wanting to make a TV drama, a whole host of investors would come knocking at his door with funding offers.

Even before a TV drama was completed, major local stations and online broadcasters were already lining up to secure Director Liu’s works, all relying on the reputation built by his previous productions.

Other people were willing to invest without reading the script and to introduce the work without seeing the finished product, because they trusted Director Liu’s standards, believing it to be a work destined to become a classic.

Even if it did not reach the level of a classic, it would certainly qualify as excellent, something no run-of-the-mill drama could compare with.

So, after calming down for a few seconds, and before the agent could answer, Qiu Zhenze hung up, composed himself and continued reading. As he read on, he felt grateful he hadn’t missed out on a great work.

However, before agreeing to take on "Xiao Xiangyu’s Many Sorrows," Qiu Zhenze had a discussion about several plots in the drama with Director Liu, including one that involved cross-dressing.

He had clearly stated he did not want to shoot that scene, and Director Liu had promptly responded over the phone, agreeing to convene the scriptwriters and make changes as much as possible, removing that plot point.

This reassured Qiu Zhenze, who then went on to sign the contract.

But when he arrived on set today, his conversation with Director Liu was hardly underway when an assistant director interrupted to say he needed to change into his costume.

Following the assistant director to the costume and props department to get his costume, Qiu Zhenze was stunned—it was unmistakably women’s clothing!

That led to the scene He Jinxia witnessed this morning.

When He Jinxia appeared dressed as a man, he was still arguing with Director Liu about cutting that scene.

Not being able to remove it immediately was no problem; he hoped to delay filming the scene, as a form of protest, but didn’t expect Director Liu to use the words spoken by He Jinxia to lecture him instead.

Qiu Zhenze was lost in thought, not showing it on his face but inwardly regretting not having included the clause not to shoot that scene in the contract when he signed it.

At the time, he had only communicated with Director Liu over the phone, with no one else listening in, and he was not in the habit of recording his calls.

If Director Liu said he did not acknowledge it, there was no acknowledgment, and he was powerless to argue and turn hostile. The contract was there in black and white, not simply for show. If he pulled out now, he would have to compensate the production crew with a hefty breach of contract fee.

He Jinxia stood by, observing the changing expressions on Qiu Zhenze’s face and began to worry quietly about the upcoming shoot.

In light of his unfamiliarity with Qiu Zhenze’s professional capabilities, He Jinxia feared that his mood might affect the upcoming shooting.

When an actor shoots with a negative attitude, one can imagine the quality of the footage. Not only will the results be subpar, but the process will also delay the progress of the crew and burden the other members.

Fortunately, He Jinxia’s concerns did not materialize.

At the sound of the clapperboard, Qiu Zhenze instantly adjusted his state and stood off to the side with his hands behind his back, his expression changing in a flash.

He Jinxia lay on the ground, silently counting to two before opening her eyes in a daze, pretending to have just woken up. Her eyes were slightly squinted as if her gaze lacked focus.

It took her a moment to come to her senses. She looked at herself nervously, wondering why she was dressed in a set of men’s Confucian clothes, then scanned her surroundings with a wary expression.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up when she saw a red-clothed sister standing not far away. She quickly stood up from the grass and ran over.

Director Liu didn’t intend to convey this scene with a long shot but instead chose to break it down into several shots of lesser difficulty, which transitioned well with the scene and the plot.

Under the curious gazes of everyone, Director Liu, wearing a pair of black 3D glasses, scrutinized the footage carefully. After a moment, a slight smile crossed his face, and he called out loudly, "That’s a wrap!"

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but stare at He Jinxia for several seconds, their eyes filled with both surprise and admiration.

"Is this the skill of an actor who can, on her first attempt at film, be nominated for the Crystal Bear Award in Berlin?"

"You got it wrong. Her first movie wasn’t ’Eighteen Years Old Sky’. To be precise, this is her first art film."

"It’s a well-known fact in the industry that films are harder to shoot than TV series, and the requirements for movies are higher than those for TV dramas. Many TV actors want to switch to filming movies but can’t make the transition because the bar for acting skills in films is high, demanding finer control over facial expressions and emotions."

"So does that mean an excellent TV actor might not be able to handle films, but an excellent movie actor can certainly manage TV dramas?"

"I used to hear people say it’s not divided that way. Although there are differences in acting skills, you have to compare at the same level—the methods of performance in films and TV dramas are completely different, both are different forms of expression. It’s unfair to compare films with TV dramas."

"I see, but regardless, He Jinxia’s acting is genuinely superb. Look at her, able to shoot both films and TV dramas—she’s truly versatile!"

"I’m envious. I wish I could be like her..."

Amidst the other crew members’ discussions, He Jinxia started another round of filming, and this scene required Qiu Zhenze to show his face.

After a brief rest, the clapperboard sounded once more, and the expressions on the actors’ faces immediately changed.

He Jinxia tugged excitedly at the sleeve of the red-clothed sister, asking, "Sister, where is this place? How did Yu Xiang land here? Is this the Qingmu Imperial Palace? Do you know how to get out of the great hall of Qingmu Imperial Palace?"

Yu Xiang spoke a great deal without receiving an answer from the red-clothed sister. Just as she felt disappointed, the red-clothed sister opened her mouth:

"This place is indeed a part of the Qingmu Imperial Palace, but it can also be said it’s not."

``` ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel-fire.ɴet