Chapter 285 - 271 on camera
Getting off at the Lushan stop, there weren’t many people, so it didn’t feel crowded. After taking a bus, they finally arrived at the foot of Mount Lushan.
Tian Sangsang unexpectedly found that the two policemen had also gotten off here.
Next to the foot of the mountain, there was a state-run hostel. Tian Sangsang and the others asked about it, and it was one yuan and fifty cents per day.
But still, more than a dozen people were staying in one room.
Zhao Chun and the others didn’t mind, but Tian Sangsang was a bit bothered. Back in university when she didn’t have much money, she went on a budget trip to Shanghai and stayed at youth hostels similar to this. It wasn’t like she could afford a room by herself, so she shared it with others; at the time, it was a four-person room, and not cheap either. After all, Shanghai is a metropolis, and what’s most expensive? Housing, of course. Staying with strangers, not classmates, was uncomfortable; but you just bear it, right? However, some youth hostels’ hygiene was bad, terribly disorganized, unpleasant to recall.
Thinking of now staying with over a dozen people made it really inconvenient.
Tian Sangsang suggested, "How about this: let’s see if there are other places around here we could stay, like a guesthouse. A little money for them and they should let us stay. We have to go over lines and set up props; staying at a hostel is really inconvenient."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Staying at a guesthouse would indeed be more comfortable than a hostel, just the safety might not be guaranteed.
Yet, what did they have to fear? There were eight of them together, afraid of whom?!
There were plenty of farmhouses at the foot of Lushan; they found a larger one with more rooms, inhabited by an old couple.
The old couple didn’t really care about the money, just a little concerned about their identities.
"Grandpa, Grandma, don’t worry. We have a clean background. We’re here to film a movie at Lushan and would like to stay for ten days to half a month. We’ll go out to eat, and during the day we’ll be filming. It’s just sleeping at night. Name your price for one day," Zhao Chun said.
"Filming a movie?" As soon as something so high-profile was mentioned, Grandma was bewildered. She curiously asked, "What kind of movie are you filming?"
It’s a romance, and Zhao Chun found it hard to admit, taken aback for a moment.
Tian Sangsang answered for him, "It’s a scenic film. We’re very admire Lushan and have come here to capture its beauty and culture on film, to let more people know about Lushan. Look, here’s our letter of introduction."
Listening to her words, Zhao Chun smoothly took out the letter of introduction.
"Oh, forget it..." Grandma waved her hand, "We can’t read; we don’t understand that. You can come stay. Our Lushan, it’s truly wonderful. When you go, you can watch the sunrise..." Grandma started passionately talking about which places in Lushan were beautiful while leading them into the house.
There happened to be three unoccupied rooms here. Tian Sangsang and Chen Wan shared a room, while the other guys split the two remaining rooms.
Tian Sangsang and Chen Wan tidied up the room and then sat down on the bed, breathing heavily.
After cleaning up, they all walked out of their rooms, each with a hungry look. No wonder; they hadn’t had breakfast, only some snacks provided by Tian Sangsang earlier in the day.
"You’re going out for a meal, huh?" The warmhearted Grandma came out of the house, holding a few boiled sweet potatoes, saying, "Here, take one each. Our family grows crops; we’re never short on sweet potatoes."
"Thank you, Grandma." They all thanked her and took the steaming hot sweet potatoes.
Biting into the sweet potato skin, Zhao Chun asked, "Grandma, is there anywhere good to eat around here?"
"There’s everywhere," Grandma pointed with her hand, "You go straight and turn right, that row has noodle shops and snack bars, all local food."
Tian Sangsang and the others went for a meal, came back full of energy, changed clothes, tidied up, and prepared to go up the mountain for filming.
Zhao Chun wore what the original character wore: military green pants, a white shirt, tall and lean, with styled hair, no makeup on his face, features handsome and distinct. He had the fair and youthful skin unique to his age, pure and unblemished.
Tian Sangsang wore the smart white suit Zhou Yun wore when first returning to the country.
Not only that, but she also carried a bag full of clothes and makeup, thinking about changing outfits several times, which wore her out.
The crew didn’t have a makeup artist, so she had to do it herself.
The original film’s female lead had heavy blush on her cheeks, so Tian Sangsang intentionally lightened it a bit.
Arriving at the Lushan accommodation, they showed their letter of introduction to gain entry.
Pressed for time, neither Tian Sangsang nor Zhao Chun had memorized their lines beforehand; now as they walked here, they weren’t in the mood to admire the scenery, reading lines as they walked.
"It’s so beautiful here," Chen Wan remarked as they walked.
The other crew members also appreciated the scenery.
The first scene was Tian Sangsang’s, and the Lushan administrative staff, knowing they were filming, had even specially lent them a villa to use.
They found two extras; people were very enthusiastic, and hearing they could be on camera, they had no objections.
No pay required, it was free.
"Positions, positions!" Zhao Chun stood on the side and asked Tian Sangsang, "Are you ready?"
Tian Sangsang nodded slightly.
Yao Yu and the others were carrying the camera in the front, to the side.
"Camera’s ready!" shouted Xiao Ming, the cinematographer.
"Alright, let’s start!" Zhao Chun said, looking towards the set.
Truthfully, Lushan Love wasn’t a film that tested acting skills; Tian Sangsang just needed to grasp the emotions a bit.
Zhou Yun once again arrives at Lushan and checks into the hotel. The attendant leads her in, and she pushes open the door.
It’s still the same room, unchanged. That bed, that mirror, the kettle on the cabinet... all so familiar. The scene evoked feelings of nostalgia, wondering if the person from five years ago was still the same?
After barely a minute of shooting, Zhao Chun suddenly called a halt: "Tian Sangsang, relax a bit."
Relax, but how exactly?
He didn’t know how to explain it; maybe it was due to lack of experience, but she seemed a bit unnatural and needed to relax more.
Tian Sangsang took a deep breath; standing in front of the camera for the first time, she was indeed nervous.
Starting over from scratch.
Zhou Yun once again arrives at Lushan and checks into the hotel. The attendant leads her in, and she pushes open the door.
It’s still the same room, unchanged. That bed, that mirror, the kettle on the cabinet... all so familiar. The scene evoked feelings of nostalgia, wondering if the person from five years ago was still the same?
"Okay!" Zhao Chun clapped his hands, "Pass!"
Tian Sangsang sighed with relief, feeling a faint sense of excitement inside—she was on camera! She was on camera!
The first scene was short, with only the beginning where the female lead is in a car and flashback scenes left for reshoots.
Next up was to film the scene where the female lead bumps into the male lead while taking photos.
"Oh right." Tian Sangsang suddenly took out a piece of paper and handed it to Zhao Chun, "Yadan asked me to give this to you. She said she suddenly had inspiration and wanted to add a line to the script."