Chapter 756
Casual Chat Before Joining the Group
Since filming for "Dawn 2" is scheduled for next week, Jinli's side also needs to do a lot of preparation work.
First, quickly go through the upcoming announcements. Attend the ones that are mandatory as usual, and postpone the ones that are not important if possible.
Then there's the issue of pre-team training for "Dawn 2".
In fact, before Jinli was in school and had her summer vacation, Director Chu had already gathered all the other actors together and put them through a two-month special training program.
Jinli knew about this news.
Director Chu later asked her if she wanted to join the crew's special training.
However, when Director Chu asked her, he was not forceful; he simply let her choose for herself.
Director Chu also knew that she was still studying at Tsinghua and Peking Universities and had a busy academic schedule, so she couldn't focus on doing just one thing like other actors.
In his eyes, Jinli's status was different from that of other celebrities.
Other celebrities hope to become famous overnight with just one film, so they are willing to put in a lot of effort.
But Jinli is different; even if this drama flops, it won't affect the industry's assessment of her appeal.
So this drama isn't actually that important to Jinli.
Similarly, Director Chu also told Gu Cheng this news.
When Gu Cheng found out, he was still filming "Counterattack in Desperate Circumstances" and naturally could not join the special training of another drama crew.
When he returned from school, it was already close to the end of the semester.
Gu Cheng didn't want to go through a whole semester without attending a single class, so he called Director Chu again to discuss it and declined the training offer.
Like Jinli, he planned to join the film crew after the final exams were over and the school officially started its summer break.
Although they declined the two-month pre-team training, neither Gu Cheng nor Jin Li were worried.
Jinli was the first actress to participate in "Dawn," so she knew what the pre-production training was about.
At the same time, she also knew that her physical condition could not be maintained by simply accumulating training over time.
Just like when she was filming the first part of Dawn, she would often be exhausted and had to seek the method of "video worship" in order to quickly restore her energy.
Therefore, the most important physical training in the pre-group training was useless for her; she still had to rely on divine intervention at the crucial moment.
In addition, she had already figured out all of these things during the first part of "Dawn", including special effects simulation experiments, performances without props, and wearing special effects devices.
Therefore, there is no need for her to add more practice in this area; it would be better to focus her time on more valuable learning.
She'll have another chance to make special effects films in the future, but she needs to focus on her studies...
She probably won't go to university a second time.
Jinli's thoughts coincided with Gu Cheng's.
Gu Cheng refused because he had just come from the set of the special effects film "Counterattack in Desperate Circumstances".
Pre-group training was relatively ineffective for him.
He had just finished producing a special effects blockbuster. No one knew better than him how to shoot special effects films. Even after spending a month or two at school, he didn't feel rusty at all.
So, after a while, neither the most important female lead nor the crucial second male lead participated in the pre-production training.
Although the pre-production training was incomplete, to be honest, with two particularly famous stars missing from the training, the other actors didn't feel as much pressure.
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That evening, Gu Cheng called Jin Li to chat and discuss their future plans.
Gu Cheng especially talked about "Dawn 2," which she will be joining the cast of next Tuesday.
He was quite curious about Director Chu's personality.
"When I was filming 'Desperate Counterattack,' I felt that Director Zheng had a good grasp of the filming schedule, but he was very strict in some aspects. What about Director Chu?"
Jinli recalled the filming of "Dawn 1," pondered for a moment, and said:
"I also worked on the set of 'Desperate Counterattack'. If I were to compare Director Zheng with Director Chu, I would say that Director Chu's requirements would be much more demanding."
She explained, "Last time, the production crew had to stop filming for a while because the male and female leads couldn't get into character. It was specifically to train the male and female leads."
Gu Cheng frowned deeply, "He actually dared to shut down..."
Jinli said firmly, "That's right, he dares to stop work!"
This situation would be unbelievable in any other large group.
Other production teams don't have the manpower, resources, or time to waste on actors, but Director Chu is clearly particularly willing to put in the effort to train them.
Filming was in progress when it was suddenly halted.
Which director has such great courage?
Jinli said, "Everyone was under a lot of pressure during that time, not only the actors, but also many staff members. They would cry as soon as they arrived on set, regardless of gender."
Although those people were all long-time followers of Director Chu, they were still worried that if the project continued to stall like this, it might not be able to continue filming.
Gu Cheng was silent for a moment, then said, "I feel a little sorry for the male and female leads."
Jinli smiled and said, "Yes, the male and female leads are both very tense, like a tightly stretched string that seems to snap if you pull it any harder."
They were all very vulnerable during that time, afraid to speak, and everyone seemed to be on the verge of collapse.
But Director Chu managed to maintain that delicate balance, allowing them to reach their full potential while preventing them from being destroyed.
Gu Cheng asked curiously, "Since the male and female leads were both pulled into emergency training, what about you? Did you also participate in that training?"
Jinli calmly replied, "No."
"I performed very well in special effects processing. Director Chu thought I didn't need special training, at most I would do some physical training, so while the male and female leads were training, I was arranged to shoot other scenes."
However, I filmed many scenes with the male and female leads, and while they were undergoing special training, I was quite relaxed and at ease.
Gu Cheng pondered: "I wonder if Director Zheng's methods for shooting special effects films are very different from Director Chu's."
He was a little disappointed, but he didn't regret it.
"I think all special effects films are similar, so I refused the training provided by the crew. I originally thought that I had experience and should be able to handle the filming, so I preferred to spend my time at school."
I didn't expect Director Chu to be so strict. Perhaps I should have joined the crew for training earlier.
Jinli thought for a moment and said, "There's no need to worry so much. Director Zheng is also happy to train actors. The two of them have different methods in training actors, but their starting point is the same."
If Director Chu really thinks you need pre-team training, he will definitely let you participate; there's no room for negotiation.
Since he's giving you a choice, it means he thinks you already have some experience, and you don't have to choose.
She added, "Besides what I mentioned above, there is another difference between Director Chu and Director Zheng, which is that his team can produce special effects while filming."
He already has a personal template for shooting commercial films, and the production team that follows him is also very familiar with Director Chu's film style.
Therefore, the special effects in Director Chu's films are often processed very quickly. It's possible that between the completion of filming and the release of *Dawn II*, *Desperate Counterattack* might have only just finished processing its special effects.
Gu Cheng was somewhat surprised: "So fast?"
He was new to the film industry and didn't understand the shooting styles of any of the directors.
Jinli nodded: "It's that fast. You'll experience it soon enough."
Speaking of this, she joked, "The production of sets and props for Dawn II took quite a while. I thought he would delay filming until the end of this year or next winter vacation, but I didn't expect that filming could start this summer vacation."
Now I'm a little worried that when "Dawn 2" is finished filming and production, and then released, it will clash with the release date of "Counterattack".
Although filming for "Desperate Counterattack" ended early, it's said that the Eastern ink-wash style special effects that Director Zheng wanted are difficult to achieve and will require a lot of time. Due to the extended production schedule, the two films are very likely to be released around the same time.
This is not good for Jinli and Gu Cheng; they might fight.
In the two works, one was the lead actor and the other was a supporting actor.
If they were to be released together, I wouldn't know which one to promote, or even if my fans could keep up.
Upon hearing this, Gu Cheng's expression turned serious.
He thought for a moment, "How about I privately urge Director Zheng to finish the special effects quickly, so we don't have to compete with 'Dawn 2'?"
Jinli: "...Aren't you afraid Director Zheng will say you're a traitor, boosting others' morale while diminishing your own?"
Gu Cheng laughed: "To be honest, Director Zheng actually respects Director Chu quite a bit. If he knew that his film might be going head-to-head with Director Chu, I think he would most likely choose to postpone the release."
One is an internationally renowned director, while the other's fame is currently limited to China. It's normal for Director Zheng to respect Director Chu.
Jinli said irritably, "Alright, stop stirring things up on the other side."
News spreads quickly among film directors, and they even know inside information that many of us actors don't.
Perhaps Director Zheng already received word that "Dawn 2" would begin filming this summer.
Gu Cheng thought about it and agreed, so he decided not to remind Director Zheng.
The result was unexpected for both celebrities.
Zheng Chengxin... I really didn't know that "Dawn 2" would start filming so soon!
Director Zheng has been engrossed in the special effects production for the film crew these days, constantly checking the effects and urging progress, and rarely checking his phone for messages.
Besides, he didn't participate in the investment of "Dawn 2".
Aside from some people chatting in film director groups, who would specifically send him a message to remind him that "Dawn 2" is going to be filmed?
As everyone knows, group messages are set to "Do Not Disturb".
So by the time he found out, Jinli and Gu Cheng had already joined the film crew to film.
He found out because he overheard a staff member chatting curiously.
They were talking about—
"Dawn 2 is actually going to start filming! I heard that Director Chu's special effects are very fast. Will this movie be released at the same time as ours and compete with it?"
Zheng Chengxin was taken aback when he heard this and called out to the two employees who were discussing it.
"What did you just say? Dawn 2 has started filming? When did filming start?"
The employees looked at each other in confusion. One of them said, "I only heard that filming has started, but I don't know when it will start."
Another employee took out his phone and searched, finding the key information.
"Director Zheng, filming for 'Dawn 2' officially started last month. Jinli and Gu Cheng have already joined the crew. There have been related news reports in the media. You see."
Zheng Chengxin took it and glanced at it, his fingers trembling slightly.
Wow, how did Chu Chenliang prepare so quickly!
One employee asked curiously, "Director Zheng, I heard that Director Chu is particularly fast at handling special effects. Do you think it's possible that 'Dawn 2' will be released at the same time as our 'Desperate Counterattack'?"
Zheng Chengxin's lips twitched, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes, and he said firmly:
"That's impossible! It's absolutely impossible for them to collide!"
After he finished speaking, he returned the phone to the employee and quickly consulted with others, and also convened an investor meeting.
No one knew how long the meeting lasted.
The content of the discussion was never leaked.
Anyway, ever since that meeting, all the special effects team knows is that Zheng Chengxin's demands have become even more outrageous, to the point of being demanding!
If before he was just nitpicking, pointing out minor details...
Now, he's looking at every little detail with a magnifying glass, nitpicking and finding fault!
The special effects team was getting fed up with Director Zheng's quirks. He looks so young, how come he has such severe obsessive-compulsive disorder?
I really hope he can get mental health treatment soon and stop harming them.
When Director Zheng asked them to further refine the details that had already been refined, striving to make every single hair appear with exquisite clarity, one member of the special effects team finally couldn't help but say:
"Director Zheng, if this continues, the special effects processing will be even slower. We originally planned for a special effects period of six months to a year, but if you keep raising the requirements, it could very well take two years!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Chengxin was not angry at all; on the contrary, he was quite happy.
"Two years? That's good! Let's work hard and polish it to perfection!"
The staff were a little confused to see that Director Zheng was pleased instead of angry.
They discussed privately: "It seems like Director Zheng just wants to prolong the special effects production process and put in more effort."
"Director Zheng is striving for perfection. He's treating this film like his retirement project, hoping to make money continuously and manage this IP well together."
"Director Zheng is truly a man of great courage!"
None of these employees considered the possibility that Director Zheng might be trying to avoid scheduling another film.
That's a story for later, so let's leave it at that for now.
Jinli is set to start filming next Tuesday, and after adjusting her schedule, she took a rare three-day break to get back into shape.
She got these three days off through a reasonable request.
Even though Fangjie didn't want to, she reluctantly approved it.
Of course, she couldn't really let Jinli lie down happily. Instead, she threw Xi Mengze and Qi Guanmingzhu over to Jinli to give these two love-struck fools some serious advice.
For the past three days, Jinli has only listened to Xi Mengze and Qi Guanmingzhu talk about their love story.
It is often said that celebrities who achieve fame at a young age have some flaws in their personal habits, making them comparable to "adult babies".
They need others to do everything for them; they can't do anything themselves.
However, the rise of Pink Girl and March Band clearly does not fit the above situation.
Both achieved fame at a young age, but Pink Girls selected its members from a public talent show.
Everyone was an adult, their personalities were set, and the country's economy had not yet developed rapidly at that time. Many people were children from poor families and had been used to hardship since childhood.
For example, team leader Ji Qinglian comes from a very ordinary family, but she is hardworking and resilient.
As for Jinli, needless to say, she was an orphan.
Before their debut through a talent show, March Band trained abroad. Being a trainee back then was tough and required enduring hardship.
This also means that when they are in a relationship, they don't cause as much trouble, and they can understand and be considerate of each other's habits.
Qi Guan Mingzhu and Xi Mengze complained to Jin Li that they hadn't had a single argument since they got together, which seemed a bit abnormal.
Jinli looked completely bewildered.
She and Gu Cheng never argue; are they both abnormal? (End of Chapter)