I Really Didn’t Want to Be Famous - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: A Movie King Is Used for Carrying Stuff!

Translator: Lordbluefire

Editor: Lordbluefire

Wang Jinxue left.

After checking up on the filming progression, she simply said, ‘I will come again when the film is completed’ before she left.

She tossed all the filming authority to Lu Yuan.

As for where she went, Lu Yuan didn’t ask.

Everyone had their own secrets. So did Wang Jinxue.

Moreover, he felt that his relationship with Wang Jinxue was one between an investor and the invested.

The two of them couldn’t be considered very close.

“I’m filled with anticipation. Work hard!” 

After getting into her Lamborghini, Wang Jinxue’s original aloof and cold expression returned to one of warmth and gentleness.

She touched her guitar.

………

Lu Yihong’s agent was named Xia Hong. People in the entertainment business called her Sister Hong.

She was very tall and looked extremely formidable, behaving like a masculine woman. On top of that, her arms were as thick as Lu Yuan’s thighs…

From afar, when Lu Yuan glanced at this person, a thought arose in his heart. It was like there was a mountain before him that blocked out the sun, causing him to be unable to breathe…

It felt extremely stifling.

Although Xia Hong was unhappy about Lu Yihong joining such a low-capital film helmed by such a nameless director, Lu Yihong was unusually determined this time around. He even took out the contract saying that he had already signed it.

Upon seeing the clauses on the contract, Sister Hong inhaled deeply and wanted nothing more than to unleash a barrage of terrifying blows on Lu Yihong.

“You, Lu Yihong, are still a movie king no matter what! Have you actually fallen so low that you have to sign such a contract? Is your brain damaged?

“No wonder you suspiciously said that you needed to relax a few days ago and refused to bring anyone with you. So it turned out that you already had this thought in mind!”

Sister Hong’s anger had been accumulating for some time, and it finally exploded now.

However, after seeing Lu Yihong’s personality which was as stubborn as a bull, she ultimately chose to give up.

“Since you want to act, go ahead and act then. For this film, it will only take a month at most. A month truly can’t be considered anything.”

In any case, he was still in ‘cold storage’ now, and his company couldn’t provide any resources for him.

Naturally, although Xia Hong spared Lu Yihong, she still decided to stay by his side and was filled with hostility toward Lu Yuan.

Upon seeing the dark circles under Lu Yihong’s eyes, Sister Hong already knew that Lu Yihong had suffered tremendously under Lu Yuan’s management!

(What’s going on with this extremely young director?)

(Don’t you know the severity of this to a good-looking actor?)

Naturally, Lu Yihong hadn’t liked Lu Yuan’s domineering attitude. He had felt that he had been wronged a lot.

But later on, he inexplicably understood.

Although the movie [Buried] only had a single male lead, it had very high requirements for the actor’s acting skill. Being good-looking was not important in this movie.

Moreover, according to the script, the male lead would be clad in a very dirty and sorry-looking set of clothing.

…

After that, all of them superstitiously prayed to the gods and ghosts. They then bought a pig’s head for the offering and dug a hole on a mountain in the surroundings of Hengdian. After they had rented an okay-looking coffin, the opening ceremony and the props of this movie were completed.

It was simple and crude.

“I somewhat understand why you are making me sleep in the company,” said Lu Yihong. He had finished putting on the make-up and was glancing at his haggard look in the mirror. After that, he thought about the script and suddenly felt a little distracted.

This movie was very important to him. If it was well filmed, Lu Yihong could prove that he was someone with solid acting skills instead of just having good looks.

Because this show didn’t require someone to have a high charm!

“Oh, what did you say earlier?” At the shooting site, Lu Yuan’s mind was filled with the cost of production when he saw the crews preparing the props and equipment. He didn’t even turn his head as he subconsciously replied to Lu Yihong.

Right now, he was trying his best to save money and lower his capital expenditure.

“Because this movie is describing someone who is buried alive in a coffin after experiencing a chaotic fight, I won’t be able to manifest the fullness of the main character in my original look and mental state”

“Mn?” Lu Yuan started when he heard that.

“This was why you told me to stay in the company. Yesterday, my sleep quality was very bad, and it felt like I’ve not slept at all. Now, I look extremely fatigued and I feel somewhat faint-headed. This matches the state of the main character when he just woke up… Sorry, I’ve misunderstood you before.” Lu Yihong sincerely apologized to Lu Yuan. He was apologizing because he felt bad for misunderstanding Lu Yuan’s good intentions.

“Cough, cough… It’s good that you understand. This movie is very important to me; hence, my requirements for actors are very strict. In the future, it would only be stricter.” Lu Yihong’s words made Lu Yuan feel ashamed to the max. Honestly speaking, he got Lu Yihong to stay in the company because he wanted to save money. Even if Lu Yihong paid for himself to stay in a hotel, he would have asked Lu Yuan to reimburse his transport fees too, right?

In situations where Lu Yuan couldn’t save any money, he wouldn’t do anything. But for places where he could save…

Cough, cough, Lu Yuan wouldn’t be polite.

It wasn’t easy to earn money at all.

Naturally, Lu Yuan would never admit that he had such thoughts. Since Lu Yihong had found a good explanation for him that could even elevate his wise and farsighted image, why would Lu Yuan contradict it? He wholeheartedly admitted that he was indeed far-sighted, and all of this was part of his arrangement.

“This movie is very important to me too. I will act my best and won’t disappoint you!” Lu Yihong took a deep breath. His fighting spirit surged as he was determined to give his best effort.

“It’s good that you understand. Mn, I suggest that in the future when we move from the company to the shooting site, we should walk there. This is especially true for you. You have to help carry more equipment up the mountain, okay?” Lu Yuan snuffed out his cigarette and cast an extremely serious look at Lu Yihong. He looked extremely far-sighted and natural.

“Mn, okay!” Lu Yihong nodded. His face which was filled with stubble had a look of trust on it. He didn’t suspect Lu Yuan’s motives at all.

Carrying equipment?

Getting a movie king to carry equipment?

Fatty Wei, who was not far away and was currently busy with burying the coffin, suddenly felt dumbstruck when he heard this.

After steadying himself, Fatty Wei appeared as though he had just seen a ghost when he stared at Lu Yuan who seemingly had everything under control, and Lu Yihong who was full of fighting spirit. 

(Is this Barbarian Lu a f*cking devil?)

Others might not know of Lu Yuan’s thoughts, but Fatty Wei could pat his chest and vow that someone like Lu Yuan wouldn’t have any far-sightedness!

He was extremely despicable!

However, when he thought of the script, Lu Yuan’s words truly didn’t have any problems. The male lead should really look more miserable…

It was like it was really correct to do this!

(Could it be that I have misunderstood?)

When Fatty Wei glanced at the serious look on Lu Yuan’s face again. He began to doubt himself.

“Has everything been prepared? If the preparations are done, get the actor ready to go on set for the first scene. Fatty Wei, why are you dawdling around? Quickly begin.”

“Can we begin?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Hurry up and start!”

“Oi, Old Li, why are you standing there in a daze? Hurry up and set the equipment. Lu Yihong, go and lie down in the coffin, we will begin shortly. The start of the scene…eh wait, make-up artist what the hell are you doing? Why is there no mud on Lu Yihong’s face? Do you understand what it means to have a head and face covered in dirt?”

………

Fatty Wei shouted a little more before filming finally started.

The story of [Buried] was very simple, describing someone being buried alive in a coffin abroad. He only has a knife, a lighter, and a mobile phone. After that, the story was about how he sought survival.

However, the things this simple story presented was very complicated. It involved human nature, one’s willpower, a touch of suspense and anticipation, with a hint of despair and hope…

Lu Yuan changed the background of this story slightly, but as for the conversations between the cast, he didn’t change anything.

Scenes after scenes of suspense, thrilling moments, and the nervous atmosphere, they came together and formed a successful movie.

For the first scene, the main thing was that the main lead’s emotions were at a loss. The essential point was that there must be a trace of ‘being in a dazed state’ with regards to his facial expression and actions. 

Lu Yihong lay in the coffin and began to act according to the script.

His acting skills were truly skilled. At the very least, Lu Yuan, who had watched the original [Buried], couldn’t see any mistakes.

Also, as for the two bosses of the production crew, Fatty Wei and Li Qing.

Although they didn’t look impressive and were usually uncultured, they were full of spirit when it came to working. They were so professional to the extent where Lu Yuan felt a little embarrassed.

They were different from Lu Yuan.

They were professionals!

But Lu Yuan… was just an amateur dabbler at most.

Regardless of how serious Lu Yuan appeared to be, in truth, he didn’t know much terminology and many things when it came to filming.

If Lu Yuan hadn’t watched the original [Buried], his ignorance might have been exposed. But after all, he was someone who did watch the original movie and he had even watched it five times.

He remembered many of the details very clearly.

After shooting a few expressions, Lu Yuan started to frown.

After that…

“Cut!”

“Old Lu, you cannot lie down like that. You have to pant, you must remember that you are very nervous. How can you act nervous with this expression? You have to relax your furrowed brows slightly and your heart must pound…that’s correct!”

“Cut!”

“Old Lu, you cannot place your hand like that, it doesn’t look natural. You have to imagine yourself in a real state of desperation. You cannot do this…”

“Cut!”

“Why are you still like this?”

The first scene was so short that it wasn’t even 10 minutes. Yet, it took half a day to film, from noon all the way until evening time. And after Lu Yuan’s check, the first scene finally passed.

Lu Yuan’s strictly requested Lu Yihong to act according to the details in his mind.

At the start, Lu Yihong felt a little unconvinced. He thought that Lu Yuan was fooling around because Lu Yihong believed his understanding of the character was already on point. But after he checked the video, Lu Yihong discovered that every word said by Lu Yuan was correct!

By changing how he acted according to Lu Yuan’s standard, it seemed that…

The effects were really much better.

As for Fatty Wei, the vice director, he felt weird when he looked at Lu Yuan.

In fact, he even started to be overly suspicious.

(Could it be that this Barbarian Lu knows how to act?)

(Is this real or fake?)

(Could it be that he wasn’t boasting when he said he knew acting skills before?)

As for Lu Yuan, he currently stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His expression was as serious as an expert.

In fact, he even inclined his head slightly, appearing somewhat aloof. 

Life…the loneliness of an expert. The loneliness was like falling snow.

Yet, his heart felt so happy that it was like flowers had bloomed.

Comfortable!

(So what if I don’t know the filming techniques of a director?)

(So what if I know nothing?)

(I’ve seen the original movie before!)

(Besides, I recall all the details of the original movie very clearly. After comparing them, wouldn’t I be able to judge which one is better? If I don’t posture now to show-off my impressiveness, wouldn’t I have wasted my talent in acting cool?)

Even a quack would have his spring days!

Lu Yuan was now feeling cocky…