The weather in Guangxi is much warmer than in Beijing, but it is still a bit chilly in early spring. The moisture in the forest is heavy, and a few drops of water roll down the leaves from time to time, sliding down the lapels of clothes and making people shiver.
Hu Zhenghua greeted the staff who had arrived at the recording location early and took everyone to familiarize themselves with the surrounding environment.
The first scene was filmed in the afternoon. The heroine Wang Xiu was collecting herbs in the mountains. She happened to meet Wu Qian, a young Taoist priest who had sneaked out of the Taoist sect and was determined to exorcise demons and eliminate evil for the people. Wu Qian was reckless and tripped over vines and rolled down the mountain. He just happened to stop next to Wang Xiu. The two looked into each other's eyes and got to know each other.
The group took a break and the stylists started to put makeup on the main actors.
Lai Huiwen, who plays the heroine Wang Xiu, is wearing a goose yellow dress, looking fresh and charming. Li Chengxuan is wearing a Taoist robe and a scarf on his head. When the two of them stand together, you have to say, they look like a perfect couple.
When it was Xu Qiao's turn, most of his scenes were shot in water, so the makeup artist used waterproof cosmetics.
After he changed into his clothes, the makeup artist glued a wig on him and started applying makeup.
This wig is quite heavy, and it makes the head feel heavier when worn. Xu Qiao looked in the mirror. In order to highlight the characteristics of a water ghost, Hu Zhenghua specially customized this wig. The length is amazing, and it hangs down to the ankles when standing up.
Xu Qiao could almost imagine what a terrifying effect it would be if his hair was spread out in the water.
When the makeup artist was putting makeup on Xu Qiao, Hu Zhenghua was watching nearby.
Seeing the makeup artist brushing Xu Qiao's cheeks, Hu Zhenghua looked him up and down and said, "Xu Qiao has a good foundation, so put on some light makeup for him. The lighter the better."
Liu Wen, the water ghost, is a person who is both dignified and ghostly. In order to show that kind of contradictory temperament in subtle details, the makeup cannot be too heavy.
The makeup is plain and simple, but the face stands out in all its colors.
When Xu Qiao was putting on makeup, Li Chengxuan and Lai Huiwen had already started filming. The scenes for both of them were not difficult and they were almost finished soon.
Li Chengxuan glanced at Xu Qiao a few times and his mood became a little complicated.
What's wrong with this person? Why is his temperament and appearance so flexible
When he played Jin'er, he was flamboyant and unrestrained in a red dress. When he auditioned for the role of a young Taoist priest, he wore a Taoist robe and a square scarf, and looked like a pure and innocent young man who knew nothing about the world. Now he is wearing white clothes and black hair, and has become that pale and transparent water ghost again. There is no sense of incongruity in the character's appearance.
Hu Zhenghua was also very satisfied with Xu Qiao's makeup and styling. It was definitely a face that could be changed from one drama to another, and there was almost no trace of the character from the previous drama.
After Xu Qiao finished putting on makeup, Hu Zhenghua explained the arrangements for the next step, then looked at him and asked, "Are you ready?"
Xu Qiao nodded.
Hu Zhenghua nodded, "Let's hurry up. There's still sunshine. Let's finish the shoot quickly while the lake water is still not too cold."
After walking to the lake and getting into the water, Xu Qiao swam a little away from the shore. As he swam, his body caused his long hair to spread out in all directions.
Li Chengxuan looked a little nervous as he watched several cameras pointed at Xu Qiao from afar. The only time he watched Xu Qiao act live was when Xu Qiao auditioned for the role of a young Taoist priest.
He performed well in the audition for the role of a young Taoist priest, so how about playing a water ghost? The two roles are very different. Can Xu Qiao also have such an effect when playing a water ghost
The two debuted in the same company and were former teammates. Now Xu Qiao has terminated his contract with SSE and quit the Light Chasing group. The former teammates appearing in the same frame will inevitably lead to comparisons.
Although Li Chengxuan didn't believe that Xu Qiao could perform well, he didn't feel confident.
After swimming to the right position, Xu Qiao gestured to Hu Zhenghua, indicating that he was ready. Hu Zhenghua nodded, and several cameras were ready to start filming.
Xu Qiao took a deep breath and dived into the water. The camera was facing the lake. It was quiet, with only the occasional breeze rippling the water surface.
A fallen leaf was blown by the wind and fell onto the lake, causing small ripples.
The next second, the water ghost Liu Wen raised his face and slowly emerged from under the lake.
The face was extremely plain, and it had a transparent texture when it emerged from the water. It looked even paler against the background of the long hair that spread out in all directions.
His eyebrows and eyes are clear, and his dark pupils attract people's attention like black holes, making his whole face hazy like flowers in the fog.
Wang Xiu and the young Taoist priest were talking and laughing as they walked by in the distance.
The water ghost looked over with his deep and heavy eyes, and there was emotion in his eyes. His black pupils were like drops of ink dripping into clear water, suddenly becoming dark and deep, and stained with layers of ink.
The young Taoist sensed something wrong and glanced towards the lake. Before he could look over, Liu Wen sank back into the water.
"What are you looking at?" Wang Xiu was startled when she saw him looking towards the water, and she raised her hand and waved it in front of his eyes to cover up.
His sight was blocked, the young Taoist retracted his gaze and scratched his head: "It feels like there is something in the water."
Wang Xiu bit her lip, realizing that the Taoist priest and the water ghost had conflicting identities. She was worried that the Taoist priest would find out something, so she pulled the Taoist priest away quickly: "What could it be? You're injured. Come back with me and apply medicine."
The young Taoist priest didn't notice the concealment in Wang Xiu's words. He just said "oh" and followed her obediently.
Wang Xiu glanced at the lake surface inconspicuously and found that the water ghost had revealed his face from the lake surface and was quietly staring at her. Fearing that she would be discovered by the little Taoist priest, Wang Xiu winked at him and shook her head slightly to signal him to hide.
Liu Wen lowered his eyes and slowly lowered his body.
After Wang Xiu and the Taoist priest walked away, Hu Zhenghua stared at the monitor and said through the intercom, "Give Xu Qiao the lines."
The staff member next to him responded and recited the lines to Xu Qiao by the lake: "What a perfect match."
In this scene, there is a character who speaks before showing his face under the lake. The lines are given here first to help Xu Qiao control the rhythm of the dialogue. The voices of the staff will be muted and re-dubbed in later stage.
Liu Wen's ears twitched and his face darkened slightly.
The staff member continued, "Why, who was prepared to see her get married from the beginning, but now that he has really seen it, he feels bad?"
"Slug, a gentleman should speak less." Liu Wen said.
"I'm not a gentleman. I'm just a slug."
The scene is over.
The waters where Liu Wen was located were full of demons and monsters. The demons and monsters lived in the shadows, using human desires to set up traps and capture prey that indulged in greed.
The innocence and kindness of the female doctor Wang Xiu is like a ray of sunshine projected onto this gloomy water area, dividing the boundary between humans and ghosts.
For Liu Wen, a water ghost who used to be a human, this girl who he watched grow up is the only comfort in his heart.
Although he is a water ghost, he has never lost his conscience as a human being. He disdains to associate with ghosts and monsters, and cannot make friends with humans. He spends his days in the lake, savoring loneliness.
To him, Wang Xiu is the warmth that still exists in the world. Love grows day by day, but humans and ghosts have different paths. Liu Wen was the top scholar in the imperial examination and was well-read. His love for Wang Xiu started from courtesy and ended with courtesy.
He originally thought he could suppress this emotion and watch the girl grow up, get married and have children, until she dies of old age with a head full of silver hair.
But when Liu Wen saw this little Taoist priest who suddenly broke into Wang Xiu's life and saw them becoming increasingly close, he realized that he was not as open-minded as he had imagined.
He wanted to become a human, walk out of the lake and go to the girl.
The slug spirit that has been surrounding the water ghost was born in filth. It is a collection of evil thoughts, desires, and filth. He is determined to drag this water ghost, who still retains his humanity, into ruin together with him.
Liu Wen had the idea of becoming a human. Under the temptation of the slug spirit, the shadow in his heart gradually magnified until it became irreversible.
It is worth mentioning that the slug spirit that did not show up in this scene is set to look the same as Liu Wen. Its true form is a slug, both hermaphrodite and monomorphic.
The slug spirit relied on the water ghost's yin energy to gradually cultivate and transform. It has been with the water ghost since it became conscious, so it imitates the water ghost in everything and even tries to imitate Liu Wen when transforming.
But the difference between the two is obvious. Liu Wen is kind-hearted and gentle like jade, while the slug spirit has the same appearance but its body is filthy.
The later scenes that require the slug spirit to show his face will definitely be played by Xu Qiao.
When the two characters are in the same frame, a stand-in is needed, and Xu Qiao will fill in the shots where their faces are shown.
In the later period, under the influence of the evil thoughts of the slug spirit, the water ghost gradually fell for the female doctor Wang Xiu. Xu Qiao remembered that in the script, this ghost and this demon had several rather bold sex scenes.
Thinking of this, Xu Qiao felt a little strange. How should he act out this? Should he go on to perform on his own
The wig was soaked in water, and the surprisingly long hair was also a bit shockingly heavy. After swimming to the shore, Xu Qiao pushed himself up with both hands, came out of the water and sat on the shore.
Pushing his hair aside, Xu Qiao wrung out the water inch by inch.
He sat on the bank, his clothes soaked by water and sticking to his body, showing his body lines from shoulders to thin back to waist. Coupled with the posture of twisting his hair with his head slightly lowered, there was an indescribable sexiness.
The staff at the scene couldn't help but take a few more glances at this scene.
The heroine Lai Huiwen couldn't help but sigh: "She has a really good figure. Why would Wang Xiu leave such a perfect girl aside..." She was even attracted to the little Taoist priest.
He didn't say the second half of the sentence because he suddenly remembered that Li Chengxuan, who played the little Taoist priest, was still next to him, so he stopped talking in time.
Li Chengxuan understood what she meant and the corners of his mouth twitched.
Sister, humans and ghosts are different, and different species have reproductive isolation, okay
Xu Qiao removed his makeup and changed his clothes, and Hu Zhenghua called him over to watch the surveillance video playback together.
"I said you're best suited to playing a goblin." Hu Zhenghua stared at Xu Qiao's performance on the monitor, satisfaction etched on his face, "Xu Qiao, really, it's a waste for you to play in any youth film or idol drama with this face. You're best suited to playing weird perverts. It's very tense and good."
For a moment, Xu Qiao didn't know whether the director was praising him or scolding him, and he silently drank a sip of hot water.
The two chatted casually when an assistant came over and handed a stack of papers to Hu Zhenghua.
Hu Zhenghua flipped through the stack of papers and handed it to Xu Qiao.
After taking it and scanning it, Xu Qiao saw that it was filled with resumes and photos of unknown actors.
“?” Why are you giving me this? Xu Qiao looked at Hu Zhenghua in confusion.
Hu Zhenghua explained: "You have to play two roles at the same time, so you need a double. They have picked out those with good acting skills and good positioning. You can pick one."
Why let me choose? Isn’t it your job to choose the actors? Xu Qiao was a little confused.
Seeing Xu Qiao's confusion, Hu Zhenghua smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "There will be a sex scene later. In order to ensure the effect, it is better to pick someone you like."
Xu Qiao wasn't opposed to sex scenes, but it felt weird that he had to play both roles himself.