Crying While Filling the Pit I Dug - Chapter 87

“Today, it’s snowing heavily,” Yu Ang repeated his line.

The corners of Wu Le’s mouth twitched slightly, but she remained silent, her gaze fixed out of the window. In reality, even as Yu Ang spoke, her focus was directed solely at the lens of a high-definition camera.

“Cut!” Director Liu’s voice echoed through the room. “It’s still not quite right. There needs to be a slight change in the eyes. The adjustments in your gaze should be subtle; don’t move your eyeballs too forcefully.”

“Yes, director,” Song Miaomiao responded, feeling a tinge of guilt.

…

Song Miaomiao faced repeated interruptions, leaving the staff dissatisfied. However, because of the director, they refrained from voicing their complaints openly.

Only the assistant director dared to offer a suggestion, “She’s still new to this. Perhaps it’s better to avoid close-ups and rely on body language to convey her inner turmoil.”

Director Liu shook his head firmly, “No, wouldn’t that be evasive? Wu Le’s role is pivotal as the first person officially interviewed by Yu Ang. It significantly impacts Yu Ang’s subsequent psychological evolution and growth. We can’t sidestep it like this.”

The assistant director handed Director Liu a cigarette, suggesting, “Well then… What about replacing her? Lao Zhang is also searching for a suitable candidate, so there wouldn’t be any delay.”

But this was indeed her own problem. If she couldn’t do it well, it was understandable for someone else to replace her.

Director Liu exhaled a puff of smoke, “Let Lao Zhang look for a girl.”

The set fell into a hushed silence. Apart from Director Liu and the assistant director, no one spoke—or dared to. Xu Nanfang, the biggest celebrity present, remained absorbed in his script. Song Miaomiao glanced at him, but he showed no inclination to intervene.

Song Miaomiao recalled an interview with an actress she had seen in her previous life. During the process of acting in a very famous play, she had been constantly scrutinized by the director, even to the point of being considered for replacement. It was only then that Song Miaomiao truly understood the pain of such uncertainty.

Despite multiple attempts, the director remained unsatisfied. Eventually, they settled for a scene that was deemed relatively acceptable before breaking for lunch.

Xu Nanfang’s dishes were specially prepared by his assistant, with minimal oil and salt. Meanwhile, Song Miaomiao continued to make do with simpler fare.

Summoning her courage, she carried her lunchbox over to Xu Nanfang’s side.

“I’m sorry about today’s matter,” she apologized.

Xu Nanfang responded politely, “Please, take a seat.”

Song Miaomiao complied, settling down beside him.

“Are you referring to the NGs just now?” Xu Nanfang inquired.

She bowed her head, reflecting on her recent experiences. The previous two or three ancient historical dramas, with similar characters, had made her somewhat complacent. She had overestimated her acting abilities, unable to restrain herself when faced with such a complex and distant character.

Xu Nanfang spoke softly, “It’s normal to feel that way. You did quite well just now. Director Liu is known for being strict, and your performance was quite challenging. I had seven lines in the entire scene, but you conveyed your emotions solely through facial expressions.”

“I know I can’t fully convey the role of Wu Le,” Song Miaomiao admitted. “She…”

“She’s very different from you, isn’t she?” Xu Nanfang interjected, studying her closely.

Song Miaomiao sighed, acknowledging the vast gap between herself and the character she was attempting to portray.

“Wu Le’s upcoming scenes will be even more different from your character, as they aim to depict her past,” Xu Nanfang explained, his gaze thoughtful.

Song Miaomiao raised her head, observing Xu Nanfang. He was an actor who possessed the ability to empathize with his fellow actors.

Continuing, Xu Nanfang elaborated, “Today’s scene portrays her calmness after committing the unthinkable act of killing her own child. However, your later scenes will depict her youthful frivolity. These are two entirely different emotional states, yet both must portray the same character.”

Indeed, Wu Le’s character differed dramatically from Song Miaomiao’s own. In her youth, before the tragic event, Wu Le was depicted as a carefree younger sister. The only similarity between them was their shared experience of coming from poor families—Wu Le’s parents divorced, while Song Miaomiao grew up as an orphan before being adopted.

Unlike Wu Le’s boldness, Song Miaomiao’s personality leaned more towards introversion, and she had never engaged in any rebellious behavior like drinking or smoking. Such traits suited her well. She had little desire for social interaction, whereas Wu Le was depicted as someone who enjoyed socializing. Additionally, Wu Le had experienced numerous romantic relationships since childhood, and her personality was more unrestrained.

Song Miaomiao expressed gratitude, “Thank you, you know this character well. Can you tell me more about it?”

Xu Nanfang pondered briefly before responding, “For your current predicament, there’s a shortcut applicable to some traceable characters. The first step in acting is observation and imitation. You can search the internet for interviews with characters like Wu Le or watch life videos, comparing and imitating their reactions in different scenes. The more you imitate, the more you’ll understand.”

Song Miaomiao nodded thoughtfully. The acting class teacher had mentioned something similar before, but she hadn’t fully embraced the idea back then, consumed by her eagerness for success in class.

The staff greeted them, signaling the start of the next scene.

Due to logistical constraints such as cost-saving measures and personnel scheduling, scenes set in the same location were often shot together. This sometimes led to abrupt changes in the actors’ emotions, with sweetness in one scene transforming into heated arguments in the next.

The upcoming scene featured Xu Nanfang giving Wu Le a box of chilblain ointment, leading to Wu Le’s emotional confession.

Song Miaomiao performed the scene three times, but Director Liu deemed it insufficient.

When Meng Jiangye had recommended Song Miaomiao for the role, Director Liu had also conducted an interview and audition.

“That’s enough for now,” Director Liu addressed the team without direct comment to Song Miaomiao, neither encouragement nor criticism. “Let’s move on to shooting other scenes.”

The role of Wu Le was temporarily put on hold, with filming over the next month focusing on the character of Yu Ang.

Under immense pressure, Song Miaomiao focused solely on one task during those days. She searched the internet for videos featuring characters similar to Wu Le, such as interviews with prisoners or similar individuals in news. As she watched, she speculated on their emotions, meticulously imitating each expression she observed.

Additionally, she got a holographic projection prop from the system, enabling her to record her performances and analyze her expressions, movements, and emotions from all angles for comparison.