dkrc Chapter 28 The Characters' Backgrounds
Chapter 28 The Characters' Backgrounds
"He plays Yin Qianshang?"
Director Liang Shengquan's gaze seemed to have penetrating power as he swept over Xu Lang, raising an eyebrow.
He was clearly dissatisfied and turned his gaze to Yang Mi beside him.
This is not the same Yin Qianshang who was unrestrained and had a chivalrous spirit.
He looks like a dashing young man straight out of an ancient costume drama!
This person is so...beautiful.
Yang Mi handed over his phone and said:
"Director Leung, this is his makeup and a clip from 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' not long ago."
She didn't want to make baseless accusations, so she presented the evidence directly.
Now that she's a top-tier actress, the director still respects her opinions.
She also recommended several new actors, including Dilraba Dilmurat.
Director Liang watched Xu Lang's acting clip, his brows furrowed, his expression somewhat surprised, his gaze shifting back and forth between Xu Lang and the phone.
This ancient costume look is absolutely stunning!
He portrayed Yelü Qi perfectly, capturing both his noble bearing and chivalry, making him seem like a character straight out of the book.
"Teacher Yang Mi, he's perfect for playing Ouyang Shaogong. He's an absolute heartthrob in period dramas." Director Liang looked away and then at Xu Lang, his previous doubts gone, replaced by admiration.
However, he still believes that Xu Lang's temperament is not a good match for Yin Qianshang, but rather a good match for Ouyang Shaogong.
Unfortunately, Ouyang Shaogong was the first actor they cast, and he was also a handsome man in period dramas.
If we replace him, firstly, we would have to pay a penalty for breach of contract, and it would also strain the relationship between the two parties, which would be a bad deal; secondly, Xu Lang is a new actor, and although his acting skills in the video are not bad, it is still unknown whether he can play Ouyang Shaogong, which is quite risky.
Yang Mi smiled upon hearing Director Liang's words.
At least Director Liang acknowledges his acting skills; it's just a matter of physical compatibility.
"Director Liang, how about this: let the makeup artist do his makeup and hair first, then you can take a look?"
Seeing Yang Mi's insistence, Director Liang waved his hand:
"Alright, I'll put on some makeup first. If it doesn't adhere well to my face after makeup, there's nothing I can do."
"OK!" Yang Mi gestured, walked up to Xu Lang, and urged him on.
"Xu Lang, come with me!"
Xu Lang nodded slightly to Director Liang before leaving with Yang Mi.
"Xu Lang, are you confident in playing this role well?" Yang Mi asked casually.
Xu Lang nodded solemnly: "Sister Mi, I've done some research on the character beforehand, and I believe I can play the role well."
……
In the dressing room, a "transformation" is unfolding.
The stylist circled around Xu Lang: a few stray hairs were deliberately picked out from the messy wig; he was wrapped in a tattered ancient costume made of coarse cloth, with the collar deliberately pulled loose.
The makeup artist used dark foundation to darken his originally fair complexion and applied shadows to the corners of his eyes and cheekbones to create a weathered and worn look.
More than an hour later!
When Xu Lang returned to Director Liang, he nearly dropped the script in his hand, stroking his chin in disbelief.
"Is this... really that handsome young man from earlier?"
He was completely unrecognizable from his original appearance, but one could still vaguely sense his gaze. His physique bore a striking resemblance to Yin Qianshang.
Yang Mi knew the answer from his expression and said:
"Absolutely right, Director Liang. Do you still think he's not a good fit?"
"Great, this revolutionary change fits perfectly!" Director Liang gave a thumbs up generously, but there was still a hint of worry in his eyes:
"Xu Lang, right? Are you familiar with the character Yin Qianshang?"
Xu Lang nodded: "Director Liang, ever since I received Sister Mi's invitation, I have done some analysis of this character."
"Oh? Then tell me!"
"This character is divided into two stages. In the early stage, he is Yin Qianshang, and the main core is 'concealment'. Beneath his prodigal exterior, there is occasional confusion and emptiness. His drunkenness and his laughter are all empty in essence."
"The core of Feng Guangmo in the later stages is 'weight.' He bears the responsibility of Youdu, the guilt towards his sister, and the regret for the past. Even if he chooses to continue fighting, his banner is completely different."
"Regardless of the state, his inherent sense of 'righteousness' and 'protection' remains unchanged, which is also the cornerstone connecting his two personalities."
Xu Lang explained his understanding of the character in one breath: in the early stages, he was a wandering rogue, a vagrant, full of unreliability and the air of the lower class; in the later stages, he awakened and made a resolute decision, emphasizing both responsibility and protection.
Director Liang was quite pleased to hear this.
Regardless of his acting skills, at least he genuinely studied the character of Yin Qianshang, which puts him ahead of many other actors.
"Xiao Xu, your understanding is absolutely correct. Only by grasping his underlying nature can we better portray the character's traits."
"Although your character doesn't have many scenes, she plays a crucial role. Playing two distinct personalities is a real test of acting skills. Keep it up!"
He patted Xu Lang on the shoulder to encourage him, then turned and left.
Yang Mi looked at Xu Lang with great interest and said:
"I knew I hadn't misjudged you, Xu Lang. How much homework did you do?"
Xu Lang took out a notebook and handed it to her:
"Honey, this is a short biography I wrote myself. Could you give me your feedback and suggestions?"
In the drama, Xu Lang plays Yin Qianshang, the older brother of Feng Qingxue, played by Yang Mi, and the two will have many scenes together.
As a senior in the industry, Yang Mi has her own set of acting methods, but she also needs to understand the characters she acts with.
Therefore, she had some superficial understanding of the character Yin Qianshang.
He took Xu Lang's notebook and flipped through it, becoming increasingly satisfied. The biographical sketches and character analyses were all very well done.
He's so professional he doesn't seem like a new actor.
"I knew it! No one's success comes easily. Your portrayal of Yelü Qi was so realistic; you must have put in a lot of effort."
"I'm really looking forward to seeing your Yin Qianshang. He and Yelü Qi are completely different kinds of people."
"I dare not be negligent," Xu Lang said sincerely.
"I must give my all to the opportunity that Sister Honey gave me."
The two conducted an in-depth analysis of the character and designed some iconic actions.
For example, the initial performance style needs to be relaxed, carefree, and have a touch of roguishness, with large movements and a preference for exaggerated body language...
Yang Mi truly deserves to be called a mature actress and a top-tier young star; her analysis of the character is insightful and to the point.
Xu Lang listened attentively and focused on the discussion.
During this time, Yang Mi also called Dilraba over, intending for Dilraba to learn this attitude and method of studying performance.
Dilraba, young and naive, nodded obediently, watching curiously as the two discussed the characters back and forth.
This approach differs from what he learned at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, where he focused more on theoretical knowledge. The two of them explored practical applications and specific character traits.
She felt that everything had its merits.
Yang Mi even had Xu Lang and Dilraba act out a scene together, portraying Yin Qianshang's first appearance at the Flower Pavilion in Jiangdu.
Yin Qianshang was unkempt, his shirt open, sitting with a swagger, one foot on the stool, looking roguish.
He grabbed the wine jug next to him—actually, there was no wine jug, no props—and tilted his head back to gulp it down, in a rough and wild manner.
"Sister Fuqu, come on, again!"
He struck a pose as if playing a finger-guessing game, revealing an untamed and wild spirit:
"If you lose again, you'll have to sleep with your brother tonight!"
After the lines were spoken, the room fell silent for a moment.
Dilraba's eyes widened, and she subconsciously shrank back. Even though she knew it was just a scene, for a moment just now, she really felt like she was being watched by a dangerous wandering swordsman.