webnovelfull Chapter 137 Filming Officially Launched
Chapter 137 Filming Officially Launched
The conference room of RTV was packed with people, and the atmosphere was so lively it was almost boiling over.
The long conference table was filled with the station's core staff, and several members of the scriptwriting team were discussing the first draft of the script.
Several staff members from the props team were examining hand-drawn sketches of Warring States period weapons and clothing.
The director, holding a stack of actor profiles, would occasionally whisper to Zhang Manli beside him about the characters' personalities.
After this period of training, the newcomers invited by Zhang Manli have shown amazing talent and are now able to play roles in TV dramas.
Today, this is the first meeting to assemble the crew of "A Step into the Past".
Lin Zhou sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the excited faces, and gently tapped the table.
The previously noisy conference room instantly fell silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the adaptation of 'A Step into the Past' is RTV's top priority this year."
From today onwards, the production team is officially established. Each department will perform its duties diligently and must give it their all.
His tone was unhurried, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"Director Wang, could you please assign the tasks?"
"Yes, Mr. Lin," Wang Wei, the production director, replied respectfully.
Then he coughed lightly and said.
"The scriptwriting team needs to speed things up; you must produce a second draft of the script within a week."
Wang, the editor from the scriptwriting team, nodded quickly and wrote down the director's requirements one by one.
"Don't worry, Director Wang, we'll work overtime tonight to ensure the manuscript is delivered on time."
"Props team and costume team."
Wang Wei then turned his gaze to the other side.
"The clothing, weapons, and palace scenery of the Warring States period must be restored to the greatest extent possible."
The fabric must be cotton or linen, and the weapons cannot be made of plastic; we must find a factory to forge realistic bronze swords and spears.
Master Li from the props team stood up, waving several sketches in his hand.
"Director Wang, we have already contacted a hardware factory in Zhonghua Industrial Park."
And the brocade from China Resources Company guarantees to produce the most authentic Warring States period artifacts!
One issue after another is raised, and then a solution is discussed.
Soon the core topic of the meeting shifted to casting and costume design.
Director Wang cleared his throat and spoke first: "President Lin, and everyone else, the character Xiang Shaolong is the soul of the entire series."
Among the new talents we signed with our station, Tony Leung has a handsome appearance and a tenacious look in his eyes, making him very suitable for this role.
Supporting roles like Zhao Pan and Lian Jin can also be selected from the newly signed male actors.
Lin Zhou nodded slightly: "The choice for Xiang Shaolong is Tony Leung."
He has great potential; let the acting coach guide him more.
As for the other male roles, we'll have all the newcomers audition, and select the best candidates.
As soon as he finished speaking, a low murmur arose in the conference room.
Many people were a little skeptical. Tony Leung was just a newcomer who started out as an extra. Could he really carry the role of the male lead in this big-budget production?
But Lin Zhou had already made his decision, and no one dared to object, after all, he was the author and his own boss.
"Next up are the female characters."
Director Wang flipped through a few more pages of materials. "The two core characters, Wu Tingfang and Qin Qing, are played by Maggie Cheung and Carina Lau, who were recently signed by the station. Their images and temperaments are very suitable."
And then there's Cecilia Yip; her acting is outstanding, so she could try playing a cross-dressing role.
"This arrangement is feasible."
Lin Zhou expressed his agreement.
"Wu Tingfang is charming and lively, and she is handed over to Maggie Cheung."
Qin Qing is gentle and intellectual, and Carina Lau is very suitable to play the role.
Ye Tong's portrayal of a woman in drag prompted the scriptwriting team to add a scene specifically to highlight her heroic spirit.
After the meeting, the makeup process immediately began in the dressing room.
The dressing room was filled with all kinds of wigs, crowns and costumes.
Maggie Cheung was wearing a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with delicate lotus patterns embroidered on the hem. The makeup artist was carefully styling her hair into double buns and inserting a pearl hairpin.
The girl in the mirror instantly shed her former naivety and gained a touch of the charming innocence and liveliness of an ancient noblewoman.
"Manyu, turn around so I can see you."
Zhang Manli walked into the dressing room, smiling and nodding.
"This outfit suits you well. Remember Wu Tingfang's personality: lively but not flamboyant, innocent but not foolish."
Maggie Cheung looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes filled with excitement.
"Don't worry, Sister Zhang, I will definitely study the role carefully."
On the other side, Carina Lau was wearing an elegant light blue blouse with her long hair loosely tied into a bun, adorned only with a wooden hairpin.
This outfit perfectly complements her gentle and elegant demeanor, giving her a scholarly air, making her look exactly like Qin Qing who stepped out of a book.
"Jialing, you need to soften your gaze."
Zhang Manli stepped forward and offered some advice.
"Qin Qing is a talented woman. Every move she makes should carry a subtle sense of aloofness, as well as her budding feelings for Xiang Shaolong, which should be hidden in the details."
Carina Lau listened attentively, repeatedly adjusting her posture and gaze until Zhang Manli nodded in satisfaction.
What's most stunning is Cecilia Yip's cross-dressing look.
The makeup artist dressed her in a black, fitted outfit, with a wide belt around her waist, which accentuated her tall and slender figure.
Her long hair was tied up high, and she wore a black samurai crown. Her face was lightly made up, which concealed her femininity and added a touch of toughness.
Ye Tong raised an eyebrow and smiled at herself in the mirror, her eyes sharp as knives. She no longer resembled a girl at all; she was clearly a dashing young man.
"Wow! This look is absolutely amazing!"
Zhang Manli couldn't help but praise.
"Cecilia Yip, just act like this, and you'll definitely surprise the audience."
Ye Tong held a wooden longsword, made a sword-finger gesture, and a confident smile appeared on her lips.
"Sister Manli, just wait and see what happens!"
In the dressing room, the new actors changed into ancient costumes and applied makeup that matched their roles.
The originally ordinary faces were instantly given new life.
They looked at their completely different selves in the mirror, their eyes filled with longing and anticipation.
Tony Leung was dressed in a black samurai robe with a bronze sword at his waist, his posture upright like a pine tree.
He looked at Xiang Shaolong in the mirror, took a deep breath, and his eyes gradually became firm.
He understood that this was the most important opportunity of his life, and he absolutely could not let it down.
Meanwhile, in the chairman's office of RTV, Lin Zhou was holding an unlit cigarette between his fingers.
At that moment, he was looking at the filming proposal for the TV series "A Step into the Past" on his desk.
After reading it, he picked up a pen and signed his name in the expense column.
A film budget of five million Hong Kong dollars would have been enough to produce a big-budget production in the 1980s.
After signing his name, he finally handed the proposal to Wang Wei, the director of the production department of RTV.
Then he warned:
"With a budget of five million, not a single penny can be spared. The costumes, props, and sets must be in keeping with the style of the Warring States period."
The filming location must have a sense of historical weight; I don't want a poorly made period drama.
It can instantly immerse the audience in that turbulent era.
The director nodded in agreement without hesitation.
Lin Zhou is not only the original author of this drama, but also the head of RTV (Rediffusion Television). Projects he personally approves cannot tolerate the slightest carelessness.