Chapter 441 Line Rehearsals

Qing Luo finally met the reason why he accepted becoming a newbie director's request to let him become an assistant director.

A couple of days ago, he was contacted by Moonlight Entertainment. He was requested to become an assistant director for a young and unknown director who will be filming a movie very soon. Of course, he will receive a huge sum of money if he accepts this role.

However, as someone who has been in the entertainment industry and directed award-winning films for the past 20 years, the temptation of money no longer blinded him.

If it was the past, Qing Luo might have reconsidered their offer, but he wanted to film a movie that can't only move the audiences but also move him as a director. Initially, he was going to direct a film under Dauntless after showing a script that was quite amazing. Qing Luo didn't even want to accept Moonlight's short notice nor money to become an assistant director.

However, just when he was going to refuse them, he received another call. This time, from a man who introduced himself to be the manager of the actor who disappeared a few years ago.

It was not a rumor or telltale that Qing Luo has been looking for an actor who showed up in that mysterious movie that disappeared a day after it was released in the cinema. However, only Qing Luo and a few directors were able to watch that movie out of respect for their fellow director who directed that movie.

But who would have thought that when they finished watching the film and inquired Director Gun about the actor who appeared in his film, the movie got taken down from all cinemas showing it in their screens. When they asked Director Gun what happened, he only told them that it was something that was out of his control.

Since then, along with Qing Luo, the other directors who were with him that watched Director Gun's film were on a hunt to find the actor 'Yu Han'.

Qing Luo didn't want to believe the shady caller, but he was definitely seduced to find out whether it was really Yu Han's manager or just a scam caller intending to fool him.

Yu Han was in front of him.

The man who wore a military uniform with several achievement badges and oozed with an amazing aura through the screen was really in front of him. Qing Luo's heart paced as if he had just experienced falling in love with his first love all over again.

This was the actor who shocked them with his outstanding acting and presence!

"Okay, we will first get acquainted with each other then, we will have a short rehearsal reading for your roles." Director Daren held a script in his hand and announced the plan, "After tonight, we will also start the photoshoot for the film and test the makeup for each role. Don't forget to wake up around 10 in the morning."

Everyone nodded at his words. No one dared to call Daren Wang incompetent or too young to become their director. When they looked at his serious expression, they knew there was no room for any contradiction or foolery.

The main purpose for today's reading was different from when they read their script at the hotel previously. This time, it was to get rid of any unnecessary and unreasonable lines that didn't feel right according to their character's set up and won't help the progress of the plotlines.

Since the film was focused on the conflicts and lives of the main roles and the supporting roles around them, it took a bit for them to decide which line to start with first.

Eventually, someone proposed to have the main characters rehearse their lines first. So, both Ran Xueyi and Song Yu Han became the center of attraction.

Ran Xueyi was slightly self-conscious, but when Director Daren called out for her to start reading her lines, the awkwardness and pressure that wrapped around her heart dissipated as if it was nothing but an illusion. She instantly showed her professional attitude in front of everyone.

When she spoke, everyone at the table was stunned.

Crystal, Ran Xueyi's role, had a monologue in the beginning. It was a difficult and big challenge for someone to perfect this without going over the limit and sounding exaggerated.

Yet, Ran Xueyi pulled it off. Her voice was smooth and crystal clear. It was as if everyone was hearing someone dub an animation or film and flawlessly matching the lips of the character they were dubbing.

Ran Xueyi's more than 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry was not wasted. Even Qing Luo, who had been a director for 20 years and filmed several top and veteran actors in the past, couldn't help but feel that Ran Xueyi was truly amazing as an actor.

There was no doubt when it came to her acting skill.

Those rumors that she had been involved didn't even matter anymore. With a talent like hers, who cares about them?!

Right now, what everyone wanted to do was to cheer for her and give her a round of applause. Unfortunately, they were now reading the script and it would be disrespectful if they even made a sound.

Ran Xueyi didn't know that she was being praised by everyone in their hearts. She continued reading the monologue dedicated to her role, Crystal.

"In the beginning, darkness followed me like my shadows. Inseparable and irresistible. Then, lightness filled with temptation crawled towards me like a black widow. You weave a seductive web that I can't escape. Now, I have fallen deep into a sweet trap I lured myself into."

Crystal was a blind girl living alone in a building her mother had given to her as her last gift before she passed away. On a thunderous night, the blind girl was on her way when a ruffian pulled her into an alley and wanted to take advantage of her. But at that same time, a stranger unintentionally saved her by just being at the same place as them.

Soon it was Song Yu Han's turn.

Ran Xueyi already exchanged lines with Song Yu Han. The first time was at the hotel where she first found out he was the male lead of the film. It was their second time already. So, their dialogue flowed smoothly and naturally.

For the past couple of days before they flew to Paradise City, Ran Xueyi strictly looked over Song Yu Han's lines and readings. He was a complete novice compared to Ran Xueyi. Even though he had acted in the past, experience was something that cannot be learned through memorization and feeling alone. And so, Ran Xueyi patiently answered all his questions and also taught him what he must do in certain difficult parts in the filming process.

​ The moment Song Yu Han opened his lips and his voice flowed to their ears, a silence that shouldn't have existed in a crowded place surrounded by people actually appeared.

But even though there was an unsettling complete silence that would make one feel anxious and nervous, Song Yu Han acted as if he was in an enclosed space where there was no one around him. He remained unbothered and cool while he said all his lines.

Unsurprisingly, when everyone learned that the main lead role playing as Wu Yao turned out to be a newcomer without any films under his resume, it was no secret that they were terribly worried. Were they really going to film with someone inexperienced? And on top of it, they were being directed by a young director. Will they be alright?

However, when they met Song Yu Han, they couldn't hide their surprise. His extreme handsomeness was top-notch even amongst the top actors in their circle who were named as the most handsome men in their country. No, to be more direct, he could easily topple them and take their throne if he wanted to.

If they rely on his face, the film will surely explode amongst the visual fans who were crazy towards a person's appearance.

But when Song Yu Han started to speak and exchange lines with Ran Xueyi, no one thought that he could actually do a great job in putting feelings in his lines.

It was an eye-opener and they were all ashamed to admit that they were too narrow-minded to think that Song Yu Han got the main role through the backdoor.

But they didn't know that they were completely wrong about their ideas about him. The only thing that was different was that he didn't get in through a backdoor… He is the backdoor.

When the lines went to the pivotal part in the film, Director Daren clapped both his hands and said, "Alright, that's it for today's rehearsal reading."

Because of how immaculate and splendid they did their script reading, no one noticed that it was already half past ten. They didn't even realize that they had been reading their lines for almost four hours and their voices had become slightly hoarse.