Chapter 151 Protagonist and Supporting Character

Late at night, in the hotel, in director Li Huizhu's room.

Along with the two fingers raised by Chen Shisan and the two words he said... the protagonist.

The house fell into silence for a long time.

After a long while, Li Huizhu slowly spoke.

"Is his ambition really that big?"

"How can someone who doesn't have big ambitions make it in our industry?" Chen Shisan asked back.

"Hmm..." Director Li had to agree with his friend.

"And he is not like those small-time actors who become arrogant when they succeed. Those people will take advantage of their background to do whatever they want in the crew and interfere with the content of the script at will."

"The purpose of modifying the script was only for personal gain, which of course would disgust the rest of the crew."

"But he is different." Chen Shisan took off his glasses and rubbed his sore eyes.

I was very excited just now, but now that I have calmed down, I feel sleepy and tired. However, there are so many thoughts in my mind that I just can't fall asleep.

“Everything he does, in the grand scheme of things, is good for the crew.”

“Even if he asks for changes to the script, he won’t be the only one to benefit.”

"According to the ideas he provided, it will indeed make our TV series more exciting."

"At the same time, in addition to him, Wu Jing, Xuan Xuan, Shen Xiaohai... the roles of several other main supporting characters will also be increased."

Chen Shisan knew that this kid was definitely well prepared!

"But if some people's roles increase, some people's roles will decrease." Li Huizhu looked embarrassed.

"That's right. As for the reduction...Xu Xiyuan is better. The main blame is on Xiaodong."

There was another silence, and neither of them knew how to start.

"Okay, let me arrange it." In the end, it was Director Li who took action.

"From helping to solve the scene before filming began, to now not only helping to give advice when the crew was blackmailed, but also getting the money back."

"I think he can be of great use. With his brain, he will surely be very successful in the future."

"Now we have a chance, if we help him, maybe he will help us in the future."

Chen Shisan nodded in agreement.

"How about this, during lunch break tomorrow, you and I will gather all the main members of the crew together and discuss it together..."

The next day, noon.

As Director Li planned, all the main actors, including the two protagonists, Zhang Yuan, Jessica Henrika, Wu Jing, Shen Xiaohai, Yuan Hua, Tian Niu, Zhu Yan and others, were gathered in front of a big table.

Chen Shisan had dark circles under his eyes and yawned as he handed stacks of A4 papers to everyone present.

"I discussed it with Director Li last night and I have some new ideas about the script. This is the new script outline. Everyone, take a look and give your opinions."

Zhang Yuan remained calm, but secretly praised in his heart.

"Chen Shisan was very considerate. He only mentioned him and Director Li, but didn't mention my cooperation in revising the script."

Even though it’s just one less name, the meaning is completely different.

Li Huizhu and Chen Shisan are the director and screenwriter and assistant director respectively, so they certainly have the right to modify the script.

Since Zhang Yuan was not mentioned, it means that the director wanted to change the script, and they were responsible for this. The actors were disgusted, but they couldn't say much.

But if Zhang Yuan was included, it would be telling the other actors directly that it was he who wanted to change the script, implicitly putting all the responsibility on him and making him take the blame.

Since the responsible parties are different, the actors' reactions are naturally different.

Beside the table, the sound of papers flipping through pages could be heard constantly.

Zhang Yuan also pretended to pick up the simple script and started flipping through it.

Li Huizhu glanced at him and suppressed her smile.

"My acting skills are better now than when I was acting."

Ten minutes later.

Wu Jing spoke first: "I think this version is very good!"

Apart from Zhang Yuan, he benefited the most. As long as he had a brain disease, he would definitely recommend it.

Hong Kong girl Jessica Hsuan is quite intelligent. She looked around calmly and said, "I think both versions are fine."

Shen Xiaohai also echoed that his opinion was similar to Xuan Xuan's and was ambiguous.

Yuan Hua and Tianniu, two veteran actors, are both "old hands" who have been immersed in the film and television industry for many years. After flipping through the film, they looked at each other, and then looked at Zhang Yuan who was sitting not far away at the same time.

"Ah."

"Ah."

Although they didn't say anything, the two of them already knew that this matter was closely related to that active boy.

The script changes had little impact on their roles, less than 10%. Logically speaking, it would be best for them to practice Tai Chi like Jessica Hsuan and Shen Xiaohai.

But Yuan Hua spoke with a smile.

"In my experience, this version is better than the previous one, with more content and deeper characters."

Yuan Hua was obviously speaking for him, and the reason was very simple.

In previous scenes and in the competition with Wu Jing, Yuan Hua confirmed that Zhang Yuan has real kung fu skills!

How many new martial arts talents are there in the film and television industry today?

There are really only a handful of them!
In the eyes of this old action star, Zhang Yuan, like Wu Jing, was classified as a younger generation who needed care.

If Li Huizhu and Chen Shisan's selfish desire is to make friends who may achieve great things in the film and television industry in the future.

Yuan Hua's selfish desire is to have one more action star so that kung fu films can have more room to survive.

Tianniu agreed with Yuan Hua's opinion.

She is not a martial arts star.

However, her ancestral home is in Shanghai, and her father is a Peking Opera qin player, so she has been quite familiar with folk art since childhood.

These days, while observing Zhang Yuan's steps while performing on the set, I could vaguely see some foundation in opera, and I felt a sense of closeness to him.

Zhu Yan, who played the role of Empress Dowager Yin Yue, did not hesitate to agree after discovering that this version of the script was beneficial to Zhang Yuan.

"I think it's good too." Zhang Yuan replied with a subtle smile.

Of course, things won't always go smoothly.

"I object!"

After everyone else had expressed their opinions, one person frowned and raised his hand to vote.

Of course it’s the male lead Chen Xiaodong.

His eyes were already big, and after reading this revised script outline, his eyes widened even more.

Zhang Yuan wanted to put a basin under his chin so that he could catch his eyeballs when they fell out, so that they wouldn't get covered in mud when they fell to the ground.

After reading these pages, Chen Xiaodong had only one feeling.

Good guy!
I'm a stand-in!
The seven-life couple was changed to Qiye and Xiaoqian?
Ning Caichen: Then I’ll leave?
Chen Xiaodong looked at it from all angles, and his evaluation of his own role could be summed up in two words: redundant.

Who is the protagonist and who is the male lead?

If it is changed like this, my Ning Caichen's role won't be less than Qiye's, but at most it will be on par with him.

The original single male lead was changed to two male leads, and I suffered a great loss!
Yes, Yang Dengkui made this film mainly to promote Xu Xiyuan, his "goddaughter".

But I am the male lead after all.

My popularity on both sides of the Taiwan Strait is definitely higher than Zhang Yuan's.

Naturally, he was not convinced.

Chen Xiaodong is not stupid. If the film is shot according to the revised script, he will be the biggest loser.

"I object, too." As soon as he finished speaking, our vixen heroine raised her arms coquettishly... She was indeed set as a vixen in the play.

Xu Xiyuan's role was not affected as much as Chen Xiaodong's, and it is still within an acceptable range.

But she was angry when she saw Zhang Yuan!
I am willing to play with you, but you don't know how to appreciate it...

The situation now has become that except for the male and female protagonists, everyone else, whether they agree or not, at least does not object.

But the male and female leading roles are chosen by the investors and they have a lot of say.

Seeing this, Li Huizhu whispered to Chen Xiaodong.

"Xiaodong, your health has not been very good since you came to Dali. You have been suffering from altitude sickness and have been relying on medication to treat it. Zhang Yuan also helps you massage from time to time to relieve the symptoms, right?"

"Uh... yes." After Director Li said this, his attitude immediately softened.

It is true that he is in poor health, and it is also true that Zhang Yuan often helps him.

"But I can hold on." He quickly replied firmly.

Obviously, even if he had some feelings, he didn't want to give in.

Seeing the atmosphere at a standstill, Chen Shisan, with panda eyes, spoke up to mediate: "How about this, let's think about it for a few more days. Anyway, the changes will not affect the current filming."

"Dismiss, take a lunch break first."

Everyone got up and left.

"Brother Xiaodong..." Zhang Yuan thought, and stepped forward to explain to Chen Xiaodong.

But when he walked forward with a smile on his face, Chen Xiaodong just nodded slightly and walked away quickly, with a much colder attitude than usual.

"Sure enough, the reaction was intense."

Zhang Yuan anticipated this result.

I also know that this move may offend people.

But if you want to get ahead, you have to offend people.

He had to do it for his own good.

"We need to find a chance to talk to him alone."

Zhang Yuan plans to solve the problem through conversation "without injections or medication, just sitting there and chatting with you."

As for the other opponent, Xu Xiyuan, he is actually easy to deal with.

No need to talk, just give me the injection.

But Zhang Yuan really wasn't very interested in her.

Although it would be the same with the lights turned off, after knowing the series of outrageous actions of this person in the future, Zhang Yuan really didn't want to get involved in this relationship.

"Let's deal with Chen Xiaodong first."

Make up your mind, the work should continue.

Time passed until the evening when work was over. After taking off his costume, Zhang Yuan walked towards Chen Xiaodong, who was wearing a scholar's suit.

"Brother Dong, I see you don't look very well after working the night shift. Do you want me to help you press a few times?"

He wanted to use the massage as an excuse to start a conversation.

"Yeah, yeah, I understand..."

Unexpectedly, Chen Xiaodong was holding a mobile phone, as if he was talking to someone.

His expression was serious and nervous, and he just glanced past him without paying any attention to him at all.

"Haha, you're embarrassed!" Wu Jing jumped out from nowhere, hooked his shoulder and said sarcastically.

"Tell me the truth, did you instigate the two directors to revise the script?"

"What do you mean by instigation?" Zhang Yuan gave him a look of disdain. "It means aligning the granularity with the director and screenwriter, getting through the underlying logic of the story, and making the script a perfect closed loop."

After hearing this, Wu Jing's mind was confused and he shook his head vigorously.

"According to the new script, your role will be increased a lot, and your pay will also increase a lot." Zhang Yuan also put his hand on his shoulder, and the two brothers were quite close.

"No, I signed a package contract. As long as I don't work overtime, there will be no increase in pay." Wu Jing replied with a bitter face, then he was stunned and looked at Zhang Yuan and spoke.

"Didn't you sign a package contract?"

"I signed a contract to be paid by the number of episodes." Zhang Yuan said with a wicked smile.

"Fuck, you hadn't calculated this day a long time ago!" Wu clenched his fists in anger.

According to this new script, his salary will have to increase by at least 40%!
Wu Jing suddenly felt that compared with Zhang Yuan's brain, his brain might be made of tofu pudding.

Others have already figured out various ways to make money before joining the crew, but you are just foolishly relying on the little pay in the contract to make a living, and you think you are so happy.

"Hmph!" But Wu Jing quickly came to his senses and said angrily.

"But if Chen Xiaodong doesn't give in, you can't add to the drama."

"Yeah." Zhang Yuan was also worried.

Seeing Zhang Yuan's serious expression, Wu Jing was happier than if he had received a pay raise.

I'll make you mad, kid. I'll make you suffer a loss!
Wu Jingxin said that he succeeded every time, and I couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

What will you do this time?
You can't put a knife to Chen Xiaodong's neck and force him to agree.

I am not afraid of my brothers suffering, but I am afraid that my brothers will drive Land Rover.

Wu Jing was secretly happy when he saw him worried...

The next day, morning.

The crew was in chaos.

As soon as Zhang Yuan arrived at the scene, he discovered that the crew was not as quiet and peaceful as usual, but was in a mess.

"What's going on here?"

Seeing that Li Huizhu and Chen Shisan were both anxiously talking on the phone, Zhang Yuan didn't dare to go up and ask.

Wu Jing, who had just changed into his costume, was not far away. He took out a handful of melon seeds and walked over to chat.

No matter how anxious others are, he is not anxious.

"Hey whats up?"

Wu Jing took the soy sauce and melon seeds he handed to him and spoke while eating them.

"Something happened, bah. I think the crew wants to, bah, stop production."

"It's so serious, what happened?"

Zhang Yuan asked curiously, could it be that he was being blackmailed again, just like the last time he rented a horse?
"This time it has nothing to do with outsiders. It's a problem within the crew."

"What do you mean?"

“The person is missing!”

"Who?"

Wu Jing grabbed another handful from him, also a little worried: "The vixen is still there, but the scholar is missing."

Brother Jing tells the story.

Basically, what is happening now is...

Chen Xiaodong is missing!

The last people who saw him were probably Zhang Yuan and Wu Jing last night, and there was no news of him after that.

It wasn't until this morning when the crew couldn't get in touch with him that they realized he was missing.

The whereabouts have not been confirmed yet.

"I heard that he didn't return to his room last night. His luggage is still there, and the assistant assigned by the company doesn't know where he went."

The leading male actor is nowhere to be seen, what is the point of the crew filming?

Zhang Yuan's heart trembled.

There are still many wildernesses in Dali today.

I hope you won’t let one misstep lead to eternal regret!
Or let the blind bear touch it?
If Chen Xiaodong's life is really in danger, then the entire crew will most likely be in trouble!

This is not a good thing for him.

"Besides, I was just trying to squeeze him in for a role. We met last night, but now he's gone."

"Don't even mention the police. I even doubt if I did it myself."

"That's damn logical."

"If it were in Detective Conan, I would have started describing my tragic life story and confessed the details of the crime."

He was not in a hurry just now, but now he was panicking.

"Hey, where are you? Tell me!"

Just as he was trembling with fear, good news and bad news came from the other end.

The good news is that after much difficulty, Li Huizhu finally contacted our "Japanese Devil Scholar".

The bad news is that this person is currently in the imperial capital...

(End of this chapter)