Chapter 2: You're Useless Even When Given a Chance!

When the production crew shoots night scenes, they provide dinner for the actors.

Although Zhang Yuan had landed a role with lines, he was still arranged to collect a boxed meal along with the other extras.

Meanwhile, lead actors like Sun Honglei were invited by the director to dine in a private hotel room.

A film set is a microcosm of society, where the hierarchy is clearly defined.

Zhang Yuan leaned against a utility pole and opened his lunch box. It contained only two vegetable dishes, and he couldn't help but think, "How stingy."

After eating, he spent his time memorizing lines while waiting on standby. It wasn't until after 10:00 PM that the stage manager finally called him in.

Why start filming so late?

Well, it was simply because of a lack of funds. To get the restaurant venue for free, director Gao Qunshu had to wait until they closed for the night before they could start shooting.

All the actors involved in this scene gathered to run through their lines, and then filming officially began.

"《Conquest》, Scene 19, Take 1, Attempt 1, ACTION!"

At the director's command, Sun Honglei, playing Liu Huaqiang, entered the restaurant with his two henchmen, Han Yueping and Hu Dahai. They brandished homemade shotguns wrapped in old clothes, storming in aggressively and heading straight for Feng Biao and his group, who were in the middle of a meal.

"Nobody move!"

Sun Honglei shouted, then grabbed Zhang Yuan by the hair and slammed his head onto the table with a dull thud.

"Do you recognize me? If you move, I'll kill you!"

Like the other actors, Zhang Yuan acted terrified, following the script.

"From now on, whenever you see my brother, you must call him 'Sir.' Otherwise, every time I see you, I'll beat you!" After delivering his final line, Sun Honglei scanned the crowd with a menacing glare.

The moment their eyes met, Zhang Yuan’s body trembled slightly, as if instinctively recoiling.

"Cut!" the director called out, and everyone finally broke out of the tense atmosphere of the scene.

"Are you okay after that hit?" Sun Honglei came over immediately to check on him.

"I'm fine, please, keep acting," Zhang Yuan said, touching his forehead. It stung a little, but it was bearable.

"Good to hear. Your performance surprised me; your reactions were spot on," the other man said, giving him an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

"Everyone, adjust your emotions. Let's do it again," Director Gao clapped his hands, and the actors got back into character.

"《Conquest》, Scene 19, Take 1, Attempt 2, ACTION!"

"《Conquest》, Scene 19, Take 1, Attempt 5, ACTION!"

"《Conquest》, Scene 19, Take 1, Attempt 8, ACTION!"

...

Strangely, after eight consecutive takes, Director Gao Qunshu kept calling for retakes, his expression growing increasingly serious.

Why was he so troubled?

Because he realized that no matter how they shot this scene, it just wasn't achieving the effect he wanted.

"Everyone, take a break," Gao Qunshu said, letting the cast relax while he took some time to think.

"Director Gao, here's some water." Zhang Yuan, the professional water-boy, arrived at the director's side as usual.

[Received thanks from Gao Qunshu, Drama Theory +1!]

Another little gain. Perfect.

However, he hadn't come over just to deliver water this time.

"Director Gao, I noticed you don't seem to be in a good mood. Are you unhappy with the content of this scene?"

"It just doesn't feel right." Gao Qunshu was surprised that this minor actor had guessed his thoughts, so he replied calmly.

"Actually, I have a few small ideas. I don't know if I should say them or not."

"Hmm?" Gao Qunshu was skeptical. This kid was only promoted this afternoon and was just an extra before that; could he really have any constructive suggestions?

"Go ahead," he thought. He was already stuck, so maybe this could spark some inspiration.

"I feel that Liu Huaqiang in this scene is a bit too simple and crude. It doesn't fit his character profile as a highly intelligent and ruthless man."

Gao Qunshu’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He turned his head slowly, his expression becoming serious.

"Keep going."

"The content of this scene is Liu Huaqiang storming into the restaurant to force Feng Biao to kneel and admit defeat."

"In the current version, Liu Huaqiang isn't ruthless enough, nor is he smart enough. As the villain, Feng Biao doesn't look humiliated enough either, which is why the dramatic tension is lacking."

In truth, when Zhang Yuan had read the script earlier, he noticed that this scene lacked many of the details from the TV series he remembered from his past life, which gave him an opportunity to shine.

"For example, Liu Huaqiang has a gun; he has absolute control over the situation. Just threatening them with words isn't satisfying enough—he needs to toy with them."

"How would he toy with them?" Gao Qunshu asked, pulling out a cigarette and pressing his lighter to light it.

*Whoosh.*

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yuan blew a puff of air, extinguishing the flame.

In that instant, the set went dead silent; you could hear a pin drop!

Everyone saw the minor actor walk up to the director, but no one expected him to dare blow out the director's lighter.

Was he trying to rebel?

Sun Honglei’s small, willow-leaf eyes widened at the sight.

Gao Qunshu was also stunned. What was going on?

Only then did Zhang Yuan smile and say, "That's how he toys with him!"

"Feng Biao has a gun pointed at his head and wants to smoke to calm his nerves, but Liu Huaqiang blows out his flame."

"The subtext is: I'm in charge here now. If you want to smoke, you need my permission. If I don't let you, you don't get to!"

"Brilliant!" After hearing the explanation, Gao Qunshu’s eyes crinkled with joy.

The other actors were even more dumbfounded.

How did this kid blowing out a flame make the director happy?

"Also, I think if we want the core of this scene—Liu Huaqiang using a gun to force the other side to kneel and beg—to be more tense, we need a sequence that echoes the beginning."

"What do you mean?" Gao Qunshu put down his cigarette and leaned in close to Zhang Yuan to listen carefully.

"The premise of this scene is that Liu Huaqiang has been hunted by Feng Biao and finally found a chance for revenge."

"So, why not design a segment where Liu Huaqiang gives the gun to the other side and tells Feng Biao to shoot him in the head, but the other side is too afraid to do it?"

"If you don't kill me, I'm going to kill you. This way, it connects to the later part where Liu Huaqiang forces him to kneel and beg; it’s like a plot twist."

"Good!" Gao Qunshu pulled a pen from his pocket and started scribbling on his script.

"Wait, no." Half a minute later, he looked up, conflicted. "Adding that is interesting, and the tension is there, but given Liu Huaqiang's personality, how could he possibly give the gun to the other side and give them a chance to kill him?"

Zhang Yuan chuckled and said, "We can add some details. The two henchmen each hold a gun. The one Hu Dahai is holding has no bullets, while the one Han Yueping is holding is loaded."

"The gun Liu Huaqiang gives Feng Biao is the one from Hu Dahai, but when it's his turn to point a gun at someone's head, he uses the one from Han Yueping."

"This way, it shows his intelligence as a crime lord!"

After hearing this, Gao Qunshu’s eyes widened like copper bells. It took him a moment to speak.

"With this change, the 'crime lord' aura of Liu Huaqiang is finally established!"

"Kid, I didn't realize it, but you're full of surprises."

[Received thanks from Gao Qunshu, Director Skill +3, Camera Control +3, Drama Theory +5, Storyboarding +5!]

Seeing the rewards, the corners of Zhang Yuan's mouth curled up higher than an AK-47.

This was worth so much more than delivering water!

Meanwhile, Gao Qunshu was ecstatic. He hadn't expected that his unintentional decision to give this minor extra a chance would bring him such a huge surprise.

This kid was incredibly useful when given an opportunity!

Director Gao squinted at Zhang Yuan’s forehead. After eight takes, each time Sun Honglei had slammed his head onto the table, his forehead was already slightly red.

Yet, the kid hadn't made a peep; he was quite professional.

Having ideas and being able to endure hardship—Director Gao’s opinion of Zhang Yuan had risen significantly after this scene.

"Director Gao, it's already one o'clock. Are we still filming?"

The actors were exhausted and wanted to go home early.

"Just a moment. I'm going to rewrite the script with Zhang Yuan, and then we'll try one more take." After saying this, Director Gao pulled Zhang Yuan over and they began writing furiously.

The actors' mouths dropped open in shock.

What?

The director and that minor actor are rewriting the script together?

Did we hear that right?

But on a film set, the director's word is law. No one dared to question it, so they had to wait patiently.

Before long, the script was revised and handed to the lead actors.

Many of the actors had started yawning, but after reading the script, they all perked up.

This was much better than the previous version... Sun Honglei glanced at Zhang Yuan, even feeling the urge to get to know him better.

The originally simple and straightforward "tough guy" plot now had a sense of psychological warfare, and the character of Liu Huaqiang was becoming increasingly brilliant!

[Received thanks from Sun Honglei, Acting +5, Dance Basics +3, Physical Fitness +3, Vocal Basics +3, Billiards Basics +2!]

Zhang Yuan was slightly surprised to receive a gift from Sun Honglei, but he understood why.

The biggest beneficiary of this scene becoming more exciting was Sun Honglei, after all, he was the lead.

Although the man hadn't said anything, Zhang Yuan had already received his gratitude.

"All departments, positions!" Under Director Gao's command, around 2:00 AM, the *Conquest* crew got back to work...

(End of chapter)