Chapter 46: Getting Fired Up

If an actor like this were to...

Thinking of this, Director Zhang felt a sudden sense of agitation. If he were to collaborate with these actors, could he sweep the awards at the three major European film festivals?

In an instant, this intense thought surged in his mind.

But at the same time, he was also deeply puzzled.

When Cheng Sheng was filming, Zhang had been following the news online and knew that the participants in Cheng Sheng's films were mostly students.

Students who hadn't even graduated, who might not even know how to move properly on set—where did they get such incredible acting skills?

This was what he found most incomprehensible.

Could it be true, as the industry rumors suggested, that Cheng Sheng was exceptionally skilled at training actors?

While Director Zhang focused on the actors' performances, Chen Kaige, who had come at the invitation of China Film Group, perceived innovation in Cheng Sheng's filming techniques.

"To think a historical film could be shot this way? Using the style of an art film to depict a battle between two armies, yet it doesn't feel out of place at all. What is he trying to express? And the use of camera shots... it's divine."

Chen Kaige whispered to himself, his eyes wide with disbelief.

In particular, he noticed that many shots in the film were long takes—meaning there was no editing during the filming process.

The use of such long takes tests not only the director's skill but also the actors' performances.

If anyone on either side made a mistake, the entire shot would likely be ruined.

A long take is a filming technique that involves using a single continuous shot to capture a scene, a sequence, or a segment to complete a relatively whole cinematic passage without breaking the continuity of time and space during the progression of events.

Long takes maintain the continuity of events and the integrity of space, enhancing the audience's sense of immersion and allowing them to experience the scenes and characters' emotions more authentically.

The difficulty of shooting long takes is high, requiring close cooperation between multiple departments, including the director, actors, cinematography, lighting, and art direction. Therefore, they serve as a showcase for a director's ability to coordinate and the team's level of collaboration.

Average directors often prefer close-up shots. While close-ups don't necessarily mean a director lacks ability, they do reflect a certain limitation.

Close-ups can make the visuals appear overly monotonous or lacking in depth.

Some directors rely too heavily on close-ups, ignoring the overall performance of the scene and the character, which can lead to visual fatigue for the audience.

Furthermore, an actor's ability to manage their facial expressions is a crucial factor affecting the effectiveness of a close-up.

If an actor's expression management is inadequate, a close-up can magnify their flaws, resulting in poor visual effects.

Especially for viewers who enjoy looking for details, it is easy to find flaws in an actor through close-ups, making them targets for nitpicking.

Cheng Sheng used far too many long takes in his film; such a filming style was something even great international directors might struggle to achieve.

In a typical film, having a few long takes is enough to demonstrate a director's capability.

But what Cheng Sheng was doing was absolutely unprecedented.

Chen Kaige was also a director who liked using long takes, but he felt that compared to Cheng Sheng, the difference was like heaven and earth.

After a long period of analysis, Chen Kaige slapped his thigh hard, startling Chen Hong, who was sitting next to him. She didn't know what kind of fit her husband was having.

*Just watch the movie! Why are you slapping your own thigh!*

"Old Chen, what are you doing?" Chen Hong whispered.

"Nothing, just a sudden realization."

As Chen Kaige spoke, he made a decision in his heart: for his next film, he also wanted to try Cheng Sheng's filming style—using more long takes and employing art-film techniques to shoot war.

Perhaps he could achieve a breakthrough.

The film's runtime was three hours, but the audience did not feel the time was long; they were already deeply immersed in the plot.

As the plot reached the moment where Li Shimin defeated Liu Wu Zhou and celebrated with his generals...

*Dong! Dong! Dong!*

Accompanied by intense drumming, the audience, immersed in the story, couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

This... this drumming gave them a sense of surging passion.

It felt as if the blood in their bodies was burning.

As if their very lineage was being sublimated.

The sound of the pipa!

And other unknown instruments began to play.

It set the entire cinema ablaze.

"What piece is this? Listening to it makes me feel like I'm going to catch fire," Director Zhang said in disbelief, his eyes wide.

Han the Third had heard "The Qin King's Array Music" before, but hearing it again, his blood also boiled with passion.

The Director of the National Museum smiled slightly. This was exactly the "Qin King's Array Music" he wanted; he hadn't expected Cheng Sheng to produce it in such a short time.

Just wait!

Tomorrow, he could announce the news that the National Museum possessed the complete musical score of "The Qin King's Array Music," letting the nation know that this national treasure had not disappeared.

"What a soul-stirring piece."

Even as a woman, Li Shuangbing felt a sense of boiling blood upon hearing it, let alone the men.

"Holy crap, historical records say that after Li Shimin defeated Liu Wu Zhou, he held a banquet for his generals and played a piece called 'The Qin King's Array Music.' Could Cheng Sheng have actually recreated the lost 'Qin King's Array Music'?"

Film critics were, of course, present at the premiere. As critics, their knowledge base was certainly high. Upon seeing the plot, several critics connected it to the historical background and immediately guessed the name of the piece.

But hadn't the actual musical score of "The Qin King's Array Music" disappeared?

Even if there were fragments, they were only held by the Japanese.

Yet, the music in the film gave the impression of being the true "Qin King's Array Music."

The critics had never heard the real piece, so they couldn't offer a definitive critique, but the stirring music told them that this might indeed be the authentic "Qin King's Array Music."

"This composer is a genius. I wonder who produced this piece," Chen Kaige said, his eyes brightening.

"Xu Jingqing," Chen Hong, sitting beside him, spoke up.

"Ah! How do you know?" Chen Kaige asked, startled.

"I'm guessing. Didn't you look for someone to compose the music for *The Myth* recently? I originally wanted to ask Teacher Xu Jingqing for help, but then I heard she was composing for Cheng Sheng's film. So, it's most likely that this piece was produced by Teacher Xu Jingqing," Chen Hong explained.

"I'm going to re-score *The Myth*," Chen Kaige said deeply.

Having heard this piece, he thought of the score in his own *The Myth* and felt it was significantly lacking, which sparked this new idea.

Hearing this, Chen Hong couldn't help but roll her eyes. She knew her husband too well.

He had no planning whatsoever; he did whatever he felt like in the moment, prioritizing personal expression and artistic pursuit over following a script.

Now he wanted to re-score the film? Did he not realize that the film was already completed? Re-scoring it would not only involve a massive workload but would also increase the investment.

The total investment for *The Myth* had already exceeded 100 million RMB. Would China Film Group and the overseas investors agree to this?

(End of Chapter)