Chapter 22: Shooting Starts
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"Big brother Jia, hello! The director asked me to shoot with you, so I'll be shooting the next scene with you."
The lead was recording a video with his phone. Hearing Lu Ze's words, he first posted the video and then beckoned him over.
"Have a seat. Sister Jia, give this brother a glass of water! You memorized the dialogues, right? In just a moment, you can act however you want. Just go with the flow! In any case, the scene is not long."
Perhaps this was his nature or he hadn't succeeded as an actor so he did not have an aura about him. This lead actor in his early thirties, was talking to him nicely and even offered him a glass of lukewarm water, making Lu Ze somewhat overwhelmed with the gesture.
"Later, just follow my tempo… not too fast, nor too slow. The rest will depend on you. How to cry, how to be scared — I can't help you with that. In any case, just follow my lead, alright?"
"Don't worry, big brother Jia! No problem!"
The two went through the dialogues, making the male lead quite pleased. He didn't say anything more afterward and continued to play with his phone. Meanwhile, Lu Ze emptied his thoughts and repeatedly revised the dialogues in his mind while holding the disposable paper cup in his hand.
"Elder brother Jia, be ready with the special! It's time!" The manager's voice came from afar, and the two stood up promptly upon hearing him. Lu Ze let the male lead walk in the front and walked to the director's side behind him.
"Are the two of you ready?"
"We're ready, director!"
"Alright then, proceed!"
Upon hearing the director's shout, the two went down into the trench and split off in different directions. Lu Ze positioned himself properly according to the camera and waited for the sound of action with rapt attention and various emotions.
"(Legends Of Sino Japan War) Heng Dian, scene 37, begin!"
In this scene, Lu Ze was a small soldier and the male lead was a regiment commander inspecting the frontlines after repelling a wave of Japanese devils. The scene started with the camera following the main lead as he surveyed the trenches, walking toward Lu Ze while reminding his soldiers to gather at the trench again before personally sorting out their appearances.
That was, until he arrived before Lu Ze…
He helped Lu Ze adjust his uniform's collar and heard a whimper in the next moment. Almost immediately, the third lead beside him reacted instantly. He immediately kicked at Lu Ze and cursed, "What are you crying for! Hold it in! Our third squad doesn't have such trash soldiers! Hold it in for me!"
The regiment commander waved his hand, stopping the squad commander from cursing more. He adjusted Lu Ze's cap and then patted the dust off his shoulders.
"Why are you crying?"
"Regiment Commander… our team… was wiped out! I'm the only one left... everybody else died!"
Lu Ze raised his head, showing two shining streaks of nasal mucus hanging from his nostrils, looking really sinister. It left the main lead and the third lead stunned for a moment.
"Cut! What are you goofing off for? You lot are thinking about what's for dinner... Again?!"
The male lead and the third lead sighed pathetically. The hell?! They were scolded again. Although the blame lay on them, if not for Lu Ze crying so fiercely until snot was dangling from his nose, they would not have been distracted and might have been able to shoot the scene in one take.
Lu Ze accepted the tissue paper from the manager and wiped the snot away. He also did not expect he would have snot dangling down his nose today. Since the camera was still rolling, he did not dare wipe it away and could only give the male lead a scare.
There was no choice but to start again!
"What are you crying for?"
"Regiment Commander… our team… was wiped out! I'm the only one left... everybody else died!"
"Even so, you shouldn't cry! Soldier! We only shed blood, not tears! Wipe your tears! Which team do you belong to?"
"Reporting to Regiment Commander, I'm Zhao Tiezhu—third squad, second platoon, third team!"
"After this battle, you'll be the third team's captain."
Patting Lu Ze's shoulder, the Regiment Commander continued with his inspection. Perhaps the Squad Commander was also feeling sympathetic, so he took out a pastry from his pocket and gave it to Lu Ze.
"Eat well and fight! Remember, you're not allowed to cry!"
However, as he spoke, Lu Ze's crying only turned louder. The only thing stifling his cries were his incessantly trembling shoulders. Meanwhile, the Regiment Commander had only advanced for less than two meters when he heard a whizz, causing him to roar instantly, "Lie down! Open fire!"
The explosives buried by the demolition expert were detonated, and a splinter of soil smashed into Lu Ze's head. At this moment, the male lead and the third lead dashed backward, and the camera's focus returned to Lu Ze.
Amidst the incessantly flying dust of soil, Lu Ze couldn't avoid getting dirty. He opened his mouth wide and bit a mouthful from the pastry, looking like a hamster with his stuffed mouth.
"Tiezu! Motherf*cker, don't eat! You're going to be reincarnated as a hungry devil! Lie down! You'll get caught in an explosion!"
To his side, another extra began roaring his lines while pulling on Lu Ze's clothes. His pull was quite strong as it almost threw the other on the ground.
"What do you know! I, your father, am going to eat my fill and beat the Japanese devils! Don't spout such drivel with your father! Who knows? I, your father, might become your team captain after this battle!"
"What bullsh*t captain! You'll have to survive first!"
The extra's lines concluded. Lu Ze had gulped the whole pastry along with who knew how much sand along with it. He choked, feeling nauseated. Raising his rifle, another explosion occurred. Sand and dust smashed into Lu Ze's head, making him duck.
"Devils! Incoming!"
Just as this roar sounded, all the actors creeped up the trenches while holding rifles and opened fire. After a bout of gunfire and explosions, the extra beside him was struck by a bullet and tumbled back into the trench.
"Genzi! Japs, I'll f*ck your ancestors! I, your father, will kill you all!" Zhao Tiezhu's eyes instantly turned red, to the extent that even his veins were bulging. His appearance seemed as if he were ready to eat the enemy whole!
Looking into the monitor, the director nodded his head with satisfaction. Lu Ze's acting was perfectly according to his standards. Although he was aware that the storyline was a bit awkward, Lu Ze's performance was on point. He could imagine that it would immediately bring out the tragic, solemn atmosphere once it was accompanied with music along with some slow motion effects in the later stages of production.
At this moment, Zhao Tiezhu emotionally stood up due to Genzi's death. Thus, he immediately became the target and was shot with a bang. The camera focused on his face as he looked into the distance with disbelief. He then bit the blood pouch in his mouth, causing it to leak a trail of blood from his lips before he was shot again.
He wanted to keep standing and raise his gun but he was shot again. Zhao Tiezhu fell backward with his head raised up high as he flew into the trench
Clack!
"Okay, pass!"
With the director's words, the flames of war instantly stopped. The leaving extras crowded the set, creating chaos.
"Hey brother, it's over! Come on up!"
The extra who had just exchanged lines with Lu Ze jumped to his feet then yelled at him as he reached out his hand, pulling the other up.
"I… F*ck! Who the f*ck cleaned the trench? Why does it still have pebbles? It hit my head. F*ck, it's bleeding!"
When Lu Ze fell down, he felt his head hit something. Even though he was wearing a hat, he still felt an intense pain. For a moment, he almost couldn't breathe. When he was being helped up, his hand was bloody from touching his head.
"What? Your blood pouch is even leaking from the back of your head? Or did you touch yourself there with fake blood?"
"Let's go up first. I'll have a look again later. Thanks, brother!"
Lu Ze carelessly climbed out of the trench and then slumped on the ground while panting, again touching the back of his head.
"What happened?" The director was in an excellent mood. Looking at the current apple of his eye sitting on the ground, he asked kindheartedly.
"I hit my head. It's bleeding."
"The hell are you doing manager! Why are there still stones underneath! Go check it out again! If someone is hit again, you can get lost! Medics, come over and take a look!"
After the director cursed his fill, the medical team inspected Lu Ze. His head was indeed bleeding from being hit but the wound was not too serious. Lu Ze was also not feeling dizziness or blackness before his eyes and two stitches would be enough. He was stitched on the set itself and didn't even have to go to the hospital. The doctor asked Lu Ze to go home and take some anti-inflammatory tablets, after which he would be fine.
Leaving the doctor's tent, Lu Ze had to settle his accounts. So simple was his work that there was not much room for flexibility.
"You, that special! Come here. What's your name?" The director called out for Lu Ze again and asked for his name.
"Lu Ze."
"Take three thousand from the manager, consider that as compensation for your work injury."
"Thank you, director! If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Hold on!"
Lu Ze had barely taken a step backward when he heard the director's call for him and turned his head around in doubt.
"Don't work as an extra. Go to the actor's union and register yourself under our team."
"..."
-- Gift
received