The image on Director Wang's camera was the scene filmed yesterday.
Today was for a final check and polish before the official shoot.
If the shots connected seamlessly, they would move on to the next sequence.
Qi Yu had no prior experience with photography, but as she stood behind Director Wang and watched, a scene flashed by, prompting her to step forward and point, "Doesn't this part seem a bit odd?"
Director Wang looked at Qi Yu with curiosity rather than annoyance, asking, "What do you find strange about it?"
"The moment the image flashed by, the protagonist's earrings were completely different from the previous scene. In the last shot, they were pearl earrings, but in the next, they immediately became tassel earrings," Qi Yu squinted. "Although it's a very minor detail and might seem insignificant, it would be immediately apparent to the audience that the shots were spliced together, wouldn't it? How could earrings change in an instant? I've watched some dramas before, and there were similar issues, and in the earlier scenes, modern buildings were also visible in the background."
Director Wang, who had been reviewing the video at a relatively fast pace,
found that Qi Yu, with her exceptionally sharp dynamic vision, could instantly capture details that ordinary humans would miss.
When Director Wang heard her explanation, he was stunned for a moment, then incredulously rewound the video, pausing it bit by bit. Indeed, there were many flaws, and each one was precisely as Qi Yu had described.
"Qi Yu, you're quite something. Ya Li is truly fortunate. Have you done any directing work before?" Director Wang began to take a keen interest in Qi Yu.
Qi Yu chuckled awkwardly at his words and explained, "No, I've never directed. How could I have that kind of skill? I just happened to notice it while watching. It was purely a coincidence, and I've seen similar issues in dramas at home, so I guess I have a little bit of experience."
Director Wang couldn't help but nod and pat Qi Yu on the shoulder, urging her to get ready for today's scenes.
Qi Yu turned and left to touch up her makeup backstage.
The lead actresses of the drama were gathered, eating, and looked up as they heard footsteps. They beckoned to Qi Yu, "Little girl, come here. Are you the newcomer who arrived today? I saw the bracelets you sent. They're quite beautiful, by the way. But are they pure gold? You've really gone all out."
The woman speaking was Wang Lili, the female lead of the Xianxia drama being filmed today, the number one female protagonist.
She was also the person Qi Yu was doubling for.
Qi Yu walked over and smiled, greeting her, "Hello, Sister Wang. Yes, they are pure gold, but it's nothing. My family owns a jewelry store. These gold beads were birthday gifts from my parents, and I couldn't wear them all myself. I just had them redesigned and gave them to you all as small gifts."
"Oh, your family owns a jewelry store, that explains it. But I don't understand. With your family's good financial standing, have you finished university this year? Why didn't you pursue further studies and instead entered the entertainment industry?" Wang Lili said, shaking her head with a sigh. "This entertainment industry is a real cesspool."
Qi Yu simply offered a naive smile and scratched her head, remaining silent.
Wang Lili seemed to lose interest in the conversation, pouting and telling Qi Yu to hurry and get her makeup done.
She then called her own makeup artist to re-style her hair.
Wang Lili's makeup artist was a top figure in the industry, a handsome young man.
As he styled Wang Lili's hair, he chatted with her, smiling.
While adjusting her hairstyle, Wang Lili glanced at Qi Yu, who was reapplying her makeup in front of a mirror not far away, and complained in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, "Director Wang is something else, recruiting all sorts of actors. Someone like this, with no acting experience and an unattractive appearance, is brought onto the set. During filming, they'll need multiple takes for a single shot, wasting everyone's time. She must have been brainwashed by that little vixen."
As she cursed, Wang Lili's face darkened, and she impatiently slammed down some of the makeup products on the table.
The male makeup artist behind her tried to comfort her, "There's nothing we can do. It's the director's responsibility, not yours, Sister Wang. We just need to make sure we don't get too tired."
Wang Lili snorted, her eyes rolling towards Qi Yu from the corner of her vision. "She gives us a cheap gold bead and thinks she can win us over? Is that even possible? I don't want to be tired, but that depends on the newcomer cooperating. If the newcomer keeps messing up takes during filming, not only will I be tired, but all of you will have to suffer along with me."
The male makeup artist smiled and remained silent, slowly changing the subject. "Sister Wang, I feel like your hair here is a bit too permed. Let's take it down and restyle it. Your hairstyle needs to be a bit higher to convey the aura of a celestial being."
Wang Lili nodded and, taking her belongings, returned to her private dressing room, asking the male makeup artist to design her hairstyle.
Qi Yu heard Wang Lili's complaints clearly throughout, but her expression remained unchanged. She continued to smile and apply her lipstick.
Another newcomer actor nearby, having overheard Wang Lili's curses, couldn't help but lower her voice and say to Qi Yu, "Are you okay? Don't take Sister Wang's words to heart. That's just how Sister Wang is. She was already throwing a tantrum before you arrived because she was unhappy with the director's private makeup arrangements. When you arrived, Sister Wang just found a scapegoat."
Qi Yu raised an eyebrow and glanced at the person beside her. This was also a newcomer actor, seemingly playing a minor role, but had joined the crew earlier than her.
"It's okay," Qi Yu said with a smile. "I have a very good temper and never mind these things."
The newcomer actor beside her opened her mouth, seemingly shocked. "You're not even angry at Sister Wang's attitude? Even though we're new actors, we don't need to be so obsequious."
Qi Yu glanced at the newcomer actor and said nothing.
Just then, the director's voice, "Cut!" echoed from not far away.
Si Qing and the others had just finished filming a scene with extras and were walking over from a distance.
Qi Yu looked in the direction Si Qing was returning, a smile on her face, and walked up to wipe the sweat from her precious younger brother's brow.
Si Qing looked at Qi Yu, then glanced at the actors behind her, and finally complained in a low voice, "Sister, that woman was bullying you, wasn't she? I heard everything. Why didn't you teach her a lesson?"