After several scenes in a row, Rong Dai was very serious and hardworking.
As the old saying goes, opportunity always favors the prepared.
And Rong Dai happened to be this kind of person.
In the past period of time, she had followed Jiang Ling around various film studios and photography studios, watching dramas and looking up information.
Although that period of time was very tiring, the rewards were also very rich.
Now she could see the results.
As long as it was Rong Dai's scenes over the past few days, her shots were almost all done in one take. Privately, she would hold the script and mark it all over.
Lu Ye was known in the industry for being extremely demanding. If an actor couldn't even say their lines properly, they would be kicked out in minutes.
It went without saying that Huo ShaoJie would be even more demanding, since this drama was his brainchild. His requirements would be even stricter.
Rong Dai had just finished a scene and was sitting to the side resting.
"Would you like some water?"
She was carefully dabbing away sweat with a tissue, taking care not to smudge her makeup. Suddenly, a voice sounded over her head.
She looked up and let out a faint smile, reaching out to take the bottled mineral water: "Thank you."
Zhou Jing glanced at her, a smile appearing on his refined, cultivated face. He pulled over a small stool and sat down next to her, twisting open a bottle of water and taking a drink.
"I didn't expect your talent to be so good. I've been in this industry for so many years, and I've never seen a female actor so composed."
Rong Dai also twisted open her mineral water and took a small sip. Her voice was light as she replied, "Thank you for the compliment."
Zhou Jing was the male lead in this drama.
He hadn't attended the welcome banquet or opening ceremony, only arriving on set after his scenes yesterday.
It wasn't that Zhou Jing was putting on airs, but rather that his schedule was too full and couldn't be coordinated.
Zhou Jing was currently a hot, talented actor. Although not yet thirty, his accomplishments were already impressive.
To put it in industry terms, Zhou Jing was already a veteran senior.
"Zhou Jing, I don't like hearing you say that. Does that mean in your eyes, newbies can only get by on talent? They can't rely on their own ability?"
As the two were talking, Qiao Wanzhou's voice cut in.
"Wanzhou," Zhou Jing said with a faint smile, also passing a bottle of water over.
Qiao Wanzhou immediately felt goosebumps all over her body, involuntarily shivering as she shot him a frosty look. "It's been so many years, senior. You still call me that?"
Zhou Jing maintained his usual mild smile. "Force of habit."
Seeing the interaction between these two people, Rong Dai suddenly recalled that according to their files, they were alumni from the same school.
Her intuition had always been very accurate.
There seemed to be something between these two.
"Rong Dai, come rehearse lines with me. Our scene is up next."
Qiao Wanzhou ignored him and pulled Rong Dai to leave.
Rong Dai hurriedly twisted the cap back on and bid Zhou Jing farewell. "Senior Zhou, I'll be going first."
Zhou Jing smiled helplessly and nodded.
"Why are you calling him senior? No need to be so polite with him!"
Qiao Wanzhou brought her to her own private rehearsal room. She had specifically requested this from the crew, and with her fame and acting skills, it was a demand they could meet.
Rong Dai smiled faintly, not answering her.
"Come, sit down." Qiao Wanzhou didn't put on any airs, pointing to a chair for her to sit.
Rong Dai sat down. Qiao Wanzhou also took a seat, handing the script over to her.
"These past few days I've been watching your performances. Your acting has really surprised me, and made me a little impatient to act opposite you."
Qiao Wanzhou spoke while attentively looking over the script.
Rong Dai smiled faintly and nodded. This drama was very similar to some of the events in her past life, except for the different ending.
Her ending was being reborn into this later world.
But the Empress in this drama was even more resolute and brave than Rong Dai's past self. She broke with the Emperor, led troops to rescue her maternal clan, and personally overturned the Emperor's world.
Such an ending was not unsatisfactory.
Qiao Wanzhou played the Imperial Concubine, who entered the palace with the beauties and was conferred as a concubine. She was not the daughter of a traitorous minister, because the Emperor had arranged everything for her.
"Ready? Let's start."
Qiao Wanzhou cleared her throat and entered character in a second.
Rong Dai didn't dare be negligent either. After closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she cast aside distracting thoughts and immersed herself in the role.
The two rehearsed lines in the small room, while Zhou Jing leaned against the wall outside, steadily drinking water, a hint of melancholy in his deep eyes.
Half an hour later, Rong Dai and Qiao Wanzhou exited their characters. They looked at each other and couldn't help smiling.
"You're really good! No wonder a big boss like Huo ShaoTing would choose you. He has good judgement."
Qiao Wanzhou felt extremely satisfied, generously giving her a thumbs up.
Rong Dai smiled faintly. She also felt very gratified.
The more she interacted with excellent people, the more she could discover her own shortcomings. Only this way could she become even better.
Right after they finished rehearsing, it was time to film their scene.
Over the past few days, Huo MeiShu had been diligently running around on set, but Gu Chengyan still hadn't come.
This was an important scene, so Lu Ye and Huo ShaoJie were personally directing.
The gist was that the Empress discovered incriminating evidence against the Consort, and her maternal side had already investigated the ins and outs of the matter. Here, the Empress's heart began to change, becoming estranged from the Emperor.
When they heard the "action" cue, Rong Dai and Qiao Wanzhou both entered their characters.
Qiao Wanzhou was already a top actress, extremely versatile with different roles.
She had personally chosen this script, so naturally there were no issues with her acting.
Everyone was very confident in Qiao Wanzhou. Most gazes were focused on Rong Dai.
Although Rong Dai's performances over the past few days were remarkable, showing no traces of a newbie, this scene required a powerful emotional outburst. The Empress's complex emotions of shock, anger, hatred and grievance were very complicated in this scene.
If Rong Dai didn't handle it well, this scene could easily become the hardest to film today.
Lu Ye and Huo ShaoJie were both watching her closely, and not a single person on set dared make a sound.
"This concubine pays respects to Her Imperial Majesty."
Qiao Wanzhou, playing the gentle Noble Concubine Chun, entered the Empress's palace with palace maids. She moved with graceful etiquette, cautiously and weakly. Her pitiable appearance was vividly portrayed.
Faced with her, not just men, even women would be reluctant to berate her harshly.
Rong Dai wore imperial robes, seated in the rear.
Seeing Noble Concubine Chun arrive, her expression was very stern, complex emotions flickering in her eyes - puzzlement, resentment, anger - just for an instant before she resumed her composure.
Her face was calm as she maintained the dignity and elegance befitting the mother of a nation.
"You may sit."
She lightly instructed, then lowered her gaze to drink some tea.
