Huayu: This director is so eager to improve.

Chapter 11 Action Instruction

In the makeshift editing room.

Looking at the secretly filmed footage, Guo Fan was thrilled: "It was worth it! Absolutely worth it! Although it was nerve-wracking, this sense of realism is worth more than any special effects!"

Qi Yue also breathed a sigh of relief, "The source material is good, but the post-production editing task is even more demanding."

He rubbed his throbbing temples, but a smile played at the corners of his lips.

Although in his original vision, Yu Zui's city should have been an environment like Gotham.

Chaos, darkness, disorder.

But thinking about it, it would be a miracle if such a setting passed the censorship.

The fact that he was able to complete this impromptu and risky street adventure in a reality with limited resources and constraints of rules is a great test of his adaptability and coordination as a director.

How can we maximize the realization of our creative intentions? Sometimes, what's needed is not just courage, but also meticulous calculation, decisive decision-making, and on-the-spot adaptability.

Today, he did it.

This gave him more confidence in having greater control over the future.

"Tell everyone there's a dinner party tonight, it's on me."

......

For the dinner that evening, Qi Yue chose a clean and casual restaurant.

The large round table was laden with steaming hot dishes, but the only drinks available were fruit juice, coconut milk, and unlimited refills of plum juice.

"As usual, no alcohol is allowed on set during filming," Qi Yue said, standing up with a glass of plum juice in hand.

"Wine, once we've finished filming, I'll throw the best celebration banquet ever, with plenty to go around! But for now, let's use soup instead of wine."

"This cup," Qi Yue raised his cup high.

"I salute everyone's professionalism, my courage, and even more so, my unity in overcoming this seemingly impossible task! Thank you for your hard work!"

"Director Qi, you've worked hard!"

Everyone cheered and agreed, their glasses clinking loudly, instantly igniting the atmosphere.

Although there was no alcohol to enhance the atmosphere, the excitement of surviving a shared risk and the satisfaction of being recognized made the dinner party just as genuinely warm.

Guo Fan leaned closer and chuckled in a low voice, "You've done a better job of persuasion than our department head. Look how excited these guys are."

Qi Yue smiled but didn't say anything.

Prestige is not gained through drinking and feasting, but through shared achievements and taking responsibility in critical moments, built up little by little.

He knew clearly that this hastily assembled team, after today's trials, was finally truly united in purpose.

After the meal, everyone dispersed.

Qi Yue was preparing to go back with Guo Fan, but found the guy acting all mysterious.

"Qi Yue, why don't you go back first? I still have things to do."

"What's wrong? What could possibly be wrong with you?"

Forget it, I can't be bothered with him. After settling the accounts, Qi Yue walked alone toward the old factory area rented by the film crew.

The night breeze was cool, dispersing some of the greasy smell from the restaurant.

A small space has been partitioned off here, with a few simple fitness machines set up, serving as a "gym" for the actors and staff to maintain their fitness.

It's so late, yet the lights are still on inside, and rhythmic, slightly heavy sounds can be heard.

Qi Yue was a little curious and gently pushed open the door.

In the center of the open field, Li Qing, dressed in a simple sports vest and shorts, with her ponytail tied high, was practicing straight punches and side kicks against a sandbag.

Her movements were not standard, even a bit clumsy, clearly indicating she was a beginner.

But every punch and kick she threw was delivered with a seriousness. Sweat soaked her vest, and the stray hairs on her forehead clung to her skin, glistening under the light.

She pursed her lips, her eyes focused, completely unaware that someone was at the door.

She was muttering something under her breath; if you listened carefully, it seemed to be a fragment of Lin Yujing's lines.

Seemingly exhausted, Li Qing stopped, supporting himself on his knees with both hands, panting heavily.

She looked up and was startled to see the figure at the door, like a frightened deer.

"Why didn't you go to the dinner party?" Qi Yue asked.

"Director Qi?!" She frantically tried to find a towel to wipe her sweat, her face flushed red from the exertion and the embarrassment of being caught.

"I'm on a diet, so I usually don't eat dinner. Have you finished your get-together?"

"Yeah, we just finished. I heard some noise and came to check." Qi Yue walked in, his tone casual. "Practicing moves?"

"Yes...yes." Li Qing was a little embarrassed. "Lin Yujing has some fighting scenes, and I don't have much of a background in it. I was afraid that my acting would look too fake, so I wanted to practice and get a feel for it."

The two were a few steps apart, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

Qi Yue cleared his throat, trying to break the awkward silence: "Your movement is incorrect; it could easily injure your wrist, and... it doesn't look good either."

"Not good-looking?" Li Qing looked up, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"In the shot, especially in close-ups, the aesthetics of the movement are very important. The sense of power should be conveyed through angles and postures, not just through brute force."

Qi Yue naturally walked to the other side of the sandbag, avoiding her sweaty area, "like that straight punch you just threw."

Instead of immediately correcting him, he performed a very slow, decompositional movement facing the air:

"When you throw a punch, relax your shoulders, but keep your core stable. Your arm isn't fully extended; it should be at roughly this angle in front of the camera..."

He gestured to indicate, "It will have the most beautiful line. When you pull back, it will be faster and more decisive."

Qi Yue's demonstration was fluid, with a strange sense of rhythm. Although it was slow, it felt incredibly powerful.

"You give it a try," Qi Yue gestured to her.

Li Qing snapped out of her daze and awkwardly imitated him.

Qi Yue watched from the side, this time moving a little closer but maintaining a distance, instructing only with words and gestures:

"Shoulder, sink it a little more, yes. The moment you throw the punch, your eyes need to follow it, not looking at the sandbag, but looking through the sandbag and imagining that it's a criminal."

His voice was not loud, but clear and gentle in the quiet night, a stark contrast to when he was directing.

Following his instructions, Li Qing adjusted his movements, once, twice... Although he was still clumsy, he seemed to have grasped the basics, and his movements looked much more coordinated.

"It seems to look a bit better now?"

She asked uncertainly, tiny beads of sweat still clinging to the tip of her nose, her eyes shining as she looked at Qi Yue.

In that instant, the light reflected off her sweaty eyelashes, creating a delicate, almost childlike, yet incredibly vivid expression on her earnest face.

Qi Yue shifted his gaze to the sandbag: "Yeah, the camera will like this. Remember this feeling of exertion and stillness, and put it into your acting. As a police officer, Lin Yujing needs this kind of crisp and clean 'form' for some basic defensive and control movements."

"I understand, thank you, Director Qi!"

Li Qing nodded vigorously, her cheeks flushed from exercise and studying.

"You're welcome. Alright, go back and get some rest, so you don't have dark circles under your eyes tomorrow." Qi Yue turned to leave.

"Director Qi!" Li Qing suddenly called out to him.

Qi Yue turned around.

"Um..." Li Qing fidgeted with her fingers, her voice softening, "Eye drops and candy... thank you."

Qi Yue paused, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly upwards, but he didn't say anything. He just waved and walked out of the gym.