86: A lighthouse on a lonely island, a call from the film festival

Deep in the North Atlantic, a secluded island, like a forgotten black pearl, lay quietly on the turbulent gray sea.

Year-round gales ravaged the island, whipping up giant waves over a person's height, crashing violently against the rugged reefs with deafening roars. The island was full of grotesque rocks and sparse vegetation, with only an ancient lighthouse, weathered by the elements, standing stubbornly like a lonely giant under the gloomy sky, emitting a faint yet resolute light.

This was the primary filming location for "lost lighthouse."

When Lin Da first set foot on this isolated island in the crew's helicopter, he was deeply shaken by the desolate, lonely, yet powerfully primal scene before him.

He felt as if the gale, carrying saltiness and chill, blowing from the depths of the Atlantic, was penetrating his body, cleansing his soul.

"Lin, welcome to... your 'prison.'"

Director Victor Antonioni, wearing a heavy windbreaker, his hair flying wildly in the gale, yet with a nearly maniacal smile of excitement on his face, pointed to the ancient lighthouse, faintly visible in the sea mist, and said to Lin Da.

Lin Da said nothing, just quietly gazed at the lighthouse.

His eyes were deep and melancholic, as if he had already merged with this isolated island, with this lighthouse.

He knew that for the next few months, he would be here, engaging in a... deep, soulful dialogue with the Tower Keeper character, a practice that would be both painful and joyful.

The filming of "lost lighthouse" was even more arduous and... "tormenting" than Lin Da had imagined.

Director Victor Antonioni certainly lived up to his reputation. He was like a fanatical tyrant, demanding perfection in every shot, every detail, allowing no flaws whatsoever.

He would make actors reshoot dozens of times for a subtle change in a gaze.

He would deliberately create all sorts of unexpected "accidents" and "surprises" to capture the character's true reactions under specific emotions.

He would even... lock Lin Da alone in that eerie, ancient lighthouse late at night, letting him face endless darkness and solitude to feel the unspeakable fear and despair deep within the Tower Keeper's heart.

This almost "masochistic" filming method made the rest of the crew members tremble with fear, secretly worrying for Lin Da.

But Lin Da, he reveled in it.

He knew that Director Victor was using his unique method to force him to break through all acting techniques and conventional restraints, to communicate with the character using the most primitive and authentic emotions.

He activated the Character Essence (Advanced) skill.

Every "torment," for him, was like a baptism of the soul. He could clearly feel that his soul and the soul of the Tower Keeper character were forming an... increasingly strong resonance.

He felt as if he had truly become the Tower Keeper, who lived on the isolated island, accompanied by the lighthouse and solitude. He could feel his struggles, his despair, and... that never-extinguishing desire for light deep within his soul.

During a scene where the Tower Keeper, due to long-term solitude, hallucinates and converses with his imagined "companion" (a seagull), Lin Da's performance reached an astonishing level.

He muttered to the empty reef, sometimes laughing heartily, sometimes weeping. Every gaze, every subtle expression, was full of drama, as if the seagull truly perched before him, engaging in a... cross-species soul communication with him.

Behind the monitor, Director Victor Antonioni watched, mesmerized, his eyes even a little moist. He knew that he had found a... true genius! A performing artist who could resonate with his soul!

And Lin Da, in this extreme creative experience, also felt an unprecedented... pain and joy.

The pain was that he had to completely immerse himself in the character's repressed and despairing inner world, to endure that bone-deep solitude and torment.

The joy was that he could clearly feel his acting skills improving at an incredible speed. His understanding of performance and his control over characters reached a new height.

The Artistic Perception (Beginner) skill also received ample nourishment and enhancement during this period. He could draw endless creative inspiration from every rugged reef on the isolated island, every rolling wave, and even every howl of the sea breeze.

Time quietly passed amidst the arduous yet fulfilling filming.

The "Tower Keeper" portrayed by Lin Da gradually transformed from a vague image into a flesh-and-blood, soulful, and tragic artistic figure full of human brilliance.

This day, the most important and difficult scene in the entire film was being shot.

After experiencing endless solitude and despair, the Tower Keeper finally, with the help of the mysterious woman, found the secret hidden behind the lighthouse, and also found... his own salvation.

It was a stormy night.

The light of the lighthouse appeared exceptionally faint and flickering amidst the violent lightning.

Lin Da, playing the Tower Keeper, soaking wet and in rags, stood at the top of the lighthouse, facing the turbulent black sea, and let out a... desperate yet hopeful cry, like a trapped beast!

That cry pierced through the wind and rain, pierced through the darkness, and also pierced through... the soul of everyone present!

"Cut!"

When the last shot was finished, Director Victor Antonioni could no longer suppress his excitement. He abruptly stood up from behind the monitor, walked quickly to Lin Da, and embraced him tightly, with force!

"Lin! You... you did it! You really did it!" His voice carried a hint of imperceptible choking, "You... you are the most perfect Tower Keeper in my heart!"

The entire crew erupted in thunderous applause.

Everyone was deeply shaken by Lin Da's performance, which could only be described as "god-like"!

Lin Da stood in the gale, letting the cold rain beat on his face, a... relieved smile spreading across his lips.

He knew that he had, once again... triumphed over himself!

And triumphed over... this character!

Just then, the system's exciting prompt sounded in his mind again:

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for perfectly portraying the core male lead 'Tower Keeper' in the art film 'lost lighthouse'! The character's portrayal has deeply permeated the soul, earning unanimous high praise from European genius director Victor Antonioni and all crew members!"

"The Actor Emperor Road System special side quest: 'Hall of Art - Challenge of Independent Film,' 'Excellently portray the male lead in a designated independent art film' objective has been achieved!"

"Current quest completion: 80%!"

"Ding! Host's prestige value has greatly increased! Current prestige value: 10,000 points!"

"Ding! Due to the Host's excellent character shaping ability and artistic comprehension demonstrated in extreme environments, the Essence of the Role (Advanced) skill proficiency has greatly increased! The Artistic Perception (Beginner) skill proficiency has greatly increased! It has successfully advanced to Artistic Perception (Intermediate)!"

"Artistic Perception (Intermediate): The Host's perception, comprehension, and appreciation of various art forms have significantly improved, making it easier to draw deep inspiration from artistic works and creatively integrate it into his own performance creation. There is a certain chance to trigger the 'Inspiration Descent' effect (instantly gain extraordinary artistic inspiration, creating astonishing performance details or character interpretations)."

"Ding! Special Reward: Mysterious Skill Fragment x1 (Four pieces have been collected, only one more piece is needed to synthesize a brand new Actor Emperor exclusive skill!)"

The generous rewards, and the brand new Actor Emperor exclusive skill within reach, filled Lin Da with infinite anticipation for the future!

He knew that his "actor emperor road" was getting closer and closer!

And what awaited him next would be... the dazzling glory and challenge of the international A-list film festivals!

The "soul cultivation" on the isolated North Atlantic island finally came to a nearly perfect end after Director Victor Antonioni's choked "Cut."

"lost lighthouse" wrapped up filming.

As Lin Da took the helicopter away from the isolated island that had witnessed his countless sweats, tears, and epiphanies, his heart was filled with an unspeakable sense of relief and... a faint hint of loss.

He knew that he had already made a deep, soulful farewell to the character of the Tower Keeper. That complex soul, who held fast in solitude and sought light in despair, would forever remain in the deepest part of his memory, becoming an indelible mark in his acting career.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Lin Da did not immediately jump into new work.

Allen Parker deeply understood his current state and specifically arranged a rare vacation for him, allowing him to slowly withdraw from that extreme character immersion and return to reality.

"Lin, your current state isn't suitable for taking on new roles immediately," Allen Parker said, looking at Lin Da's eyes, which still carried a hint of the Tower Keeper's melancholy and depth, his tone reflecting the keenness and concern of a professional agent. "You need time to relax, to settle down, to completely detach yourself from that lonely world."

Lin Da nodded. He knew Allen was right.

During those months on the isolated island, he had almost completely transformed into another person. That bone-deep solitude and despair, as well as the stubborn yearning for light in the darkness, had greatly drained his mental energy. If he couldn't adjust in time, it could very likely affect his subsequent character portrayals.

So, in the following weeks, Lin Da lived a life that was... almost "reclusive."

He politely declined all unnecessary social engagements, spending his days reading, listening to music, or taking walks by the sea, feeling the brilliant California sunshine and the sense of freedom.

He also regularly called Zhou Xingxing, who was far away in China, listening to him excitedly recount the progress of ""salted fish turn over battle plan"" and the various amusing "bottlenecks" and "inspirations" he encountered during scriptwriting.

"Lin Da, let me tell you, I added an inner monologue for that husky 'Erha,' using a Shakespearean tone, it's absolutely brilliant! When it's filmed, it's definitely going to make the audience laugh themselves silly!"

Listening to Zhou Xingxing's vibrant and dreamy voice, Lin Da's mood gradually became lighter and more joyful.

Just as he was gradually withdrawing from the Tower Keeper's world and preparing to embrace new challenges, news from across the ocean once again broke his peaceful life.

"lost lighthouse," after Director Victor Antonioni's almost obsessive post-production editing and polishing, officially completed its final version and... quietly registered to participate in Europe's three major international A-list film festivals—Cannes, Venice, and Berlin!

This news, like a bombshell dropped into a calm lake, instantly caused quite a stir in Hollywood and even the global film industry!

Victor Antonioni, the genius director known for his unique artistic style and almost harsh control over his works, had not released a new feature film in nearly five years. Now, his powerful return with his new work "lost lighthouse" naturally attracted significant attention.

What intrigued industry insiders even more was the film's male lead—Lin Da.

An unknown Chinese newcomer actor, who could gain the favor of Director Victor and take on such an important role, was in itself a highly debated "mystery."

For a time, various speculations and discussions about Lin Da once again ran rampant.

Some said he was Director Victor's secretly trained "secret weapon."

Others said he had powerful capital backing, which allowed him to obtain such a valuable opportunity.

There were even some malicious voices secretly spreading negative comments about him being "unworthy of his position" and a "flash in the pan."

Lin Da merely smiled at this.

He knew that in this industry, strength was always the best weapon to answer doubts.

He only needed to wait quietly, waiting for "lost lighthouse" to shine its light on the international stage.

The waiting days were long, and also... full of anticipation.

Lin Da did not let himself be idle. He began selectively reading some new scripts that Allen Parker had filtered for him, while also actively learning and improving his various professional skills.

He unhesitatingly used the "International Vision Expansion Card (One-time)" awarded by the system. Instantly, a flood of knowledge and information about international film market operations, audience aesthetic preferences in different cultural backgrounds, and top Hollywood production processes surged into his mind, greatly expanding his horizons and perspective.

He even began to try simple scriptwriting in English, hoping to integrate his experiences from two lives and his understanding of Eastern culture into his future works.

Just as he was immersed in the joy of learning and improvement, a beautiful envelope from Cannes, France, bearing the golden palm leaf logo, quietly arrived at his apartment.

Lin Da's heart skipped a beat!

He knew that what awaited him would be... a brand new, even more dazzling... glory and challenge!

And his "actor emperor road" was about to begin a... new chapter on this artistic French Riviera!

Just as he opened the envelope and saw the official invitation, written in French and English, inviting him as the male lead of the film "lost lighthouse" to attend the premiere of the 78th Cannes International Film Festival's Main Competition section, the system's exciting prompt sounded in his mind again:

"Ding! Detected that the art film 'lost lighthouse,' starring the Host, has successfully been shortlisted for the 78th Cannes International Film Festival's Main Competition section!"

"The Actor Emperor Road System special side quest: 'Hall of Art - Challenge of Independent Film,' 'Receive at least one Best Actor nomination or significant award recognition from an international A-list film festival' objective, has achieved key progress!"

"Ding! Host's international prestige value has greatly increased! Current prestige value: 12,000 points!"

"Ding! Due to the Host's outstanding performance and great potential in the field of art film, special reward: 'Gaze of the Art Master (Passive Skill, Beginner)' activated!"

"Gaze of the Art Master (Passive Skill, Beginner): When the Host communicates or collaborates with international top art masters (directors, actors, screenwriters, etc.), it is easier to gain their recognition, appreciation, and guidance, and there is a certain chance to trigger the 'Inspiration Collision' effect, jointly creating works of greater artistic value."

Cannes! Main Competition section!

Lin Da held the weighty invitation, a blazing fire in his eyes.

He knew that he was one big step closer to that Palace that symbolized the highest honor in the film industry!

And a new storm was about to quietly begin on that romantic and passionate French Riviera!