592: Chapter 592 Showing Off and Being Ruthless

Lin Chuyan was very skeptical about whether the one-take shot at the airport could actually be used; he hadn't paid much attention: it seemed like they hadn't even set up the lighting properly, right?

But since Director Li Hao said it was fine, then it was fine.

Thinking about it again: in his past life, the visual texture of the shots in crazy stone didn't seem that refined either. What truly moved him was that raw, unpolished feeling that hit you right in the face. When the absurd story unfolded, everything felt so natural.

Therefore, Lin Chuyan did not intend to interfere.

The car was still on the road, but the news of him joining the crew had already spread to everyone.

Director Li Hao was a cautious person and hadn't announced it externally before; people in the crew only found out about it yesterday.

When they saw Lin Chuyan's car pull up at the entrance and watched him walk in, the atmosphere on set changed instantly.

If "Produced by Lin Chuyan" wasn't enough to give everyone confidence in crazy stone, then "Starring Lin Chuyan" finally dispelled all their doubts—hadn't they seen how well new police story, which was currently in theaters, was doing at the box office? This movie was a sure thing!

"Director Lin."

"Director Lin."

The staff members were all greeting Lin Chuyan.

Director Lin had never been one to stand on ceremony. Even when people just greeted him, he would go straight up to shake everyone's hand: "Hello, hello, thank you all for your hard work."

The crew members never expected Lin Chuyan to be so down-to-earth. Wasn't he known as the "Tyrant of the Set"? Many of them had seen that director's special feature, and it was terrifying.

Many also realized: this wasn't Hollywood, and he wasn't here in the capacity of a director this time, so naturally, he wouldn't have that kind of working attitude.

Sure enough, Lin Chuyan gave Director Li Hao plenty of face in front of everyone: "Today, I am Director Li Hao's man. Director Li Hao, use me however you like; don't stand on ceremony with me."

Director Li Hao naturally knew Lin Chuyan's purpose in doing this; he was helping him establish authority. The only slight drawback was that Director Lin's aura was too strong—not something a rookie director like him could compare to—so the effect could only be described as better than nothing.

And when it came to his understanding of the character, Director Lin spoke eloquently: "My personal take is that although this is a comedy, the character Mike doesn't need to be intentionally funny. He just needs to display the professional competence of an international thief; he can even be a bit serious. Because the more professional, the more serious, and the more earnest he is about stealing the stone, the more absurd the whole story will seem when he is played for a fool by people and fate in this setup."

Director Li Hao agreed wholeheartedly. In fact, what he feared most was that Lin Chuyan wouldn't take this film seriously enough, leading him to "let loose," improvise randomly, and try to be funny on purpose. The resulting effect would be less than ideal, and inviting Lin Chuyan to make a cameo would end up being a misstep.

This wasn't overthinking, as this film definitely wasn't as important to Lin Chuyan as mr. & mrs. smith. But for Director Li Hao, crazy stone was the only opportunity he could grasp.

Fortunately, Lin Chuyan was still the same Lin Chuyan. Whether it was discussing the character and plot of the script or the subsequent filming, everyone felt the true weight of a Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor and an Oscar-winning director.

How did that saying go? A great reputation is never without substance.

"Director Li Hao, which scene are we shooting first?"

"The scene where you steal the stone." Director Li Hao explained, "It's the scene where you are suspended by a rope from the ventilation duct and can't reach the stone no matter how hard you try when you're finally about to take it."

Lin Chuyan's eyes lit up: this Director Li Hao was a lot like him when making movies; they both liked to get the most difficult scenes out of the way first.

"No problem, can I get a feel for it first?"

After all, since he would be Acting while suspended, he needed to experience the whole thing to film it effectively; otherwise, it would be no different from playing around.

"Of course, shall we try it now? The props are all ready."

"Let's go, no time like the present; time waits for no one."

Next, Lin Chuyan began to change clothes.

Black clothes and black pants, with a mask that only revealed his eyes, eyebrows, and half his nose. Hmm, to be honest, this outfit looked a little cute on him.

The staff began checking the ropes on him to ensure everything was safe and secure.

Director Li Hao was even more nervous than Lin Chuyan, especially after Lin Chuyan had told him on the way back to the set about how Xue Ting had almost had his neck broken in new police story...

If something went wrong, Ruan Xingyu wouldn't let him off, and Lin Chuyan's fans wouldn't let him off either...

"Check it again!" Director Li Hao was practically tempted to touch it himself.

After thinking about it, he simply found a mat and placed it directly under where Lin Chuyan would be...

Lin Chuyan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. But since it wouldn't be caught on camera anyway, he couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind.

Soon, Lin Chuyan was hoisted up, and then lowered down bit by bit.

"Good, slow down, take it a little at a time," Director Li Hao muttered.

The rope stopped, right above the stone.

"It's extended to the maximum length, right?"

"Yes, we had the staff test it beforehand."

Lin Chuyan began to take out his so-called lock-picking tools, poked them into the keyhole a few times, then opened the glass cover. He pulled out a small stick to prop up the cover and reached his hand toward the stone—and ended up grabbing it on the first try.

Awkward.

According to the script, he was supposed to not be able to reach it.

Lin Chuyan looked at Director Li Hao: "This is..."

Director Li Hao was also a bit speechless: "We didn't account for the height difference. You're quite a bit taller than the staff member who tested the rope, and your reach is longer too."

Fortunately, this was only a minor issue.

"Two people, come here! Quick, move the display stand with the stone back a little."

After moving it, they tried again, and this time, there was finally no problem.

Lin Chuyan tried Acting it out. His hand couldn't reach it no matter how he tried, and with each attempt, he moved his body forward with more force, which showed his desperation. Combined with his gradually increasing breathing sounds, panting, and the grunts made while exerting effort, he couldn't help but look back at the rope, his eyes filled with despair. Finally, he let out the second swear word of his in this film, his voice full of anger: "Screw you... you unscrupulous merchant."

It had to be said, a Best Actor is a Best Actor. After just a casual bit of improvisation, Director Li Hao was already very satisfied; he only regretted that the camera hadn't been set up yet.

But this wasn't enough. Lin Chuyan tried using the lock-picking tool to slowly hook the stone toward him. When he almost had it in hand, he turned to Director Li Hao and said: "Hey, is it time for Xiao Jun to enter?"

"Yes."

Xiao Jun, who was on the side, stepped forward, and the two made eye contact.

Lin Chuyan's performance kicked back in. His eyes held a mix of confusion and a hint of embarrassment, as if he hadn't expected to run into someone in such a situation.

Xiao Jun snatched the stone from his hand and pulled off his mask: "Yo, so it's you, long time no see!"

The expression on Lin Chuyan's face was left with nothing but panic, his hand still reaching forward, trying to get the stone back, which made him look even more comical, like a fish out of water: "Give it back! Give it back!"

Truth be told, Director Li Hao suddenly recalled one of Lin Chuyan's iconic scenes from this period—the moment Ah Zu took off his mask in new police story. The amazing thing was that even though taking off a mask was basically the same action, he couldn't see a trace of Ah Zu at all.

Moreover, with Ah Zu's iconic mask-removal scene—which had stunned countless people—serving as such a brilliant precedent, the panic Lin Chuyan displayed after having his mask ripped off at this moment was inexplicably hilarious, and it invisibly fit the tone of this film perfectly.

The "rehearsal" continued.

Xiao Jun was thinking about whether to proceed with the next action, and Lin Chuyan gave him an affirmative look.

So.

"Spider-Man, huh!" Xiao Jun placed his hand on Lin Chuyan's head and gave it a hard push, causing Lin Chuyan, who was suspended in mid-air, to spin around.

"Truly professional!" The same action was repeated, and Lin Chuyan spun even faster.

Dizzy, so dizzy.

"That's enough, that's enough." Director Li Hao held down the still-spinning Lin Chuyan, "Boss, how long has it been since you played a character like this?"

"Are you talking about a character who gets played for a fool?" The staff wanted to let Lin Chuyan down to rest, but he refused. "In a moment of romance as Wah Dee, the long season as Fu Weijun, pegasus 2 as Li Xiaohai, the knockout as Gao Qisheng, lotus lantern as Erlang Shen, the mission as Ah Lai, la la land as Sebastian, new police story as Ah Zu, mr. & mrs. smith as John... all these characters of mine were either on the road to Acting cool or being ruthless; I really haven't tried being the one who gets played."

Lin Chuyan concluded: "Director Li Hao, you are the first director who has dared to treat me like this!"

Director Li Hao: "...Boss, there is a scene this afternoon where you 'instantly kill Chairman Feng with a throwing knife.' I guarantee I'll film you looking cool and ruthless!"