93: Just use special effects to draw a pie chart in my eyes!

Chen Fang pondered for a while.

A mirror is a good prop. Many film and television works have used mirrors.

For example, in the movie "Black Swan," mirror reflections are used to show the protagonist's psychological state. For instance, a vanity mirror is used to display different personalities emerging; the distorted reflections in subway glass symbolize the blurring line between reality and illusion; the protagonist's gaze at her reflection implies the conflict between the id and the superego.

Another example is in "Farewell My Concubine," where mirrors expand new spaces and reveal the characters' inner selves. They are tools for self-cognition and identity confirmation, and they also blur the line between stage and reality.

So, in the music video for "flammable and explosive," he can also use multiple reflections to deconstruct the subject and show an identity crisis.

In other words, use multi-faceted mirrors to reflect the contradictory sides that the outside world demands the protagonist to exhibit, such as cold allure and flirtatiousness, genuine emotion and soul-stirring glances, blossoming beauty and attempts to conceal desire.

This way, emotional transitions can be filmed separately. In post-production, each scene can be placed within a mirror.

She won't have to perform cold allure first and then flirtatiousness within a single shot.

If using mirrors, what kind of space should the mirrors be placed in?

Hmm, the depth and division of physical space can be used to hint at the layers of psychological space.

Besides mirrors, props like hanging crystal chandeliers, faded poster walls, marionettes, and sheet music like predetermined tracks in the Opera House can all be utilized.

Let's list the symbolic objects first.

Chen Fang's fingers rapidly tapped on the keyboard.

The sun gradually set.

Chen Fang combined his knowledge of previous movies, utilizing film noir directing techniques, and quickly designed the concept.

The word count of the document rapidly increased, and the storyline and script materials gradually took shape.

The next morning, Yue Qingzhu groggily opened her eyes in bed and reached out to feel beside her head.

She needed to change her routine and wake up before seven.

She ran her hand through her long hair, feeling around, and finally grabbed her phone, squinting to look.

6:32.

Great, she could sleep for another 28 minutes.

"I must get up at seven!" she chanted in her heart, closing her eyes again.

Yue Qingzhu suddenly opened her eyes, picked up her phone, and looked.

6:53.

Hmm, still seven minutes. Great, every time she opened her eyes and found the alarm hadn't rung, she felt a sense of relief, as if she'd lived a little longer.

She slowly closed her eyes.

When she woke up again, she felt refreshed.

She lay with her eyes open, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Refreshed? Oh no... what time is it?

Yue Qingzhu picked up her phone and looked.

No way! 8:48!

Oh my god!!!

Yue Qingzhu suddenly sat up.

Thankfully, she had no schedule this morning, nothing important.

Just as she thought it was fine, a message popped up on her phone:

[Chen Fang]: Good morning, Teacher Yue, the MV plan has been sent to your email. Please check it.

Yue Qingzhu rubbed her eyes, replied with an "Okay," then rubbed her eyes again and walked to the bathroom to wash up.

She shuffled in her slippers to the mirror, groggily looking at her reflection.

Her reflection showed long, dark hair smoothly draped over her shoulders, with two unruly strands of bangs sticking up, swaying like two antennas.

She groggily leaned forward, closer to the mirror, and saw that her round eyes were still misty.

Her eyes were a bit red; she should stop playing on her phone before bed.

She reached out to smooth her unruly bangs, but the two stubborn strands wouldn't go down.

Forget it, she wouldn't bother.

These two strands really look like Lu Bu. This means... she'll also be amazing today!

Yue Qingzhu cheered herself on, picked up her toothpaste and toothbrush. While brushing her teeth, she opened Chen Fang's email and downloaded the script.

After opening the file, she skipped the beginning and went straight to the scenes where she appeared.

[Shot Number]: 4

[Shot Type]: Full shot

[Filming Technique]: Anamorphic widescreen horizontal pan

[Screen Content]: The protagonist walks barefoot through a mirror corridor, with multi-faceted mirrors in depth on both sides, synchronously reflecting various opposing images.

[Lyrics]: No lyrics

[Time]: 0:17-0:22

[Notes]: Shot using a beam splitter

This shot was still the intro; next would be the main verse.

The next line was the opening lyric, "You wish me to be mad yet also wish me not to live alone." This can be understood as "You want me to be extraordinary and unique, yet you also hope I conform."

In the next two shots corresponding to "You wish me to be mad" and "yet also wish me not to live alone," close-ups will be used with macro lenses and focus shifts.

Yue Qingzhu brushed her teeth while scanning through the scenes, letting out admiring "Mm" sounds and nodding slightly.

She couldn't tell, but he actually knew how to shoot music videos.

Although she didn't know much about photography, she had learned some basic concepts.

Clearly, his script used many montage splices and symbolic impressions.

Unlike Director Cai, who kept pressuring her.

Just based on his attitude, she wanted to try this version.

He was considerate of her poor acting skills, so she couldn't complain about his lack of experience, could she?

After rinsing her mouth, Yue Qingzhu sent Chen Fang a voice message: "I'll tell Sister Liu to find you a team. Let's try to shoot as soon as possible."

After hanging up, she looked at herself in the mirror and poked her cheek.

What if Chen Fang also thought her acting was bad? Would he secretly complain about her and look down on her?

Yue Qingzhu pursed her lips and fiddled with the corner of her clothes.

Then he'd better not show it.

Just like he said himself, if someone dislikes me, I'll immediately dislike them too!

Tit for tat, a mutual journey!

Yue Qingzhu took a deep breath and smiled slightly at the mirror.

His Clear Heart Charm was quite effective.

Hmph, I'm not good enough for you? I'll be the death of you!

Yue Qingzhu lifted her chin and turned to leave the bathroom.

At noon, Chen Fang received a call from Liu Lu and was added to the group chat for the [flammable and explosive MV Filming Team].

After brief self-introductions, Chen Fang, as the director, began assigning tasks and, after communicating Yue Qingzhu's schedule with Liu Lu, set the work schedule.

Today, the afternoon of the 21st, their team would have a meeting, scout the theater, and prepare props.

Tomorrow afternoon and evening would be for setting up the venue. The day after tomorrow, the 23rd, would be for shooting the MV.

As for tomorrow morning, Director Cai's side had scheduled reshoots, which would also occupy the venue, so they could only go to set up in the afternoon.

Sunrise and sunset, another day passed, and it was the morning of the 22nd.

"Cut, save that one." Director Cai stood up with the storyboard script and walked over to Yue Qingzhu, giving her earnest guidance:

"Teacher Yue, your emotions aren't quite right. You need to treat the camera as that 'you,' look directly into the lens, and convey your passion and strength with your eyes. Don't stare; your eyes should be slightly narrowed, a bit cold, but not too contemptuous, rather a disdain mixed with hatred."

Yue Qingzhu looked at Director Cai's desperate and helpless expression, feeling a little embarrassed, but she couldn't help but grumble inwardly, "I'm not listening, I'm not listening, it's like a turtle chanting scriptures."

What kind of crazy demand is this?

No matter how complex this song is, her eyes shouldn't have to hold a whole bunch of things, right?

She glanced at the director, "Three parts indifference, three parts mockery, and four parts nonchalance, right? Just use special effects to draw a pie chart in my eyes."

The director slapped the script and sighed, "These are emotions, Teacher Yue."

Yue Qingzhu pointed at the stage, "Come on, you show me."