Chapter 674: Chapter 671 Guest Appearance (1)
Making a film, some might not pay much attention to the minor roles, but others would go to great lengths just to get in, even fighting for a chance to play a passerby. But that happens for big directors, big investments, big projects. Shang Feifei and Xia Siyu’s films don’t fall within that scope. Of course, for some minor roles, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to cast some less famous actors or those who are recurring collaborators with the director for cameo appearances, right?
However, if Shang Feifei and Xia Siyu could make cameo appearances in each other’s films, that would be ideal.
But Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei, they didn’t even have that kind of friendship, let alone cameo appearances for each other.
The two crews were close by, so they would order boxed meals together and film together. For example, after Shang Feifei had finished filming and was resting, she could casually watch Xia Siyu’s shooting. Xia Siyu… she wouldn’t bother watching Shang Feifei. She had always been focused on her mother, on trying her best, on improving herself—that was all it took.
Shang Feifei’s acting, to say it was experienced would be a stretch. She was from the Dance Academy affiliated high school and had an undergraduate degree from a film college, a genuine school-trained actress. Although a bit too rigid in her acting on set, she wasn’t like some juniors who just enrolled in the film college to have their names on the list and never really attended school, instead spending all their time out networking.
Her performances were solid and consistent, not outstanding, but at least she was reliable, and occasionally she would deliver some brilliant moments. In today’s generation of young entertainers, that was considered quite good already. Unlike Xia Siyu, who was completely unpredictable. On a good day, even Bo Yan thought she was stunningly brilliant; on a bad one, she could flub dozens of takes in a row, completely unable to get into character.
At this moment, having completed a take, Shang Feifei was resting. Her assistant poured her a cup of tea, but she didn’t drink it. Instead, she paced over to the neighboring set.
After a few months, Xia Siyu had improved tremendously, practically making leaps and bounds. Originally, although she took her acting seriously, she only saw it as a job that needed to be done and her investment hardly felt sufficient. “Storm” was no exception. Despite her eagerness to change her image and her proactive efforts in securing the role of the second female lead, she still lacked techniques, knowing little beyond what the script offered about how to express her character.
But this time, she was noticeably different. Playing a simple role of a corporate drone, one could feel that as soon as she made her move, she assumed a poised and confident stance. It was like stepping on stage to perform a play; with one appearance, the type and style of the character were clear to anyone observant. Surely, someone had coached her.
Thinking of such a technique, Shang Feifei could only think of Bo Yan.
From the books Xia Siyu picked yesterday to the way she was performing today, Bo Yan’s influence on her was deeper than Shang Feifei had imagined. Generally, even when lovers are deeply in love, they don’t want the other to meddle in their work, nor do they wish for them to interfere too much. But it was clear that Xia Siyu had absolute trust in Bo Yan, believed in him, depended on him, and of course, was working hard herself.
Shang Feifei had stopped chasing Bo, and her competition with Xia Siyu was fair and square, with no need for underhanded schemes. But it wouldn’t hurt to learn more about her competitor. So she called her assistant over and asked, “When can I take half a day off from my scenes? Help me find out.”
Thus, on a drizzly autumn afternoon, Xia Siyu saw Shang Feifei enter their studio, asking their makeup artist to help her remove and reapply makeup—she was coming over to make a cameo in “Youth 2”.