Chapter 52: Officially Wrapped~

An artist?

A "People's Artist" at that?

If that was just posturing, I'd give that posture a perfect score!

Yet, looking at Shen Yan's expression... it didn't quite seem like a joke!

"Do you even know what a People's Artist is?"

Shen Yan pondered for a moment and said, "Every single work of theirs is eagerly received by the audience... and they are respected by the audience..."

Ji Xiang rolled his eyes: "That's Teacher Chen!"

Shen Yan grew a bit exasperated: "...I'm talking about works that can be released to the public, not a photography exhibition."

"Then tell me, wasn't it eagerly received?"

"...It was eagerly received, but it wasn't moral... it was even illegal!"

"Illegal?"

"Suspected of disseminating obscene materials..."

"Come on, it's not like he distributed them voluntarily!"

"He took them, didn't he?"

"...Just answer whether you looked at them or not!"

"I..."

Of course Shen Yan had looked at them, and he had even saved them on his phone!

Thanks to that grand photography exhibition, internet boasting—which was quite avant-garde at the time—was brought into ordinary households.

One must remember that back then it was still the era of Tang Fang and Zhang Xiaoyu, a time when even nude photography could make people so excited they could poke through cardboard...

Three major superstars joining forces for a showcase...

Overnight, it achieved widespread popularity, or rather, explosive popularization...

From this perspective, Teacher Chen certainly earned the title of "Teacher"!

However, Shen Yan refused to call him an artist.

"Take it slow, you've only just debuted... Oh right, if you have any related interviews in the future, make sure you never say you want to be a People's Artist!"

Shen Yan was puzzled: "Why?"

"A while ago at the premiere of *Empire of Silver*, Aaron Kwok said he wanted to become a performing artist, and then he was mercilessly mocked..."

Shen Yan laughed out loud: "...Hong Kong actors are just there to entertain the masses in the first place, and they want to be artists? Are they out of their minds?"

Ji Xiang looked at him without saying a word...

Shen Yan was puzzled: "What?"

"You also know that artists are meant to serve the public..."

"...My point is to continuously deliver excellent works, and keep at it..."

"Isn't that just Uncle Ge!" Ji Xiang shook his head: "Even Uncle Ge wouldn't dare call himself a People's Artist!"

"Then just watch my performance..."

Speaking of Uncle Ge, it really leaves one speechless!

*Good Boy*, directed by Ning Hao plus Ge You, no matter how you look at it, should be a top-quality work...

And yet it stubbornly turned out to be a rotten film with a Douban score of 5!

This terrible movie was truly speechless.

After watching *Good Boy*, I was reminded of *Crazy Stone* from back in the day, feeling only how the white clouds change into dogs and how time flies like an arrow.

The times are developing far too fast, and living through it makes everything feel fleeting; how could there possibly be any room left for creators to observe, ponder, ruminate, settle, and then produce output?

In less than twenty years, the pioneer trendsetters of yesteryear now have to frantically chase trends and hotspots. Clearly past their prime, they refuse to admit defeat...

Thus, alongside a sense of heartache, it stirs up a myriad of emotions.

Ning Hao...

The works he churns out possess neither the seamless craftsmanship nor the thoughtful depth worthy of contemplation, and he has lost his former agility and lightness, leaving only greasy showmanship and patriarchal preachiness...

Cowardly and slick, he has gradually become hollowed out behind various grand concepts!

Perhaps this is the tragedy of creators...

Especially comedy creators!

Once they achieve success and renown, growing too far removed from real life, those who once created hotspots have now become the ones chasing them...

Many critics comment: Ning Hao still has his technical skills, but he has nothing left inside. Making a fuss over minor issues time and again, scratching an itch through the boot time and again, until audiences gradually skip over his name when choosing films. Just as audiences once skipped over the names of Jeffrey Lau and Raymond Wong.

***

On the crew of *The Legend of Wugniang*, Fang Ning had one last scene left—saying goodbye while riding an ox!

Huang Qiao'er dreams of Fang Ning riding a green ox to bid her farewell...

Actually, this plot was already very kind to Huang Daopo. History records that Huang Daopo suffered abuse and, unable to bear it any longer, fled from her husband's family...

*The Legend of Wugniang* gave her a husband who truly loved her...

During filming, Shen Yan didn't ride a real green ox; instead, he sat directly on a prop model...

CGI would handle the rest in post-production!

Much like the fight scene at the Leshan Giant Buddha during the filming of *The Storm Riders*...

He didn't even need to speak any lines, just a simple turn of his head.

Shen Yan's scenes were entirely wrapped!

"Congratulations on wrapping!"

The directorial team presented him with a bouquet, followed by a commemorative group photo...

During the filming of this drama, Shen Yan's performance was very good. Aside from the beginning where he struggled a bit to grasp the emotions the director wanted, resulting in a few NGs, after that, he basically never caused an NG...

The crew members really liked him!

After all, his professionalism was unquestionable, and his interpersonal skills were decent too...

It's just that he stole away Liu Shishi, the crew's ultimate pet, which left people slightly annoyed.

Still, it wasn't any deep grudge; they were young people, after all—mutual affection between a man and a woman was completely normal!

"Thank you..."

Shen Yan took photos with the crew members one by one, then went to find Liu Shishi...

"What's wrong? Unhappy?"

"Are you leaving now?"

"Yeah, tonight's flight... heading straight to Beijing!"

Liu Shishi pouted: "You said earlier you'd wait for me!"

"Plans can't keep up with changes..." Shen Yan explained with a smile: "Brother Ji arranged a movie audition for me..."

"...A movie audition?"

"Right, and my EP is about to be released... I have to run promotions too..."

"Then what about *The Vigilantes in Masks*, are you still acting in it?"

"Of course..." Shen Yan said decisively: "I've already signed the performance contract!"

"All right then," Shishi nodded: "Off you go!"

Shen Yan retorted: "Just like that?"

"...What do you want?"

"I want to!"

"Pfft, don't go having wild thoughts!"

After repeated teasing, Shishi already understood the meaning of that phrase and felt a little shy...

Shen Yan looked at her with a smile: "Give me a kiss, and I'll go!"

"I am not kissing you..."

"Then I'll do it!"

With that, he pulled her straight into his arms and planted a passionate French kiss...

Shishi's cheeks flushed, her expression carrying a hint of coyness...

"All right, brother's leaving!"

Shen Yan waved his hand and walked straight out of the resting room...

***

In the car, Ji Xiang glanced at the silent Shen Yan and asked, "First time wrapping a show, how does it feel?"

"...It's alright, mainly because I didn't fully merge into the character!"

"...I thought you acted really well!"

Shen Yan shook his head: "That was just character design. The focus of *The Legend of Wugniang* is the life journey of the female lead, Huang Qiao'er; my character was just a prop..."

"You detach from roles that fast?"

"Pretty much... though there's still a bit of reluctance..." He sighed: "Now I finally get why so many actors develop real feelings through their roles!"

Ji Xiang nodded: "That's right. The crew picks some remote location, isolates you for a month or two, and without even needing the plot to push things along, the actors naturally get into character..."

Shen Yan added: "Plus, the crew also creates an atmosphere that makes you believe you actually are the character, and then her loves and hates unconsciously influence the actor..."

"That's why professional actors must learn how to detach themselves from their roles..."

"...I'm quite curious, how did you hook up with Shishi? She wasn't your scene partner, was she?"

Shen Yan rolled his eyes: "Don't use the word 'hook up', the two of us have genuine mutual affection..."

"...Then how did the two of you develop this mutual affection?"

"Hard to say..."