Chapter 5. Killer acting
On the set, the staff rushed around. They were fixing the cameras and checking the audio.
Although they were all hurrying, Ren could see from their expressions that they were not very interested.
They were not giving the scene much importance as they were sure that the rookie actor would not be able to perform the role adequately.
They were just treating it as a warm-up. They all thought that the rookie actor will only embarrass himself, and the director would end up firing him.
Even the director wasn't giving the scene much thought. He had his headphones off and was just watching the monitor.
As Director Zhu was watching the monitor, Assistant Director Ming approached him.
"Director, I talked to all the actors on the list, and there is only Chen Tian who is willing to take this role."
"Chen Tian? He's not great, but it's enough. Tell him to come to set this afternoon and send him the script."
At Director Zhu words, Assistant Director Ming made a troubled expression as he said.
"Director, although he agreed to do the role, he is demanding a high pay, and he also said that he has to talk to his agency first. He can only come to set next week."
Director Zhu frowned at Assistant Director Mings' words and responded in an angry tone.
"Who does he think he is? He is just a newcomer. Why is he acting like a top star? Newcomers, these days are all very arrogant."
Director Zhu said as he grumbled.
"We also can't do anything. He's from SK entertainment. That agency has a lot of celebrities with attitudes."
"Well, try to negotiate with him. I don't care much about the budget, but he has to be here this afternoon."
Assistant Director Ming nodded at the director's words and started dialling Chen Tian agent's number.
"Director, we are ready to shoot."
A staff member said as he approached the director, and Director Zhu gave the OK signal for the scene to start.
"We are starting the shoot."
Both Ren and Chu Min redied their postures.
"Standby. Action!!"
A staff member shut the slate, and the scene started.
*Ddak!*
Rens expression completely changed as he heard that sound. He had a blank face previously, but as soon as he heard the director's words, his expression changed to the face of a predator.
The scene was set in a classroom. Jay was acting as a teacher here as he had retired from being an agent.
Standing in front of him was Chu Min who was playing the main character, Kai, an undercover agent looking for the clues of a massacre incident.
"Secret agent Jay, 47 missions, no failures. What a good track record. It's nice to finally meet you."
Chu Min said sarcastically while his eyes were loathing Ren. He was leaning against the door as he looked at Ren, who was standing in front of him.
"You aren't a man of many words but who would have known that you were going to be a part of a massacre incident."
Ren still didn't reply to Chu Min words. Seeing this, his expression crumbled as he started walking towards Ren.
The staff members and the director smiled, seeing this. Chu Min's acting was great. He was able to correctly play the role every step of the way. The problem was Ren.
They hadn't seen Ren's expression yet as his head was lowered since the start of the scene.
They were looking forward to seeing his acting and the moment Ren lifted his head up, everyone was shocked.
As Chu Min was coming close to him, Ren slowly lifted his head.
He had a smiling expression on his face, but it was not a happy smile, it was the smile of a predator. It was an expression that only a crazy guy could give.
No, at that moment, Ren had become that crazy guy.
In his previous life, when Ren had watched the movie, he had felt that the expressions that Jay showed were all stoic.
After reading the script, Ren thought that Jay was a crazy guy. That's what he felt after reading the script, and after watching the movie, he was sure of it.
The actor who had played Jay mostly had stoic expressions, and Ren felt that the character lacked something. The thing it lacked was craziness.
That's why he had acted like a crazy guy, and it worked.
"Agent Kai, it's nice to meet you too but why are you here?"
Ren's voice was clear, but it also had a craziness in it. That's why Chu Min got frightened by it. He was not only startled by his voice but also by Ren's expression.
At that moment, Chu Min truly felt that he was in front of a predator and his expressions crumbled because of this. He took a step back ruining the scene.
"NG!!"
The director was somewhat stunned by the acting as he took some time to say NG.
He was not the only one, the whole staff was stunned seeing Rens' expression. They thought that he was a rookie, but they didn't know that he could act this good.
But the most stunned out of them was Chu Min who was doing the scene with Ren.
"You..…..bastard, I was terrified there."
"I gave you a scare, right?"
"A scare? You nearly made me wet my pants! How did you learn to act so well?"
Ren just smiled instead of answering. He was glad that he was able to do the role properly and frighten Chu Min.
* * *
"Director Zhu, Chen Tian had agreed for the role, but he said that he will only come to the shooting starting tomorrow."
Assistant Director Ming said as he approached the director.
"That son of a bitch is acting like a big shot. Tell him not to come."
"Huh?!"
Assistant Director Ming was confused by his words. If Chen Tian didn't do the role, then who would? That was the question in his mind.
Seeing the confusion on Assistant Director Mings' face, Director Zhu said.
"Did you watch the scene just now?"
Assistant Director Ming shook his head at the director's words. He was busy negotiating with Chen Tian's agency.
He didn't have the time to see the scene.
"Look at the monitor."
Director Zhu said as he pointed at the monitor. The monitor was playing the recording of Ren's scene.
Assistant Director Ming was stunned seeing the scene. He didn't think that a rookie actor could have that kind of expression.
"How is it?"
"It's a killer. His acting is just killer."
"I know, right? He had made the character feel more real. I always felt that the role of Jay was missing something, and after watching his acting, I understood what it was missing."
"What was it, director?"
At Assistant Director Ming words, Director Zhu just smiled and said.
"It's craziness. The actor filled the character with craziness. It will surely become an iconic character if he can pull it off through the end."
After hearing that, Assistant Director Ming also nodded his head and asked.
"Do you know the name of the actor?"
"I think it is Xin Ren."
'Ring!'
As they were talking, Assistant Director Mings' phone rang.
"It's Chen Tians' agency. What should I do, director?"
"Do you think that fellow can do better than Xin Ren?"
Assistant Director Ming spoke on his phone instead of answering to Director Zhu.
"Oh yes, this is Assistant Director Ming. You don't need to come. Yes, yes…"
That was the moment Ren's future changed, and he truly started walking towards the path of stardom.