Wahaha Company planned to air the advertisement in January of the following year, so to meet the deadline, the first season of the "Extraordinary Cola" story was set to start filming the day after.
Advertising, unlike TV dramas, movies, or music videos, often involves little dialogue and has a very short duration. To convey the entire story clearly in such a brief time frame, the presentation needs to be highly condensed.
Therefore, to successfully shoot a good advertisement, not only does it require the director's skill, but the actors' performances are also held to a high standard.
In his previous life, many people said that Liu Yifei was an actress who relied solely on her looks and not on her acting skills. If Jiang Cheng encountered someone with this opinion, he would definitely ask them: "Are your eyes okay?"
Indeed, Liu Yifei in all her roles might carry a celestial, ethereal aura, but that doesn't mean she lacks acting talent.
If she truly had no acting skills, then why did her nickname become "Fairy Sister" after her performance in "[Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils]"? If her portrayal of Wang Yuyan wasn't impressive, how could it be so memorable?
If she had no acting ability, then how could her portrayal of Xiao Longnu be deemed as the closest to the original by Jin Yong himself? Was it just because of her natural, ethereal aura?
If she lacked talent, how could her portrayal of Zhao Ling'er in "[Chinese Paladin]" be acknowledged by many fans? Knowing how stubborn the gaming community is, if Liu Yifei hadn't successfully brought Zhao Ling'er to life, she would have been harshly criticized rather than gaining popularity from the role.
Not to mention, her later performances in [Love in Disguise], [A Chinese Ghost Story], and [White Vengeance] successfully transitioned her from an idol to a respected actress. So, Liu Yifei's acting skills are definitely there. (The less said about "The Forbidden Kingdom," the better – it was a terrible movie.)
But why do so many people still say she has no acting skills? In Jiang Cheng's view, it's all about comparisons and how Liu Yifei didn't plan her career well in her early days.
From "The Story of a Noble Family" in 2002 to subsequent works like "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," "Chinese Paladin," and "The Return of the Condor Heroes," she spent years filming back-to-back, especially in large-scale historical dramas, draining her energy. After "Chinese Paladin" aired in 2005 and boosted her popularity, she took a year-long break and didn't return until the second half of 2006 for "The Forbidden Kingdom." During this time, actresses like Huang Shengyi, Yang Mi, Wang Luodan, and Yao Chen gained fame, posing a serious threat to her status, yet she seemed oblivious to this.
Signing with an American agency was a step in her career development, but without a memorable film role, her many endorsements didn't contribute to her acting skills or popularity. Meanwhile, her limited output in Asia, though on the big screen, wasn't particularly iconic, unlike Yang Mi and others who built their skills and fame through TV dramas. This made Liu Yifei's acting seem stagnant, and since her roles were close to her natural demeanor, audiences remembered her characters' aura but overlooked her acting. Hence, criticism of her acting skills was understandable.
After observing the filming for some time, Jiang Cheng realized that Liu Yifei was a naturally gifted actress. Though her current skills appeared raw, her potential was undeniable. She had an innate sense for camera positioning, often finding the right spot effortlessly, a skill that takes years for many seasoned actors to master.
Jiang Cheng was almost moved to tears by this discovery. In his past life, he had struggled to master positioning, taking over a year to learn. In contrast, Liu Yifei's innate talent made things much easier.
Director Li Wei Ran was also amazed. He had directed many advertisements but had never encountered such a naturally talented young actor. Although Jiang Cheng was precise and skilled, indicating extensive experience, Liu Yifei's raw talent was more astonishing.
The story of the advertisement was set in a high school, so Li Wei Ran decided to shoot it at a local high school in Beijing. After many years, Jiang Cheng stepped into a high school campus again, a place he thought he'd never revisit. But his unexpected rebirth brought him back to this familiar setting.
To capture the school vibe, Li Wei Ran had Japanese-style school uniforms made. Jiang Cheng and Liu Yifei, both young, looked even more lively and adorable in the uniforms. The school's students became extras for the advertisement, excitedly participating in the shoot during their breaks.
In the revised script, Jiang Cheng had added challenges for both characters. The male lead needed to be good at basketball, and the female lead, being the head of the cheerleading team, needed some dance skills. Fortunately, both actors were up for the task.
Jiang Cheng, although not a huge fan of basketball, had become familiar with the sport during his years in the United States, especially during Yao Ming's NBA stint. He regularly attended Houston Rockets games to support Yao. In this life, he often played basketball in high school, honing his skills.
As for Liu Yifei, dance was second nature to her, as her mother was a renowned dancer who trained her from a young age. The cheerleading routines were a piece of cake for her.
However, filming wasn't entirely smooth sailing. The final basketball scene posed a problem, not due to the actors, but the camera crew.
By late December, Beijing was in the grips of winter, making outdoor filming for the basketball scene impractical. Therefore, the crew chose an indoor high school gymnasium for the shoot.
Managing the lighting indoors proved challenging. Several takes were shot, but Li Wei Ran was not satisfied. By noon, he paused the shoot for lunch, sitting pensively with the camera, determined to find a solution.
Jiang Cheng, after finishing his meal, approached Li Wei Ran. "What are you doing, Jiang Cheng?" asked Liu Yifei, seeing him walk towards the director.
"I'm going to see if I can help Li Director. He seems to be stuck," replied Jiang Cheng.
"Can you help with directing?" Liu Yifei asked in surprise.
"Yes," Jiang Cheng smiled, "You'll see."
Jiang Cheng sat beside Li Wei Ran, suggesting changes to the camera angles and lighting. "Move the camera 20 degrees to the left, add three reflectors here, here, and there to soften the light. At the fifth second, speed up the camera movement and after I make the winning shot, focus on my face to emphasize my expression..."
As he detailed the improvements, Li Wei Ran was astounded. "Jiang Cheng, you really know directing!"
"Just a bit."
But to Li Wei Ran, Jiang Cheng's knowledge seemed extensive. Jiang Cheng explained he had recently made a film with classmates, due to be released in January, and invited Li Wei Ran to the premiere.
Li Wei Ran was relieved; he thought Jiang Cheng had directed mainstream films, not realizing it was a college project.
After implementing Jiang Cheng's suggestions, the lighting issue was resolved, impressing Li Wei Ran and the entire crew. They all acknowledged Jiang Cheng's unexpected directorial skills, and Liu Yifei watched him intently, her view of him growing more complex...
The basketball scene wrapped up quickly, and the entire shoot took less than three days. But Jiang Cheng's work wasn't done; he had several press conferences and promotional events for "Extraordinary Cola" lined up.
Sighing at the busy schedule ahead, Jiang Cheng braced himself for the tasks to come.