I Am Not Madame Bovary tells the story of a woman who was falsely accused by her husband of being “Madame Bovary”. She fought tirelessly for justice over a decade, relentlessly seeking vindication for herself.
Yesterday, Director Feng discussed the first scene in detail with Fan Ye, Fang Yuan, and other actors.
【Fan Ye plays Li Xuelian, a rural woman. On a day with torrential rain, she seeks out Wang Gongdao, the local judge played by Fang Yuan, hoping he will bring her justice. 】
Pitter-patter…
Pitter-patter…
It’s a cloudy day with light rain.
To set the mood for the story.
The crew has activated the artificial rain system.
“Props are ready!”
“Camera crew is ready!”
“Lighting crew is ready!”
…
Report after report reaches Director Feng.
Director Feng holds the walkie-talkie and announces: “Quiet on set, one shot, take one. Ready - 3, 2, 1, Action!”
Clap!
The clapperboard marks the beginning of the scene and then retreats.
Camera 1 focuses on.
Fan Ye, as Li Xuelian, wears a rain hat and a clear plastic raincoat.
She carries homemade sesame oil in her left hand and cured meat and fruit in her right.
Amidst the pouring rain, she arrives at Wang Gongdao’s courtyard, played by Fang Yuan.
She knocks on the door…
“Who is it?”
Camera 2 shows Wang Gongdao’s wife, who is cooking in the adjacent kitchen, turning around and asking: “Who are you looking for?”
Fan Ye glances at her.
The front door opens.
Camera 3 shows Fang Yuan, who plays Wang Gongdao, wearing black-rimmed glasses.
He holds a lit cigarette in his hand.
“Are you Wang Gongdao from the court?”
Fan Ye asks from the doorway.
She initially assumes Fang Yuan will flub his lines.
Therefore, she doesn't approach the scene seriously.
However, Fang Yuan, who possesses the acting skills of an Emperor of acting, instantly gets into character.
He looks up and down at Fan Ye.
The acting skills of an Emperor of acting are truly something else.
Just a simple, ordinary glance.
It almost caused Fan Ye to stumble in her acting.
Fang Yuan nods from inside: “Yes.”
Fan Ye, using a somewhat imperfect Gan dialect, asks: “Chen Ada from the back mountain, is he your cousin?”
Fang Yuan nods again: “Yeah.”
Fan Ye continues trying to build a connection: “Chen Ada’s wife’s family is from Cui Jia Wu, you know?”
Fang Yuan squints, takes a deep puff of his cigarette, and gently exhales, the smoke swirling between the two of them.
Fan Ye is quickly drawn into the story by Fang Yuan’s gaze, her performance improving: “Chen Ada’s wife’s sister, she married into Qi Jia An, you know?”
Fang Yuan doesn’t say anything.
They simply communicate through their eyes.
He doesn’t know who Fan Ye is, why she’s here, or what she wants.
As a public official.
He acts with composure.
He won’t commit to anything until he understands the situation.
This performance fits the character of an official.
Even though he didn’t say a word.
His acting already surpasses Director Feng’s expectations.
Director Feng watches the monitor intently.
“My aunt’s family has a cousin who married the brother-in-law of Chen Ada’s wife’s sister’s husband, so we’re related!”
Fan Ye holds up the cured meat and fruit.
Fang Yuan doesn’t take the gifts. He asks in the authentic Wu Yuan County dialect of Gan Province: “What’s the matter?”
When this line is delivered.
Director Feng, Guo Tao, Zhang Jia Yi, Yu He Wei, Zhang Yi, and other actors are all stunned.
Guo Tao looks at Zhang Jia Yi next to him.
His eyes seem to be saying: Such a genuine dialect? It’s almost indistinguishable from a local native.
Zhang Jia Yi’s gaze shifts from Fan Ye’s face to Fang Yuan’s.
He’s anticipating his next performance.
“I want a divorce.”
Fan Ye’s voice is filled with grievance.
Having figured out the visitor’s intention.
Fang Yuan is relieved.
He doesn’t invite Fan Ye inside.
Instead, he chooses to speak under the eaves outside.
Fan Ye takes off her hat and raincoat, shakes off the raindrops, and adjusts her wet hair. She sits uneasily at the folding table.
Fang Yuan brings a cup of hot water and places it on the table in front of Fan Ye. He sits down casually.
“Why divorce? Marital problems?”
Fang Yuan asks.
Fan Ye: “Worse than that.”
Fang Yuan: “Is there another woman?”
Fan Ye: “Worse than that?”
Fang Yuan’s eyes widen slightly. Startled, he leans forward and whispers: “It couldn’t be…to the point of murder, could it?”
“If you don’t handle this, I’ll kill that animal today.”
Fan Ye’s words make Fang Yuan’s “wife” turn her head in surprise.
“You can’t kill a person. If you kill someone, you can’t get a divorce.”
Fang Yuan’s dialect makes everyone marvel: “What’s your name?”
…
The next part is a long dialogue between the two.
Fang Yuan’s performance completely overshadows Fan Ye’s.
This causes Fan Ye to become nervous.
She makes two mistakes in her lines.
But Fang Yuan delivers all his lines naturally, flawlessly, with perfect intonation and rhythm.
His acting is flawless.
“Cut!”
Director Feng calls out, excitedly getting up.
“Fang Yuan, forgive my poor judgment. I never expected you to be such a talented actor. There’s absolutely no trace of acting. It’s far beyond my expectations!”
【Joy Value +72】
“When did you learn to speak the local dialect? It’s so authentic! Extra points!”
【Joy Value +55】
“It’s like night and day compared to your audition yesterday.”
【Joy Value +39】
“No wonder Bingbing highly recommended you. You’re a hidden gem!”
【Joy Value +42】
Director Feng walks over to Fang Yuan and pats him on the shoulder.
“Great, great, your first acting role and you’re already so amazing. Your future is bright. Everyone give Fang Yuan a round of applause!”
【Joy Value +88】
Being recognized by a great director.
Fang Yuan is in a good mood.
Clap clap clap clap clap…
“Fang Yuan is the best actor of his age that I’ve ever seen.”
“Yeah, when I first graduated, I didn’t have this kind of acting skill.”
“No wonder he doesn’t need rehearsals. He truly has the talent.”
“He’s a diamond in the rough. In time, this guy will definitely become a rising star.”
Guo Tao, Zhang Jia Yi, Yu He Wei, Zhang Yi, and other powerful actors genuinely applaud for Fang Yuan.
【Joy Value +36+37+41+57+……】
Fang Yuan turns to Fan Ye, winking, and asks: “Am I convincing?”
Fan Ye is dazed: “You little…you’ve been faking it all along…you can write scripts…and you’re such a talented actor…Goodness…What kind of treasure of an artist did I sign…?”
【Joy Value +108】
“Right? Sister, how about we change our 50/50 management contract to 20/80?”
“Go to hell, you always take advantage of me and make demands.”
Fan Ye pinches him.
From this moment on.
Fan Ye sees Fang Yuan in a new light.
……………………
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