Huayu: This director is so eager to improve.

Chapter 39 One-shot sequence

The opening scene of "White Night" is the scene of a dismemberment case in an old residential building in Jingang City.

This scene serves two main purposes: firstly, to introduce the core characters of the drama, Guan Hongfeng, Zhou Xun, and Zhou Shutong; and secondly, to introduce the drama's first case—the dismemberment case.

The shooting targets should be compact and varied but not chaotic.

It could certainly be achieved using traditional split-screen techniques, but what Qi Yue wanted was a sense of realism that would make the audience feel as if they were actually there.

A single, continuous shot is the best way to achieve this effect.

However, when he brought up the idea at a meeting with the production team, even Guo Fan, who had always supported him, hesitated.

"Qi Yue, this scene has a high density of lines and many characters. The location is an abandoned residential building with a noisy environment and people coming and going... One take in one go, isn't the coordination too difficult? If we have too many takes, our entire time and budget will be dragged down."

Guo Fan's concerns are very real.

Pan Yueming and Duan Yihong both looked excited.

Long takes are a test of an actor's skills, requiring them to maintain a high degree of focus and a coherent, layered performance for several minutes without the slightest lapse in concentration.

The faces of the photography assistants, lighting directors, sound engineers, and other department heads all turned serious. This meant that their work had to be elevated to a level of precision with "zero tolerance for error."

"Old Sun, what do you think?" Qi Yue looked at the taciturn executive director on set.

As a veteran director, his words carried considerable weight on set.

Sun Quan instinctively reached for a cigarette, but remembering that everyone here was young, she put the cigarette pack back.

"To be honest, Director Qi's idea is very difficult, and it may require each of us to put in ten times the effort."

He paused, then changed the subject.

"But we've already come this far with 'White Night,' so we should do what others think is difficult or impossible. One-shot filming isn't about showing off skills; it's about serving the story. So I support the director's idea, let's do it."

"Hahaha, you've got your old Sun here!"

Qi Yue patted his executive director heavily on the shoulder, feeling that he was becoming more and more pleasing to the eye.

"I would draw storyboard sketches down to the smallest movements of each character and every point of camera movement. We had to rehearse the actors' movements and lines until they became muscle memory."

He looked at Pan Yueming and Duan Yihong:

"Teachers, we need you to give 200% focus and teamwork so that we can turn this 'impossible' into a possibility."

He then looked at Guo Fan and the heads of various departments:

"We broke down the technical problems and solved them one by one. We squeezed in time; we kept the budget within a reasonable overrun range. What I wanted was for this scene to be the highlight of the entire series right from the start, firmly gripping all the viewers."

There was a moment of silence in the meeting room.

Immediately, an atmosphere mixed with pressure, a desire for challenge, and a sense of professional honor spread.

Pan Yueming nodded first, "I'm fine with it, this challenge is very interesting."

Duan Yihong grinned as well: "Following Director Qi, you're always bound to encounter something fun! I'm fine with it."

Looking into the familiar, scorching flame in Qi Yue's eyes, Guo Fan felt as if his blood had been ignited.

"You always manage to come up with something new. Okay, let's go for it!"

......

Scene: A construction site of abandoned residential buildings awaiting demolition in Jingang City.

Most of the building has been demolished, with exposed steel bars pointing towards the sky like grotesque bones. Broken bricks, cement blocks, and rotten wood are piled up into messy little hills, and dust floats in the breeze.

In the distance, beyond the dilapidated walls, the figures of onlookers, some blocked off and peering around, could be vaguely seen. The air was thick with the smell of dust and damp rubble, and a faint, indescribable, discordant sweet and rotten odor mixed with the dust.

The scene begins at the edge of the ruins, where a cordon has been set up and red and blue police lights are flashing silently. Several police cars are parked not far away. Criminal investigators and technical team members trudge through the rubble, making their way quickly towards the center of the area.

The camera is handheld to simulate the instability and urgency of following and searching.

Considering the uneven terrain of the ruins, the walking route cannot be a straight line. A zigzag route needs to be designed that not only conforms to the logic of the character's actions but also maintains the smoothness of camera movement and the aesthetics of the picture.

The actors' gait must be realistic, with firm steps, tentative movements, and occasional slips – these are all key aspects to focus on during the initial rehearsals.

Regarding the design of space and depth, although the outdoor area is open, the piled-up ruins create many visual obstructions and narrow passages.

The camera needs to skillfully utilize foreground composition to create a sense of voyeurism and depth. Simultaneously, it should take advantage of the depth of the ruins.

The police officers' figures appear and disappear amidst the cluttered background, while the onlookers in the distance, as background elements, need to be kept at a blurred but present distance to enhance the realism of the scene and the oppressive atmosphere of being "watched."

Actual shooting day.

The atmosphere at the scene was so heavy it was almost frozen.

Everyone took their positions and began to breathe softly.

Qi Yue stood behind the monitor, picked up the walkie-talkie, and spoke in a steady, clear voice that reached the ears of every department head:

"Gentlemen, we've prepared for so long, for these very few minutes... I want you to forget about the cameras. Now, you are officers from the Jin'gang City Criminal Investigation Division, conducting a brutal crime scene investigation."

"Day and Night, Episode 1, Scene 1, One-shot sequence, Act 1!"

The clapperboard struck, its crisp sound like the opening of a gate to another world.

The camera mounted on the large telescopic arm moved, like a possessed ghost.

A black Jeep followed closely behind, entering and exiting the crime scene.

The sound of wheels crushing gravel echoed through the space, and the faint dispatching voices came through the walkie-talkie... Everything was happening with precision.

Zhou Xun got out of the car and first checked if there was a problem with his tires.

Li Qing followed closely behind. She could hear her heart pounding like a drum, but her body moved strictly according to the route she had rehearsed more than ten times, her eyes scanning her surroundings warily.

"Captain Zhou, this area is full of body parts. We've already found six bags."

"Six bags?"

"Yes."

"Oh, by the way, this is the new guy, his name is..."

"My name is Zhou Shutong."

Zhou Xun appears on camera, and the camera follows Li Qing's movements.

In each long take, the camera movement is purposeful and logical. The purpose of this movement is to show the audience the entire scene and to set the stage for Guan Hongfeng, the male lead in "White Night".

In this movement, Li Qing needs to deliver her lines and act as her anchor.

Considering there's still some time before Guan Hongfeng appears, we'll switch gears here to avoid viewer fatigue.

Li Qing exits the painting, Zhou Xun re-enters, and the anchor point changes to Zhou Xun.

"Teacher Guan is here."

The camera followed Zhou Xun's movements, eventually focusing on a taxi.

The male lead of "White Nights" has finally made his first appearance.

......