Good, someone had lobbed him a perfect setup.
Hearing Liu Yifei's question, Lin Feng was delighted.
He'd wanted to say something that would earn Zhang Yang some points, but didn't want to just come out and say it. That would've been too crude.
If Zhang Yang could get into The Four Great Constables, it would reflect well on Lin Feng, and Zhang Yang and Chen Jiashang would both owe him a small favor.
"A'Yang's playing Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizu of Song." Lin Feng kept his eyes on the monitor as he answered. "I originally designed the role around Zhao Zilong, the white horseman with the silver spear. The action scenes used swords and spears, and he handled those very well, too."
"But before filming officially began, he told me the story of A Thousand Miles to Send Jingniang. He also reminded me that Zhao Kuangyin excelled at both boxing and staff work: his fists were the mother of a hundred styles, and his staff could conquer all eighty-one prefectures under heaven. So we changed the choreography."
"He's excellent at hand-to-hand combat and staff work. I think the real Emperor Taizu of Song could hardly have been any better."
The others drew in a sharp breath.
Chen Jiashang, Liu Yifei, Lin Ziwei, and the others knew Lin Feng well. He'd gone from being a martial arts extra and stunt double to a renowned fight choreographer in the industry, and then to directing action on set. His professional expertise was rock-solid.
After years in the business, and as he'd gotten older, Lin Feng had learned to be tactful. But he still had the straightforward nature of a martial artist. He wouldn't say things just to flatter someone—especially not a "newcomer" like Zhang Yang.
What he said about Zhang Yang was basically what he truly thought.
That was exactly why they were so surprised.
How could someone so young as Zhang Yang be that good?
Everyone turned their eyes to the monitor.
On screen, Zhang Yang showed off his skills with the Coiled Dragon Staff, performing all sorts of difficult moves on horseback. He followed the planned choreography, swinging the staff through the set sequence and knocking soldiers flying with perfect timing.
His entire routine flowed seamlessly, with a dizzying variety of moves and a striking visual impact.
What's more, Zhang Yang knew how to find the camera. Even while "showing off," he kept his face in view, his eyes and expressions on point throughout, never pulling the audience out of the scene.
Even more astonishing to Chen Jiashang and the others, the action scene still hadn't stopped. It seemed they were planning to shoot it all in one continuous take.
That tested not only the director and cameraman's skill and rapport, but also the actor's ability.
Whoosh!
On screen, Zhang Yang fought his way through the enemy ranks with his Coiled Dragon Staff, then faced three enemy generals at once. He fought all three without the slightest strain and ultimately won.
With a clean, stylish finishing move, Zhang Yang held the reins in one hand and the long staff in the other. He shouted, "Kneel and surrender! Those who yield will be spared!"
The extras playing soldiers promptly dropped to their knees in a sea of bodies.
The camera pulled back to capture the whole scene, then pushed in toward Zhang Yang again.
Zhang Yang looked into the camera, recalling the feeling of Zhao Kuangyin after becoming emperor in his dream. His eyes gleamed, and his commanding presence filled the scene, exuding an intense pressure.
"Great!" Lin Ziwei clenched her hands without thinking.
Zhang Yang's stunning portrayal of Zhao Kuangyin would only make her own Ma Fuyua look more perfect.
"Cut!"
Lin Feng raised the megaphone and called out.
"Good." Chen Jiashang started clapping, his eyes full of admiration.
If Zhang Yang had come to audition for Cen Chong, he would still have cast Mu Panlong, because the investors had already picked him.
In the entertainment industry, connections came first; talent came second.
But now Mu Panlong couldn't perform the role because of his own problems, so Chen Jiashang had the chance to choose a suitable actor himself. A few friends had offered to recommend stunt doubles and actors, but how could any of them be as affordable and practical as Zhang Yang, who could do both?
"He really is impressive." Deng Chao beamed and praised him without hesitation. "His action scenes are way better than that actor who's living pretty well in Japan. And he's closer to my height, too."
He was only joking. They were looking for his stunt double, after all. The quality of his action scenes mattered, since they'd become part of his performance. Naturally, he'd rather work with someone better than some connected nobody.
"I had no idea A'Yang was this good," Liu Yifei chimed in softly.
"If he weren't this good, I wouldn't have switched him to Zhao Kuangyin or given him extra scenes," Lin Ziwei said, taking some credit for herself.
Liang Xin Quan and the others kept their expressions neutral, but inwardly they were all thinking, Yeah, right.
Nazha kept sneaking glances at Liu Yifei, feeling a little nervous.
The better Zhang Yang performed, the more she worried that someone might set her "treasure" in their sights.
That's Liu Yifei. There's no way she'd like Brother Yang, Nazha reassured herself.
"Brother Lin, how was it? Should we do another take?"
Zhang Yang came over to the group with the long staff in hand, looking imposing, gallant, and majestic.
"That's enough. You didn't waste the whole morning I spent preparing. Let's move on to the next setup." Lin Feng nodded, satisfied.
Zhang Yang nodded slightly, then turned to Chen Jiashang. "Director Chen, do you think I'm right for the role?"
Whether or not it worked out, he had to be proactive at a moment like this. He couldn't expect a famous director to make the first move.
"Your action scenes are no problem at all. We can confirm you as the stunt double right now. As for the role of Cen Chong..." Chen Jiashang deliberately left him hanging.
Zhang Yang didn't rush him. He simply watched Chen Jiashang with a smile, which only made the director more pleased with him.
"Come on," Lin Feng cut in at just the right moment. "It's a minor supporting role. You don't need to treat it like you're casting the male lead. I can vouch for A'Yang—his dramatic scenes are just as good as his action scenes."
Chen Jiashang pointed at Lin Feng and pretended to be annoyed. "Since you recommended A'Yang to me, I'll let you off this time."
"Let me off? You should be buying me drinks tonight," Lin Feng teased.
"Fine, fine, I'll treat," Chen Jiashang replied with an expression that said he'd been saddled with the bill.
The others stood by, smiling along without saying anything.
Next came the filming of Zhang Yang's dramatic scenes. They only needed to add a few shots.
One was after he'd received the imperial yellow robe, sitting alone in the imperial study and thinking back to "Ma Fuyua." After all, the drama was called The Legend of Dugu, not Emperor Taizu of Song.
Chen Jiashang and the others stayed to watch Zhang Yang perform his dramatic scenes.
"His eyes tell a story, his expressions are spot-on, and his lines are great," Chen Jiashang said, very pleased.
From the perspective of what would best serve the film, he felt it was a waste to cast Zhang Yang as Cen Chong, given his looks and acting ability. Zhang Yang could even play the male lead, Leng Xue. Unfortunately, he wasn't famous and had no connections.
But with those qualities, Zhang Yang could break through if he seized the right opportunity. Chen Jiashang didn't mind building a good relationship with him early.
Liang Xin Quan, Lin Ziwei, and the others thought the same, and their attitudes toward Zhang Yang warmed further.
At dinner that evening, Lin Ziwei even suggested they film Zhang Yang's scenes together so he could join the cast of The Four Great Constables in just a few days.
Before they parted, Chen Jiashang told Zhang Yang to speak with his agent and the relevant production staff about signing the contract. Then he asked, sounding slightly probing, "Do you need me to put in a word with your company?"
Tangren's boss, Cai Yinong, was a formidable woman in the industry. "Formidable" also meant she wasn't easy to handle, and she had a lot of ideas of her own.
"It's a small matter. There's no need to trouble you, Director Chen. I'll just call and let them know," Zhang Yang replied, his smile unchanged.
Chen Jiashang nodded. "Push this along. Leng Xue has a lot of action scenes, and Cen Chong has a lot of scenes, too. You'll need to join the production soon."
Zhang Yang understood what he meant. He needed to finish signing as soon as possible, before any trouble cropped up.
"Bye, A'Yang!" Liu Yifei waved goodbye to him, casual and carefree.
"Goodbye." Zhang Yang watched Chen Jiashang and the others leave.
Before long, only he and Nazha remained outside the restaurant.
He didn't hesitate. He called Cai Yinong directly.
At Tangren, Cai Yinong was just about to head home when she looked at her phone.
When she saw the caller ID read "Zhang Yang," a smile spread across her face, and her fatigue vanished. "He finally couldn't hold back. I've been waiting ages for this call."
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