Based on the previous historical dramas directed by Director Qiu, actors usually have to attend intensive training courses for a long time before joining the crew, learning various ancient knowledge and etiquette. Moreover, there seems to have been a case where an actor missed many courses and was eventually kicked out of the crew by Director Qiu.
Therefore, he actually has very high requirements for these things.
Xiao He has indeed played many roles in period dramas, but most of them are more about the martial arts world.
Shen Jue is a waiter, a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person of the martial arts world), so he doesn't pay much attention to his demeanor. While the senior brother and the Demon Lord later on have requirements for their demeanor, they are not rigid and are not the focus of the filming. Song Chenye, on the other hand, has a chivalrous style and is more casual and unrestrained.
These characters are all very dynamic, with a lot of action scenes, and their overall impression is not based on their demeanor. As long as Xiao He is not hunched over and has a slouching posture, his physique and appearance are enough to meet the filming requirements. But "The Imperial Empire" is different. It has a lot of dialogue scenes and is set in the Qing Dynasty, where ancient etiquette was at its peak. The requirements for the characters must be very high.
Xiao He fell into deep thought, his mind already considering some of the problems he had.
He is indeed not from a professional acting background and has not received any special training in this area. He only learned some basics when taking acting classes. The main reason is that his family took good care of him. Xiao He himself has a good demeanor. There is not such a high threshold for playing a knight-errant. When necessary, standing up is enough to make him stand out.
However, regarding the details...
While Xiao He was still pondering, his mother stood up and patted him on the shoulder: "Good luck, the stew in my kitchen will be ready soon."
She then went back to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
...
When Xiao's mother came out of the kitchen again to call everyone for dinner, she found that Xiao He had already packed his luggage and pushed the suitcase to the door.
"Huh? What happened?"
Xiao's mother was surprised.
“Teacher Bai, you are truly my mentor in life. I think what you said makes a lot of sense.” Xiao He squeezed into the kitchen from next to his mother and started serving himself rice. “So I’ve decided to go back to Shanghai tonight. I need to give myself a few days of intensive training.”
"So urgent?"
Xiao's mother frowned, somewhat reluctant. Xiao's father also came out of the study, glanced at Xiao He, and shook his head helplessly: "Forget it, this kid is annoying staying at home. The sooner he leaves, the more relaxed we'll be."
"well."
Xiao's mother didn't say anything more.
Xiao He hurriedly finished his meal at home, said goodbye to his parents, and then immediately flew back to Shanghai with his luggage.
The next day, he began his intensive training course.
...
"Keep your back straight, relax your shoulders, lower your wrists, and avoid being too stiff—"
Wen Yuan had one hand behind her back and the other tapping the table, intently watching Xiao He's movements.
Xiao He stiffened, took a deep breath, tried to calm himself down, then steadied his sleeve with one hand and began to write on the rice paper with the other hand holding the brush.
【Peace and stability for the world】
His calligraphy is characterized by its clean strokes, distinct beginnings and endings, and just the right amount of sharpness. While it lacks the refined elegance of a scholar from a distinguished family, it subtly reveals a touch of nonchalant domineering arrogance.
It was a restrained sharpness, yet also an outward display of arrogance.
It is a contradiction without reason, yet it is also perfectly natural.
Just like that legendary emperor.
Xiao He put down his brush and examined it carefully for a moment, then sighed, "It does look somewhat similar."
Trying to imitate that person's handwriting is harder than climbing to heaven.
Wen Yuan glanced at Xiao He's work, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes. She scanned the calligraphy samples beside her, comparing them, and after a moment of silence, said somewhat hoarsely, "I do feel..."
She hesitated, unsure how to comment on the student's handwriting.
If she hadn't seen Xiao He write those characters with her own eyes, she would have almost thought they were copied from an authentic calligraphy model.
How could they be so similar? If there is any difference, it is that his handwriting is still brand new, and the ink has not yet dried.
Wen Yuan could hardly believe it.
"Have you studied calligraphy before?"
She asked Xiao He.
No, that's not right. Based on this situation, Xiao He must have been copying this emperor's calligraphy for many years, otherwise this wouldn't have happened.
"Well--"
Xiao He thought for a moment and gave a reasonable explanation: "My mother is a Chinese language teacher and pays great attention to her children's calligraphy, so I was forced to practice pen calligraphy for several years when I was young."
Fortunately, Xiao He's mother's strong personality prevented his handwriting from becoming as messy and illegible as that of typical science students, allowing him to confidently present his writing in public.
But I'm afraid even Xiao's mother didn't expect that her son would one day become emperor!
Who would have thought he'd become emperor!
The handwriting produced by this exam-oriented education system is really no match for this messy, genuine handwriting.
If Xiao He hadn't been thinking that details determine success or failure, and that every extra point would add up, he wouldn't have put himself through this "difficulty".
However, it is clear that the person he is currently in a difficult position for is not himself, but his calligraphy teacher, Wen Yuan.
Wen Yuan stared at the words for a long time, and finally couldn't help but take out her phone to take a picture. Then she said to Xiao He with great "sorrow" "I think you have such ability, so I don't really need to teach you anything anymore."
Xiao He choked for a moment, then asked weakly, "Is it really that terrifying? Don't you calligraphers also emphasize style and spirit? For example, can you tell from the handwriting that it has no soul, no resonance?"
He just copied it casually! It shouldn't be that exaggerated, right?
Wen Yuan stared blankly at Xiao He, pushed up her glasses which were about to fall off her face, and chuckled twice: "They're exactly the same, what soul can I see? If you were to forge or imitate your handwriting, I definitely wouldn't be able to recognize it."
Do you really think her eyes are scanners or mystical compasses, capable of seeing through handwriting and becoming sentient?
Xiao He felt uneasy at her laughter.
Only then did he vaguely remember that the "magic hand" involved not only a pair of nimble hands, but also sophisticated criminal activities...
For example, cheating in gambling; for example, picking locks; and for example—
Xiao He looked at the handwriting in front of him with a complicated expression.
For example, handwriting can be imitated in a way that makes it difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake.
Xiao He understood.
But here's the problem: he can only copy and imitate this /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ thing, he can't write anything else!
Just like with the lock picking and magic tricks, the magician did help him learn quickly, but if he didn't learn, he couldn't have learned them out of thin air!
Xiao He awkwardly put down his brush and sincerely suggested to Wen Yuan, "I think we can put this matter aside for now and pretend it doesn't exist. Otherwise, teacher, could you recommend a few calligraphy books for me to learn some basic calligraphy?"
Wen Yuan stared at the young man in front of her and continued to chuckle: "That works too."
We can't get past this, we simply can't get past it!
How did Xiao He manage to remain so calm?
However, as a qualified teacher, Wen Yuan swallowed her complicated feelings and changed the subject: "Then let's continue to focus on your posture! Your writing posture is indeed wrong and needs to be adjusted."
Upon hearing this, Xiao He's expression immediately fell.
Indeed, there are always more difficulties than methods on the road to learning.
