Chapter 1893: Chapter 1880: Sending My Heart to the Bright Moon (Part 4)
The two were about the same age, with similar status. Although their acting paths weren’t exactly the same, whoever could win this trophy first would gain the upper hand. It would make their future acting career smoother.
Xia Siyu and Shang Feifei never expected that what started as a showdown between the two of them would become a nationwide celebration. During a break in filming, Xia Siyu overheard Wei Jingjing discussing how there was even an underground betting pool accepting bets on which of them would win.
Wei Jingjing immediately patted her chest, pledging her loyalty: "Of course I’m betting on you! I’ve put my whole month’s salary on it. See how good I am to you, how much I trust you."
Well, the difficulty of a second Gold Oscar win is quite high. But Xia Siyu trying to win twice with one film isn’t easy either. Comparing the two, she’d obviously support someone from her own side.
Xia Siyu’s interest was piqued: "Really? Where can we place bets? Bet two bucks for me."
Wei Jingjing nodded, wanting to say something else, but Xia Siyu stopped her: "Is there a tie option? If yes, go for that."
"A tie?" Meaning both are out, setting the stage for someone else to win, and they both just end up as foils? Believe it or not, quite a few people bought into that option too.
Wei Jingjing said, "Are you sure you want to choose that?"
Xia Siyu thought it over carefully and shook her head: "Forget it." She asked, "When is Bo Yan’s flight?"
Tomorrow is the day she wraps up filming, and Bo Yan said he’d come early to pick her up.
After playing a dashing female constable and then a national disaster demon concubine, Xia Siyu finally took on the role of a noble lady. Originally, the role wasn’t meant for her; they had approached another actress. But that actress broke her leg before filming, and they had to find someone else.
This year’s Spring Festival Gala saw Xia Siyu appear in traditional attire, looking shy yet dignified, which left a deep impression on the director, prompting them to seek her out.
Generally, actors with a bit of fame aren’t fond of "saving the day" for shows. After all, stepping in implies being a backup, and it doesn’t sound very respectful.
The director initially didn’t expect Xia Siyu to agree so readily. After all, she’s top of the top tier now; they worried she wouldn’t have the time or might refuse out of disdain.
But Xia Siyu wasn’t the kind of person who would book herself years in advance; she only nodded for good scripts. She cherishes her reputation, preferring to wait rather than take on bad films. The script had no major issues, but most importantly—they offered too much.
Worried she’d refuse, especially because they were inviting Xia Siyu, having her meant a guaranteed box office hit, so they applied for extra funds to secure her. 50 million for a movie, where she only needed to shoot for a month based on her role. The 50 million went straight to Xia Siyu without any middlemen slicing off a cut or any money laundering involved. She agreed immediately.
Who wouldn’t take free money? Plus, the script wasn’t bad.
As facts prove, Xia Siyu usually has a commanding presence on set, fitting the impression of an arrogant and sharp Drama Tyrant. But once in makeup, in front of the camera, whether sitting, standing, moving, or performing arts, she perfectly embodied the dignified noble lady.
Due to opera training, her actions naturally carried a theatrical flair, making her performance effortless, perfectly capturing the essence. She spent the previous month learning to play the guqin, play Go, paint intricate artworks, and practice calligraphy. Of course, in a month, she couldn’t master them all. But it didn’t matter; she only needed to learn the basics. It’s not like she was expected to perform live calligraphy or painting.
Xia Siyu’s exceptional learning ability shone here. At the very least, every scene of her playing the guqin or writing required no separate shots; it was all her sitting at the instrument, performing herself.
With the foundation laid, her acting skills allowed everything to flow naturally, with the filming progress advancing rapidly. Familial, friendly, and romantic scenes were her forte. She began using her "field control" skill during scenes, not overshadowing herself but adjusting her pace appropriately to coordinate with the co-actors.
