Chapter 972: The Giant Green Screen
Zhou Daya chuckled. "As someone who's been through it, let me share some wisdom. My mentor told me something similar from the start: for women like us, who are literate and numerate, it would be a waste of our talents to simply weave cotton in a factory. Especially in these times, when illiteracy is so high, most people can't read or count. We, who possess knowledge, should take on more important responsibilities."
The young women exchanged glances, dumbfounded. "!!!"
That didn't sound quite right.
Everyone they'd met before had looked down on them, former courtesans. Yet, in Zhou Daya's words—or rather, her mentor's words—they were considered important talents? Even called "people of knowledge"?
This was certainly an elevation of their status.
A touch of warmth bloomed in their chests.
Zhou Daya smiled. "The professions I recommend for you include: management, accounting, and secretarial roles in various factories; acting positions in the Stars Performing Arts Agency; illustration and design jobs in bookstores; and art teachers in schools. And of course, there's my own field: journalism! Working in news is excellent; the Heavenly Lord himself will be your teacher. Once you've completed your studies, you'll be considered a direct disciple of the Heavenly Lord, respected wherever you go. However, this profession can be a bit dangerous, especially for war correspondents, as you might be deployed to the front lines at any moment."
The young women gasped in surprise. Some had just been about to ask what "journalism" was, but upon hearing about going to the front lines, many immediately dismissed the idea.
"Not everyone has to be a war correspondent, of course," Zhou Daya said with a smile. "Being a news anchor in the rear is also good. Our mentor is also planning some science and education programs recently, like the 'Shi Kefa's Legal Enlightenment Series,' where we'll teach people cooking, dancing, and similar skills through the Immortal Treasure Mirrors."
Zhou Daya knew they wouldn't grasp it all now, but they would slowly learn once they reached Gao Family Village. There was no rush, so she just smiled and moved on.
She had originally boarded the ship to interview Zhu Piaoling about his travel experiences, but after chatting with these young women, she simply turned off her camera. Putting herself in their shoes, she didn't like people knowing her past, so she knew these women wouldn't want their origins from the pleasure houses broadcast on the news.
News wasn't meant to pick at old wounds!
Instead, she acted as a guide, personally leading the group of young women onward toward Gao Family Village.
—
Puzhou City, by Wuxing Lake.
Lao Nanfeng, Cai Lin, Chen Qianhu, the full cast of actors, and a group of Western performers recruited through the church, were gathered around an editing tablet, watching snippets of their filmed "Battle of Liaoluowan."
On the screen, Lao Nanfeng, playing the protagonist, was in conversation with Cai Lin, who played the female lead.
This scene was supposed to show the two talking on a ship's deck, with the sea as a backdrop. However, they lacked the facilities to film on the open ocean, so the background was a large green cloth, as instructed by the Heavenly Lord.
Watching the two speak their lines in front of a green cloth felt incredibly strange.
Chen Qianhu scratched his head. "Brother Nanfeng, can this footage really be used? It looks so peculiar."
Lao Nanfeng spread his hands. "The Heavenly Lord said to film it this way; I don't know why. Let's switch to the next clip to see the effect."
He opened another video. This one showed Liu Xiang, the pirate leader, acting as a Dutch comprador, conversing with Admiral Putmans of the Dutch fleet.
Chen Qianhu, of course, played Liu Xiang, while Putmans was portrayed by a rather handsome Western adventurer. In truth, people of the Heavenly Dynasty back then couldn't really discern the handsomeness of Westerners; all "barbarians" with blonde hair and blue eyes seemed to look alike to them.
The adventurer, seeing himself on screen, showed some interest, pointing at the footage. In broken Mandarin, he said, "I think I acted quite well. I came to the Great Ming on a large ship, so I know how to behave when speaking on a deck. It's just a pity that this green background feels so odd. I truly wonder how such a movie will be shown."
As they were discussing this, the embroidered Heavenly Lord on Lao Nanfeng's chest spoke, "Oh, have some segments already been filmed?"
The tablet suddenly floated up, soared into the sky, and vanished into the clouds.
Everyone exchanged glances and waited in silence. After a few minutes, the embroidered Heavenly Lord's voice chuckled, "Excellent, you've filmed very well. You followed my instructions and shot it against a green background; now leave the rest to me."
Lao Nanfeng was still quite baffled. "Heavenly Lord, how exactly will you process it?"
"You don't need to worry about that. Just observe the actual results in a couple of days," the embroidered Heavenly Lord said. "Are these all dialogue scenes? What about the large-scale naval battle scenes?"
Lao Nanfeng replied, "Reporting to the Heavenly Lord, we are ready to film the action scenes. We've already arranged the fleet on Wuxing Lake. However... Wuxing Lake is so vast, we can't use a green screen for the entire background. Our cameras would capture the distant shore and the farmland and small hills beyond."
"Oh, that's simple enough; I'll handle it," the embroidered Heavenly Lord chuckled. "In fact, I've already prepared for it."
As he spoke, a colossal green screen descended from the clouds. It hung suspended in the very center of Wuxing Lake, like a massive green partition erected between heaven and earth.
The entire background behind the grand fleet was now nothing but a green screen.
The local actors cheered and shouted, reacting with relative composure. However, the group of Western actors stared in awe, dumbfounded by the Heavenly Lord's immense power.
Lao Nanfeng exclaimed, "Whoa, so there's a trick like this! Hahaha, the Heavenly Lord is amazing! This way, the entire lake's background is covered by the green screen."
He clapped his hands and shouted, "All actors, to your positions! What are you extras staring blankly for? Get ready to start!"
With that, he kicked Chen Qianhu's backside. "Liu Xiang, quickly lead your band of pirates and prepare to die!"
Chen Qianhu protested, "I'm not Liu Xiang, don't call me Liu Xiang!"
Lao Nanfeng waved him off. "Less chatter, quickly get ready to act out the naval battle!"
At Lao Nanfeng's command, all the actors immediately took their places. Soon, a simulated "Battle of Liaoluowan" erupted. Unloaded cannons boomed, and flintlock rifles, though without bullets, popped with lively clamor.
Crowds of extras swung their blades and swords, engaging in a fierce battle on the decks.
The model Dutch tall ships provided by Li Daoxuan crashed and charged across Wuxing Lake, surrounded by swarms of smaller "Ming army" boats, like ants besieging a giant.
Lao Nanfeng, as the protagonist, brandished a great saber, chasing Chen Qianhu across the deck. "Traitor Liu Xiang, prepare to die!"
Chen Qianhu grinned, a sneer twisting his lips. "You, a mere fisherman, aren't even worth my blade!"
The two actors unleashed genuine, lethal martial arts, creating an action sequence that was breathtakingly spectacular. It was countless times more robust and authentic than the soft, stylized fight scenes performed by young idols, thoroughly delighting Li Daoxuan.
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