Chapter 441: Understudy
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Zhang Zian had just wanted to use the dogs' droppings to disgust the lunchbox guy. Who would have thought that because the guy had been scared by Red Dragon and Prince, he did not open the lid in front of Zhang Zian, but took the lunchbox to try to impress Nie Yuan, thus causing a disturbance that became known to the entire crew.
Due to his lack of experience, Zhang Zian was not prepared adequately. When he arrived, he found that he could only let the three German Shepherds pee and poop on the ground, which was not what a qualified or civilized dog owner should do. So he decided to bring a tool kit for shoveling feces and a lunchbox to hold them. What choice did he have? The smell of the feces could easily drift out if they were put in a plastic bag. And he had other lunchboxes and drinking water in his backpack, so it would be very disgusting if his backpack smelled like dog droppings.
This lunchbox had great sealing function. He had tested it when he put the stewed beef with potato in it for the first time. Even if it was turned upside down, the soup would not seep through, and no smell came out. It looked just like the other lunchboxes but only with a piece of tape on the bottom. That's why the lunchbox guy thought that this lunchbox also had stewed beef with potato, so he didn't bother to open the lid, and just ran away with it. After this incident, the lunchbox guy who was the hospitality manager was fired and a new hospitality producer was found for the crew.
The very next day, the quality of the lunch for the crew was far better. After making a fool of himself in public, Nie Yuan became more low-key and did not try and influence who was chosen as the hospitality manager. When the crew members met Zhang Zian, they often gave him a tacit smile. Even Lin Feng praised him during lunch, "The lunch is much more delicious than before."
Another day of filming was over. Although there were some errors, at least the shooting progress had not been delayed.
In the evening, after Feng Xuan called it a day, everyone swiftly packed up their own equipment. In small groups, some people went back to the dorms to relax, while others went to experience Binhai City's colorful nightlife.
Holding Famous and the other two German Shepherds, Zhang Zian was leisurely walking towards the Studio's entrance. Before he reached the door, someone stopped him, "Zhang! Zhang! Wait!"
He looked back and found that it was Feng Xuan who called him. Feng Xuan and his assistant were walking hurriedly towards Zhang Zian.
"Director Feng, what's the matter?" Zhang Zian turned around to greet them, wondering if the director was going to talk about the incident with the lunchbox guy.
After shooting all day and shouting on set, Feng Xuan's voice was a bit hoarse, but he seemed rather energetic. "Zhang, are you in a rush to go home? There is something I want to tell you," Feng Xuan said.
Zhang Zian let Red Dragon and Prince sit down, and then he replied, "No. I have nothing to do. Go ahead, Director Feng, I'm listening."
Feng Xuan lowered his head to observe Famous and the two police dogs. He praised Zhang Zian, "Zhang, you really have helped a lot with your excellent dog training skills. Shooting has been going much smoother than I expected; over one tenth of all the scenes have been filmed."
Zhang Zian smiled and did not answer. He continued listening. He knew Feng Xuan, who had rushed to stop him, definitely had more to say than to merely praise him.
Feng Xuan added, "It is because we have completed one tenth of the film that makes me worried. Will Famous be injured while doing some dangerous moves? If that's the case, we'll need to replace the lead quickly, which will be a serious blow to the filming progress. Funding is already very tight."
Zhang Zian was startled. In fact, he was also a bit worried. When watching the crew shoot some dangerous scenes over the past few days, he had feared that Famous might be accidentally injured.
"Do you remember the dog that was injured yesterday while crossing through the ring of fire? I was wondering what to do if it were Famous who was injured!" Feng Xuan admitted frankly, "The degree of danger of many subsequent shots is ten times more than the fire ring drill. The crew cannot guarantee that Famous will not be injured, and will not be able to withstand the loss of money or time needed to replace the lead if Famous is injured."
"What do you mean?" Zhang Zian wondered about Feng Xuan's intentions, but he had no clue.
Feng Xuan and his assistant glanced at each other. Feng Xuan said, "My point is that we need to find an understudy for Famous. When it comes to dangerous moves, Famous doesn't have to do them. The understudy will do them."
Understudy? Zhang Zian's mind suddenly thought of Famous's commonly known name—the Reincarnated Dog. Before he figured out its meaning, he felt the leash in his hand tighten. Famous ran forward two steps and started barking.
After nightfall, in addition to the Dog Warrior crew, crews shooting other films and TV dramas had also gradually stopped for the day. The Studio that was noisy during the day had slowly quieted down, so Famous's barking sounded particularly harsh.
Feng Xuan and his assistant were frightened by the frantic Famous, and they could not help but retreat a few steps. Red Dragon and Prince were shocked, they stood up nervously. Zhang Zian instinctively tightened his grip on Famous's leash. "Famous! Famous! Stop barking!"
Famous was roaring with all its strength, "No understudy! No understudy! I don't want an understudy!" Famous had been very obedient and quiet in the crew, quieter than other dogs, unless it was required to bark, but it never made a sound before. But it was going mad right now. Feng Xuan was very surprised by the tremendous difference from its usual behavior.
His face pale, the assistant was pulling Feng Xuan in the arm, trying to drag him backwards. Fortunately, Famous was just barking, and it showed no intent to jump over and bite him. Over 50-years-old, Feng Xuan had seen it all and done it all. After the initial stage of panic, he calmed down soon and asked Zhang Zian, "What's going on?"
Zhang Zian was rather confused. He did not understand why Famous reacted so strongly to the word "understudy." He wrapped the leash around his hand, and crouched down to hug famous's neck and head. He lowered his voice to say into its ear, "Famous, calm down! Famous! You will ruin your acting career if you don't stop!"
He didn't know which sentence had touched Famous's heart, but Zhang Zian felt the muscles all over its body shudder. It stopped barking, turned around and looked at him. Its eyes were full of sadness, and it whispered, "Famous doesn't want an understudy."
"Okay, okay, no understudy then," said Zhang Zian, whispering. "Listen to me, Famous, take some deep breaths and calm down. I'll tell the director." The chest and abdomen of Famous were rising and falling violently. It was wheezing, which was the noise when air and the vocal cords were producing friction. Its body was about to collapse, and it was facing the danger of hyperventilating.
Hyperventilating was the psychological reaction caused by acute anxiety. The rapid breathing would lead to an excessive reduction of carbon dioxide in the body, causing respiratory alkalosis, numbness in the hands and feet, and convulsions in the limbs in severe cases.
After Famous calmed down a bit and its breathing became more stable, Zhang Zian stood up and said to Feng Xuan, "Director Feng, can you please not use an understudy?"
Although Zhang Zian had deliberately lowered his voice to whisper to Famous, Feng Xuan had still overheard him since they were not far apart. Feng Xuan frowned, and asked in puzzlement, "What do you mean? Are you saying that Famous suddenly said it does not want an understudy?"
In this crucial moment, an excellent idea popped into Zhang Zian's mind. Quoting Liu's words, he explained, "Like police dogs, Famous has a strong sense of honor and pride, and it does not want to be replaced by another dog. Director Feng, can we not use an understudy?"
"Oh," replied Feng Xuan. But he still insisted, "Understudies are necessary, even human actors use understudies to do some dangerous moves. The crew cannot to replace the lead. The understudy is not to replace Famous. Famous is an irreplaceably good actor."
Zhang Zian understood that what Feng Xuan had said was absolutely right. As the soul of the crew, the director must always carry the whole crew on his shoulders, overcoming all difficulties and obstacles to move forward. If the lead was accidentally injured during filming, production would probably be halted. However, on the other hand, he knew that Famous really didn't need an understudy. It could predict danger and avoid danger in time, but he couldn't explained this to Feng Xuan.
Feng Xuan looked at his watch and said, "It's late. Just go home and comfort Famous. In a day or two, you will go to the Binhai City Police Dog Training Base with me. I heard that a group of retired police dogs are on sale, but I know nothing about dogs. I need you to come and advise me, then select a few dogs to be Famous's understudy."
Zhang Zian was startled when he heard this. Binhai City Police Dog Training Base? Retired police dogs?