Chapter 25.1 (1/2)
Deep in the Act
Translator: Kotoni
Editor: Isalee
First Published on Chaleuria
Chapter 25.1
When Chen Hsin woke up in the morning, he received instructions about a new a.s.signment from the production team. He was to attend an interview about the film, conducted later that day at a wine club located in the luxury commercial district along Huaihai Road. Although he was not scheduled for any filming today, he was unwilling to go. ”This is rather sudden,” he complained, awkward and hesitant. ”No one told me about this beforehand.”
Chen Cheng-Sen was rus.h.i.+ng for his breakfast. He strode ahead of Chen Hsin as he replied, ”It was a last-minute decision by the team.” Then, turning around, he pointed a warning finger at the actor. ”Remember to toe the line. Whet their appet.i.te all you want, but don't give away anything of substance.”
After all his years in the entertainment industry, Chen Hsin knew exactly what he had to do. It had become second nature to him. He took a long, sullen drag on his cigarette. ”Today… you'll be continuing with that bedroom scene?”
The director picked up his pace. ”Stop sticking your nose into other people's work. Focus on your interview!”
Chen Hsin did not bother to catch up to the other man. He snuffed out his cig and began heading off in the opposite direction. He had only taken a couple of steps when he received a call from the production manager. ”Chen-laos.h.i.+, you done with breakfast? We've already got a car waiting downstairs. Its plate number ends with F42.”
When the call ended, Chen Hsin swore as he put away his phone. Then, following the instructions to a T, he promptly took the elevator downstairs and found the car that had been prepared for him. As he climbed into the vehicle, he heard the driver and his a.s.signment-supervisor talking about Wu Rong. His brow twitched. ”What's up with Wu Rong?”
The other two laughed it off. ”Nothing much. We're just chatting.”
The car was started up. ”By the way,” Chen Hsin continued, stretching his back and sinking into the backseat, ”is he leaving soon?”
”This afternoon,” the driver answered with a turn of the steering wheel. ”I'll be sending him to the airport.”
After driving for more than half an hour, they arrived at a small, inconspicuous store located on Huaihai Road. Chen Hsin entered the club with his a.s.signment-supervisor, and found that the interview team had been waiting for him. The lighting and filming crew were already on standby, and the stylist was ready to get to work.
Quick greetings were exchanged on both sides. After a polite handshake with Chen Hsin, the young woman in charge of the interview cut to the chase. ”Chen-laos.h.i.+, given the somewhat taboo nature of your film, we will be creating a rather luxurious and hedonistic look for you. The entire interview will also focus on the topic of h.o.m.os.e.xual desire. Is there anything else that you'd like to add before we begin?”
Chen Hsin had nothing to add; ever cooperative, he readily agreed with all the proposed arrangements. True to the young woman's words, he re-emerged from the temporary dressing room looking the very image of opulent decadence. He was dressed in a velvet s.h.i.+rt, his finger accessorized with a zircon ring. His wavy hair was thoroughly mussed and set with gel. Sitting before the camera, he looked just like a postmodern incarnation of Jay Gatsby1 himself. As an allusion to Fang Chi's character design in the film, he wore a pair of rimless gla.s.ses with a golden eyegla.s.s chain. Detached on one end and draped casually across his shoulder, the chain glinted and dazzled under the light.
A female entertainment reporter sat down opposite Chen Hsin, microphone in hand. Right on cue, the filming lights came on and the camera lens zoomed into focus. ”Good morning, Chen-laos.h.i.+,” the reporter began with her mechanical greetings as she scanned through the prepared script. ”It's been a while since we last met, and you seem handsomer than ever.”
”Thank you,” Chen Hsin replied with practiced, artificial politeness, ”you're too kind.”
”Let's talk about your upcoming film. Its working t.i.tle is Deep in the Act, am I right? From what I understand, it's now in its production stage, following a grueling filming schedule. Rumor has it that its subject matter is very unconventional. How accurate are these speculations?”
”Unconventional?” Chen Hsin drawled, his voice laced with the same note of debauchery that pervaded his appearance. ”To me, it's simply a good film that explores the complexities of the human psyche. But I suppose it could be considered 'unconventional' because of its focus on male h.o.m.os.e.xual love, which can be a rather sensitive topic for some.”
”Do you mind giving us some specific details about the plot?”
”The filming's still ongoing.” He propped his long, slender fingers against his temple. ”Please look forward to its completion, everyone.”
”I've also heard that the film is very explicit. Are there any interesting experiences that you could share with us?”
Chen Hsin lowered his fingers and broke into an unintentional chuckle. ”You're pretty well-informed, aren't you?” Licking his lips lightly, he a.s.sumed an air of feigned bashfulness as he continued, ”That's right, there were multiple scenes that had to be shot on closed sets. Necessary precautions were taken, of course. The director also said that additional shots would be filmed using body doubles in post-production. But there were still many challenges that really put my skills to the test. The need for improvisation was one, and rapport-building with my partner was another.”