NOVEL SIMPLE
Chapter 181
The assistant came to knock on the door, asking the two teachers to prepare a little, as the stylists were going to come up to do their makeup and hair.
Although the historical background was long ago, after all, the Republican era was a time when old and new intersected, plus the collision of Eastern and Western ideologies and cultures. The clothing and lifestyles of the people also underwent great changes. Women came out to work, and even those from prominent families going abroad to study was nothing new.
The program team chose this era as the background, considering that in such a time, the guests could play their roles in a wide variety of ways.
In order to avoid the artists and their teams researching the roles they were playing in advance, doing their homework well, and then coming to make the show lose its freestyle characteristics, the program team had the artists bring as few people from their own companies as possible, and also had to hand over their cell phones to prevent anyone from providing strategies remotely during breaks.
The whole process was recorded live, with segmented recordings to ensure the artists had time to rest, just like on a drama set, where they could communicate privately with each other except during shooting, and spend the rest of the time resting at the hotel.
The only difference was that there were only character settings and tasks, no particularly fixed script. Occasionally they would have them act out some clips, but those accounted for not much of the entire show.
...
After the styling was almost done, the cameramen and host came in and knocked on the door. Qiao Sixiao was interviewed first.
Qiao Sixiao's outfit this time was one she had never tried before, a three-piece suit vest and shirt, clean and neat, with both the current popular neutral style and a professional woman's feel.
Little Qiao's outfit, called fashionable in the Republican era, would be called retro if worn now.
Fashion is really constantly cycling. What was popular decades ago, worn today in this era, still does not look outdated at all.
"Your role hasn't been announced yet, but Teacher Qiao, can you guess from your makeup and outfit what kind of identity your portrayed character has?" the host asked.
The formal recording had already started.
Qiao Sixiao thought about it and said,
"A progressive woman! And one who has received a Western-style education. In the historical background of that time, she may have also studied abroad. Now she should also have a job...
Wearing a suit means that dressing too femininely would have been inconvenient for this job, inconvenient because she needs to run around everywhere, or be in contact with a lot of people...
Photographer, reporter, doctor, lawyer...
In short, a career woman of that era."
The host nodded:
"Teacher Qiao is really attentive. You guessed it almost exactly. This is your script with detailed introductions of your identity. Take a look on the spot, only you can see it yourself, and we’ll take it back after you’ve read it.”
After handing over the script, the host went over to interview Qin Wei.
Qin Wei had also finished her makeup and hair over there. Wearing a high-end silk qiapo with a high slit, her hair wound up, and exquisite makeup painted on.
"Teacher Qin, sorry to disturb you! Can you please tell us what role you think you’re playing?"
Qin Wei answered frankly:
"A warlord's wife."
Host: "?"
Director: "?"
The host was stunned for a moment:
"Although I should keep some suspense, that's not what you said. I still want Teacher Qin to guess again."
Qin Wei thought about it:
"The warlord's auntie's wife?"
Host: "Is there a difference?"
Qin Wei went on:
"The most popular female lead in a famous opera troupe, very popular."
The host turned to ask the director behind the monitor:
"Director, can I give Teacher Qin a little spoiler? I won't say much, I’ll just tell her the identity!"
After getting permission, the host whispered Qin Wei’s identity to her.
After listening, Qin Wei was surprised and puzzled:
"With this identity, why am I still dressed so glamorously?"
The director told the makeup artist to hurry up and redo her styling according to the backup plan to make it more suitable for someone of her standing. The intention behind the qiapo was to make her look rich, but unexpectedly, after a rich and gorgeous Madam Moneybags put it on, she inexplicably looked extremely rich instead of noble at all.
"Redo, redo..."
The host gave Qin Wei the script, then said to both artists:
"Apart from you two, there are also other artist friends participating. Everyone has their own role. Let's explore it slowly later. Teachers, take a look at the scripts first, remember the personal information of the many people inside, don’t reveal it. I’ll go to interview the other artists on another floor first.”
...
While redoing her makeup and hair styling, Qin Wei also read the script carefully, feeling like she was playing a script murder mystery game. She had to read the information carefully before playing.
Except that with the script killing game she could hold the booklet, but here they could only try their best to remember the contents inside.
"How’s it going, Teacher Qiao?"
Half an hour later, a staff member came over to ask. Qiao Sixiao closed the script and handed it back to the staff:
"Almost done, you can take it away."
"Then please come with me.”
The staff member stood at the door, holding the script in one hand, and making a “please” gesture with the other.
Over at Qin Wei, the makeup and hair was also almost done. She had also desperately tried to remember everything she could from the script, but was still reading it over and over.
Finally, after returning the script, she was also led away from the hotel by a staff member.
...
Riding in a car towards the film and television city’s built replica of a Republican city, after passing through the gates there really was a feeling of time warping back: the retro Western-style architecture, the crisscrossing tram tracks on the ground, and the shops on the streets were still hanging banners (signboards and other outdoor fittings including plaques) full of period sense outside, clearly fake, but that kind of deliberate verisimilitude did make one feel dizzyingly surreal.
The car drove through the streets and stopped in front of the Presidential Palace building complex.
In order to welcome each artist upon their arrival, the show team had even specially rolled out red carpets.
At this time, Qiao Sixiao arrived a step ahead first and saw Qin Wei walking over after getting out of her car, and her outfit and styling could be said to have gone in completely opposite directions from what it was back at the hotel!
Just what was her role?
"Teacher Qiao, please introduce your role in the drama first. Remember, you can only reveal public information, okay."
The host reminded her, and she withdrew her gaze before speaking:
"Hello everyone, I’m Qiao Sixiao. I studied abroad in France and have now returned, working as a reporter for the [Shanghai News]."
The program team was very thoughtful; after all this was only a variety show, so all the character names simply used the artists' own names, to avoid the artists and viewers still having to trouble themselves remembering other names.
The host shook Qiao Sixiao's hand:
"Nice to meet you Reporter Qiao. Let's look forward to the next character appearing together!"
Just then, Qin Wei had already walked over and obediently stood next to the host waiting for his questioning.
"Teacher Qin, please introduce your role in the drama!"
Qin Wei said:
"Hello everyone. I’m Qin Wei; my name is also Qin Wei in the drama. I'm a triad boss's daughter."
Director: "?"
Host: "?"
Qiao Sixiao looked Qin Wei up and down. Her outfit and styling now contrasted completely with the exquisite makeup from earlier: it could be said she wore almost no makeup at all. Dressed in a white, vintage-style shirt with a dark brown mandarin collar vest and a skirt in matching colors, one look and you could tell she was the daughter of a wealthy and open-minded family at that time, having nothing at all to do with a triad boss's daughter!
The host said:
"It’s getting late, let’s get right to the point!"