Some visual meta
Oct. 10th, 2019 09:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
branchandrootCrosspost from the blue hellsite:
Pursuant to this image set.
Heart palpitations aside, you know, this is a really good example of the difference in how their respective photographers tend to frame them. With Bai Yu, there’s almost always an aspect of direct communication with the viewer—eye contact, turning toward the viewer, shared amusement, downright flirting. What I might paraphrase as “you know you want this, and I know you know, and we’re both having fun with it”. With Zhu Yilong, even when he is making eye contact with the viewer, there’s almost always an element of paused communication—mystery, shadow, the implication of a non-verbal moment, being turned a little away or paying attention to something else. Even when an image/video is in alarmingly-adorable mode, you can still see that aspect of distance between viewer and subject. It’s a fascinating contrast, and if (as seems likely) it’s indicative of at least some part of their personalities, it’s no wonder they have good chemistry when acting together.
Pursuant to this image set.
Heart palpitations aside, you know, this is a really good example of the difference in how their respective photographers tend to frame them. With Bai Yu, there’s almost always an aspect of direct communication with the viewer—eye contact, turning toward the viewer, shared amusement, downright flirting. What I might paraphrase as “you know you want this, and I know you know, and we’re both having fun with it”. With Zhu Yilong, even when he is making eye contact with the viewer, there’s almost always an element of paused communication—mystery, shadow, the implication of a non-verbal moment, being turned a little away or paying attention to something else. Even when an image/video is in alarmingly-adorable mode, you can still see that aspect of distance between viewer and subject. It’s a fascinating contrast, and if (as seems likely) it’s indicative of at least some part of their personalities, it’s no wonder they have good chemistry when acting together.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-11 07:46 am (UTC)Interesting observation! I think I also noted this off-handedly at some point, but you've articulated it much better than I ever could. And, yep, their photographers are definitely capitalising on the two actors' key strengths during these shoots. Thank all the gods that the fates transpired to get Zhu Yilong cast in the role of Shen Wei instead of the casting director's first pick! (Ran Yankai, I believe he's called?) I'm sure he's a good actor as well, but I simply can't imagine anyone else as Shen Wei or even Ye Zun, and I'm certain I wouldn't even be in this fandom any longer if it hadn't been for that particular version of Shen Wei Zhu Yilong brought to life. Of course, Bai Yu is the ideal choice for Zhao Yunlan as well (all that flirtatiousness, irreverence and deceptiveness, lol!), but afaik he was always meant to play it anyway.
And another thing to be thankful for is probably that neither of them were prolific enough actors at that point to turn down any roles, or else it's not likely that either of them would've agreed to the adaptation of a BL webnovel, of all things. Either way, the gods were definitely smiling down on the Guardian fandom the day the casting was finalised!
no subject
Date: 2019-10-11 12:53 pm (UTC)Absolutely agree that Zhu Yilong made Shen Wei just the right balance of intimidating and earnest to appeal to a television audience.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-11 04:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-11 06:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-11 06:43 pm (UTC)(I need more Zhu Yilong icons, dammit.)