"Moving the pieces of Taiwei, the altar reveals the vision." Reciting this line on set truly evoked a wonderful sensation of having complete control over the battlefield. The hall shots for Fu Xuan are finally finished! To recreate that cool, aloof, and mystical aura, quite a bit of effort went into the styling, makeup, and shooting.
The costume has an astonishing amount of detail. The constellation chart connections and golden geometric patterns on the dark bodice, along with the flowing wide white water-sleeves, carried real weight when worn. The complex metallic horned headpiece and tasseled hair ornaments at the crown not only required firm securing, but also demanded careful angle checks during shooting to prevent awkward visual reveals. To project her distinctive regal presence, I wore golden-yellow contact lenses and dotted a purple diamond bindi on my forehead, keeping my gaze stern and minimizing unnecessary facial expressions to stay true to her solemn characterization.
The special effects and props were another highlight of this shoot. The encircling purple constellation lines and glowing divination tiles shown in the photos were designed to amplify that astrological, star-gazing atmosphere. To synchronize with these post-production effects, I had to execute precise, tension-filled movements in midair on site. Poses such as reaching out to cup a glowing rune, or pressing hands together before my chest to trigger a vibrant pink burst of light, meant visualizing the magical eruption in my mind so my movements wouldn't appear stiff. Controlling finger tension and arm extension was vital to looking natural and fluid on camera.
I personally love the full-body shot in the second photo. It completely showcases the tailoring of the entire outfit, particularly the transition between the lower body's White stockings/leggings and the touch of purple skirt hem, adding crisp neatness to an otherwise lavish design. To accentuate leg contours, I constantly adjusted my stance and center of gravity, angling slightly to harmonize with the purple neon circle on the floor and evoking the grand feeling of standing at the epicenter of an astrological array.
The entire shoot was a serious test of focus. Against a pitch-black background shaped by backlighting and side-rim lights, I needed to maintain a serene, unsmiling spellcasting posture for long stretches. Lighting placement was crucial: sculpting facial highlights while preserving deep mystique. For the close-up in the first photo, the photographer applied stronger facial fill light to accentuate my facial expression and spellcasting gestures, making the golden-yellow eyes pop with translucency. The hands-clasped pose in the third photo needed to convey prayerful power, with light spilling outward from my hands—an effect achieved only after testing several angles. Seeing the finished shots blend the character's majesty with the vast cosmos made every ounce of preparation and effort entirely worthwhile. Walking around with the flowing water-sleeves fluttering felt incredible, as if truly steering the trajectories of the stars, and each shutter click deepened my bond with the character.