LayarHijau – The warm chemistry now felt in the drama Shine On Me (骄阳似我) did not form instantly from the first day of filming. Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai revealed that their initial meeting was marked by an awkward and cautious atmosphere, which gradually evolved into a comfortable and well-matched working relationship.
Looking back on the early days of production, both actors clearly remembered their first scene together, which was filmed in a movie theater. At the time, the mood was far from romantic. “We were both very polite and professional, but it did feel a bit cold,” Song Weilong recalled. Zhao Jinmai quickly responded with a laugh, “If you put it that way, it sounds like we became impolite later on.”
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Song Weilong clarified that the distance had nothing to do with discomfort, but rather their similar personalities. “We were still polite, but after that we became more… abstract,” he said jokingly. Zhao Jinmai agreed, adding that the awkwardness was most noticeable when filming paused. “When we were acting, it was fine. But once the camera stopped, it felt like we didn’t really know what to say.”
As two people who are not naturally quick to warm up, those early moments often ended in brief silences before they returned to their own tasks on set. “We would just greet each other, and that was it,” Song Weilong said.
Over time, however, that distance slowly faded. Interactions on set became more relaxed, conversations flowed more naturally, and casual jokes started to emerge without effort. This shift also changed how they saw each other.
Zhao Jinmai shared that she discovered a different side of Song Weilong from what she had imagined. “He’s actually quite cheerful, pure, and very bright,” she said. Song Weilong smiled at the comment and simply replied, “Thank you,” even checking back to see if she truly meant it.
Song Weilong, in turn, was surprised by Zhao Jinmai’s personality. “She’s much more lively than I expected. She laughs easily and finds happiness quickly,” he said. Zhao Jinmai responded honestly, “Yes, my laugh point is very low. But that makes it easy for me to feel happy.”
This growing sense of comfort eventually translated into their on-screen chemistry. For Song Weilong, the key was fully understanding the characters and emotionally connecting with them. “When we’re together, we really have to understand the roles and feel what the characters are feeling,” he explained.
One moment that symbolized their growing closeness was when Song Weilong seriously mentioned having watched a children’s TV series Zhao Jinmai starred in when she was younger. He even praised her professionalism at such an early age. “Her professionalism and control of lines are things I can learn from,” he said sincerely.
The lighthearted exchange continued when Zhao Jinmai invited him to repeat the transformation chant of a fairy character from that childhood series. Though hesitant at first, Song Weilong eventually joined in, laughing and asking about the gestures, further easing the atmosphere on set.
Unknowingly, it was this gradual journey—from awkward beginnings to mutual understanding and comfort—that formed the foundation of Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai’s chemistry in Shine On Me. Rather than something built instantly, it developed naturally over time, which is precisely why it feels so genuine on screen.
