Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 317: Relationship

The review delay will not hinder the progress of "The Invisible Guest".

Li Qiutang will not be stuck on this little thing, and the team is still actively trying to find ways to move forward.

But one thing is that Li Qiutang will not change the script!

This is very important! The good thing about "The Invisible Guest" is that the mother disguised herself and went deep into the tiger's den to get the confession of the suspect who killed her own son. Li Qiutang will not change this core foundation.

Preparations continue to move forward, and the team continues to find ways to pass the review stage.

Gong Li was right in saying that the role of Zhong Huilian in "The Invisible Guest" might be the best role played by an elderly female actress in the Chinese film industry in recent years, if not the only one.

It is really hard for these old ladies to get outstanding roles, let alone the leading lady. Many of them have already started to play mothers and mothers-in-law to young actors.

After "The Invisible Guest" was exposed, many old ladies in the circle came to inquire about this play, including some successful actors, who took the initiative to contact Qiu Tian.

As the most core character in the whole play, the role of Zhong Huilian was cast by Li Qiutang himself.

They were all veteran actors, so it was a bit embarrassing to have them audition. Li Qiutang interviewed them one by one.

As early as when he was exposed in Cannes, Li Bingbing told Li Qiutang that he could also play an old man with makeup when only his name was known.

Li Qiutang certainly believed in her acting skills, but when he officially met the Li sisters today, he also said: "It would be better to find someone of the actual age to play the role."

But how could Li Bingbing give up? She said, "When I'm older, I can still give birth to a son in his 20s." She could even say this!
Li Bingbing is the oldest among the big actresses, born in 73. She is not exaggerating, she can really give birth.

It was because Li Qiutang's resources were too attractive. Li Qiutang didn't need to find big names to attract attention to his film. He himself was the biggest guarantee for the film.

He is the only Golden Globe Award winner from the mainland. It is an honor for actors to work with him. They will accept him even if the price is reduced, and will actively strive for him even if the requirements are not met.

But Li Qiutang is stubborn because he refuses to do anything that does not meet the requirements of the role.

Unless Hesong can help him with the review.

This is a bit difficult. How can Hesong solve the problem that Autumn Film, China Film and Golden Shield cannot solve?
But Li Qiutang still made a promise to Li Bingbing, saying, "The heroine of my next film, Mirage, happens to be a middle-aged mother. I will definitely give you priority when the time comes."

As he spoke, he told Li Bingbing the story outline of "Mirage".

This is more suitable for Li Bingbing than "The Invisible Guest". Li Bingbing was very satisfied after hearing it. An elderly role like Zhong Huilian is indeed too far away from her, and she will not force it.

"But I've only written half of this script, so it might take two or three years for it to come out."

"It's okay, it's okay. I feel relieved when you say that." This is a cake. It's not certain whether she can eat it in two years. She won't lose anything by saying a few nice words now.

After seeing off Li Bingbing and her sister, Li Qiutang went to see Jiang Wenli again. She also wanted to play Zhong Huilian.

But Li Qiutang still rejected her.

However, this senior sister's real interest was not Zhong Huilian, but the second female lead Xu Lin.

"This is my niece. She's also acting now. What do you think of her playing Xu Lin for you?"

Xiao Ma smiled and greeted Li Qiutang: "Hello, Director. My name is Ma Sichun."

Li Qiutang asked her, "How old are you?"

"I'll be 25 next year," said Ma Sichun.

"A little small." Li Qiutang laughed, "Xu Lin is a successful professional woman. She is the mistress of the male protagonist Qin Lang. You still have a student vibe, so you are not suitable for this kind of role. If you are 35, I will use you."

The words were very direct, but Jiang Wenli and Ma Sichun were not annoyed. It is very normal for actors to fail in auditions.

After meeting several middle-aged and elderly actresses in succession, Li Qiutang was not very satisfied with any of them. On the contrary, the casting team had made considerable progress in the casting of Xu Lin.

There are many actresses who are suitable for this role, a mistress in her 30s, and there are too many actresses in the circle who are suitable.

The casting team conducted the first round of screening and selected more than twenty actors for Li Qiutang to choose from.

Liu Tao, Ma Yili, Huang Yi, Zhang Jingchu, Sun Li, Jiang Xin, Jiang Yiyan, Wan Qian…

Famous and not-so-famous people all came to compete for this role. Being a director is so exciting. Photos of more than 20 beauties are just like choosing a concubine. Whether to use them or not is entirely up to Li Qiutang.

"Oh, no, why is she here to cause trouble?" Li Qiutang saw Shu Chang's photo.

"She's quite suitable. She's not very old, but she's good at acting and can act well." The producer had no idea about the relationship between Shu Chang and Li Qiutang.

"All those under 30 will be eliminated." Li Qiutang threw away Shu Chang's photo without saying a word.

This is how casting works, there has to be a standard and it can’t be too scientific and rigorous.

In Xu Lin's first round of casting, Li Qiutang only kept Sun Li, Jiang Xin and Zhang Jingchu.

"Liu Tao doesn't want it either?"

"Isn't she a good wife and mother? Why is she playing the role of a mistress?" Eliminated!
As for the male lead Qin Lang, there are not so many actors to choose from.

There are only a few leading male actors in the Chinese film industry today.

They are all in the hands of the crew.

Deng Chao, Huang Xiaoming, Duan Yihong, Feng Shaofeng and others.

Even artists from Hong Kong and Taiwan have submitted their resumes, and Wu Qilong, Alec Su and others are among the candidates.

Li Qiutang took the actor's information back to study. That night, Li Qiutang received a video call from his girlfriend in France.

After saying the sweet words, Liu Yifei was a little shy, as if she had something else to say. Li Qiutang said, "Stop hesitating. Just say whatever you want to say."

Liu Yifei said, "Nothing else. Yang Mi called me a few days ago and asked if I could talk to you on behalf of Liu Kaiwei to give him an audition opportunity. He can do it for free."

"When did you start taking on this kind of work?"

Liu Yifei never interferes with Li Qiutang's work.

Liu Yifei said: "I also told Yang Mi that I would not interfere with your casting, but she said all the nice things she could. This was the first time she begged me, so I couldn't say anything."

Li Qiutang rolled her eyes: "You know what her boyfriend's acting skills are like."

"That person has come to me for help. Just give him an audition. If he fails, you can just eliminate him."

Li Qiutang agreed to Liu Yifei for the time being, but glared at him and said, "This won't happen again."

Liu Yifei smiled and said, "Well, this won't happen again. I won't take on this kind of thing in the future. It's so awkward."

"How are you doing in France?"

"It's OK. It's 2pm here now. I'm going to meet Luc Besson later."

Li Qiutang also reminded her: "When you get to Paris, go see your dad."

"Oh, you!" Liu Yifei has contact with her father, but they are not close.

"I mean, it's okay if we don't see each other normally, but now that you're in Paris and you have nothing to do, why don't you go and see me? You're too old to understand this."

"I know, you don't need to teach me."

The two hung up the phone, and Li Qiutang called the producer again: "There is an actor named Liu Kaiwei, you can try his role in the next few days."

The other party asked: "Who used the connections to get in?"

The producer knew that Liu Kaiwei would never be able to get through Li Qiutang's connections.

"Don't ask me that. Just try your best and don't get criticized."

Now that things have come to this, the producer also understands that it is just a formality and then eliminated.

"Okay, I understand."

(End of this chapter)