The birth of an actor

Chapter 100 Four Families Strongly Recommend
"Teacher Liu."

When Liu Zhizi arrived at the entrance of the audition room, she heard this greeting, turned around, and saw An Xin.

"Ah."

He smiled and nodded, saying:

"Do your best in a bit, good luck."

After leaving a word of encouragement, he walked straight to the audition room, pushed open the door, and went inside.

Kang Jianming, sitting next to Huo Jianqi, smiled and said:
"Coming?"

"Ah."

Liu Zhizi responded and sat down next to him:

"After all, this is my home turf, so I have to give you both face."

"Haha."

Huo Jianqi was amused:
"What? You're not letting me leave campus if you don't select students from the Beijing Film Academy?"

"You decide for yourself, there are about a hundred people outside."

"Haha~"

The group consisted of old acquaintances, and amidst the joking conversation, Liu Zhizi asked:

"How's the investment coming along?"

"good."

Huo Jianqi responded:
"Old Zhao agreed to be the cinematographer. If he hadn't agreed... I'm probably still worrying about money. The people at Xiaoxiang Film Studio immediately became more cooperative when they heard he was in charge of the cinematography, and they approved 1.2 million yuan. The Beijing Film Studio is also considering it. I said the minimum is 1.4 million yuan, and I estimate they'll approve at least 1 million yuan in the end?"

Upon hearing this, a look of emotion appeared on Liu Zhizi's face:
"So, Old Zhao still has a lot of influence. Everyone knows his nickname 'film processing maniac'... But you have to talk to him about cost control, otherwise he might spend all of your two million."

The "Old Zhao" they were referring to is Zhao Lei, the cinematographer for the film "Farewell My Concubine".

He's known in the industry as the "film washing maniac."

Of course, some people also call him a free Kodak spokesperson.

I like using Kodak the most.

Kodak's high price is well-known.

A foot of Kodak film costs around two yuan, and a foot of film can only shoot 16 frames. Since a movie is 24 frames per second, it means that it would cost three yuan to shoot one second of footage.

Ironically, his directing style involves piling up a large number of scenes, selecting the best of the best, and is known as "one out of a hundred feet," meaning that at most one foot out of a hundred feet will be used.

That's incredibly expensive.

Which investor would dare to work with such a spendthrift photographer?
But then... someone else's lens produced a film called "Farewell My Concubine".

A person's name, the shadow of a tree.

Strength is the only true measure of success.

Huo Jianqi, clearly aware of Zhao Lei's personality, laughed and said:
"I tried to finish filming before he spent his last penny."

"That spendthrift Zhao..."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Amidst the laughter and chatter, the preparations were nearly complete. As the host, Liu Zhizi then said:
"Then let's get started."

"Ah."

As Huo Jianqi responded, the staff member next to him walked out.

Soon, five boys, each with their own distinctive features, walked in.

……

Outside, An Xin followed Lu Shiyu in line. The corridor was now completely filled with people queuing. However, the line was moving quite quickly.

After walking for a while, Lu Shiyu turned back and muttered to An Xin:
"See? I wasn't wrong, was I? It's just like choosing a young master..."

Anxin rolled her eyes.

I thought to myself, according to your logic, aren't we both young masters?

"When we go in, Brother Lu, how about we say: 'Good evening, distinguished guests, welcome to Red Romance'?"

What is "Red Romance"?

"Uh……"

Do you know which place is the most famous in Yanjing right now?

"where?"

"Heaven on Earth! I heard it's incredibly luxurious..."

Anxin was taken aback again.

This name... is both familiar and unfamiliar.

It's been a long time since I've heard of that.

It was a notorious money-burning den that shocked the nation back then... tsk.

"you've been to?"

"No, but if I can't make it in this world, I'll have to become a young master. I'll take you with me then, and we can serve rich women together."

"..."

"Hahaha……"

Anxin thought to herself, "How come I never noticed how mischievous you were before?"
Amidst the laughter and chatter, it was soon their turn to join the queue.

He, Lu Shiyu, and three others walked in together. After seeing the people sitting opposite them, the first person in front began to introduce himself.

"Hello everyone, my name is Sui Feng, and I'm a sophomore in the Performing Arts Department..."

The first, the second, the third...

Soon it was Lu Shiyu and An Xin's turn.

After Lu Shiyu finished his self-introduction, which was delivered verbatim, An Xin also bowed.
"Hello everyone, my name is An Xin, I am a freshman in the Journalism Department of Renmin University, I am 1.8 meters tall and weigh 69 kilograms..."

"?"

Apart from Lu Shiyu and Liu Zhizi, everyone else wore strange expressions.

Including Huo Jianqi and Kang Jianming.

That look seemed to say, "How come there's a spy among you?"

Why are you from China University of Political Science and Law doing auditioning for the Beijing Film Academy?
but……

Huo Jianqi squinted and looked An Xin up and down before saying:
"Don't worry, you fill out the forms. Everyone else can leave."

Lu Shiyu's lips twitched...

But there is nothing we can do.

If you weren't selected, you weren't selected. Directors don't have set standards for casting; it's all subjective.

If it's not suitable, it's not suitable.

"Okay, thank you teacher."

After giving a reassuring reply, she quickly wrote her name and contact information in the booklet handed to her by the staff, and then politely withdrew.

From the moment he arrived until the moment he left, he had no idea what the film crew did.

No sooner had he left than Liu Zhizi said:
"I brought him here; he's a kid from an acting training class. He's very talented; he's already acted in a TV series, and he was the third or fourth male lead."

Huo Jianqi nodded:

"Hmm, his appearance is quite good, and his temperament is also quite nice. We can observe him a bit more. And I just saw a kid who fits the image very well, named Liu Ye. He's currently the most suitable person for me..."

……

"Brother Lu, I'm leaving now."

"Okay, good luck."

"Ah."

After greeting Lu Shiyu, I looked at the message on my pager with a sigh of relief, then quickly walked out of the school gate and found a public phone booth.

moment……

"The Central Academy of Drama, right? Who should I contact then?"

"...Okay, I understand. Thank you, sister-in-law."

"Uh-huh."

……

In the afternoon, at the Central Academy of Drama.

After receiving a page from Xu Fan, he walked into the somewhat unfamiliar campus.

"Hello, classmate, could you tell me where Audition Room 1 is...? Okay, thank you." Holding his resume, he asked around until he arrived at a building, only to suddenly fall silent.

Looking at the two lines of people, I thought to myself, "This is exactly the same as the Beijing Film Academy."
He was at the back of the group when he thought for a moment, then patted the guy in front of him on the shoulder:

"Hey bro, can someone tell me what film crew this is?"

"I don't know, the teacher notified me to come for an audition."

"Oh, thank you."

Anxin was speechless.

This time he arrived late and waited until the very end before going in with the last three people.

As soon as he went inside and saw those people, he suddenly froze.

He was stunned, and so was Huo Jianqi.

"Huh? You..."

"????"

Looking at the student's bewildered expression, Huo Jianqi, who couldn't recall his name for a moment, said:
"What's your name?"

"...Don't worry, teacher, my name is Anxin. We... met this morning."

"Yes, that's what I was just about to say. Didn't we meet at the Beijing Film Academy this morning? I remember you were from... Renmin University, right?"

"Correct."

"What are you doing here again?"

"I...I don't know. Sister-in-law...Teacher Xu Fan asked me to come, so I came."

"?"

Huo Jianqi was taken aback, wondering if he was the kid Xu Fan had recommended.
Did Xu Fan send you?

"Correct."

"...Alright, you don't need to try. Just come to the Beijing Film Studio tomorrow afternoon."

"Okay, then... I won't take up any more of your time. Goodbye."

He politely withdrew.

Inside the room, after auditioning the last three people, Kang Jianming suddenly laughed:
"Haha, what a coincidence? Xu Fan recommended the same person as Lao Liu?"

"That's quite a coincidence. But this child looks alright, similar to the person in the picture, and has a clean and pure demeanor..."

"Then let's see how their acting skills are."

"Hmm... there's no one outside, right? Shall we go? There's a public audition tomorrow morning."

"Ah."

After finishing a day's work, the group felt completely relaxed.

As for the coincidence of Anxin being a child, they just thought it was a coincidence and didn't take it to heart.

only……

The next day, early in the morning of the 13th.

"???"

Huo Jianqi looked at An Xin's innocent face and was somewhat bewildered:
"Why are you here again? Didn't I tell you to come this afternoon?"

Not to mention him, the other people who had met Anxin yesterday, including Kang Jianming, were also speechless.

Is this kid some kind of quack?

Can't get rid of it?

An Xin herself was also about to be dumbfounded.

Holding the resume, he tentatively asked:

"Director, is this movie... 'Postmen in the Mountains'?"

“...Yes. You…”

“My agent called me here to audition for this project.”

"broker?"

"Yes, my agent is Wang Jinghua, who is also Mr. Chen Daoming's agent."

Huo Jianqi was speechless after he finished speaking.

"So, firstly, Liu Zhizi recommended you. Secondly, Xu Fan recommended you. Thirdly... it was your agent who found you the film contract?"

"……Yes."

Kang Jianming couldn't help but laugh:

"Well, we really are destined to meet. This is truly a rare coincidence..."

Before the words were finished:

"Safe?"

Anxin subconsciously turned her head and saw Brother Wang, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, walking towards her with a puzzled look on his face.

Upon seeing Kang Jianming's name, Brother Wang smiled familiarly and called out:
"Director Kang, Director Huo."

They both nodded, which was considered a greeting, and then Brother Wang continued:

"Perfect timing, you two are both here. His name is An Xin. Director Zhao recommended him to come and give it a try. He was supposed to come this afternoon... An Xin, why are you here now?"

"..."

Anxin's lips twitched.

"!"

Huo Jianqi was stunned.

"?"

Kang Jianming, on the other hand, was completely in a state of existential skepticism.

"I……"

Anxin felt that half of her arm was numb.

Wait... is this how you guys play now?
At this moment, Huo Jianqi, having regained his senses, asked in confusion:
"You still know Zhao Baogang?"

"Uh... before... I played a minor role in Director Zhao's 'A Romantic Affair'."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Under Wang Ge's questioning gaze, Kang Jianming looked at An Xin with a wry smile:

"Do you have any other film offers? Or do you have any other recommenders? Let's all come together quickly. Wow, what a coincidence, four families recommending you..."

Seeing An Xin's increasingly speechless expression, Huo Jianqi also looked her up and down with a rather surprised look.

Is this kid really that good?

Four companies recommending the same person?

He gradually became curious.

After thinking for a moment, he said directly:

"You should go back and rest first. This afternoon is the first round of auditions for all the actors I've selected. Do your best then."

"……OK."

Anxin agreed, but inwardly thought, "What kind of mess is this?"

That's really speechless.

When he told Fan Bing about it, she was stunned:
"What a coincidence?"

"Yes, it's such a coincidence. Who would have thought? Teacher Liu recommended me, Teacher Xu recommended me... and most importantly, Director Zhao recommended me too."

"Tsk, tsk."

The girl's face was full of surprise, but she immediately said:

"Then you'd better do well this afternoon. I'm going up now."

"Ah."

Anxin watched her walk up to the second floor, and then his gaze unconsciously fell on the full-length mirror in front of him.

In the mirror, the young man's figure, with a hint of eagerness, couldn't wait to take the heavy mailbag.

(End of this chapter)