1979: The child's mother is a celestial being.

Chapter 22: Disagreements Arise Immediately Upon Arrival

Emei Film Studio is located at No. 360 Qingjiang East Road, Qingyang District, Chengdu.

If Chen Fusheng were to search for it himself, he might accidentally go astray.

However, Lu Xiangyang, a reader I met on the train, was from Sichuan. Hearing that his destination was Emei Film Studio, he insisted on showing him the way after we got off the train, which saved him a lot of trouble.

"Comrade Fusheng, that's the Emei Film Studio up ahead."

"Thank you so much, Comrade Xiangyang."

“It’s nothing, I’ll leave here. I hope ‘Cow’ will be released soon, and I will definitely take my whole family to see it in the cinema.”

After Chen Fusheng thanked him again, the two parted ways at the entrance of the film studio.

The most popular actress at Emei Film Studio right now is Pan Hong. The film she starred in with Li Zhiyu, "The Troublesome Laughter," not only won the Outstanding Film Award from the Ministry of Culture last year, but she was also invited to the Cannes International Film Festival to participate in the film's screening.

After returning from Cannes, she was seconded to Hunan's Xiaoxiang Film Studio to star in director Ouyang Shanzun's film "The Glow Through the Clouds," which she only returned to after filming wrapped up in January of this year.

At the beginning of the year, Han Sanping approached Pan Hong, hoping she could play the female lead Jiu'er in "Cow". Of course, this Jiu'er is not a cow, but a fiery young widow in the village played by Yan Ni in the original novel, who is also the object of Niu Er's secret love.

Pan Hong knew that the novel "Bullfighting" was very popular recently, but she also knew that although the character Jiu'er was said to be the female lead in the movie, she didn't actually have many scenes. Since she didn't lack film offers, Pan Hong's answer to Han Sanping at the time was that she would have to consider it.

After considering this, she received an offer to play the lead role in "Du Shiniang" directed by Zhou Yu of Changchun Film Studio. Now that she had thought it through, she went to Han Sanping today and told him about her decision.

"I'm sorry, Director Han, after careful consideration, I feel that I am not good enough to play the role of Jiu'er in your film. I hope you can find someone else."

Han Sanping was, after all, a minor leader in the factory. He knew the real reason why Pan Hong rejected him. To be honest, he was a little annoyed, but he didn't want to ruin things over this. After thinking about it, he just gave her a few perfunctory polite words.

When Chen Fusheng was being led by the security guard to Han Sanping's office, he happened to run into Pan Hong, who was leaving downstairs.

Pan Hong had a long career, and even forty years later she was still active on screen. For example, she played Eileen in "Old Girlfriends", Shen's mother in "Rational Life", and Chen Baozhu in "Warm and Sweet"... So Chen Fusheng naturally knew her.

They even collaborated in later generations.

Pan Hong, who was standing in front of him, was only 26 years old. Chen Fusheng could recognize her, but she certainly couldn't recognize him.

However, seeing the young man nod at her, she assumed he was a fan who had seen her movie, and forced a smile in response.

After passing by, the young security guard who had led the way introduced her to Chen Fusheng: "That was Pan Hong just now. She's the most popular actress in our film studio. I saw you nod to her, Comrade Fusheng. You must have seen one of her movies, right?"

"Ahem... Yes, she looked familiar, so I nodded, but I forgot what movie it was called." Chen Fusheng hadn't actually seen any of the movies. As for the movies Pan Hong starred in after that, he had at least seen a few, such as the romance film "The Well" directed by Li Yalin, and "Stock Fever" directed by Li Guoli, as well as its sequel "Stocks, Oh Stocks".

The young security guard said, "I bet you watched 'The Troublesome Laughter.' Comrade Pan Hong even had the opportunity to go to that... what's-it... because of this movie..."

"Cannes."

"Yes, it's Cannes. Comrade Fusheng, you even know about this place?"

"I'm a movie enthusiast!"

Chen Fusheng is determined to carry out this persona to the end.

However, he was quite surprised to hear that a Chinese film had actually been submitted to the Cannes Film Festival last year.

dong dong dong~
Han Sanping was sulking in his office when he suddenly heard a knock on the door. He looked up and saw Chen Fusheng, and immediately stood up excitedly.

"Oh, my dear brother Fusheng, we've been waiting for you to come!"

Since they had a drink together last time, the two have become much closer. Chen Fusheng joked, "You wanted me to come so much, but you didn't even go to the train station to pick me up."

"Well... you didn't tell me the time of your train." Han Sanping felt a little wronged. If Chen Fusheng had told him the time of his train ticket in advance, even if he couldn't go, he would have at least sent someone to the train station to pick him up.

"I'm just kidding. You gave me the address last time. Do you think I, a grown man, can't find out which way the gate of your Emei Film Studio faces?"

As he spoke, Chen Fusheng patted Han Sanping on the shoulder, changing the subject.

"I noticed you looked worried sitting inside. Did you encounter some difficulties?"

"Sigh, don't even mention it. I was feeling down because the female lead I was looking for was no longer available, and then you showed up."

"The female lead is gone?"

Thinking of Pan Hong, whom he had just met downstairs, Chen Fusheng couldn't help but ask, "The leading lady you're looking for isn't Pan Hong, is she?"

"How did you know?" Han Sanping was making tea for Chen Fusheng when he heard this and turned around with a surprised look.

"I ran into her downstairs when I came up just now."

“That’s right. At the beginning of the year, I wanted to cast her as Jiu’er. She said she would think about it. Then the day before yesterday, the crew of Du Shiniang from Changchun Film Studio called the studio and wanted to borrow her to play the lead role. Today, she came to my door to refuse me.”

After hearing this, Chen Fusheng understood Han Sanping's feelings at that moment.

However, this kind of thing is not unusual in this industry at all. In fact, it's even more outrageous in later generations. Some people even change their minds after joining a production, let alone Pan Hong, who hadn't even agreed to act in the film yet.

Therefore, he could understand Pan Hong's behavior. After all, people strive for better things. However, while he understood, Chen Fusheng was naturally disgusted that Pan Hong treated the opportunity given by Han Sanping as a "backup plan".

It is foreseeable that after this incident, even if Lao Han does not deliberately target Pan Hong for this matter in the future, if there is no turning point, there will be almost no more cooperation between them.

"Has the male lead been secured?" In Chen Fusheng's view, apart from the male lead Niu Er, all the other actors in "Cow" were supporting roles, including the female lead Jiu'er. Therefore, he was not at all flustered when he heard the news that the female lead was gone as soon as he arrived.

"Based on the results of our discussion in Jiangcheng last time, it's really too difficult to find an actor who meets the criteria for the male lead."

Han Sanping continued, "I've screened all the male actors in our studio, but I can't find one who barely meets the requirements. It just so happens that you're here, Fusheng. I was thinking that we could go to other film studios together and maybe find some suitable actors."

At first glance, Han Sanping's words seem reasonable.

But after Chen Fusheng pondered for a while, he was startled.

Listen to what you're saying!

How about we visit other film studios?

You went out for a walk after eating, didn't you?

In those days, transportation was underdeveloped, and major film studios were scattered all over the country. Going door to door to find them would be incredibly difficult, not to mention the time it would take. This alone made Chen Fusheng, who had just arrived, start to have second thoughts.

Well, if Han Sanping insists on selecting actors this way.

Therefore, he stood up directly to object:
"I don't agree with your casting method!"

……

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(End of this chapter)