I am a historical film director in the entertainment industry.

Chapter 5: Prejudice in People's Hearts is a Mountain

"Cheng Sheng, she's quite good, why not let her perform?"

Seeing Zhang Xinyi leave, Zhang Yang asked Cheng Sheng.

Generally speaking, the most important thing when auditioning actors is to get them to perform.

But Cheng Sheng didn't seem to care much about the other person's acting skills, except for making them dance.

“Teacher, she is not suitable for Princess Pingyang Zhao,” Cheng Sheng said, shaking his head.

"why?"

Yang Chao and Zhang Yang had both heard of Zhang Xinyi. She was the most outstanding student in the class of 01, with both good acting skills and good looks.

Many acting professors have high hopes for her and believe she will become famous in the future.

"Too seductive, it doesn't match her temperament."

Indeed, Cheng Sheng's selection criteria are temperament and appearance. Zhang Xinyi is good, but she doesn't have that heroic and dashing feeling between her brows.

Princess Pingyang Zhao is a female warrior who can fight on the battlefield and also recruit bandits. He is looking for a female actress with a heroic appearance.

She needs to be someone whose every glance tells you she is a female general.

"Let the next one in."

Since Cheng Sheng thought it wouldn't work, Yang Chao and the others didn't say anything.

The morning's interviews passed quickly.

At noon, Cheng Sheng told the rest of the people to go back and come back in the afternoon, and then he went to the canteen to eat with Yang Chao and the others.

After being busy for so long, everyone is very hungry.

"Brother Cheng, you're awesome!"

While Cheng Sheng and Yang Chao were eating, Qiao Shan came over and gave Cheng Sheng a thumbs up.

Cheng Sheng knew what he meant. Thanks to him, the Shanxi incident was a great success. So after signing the contracts with those coal bosses, he told Qiao Shan about it.

"Shanzi, I've saved a role for you. Are you interested in playing it?"

Cheng Sheng would remember those who had been kind to him, and he also had a good relationship with Qiao Shan. Why would he not give benefits to his own brother and instead leave them to others?

"Brother Cheng, thanks." Qiao Shan laughed, his small eyes almost disappearing with laughter.

"If you have time, read more about the historical figure Cheng Yaojin."

In Cheng Sheng's opinion, the most suitable role for Qiao Shan is Cheng Yaojin, and Cheng Yaojin also has a lot of lines in the film.

"Alright, Brother Cheng, you eat first. I'll go back and look up some information about Cheng Yaojin online," Qiao Shan said.

After Qiao Shan left, Zhang Yang said, "He does resemble Cheng Yaojin quite well."

“Teacher, there are too many interviewees. It’s too troublesome to select them like this, and it will also affect the students’ classes. Besides, I don’t have that much time. How about this, the school sends a notice to the students and asks them to submit a resume and a photo. I will select the suitable candidates, and then you can interview the selected candidates.”

The simulation panel has shooting time requirements, and Cheng Sheng has too much to do. He hasn't finished drawing the set construction, costumes, and props yet. If the interviews continue like this, it might take one or two months to finish.

Upon hearing this, Yang Chao and Zhang Yang nodded in agreement with Cheng Sheng's idea, as they knew that Cheng Sheng had too many things to do.

After finishing his meal, Cheng Sheng returned to his dormitory to draw pictures of costumes and props.

As for the afternoon interview, he decided not to go. Instead, he contacted Hengdian and asked them to set up a film set there.

Two o'clock.

Cheng Sheng drew a large stack of drafts, and without taking a break, he took the drafts to see the principal.

After reviewing Cheng Sheng's draft drawings, the principal immediately took him to the factory and entrusted the production of costumes and props to the factory, asking them to expedite their production.

After inspecting the factory, they gave us a month to complete the inspection.

After all, producing tens of thousands of sets of clothes, armor, and weapons would be the factory's limit in a month.

Cheng Sheng calculated that, aside from a month of preparation, he had five months left for filming. If nothing unexpected happened, he might still make it. After leaving the factory, Cheng Sheng didn't return to school but instead went to China Film Group with the principal.

This was the first time Cheng Sheng had met Master Han.

All the filming equipment for "The Great Tang Dynasty - Origins" was borrowed from China Film Group, so it was only natural that they came to see Master Han.

"Old Xu, it's this kid."

Third Master Han glanced at Cheng Sheng, his eyes filled with a hint of contempt.

"That's right, he is the best director our school has produced in this graduating class."

Xu Xiaozhong is the principal's name.

"Hmph! A mere kid who's never even made a movie dares to direct a project worth over 100 million yuan. Old Xu, you guys are too audacious," Master Han said in a deep voice.

Han Sanye has absolutely no confidence in this film directed by Cheng Sheng.

After all, not everyone is Zhang Guoshi (a famous Chinese strategist).

In his view, Cheng Sheng was just acting recklessly.

He had read the script that Cheng Sheng had submitted for review, and he admitted that the script was very good, but he did not believe that Cheng Sheng had the ability to make a good film.

"Old Han, I believe in my student's abilities," Xu Xiaozhong said firmly.

At this point, he had to stand up for his students.

"Old Xu, you're confused. If you gave 100 million yuan to those big directors as an investment, you could make a blockbuster."

Making blockbuster films has always been Han Sanye's wish.

Han Yu played a significant role in enabling Zhang Yimou to direct "Hero," and China Film Group was also the largest investor in the project.

"Mr. Han, I know I lack experience and am young, but I don't think I'm any worse than others."

Feeling looked down upon, Cheng Sheng had no choice but to step forward and look directly at Master Han.

"Cheng Sheng, right? I don't know how you managed to secure a hundred million yuan investment, but as a director, you have to live up to the investors' expectations. If you lose all the money, you're ruined," said Master Han.

In this day and age, making a movie only costs a few million, maybe tens of millions at most. But Cheng Sheng is different; he managed to raise a hundred million in one go. He greatly admires Cheng Sheng for his ability to attract investment. However, being a director is different from attracting investment; that tests his directing skills.

"If you invest 100 million yuan in a historical film, do you know how much box office revenue you need to recoup your costs?" Master Han continued.

To date, no historical film released has grossed more than five million at the box office.

A conservative estimate suggests that an investment of 100 million yuan would require three times that amount, or 300 million yuan, to break even.

Currently, the highest-grossing film in China is "Titanic" from 98, which grossed 3.6 million yuan.

Then came "Hero," released in 02, which grossed 2.5 million.

Master Han did not believe that Cheng Sheng could compare to Zhang Guoshi.

"Mr. Han, I know you won't believe me no matter what I say now, so how about we make a bet?"

Cheng Sheng didn't want to waste his breath explaining, so he quoted Shen Gongbao from another timeline memory: "Prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain that no matter how hard you try, you can't move."

He knew that once people had their own ideas and prejudices, no matter how eloquently he spoke, it would be useless; only facts could prove them wrong.

"A bet!"

Master Han laughed; this was the first person who dared to speak to him like that.

“That’s right, it’s a bet.” Cheng Sheng said in a deep voice.

"How do you want to gamble?" Master Han immediately became interested.

"I'll bet on whether I can recoup my costs," Cheng Sheng said.

"Okay, so what's the stake?" Third Master Han readily agreed.

(End of this chapter)