Huayu, my cheat code is a bit strange.

Chapter 19: The Re-examination Begins

Two days later.

Beijing Film Academy, Auditing and Directing Building, Room 305.

At the back of the classroom, seven examiners stood in a row behind a long table covered with dark green velvet.

At the center, Chen Yi, the dean of the performing arts academy, was having a low-key discussion with Associate Professor Zhang Hui and class teacher Wang Jinsong.

On the right side of the long table, teacher Cui Xinqin and her husband Huo Xuan exchanged a knowing glance.

The "old and young" combination on the far left is particularly eye-catching—the gray-haired senior professor Liu Shibin sits next to Huang Lei, the "national literary and artistic young man" who rose to fame with "April Rhapsody".

He was wearing a brown sweater and gray-black khaki pants, and his once handsome face was now full of impatience.
"Students these days are so impetuous. They don't even design the emphasis when reciting. I really don't know how they practice their basic skills."

Professor Liu Shibin slowly picked up his teacup and blew on it: "After all, he's just a teenager. It's already quite good that he's made it this far."

Zhang Hui nodded in agreement, saying, "It's still early. Judging from this year's preliminary test, there are quite a few children with talent."

"Don't be too optimistic."

As Cui Xinqin wrote her comments, she sighed, "The environment is not what it used to be. The film and television industry is too superficial. New students are thinking about signing with companies before they've even finished a semester of classes. No matter how talented they are, it's all for nothing if they can't settle down."

Dean Chen Yi, seated in the center, nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the materials of the next round of candidates in his hand, and said slowly:
"Times are changing, and our requirements and management of students must keep up."

"This is not something we can simply decide to interfere with."

Wang Jinsong curled his lip and said, "There are only so many resources in this circle. If they really come to ask for people back, can we refuse to let them go?"

The competition for roles is fierce in today's entertainment industry, with far more actors than roles available. There are countless examples of actors fighting tooth and nail for a single part.

They are ultimately just teachers; cutting off someone's money is like killing their parents, and some things can only be left unsaid.

At this point, the atmosphere in the classroom became somewhat somber, and each professor felt a sense of helplessness to some extent.

Chen Yi said slowly, "A rough gem needs patient carving. As long as you are serious, you will surely get good results."

Liu Shibin chuckled, displaying the wisdom of an older generation artist: "Old Chen, don't set your expectations too high. Good talents are hard to come by, so let's focus on the ones in front of us first. But speaking of which, Leizi..."

He turned to Huang Lei, "How's your 'Like Water Flowing Through the Years' project coming along? I heard you put together the script yourself?"

Huang Lei's face showed a complex expression of excitement and nervousness, a mixture of pride and worry:

"The script is still being polished. It's an entrepreneurial drama about the confusion and choices of young people. The problem is the investment. Right now, the market is all focused on blockbusters. It's not easy to raise money for this kind of art-house film."

Chen Yi encouraged him, "Take your time, the school will support you."

Huang Lei nodded seriously.

This is also why he stayed at the school to teach; reputation was secondary, he mainly valued the connections and resources behind the institution.

"Speaking of projects."

Huo Xuan, who had been listening in, asked Dean Chen Yi, "Has the 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' project been approved?"

Chen Yi nodded seriously, "Yes, it's still Zhang Jizhong as the producer. I heard that the copyright has been negotiated for a long time, and the script has already been written."

Zhang Hui was somewhat surprised: "The Legend of the Condor Heroes isn't even finished yet, is it? Why the rush?"

"With the huge success of 'Swordsman,' it's clear to everyone that martial arts films are profitable, and Producer Zhang naturally wouldn't miss out on this opportunity."

Huang Lei gave a nonchalant comment, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.

He looked down on martial arts dramas from the bottom of his heart, feeling that they had no substance whatsoever.

Wang Jinsong interjected, "So you're in such a rush to film? Have you already chosen a director?"

"I've chosen, it's Zhou Xiaowen."

Chen Yi said with a smile, "He told me yesterday that he would be coming to the school in a few days to participate in the third round of auditions, and wanted to see if there were any suitable promising candidates."

Huang Lei snorted and said disdainfully, "Without any acting experience, what kind of promising talent could he be?"

Liu Shibin glanced at the young man beside him with a strange expression, but ultimately said nothing.

The other teachers had differing opinions, with some agreeing and others disagreeing.

Huo Xuan, however, recalled the lazy boy from the preliminary test and said with a smile, "Perhaps there really is a surprise." "Oh? You have someone you like in the preliminary test?" Wang Jinsong asked curiously.

Just as Huo Xuan was about to speak, there was a gentle knock on the classroom door, and a staff member peeked in to remind her:

"Dear teachers and professors, the third group of candidates is in position."

The conversation abruptly ended.

All the examiners simultaneously dropped their casual expressions and resumed their professional and cautious demeanor.

The classroom door was pushed open completely.

Five figures, four men and one woman, walked in one after another.

Huo Xuan's gaze fell on the last boy to enter.

He wore a simple black turtleneck sweater and dark trousers, and his posture was upright. Unlike other candidates who subconsciously straightened their backs and deliberately showed their spirit, he had a natural sense of relaxation.

Huo Xuan turned to the corresponding page of the candidate's information in her hand, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on her lips.

……

……

As the guides left the classroom, the re-examination officially began.

"Hello, teachers." The five greeted each other in unison.

Chen Yi, seated in the center, glanced gently at the five people and nodded in response.

Without any unnecessary words, he went straight to the procedure: "Let's begin, from left to right, candidate number one will start with their self-introduction and recitation."

The candidate in front immediately took a deep breath, stepped forward, and began his carefully prepared presentation.

"Hello teachers, I am candidate number one, Wang Pengze, from Hunan Province."

His voice was loud and clear, with a deliberately adjusted theatrical tone.

The examiners looked down at the materials in their hands, occasionally glancing up to observe the candidates' performance, and jotting down comments from time to time.

Gu Xiao stood at the back, listening quietly, but her gaze subtly swept over Huo Xuan, who was at the far end of the examiners' table.

Although the other party concealed it very well, with almost no movement in their facial muscles, he still sensed something unusual when he entered the room.

With the aid of "spiritual vision," the focus of the other person's pupils and the trembling of their eyelids become extremely noticeable.

Does this teacher remember me?

Gu Xiao quickly made a mental calculation.

Was it the "perfunctory" skit I gave during the initial audition that left a mark, or something else?
As their thoughts raced, it was soon the turn of candidate number four.

A girl with a good voice chose a lyrical poem, which was full of emotion and had a slightly tearful tone.

Several examiners, especially the female examiner Cui Xinqin, frowned almost imperceptibly, and lightly tapped the paper with the tip of her pen, leaving a small triangle symbol.

This is a sign of emotional misalignment.

Actors need to first understand the character's psychology and emotional logic, and then internalize it so that it can be expressed naturally.

Li Qingzhao's poem "Slowly, Slowly - Searching and Searching" describes the desolate state of mind of someone whose country has been destroyed, whose family has been ruined, and who is adrift in solitude.

Reciting with a feeling of grievance and lamentation is completely inappropriate and superficial.

At the moment when the girl's emotions were at their peak, Dean Chen Yi from the central leadership gently raised his hand to interrupt:
"Okay, that's enough. Next one."

The girl paused for a moment, a hint of helplessness flashing across her face, but she quickly bowed and returned to her original position.

"Candidate number five," the staff member announced.

Gu Xiao stepped forward, her aura still somewhat out of place with the tense atmosphere of the examination room.

"Hello teachers, I am candidate number five, Gu Xiao, candidate number 0208127."

Without pausing, he began his recitation.
(End of this chapter)