Entertainment Industry: I am a top-tier movie star

The next morning at 7:30, Chen Nianbei arrived at the filming location half an hour early.

The riverside scene has been set up.

A man-made "river" is lined with antique-style bluestone slabs on both banks, and the leaves of several specially transplanted willow trees have turned yellow.

The props team is scattering fallen leaves into the water to create a desolate autumn atmosphere.

"You're here so early?"

Old Zhang, the stagehand, was directing people to set up the stone benches when he saw Chen Nianbei. He waved and said, "Have you had breakfast yet? There are steamed buns here."

"I've eaten, Uncle Zhang."

Chen Nianbei walked over, his gaze sweeping across the entire scene.

The siblings were going to say their final goodbyes by the river.

The script was only two pages long, with very few lines.

But the fewer the lines, the harder the play is to perform.

"Director Kong is over there watching the camera positions."

Old Zhang lowered his voice, "Yang Zhi is also rehearsing her lines. Don't be nervous later, just perform normally."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

Chen Nianbei didn't disturb Kong Sheng, but instead found an angle where she could see the whole scene and quietly observed it.

He rehearsed his movements in his mind—from which side to enter, from which position to speak, when to turn around, and when to pause.

This isn't a school performance; this is a real film crew.

Every action can affect the composition of the shot.

At 8:00 sharp, Kong Sheng's assistant came to call him:

"Chen Nianbei, the director wants you to go over for an audition."

The scene has been cleared, with only the director's team, the camera crew, and Yang Zhi remaining.

Yang Zhi was wearing a light red coat and had her head wrapped in a headscarf as she looked down at the script.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and smiled at Chen Nianbei:

"Hello, I'm Yang Zhi."

"Chen Nianbei." He nodded in response and smiled.

Kong Sheng sat behind the monitor, holding a storyboard, without looking up.

"Have you read the script?"

"I've seen it."

"What is this scene about?"

Chen Nianbei knew this was another test, not a real question about the plot:

"It's about saying goodbye, but it's more than just saying goodbye. Xiaoman is sending her older sister off, but at the same time, she also has to accept the fact that she has to grow up."

He tried to act like an adult, but he couldn't hide his reluctance.

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhi looked up and glanced at him again.

Kong Sheng finally looked away from the storyboard:

"Okay, let's go through it."

"You don't need to act it all out; just start with 'I'm worried about you.'"

"it is good."

Chen Nianbei walked to the starting point of the scene and took a deep breath.

He didn't immediately get into the mood; instead, he made a subtle movement—bending down and patting off non-existent dust from his trouser legs.

This is something Xiaoman would do—a small gesture to try and hide her nervousness.

Then he looked up at the "river".

Three seconds of silence.

The scene was quiet, with only the occasional chirping of birds in the distance.

Chen Nianbei turned around and looked in Yang Zhi's direction.

"Xiangxiang," his voice was lower than usual, with the hoarseness characteristic of a teenager going through puberty.

"I can't leave home with you because I'm worried about my family."

After saying that, he didn't immediately say the next sentence, but took a step forward, his steps hesitant, as if he wanted to follow but forced himself to stop.

Kong Sheng stared at the monitor, leaning slightly forward.

"At home..."

Chen Nianbei continued, this time in an even lower voice, and cleared her throat, as if trying to hide something.

"Grandma is old, Mom is sick, and Dad can't do anything... You know this family can't do without me."

He spoke these words very slowly, each word seeming to be squeezed out of his throat.

When he said "I can't do without you," he lowered his head and rubbed the pebbles on the ground with his toes.

Xiaoman was hiding her tears.

Yang Zhi had already stood up without realizing it. She looked at Chen Nianbei with focused eyes.

"sister."

Chen Nianbei raised his head again and looked at the other sister next to Xiangxiang. This time he tried to make his tone more relaxed, but the smile on his lips was forced.

"I'm entrusting my Xiangxiang to you."

When he said, "I'm leaving it to you," his voice suddenly choked, and he quickly turned his face away, pretending to look at the river.

This detail was not in the script.

Behind the monitor, the director of photography glanced at Kong Sheng.

Kong Sheng's face remained expressionless, but he lightly tapped his finger on the storyboard.

"Alright," Kong Sheng said. "Yang Zhi, you go."

Yang Zhi walked into the scene and stood opposite Chen Nianbei.

She got into character very quickly; her eyes reddened in just a few seconds.

It wasn't the red of someone crying loudly; it was a faint red of someone holding back tears.

"Xiaoman..."

Yang Zhi spoke urgently, her voice filled with her sister's worry: "You should come with us."

Chen Nianbei shook his head, slowly and firmly:

"Britain and the US have both declared war on Japan; their troubles won't last much longer. You'll be back soon."

"Let's go," Chen Nianbei said firmly.

Yang Zhi's tears finally fell, dripping down in large drops.

"Good, Xiaoman has grown up and knows how to take care of the family now."

Yang Zhi nodded, wanting to say something, but choked up and couldn't speak.

She turned around, took a step, and then looked back.

Chen Nianbei stood still and waved to her.

He waved his hand forcefully, tried hard to turn the corners of his mouth upward, but his eyes were bright and full of tears.

He stood there until Yang Zhi's figure "disappeared" from the scene.

Then, that forced smile gradually crumbled.

He slowly squatted down, hugged his knees, and buried his face in them.

My shoulders are shaking.

The entire room fell silent.

After several seconds, Kong Sheng finally spoke:

"Card."

Chen Nianbei raised her head, quickly wiped her face, and stood up.

The emotions from before have subsided, and I have returned to a calm state.

Yang Zhi walked back from the sidelines, her eyes still red.

She looked at Chen Nianbei and suddenly said:

"You acted really well just now."

"Thank you, Sister Yang Zhi." Chen Nianbei nodded politely.

Kong Sheng stood up from behind the monitor, said nothing, but walked around the scene and finally stopped in front of Chen Nianbei.

"What time did you finish preparing last night?"

"A little past one o'clock."

"Those little tricks weren't in the script."

"I added it myself."

Chen Nianbei honestly said, "I think Xiaoman would be nervous at this time, and nervous people will have a lot of little fidgety movements."

Why did you squat down last?

"because……"

Chen Nianbei thought for a moment, "Now that his sister is gone, he doesn't need to pretend to be an adult anymore. He can be vulnerable for a while, just for a little while."

Kong Sheng stared at him for a long time.

Everyone at the scene waited quietly.

Old Zhang stood next to the prop truck, holding half a cigarette in his hand, but forgot to smoke it.

Actually, Kong Sheng already had someone in mind for this role.

A young actor, though not outstanding, is reliable.

The reason for letting Chen Nianbei audition was partly out of respect for Old Chen, and partly because the kid performed well and showed some talent, so we wanted to test his abilities.

But to my surprise, the test yielded a pleasant surprise.

That kind of subtlety, that kind of depth, is something a twenty-year-old student wouldn't possess.

Especially the last squatting motion.

The script only went up to the point of waving goodbye, but he gave the character a sustained emotional arc.

This isn't just "a little bit talented," this is real acting.

"The character Xiaoman,"

Kong Sheng finally spoke, his voice not loud but clear, "Although not the main character, he is still very important."

Chen Nianbei's heart jumped.

"The scene you just acted out..."

Kong Sheng continued, "It showed me a living, breathing Xiaoman (Grain Buds)."

He paused for a moment, then said, "From today onwards, you are Hu Xiangjiang. The producer will have you sign the contract later."

Chen Nianbei took a deep breath: "Thank you, director."

"Don't thank me," Kong Sheng waved his hand, "You earned it yourself."

He turned to leave, then stopped, turned back, and added:

"Also, don't call me Director Kong anymore, just call me Uncle Kong."

If your dad knew you called me "director," he'd laugh at me for putting on airs.

These words were spoken casually, but everyone present understood them.

This is not only an acknowledgment of acting skills, but also an acknowledgment of their identity as "one of our own".

Chen Nianbei smiled: "Okay, Uncle Kong."

Kong Sheng nodded, walked towards the monitor, and said to the director of photography as he walked:

"You could adjust those camera angles a bit more. I need a long shot from behind of Xiaoman crouching down; her back view should convey a sense of loneliness..."

After the audition, the set bustled with activity once again.

Yang Zhi's assistant handed her a tissue. She wiped her eyes and walked over to Chen Nianbei.

Are you a sophomore at the Beijing Film Academy?

"Um."

"Then what did you do...?"

Yang Zhi carefully considered the words, "Acting so...maturely?"

Chen Nianbei thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's because I think about it too much."

That's not a lie.

How can a forty-year-old soul not be thinking a lot?

Yang Zhi smiled: "Okay, then let's communicate more on set in the future. I feel very comfortable acting opposite you."

"Sister Yang Zhi's acting was also good."

The two exchanged a smile. This was considered a preliminary agreement within the film crew.

Old Zhang walked over and patted Chen Nianbei's shoulder forcefully:

"Not bad, kid! You actually got the part!"

"Thanks to Uncle Zhang for taking care of me these past few days."

Don't give me that!

Old Zhang smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits, "From now on, you're an actor, you don't need to carry boxes anymore."

Chen Nianbei walked to the sidelines and took out his phone.

There are two unread messages, both from Nazar:

"Has the audition started? Are you nervous?"

"How's it going? Any results yet?"

He typed: "Passed, play Xiaoman."

send.

Almost instantly, Naza called.

Chen Nianbei walked to a quieter spot and answered the phone: "Feed?"

"Really?"

Naza's voice was a mixture of surprise and delight, "Director Kong really let you act?"

"Yes, I just placed the order."

"My God... Chen Nianbei, how did you suddenly become so amazing!"

Chen Nianbei could hear car horns on the other end of the phone, so she guessed she was on her way.

"Where are you now?" Naza asked.

"Still on set, will sign the contract later."

"very nice…"

Naza's voice was genuinely envious, "I really want to go back to filming too. Going to class and filming every day is so boring."

"Soon."

Chen Nianbei said, "If Sugar Man signs you, they definitely won't just let you shoot GG (Goblin) movies."

"I hope so."

Naza sighed, then perked up again, "By the way, how was it acting with Yang Zhi?"

"A good actor and a good person."

"Ahhh, I'm so envious! When do you start filming? Can I visit the set?"

"Filming should start in a few days. Visiting the set..."

Chen Nianbei thought for a moment, "I have to ask the production team if they'll allow it."

"Okay! You go ahead and get busy, I won't bother you anymore."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Nianbei looked at her phone with a smile on her lips.

In his past life, Naza wouldn't have called him so cheerfully.

In this life, it seems that many things are different.

"Xiao Chen!" the production assistant called out, "Come over here to sign the contract!"

"They're here."

Chen Nianbei put away her phone and walked towards the makeshift production office.

The autumn morning sun shone through the willow branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on him.

From today onwards, he will no longer be a menial assistant.

He is actor Chen Nianbei, who played Hu Xiangjiang in "Battle of Changsha".

The first step has been taken steadily.