The script is the soul of a movie, and the actors are the tools to present the soul, Yuan Director has always believed this, so he is somewhat obsessive when it comes to scripts and casting.
The script is easy to say, overturned again and again, rewritten again and again, if the screenwriter doesn't write well then replace them, if that doesn't work then she personally participates.
But the actors can only be chosen slowly, if suitable ones are not found, then continue looking.
When satisfied, then start filming.
Fortunately, the investor just likes Yuan Director's talent, so is willing to indulge Yuan Director's willfulness.
This time is the same, other roles are still auditioning, but the role of "Gong Lan", has not made Yuan Director 100% satisfied.
To be honest, when choosing Qin Wei originally, she was acceptable, but also not completely satisfied, she has the toughness of Gong Lan in her bones, and also has the beauty of Gong Lan described in the script, but she lacks some qualities that Qin Wei does not have, and may not be able to perform... Of course, she didn't tell Qin Wei this, afraid that she would be stubborn and rebellious, and refuse to act as Gong Lan.
This would be hard to resolve.
Yuan Director had considered Chen Xinya several times, the reason was simple, this woman was a model before, her looks and figure were not bad, and she often exercised, so her control of her muscles was also very good, it's just...
"Chen Xinya."
Yuan Director wrote down her name in the notebook, then drew a small cross.
"Xiao Ye, Xiao Ye?"
Yuan Director called out twice, and the little assistant knocked and came in:
"Director Yuan, did you call for me?"
Yuan Director nodded, and asked her:
"Do you still have that ‘Ancient Drama Female Lead Dance Mix’ video you showed me last time? Can you help me find it? I just glanced at it casually last time, and now I want to watch it again."
The little assistant thought for a moment:
"Okay, I'll send it to you now."
...
Four minutes edited video, Yuan Director watched it countless times over three hours, after watching, she concluded:
"Turns out Qin Wei could dance before."
The little assistant replied:
"She could! She became popular by dancing on variety shows, she is really good at dancing."
Yuan Director shook her head:
"I'm saying before."
The little assistant was embarrassed, and didn't dare fool the director:
"She really couldn't before, it's said that when filming, it was just posing, with dance teachers teaching her on site, she just had to move around to act...but that was acting after all, as long as the effect was achieved...and afterwards she wasn't she good at dancing, having specifically learned for that show."
Yuan Director tapped the little assistant's head with the pen in her hand:
"From my professional perspective, her dancing, whether in the past or now, is skilled, you can tell at a glance that she practiced since she was young and has a foundation.
I just went to watch many dance segments of her TV dramas, it's completely different from what people online say about just going through the motions...
Forget it, talking to you about this stuff you don't understand, in short online melon-eating masses listen to hearsay. "
The little assistant fell into thought.
Yuan Director patted her shoulder, and put an A4 sheet of paper in her hand, pointing at the photo on it:
"Alright, enough about her, she's been confirmed as Zhao Yu, so she doesn't need to dance anymore.
Go help me find information on this actress, and help me contact her agency, let me know when you get in touch, I feel she can..."
The little assistant's expression became twisted and very unhappy:
"Her? Her???"
"What's wrong?"
Yuan Director was puzzled, Xiao Ye was young but steady and reliable, usually serious when working not smiling casually, this was the first time she had lost control of her facial expressions.
The little assistant acted mysterious:
"Director Yuan, have you heard of the Wei Xiao CP?"
Yuan Director nodded:
"Uh huh uh huh, Qin Wei and her wo..."
The little assistant gritted her teeth:
"No! They're just hype through fabricated coupledom for traffic!" They're just like other celebrities, hyping during promotions!"
Yuan Director was still confused:
"Oh oh oh...so it's a rumored girl..."
"It's not!"
"You seem really angry?"
Yuan Director looked meaningfully at the little assistant,
"Oh, I get it, you like Qin Wei! You're a dedicated fan!"
The little assistant didn't deny it:
"What's weird about liking her...she's like a little sun, looking at her makes the world feel bright..."
Yuan Director tapped her head with the pen again:
"So your little sun is playing Zhao Yu, and no one else was cast to compete with her, why aren't you happy?"
The little assistant sighed:
"Because their CP is really popular, you could say it brings its own traffic..."
Yuan Director crossed her arms waiting for her to continue.
The little assistant went on:
"Hyping a CP is a double-edged sword, appearing together raises expectations, if they perform well, the actors will definitely become big hits, moving up another level;
If they don't perform well..."
The little assistant hesitated to continue.
"If they don't perform well then me and the actors will get trashed together, scolded by the audience for exploiting CP fans, those two will be accused of just relying on their marketed persona, me of losing my touch and sucking up to fans for money blah blah blah~"
The little assistant nodded.
Yuan Director pointed at the photo on the A4 sheet:
"Then it's her, contact her agent for me, I want to take her out for dinner tonight, and talk to her in person."
The little assistant was completely confused:
"Huh huh huh???"
She understood the reasoning but just wouldn't listen huh?
Yuan Director tapped the little assistant's head with the pen yet again:
"Liking Qin Wei then just liking her face, you didn't learn any of her fearless personality at all."
The little assistant rubbed her head, and had to admit one fact even though she really liked her:
"She's timid, and a bit of a coward, when bullied she can only cry, fearless...that's just occasional recklessness..."
"Ha you actually think she's a coward now? Hahahaha..."
Yuan Director looked at the little assistant, her expression much more complex,
"Little sister, you understand your little sun too little, she's still very tough now, don't be fooled by appearances.
And she was as tough as she could be back then, didn't want to be manipulated by others, didn't want any unspoken rules, so she rejected signing with the major entertainment companies, persevering despite the pressure to form her own independent studio.
You know what the entertainment circle is! A circle of connections. You give others what they want, they'll naturally also give you what you want, reciprocity!
Your little sun, with a face that attracted both men and women, just wouldn't compromise herself to satisfy others' desires, an unintentional provocation you know?
Later her career was obstructed, and she had to support a bunch of people, so she lowered her own value and acted in trashy films, but I feel she still performed decently, clearly the characters and plots had problems, but the audience doesn't care about any of that, sigh~."
The little assistant looked incredulous, even her complexion looked bad.
After all, she had been an anti-fan of hers in the past because of dislike...
Yuan Director threw up her hands:
"Every industry has parts hidden from the light. Only being inside will you know those unwritten rules.
Me too, where do all those overnight successes come from? What new directing talent my a**, everyone is desperately striving when others can't see, your little sun wasn't always little sun from the start either...
Don't make a fuss over a little thing, rather than follow those marketing accounts that take money to guide trends, why not listen to industry insiders like me pour out their hearts to you.
At the time so many people in the industry felt she was a pity, even a certain prestigious senior really admired her, that's all a later story...
But I'll say, you just listen, don't stand up for her without evidence, bringing up old stories will just bring her bad luck, those who hate and step on her can also support her, as long as her skills and background are strong enough.
Let her go concentrate on her work, you and I just be her background quietly."
The little assistant was very confused, and had many more questions she wanted to ask, but Yuan Director pinched her face:
"Go contact that actress for me, I don't care what her relationship with Qin Wei is, I feel she's suitable for this role, I want to invite her to perform, if she's willing to act that's fine, what's it got to do with me?"
