Although the start time was eight o'clock, Han Zhao and Ren Kui arrived at the film crew's main hall to wait at seven-thirty.
However, given Director He Nian's reputation, there were quite a few actors auditioning, both big and small, so Han Zhao and the others weren't considered early.
"There are so many people, we're doomed. I'm already starting to get nervous," Ji Yun said, looking at the crowd around them with some panic. Looking around, there were many familiar faces from television. They were all their seniors.
Ren Kui's legs also twitched restlessly. "If it were just a normal audition, it would be fine, but we gave our boss our word, and the boss supports us so much. If we fail, how disappointed will she be in us?"
"She won't be," Han Zhao reassured them. "She won't be disappointed in us." She wasn't that kind of person.
"But I'll be disappointed in myself, and I'll feel like I've let down the boss's trust." Ren Kui's gaze kept searching among the other auditioning actors, nervously biting his finger. "There are quite a few big stars here too. They must all be here for the female lead."
Zhuang Yu was also nervous, but he was more afraid of others being nervous, which would make him even more nervous, so he stiffened his neck and forced himself to remain calm.
"What's there to be afraid of? Last night, Teacher Nine personally guided us. She said we'd be fine, so we'll be fine. Who is Nine? She's a renowned figure abroad, and after returning to China, she's been called the light of the nation. Her judgment in choosing people is sharp and accurate. Since she chose us, it means we have potential."
Xiang Fei, who had been silently praying, gained some momentum and quickly agreed, "That's right, that's right. We have to believe in ourselves. As long as we perform normally, we'll definitely pass."
The nine of them encouraged each other, and gradually, they weren't as nervous anymore.
...
In the film crew's office, the director, producers, and other crew members were tallying the final number of applicants for the audition.
Producer Liu Teng placed two photos, one male and one female, in front of He Nian. "Fan Yixing, Lü Liang. Their agents have replied, agreeing to play the male and female leads. However, both of them have extremely tight schedules and must have their scenes filmed in a concentrated period of half a month."
He Nian said irritably, "My film crew only accommodates those who can stay with the crew. I can't indulge them."
Liu Teng said helplessly, "Other directors, when faced with busy popular stars, concentrate their filming. Why can't you be more flexible? These two are the most popular traffic stars, a young male and a young female. If they act together, this drama of ours can easily become a hit."
He Nian's stubbornness kicked in, and he said loudly, "They want me to increase their salaries, and they're unwilling to come for the audition. Now they can't even commit to staying with the crew. Who do they think they are? I'm paying them to do a job, and instead, I've hired two empresses dowager who need to be appeased daily? What kind of nonsense is this."
"Stars are all like this. Other directors haven't said anything," Liu Teng said, somewhat speechless.
"In the past, on set, the director was king. Now, I have to grovel and beg them to act properly, to avoid using doubles and to stay with the crew as much as possible, right? Heh~ This is truly amusing. So many people are eager to act in my plays, and I absolutely need them? What a joke."
Liu Teng also got angry. "Do you really want to choose a bunch of raw recruits? Didn't Nine also say that we don't have to choose, and that a few ungraduated youngsters can't carry the entire drama? We're not short of money, how much money can be saved by cutting their salaries?"
He Nian chuckled. "One wants sixty million, and the other wants seventy million. What else do they have besides traffic? Their acting is so awkward it's cringeworthy. Forget it, I want to live a few more years. If they come, I'm afraid I'll be angered to death."
Liu Teng had worked with He Nian for many years and knew his stubborn temper. Forcing him wouldn't work, so he tried to persuade him gently.
"In the past, although every one of our dramas had good reviews, they only became popular on a small scale. Those dramas that were inferior to ours in every aspect, simply because they used popular traffic stars, their ratings could easily surpass ours by several streets.
I'm truly unwilling. They wrap themselves in messy gauze, the wind blows, and a slow-motion shot is used, and money pours in like water. On the other hand, our meticulously crafted works, despite receiving rave reviews, barely break even.
Old He, times have changed. We also have to keep up with the trends. If we go against the current, we'll quickly be pushed back by the mudslide, until we perish."
Liu Teng sighed. "To be honest, I'm truly unwilling. Those bad dramas, their plots, acting, costumes, and makeup are all eye-sores, yet they make money.
And there are still a lot of such dramas, they're almost ubiquitous. But what can we do? If you don't go with the flow and stick to your own path, what will you gain besides being eliminated by the times?"
He Nian held the photos in his hand, hesitated for a long time, and then said sternly, "As long as I have a clear conscience."
Liu Teng closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "Forget it, you're as stubborn as a mule. Fine, I'll just see how capable the people Nine recommended are. I refuse to believe that a group of ungraduated youngsters can have better acting skills than those traffic stars."
He Nian glanced at him. "Did I say I would definitely choose those raw recruits? If their acting isn't up to par or their image doesn't fit, I won't choose them either."
"Yes, you only choose those who feel right." Liu Teng rolled his eyes speechlessly. He paused and asked a staff member next to him, "Have you contacted Nine? As the editor-in-chief, she needs to stay with the crew so she can revise the script and dialogue at any time."
"She's not staying with the crew. The script is already finalized and there's no possibility of revision," He Nian said.
Liu Teng acted as if he had seen something incredibly strange, both surprised and unconvinced. "Old He, this is not right. In the past, didn't we always have the screenwriter stay with the crew? Oh, the big stars must stay with the crew, but a screenwriter with some fame can be excused?" This double standard of yours is quite annoying.
He Nian said impatiently, "You've seen the script, haven't you? Does it need revision? She said before that she has too many things to do and can't stay with the crew. Besides, even if revisions are needed, it would only be for some vocabulary, which can be done with a phone call. If she stays with the crew, I'd have to provide food and accommodation."
Although the reasons were logical, in Liu Teng's opinion, they were all excuses.
Liu Teng was extremely disappointed. "Old He, I've always respected you. You're one of the few directors in this industry with a craftsman's spirit. But aren't you taking Nine too seriously? She tells you to use newcomers, and you use newcomers; she says she won't stay with the crew, and you agree. You weren't saying this just now. Who was it that was so imposing and said they wouldn't indulge bad habits?"
He Nian rolled his eyes as if looking at an idiot. "Are these two the same? She's the screenwriter, and what I value is only the script. The actors are our roles. Can these two be compared?"
Liu Teng couldn't be bothered to say more. He was so angry he had a stomachache and pushed open the door, leaving the conference room.
The other staff members dared not make a sound and quietly went about their own business.
Liu Teng huffily went to his seat and sat down, his eyes like an eagle's fixed on the doorway. He wanted to see what kind of ability the person Nine strongly recommended possessed.
"Someone who lives online, someone who doesn't even dare to reveal their true face. I refuse to believe that you are that divine."
...
Time passed slowly. Just as Han Zhao, Ren Kui, and the others were waiting patiently, a sneer suddenly came from behind them. "I thought they were so capable, but it turns out they have to obediently queue up here in the early morning. They really have a lot of face, a tiny bit of face, how impressive."
Everyone turned to look, and it was Cui Min. In the same row were Tian Cheng and Gu Cheng, both looking quite provocative.
Zhuang Yu snorted, "Some people can't get the wine and say the grapes are sour. I think you were definitely a lemon spirit in your past life."
Cui Min retorted angrily, "Did I say something wrong? Who was it that boasted, but what's the result? Anyone can come for an audition. Look, I just wanted to come and join the fun, and unexpectedly, they let me in.
Some people even have to rely on the recommendation of the - famous - Nine to get in. Heh, it's truly pathetic. She must have spent a lot of effort to get nine tickets for you."
Ren Kui was already nervous, and encountering such a quarrelsome and envious person completely ignited his temper. "Cui Min, as you think, so you appear. Do you know why you look so mean? It's because of your gossiping mouth."