Chapter 266

"How was it? I thought I heard a good reaction from inside." Jia Jingwen asked with mixed feelings as she saw her best friend come out.

She hoped Gao Yuanyuan would succeed, but that meant losing her own chance.

If she could appear in Xu Can's film, she might not necessarily win an Oscar, but at least she could rise to fame internationally, take home a few film awards, and become a true international film queen.

Her status would almost be on par with "International Zhang," or even slightly better.

For someone who acted in TV dramas, it would absolutely be a crow flying up a branch and turning into a phoenix.

Not to mention, she could also latch onto Xu Can, that diamond bachelor.

So what if he has a lot of girlfriends? With her own looks, she could definitely claim a place by Xu Can's side.

Gao Yuanyuan had no idea about Jia Jingwen's inner drama; she just smiled bitterly and shook her head.

"Not necessarily. My performance was pretty average. Feels a bit iffy."

Shu Qi on the other side smiled gently and came over to squeeze Gao Yuanyuan's hand.

"Getting a Shijingji Society is already a success. Xu Can doesn't give Shijingji Society lightly. No matter what, just keep a calm heart."

"Mm, thank you."

Just then, wearing oversized sunglasses and looking full of herself, International Zhang swept in breezily.

"Is it my turn? It's my turn to audition."

The staff member smiled politely: "Sorry, according to order, it should be Young Lady Jia first."

"Hmm?"

Seeing Zhang Ziyi's expression turn sour, Jia Jingwen hurriedly smiled apologetically: "It's fine, let her go first."

The entertainment circle's pecking-order and stepping-on-the-low-while-boosting-the-high phenomenon was commonplace; Jia Jingwen didn't dare offend Zhang Ziyi, and could do her a favor while she was at it.

Zhang Ziyi gave her a cold nod, then swaggered into the audition room.

Shu Qi and Gao Yuanyuan stood nearby looking thoroughly embarrassed.

How could she act like that?

A moment later, Zhang Ziyi strutted back out of the audition room, chin raised, and started bossing around her manager beside her.

"Clear my schedule, push all the unnecessary gigs. I'm focusing on filming Xu Can's movie."

After saying that, she swept a glance at the other candidates and swaggered off.

"Did she really successfully cast?" Jia Jingwen couldn't believe it.

Shu Qi also looked troubled: "Nothing we can do. She has a certain popularity in Hollywood too. And she has richer experience and qualifications."

International Zhang wasn't called that for nothing.

Gao Yuanyuan was helpless—was there really no hope?

But suddenly Xu Can's smile and those clear eyes surfaced in her mind.

Gao Yuanyuan inexplicably believed that Xu Can was absolutely not the kind of person who sucked up to the powerful.

He was the youngest Oscar Best Director, the youngest Oscar Best Actor in history.

Even Zhang Ziyi was nothing in front of him.

He probably wouldn't consider her based on fame and status.

Gao Yuanyuan believed Xu Can's audition would be judged on real performance and acting.

Even if she lost, Gao Yuanyuan wouldn't feel too much regret.

……

"I think Zhang Ziyi is fine. Her performance was pretty good."

Ning Hao commented.

No choice—Zhang Ziyi had the biggest name and international influence. At least for the box office, she was a solid guarantee.

After the auditioning actresses finished their performances, besides the earlier ones, there were also Chen Shu, Cherry, Mei Ting and others who came later.

After a round of auditions, "International Zhang" did have something—her performance had flaws but was still on point.

The others either had average acting, or had enough skill but lacked the character's temperament.

Shen Mofei—this character needed not only a daughter's softness and beauty, but also an inner toughness and resilience, even a fierce, ruthless quality.

Zhang Ziyi was basically a pass.

Even co-producer Christopher Nolan felt Zhang Ziyi was good.

But Xu Can rested his hand on the table in a Shinji Ikari gesture, was silent for a moment, then vetoed it outright.

"No, she's not quite there. I feel Gao Yuanyuan is good."

"True, her acting has its shortcomings, but her attitude is genuinely serious enough." Ning Hao nodded.

But performance-wise, she wasn't good enough. Since Zhou Zhou Zhiruo in "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," she hadn't improved much.

But the look in her eyes when she played Shen Mofei just now really captured the right spirit—even Zhang Ziyi hadn't managed that.

"I agree, Gao is pretty good too." The Nolan brothers nodded one after another.

So the adult version of Shen Mofei was provisionally set as Gao Yuanyuan.

As for the young version of Shen Mofei, casting was even more troublesome.

It needed a certain girlish quality, but also enough acting skill.

Zhou Ye, Zhao Zhao Lusi, Song Zu—these had poor acting and were passed on directly;

Li Landi, Zhang Jingyi were only 10, too young, and after a try it didn't feel great either.

Young Shen Mofei could only be placed on post-'95 actresses, like Bai Lu, Zhang Ruonan...

Too bad neither of them had officially debuted, and no one knew where Ning Hao had dug them up from.

Still kids, they were extremely nervous during the audition and simply couldn't perform.

Xu Can figured he'd have to give up. Finding a post-'95 young actress in 2009 just wasn't realistic—none of them could carry the acting for young Shen Mofei.

Unless there's an actress with rich performing experience, who also looks very young and full of girlish charm.

The question is, does one like that exist?

"Director Xu, someone's looking for you. It's the agent you communicated with last time — this time they insist on meeting with you in person."

Just as Xu Can was at his wits' end, the female assistant assigned by assistant Vanessa brought the phone to Xu Can.

Vanessa is already considered a senior executive at Star River Entertainment; she basically stays in Los Santos, handling all kinds of affairs on Xu Can's behalf, or representing him in negotiating some collaborations.

The original little girl holding her own made it hard to serve as Xu Can's personal assistant.

So she hired another senior-year intern who hadn't graduated yet to serve as Xu Can's personal assistant.

Jessica Rod.

As Xu Can's personal assistant, she also had a cameo as Mia's best friend in "La La Land."

Xu Can remembered that in the future she had also starred in a movie called "Happy Death Day,"

A young and beautiful blonde.

"Thanks, Jessica."

Xu Can took the phone. The voice on the other end spoke Chinese, sounding quite gentle, but with a thick northeastern accent.

"Hello, Director Xu. I've contacted your agent several times before, mainly because I wanted to seek a collaboration opportunity with you."

"Mm, I have some impression."

"Great. I heard you have auditions for a new film recently and need to recruit Chinese actresses. I'd like to recommend my daughter... I believe her fame and acting skills should be up to the role."

"Oh? Your daughter is..."

"You must have heard of her. She's the Little Dragon Girl personally acknowledged by Mr. Jin, and she's also your alumna, Director Xu."

Xu Can has already known who it was.

Class of 2002 alumna of Beijing Film Academy, Zhao Ling'er from "Chinese Paladin," Little Dragon Girl from "The Return of the Condor Heroes," Wang Yuyan from "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils."

The celestial fairy sister Liu Yifei, who was rated alongside Yang Mi, Wang Luodan, and Huang Shengyi as one of the "Four Little Flowers of the Post-80s Generation."

Wait — is she trying to audition for adult Shen Mofei or young Shen Mofei?

Adult Shen Mofei is almost too mature, while young Shen Mofei is a bit too old in age — the celestial fairy sister's timing is rather awkward.

This is also why Xu Can later didn't invite actresses like Yang Mi to audition; their ages were all stuck in the middle, neither here nor there.

"Sister Liu, may I call you that? Here's the thing — our casting has a wide age range, so perhaps..."

"Director Xu, why don't you let my Fei Fei audition? You definitely won't regret it."

"But..."

"We've already flown from Los Santos to the capital, just to meet you."

Liu Liu Xiaoli's tone was utterly sincere, almost obsequious.

In reality, given Liu Liu Xiaoli's family background, she didn't need to face Xu Can like this.