Chapter 27: Auditions and Surprises

Time arrived at September 9th, the day of the auditions.

Because there were too many people auditioning, Chen Zhiming had no choice but to rent a hotel conference room as the interview location.

Aside from the director Wei Jin, those coming to cast today included the Producer Chen Zhiming, as well as a staff member from China Film Group; Wei Jin sat in the main seat as a matter of course.

Outside the conference room corridor, there were dense crowds of men and women who had come to audition, and for a time, it was somewhat noisy.

"Do you think the director will pull strings for us students from Beijing Film Academy?"

The one who spoke was Jiang Yiyan from the Beijing Film Academy Class of '02; quite a few people from Beijing Film Academy had come to audition this time, and everyone spontaneously formed a circle.

"Hard to say, Senior Wei Jin rarely came to school last semester, and he doesn't have much of a friendship with us."

Another Beijing Film Academy girl said.

"I'm just afraid Senior Wei Jin will learn from other directors and go next door to find actors."

This statement was spot on; the saying goes that Beijing Film Academy produces directors while Central Academy of Drama produces actors, and Beijing Film Academy directors truly have a fondness for Central Academy of Drama actors.

"Hey, who do you think has the best chance?"

"I think it's Senior Yan; she is our school's recognized campus belle from the '96 class, and she has rich acting experience. Playing a middle school campus belle is a sure thing for her."

"."

Just as the Beijing Film Academy team was chattering away, on the other side, the Central Academy of Drama artists were also gathered together chatting; everyone valued this opportunity quite highly.

"Jingjing, isn't it said that Wei Jin has a good relationship with Zeng Li? Did you hear any inside information? Also, why isn't Zeng Li acting?"

The one speaking was Zhang Tong from the Chinese Opera 96 Class.

"I heard from Zeng Li that she felt she wasn't suitable herself; it seems her temperament doesn't quite fit."

Hu Jing replied.

"Senior sister, do you know Director Wei Jin? Is he easy to talk to?"

The one who interjected was Tang Yan from the Central Academy of Drama Class of '02.

Afterwards, several young girls surrounded Hu Jing to ask about some of Wei Jin's preferences, a last-minute effort.

"Number 1, who is Number 1?"

The staff member began calling numbers.

"It's me, it's me, let me through..."

A Beijing Film Academy girl answered somewhat nervously, then walked into the conference room, and the auditions officially began; after interviewing several people in a row, Wei Jin hadn't found what he wanted and couldn't help but feel a bit irritable. Just as he was about to tell the staff to pause so he could smoke a cigarette and take a break, the conference room door opened again.

"Sister Jing, why are you here?"

Seeing clearly that the person who arrived was Hu Jing, Wei Jin was somewhat surprised.

"I'm an actor too, and I fit your requirements. What, you won't even give me a chance to audition?"

Hu Jing and Wei Jin had known each other for a long time and were not nervous at all.

"Of course you can. Which role are you auditioning for?"

"Zeng Li told me that the female lead's temperament doesn't match mine, so I'm here to try for the second female lead."

Hu Jing's words gave Wei Jin peace of mind.

"That's fine, please begin your performance."

Hearing this, Wei Jin also considered the suitability of Hu Jing for the second female lead role.

After watching Hu Jing's performance, Wei Jin exchanged a few words with Chen Zhiming and wrote "pending" on Hu Jing's resume.

"Sister Jing, go back and wait for notification; I'll give you an answer within three days."

Wei Jin didn't say anything definitive, as the auditions still had to continue.

Hearing this, Hu Jing nodded and walked out of the conference room.

Next, seven or eight more girls auditioned one after another, but Wei Jin didn't feel particularly moved by any of them.

"Hello teachers, I am Fan Bingbing, and I am here to audition for the female lead."

This was the first time in Wei Jin's past and present lives that he had seen this "Master Fan" of the wealthy circles.

"Miss Fan, hello. To be honest, you aren't very suitable for this role."

Everyone who came to audition today was basically wearing school uniforms, and Fan Bingbing was no exception, but when she put on the school uniform, Wei Jin always felt a hint of the role-playing flavor found in adult films.

Fan Bingbing was about to ask, but Wei Jin explained again: "You are too beautiful, and your beauty has a sense of aggression; it's not very suitable for playing a pure campus belle."

"Director, you really know how to talk. Alright then, let's cooperate if there's a chance in the future."

Being complimented, Fan Bingbing was naturally happy; hearing this, she exchanged phone numbers with Wei Jin, and she didn't feel disappointed, as she had just come to try her luck anyway.

The conference room door opened again.

"Hello teachers, my name is Yan Danchen, and I'm here to audition for the female lead."

Looking at the woman with an elegant temperament before him, Wei Jin became interested.

"Hello, Miss Yan, tell me your understanding of this character."

Yan Danchen had read the novel before, and her understanding of the character was quite good; she rattled off a whole output.

"Is it convenient to perform a segment? This part here."

Taking the script, Yan Danchen gathered her thoughts for a few minutes and began to perform.

After Yan Danchen left, Wei Jin wrote her name in the female lead position on his casting book.

The conference room door was pushed open, and two people walked in; Wei Jin looked at the two and was speechless for a moment.

"Yifei, why are you here too? Aren't you about to join the cast of The Return of the Condor Heroes?"

The people who arrived were Liu Yifei and her mother.

"Hello Director, I join the cast next month; Mom told me to come and try."

Liu Yifei explained like a little kitten, and the mother beside her was somewhat speechless upon hearing this, then still explained: "Director Wei, it's like this; I heard it's to play a student, and I thought Xixi's conditions were quite suitable, so I let her come and try. If it works out, I will go coordinate the filming schedule with Director Zhang."

Looking at the pure-faced Liu Yifei before him, Wei Jin substituted her into his mind and thought about it; it seemed it would work.

"Then, perform this segment."

"."

After watching Liu Yifei's performance, Wei Jin had a bit of a headache; this acting skill still needed polishing.

"Go back and wait for news; you will definitely have an answer within three days."

The subsequent auditions were uneventful, until this one.

"Yuan Yuanjie, why are you here too?"

Wei Jin felt that holding open auditions was a mistake; how could they keep giving him "surprises"?

"What do you mean 'too'? How many other good sisters do you have? What, don't I look like a school beauty? Are you trying to be Zhang Wuji?"

Since Berlin, Gao Yuanyuan hadn't seen Wei Jin for a long time; sometimes she would go to 501, mentally expecting something, and upon hearing this, she retorted with a double entendre.

Wei Jin naturally understood what Gao Yuanyuan meant and hurriedly began to explain:

"No, aren't you about to join the cast of World's Number One? How is your schedule arranged?"

As an investor, Wei Jin naturally knew which actors were in this drama, but looking at Gao Yuanyuan, dressed like a student with hair past her shoulders, she did have a certain pure, school-beauty vibe.

"I don't have anyone backing me, I'm just a supporting role, how many scenes could I have? Aren't you the investor? Just coordinate it."

Speaking of this, Gao Yuanyuan felt a bit resentful; why could Ceng Li play the female lead? Why couldn't this man be mine? "Ahem, Yuan Yuanjie, why don't you perform this segment?"

Wei Jin felt a bit awkward and hurriedly changed the subject.

Gao Yuanyuan took the script, looked at the plot, and began her performance.

Watching Gao Yuanyuan, who had tied her hair into a ponytail, Wei Jin felt as if he had been transported back to the day they first met. "Yuan Yuanjie, go back and wait for notification; regardless of the result, I will notify you."

Wei Jin knew that many times, "waiting for notification" after an audition meant there would be no follow-up, so he said it with particular sincerity.

"Alright then, I'll remember that. By the way, are you still renting out the house?"

Gao Yuanyuan probed, feeling somewhat expectant.

"Renting!"

On the way out, Gao Yuanyuan had a smile on her face, which made the female artists still waiting outside feel a chill in their hearts.

The auditions continued. A newbie author writing a book for the first time, begging for collections, follows, reading updates, and recommendations. Thank you all. A newbie author writing a book for the first time, begging for collections, follows, reading updates, and recommendations. Thank you all.

(End of this chapter)