Chapter 398: The script is a good script, but the character is not a good character

After Jin Li received the script a few days ago, she was reminded by her manager to take another look.

That evening, she finished reading the script once and discovered that the persona of the rich second-generation spoiled woman she was playing had been changed by the screenwriter to be even more of a vase.

If it were the previous scenes, in order to allow this character of hers to better survive in the apocalypse, the screenwriter had arranged a character growth line for her.

Although it was arranged very tightly, through those one or two subtle little things, Jin Li could still feel the character growing.

From a child spoiled by her parents, she became an adult who had to accept the painful reality.

Directors choosing actors and actors choosing scripts is inherently a two-way choice.

At the beginning, it was because of Director Chu's fame, plus this role wasn't so flat, that Jin Li decided to take it on.

But the screenwriter changed it like this, which led to the character who still had some growth being directly changed into a "clown" similar to adding atmosphere.

The character's personality basically didn't change from beginning to end, but in the end, when the film was about to end, it instead added a highlight moment that pushed the whole plot.

This made it hard for Jin Li not to suspect that it was because the director and the screenwriter both really wanted this plot, so they modified the rich second-generation spoiled woman character she played to lean toward this plot.

Just to be able to have such a moment at the end of the plot, making it look more reasonable.

Because the character's personality was modified too much, Jin Li watched the script several times and still decided to call her manager to discuss it.

She had a moment where she wanted to resign from the role.

Jin Li said this to Sui Sui Lingfang: "When I agreed to take this role at the beginning, it was also because the character had a character arc and growth trajectory, and could still be considered to have some bright spots, not so stereotypical."

"But the script was changed by the screenwriter like this, and all the advantages are gone, leaving only the effect of depicting the plot as nonsensical and funny. This is clearly asking me to act in a comedy."

"If I had known at the beginning that this was a comedy, I wouldn't have taken it on."

Jin Li didn't go directly to the director; that was because, firstly, she wasn't familiar with the director, and secondly, this kind of thing didn't need a star to charge forward personally; generally, the team would handle it well.

In the entertainment industry, stars basically avoid direct conflicts with investors, directors, producers, etc.

After all, they see each other every day; who knows if the next film won't be invited by someone else?

They would rather let people feel that the star's team is hard to deal with than let people know that the star is hard to deal with.

Sui Sui Lingfang attached great importance to her opinion. Taking advantage of the fact that there was still some time before the film crew started filming, she hurriedly called over several well-known screenwriters in the industry and also called Deng Zexu (the director who filmed "And Then There Were None"), and everyone gathered together to explore.

Was the previous script excellent, or was the newly sent script better?

Jin Li also joined this discussion.

After two days and one night of discussion, including Jin Li being clearly convinced of one point:

"The new version of the script is more excellent!"

"But this excellence in the plot is precisely at the cost of sacrificing the persona image of the rich second-generation spoiled woman she played!"

Deng Zexu said to Jin Li: "The previous role was still a bit challenging, but the role modified in the latest version is basically not difficult for you in terms of acting."

"This role, even if it were given to a newcomer actor, could also be played very well. Whether you act or not, I support you, but if you want me to give you a suggestion, my suggestion is to act!"

Deng Zexu said very directly: "I don't have as much subtlety as those few screenwriters, so I'll tell you very clearly: if it were filmed according to the previous script, and the film had to be chosen to be released during a special holiday like the Spring Festival, no matter how well Director Chu does the special effects, it would likely flop."

"The current Spring Festival slot is already very different from the Spring Festival slots of the past few years. In the past, any film could be shown during the Spring Festival—action movies, war movies, comedies, tragedies... they didn't refuse anyone, and could give people many choices."

"But ever since the top three of the Spring Festival slot for three consecutive years were almost all dominated by comedies, this has already explained that the audience's preferences have changed."

"From being able to watch any type in the past, to the current Spring Festival slot, most people will only choose to watch family-friendly comedies."

"This has already invisibly established a concept in the industry: if you want to be released during the Spring Festival and obtain high box office, you must film a comedy! If you don't film a comedy, then why choose the Spring Festival? May 1st, summer, and National Day are all fine."

Deng Zexu finally said: "And looking at the plot, your role, whether it's the past script or the current script, actually isn't very outstanding."

"The current script cuts off your character's growth, but it also makes your character image more deeply rooted in people's hearts. For an actor, this kind of role is very routine to play and has no challenge."

"But for the audience, this kind of routine role instead can win people's hearts and make people remember it all at once."

Seeing that Jin Li was still a bit hesitant, Deng Zexu thought for a moment and continued: "Let's put it this way: when this show is broadcast, even if they can't remember the male lead and female lead, they will definitely remember you, this second female lead."

"You are the comedy relief of the cast, responsible for grabbing the audience's attention. Director Chu gave you this role because he actually thinks quite highly of you. Usually, roles like this are given to newcomers who have never appeared in the industry before, as they can help a newcomer make a name for themselves overnight."

Jin Li combined the opinions given by the screenwriters, plus Deng Zexu's strong recommendation, and finally decided to enter the film crew, no longer struggling with the script changes.

She looked at Deng Zexu and said: "Why do I feel like you are more concerned than me? Do you like this role very much?"

Deng Zexu both shook and nodded his head: "As a director, I treat every role equally; they are just a part of my picture."

He paused and said very greedily: "I like the script of this show!"

"To be honest, if I could have this kind of comedy script, I would also want to film it immediately and then choose to release it during the Spring Festival to make a lot of money!"

Jin Li teased: "Are you sure this show can make money? Although after the changes, the script became a comedy, it still uses special effects as a selling point. Aren't you worried that the special effects won't be able to attract people?"

Deng Zexu shook his head: "I don't worry about who can't film special effects, nor do I worry about Director Chu not being able to film them."

"He has walked this path for decades, and the special effects team he cooperates with is the top batch at home and abroad."

"Last year, although his film flopped, it didn't flop on the special effects, but flopped on the plot being a bit boring, plus the promotion really wasn't done well."

"If the promotion is done well, just by the special effects shown in his movie, it will definitely be able to attract a wave of audiences to go in."

"You don't know, last year the film he released was mainly shown abroad. Although it was also shown in the country, the scheduling wasn't good, plus there was no promotion in the country, so many people in the country didn't know Director Chu had released such a film."

Jin Li finally understood, "So you are Director Chu's fan!"

Deng Zexu said embarrassedly: "Sure enough, my recommendation was too obvious, right?"

Jin Li shook her head: "No, it's just that I can see your love for this film, and you are very optimistic about the newly modified version."

Deng Zexu said: "Last year, I specifically ran to watch the premiere of the film Director Chu released abroad, and I understand very well what the shortcomings are. The plot was really a bit boring, without any fresh explosive points."

"But from your script, I saw great progress. The original script had already reduced the boredom and paid more attention to the magnificence of the scene, but the whole was still a bit serious."

"But the latest modified script has even diluted the seriousness, turning it into a combination of heaviness and humor, tear-jerking and funny. From this script, I feel it has the potential to explode."

Jin Li dug out "And Then There Were None" with one hand. At that time, she couldn't find a female lead, and it was Jin Li who agreed to act, saving this film.

Deng Zexu still hoped that Jin Li could get better and better.

Suddenly seeing a film with very good commercial elements, of course, he didn't want Jin Li to miss it.

Jin Li couldn't help but sigh: "Filming a movie is truly too difficult; how can there be so many ways."

"It turns out that the role I thought had no challenge is, in the eyes of the audience, perhaps a very meaningful role."

Just like a sentence often hung on the lips in the industry: anything is possible!

In the film crew, after worshipping the gods and burning incense, "Dawn" immediately started work.

The first scene filmed on the day of opening, everyone was a literary scene.

Director Chu specifically said to them: "I know you can't wait to try the green screen scenes, but this film has many green screen scenes. There will be special time for filming green screens later. Now let's mobilize the emotions first and film some literary scenes to enhance the sense of substitution."

All the actors indicated no problem.

The female lead of "Dawn" is Xu Ting, a veteran first-tier star in the industry, already 37 years old, and can be considered an action movie female star known to every household in the older generation.

The male lead of "Dawn" is Bai Jiang, from the new province, 30 years old this year, in his prime.

Also a first-tier male star, his works are much more than Jin Li's, and he films everything, but he has only filmed movies and has never touched TV dramas.

At the beginning, he started filming from the 4th male lead of a movie. Because he was too handsome, the next one became the 3rd male lead, and because he was too handsome, the next one became the 2nd male lead, and he was also the designated 2nd male lead for multiple youth pain films.

During this period, his acting skills didn't change much, until one day he filmed a relatively evil role, highlighting his acting skills, soaring to become the 1st male lead, and finally he has been filming the 1st male lead's films.

By comparison, although Jin Li's film and television achievements are not bad, her qualifications are too thin.

Both of their film achievements are more excellent than hers, and the films they have filmed are much more than hers, even many veteran actors in the play have won the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in the actor's hall.

Jin Li was never a proud person, plus she was busy studying, so she became even more "non-existent" in the film crew.

The first day of filming ended, and Xu Ting made an appointment with Bai Jiang to go out for dinner.

In the private room, Xu Ting asked her: "What do you think of Jin Li's acting?"

Bai Jiang glanced at her and asked back: "Sister Ting, why are you so concerned about Jin Li? She's just a second female lead."

Xu Ting smiled slightly: "Bai Jiang, you are not filming Director Chu's play for the 1st time. You know Director Chu's habit of using people. I'm just thinking, with her acting, is there a chance to be Director Chu's next female lead?"

Bai Jiang pondered for a while and said ambiguously: "I didn't have many scenes with her today, and her plot is simple, without much room for performance."

He didn't count as fooling Xu Ting.

The "Ruan Ruan" Jin Li played in the play had a rich second-generation spoiled woman persona. The more the script was changed, the more "brain-dead" her character was changed.

Today, he only remembered Jin Li screaming excitedly and excitedly throughout the whole process.

The plot required it. He played the 1st male lead appearing on campus, a campus male god. "Ruan Ruan" was his fan and brain-dead fan. She must scream when she sees him.

Actually, this kind of plot also tests IQ. During the filming, he couldn't help but laugh many times, but instead, Jin Li, this performer, was very focused and didn't laugh.

I don't know if she accepted this kind of plot or if she was already numb.

Bai Jiang looked at the silent Xu Ting and didn't say anything more.

He could understand Xu Ting's mood of being concerned about Jin Li; that was a kind of anxiety of having a "successor substitute."

Xu Ting had acted as the female lead in Director Chu's films for three parts, counting this one. Director Chu's promotion of her was enough.

Could it be that in this play, Jin Li's performance wasn't outstanding, and she felt that she still had a chance to continue acting as the female lead in the next one?

There were many second female leads Director Chu had used who had never been the female lead in his films. How could it be her turn every time?

Xu Ting's anxiety was actually very unnecessary, and a bit delusional.

They were discussing Jin Li here, and Jin Li was also discussing them in the hotel.

But it wasn't Jin Li discussing, but Jin Li's assistant Chen Qin discussing.

As an assistant who had entered the film crew many times, Chen Qin already had a way of dealing with assistants.

Just on the 1st day of opening, she became very familiar with many star assistants and could also chat with the odd-job workers in the film crew.

This wasn't it; Chen Qin received a piece of gossip from the staff and immediately ran to Jin Li's room to communicate and exchange.

She also didn't disturb Jin Li's study, but strictly followed Sui Sui Lingfang's instructions, calling Jin Li to stop after she studied for 40 minutes, and look at the scenery outside the window to rest, so as not to affect her vision due to excessive eye use.

During the time Jin Li rested, she would share some gossip she heard.

"I heard the male and female leads went out for dinner together today." Chen Qin said, "Sister Jin Li, why didn't they call you? Is this normal?"

Jin Li glanced at her and smiled: "The male and female leads going out for dinner together, isn't that a very normal thing?"

"One is the male lead and one is the female lead. They can exchange acting experience with each other, and their rival scenes are also the most. Why would you feel it's not normal?"

Chen Qin blinked. She didn't call her own star, so she was a bit panicked, afraid that the male and female leads would do something targeted.

Jin Li seemed to see through her thoughts and said: "First of all, neither of them is filming Director Chu's play for the 1st time. These two have a friendship in private. But I am filming Director Chu's play for the 1st time, and I don't know them, so it's very normal not to call me."

She said tactfully: "Xiao Qin, although I look quite popular, in this play, my status is instead the weakest. Any veteran actor's acting experience can beat me. You have to learn to get used to it. I don't have a very different treatment in every film crew."

Chen Qin immediately said: "Sister Jin Li, don't worry, I won't have a dispute with people, and I won't talk nonsense."

Jin Li smiled: "I didn't mean to let you be cautious, just that the activities between actors in the film crew, we won't get involved. Coming to the film crew is for filming; just do your own job well."

As for the interaction between actors, she couldn't take care of it now.

She was even glad that these people didn't send her an invitation; otherwise, it wouldn't be good to refuse, and it wouldn't be good not to refuse.

She only wanted to work hard at filming when working, and study hard when not working. ===== CHAPTER 399 =====