Chapter 306: Strict Teachers Produce Outstanding Students (A long-awaited 7,268-character chapter at midnight!)

On the very auspicious day of August 8, 2009, the *Let the Bullets Fly* crew received good news from Hong Kong.

Chow Yun-fat, Brother Fat, finally couldn't resist the temptation of competing on the same stage with the three major mainland Best Actors, adjusted his schedule for this year, and decided to play the role of Huang Silang in the film.

With this, all the major roles in the film had been set, with only the female lead, Hua Jie, remaining undecided.

But Jiang Wen wasn't in a hurry.

He had already thought it through: if it really didn't work out, to save on the budget, he would just have his wife step in.

As for this girl Tong Liya who suddenly popped up, how should he put it?

In terms of appearance, age, purity, and even salary, realistically, she was quite suitable.

It's just... he looked at her acting during the audition.

It's a bit difficult.

It's not that she couldn't do it if she bit the bullet, but rather, if there was no need to bite the bullet, then forget it.

Although he thought his wife Zhou Yun's acting was actually average too. Especially her line delivery, which was very substandard.

However, she was still much stronger than Tong Liya, who had just graduated.

But he didn't mean to trick someone into working for free.

He meant what he said: as long as Tong Liya could produce a passable performance before the crew moved to Guangdong on the 15th, then what would it matter if she played Hua Jie?

In case it really didn't work out.

He would guarantee a special guest role with close-ups, lines, and a few minutes of screen time, and he was even prepared to pay her according to the scale of a third female lead.

A junior sister from the Central Academy of Drama, taking care of her was his duty.

He was actually mentally prepared for a second plan.

Acting? Can you really teach it in half a month? He really didn't quite believe it.

Tong Liya wasn't like some people.

If she really were that kind of person,

Although he didn't have Zhang Yiyi's luck, he wasn't blind either; how could he not see it?

Therefore, when Tong Liya came to find him a week early on August 8 to prepare for the audition, Jiang Wen was truly surprised.

"Little Tong, do you want to reconsider? If I really call everyone over. Then it's either yes or no, there's only one chance."

"Director, I know."

"I'm saying, why don't you practice with Nuozi for a few more days?"

"No need, Director."

Jiang Wen looked at the girl's calm expression and didn't waste words: "Alright, after work tomorrow, at 7:30 in the evening, I'll call everyone."

The next day, Jiang Wen really called all the relevant personnel.

The on-site producers from the three major investment companies, various assistant directors, casting directors, executive producers, and Ge You.

A few actors with nothing to do, like Liao Fan, Shao Bing, Zhang Mo, etc., also came to watch the fun, and he didn't stop them.

If she was really chosen, the role of Hua Jie would also have to act with them.

Why were these stinky men so active?

Jiang Wen knew it in his heart.

They're all damn grown men, having stayed in this mountain ditch for over a month, who doesn't want to come and see a beauty?

Therefore, in the tea house on the second floor of the guesthouse where Chen Nuo met Tencent and Sina, after 7:00 PM on August 9, after dinner, nearly twenty people from the *Let the Bullets Fly* crew filled the entire space.

Moreover, everyone adjusted the orientation of their chairs, all sitting facing north.

Because there was a private room to the north, which had been turned into a temporary dressing room, and Tong Liya was inside putting on makeup and changing clothes.

The makeup artist and costume designer, according to Jiang Wen's requirements, applied the makeup she would actually wear during filming and changed her into the costume she would wear during the actual shoot.

This was to give the people from Happiness Xingfu Lanhai a hint of Director Jiang's attitude that this audition was not perfunctory.

After the makeup was finished, Tong Liya would walk out and start the audition in the empty space specifically cleared next to the door.

A total of three scenes.

One scene with Old Master Huang, and two scenes with Zhang Mazi.

Whether the lines would be changed on site, he didn't know, but the scripts for these three scenes were the real scripts, and the lines were the real lines.

As for the people acting with her, they were also almost real.

The lines for Old Master Huang, although Brother Fat hadn't joined the crew yet, were filled in by Ge You.

The scene with Zhang Mazi was naturally acted with the real Zhang Mazi.

Almost everything from makeup to costume, from lines to actors, was real. In Jiang Wen's words, this audition was "not playing fake, going real all the way."

In the end, whether this Central Academy of Drama graduate, this Xibe girl from Xinjiang, could do it, would be revealed in a moment.

The crowd sitting and waiting on site was also quite curious.

Because everyone knew who she had learned acting from.

Those few days, if it weren't for someone keeping his door open every day, someone would surely have gossiped in private.

But now, those who knew couldn't help but shake their heads and sigh; what is called a gentleman, this is what is called a gentleman.

Before, hearing some things, they were a bit skeptical. Now, even those who didn't believe it had to believe it.

Many people put themselves in his shoes and didn't think they could do it.

How Tong Liya looked, even if they didn't know her before, when she arrived and greeted everyone, everyone saw it.

Such a pitiful, exotic beauty, in a situation where she was delivered to his mouth and within reach, he actually did nothing, and even kept his door open for three days, preemptively preventing all fantasies and rumors.

Who has heard of such a thing? And who, hearing such a thing, wouldn't shake their head in admiration?

The ancients said, to be able to do what others cannot, is therefore called a great man.

It means, you may not agree with some behaviors, you may think he is stupid, but even if your conscience has been eaten by a dog, you cannot say he is wrong.

Up to this point, it had been only about 20 days since Chen Nuo joined the crew.

But from producers down to handymen, everyone could only be convinced.

Including that arrogant Hong Konger who looked at everyone with his nose in the air, the on-site producer and supervisor sent by Emperor Group, a fake foreigner named Todd Zhang.

Before, he was a bit cocky.

Now, regardless of whether he was willing or not, sincere or fake,

In short, seeing that young man in his twenties, he also bowed and scraped, calling him Brother Nuo.

This also gave the mainland staff a feeling of pride. It's 2009, right. Still an era where Hong Kongers held their noses in the air.

However, such a Brother Nuo who fought for face for everyone, had no airs at all, and was a damn gentleman,

Yet there were still people spreading rumors online?

You tell me, how hateful those bastards are.

"Really, it's just that I didn't see those bastards. If I really saw them, I'd definitely go to the bathroom and have a good chat with those grandsons."

"Yeah, and saying he's a tyrant, saying he uses 'hidden rules' on set, haha, and saying he uses privilege to insert a related actress into our play. If this isn't nonsense, what is?"

"He has cultivation, he doesn't bother with them. If it were me, I'd point at those rumor-mongers, one by one, and beat them all up. Such a big star, who cares who they are. I'd flatten whatever hill they're on."

"Maybe there are those jealous rabbits in our circle stirring up trouble behind the scenes."

"What 'maybe,' that's 100%. Isn't our circle always like this? They want to see people suffer, they don't want to see people get rich. Maybe there really is one in our crew."

"Ah? Impossible, right? If it's not that reporter talking nonsense, there's still such a plague-ridden bastard?"

"That's for sure? I tell you, reporters don't dare to make this kind of thing up, usually someone really provides them with information, otherwise their leaders wouldn't pass the draft. Otherwise, writing nonsense, what's that called? Might as well call it web fiction."

"Is that so."

"That's for sure!"

With so many people sitting in the second-floor tea house, it was naturally noisy, and everyone was saying everything.

Yet the two assistant directors sitting next to Zhang Mo started talking about the thing he least wanted to hear, making him feel restless.

He wanted to tell them to shut up, but he was truly a bit guilty.

Should have known not to come.

During this time, his treatment in the crew hadn't improved either.

Like Liao Fan and Shao Bing, seeing him outside of acting was like seeing a ghost, and when acting with him, it was just superficial.

But he didn't care.

A few years ago, for a period of time, he was treated about the same wherever he went.

His old man therefore assigned him several assistant agents, so he was used to it,

Chatting and playing with the people around him, it wasn't boring.

Yesterday, when he had time, he even went to a certain place in this mountain ditch and fooled around for a while.

Except for the inconvenient bathing and the strong smell, everything else was not bad.

At that time, when he was on that woman, what he was thinking of was the face of this Xinjiang woman.

After that encounter in the hallway, he had his assistant check Tong Liya's information online.

Knowing that the other party was a minority, and some kind of Xibe ethnic group, Zhang Mo couldn't help but get even more excited.

Fate, it's truly fate.

Not only is the surname 'Tong' in the Central Academy of Drama, but she's also Xibe.

He uses 'Xibo' (foil) things often.

If this isn't a gift from God, what is?

So today, after getting the news, he also came. Before pursuing a woman, naturally, one has to first check the bottom line.

After a few minutes,

Just as Zhang Mo was feeling restless and unbearable listening to the two assistant directors at the table chatting,

The door of the private room opposite was twisted open from the inside.

A woman walked out from the door with her head slightly lowered.

She was wearing a emerald green Chinese-style top with purple-red flowers, the cuffs slightly rolled up, revealing a small section of fair wrists.

The lower body was paired with purple-red pants, a head of black, shiny long hair loosely pulled up, coiled into a round bun at the back of her head, with a few strands of hair playfully hanging by her neck.

When she walked to the middle, one after another, the noisy tea house quieted down.

Dozens of eyes were all looking at this Republic of China beauty who seemed to have stepped out of an old-time photograph.

Being watched by so many men, Tong Liya just blushed slightly, without being overly shy.

After all, a 26-year-old woman is not an ordinary college student who just graduated.

She had worked for a few years, danced for a few years, studied at the Central Academy of Drama for a few years, and filmed so many big and small plays; she had seen many scenes and recognized many people.

She had long since adapted to what she should have adapted to.

However, because the role she wanted to obtain this time was more important than all the roles she had obtained in her life combined.

The people watching her audition were also bigger stars than all the actors she had ever met in her life combined.

Therefore, seeing that her "reassurance pill" hadn't arrived as promised, Tong Liya was still a bit nervous and uneasy.

However, she had always used a smile as a weapon, still smiling naturally, not showing it at all.

Tong Liya smiled and said: "Hello Director, hello everyone, I am Tong Liya, 26 years old this year, today I am auditioning for the role of Hua Jie." Then she bowed to the table of Jiang Wen and Ge You, and also saluted in all directions.

Jiang Wen nodded, without any intention of dragging things out: "Then let's start directly. Brother You, trouble you to act with Little Tong."

Ge You in private was not as interesting as on screen, just nodded, and simply said a "Done."

And then it started.

Ten minutes later.

"Were you bought by Huang Silang?"

"Yes."

"Has he hit you?"

"Hit me."

"Have I hit you?"

"No."

"Do you hate him?"

"Hate."

"Do you hate me?"

"Don't hate."

"Then why aren't you pointing the gun at him, but pointing it at me?"

"Because you are a good person!"

"What? A good person has to be pointed at by a gun?"...

The dialogue in this final scene was like a sudden thunderclap, the rhythm as fast as dense drumbeats, but Tong Liya still managed to hold on under Jiang Wen's momentum.

For this, she didn't think it was her own reason, just felt that he was divine.

Except for Ge You's Huang Silang, which was different from his performance,

Jiang Wen's rhythm for the scene was almost exactly the same as when she practiced normally.

This was like a Chinese teacher guessing the composition topic in the college entrance exam.

The student really wanted to smile until their face broke.

For example, in this last part, the rhythm of his lines at the beginning was fast and fierce, making her spend a long time to keep up with the rhythm. She had also muttered in her heart whether Jiang Wen would really act like this, and whether acting like this would be a bit too much.

As a result... not to say exactly the same, at least it was close.

If it weren't for the fact that he had practiced with her many times, she would have 100% shown weakness in this last part.

Especially when Jiang Wen slapped the table and roared in a deep voice: "Then why aren't you pointing the gun at him, but pointing it at me?"

She absolutely could not have replied in a high-pitched tone: "Because you are a good person."

This part was taught by him.

Sure enough, as soon as the scene was finished, Jiang Wen showed surprise, obviously not expecting that she could keep up, and said: "Little Tong, amazing."

Tong Liya couldn't help but smile sincerely, smiling out dimples and sharp canine teeth: "Thank you, Director."

"Alright, that's it. Thank you, Little Tong. Go change your clothes quickly."

"Okay, thank you Brother You, thank you everyone, I'll go first."

Tong Liya put her hands together and thanked everyone, her eyes glancing at a place at the door, and only then did she notice that Zhang Mo had also come, and she couldn't help but feel a bit alert in her heart.

However, she didn't care too much, quickly changed clothes in the private room, and after saying goodbye to everyone, walked out.

Agent Brother Zhou saw her come out, with a smile on his face, and said excitedly: "Yaya, really good, acted really well! Especially those lines, recited so smoothly. I felt very excited listening outside! It's done, this time it's definitely done!"

Tong Liya was also very happy in her heart, pursed her lips and smiled: "I think so too." Then she couldn't help but look up at the stairs.

Brother Zhou saw this and laughed: "What? Still want him to come down and support you? Impossible. What kind of star is he, how could he do such a thing. You didn't... alright, alright, I think there should be no problem. Did they say when they would give you news?"

"They said, tonight."

"Alright, let's go, you haven't eaten, let's go eat something first. Just deal with it simply in this town. Once we take this role, we'll go back to Beijing, Brother Zhou will treat you to a luxurious seafood feast!"

"I think it's still pretty good. Especially considering Tong Liya's age, right? Being able to go back and forth in front of two Best Actors, it can be said to be very rare."

"Haha, Producer Xu, I know she is from your Happiness Xingfu Lanhai, but, I think, in terms of acting, she still needs to practice well. Acting in a movie is not just about saying lines, it's about performing. Producer Ma, what do you say?"

Ma Ke laughed: "I don't understand movies. Brother You, what do you say?"

Ge You said: "I don't understand much either. The matter is finished, then I'll go back first, you guys continue discussing, haha."

After Jiang Wen sent Ge You away, he came back and sat down, saying: "Alright, brothers, let's all talk."

The casting director said: "I agree with Producer Xu's statement, this girl's line delivery is very good, it sounds very comfortable and has flavor, especially in the first and last scenes, there are really places that will make people's eyes light up... it's just that in terms of overall stability, it's still a bit lacking."

"Not a bit, but a lot." Another assistant director said, "With her acting level, maybe after getting the script, she needs to grind for a month or two, and then NG dozens of times on set, before the scene can come out."

This remark made everyone laugh.

Zhang Mo was mixed in, laughing especially happily.

If you want to say who most wanted Tong Liya's audition to fail, it should be him.

Because he had already thought it through.

Once this Xinjiang woman could only play a bit part in the movie, his opportunity would come.

At that time, he would ask her out, have a good chat about the future, talk about the entertainment industry he understood, and then say who his old man was.

He didn't believe that the other party could run away when she saw him like that day.

He's not ugly, right?

After that incident a few years ago, he was truly concerned about a woman for the first time.

Must not let her really play the female lead.

If she's the female lead, there will be many more thoughts, many things, and it won't be so easy.

"... Producer Xu, don't make your face so ugly, look, this isn't just me, Todd Zhang, saying it, right? That Miss Tong, she is very pretty, but her acting is really not good."

"In our Hong Kong, there is an old saying, called 'don't wear a hat that's too big for your head.' What's the meaning?"

"It means, if you don't have such a big head, don't wear such a big hat."

"The female lead of our movie, the hat is too big, Miss Tong can't wear it."

This Hong Konger representing Emperor Group used a mix of Hong Kong-style Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, making everyone laugh except for the producer from Happiness Xingfu Lanhai, Xu Huang.

Jiang Wen also shook his head and smiled.

Although the Hong Konger's words were unpleasant, they were indeed correct.

In this week, Tong Liya had indeed improved a lot compared to the first audition.

The first time, it was enough to make people cringe.

This performance was actually decent, and it could be seen that it was somewhat vivid, acting like a person, rather than acting out some impression in the brain.

When acting with Ge You, the flow between her brows and eyes carried a bit of worldly vulgarity, and even a bit of stunning beauty, as if she had some life experience.

The back and forth with him also had ideas and rhythm.

However... most of the time, the vase-like appearance really made it hard to give people confidence to hand the role of Hua Jie to her.

Would the effect be better if the audition was in a few days?

Jiang Wen didn't know.

Because he had advised her, it was her own choice. He also had no way...

"Eh, it's already finished?"

A young man suddenly walked in at the door, in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, with a trace of surprise on his face.

Jiang Wen stood up and smiled: "Nuozi, why are you here?"

Not just him, everyone on site stood up at once.

Chen Nuo quickly waved his hand: "Don't be polite, don't be polite, everyone sit. I just came to take a look. I just made a phone call, it took a bit long. Is this already finished?"

Jiang Wen laughed: "Yes, finished. Come, come sit."

Chen Nuo sat down in the seat next to Jiang Wen, unable to help but want to curse in his heart.

It was agreed that he would come today to support the scene, and see if he could help with the scenes, act as Huang Silang or something to lead her.

As a result, he didn't expect that as soon as Liu Yifei returned to the country, she started looking for trouble. She talked to him on the phone for almost half an hour, and now the scene was already finished.

Now that things had come to this, he could only be shameless, listen to what people said, and see if it could be salvaged.

Chen Nuo made up his mind and laughed: "Then I'll sit here and listen. After all, I taught her. You guys continue talking, I'll see how she acted. If it doesn't work, I'll go back and scold her, haha."

Then, he sat next to Jiang Wen.

For a time, no one spoke.

Chen Nuo also felt that his forced insertion was indeed awkward, and cursed Liu Yifei in his heart again, asking for the sake of asking: "Brother Jiang, what do you think, how did Tong Liya act?"

Jiang Wen touched his chin, coughed, and said: "I think..."

Think what, he didn't finish.

Then, someone next to him relieved the situation.

"I think Miss Tong acted very well, first-class, perfect! In our Hong Kong dialect, it's called 'ba bi dao fei qi' (amazing to the sky). If I, Todd Zhang, could decide, this role of Hua Jie would definitely belong to Miss Tong. Brother Nuo, you are truly a strict teacher producing an outstanding student."

"Haha, is that so?"

Chen Nuo didn't believe half a word of what this Hong Kong guy said. If Tong Liya had really acted amazingly, why would he let her come to find Jiang Wen for an audition early?

Isn't this because the longer it drags on, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment, and the worse she will die?

Better to audition early, and after messing it up, people can still have some thoughts, fantasizing whether there would be salvation if the time was longer.

Hearing Todd Zhang's words, Chen Nuo only had one thought:

It seems they really treat me as a fool, feeding me sweet talk every day, this Emperor Group is becoming more and more suspicious.

Boss Yang... haha, let's wait and see.

Chen Nuo originally thought so,

But he didn't expect,

Everyone in the room started praising Tong Liya's acting, saying she interpreted the charm of the courtesan and the purity of Hua Jie perfectly.

Honestly, if it weren't for these people mentioning Tong Liya's name from time to time, Chen Nuo would have thought they were talking about Maggie Cheung.

He was a bit confused, turned his head and asked Jiang Wen: "Brother Jiang, did she really act that well?"

Jiang Wen looked at him, the corners of his mouth slowly curled up, revealing a smile, and said: "It is good."

Damn? Chen Nuo really didn't expect this at all.

Zhang Mo also didn't expect it.

Seeing that the original plan was about to fall through, he gritted his teeth, glaring at the man not far away who had a look of surprise.

Fuck your mother, what are you pretending for?

Especially hearing the two assistant directors sitting next to him, who were muttering a second ago that Tong Liya's level was probably only enough to be a vase in a TV show,

As a result, once the person came, they shouted the loudest, saying Tong Liya was a future star who could suppress Zhou Xun and rival Fan Bingbing.

Zhang Mo was truly full of fire.

Once his temper flared, he didn't want to listen anymore.

With a cold sneer, he stood up and prepared to turn and leave.

He is Zhang Guoli's son, he doesn't need to suck up to these people. His seat was at the door, and it only took two steps to walk out.

As a result, he didn't expect that his movement of getting up was a bit too big, and the chair made a sharp sound on the ground.

Everyone looked over at once.

Including him seeing that person also turn his head to look over.

Zhang Mo's heart was suddenly in chaos, his originally cold and cool brows softened, his sword-like brows became an "eight" shape, and his small eyes became a slit.

"Sorry, stomach is uncomfortable, want to leave first. However, Miss Tong's acting, I recognize it... Brother Nuo."

When this "Brother" was called out, Zhang Mo himself was stunned.

He really didn't know why, but he called it out naturally.

At this moment, his self-esteem was bleeding.

Chen Nuo looked at him thoughtfully and nodded, without saying much.

Let alone calling him brother, calling him grandfather wouldn't work either.

Regardless of whether this person is good or bad, he would absolutely not interact with him.

"Meeting face to face should be like not knowing each other" is the best, even if he didn't really ride on his face to output, he could endure it.

The reason is that he is really afraid that one day in the future, the media will dig up old accounts, saying that in a certain year and month, Zhang Mo and Chen Nuo had a conflict, which shows that the two had a close relationship, could it be because...

At that time, he could probably only settle in Hollywood.

Zhang Mo left, and Chen Nuo didn't sit for long.

After listening for a while, he also took the initiative to say goodbye.

Was it really Tong Liya's super performance, or were these people lying?

He really didn't know.

Just like he didn't know how deep an impression his previous behavior of treating the crew like a bicycle had left on the producers.

Hong Kong's Boss Yang heard about it and praised it endlessly, telling Todd Zhang to obey orders and absolutely not offend him again.

He also didn't know that he was just opening the door to avoid suspicion. Because in later generations, those little fairies are truly not to be trifled with.

For example, a certain acting teacher didn't open the door to teach, which led to being backstabbed by a female student years later, saying he committed rape and sexual harassment, and dragging out a lot of rotten things.

Making people feel that men in such matters, as long as they are caught by the handle, are all "yellow mud falling into the crotch."

As a result, he just didn't want to cause trouble, but in the eyes of everyone in the *Let the Bullets Fly* crew, they all thought he was not only famous and capable, but also had good character and didn't engage in hidden rules.

Basically, it belongs to the level of being able to move to the golden top of Mount Emei to replace Samantabhadra Bodhisattva after being gilded.

Therefore, Chen Nuo wasn't pretending, he was really a bit confused.

So much so that when he was woken up by a light knock on the door at 12:30 midnight,

Then turned over and got up, opened the door, and a figure flashed in,

He was still a bit doubtful: "You really didn't lie to me, it really wasn't you acting well?"

PS:

Quietly asking for a monthly ticket.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 307 =====

(End of Chapter)