Chapter 3: Female Lead Candidate

"By the way, there's a reply from Milk Tea Liu. Yesterday, Huang Lei specifically ran to the Directing Department to explain to the teacher that Milk Tea Liu couldn't free up her schedule, so she could only regretfully miss it."

Tian Zhuangzhuang turned his head, winking, wanting to see Cao Yang's reaction.

Everyone knows the relationship between Huang Lei and Milk Tea Liu, so there's no problem asking him to invite Milk Tea Liu.

Speaking of which, this is also giving Huang Lei face.

Huang Lei is very good at conducting himself, specifically going to the Directing Department to explain the reason to Teacher Situ.

The problem lies right here. The invitation was sent by Cao Yang, and Teacher Situ didn't participate at all. You explaining to Teacher Situ indeed gave Teacher Situ enough face.

But at the time, Cao Yang personally went to the Acting Department to find Huang Lei to convey it. In the normal process, shouldn't Huang Lei at least return a call?

But what happened?

Cao Yang has no face, right? Is he not even worth a phone call from you?

It seems he is not worth it.

He was just ignored like that.

Even getting the news was through Old Tian.

"Hmm, I know."

Cao Yang opened his notebook as if nothing had happened and crossed out Milk Tea Liu's name.

Milk Tea Liu isn't beautiful, but her temperament is very suitable for the role, especially the extramarital affair with her master when she was young. She has personal experience and experience in being a third party, so she can quickly enter the role.

Performing it should also be easy.

Based on these reasons, Cao Yang sent an invitation to Milk Tea Liu.

Tian Zhuangzhuang flipped through the records and couldn't help but frown, somewhat dissatisfied, "How come only nine people have come to interview for the female lead these days? There isn't even one with a three-star rating, and there are only two with three stars. This is too poor."

"Small investment, no publicity, the director is too young and looks unreliable—this excludes most high-quality options. Only those who have just graduated or are not doing well will come to try their luck. And those at their stage have very few sources of information, so even fewer know about our crew's recruitment information."

Cao Yang objectively stated the reason.

Tian Zhuangzhuang thought for a moment and said, "What do you think of Yu Feihong, who graduated from our school? I feel her temperament is quite similar to the female lead. Should I give her a call?"

Cao Yang shook his head and explained, "I contacted her through the school a few days ago, and she said she is filming 'Galloping Through the West Wind' and her schedule doesn't match. But she also said that to show support for her junior fellow apprentice, if needed, she could squeeze out about ten days to make a cameo appearance."

"What other candidates do you have?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang was getting anxious. The female lead can't be found, you are the director, how can you still sit here calmly?

Shouldn't you be making phone calls in a rush, looking for people everywhere in a hurry?

"Xu Jinglei from the 93-class, I sent her an invitation through the school long ago, and there's still no news."

"She is quite suitable; her temperament and image are fine. Her acting is a bit lacking, but she hasn't avoided her affair with Wang Shuo, so she has a similar experience to the female lead. She can just perform as herself."

Tian Zhuangzhuang picked up his phone and stood up, "I'll give her a call and ask about her thoughts."

Cao Yang pulled Tian Zhuangzhuang, let him sit down, and shook his head, "No need. She has Wang Shuo and that group helping her, so it's normal for her to look down on my small crew. If you make this call, it will only make people feel embarrassed."

"You are just too stubborn and too set in your ways."

Tian Zhuangzhuang shook his head. He originally wanted to persist, but after thinking about it, he gave up.

Alumni, and the invitation was sent through the school—this gives a feeling that everyone is their own people. Under circumstances where it's not embarrassing, they can help each other. Even if you don't want to take it, just find a random reason to explain it, and everyone can save face without hurting harmony.

But it's been so long, and there isn't even a message, which is a bit unreasonable.

Not to mention Cao Yang is Teacher Situ's student. The status of Teacher Situ doesn't need to be mentioned; he was also the class teacher of the famous 78-class of the Directing Department.

It's also fine to say Cao Yang is the junior fellow apprentice of Tian Zhuangzhuang, Chen Kaige, Xie Xiaojing, Li Shaohong, Zhang Jianya, Wu Ziniu, Hu Mei, and others. Who are you looking down on?

"Are there any other candidates?"

Cao Yang thought for a moment and said with a smile, "There is one who is very suitable. Her acting should be fine, her temperament is excellent, and she has similar experience. She is very familiar with you, Jiang Shixiong. It just depends on whether you can invite her."

Tian Zhuangzhuang struggled for a while and whispered, "I can give her a call, and she should give me this face. I'm just afraid that if the teacher finds out, he'll call me over with a phone call and point at my nose and curse me as a rebellious disciple."

Hmm?

Cao Yang is a bit confused. Even if Chen Hong is called to play the female lead, the teacher wouldn't curse people, right? If Jiang Shixiong Kaige is pulled in to play the extramarital affair director, the teacher might curse a few times. However, the biggest possibility is still cursing the Directing Department for bad Feng Shui, saying that the directors taught are more troublesome than the last.

Old Tian, I'm just joking. We shouldn't be talking about the same person, right?

Who did you think of?

Cao Yang asked calmly, "That shouldn't be, right? It's been so long, would the teacher still curse you?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang whispered, "Xu Fan married Xiao Gangpao last September."

Damn!

Old Tian, you really know how to play.

Cao Yang held back his laughter, nodded in agreement, and said, "Then forget it, so you don't get cursed again, Jiang Shixiong."

Tian Zhuangzhuang sighed, "Then what should we do? Those with good acting skills and a bit of fame look down on you, and you won't let me call. We can't just find a random one, right?"

"Then let's find one from the nine people who came to interview."

Cao Yang turned his head and said to Tian Zhuangzhuang with a smile, "Jiang Shixiong, this film is entered from a female perspective. Do you believe me when I say this is a typical 'play protects the person'? No matter who comes, as long as the performance isn't bad, it's very easy to win an award."

Tian Zhuangzhuang deeply agreed with what Cao Yang said in his heart.

!

This film is not just entered from a female perspective, but the whole film revolves around the female lead.

Male lead? It doesn't exist!

Men in the film are simplified into a symbol.

The camera has been following the female lead, watching her smiles and frowns, watching her straightforwardness and innocence, watching her wantonness and arrogance, watching her loneliness and sadness.

It's almost becoming a documentary of the female lead.

If this is filmed well, it can truly win an award!

Those idiots are refusing one after another, not even bothering to look at the script.

It's really frustrating.

Tian Zhuangzhuang slapped the table and said viciously, "No more searching. We'll pick from those few newcomers. I don't believe that acting skills can't be polished!"

He took out his small and exquisite Motorola v998, just about to enter the phone number left by the other party, but his hand suddenly froze. He coughed and turned to look at Cao Yang.

"Director... Cao, should we call everyone to come and try the play again, or should we only notify the two with a three-star comprehensive rating?"

When working, use the job title.

Although somewhat reluctant, he still remembered to "ask for instructions."

Cao Yang is very satisfied. If this kind of thing happened before yesterday, how could Old Tian ask for opinions? At most, he would greet him and make the call.

It seems that the one who can cure the stubborn Old Tian is still Teacher Situ.

He opened the memo, which recorded the basic situation, advantages, and disadvantages of the two candidates.

After pondering for a moment, Cao Yang asked, "Jiang Shixiong, what about Li Xiaoran?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang also flipped through his records. A three-star comprehensive rating, neither high nor low, but among the few people who interviewed, it is considered one of the two best.

"She studied dance and has acted in a few TV series, all as small supporting roles. She just finished filming Zhao Baogang's 'Like Fog, Like Rain, Like Wind', which is considered an important supporting role. Acting... it's barely passable."

Smacking his lips, Old Tian hesitated. In the script setting, the female lead is around thirty.

"Is the age a bit young? Only 24 years old, can she perform the charm of a light mature woman? Can she support the whole play?"

Cao Yang is also a bit hesitant. The future Li Xiaoran has a lot of charm, and her acting skills have improved a bit compared to now. Performing this role should be no problem.

At this moment, she is indeed a bit tender.

Actually, Cao Yang isn't worried about the age. With Li Xiaoran's foundation, in the hands of a stylist, it's very easy to make her up as a light mature woman.

What he is most worried about is the acting skills.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 4 =====