When Song Qifan suggested Geng Bochuan’s name, the conference room erupted into an intense discussion after a brief silence, likely due to Geng Bochuan’s exaggerated and illustrious reputation that resonated loudly throughout the entire circle.
The assistant director was the first to vehemently oppose the suggestion. He had worked with Geng Bochuan before, and the two had a very unpleasant quarrel. Despite their conflict not reaching the media, the assistant director strongly disliked this actor.
“I’m sorry, Director Ye. I worked with Gen Bochuan two years ago, and this actor is too arrogant and difficult to work with. Moreover, the character Cheng Ye requires exceptional acting skills, and I believe Geng Bochuan’s limited abilities make him unsuitable for this role.”
The assistant director’s expression was unpleasant as he spoke, his voice revealing his suppressed anger despite his efforts.
The producer also chimed in, though not to support the assistant director. If the assistant director’s words were tinged with personal feelings, the producer’s approach was undoubtedly more calm and rational, analyzing the matter from the perspective of the film’s overall interests and the potential impact of hiring Geng Bochuan.
“Writer Song has an excellent eye. In terms of appearance and personality, Geng Bochuan does indeed match the character Cheng Ye to a large extent. This means that even if his acting skills are not outstanding, portraying the character naturally might allow him to perform well.”
The producer spoke calmly, succinctly highlighting Geng Bochuan’s advantages and ensuring everyone understood Song Qifan’s reasoning for recommending him.
After discussing the advantages, the producer addressed the disadvantages, swiftly searching on his phone before continuing: “However, as the assistant director mentioned, Geng Bochuan’s reputation is divisive, both within and outside the industry.”
“If we choose him, we will inevitably face significant public pressure. Our primary consideration should be whether his potential value justifies the risk of hiring such a…problematic actor.”
The producer’s concerns aligned with Ye Zhou’s own worries, a shared apprehension among the filmmakers.
After the producer’s remarks, the crew engaged in a heated discussion about Geng Bochuan, with both supporters and opposition. Once the discussion concluded, Ye Zhou contemplated for a moment before suggesting, “Why don’t we meet Geng Bochuan first before deciding? It’s worth a try.”
Ye Zhou then humorously added, “But don’t get your hopes up too high. After all, were are not a major production, and I’m not a renowned director either. Whether he’s willing to participate or has the availability is still unknown.”
The crew responded with friendly laughter, showing respect for Ye Zhou’s decision. For now, the matter was settled, with Ye Zhou personally reaching out to Geng Bochuan’s team to explore the possibility.
Besides, it was just an audition, there was no significant risk, so most of the staff have no objections to Ye Zhou’s decision.
Only the assistant director’s originally unattractive face turned darker after hearing what Ye Zhou said, but because of Ye Zhou’s face, he didn’t say anything else.
Shortly after the meeting, Ye Zhou obtained Geng Bochuan’s manager’s contact information. Surprisingly, the communication between them progressed smoothly. Upon learning Ye Zhou’s identity, Geng Bochuan’s manager took the collaboration seriously and quickly arranged an audition date, exceeding Ye Zhou’s expectations.
Upon reflection, this outcome was understandable. Although Geng Bochuan enjoyed considerable popularity, appearing in numerous works, variety shows, and advertisements as a prolific artist, his notable successes were mainly in television series. Despite occasional appearances on the big screen, he often played minor supporting or cameo roles, far from a leading actor.
Not only had he seldom played leading roles, but even significant supporting roles with substantial screen time were rare for him. Though active, his presence was primarily confined to the small screen, with minimal impact on the big screen.
The industry had an unwritten rule that assumed a divide, a thick wall, between television and film. For television actors aspiring to transition to the big screen, the difficulty was far greater than imagined.
The leap from small to big screen posed a stern test for both an actor’s appearance and acting skills.
Some actors who appeared exceptionally attractive on television might seem entirely ordinary or even unattractive on the big screen.
Acting skills faced an even greater challenge. Television dramas demanded far less than films, and as long as actors delivered a decent overall performance without major flaws in television, minor imperfections were typically overlooked. However, films were unforgiving; any flaw would be glaringly apparent on the big screen.
An actor’s transition from television to film might seem insignificant, but the inherent difficulties and hardships involved were known only to the actors themselves.
Although Ye Zhou was not a renowned director, he was a legitimate filmmaker. Moreover, regardless of external opinions attributing his previous work’s success to luck, his accomplishments were undeniable.
This was the primary reason why Ye Zhou’s film attracted so many actors to audition. Whether they could seize this olive branch and successfully cross over from the small to the big screen depended on their ability to pass the audition and secure the role.
For Geng Bochuan, this opportunity held significant importance.
His manager did not hesitate to cancel two scheduled appearances and a magazine photoshoot after consulting with Geng Bochuan upon receiving Ye Zhou’s call to ensure ample preparation time for the audition.
Had Ye Zhou offered only a supporting role, they might have considered it, but he explicitly stated that this film had dual male leads, and Geng Bochuan was auditioning for one of the leading roles. It was a no-brainer decision.
On the day of the audition, inside the nanny car, the manager gulped down a few sips of water and eyed his artist, who was still rehearsing his lines, before remarking, “It’s about time. Are you ready? If so, you can head in.”
Geng Bochuan lifted his gaze from the script and replied nonchalantly, “It’s alright. You know my capabilities.”
The manager was choked by his attitude and, unable to restrain his temper, irritated, tapped Geng Bochuan’s forehead with the plastic water bottle. “Could you correct your attitude? If you can’t control your infamous temper in front of Director Ye, I’ll pack up and leave, and you can find a new manager yourself. I can’t handle you anymore!”
Geng Bochuan had long been accustomed to his manager’s attitude of pretending to be powerful, going in one ear and out the other, and nodded very perfunctorily.
The already angry manager grew even more infuriated but was interrupted by a phone call. Glancing at the number, he immediately composed himself and answered the call with a pleasant tone.
After a brief conversation, the manager opened the car door and gestured to Geng Bochuan, “Director Ye and his team are ready for us. Let’s go.”
Geng Bochuan took one final look at the script before leaving it on the car seat, not taking it with him.
Noticing this, the manager questioned, “You’re not bringing the script? You should take it with you and review the lines again on the way.”
Geng Bochuan rolled his eyes and replied impatiently, “Memorizing lines at the last minute? How much can I remember? Let’s go, we shouldn’t keep them waiting.”
The manager was exasperated by Geng Bochuan’s attitude but helpless to do anything about it. As Geng Bochuan had already walked away, the manager hurried after him.
Inside the elevator, Geng Bochuan stared down, his mind filled with passages and storylines from “Chasing the Light.” Every word and sentence flashed before his eyes like a slideshow.
From the moment he first laid eyes on this script and the character Cheng Ye, Geng Bochuan had never concealed his fondness for this work.
However, he was not good at expressing himself. Aside from meticulously memorizing lines and continuously contemplating and simulating himself as Cheng Ye, Geng Bochuan did not know what else he could do.
To deepen his understanding and grasp of the character, he had even written a nearly 10,000-word backstory for Cheng Ye.
But despite this, Geng Bochuan didn’t have much hope that he could get this role.
His reputation was poor, and his acting skills were mediocre. Before arriving, Geng Bochuan had already anticipated the slim chances of passing the audition, but he still came, canceling appointments and tirelessly studying the character day and night.
Despite the slim odds, he still wanted to give it a try.
Geng Bochuan took a deep breath, striving to immerse himself in Cheng Ye’s emotions, seeing what he saw, smelling what he smelled, and feeling what he felt. He told himself that from the moment he pushed open that door, he would become Cheng Ye.
The wooden door to the audition room opened with a faint creak, drawing the attention of all the crew members, including Ye Zhou.
Upon seeing the person who entered, Ye Zhou was momentarily stunned.
So alike, too alike!
Regardless of aura, expression, or demeanor, there was not a shred of dissonance. As Ye Zhou regained his composure, he instinctively glanced at Song Qifan, who was seated nearby.
Song Qifan’s gaze seemed fixated on Geng Bochuan, unblinkingly staring at him, his face flushed from excitement, and his hands trembling on the table.
This was the Cheng Ye from his story, it was him!
Witnessing this, Ye Zhou swallowed the questions he intended to ask, exchanged a glance with the producer and assistant director, and turned back to Geng Bochuan, saying, “It seems you’ve prepared thoroughly. Let’s not waste time on idle talk and get straight to the point.”
“The scene we want you to perform is Cheng Ye’s reaction upon learning from his teacher that Cheng Ling has been absent from classes for some time.”
As soon as Ye Zhou mentioned the audition scene, the crew members, including the producer and assistant director, appeared taken aback.
This was different from the previously agreed-upon scene!
Based on their understanding of Geng Bochuan’s acting abilities, Ye Zhou and the team had initially chosen a relatively simple scene for the audition, one of the least challenging among all the scenes.
It could be said that Ye Zhou had no expectations for him at the outset.
However, the moment Geng Bochuan entered the room, the impact of that scene instantly piqued Ye Zhou’s interest. He suddenly realized that the previously selected scene posed no challenge for this young man, and perhaps they could have higher expectations of him.
So Ye Zhou directly changed the originally planned simple scene, though without intentionally making it too difficult for Geng Bochuan. Instead, he chose a moderately challenging scene that tested an actor’s emotional expression and subtle nuances.
It was uncertain whether Geng Bochuan would be disheartened by the increased difficulty or pleased by Ye Zhou’s heightened expectations and appreciation upon learning of this change.
TL/N: I will be taking a break for the next two weeks. I was supposed to go to Korea for a vacation but our dog just died and I do not have the energy to do anything else. I have a couple translated chapters that I already scheduled to be posted. Hopefully, I can go back to translating before all of them gets posted. Thank you for understanding.
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