Entertainment from Divorce

The autumn sun was shining brightly, casting neat patches of light onto the mahogany desk through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the CEO's office on the eighth floor of Brilliant Entertainment.

Tan Yue was reviewing the publicity plan for "Time Ticks". His fingertips traced the schedule and promotion channels on the paper. His brows furrowed slightly, and he wrote "Add more sessions for science and engineering universities" next to the "University Roadshow" column.

Lin Qingye's film focuses on warmth and growth, which will resonate more with young people.

The landline on the desk suddenly rang. It was Chen Ye's internal line: "President Tan, Director Lu and Director Qian are here. They say they have casting information for 'The Three-Body Problem' to report to you."

"Let them in." Tan Yue closed the promotional plan, stood up, straightened his shirt cuffs, and looked towards the doorway.

Soon, Lu Chuan and Qian Tao pushed open the door and entered.

Lu Chuan was wearing a dark blue windbreaker, his eyes showing obvious fatigue, but he couldn't hide his excitement.

Qian Tao was still dressed in a sharp suit, holding a black folder in his hand, his steps steady.

Both of them had smiles they couldn't hide, clearly indicating that the casting process was progressing smoothly.

"Mr. Tan."

The two greeted each other in unison and then sat down in the chairs opposite the desk.

"You've worked hard. Judging from your condition, the casting process must be going smoothly." Tan Yue smiled and handed over two bottles of mineral water, his gaze falling on the folder in Qian Tao's hand.

"Thanks to you, everything went very smoothly!" Lu Chuan spoke first, his voice tinged with excitement.

"After three days of intensive auditions, all the supporting roles have been finalized. Most of them are artists under our company. Only two roles were filled by actors from outside the company because we didn't have any suitable candidates within the company."

Qian Tao opened the folder, took out a printed list of actors, and handed it to Tan Yue with both hands.

"Mr. Tan, this is the final cast list. We have burned the audition videos for each role onto a disc, and there is also an electronic version on a USB drive. You can take a look."

Tan Yue took the list, ran his fingertip over the names on the paper, and scanned them one by one.

Most of the names on the list are familiar; they are all actors who have honed their skills on the stage or have accumulated a number of high-quality works. Only Jiang Chao, who plays Evans, was invited from outside the industry.

Tan Yue looked up at Qian Tao: "Have you settled Jiang Chao's schedule and salary?"

"Everything has been agreed upon," Qian Tao nodded.

"Okay." Tan Yue smiled.

Jiang Chao's acting skills are widely recognized, especially his ability to portray characters who appear gentle and refined on the surface but are actually sinister and complex on the inside. This is a perfect match for Evans's character, and inviting him is truly a stroke of luck.

Lu Chuan added, "Wu Hao's portrayal of Ding Yi really exceeded expectations. He perfectly captured the character's cynicism and extreme obsession with physics. During the audition, his monologue 'Physics no longer exists' even impressed Zhang Min, who praised him as 'the born Ding Yi'."

"Although Lin Xi is a newcomer, her temperament is a perfect match for Zhuang Yan. With the guidance of the two acting teachers, her acting skills have improved rapidly, and she has captured the purity and resilience in her eyes."

Tan Yue nodded and placed the list on the table: "I trust you to do things. But we still need to see the audition videos, since an actor's dynamic performance is different from their static profile."

"Of course." Lu Chuan quickly took out a USB drive from his bag and handed it to Chen Ye. "Could you please help me project it? We've already organized it by role, so you can watch it in order."

Chen Ye took the USB drive, quickly walked to the projector in the corner of the office, and connected the device.

Soon, a catalog of audition videos appeared on the wall, arranged in the order of main supporting roles and minor supporting roles.

Tan Yue leaned back in his chair, his hands crossed on the table, his gaze fixed intently on the curtain.

The first video features Ding Yi, played by Wu Hao.

The clip shows Ding Yi showing Wang Miao the "water droplet" model.

Wu Hao was wearing a simple white T-shirt, his hair was slightly messy, and he was holding a silver sphere model in his hand. His tone was casual but carried an undeniable professionalism.

"This is the 'Water Drop,' a probe from the Trisolaran civilization. Its surface is absolutely smooth, and its temperature is close to absolute zero. Its technological level has exceeded our imagination."

His eyes held a mixture of awe for unknown technology, bewilderment at the overturning of physical laws, and even a touch of self-deprecating nonchalance, perfectly revealing Ding Yi's complex inner world.

Especially when he said "physics no longer exists," he didn't try to be sentimental. He just sighed softly, his eyes vacant. The deep-seated weariness and despair made Tan Yue nod in agreement.

"Indeed, Wu Hao has grasped the essence of Ding Yi's work," Tan Yue said in a low voice, his tone full of praise.

Next up is Zhuang Yan, played by Lin Xi. The clip shows Zhuang Yan meeting Wang Miao at a coffee shop.

Lin Xi, dressed in a light-colored cotton dress, sat at the table, holding a cup of coffee in her hand. Her eyes were clear and her smile was gentle, but when Wang Miao mentioned "The Three-Body Problem," a hint of determination flashed in her eyes.

Her performance was natural and smooth, without the slightest hint of a newcomer's awkwardness. She perfectly blended Zhuang Yan's gentleness and intelligence, making the character unforgettable at first glance.

Then there's Jiang Chao's audition clip, where he plays Evans standing on the deck of the "Judgment Day," gazing at the sea with a calm yet slightly fervent tone.

"Humans are selfish and greedy. They destroy the environment and plunder resources. Only the Trisolaran civilization can save this world."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a seductive power. The obsession and madness in his eyes were chilling, perfectly matching Evans's character.

Over the next few hours, Tan Yue watched the audition videos of all the actors one by one. From the guards at the Red Coast Base to Evans's assistant, the actors for each role performed admirably.

Most of the company's artists have honed their skills on the stage, possessing solid acting skills and natural emotional expression.

The externally invited actors are all carefully selected, highly skilled performers, and are extremely well-suited to their roles.

After watching the last video, Tan Yue turned off the projector, and the office fell into a brief silence.

He picked up the green tea on the table, took a sip, and said with certainty, "Very good. The actors you chose are all very suitable. Whether it's their temperament or their acting skills, they can all support their respective roles. Lu Chuan, Qian Tao, thank you for your hard work."

Lu Chuan and Qian Tao exchanged a smile, their faces showing a relieved expression.

For the past three days, they have been busy from eight in the morning to ten at night, selecting actors, communicating schedules, and coordinating auditions. They have hardly had any rest time. Being recognized by Tan Yue makes all the hard work worthwhile.

"Thank you, Mr. Tan!" Lu Chuan stood up, his tone firm.

"After we get back, we will immediately work on the storyboard and strive to finish it as soon as possible so as not to delay the start of filming next month."

"Okay, the storyboard is the foundation of filming, so it must be perfect." Tan Yue instructed, "Especially for key scenes such as Operation Guzheng and the signal transmission at the Red Coast Base, the shot design needs to be polished repeatedly to ensure both visual effects and adherence to the plot logic." "Don't worry, we have already organized a dedicated team that discusses and modifies the scenes every day to strive for perfection."

Qian Tao added, "Currently, three-quarters of the storyboard has been completed. The remaining part mainly involves the detailed design of some minor scenes, which is expected to be completed within five days."

"That's good." Tan Yue nodded. "You guys go back and rest for a bit. Take it easy, there are still many tough battles to fight."

After thanking Qian Tao, Lu Chuan turned and left the office.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Tan Yue felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

The cast for "The Three-Body Problem" has finally been finalized. From the core roles to the supporting roles, all are talented actors. Coupled with a top-notch production team, the quality of this work is basically guaranteed.

Chen Ye packed up the projector and USB drive and left the office.

Tan Yue sat alone at his desk, picked up the cast list again, and gently traced the names "Wang Miao," "Shi Qiang," and "Ye Wenjie" with his fingertips, feeling a mix of emotions.

From the initial conception of the script to the finalization of the cast, the preparation work for "The Three-Body Problem" has been going on for more than half a year. Every step has been full of challenges, but also full of hope.

He picked up his teacup, walked to the window, and gazed at the rows of tall buildings and the constant flow of traffic below, his thoughts drifting away.

As a hard science fiction TV series, "The Three-Body Problem" is extremely rare in the current Chinese film and television market.

In recent years, although many science fiction works have emerged, most of them are soft science fiction, focusing on romance or suspense. Works like "The Three-Body Problem," which are based on hard science knowledge and explore humanity, civilization and the universe, are almost non-existent.

If "The Three-Body Problem" can be successfully adapted into a film, it will not only fill a gap in the market but also set a new benchmark for China's science fiction film and television industry, becoming an important milestone for China's film and television industry to go global.

Thinking about this, a bold idea emerged in his mind: Should "The Three-Body Problem" be released simultaneously worldwide?

After several years of development, Brilliant Entertainment's overseas distribution channels have become increasingly mature.

Interstellar has achieved both box office and critical success overseas, and its cooperation with many internationally renowned television stations is deepening, making it fully capable of bringing The Three-Body Problem to the global market.

If "The Three-Body Problem" can be released simultaneously worldwide, it will not only enhance the company's international reputation, but also allow Chinese science fiction culture to reach the world and let more people understand China's film and television strength.

But he quickly suppressed this idea.

Hard science fiction has a relatively small audience, and audiences in different countries and regions have different understandings and aesthetics of science fiction.

Many of the scientific concepts and cultural backgrounds involved in "The Three-Body Problem" may be difficult for overseas audiences to understand. Without sufficient localization and explanation, it may affect word-of-mouth and viewership.

More importantly, "The Three-Body Problem" is the first time that the Chinese film and television industry has attempted such a large-scale hard science fiction TV series. Although the preparation work is progressing smoothly, the final filming effect is still uncertain.

If the film is released simultaneously worldwide without proper planning and the results are poor, it could not only damage the company's international reputation but also undermine the confidence of the entire Chinese science fiction film and television industry.

Tan Yue leaned against the window, tapping his fingers lightly on the glass, lost in thought.

He recalled the overseas release of "Interstellar," which, although ultimately successful, required extensive pre-release publicity and groundwork, with different promotional strategies tailored to audiences in different regions.

The complexity of "The Three-Body Problem" far exceeds that of "Interstellar," requiring much more time and effort to prepare.

"Let's launch it domestically first and see how it goes," Tan Yue muttered to himself, making his decision.

First, test the quality and reputation of the work in the domestic market, make adjustments and optimizations based on audience feedback, and accumulate enough experience and data before considering overseas distribution.

This approach is both safe and ensures the best possible reputation for the work and the company's interests.

Moreover, the novel "The Three-Body Problem" enjoys extremely high recognition among domestic audiences and has a strong popular base.

Launching domestically first makes it easier to resonate with the audience and generate positive word-of-mouth, laying a solid foundation for subsequent overseas releases.

Once you've achieved success in the domestic market, you can then bring mature products and a comprehensive promotional strategy to the global market, which will greatly increase your chances of success.

Having figured this out, Tan Yue felt a sense of relief.

He returned to his desk, picked up the landline, and dialed Chen Ye's internal line.

"Xiao Ye, send a message to Lu Chuan and tell him that the cast list is fine and that we can start preparing for the script readings and costume design."

"In addition, I asked him to report to me the latest progress of the storyboard once a day."

"Yes, Mr. Tan, I'll take care of it right away," Chen Ye's voice came through the receiver.

After hanging up the phone, Tan Yue picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea.

The rich aroma of the tea dispelled some of his fatigue and made his mind clearer.

Next, the preparation work for "The Three-Body Problem" will enter the final sprint stage. The actors' readings, costume design, filming location construction, and special effects team coordination are all crucial and cannot be taken lightly.

He turned on his computer, created a new folder named "Preparation for Overseas Distribution of The Three-Body Problem", which was further divided into subfolders such as market research, promotion strategies, and a list of partners.

Although there are no plans for a simultaneous global release at the moment, it's always good to be prepared in advance.

He believes that as long as the quality of "The Three-Body Problem" is good enough, it will one day reach the world and let audiences around the world feel the charm of Chinese science fiction.

Meanwhile, the television drama department was bustling with activity.

After returning to their office, Lu Chuan and Qian Tao did not rest but immediately convened an emergency meeting with the storyboard production team.

"The cast list has been finalized, and President Tan is very satisfied!" Lu Chuan stood in front of the whiteboard in the conference room, a smile of excitement on his face.

"Next, our focus is to complete the storyboard script as soon as possible, and strive to finalize the entire script within five days, so that the actors have enough time to familiarize themselves with the script and their roles."

Qian Tao added, "President Tan particularly emphasized the shot design of key scenes, especially the Guzheng Operation and the signal transmission scene at the Red Coast Base, and asked us to polish them repeatedly."

"In the next few days, we need to focus on overcoming these difficulties and strive for perfection in every shot."

The team members nodded in agreement, their faces showing determination. (End of Chapter)