1990: Starting from Baojia Street

After arriving at the audition room, Zhou Yan helped Chen Kaige turn on the camera and other equipment, and then Chen Kaige gave Zhang Ziyi a page of the script.

Chen Kaige gave Zhang Ziyi ten minutes to familiarize herself with the script.

Zhou Yan and Gong Li also read the script. This is a one-man show with only Zhao Ji in it, and she is probably accusing Ying Zheng of taking advantage of her.

Zhou Yan was quite surprised when he saw the script.

He had seen the finished film of "The Emperor and the Assassin", but he had not seen this scene in the film, and the lines in the script were all very unfamiliar to him.

Was it that the script was changed, or was this scene originally filmed but not used in the end?
Both situations are normal. The appearance of Zhou Yan has brought many changes to the world, so it is understandable that Chen Kaige's script has changed a little.

The second situation is more common. For a movie, the shots that were shot are very different from the shots in the final film.

Ten minutes later, before Chen Kaige could say anything, Zhang Ziyi took the initiative to speak, "Director Chen, I'm ready."

Chen Kaige smiled and nodded, "Let's get started."

Zhang Ziyi put down the script, took a deep breath, and began looking for the camera.

It is normal for actors to look for the camera, because they must know where the camera is in order to ensure that there are no problems with their movements and positions.

Most of the time, movement and standing positions are decided by the director after communication with the actors, and the actors don't have to find them themselves.

But now it was an audition, and since Chen Kaige had no intention of communicating with her further, she could only determine her position by herself.

But Zhang Ziyi was clearly inexperienced, as she just stared blankly at the camera.

Seeing her staring at the camera, Zhou Yan and the others frowned.

Zhou Yan looked at Gong Li next to him with a puzzled look. He was not from a professional background and did not understand the school's teaching situation, so he did not know whether Zhang Ziyi's situation was normal.

Don’t teachers tell students in the first semester of the Chinese Academy of Drama not to stare at the camera?
This is obviously very basic common sense.

Gong Li probably knew what Zhou Yan was thinking. She covered her mouth and whispered, "Generally speaking, freshmen really won't tell them this, but many freshmen have experience and don't need to tell them."

Zhou Yan nodded and said nothing more.

As a director, I am very sensitive to the way actors look at the camera.

Generally speaking, directors are most afraid of actors staring at the camera, and will even scold them if they see them staring at the camera.

Because when an actor stares at the camera, it breaks the fourth wall and makes the audience feel uncomfortable. No one wants to suddenly see the actor staring at you through the screen while watching a movie, as if he knows you exist.

Of course, some special movies, such as thrillers that want to create a horror atmosphere, sometimes require actors to stare at the camera, which is another matter.

Of course, the actors know this kind of thing, and over time they will develop a habit of deliberately avoiding the camera and not looking into the camera's eyes.

When Zhang Ziyi made this mistake, Chen Kaige did not ask her to stop, but just watched her continue performing.

On the other hand, although Zhang Ziyi noticed the looks of Zhou Yan and the others, and also saw Gong Li talking to Zhou Yan, she didn't have the heart to care about these at the moment and could only focus on the performance.

After adjusting herself, Zhang Ziyi began her performance.

"I've been wondering if you have a heart..."

The lines in this section are very modern, but it is also normal, because the lines in "The Emperor and the Assassin" are very modern. This is also a point criticized by many viewers.

In fact, there is nothing to criticize. If the historical facts were truly respected, few viewers would be able to understand the lines.

Zhang Ziyi's performance was somewhat beyond Zhou Yan's expectations. She was better than the skit they had rehearsed a few days ago.

Of course, it is also possible that her makeup and clothing added points to her.

However, Zhang Ziyi's performance was only slightly better than Zhou Yan expected. If compared with mature actors, it was still far behind.

And since Gong Li was present at the event, Zhou Yan couldn't help but compare the two of them.

Not to mention comparing Zhang Ziyi, who is not yet an adult, with Gong Li, even if you compare Zhang Ziyi in her best condition with Gong Li now, there is no comparison.

Zhang Ziyi's face gives her an advantage on the big screen, but when it comes to acting aura, there is still a gap between her and Gong Li.

If Zhou Yan were to judge, Zhang Ziyi would definitely not be able to play the role of Zhao Ji, and he would unconditionally choose Gong Li to play this role.

And even if he didn't choose Gong Li, he would choose other actresses.

But after watching Zhang Ziyi's performance, Chen Kaige actually nodded secretly, seeming quite satisfied.

After Zhang Ziyi finished her performance, Chen Kaige looked at Zhou Yan first, "Old Zhou, what do you think?"

Zhou Yan knew Chen Kaige too well and knew that he must be satisfied with Zhang Ziyi's performance, and once he had an idea, it would be difficult for others to change it.

"After all, she is still young and her acting skills still have room for improvement, but her makeup and costumes are really eye-catching."

Zhou Yan did not express his thoughts very clearly in this sentence.

Gong Li wanted to give some advice, but after hearing what Zhou Yan said, she gave up and just said, "If you really want to play this role, you should spend more time practicing next semester."

Chen Kaige smiled and nodded, "Yes, there is still half a year before the official shooting, Ziyi, you still have a lot of time to prepare."

Zhang Ziyi's eyes lit up, "Director Chen, what do you mean?"

"It is tentatively decided that you will play Zhao Ji."

"Thank you, Director Chen." Zhang Ziyi thanked him quickly, and then said with some concern, "I have no problem, it's just about the school."

Chen Kaige smiled and said, "It's okay, I'll go ask for you at the beginning of the new year."

Seeing Chen Kaige so confident, Zhang Ziyi thought he could really convince the school, so she thanked him again: "Thank you, Director Chen."

……

After the audition, Zhang Ziyi went to ask Hong Xin and others to help her remove her makeup, while Chen Kaige took the audition film he had just recorded to the workshop to develop it.

Everyone in the workshop knew Chen Kaige, so Zhou Yan naturally didn't need to accompany him for such a small matter; Chen Kaige could go there by himself.

After Chen Kaige left, only Zhou Yan and Gong Li were left. Gong Li sighed, "Passing the audition may not be a good thing for a junior sister like me."

Zhou Yan was naturally aware of Gong Li's concerns and said with a smile, "Everyone has their own destiny, and it is difficult for others to intervene and change it. Besides, who can predict what will happen in the future? Maybe this is the most important opportunity in Zhang Ziyi's life."

"That's true, so I didn't interrupt."

If they speak out to dissuade them at this time, not only Chen Kaige will complain about them later, but Zhang Ziyi may also complain about them.

As long as Zhang Ziyi doesn't succeed in her career, she will definitely think of this missed opportunity.

People usually beautify the road they did not choose, regret not choosing another road, and think that if they had chosen another road, their life would have been better. As Zhang Ailing said, if you marry a red rose, over time, the red will become a smear of mosquito blood on the wall, and the white will still be the bright moonlight in front of the window; if you marry a white rose, the white will become a grain of rice stuck on your clothes, and the red will become a cinnabar mole on your heart.

Although this is about women, it can be applied to most choices in the world.

Zhou Yan said with a smile, "We are worrying about this, maybe the girl will choose between studies and film in the future."

"If that's the case, then I think highly of this little junior sister."

The two walked on the way to Zhou Yan's office. When they reached the lobby, Zhou Yan smiled and said, "Let's not talk about her. Let's talk about you. I haven't asked you before. What are your plans for the next two years? Have you been unemployed recently?"

Gong Li nodded and said, "After finishing "Chinese Box", I have no work. On the one hand, there are few good scripts now, and on the other hand, He Xiang doesn't want me to take too many jobs."

"Have you ever thought about going out for a walk?" Zhou Yan asked.

If it were any other actor, Zhou Yan would not have asked this question, but Gong Li is different.

If there is any actress from the mainland who can truly make a breakthrough into the international arena, it is probably Gong Li, because she has won awards at several major film festivals and is still very recognized internationally.

"It would be a lie to say I haven't thought about it, but the road is not that easy. When Heat was filming, they approached me, but I was a little timid at the time, afraid that I wouldn't be able to act well. Plus, I had to film To Live at the same time, so I refused."

Zhou Yan raised his eyebrows. He didn't expect this to happen.

"Heat" is an action blockbuster released last year. The film is starred by many big names. The director is Michael Mann and the starring actors include Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer.

Working with these people was indeed a bit stressful for Gong Li in the past few years.

"Do you regret it now?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile.

Gong Li nodded very frankly, "Well, I do regret it a little. If it were now, I would definitely agree."

"Are there any other Hollywood movies looking for you?"

"There was one a while ago, in a James Bond movie, but I thought the role was too thin, so I turned it down again."

“Oh, it’s Tomorrow Never Dies.”

"Tomorrow Never Dies" is exactly what Gong Li said. Zhou Yan saw the news some time ago that the film had just been completed and is expected to be released next year.

And there is a Chinese actress in this movie - Michelle Yeoh. It should be that the producer failed to invite Gong Li, so they invited Michelle Yeoh instead.

But what’s interesting is that the Bond girl played by Michelle Yeoh is actually a little fuller than previous Bond girls, and is no longer a pure vase.

But even so, it is still relatively thin in Gong Li's eyes. After all, since her debut, Gong Li has mostly starred in movies where the female lead has a lot of screen time. Even in "Farewell My Concubine", her role is not inferior to that of the two male protagonists.

"That seems to be the name." Gong Li nodded. "In this kind of movie, the female characters are not interesting."

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "It's not just the female characters, the male characters are the same."

To put it bluntly, the "007" series is a blockbuster movie. Can you ask for the characters in a blockbuster movie to be fully developed?
The purpose of a cool movie is to make the audience feel good while watching it.

In fact, Gong Li has shot too many art films and has begun to look down on commercial films.

But later Gong Li went around in circles and took on "Miami Vice", but there was no response.

Zhou Yan actually hopes that Gong Li can take on more foreign films in the next few years, because she has been highly recognized internationally in recent years and the audience still likes to watch her.

In a few years, she may still have her status, but it will be difficult for her to gain popularity.

More importantly, in another ten or eight years, she will be too old to act in many movies, and she won’t be able to make any breakthroughs.

In Zhou Yan's opinion, Gong Li's future years were wasted.

If she had developed more overseas in the next few years, she could have allowed more Chinese faces to appear in first-tier blockbusters, which would have helped shape foreign audiences' aesthetic perception of the Chinese.

Gong Li felt a little regretful that she did not take the role in "Heat" before, but it was not something she would always keep in mind, and she did not attach great importance to this opportunity.

"I don't really care about Hollywood movies. Now I'm really concerned about when you'll shoot a new movie. If there's a role that's suitable for me, remember to tell me," said Gong Li.

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "Sister Li, you know that I don't have many female roles in movies. Among the movies I've played, the one with the most roles is the heroine in "Time Traveler". This role is not suitable for you, after all, it's a love story."

Gong Li pouted and said, "What's wrong with a love scene? Can't we just act like we're in love? Do you think my sister is too old?"

"No, no." Zhou Yan waved his hands quickly, "Your aura is too strong. My heroine doesn't have this aura."

"Didn't you say that my acting skills are not good? I can't handle some roles?"

"I did not say……"

"Haha, I was just kidding. Look how scared you are. But anyway, if you need a love scene in the future, you can look for me. We have acted in love scenes before."

Zhou Yan knew that she was talking about Songlian and Chen Feipu in Raise the Red Lantern.

"That counts?"

"Why not? Does it have to be a passionate scene to be considered a love scene?"

Zhou Yan nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I will definitely look for you if I have the chance in the future."

"That's right." Gong Li smiled, and then joked, "In the future, either let me play your wife, or let me play your sister, or if that doesn't work, I can play your elder."

"..."

"At least I can take advantage of you."

……

Zhou Yan originally wanted to keep Gong Li and the others in the studio to have dinner, but they left in the afternoon.

Chen Kaige also left, saying that he had gone back to be busy revising the script.

It seems that he has truly understood Zhang Ziyi and even wanted to change the script for her.

Before leaving, Chen Kaige mentioned the matter of the production team again. It can be seen that he really wanted Zhou Yan's team to help.

Zhou Yan also agreed. After they agreed on the remuneration and time, they could send the team over.

This time Zhou Yan planned to send more people over. It happened that the TV drama department had also recruited some new people, so he could take this opportunity to bring them over to gain some experience.

Although the filming of movies and TV series is different, experiencing such a large crew will definitely help them grow.

And if there are more people, we can ask for more money, right?

Anyway, Chen Kaige has said that they have a larger budget this time, so why not take advantage of it? (End of this chapter)