A widower's entertainment

Chapter 363 [Lin Bole] (Please Subscribe)
Xinghua Hutong, Beijing.

At the start of the new semester, Lin Zhaoxi entered his senior year at Yenching University Affiliated High School and will take the college entrance examination next summer. As for Lin Zhaoqing and the others, they will remain at Xinghua Middle School.

The difference is that Lin Zhaoqing was admitted to the senior high school of Xinghua Middle School and entered the first year of high school, while Lin Zhaomei entered the second year of junior high school, Lin Zhaoman entered the first year of junior high school, and the two younger ones, Lin Zhaohuan and Lin Zhaole, are still in the primary school, one in the fifth grade and the other in the third grade.

Because Lin Zhaoqing had good grades in sports and was also interested in it, he naturally joined the school's track and field team. He studied academic subjects while practicing running, which was also a way to develop a special skill that could give him extra points in the college entrance examination.

Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan naturally returned to the 271 Middle School in the Asian Games Village. Now, Lin Youcai and Fang Mei's small restaurant is on track and business is pretty good.

Nothing else was happening in Xinghua Hutong. Lin Youcheng was writing the screenplay for the movie "If Love Has a Destiny" for Yanjing Film Studio. It was based on the original movie in another time and space. It adopted a non-linear narrative style and used a layered structure consisting of two parallel and intersecting layers, with inner and outer levels. Two stories and two love stories were presented in parallel under the layered narrative mode, making the plot more suspenseful and dramatic.

Lin Youcheng was well aware that this film script was a nested story, meaning it employed a "play within a play" structure, dividing the film into flashback and present-day parts to depict the emotional experiences of two generations. The encounters, separations, and missed opportunities of the previous generation, and the acquaintances, friendships, and loves of the next, are interwoven with a long and complex plot, creating the film's play-within-a-play structure. Regardless of the romance, there's a common theme—the sweetness of the possessor and the helplessness of the loser. The two stories intersect through a metaphorical thread—a pendant passed from one generation to the next—establishing a causal link between the two segments.

The advantage of this structure is that the story segments are clearly defined and closely connected, which solves problems such as confusion caused by story interweaving or excessive jumps in the film's narrative due to the strong independence of the stories.

Because Lin Youcheng was very familiar with the story and script, the adaptation into a script was completed smoothly, and the script was handed over to Yanjing Film Studio.

As for the other film script for "The Reader", there has been no news from Li Shaohong's side. It is assumed that there is still room for discussion with Jiang Wen's side. After all, although Jiang Wen's "In the Heat of the Sun" was prepared for filming a long time ago, it did not start filming until 1993. It is unknown what Li Shaohong's side will say to Jiang Wen. Lin Youcheng is not in a hurry, but he is slowly rewriting the film script for "The Reader".

With the script for "If Love Has a Destiny" finalized, the Yanjing Film Studio naturally began preparations for filming.

Lin Youcheng recommended Yu Feihong to play the roles of Lin Xi and Song Qingyue in "If Love Has a Destiny". Naturally, Yan Film Studio found Yu Feihong, who was a junior at Yanjing Film Academy.

It can be said that the entire acting department of Yenching Film Academy was shocked by this news. Yenching Film Studio was going to film Lin Youcheng's romance novel "If Love Has a Destiny", and the female lead was being auditioned for Yu Feihong, a third-year student in the acting department. How could this not excite the entire acting department of Yenching Film Academy?

"Feihong, did they really ask you to act in 'The Classic'?"

"Is it really the movie 'If Love Has a Destiny' starring Lin Youcheng?"

"It's not settled yet. I need to go to the Yanjing Film Studio tomorrow."

Yu Feihong shook her head when she heard her classmate say this. She hadn't been decided yet, but she felt like she was dreaming. Suddenly, her homeroom teacher asked her to come over, and then she met with some colleagues from the Beijing Film Studio. She heard that writer Lin Youcheng had recommended her to play the female lead in "If Love Has a Destiny," and that she would be playing two roles.

However, this matter is not yet settled. She needs to go to the Yanjing Film Studio tomorrow, which can be considered an audition.

Although film academies don't allow first- and second-year students to take on roles, Yu Feihong was already a third-year student, and it was a film produced by Yanjing Film Studio, based on a novel by Lin Youcheng. Yanjing Film Academy couldn't possibly stop her, and they really hoped their student could land the role.

"My goodness! Fei Hong, you are so lucky! You actually got to act in the story of 'If Love Has a Destiny'. I really love this novel!"

Seeing his classmates' excitement, Yu Feihong himself was also very excited.

You should know that this is Lin Youcheng's novel, "If Love Has a Destiny"!

She was completely stunned, never expecting to be so lucky. She had read all of Lin Youcheng's novels and loved them all, including "If Love Has a Destiny," which moved her to tears. She never imagined that she would be able to play the female lead in "If Love Has a Destiny," and even play two roles.

Although she has acted in several dramas, this is truly the first time she has played a leading role like this, let alone playing two roles.

Yu Feihong felt uncertain and very nervous. She didn't know how her audition at the Yanjing Film Studio would go tomorrow, but she was also very grateful to have this opportunity.

The news spread throughout the entire film academy, not to mention the students in the acting department.

As seniors to Yu Feihong, Xu Qing and Jiang Wenli had naturally heard the news, and their feelings were quite complex. Jiang Wenli even said with great envy, "I didn't expect her to be like that too!"

Jiang Wenli was actually a little unconvinced. She was very confident in her acting skills. Her first TV series, "Cliff Lily," earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Feitian Awards. Naturally, she really wanted to act in Lin Youcheng's works, not to mention the leading role. It could be said that no student in the entire acting department didn't want to.

Xu Qing was alright. Although she was also envious, she was just envious. She said, "It's also a matter of luck. Besides, it was just an audition. It's not certain yet."

Upon hearing Xu Qing's words, Jiang Wenli remained silent, only saying enviously, "I wonder when I'll be able to act in Lin Youcheng's works, and even play the female lead."

Xu Qing had also considered playing the female lead in Lin Youcheng's novel. She really liked Lin Youcheng's works, but she didn't know when such an opportunity would come. Moreover, Xu Qing was unaware that because Chen Aige and Lin Youcheng collaborated on "Atonement" and did not adapt and film "Life on a String," she missed the opportunity to work with Chen Aige in her first film.

"Actually, I really want to play the lead role in 'The Time Traveler's Wife'." Xu Qing had also seen the Hollywood version of "The Time Traveler's Wife," and she really liked the movie. She wanted to play the lead role if the movie were made in China.

The Chinese film industry started very early on, but for a long time it developed within its own circle and struggled to integrate into the international community.

Although there are many good domestic films, many classic foreign films are difficult to see in Chinese cinemas.

It wasn't until 1994 that China began importing classic foreign films. However, even after the reform and opening up, people still had reservations about foreign films, and there was constant controversy during the import process. In the end, only 10 films were successfully imported. This is why, although Hollywood had already released films related to Lin Youcheng, such as "The Time Traveler's Wife," "The Lake House," and "Every Day," they were not seen in the domestic film market.

However, this does not mean that such films will never be seen in China, especially in film academies, where there will naturally be other opportunities, such as importing them from Hong Kong, not to mention the existence of pirated and smuggled DVDs.

Unlike Xu Qing, Jiang Wenli didn't have a specific preference for the female lead in a film. She simply said, "I'm open to any role, but of course, I'd prefer a love story."

Clearly, love stories like "The Classic" are very appealing to these young artists, and how could such young actors not want to star in such romantic films?

It's safe to say that everyone in the entire acting department envied Yu Feihong; even just the audition was enough to make them envious.

The next day, Yu Feihong naturally went to the Yanjing Film Studio. She had only heard from the people at the studio that Lin Youcheng had recommended her, and she never expected to meet the great writer Lin Youcheng at the Yanjing Film Studio.

Lin Youcheng originally didn't plan to come, but Cheng Zhigu asked him to make a special trip, so he came. It wasn't just about casting the female lead; two male leads also needed to be cast. Of course, the most important role was Zhou He. As for Zhou Weimin, although he was paired with Lin Xi, he would have fewer scenes compared to Zhou He.

Because the story involves young people, and the female lead recommended by Lin Youcheng is only twenty-one years old, the Yanjing Film Studio naturally also looked for suitable candidates based on young male actors. They went to the Yanjing Drama Academy to select actors. Lin Youcheng did not know the male actors they found. One of them was named Zhang Yi. Another person recommended another young acting student, Huang Lei, who was a student who enrolled in the Yanjing Film Academy last year.

Lin Youcheng didn't know what the Yanjing Film Studio was thinking. He quite approved of Zhang Yi's performance. Young and handsome, he played the blind Zhou He with some touching moments. Of course, Lin Youcheng also knew that Huang Lei's father was a stage actor, so he was considered a person in the industry. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been chosen by Chen Aige to play the male lead in "Life on a String" so smoothly in his first film. Of course, this matter still had to be decided by the Yanjing Film Studio.

After all, Lin Youcheng had already recommended the female lead, so it wasn't appropriate for him to give his opinion on the entire cast. Moreover, Cheng Zhigu was also not satisfied with Fei Hong's overall image and performance.

"Thank you, Teacher Lin!"

Yu Feihong only mustered up the courage to thank screenwriter Lin Youcheng after the audition was over. She knew very well that she was able to have this opportunity to audition because of Lin Youcheng's recommendation.

Looking at the stunningly beautiful fairy in front of him, who was only twenty-one years old, Lin Youcheng had to admit that she was really young. However, this age was more suitable for the story of "If Love Has a Destiny".

Lin Youcheng smiled and said, "No need to be polite. I'm just making a recommendation. Whether they choose you or not is not up to me."

"I'm already very grateful to you, Professor Lin, and I really love your work—"

This was also what Yu Feihong truly felt; she was genuinely grateful to Lin Youcheng.

Lin Youcheng couldn't help but laugh when he heard what the stunning fairy said. He had heard similar words more than once before. Li Xuejian had said the same thing before. Moreover, after Li Xuejian starred in "Lurking", he won the Golden Eagle Award and the Feitian Award for Best Actor. Now he can definitely be considered a very famous actor. He also starred in the movie "Jiao Yulu" and won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor. He has definitely soared to great heights.

I wonder if this stunningly beautiful actress will end up like Li Xuejian if she actually acts in the drama "If Love Has a Destiny".

Of course, whether an actor can rise to prominence ultimately depends on opportunity and acting skills. If an actor has both acting skills and opportunities, they will naturally rise to prominence.

If it really works out, and the unknown actors he recommends become famous, he will be considered their mentor, someone who discovered these talented but unknown actors in the industry.

In the acting industry, it's true that talented actors are common, but discerning mentors are rare.

Of course, it wasn't just unknown actors. For example, Lin Youcheng recommended Pan Hong and Liang Jiahui to star in "The Message." Even if he wasn't a talent scout, he did give them an opportunity. It's worth noting that Liang Jiahui won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Supporting Actor in mainland China for "The Message." Although this award wasn't for Best Actor, it was still quite a rare achievement for an actor like him in Hong Kong.

The thought only flashed through Lin Youcheng's mind for a moment, and he said with a smile, "Whether you can act in this play or not, you must act well in the future."

Upon hearing Lin Youcheng's words, the young Fairy Jinghong nodded excitedly and said, "Teacher Lin, I will definitely act well in the future."

Lin Youcheng didn't pay much attention to what Fairy Jinghong said, because he was just making a recommendation. Even if Yanjing Film Studio didn't choose Yu Feihong for "If Love Has a Destiny" this time, Yu Feihong would become famous through other films in the future, which would naturally prove that his judgment was correct.

(End of this chapter)