Extracting skills from movies

That day, after finishing a short sample of "Painting Rivers and Lakes" in the editing room, Du Sheng slowly walked back to his office.

As soon as I sat down, I saw Yang Mi, who was acting as my secretary today, busy in the office.

This girl was already very popular, and recently she became a sensation across Asia thanks to the drama "My Love from the Star." She's radiant and her smile never stops.

When the company saw that the show was a hit, how could they let it go?

They immediately arranged for the original cast and crew to prepare for the next installment.

The new drama is called "The Heirs".

Filming is scheduled to begin in September, and Yang Mi will be joining the crew soon, keeping her extremely busy.

So she deliberately slipped into Du Sheng's office during a spare moment, hoping to take advantage of this last bit of free time to act coquettishly and get some guidance.

She was wearing a sharp business suit today, a pencil skirt with black stockings.

She wore a pair of eye-catching red stilettos, and her walk was incredibly graceful.

What's most amazing is that she also wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses without lenses, pretending to read documents, exuding a serious yet knowing vibe, creating a huge contrast.

Her hair was also specially styled into Du Sheng's favorite high ponytail, swaying back and forth as if to say:

"Get on the horse, don't just sit there!"

The two were deeply in love, and the atmosphere was just getting warmer when the internal phone on the table rang.

Yang Mi quickly answered the phone and heard that it was from the president's office, saying that Chen Sicheng wanted to see Du Sheng.

Chen Sicheng?
Du Sheng is familiar with this name.

The company is heavily promoting promising young commercial film directors and has been focusing on nurturing them.

Du Sheng nodded:
"Let him in."

A few minutes later, Chen Sicheng led Li Chen through the door.

The two of them were a bit reserved as soon as they came in, their smiles were forced, and it was obvious that they had something to ask of them.

Du Sheng waved his hand:
"Have a seat. Have you finished thinking about the script?"

Chen Sicheng had been with the company for over a year and had long since figured out Du Sheng's temperament.

Let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point.

He immediately pulled out a script, handed it to him with both hands, and spoke respectfully:
"Mr. Du, you have always encouraged us to develop our careers as directors, and I have always remembered that."

This is a script that Li Chen and I worked on together; it's called "A Love Story in Beijing".
It tells the story of a group of young people struggling in Beijing, pursuing their dreams, love, and ideals...

Upon hearing this, Du Sheng subconsciously glanced at Li Chen.

He's familiar with this show.

In his previous life, Chen Sicheng became famous overnight because of it!

When it aired, it achieved phenomenal ratings, sparked a huge online debate, and won numerous awards.

Yang Mi also won the Golden Eagle Award for "Most Popular Actress" for this drama.

It was later made into a movie, which grossed over 4 million yuan and made a fortune.

As for why we are looking at Li Chen?
Because the script is based on the short story "Invincible" that Li Chen wrote on his blog.

It also includes his real-life romantic experience with Li Xiaolu.

The "gold digger" played by Yang Mi in the drama is based on Li Xiaolu.

Back when they were filming, Yang Mi and Li Xiaolu had quite a few "sisterly feuds," with sparks flying everywhere, which the audience found very entertaining.

Du Sheng had already heard this gossip, and was somewhat surprised.
Li Chen looks honest and simple, but his romantic history is surprisingly exciting.

He flipped through the script and glanced at it briefly, getting a general idea of ​​what to expect.

The drama "Love Story in Beijing" has quite a few flaws.

The plot is reminiscent of Korean comics, the character designs are stereotypical, and the values ​​presented are often criticized.
But to be fair, Chen Sicheng is indeed quite capable.

He is particularly good at grasping the spirit of the times, understanding what the audience likes to watch, and accurately mastering the style of "novelty-friendly novels".

Sweet, angsty, tearful, and exhilarating—it has it all.

In Du Sheng's eyes, Chen Sicheng's works are of inconsistent quality and even have some plagiarism suspicions, but he is good at using tricks and accurately grasps emotions.

As long as there is a market, he will not go hungry.

As soon as Du Sheng closed the script, Chen Sicheng eagerly awaited a response.

Upon hearing Du Sheng say, "Okay, let's start the project," he beamed with joy and bowed repeatedly.
"Thank you, Mr. Du! I will do my best to make it a good film!"

Du Sheng actually admires this kind of person.

Sensible, humble, and perceptive.

Moreover, Chen Sicheng was quite loyal when dealing with Wang Baoqiang's matter.

Seeing that the project had been approved, Yang Mi, who was standing nearby, curiously picked up the script and flipped through it.

Chen Sicheng immediately stepped forward, smiling broadly.

"Ms. Mi, if you're interested, you can pick any role you like!"

He and Yang Mi have worked together on two dramas and are quite familiar with each other.

Although he's older than her, he always calls her "Teacher Mi." At first, it was just teasing, but now it's purely for fun.

Upon hearing this, Yang Mi slammed the script down on the table and shook her head vigorously.
"Forget it, I don't have much time. I'm about to join the cast of 'The Heirs'."

She has a really good eye.

The script for "Love Story in Beijing" looks alright, but compared to "The Heirs"?

That's a huge difference!

In terms of team, investment, and publicity, they are not even in the same league.

With big-budget productions like "The Heirs" in hand, who would care about sweet urban dramas?

Chen Sicheng casually mentioned that it would be great if they could invite someone as popular as Yang Mi, but if they couldn't, they could leave it to the company to arrange.

He touched his chin and tentatively said:
"Mr. Du, could you please invite Tong Liya to play the female lead, Shen Bing?"
Her demeanor is a good match for the role.

Before Du Sheng could speak, Yang Mi immediately interrupted:

"You certainly have a discerning eye, but Sister Liya is currently filming 'Youthful Days,' so she won't have any free time."

Tong Liya has been with Xingji Media for more than two years and has long since transformed from a naive girl into a popular star.

With her good looks and temperament, plus Du Sheng's tireless support in directing, she starred in five popular films, and her fame was approaching that of a top-tier actress.

If she had a choice, she would definitely choose to make movies.

Du Sheng spoke calmly:
"Regarding the female lead, once the project is finalized, Hou Hongliang will organize the auditions."

There are plenty of attractive young women in the company, many of whom meet all the criteria.

Chen Sicheng understood immediately.

The company's top-tier celebrities are unlikely to be able to be invited.

But he was prepared; with a quick glance, he changed his plan immediately:
"Okay, I'll discuss it with President Hou later."

For the female lead, I'd first consider Song Shu. She's acted in the most urban dramas, and her temperament is suitable.

If that doesn't work, I have a backup plan: Zhao Liying, who just joined the company.

He paused, then continued:

"If she were to play the role, I would change the character of Shen Bing."

The story is changed to a girl from the countryside who, upon arriving in Beijing, is looked down upon. Gradually, her heart changes, she becomes materialistic, and in the end, she dumps her poor boyfriend for money and marries a rich second-generation heir…

This move shows that Chen Sicheng really knows how to adapt to local conditions.

Zhao Liying's image hasn't fully solidified yet. If she were to play a glamorous, wealthy, and beautiful woman, she would definitely be criticized for "pretending."

But what if he plays a "darkened gold digger"?
On the contrary, it creates drama, and the audience can even discuss "why she turned bad," making the topic extremely popular.

Then there's Huayi Brothers, which Zhao Liying signed with. Their previous films, "Blood Brothers" and "The Banquet," flopped one after another, and "Assembly" didn't even break even, almost leading to bankruptcy.

Wang Zhongjun lost everything, including his underwear, and was also suppressed by others; his life was miserable.

Huayi is practically falling apart, so Zhao Liying's contract is practically worthless; she can be signed for a small fee.

She was heavily criticized when she first debuted, but "being criticized is still being famous," so at least she gained some popularity. Wang Jinhua saw her stubbornness and potential, thought she could be molded, and brought her into the StarCraft industry.

Chen Sicheng caught Du Sheng today because he wanted to settle things.

He knew that within the company, as long as Du Sheng gave his approval, the project would immediately take off.

Resources, budget, and schedule—everything is arranged clearly for you.

After listening, Du Sheng found it quite interesting.

Zhao Liying is such a lucky girl; she always manages to stumble upon roles that suit her perfectly.

He thought for a moment and said:

“You’ll be in contact with Hou Hongliang regarding casting.”

Zhao Liying could play the third female lead, Lin Xia; the role is simple and appealing.

"Let Dilraba try out for the second female lead."

Zhao Liying isn't even a fourth-tier actress yet, but she's already playing the leading lady right off the bat?
Can't bear it.

Moreover, there's no need to revise the script for her.

Song Shu had just finished filming "Dwelling Narrowness" and was spending her days loitering around the company as a temporary secretary, so it was a good idea to give her some work to do.

Dilraba is perfect for playing an ambitious character who wants to climb the social ladder.

She's finished her college entrance exams, so joining the film crew is a good opportunity for her to practice her acting skills.

Upon hearing this, Chen Sicheng's face lit up with a wide smile:

"Alright! I'll go find President Hou right away!"

Du Sheng's words were tantamount to giving the green light!
Having achieved his goal, he gave Li Chen a wink, and the two of them quickly made their escape.

As soon as they left, Yang Mi slammed the door shut, slowly unbuttoned the top button of her shirt, then squatted down next to Du Sheng, her voice so soft it could melt your heart:

"Brother Sheng~ My scalp is so itchy, can you take a look and see if it's because my brain is growing~"

Du Sheng looked down.

Goodness, its undulating, towering form, as deep as the sea, makes that ponytail look even more impressive.

He reached out and pinched Xiaoqian's waist, gently pulling her close:
"You're so full of tricks, you were pretty good at sabotaging me just now, weren't you?"

Yang Mi trembled, then looked up with seductive eyes:

"I was just telling the truth~ Besides..."

She snuggled closer to him:

"I'm just afraid someone will steal my Sheng-ge away from me~"

Du Sheng smiled and pinched her cheek:
"You're so good at acting cute."

"Alright, stop fooling around. Grab the script; we need to rehearse later."

Yang Mi hummed twice, reluctantly stood up, buttoned up her clothes, and didn't forget to turn back and give a flirtatious wink before leaving.

She had long been addicted to this kind of "office romance".

Ever since being 'tortured' by Du Sheng on the set of "The Man from Nowhere," although I haven't actually developed any special hobbies, a seed has been planted in my heart.

Especially that ponytail, which became a little secret code between the two of them.

What she's most excited about right now is when Du Sheng grabs her ponytail like he did when they were filming, and "punishes" her in a way that's both painful and pleasurable.

The two of them put on a skit called "Leaping Horse and Whipping the Whip" in the office and laughed heartily.

After she had finished making a scene, Yang Mi straightened her clothes while muttering pitifully:

"Brother Sheng, my hair is almost pulled out! It hurts so much!"

Du Sheng smiled and poked her:

"Looking at you like this, outsiders would think I'm abusing you, but who knows that your tears are actually from laughter."

Yang Mi quietly put the torn stockings into her bag, revealing her two fair and tender legs, with several red marks still on her thighs.

She looked up and blinked:

"Brother Sheng, since I've been working so hard, could you write a script for me?"
I want to act in movies; I'm not satisfied with just TV dramas anymore!

Among the women around Du Sheng, Yang Mi is considered to be the most career-driven.

She has a strong, independent personality; when she's in love, she can be reckless and do whatever it takes, but when she gets serious about her career, her dedication is admirable.

Since her fame has rivaled that of top-tier celebrities, she's been inundated with commercial performance offers and endorsement deals, making her more proactive in earning money than anyone else.

The longer she spent with Du Sheng, the more clingy she became, and her skills in being charming and coquettish reached a level of perfection.

In her mind, she considered herself to be on the same level as Liu Shishi and Tang Yan, all of whom were Liu Yifei's "die-hard sisters".

Needless to say, Liu Yifei starred in an international blockbuster like "The Forbidden Kingdom," and her status has skyrocketed.

Liu Shishi and Tang Yan also gained renewed popularity with "The Grandmaster".

Although Yang Mi has the movie "The Man from Nowhere" as a foundation, it always feels like something is missing.

She wanted to jump even higher.

Upon hearing this, Du Sheng nodded:
"Okay, let's finish filming 'The Heirs' first, and then start filming the sequel 'Agent 3' in October."

"We'll see how things go next year, and I'll arrange a lead role for you in a movie. It's a sure thing."

Yang Mi's eyes lit up instantly, and she was so excited that she almost pounced on him to kiss him, but Du Sheng stopped her in a flash.
"Go wash up first."

"Hmph~ You're starting to complain now!"

Despite her complaints, Yang Mi was quick to act. She turned around and slipped into the office's small bathroom to brush her teeth and rinse her mouth. She even applied a layer of honey-scented lip balm, and when she came back smelling sweet, she was greeted with a flurry of kisses.

Du Sheng took the opportunity to pinch her cheek again:

"I haven't even mentioned which genre, and you're already this excited?"
What if it's a low-budget art film?

Yang Mi waved her hand dismissively.
"As long as it's put together and filmed, it'll be a good movie, even if it's a small investment!"

As Du Sheng played with her hair, he slowly said:
"The company is currently preparing two films."

There's a movie called "So Young," a youth film, and the female leads all have good roles.
Another film, titled "Border Storm," tells the story of gangs, police, and hostages on the China-Myanmar border. It's a realistic film with a large budget and has a chance to win awards.

However, the female lead's role is less prominent than the male lead's, and her acting skills are also more demanding.

You can choose. Film "So Young" first, and "Border Town" later.

Both of these films became commercially successful and critically acclaimed works in later generations, making them perfect for promoting actors.

Yang Mi pondered for a moment, then decisively made the decision:

I choose youth films!

"A smaller investment is fine, and the role suits my student-like personality; there's less pressure, making it easier to perform."

The previous film "Youthful Years" starring Zuo Xiaoqing and Tong Liya was of the same type, but one was a campus film and the other was a transition to the workplace.

Du Sheng gave her a thumbs up:
"Smart! This film is definitely suitable for you, and it will be more beneficial for your future development."

"So Young" is a multi-female-led drama, which is a good opportunity for Gao Yuanyuan, Jia Jingwen, Yang Mi, Gulinazha and other girls to make their appearances.

As long as the acting is decent, a box office hit will immediately boost the fan base and prove that the actor can "hold the box office."

While "Border Town" is more profound, it focuses on the male lead, with the female lead contributing only a limited amount of value.

However, it can also accommodate two female characters.

For example, casting Liu Shishi as Xiao An, a naive girl kidnapped by drug traffickers, and Liu Tao as the police officer's sister, both actors were a good fit in terms of image and temperament, and each of them was able to shine.

Upon hearing the analysis, Yang Mi became even more restless:
"Can we start preparing earlier?"
I can run between the two places; I'm not afraid of being tired!

Du Sheng pinched her cheek:
"You're in such a hurry."

Filming multiple projects at once can easily lead to instability in performance; it's better to focus on making "The Heirs" a solid success first.

The script for "So Young" is still being polished; it will pick up right after you finish filming.

Yang Mi pouted and acted coquettishly:

"But I can't wait any longer!"

…(End of this chapter)