Huayu, can you be called the best actor if you don’t indulge yourself?

Chapter 557 The Audition Begins

The night breeze blows.

It takes away the heat accumulated during the day.

The film set was brightly lit, with beams of light piercing through the woods to add to its brightness. However, as Li Luo walked further in, the light became dimmer and the noisy voices gradually faded away.

The leaves rustle.

The flowing, wide-sleeved, ethereal blue dress seemed to move quickly yet slowly, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.

See this.

Li Luo quickly quickened his pace.

He didn't intend to do anything to Liu Shishi, but this place was located on the outskirts of Hengdian, and the film set was in the mountains and forests. The twenty-one-year-old girl just wandered into the woods like that.

To be honest, I wouldn't feel at ease if I didn't come and check it out.

With each step.

Li Luo suddenly understood.

Beyond this grove of trees, there was a winding stream.

The moon and stars shone brightly in the sky.

A light frost fell upon the earth.

The hills rise and fall.

The stream flowed on.

The sounds of insects and birds filled the air, and the water splashed against the rocks, creating a gentle, clear sound, like a bright and refreshing symphony. As the cool night breeze blew, a refreshing coolness washed over me.

The silhouette of her skirt fluttered in the distance.

In just a few breaths, the other person had disappeared into a patch of reeds.

Set your mind.

Li Luo once again sought to revisit the past.

Without realizing it, his steps faltered and he stopped.

All that could be seen were reeds swaying in the breeze.

The stream shimmered and sparkled under the moonlight.

A beautiful woman in a flowing, wide-sleeved dress sat cross-legged on a large rock by the river. Her jet-black hair was styled in an updo and adorned with blue jewelry. Her long, slender neck was as white as jade.

Her profile is delicate and pretty.

The flowing skirt drew a slightly fuller curve.

The moonlight, the starlight, the stream, and the reeds—everything before his eyes resembled an antique painting of ladies under the moon, making Li Luo feel as if he were in the world of Chinese Paladin 3.

Compared to Yang Mi's role-playing just now.

That little feeling.

It came even more intensely.

Longkui's flushed face and the greasy roasted chicken leg in her hand added a touch of vibrancy to the scene.

I took a step and walked over.

Li Luo then sat down cross-legged.

I dipped my fingers into the cool stream water and stirred them, washing away the traces of oil.

He tore the chicken leg clean in no time.

Liu Shishi threw the bone in her hand far away, and with a soft thud, it startled several night birds on the opposite bank. She also dipped her slender hands into the clear stream to wash them.

However, the grease on the corners of her mouth made the girl hesitate.

next moment.

The tissue was handed to his mouth.

I had just wiped it off when another bottle of mineral water was unscrewed.

"The scenery here is beautiful."

Liu Shishi gulped down half a bottle of water, looked at the night scene before her, and handed it back: "When Sister Mi, Sister Ou, and I are tired from filming, we like to come to the river to feel the breeze and eat some snacks."

"After chatting for a while, I feel like I'm not tired at all!"

"Ah."

Li Luo took the bottle.

I gulped down a mouthful for myself too.

Hearing the sound of drinking water coming from the side, Liu Shishi looked over with a dazed expression, staring intently at the handsome man sitting next to her, noticing the faint smile on his lips.

Compared to He Yichen back then, Luo Ge looks even more handsome!

Mineral water spilled from the corner of his mouth.

It slipped down from the Adam's apple.

Such a scene deeply touched Liu Shishi's heartstrings.

"Luo Ge."

The girl looked at the stream again.

"Ok?"

Li Luo screwed on the bottle cap.

"you"

Liu Shishi's eyes sparkled like stars as the water rippled: "I'm so happy you came to visit the set today. Actually, I didn't have much hope, you've been so busy lately."

"I'm so happy."

"Brother Luo always keeps his promises."

A gentle breeze was blowing.

The moonlight falling on my eyes made the other person's voice sound exceptionally serene.

"actually."

"Sister Cai has reminded me several times to be careful when dealing with you. She said you're definitely a womanizer and I shouldn't be fooled by your appearance. I think she's right."

"You can't deny that Brother Luo is actually a womanizer."

The conversation shifted too abruptly.

This almost caused Li Luo to strain his back.

He felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, but no real anger. Cai Yinong's reminder was standard procedure; no one wants their carefully nurtured little flower to be easily taken away.

"only."

Hugging her knees, the girl looked at me with bright eyes: "I think about it when I'm eating, I think about it when I'm acting, and sometimes I even dream about it."

"Starting today, I'm not willing to just think about it anymore!"

"I don't care what kind of radish you are."

"Luo Ge."

After letting out a soft murmur, Liu Shishi closed her eyes tightly.

Her eyelashes trembled.

Her face was flushed with a rouge-like color.

Listening to Luo Ge's breathing and smelling the scent on his body that she found so captivating, Liu Shishi's chest heaved with nervousness, but she still managed to lift her delicate chin.

See you next time.

I wonder when that will be.

If you don't try to hold on to these feelings, the man you're obsessed with will only go higher and higher, or even further and further away.

At this moment.

She didn't care what kind of person Brother Luo was.

at this moment.

She only wants to be Luo Ge's person!
Before Li Luo could even react, the girl Long Kui, dressed in a flowing, dark blue dress with wide sleeves, had already adopted a posture that suggested she was ready to be picked.

Those luscious red lips, and the way she trembled with nervousness.

all of these.

Everything was clear to Li Luo.

I never expected that after just finishing the battle with the eldest daughter of the Tang family, I would receive a confession from Princess Longkui of the Jiang Kingdom, and it was a farewell where she said it didn't matter at all.

The smile on Li Luo's lips grew even more pronounced as the reeds swayed.

Mineral water bottle.

He tumbled off the rock.

Swishing its tail, the little goldfish swam happily in the stream.

moonlight.

The frost-covered beauty is fully revealed.

"Brother Luo~~~"

The rapid, low gasps disappeared as Longkui dug her teeth deep into Li Luo's shoulder. As the night wind continued to blow, everything became quiet again, with only the gentle flow of the stream being heard.

Sparkling water droplets rose continuously as they collided with the stones.

The flowers are bright red.

Like cherry blossoms, they fell one after another.

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, lest they wither and fall, leaving only bare branches." This means to seize the most beautiful blooms in their most dazzling moments.

[Successful indulgence]

[Reward: Script and storyboard images for "Nirvana in Fire"]

Back to the actors' rest area.

Li Luo looked at the virtual inventory floating in front of him and couldn't help but chuckle.

did not expect.

This drama actually ended up in my hands.

I had considered buying back the film and television rights to "Nirvana in Fire" before, but having only the original novel wasn't enough. The key was to turn the text into visuals. Now I don't have to hesitate anymore.

I have the storyboard in hand.

That should be enough to recreate the TV series.

As for the childish, playful political intrigue in the drama, that's not Li Luo's focus.

to be honest.

This is just a lighthearted, entertaining drama.

It doesn't matter if the political maneuvering is naive or the understanding of the military and power is superficial; as long as the production is excellent, the costumes and props are exquisite, the characters are well-developed, the etiquette is meticulous, and the acting is on point, that's enough.

Watching TV is sometimes just for relaxation, and being able to do that is already quite difficult.

It's enjoyable to watch.

It can also express correct values.

In this respect, "Nirvana in Fire" is a work of high quality.

There's absolutely no need to compare it to a political drama like "Da Ming Dynasty 1566," as the target audiences for both are completely different.

"Hey~"

Just as Li Luo was chuckling.

A sudden pain in his waist made him let out a soft cry. He turned his head in confusion and found Liu Shishi staring at him with wide eyes, looking angry.

That rascal, he's in so much pain!

Still laughing here.

Without needing to say it outright, Li Luo saw through her little scheme at a glance. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, he happily and swiftly kissed her pretty face.

This is a reward that the girl sent over.

It's practically like making tens or hundreds of millions of dollars for yourself.

Plus.
The wonderful little taste just now.

There's no doubt about it, Liu Shishi is the perfect choice for the role of Princess Nihuang!
"Don't~"

Liu Shishi shyly hid, her bright eyes darting around in a flustered manner. At this moment, there was no longer any anger on her face; the hint of spring in the corner of her eye was amplified by her happy smile.

After Xu Changqing and Zi Xuan's scenes were filmed.

After a short rest, Hu Ge, Yang Mi, and others also rushed to the film set.

Available at this time.

But an unexpected event occurred.

Liu Shishi tripped and fell in full view of everyone. Although the fall was not serious, she ended up limping and had great difficulty walking.

As a last resort.

The director could only let her return to the hotel to rest.

In the fleeting, amused yet sweet glance from the other person, Li Luo chuckled as he cracked open a sunflower seed.

After visiting the set, we had a late-night snack.

Back at the hotel, they confirmed that Longkui was alright.

Li Luo bid farewell to Tang Xuejian and Zi Xuan decisively, and left Hengdian overnight with his assistant. After driving for nearly three hours, he arrived in Tonglu. Even though it was late at night, the construction site there was still making a rumbling noise.

The vehicle circled around.

Li Luo then turned the steering wheel and headed straight for the guesthouse.

As the big boss.

You must occasionally make your presence felt.

At least in Li Luo's view, leaders cannot completely relinquish control over anything; at the very least, they must keep track of everything and let their subordinates know that they are being watched.

If not.

This is tantamount to condoning the growth of greed and evil thoughts.

In the absence of any oversight, a person who can control their desires can be called a saint.

Li Luo doesn't think of herself as one.

With the addition of a dedicated interest-free loan of 100 million yuan, the initial construction cost of the Xinghuo Film and Television Base exceeded 200 million yuan. Faced with this astonishing wealth, he dared not gamble on others.

Inside the guesthouse late at night.

The preparation rooms for the Zhen Huan drama, large and small, were still brightly lit.

Preparing blueprints, procuring materials, and communicating various details with the construction team—it was all more complicated than I had imagined.

Fortunately, there are many experts in the industry.

Everything was proceeding smoothly. Li Luo quickly got to work, taking stock of the project's progress.

They were busy until three or four in the morning.

The second day has arrived.

As Li Luo and the others waved goodbye, the vehicle carrying various audition outfits honked its horn and left the guesthouse.

They embarked on a long journey to the capital.

After the vehicle left, Li Luo, accompanied by Zheng Xiaolong and Liu Cheng, inspected the construction site. Whether he could understand the specific situation was another matter, but the inspection was absolutely essential.

Even if there are inspectors, this is still the case.

Human nature is extremely complex; some people feel that they would be at a disadvantage if they didn't try to fool you.

Once all of this is finished...

Zheng Xiaolong excitedly packed his things and soared into the sky with Li Luo, eagerly anticipating the casting process for "Empresses in the Palace".

October 15th.

Xinghuo Films issued audition requests.

October 16th.

Li Luo went to Hengdian to visit the film set.

On October 17th, he inspected the construction work of the Xinghuo Film and Television Base in Tonglu.

The 18th.

When he and Zheng Xiaolong stepped into Xinghuo Film and Television, they were greeted by thousands of audition materials, including celebrities of all sizes and students from film, media, music, and dance academies.

Information on these people.

There were more than a dozen file baskets piled up.

People from media, music, and dance academies were not originally on Xinghuo Film and Television's radar, but the news spread like wildfire, and faxes poured in like snowflakes.

Now we've arrived at this point.

Lin Yue understood all too well what Brother Luo meant when he said he wasn't afraid of being poached.

This industry is extremely glamorous.

Not only does it bring fame and fortune, it also allows for the fulfillment of all sorts of wild imaginations. Most people have fantasized about playing all sorts of bizarre and fantastical roles on the big screen or small screen.

A chivalrous knight-errant, a princess of unparalleled beauty, and a great general leading troops into battle.

Various fantasies.

All of these can be satisfied in front of the camera.

The film and television industry is always in a competitive market, where platforms and opportunities are more important than individual talent. Every year, hundreds or even thousands of handsome men and beautiful women enter the industry, and there is no shortage of talented individuals among them.

But there was no chance.

No matter how talented you are, it's useless.

As long as you control the platform and have access to various performance opportunities, so what if you poach a few people?

Big deal.

Just make a few more famous.

"Dong dong."

Li Luo slapped the table with his hand, the crisp sound drawing the attention of Manager Lin, Director Zheng Xiaolong, screenwriter Wang Xiaoping, film and television production manager Sun Jie, and two or three of his assistants.

"Those who wear makeup, those suspected of having undergone cosmetic surgery, and those who do not meet the basic requirements."

"Eliminate them all!!!"

"Based on the role requirements, we will conduct the first round of screening."

"Work!"

At his command, the conference room sprang into action, with stacks of audition photos being distributed and quickly compared against the role requirements on the whiteboard. Those that clearly did not meet the requirements were simply tossed aside.

There are at least two or three thousand documents here.

Aside from important figures, no one would have the time to examine them closely.

When you're unlucky, even if you meet the requirements for a role, you might get rejected by chance. But there's nothing you can do about it; sometimes luck is also a part of your ability.

Look around.

Li Luo turned around and sat down in the chair.

Two or three thousand applications is not a lot at all. Compared to those production teams that hold open auditions with tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of applicants, Xinghuo Films is quite low-key. However, compared to those that hold open auditions, it is still quite low-key.

The value of this gold is simply off the charts.

"Luo Ge."

Zhao Xuejing brought over a square plastic basket with the words "Zhen Huan" written on it and carefully placed it in front of him.

"Thank you."

Li Luo smiled and thanked him.

Zheng Xiaolong excitedly appeared beside him, followed closely by his wife Wang Xiaoping.

As a director and screenwriter.

These two men certainly have the right to speak about the female lead.

Although Li Luo firmly holds the final decision-making power, they can still exert some influence. However, it's not really about exerting influence now; they're simply curious about who will be competing for the role.

Whether the female lead succeeds or not.

This is crucial to the production of "Empresses in the Palace".

In fact.

This applies to any TV series.

The success of any film or television work is the result of the combined efforts of many parties, but there are still different focuses.

Unless there are special circumstances.

Film can be understood as the art of the director.

And TV series.

The focus is more on screenwriters and actors.

When people go to the movies, they usually say they're going to see movies by Feng Xiaogang, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Wang Jing, or Wang Jiawei. Movies with "movie" in their names are usually those of the directors.

The director is responsible for the overall artistic style.

In just over an hour, the camera and the actors' performances were used to control the pace of the story.

The same script.

Every director probably creates a different feeling when they film it.

It's difficult to break through this barrier unless you're an actor with extremely distinctive traits.

But television is a different matter.

TV dramas place more emphasis on the story. A story that lasts for dozens of hours must be exciting enough to keep the audience watching. This is a real test of the screenwriter's skills. Unfortunately, screenwriters are often not valued in mainland China.

Once a script is written, it seems like anyone has the right to make changes.

They want to add more scenes.

They temporarily shoved an actor in.

The production team thought about it for a moment and then came up with their own suggestions.

Some actors even made random changes, resulting in some dramas ending up being terrible.

Regarding the actors.

It is also a crucial element of the TV series.

Due to its length, this performance, which lasts for dozens of hours, requires the lead actors to have sufficient personal charm and dramatic tension to keep the audience watching with anticipation.

This is related to movies.

The opposite happened in a very interesting way.

The discussions often turned to Chen Daoming's TV series, Chen Baoguo's TV series, and Zhao Benshan's TV series.

TV series director.

Few people mention it at this time.

While a drama series can certainly make someone famous, a good actor can also carry a drama series.

"This is acceptable!"

Upon seeing the first headshot in Li Luo's hand, Zheng Xiaolong immediately nodded excitedly, indicating that the other party would undoubtedly be able to enter the audition stage.

He glanced at the photo without making a sound.

Li Luo flipped it over.

Age: 32, Gender: Female.

Height: 162CM.

Weight: 47KG.

Her acting credits include: TV series such as "Princess Pearl", "Romance in the Rain", and "Moment in Peking", and films such as "Shaolin Soccer", "Chinese Odyssey 2002", and "Jade Goddess of Mercy".

Her appearance is fine, and her acting skills are definitely commendable.

Everyone says Liu Qianqian is a tank.

In Li Luo's view, his senior was the number one "blood bank" in the Chinese entertainment industry. In terms of both the popularity of her works and her fame, she actually surpassed Liu Yifei. However, no matter how thick her blood bank was, she couldn't withstand her own self-destructive behavior.

I thought about it.

Li Luo casually added him to the audition list.

It's impossible to use it.

Given the other party's short-sighted and profit-driven style, even if things don't turn out badly in the east, they'll eventually find out in the west. If you still want to reap the long-tail benefits of "Empresses in the Palace," then you can't get involved with them.

but now.

Using the other party to increase competitive pressure is a good option.

"this."

Looking at the next photo, screenwriter Wang Xiaoping hesitated: "Her acting skills are good, but can she really portray that girlish feeling?"

Song Jia from Shanghai Theatre Academy.

He's acted in quite a few productions, but so far there's nothing he's truly outstanding.

His acting skills are indeed quite good.

The way he portrayed alongside Liu Jialing in "Curiosity Kills the Cat" was quite captivating.

Although she is younger than Zhao Wei.

He is only two years older than Li Luo.

However, Song Jia's appearance is more mature, and she has a stronger sense of being a young married woman.

"Ah."

Li Luo thought for a moment, then casually handed the photo to Zhao Xuejing: "Call Song Jia's agency to ask if she'd be willing to play a concubine. If she is, then we'll see which role is more suitable."

Hearing this, Zheng Xiaolong nodded in agreement.

Just because playing Zhen Huan wasn't suitable doesn't mean she's unsuitable for any other role.

In fact.

Many actors come to audition for the female lead role hoping for a lucky break, or it could be a strategy. For example, Zhang Yi knew he wouldn't get the role of Xu Sanduo, but he still wrote a 3,000-word self-recommendation letter.

He indicated that even if he couldn't play Xu Sanduo, it wouldn't be a problem.

I also hope to have the opportunity to join the filming of "Soldiers Sortie".

Do it this way.

Kang Honglei simply gave Shi Jin to him.

Even if we settle for second best.

For many actors, it's actually something they enjoy.

The next photos that appeared in Li Luo's hands dazzled Zheng Xiaolong and his wife. Female celebrities of similar age came one after another, some who had just debuted and others who were established actresses with awards to their name.

Even top directors in Beijing's film and television industry.

He wasn't confident that he could attract such a large influx of celebrities.

A production budget of 1.5 million yuan, a renowned director, and the most popular male actor in China right now are all necessary to create such a grand spectacle.

After seeing the main actors, you still have to see the supporting actors.

The sight of the actresses appearing before Li Luo was dazzling: Li Bingbing, Ma Yili, Li Xiaolu, Yan Danchen, Sun Li, Tang Yan, Jiang Xin, Yao Chen, Hao Lei, and Li Xiaoran.
Li Qin, Yao Di, Qin Lan, Jiang Qinqin, Xin Zhilei.

He couldn't even count them all.

The female celebrities who have stirred up the storm in the Chinese entertainment industry, most of these young, mid-level, and top actresses are under my control.

There are many female celebrities.

Many male celebrities also want to join in.

Zhang Ruoyun, who played the lead role in "Joy of Life", Chen Xiao, who played the lead role in the new version of "The Return of the Condor Heroes", and Jing Boran, who was promoted by Huayi Brothers, are all mentioned. Lin Gengxin, who later became quite popular, seems to have acted in "Scarlet Heart".

His junior classmate Luo Jin was among them.

It is extremely interesting.

Leading actors like Huang Xiaoming, Chen Kun, and Lu Yi were all absent. Although they are not as famous or popular as Li Luo, they are still doing well in their respective fields.

Even in movies.

Many people are unwilling to come and play supporting roles, thus lowering their own status.

These are the youthful faces that come into view.

Li Luo's eyes lit up when he saw it.

In his view, these people actually represent small gold mines, as valuable as the TV series "Empresses in the Palace," simply because they have all been validated by capital and do not require repeated trial and error.

These horses were all capable of running successfully in later generations.

Take this opportunity.

I absolutely have to sign one or two myself!

Busy.

These audition materials are constantly being categorized and screened.

Even if you have a lot of cards in your hand, you can't just throw them into a hodgepodge. Assembling a cast of actors is sometimes like hosting a banquet; you have to pay attention to the balance of meat and vegetables, and the distinction between main and secondary roles, so that it will be a satisfying meal.

Audition photos flew up and down.

The phone calls from Xinghuo Films kept coming in, and those who received audition notices were overjoyed.

more people.

They are still anxiously waiting.

(End of this chapter)