Generation Z Artists

Chapter 238 The Heretical Master
The first person to come to our door was Deng Zhuanli, a senior editor at Xinmin Daily, who brought with him a particularly exquisite and beautiful young girl—the future pure and innocent beauty, Huang Yiyi.

Aunt Chen Danya made a point of greeting Fang Xinghe.

“Xinghe, the little girl’s mother is my capable assistant, and her father is a professor at the Second Polytechnic University. Our two families have a good relationship. Now they’ve come to me for help. Please take a look at her—just a look, nothing else.”

We had to give Aunt Chen face, so Fang Xinghe let the mother and daughter into his office.

Ms. Deng didn't rush into business. She immediately said, "Mr. Fang, I've written so many articles for you. It's such an honor to finally meet you in person!"

Fang Xinghe then realized that many of his indirect interview reports were written by Huang Yiyi's mother.

Senior editors don't often write articles directly, but they do write them at all. As soon as she mentioned them, Fang Xinghe became familiar with several of them.

"It really is fate. How old are you this year, Sister Shi?"

In fact, Fang Xinghe was extremely annoyed by Yang Zisheng and Huang, and anyone who had ever worked as a troll knows how many farces they had caused.

But he cannot use a sword from the future to kill a young girl in the present.

The girl sat there timidly and obediently. No matter how much you didn't like her, you couldn't very well speak harshly to her, could you?

That's not how things are done.

"19 is old."

Huang Yiyi answered, pursing her lips.

Okay, she's not a younger sister, she's an older sister.

Fang Xinghe pretended not to hear, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, he waved his hand decisively: "Come here, I'll take you to try out the camera."

After having Deng sit behind the camera, Fang quickly completed the audition process.

"No."

Because of Aunt Chen's concern for her reputation, he explained in detail why it wouldn't work.

"Shi Mei is too exquisite. Chen Nian can be beautiful, but not in the way of an obedient girl from an elite family. She needs to have a sense of struggle at the bottom, and then transform it into a stubbornness, unyieldingness, ruthlessness, and gloom in the performance."

Or to put it more bluntly, she needs to have a very strong heart; Yiyi's personality is too weak, it's really not suitable.

As a person in the cultural field, Ms. Deng also knows a bit about directors.

She asked, unwilling to give up, "Can't it be ground?"

"It can't be ground out."

Fang Xinghe shook his head decisively, reached out and pinched Huang Yiyi's shoulder, applying slight pressure.

“You see, I can give her measures and methods, but when faced with external pressure, her natural reaction is panic, cowardice, and helplessness, rather than resistance. This is determined by her personality, and it’s not something that a director can mold just by spending time.”

"Next time."

Fang Xinghe's pole shot out quite a distance.

"If I have another chance, I will definitely consider it carefully next time."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work."

Ms. Deng wasn't stupid; she quickly climbed up.

"I think we shouldn't wait for next time. Just sign Yiyi to the company. It doesn't matter if she doesn't get a chance in this movie or the next one. I just ask that you help me mentor her..."

Good grief, is my company some kind of recycling center?
In fact, Huang Yiyi doesn't have any major bad deeds or evil actions, but she also doesn't have a promising future.

After the mute girl debuted, she never had a moment of glory. She always played the weaker version of Shishi in every role she played. Just imagine what level that was.
Even someone as shrewd as Zhang Ke commented on her: "An actress whose image outweighs her acting skills needs strong guidance from the director."

Then they turned around and deleted all of her cameo scenes... It's obvious they didn't train her properly!
Fang Xinghe rejected it without even thinking.

"I'm sorry, my company only produces films and doesn't sign artists."

Are you kidding me?
The company reserved the first female artist management contract for Gulnazar, and the second one for Xiao Tian. Those two Bingbings don't even have this kind of face with me. Do you expect me to coax you?
Ms. Deng could no longer laugh, but she didn't dare to press the matter any further.

The media knows best about Fang Xinghe's toughness; who would dare offend him?
"Thank you so much..."

After seeing off the disappointed but still respectful mother and daughter, Fang Xinghe received his second client through connections.

Xiao Ding gave a partial greeting on behalf of Xi'an Film Academy, and the head of the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy came to their door with a group of people.

The two events did not happen at the same time, but the person who came made Fang Xinghe feel extremely disgusted.

Yao Chen.

Fang Xinghe frowned and questioned on the spot, "Isn't our character profile clear enough? Look at this appearance, does she look like someone who can play Chen Nian?"

Director Niu was taken aback, then hurriedly explained, "I wasn't referring to Chen Nian, I wanted to ask about Wei Lai! Yao Chen is a very promising student among our school's graduates this year. She gave an outstanding performance in the graduation play. I heard from Lao Xie that she would be quite suitable for the second female lead role in your play..."

Ha, casting Yao Chen as Wei Lai is truly a perfect match.

That kind of harshness doesn't need to be acted out; it just needs to come from the heart.

Xiao Ding's reason for recommending her was different: "The girl's boyfriend is Sister Fu's son from Xi'an Film Studio. We have a good relationship, but I'm just passing on a message. In the end, it's up to you, Director."

Fang Xinghe really didn't know about Da Zui's early social connections, but judging from the current situation, they seemed pretty good.
But that didn't stop him from rejecting the offer outright, without even giving her an audition opportunity.

"I'm sorry to trouble you with this wasted trip. The role of Wei Lai has already been filled, and we don't have any suitable actors for the other roles."

Yao Chen bit her lip, looking at Fang Xinghe with a wronged expression, wondering why her idol was so cold and aloof.

Fang Xinghe didn't care what she was thinking. There were plenty of people in the entertainment industry who didn't like him. Who did she think she was?

Charlie, see the guests out!

Then several more people got in through back channels, using connections from all sorts of places.

Liu Zhenyun's side, Wang Yali's side, and even the youngest sister from the Thirteen Eagles all wanted to join in the fun.

Fang Xinghe flicked Lu Tingting on the forehead and warned her, "What are you doing in the entertainment industry? It's a mess. If you dare to get involved in the entertainment industry, I'll break your legs!"

Fang Dadan grabbed Lu Mensao and ran off, laughing and joking.

Now that we've gotten to this point, as a close friend, can Fang Xinghe really just watch his buddy go astray?
In two years, if you point them in any direction, those who are willing to work hard will definitely achieve financial freedom. It's really pointless for people without their original aspirations to be in the entertainment industry.

In addition, among those who used connections were Kim Jae-hee, who was in South Korea, and Kadokawa Tsutohiko, who was in Japan.

Fang Xinghe's self-directed and self-acted projects are not particularly popular in the Chinese entertainment industry, but for new actresses from Japan and South Korea, they are like a blessing from heaven.

However, Brother Fang ignored them for the time being.

It's not because he's against using Japanese and Korean actors; if necessary, he wouldn't mind using non-anti-China actors from any country. It's a good opportunity to profit from those countries, so why not?
Hatred or even hostility toward a particular country should not be directed at any individual, much less be linked to one's career or work.

He was aware of this.

The real reason is that Chen Nian's lines can be weak, but they must be in her original voice.

As long as she speaks Chinese, Fang Xinghe is confident that she can "torture" the actors to the point of exhaustion—since she has already decided to use newcomers, she can go straight for the most extreme methods. As long as she has that kind of thing in her heart, she is guaranteed to be able to dig it out!
However, if the language is not in Chinese, the effect of the environment will be weakened, and the post-production dubbing will also affect the judges' overall impression of the film.

Even if the deduction is small, every 0.1 point in impression is important if you want to win a big prize.

Therefore, at the very least, this film cannot use foreign actors. It doesn't matter for future commercial films, as they can gather goddesses from all over the world.

After a series of rejections from Kuku, Fang Xinghe was once again torn between several candidates after the final interview.

From an acting perspective, Fang Xinghe was most impressed by Hao Lei; she had great potential and explosive power, but she was also the first one to be passed over.

She and Fang Xinghe have absolutely no chemistry; they're actually quite mismatched.

It's not a matter of beauty or ugliness, it's just that being naturally unattractive isn't good.

Zhang Jingchu possesses both temperament and acting potential, but the girl's appearance is a major issue.

She really doesn't look good right now. Without makeup, standing next to Fang Xinghe, she can't even withstand close-ups.

Actually, if the role of Zhang Xiaobei were still played by Jackson Yee, Zhang Jingchu would have been a great choice. But unfortunately, this time Zhang Xiaobei is the ultimate plus version of the Great Demon King.

Hmm, how should I describe it?
It's like filming a Cinderella and Prince Charming fairy tale, with Zhang Xiaobei going there purely for poverty alleviation.

Gao Yuanyuan is the best match in terms of looks and height, but her personality is completely different; she's the kind of person who, no matter how much pressure you apply, won't produce any results.

The problem with Lily is that her temperament is too warm and bright, so she's out of the running without explanation. After going through all that, only three candidates remain who are passable.

1. Yang Mi, her body glowing red and her eyes brimming with excitement.

The age is right, the appearance is right, and there's a certain drive in his heart—although that kind of personality doesn't fit Chen Nian, you can still force it to work.

The worst part is that her cheeks are a bit square, so taking a picture of her at this time is very difficult due to the angle.

Second, Tang Wei, who is slender and calm but has a fiery spirit in her eyes.

She has a decent appearance and is at an okay age. Her temperament is more innocent and naive than Chen Nian's precocious and resilient nature, but she can be trained.

Third, Wang Luodan, who exudes a strong student vibe.

She has a natural "quiet detachment," and her facial features are not childlike, which is quite interesting in close-up shots.

The problem is that her looks are rather weak, and her personality isn't particularly strong either. Even if they can polish her acting skills, she can only get a maximum of 8 points.

The remaining three people all had similar overall scores and each had their own problems, so the entire crew dared not utter a word and waited for Fang Xinghe to make the final decision.

Fang Xinghe pondered for a while, put Yang Mi's information aside, and began to look back and forth between the photos of Tang Wei and Wang Luodan.

I'm not satisfied with any of them, but that's probably how things are in China.

His ideal candidate is a combination of 17-year-old Gulnazar's beauty, Zhang Ziyi's stubbornness from the bottom of society, and Hao Lei's acting skills at their peak, which combine "vulnerability and destructive power".

But isn't that what it is?
Okay, let's just use Tang Wei then...

It was already early August, and Fang Xinghe was preparing to make a final decision, then push for the script to pass the review, and then filming would begin.

The application period for Cannes is in mid-February, which isn't too tight, but considering the time needed to hone new talent, it would be best to start filming in early September.

Even if it takes a full four months to process, there is still enough time to register.

Just then, the last person with connections suddenly showed up.

"Hello, Director!"

The little girl stood confidently in front of the camera, introducing herself with innocent charm.

The crisp and energetic voice made all the main creators, including Fang Xinghe and Zhao Xiaoding, silently shake their heads as soon as she opened her mouth.

"My name is Liu Yifei, I am 16 years old, and I am a newcomer. I am currently filming 'The Story of a Noble Family' and playing the role of Bai Xiuzhu."

I know my acting skills are very immature, but I have the determination and courage to accept all the difficulties during filming, including being beaten up and having my head shaved, and to devote myself wholeheartedly to the role of Chen Nian..."

As soon as she uttered those earnest words, Zhao Xiaoding and Dong Youde looked up and began to carefully observe her expression.

Since this wasn't a serious audition, but rather a backdoor process, her family and agent/introducer were present.

Ms. Liu Xiaoli looked at her daughter with a mixture of heartache and relief.

Chen Jinfei was observing Fang Xinghe with a forced smile.

Yu Hongming stood next to Dong Youde and introduced him to Liu Yifei's specific situation.

"Thank you for giving me this face, brother!"
Yifei is a newcomer I discovered by chance. She just returned from the United States and is preparing to study acting at the Beijing Film Academy. Right now, she is playing a supporting role in my drama.

This little girl is amazing!

The conditions are excellent, and more importantly, she's not spoiled and can endure hardship..."

He went on and on praising her.

Having seen this kind of situation many times, Dong Youde didn't believe it at all and only inquired about it casually.

"Old You, I know you appreciate talent, but you have to explain this to me clearly. The female lead in this film is going to suffer a lot; it's not just a casual appearance."

"Ha! What a coincidence!"

You Jianming slapped his thigh hard.

"Don't you know about our play? We even sent the script to Director Fang a while ago!"

The role of Baek Soo-joo in the drama was originally intended for a Korean actress, but her visa was delayed and she couldn't come to the set just before filming was about to start. While I was wandering around outside, I spotted her advertisement on a building and that's how we got her cast.

Yifei's biological father is a first secretary at the Chinese Embassy in France. Her grandparents are retired cadres and authoritative experts in the medical field in Wuhan. Her maternal grandfather is at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and her maternal grandmother is at Wuhan Union Hospital. Her mother is a May Day Dance Award winner... The whole family are highly educated people from other provinces!

The man next to him is Chen Jinfei, a well-known real estate tycoon in Beijing. He's the kid's godfather, and he's quite wealthy, but let alone knowing anyone in Beijing's social circles, he doesn't even know which way the door to the entertainment industry leads!
"Don't worry, if this kid has any connections in Beijing's elite circles, you'll be the one to come to my door and slap me across the face!"

You Jianming was a seasoned veteran who knew what Fang Xinghe was most wary of, so he laid it all out on the table, focusing on the phrase "clean background," which immediately put Dong Youde at ease.

"Oh dear, that's quite innocent... but this role is very challenging, so we'll have to see what Director Fang thinks."

Director Fang had no objections for the time being, but Zhao Xiaoding got excited.

Holy crap! This girl is amazing!

He pointed through the viewfinder and kept talking to Fang Xinghe.

"Finally, I've found someone whose bone structure matches yours! That small head and face, so innocent on camera! And look at that skin, it's almost the same as yours without makeup! You're always talking about that 'couple vibe,' aren't we a good match? Look at our age and condition, don't we look good together?"

From the perspectives of visual harmony, the chemistry between the male and female leads, and the aesthetic appeal of certain compositions, 16-year-old Yahuazi completely outshines all previous candidates.

Because cosmetic medicine was so underdeveloped back then, the early images of these actresses were, frankly speaking, just so-so.

Zeng Li is known as the "Centennial Beauty of the Central Academy of Drama," and she left such a deep impression on the male students. This impression was essentially based on comparison—at least when standing next to the thin, bland-faced Zhang Ziyi, anyone with eyes would choose Zeng Li.

Fang Xinghe has been unable to find a suitable female lead, precisely because it's difficult for someone with a naturally beautiful face to reach this level.

Counting from the past to the present, there are only a handful of truly natural beauties in the mainland entertainment industry, such as Hong Kong actresses, Faye Wong, Yuen Woo-ping, Zha Zha, and Ba Ji-hyun. Even chubby girls have had minor cosmetic procedures, not to mention Angelababy.

Therefore, Fat Fairy's smooth career in the entertainment industry is largely due to her exceptional looks.

Of course, she still has flaws in the movie footage at this point.

Zhao Xiaoding stroked his chin, pondering: "This child isn't photogenic... When we take close-up shots of her from the front, her nostrils look wide and her features aren't very clear... Look at her profile, how high her nose bridge is, how beautiful the curve is!"
Her skin is so good, how can she play a gloomy character?
And then there's this baby fat, we need to figure out a way to slim down her cheeks..."

Fang Xinghe stroked his chin and casually replied, "Simple, just keep her awake for a few days, and her gloom and baby fat will be gone at the same time."

Zhao Xiaoding was choked and turned around in horror.

That roughly means: Dude, you're really going to do this?! You're really willing to ruin a girl like that?!
Fang gave him a "What are you looking at?" look.

Not torture?
How could someone who relies on her looks possibly achieve results without using some underhanded tactics?
There's a sect in the director's group, similar to the Blood Saber Sect in martial arts, a purely demonic sect.

The main idea is to stimulate the actor's emotions through various extreme pressure methods. To put it bluntly, I don't need you to act; I want your most authentic state!
When special needs meet passionate actors, the resulting performance is unmatched by any conventional approach.

For example, in the scene where Baoqiang is smoking in Mr. Tree, if Xiaoming were to act it, would he be able to bring something to the scene?
Yes, absolutely!

They kept him awake and didn't allow him to wash his face for several days. He stood there with a scraggly beard, swaying back and forth, his eyes half-closed. At this point, they forced him to put in some anti-inflammatory eye drops to irritate his conjunctiva. Once he was awake, they placed a large board outside the camera lens with a calculus problem written on it and made Xiaoming read the problem while smoking.

Go ahead and film it. That slowness, that bewilderment, that confusion between reality and fantasy—he would never normally be able to express that in his entire life.

Then the fans will be singing his praises: "Awesome! Who said our Xiaoming can only play domineering CEOs? Everyone should kneel down and watch Huang Ying-ge!"

A self-media news headline: The whole world owes Xiaoming an apology; we underestimated his acting skills...

The prerequisite for switching to "Better Days" is that Fang Xinghe is neither in a hurry nor concerned about the cost, nor afraid of any opposition, and he has a prior understanding of the performance effects required, so he can fully realize this kind of unorthodox training.

Otherwise, why would he dare to cast a newcomer as the female lead?

The only question now is whether this girl has the core qualities similar to Chen Nian, and whether she can withstand Fang the Great's "torture".

If so, then everything is ready, just waiting to be turned on!
********
Looking through the entire entertainment industry, I'm certain that there's no one more suitable than Fat Fairy in this era.

For Fang Ge to play any role with a romantic subplot, the female co-star must be incredibly talented; otherwise, you can refer to the jarring scene of Jiao Enjun calling Ximen Dama "baby."

Actually, I really admire Hao Lei's potential when she was young, but making movies isn't just about acting skills. As viewers, we should understand the absurdity of pairing a black mermaid and a black Romeo with a white male lead. Hao Lei really isn't suitable for playing this version of Chen Nian.

Finally, the villain's acting was also genuine. I always emphasize that the presentation effect ≠ acting skills.

If she were to go all out, Gulnazar could easily be an award-winning actress.

(End of this chapter)