I am a historical film director in the entertainment industry.

Chapter 14 Zeng Li's Thoughts

Liu Duanduan plays the Second Prince in "Joy of Life," a character who appears carefree but is actually very cunning. His performance is vivid and lifelike, especially his grasp of the character's subtle expressions and movements, which makes the character stand out and attract attention in the drama.

Cheng Sheng handed over the role of Li Jiancheng to Liu Duanduan only after seeing another memory.

As expected, Liu Duanduan's portrayal of Li Jiancheng is definitely a classic.

Master Han was shocked as he watched each actor appear on stage.

He recognized some of the actors, and some he didn't, but every actor's performance was superb, and it seemed that none of them were a drag on the show.

If each of them were to showcase their acting skills, they could all contend for the Best Actor award.

What puzzled him was where Cheng Sheng had found so many actors with superb acting skills.

Suddenly, Master Han remembered the news he had received earlier: most of the students at the Central Academy of Drama had participated in Cheng Sheng's film.

Is it...

"Old Xu, are all these young actors in the movie students from the Central Academy of Drama?" Han Sanye asked Xu Xiaozhong in a low voice.

"Pretty much. Many of the characters in the movie are students from my school." Xu Xiaozhong nodded proudly.

In the past, people said that the Central Academy of Drama produces actors and the Beijing Film Academy produces stars, but that was just a rumor.

But after this movie, it seems the Central Academy of Drama will have to finalize its plans for producing actors.

Who who watched this movie wouldn't admire the actors' performances?

"You're really amazing, Lao Xu. It won't be long before your Central Academy of Drama becomes famous."

"I can't believe it," said Master Han with a sigh.

It's a pity he graduated from the Beijing Film Academy; it would have been better if that honor had gone to the Beijing Film Academy.

It's true that he and Xu Xiaozhong are old friends, but in the competition between Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama, he would definitely side with Beijing Film Academy.

Thinking of this, Master Han turned his head to look at Cheng Sheng, who was five seats away.

Although the movie wasn't over yet, the director Cheng Sheng's ability was already evident in just half an hour of filming.

With Cheng Sheng's current skills, he is definitely no less capable than any director; what he lacks now is fame.

If he were to direct a few more films, Cheng Sheng would definitely surpass most directors and become one of the top directors in China.

As for whether he can surpass Zhang Guoshi, Master Han dares not guarantee it, after all, Zhang Guoshi has too many honors.

Of the three major European awards, Zhang Yimou has already won two, excluding the Palme d'Or, along with a few other awards, which undoubtedly makes him the top director in China.

If Cheng Sheng wants to surpass him, he needs to not only outperform him at the box office, but also in terms of awards.

"It's wonderful."

Zeng Li's large, watery eyes remained fixed on the small screen, and she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

She played a supporting role in the film, but her appearances were sporadic and didn't reveal the quality of the movie at all.

But now, after watching the finished film, she was deeply moved.

She felt very fortunate to have participated in this great film. Originally, when Cheng Sheng approached her to play Empress Xiao, she was a little worried, after all, people online and in the industry said it was a terrible movie and whoever filmed it would be unlucky.

Therefore, many first-, second-, and third-tier celebrities, for the sake of their reputation, did not apply for the film even though they knew it was a big investment.

After all, if a star were to participate in a terrible movie, it would be a huge blow to some celebrities.

First, their reputation will be damaged. Audiences often have high expectations of celebrities. If a celebrity stars in a bad movie, the audience will question their acting skills and ability to choose scripts, thus affecting their public image and reputation.

The second fear is box office failure. Bad movies usually lead to poor box office returns, which may cause financial losses for investors and producers, and also affect stars' salaries and future film projects.

Thirdly, it can lead to a decline in star status and fewer opportunities for collaboration. Producers and investors will be more cautious when selecting projects and will avoid working with stars who are not performing well, which may cause the stars to lose some filming opportunities.

Finally, there's the disappointment of fans. Fans have high expectations for celebrities, and if a celebrity stars in a bad movie, they may feel disappointed or even stop supporting the star, which will negatively impact their fan base and popularity.

Given so many negative influences, only newcomers to the industry or students would not hesitate to participate in Cheng Sheng's films.

Zeng Li had these concerns when she participated in Cheng Sheng's film, but Xu Xiaozhong personally invited her. As a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, she had to give the principal some face, so she agreed to play Empress Xiao.

But now it seems that starring in Cheng Sheng's movie was definitely the wisest choice I ever made.

After this movie, my status in the entertainment industry will probably need to be elevated.

Raising your star level is equivalent to increasing your salary; actors with higher star levels usually receive higher salaries.

With increased choice in roles, high-profile actors have more say in selecting their roles.

They can choose the type and size of roles they like, and even pick and choose scripts, which gives them more freedom and initiative in their acting careers.

Another advantage is the increased opportunities for advertising endorsements, and the endorsement fees are also relatively high.

Brands need to leverage their fame to promote their products, which brings them additional revenue.

There's also the increased status within the production crew and other special treatment. Finally, there's the increased commercial value; higher-profile actors are more attractive in commercial activities, generating more attention and business opportunities.

Thinking of all these benefits, Zeng Li felt secretly happy.

Suddenly, Cheng Sheng mentioned that this was a film series, meaning there would be several more to come. So, could I continue to act in it?

Zeng Li pondered for a moment, then her expression suddenly darkened.

She plays Empress Xiao, a major supporting role in this film, but she probably won't have many opportunities to appear in future films.

When she was filming the movie "The Origins of the Tang Dynasty", she also researched Empress Xiao.

Yuwen Huaji launched the Jiangdu Coup, and Emperor Yang of Sui was assassinated.

Empress Xiao led her young grandson and the daughters of the royal family, traveling between Yuwen Huaji and Dou Jiande, and followed Princess Yicheng to DTZ, where they supported Yang Zhengdao, the grandson of Emperor Yang of Sui, as their leader, and settled in Dingxiang.

In the fourth year of the Zhenguan era (630 AD), after Li Jing conquered DTZ, he welcomed Empress Xiao back to Chang'an, where she resided in Xingdao Lane.

Historically speaking, if there were a second part, Li Shimin would still be the protagonist, but Empress Xiao would probably only appear in one or two scenes. Compared to now, Empress Xiao would be just a background character.

"No, judging from the current situation, this movie is bound to be a huge hit. I have to seize the opportunity. Since the role of Empress Xiao is no longer reliable, I will find another role."

Zeng Li gritted her teeth. Such a good movie was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and if she missed it, she would definitely regret it for the rest of her life.

(End of this chapter)